Friday, April 6, 2012
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Gratitude List
It's been a while since I have posted how I have seen God working. I actually started a new notebook to list them all in, and in that notebook I am now at # 281:
281) Spring rain storms
282) Boys jumping in mud puddles - pure delight!
283) Antibiotics for Will's ear (we found a tick on him after playing in the mud)
284) Doctors at my fingertips.
285) God wants to cleanse my heart over and over again
286) Generous friends - Daphne.
287) Being part of a prayer group that meets because human trafficking is wrong, and we believe that God can rescue and make new.
288) Seeing bravery in Max as he was climbing a high wall for the first time. I am a very proud mama.
289) New babies! (I know of 6 new babies that have been born in the last month! I'm still waiting on 1)
290) Gentle reminders of what I am called to do as a mommy - I'm a priest that points little hearts to God and worship. Exciting!!!
291) God is a God of healing!
292) long naps
281) Spring rain storms
282) Boys jumping in mud puddles - pure delight!
283) Antibiotics for Will's ear (we found a tick on him after playing in the mud)
284) Doctors at my fingertips.
285) God wants to cleanse my heart over and over again
286) Generous friends - Daphne.
287) Being part of a prayer group that meets because human trafficking is wrong, and we believe that God can rescue and make new.
288) Seeing bravery in Max as he was climbing a high wall for the first time. I am a very proud mama.
289) New babies! (I know of 6 new babies that have been born in the last month! I'm still waiting on 1)
290) Gentle reminders of what I am called to do as a mommy - I'm a priest that points little hearts to God and worship. Exciting!!!
291) God is a God of healing!
292) long naps
Friday, March 30, 2012
Higher Education
The acceptance letters and financial aid packages keep filling up our mailbox, because Michi has done his part, and God has blessed. I flew to Chicago a month ago, and went back in time to a place where 18-year-old, culture- shocked, brokenhearted and just broken Charissa walked the sidewalks of Wheaton College and decided against it because the landscape was too flat. As I walked through this amazing college a month ago, while my baby brother auditioned, I could not help but think of what might have been. What kind of success could I have achieved? What places could I have traveled to? What kind of hardships not experienced? All these questions were in stark contrast to the reality of this 30-year-old mother. A reality consisting of an increasing amount of grey hair, leftover chewed- up cracker goo of a child stuck to the shoulder of my coat, and a seemingly empty portfolio of achievement.
And so over the last month I have fought jealousy and discontentment. Sometimes it has been bitter to swallow. At other times, I have really seen how God is blessing me here and now through my children, through the strength of tired Christian refugees starting all over again in this country, through my church and through Joey.
As I was reading here about homeschooling today, I came across this: “...we pursue not a cultural definition of success but of true greatness for our kids: ‘having an unquenchable passion for God that manifests itself in an unwavering love and concern for others.’” It hit me, isn’t this what God wants for every one of us? A passion and love for him, that offers itself generously to others? Isn’t this what God is educating me toward?
His school has led me to a life that is a lot different than my initial youthful goals and dare I say it, dreams. This higher education has put some grey into my hair, it has stained my clothes with cookies, goldfish, and sometimes tears, and it has given me new dreams. This is the perfect school for me. This is my story; the one God wrote just for me so that my passion for him would be mighty, and my love for others true. I have not graduated yet, but I can say that there was a different Charissa walking the paths of Wheaton College last month.
And so over the last month I have fought jealousy and discontentment. Sometimes it has been bitter to swallow. At other times, I have really seen how God is blessing me here and now through my children, through the strength of tired Christian refugees starting all over again in this country, through my church and through Joey.
As I was reading here about homeschooling today, I came across this: “...we pursue not a cultural definition of success but of true greatness for our kids: ‘having an unquenchable passion for God that manifests itself in an unwavering love and concern for others.’” It hit me, isn’t this what God wants for every one of us? A passion and love for him, that offers itself generously to others? Isn’t this what God is educating me toward?
His school has led me to a life that is a lot different than my initial youthful goals and dare I say it, dreams. This higher education has put some grey into my hair, it has stained my clothes with cookies, goldfish, and sometimes tears, and it has given me new dreams. This is the perfect school for me. This is my story; the one God wrote just for me so that my passion for him would be mighty, and my love for others true. I have not graduated yet, but I can say that there was a different Charissa walking the paths of Wheaton College last month.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Daddy's Helper
Joey is in the middle of making a new chicken coop. (I have no idea why he hasn't finished yet. He has a such a great little helper!)
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
Lenten Reflections
Grace in the face of my ugliness
should bring me to my knees
but instead they lock, and I tremble
to find out how to please.
I feel the guilt spread
like a drop of ink in water
I tread restless and unfocused
while what I need is, "Father!"
Receiving Grace undeserved
seems like a burden too great to bear.
But then Christ says, "Rest Child!
That is why I am here."
So the Grace that makes me tremble
now puts my heart at ease
though true, I am the debtor,
I walk away released.
Thank you, Grace Incarnate
for absorbing my black stain
all praise, honor and glory is yours,
the Lamb of God, who reigns.
should bring me to my knees
but instead they lock, and I tremble
to find out how to please.
I feel the guilt spread
like a drop of ink in water
I tread restless and unfocused
while what I need is, "Father!"
Receiving Grace undeserved
seems like a burden too great to bear.
But then Christ says, "Rest Child!
That is why I am here."
So the Grace that makes me tremble
now puts my heart at ease
though true, I am the debtor,
I walk away released.
Thank you, Grace Incarnate
for absorbing my black stain
all praise, honor and glory is yours,
the Lamb of God, who reigns.
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