I got this in a email a while back from a friend, and thought I would share it with all of you:
While it is humorous, it always makes me think of where all these seemingly "small" legislations are heading. I sure hope that my kids dont find them living in this kind of a "normal" world.
"There once was a young person named Little Red Riding Hood who lived onthe edge of a large forest full of endangered owls and rare plants that would probably provide a cure for cancer if only someone took the time to study them. Red Riding Hood lived with a nurture giver whom she sometimes referred to as "mother", although she didn't mean to imply by this term that she would have thought less of the person if a close biological link did not in fact exist. Nor did she intend to denigrate the equal value of nontraditional households, although she was sorry if this was the impression conveyed. One day her mother asked her to take a basket of organically grown fruit and mineral water to her grandmother's house.
"But mother, won't this be stealing work from the unionized people who have struggled for years to earn the right to carry all packages between various people in the woods?" Red Riding Hood's mother assured her that she had called the union boss and gotten a special compassionate mission exemption form.
"But mother, aren't you oppressing me by ordering me to do this?" Red Riding Hood's mother pointed out that it was impossible for womyn to oppress each other, since all womyn were equally oppressed until all womyn were free.
"But mother, then shouldn't you have my brother carry the basket, since he's an oppressor, and should learn what it's like to be oppressed?"And Red Riding Hood's mother explained that her brother was attending a special rally for animal rights, and besides, this wasn't stereotypical womyn's work, but an empowering deed that would help engender a feeling of community.
"But won't I be oppressing Grandma, by implying that she's sick and hence unable to independently further her own selfhood?" But Red Riding Hood's mother explained that her grandmother wasn't actually sick or incapacitated or mentally handicapped in any way, although that was not to imply that any of these conditions were inferior to what some people called "health".
Thus Red Riding Hood felt that she could get behind the idea of delivering the basket to her grandmother, and so she set off. Many people believed that the forest was a foreboding and dangerous place, but Red Riding Hood knew that this was an irrational fear based on cultural paradigms instilled by a patriarchal society that regarded the natural world as an exploitable resource, and hence believed that natural predators were in fact intolerable competitors. Other people avoided the woods for fear of thieves and deviants, but Red Riding Hood felt that in a truly classless society all marginalized peoples would be able to "come out" of the woods and be accepted as valid lifestyle role models.
On her way to Grandma's house, Red Riding Hood passed a woodchopper, and wandered off the path, in order to examine some flowers. She was startled to find herself standing before a Wolf, who asked her what was in her basket. Red Riding Hood's teacher had warned her never to talk to strangers, but she was confident in taking control of her own budding sexuality, and chose to dialogue with the Wolf. She replied,
"I am taking my Grandmother some healthful snacks in agesture of solidarity."
The Wolf said, "You know, my dear, it isn't safe for a little girl to walk through these woods alone." Red Riding Hood said,
"I find your sexist remark offensive in the extreme, but I will ignore it because of your traditional status as an outcast from society, the stress of which has caused you to develop an alternative and yet entirely valid worldview. Now, if you'll excuse me,I would prefer to be on my way." Red Riding Hood returned to the main path, and proceeded towards her Grandmother's house.
But because his status outside society had freed him from slavish adherence to linear, Western-style thought, the Wolf knew of a quicker route to Grandma's house. He burst into the house and ate Grandma, a course of action affirmative of his nature as a predator. Then, unhampered by rigid, traditionalist gender role notions, he put on Grandma's nightclothes, crawled under the bedclothes, and awaited developments. Red Riding Hood entered the cottage and said,
"Grandma, I have brought you some cruelty free snacks to salute you in your role of wise and nurturing matriarch." The Wolf said softly
"Come closer, child, so that I might see you."Red Riding Hood said,
"Goddess! Grandma, what big eyes you have!"
"You forget that I am optically challenged."
"And Grandma, what an enormous, what a fine nose you have."
"Naturally, I could have had it fixed to help my acting career, but Ididn't give in to such societal pressures, my child."
"And Grandma, what very big, sharp teeth you have!"The Wolf could not take any more of these specist slurs, and, in areaction appropriate for his accustomed milieu, he leaped out of bed, grabbed Little Red Riding Hood, and opened his jaws so wide that shec ould see her poor Grandmother cowering in his belly.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" Red Riding Hood bravely shouted.
"You must request my permission before proceeding to a new level of intimacy!" The Wolf was so startled by this statement that he loosened his grasp on her. At the same time, the woodchopper burst into the cottage, brandishing an ax.
