Coffee Cup Verse

First off, I need to apologize to you, my friends in the blogosphere, for not explaining my absence this past week. We went on vacation to British Columbia. For security reasons, I didn’t want to anounce that we were gone – that is, until we returned. We had a great time and I have several posts to write in the coming days about what I learned. One highlight of our trip was seeing Susan Wise Bauer. For those not familiar with homeschooling ‘gurus’, Susan is an author that outlines classical education and has written several books to help parents teach this way. I’ll definitely talk about what I learned from her. But before, I launch into my vacation musings, let me post my coffee cup verse for the week (please forgive my tardiness).


Psalm 18:24
The LORD has rewarded me
According to my righteousness,
According to the cleanness
Of my hands in his sight.

Tasty Juice

I haven't been writing as much as usual because I've been reading more blogs than usual. In the past few days there has been some interesting blogging about Brian McLaren and the Emergent Church (see Coloratura Christian's reflections of hearing him, Cowboyology posts an interesting poem, kerux noemata shares his recent research paper on his new Emergent-dedicated blog).

In keeping with the focus of this blog, I will not enter into such discussion in this forum - although I encourage all Christians to familiarize themselves with what's being sold in the Christian bookstores as the "latest" trend in Christian literature. We need to be careful and remember 1 John 4:1, "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God."

I encourage each of you to be examining for yourself, what is being purported as "christian". These are not bandwagons to be jumped on, like when we suddenly watch hockey just because our Calgary Flames are in the play-offs. These are sometimes battlefronts for the soul. And in those cases, it really does matter what side we are on - and we'd better know what side we're on.

Anyway, I was just gonna share a quick recipe that I "invented" last night, which my son said I should post. (This is more like what 'homemaker' is all about :)) We've called it "Tasty Juice". It uses frozen watermelon. I had purchased too much watermelon for us to consume last September, and decided to cut it and freeze it. Just found it buried in my freezer yesterday and thus we have the discovery of "Tasty Juice".

Tasty Juice
750 ml of frozen watermelon
1 cup or so of white grape juice

Blend and serve like a slushie.
Easy, healthy, fun and 'tasty'. Enjoy!

Gospel at the Carnival

I haven't been posting over the past few days because I've been writing for some other things at church. One of them is a page for our Pioneer Girls closing night. We are planning a carnival teaching the ten commandments. The girls will each be given a "passport" to take around to the different stations, where they'll get stickers - one corresponding to a commandment. At the back of the passport we wanted to include the gospel for them to read again at home.

I'm gonna post it for anyone else that works with children that may need this someday. I'd appreciate any comments you may add to help me be clear, readable, and accurate. You can also join me in prayer for the moms & dads that might read this, since about 60% of the girls that come to clubs are not from church backgrounds. We are excited every week about the opportunity God has given us to reach into these lives.


God is the almighty ruler of this world. He created the earth and the heavens. He also created people to live and enjoy this planet. Plus He gave us a guidebook with instructions about how to live.

The Bible says these commandments are a schoolmaster- a teacher- showing us where we are failing the ‘test’ of life. Whenever we fail to keep one of His commandments, we fail God. Since God is a perfect judge and is totally fair, He has to punish law-breakers. In the Bible, God tells us this punishment is terrible suffering and also unbearably lonely.

This is desperate news, because we have all broken at least one of God’s laws. In fact, if we’re honest and sincere, we break those laws often – daily, hourly, sometimes even more often. Suddenly, we are faced with the horrible consequences of our actions.

BUT, there is some good news that God offers us. He loves each and every one of us soooo much. SO much, that He sent His Son, Jesus, to come to earth and pay for our sin, in our place. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him, should not die, but have eternal life." That means Jesus has taken our punishment, PLUS we can now have eternal life in heaven with God. This good news of Jesus dying for us is a gift that God offers every person.

So how do we receive this gift? (1) By believing that Jesus is our substitute in the place of punishment; and (2) by turning away from our life of sin. That is, we confess to God the laws that we have broken, and then we turn away from continually breaking His laws.

