So it's Friday and the start of the weekend. I hope each of the mothers out there have a Happy Mothers day. This morning as I was driving to work I was listening to Focus on the Family and they were talking about praying Mothers and the mountains praying moms can move for their children. As I was thinking about my kids and their daily walk with the Lord I began to think about what I would really love to have for mothers day. The best gift I could think of was to have all 4 of my kids in church with me for mothers day. I sneak hints or direct comments to Jonathon from time to time that I'd like for him to come to church with me but the requests seem to go in one ear and out the other. So a little bit ago I texted him and told him all I wanted for mothers day was to have him come to church with me. He responded that he'd try. Well I ask my praying mother friends to help me move mountains to ensure he comes to church with me Sunday. Of course my big prayer request would be that he'd get back in church. He's a great kid and I know he works on Sundays but he doesn't go to work until 2 PM. So I'd love to have him start attending church with our family. I try not push him. I know he's an adult but as a mom who loves him dearly I'd love to be in service with him.
If you enjoyed the commentary in the last post here is a link to the website I've been reading. I hope you enjoyed it. I know I did.
http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/66.htm
Have a Wonderful Mothers Day everyone!Tina
Friday, May 8, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Luke Warm?
We're studying the book of Revelation and I came across this interesting commentary and wanted to share it with each of you. I ask ARE YOU A LUKEWARM CHRISTIAN?
Revelation 3:15-16
I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
You are neither cold nor hot: In this spiritual sense, lukewarmness is a picture of indifference and compromise. It tries to play the middle, too hot to be cold and too cold to be hot. But in trying to be both things, it ends up being nothing - except to hear the words, “I will vomit you out of My mouth.”
Has there been a greater curse upon the earth than empty religion? Is there any soul harder to reach than the one who has just enough of Jesus to think they have enough?
I could wish that you were cold or hot: What Jesus wants to change in us as much as anything is the deceptive playing of the middle, trying to please both the world and Jesus. I could wish that you were cold or hot also points to another aspect of lukewarmness, as a picture of uselessness. “Hot water heals, cold water refreshes, but lukewarm water is useless for either purpose.” (Morris) It’s as if Jesus says, “If you were hot or cold I could do something with you. But because you are neither, I will do nothing.” The lukewarm Christian has enough of Jesus to satisfy a craving for religion, but not enough for eternal life.
The thief on the cross was cold towards Jesus and clearly saw his need. The Apostle John was hot towards Jesus and enjoyed an intimate relationship of love. But Judas was lukewarm, following Jesus enough to be considered a disciple, but not giving his heart over to Jesus in fullness.
Deep down, there is no one more miserable than the lukewarm Christian is. They have too much of the world to be happy in Jesus, but too much of Jesus to be happy in the world.
But how could Jesus say, I could wish that you were cold? We know His deepest desire is that they be hot, with an on-fire love for Him (Revelation 3:19, where the word zealous is associated with this same word hot). Yet if they would not be hot, Jesus prefers cold rather than lukewarm. “So the Lord is saying, ‘If instead of being lukewarm, you were so cold that should feel that coldness, then the very feeling of your need might drive you to the true warmth, but now in your lukewarmness, you have just enough to protect yourselves against a feeling of need.’” (Barnhouse)
Lukewarm prayers mock God. “O my brethren and sisters, have you ever really thought what an insult it is to God when we come before him with lukewarm prayers? There stands the heavenly mercy-seat; the road to it is sprinkled with the precious blood of Jesus, yet we come to it with hearts that are cold, or we approach it leaving our hearts behind us. We kneel in the attitude of prayer, yet we do not pray. We prattle out certain words, we express thoughts, which are not our real desires, we feign wants that we do not feel. Do we not thus degrade the mercy-seat? We make it, as it were, a common lounging-place, rather than an awful wrestling-place, once besprinkled with blood, and often to be besprinkled with the sweat of our fervent supplication.” (Spurgeon)
Lukewarm lives turn people away from Jesus. “Now, lukewarm Christian, what do worldlings see in you? They see a person, who says he is going to heaven, but who is only travelling at a snail’s pace. He professes to believe that there is a hell, yet he has tearless eyes, and never seeks to snatch souls from going down into the pit. They see before them one who has to deal with eternal realities, yet he is but half awake; one who professes to have passed through a transformation so mysterious and wonderful that there must be, if it is true, a vast change in the outward life as the result of it; yet they see him as much like themselves as can be. He may be morally consistent in his general behavior, but they see no energy in his religious character.” (Spurgeon) “The careless worldling is lulled to sleep by the lukewarm Christian, who, in this respect, acts the part of the syren to the sinner, playing sweet music in his ears, and even helping to lure him to the rocks where he will be destroyed. This is a solemn matter, beloved. In this way, great damage is done to the cause of truth; and God’s name and God’s honor are compromised by inconsistent Christians. If you really are God’s people, then serve him with all your might!
