Lake Remembrance 2

Pretty water baby.

Dandy is VERY careful when he has anyone in the water!  He taught that to my brother, Kim,  also, who probably saved my life this year from an i....t that wasn’t watching for skiers that were in the water.  I’m glad for our men who take care of us all!!!

Uncle Kim and Aunt Karla blessed the children this year with a new toy.  It is called the EZ Trainer and is to skiing what training wheels are to a bicycle.  Even 3 year old Keshawn was able to stand on it and hold the rope.  

And because fun can never be interrupted, you take naps when and wherever you can!

Kalyn really enjoyed playing with her graduation/birthday gift - a fantastic little Canon with a great big attitude!  She got some WONDERFUL pictures with it to!

Every year my children enjoy the attention of family who is more than willing to teach them to swim and be safe!!!!  I love my family!!

Yea, he’s cute...what can we say.

Gommy enjoys a story from Garett.

Dandy, Kalyn and Karlie love to talk photography!

Sun kissed Caresse is always up for a game.

Accommodating daddy “let’s” some playful children shove him in.

Our newest, Clive and Noelani, really enjoyed the lake.  I don’t think they had ever been swimming, but like everything else they do, they worked hard to learn it and were soon jumping and playing with the rest of them.  

I am more grateful than I can ever say for our family!  What ever you do, with little money or more, spend time playing with your family.  It is the greatest investment you can ever make.  

Stop Trying

How many times I have seen my own short comings, failures and weaknesses and thought “I will do better.  I just need to try harder.”  I don’t even realize that I am thinking it really.  I think that it is our sinful nature to think that we “can”.  It’s easier to think this then to realize that we can’t.  
I hate I can’t’s.

I don’t like it when something gets in my way, like this fallen tree that was in the way of our 4 wheel road!  We had places to go, things to do and see!  (LOL at myself by the way)


The LORD is really speaking to me right now that I need not try to do better but I need to give up trying to do it myself.  Sounds good, not so easy.  I’ve been contemplating Jesus’ words in Matt. 11:28-30...today more so verse 29...”Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”


I believe that for me, the struggle in my soul highlights the problem in my heart - dependence.  “Dependence on Jesus is a prerequisite for obedience.” (from the One Year Devotion).  I really do “want” to be obedient, yet the dependence thing is a hard one for me.  I am trying to obey in my own strength and by my own understanding.  I guess if I am honest, I am afraid to trust and completely rely on the LORD.  Self sufficiency seems more “do-able” and controllable.  


This post is going to be a little different than some of my others, because I am honestly looking at my own heart and sin and sharing it here.  I don’t really “have the answer” right now.  But I do know that the LORD is whispering to me.  I think better when I process my devotions like this.  


What is the reason for our being overly burdened?  Am I resisting dependency on the LORD and feeling overwhelmed with my own independence?  Am I obsessing about the problems, and denying Scripture’s command to cast my anxiety upon the LORD?  (Phil 4:6, 1 Pet. 5:7).  Am I thinking that I am sufficient in myself to accomplish God’s purposes in my life?  


I “know” that only He is sufficient, yet, I am not trusting in it.  It seems safer to know it, and not put it to the test.  


Jesus says “My yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matt. 11:30).  
“Lord, I confess that I am afraid to trust You.  I am afraid that if I “cast my anxieties on You”, You wont really care, and might not take care of them (the way I am hoping for anyway).  Please forgive me and help me to find rest in dependence and trust in you.  Help me to take up the yoke of Your Son, Jesus, and follow Him. Amen."

Lake 2013

 Aiden is using the sign for water.  Ha-ha, I guess we ought to let them in every once in a while, huh?

 What boy doesn’t love to drive boats?  Uncle Kim is a great teacher!!!

 My buddy boo, Landon, will be jumping those wakes soon.  

Bluez loved to sit behind the driver.  Silly dog.

What’s to say... he is adorable.

 Yep, him too!!!

 Ahhh, life is so perfect when you are riding on a boat with those you love.

 Uncle Kim and Kalyn have a very special relationship.  Love these two!!

 Jace and Aiden have a very special relationship too... I believe the exact words that were being said in this picture are;  Aiden -“Don’t touch the curls.” Jace - “Ha, I’ll touch the curls if I want to.”  Gotta love brother love.

 My sister (IL) Karla, on a perfect summer afternoon.

 Already missing my oldest;

 And this cute little blond!

And this is the youngest wake boarder in our group - 5 year old Aiden.

More pics tomorrow.  Need to start extensions on Joeliana’s hair.

What Are We Lookin’ For?

We’re all looking for something, aren’t we....
Some are lookin' for love, 
some are lookin’ for a break;
some are lookin’ for direction,
and some - meaning;
some are lookin’ for significance, 
and some just want a good time.
There is a great deal of meaningless activity that goes on in this search for that “something” that will fill and give joy.