Jesus has done something really amazing by dying for us. He deserves to be our new Master. God tells us how our new Master wants us to live in the Bible. That’s why it’s important to read this Holy Book every day. Plus Jesus promises to help us by the Holy Spirit – we just need to ask for His help through prayer.

If you have any questions, please call or talk to your club leader – or come and visit (our) Church. We would love to help you in this new life, serving Jesus.

Coffee Cup Verse

1 Peter 3:18
For Christ died for sins once for all,
the righteous for the unrighteous,
to bring you to God.
He was put to death in the body
but made alive by the Spirit,

Did You Know?

Did you know...
that you can put dryer lint into your compost?
(I always wondered what I could do with it:)

Just a little tid-bit I came upon recently.

Apple Pie

Everyone has a recipe for apple pie, but I thought I'd post my favorite. This one is from Martha Stewart, and it is truly scrumptious. Some important tips are using butter that is cold and working quickly. Another trick I've discovered is rolling out the dough on a Sil-pat sheet (silicone baking sheets that you use on your cookie sheet to prevent sticking). It rolls out nicely and then you just flip the dough into the pie-plate and bam! You've got a beautiful crust ready to fill.

Handmade Pastry (makes a 9" double crust)
2-3/4 c. white flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. sugar
12 tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into small pieces, chilled
4 tbsp. shortening, chilled
6-10 tbsp. ice water

Place flour, salt, and sugar in a large bowl; whisk to combine. Add butter and shortening. Using a pastry cutter, 2 tablespoons, or a pastry attachment on your mixer, blend until the mixture looks like coarse meal. Gradually add ice water, mixing just enough so the dough holds together.

Apple Pie (makes a 9" pie)
1 recipe Handmade Pastry
3 tbsp. flour
3 lbs. apples, cut into wedges
1/2 cup sugar
1/2-3/4 tsp. spices (combination of cinnamon, ginger, allspice, nutmeg, and clove)
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. lemon zest, optional
pinch of salt
2 tsp. unsalted butter, cut in pieces
2 tbsp. cream

1. Preheat oven to 400. Roll out dough (top and bottom).
2. Combine apples, sugar, flour, spices, lemon juice, zest, and salt. Toss to combine. Pour into bottom crust. Dot with butter. Cover with top crust. Cut vents into crust.
3. Brush crust with cream and sprinkle with sugar. (This step makes the crust delicious and crispy). Place on baking sheet and pot into oven for 45-60 minutes. Recommended but not necessary: cool for 1 hour before serving.

Hope you love this as much as my family does!

Coffee Cup Verse

For those of you that are newer "regulars" to my blog, every week I post a Coffee Cup Verse. Personally, I print it out and tape it to my coffee-maker. This gives me something to "chew" on before I eat breakfast, clean out the dishwasher, make dinner, etc. I have no real rhyme or reason in how I choose scripture passages, other than I'm usually already thinking on these verses and just want to be more purposeful in my meditation. This week I'm looking forward to Palm Sunday.



Zecharaiah 9:9
"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your King is coming toyou;
He is just and having salvation,
Lowly and riding on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey."

Talks With Kids

This morning after church a woman approached me and recounted a conversation she had just had with my 5 year old. I appreciate her willingness to tell me the details of their talk.

Following the children's hour she had asked my son a few questions about the lessons they had learned.

My son proceeded to tell her that they talked about the Good Samaritan.

"Oh," she continued, "and what did you learn from that story?"

"That we should help others," was my son's reply.

"And how can you help others," she carefully pressed.

"Well, I don't have any sick people in my neighbourhood," my boy noted. (Isn't this interestingly related to the lawyer's question that initiated this parable from Christ: "and who is my neighbour?" My boy, like the lawyer, was not seeing the needy people in his life... much like the pharisees and self-righteous people of Christ's audience).

So the woman, concerned that my son understand the biblical application of the lesson, probed a little further, "How about your brother? What if he fell or something? Could you help him?"

To which my son responded, "Oh, he can get up himself."

He can get up himself??? Clearly, my son was not registering that he could be like the Samaritan and LOOK for needy people to help.

"Hmm," I thought when she finished telling me about their dialogue. "I guess we'll have to review this lesson some more this week."