Revelation 3:15-16
I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
You are neither cold nor hot: In this spiritual sense, lukewarmness is a picture of indifference and compromise. It tries to play the middle, too hot to be cold and too cold to be hot. But in trying to be both things, it ends up being nothing - except to hear the words, “I will vomit you out of My mouth.”
Has there been a greater curse upon the earth than empty religion? Is there any soul harder to reach than the one who has just enough of Jesus to think they have enough?
I could wish that you were cold or hot: What Jesus wants to change in us as much as anything is the deceptive playing of the middle, trying to please both the world and Jesus. I could wish that you were cold or hot also points to another aspect of lukewarmness, as a picture of uselessness. “Hot water heals, cold water refreshes, but lukewarm water is useless for either purpose.” (Morris) It’s as if Jesus says, “If you were hot or cold I could do something with you. But because you are neither, I will do nothing.” The lukewarm Christian has enough of Jesus to satisfy a craving for religion, but not enough for eternal life.
The thief on the cross was cold towards Jesus and clearly saw his need. The Apostle John was hot towards Jesus and enjoyed an intimate relationship of love. But Judas was lukewarm, following Jesus enough to be considered a disciple, but not giving his heart over to Jesus in fullness.
Deep down, there is no one more miserable than the lukewarm Christian is. They have too much of the world to be happy in Jesus, but too much of Jesus to be happy in the world.
But how could Jesus say, I could wish that you were cold? We know His deepest desire is that they be hot, with an on-fire love for Him (Revelation 3:19, where the word zealous is associated with this same word hot). Yet if they would not be hot, Jesus prefers cold rather than lukewarm. “So the Lord is saying, ‘If instead of being lukewarm, you were so cold that should feel that coldness, then the very feeling of your need might drive you to the true warmth, but now in your lukewarmness, you have just enough to protect yourselves against a feeling of need.’” (Barnhouse)
Lukewarm prayers mock God. “O my brethren and sisters, have you ever really thought what an insult it is to God when we come before him with lukewarm prayers? There stands the heavenly mercy-seat; the road to it is sprinkled with the precious blood of Jesus, yet we come to it with hearts that are cold, or we approach it leaving our hearts behind us. We kneel in the attitude of prayer, yet we do not pray. We prattle out certain words, we express thoughts, which are not our real desires, we feign wants that we do not feel. Do we not thus degrade the mercy-seat? We make it, as it were, a common lounging-place, rather than an awful wrestling-place, once besprinkled with blood, and often to be besprinkled with the sweat of our fervent supplication.” (Spurgeon)
Lukewarm lives turn people away from Jesus. “Now, lukewarm Christian, what do worldlings see in you? They see a person, who says he is going to heaven, but who is only travelling at a snail’s pace. He professes to believe that there is a hell, yet he has tearless eyes, and never seeks to snatch souls from going down into the pit. They see before them one who has to deal with eternal realities, yet he is but half awake; one who professes to have passed through a transformation so mysterious and wonderful that there must be, if it is true, a vast change in the outward life as the result of it; yet they see him as much like themselves as can be. He may be morally consistent in his general behavior, but they see no energy in his religious character.” (Spurgeon) “The careless worldling is lulled to sleep by the lukewarm Christian, who, in this respect, acts the part of the syren to the sinner, playing sweet music in his ears, and even helping to lure him to the rocks where he will be destroyed. This is a solemn matter, beloved. In this way, great damage is done to the cause of truth; and God’s name and God’s honor are compromised by inconsistent Christians. If you really are God’s people, then serve him with all your might!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Informational Meeting
As many of you know I can't go a day without using the word adoption or speaking about how much adoption has touched our family. If you followed our adoptions to Addie and Alex you know very well how much we felt like we were called to adopt. I've been asked many times "are you going to adopt again?" and my response lately is I just don't know. I don't know what God has planned for our family. If He calls us to adopt again I will listen intently with open ears. With all that said I do however feel a need and a desire to be a voice for orphans.
