Purposeful & Deliberate

I was talking with the husband one day and he used the term "purposeful & deliberate". Though he was speaking about a specific use of time, suddenly those words were seared in my brain and I began to think about them. I began to think about my time, my days, my life, my family, and to wonder if the Lord could say to me that I was "purposeful and deliberate" in all that I do. Knowing, indeed, what the answer would be, it has haunted me ever since and is something that, no doubt, requires my attention.

I thought I'd look up the words in the Webster's 1828 (full of it's rich, Biblical definitions) to get a more clear understanding of them, and then determine in what manner I should be purposeful and deliberate. Let me add that these terms remind me of faithfulness and righteousness, yet those things seem so much about holiness that they seem to be something to achieve rather than the means of getting there. (Added emphasis is mine.)

Purpose PUR'POSE, n.

1. That which a person sets before himself as an object to be reached or accomplished; the end or aim to which the view is directed in any plan, measure or exertion. We believe the Supreme Being created intelligent beings for some benevolent and glorious purpose, and if so, how glorious and benevolent must be his purpose in the plan of redemption! The ambition of men is generally directed to one of two purposes, or to both; the acquisition of wealth or of power. We build houses for the purpose of shelter; we labor for the purpose of subsistence.

2. Intention; design. This sense, however, is hardly to be distinguished from the former; as purpose always includes the end in view.

Every purpose is established by counsel. Prov 20.

Being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. Eph 1.


Of purpose, on purpose, with previous design; with the mind directed to that object. On purpose is more generally used, but the true phrase is of purpose.

PUR'POSE,v.t. To intend; to design; to resolve; to determine on some end or object to be accomplished.

I have purposed it, I will also do it. Isa 46. Eph 3.

End in view...intention, design, resolve, determine, accomplish...weighty stuff for this little 'ole brain!

Deliberate DELIBERATE, v.i. [L. To weigh.]

To weigh in the mind; to consider and examine the reasons for and against a measure; to estimate the weight or force of arguments, or the probable consequences of a measure, in order to a choice or decision; to pause and consider. A wise prince will deliberate before he wages war.

DELIBERATE, v.t. To balance in the mind; to weigh; to consider.

DELIBERATE, a.
1. Weighing facts and arguments with a view to a choice or decision; carefully considering the probable consequences of a step; circumspect; slow in determining; applies to persons; as a deliberate judge or counselor.

2. Formed with deliberation; well advised or considered; not sudden or rash; as a deliberate opinion; a deliberate measure, or result.

3. Slow; as a deliberate death or echo.

Decision, consideration, choice, slow...but I decide everyday! Yet often without consideration. Without being slow. Without being deliberate.

From the time my children were born I've taught them about consequences, yet it may very well be a lesson that I am only now learning myself. I believe that I should and can be more purposeful and deliberate in all that I do. No more just getting through it; but careful deliberation and decision, looking to the end objective for the purpose.

My family. Our spiritual life. Our home. Our schooling. How we spend each moment of our time together. What really matters?? When it's all said and done, what will matter? How should we live?

God is in the Details

God is in the details. All the little seemingly unimportant details. Those believed to be meaningless, steps along the way. And I have found, that as I remember daily where my hope and confidence truly lies, those details become teachable moments. What was once just a stop along the way, becomes the catalyst which guides me to better understanding. It is the song that was written just for me.

Life is a long journey where every day builds upon the ones before. I do not treat today, as I did any day before. I count it, like He counts it. And I surrender. It is in the surrender, that there is peace. It is in the laying down that we are at home, for anything else is just an illusion; a trap of the enemy to give false confidence and false triumph.

If I do not trust in Him who is most able to sustain me--if I believe I know what tomorrow will bring--I can count it as lost. I must remember who designs my days and for what purpose. Temporal, or eternal. I must remember!

When I rest in who I am, instead of whom I belong to, I cheat myself. Though memories and experiences often chart my path, they don't lay my path. He lays my path and it is much narrower than I've ever supposed. It must fill me up. There must not be room for anything else. Everything else is dust in the wind; chaff that is found wanting.

If my heart lingers for a moment on myself, my self will shine in place of Him who draws me up and sets me on my way. The guessing, the contemplating, the striving for understanding...they mean so little to me now. What matters is the next moment He has for me.

