Tag: Jesus

Home for Christmas

Diana B.Leave a comment

Home. They say it’s where your story begins. And they say there’s really no place like it.

Last month we visited the only place that I called “home” the first 22 years of my life. It’s the red-brick house my parents brought me home to as a newborn. In the pink bedroom, I shared a bed with all my dolls and listened to the whippoorwills and lonesome train whistles crying in the distance. In the cozy den, I listened to Mama play John Denver songs on the piano. In the backyard, I learned to swing and ride a bike and dig in the dirt. In the front yard, I played cars and trucks and cowboys and Indians with my brother. On the front porch, Daddy let me sit on the bucket as he cranked homemade ice cream on hot summer evenings. In the paved car port, I roller-skated with my headphones blaring Madonna tunes. In the kitchen, Mama let me lick the chocolate icing off the beaters, and Daddy shared his Dr. Pepper breaks with me. And through the big picture window, I often gazed dreamily, wondering about the future and waiting for the next package or the next visitor or the next season or just the next bus ride to school.

So last week, as we drove slowly down West 27th Street, I gazed dreamily at that red-brick house perched on two-and-a-half wooded acres bordering Lake Keystone. It had changed. In the front yard, many of the blackjack oak trees my brother and I played under were gone. Only their stumps remained. In the backyard, someone else’s swing set was placed closer to the patio than mine had been. And all around the house, new windows with white trim had replaced the old ones with brown trim. Even the big picture window overlooking the front yard was new and improved.

All those alterations seem subtle, though, when I consider how my view of home has changed since moving away from Oklahoma 12 years ago. Often, I’ve been confused. Is home where I grew up? Is home where my family is? Is home where I live now? Is home where my children grow up? Is home where everyone knows my name? Is home where I celebrate Christmas? Where is home exactly?

As a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom, I spend a lot of time at our home here in Minnesota. Linnea and Laurel do, too. For us, home is more than a house to sleep in. It’s a comfortable place to grow and learn and worship and play and eat and rest and entertain. And I love it here; I really do. I love the memories we are making as our daughters twirl around these rooms on their tiptoes, making music with piano keys, guitar strings, made-up songs and girly giggles. I am so blessed to be home with them, teaching them and making this a soft place for Michael to land when his work day ends.

Yet my heart still longs for home. I am still wondering about the future and waiting for what’s next. These days the Bible is the big picture window through which I gaze heavenward. The Bible says none of us are truly home anywhere on this earth because God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus.

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ…” -Philippians 3:20

Heaven is home. Jesus is from there, and He’s back there now preparing a place for us, just as He says in John 14:1-3:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

Home is where Jesus is. And He’s busy preparing a place for me because my citizenship is in heaven. I’m just passing through Minnesota. How should I respond to that truth? Shouldn’t I set my mind on things above? Shouldn’t I prepare room in my heart for Jesus? Shouldn’t I trust Him with all of my heart?

Someday we’ll be together in heaven. But in the meantime, if Jesus is in my heart, then my heart is at home no matter where this earthly body roams. And no matter where you roam, we pray your heart may also be home in Christ Jesus this Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

The Bread of Life

Diana B.Leave a comment

Last week we started memorizing John 6:35, talking about manna for the Israelites, and talking about Jesus feeding the multitude. We also had two science experiments involving yeast and balloons. Those were fun! And playing around with yeast just made me hungry for some homemade bread, which I usually only bake during the holidays. But, with the snow and all lately, it sort of feels like the holidays already. So last Thursday the girls helped me bake bread. We made more than two dozen brown-and-serve, clover-leaf hot rolls, which I froze, and also these three cute mini loafs. Yum!

breadoflife

“…I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35

breadoflife2

For the record, we also made homemade butter, as part of our history lesson, to serve with our homemade bread. Let’s just say that wasn’t quite so photogenic or  yummy. But after all that butter churning shaking, Linnea and I both really appreciate Land O Lakes sweet cream butter on a totally new level!

“Carry Me”

Diana B.2 Comments

Yesterday we joined some dear friends for a little field trip to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. The gardens boast no flowers in February, of course, but the fresh air and sunshine did wonders for most of us!

Sadly, my 3-year-old, Laurel, was the exception. About two minutes into the trip, she asked if I would carry her. Seriously? It simply wasn’t an option. When we are both wearing snowpants and snowboots, carrying her is impossibly awkward. So, for the whole trip Laurel was whiny and grumpy and sluggish. She walked yards behind the rest of us, and I was selfishly impatient and frustrated with her as I waited for her to catch up. What was her problem? She’s been moody lately — with those infamous 3-year-old girl hormones — but this was a little extraordinary.

