temptation and strength

At the recommend of a go0d friend, a few of my best girls and I have started a “Good Morning Girls” group – off books.  In short, a GMG is a few friends who email/text/facebook each other once a day to remain accountable to being in God’s Word.  If you want to see what it is in depth, click the hyperlink.

Our group utilizes email.  One person starts it off, and when you get around to the time of day you have your time with God, you send off a sentence or two about what you read and what you learned.  It’s been a great challenge AND a great learning experience.  It is amazing to see what others can get out of a scripture that you never saw for yourself.

I recently read a portion of Matthew and 7 verses stuck out to me.  I’ve read them repeatedly over the past 20 years, but not until today did I pick up on these verses.  I’m going to highlight what struck me most.  You may get something completely different…

Matthew 22:39-46

⁹Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. ⁴⁰On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." ⁴¹He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ⁴²"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."⁴³An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. ⁴⁴And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.^[a]

⁴⁵When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.⁴⁶"Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."

The first thing I realized was the need to pray not to fall into temptation.  I’ve known that, but to read it that Jesus instructed it as a “pre-emptive” strike was a good reminder.  And not only once did he say it, but TWICE.  I’m pretty sure that in Jesus-speak that means “YOU BETTER PAY ATTENTION.  THIS IS IMPORTANT.”

The second verse I need to re-read several times was verse 43.  “An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.”  My shoulders felt relief.  My soul sighed in wonder.  My burden seemed lighter.  The maker of me, of my world, needed extra strength?  My Lord, my Jesus, who willingly walked among us and gave up so much to truly know what it was like to be human needed a little heavenly “caffeine pick-me-up”?  To anyone who feels defeat, tired, overcome by life, that verse should be encouraging.

Why did I not see it before?  I know the Holy Spirit reveals scripture as we need it most – those “scales” fall away and we can see when we need it most.  I am so overwhelmingly grateful to have read those words today.  Committing that verse to memory is now on my list of things to do.

I don’t know about you, but I need a little extra strength sometimes and just having the knowledge the JESUS was in need of a Rockstar “angelic” Energy Drink sometimes helps me feel better about my need for a little extra strength sometimes.

Toy Story 3!

Hudson has been anxiously awaiting the release of Toy Story 3, not only because Toy Story is his all time favorite flick, but because it is to be his first movie in a cinema.  He giggles at all the same spots that he did 2.5 years ago, repeats the same lines and still plays with his Buzz Lightyear and Woody the Cowboy.  If I didn’t know any better I’d think they modeled Andy after Hudson.

Today was the much anticipated day.   I have to admit, we were really excited too.  Chris because radiation is done and he was raring for a good movie (he’s one of those that read all the reviews and he couldn’t believe the raving of the critics on this one).  Me, well, I’m nostalgic. 

I clearly remember my first movie.  I was five like Hudson.  My dad took me on a special date to the movies to see Annie.  And I wore a pretty dress.  After the movie, my dad bought me the Annie soundtrack (on record). 

I wanted Hudson to love this experience, and hope it is one that will stick with him for a long time.  That is part of the reason we waited till he was five.  Movies are expensive and we don’t think they are worth it if you aren’t old enough to sit through the movie and enjoy it! :o)  Needless to say, Hugs definitely enjoyed it.

This is him pulling out of the driveway.  He and Miss Kate (who watched Anna so we could go with just Hudson) had made a cool sign together.  He was so excited he had to put the sign in the window so everyone knew he was going to the movies.  He kept asking, “Do you think they saw my Toy Story sign?  You think they know I’m going to the theater?”

This is his cool sign.  He could nearly contain himself while outside getting tickets.

Waiting for the flick to start.  Oh yes….he brought Woody to the movie as well!

All of us outside after the “story” had ended.  It was so much fun!  A memory Chris and I will hold dear for a long time, and hopefully Hudson will too.

Week 3 Radiation

Chris continues to be in awesome spirits, makes the radiology techs laugh and keeps himself positive.  He is feeling the cumulative effects of the radiation a little more this week as he is really worn out and for the first time, took some medicine to try to make the nausea pass.  He is resting as much as he can (well, as much as he thinks he can - he's a perfectionist and I'm trying to convince him that it's ok to let a few things slide right now) and Hudson and Anna are doing a great job at letting Daddy rest from his "medicine" he gets at the doctor everyday.

gospel

Right now my son is sitting at the lunch table giving my daughter the gospel message. I’m impressed – and delighted :)  It is sweet, and oddly hilarious to listen to this….especially from the one who just got his buns spanked a few minutes ago.