I am so thankful that this woman stopped to talk to my son. This shows that she truly cares about him and about his spiritual growth. It challenges me to interact with the children of our church in a more meaningful way. I was glad that I knew where my first lesson would be during bible time tomorrow.

Later in the afternoon, my husband, not knowing of my conversation with this woman, also talked to my son about the Sunday School hour. This time my son explained how the lesson was about loving others and continued to explain how he could do this.

"Like, I could help my brother if he got hurt when he fell down," were his exact words.

"He got it! He learned the lesson!" I thought, excitedly.

However, it wasn't in the classroom that he had learned the point (though the seeds were planted there). Thanks to this woman's sensitive questions and intuitive leading towards applying biblical truth (coupled with the Holy Spirit's guiding), my son did grasp the lesson being taught today.

Let this be a challenge to all of us to STOP and TALK to the children around us. We just may be God's instrument to help them figure out the things of God. And who knows? Maybe that's our way of being a "good samaritan."

Parenting 101

Here's the final installment of bible verses from Lou Priolo's Teach Them Diligently: How to Use the Scriptures in Child Training (Woodruff: Timeless Texts, 2000), 131-143].

Selfishness
Phil.2:3-4 "(Let) nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others."
Additional references: Prov.11:24-25; Rom.12:20-21; Rom.15:1; Gal.5:13-15; Gal.6:9; 1 Pet.4:9-11

Stinginess (not sharing)
Heb.13:16 "And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."
Additional references: Prov.11:24-25; Prov.22:9; Luke 10:25-37; Eph.4:28; 1 Tim.6:18;

Stubbornness (Insubordination)
Eph.6:1 "Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right."
Additional references: 1 Sam.15:23; James 4:6

Teasing/ Jesting
Prov.26:18-19 "Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows and death, So is the man who deceives his neighbor, and says, "was I not joking?""
Additional references: Prov.12:18; Eph.4:29; Eph.5:4

Ungratefulness
1 Thess.5:18 "In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
Additional references: 2 Tim.3:2; Col.3:15-17; Col.4:2; Heb.13:5

Unfaithfulness (not being dependable, reliable, or trustworthy)
Matt.5:37 "Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No', 'No': anything beyond this comes from the evil one."
Additional references: Ps.15:4-5; Prov.6:1-5; Matt.21:28-32; Col.3:9

Unkindness
Col.4:6 "Let your speech always be with grace, as thought seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person."
Additional references: Prov.19:22; Luke 6:35; 1 Cor.13:4; Eph.4:23,29; Col.3:12

Vindictiveness
1 Thess.5:15 "See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all men."
Additional references: Prov.20:22; Rom.12:14-21; Eph.4:26; Heb.12:15

Withdrawing (clamming up)
Eccl.3:7 "There is a time to be silent, and a time to speak."
Additional references: 1 Sam.19:4-5; 1 Sam.25;24-42; Est.4:13,14; Est.7:4; Job.32:4-22; Prov.24;11,12; prov.31:8,9; Acts 4:19,20

Worry
Phil.4:6-8 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let our requests be made know to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are right whatever things are pure, whatever things are admirable, whatever things are lovely, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things."
Additional references: Ps.37:5; Matt.6:25,34; 1 Peter 5:6-7

The Scarlet Cord

Joshua 2:21 ends with, "and she tied the scarlet cord in the window."

I was reading the account of Rahab and the spies this morning. Two things engaged my mind as I was journeying through Joshua 2. First, how the people of Canaan were afraid of the Israelites. This is like USA being afraid of Greenland. The Canaanites were numerous, mighty, large, and fortified in their walled cities, such as Jericho. And yet... their hearts were "melting with fear." Look at Joshua 2:9, "a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you." The same in Joshua 2:11, "our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you."

This was God's power at work. This was a miracle in progress. Back in Deuteronomy 2:25 the following prophecy is made, "This very day I will begin to put the terror and fear of you on the nations under heaven. They will hear reports of you and will tremble and be in anguish because of you". God made these mighty Canaanites shake in their boots by shaking up their minds - filling their minds with fears, via rumours.

Rahab acknowledges this fright, but comes beyond the fear to grasp who this God is. Joshua 2:11, "for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below." Her countrymen, though they were afraid, did not turn their hearts to Jehovah. But Rahab does.