Only upon removing her snowboots at home did I realize the real culprit. A blister. She’s outgrowing her hand-me-down snowboots, and they were rubbing a blister on one of her little heals! Poor thing!

Laurel never said that her foot hurt, or that her boots were tight and uncomfortable. She just trudged along with a frown. I feel so badly that I was so impatient with her. I never asked her why she was moving so slowly; I just kept telling her to hurry up!

After her bath tonight I bandaged up Laurel’s foot again, and then I read her the story about the Tower of Babel in her Jesus Storybook Bible. The story concludes saying that the world didn’t need a tower or a staircase to reach heaven, the world needed a Rescuer from heaven.

I asked Laurel who she thought that Rescuer might be. I don’t remember her first answer, but her second answer was, “Jesus!”

I replied, “Yes! Jesus. He is the Way to heaven. We can’t get there by taking the stairs, or by taking an airplane, or any other way. Only Jesus.”

Nestled snugly beneath the covers, Laurel looked particularly thoughtful. Then she asked, “Will Jesus walk us to heaven?”

Hmm. This wasn’t a question I anticipated. “Well, He walks with us on here on earth, so…”

Just as I began to see Laurel connecting this “heaven trip” to our walk at the Arboretum yesterday, she interrupted, “Will He carry me?”

Oh, precious one, yes He will! Jesus rescues us! He heals all the blisters and wounds this uncomfortable world gives us. Jesus knows about wounds. He was wounded for us to heal us from all the bad things we do. He was wounded so we can live with Him forever in heaven. And most certainly He will carry us there.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

1 Peter 2:24 (NIV)

Resolution: To Pray Better for My Kids

Diana B.Leave a comment

One of my all-time favorite verses is Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

 

I memorized this verse when I was expecting my firstborn, and reciting it brought great peace through some big challenges I faced right before my bundle of joy arrived. Six years later, I can’t count the times this verse has brought peace in all sorts of situations as a mother.

 

Whether our children are still in the womb, asleep upstairs or all grown up and living half-way around the world, we moms and dads are frequently tempted to be anxious about our children. But then what an opportunity we have to meditate on biblical truths as we pray God’s Word, the sword of the Spirit, to fight for our children!

 

If we want to experience the joy of watching our children walk in the truth, we must pray for them, says Pastor John Piper of Desiring God Ministries (www.desiringGod.org). Watching your children walk away from the truth, he adds, is crushing.

 

“To lay hold on this joy and to prevent this pain, we must pray daily (sometimes hourly) and earnestly for our children,” Piper says.

 

Desiring God offers this list of seven things to pray for your children. My goal is to pray through these each week for both of my daughters.

 

1. Pray that Jesus will call them and no one will hinder them from coming. “Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away.” (Matthew 19:13-15)

 

2. Pray that they will respond in faith to Jesus’ faithful, persistent call. “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

 

3. Pray that they will experience sanctification through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit and will increasingly desire to fulfill the greatest commandments. “And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” (Matthew 22:37-39)

 

4. Pray that they will not be unequally yoked in intimate relationships, especially marriage. “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14)

 

5. Pray that their thoughts will be pure. “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.” (Philippians 4:8 ) 

 

6. Pray that their hearts will be stirred to give generously to the Lord’s work. “All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord.” (Exodus 35:29)

 

7. Pray that when the time is right, they will go! “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’ ” (Matthew 28:18-20)

 

Also, not too long ago one of my best friends forwarded this list of 12 petitions to pray for children; specific verses accompany each petition. The instructions suggested praying for one petition each month so that, after a year, you’ll have thoroughly prayed for each petition. If you memorize the verses as you pray, you’ll also have a great stash of biblical truth to draw on in times of trouble or need.

 

Below is the list of petitions to pray for your children and references for the corresponding verses. I looked up each of the verses and wrote them down in a handy spiral-bound book of index cards to review as I pray.

 

Here are 12 more ways to pray for your children:

 

1. Pray that they will know Christ as Savior early in life. (Psalm 63:1 and 2 Timothy 3 :15)

 

2. Pray that they will have a hatred for sin. (Psalm 97:10)

 

3. Pray that they will be caught when guilty. (Psalm 119:71)

 

4. Pray that they will be protected from evil in each area of their lives: spiritual, emotional, physical. (John 17:15)

 

5. Pray that they will have a responsible attitude in all their interpersonal relationships. (Daniel 6:3)

 

6. Pray that they will respect those in authority over them. (Romans 13:1)

 

7. Pray that they will desire the right kinds of friends and be protected from the wrong friends. (Proverbs 1:10-14)

 

8. Pray that they will be kept from the wrong mate and saved for the right one.  (2 Corinthians 6:14-17)

 

9. Pray that they, as well as those they marry, will be kept pure until marriage. (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)

 

10. Pray that they will learn to totally submit to God and actively resist Satan in all circumstances. (James 4:7)

 

11. Pray that they will be single-hearted, willing to be sold out to Jesus Christ. (Romans 12:1-2)

 

12. Pray that they will be hedged in so they cannot find their way to wrong people or wrong places and that the wrong people cannot find their way to them. (Hosea 2:6)

 

Whiter than Snow

Diana B.Leave a comment

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Except for a few small patches, nearly all of the snow that had been covering our lawn since Dec. 1, 2007, melted earlier this week. We all rejoiced to be finally rid of that old snow; it had turned ugly and gray over the last three months. 

