A Mother as Artist

"Just as an artist who paints pictures and portraits exercises great care in his work, so each of you, mothers and fathers, must be attentive to these wonderful images [children]. Each day, a painter adds what is necessary to the picture. Sculptors do the same, removing excess stone and adding what is lacking. You should do the same: as makers of images, devote all your time to the task of fashioning wonderful images for God. Remove the excess; add what is lacking. Each day, examine the images closely. Cultivate the natural excellence that each one has, removing what is by nature inferior….[T]each them to be sober, vigilant, watchful in prayer, and to place everything that is said and done under the sign of the cross."

-John Chrysostom, On Vainglory and the Education of Children

Cited from: http://www.girltalkhome.com/blog/a-mother-as-artist

Richard Baxter on his wife

This is too beautiful not to link. Read how Richard Baxter describes his helpmate and her role in his life and ministry. Click here.

I need to hear this again and again

I love the book of Ruth.

The cutest thing I've ever seen! And I love this song!

Foreshadow

would it be much better if i knew nothing about you

Fashion

La mujer esta en el apartamento.



http://middlechildcomplex.tumblr.com

I love the fashion on the above blog-- for the most part, it exemplifies my taste. I like what is vintage, classy, with a beautiful hint of quirky. I love the feminine suggestiveness through each photo. It inspires me.

More to come.

Hippies

Love this

Let me hide myself in Thee

this inspires me

I feel it all

This song makes me feel alive.

"Whatever comes, we shall endure."

During this season of life...

...I'm learning.

Resolutions: Paul Tripp

This is a very good article. You should read it here

Should I take back my resolutions? Maybe. But most importantly I realized something life changing while reading this article.

Life is the millions of tiny choices you make. It IS important to stay faithful.

This was good for me to read. I hope I will remember it.

I need grace.

Have flavor. Learn Theology.

Just Do Something!

This book has changed my life and perspectives! I bought it when I went to Together for the Gospel last month, but I just found this sermon tonight and it's great! I know it was for a men session but it's still so good for me to hear. : ) There is a womens session sermon too and I'm gonna listen to that as well, so I'll post that as well. : )

Here is a blog about the book and you can buy it on a link here.
Here is the sermon for the mens session: "just do it" here.
Women's sermon: "radical womanhood" here.
Here is the conference NEXT resource link.

I really hope someone listens to these. Just download them and put them on your MP3 player and while you are doing some mundane task or exercising or cleaning & listen to it. It's a great way to set your mind on things above!!! Colossians 3!

What more can I do? I put my only Son on the cross for you.

Made for Another World

"One decisive influence was J. R. R. Tolkein, author of The Lord of the Rings. He argued like this, as Lewis did for the rest of his life: When this Joy—this stab of inconsolable longing—is awakened by certain powerful “myths” or “stories,” it is evidence that behind these myths there is a true Myth, a true Story that really exists, and that the reason the Joy is desirable and inconsolable is that it’s not the real thing. The True Myth, the Real Joy is the original shout, so to speak, and the stories and myths of human making are only echoes.

Tolkein pressed the analogous truth for Christianity. And Lewis did the same years later: “A man’s physical hunger does not prove that that man will get any bread: he may die of starvation on a raft in the Atlantic. But surely a man’s hunger does prove that he comes of a race which repairs its body by eating, and inhabits a world where eatable substances exist.” In other words, “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probably explanation is that I was made for another world.”"

-Piper on C.S. Lewis

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/ConferenceMessages/ByConference/46/4503_Lessons_from_an_Inconsolable_Soul/

Suffer Well

Pastor Matt Chandler of The Village Church had a seizure on Thanksgiving 2009 and a brain tumor was found in his head.

Just like that.

Watch this video. What an example. When you suffer, suffer well, that all might know that only Christ satisfies!

Christ is the treasure, not good health or wealth.

Everywhere

This is a photo representative of my life right now.

It sometimes feels like a deserted, foggy roller coaster, and I'm riding all alone. Other times it feels like I was left on a deserted island. Or like I'm walking through the wilderness on a lone path with no end in sight. My only comfort is knowing that Christ is all around, above and below, standing so near.

Other than that, it's been pretty quiet here. The good news is that I think I'm getting closer to knowing what I should do in my life (for the current season). I was just praying out my options to the Lord last night, explaining what was going through my head with each of my 7 ideas and suddenly it clicked. I'm not 100% sure, but we'll see. I'm just glad that I'm getting closer.

Also, I was driving home from our soccer game today and within my current situation of coaching, I finally pieced together parts of why I'm there. A few weeks into the job back in July I just couldn't figure out why everything was happening as they were. I can now taste and see the blessing. So I must keep faith that things will eventually make sense on this crazy deserted island as well.

And I really like this video. Such a comfort to know that the Lord is everywhere. Psalm 139

And Evan's sons are just so cute, I wish I could babysit them. : )