Soccer Fun

I'm glad G is able to be on a soccer team.  It's working because his babysitter Mr. Peter takes him to the 5:00 practices.  I meet them there and take G home.  Perfect!

Last Saturday we had our team photos taken.  I got to meet another mom - Denise - there.  Denise asked who my child was, and I pointed out G. 

Denise (confidently): I've talked with his father.

Me (stumbling, looking around to see if there's a Black man in the room): uhhh...

Denise (trying to help me): ... your husband.

Me: uhhh...

Eventually we determine that she has talked with Mr. Peter.  i.e. My 19-year-old babysitter.  i.e. NOT my husband!  Seriously?

This Saturday G had his first game.  G invited everyone under the sun, but the only person able to come was Joseph's dad.  He got to witness a thrilling game.  Interestingly, G - normally so very bold - was not.  He'd kind of jog over to the ball and then let someone else kick it.  He enjoyed playing but didn't seem to fully grasp the purpose or the competitive aspect.

Joseph's dad left a bit early and Denise caught my eye.

Me (helpfully): He's not my husband either.

Denise (confidently): But he is G's dad.  Well, obviously.

Me: No.  But he is my other son's dad.

Conclusion - G is currently the weakest link on his team.  I'm not much more solid among the moms.  But we are both enjoying soccer!

Promise from God

Yet another of my favorite promises in the Bible:
"The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.  For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust."

Ps 103:13-14

God's Promises

Here are some amazing thoughts from L.B. Cowman's book Streams in the Desert:

Do as you promised...that your name will be great forever. (1 Chronicles 17:23-24)

On some occasions, and this was one in the life of David, we are fully persuaded that what we are asking is in accordance with God's will.  We feel led to select and plead a promise from the pages of Scripture, having been specially impressed that it contains a message for us.  At these times, we may say with confident faith, "Do as you promised."

Hardly any stance could be more completely beautiful, strong, or safe than that of putting your finger on a promise of God's divine Word and then claiming it.  Doing so requires no anguish, struggle, or wrestling but simply presenting the check and asking for cash.  It is as simple as producing the promise and claiming its fulfillment....

Every promise of Scripture is a letter from God, which we may plead before Him with this reasonable request: "Do as you promised."...

It is the everlasting faithfulness of God that makes a Bible promise "very great and precious" (2 Peter 1:4).  Human promises ar often worthless, and many broken promises have left broken hearts.  But since the creation of the world, God has never broken a single promise to one of His trusting children.
 

Promise from God

Another of my favorite promises in the Bible:

"The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results."

James 5:16b

People are Interesting

Alternate title: "I joined a Book Club!"

My neighbor invited me to join a Book Club that she's launching.  Of course, I had to join because it provided a chance to meet my neighbors from all the way down the street!  Big opportunity!

I have interesting neighbors.

One favorite was the lady who queried the group: "Does anyone here like to read?"  I raised my hand.  She promptly declared: "You need to get a life!"

Fascinating.  I'd known her for 30 minutes and she felt comfortable mocking me for being a reader.

At Book Club.

After she'd shared that she'd just come from her bowling competition.

Where she came in last place.

I did think to suggest that she read a good book like "Bowling for Dummies."

But - don't worry.  I kept my mouth closed.  And silently thanked God for interesting people - and Book Clubs.

Faith

Yet another great excerpt from L.B. Cowman's book Streams in the Desert:

As long as you are waiting, hoping, or looking, you are not believing.  You may have hope or an earnest desire, but that is not faith, for "faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Heb 11:1).  The command regarding believing prayer is: "Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours" (Mark 11:24).  We are to believe that we have received - this present moment....

True faith relies on God and believes before seeing....

Faith that believes it will see, will keep us from becoming discouraged.  We will laugh at seemingly impossible situations while we watch with delight to see how God is going to open a path through our Red Sea.

Babysitter Trauma

Of all life's events, the WORST is looking for a new babysitter.

I know that "worst" might be an exaggeration, but not by much.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

- Must be completely reliable with excellent character.

- Must have strength for physical restraint when necessary.  And - must have superhuman self control for the same.

- Must have respect and affection for my child, spending time with him, consistently demonstrating care for him, regardless of the previous point.

- Must have patience and consistency.  And also creativity.

Babysitter will work many hours, for less-than-stellar pay.

Doesn't seem very likely, does it?

I remind myself that, against all odds, God brought us Amazing Mr. Jim, followed by Amazing Mr. Peter.  Both of them have been unbelievable gifts to us, Mr. Peter for the past 1 1/2 years. 

Does yet another miraculously Amazing babysitter exist?  Stay tuned.

