Psalm 16:5-6

"The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold
my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed I
have a
beautiful inheritance."


Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Spilled Milk


Have you ever heard the old saying; "No sense crying over spilled milk"? Well I had an interesting morning the first day of school this week. I wanted to cry over spilled milk! I woke up late and was just beginning my time alone with God when all of the sudden, one of my children went to lift a new gallon of milk out of the refrigerator when it slipped out of his/her hand and landed like a bomb on the floor. The reason I say bomb is because it pretty much exploded all over the kitchen. The refigerator, island, barstools, cubboards, table and oven were all covered with milk. As my child rushed the leaking jug to the sink; the floor, the dishwasher, many more cubboards, and even the window were freshly saturated with milk. I give you this vivid picture of my morning in order to share with you the way the Lord used this experience to get to an issue in my heart.
You see I had plans for my morning, I had things I wanted to get done. Helping to clean up a gallon of spilled milk was not on my agenda. As I was mumbling in my heart,"what a way to start out the day". I was quickly reminded of a verse I had written in my journal just minutes prior to the explosion. It was from Ecclesiates 7:9 "Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit for anger resides in the lap of fools." So I was doing my best to not be angry with my child, however I continued grumbling in my heart. Thinking thoughts like, "This isn't how I wanted to start my day especially on the first day of school" and "How am I ever going to get everthing accomplished now?" You can imagine the other thoughts that ran through my mind as well.
After working together to get all the milk wiped up I went back to what I had started a half hour before, my quiet time. (I decided I could mop the floors after my devotions). I was gently reminded by what seem to be a whisper from the Lord, "Maybe this isn't what you had planned for your day, but it is exactly what I had planned for you today!" You see, I had been praying for God to reveal sin in my heart and that is exactly what He did. I had my plans and I didn't want them to be interrupted. I had an adgenda and didn't want it to be "jolted" with an unexpected gallon of spilled milk.
I'm thankful that God graciously brought to the forefront the sinfulness that presides in my heart. The area of pride, thinking I know what is best for me. The idea that I deserve a life of ease, without "spilled milk" interrupting my plans. As I continued in my quiet time the Lord highlighted another verse that spoke volumes to me, found in II Corinthians 7:10 "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death". I'm grateful that the Lord helped me to see that I needed to repent of the sin of pride that was so evident in my life that morning. His Holy Spirit helped me to have that "godly sorrow" as a result of my sin. I'm thankful that He opened my eyes once again to see my need for a Savior in every moment of my life, especially when there is "spilled milk" along the way!

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Happy Birthday Mom/Grandma

My dear Mom! Now shes a woman to be praised, as Scritpure talks about in Proverbs 31! As her daughter, she taught me many skills I continually use now that I am grown and married myself. It was her unselfish dedication to investing time and energy teaching me how to sew, cook, play sports, work hard, make creative stuff with little or no money, how be be devoted to her husband (my dad), to be a godly wife and mother, and the list goes on. She was my biggest cheerleader when it came to trying anything. She would be the first to tell me I could do it, no matter what the task at hand might be .
Then as my family grew she invested the same time and energy into my children. She would often take the kids and just spend fun time with them, camping, garage sailing, going to "Call of the Wild", and the list goes on. Not to mention all the hours spent reading and recording books so that my little ones would have stories to listen to as they went to sleep at night!

Mom today as you celebrate your birthday I wanted to take the time to wish you a very special day! You are the best Mom ever! Thank you first and foremost for teaching me to love Our Savior Jesus Christ. Thank you also for teaching me what it means to be a commited and faithful wife, as you and dad celebrate 50 years of marriage this November. Thank you also for being my friend. I love you so very much! Have a wonderful Birthday. Lin


This picture is of my family growing up. Notice all the green dresses that match? My mom made them. I still remember because I think they were partially wool and they were picky! HEEHEE

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Catching Up

Tuesday nights are supposed to be my dinner night. I'm not always the best at planning ahead, but I've been doing a little bit better (sometimes). Anyway, this tuesday, all the boys ended up being gone, so we had Wes, Char, Josh and Preston over for dinner. I was just going to make a bg chicken ceasar salad, but we need to make it go a little farther, so mom had the great idea of adding noodles to it..and it turned out to be pretty good! Not the greatest picture, but I thought to take it just before the salad was gone.

Josh, Char, Wes and I


COUSIN NIGHT! Saturday night the Smiths had people over to watch a movie, and after everyone left...if was just the cousins! We talked and laughed for awhile, and we stayed the night! Nate, Keek and Rach...when you guys come for Katies wedding...we have to have a sleepover!!
Clay & Kate

Clay Gabe and Wes
Dancing the night away! The Bartows had a coming home/going away DANCE party for Tyler. Matt and Peter taught everyone "The Hustle". It was alot of fun!

Friday, August 24, 2007

Date Night

Friday nights are typically the nights Wes will take me on a date. I always tell him that I want him to surprise me with what we're doing, but then usually try to figure it out instead of letting it be a surprise. Anyway, we went to outback to get food TO GO and brought it to the beach. We had to eat some of it on the way there as it took awhile to get there, and we were both starving, and we didn't want the food to get too cold! Well it was a blast, we ate and then just sat on the lifegaurd stand and watched the surfers (and played around with my camera that he got me for my birthday;) ) I am so thankful for you Wes...thank you for always laying down your life to serve me and make our dates special!



Waiting for our food...

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Baptism- They want to live for Christ!




Wes under the water.






Sean under the water
Josh just coming out of the water









Danny sharing his testimony...
Will he be a preacher??? Eric Hughes prayed for the boys indicating that three chords to make a rope are stronger than one. And how these brothers (the three of them) can encourage and provoke each other in their walks with the Lord...and how much stonger they will be growing together in the Lord. Thank you Eric for all you impart to our family..We love you and are blessed to call you our friend and Pastor!






Charity and Josh waiting for their turn to be
baptized
Wes, Josh and Ray waiting to be baptized







B
Bret sharing about what it means to to Baptized




















Many of our church family and friends supporting every ones decision to make a public confirmation of the faith in the Lord Jesus Christ