Committed

Commitment


Definition: the trait of sincere and steadfast fixity of purpose; a message that makes a pledge;  the act of binding yourself (intellectually or emotionally) to a course of action

My tv woes certainly don't compare to the heavy burdens that a dear friend of mine is carrying.  It pains me to see her hurt yet all I can do is pray.  As I sat with her tonight and just prayed my thoughts turned to the wickedness of the world and all it does to those we love.   Satan has so many people deceived, not just worldy people, but many, many Christians too.  If we really, truly love Jesus shoudn't we follow Him in everything?  Shouldn't we have a heart like Him?  Shouldn't we love like Him?  Shouldn't we be friends like He is a friend to us?  Satan has people so blinded by bitterness and ugliness that all it does is turn people into mean, spiteful, vindictive people.  I don't understand.  I don't understand why someone would turn family members away from one another, or say mean and spiteful things about another family member.  Aren't family members suppose to support and love?  Yet, for some reason out of jealousy or anger they won't or can't.  Out of selfish ambition they choose to hurt those they love rather than love them as Jesus would love.  I think of the pain my friend is going through and then I think of Jesus and the pain He must be going through to see His children acting in such childish manners.  When His children hurt He hurts all the more.  I imagine all those tears that my friend has shed these past few months are being placed in bottles for her to see when she gets to Heaven.  I could give no answer.  I know Jesus has the answer yet it's up to us to be committed to Him to help us get through those rough areas of our lives.  Sometimes when the tough times come our committment to the Lord falters and we start to go to wayside.  I'm not saying this about my friend.  She has too much faith (although she may not think it this moment in time) and loves Jesus too much to falter yet how many of us, at times, falter on our commitment to the Lord.  We think, it's getting to hard so let's just jump ship.  That's not what the Lord wants.  He wants commitment in the worst and the best of times.   He wants commitment when the storms are brewing and there's no end in sight and when the ocean is calm and smooth and you can see clear to the other side.  Lord, help me to be committed to you.  Committed to you all the time and not just when things are going good for me.  Help my commitment be truly geniune and not something that is fake.   Help my commitment to be steadfast and sincere to you oh Lord.  Help me to wake in the morning and commit the day to you and what you have in mind.  Thank you Jesus.  Amen.

What? No TV?

This was the response I had yesterday when I came home from grocery shopping.  I walk in to see my tv (not the one that is pictured!) sitting up agaisnt the wall, all cords uplugged and looking oh so lonely.  As I jaunt up the stairs, trying not to be too upset, I ask Kev why the tv is the way it is.  Evidently the boys were fighting over which channel to watch.  He was frustrated with the fighting and decided thatNO ONE was going to watch it for a whole month.  A MONTH????  Are you crazy?  My whole mind was thinking what in the world am I going to do now?  That's how I relax at night.  Sit in front of the tv and watch my favorite shows.  Can I tell you I wasn't a very happy camper?   Kev than preceded to tell me that for the first four years of our marriage we didn't have a tv.  Then when Renn came along we had a little 10" tv that we played videos on for Renn.  Eventually people kept giving us bigger tv's and the tv not only became for videos but tv shows.  I told him that was then, this is now.  Kevin wanted the boys to remember why the tv got taken.  So not only are the boys punished but I am too (or that's how I perceived it).  After I calmed down I told myself that I had no choice I was going to have to go a month without the tv.  The boys, Kev and myself were just going to have to figure out other things to do besides watch tv.   Then, alas, I had a thought.  I do have a computer so all those shows that I like to watch I can just watch on there the next day!  Isn't technology grand?  I will survive the month!  He said no tv for a month.  He didn't say no computer! 

Giant Haystack

Here's pics from our annual Giant Haystack we do at Halloween time. We had a great turn out this year and the Lord blessed us with some pretty awesome weather. We couldn't have done it without all our wonderful helpers too!

Kids inside the haystack

Getting started

Making balloon animals

This is before all the kids went in

Protect Your Active Kids from MRSA

Pee Wee Quiz

Zayvn had his first match yesterday.  Berean has 3 Pee Wee Quiz Teams.  All the kids did a wonderful job!  Each team member on Zayvn's team, called Team Truth, answered questions and one little guy got a quiz out (answering 5 questions correctly).  After the meet the team went to McDonald's to celebrate! 

Fall

Zayvn decided to get the rake and pile up the leaves and jump in them.  He was having loads of fun!

Kevin got the basketball hoop fixed today so we've been enjoying that!

Jonah of Ark

I took this from Kevin's post on his facebook wall today:

So while studying JBQ with Zayvn to day. He became adamant that Jonah built the ark not Noah. After discussing it at length He said in frustration “Dad haven’t you ever heard of Jonah of ark?”

Love that kid!

Great Day!

