Volunteering vs. Paid Work

Is there a difference really?  Between working for pay and volunteering?  What is the unseen benefit of working?  What is the "pay" for volunteering?  God has given me several opportunities to give of my time and energy to people around me.  I have no job that pays money, but I realize that I have been learning and growing through this time of volunteer-ism.  God is forming me more into the person He wants me to be, and that is payment enough.

Colossians 3:17

And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Are You Adopted?

(I have been saving this for a few months, waiting for the right words to come.  I hope that it will be a blessing to you!)

I heard a missionary speak some time ago and it got me thinking. Wow, did it get me thinking!

Among all the chaos of life and the busy-ness of motherhood my brain has slipped away, a bit, from my love of language and linguistics. The missionary couple who spoke work in Africa, mostly in Bible translation.  One story they shared was of a student at the seminary who is studying the term that we translate to "adoption" in English Bibles.  (If I knew how to write it in Greek here, I would!)  So, in East Africa there is a tradition, or ceremony in which people are adopted into a family. But only adults are adopted in this particular culture. ???  Interesting!  This leads me down the path of adoption there being a fully cognizant decision, made both by the adoptee and the adopter(s).  Wow.  What an amazing biblical comparison!  God wants to adopt US and yet He allows us the right whether or not we want to BE adopted by Him.  Isn't that beautiful!

I love the topic of adoption since our two sons came to our family through adoption.  But while they didn't have a choice in their earthly adoptions, they DO have a choice about their HEAVENLY adoptions.

Have you chosen to be adopted?  I would love to hear about it!

A chisel

Along the line of "Blogging Without Obligation" it has been WAY TOO LONG since I have posted anything here.

Here is what God is speaking to me about these days:

In a blog He's telling me who I am: 7 True Things About You

In a song he's telling me it's ok to step out in faith: Something Beautiful

And my church closed down.

I heard an acquaintance saying recently that if a church does "x", it just should close down. If a church does "y", it should just close it's doors. Now she doesn't know me, or my church, and I chose to keep quiet and allow her to let out her steam. My church DID close down. Now, we haven't technically closed our doors, but we have no name anymore, and a small group of us are undergoing some training by our pastor in order for us to launch a new church. And God is speaking to me through that, too.

Now back to what God is speaking to me about:

In our training God is telling me that He'll never give up on me--in fact He's only just beginning to show me how much He can use me for His purposes here on earth. He's showing me that sometimes the chisel is large and heavy, and sometimes the chisel is small and delicate.

 In the past I have had pastors that wanted to do what this pastor is doing, but didn't know how. I have had pastors who encouraged me in my faith and walk with the Lord, but didn't know how to push me beyond my comfort zone to do the impossible with God. This pastor is leading us on a journey that will have huge ramifications that will last for eternity, and he is modeling for us in his own life what that will look like. He said that he wants to make things easy for unbelievers, and hard for believers. He's pushing us and equipping us for what is ahead and being the heavy chisel we need, while showing us that the gentle chisel will be saved for unbelievers, who need to know that God loves them, no matter what they've done, no matter how they've lived, no matter what.

If you need a chisel today, try reading the blog entry linked above at Inspired to Action. Then go live like you believe it.

Avoidance tactics aren't working

The more I get rid of in this house, the more seems to creep in on me. Really. I'm resting my arms on paper just to type this post! And avoiding cleaning it up isn't working. It's all still there.

Do you ever try to avoid God, hoping He'll go away and leave you alone for a while? You know, so you can feel better about not reading your Bible, or praying or talking about Jesus with those around you that need Him?

I'm so glad that just like these papers on my desk, God does NOT go away, and He will be right here waiting to forgive me when I am ready to come back to Him and follow Him again.

Lord, You gave me this message of grace to share with my readers. Thank You for forgiving me. Help me to do what I need to do. Amen.

Merry Christmas!

I got a gift this week that I will cherish for a long time. It was in the form of a sermon, believe it or not! :) The pastor preached out of 2 Corinthians 4:1-11 and Matthew 6:19-21. The nugget that I walked away with, is the fact that I have to spend time on something to show evidence that I love it. Treasure it, then I will love it.

Now, I struggle with keeping my house out of complete chaos, and most of the time I'd rather not be doing the things it takes to keep it tidy. With that attitude I have begun to love my house less and less. What do I need to do to treasure my home? I don't think the pastor had that in mind for his challenge at the end of his message! But as I think about, and try to implement ways to show my family that I love my home, the message of salvation rings in my ear. How much do I spend time with my Savior to show my love for Him? How much do I spend sharing Christ with the lost, to show my love for them?