"Hands off!" cried the woodchopper.
"And what do you think you're doing?" cried Little Red Riding Hood. "If I let you help me now, I would be expressing a lack of confidence in my own abilities, which would lead to poor self esteem and lower achievement scores on college entrance exams."
" Last chance, sister! Get your hands off that endangered species! Thisis an FBI sting!" screamed the woodchopper, and when Little Red RidingHood nonetheless made a sudden motion, he sliced off her head.
"Thank goodness you got here in time," said the Wolf. "The brat and her grandmother lured me in here. I thought I was a goner."
"No, I think I'm the real victim, here," said the woodchopper. "I've been dealing with my anger ever since I saw her picking those protected flowers earlier. And now I'm going to have such a trauma. Do you haveany aspirin?"
"Sure," said the Wolf."Thanks.""I feel your pain," said the Wolf, and he patted the woodchopper on his firm, well padded back, gave a little belch, and said "Do you have any Maalox?"
Monday, April 6
Wednesday, March 25
The big kid world
I think there is a time in ones early adult life, when it feels like you are play-acting at something that really isnt real. That is where I am at right now.
Lots of things have happened over the last few days that have really scared me. Yesterday we got a nasty blizzard, and against our gut instincts, Chris and I went to work anyway. Even though we came home early, at 1, we got the car stuck 5 times just trying to put it in the garage.
In the process of getting it stuck and unstuck we managed to almost completly remove the bumper, which finished coming off on our way to work today. Needless to say, instead of going to work, I lost another 4 hours of PTO, which I am desperatly trying to save for maternity, at the car body shop. It is going to be almost 700 dollars to replace the bumper, which we need to do, because we now have all the wireing exposed to the snow. And there is lots of that. Then we found out that our anifreeze leak may very well be the water pump, which I replaced last year. That will cost 600$. Then there is some sort of issue with something that is causing the car to stall while it is idleing. We dont even know what that problem is, or how to fix it. They are going to run more tests on it next Wednesday, when we take it in to get a final quote on how to fix the antifreeze leak. So as of now, with 2 of the 3 known problems with the car, we are at 1300$, and the car itself worth maybe 700.
So we are starting to think about a new car. This is kind of tricky. Because we would like to spend cash on a car... and that means we will only have about 2500$ to work with. That would mean buying something at least 15 years old, and probably having the same type of trouble next year. Or, we could put the 2500$ down on a newer car, and be tied to a car loan. In which case, we would want to get something we could drive for several years after the car is paid off. Also, depending on the number of kids we have in the next 10 years, which we expect to be more than 2 or 3, we will need something with trade-in value when we buy a mini-van, or larger vehicle. Or should we just get the van now? It would be more price efficient to buy a smaller car with really good gas milage now.. So we found something this afternoon, that looks nice, but is at the top of our 10,000 dollar limit. (9,990 to be exact) It is an '07 Dodge Caliber. Low miles, about 22,000, and room for 3 car seats in the back, as well as some storage space. The salesman says it will get about 24 mpg in town, and over 30 on the highway.
So what do we do? We could get a car that would run well, and pay on it for a few years, or we could pay cash, and be in this same position in a couple years. Then we would have the same issue then. With the economy the way it is, do we want another loan. No. However, is it going to be feesable to just expect that we will be able to get another one when this one does die? Would we be better off trying to pay for one now, when we have two steady jobs, or hoping we will be able to afford it later?
Then the next question is, if we get the newer car, how much is our insurrance going to jump?
I keep waiting for someone to come knocking on my door and say, "Thats enough big kid play for you Jennie.. You need to come home and be a kid again"
One thing is for certain. I will never be able to understand how those who do not have the promises of God to lean on cope. One verse that has been in my head for the last 2 days is Romans 8:28. "And we know that all things work together for good, to them are in Christ Jesus, that are called according to his purpose." I am not sure if that is word for word or not. But it has helped me not to really freak out.
I hope you all are staying dry! Pray for those families who are losing their homes to the flooding. The worst is still to come this spring I think.
Have a great day!
Jennie
Lots of things have happened over the last few days that have really scared me. Yesterday we got a nasty blizzard, and against our gut instincts, Chris and I went to work anyway. Even though we came home early, at 1, we got the car stuck 5 times just trying to put it in the garage.
