Suffering is to Trust!

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tullian/2012/09/12/freed-from-the-prison-of-why/

I used to read a little book to my children called A Hole is to Dig and we'd laugh over the simplicity of the truth of the illustrations and words.  What fun it was to dig holes in the sand, in the dirt, in the bread dough, and even yesterday I had fun digging a hole for a new rose bush with lovely peach blooms.  Today, a friend sent me this and I was blessed, as she has been through a terrible trial in her life and is still living it.  She said she's analytic so she's always asking the why question.  I was hoping I could encourage her to simply focus on who God is, and she asked another- why is He good in this situation?  And all I could say was , "Well, He wants us to love Him because He's holy, and He's always good, and it's better to focus on that then on the past and what you think you did wrong!"  I have had so little suffering compared to what she's going through, but even in my "little trials" I've asked why and struggled with how I could fix the problem, and prayed that the other person would change, and been frustrated, and then tried to give a "talk" which turned into a lecture! Oh, how I know in my intellect that He wants me to trust Him, to be quiet, and let Him work, and believe that all things work together for the good of those who are called by His name.  So, suffering is for trust, and He will do what is best for us, in conforming us to the image of Christ. As I trust, He will make that habit dynamic and real in my heart so that it's practicable for life.

Mothering

Thursday, August 23, 2012
Mothering
Now that my "official" mothering days are over (I'll always be a mother, but the children are now gone from my daily service), I am thankful to say that God blessed me with 8 unusual, unique, funny, challenging, and rewarding gifts.  I will not feel sorry for myself, I now have others to give more time to, and I am so grateful for the 35 years of being able to be at home with my "bairns" (as my maternal grandmother called them). At least one of them, maybe 2 will be home next summer  because they're in college now, but it will be a different dynamic here at 3693 Sable Palm Lane. I want to encourage younger moms to stay at home as much as possible because it's the "being there" whenever they need you that makes a huge difference to them.  My uncle Tom Howard said that his mother was always "there" and that brought great comfort and security to him and his 5 siblings.  I sometimes left for a few days to speak somewhere, and was kindly allowed by my husband to do that, because he was usually able to stay with the kids, as well as have the older ones helping.  But when I came home, I was always aware of how much I was missed, and I felt guilty for leaving at all.  The preparation and the coming home were the hardest parts of leaving to speak.  While I was at the speaking engagement (sometimes a retreat, and sometimes just an evening), I knew the Lord was my helper and gave me joy in the retelling of my story, and joy in encouraging and meeting other women whose lives were so similar in needs as mine.  We were mothers trying to be perfect, and God was showing us, and still does that He is the only Perfect One, and we are to rest in His righteousness, not our accomplishments.

This article is excellent (http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/motherhood-as-a-mission-field), which I  found on Kirk Cameron's website, and was happy to see that he's a follower of John Piper.  My mother also taught me that doing the "little things" for God without being noticed by anyone, was my life laid down for the family, as well as my life given to His will.  I'm so thankful that she spoke of "faithfulness in little things" and it has been a life-long lesson for me to persevere in taking care of the little things that most people take for granted.  I have a natural tendency to want to ignore the everyday maintenance of those little things, and it is only by the Holy Spirit's still small voice that I am reminded that I should not ignore those things.  And, "Do the next thing" was my mother's motto also.  I often hear in my mind a quiet reasoning or argument that I must go do that thing, and my natural self is giving a reason why I should do it later, and not NOW.  If I don't do it then,  I later realize that if I had done it when I heard the small voice, it would have been exactly the right time.  I praise Him that He is in the process of conforming me to the image of Christ, and I often see how unnecessary it is for me to argue in my mind or to procrastinate, when it's in the little things that He is giving me to practice laying down my life.

Let your your mind  dwell on His holiness and His sacrifice for you , and you will be helped to live sacrificially for others.  Take one day at a time and let the day's trouble be SUFFICIENT for the day. Don't add on the work or the worries of tomorrow.  Those are in God's hands!

