MAKING PLAY DOUGH!

. . . and they made it from scratch!

Braydon says he is making a peanut butter sandwich and Sofia-Maree is making a Christmas tree with decorations (in sunny July?). What the pictures won't tell you is that as they play, my two oldest children are singing these words:

Jesus loves me, he who died

Heaven's gate to open wide

He will wash away my sin

Let the little child come in

Jesus take this heart of mine

Make it pure and wholly thine

On the cross you died for me

I will try to live for thee

I am so encouraged by their little hearts!

MY HONOR OR HIS?

"And you said, "The LORD our God has shown us his glory and his majesty"

Deut. 5:24a

This verse was the laser beam of sunlight I needed this morning, thanks to Spurgeon's devotion. How true it is that we naturally have a tendency to want our own honor. If our road is only smooth, we may only see a little of God's glory. I am finding that through these deep waters, I am being made aware of my weaknesses and my great need for sanctification. In this trial, my emotions may kick and scream but ultimately by a decision of my will, I yield to the King of kings and Lord of lords! " . . . they who do business in great waters,' these see his 'wonders in the deep.'” I am learning to say to him with more passion than ever, "Anything, anyplace, anywhere, anytime, I will follow you Lord." While I never would have naturally signed up for self-emptying of this kind, God is revealing his great lovingkindness to me and I am being shaped for the "outshinings of his glory".

Here are more words from the "prince of preachers" that spoke to my heart this morning:

"Man’s eye is not single, he has ever a side glance towards his own honour, has too high an estimate of his own powers, and so is not qualified to behold the glory of the Lord. It is clear, then, that self must stand out of the way, that there may be room for God to be exalted; and this is the reason why he bringeth his people ofttimes into straits and difficulties, that, being made conscious of their own folly and weakness, they may be fitted to behold the majesty of God when he comes forth to work their deliverance. He whose life is one even and smooth path, will see but little of the glory of the Lord, for he has few occasions of self-emptying, and hence, but little fitness for being filled with the revelation of God. They who navigate little streams and shallow creeks, know but little of the God of tempests; but they who “do business in great waters,” these see his “wonders in the deep.” Among the huge Atlantic-waves of bereavement, poverty, temptation, and reproach, we learn the power of Jehovah, because we feel the littleness of man. Thank God, then, if you have been led by a rough road: it is this which has given you your experience of God’s greatness and lovingkindness. Your troubles have enriched you with a wealth of knowledge to be gained by no other means: your trials have been the cleft of the rock in which Jehovah has set you, as he did his servant Moses, that you might behold his glory as it passed by. Praise God that you have not been left to the darkness and ignorance which continued prosperity might have involved, but that in the great fight of affliction, you have been capacitated for the outshinings of his glory in his wonderful dealings with you."

Spurgeon, C. H. (1995). Morning and evening : Daily readings (July 19 AM).

JACK TURNED ONE!

Here's the baby of our family on July 11, one year since he was born. What a delight he is to each of us!

Baby Penguin!

This is a true story written for my children by Jacqueline Johnson.

Here is this little story: Our friends have a five year old Downs Syndrome boy who was having a fabulous time at Sea World. In an instant his parents realized he had wandered off and in a panic they began to run in every direction, calling his name. After a few minutes others joined in. Finally, he was spotted….head to toe wet and muddy….running to his dad who scooped him up in relief and hugged him reassuringly! Upon arriving home they tucked him into his warm bed and opened up his back-pack … out popped the cutest little live penguin they had ever seen!!

We are sometimes like that little boy. We see or hear something that captures our total attention. We get caught up in the exciting moment and throw “caution to the wind”. The something may not bad, but it keeps us from following the best. God has given us a safety in times like these by giving us a daddy and mommy to protect us IF we choose to stay close where they can see and hear us. Listening and obeying …especially when we are in new places…keeps us alert to danger! When we disobey by slipping away where we cannot be heard or seen, we not only hurt ourselves…we hurt others. That little boys daddy and mommy were afraid because they love him. That little boy had been in water somewhere and could have been hurt. That little boy took something that was not his (baby penguin!). That little boy made a bad decision on his own…without asking permission of his parents. That little boy made it dangerous for the baby penguin. We need to stay under the umbrella of “protection”. The umbrella keeps the rain and pain of life from hitting us and gives peace and protection IF we stay under the umbrella. When we choose NOT to listen and go off on our own we walk out from under the umbrella and the protection is gone. This is, of course, true for us as adults, but our little ones can certainly identify with this little happy and excited boy!

by Jacqueline Johnson