In everything giving thanks-7

Today I am thankful for:

• a beautiful fall day (all day long) spent at the soccer fields
• the miracle of sunscreen
• the refreshment of a cold Coca-Cola and the thoughtfulness of my son who brought it to me
• grandparents who travel many miles for the opportunity to applaud and cheer
• volunteers who give a great deal of time and effort with no pay other than the reward of seeing a few hundred kids have a great time playing a great game
• daddies-turned-soccer coaches who encourage excellence as they teach the importance of teamwork, discipline and fun
• boys and girls who play hard, give their best, and have fun as they do so

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On cleaning house, in everything giving thanks-6

I've been cleaning house today. I'll be honest with you, nothing makes me hate myself more than cleaning house. I'm no housekeeper, not by any stretch of the imagination, and on those occasions I do clean and thus come face to face (sometimes literally) with the dirt and grime I've allowed to build up, well, it makes me despise myself (more so than usual, that is).

Today is no different. As I've sped through the house in a mad frenzy of vacuuming, dusting, and squirting cleaner on the bathroom surfaces, I've battled the same old frustration and self degradation. You would think that finally doing something about it (already), thus gaining some sort of victory over the mess and the clutter, however short lived, would make me feel better. It doesn't. I know even as I wipe and scrub that I've by no means tackled the real issue.

What, exactly, is the real issue, I'm not real sure. Pick one or more of the following: Lack of organization. Procrastination. No discipline. Distractions (like blogging, for instance, ahem). Or maybe clean house nirvana is only a useless striving after the wind; I mean, is my worth as a woman and follower of Christ really measured by dusting my baseboards weekly? There is a fine line between being a good and careful steward of my home--of serving the Lord by being busy at home--and making everyone miserable by pursuing some impossibly high OCD type standard.

Not that I'm in any danger of pursuing some impossibly high OCD type standard. I'm speaking theoretically here, of course.

Please don't get the wrong impression. Our home is not unsanitary. It is more cluttered than it is filthy (baseboards not included). And while I struggle with finding the proper balance (and corresponding discipline and organization), I remain grateful, glad for a home, my home, as dirty and disheveled as it may be.

And that's the point of this long rambling, slightly self indulgent post. Today I clean house and though I am tempted to indulge in self indictment I will instead be thankful. I will thank God for His gracious provision in giving me a home to clean and a family to care for and serve by washing their clothes and cooking their supper and washing their dishes and, yes, cleaning their bathrooms. Our mess is a holy mess because it is evidence of the Lord's blessing to me: five people I love more than any others and whose care has been entrusted to me, however imperfectly I may do so.

I am thankful for my home and the privilege to clean it.

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In everything giving thanks-5

Today I am thankful for the Word of God. As I am close to finishing reading the entire Bible in a year, I am amazed not just by the beauty and complexity of the words themselves but that it is indeed "living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." His Word lives and speaks and convicts and changes and sanctifies and proves and provides. Every page of my Bible testifies to Christ, the Word made flesh and I am thankful, profoundly and humbly grateful, that by His grace He has granted me the privilege to see Him there. A lamp to my feet, a light to my path, may the Word of Christ dwell in me richly--and may I be a doer and not a hearer only!

The law of your mouth is better to me

than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Ps. 119:72

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In everything giving thanks-4

Today I am especially thankful for my Bible study group. I've said before here on this forum and no doubt I'll say it again but I am humbled and grateful for the privilege to study God's Word with a group of women so passionate about knowing Christ. The Lord has been so good to us, to teach us and convict us and (please, Lord) change us. We've wrestled with some difficult truths as we've made our way through the book of Hebrews and I've loved our honest and authentic conversations as we strive to understand the ways of our God. To borrow my own words from another post (with appropriate changes):

My heart wells as I think of the Monday nights Wednesday mornings we've spent together, our Bibles and workbooks open, our conversation honest and authentic, and the table living room we gathered around becoming the Holy of Holies as our God is faithful to meet with us week after week. What grace, that He would "stoop down" to join our little group of very ordinary, very weak, very desperate women!