Those that will look honestly and deeply, will know. Those that cannot see, will not see. May those I love, see. May they know what I know, and better. May they hold fast.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
(Php 4:8)

Children will follow. They will listen. Whether what I speak is lovely, or wretched. The path is narrow, but God is in the details. May I be worthy enough for them to hear. My feelings and emotions deceive, cause pain, and regret. They also give the greatest joy because He made them to. The desires. The heart. He made them to glorify Him. Yes. My heart is wicked. Yes. My heart belongs to You, Lord. Do with it what You will. Create in me a clean heart.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
(Psa 51:10)

Once I was lost, but now I'm found. Was blind, but now I see. His grace is sufficient for me; for even me. The Lord is my strength and my song.

"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation."
(Isa 12:2)

I'm ready to go. I want to go home.

Neon lights flickering
Outside the cafe
Ice on the windshield
Stars in a black sea
On a winter road
Flurries of snow
I'm ready to go

Past farmhouse and pasture
Our voices together
Rise to the drumming
Of big-rigs and trailers
Long hours to daylight
A rumbling bus
Our bed and our board

Heavenly Father
Remember the traveler
Bring us safely home
Heavenly Father
Remember the traveler
Bring us safely home
Safely home

I long for my family
And friends to remind me
Of where I have been
And where I am going
And where I come from

Heavenly Father
Remember the traveler
Bring us safely home
Heavenly Father
Remember the traveler
Bring us safely home
Safely home

(Fernando Ortega)

Happy Valentine's Day

Oh, roar a roar for Nora

Oh, roar a roar for Nora,
Nora Alice in the night.
For she has seen Aurora
Borealis burning bright.

A furore for our Nora!
And applaud Aurora seen!
Where, throughout the summer,
Our Borealis been?

by Walt Kelly(Pogo artist)

If you've never seen the Pogo comics from waaaay back, you're missing out. They were a favorite of my dad's, (50's) if that gives you any clue. They are creative, funny and family friendly! This little rhyme is one of our favorites. Another more popular short was this lyric sung to the tune of Deck the Halls.

Deck us all with Boston Charlie,

Walla Walla, Wash., an' Kalamazoo!
Nora's freezin' on the trolley,
Swaller dollar cauliflower alley-garoo!

Don't we know archaic barrel

Lullaby Lilla Boy, Louisville Lou?
Trolley Molly don't love Harold,
Boola boola Pensacoola hullabaloo!

Bark us all bow-wows of folly,
Polly wolly cracker 'n' too-da-loo!
Donkey Bonny brays a carol,
Antelope Cantaloupe, 'lope with you!

Hunky Dory's pop is lolly gaggin' on the wagon,
Willy, folly go through!
Chollie's collie barks at Barrow,
Harum scarum five alarm bung-a-loo!

Dunk us all in bowls of barley,
Hinky dinky dink an' polly voo!
Chilly Filly's name is Chollie,
Chollie Filly's jolly chilly view halloo!

Bark us all bow-wows of folly,

Double-bubble, toyland trouble! Woof, woof, woof!
Tizzy seas on melon collie!
Dibble-dabble, scribble-scrabble! Goof, goof, goof!

The books are a little harder to come by these days, but well worth the fun in the reading! My kids are just now being introduced to them and I'm hoping they'll replace son's fascination with Charlie Brown (who I'm so tired of).

Brain Freeze

For all you non-blogging types, brain freeze is what comes upon you after diligently posting twice daily for a week only to come to a screeching halt after eating snow ice cream. There can be no other explanation than sudden brain intoxication and paralysis of the typing fingers.

I'm cured!

Forty-seven cups of mocha, a thorough house cleaning including 16 loads of laundry, a visit to a great new church; time with friends, a little sunshine...that's all it took!

So, what have you been doing lately?

And yes! Those are sprinkles going on the snow ice cream!

Jesus, Let Us

Jesus, let us come to know you

Let us see you face to face.

Touch us, hold us, use us, mold us,

Only let us live in you.

Jesus, draw us ever nearer,

Hold us in your loving arms.

Wrap us ever in your presence,

When the end comes, bring us home.

Michael Card

May You Be Lifted Up

I saw this over at A Peaceful Day and had to share it! How beautiful!
You will be lifted up.

Freckles

These are my freckle-faced wonders, with fresh freckles from the Florida sunshine!

I rejoice in knowing our Heavenly Father counts each one and while I tell my children how beautiful they are, freckles and all, I also tell them that "pretty is as pretty does". May their hearts and minds reflect the love of Jesus Christ in all they think and do. Father, make them wholly yours!