I like this that he just said:

“You know the angels that watch over you at night?  They throw a big PARTY when someone asks Jesus into their heart!”

1 Corinthians 13 visual

We have an awesome event here at our church 2 times a year, called Married Life Live.  We also have an awesome video production department that helps us make some pretty rockin’ spoof commercials and shorts.  Here is one of the latest from this past MLL.  Enjoy the spoof based on 1 Corinthians 13.  (it is really only 4 minutes 30 seconds long)

Week 2: Radiation update

Thanks for the thoughts, prayers and meals!  We’ve been encouraged by the body of believers, our family and friends.  Chris is in the middle of week 2.  He was feeling well the first two days of this week, but is pretty wiped today.  The weekends give him a chance to recoup and gain some energy back. 

He said today he feels like he rode around on spinny rides at the carnival a few times and got off.  And then the early flu symptom feeling. Interesting analogies.

I made homemade sauce and turkey meatballs tonight for dinner.  He told me that during his nap it was a “comforting” smell as it reminded him of Gram’s house growing up.  It was either the smell or the exhaustion that lulled him into a 2 hour nap…I’d like to think it was the mouth-watering smells from the kitchen. :o)

my dad

Four years ago in the early morning hours, my dad lost the battle with cancer, but won the war as he met Christ face to face – what an amazing experience that must be for him!  We joke and say that Christ’s first words to dad were, “Welcome Home, Dale.  Welcome Home” in honor of Dad’s favorite TV show at the time – Extreme Home Makeover.  We also said that he surely was already hitting the first tee in paradise and thought it was a pretty amazing thing that his tee shot didn’t slice right. :)

 

So this goes out to a wonderful mentor, incredible husband, fabulous pastor, adoring grandad, Christ-like example, amazing friend and advice-giver….my awesome dad.  So glad I know one day I will see him again.

piper-dyting

Mommy (to Anna lying on the floor whining because Hudson had a sticker she wanted):  Anna, stop hyperventilating.

Hudson:  Yea Anna, stop piper-dyting!

Anna:  I’m not piper-dyting!!!!

emmalade

You know, the stuff that you drink in liquid form that is made from lemons and sugar?  Anna calls it

emmalade.

meal baby & Smokin’ Steve’s

Today was Chris’ first official day of radiation.  He’s tired and worn out, but he’d convinced it’s because he wasn’t sleeping well the past couple of nights.  I disagree, but either way, he needs to rest. 

I think the yummy dinner of fresh corn on the cob, cantaloupe, steamed asparagus and Smokin’ Steve’s brisket raised his spirits.  Chris says Smokin’ Steve’s cures cancer.  Highly possible.  It’s that good.  (BTW, Smokin’ Steve’s is our pastor’s amazing gift of using his bbq smoker.  Man, this brisket tonight was seasoned perfectly and melted in your mouth.)  I love that all our farm stands are open everyday this time of year.  My tastebuds are sooo excited!  And I am happy to report, my children’s are too.  They devoured that corn and cantaloupe – and the asparagus was eaten too, but not with as much gusto.

Seemingly one of the things I’ve been learning is that it is ok to accept help from people when it is offered.  Like when Whit sends containers of brisket and other yummy treats. (Many thanks Whit!  And to the delivery…KT).  Like when friends call and say they are bringing a meal to freeze, or a gift card for a meal, or signing up for meal baby.  I’m realizing that being able to share in the commonality of “supping” (as Chris calls it) gives friends the opportunity to show us love, in a tangible way.

I say it is blessing our hearts by way of our tummies.  It’s showing love in a way that everyone can understand.  That’s why meal baby is so cool.  Some friends of ours developed a website that allows you to set up a calendar for meals to be brought when you are in need…a baby, a surgery, treatment, etc.  People that would like to love on you then sign up and say what they are bringing – read: you don’t get 15 pans of alfredo fish and 12 bags of pistachio pudding.  It’s a purty neat gadget.

We also then headed to the dairy after dinner to pick up milk – and 2 kiddie cones of the homemade creamy delights for the kids.  (It was slightly tempting to go pick more strawberries, at the nearby patch, but I refrained.)  While licking the dripping sherbet, Anna & Hudson headed to the barnyard to show daddy the cows and the roosters.  I do have to say that we really enjoy driving the extra few miles to the dairy store to get milk – we can see where it comes from, what they are fed, and how they are treated.  Local farmers get a huge two-thumbs up from us – we support you and the hard work you are doing!

In closing, thanks to all of you who are praying for Chris and those of you who are loving on our tummies.  We appreciate it.