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

When mommy was blogging . . .

someone was into the markers!

HOW TO CATCH A PENGUIN

A little over a week ago an incident involving a little boy with down syndrome, occurred at SeaWorld that left such a smile on my face when I learned about it. It was evening and a family had just returned home from SeaWorld when they called to share this with our friends. The family told how their little boy had gone missing in the park. When they finally did find him, he was covered from head to toe in mud. No one knew where he had been. After arriving home, they opened up their son's backpack and discovered a penguin inside!

This little boy decided he would catch himself a penguin, even if it meant abandoning mommy and daddy, and getting down and dirty in the process. This was a calculated move and he went for it.

I can hardly resist praising the ambition in this child! In this case it was directed at fulfilling his own desires, however, there is another kind of ambition that is right to strive for mentioned in the New Testament.

"Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him." 2 Co 5:9 NASB

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14 NIV

What about you? What - or for whom- are you living?

Just in case you were wondering, the family did arrange to return the penguin to SeaWorld immediately. :>)

- Yvonne

SEIZE THE DAY

The last few days, amidst my very blessed duties of wife, mommy, and ministry, I found myself feeling extra tired (due to a few sleepless nights). Unlike any other time in my life, I craved sleep. Then I read this morning from Spurgeon that if light and darkness divided time in the first day (Genesis 1:5), it is only natural to expect, "changes in my circumstances from the sunshine of prosperity to the midnight of adversity."

Of course those circumstances did not qualify for anything like a "midnight of adversity", but rather a feeling of sinking into the mire of the mundane when I really wanted to be heroically tackling the urgent and important demands of the day. Rather, this was the time for me to remember that whatever our sovereign Father ordains is wise and good! Regardless of the circumstances, I am learning that I need to crave contentment more than achievement, and to rejoice in His divine order.

"There is beauty both in sunrise and sunset, sing of it, and glorify the Lord. . . . Believe that the night is as useful as the day."

What if our three children could learn from us the song of thanksgiving even during adversity? At any given hour of the day in our home, one will hear the sound of our children singing, and Eric and I often hear them quietly singing themselves to sleep at night (yes even Jack, if cooing can pass for singing). What a delight! However, when Sofia-Maree gets an "owie" or Braydon misses his cherished nap and things don't go his way, how readily tears often replace the song.

May Eric and I strive to teach them to sing whether it's "the mingled song of judgment and mercy, trial and deliverance, of mourning and delight"! What a wonderful way to seize the day as we keep watch and hope for the absolute and greatest surprise of all, the return of our Savior!

"Every hour has its duty, do thou continue in thy calling as the Lord's servant until he shall suddenly appear in his glory."

- Yvonne

THE VOICES OF OUR CHILDREN

I leave for work most days hearing the voices of our children calling, "Daddy, Daddy, I love you!" I return home to the same robust greeting. Our daughter may ask if she can pray, or our son will hold up my wife's ipod and say "holy holy Lord!". I may hear our daughter recite a memory verse, or our son attempt to sing "Jesus Loves Me".

These are small but powerful reminders of what God has blessed me with as a father. Along with that blessing comes a great resonsibility to teach and train our children in the way of the Lord. I am blessed with three beautiful children who make my day and bring me much pleasure and enjoyment.

When I listen to our children's voices I remember the blessing from the Lord as well as the command in how I am to teach and raise them. Take a moment to reflect on the following words in Psalm 119:9-16 and Psalm 127.

Psalm 119:9-16
"How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.
I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
Praise be to you, O Lord;
teach me your decrees.
With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.
I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.
I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word."

Psalm 127
"Unless the Lord builds the house,
its builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain.
In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep toa those he loves.
Sons are a heritage from the Lord,
children a reward from him.
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one’s youth.
Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their enemies in the gate."

- Eric