Merry Christmas my friends. And may the light of Jesus shine brightly in you in the coming new year!

Thrilling Thursday!

A few months ago we had an apple tree cut down in our back yard. It was the only large tree in our back yard. It was a nice shade tree, but the apples were not edible. Likely it was a variety called "Early Transparent" which is not known for it's tasty apples, but is good for cross-pollinating other apple trees. So, it was a beautiful old tree that gave nice shade and lots of rotten apples to clean up after in the fall. And maybe some cross-pollinating benefits for some neighbor's apple tree. Somewhere. But it was very old and starting to rot in places. And the few branches that had been grafted on were not producing good apples either, even though they were supposedly edible varieties.

So, the tree was cut down. And we've had an 18" stump in our yard since then that basically has just reminded me of how many things in our back yard we have gotten rid of or cut down to make it truly our own design. We got rid of a statue of Mary, mother of Jesus. We got rid of two LARGE metal poles that held up a clothes line. We got rid of some small tree in the back of the yard. I can't remember what it was, but it had berries on it and the birds liked it. We moved three rose bushes into the front yard. They had been trained as climbers and are now back to their proper height. You're welcome. We got rid of the stuff that supported the "climbing" roses. We re-purposed the cinder blocks that had been used to support some IVY(!) that decorated the fountain and cement pond in front of the statue of Mary the mother of Jesus.

Our backyard now is the home of a beautiful grape arbor with two grape vines, three columnar apple trees, a dwarf cherry tree, a clump of ever-bearing raspberries and a modest garden which will have Walla Walla sweet onions, zucchini, pickling cucumbers, red potatoes, Yukon Gold potatoes, and some tomatoes, probably beefsteak or Romas.

But I got side tracked didn't I? Today was thrilling because the reminder of the way our yard WAS is GONE! We had the tree stump ground up today. And now I have some wood shavings to put in my compost bin. I'm happy! And I'm looking forward to spending hours and hours out in God's creation this summer, part of which is in my backyard.

Monday Mayhem

Today we attended our first birthday party of the school year. There have been at least 2-3 others already, but we didn't make it to those. The host family opted for the local fast food playland, and the boys had a great time. However, we didn't get home at the usual time, and my day is almost over before it even has begun! I really like my afternoons. Homework, if any, gets done after lunch time, then naptime and quietness prevail. There is just not enough quietness most days if you ask me! And today there is even less! Oh well. I wonder if the Lord likes quietness. He probably does. Especially when we spend some quiet time with Him. Think I'm gonna go do that right now! :D ~Jen

Friday Feast

I recently discovered that I have some food sensitivities. My younger son also has food sensitivities so I have been learning and cooking for an alternative diet for almost two years now. I suppose that his diet has forced me to learn some new basics, and my diet is now forcing me to learn more advanced principles in food preparation. As one dear friend said to me recently, "Isn't it amazing how God puts people into our lives that we don't even realize we need?"

The Lists

Son: Wheat, Rye, Barley, Oats, Bananas, Corn Syrup, Eggs
Me: Wheat, Soy, Eggs, Mold
Husband: Fish, Shellfish

This is just what we know about. And for some reason, I don't think these lists are going to get shorter any time soon. And my older son has NO ALLERGIES OR SENSITIVITIES WHATSOEVER. Do you think I should get him tested? ;)

So, here's my (after-Thanksgiving) lunch for today:

Shredded Turkey Rice Wrap

Ingredients:
Shredded Turkey from cooked carcass
Romaine lettuce, sliced thinly
Thai sweet chili sauce, to taste
16mm rice wrapper, dried

Instructions:
1. Be sure all fillings are ready and prepared to fit properly in your chosen-sized wrapper
2. Soak one wrapper in a bowl of hot water for about 30 seconds, until it is soft, then place on clean work surface
3. fill with a little bit of meat, topped with sauce, then lettuce
4. fold wrapper around filling like a burrito
5. repeat as necessary until you are full!

This is the basis for my new wheat-free, soy-free sandwich. Want one?

A great big "THANK YOU" goes to Karina and this website with the great photos.

