Garden of Weeding

School's out for summer!  That means I have more time to read books and play around in the yard.  I'm reading God the Father Revealed by Lewis Erickson.  I started this book earlier, but I didn't have time to finish it.  I re-read chapter 1 and I came across this idea that when Adam and Eve sinned, that did not end their relationship with God.  Sin did not sever their relation with God; they felt exposed and fled from Him.  He provided them with a covering so they would not flee from Him.  The covering was made of animal skin because sin when it is full grown produces death (James 1:15).  God went with them when He banished them from the garden.  

Now this reminds me of something I read in another book, You're Going to Be Okay by Holley Gerth.  I don't have the book to look back at and re-read.  I loaned it to someone else and it never came back.  Guess they needed it more than I did.  So we will have to rely on my memory.  Holley talks about weeding in her garden.  She says the weeds are like sinful patterns and habits in her life.  She talks about the seeds of those weeds have been in the soil of our souls for a long time: doubt, covetousness, selfishness, and the like.  God allows the right conditions to come along to cause those weeds to spring to life.  When we see them growing in our lives, we are made aware of the seeds' presence.  God has known it all along, but we have not.  When they grow, we can now partner with The Farmer to remove them.  His desire is to heal us of the damage of those seeds, to stop the spread before death has fully grown into our relationships with others.  His goal is not to expose us or embarrass us but to heal us.  

There's one more section of another book that I've been thinking about.  This one is Daddy Loves His Girls by T.D. Jakes.  He talks about when we are born, our parents are adults.  They know we will mess up and hurt them.  That is a normal part of the human condition.  It didn't change their love for us.  They knew the day would come.  He compares this to our relationship with our Heavenly Father.  God knew all the days of our lives before we were born (Psalm 139:16).  When we sin, it's not a surprise to Him.  

I love these passages because I've written about how occasionally the enemy likes to torment me by reminding me of past (or current) mistakes.  I like to use this to God's glory by thanking Him for saving me when these thoughts come up.  Sometimes I think I should have things figured out by now.  I'm 42 and I've been walking with the Lord from childhood.  But every once and awhile (probably more often that I'd want to admit), a weed springs up in the garden of my soul.  It's freeing to remember that God knew I would make this choice before I was ever born.  It doesn't change His love for me.  He wants to be a part of fixing the mess, instead of me trying to deal with it on my own.  This is all a part of cultivating the beauty and fruitfulness of Christ-like character in my life.  

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law."  Galatians 5:22-23

Book Review: Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higginbotham

This past week marked 35 years since the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.  It was one of the first big news stories that I remember.  I've always found it intriguing and continued to learn about it.  If you find it intriguing, I'd recommend Midnight in Chernobyl.  I picked this up at my brother's house and then checked it out from the Valley Center Public Library to finish reading it.  It took me a while, but I'm glad I did.  I've even referenced it in some of my lessons on atomic structure and engineering.  

Home . . .

Home is where the heart is, right?

My 10-year-old son and I just finished reading Abandoned on the Wild Frontier by Dave and Neta Jackson.  This book is historical fiction intended to introduce 8-12 year old kids to the ministry of Peter Cartwright.  He died in 1872, but something in this book is as relevant today as it was 150 years ago.

I love this dialog.  God gives us each a hunger for the warmth and security of a good family life.  Why? Peter Cartwright suggests this longing is God designed; placed in each human heart to make us hunger for a reconciled relationship with Him.  Jesus makes reconciliation with God possible through His payment for our sins on the cross.  He invites you and me and all who would believe to enter into this relationships by faith and repentance.  Are you hungry for home?  

Book Review: The People of Sparks

It starts as a miscommunication, a misunderstanding between people.  The people divide along cultural lines.  Each group begins to see the other group through the eyes of distrust.  People view each other as enemies instead of fellow townspeople.  They misjudge and misinterpret each other's words and actions.  Fear and hurt abound.  The misunderstanding escalates.  One side slings insults at the other.  The insulted group fires back.  The conflict intensifies to the point of violence.  What can stop it?