What a great day it was at my new job!  I am so grateful to the Lord for directing me there.  The ladies were wonderful to work with.  I caught on real fast to what I will be doing and possibly have an opportunity to work at the register.  It was funny to watch some of the students who I know come through the lunch room.  I had one student look at me and then do a double take.   One student came through my line and gave me a great big smile and a hello.  I found out later she told her mom I was the egg roll lady!  Then I had one student who saw me but wasn't sure what exactly he should do.  He looked away and then looked back and I finally said hello.  He then said hello.  I saw several other students walk through the lunch room but they didn't see me.  The variety and busyness of the job is what I like.  There's not a lot of down time which is good.  Thanks Lord for providing such a great job!   We'll see what tomorrow brings!   

New Job

Tomorrow morning I will begin a new job with Southeast Polk School District.  This is the district the boys are in which means that I am on the same schedule as them when school is out.  I will be working in the lunch room at the high school from 9am-2pm.  I'm very excited for this opportunity.  Majority of the youth that come to Berean go to the high school.  I haven't told very many that I'm going to work there.  I just want to see their expressions when they come through the lunch area tomorrow and see me there!  No longer will I have to deal with going to different schools, different starting and stopping hours and not being able to take the boys to school.  I can drop them off in the morning and be at the high school in less than 5 minutes.  I just give thanks to the Lord.  He works out everything in His timing.

People To People

I don't know how it happened or who suggested Renn's name but several weeks ago he got an invitation from a group called People To People International http://www.peopletopeople.com/.  People to People is an educational exploration program founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.    Renn has been invited to become a member of the official state of Iowa delegation traveling to England and France next summer.    We have an informational meeting this week to go to to find out more about the program.  Renn seems pretty pumped about it however we told him until we find out more information a decision will not be made.  Of course, he would never go by himself so Kev or I would go with him and cost is a big factor as well.    I'm looking forward to hearing more about the program.  What a great opportunity for him, as well as the other 5th & 6th grade students, who were invited to be a part of this. 

He Has Not Forgotten

As I was in church tonight just worshiping the Lord my heart became heavy.  Heavily burdened for friends of ours going through a very rough time.  Burdened for the family within our church who just loss their 1 year old daughter.  I sat there wondering why things happen the way they do.  Why did this family have to lose their precious baby?  Why do our friends have to go through the heartache they are experiencing?  It aches my heart to not be able to take the pain away that my friend is feeling.  Her burden is so heavy.  I will never fully understand.  Until I'm sitting in Heaven next Jesus then I hope to understand.  One thing He did speak to me tonight though was so clear in my head.  That no matter the circumstances, no matter the heartache, no matter how bad we hurt Jesus is still a sovereign God.   He is still the ONE who will bring us the comfort we need when we need it the most.   We can not forget those things that He has done for us in the past.  He loves us with a love that we can not even begin to imagine.  No matter how hurt and painful it is we are going through He is hurting much more than what we are.   No matter the pain and hurt He wants us to remember that He is still here and has not forgotten us!  Easy for me to say huh?  I'm not the one experiencing the loss of a baby.  I'm not the one experiencing the heartache that a daughter is bringing.   In the midst of the tornado, when all around the only thing that is seen, is the dust and debris, the Lord is there.  We need to reach out and grab His hand and He'll pull us out of that.  
Lord, I pray tonight for my dear friends and this family who are experiencing such heartache.  I pray you will reach out and touch them tonight.  Console them in their pain and hurt.  Heal the brokeness.  I pray you would bring answers where they are needed.  I pray for peace within their heart.  I pray for daily strength, to make it through each day.  Bring comfort through the night and in the morning.  Lord, your a God that cares for us and I pray they would remember that.  Touch them tonight Lord. 
Jesus loves me this I know.
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong.
They are weak but HE is STRONG.
Yes, Jesus loves me.  Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.  The Bible tells me so.
I pray Lord they will feel your love tonight.  Amen
 

JBQ

Team Mercy with their Coaches

Coach Ryan giving a few last minute pointers

Kevin telling Renn how proud he was of him!!

JBQ, short for Junior Bible Quiz.  Berean's JBQ team name is called Mercy.  Both the boys decided to join this year.  Zayvn is actually in Pee Wee Quiz and they meet twice during the season.  Wednesday nights before church the team gathers together and practices.  Neither one of the boys have ever been in JBQ.  Renn joining came as quite a surprise to us.   He began about two weeks later than the other kids however he is doing a wonderful job.  Watching him today buzz in and answer the questions made this momma quite proud!    Actually all the kids did quite well.   Five matches were played today and Team Mercy was undefeated!!  Two of the team members got quiz outs (answers 5 questions).   Renn buzzed in and answered two questions right.  Most of the team members are returning quizzers so they have a few more years experience than Renn.  However, he is holding his own and even said at the end of the day how much fun it was.  I'm glad both boys decided to join.  Them studying God's word over and over is a wonderful thing.  I look forward to seeing Team Mercy go all the way to State!!  Proud of you Renn!!