Fall Apart Friday

I'm falling apart. My body is getting old, and it's trying to tell me so in not so many words. I can't change the fact that I am getting old either, which really bugs me. If I'm getting age-related illnesses, why do you have to call them "age-related"?? Is it just so I really feel that there is no hope at all for my condition? Or is it to remind me that others get these conditions, too, and not to worry about it 'cause there's nothing I can do about it?

I went to a naturopath yesterday to get tested for food sensitivities. I tested sensitive to wheat and soy. I'm still in shock and starting to go into auto-pilot to attempt to save my sanity. I really don't want to have food allergies. Or sensitivities! Or whatever! But I don't want the symptoms even more, so I am removing wheat and soy from my diet to see if the symptoms that I have been suffering from will disappear. I pray they do.

Now I feel like I have four kids. I have one healthy child, one with food allergies (that makes it feel like double the work!), and now I have food allergies myself, which feels like yet another child in my family. Maybe the Lord knew that even though I wanted 4 children, they wouldn't look exactly like I hoped they would (you know, small and cute). Two of them look like they are supposed to, and two of them look like phantom food allergic people, that I can't see, but still have to shop for, and cook for, and clean for.

I ran across these song lyrics today that really hit home: "If sacrifice requires that all my kingdoms fall, I surrender all." Lord, help me to surrender all to You. Amen.

A Wild and Wooly Wednesday to you!

Today is playgroup day for me. Oh, and my almost 3 year old! LOL! This means I will be busy all morning. And I'm not ready for that.

Lord, give me peace and contentment for today and all that it brings. Help me to speak wisely, but only when I must speak at all. Work through me in the moms that you bring to playgroup today. Help me to be a blessing to them! In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Saturday Surprise

I'm going to try to start blogging here regularly. That's part of the surprise. The other part: I think I'm allergic to something in my favorite sweet and salty peanut butter bars. And of course I bought a box at our local discount club store. Oh well. Looks like my 5yo has a lot of peanut butter bars to eat for snacks now.

Blessings! ~Jen

Gone

Gone are the thoughts that were just in my head a second ago. "Outta the den you guys," I say, as I try to scrap together some semblance of sanity to this world called Motherhood.

Gone are the days when I could eat a piece of candy and my child would not whine that he wanted one, too. When will I get a treat for me that I won't feel somehow obligated to share?

Gone is a peaceful night's sleep... or a peaceful day for that matter. When will I get to enjoy a few nights in a row of comfortable sleep on my brand new bed that cost a small fortune?

Gone are the days when I could make everyone at the table happy with what I fixed for dinner. How long will my kitchen be compared to a fine buffet restaurant, and with disdane?

Gone are the days when I could spend quiet time with the Lord, both quiet heart, and quiet room. How many more times will I not be able to find my Bible and notebook on my way out the door to go to a ladies' Bible study or church meeting?

But when I look back on this time, three or maybe five years from now, what will be gone then? What will I miss about this time?

Let me savor "now" Lord, before it, in it's uniqueness, is gone, too.

~~Jennifer Young
copyright 2008

Because I'm not going to sit back and do nothing...

I love Jesus. I love the Bible. I love God, who created the entire universe in it's diversity and complexity. I believe the God does not want us to understand Him fully for the sole reason that he wants us to TRUST Him more. That said, here are some websites that have crossed my computer screen recently. I hope the Lord works in your heart through the reading of these authors. I know He has in mine. Love, Jen

www.silencingchristians.org
www.bible.org
www.expelledthemovie.com
www.dissentfromdarwin.org
post-darwinist.blogspot.com
www.probe.org

Are you a servant?

Check out the new link I have for Portland's CityFest. Find ways that you can be a part of the "Season of Service" either in Portland, or wherever you live! Then celebrate with others when the summer comes to a close, over what you have accomplished for the Kingdom!

Would Ronald have agreed to this?

This article is just too important not to pass on.

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=74691

Check here for more information:

http://www.nglcc.org/ht/d/sp/i/213/pid/213

Have you seen this yet???

www.silencingchristians.com is a website associated with a television series that is being broadcast about how this country is attempting, and in some cases succeeding, in silencing the message of Jesus! This information should outrage you as much as it does me! Go take a look and then spread the word. People who care about our religious and speech freedoms should act now! ~Jen

One of my favorite Bible passages...

I am posting this in the King James Version because that is what I memorized when I was a child. I hope this blesses you today.