Want to know what happens next?  Read the book.  I read it to preview it for my 9 year old son.  I think he's ready for the concepts about conflict presented in the book.  There's no profanity or sexuality in it, but it does discuss war.

Book Review: Praying the Bible

I digested this book in three days!  How could I read it that quickly?  It's just that good and it's only 100 pages long.  Donald Whitney gives a simple and sublime method of praying scripture in this book.  Considering 2 Timothy 3:16, he instructs readers to view each verse of a Psalm as God speaking.  The reader can respond to it in prayer just like you would respond to any other person in conversation.  Then Witney directs readers to go on to the next verse and repeat the process.  He even gives suggestions on how to handle more challenging verses like Psalm 58:6 and how to adapt the prayer model to a group setting.  If your prayer life is as dry as a popcorn fart or you mind is as distracted in prayer as monkeys running through a forest, then pick up this book asap!

Book Review: A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23

This is an older book, but I really relish reading it.  I grew up around cattle, not sheep.  While they are both livestock, they are managed a little differently.  Keller's book is full of insight into the beloved 23rd Psalm.  It's broken into 12 chapters, devoting two chapters to each verse in the poem.  The reader with really meditate on this Psalm.  It also gave me insight to other passages in the Bible that discuss the Shepherd/sheep relationship.  I highly recommend it as background reading for John 10 in which Jesus tells His followers "I am the good shepherd."  Pick up a used copy at a garage sale and enjoy!

Book Review: Summer of the Monkeys

Remember Where the Red Fern Grows?  Summer of the Monkeys is by the same author, Wilson Rawls.  His cloquical, country voice echoes through these pages.  It's a story about a fourteen year-old boy, Jay Berry, and his twin sister, Daisy.  There's a dog, 29 monkeys, a pony, and a difficult choice thrown in the narrative mix.  This story has it's sad spots, but in a sweet and heart-warming way.  It's not the same story of loss as Where the Red Fern Grows.  As far as negative or inappropriate content, this book is pretty tame.  It brought up some safety issues.  Jay Berry walks in the railroad tracks.  He also prays to the Old Man of the Mountains at one point in the story.  We talked about why we pray only to God.  If you loved Where the Red Fern Grows, you will enjoy this story.  Greg (9 yo) and Phoenix (5 yo) sure enjoyed hearing it while they climbed trees like little monkeys.

'Grandpa smiled and said, "We surely do.  You know, an old man like me can teach a young boy like you all the good things in life.  But it takes a young boy like you to teach an old man like me to appreciate all the good things in life.  I guess that's what life's all about."' - Grandpa to Jay Berry

Book Reveiw: Answers to Prayer by George Mueller

A friend and I have been reading this book.  I highly recommend it.  It’s not long but it’s full of the testimony of a man who saw God work in response to prayer.  My faith has grown by reading it.  Also, I’ve learned a few ways to pray about various situations just by reading his prayers.  I’m going to share a passage with you out of Answers to Prayer that really touched my heart.  

“Oct. 9. – This morning Luke vii came in the course of my reading before breakfast.  While reading the account about the Centurion and the raising from death the widow’s son at Nain, I lifted up my heart to the Lord Jesus thus: ‘Lord Jesus, Thou hast the same power now.  Thou canst provide me with means for Thy work in my hands.  Be pleased to do so.’ About half an hour afterwards I received L30 15s. 

The joy which such answers to prayer afford, cannot be described.  I was determined to wait upon God only, and not to work an unscriptural deliverance for myself.  I have thousands of pounds for the Building Fun; but I would not take of this sum because it was once set apart for that object.  There is also a legacy of L100 for the Orphans two months overdue, in the prospect of the payment of which the heart might be naturally inclined to use some money of the Building Fund, to be replaced by the legacy money, when it comes in; but I would not thus step out of God’s way of obtaining help.  At the very time when this donation arrived, I had packed up L100 which I happened to have in hand; received for the Building Fund, in order to take it to the Bank, as I was determined not to touch it, but to wait upon God.  My soul does magnify the Lord for His goodness.” 