On Wednesday Linnea was able to ride her bicycle and play outside all afternoon. Laurel blew bubbles and scooted around on her trike. Neighbors we hadn’t seen in months came up the street to chat. The hope of spring that had sustained us through this long, bitter winter was finally becoming a reality!

But today it’s a different story. It’s Good Friday and the first full day of spring according to the calendar. But just like Jesus’ disciples felt on Good Friday, we’re feeling confused and discouraged. It’s snowing. Actually, it’s blizzarding. We must have nearly six inches of fluffy white stuff out there right now, and it’s still piling up! We’ve lost a little hope. 

So what does snow have to do with Good Friday? After David had committed adultery with Bathsheba, the prophet Nathan came to him and encouraged him to repent of his sins. David wrote Psalm 51, and in verse 7 he says to God, “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.”

Likewise, Isaiah 1:18 says “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”

All week I’ve been reminding Linnea and Laurel that Easter isn’t about brightly colored eggs or tasty chocolate bunnies. It’s about Jesus dying on the cross for our sins. It’s about Jesus paying the blood sacrifice so that we, like David, can be made whiter than snow.

So even in the midst of a March blizzard, we still have hope. We have hope that spring will arrive and the rain will wash away our snow. The grass will reappear and turn green. The birds will return. The trees will bud and the flowers will bloom.

Though our hope for spring may come and go, our hope in Jesus will continue. He cleanses us and gives us a fresh new beginning. He will not disappoint us. He is risen indeed!

Sunday School Dreams

Diana B.Leave a comment

I’ve wanted to teach Sunday School ever since I was a little girl. When I was still young enough to play with dolls, I would line them up on the floor in my bedroom and teach them whatever Bible lesson I had just learned the previous Sunday. The dolls behaved well in class, but they sure didn’t say much! Fast forward a few years to high school. That’s when, in the “dreams and goals” section of my senior memories book, I predicted that in 10 years I’d drive a green Ford Explorer, own a gift shop, be a published writer, and teach Sunday School.

Of course life doesn’t usually go as we predict. I never got the Explorer and I haven’t opened the gift shop. But nearly 15 years later, I am a wife, a mother and a published writer who is finally teaching a Sunday School class of real live 5th and 6th graders!

Well, co-teaching is more accurate. My friend Darla and I alternate teaching the lessons every other month. Darla is my hero, and we have a great class – seven boys and seven girls all together.

Sometimes the girls remind me of those dolls in my original class; they quietly stare back at me with a frozen smile when I ask them a hard question. As we teach them about the more than 700 names for God, I am certain we are learning more than they are.

But when these kids come to life, they are fascinating people! Some of them look up Bible verses with lightning speed. Others impress me with their diligence to keep searching until they find that elusive verse. Some of them brought us presents at Christmas, and one of them bubbled over with joy when I showed up at her piano recital. Each student is truly a blessing to get to know, and you quickly grow to love them.

Teaching this 5th and 6th grade class isn’t easy, but few things worth doing are easy. I spent hours and hours preparing the first time it was my turn to teach, and then my two-year-old got so upset about being left in the nursery she got sick! I was so disappointed when I had to ask Darla to cover for me. Looking back, I think that was a test to see how dedicated I was to the role.

It’s a joy and a blessing to volunteer in “The Oaks,” our nickname for the children’s ministry at church. It’s also a regular reminder to align my desires with God’s desires. I want Jeremiah 17:7-8 for these kids, and my own daughters, and my friends’ children. I want The Oaks to become hardy trees, rooted and established in the love of Christ so they don’t get blown over by a storm or wither in a drought. I want these kids to bear acorns of spiritual fruit for the glory of God. And when they reach the autumn of life, I want their branches to be ablaze with vibrantly colorful hues for the display of God’s splendor.

