how's your garden?

"...you will be like a watered garden, like a flowing spring whose waters never run dry."--Isaiah 58:11

This morning I was reading a chapter in Joyce Rupp's book May I Have This Dance, which is a month-by-month guide to deepening our relationship with God. She always challenges me to set aside the view I have of myself and God even, and just be real so that I can grow. Her April chapter is fittingly about resurrection: Jesus' resurrection and my own. She compares the human spirit to a spring garden, whose soil may be packed and hard after a long winter of bitter cold weather. In order for growth to occur, it must be made ready through tilling and turning over the earth which can be back-breaking work.

Rupp writes, "This part of gardening is essential, however, if green shoots are to push their way through the soil. A garden that has a hard, packed surface will not be able to receive the life-giving moisture of the spring rains. The water will run off and fail to soak the soil."

It is so easy to cling to this hardness. Working to soften ourselves so that we can be open to newly planted seeds and the waters that help them grow is painful! When we open ourselves up to these good things, the possibility of greater pain increases.

Rupp further explains, "Nothing prevents personal transformation more than a closed mind or heart. Change cannot take place if we cling to and clutch at what we think is unchangeable. When our security is at stake, we may withdraw or fight instead of listening, instead of thinking, praying, and talking about the challenge that is before us. We defend our positions and our feelings, and find others to help us to defend them instead of letting go, receiving new information, and listening to different perspectives that call for a change in us or others." Sadly, this scenario is all too familiar in my life!

Some things to think through:

--Reflect on your life since last Easter. Where have you been open? Where have you been closed? What do they tell you about your inner life?

--Look at the inner garden of your life. Where do the waters of life flow freely? Where do you see signs of growth, birth, hope, change, nurturing? How is God coaxing life out of you? What is being raised to life in you?

As moms, if we try at all, we can easily see the Lord breathing life into ourselves and our children. He is more than able to fill our souls with joy and refresh us when we need it most.

another great article

Sarah Wilson had another article published in the Radiant newsletter. This time she shares how becoming a mom has caused "Change for the Better" in her life. It's worth taking a look at!

true love

Philip Yancey quoted a woman named Judy Morford in his book on prayer (that I've mentioned before!). She's a mom and had some interesting things to say that we can relate to. Here's her short excerpt:

"My own prayer life has been through many changes over the years. As a young mother, I had a five-year-old, a three-year-old, and a one-year-old, and I found the only time I could really pray was literally in the middle of the night. If I woke up then, I would pray. As the kids grew older, I began to get up at 4:30 in the morning to pray. I still don't have ideal conditions for regular prayer. As a mother of three teenagers and working full time, I sometimes get too tired to pray. But most days I'm able to work in some time for quiet prayer.

Because of my changing schedule over the years, I've asked myself, Just what does God expect of me in my prayer life? The answer I come up with is he wants a love relationship. He doesn't want a hired servant; he wants a bride. A true love will always find a way. It may not always be the same way, or the prescribed way, but it will be a way that reflects love. That's what God wants from me."

In my nine short months of being a mom, the thing that has surprised me the most is the constant change. As soon as I feel like we are getting into a routine, Lewis moves on to a new stage and everything shifts. It sounds like this is going to continue until he and any future siblings are out on their own. Judy's perspective reflects that graciousness that many of you have mentioned before. It's much more desirable to pray when true love is the goal, and not mere duty. It's kind of like laundry and dishes. :)

a really good Friday

"'He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.' When they hurled insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 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. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."--1 Peter 2:22-25 (verse 22 quoted from Isaiah 53:9)

This story never gets old. What Jesus did in suffering for us is just as amazing today as it was 2000 years ago. In our "me" driven society, we just don't see people humbling themselves for the good of others, and when they do they are certainly rewarded for it. Our sinless Savior did not try to defend himself, but sought instead the favor of a heavenly judge, and an eternal glory.

recipe website

I heard about this website from my friend Heather's blog. She's pregnant with her fourth boy so she is a magnet for time-saving tips! This site offers menus with recipes and shopping lists for a week's worth of meals in several categories of recipes like slow-cooker, vegetarian and heart healthy. It's worth checking out at www.savingdinner.com . Thanks, Heather!

traditions?

With Easter fast approaching, it's got me wondering about holidays and what kinds of things we can do to make them special for Lewis while still keeping the meaning of the holiday at the forefront. Growing up we had Easter baskets and went to church. We did an Easter egg hunt around the house usually, and mom made a coconut cake. We were all happy that Jesus rose from the dead, but I just don't have a very vivid picture in my mind of much regarding our celebration of Easter.

I do remember when I was in high school that mom realized that we did not have a lot of "traditions," and felt like it was time to develop some things. At that age we were all quite reluctant to go along with too many of her suggestions. So while our family is pretty young, it would be great to hear what some others of you do to celebrate Easter (or other holidays). Any ideas?

our high priest

"...because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest meets our need--one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself."--Hebrews 7:24-27

Easter is right around the corner, which is in itself a great reminder of God's forgiveness through Jesus' death. These verses use strong language looking back on Christ's sacrifice as a complete act. Once we accept it as the payment for our sins (in our past, present and even future) we are completely forgiven and completely saved. These verses paint a picture of Jesus at the right hand of the Father, constantly interceding on our behalf.

Before we got married, Justin and I went through premarital counseling which was so beneficial for us. We look back on it often and the things we learned, though we do not always put them into practice the way we'd like to. A Christian counselor and his wife organized the sessions, and lead us through several exercises. One week they taught us how to fight. This was not a physical exercise, thank goodness! They wanted us to learn to communicate in such a way that we did not cause the other person to shut down. In marriage, as in all human relationships, language using words like "always" or "never" is typically an exaggeration and they encouraged us to avoid these types of accusations. For example, "You never encourage me," or "You are always late." Humans on the whole are inconsistent and statements like these are almost never true of any one person.

But when it comes to God, and Jesus our high priest, words like "always" and "forever" are the only ones that fit. His character is so consistent and steadfast that anything less would be a lie. In a world where imperfection is the norm, we have a perfect priest who sacrificed himself (not a lamb or a dove), and even now intercedes for us. His love is active and is always working for you.