Promise from God

Here's another of my favorite promises in the Bible:

"I will be your God throughout your lifetime - until your hair is white with age.  I made you, and I will care for you.  I will carry you along and save you."

Isaiah 46:4

Best Hiring Story Ever*

 

(*Not including the crazy interview that my coworker Emily & I once did.  That was the All Time Insanely Best Hiring Story Ever)

 

 

Joseph has been job searching.

 

Yesterday he walked into a local donut shop.  He picked up an application and returned it later in the day.  The lady glanced at it for literally two seconds and told him to come back at 6am today wearing blue jeans and a white shirt.

 

Me: “Huh?”

 

Joseph: “That’s what she said.”

 

Me: “What?”

 

Joseph: “I think I have a job.”

 

Me: “It must be an interviewing tactic.  She probably gets a lot of questionable applicants, so this is her screen.  If someone can’t get to the interview on time, wearing what she told them to wear, then she can easily rule them out.”

 

Joseph: “Maybe.”

 

This morning he arrived there at 6am wearing blue jeans and a white shirt.

 

Joseph: “Is there an interview?”

 

Lady: “No, I looked at your application.”

 

Training consisted of a five minute introduction to the various coffee machines, and then they were busy, and he was working!

 

His coworkers were nice, the supervisor congratulated him on doing a good job, and he really liked it!

 

Me: “Soooo.. what’s next?”

 

Joseph: “She told me to be there at 6am tomorrow.”

 

Only Joseph.

 

In My House Today

We have homemade
- Zucchini bread
- Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies
- Chocolate cookies, some of which were used to make a crust for...
- Cheesecake with a raspberry sauce

Sadly gone are last week's
- Maple scones
- Cinnamon rolls
- Espresso brownies
- Carrot cake

Before those we had....

Joseph has been baking.

And cooking.

But I'll tortue you with that list another day.

Sustenance

Here's another great excerpt from L.B. Cowman's book Streams in the Desert:

(the underlining is mine)

Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice! (Phil 4:4)

It is a good thing to "rejoice in the Lord."  Perhaps you have tried it but seemed to fail at first.  Don't give it a second thought, and forge ahead.  Even when you cannot feel any joy, there is no spring in your step, nor any comfort or encouragment in your life, continue to rejoice and "consider it pure joy" (James 1:2).  "Whenever you face trials of many kinds" (James 1:2), regard it as joy, delight in it, and God will reward your faith.  Do you believe that your heavenly Father will let you carry the banner of His victory and joy to the very front of the battle, only to calmly withdraw to see you captured or beaten back by the enemy?  NEVER!  His Holy Spirit will sustain you in your bold advance and fill your heart with gladness and praise.  You wil find that your heart is exhilarated and refreshed by the fullness within.

G is on a Soccer Team!

G has his first 2 practices behind him, so he is our new confident soccer expert.

Yesterday a friend asked G if he is good at passing the ball.

No, we just kick our own ball.

But when you play a game and there's only one ball on the field and you need to get it to your teammates - Are you good at passing the ball over?

(Firmly and patiently:)  No.  Everybody has their own ball.  You only kick your own ball.

...Which is true.  In both of his practices, the kids do all of the drills individually, using their own balls.  So - G doesn't know that in a game they'll be sharing a ball.

First game is a week from Saturday.

It's going to be great!

Promise from God

One of my favorite promises in the Bible:

"Trust me in your times of trouble,
and I will rescue you,
and you will give me glory."

Psalm 50:15

Library Planning with G

Remember that book about the dragon and the princess? 

The book our friends sent to you?

No.  Not that book.  The dragon's name was....  The dragon's name was....  I don't remember.

St George and the Dragon?

No.  Not that book.  The dragon said....  The dragon said....  I don't remember.
Can we get that book?

Peace

I've been appreciating L.B. Cowman's Streams in the Desert.  Here's an excerpt worth sharing:

God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. (Psalm 46:5 NASB)

Will not be moved - what an inspiring declaration!  Is it possible for us who are so easily moved by earthly things to come to a point where nothing can upset us or disturb our peace?  The answer is yes, and the apostle Paul knew it.  When he was on his way to Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit warned him that "prison and hardships" (Acts 20:23) awaited him.  Yet he could triumphantly say, "But none of these things move me" (Acts 20:24 KJV).

Everything in Paul's life and experience that could be disturbed had already been shaken, and he no longer considered his life or any of his possessions as having any earthly value.  And if we will only let God have His way with us, we can come to the same point.  Then, like Paul, neither the stress and strain of little things nor the great and heavy trials of life will have enough power to move us from "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding" (Phil 4:7).  God declares this peace to be the inheritance of those who have learned to rest only on Him.