"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthans 12:9-10
I was having one of those days today - the kind of day that I sprill things, trip over my own feet, forget things. You know the kind. We all have them. For whatever reason it seems like my self-talk turns significantly against me on days like today. Instead of my thoughts focusing on Christ, my thoughts tend to be pointing the finger at myself in accusation "you are suck a klutz! why can't you do anything right? You're not doing enough!" etc. The lies we tell ourselves - so often we are our own worst enemy. This evening I was getting into the shower to wash the paint that I had spilled all over myself (and the carpet I might add :( ) off and I was kicking myself for all my short-comings today and having my woe-party - the kind of thing where I add up all the woe-as-me's in my life. Then the song popped into my head that the girls have been singing all week since chapel this past Wednesday. We had been talking about God's love for us so I had taught them an old camp song "Love I'll Love". The words are:
Love, I'll love, I'll love you Lord forever
Love, I'll love, I'll love you Lord forever
I'll do my best I'll do my best
I'll do my best for You.
It struck me that as I had taught the song to the kids in chapel we talked about doing our best for the Lord. We talked about how none of us are perfect, we all make mistakes, but God doesn't ask us to be perfect (which is good since we can't be) and He doesn't even expect us to be.
In 2 Corinthians He tells us that His power is made perfect in our weaknesses. In our Sunday morning Bible study group we also heard about how God loves our weaknesses because there is more room for Him! God just wants our best. He wants us to do our best, to try our best. He wants our hearts. He wants to be the one we do the thing we do for. My thoughts certainly changed - did I do my best today? Did I try? Did I do it for the Lord? Perhaps more realistic points to focus on. It also gives me something to give thanks for - that although my weaknesses may frustrate me, God still uses them, and even more so then then the things that I think that I'm good at.
Stephanie had an ultrasound today and the baby is looking good. Mark seems to be responding well to the medicine that Dr. Martin put him on last week. Also both points of thanksgiving! I also have a lot of to-do list things that have been able to be checked off these past couple days with the help of Nate and Sarah being here, not to mention the wonderful time we're having with them here as company and getting to share in day to day life and a lot of laughs.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Matthew 25
You can probably guess that we are staying busy with having our dear friends here. It has been such a joy to have Nate, Sarah, Wilhelmina and Julius visiting us. We have enjoyed walks, playing at the park, going down to the ocean, church and getting lots of projects done around the house. Mark had a couple of bad days earlier this week, but this weekend seems to be doing better so that is wonderful too so that we can all enjoy the time together. God always seems to know exactly what we need. We were all starting to drag and get discouraged but special friends can turn the mood around in an instant! We are so blessed!
Stephanie is still in the hospital and still pregnant. I haven't been down there for a few days now but I know that she's getting a bit stir-crazy - sounds like things could happen anytime now, although there is no set date yet. She is right around 33 weeks, so another week would be great.
We also know that many people helped put together a fund-raiser up north at Mark's home church that he grew up in. Since we still have many connections to the area we were sad that we couldn't be there to see so many people. Once again it is so very humbling to know that things like this are happening, and yet such a blessing as well. Thank you to all who were a part of that special evening! We are so thankful for so many people that care about us, and most of all for all the prayers that are being raised on behalf of our family!
I expressed these words this morning in church and want to share them here as well. These words in Matthew chapter 25 have never seemed so real to life to me before:
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (v.31-40)
We have had so many people reach out to us and help to feed our family both through providing the means for physical food, but even more so, feeding us through their prayers and encouragement. We have been invited in by the congregation here, where they have welcomed us with open arms. Although we would've never chosen for this to happen, we feel so blessed that we have such loving people here supporting us. We also have so many that visit and check in with us, continue to send cards to Mark. It is all such a true testimony of what these verses say. God has blessed us so richly through so many.
~ Side Note ~I have found the camera cord!!!! Hooray!!! It is not here though - it is at the house that we stayed at when Mark was released from the hospital. As soon as I get it I will upload pictures. :)
Stephanie is still in the hospital and still pregnant. I haven't been down there for a few days now but I know that she's getting a bit stir-crazy - sounds like things could happen anytime now, although there is no set date yet. She is right around 33 weeks, so another week would be great.
We also know that many people helped put together a fund-raiser up north at Mark's home church that he grew up in. Since we still have many connections to the area we were sad that we couldn't be there to see so many people. Once again it is so very humbling to know that things like this are happening, and yet such a blessing as well. Thank you to all who were a part of that special evening! We are so thankful for so many people that care about us, and most of all for all the prayers that are being raised on behalf of our family!
I expressed these words this morning in church and want to share them here as well. These words in Matthew chapter 25 have never seemed so real to life to me before:
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (v.31-40)
We have had so many people reach out to us and help to feed our family both through providing the means for physical food, but even more so, feeding us through their prayers and encouragement. We have been invited in by the congregation here, where they have welcomed us with open arms. Although we would've never chosen for this to happen, we feel so blessed that we have such loving people here supporting us. We also have so many that visit and check in with us, continue to send cards to Mark. It is all such a true testimony of what these verses say. God has blessed us so richly through so many.
~ Side Note ~I have found the camera cord!!!! Hooray!!! It is not here though - it is at the house that we stayed at when Mark was released from the hospital. As soon as I get it I will upload pictures. :)
Missed Moment
As soon as the camera comes out they stop - but if I could've captured the moment just a bit sooner there were 2 adorable babies kissing each other - so sweet!
Little Sailor Dresses
Micaiah had a cute little sailor dress on too on Sunday but I never got get a picture coordinated with all of them in it.Saturday, February 26, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Beautiful Weather
We spent a lot of time playing outside while the Reicles were here. These are some pictures from our deck and our walk to and from the park. We can walk right along the lake to get there and it's only a block or 2 away (depending on which way you go). So glad the weather was so gorgeous so we could spend so much time outside.
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