While I know that my journey is mine, independent of anyone else, and one I must choose to make though none go with me, I am so thankful that at this point in my walk, I do not make the journey alone. These, my friends, my sisters, my Bible study girls, walk beside me. Their support and love and prayers overwhelm me and sustain me. I've told them many times--and I've meant it each time--they are each a testimony of God's grace and goodness to me. That I would have the incredible privilege to study God's Word with them, those godly women and serious students of His Word--it's only His grace!

So, to my girlfriends: What a ride! We were (are) encouraged; we were (are) challenged. We all pray we will never be the same again. We sought God together (seeking Him still) and did we ever find Him! I love you all!

I wrote that a couple of years ago upon finishing up a different study yet the sentiment remains very much the same. I thank God for my fellow Bible students, my friends and sisters committed to meeting together on Wednesday mornings. Oh, the Lord is good to us!

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Status Report, November

Sitting...on the loveseat in the den.

Drinking...coffee, black.

Giving thanks...daily this month as part of Rebecca Writes' month of gratitude. I have so very much to be thankful for that I am glad for the opportunity to express it here on the blog.

Loving...fall. The trees, the cooler temps, I love it all. LOVE fall.

Needing...to begin some Christmas shopping. Yes, I know: Christmas. We are exchanging gifts with my family early this year, Thanksgiving to be exact, which means I need to lay aside my Grinchdom earlier than I might otherwise, at least long enough to purchase (and wrap) some presents for the family celebration at my parents' this Thanksgiving.

Attempting...a good attitude about December and all it entails. I'm afraid my Scroogeness is scaring people.

Challenged...by our study of Hebrews as we work through Nancy Guthrie's Hoping for Something Better in Bible study. We're nearly finished and I have been encouraged and convicted by the ongoing theme of perseverance and holding fast. There really is something better: Jesus! He is worthy!

Making plans...for my upcoming trip to Nicaragua. Preliminary plans, that is. Mainly attempting to secure a passport and a fan, two necessities from what I've been told. Any ideas where I find a small (9" or so) fan this time of year?

Reading...Little Women and loving the corresponding nostalgia.

Reading...Mere Christianity and loving the corresponding challenge.

Recommending...this post on the nastiest and loveliest of truths and thinking that our view of our depravity affects our view of God, Jesus, salvation and grace.

Loving...basketball season though simultaneously dreading the accompanying frantic pace.

Pondering...the strange and difficult ministry of the prophets in the Old Testament as I read the books that bear their name as part of my read-the-Bible-in-a-year plan. Those guys sure didn't have it easy, not by any stretch of the imagination. Many times, God gave them a harsh and difficult message to proclaim and yet they were faithful to do His will. What an example they are to somebody like me, timid, unsure and anything but bold.

Wanting...a perspective like that of Moses: "He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward." (Heb. 11:26) Pursuing Christ as my reward, seeking Him as the true and lasting Treasure--may it be so in me!

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Classics Bookclub: Little Women

This month's Classics Bookclub at 5 Minutes for Books is featuring works by Louisa May Alcott. As a girl, I dearly loved the Little Women trilogy: Little Women, Little Men and Jo's Boys. I thought for the Bookclub I would read something else by Alcott, something unfamiliar (did you know she wrote a series of suspense short stories--Behind a Mask: The Unknown Thrillers Of Louisa May Alcott?). I even checked out The Inheritance from the library. However, one night last week I caught the end of a movie version of Little Women which prompted my desire to re-read my old favorite, something I haven't done in many, many years.

My first introduction to Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy occurred at my grandmother's house in the books that once belonged to my mom and her brother and sister, Junior Deluxe Editions published in 1950. I read all three, many times over, curled up on the sofa at my grandmother's. Alcott's Under the Lilacs was also a part of my grandmother's library but for some reason I never read it, preferring I suppose the familiarity of my friend Jo and the rest of the March family. Like nearly every other girl who loved Little Women, I wanted to be Jo: passionate, impulsive, idealistic--in short, a writer. I'm not but I like remembering wanting to.

Upon my grandmother's death, my mom made sure I received her copy of Little Women, the one I am reading today. I am glad to have it, not only for the memories of the books itself and my girlish love of good story but because when I read it I remember my grandmother and our visits to her home.

Check out what other bloggers are reading by Louisa May Alcott over at 5 Minutes for Books!