In the process of getting it stuck and unstuck we managed to almost completly remove the bumper, which finished coming off on our way to work today. Needless to say, instead of going to work, I lost another 4 hours of PTO, which I am desperatly trying to save for maternity, at the car body shop. It is going to be almost 700 dollars to replace the bumper, which we need to do, because we now have all the wireing exposed to the snow. And there is lots of that. Then we found out that our anifreeze leak may very well be the water pump, which I replaced last year. That will cost 600$. Then there is some sort of issue with something that is causing the car to stall while it is idleing. We dont even know what that problem is, or how to fix it. They are going to run more tests on it next Wednesday, when we take it in to get a final quote on how to fix the antifreeze leak. So as of now, with 2 of the 3 known problems with the car, we are at 1300$, and the car itself worth maybe 700.
So we are starting to think about a new car. This is kind of tricky. Because we would like to spend cash on a car... and that means we will only have about 2500$ to work with. That would mean buying something at least 15 years old, and probably having the same type of trouble next year. Or, we could put the 2500$ down on a newer car, and be tied to a car loan. In which case, we would want to get something we could drive for several years after the car is paid off. Also, depending on the number of kids we have in the next 10 years, which we expect to be more than 2 or 3, we will need something with trade-in value when we buy a mini-van, or larger vehicle. Or should we just get the van now? It would be more price efficient to buy a smaller car with really good gas milage now.. So we found something this afternoon, that looks nice, but is at the top of our 10,000 dollar limit. (9,990 to be exact) It is an '07 Dodge Caliber. Low miles, about 22,000, and room for 3 car seats in the back, as well as some storage space. The salesman says it will get about 24 mpg in town, and over 30 on the highway.
So what do we do? We could get a car that would run well, and pay on it for a few years, or we could pay cash, and be in this same position in a couple years. Then we would have the same issue then. With the economy the way it is, do we want another loan. No. However, is it going to be feesable to just expect that we will be able to get another one when this one does die? Would we be better off trying to pay for one now, when we have two steady jobs, or hoping we will be able to afford it later?
Then the next question is, if we get the newer car, how much is our insurrance going to jump?
I keep waiting for someone to come knocking on my door and say, "Thats enough big kid play for you Jennie.. You need to come home and be a kid again"
One thing is for certain. I will never be able to understand how those who do not have the promises of God to lean on cope. One verse that has been in my head for the last 2 days is Romans 8:28. "And we know that all things work together for good, to them are in Christ Jesus, that are called according to his purpose." I am not sure if that is word for word or not. But it has helped me not to really freak out.
I hope you all are staying dry! Pray for those families who are losing their homes to the flooding. The worst is still to come this spring I think.
Have a great day!
Jennie
Monday, March 16
How do you raise Godly Kids?
Hello All,
I am sure this question has been asked several times, but I think it bears repeating. How do you raise Godly kids?
At my church right now, I am working with Awana, and teaching Sunday School with Chris on Sunday mornings. We are learning about Joshua in Awana, and about Daniel in Sunday School. Before we started each of these lessons series, we asked the kids what they knew about the charachters. (Daniel and Joshua) We were shocked to find out that not even the kids who have been in church their whole lives knew anything about these people, accept the pastors kids. My awana girls do not know their books of the bible, and really, they do not memorize any of their verses. It is very, very sad.
So, I am doing some brainstorming. Mainly, how do I teach my child all these things.. and secondly, where do I start with my Sunday School and Awana kids?
I am very tempted to do a little Bible trivia game, and cover several of the main Bible stories, and see where the kids really are. I am kind of scared of what I would discover.
I have already made up my mind, that when Judah is old enough to talk, he will start memorizing the book of Romans. This will give him a nice foundation on which to build his worldview. Then I figured we would move on to Pauls other letters, some Psalms, and mainly the idea is to have him leave home with a considereable amount of Scripture memorized. In addition to this, teach him the Good News and the Old Testement. This is very scary. How in the world am I going to have enough time to teach all these things to my child? What if instead of giving him a firm grasp of the faith, I make him so sick of it, he will reject it as soon as he can? It is no small task. But by the grace of God, we will be able to instill these essential truths.
I have noticed over the last several years, that in the American church, kids are very biblically illiterate. They dont know the stories, or the basic truths about who God is. I want to teach these things to the kids that I have. I only have about 2 hours a week with them total. Where do I start? How do I go about this? The other thing that makes in complicated, is that kids are at the point where if it is not fun, and entertaining, they do not want to sit through it.