And then comes the unfolding of an echo of the Passover story, in the middle of heathen Jericho. In verses 17 thru 20, Rahab is told to tie a SCARLET cord (scarlet, like blood) in her window. She is told to gather her mother and father, her brothers and all her family into her house just as the Israelites were to gather in their houses the night the angel of the Lord passed through Egypt and killed the firstborns before the exodus.

Finally, it comes to the moment of faith. Jericho is being circled by the parade of Israelites and all of Jericho (including the king who has already once sent a message to Rahab) is "melting with fear". In the middle of this heightened security alert, Rahab has put out the scarlet cord. This would have taken faith. Would the guards not be asking her about the cord.. a possible weak link in their fortress of security. I considered the risks today as I read. Any number of spies, militia, or armed men could access the city via this dangling cord. She was putting herself out there keeping this cord in the window. They could have come to her and questioned her, or worse yet, put her into captivity or under trial for possible treason. People were often killed for less questionable behavior. And yet, here is Rahab. Faithful to the command. Obedient, despite the risks.

Here's my second point. Clearly, she was clinging in faith to the promise of salvation given to her. And what a picture this is as Easter is approaching. My faith is also based on a promise of salvation. This salvation comes via the scarlet cord of Christ's blood. And I am so grateful for that scarlet cord.

p.s. I found the "melting fear" idea to be missing from the Veggie Tales recounting of Josh and the Big Wall. This gave me yet another opportunity to discuss the true biblical account with my children, in contrast to "creative license".

Women - What's Our Place?

For an interesting discussion on the issue of women and our place in the home, check out Many Evangelicals Unwittingly Live as Feminists, a review of Russell D. Moore's statements. It's a bit heavier reading than I sometimes offer, but definitely worth a little chewing to get your brain going mid-week.

Home Tips

I've renamed my Time-saver Tips to Home Tips so I can keep it more generic.
Just thought I'd mention another tip I discovered after years of having a freezer. For many of you, this is probably common sense, but I happened upon the idea when I was re-arranging things after going grocery shopping, while I still had my gloves on.

Home Tip #2
Wear mittens, gloves, or oven mitts while you re-organize your freezer. It makes the chore a lot easier, and as a result, quicker too.

Coffee Cup Verse

Deuteronomy 6:4-7
Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be upon your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your shildren, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down,
and when you rise up.

When You Least Expect It

Every monday Daddy takes the boys for the morning, while mommy does all the "yukky shopping" stuff that the wee ones enjoy so much! Their tradition has come to include a trip to Tim Horton's for donuts - double chocolate for the youngest and Canadian maple for the more mature 5 year-old. (Daddy is relegated to a black coffee since he's now working out and looking more like Hercules everyday).

Over the past month, Tim Horton's has been running a contest called "Roll Up the Rim to Win". For the Americans reading this post, this is a contest that is arguably the most popular amongst the fast food chains. Every purchaser of a medium or large drink is urged to roll up the rim of the cup and check to see if their cup has won. Prizes range from a free cup of coffee to a car.

Last monday, Daddy enjoyed his coffee while the boys munched away. Afterwards, he carefully peeled up the cardboard lip of the cup to discover the three special words - please play again! My eldest son was particularly disappointed since he was sure we'd win something great. The tv commercials during the Saturday night hockey games pretty much assured we'd win a car, or a stereo at least.

Dad didn't give the episode much thought after tossing away the remnants of his java fix. At least not until dinner, when my son revisited the topic.

"Dad, did you want to win a car, when you rolled up the rim?" he asked.

"Sure," was my husbands quick reply. (Little did he know that this had actually been a theologically loaded question).

"Did you know that we're not supposed to store up for ourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal?" our little guy pressed.

"Maybe a car wouldn't be such a good idea, eh?" my husband grinned.

And so we are reminded. Reminded to follow God, via the teachings of His word - and all this, when we least expected it.

By the way, this lesson was partly due to some bible memory work we've been attempting with the kids. It was a good shot in the arm to keep it up. Sometimes I feel it is hard work, but this encouraged me to proceed. We've found a great place to start is the Fighter Verse Set put out by Bethlehem Baptist Church. They come with some cool little knights, which are a hit with boys, in particular.

