A New Day

A quick life update:

I have been gardening, here are some pictures:







































Also, I finally got my Sonlight home school curriculum in the mail. Yay! I started on it today with the kids, and it is not nearly as overwhelming as I imagined. So I love that.

We have been doing some "house-cooling" home improvement projects lately, including new shades, new curtains, new attic fan, and the repainting of the side exterior door (from black to white).

Of course, I am knitting, but I can't say what, because it's all gifts for my pregnant friends and family. By the way, I happen to know 9 pregnant people due this summer. Plus a couple of others who are due later on. Fortunately, I am not among them. Yet...

I am trying to take more pictures of things lately. Hopefully, it will inspire me to blog, and I will get some use out of our new camera. I am terrible picture taker. I also don't prefer to be in pictures. On a side note, JM is going to be helping me get over this camera shyness, meaning he will be taking my picture a lot. If he manages to get a good one (where I do not look poopy-frightening and/or extremely uncomfortable) I might blog it. Don't count on it, though. If you forgot what I look like, just pretend I look like Cher, but shorter and less hair. Actually, don't pretend that. Maybe I should post a picture after all. :-)

Finally, I wanted to re-envision my blog's purpose today. The pursuit of God in daily-ness means to me that I want to share with you how I functionally live according to the transforming grace of God by seeking to apply the Gospel to every part of my life. This may not sound exciting, but to me it is and here is why: As a homemaker, mother of three, and small-town American woman, it is easy for me to feel as though my life does not make much difference. In particular, I can feel that as a Christian, I am not really influencing the world for Christ. After all, I am not smuggling Bibles into Sri Lanka or China. I am not serving in disease infested jungles building houses and roads. I am not feeding starving orphans in Africa. I don't even make any money to support these grand missions, because my husband is the one who works. So. It's easy to feel small. But, the amazing truth, and the reason for writing this blog is because those feelings I have from time to time are quite inaccurate. They do not hold up to the test of Biblical truth. God calls me to "walk in a manner worthy of the calling I have received." And he has called me to be the wife and mother that I am, to lay down my plans and dreams and desires for the sake of serving God through my local church. In this there is great fulfillment as my mundane actions of changing diapers, cooking meals, and sweeping the floor become submitted to the will and glory of God. Serving with joy in this life I am called to makes the gospel appealing to those who see. Most importantly, my unbelieving children are affected. Secondly, those within the church who are not saved see this testimony of grace. Finally, the relationships within the community that God sends my way are influenced (though they often do not know it) by the gospel. And when the gospel is my motivation, suddenly the ability to witness to others is greatly increased. If the answer to any question of why I do something is "because of the gospel," how could I help but share this good news with anyone who asks? Of course, the gospel is not meant only for salvation, but also for the purpose of changing my heart daily into the image of Christ. The gospel brings power to overcome sin, and to grow in love with my Savior, Jesus Christ. So, walking out this calling is also for the purpose of edifying the believers in my life, and spurring them on in their walk. Wow! Suddenly, what I am called to is truly meaningful. I am a minister of reconciliation between God and His creation. My simple life carries the weighty responsibility of pointing in every way, to the God who made me and saved me for His glory. How kind of Him to allow even my dirty dishes and hungry children to bring glory to Himself. Praise God, from whom all blessings flow!