Here are some ideas I have had.
1.) Write my own curriculum. My youth pastor from Wy. did this, and it was great. He started in Genisis 1, and covered the entire Bible, and wrote worksheets that kids could understand. He even referanced other scriptures for the kids to cross-referance. And also included a memory verse.
2) Start a quizzing. Make a list of questions and answers from a certain book of the Bible, and then teach the book to the kids, have them study it on their own, and then have a quizzing contest.
3) Assign the kids a lesson project. Give them a story and a text, and have them prepare a short lesson about their story, and give it to the class. This would encourage them to learn it for themselves.
4) Teach them how to be taught without always having to have games or rewards.
If any of you have more ideas, let me know.
I really want these kids to learn the Scripture.. Kids seem to get one message these days. "Jesus loves you and died to save you." This is a GREAT lesson kids need to learn. But if we dont teach them the context, and give them the whole picture, we are cheating them.
Thankfully, there are lots of awesome programs at the church I attend for these kids, and the other lady that teaches with me at Awana does an AMAZING job. A lot of the kids are from unchurched homes. I really want to make the most of the opportunity that I have to reach these kids.
Chris is an amazing partner as well. I love how hard he works preparing for Sunday School, and the interesting ways that he presents the lessons. And we also have the support of the Pastor, and other parents. Our church seems to handle it in a better way than many churches do.
Please keep Chris and I in prayer as we prepare our hearts and our lessons to teach the kids.
I am sure this question has been asked several times, but I think it bears repeating. How do you raise Godly kids?
At my church right now, I am working with Awana, and teaching Sunday School with Chris on Sunday mornings. We are learning about Joshua in Awana, and about Daniel in Sunday School. Before we started each of these lessons series, we asked the kids what they knew about the charachters. (Daniel and Joshua) We were shocked to find out that not even the kids who have been in church their whole lives knew anything about these people, accept the pastors kids. My awana girls do not know their books of the bible, and really, they do not memorize any of their verses. It is very, very sad.
So, I am doing some brainstorming. Mainly, how do I teach my child all these things.. and secondly, where do I start with my Sunday School and Awana kids?
I am very tempted to do a little Bible trivia game, and cover several of the main Bible stories, and see where the kids really are. I am kind of scared of what I would discover.
I have already made up my mind, that when Judah is old enough to talk, he will start memorizing the book of Romans. This will give him a nice foundation on which to build his worldview. Then I figured we would move on to Pauls other letters, some Psalms, and mainly the idea is to have him leave home with a considereable amount of Scripture memorized. In addition to this, teach him the Good News and the Old Testement. This is very scary. How in the world am I going to have enough time to teach all these things to my child? What if instead of giving him a firm grasp of the faith, I make him so sick of it, he will reject it as soon as he can? It is no small task. But by the grace of God, we will be able to instill these essential truths.
I have noticed over the last several years, that in the American church, kids are very biblically illiterate. They dont know the stories, or the basic truths about who God is. I want to teach these things to the kids that I have. I only have about 2 hours a week with them total. Where do I start? How do I go about this? The other thing that makes in complicated, is that kids are at the point where if it is not fun, and entertaining, they do not want to sit through it.
Here are some ideas I have had.
1.) Write my own curriculum. My youth pastor from Wy. did this, and it was great. He started in Genisis 1, and covered the entire Bible, and wrote worksheets that kids could understand. He even referanced other scriptures for the kids to cross-referance. And also included a memory verse.
2) Start a quizzing. Make a list of questions and answers from a certain book of the Bible, and then teach the book to the kids, have them study it on their own, and then have a quizzing contest.
3) Assign the kids a lesson project. Give them a story and a text, and have them prepare a short lesson about their story, and give it to the class. This would encourage them to learn it for themselves.
4) Teach them how to be taught without always having to have games or rewards.
If any of you have more ideas, let me know.
I really want these kids to learn the Scripture.. Kids seem to get one message these days. "Jesus loves you and died to save you." This is a GREAT lesson kids need to learn. But if we dont teach them the context, and give them the whole picture, we are cheating them.
Thankfully, there are lots of awesome programs at the church I attend for these kids, and the other lady that teaches with me at Awana does an AMAZING job. A lot of the kids are from unchurched homes. I really want to make the most of the opportunity that I have to reach these kids.