There is truly, I believe, only one thing that will fill that longing in our hearts; God’s Will.  
God Will for each of our individual lives is actually what our souls are seeking.  The gift of the Spirit has been given to each person who belongs to the Family of God, and he will help us find what we are really looking for, and what we desperately need ... Gods Will.
Jesus tells us in John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
We need a Helper to teach us. 


And Galatians 5 tells us “walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each over,...”


Jesus tells us that it is the Spirit who gives life, and that our flesh is no help at all. (John 6:63)
See, we are all looking for something, but as the old saying goes, are we looking in all the wrong places? Wouldn’t it simplify our lives if we focused on seeking one thing, Gods will?  
And do we really take the time to look at our days and the things that we are striving after and ask ourselves if it is of the flesh or the Spirit? If, as the above verse says, the the Spirit gives life, wouldn't it be reasonable to say that the things my flesh strives after only brings death?  


So many of us are burdened and weary.  I think that the source may be in the “what” that we get caught up in striving after.  Jesus tells us “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:28-30).  What is His yoke?  Might it be as simple as seeking and doing Gods will in our day to day lives?  
What are you looking for sweet one? 
Jesus says “Come to ME”.
Take up His yoke and let Him lead you.  
Pray that the Helper would teach you to seek the LORDs will for each day. 

I’m Not Ready...

We have been on vacation, and I am really sick, so I am not quite ready for “re-entry” into life yet.  However, I want you to know that I am thinking of you and want to pray for you each.  Do you have anything that is on your heart that your would like to share?  I will be praying!!!
loves from me to you!!!

Yea!!!

 She’s still got it.  Happy 19th my sweet love!!!

The Faithfulness of Hope

When we think about faithfulness, several areas might come to mind.  We talk often of being faithful in our marriages, faithful to parent our children well, faithful in our work.  As a wife, mother, home maker, and home educator, there are many areas for me to consider daily.
Lately, I have been thinking about the faithfulness of HOPE.  What do I mean by that?
It might help to look at the worlds idea of “hope” - it might go like this...”I hope it doesn’t rain today.”  “I hope I get that job.”  I hope, I hope, I hope. “The standard dictionary definition, and one that is generally accepted by most of the world is “to FEEL that something desired MAY happen:” The words “feel” and “may” are two very indefinite and vague words, but such a definition of “HOPE” exemplifies the thinking of most people.” (Source here.)


The Bible’s definition of HOPE is very different though.  Let’s look at a few Old Testament verses to begin with.


“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?  Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God.” (Ps. 42:5)


“Let Your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in You.”  (Ps. 33:22)  
Hope in these verses is the Hebrew word “yachal” which means “Trust”.  


“And now, O LORD, for what do I wait?  My hope is in You.”  (Ps. 39:7)  The hebrew word for hope in this verse is slightly different - “Towcheleth” meaning “expectation”.  


These are just a few of the verses is the Old Testament that give the picture of HOPE as complete reliance upon the trustworthiness of our God.


The greek word for hope in the New testament is “elpis”; “to expect or anticipate with pleasure” - it is an absolute or a guarantee without any doubt.  
As seen in Romans 5:2 “Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
Hope of Heaven and the glory of God - not a may be, but a guarantee!
“waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ...” Titus 2:13  This is “without a doubt!”


In looking at these verses (and knowing that there are MANY more), I might put the Biblical idea of HOPE like this “Hope is a trusting expectation in Who the LORD is and what He promises within the Truth of Scriptures and the life of Jesus Christ.  Every hope that I have in Him can be expected and anticipated with pleasure and without doubt."


We might still ask though "Is hope REAL?"  Or is it just a wishy, washy may be?  I think that we must remind ourselves that hope “is the confident expectation, the sure certainty that what God has promised in the Word is true, has occurred, and or will in accordance with God’s sure Word.” (From Bible.org)  Hope IS NOT a passive wishing.
  
UNLESS....


we are being unfaithful to the Biblical idea of hope.
The Bible warns us about a false and very dangerous hope;  Psalm 33:17 says “The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.”  We must be careful that we do not put our hope in anything except the LORD.  This is an easier trap than you might think.  Do we find ourselves “hoping” that people will do, act, perform the way we want them to?”  Do we hope our children will turn out a certain way?  Do we hope that our problems will be fixed the way we want?  There are many times that we might be tempted to hope in a “false war horse”.  


Biblical Hope isn’t an escape from reality or problems as some might think.  And the blessing of our Biblical hope is peace, joy (Rm 15:13), protection (Ps. 33:18), strength, courage and boldness (Ps 31:24), endurance, comfort and confidence (I Thess. 4:13), and confidence in ministry (I Timothy 4:10). (Some notes from Bible.org)


The Faithfulness Of Hope - I pray that we would each consider how we are living our lives today and embrace God’s idea of Hope.  It really is a truth that will never let us down.  Let’s reject the mansy, pansy idea of hope that will always disappoint us.  And repent for the times that we used hope as a cover up for selfish “Gee, I “hope” I get what I want.”  
Hoping in the LORD will turn our eyes and our hearts where they should be - HIM.