I know many of you have not been called to adopt nor feel the need to adoptbut the Word says..
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to lookafter orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from beingpolluted by the world. (James 1:27) So while you may not be called to adopt you can still help spread the wordabout adoption.
Our agency Dillon International will be hosting an 'ABC's Informational Meeting on adoption. The meeting will be held on May 29th at the Jones Center in room 113. The meeting will start at 6 PM. I ask that each of you spread word about this meeting to your church members and friends. You never know who's lives you might touch by sharing this information. I am so glad we opened our hearts and minds to the possibility of "adoption". Oh the joy we would have missed if we wouldn't have answered that call. For those of you that are Christians just imagine the gift of "adoption" Christ extended to each of you and where you would be if He had chose not to.
Want a Blessing? Be a blessing to someone else!
Thanks,
Tina
I know many of you have not been called to adopt nor feel the need to adoptbut the Word says..
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to lookafter orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from beingpolluted by the world. (James 1:27) So while you may not be called to adopt you can still help spread the wordabout adoption.
Our agency Dillon International will be hosting an 'ABC's Informational Meeting on adoption. The meeting will be held on May 29th at the Jones Center in room 113. The meeting will start at 6 PM. I ask that each of you spread word about this meeting to your church members and friends. You never know who's lives you might touch by sharing this information. I am so glad we opened our hearts and minds to the possibility of "adoption". Oh the joy we would have missed if we wouldn't have answered that call. For those of you that are Christians just imagine the gift of "adoption" Christ extended to each of you and where you would be if He had chose not to.
Want a Blessing? Be a blessing to someone else!
Thanks,
Tina
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Joe's Senior Baseball Pictures
The coaches wife was nice enough to take 65 pictures of Joseph playing ball this year. I thought I'd share a few of them.
Not sure what's going on here since he plays 3rd and the ball is coming from the wrong direction.
Of course I had to add some action shots.
Not sure what's going on here since he plays 3rd and the ball is coming from the wrong direction.
Home run Senior night winning the ball game! 
Joe loved his team and as you can tell they thought highly of him also. 
And of course we can't miss our beautiful manager Ashton
These boys played ball together as long as they can remember. I think they will always be great friends. Something I know I'm going to miss!
Joe loved his team and as you can tell they thought highly of him also. And of course we can't miss our beautiful manager Ashton
These boys played ball together as long as they can remember. I think they will always be great friends. Something I know I'm going to miss!
Monday, May 4, 2009
We survived the weekend
Yep we did it all!
Friday we went to chic-fil-a and the kids played with my friend Tanya's kiddo's. They had a great time and wanted to go back yesterday. On Saturday Johnny and I opted to leave Alex and Addie with Joe and Ashton while we went to the ballgame. It was cold and misting outside so I think it was the best decision for all. We stayed until the 6th inning and then headed home. Yesterday Alex, Addie and I loaded up and headed to Owasso, OK. We got to the birthday party a bit late but the kids still had a few minutes to play and then we headed off to eat Chinese with others in our China travel group. Erica, Charlotte, Gentry and Addie all traveled home together in 2006 and we're always blessed to see the girls and of course see their parents also. We made it back in around 9 PM last night. Whew! Can you say an enjoyable weekend but a tiring one...
