31 Days, 31 Smiles {Day 28}: Sunday Meditations

How might it change the day... or the whole week?! ... if we got out of bed with this attitude?
 

Satisfy us in the morning

with your unfailing love,

 
that we may sing for joy

and be glad all our days.

Psalm 90:14

31 Days, 31 Smiles {Day 21}: Sunday Meditations

Remember this on the crazy {fun?} days! 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

31 Days 31 Smiles {Day 14}: Sunday Meditations

It is God to whom and with whom we travel,

and while He is the end of our journey,

He is also at every stopping place.

Elisabeth Elliot

Regardless of your current stage of life-- 

whether you are raising little ones, middlers, or teenagers, 

whether fun means elaborate craft projects or reading the same storybook over and over (and over)

--embrace your season with all its joys and limitations. 

31 Days, 31 Smiles {Day 7}: Sunday Meditations

Are you overwhelmed with the busy-ness of life, overrun with chaos, or simply too tired for much fun?

May the God of hope fill you with all

JOY and PEACE

as you trust in Him.

Romans 15:13

    

A Different Side of Gardening

Yesterday, I talked about literal gardening.  Today, I turn philosophical.

Last week, my friend, Kim, shared this Robert Louis Stevenson quote as her Facebook status. 

"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap,
but by the seeds you plant."

After a particularly defeating day-- one of those days where there were tears over spelling lessons and more complaining than cheerfulness-- the quote spoke to me.  I'm planning to display it on my kitchen chalkboard for awhile as a daily reminder that the seeds planted in little hearts must be tended slowly and carefully.

Later in the week, my mom shared an article on her Facebook page that reinforced the idea.  Perhaps you will be encouraged, too.

Lessons From Frog and Toad: A Growing Time  @ from Simply Charlotte Mason

This is love: Not that we loved God, but that He loved us. I John 4:10

31 Days {Day 28}

He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.“ …For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10

: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :

Reminder: Tomorrow I'll give you the chance to link up your real life photos.  Take a moment with your camera to show us what real life looks like in your family.

31 Days {Day 9}

He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. Isaiah 40:11

: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :

Strengthening the Will

My mom has written recently of being nudged by noble ideas in literature.  Last night I sat in my rocking chair after tucking Benjamin into bed.  While waiting for him to drift to sleep and while I read a chapter of Little Men, a swirl of words wrapped around my mind, urging me to go back and re-read.  What a thought to ponder and what a high standard to set for ourselves in training our little ones:

Being early taught the secret of self-control, he was not left at the mercy of appetities and passions, as some poor little mortals are, and then punished for yielding to the temptations against which they have no armor. 

Perspective

As we have a high old time this Christmas, may we who know Christ hear the cry of the damned as they hurtle headlong into the Christless night without ever a chance.  May we be moved into compassion as our Lord was.  May we shed tears of repentance for those whom we have failed to bring out of darkness.  Beyond the smiling scences of Bethlehem, may we see the crushing agony of Golgotha.

Nate Saint, martyred missionary pilot