On The Twelfth Day of Christmas

Today is the Twelfth Day of Christmas. That may be rather upsetting and disconcerting to many of you who happen to think that the Twelve Days of Christmas are prior to Christmas. They are not. They are the twelve days following Christmas and they end on the Epiphany.

Now, traditionally, the Epiphany is the date that is celebrated as the day the three Wise Men arrived to meet their newborn king: Jesus. We know from scripture that though it makes a great song, story and fun way to incorporate three Wise Men in our Christmas activities, it's not true. And the song? Let's just say I've been over the "Lords a'Leaping" for awhile now (though I do really like the Muppets/John Denver version!)

But that's not the reason for this post. The reason for this post is because it's January 6th and that's my birthday! It's a day in which this child of the King is treated like a Queen (or should be! LOL).

I'm much more introspective on my birthday than I should be. Of this I am most certain! I dwell on memories and mushy dreams. I dream of the last treat I will "ever eat again" for the "whole year" because I couldn't make that "promise" on the New Year because, hay!, I was going to have a birthday the next week. I envision the lies I'll have to tell my children when they ask my age. Son truly believes I'm 29...bless his heart. Father, forgive me for this wretched lie! But then again, I "feel" 29. Okay. Not so much! Truly I'm beginning to feel every single one of my 44 years. They hang on me in the form of lose skin, poor eyesight, gray hair, and the ole bad back!

Well, I've earned every single crease and roll! I've diligently scrubbed my hands to dryness in the care and feeding of my family and I've worn every ponytail as a tribute to the time I don't have but take to fix my daughter's hair.

Yes sireee. So. Today is my birthday and I really just miss my mom, because, let's face it, birthdays really are about moms! The ones who love us even though we are wretched sinners in need of a good beating. The moms who never, ever, ever forget it's our birthday...unless they're dead (which mine happens to be--did I mention I really miss my mom?). The moms who tell us over and over every single second of the day we were born and they smile and they sigh and they look at us growing older and nothing else matters but that it's our birthday.

Wow! Was she ever young! At yet she was was guess how much?
29 in this picture! For real. Really!

And indeed she DID gift me the love of books!!

So that's what I'm thinking about today and for the last few days. It doesn't help that my mom died just ten days after my birthday. The last thing she did was give me my birthday gift.

Today's my birthday and I'm thankful to be alive and with the ones I love most. I'm so thankful that God is greater than my wrinkles and bad back. I'm ever, ever so thankful that He brought me into this world to one day be wife and mother to my blessings. I promise, I'm not gonna cry...much!

Honestly, today is just another day, except that it is the Twelfth Day of Christmas! (for all you bloggers that drove me totally nuts with your Twelve Days BEFORE Christmas junk! heehee!).

I will rejoice and be glad in it! :)

You Can't Do That

There are few things in this world that I despise more than someone telling me I can't do something that I really want to do. I come by it honestly.

My mother was crippled with a disability most of her life--Scoliosis. Having grown up in the cut-em-up era of medicine, her numerous back and spinal surgeries did little to help, and a lot to further debilitate her. Later she became addicted to multiple pain medications, nicotine, and alcohol in her search for relief. Though she tried with all that was in her, to put herself in God's hands alone, she was constantly defeated by her fleshly pain. The "S" shaped curvature of her spine caused a shift in her vital organs, including her heart and lungs. Complicated by her smoking, her lung capacity was zilch. Her heart stopped numerous times in the last year of her life. She suffered endlessly and died young.

Just six months before she died, she rallied for the birth of her first grandson, my 9yo. We believe she probably lived just for that time. She died just 9 years ago in January and it seems like yesterday.

It has all come back to me in a furor over the last year or so as my own Scoliosis has begun to progress and cause me difficulties. Though I'm under the care of a great Chiropractor, as well as Thee Great Physician, reality is reality. A bad car accident a few years back, carrying two children and my ever-increasing age has begun to take it's toll. The pain has increased along with the list of what I can't do, while what I can do seems such a short list! My heritage is my constant companion; a constant warning alarm in my head and in my heart.

It was just this week that my own Doctor threw the "wheel-chair" threat at me. Having also attempted to treat my mom without much success because of the damage done by surgery, he knows what I face in my own mind. As I face the new year, and another birthday this coming week, I can not deny, any longer, my disability.

Thou shalt not bend.
Don't pick that up. Don't move that over. Don't close the dishwasher with your hands. Don't look inside the dryer. Don't look under the table. Don't plant those flowers. Don't pull those weeds.