Friday we went to chic-fil-a and the kids played with my friend Tanya's kiddo's. They had a great time and wanted to go back yesterday. On Saturday Johnny and I opted to leave Alex and Addie with Joe and Ashton while we went to the ballgame. It was cold and misting outside so I think it was the best decision for all. We stayed until the 6th inning and then headed home. Yesterday Alex, Addie and I loaded up and headed to Owasso, OK. We got to the birthday party a bit late but the kids still had a few minutes to play and then we headed off to eat Chinese with others in our China travel group. Erica, Charlotte, Gentry and Addie all traveled home together in 2006 and we're always blessed to see the girls and of course see their parents also. We made it back in around 9 PM last night. Whew! Can you say an enjoyable weekend but a tiring one...
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Off Call
Free at last , free at last! Thank God I'm free at last! Yep I tend to say that each time I go off oncall. While this oncall wasn't bad at all it still ties me down. Last night I missed our Wednesday night church service because of a re-promote I had to do "since I was on call". Anyway little things like that impact your daily happenings. To celebrate being off call I took the day off tomorrow. I meet once a month with some of my adoptive parent friends and we have a play date for the kids. Well tomorrow my kids get to come. I've only been able to take them one other time so when I told them last night they were going to Chic-fil-a or as Alex so lovingly calls it chicken-leg they we're very excited. This morning they got up wanting to go today. They were making big plans on what toys they would be playing with in the play area. I think they have it all figured out.
Johnny made plans to go to a Naturals game on Saturday. So I guess it'll be off to the ball park on Saturday weather permitting.
Sunday we're going to visit Gentry and Larkin in OK! They are celebrating their 4th birthday party and I'm excited to be able to meet Larkin for the first time. Gentry traveled home from China with Addie and Miss Larkin came home from China about 6 months ago. So we're really looking forward to meeting her and helping her celebrate her 1st birthday with her family!
Overall a busy weekend but hopefully a fun one!
Be a blessing and be blessed!
Tina
Johnny made plans to go to a Naturals game on Saturday. So I guess it'll be off to the ball park on Saturday weather permitting.
Sunday we're going to visit Gentry and Larkin in OK! They are celebrating their 4th birthday party and I'm excited to be able to meet Larkin for the first time. Gentry traveled home from China with Addie and Miss Larkin came home from China about 6 months ago. So we're really looking forward to meeting her and helping her celebrate her 1st birthday with her family!
Overall a busy weekend but hopefully a fun one!
Be a blessing and be blessed!
Tina
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Started planting
Well I did start planting this weekend. Oddly enough I didn't get any volunteers.. shame on you! Anyway the front flower bed is really starting to come together and looks pretty good. Overall I'd say our yard in general looks 95% better than it did a few weeks ago. It's mowed, weed eated..(if that's a correct sentence) and the front flower beds are cleaned out planted and mulched! Now to start on the back of the house. Hopefully the weather will be nice Saturday and we'll be able to start back there. Since everyone comes in thru the back I really need to do some major work back there. If you've been to my house and have some ideas let me know. Don't worry I won't try to put you to work!
The kids are doing well. They enjoyed spending time outside. Alex can peddle his bike now and Addie is a work in progress. They're both getting so big. Alex is starting to finally outgrow his 3T's and Addie outgrew one of the short sleeve shirts she wore a lot last year. Fortunately for me I've found several good spring sales.
Tina
The kids are doing well. They enjoyed spending time outside. Alex can peddle his bike now and Addie is a work in progress. They're both getting so big. Alex is starting to finally outgrow his 3T's and Addie outgrew one of the short sleeve shirts she wore a lot last year. Fortunately for me I've found several good spring sales.
Tina
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