Chris is an amazing partner as well. I love how hard he works preparing for Sunday School, and the interesting ways that he presents the lessons. And we also have the support of the Pastor, and other parents. Our church seems to handle it in a better way than many churches do.
Please keep Chris and I in prayer as we prepare our hearts and our lessons to teach the kids.
Saturday, March 7
Shopping!!
Hello All...
Today Chris and I went shopping.. For maternity jeans, and for a MINI VAN!!! Well, we are not acutually looking at buying till we have enough money saved up. But we did test drive one that I loved!!! Its really nice looking, (the part I like) has lots of room, (again I like), runs great, (Chris likes), and will have room for 4 or 5 kids. So, I love it!! God has been really good to us.. I cant wait to fill up the van with kids..!! (of course, we need to save up the money for it now:))
I got myself all excited about the van, and now I dont want to wait a couple of years to save money for it. Chris tried to tell me.. but I didnt listen. :)
Well, Thats all that I have to talk about..
I guess my life has gotten kind of boring.. :)
Have a great day!!
Jennie
Saturday, February 28
Great Day!!
Well, I know I said this morning I was going to take pictures, and I did have my memory card, but this time, we dont have any batteries... So, I have to apologize for lying.
But I did have a really good day!
My aunt and cousins got here around noon, and we went to Sears so they could get their family pictures done. They got some really nice pictures, and we all had fun teasing my uncle about his lack of enthusiasm for them! (He is even less fond of taking pictures than Chris is, and I didnt think that was possible.)
Then we came back to our place, and played a few games of keep away with a volleyball, until that got to wild. Then we played Pay Day, and all had a great time.
On Thursday, we had a potluck at work, and I made an angel food cake, a devils food cake, and a big bowel of pistachio pudding salad, and brough a lot of it home with me.. I have been doing so well recently at only eating things that are good for me, and now I have having Chocolate craving temptations.
Today I got to explain to my cousins how my body is taking care of the baby, and how he is growing. It was a lot of fun. As I thought about how everything works just perfectly, so that the baby is protected, and nourished.. He thought of everything! How people can say that all of this is by chance just amazes me.
Chris says I am "nesting" because I have had the uncontrollable urge to clean like everything in the last few days. Because of that, I am getting really tired. I wish that we could afford for me to just stay home, but at this time, God has not made that an option.
Well, I guess thats really all there is right now..
Talk to you all later,
Jennie
But I did have a really good day!
My aunt and cousins got here around noon, and we went to Sears so they could get their family pictures done. They got some really nice pictures, and we all had fun teasing my uncle about his lack of enthusiasm for them! (He is even less fond of taking pictures than Chris is, and I didnt think that was possible.)
Then we came back to our place, and played a few games of keep away with a volleyball, until that got to wild. Then we played Pay Day, and all had a great time.
On Thursday, we had a potluck at work, and I made an angel food cake, a devils food cake, and a big bowel of pistachio pudding salad, and brough a lot of it home with me.. I have been doing so well recently at only eating things that are good for me, and now I have having Chocolate craving temptations.
Today I got to explain to my cousins how my body is taking care of the baby, and how he is growing. It was a lot of fun. As I thought about how everything works just perfectly, so that the baby is protected, and nourished.. He thought of everything! How people can say that all of this is by chance just amazes me.
Chris says I am "nesting" because I have had the uncontrollable urge to clean like everything in the last few days. Because of that, I am getting really tired. I wish that we could afford for me to just stay home, but at this time, God has not made that an option.
Well, I guess thats really all there is right now..
Talk to you all later,
Jennie
Catching Up....
Hello All!!
Happy Saturday!! At least, it is for us here..
Sorry it has been so long since I have updated this. I get on and read everyone elses updates every night, but I usually am to tired to actually post myself. So my apologies.
Things have been very busy for us recently. Last weekend we went to Fargo, for Chris's sister Stacy's birthday. We had a lot of fun. Bethany, Chris's niece is almost 2, and we had a lot of fun playing with her. I had all these great intentions of taking pictures to put on my poor pictureless blog, but I left my memory card home, so I didnt get any.
Better luck next time I suppose.
I am now at the 28th week of pregnancy, into my 3rd trimester. Its kind of scary to already be over 2/3rds of the way there! Little Judah has been very active, day and night. I love feeling him move around.. Maybe because I am so paranoid of something going wrong, though up to this point it has not been a concern.