Thou shalt not lift.
Don't pick up your daughter. Don't pick up your friend's baby. Don't carry that load of books at the book sale or convention. Don't lift that laundry basket. Don't carry that anything!

Thou shalt not pull.
No book carts! No wagons. No lower freezer doors.

Thou shalt not push.
No grocery carts. None. Not even Target. (Especially not Target!) No lawn mowers. No vacuums.

Thou shalt not engage in activities which take me to the point of physical exhaustion: fatigue is thy enemy.
No long shopping trips. No tornado house cleaning. No prolonged activity of any kind.

Thou shalt not...
Turn around in the car to see the children.
Face the husband while he is driving.
Go bowling.
Lift that case of water.
Ride Space Mountain.
Do "certain things" in "certain ways."
Walk down the stairs without holding the railing--ever!
Get pregnant. (Oh yes! That was a mandate I won't discuss.)
Walk on ice.
Etc.
Etc.

Thou shalt put thy hands down before sitting.
Thou shalt walk.
(Thou shalt leave the treadmill open.)
Thou shalt swim.
Period.

While I don't believe that my condition mirrors my mom's in many ways, I know that it's not something I can ignore. It will not cause addiction, unless it's to more chocolate. I'm not my mother. It is not a death sentence. It is not a curse for every bad thought I ever had toward my mother. It is just the curse of degradation caused by a sinful nature. It is temporary, as long as I'm on this earth. It is hereditary, so my own dear children will need to be educated.

It is not reversible, but it is treatable.

It is limiting, but not limitless.

It does hurt often, but God supplies all my needs.

No. I don't like being told what I can't do. I will strive with my whole being, constant prayer and the support of my husband, children, and friends to remember my limitations on days when book sales and babies are beckoning. I will anchor myself to my Source of Peace that surpasses even my own understanding and strive to be thankful instead of fearful. I will feel sorry for myself from time to time, but always I will have my hope in Christ alone, rather than myself.

One day I'll join my mother in heaven (hopefully a long, long time from now!) and together with our heavenly, straight spines, we'll continue our rejoicing. For today, son will vacuum and push my grocery cart. Husband will carry our daughter and maybe even mow the lawn! My feet will serve as hands for dishwashers and dryer doors. Weeds will grow. The floors will be messier longer. The "lunge" will take up residence. But me?

I'll still be dancing! Thou slowly and not for very long! :)

Tweet, Tweet!

I took the plunge and joined Twitter (It's all Renae's fault!). I was very skeptical and unsure, but right away I liked it. It's a neat way to keep up with folks in a more personal way than just blog reading and commenting. So, if any of you are signed up, or want to, you can find me here. NOTE: BetweenTHEtrees was NOT available (someone else!), so I'm just BetweenTrees! It's fun :)

You can see my updates in my sidebar...but you can't participate unless you join!

I Wonder. Do You Know Him?

I first heard this most incredible clip by Rev. S.M. Lockeridge, on Moody radio. He describes his King. You'll want to hear this!! It continually blesses me and I know it will you. I guarantee, it will be the best 3 minutes of your day. Do You Know Him?

The Fight For Our Liberty Continues

What this representative says is profound! It's too bad many aren't listening. I hope you watch it. It's just 2 min...

I haven't said anything (here) about the election. I've posted my support of McCain and Palin in the sidebar, but I haven't shared the fact that sometimes I feel I do so in sheer panic over what a Obama/Democrat government will do with my liberties. This bailout? Not so hot. I was always taught there are consequences to our actions. Deep pockets seem to have forgotten that and the not so deep pockets with their hands out, haven't helped.

Without the consequences of sin, we do not need a Savior. Oh, that despair to live our lives without Christ! I'm no economist, nor am I a theologian. I'm not even the smartest bird on the block. But I kinda feel like we should be saying, "Let the consequences begin."

Without Liberty, we are SLAVES.

About Those Headphones

I don't like headphones.

Not too long ago, I began to notice, more often, young children wearing headphones. Interestingly, the first time I began to think about this was at the homeschool convention. I was taking a break and sat with a friend. Across from me was a family hanging out together. Three of their large brood were lined up against the wall, each with their own ipod and headphones on. They were staring like zombies and as a result were not interacting with their family. While the parents chatted with the other children and played while they were hanging out for their break, the three sets of headphones barely moved. Their eyes were literally glazed over!