By the way, the curriculum we are using is from Children Desiring God (www.childrendesiringGod.org), and I think it’s excellent! We study God’s character, and there’s no sugar-coating it or watering it down. Over and over we’ve seen that God loves His name and will not allow it or His reputation to be dishonored. As my friend Carla says, “God is not a big fuzzy teddy bear; the last thing our kids need is another teddy bear!” Indeed! God is so much more: Strong Creator, Unchanging One, Almighty, Master, Provider, Healer, the God Who Sees, the Lord of Hosts, the Lord My Banner, the Lord Our Peace, the Lord My Shepherd, the Lord is There, the Lord God of Truth, the Lord My Defense, the Light, the Most High, Abba Father, the Word, Lamb of God, Savior, Messiah, High Priest, Cornerstone, Overcomer, Coming King, Judge, Counselor, and Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End.

 

‘Tis the Season to Share the Joys of Christmas!

Diana B.Leave a comment

A close friend of mine e-mailed me this fun little Christmas survey, and I thought I’d share my answers here, too.
      

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I use wrapping paper if the gift is rectangular or somehow boxed or being mailed. I use gift bags, too.

2. Real tree or artificial? Now that we have kids, it must be real! And certain body parts should become partially numb in the pursuit of selecting the perfect tree on the farm and cutting it down!

3. When do you put up the tree? the weekend following Thanksgiving

4. When do you take the tree down? shortly after Christmas when it becomes more of a fire hazard

5. Do you like eggnog? No! Give me hot chocolate instead!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? my “Mandy” doll because she came with a doll bed and lots of doll clothes that my mother made for her

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes – we have a Fontanini set that my aunt began for us about 10 years ago, and she still adds to it. The figures go in a stable that Michael and I built together several years ago. Also, this year I bought the Fischer Price Little People nativity set for my daughters. They love playing with it! It is fun to watch them bring all sorts of other little toys (cars, dolls, etc.) to “go see baby Jesus!”

8. Hardest person to buy for? It’s a different person every year.

9. Easiest person to buy for? Linnea – there’s so much girly stuff out there for her age, and she loves it all!

10. Worst Christmas gift ever received? concrete blocks wrapped up to look like a big, heavy gift (I think there was a check in the attached envelope, but it was still disappointing to unwrap!)

11. Mail or email Christmas card? mail it!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? “It’s a Wonderful Life”

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? in the summer or while on vacation; I always try to do the bulk of my Christmas shopping BEFORE Thanksgiving because we end up mailing many gifts out of state

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? sure

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? home-made cinnamon rolls, fudge, chocolate desserts, hot rolls, ham, cranberry sauce, Chex mix, sugar cookies

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? red or clear but NOT multi-colored

17. Favorite Christmas song? I have two favorites: “The Holly and the Ivy” and “O’ Come, O’ Come, Emmanuel.”

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? stay home out of the snow or go to my aunt’s house nearby

19. Can you name Santa’s reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph

20. Do you have an Angel on top or a star? a star on top but lots of angels elsewhere

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? morning, except maybe one gift Christmas Eve

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? greedy people and people who are uptight about calling it “Christmas”

23. Did you believe in Santa when you were little? I did. But it was always a little creepy thinking about some strange guy coming to our house in the middle of the night. We don’t “do” Santa at our house now because it’s confusing and distracting, especially with a December birthday girl in our family!

24. White Christmas or no snow? White Christmas, of course! Those of us who live in Minnesota deserve a white Christmas for all the cold and snow we deal with in fall/winter/spring!

25. What is your Christmas wish for this year? May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The Case for the Real Jesus

Diana B.Leave a comment

Here’s a compelling interview with an athiest-turned-Christian, Lee Strobel.

http://www.billygraham.org/DMag_article.asp?ArticleID=902

Daily Portion

Diana B.Leave a comment

“Because of the LORD’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” -Lamentations 3:22-26 

I just got home from Laurel’s ECFE class, where I spent 45 minutes discussing “stress management” with about a dozen other moms. When I logged on to my computer and read my daily Proverbs 31 Ministries devotional for women, I found today’s message particularly fitting for managing motherly stress! Here’s the link to it:

http://proverbs31devotions.blogspot.com/

My Treasure

Diana B.1 Comment

In the mail yesterday we received no less than eight catalogs, offering everything from windoware to goosedown jackets to personalized snowman figurines. Evidently October is when this world thinks we ought to begin Christmas shopping.

This world certainly offers us plenty of “treasures” that moths and rust destroy. Matthew 6:21 says that where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Becausing I am working on being a better steward of all that God has entrusted to me, I threw those catalogs in the trash. Nothing in them is going to matter in 10 years, muchless a thousand years, so why waste my time and money on them?

In a thousand years, teaching my daughters about Jesus will matter. In a thousand years, time spent pointing others to Jesus will matter. Those are the treasures I must store up for myself — not the latest fashions or dust collectors.