I found out that Aetna is very friendly as far as moms breastfeeding when they get back to work. We are still trying to find a way to work it so I can stay home with Judah, but so far, it isnt looking promising. The good news is, that Aetna has a program where they will pay for 200$ of a breastpump, so that I can still breastfeed the baby. God has also opened other doors. Pastor Todd, and his wife Robin, told us that they can watch the baby after I need to go back to work. That way we dont have to deal with daycare. That is such a relief... Though I still really want to stay home with him myself, I am much more comfortable leaving him with people that I trust, and who will take oprotunities to teach him about Christ. I know he will only be a newborn, but I am already reading scripture to him.. I am really looking forward to the day he will accept Christ as his Savior, and doing all I can to get him ready for that.
Today is very exciting, my Aunt and Cousins are coming down.. I am going to carry my camera, and get some pictures and hopefully post tonight.
Chris applied for law school again this year. Out of 3 schools, God has closed the door to 2 of them. The third, University of South Dakota, sent Chris an offer for a probationary type of program, where he can take a couple classes early in the summer, and if he scores really well, they will accept him. He got this same offer last year, and could not pursue it because we got married in June. This year, the program starts on May 26th, and I am due on the 23rd. So if it comes to your mind, pray for us as we try to figure out where God is leading us.
On a bright note, I now have Romans chapters 1 and 2 memorized. I have been working on it for a while, but got real serious about doing it the beginning of Feb. Now my goal is to get one chapter done a month.. I have really been learning a lot. Amazing what you notice when you take the time to slow up and think about how the words are put together!
Thats all I can think of to write about right now.
Hope you all have a wonderful Saturday in the Grace of Our Lord.
Love,
Chris and Jennie
Happy Saturday!! At least, it is for us here..
Sorry it has been so long since I have updated this. I get on and read everyone elses updates every night, but I usually am to tired to actually post myself. So my apologies.
Things have been very busy for us recently. Last weekend we went to Fargo, for Chris's sister Stacy's birthday. We had a lot of fun. Bethany, Chris's niece is almost 2, and we had a lot of fun playing with her. I had all these great intentions of taking pictures to put on my poor pictureless blog, but I left my memory card home, so I didnt get any.
Better luck next time I suppose.
I am now at the 28th week of pregnancy, into my 3rd trimester. Its kind of scary to already be over 2/3rds of the way there! Little Judah has been very active, day and night. I love feeling him move around.. Maybe because I am so paranoid of something going wrong, though up to this point it has not been a concern.
I found out that Aetna is very friendly as far as moms breastfeeding when they get back to work. We are still trying to find a way to work it so I can stay home with Judah, but so far, it isnt looking promising. The good news is, that Aetna has a program where they will pay for 200$ of a breastpump, so that I can still breastfeed the baby. God has also opened other doors. Pastor Todd, and his wife Robin, told us that they can watch the baby after I need to go back to work. That way we dont have to deal with daycare. That is such a relief... Though I still really want to stay home with him myself, I am much more comfortable leaving him with people that I trust, and who will take oprotunities to teach him about Christ. I know he will only be a newborn, but I am already reading scripture to him.. I am really looking forward to the day he will accept Christ as his Savior, and doing all I can to get him ready for that.
Today is very exciting, my Aunt and Cousins are coming down.. I am going to carry my camera, and get some pictures and hopefully post tonight.
Chris applied for law school again this year. Out of 3 schools, God has closed the door to 2 of them. The third, University of South Dakota, sent Chris an offer for a probationary type of program, where he can take a couple classes early in the summer, and if he scores really well, they will accept him. He got this same offer last year, and could not pursue it because we got married in June. This year, the program starts on May 26th, and I am due on the 23rd. So if it comes to your mind, pray for us as we try to figure out where God is leading us.
On a bright note, I now have Romans chapters 1 and 2 memorized. I have been working on it for a while, but got real serious about doing it the beginning of Feb. Now my goal is to get one chapter done a month.. I have really been learning a lot. Amazing what you notice when you take the time to slow up and think about how the words are put together!
Thats all I can think of to write about right now.
Hope you all have a wonderful Saturday in the Grace of Our Lord.
Love,
Chris and Jennie
Saturday, January 31
The blessing of the Lord
Hello all,
Recently I have become aware of a very disturbing trend in American society. The attitude towards large families. I guess the way I was raised, I thought large families were normal, I thought they were just a choice the parents had made. I didn't realize the hate that exists towards those of us who have/come from large families.