Psalm 100

1Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

2Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

3Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

5For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

I added some blog links...

I really CRAVE the experience of home-educating my children: teaching them good character, academics and solid Biblical principles. I want my children to both be raised up to be the men of God that He desires, and yet allow them to learn to discern which is good from the teaching they receive outside of my influence. This is hard for me, as occasionally I find myself hoping that they will never be outside of my influence! Really! Do I think that my influence is better than that of God?!?! So MUCH I have to learn!

Thank you Lord, for Your hand on my children. Help me to know when I should teach them, and when I should step back and let You teach them. Amen.

A day in my life...

My cousin sent me a very encouraging email recently, saying that *I* was an encouragement to HER, in the realm of parenting. The reason I do the things I do to encourage other moms is because of a day like this one, when other people were an encouragement to me.
========================================
I noticed that I misplaced my house keys after dropping off my 4 year old "S" at school and was very thankful that my husband "P" had not left for work yet as I knocked on the door to be let in. I looked around everywhere, but knew they would show up eventually, so I didn't stress. "P" helped me find a spare key and then I went out to do my shopping.

I started out at store A. It was 10 minutes until the store opened, much to my chagrin, so I packed my 2 year old "L" back into the car to head for store B--use my time wisely, right? Well, the poor sweetie was screaming at me and wrestling to keep from getting back into his car seat because, gosh darn it, he wanted to go shopping and it didn't look like that was going to happen from his perspective. Finally I got him strapped in and got on the road to store B, with plans to go back to store A afterward.

At store B my son was an angel. I got my shopping done (with a slight pause at the meat counter for a properly sized package of meat, graciously cubed by the meat cutter so I didn't have to later), checked out without any problems (12 items in the 10 items or less checkout made me nervous, but without reason, thankfully!) and headed to the car.

At the car, I unloaded the groceries, and as I was preparing to unload "L," another mom walked by with her young child so I asked her if she wanted my cart. (I always ask someone if they want my cart, whoever they are. That way I am a nice person AND I don't have to take the cart back and wonder whether to leave the kid(s) in the cart and then carry/drag them to the car, or leave them in the car and take the cart back--with the car locked of course to prevent a cameo on the nightly news with a parking lot horror story.)

Well, the woman said she did not want my cart because she was getting a "car" cart for her son. I told her I completely understood and smiled at her. She proceeded to walk to the store and I proceeded to fume because she did not have the sensitivity to see another mother in need and help her out! Grrrr. I should have proceeded to ask God for forgiveness at that point, but I didn't. After I put "L" in the car and finished fuming, I realized that there was a cart return a couple of cars away. My anger mostly diminished. But my story doesn't end there. Remember store A?

Store A is going out of business in a couple of months so they've got lots of bargains. I get a "Costco" cart. Cool! More room for stuff! Prior visits to this store have only rendered a very small shopping cart, which probably would have been big enough for my items, but bigger is better, right? (I really LOVE shopping carts, don't you? They're like a gigantic purse that you can put your kid into!)

A couple of aisles into my shopping I gradually start feeling like Madame Blueberry from VeggieTales. She is a greedy berry who wants everything and ends up losing her nice tree-house because it gets too heavy and ricochets far away. Well, Madame "Me" got too big of a cart, two of which could not pass each other in the aisle!. Harumph. Needless to say, my shopping took a little longer because of this little detail.

Remember the mini shopping carts I mentioned? Well, when I finally got done and paid for my items, I also found that the "Costco" cart does not fit through their front door. WHY have a cart that will NOT FIT through the aisles NOR the entrance to get to the PARKING LOT?????? I had to transfer all of my bags and "L" to one of the mini carts so I could get out the door. It was tight, but everything fit.

I believe I succeeded in God's lesson in patience for me yesterday because anyone I interacted with only saw my sweet, kind-natured exterior. I enjoyed my shopping trip, despite it's twists and turns. And as I stepped up to the door to get "S" from preschool, the teacher handed me my house keys, asking me if they were mine.

Copyright 2008

For you moms out there

I know there are a few of you out there in cyberspace, so thought I would share a bit with you specifically.

Check out www.mops.org. It is a WAY cool organization that can help you be a better mom--and they offer babysitting so you can hang out with your newly found MOPS friends, too! I love my MOPS group and can't wait to get involved again in the fall.

And as for what this has to do with Jesus--well... He wants you to be a good mom, right? So check it out! :D ~Jen