Worship

This is an excerpt from a short article by Matt Redman about his song, "Blessed be Your Name" and it helped me.   God is always Good, no matter how we feel, and He wants us to lift up our hearts and focus on Him, rather than on ourselves!

(Taken from www.mattredman.com.3/1/2005)

In his book "Magnify", Fred J. Heumann explains:
"To bless the Lord no matter what, consider these things:
Worship is about obedience in the midst of reality, not about emotional hype. Emotions can come and should be allowed to flow, but they shouldn't dictate our worship response.
If Job can say this, and face his circumstance and see God in the midst, so can we. This song speaks of the victory that can come in the midst.
The lyric to this song flies in the face of those who say we should only sing "up" songs in worship. We need songs that reflect all of life. The fact is, God is with us in our circumstances, and we can't fool Him about what's going on. We can, however, strive to be obedient and speak to ourselves as the Psalmist did-"Bless the Lord, O my soul!" and see the results that come when we praise our Lord in the midst of tough times."

Elisabeth Howard Elliot Leitch Gren

My mother is doing very well in Newton, MS at a facility called Woodland Court.  My very dear friend, Maureen Sellers, keeps me posted and says she's cheerful, eating everything offered to her, sleeps well through the night, enjoys music, especially hymns sung and played at the piano, and enjoys people who come to visit her.  She especially enjoys younger people because she will "talk" to them, hold their hand, and smile a lot with them.  That's  not to say that she won't smile at older people, because she will and responds well to most visitors, unless she's taking a nap.  I'm so thankful for how the Lord provided this place where she is loved and is stimulated by those around her every day.  Please continue to pray for her and for her husband Lars' healing and wisdom for their future care. I know God will direct and guide, as He did for them in June, when I had to take her to Ms. because of my upcoming trip to Newcastle, England, to see my daughter and her family after the birth of their 4th child, Jennifer Anne Martin.

sugar

Resolve to myself:  start avoiding sugar more and more.....it may prevent dementia, since I am predisposed because of my mother's side of the family.  Maybe this article will also convince you?


HAVE A SWEET TOOTH? GET TO KNOW STEVIA
Posted on July 10, 2012 by AmenClinics
This is a “good news, bad news” story; first the bad news. Sugar is the enemy. It’s disguised in many forms, and they all are bad for your brain and health. Artificial sweeteners are also bad for your brain. So we need to avoid or eliminate all forms of sugar and the so-called “fake sugars.”

Now the good news: You can still have a sweet tooth. Get to know “stevia.” Stevia is an all-natural alternative to white sugar that’s 30 times sweeter, has zero calories, zero carbs, is zero on the glycemic index and does not raise insulin or blood sugar levels. Stevia is a naturally sweet herb native to Paraguay and has been around for centuries. It has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely non-toxic and safe. In Japan, 40% of the sweetener market is stevia based and it’s becoming more accepted worldwide.

Stevia is also a helpful aid in weight loss due to the fact that it contains no sugar and has been shown to reduce cravings for sweets and fatty foods. People have reported that consuming 10-15 drops of whole leaf stevia concentrate 20 minutes before meals diminished hunger sensations.

When you have a sweet craving, stevia is a safe and effective option to satisfy you without all of the side effects and consequences of sugar.

The Truth About Sugar

According to Dr. Amen, sugar has numerous negative aspects. It’s highly addictive, causes inflammation and increases erratic brain cell firing which means that brain cells don’t communicate well with each other. It’s been known to cause depression, headaches, fluid retention, hormonal imbalances and hypertension. There’s nothing sweet about how much sugar people are consuming every day. According to the American Heart Association, the average adult in the United States takes in about 22 teaspoons of added sugar a day, while teens pile in 34 teaspoons a day.

“In one study using mice, they gave them cocaine, which they liked. Then they gave them sugar, which they also liked. But when given a choice, they preferred sugar,” said Dr. Amen, who also advises to avoid “drinking your calories” referring to sugar-laded coffee drinks, alcoholic beverages and even fruit juices.