Now, granted that was my own interpretation and they could very well have been listening to lessons after having their own time with their parents. It just got me thinking. We got our own family ipod not too long ago and we use an ipod player/boom box. Rarely do we use the earphones. But, son has begun to want to use them. And, he wants to use them when we are all together in the room, meal times, in the car, etc.

I may be paranoid, or overly leary, but warning bells seem to be going off in my head. Headphones, to me, are like whispering. They harbor the ability for secrets. But, more than that even, they separate a member from it's family. Isolation. The headphone wearer cannot hear you, so therefore cannot speak to you. They can't interact with you, or share with you. It's as if they have left the premises--checked out. I'm not having too many warm and fuzzy feeling about headphones!

I know from my own experience, that people put on headphones in public (ie: library, airplanes, etc.) when they don't want to be talked to. They send a message with those headphones--"Leave me alone." I don't want to leave my children alone. I want to know what they are doing and want them to want me to know what they are doing. I think that is called parenting?!

I know that they can be a useful tool. But like all good tools, you need to know how and when to use them. That is what we are teaching our children. That, will then be a habit worthy of them.

Hook In

I just went to my very first Hook In. Since I, myself, just found out what that was, I'll share with you that it is a gathering of folks who enjoy the art of Primitive Hook Rug Making. And it is incredible!

My grandmother, whom I'm told I take after, was an avid rug maker...and dress maker, and quilt maker, and doll maker, etc. Unfortunately, she died before I was old enough to learn from her. However, I WAS old enough to remember and to treasure every piece that my mother, then myself, inherited from her.

There are few hand crafts that rival the beauty and usefulness of rug making. As far as handcrafts go, I believe Charlotte Mason would approve. I admit that I was a bit intimidated at first, but I was so excited to carry on a tradition that my grandmother started, that I quickly relaxed and got my groove on. I'm a bit overwhelmed by learning a new craft from the ground up. (I'm old!) New terminology. New time demands. But I know that it will be so incredibly worth it! I can't wait to finish my first piece, learn from my experience and continue with this art.

I'm so surprised that this craft is not more prominent, but I have an "in" now and I'm excited to meet some other "hook-ers" and create. The biggest issue now is what to make and how fast can I get it done and make the next thing! These rugs are "me". Love 'em! (Can you tell?!)

The God of All Comfort...Indeed!

I guess you all have figured out that I'm a huge fan of Steven Curtis Chapman. After the accident, in May, that took his youngest daughter home to be with the Lord, I've been even more endeared to them and their ministry. I've prayed, checked up on them as much as I could, prayed some more and passed on relevant links. Here is the latest series of interviews now airing on Focus on the Family. The 2nd part is today, third tomorrow. You will be able to hear them all here.

Just Routine?

I was thinking about another chore routine the other day, when it hit me. The more diligent I become in caring for my family and our home, the less need there is for a system. Diligence, in this instance, has come to mean doing what needs to be done, when it needs to be done. And when there is time.

Over the years I've struggled with establishing a daily, weekly, seasonal way of "doing". I'm organized by nature, so this seemed a natural extension of that. Then I would become so frustrated with the inability to keep up. Especially in light of the many disruptions of life. I was always trying to overcome, and always falling short.

But, as I was having my moment of inspiration, I realized that everything does get done! If it's summer time and the trash cans need cleaned, it gets done. It doesn't need to be planned for the 4th Thursday of June each year! I look in the bottom of a can, say "ewww gross!" and send the boy out to the hose with that can and all the rest of them.

Whether or not my eyes are focused on keeping our home, and keeping the family well, is up to me. No plan can establish that for me. It has more to do with my desire to serve my family and be in obedience to the Lord.

At the same time, routine can be key. But habit can be better. Following a step by step procedure can be great, but I'd much rather spend my time in the kitchen in habit, rather than work. I'd rather our morning be full of the habit of "helps", rather than the drudgery of a list of chores. There is most definitely a fine line. I think I've found that line in my heart relationship to all that I do. As I've accepted and claimed my position as help meet to my husband, child of the King, and even mother to my babies, I've come to a place of peace in the doing. Where the blessings come from God rather than a completed check list. Thankfulness is key.

I was walking through Target yesterday, taking my little one to the bathroom (and we all know how fun it is to run from one side of the store to the other with a full cart, a ton more to do, and a child yelling she needs to potty!). We were moving quickly and all of the sudden I had an internal glimmer of what the look on my face must be at that moment. My heart became thankful as I realized she hadn't had an accident, she'd done what she was supposed to do--tell me. We had a cart of full of yummy fruit and things we needed (and even a fun new croquet set) that we could pay for. It was a beautiful day. We were together. No body was fighting (that came later at the grocery **grin**). Was there any reason to be glum? Just because of an interruption? Just because things didn't go MY way?