Can Christians Smoke?

At Pioneer Girls this week, one of our classes worked on a Broadcasting Badge. They are putting together a podcast, and the following is one of the scripts they're voicing. I thought you might find it interesting.

Harry Diculous: "Does the Bible say that you can't smoke?"

Christian: "No."

Harry Diculous: "So I can smoke then?"

Christian: "If you want to."

Harry Diculous: "Good. I need my cigarettes."

Christian: "You can eat sand if you want, too."

Harry Diculous: "Huh?"

Christian: "God created sand. Eat it if you want. But don't complain if you get a bellyache...."

That's just an excerpt from the School of Biblical Evangelism's Preacher's Progress, lesson 63.
Thought it was a unique way to look at the things that enslave us. Somehow we can be so blind to the harm that our fleshly desires pose. Doing things "God's Way" is truly for our best. So why do we insist on doing things our way? Let's evaluate our lives carefully for the "sand" we may be chewing on because of our own foolishness.

Parenting 101

Moms, here's the next installment of bible verses to aid you in raising your little blessings [from Lou Priolo's Teach Them Diligently: How to Use the Scriptures in Child Training (Woodruff: Timeless Texts, 2000), 131-143].

Intemperance (lack of self-control)
Prov.25:28 "(Like) a city that is broken into (and) without walls is a man who has no control over his spirit."
Additional references: Prov.29:11; Prov.16:32; 1 Cor.9:25-27; 2 Pet.1:5-6

Interrupting
Prov.18:2,13 "A fool does not delight in understanding, But only in revealing his own mind. He who gives an answer before he hears, It is folly and shame to him."
Additional references: Eccl.3:7; 1 Cor.13:5; Titus 2:6; 1 Pet.1:13

Judging Wrongfully (motives, disputable issues, the Law)
John 7:24 "Do not judge according to apearance, but judge with a righteous judgement."
Additional references: Is.11:3,4; Matt.7:1,2; Rom.14:3,4,10-13; 1 Cor.4:3-5; James 4:11,12

Jealousy/Envy
1 Cor.13:4 "Love... is not jealous."
Additional references: Prov.14:30; Prov.23:17; Prov.27:4; Rom.13:13; Gal.5:26; 1 Pet.2:1,2

Loneliness
Lam.3:27,28 "(It is) good for a man that he should bear the yoke in his youth. Let him sit alone and be silent since He has laid (it) on him."
Additional references: Ps.37:4; Ps.38:11; Lam.3:24-40; John 16:32

Love of Approval (pleasing people)
John 12:42-43 "Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing (him), lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God."
Additional references: Prov.29:25; Matt.23:5-7; Gal.1:10; Col.3:22

Love of Money
1 Tim.6:10 "For the love of money is a root of all (kinds of) evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
Additional references: Matt.6:24; 2 Tim.3:1-5

Love of Pleasure
James 4:1 "What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?"
Additional references: Prov.21:17; 2 Tim.3:4

Love of Self
Luke 9:23-24 "And He was saying to (them) all, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.'"
Additional references: Matt.20:26-28; 1 Cor.10:24; 1 Cor.13:5

Lying
Prov.12:22 "Lying lips 9are) an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal truthfully (are) His delight."
Additional references: Job 27:4; Prov.6:16-19; Eph.4:25; 1 Pet.3:10

Misuse of the Body (over/undereating, uncleanness, etc.)
Gal.5:16-18 "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law."
Additional references: Rom.8:5-8; Rom.13:14; 2 Cor.7:1; 1 Pet.2:11

Pride
1 Pet.5:5-6 "Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace tothe humble.' Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time."
Additional refences: Prov.8:13; Gal.6:3-4; James 4:6; 2 Tim.2:24-26

Quarreling
James 4:1 "What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?"
Additional references: Prov.13:10; 1 Cor.1:11-13; Phil.2:1-11; 1 Tim.3:3

Rejection
Rom12:21 "Do not be overcome by eveil, but overcome evil with good."
Additional refereces: Ps.35; Is.53; Rom.12:17-21; Eph.4:31,32

