Pumpkin Festival

For those of you who think this blog is worthless without pictures of Mali, here are some to make you happy.

Latest Reads

So I was happily reading Wide Awake, by Erwin McManus when the library called to let me know that the book I requested, How Should We Then Live, by Francis Schaeffer had come in. Well, my curiosity got the better of me and I decided to just peek into the first couple pages of Schaeffer, but now I'm hooked. I can't very well read both at once and since I have to return Schaeffer in 3 weeks and I own McManus, Schaeffer won out for my current read. Sorry McManus. I love you and will return to you soon.

St. Maurice

Have you ever heard about a Roman military commander named Maurice? Yeah, neither had I until just yesterday when I happened to read about him. You know Christ's prayer that we as Christians "be in the world, but not of it?" Maurice took this to a whole new level. Back when the Roman Empire ruled the world and Christians were persecuted, Maurice was given orders to direct a persecution of Christians. Instead, Maurice handed his insignia to his assistant so he could join the Christians and be killed as a fellow believer. This took place in the Rhone valley in Switzerland under the mountains of the Dents du Midi. It is for him that the town of St. Maurice is now named. Wow, what strong faith he had! I want to be like that.

Nothing Better in the World

I was just thinking about the feeling I get when Mali runs up to me with arms wide open and gives me the biggest hug she possibly can or when I give Mali a snack or hand something to her and she says, "Choo choo Mommy" which translates to "Thank you Mommy" or at night when I'm tucking her in and she says, "luh you Mommy"or when she first wakes up in the morning and is still a little sleepy and will sit and cuddle with me for a while and let me kiss her hair, or when she sees a booboo on my leg and kisses it and tells me I need a Dora (her word for bandaid), or when she leaves a really loud toot and looks at me and starts laughing and then we both start laughing really hard, or at my soccer games when she shouts, "Go yeyo!!" (I'm on the yellow team) or when she gives me eskimo kisses . . . ahhhhh, that just fills my heart up to overflowing. There is no better feeling in the world.

And Keys!

When Mali's grandfather, Tito, goes off to work each day, Nana always asks him right before he leaves if he has his phone, keys and glasses. She always asks him about these 3 important things because it is a big inconvenience to not have them. Yesterday, as Tito was walking to the door to go to work, Nana noticed he already had the keys in his hand, so asked, "Do you have your phone and glasses?" Mali was there and was sitting watching TV seemingly not even paying attention when suddenly she peeks her head out from the big chair she is sitting on and exclaims, "And keys!!" What a crack up! So young, so smart.

A Nice Little Life

John Eldredge, in his book, Walking With God, says this . . .

I want two things that are mutually opposed--I want to live a nice little life, and I want to play an important role in God’s kingdom. And it’s in those times that I am trying to live a nice little life that I make decisions and choices that cause me in small and subtle ways to live outside of Jesus. The shepherd is headed one direction, and I am headed another. Not some flagrant sin—that’s too easy to recognize. Instead, I’m simply wandering off looking for the pasture I deem best. I don’t even think to ask God about it. A very dangerous way of thinking. As Christians we don’t get to live a 'normal' life, and accepting that fact in all the details of our lives is what allows us to remain in Jesus.

When I read this, it really irked me. . . because it is true and truth sheds light on the dark places in our lives. This is my struggle. Sometimes I want this nice little life. You know, the kind that doesn't involve too much pain or sacrifice. The kind that is comfortable and secure. The kind that comes with things, like a nice house, nice vacations, nice "issue-free" people in my life so I don't have to carry other's burdens, nice things like that (not that these things are necessarily harmful, but they can be if they are the focus). But then I also want to live passionately for Christ. I know that my life is not my own, but Christ's.

For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Col. 3:2-3

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me . . . Gal. 2:20

And in the end, I really don't want a nice little life, because there is no such thing. It is a lie from the evil one. There is only the adventurous life found in Jesus or a meaningless, selfish life. Sounds harsh, I know, but it is true.

Choosing Tragedy Over Safety

This is a great quote I just recently came across . . .

To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries, avoid all entanglements, lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket -safe, dark, motionless, airless - it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy is damnation. The only place you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell. ~C.S. Lewis