I started asking myself, what is wrong with this picture? Why are large families not appreciated? Why the hatred and blame? Then the Lord brought a verse to mind...
"Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb are his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are the children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them. They shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies at the gate." (Psalm 127: 3-5)
As I contemplated this verse, I noticed some things, first of all, Children are the heritage of the Lord. When I looked up the word heritage means: 'something that comes or belongs to one by reason of birth; an inherited lot or portion: a heritage of poverty and suffering; a national heritage of honor, pride, and courage.' Children are litterally the inheritance of the Lord, and he rewards us with them. What a great blessing! We are given children to teach them up in the ways of the Lord, and then they will be the light to the next generation! Why would you not want several? The next part of the verse says that children are like arrows in the hand of a warrior. I wondered why God compared children to a wepon. Then I was thinking about an article I read. It was written by a very hateful man who used profanity and slurs to try to get his point across. He was quite upset about Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar's seventeenth child. He asked the question, where are the liberal atheists to having 17 children to balance out the "hyper-christians" and all their kids. I think he is onto something. The world is not having more than 1 or 2 children, due many times I think to selfishness. Those children are raised in the liberal views, and generally will follow in their footsteps. Think of the inpact then, if Christian families averaged 6 children, every 1 Christian family would equal 3 families of 2 children. How God could work in our nation if our Children followed his way! They are a lethal wepon against the devils advances in our evil world. The Lord goes on to tell us that "they shall not be ashamed" The world is trying to pour shame on large families. Most parents of more than 4 children have heard sneers and jeers in public, and people generally giving them a hard time.. ("Dont you know how to use birth control? There is no way you can love that many kids.. Your kids will grow up unscocialized.. Dont you know you are being selfish having so many? You are irresponsible!) But the Bible tells us that those with children will not be ashamed. In my mind this is yet again another place where the world sees God, and does the opposite.
Please don't take these observations to mean that it is a sin not to have a large family, just that large families are a blessing from God. Each child is. I can not wait to bring our little blessing into this world!
Well, I need to go to bed.. After I finish studying for Sunday School tomorrow.
Jennie
Recently I have become aware of a very disturbing trend in American society. The attitude towards large families. I guess the way I was raised, I thought large families were normal, I thought they were just a choice the parents had made. I didn't realize the hate that exists towards those of us who have/come from large families.
I started asking myself, what is wrong with this picture? Why are large families not appreciated? Why the hatred and blame? Then the Lord brought a verse to mind...
"Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb are his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are the children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them. They shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies at the gate." (Psalm 127: 3-5)
As I contemplated this verse, I noticed some things, first of all, Children are the heritage of the Lord. When I looked up the word heritage means: 'something that comes or belongs to one by reason of birth; an inherited lot or portion: a heritage of poverty and suffering; a national heritage of honor, pride, and courage.' Children are litterally the inheritance of the Lord, and he rewards us with them. What a great blessing! We are given children to teach them up in the ways of the Lord, and then they will be the light to the next generation! Why would you not want several? The next part of the verse says that children are like arrows in the hand of a warrior. I wondered why God compared children to a wepon. Then I was thinking about an article I read. It was written by a very hateful man who used profanity and slurs to try to get his point across. He was quite upset about Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar's seventeenth child. He asked the question, where are the liberal atheists to having 17 children to balance out the "hyper-christians" and all their kids. I think he is onto something. The world is not having more than 1 or 2 children, due many times I think to selfishness. Those children are raised in the liberal views, and generally will follow in their footsteps. Think of the inpact then, if Christian families averaged 6 children, every 1 Christian family would equal 3 families of 2 children. How God could work in our nation if our Children followed his way! They are a lethal wepon against the devils advances in our evil world. The Lord goes on to tell us that "they shall not be ashamed" The world is trying to pour shame on large families. Most parents of more than 4 children have heard sneers and jeers in public, and people generally giving them a hard time.. ("Dont you know how to use birth control? There is no way you can love that many kids.. Your kids will grow up unscocialized.. Dont you know you are being selfish having so many? You are irresponsible!) But the Bible tells us that those with children will not be ashamed. In my mind this is yet again another place where the world sees God, and does the opposite.
Please don't take these observations to mean that it is a sin not to have a large family, just that large families are a blessing from God. Each child is. I can not wait to bring our little blessing into this world!
Well, I need to go to bed.. After I finish studying for Sunday School tomorrow.
Jennie
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