How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!

How vast is the sum of them!

Were I to count them,

They would outnumber the

Grains of sand.

When I awake,

I am still with you.

My friend emailed me about this…

http://wichitaonthecheap.com/5-admission-exploration-place-birthday/

For Exploration Place’s birthday, they’re doing $5 admission and lots of fun events this weekend.

photo source

Also at Alford Library they are having a Minecraft event today from 2:00 – 4:00 and a Lego event tomorrow, same times.

We would go, but this one lost his cookies this morning.

I realize he looks more ornery than sick…that’s because he is.

Have a great weekend!

Even in the womb,
    Jacob struggled with his brother;
when he became a man,
    he even fought with God.
Yes, he wrestled with the angel and won.
    He wept and pleaded for a blessing from him.

There at Bethel he met God face to face,
    and God spoke to him—

the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies,
    the Lord is his name! (vs 3-5)

Have you ever wrestled with God? Did He make you an overcomer? An overcomer with a very obvious limp?

Let’s wear our wounds with dignity. After all, struggling with God and men through all our old tendencies is no small thing. Besides, He gives us a new name. A name that signifies who He has made us to be.

What could be more honorable than that?

So now, come back to your God.
    Act with love and justice,
    and always depend on him. (vs 6)

So return to your God.
Patiently trust him,
    and show love and justice. (CEV)

So you, by the help of your God, return,
    hold fast to love and justice,
    and wait continually for your God. (ESV)

So now, descendants of Jacob, trust in your God and return to him. Be loyal and just, and wait patiently for your God to act. (GNT)

How hard is it for you to wait on God?

To observe justice but neglect mercy?

To love kindness but recoil at justice?

This loving-kindness, hesed, draws our world to the One we worship.

This just living, mishpat, puts integrity behind what we say we believe.

And Hosea combines them beautifully. We don’t have to pick just one, friends. He can make us into disciples who seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.

Let’s let Him.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.

His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of gods.

His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord of lords:

His love endures forever.

To Him Who alone does great wonders,

His love endures forever…

To the One Who remembered us in our low estate

His love endures forever.

And freed us from our enemies,

His love endures forever.

And who gives food to every creature.

His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of heaven.

His love endures forever.

This weekend was incredible. I don’t even understand my feelings about it all. Other than God. showed. up.

These jelly beans by far won favorite Easter Bunny gift. You spin a little wheel and choose whatever color of jelly bean it says. Problem is, the brown one might be chocolate pudding flavor…or it might be canned dog food. The black one may be licorice or it could be skunk spray. (Neither of those is a win to me.) The boys were delighted. Dan was such a good sport, too.

Clearly Dan did not receive chocolate pudding on this one. It always interests me what entertains boys. (They also got a Pre-K and 2nd Grade workbook for the summer, which they were less excited about.)

A sample of the friends who celebrated Easter lunch with us. I was so emotional at church. Then I came home dreading having a house full of people I adore. It’s like it was going to be too much.

Dan goes, “Just let Him bless you.”

So I did.

These are totally out of order, but moving on:

We had some mean BLTs the other day. My friend let us in on a little secret: basil brings out all the flavors. We used dried, but a fresh leaf is better. It inspired us to plant herbs this year.

The Easter Bunny also got a giant checker board for us. The concepts of which came in helpful for this little exchange about an hour ago:

Caleb asked if he could play when we were at the library and this gentlemen’s companion had run an errand. So he graciously pointed out some things to my boy. The next Bobby Fischer.

While at this same library, I got a $30 traffic ticket for not parking between the lines. So that’s awesome.

My friend’s string quartet played at Reverie last night. They performed Where the Wild Things Are for kids. I love seeing people in their element.

The musicians did so great and taught the kids about their instruments.

We are nothing if not cultured.

I love my family. I hope you’ve had a great week and Resurrection Day was meaningful for you.

I’m sure this is printed other places, but someone gave this to me a long time ago.

I

I walk down the street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I fall in

I am Lost…I am helpless

It isn’t my fault.

It takes forever to find a way out.

II

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I pretend I don’t see it.

I fall in again.

I can’t believe I am in the same place

But it isn’t my fault.

It still takes a long time to get out.

III

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I see it is there.

I still fall in…it’s a habit.

My eyes are open.

I know where I am.

It is my fault.

I get out immediately.

IV

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I walk around it.

V

I walk down another street.

https://vimeo.com/88753432

Hallelujah, Risen Lord

The only One I fall before

I am His

Because He is Alive!

