January 14, 2005
Light Unto My Path
Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And light unto my path.
This scripture got a deeper meaning for us (John and me) a few years ago. Something was happening where we really needed to wait on God's leading and His faithfulness to show us each step of the way
(if I remember correctly I think is was with the situation of having our 3rd baby, Noah, at home with a Midwife). We talked about this verse at LifeGroup and came up with an interesting analogy.
When do you need a lamp for your feet? When you're in the dark. So, if you're in the woods in the dark with a flashlight where do you shine the light? You don't shine it way out in front of you to see where you'll be in 50 feet, or even 10 feet. It's dark! You shine the light only where you need to step next along the path.
That's where God shines the lamp for us - where we need to step NEXT. If He shined the light a week ahead, or even a day we may get too confident and rely on ourselves to get to the end of the path. God is ALWAYS after our heart, so He will shine the light where we need to take the next step. When we're faithful to take that step He will then show us the next step.
BUT beware of "noises" in the woods!! As my husband,John, pointed out: in the woods in the dark there's bound to be noises. When you hear something where does the flashlight beam go? You shine it on the noise and your attention is swayed off the path.
So the challenge is to ignore the "noise", keep to the path, and trust where the light is leading you down the path.
Posted by Vanessa at 11:30 PM | Comments (1)
A Bicycle Built for Two
I read this analogy last night and thought I'd share it. Guys you read it too!! It's from a magazine called Above Rubies which I highly recommend for any woman of faith. It's rare that you find articles of encouragement from a Biblical World View and this magazine is specifically designed for women. Best of all it's FREE for the asking.
Actually they won't just send one they send at least 3 so you can pass them out to friends - personally I get 25 each time they're printed because I love spreading encouragement!!!
This article can apply to any working relationship not just a marriage, so consider how it could apply to you!!
Sunscreen on, helmets buckled, pedals in sync, and we were on our way. After a few minutes, John called over his shoulder, "You're doing pretty well for your first time on a tandem." Without a thought, I replied: "I guess all these years of marriage have been good practice." Here are some random lessons learned last week riding along the Cannon Valley Trail behind my husband on a bicycle built for two: If I throw my weight around, we wobble and swerve. My initial "seasickness" eases when I quit resisting and let him lean the bike into curves an turns in the path. I often feel as if I'm not really adding much to the effort. But I must be doing my part, because if I lift my feet, he feels it and asks, "Are you still there?" My instinct is to press harder on the pedals to make sure I'm carrying my share on the load. But when I do, he says, "Slow down. Don't push me so fast." Looking over his shoulder, I can see a lot of what he sees, but not what's immediately in front of us. Good thing he's the one steering, braking, and changing gears. On the other hand, I'm more free to look around an point out the mile markers and the turtles basking on a log. I can't brake or steer, but I do have the power to stop the bike and ruin the ride. If I stand still on the pedals and refuse to move, he can't make them turn. I love it when we're on level ground and using a gear that sets a slow, steady pedaling that surges us forward. But I need warning when he changes to a setting that requires fast foot strokes, When I'm caught off guard, my feet are slung from the pedals and it's a trick to get them back in place without snarling the progress up a steep hill. When I realize I'm gripping the handlebars, I have to remind myself, "Let go! You've always wanted to ride 'no hands.' Now you can!" When I'm ready to turn back, he's aiming for one more mile marker. When I'm ready to finish easy, he says, " Let's see if we can beat our record." With that kind of encouragement, I do what never would have happened if I'd been on my own. Near the end, when I see one more hill, I open my mouth to say, "Let me off. I'll walk up." Then I realize how foolish we'd look, me plodding alone and him trying to keep the bike going by himself. So I shut up and keep pedaling. And I discover that, when we pedal together, impossible inclines become possible. Perhaps the 19th century songwriter was wiser than he knew when he created a marriage proposal that said, "You'll look sweet upon the seat of a bicycle built for two." It makes me think of what Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:22-24: "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing."Noel Piper, Minneapolis, MN
www.desiringGOD.org
Posted by Vanessa at 07:46 AM | Comments (0)
January 04, 2005
Introducing “For Such a Time as This”
Welcome to “For Such a Time as This” – my new blog where I will be writing about various situations in our world today that just seem backwards from a biblical world view – that means there’s a LOT to write about. We were all placed here during this time to have an impact on the world. Like Esther we are here for such a time as this.
Subjects I’ll probably hit on by way of introducing you to me would be:
* MarriageI’ve been married to John for 13 years
* Children and Parenting We have 4 fabulous boys SO FAR they are 7, 5, 3, and 1
* Homeschooling This is our 4th year home educating our children!
* Theology Although most of these will be ran through my resident theologian (that would be husband, John!) so many will be his thoughts in my words.
* Natural Health Because most of western medicine is detrimental to our health – I heard a saying that I’m going to steal JUNK FOOD MAKES JUNK PEOPLE!!
* Home and Gardening – since I enjoy decorating and will begin gardening this spring since our 7yo Seth loves plants. Our children even humble us . . .
* Miscellaneous Anything else that I find amusing or interesting to write about.
So, Happy New New as I like to say. This year is going to be fun!!!!! I’ll leave you with a question to ponder . . . What do you anticipate the Lord teaching you this year?
For HIS Glory
V-
Posted by Vanessa at 11:20 PM | Comments (4)