Ahhhh. Thankfulness! The habit that affects EVERYTHING! So while routine is peachy, habit is better. So here's a hardy farewell to all cleaning management "systems". May they never cause me strife again! Not to say that there is nothing good to glean from them. Not to imply that list making is bad. They, too, can be a useful habit. It's the slavery to them that changes the focus. May we learn good habits instead, and implement them. May thankfulness be the order of the day.

"O Lord, that lends me life,

Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness."

William Shakespeare

Mulling The Life

There are so many things I'm mulling over at the moment...

• What to feed my family during the summer months.
• What NOT to feed my family during the summer months.
• The continuing process of planning for fall lessons.
• The excitement of summer and a more relaxed schedule.
• Being less busy and more able to spend fun time with family and friends.
• Reading more.
• Getting off sugar again.
• Finishing my flower beds.
• Being a better help meet.
• Etcetera. Etcetera.

The thing that constantly amazes me is how busy we are. We don't do a lot of sports teams or lessons. We are not shoppers. We don't just "go" for the sake of "going". We invented the Staycation! We are just busy. The days and weeks fly by and I can't catch them. I would like things to slow down a bit. There is always a thousand things to do. There are always frustrations regarding the undone 999. I long to be still. Tranquility seems elusive, yet I know exactly where it is.

Why don't I go there? Why won't I rest in the Master's hands? How we must grieve our Heavenly Father with our attention to the details of life and our lack of attention to the details of The Life.

Father, hear my prayers!

Sad Morning

Our house is very somber this morning as we grieve for the Chapman family and their loss of little Maria.

As many fans, we feel "related" to our favorite Christian artist and can't even begin to fathom the anguish they are experiencing today.

Our prayers are with them; particularly for their son who was behind the wheel. How he must feel, I can only imagine.

It's amazing how this has affected our emotions this morning. All the horrors that accompany the thought of losing a child. The fact that she was our daughter's age. The whole driveway thing. It will be hard to not think about it for awhile.

But their hope is in Christ...He enfolds them in His arms and lifts them up. I have no doubt they will look to Him for their comfort. I have no doubt that they will find it there, however long it takes.

Where You Are

When I was on staff with Campus Crusade, everything was about "going". As you can imagine. Going, sending, going, sending. Nothing wrong with that. I was there because that was where God wanted me at the time. But I'm not there now. I'm here. In my house in suburbia with my husband and children; homeschooling and being a child of the King, regardless of my rather obvious imperfections.

I remember during that long ago time (as a very young woman), struggling with the fact that my very Godly father wasn't a "missionary"...he was a "businessman"--just a businesssman. There was something in the environment in which I was entrenched that, though it was subtle and probably unintentional, suggested that unless you were on the "mission field", living on raised financial support, you were missing "the mark". It was then that I began to understand what the "mission field" really was and what it wasn't.

It wasn't elusive. It wasn't always in a foreign land. It wasn't for just the elite, or the unemployed. It wasn't just for the college graduate. It was in a music store in a small town. It was anywhere a person in submission to Christ was sharing His glory. Even if it wasn't with a little yellow booklet (The Four Spiritual Laws), but by word and deed. It was life in Christ.

In a recent article in Homeschooling Today magazine, there was an interview with Steve Saint. Remember him? Nate Saint's son? "End of the Spear"? Jim Elliot? The man who took his family to the jungles of Ecuador to minister to the tribe that murdered his father and five other men back in the 60's? Well, the article entitled, "Go, Make Disciples", by Mark Robinette, has several excellent quotes. One that really struck me was when he talked about how God gives us His Word, wise parents and counsel as our "fences", or boundaries and then God says (and this is Steve's quote), "'Here's your pasture.' Our job is to be faithful where He put us."

He then goes on to say, "Every assignment from God is an adventure worth taking seriously, whether it takes you to a jungle an office, or your own living room where you are teaching your children."

I love this assignment from God that I am on! He meets our daily needs. He encourages and teaches us daily. He guides, directs, strengthens, upholds us in His hands. He IS the Good Shepherd. And...He loves us. Apart from Him we are nothing. I'm grateful for my experiences in various mission "pastures", but I'm more thankful that I can teach these Biblical truths to my children.

The grass is not greener in any other pasture!