“The body can break down sucrose dramatically better than fructose – which is the form of sugar derived from fruit. When you unwrap fructose from its fiber source, it becomes a toxin,” said Dr. Amen. So eat the orange instead of drinking orange juice which is typically made of 6-8 oranges worth of fructose in one glass.

Artificial sweeteners were designed to be sugar substitutes as a less fattening alternative. Artificial sweeteners like Splenda, NutraSweet, and Sweet ‘N Low, found in diet sodas and yogurt, can not only cause you to gain more weight, but has also been linked to many diseases. One University of Texas study linked increased consumption of artificially-sweetened diet soda with obesity. Scientists have concluded that these so called “fake sugars” manipulate the body’s natural ability to sense how much it has eaten and therefore we overeat without realizing it.

The only potential downside about stevia is some people experience bitterness after consuming products with stevia in them. Stevioside and rebaudioside A (or Reb A) are both partially responsible for the aftertaste, however, rebaudioside contains the least and is barely detectable. Try different brands until you find the one you like.

There are several upsides to using stevia. For example, you can use it anyway you would typically use sugar; bake, cook, add it to hot and cold teas. Add it to a shakes to make it sweeter. Make lemonade using fresh squeezed lemons. Put it in yogurt. You get the idea.

Tips to Avoid Sugar and Artificial Sweeteners

Learn all the forms of sugar. And don’t eat them. See the list of sugars below.
Start checking food labels and throw out everything that has “fake sugars” such as sucralose, aspartame, saccharin.
Avoid all products that are labeled “low calorie, diet, sugar free or no sugar added.”
Drink purified water instead of diet drinks.
Use natural sweeteners like stevia or brown rice syrup.
Here’s a delicious, sweet and guilt-free summer dessert everyone can enjoy. It’s easy to make and will satisfy any sweet tooth.

Mango Sorbet

Ingredients

1 cup low-fat plain greek yogurt
2 cups of frozen mango chunks
Pinch of stevia
Directions

Put all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth.
FORMS OF SUGAR

“OSE” SUGARS

Dextrose
Fructose
Galactose
Glucose
Lactose
Levulose
Maltose
Saccharose
Sucrose
Xylose
“OL” SUGARS

Mannitol
Sorbitol
Xylitol
OTHER SUGARS

* Preferred alternatives

* Agave – Derived from the blue agave cactus, agave syrup tastes similar to honey but it’s low on the glycemic index.
Barley Malt
Beet Sugar
Brown Sugar
* Brown Rice Syrup – A syrup made from sprouted brown rice.
Cane Juice crystals
Cane Sugar
Caramel Color
Confectionary Sugar
Corn Sugar
Corn Sweetener
Corn Syrup
Corn Syrup Solids
Date Sugar
Dehydrated Cane Juice
Dextrin
Fruit Juice Concentrate
Granulated Sugar
High Fructose Corn Syrup
Honey
Invert Sugar
Isomalt
Malt Syrup
Maltodextrin
Maple Sugar
Maple Syrup
Molasses
Palm Sugar
Raw Sugar
Rice Syrup
Sorghum
* Stevia – A naturally sweet herb native to Paraguay. It is non-caloric, and has been used as a natural sweetener and flavor enhancer for centuries
Treacle
Turbinado Sugar

Best quote I've found in a long time

This was sent to me by Joni Erickson Tada, and it was exactly what I needed today! 


