Seeing Jesus

One day a couple of weeks ago I asked Hannah and Ethan (Noah was there but not paying me one ounce of attention) if they could see Jesus. They both immediatley said yes. So I said you can??? Hannah said, "yes I see Jesus in my daddy when he hugs me and plays with me", then Ethan said "I see Jesus in Ms. Melissa cause she loves the poor more than her own self". Ms. Melissa is one of the founders of a local resuce mission in our hometown. There were two things that struck me about this exchange....the first was that both my children understood what Christ looks like in people and thus is the foundation to build that same character in them (I pray), and second was the impact people can have on my children without even knowing it. You see Ms. Melissa is someone we see at best monthly or maybe a couple of times a month. She isn't someone who spends a great deal of time with us or us with her, but in the small amount of time my kids see her she shows them Jesus!!!! So as I sit here today thinking about this....it leaves me really thankful for the people I see Jesus in that toucch our lives daily....but I am also greatful for the ones that we don't see often but when we do we catch an amzing glimpse of Christ in them. I hope and pray we are raising people who will show the world Jesus too!!

My Countenance radiates.....

I was doing my Bible Study today and this quote popped out at me from a book called "Prayers That Avail Much", it said "Happy am I because God is my Lord....That spirit of rejoicing joy and laughter is my heritage...my countenance radiates the joy of the Lord." It was a quote too scripture packed and too powerful for me to gloss over. I found Isaiah 51:11 " ....gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away". Early in that same verse it says that "everlasting joy will crown their heads". I love that!!! How much does wearing a crown of joy in Christ influence your countenance. Greatly I would think, then I began to think what a crown signifies. It gives a title...ie a queen is made known upon entering a room by her crown thus it gives an identity. A crown sets apart someone....or makes them different and lastly a crown comes with some responsibilities. A leader of a kingdom , if you will, must exercise that power with grace and compassion to others needs. You can be "crowned" by lots of things in this world.....money, success, envy, passion, love, stuff, etc. but will that "set you apart, give you an identity, or make you aware of others....I hope to be crowned by His joy so my sighing will flee away....I don't want to be left wearing a crown of emptiness. Its so easy to love the blessings of God and try to get joy from them.....they may bring happiness....but joy is only in Christ not His blessings. I pray to wear a crown of joy in Jesus and let what He blesses me with just "bedazzle" it if you will :) I hope my heritage to my children is my joy in Him that doesn't wavier with my momentary feelings of "happiness".....musings from snow day four!!!

Snow Days

Well we have been snowed in for the better part of three days now, and I am beginning to think maybe there is something wrong with us....you see we aren't sick of each other or being stuck here. We have really enjoyed a much needed slow down and the time together just the 5 of us. We have eaten too much and spent our days playing. So what you ask is so blog worthy about that....well one thing playing in the snow. The first two days Sammy took the big kiddos out to play in the snow in the afternoons while I stayed in side with a napping Noah. I would watch from the window secretly glad he was braving the cold and not me. I got a great kick out of them running and playing and falling in the snow, but no part of it really made me want any part of it. That all changed today. Sammy had to work all day from home so it was my turn to take them out...I mean in Oklahoma you take advantage of this much snow it doesn't happen often. So we take 20 minutes to bundle up to play only 30min :), but it was the best spent 30 minutes I have had in a long time. It was like a became a kid again. We ran in really tall snow drifts and fell in them up to my waist. We attempted the snowman with a group effort based around a master plan we came up with together. We threw snowballs and made a makeshift sled from our laundry basket. We blanketed the yard with snow angels and before we knew it our 30 min was up and daddy was telling us to come in. We weren't even cold....I never thought about how loud we were, or how cold it was, or what chore was next, or if we were late, our only thought was nothing.....just playing. I don't do this enough and honestly its hard to do that....I mean stuff does have to get done....someone must clean and cook and give baths if people want to live, eat, and smell good lol!!! But for today the half hour spent playing left me feeling rested and young....like a kid.....I even think I became a bit "cooler" in their eyes too....at least I am hoping!!! So you guessed it I have volunteered to take them out tomorrow!!! I mean after all kids gotta play!!!