Dear reader (that’s a George Mueller thing, he often addresses his readers as such in his book), I’m praying this for you and for me “Lord, set our hearts to wait upon You only and not to work an unscriptural deliverance for ourselves.”  Mueller’s trial was the financial provision for hundreds of orphans.  My trial is different than that.  Your trial is probably different too.  We’re all tempted to take matters into our own hands; to work and manipulate our circumstances to get us out of the trial faster.  Let us all determine in our hearts to wait upon God only, and not to work an unscriptural deliverance for ourselves.  And Lord, enlighten our minds as we read your Word to understand what you want of us. 

Book Reveiw: A Perfect Pet for Peyton by Rick Osborne and Gary Chapman

What did you do for Valentine’s day?  Go on a date?  Write sweet notes?  Make heart shaped pizza?  Toby and I decided to order A Perfect Pet for Peyton for our family on Valentine’s Day.  It introduces kids to the five love languages.  What is a love language?  I’ll let the book explain.

“Each of us especially likes to love and be loved in one or two of these languages; some love kind words, others like touch.  Some enjoy spending special time with people.  Others love gifts and some like to do nice and helpful things.  We all need to love people in every way.  However, God made use each special and we all love a little differently.”

This book teaches to concept of love languages through the playful story of twin Peyton and Penny’s birthday party.  Our kids love the tale and the colorful pictures.  Each picture has a ‘seek and find’ activity.  I would recommend doing the activities after you read the story.  Doing them while you read breaks up the story line too much. 

A Perfect Pet for Peyton helped our family converse about how we can make each other feel loved and valued.  It also reminded me of something special from my childhood to share with them.  My parents read to my two brothers and I before every nap and nighttime.  They were very busy with three children born in the span of 31 months.  I knew their busy worlds would stop to spend quality time with me at last once a day.  Toby and I share this same ritual with our kids. 

If you would like to discover your own love language, take the quiz at http://www.5lovelanguages.com/

Mmmm Chocolate

The kids and I just finished this book.  We really liked it, but I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea – or hot chocolate as the case may be.  It is very whimsical.  You definitely have to practice suspension of disbelief while you’re reading it.  I tend to agree with “A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men,” a philosophy from the 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.  The book does record a few exchanges of harsh words between characters.  The kids and I used this as an opportunity to remind each other to season our words with kindness.  Sorry kids, I’d like to tell you that one day you won’t need to be reminded to bath your speech in gentleness, but that has not been my experience.  We are all a work in progress. 

One paragraph particularly stuck out to me.  It’s in the last chapter when Mr. Wonka tells Charlie and Grandpa Joe that He wants to give the entire chocolate factory to little Charlie. 

“Listen,” Mr. Wonka said, “I’m an old man.  I’m much older than you think.  I can’t go on forever.  I’ve got no children of my own, no family at all.  So who is going to run the factory when I get too old to do it myself?  Someone’s got to keep it going – if only for the sake of the Oomp-Loompas.  Mind you, there are thousands of clever men who would give anything for the chance to come in and take it over from me, but I don’t want that sort of person.  I don’t want a grown-up person at all.  A grownup won’t listen to me; he won’t learn.  He will try to do things his own way and not mine.  So I have to have a child.  I want a good sensible loving child, one to whom I can tell all my most precious candy-making secrets - while I am still alive.” 

I’ve often meditated on Matthew 18:3 “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”  I’ve often asked God what He means here.  A little child is dependent.  They unabashedly rely on their parents for sustenance, shelter, stimulation, and comfort.  A little child has unbridled faith.  They have not learned the logical limitations that rule the adult world.  A child believes that a mountain can be uprooted and thrown into the sea, but we adults struggle with this idea.  Through Roald Dahl’s words I see a new aspect of coming to God as a little child.  Adults have their own way of doing things.  Children listen and watch.  They learn by mimicking their parents. 

Lord, thank you that unlike Mr. Wonka you do go on forever.  I want to know your most precious secrets – candy making or otherwise.  Please tell them to me.  I want to listen to you and learn your ways.  Forgive me when I do things my own way instead of yours.  Be my patient teacher.  To you be the glory.