Slothfulness
1 Cor.10:31 "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
Additional references: Prov.6:6-11; Prov.14:23; Prov.19:15; Prov.20:13; Prov.26:13-16; 2 Thess.3:10

Stealing
Eph.4:28 "Let him who sole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with (his) hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need."
Additional references: Ex.20:15; Matt.15:17-20; 1 Pet.4:15

Of course, remember that these lists are not exhaustive. There are many other scripture passages that can be used to encourage your children to walk in the Ways of God. My prayer is that we will be faithful to use God's Word as a "rod and staff", both to correct and to guide... and that ultimately He will be praised through our lives and our children's lives.

Time-saver Tip #1

We, as homemakers, are often known as multi-taskers. As such, I'd like to open a forum for time-saving tips. For example, here's something I learned from a magazine - I think at the doctor's office.

Time-saver Tip #1
While the kids are taking a bath, use the time to clean up the bathroom. I've found the steamy room makes the dirt easier to collect. Plus the time it takes me to clean the sink, mirror, toilet and floor is just about the time my boys are finished playing in the water. Then, all I have left to do is the tub once they're tucked in bed and I'm ready to check off one of my chores for the week.

Hot Buns For Just 15 Minutes Effort

My friend gave me this recipe for the bread maker. It's delicious. If you prefer to add whole grains, you can adapt it. With very little effort, you'll have buns that rival Aunt Bessie's.

Bonnie's Buns

1 c. warm milk
1/2 c. warm water
(I just warm these together in the microwave)
1 egg
3/4 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
2/3 Tbsp. white sugar
1 Tbsp. butter or margarine
3-3/4 cups flour
2-1/4 tsp. yeast

Put in bread maker in order given. Set bread maker to Dough cycle. After 2 hours mix time, form into buns, put on pans and let rise (30-40 min.) Bake about 10 minutes at 375 degrees. Voila. Hot, delicious buns... especially delicious with soup!

Coffee Cup Verse

Psalm 121:1,2
I lift up my eyes to the hills--
where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

I'm Sorry

Our classroom was the bathroom today. My youngest son was still snoozing, so I decided to give the eldest a bath in our en-suite. It's a fairly large room with a huge picture window over the tub (which is wonderful, as long as you're not taking a bath at night, when it becomes a movie screen). When the sun shines through the sparkling windows, it is actually a delightful place to get washed up and ready to face the day.

Last week I had done a "spring cleaning" of this room, washing the walls, cleaning the blinds, the windows, etc. Everything has remained sparkling, since the children haven't really had occasion to use our bathroom. However, this morning I was wanting to keep the house quiet and decided to use our bathtub for the big boy. I reminded him that I had done a thorough cleaning and would appreciate no splashing with the toys.

He obliged for the first 5 minutes or so, but as time went on, his memory grew dim. Before I knew it, he was taking his spraying frog and spraying his "pirate" Noah on his Tupperware ark.

"Mac, please don't make sprays or splashes," I reminded him.

"I'm sorry, Mom," was his immediate response.

"Wow," I thought. "He must be understanding how to correct wrongs committed to others."

Before the thought was complete, he was committing the same crime.

"Mac! I thought you said you were sorry." The words poured out of me. And as I uttered them, I realized that his "sorry" meant he was sorry for being caught. He did not realize that his behavior was "offending" his mother.

I proceded to try to explain to him what "I'm sorry" means. Trying to explain that when we say those words, if we truly mean them, we will not commit the offense again.

This has caused me to consider my "sorries" to God. Do I say, "I"m sorry. Please forgive me." Only to go on and commit the offense again? May it not be so. May my confession lead to repentance. Repentance, based on the definition of "to repent": to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life. The amendment of one's life. That means not walking in that particular sinful behavior anymore.

May we understand true repentance. Look at what Paul says to the Corinthians in his second letter, verses 9 and 10, "I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, in order that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death."

The sorrow of the world says "I'm sorry," but turns to re-offend. It is not genuine. Ultimately it is not sorry. Let us not speak these apologies to our heavenly Father casually, but carefully examine our hearts and turn 180 degrees from those unholy behaviors that occasion our way.