I myself taught Israel how to walk,
    leading him along by the hand...
I led Israel along
    with my ropes of kindness and love.
I lifted the yoke from his neck,
    and I myself stooped to feed him (3a-4 NLT)

Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk;
    I took them up by their arms…

I led them with cords of kindness,
    with the bands of love,
and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws,
    and I bent down to them and fed them. (ESV)

Have you ever taught anyone how to walk?

I hope you won’t check out if the answer’s no or you’re not a parent.

The other night I talked with my ladies about the best part of being a parent. We listed many things: partnering with God in shaping someone’s life and character; those little moments when you can get a glimpse of who they are becoming and wonder at the joy; getting a small taste of the way God feels about us.

But the one that’s had me pondering is this: the strength of love for our children…that will never be reciprocated in the same way by them. The intensity with which we love our children is different than the way they are capable of loving us back. It’s just the nature of the relationship. Even as they grow into adulthood, mutual affection may occur, but they are not going to love us with the kind of hovering-proud-heart-wrenching love we have had for them since birth.

And that’s okay.

Have you ever pondered that we will never love God back the way He fiercely loves us? We’re not capable of it. And, interestingly, that’s the nature of the relationship. He’s the Creator and we are His creation. His poiema. Just like a work of art isn’t capable of loving its creator back, we as His masterpieces aren’t capable of loving Him back with the same intensity and care He has for us.

And I’m pretty sure that’s okay, too.

My friend who is immersed in foster care/adoption expounded on this thought. With her little girl, all of the above is true, yet with an added level. She and her family are living out the gospel with this sweet one. She is not their biological child. They are willingly choosing to graft her into their family.

We, too, are grafted in. We would have no rights in the Family of God had He not adopted us.

My friend has found the weight of the male reference in Ephesians especially poignant as they open their family. When Paul talks about being adopted as sons, he meant sons. Only sons had full inheritance under Roman law. And whereas natural sons under this law could be disowned, once someone was adopted, the bonds could never be broken.

Just as we who have trusted Christ have been adopted out of the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Light, so we have complete access to all the riches of this Kingdom. Through His divine power, we have everything we need for life and godliness.

And He never can and never will disown us.

That’s good news.

“Oh, how can I give you up, Israel?
    How can I let you go?

My heart is torn within me,
    and my compassion overflows. (vs 8 NLT)

Israel, I can’t let you go.
    I can’t give you up.
How could I possibly destroy you…

I just can’t do it.
My feelings for you
    are much too strong. (CEV)

How can I give you up, Israel?
    How can I abandon you?

My heart will not let me do it!
    My love for you is too strong. (GNT)

I love the parent and adoption analogies above. But if the Book of Hosea is about anything, it’s about the passion and intimacy of marriage.

And I just love that the God of the Universe is a Romantic.

If the male gender gets to have the adoption reference, I think we ladies can glory in how the Church is referred to as Christ’s Bride. He’s such a perfect Husband. And just as Hosea goes after Gomer each time she is unfaithful, He comes running after us. Every time.

It’s interesting I’m finishing this on Good Friday. The day we celebrate how He embraced the cross.

There was nothing more He could do to prove His love for us, was there? He couldn’t give us up or ultimately destroy us. His love for us is too strong.

And how we thank You Your compassion for us overflows.

“And I will bring them home again,”

    says the Lord. (11b)

It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love…

He got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him…

(John 13:1, 4-5 NIV)

Source

And He said to them, “I have earnestly and intensely desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer…”

Luke 22:15 Amplified

Been a good one.

I chopped my hair off. Something I always get the urge to do around this time of year.

Caleb and I made some fun Easter cookies with a sweet friend. Then I decorated them with another sweet friend. And I didn’t take a single picture. Boo.

Our little friend turned two and had a fun party.

I got certified in Silver Sneakers Yoga, officially the most wonderful, relaxing class ever. Hope I can actually teach it sometime.

Dan and I took an Easter Date on Saturday. We ate at Bone Fish Grill free, thanks to a generous student. (Bang Bang shrimp, anyone?) Then figured out Easter baskets at Barnes and Noble, over decaf and cheesecake.  Free, thanks to another generous student. We are so grateful.

Our oldest was in a wonderful Easter program on Sunday. It was fun and worshipful and entertaining! We were so proud of him.

sorry it’s fuzzy

Dan is officially done with classes for his Master’s degree. Can I get a hallelujah? He still has several papers and some practical experience things to do before he graduates next month. But no more class. And all the people said, “Amen.” I am so proud of that man.

I am officially done with the 8 week land class. To say this was the best training I’ve ever been to is not an exaggeration. Quality, lots of info with plenty of time for practical experience. Plus, you bond in 8 weeks. So I will know and be naturally rooting for a group of other instructors from this time.

You make everything glorious, Lord.

How was your week?