"In the spiritual life God chooses to try our patience first of all by His slowness. He is slow: we are swift and precipitate.  It is because we are but for a time, and He has been for eternity. Thus grace, for the most part, acts slowly.  He works little by little. Sweetly and strongly He compasses His ends, but with a slowness which tires our faith because it is so great a mystery...There is something greatly overawing in the extreme slowness of God.  Let it overshadow our souls, but let it not disquiet them.  We must wait for God, long, meekly, in the wind and wet, in the thunder and lightning, in the cold and the dark. Wait, and He will come...and when he comes, go with Him, but fall a little behind; when He quickens His pace, be sure of it before you quicken yours.  But when he slackens, slacken at once: and do not be slow only, but silent, very silent, for He is God."
-by Fredrick Faber in Growth in Holiness

Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of lights

Our 4th grand baby was born this morning by c-section in Newcastle, England.  Her name is Jennifer Anne Martin and she is 7 lbs. 6 oz.  Our friend, Iris Strachan,  who is a "card," is at home with the little ones (Valerie is in school till 3 PM) and she said since the Olympic torch passed the town of Newcastle, and because Jennifer kicked the hardest of all the babies, it's a  sign that she will be an Olympian! Jennifer is named after Mat's Mum and we are so grateful for the goodness and kindness of God in bringing this new little life into the world.  Pray for speedy healing for Elisabeth, and an easier time of feeding this little one than it was with Jimmy.  He will be 2 in July. I get to fly there, Lord willing, on the 29th, arriving in the afternoon of the 30th.  Can hardly wait!

A hymn from the past blesses me now.

" At even, ere the sun was set, The sick, O Lord, around Thee lay;
O, in what divers pains they met!
O, with what joy they went away!

Once more, 'tis eventide, and we Oppressed with various ills draw near:
What if Thy form we cannot see?
We know and feel that Thou art here.

O Savior Christ, our woes dispel; For some are sick, and some are sad,
And some have never loved Thee well,
And some have lost the love they had.

And some have found the world is vain, Yet from the world they break not free,
And some have friends who give them pain,
Yet have not sought a friend in Thee.

And none, O Lord, have perfect rest, For none are wholly free from sin;
And they who fain would serve Thee best
Are conscious most of wrong within.

O Savior Christ, Thou too art man; Thou has been troubled, tempted, tried;
Thy kind but searching glance can scan
The very wounds that shame would hide.

Thy touch has still its ancient pow'r; No word from Thee can fruitless fall;
Hear in this solemn evening hour,
And in thy mercy heal us all."


(by Henry Twells who lived from 1832-1900)
my mother sang this hymn to me and with me for many years as I grew up, and the tune was by Georg Joseph

accident

On May 15th about 2 hrs. from Richmond, Lars and my mother and their caregiver, Joy Burch, were driving towards Raleigh when Lars drifted off to the left on a 4 lane highway, then as Joy got his attention, he swung the wheel sharply to the right, then again to the left, spun the car around, which shot it across to the right and it tumbled down an embankment, turning over once.  Miraculously, my mother and Joy had minor bruises and a scratch.  Lars, however, fractured the C-2 bone in his neck and has had surgery, and now must wear a neck brace for 3 months.  He is recuperating at the home of good friends of his  in Black Mountain, NC.  I am taking care of my mother in my home and I need a physical therapist and/or home health care to come in and show me how to get her moving.  When I last visited in MA. she would walk very slowly and with help from the living room to the chair by the window, and to the bathroom, but only 2 times a day, or 3 when going to her bedroom.  She now wants to stay in her wheelchair and I usually need my husband or daughter to help me move her just two steps to the bed or the chair.  We would appreciate prayers for Lars and her, as we need wisdom in the decision of future long term care.

The Lord obviously had his angels in charge, and even had the I-phone Lars owns with all his contacts, protected during 2 rainstorms until it was recovered at the scene of the accident.  The car was totaled and it belonged to Joy who was on her way back with them to Texas, where she lives.  Lars' and her insurance covered the car. Joy is back to work at a camp with her parents.  She had lived with them about 8 months.  The plan for a new CNA  to arrive on June 18th.  We don't know when Lars will travel home yet.

Elisabeth Howard Poem- on Quietness before His creation

Speak not.


I am crushed with din of words.
I am crowded with talking.
I have need of profundity.
Let me feel night-silence,
And the expression of stars.