Only One Life...

In our small group Bible study, we've been studying a book called "Don't Waste Your Life" by John Piper.  It's an insightful, short read that gives the reader a good overall perspective on the goal and purpose of the  Christian life (whoa! broad, I know).  My Christmas present to the couples in our group was a plaque that was discussed in the book. Here's an excerpt.

"Another riveting force in my young life—small at first, but oh so powerful over time—was a plaque that hung in our kitchen over the sink....On the front, in old English script, painted in white, were the words:

Only one life,

’Twill soon be past;

Only what’s done

for Christ will last.

           

You get one pass at life. That’s all. Only one. And the

lasting measure of that life is Jesus Christ...

 What would it mean to waste my life? That was a burning

question. Or, more positively, what would it mean to live well—

not to waste life, but to . . . ? How to finish that sentence was the

question. I was not even sure how to put the question into words,

let alone what the answer might be. What was the opposite of

not wasting my life? “To be successful in a career”? Or “to be

maximally happy”? Or “to accomplish something great?” Or “to

find the deepest meaning and significance”? Or “to help as many

people as possible”? Or “to serve Christ to the full”? Or “to glo-

rify God in all I do”? Or was there a point, a purpose, a focus, an

essence to life that would fulfill every one of those dreams?"


-From "Don't Waste Your Life" by John Piper

On Saturday our small group had our last get together before 2 of the couples embarked on new adventures.  The Heindels are heading to Peru and the Thebarges have accepted an assistant pastor position about an hour away.  We will miss them greatly.

Our hope and prayer  at the end of our sweet time together was this: that all that we do, whether it be proclaiming the good news in Peru, teaching Christ to a small church in Kingston, ministering to students put in our care, or spending days in an office,  that all of these things would be toward one goal.  That we might learn to enjoy and glorify our great God.

I highly recommend picking up the book.... and if you're crafty, why don't you go ahead and make your own plaque?

Soli Deo Gloria

I've had two, 2 1/2 hour commutes this week. Ugh.  It's usually about 35 minutes.  There was one huge oil tanker crash on Tuesday and today we had a snow storm.   I was stopped on the highway for so long that I got out the camera and did a little photography to pass the time.

On a brighter note, we played in the snow today at school. And we had FUN.

Sledding, snowball fights, a snowman and a snow angel to boot! It was a good day.

My lonely Saturday afternoon...

... because Bri drove an hour through the first snow storm of the season to buy me -

a pot rack.

Did you ever try to find a pot rack?  They are impossible to find.  They just don't carry them in stores apparently. Unless you want to pay over $200 for one at Williams and Sonoma.  Not so much.  Thank goodness for craigslist (and a very selfless and loving husband)!

I love it...I'm trying to figure out what to put on the top.  I think I may try some spider plants. We'll see.  For now it will don the extra Christmas greenery.

A Non-Christmasy Post

I know, I know...

It's just that I wanted to share these way-cool projects we've been doing in my art classes with the kids at school.

Here are our African Heritage Masks (newspaper, paper mache, construction paper and other "special" papers paper mached on to the mask, modge podge and rafia around the edges).  Below the masks are our Wild Things,  in honor of the new movie "Where the Wild Things Are".  Let the wild rumpus start!

Blessings....

Joining again in the Gratitude Community @A Holy Experience.

76.  a new week

77. our first snow in Sea Kettle

78. the fact that our first snow was not a big snow...we don't have a shovel, yet!

79. little ones in sweater-suits and wild curly locks

80. new friends

81. church and lunch with a cousin

82. Samantha wanting to come with us to church

83. Chinese food

84. a new pot rack

85. a patient husband waiting while I peruse the craft store - for the fourth time this week

86. Mom's sewing help

87. a big birthday this weekend (Dad's 50th)

88. a home

89. Brian, Brian, Brian...

90. family

91. peace during a 2 1/2 hour commute.

92. grace

93. work friends

94. Student's mom who brings in lots of sweet treats!

95. prospective renters

96. Rhema and family - www.rhemashope.wordpress.com  - lots of eye contact yesterday and a great big "Hi!".

97. ride to church from Mom and Dad James

98. text picture of McKenna family tree from Katie

99. Jesus - he will not rest and he will not let me go

100. peace

Soli Deo Gloria

My Sunday Afternoon Project

There is some faint Christmas craft memory that I've carried for a while and have wanted to relive. :)  I forget if I did this at home, at school or at Grandma's... maybe it was a dream, who knows.  Today I finally got the materials and decided to try my hand at it.  I was at the crafts store getting other materials for my other Christmas projects, but as I was on my way to check out I saw the styrofoam balls on sale.  I ran back to the bead section and was able to get lots of wonderful beads and sequins.  I also found some silk pins and I was all set.  It took a while, but the finished product was so worth it!  I'm definitely going to make more of these during this advent season.

Note: the ornaments are a bit fragile and it doesn't take much for the pins to fall out. I'm thinking of putting a coat of modge podge or some other sealant to keep them in place.  I was also thinking of maybe putting a drop of glue on each bead next time around.

Materials: beads, sequins, silk pins, ribbon

Ornament in progress. Just put a bead on the pin and stick it into the styrofoam.

Ministry

A few weeks ago I was asked to be in charge of decorating the church for Christmas.  Actually, I misunderstood and at first I thought I was just volunteering to help out for a couple of hours.  I soon found out that I had become the director-of-all-things-artistic-at-Christmas.  I'll admit I didn't start out this job with a great attitude.  I know why I devote my time to my small group, the kids with special needs at church, nursery and the other ways I serve in the local church.  I think the kind woman who I am replacing felt my hesitancy.  She said, "This really is a ministry".   I wasn't convinced. Wasn't that just making them feel better about spending so much time hanging wreaths (just so) ?  Couldn't my time be better spent?

After spending last Friday morning with the ladies at church, primping the ribbons, carefully and thoughtfully placing each ribbon and wreath, I realized that she was right.  These ladies dedicate hours of the their time to focus our attention on the warmth and beauty of the season.  And it's not just any season.  These old, dusty decorations are reminders that this is a special time for the children of God.  We have reason to be full of joy.  We have reason to worship, sing and decorate. We have reason to dress the house of God in beautiful ribbons and greenery.  Our Lord's coming changed our lives.  His advent gave way for our salvation.  I'm proud to be the one in charge of welcoming in the advent season to the people of God.  It's not a waste of  my time.  It's a part of a life of worship.

Soli Deo Gloria