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In everything giving thanks-3

Continuing with a month's worth of thanksgiving, today I thank my God for the privilege of being a mom to four priority blessings. I want to specifically express my gratitude for my number four son (I plan to highlight my thanksgiving for each of my children in a post so I thought I'd go in reverse order since being fourth he is so often last)...

My baby isn't so much a baby anymore! He'll be turning ten next month and I can't hardly believe it! He and I are kindred spirits in that we are both true homebodies who would rather be home than anywhere else. He is, for the most part, laid back and easygoing (except when he's not). I am so grateful for his hugs and kisses which he still freely bestows and I thank God that He has granted me the blessing of being the mom to such a great kid...

Me and my baby at 2 years old:

At three:

Four years old:

Me and my boy when he was 5:

The two of us last month:

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In everything giving thanks-2

Today I am grateful for my husband. Back when I first started blogging, I dedicated a post to things I love about my husband. It's worth re-posting here as I thank God for this man who has pledged to love me no matter what--and he does! He loves me though sometimes I wonder why. He is truly evidence of the Lord's goodness to the least deserving!

"Things I Love About My Husband." (Please note the list is not exhaustive, nor is it in any specific order...)

1. He loved me first.

2. He loves the Lord Jesus.

3. He makes me laugh.

4. He is a great Daddy to our four boys!

5. He works hard to take care of and provide for our family.

6. He is a man of honesty and integrity.

7. He is really smart, especially with all things technical and electronic.

8. He thinks everything I do is wonderful.

9. He never complains when the house is a mess, the dishes not washed, the clothes aren't clean, and we're having cereal for supper. Again.

10. Did I mention he makes me laugh?

11. He loves me still, after all these years and all these children and all those times he's seen me at my absolute worst.

I am blessed beyond measure and today, as every day for many years now, I am profoundly grateful for my husband.

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In everything giving thanks-1

Rebecca of Rebecca Writes plans to celebrate Thanksgiving by noting something she is thankful for on each day of the month for the entire month of November, "giving thanks always and for everything to the God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus." (Eph. 5:20)

I too want to mark this month with the remembrances of the Lord's goodness to me and to others so for today, November 1, I am grateful that I have been saved by the glorious grace of a merciful God who has made me alive in Christ even when I was dead in my sin. My sin condemned me, yet in Him I have redemption through His blood and the forgiveness of my sins according to the riches of His grace which He lavished upon me...

I thank God for so great a salvation.

Want to express your gratitude this month? Rebecca invites whosoever will to join in:

Here are three ways you can join in the thanksgiving.

• Mention something you’re thankful for in the comments here and I’ll included it in one of my thanksgiving posts, or
• Email me to tell me what you’re thankful for and I’ll include it in a post, or
• Post your thankful thought(s) on your own blog, send me the link(s), and I’ll link to your post(s). If you plan to make your thanksgiving posts daily during the month, let me know that and you won’t need to send me daily links

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Observations, a list of 4

1. It's raining. Again. Another gray and dreary day with a threat of another gray and dreary mood to match.

2. Basketball season begins tonight for my number two boy. I can't believe it! He went to school today decked out in a shirt, tie and khakis, looking all grown up and leaving me to wonder where all my babies went?

3. In Tuesday's Nightstand post, I forgot to mention that I also recently finished reading The Swiss Courier by Trish Goyer and Mike Yorkey, a story of spies and double agents set in World War II. The plot was a little predictable but enjoyable nonetheless. In short, I liked it (and Lauren did too; check out her review here and enter to win a copy of your own!). Thanks to Litfuse Publicity Group for giving me the opportunity to read it!

4. I can't believe I haven't mentioned this yet but I am going to Nicaragua. Yes, I--me, Lisa--am going on a mission trip to another country, another culture, another world very different from my own, Nicaragua. Some of you know me well enough to know that an international mission trip has long been a dream and desire of mine. The dream is now reality and I am so overwhelmed I can hardly talk or write about it. We are going in February, 7 of us from my church. I'm not sure what my responsibilities will include but there is the possibility that my pastor's wife (and friend) and I will be leading a woman's conference. In Nicaragua. Did I mention I'm overwhelmed? I'm sure I will be blogging more in the future but for now, will you pray for us?

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