The Shack

I bought the book "The Shack" a while ago, but hadn't started reading it until this past weekend.

WOW.

I'm halfway through, and have had to stop to process what I've read so far. Things that I've thought about God for a long time, things that I thought were biblically founded, are really just religion.

What an eye opener. I REALLY recommend this book for anyone, it doesn't matter what stage you are on your spiritual walk. I have a feeling that I'm going to have to read this book a few times to really let things sink in. The book really talks about our religion vs. a real relationship with God. It also focuses on the relationship of the Trinity, and the way that God loves you. And it's well written, which really makes a difference.

More reading to do!!!

Conversations with Reece

As I was lounging in the bathtub the other night I heard Reece yelling at Caleb downstairs. The kind of yelling where it's not about content, but all about volume. I heard Shawn send Reece to his room. So of course I hear the pitter-patter of little feet. (or if you know Reece, more like an elephant lumbering down the hallway) The little feet stop at my bathroom door and I hear a sad voice, and can picture the pout on his face.
Reece: Mommmmy.
Mommy: Yes, Reece?
Reece: Daddy telled me I go a my woom. (room)
Mommy: I heard you yelling at Caleb.
Reece: I yell at Daddy, choo. (too)
Mommy: Well, then you should go to your room.
I heard the sigh from the other side of the door.
Reece: 'kay.

And the little feet pitter-pattered off to his room. I had a good laugh over his need to "tell on Daddy" for sending him to his room, but was also pretty impressed that he understood why he was being sent there. So some things do actually sink in!

Goals

I work in the financial industry, and we do a lot of retirement planning where we talk about a client's goals, and how they are going to get there. Something clicked in me at homegroup this week (again, Pastor Seth, this is probably not what you were trying to teach!) and I realized that the principals also apply to faith. There are four questions to ask yourself.
Where are you at? - what you have and what you have learned
Where do you want to be? - something you are believing God for.
Can you get there? - you need to see the light at the end of the tunnel!
How are you going to get there? - you need a plan!

Faith is not a walk down a random path in the wilderness. Faith is a calculated, focused quest with a defined goal. If you can't pinpoint a goal, you need to get one! Whether it is something specific you are believing for, or looking for a revelation, faith demands a focal point. If your faith is focused you won't question where God leads you in the process.

Revival Fire

We've been talking lots about revival in church and homegroup lately, and for the first time ever, things are starting to sink in. We often use the words revival and fire to mean different things, but really they are one. I'm an avid watcher of all things CSI, so I know that fire requires three things: Something to burn (either substance or accelerant), a spark to start the fire, and oxygen to keep it burning. Apply spiritual principals, and you have:

Something to burn - This is your foundation in the Word. Without this, you can get all excited about something, but the excitement quickly dissipates when there is nothing for it to grasp onto.

A spark - This is prayer. Whether it be in the Spirit, or with your understanding, prayer is what gets your fire going. I heard someone say once that you can measure a person's spiritual life by their prayer habits.

Oxygen - This is your faith. Without applied faith, Word is just words and prayer is just talking to yourself.

No fire will burn without these three components - they are the basis of revival. And they start in you. You are responsible for your own fire - and it can be contagious and "spark" someone else's.

Another point: Revival and revelation go hand in hand. They are inseparable. If you believe that you are part of the revival but are not seeing new things revealed to you in the Word of God, then you are only along for the ride and missing the revival.

Conversations with Caleb

I'm learning the logic of five year olds. I'm also learning that they have no concept of time. (as in years.....) We were driving home from school earlier this week and talking about Mother's Day. Caleb, as always, had questions.

Caleb: So how did you learn to be a mommy?

Me: From my mommy. (Caleb nods)

Caleb: You mean Namma.

Me: Yes. (Caleb is quiet for a minute while he thinks about this)

Caleb: Well, how could Namma teach you if she didn't have any kids of her own? (I'm starting to laugh at this point)

Me: Caleb, Namma had four kids. (As I look at my son in the rearview mirror, I can see that he's starting to get upset)

Caleb: But what happened to them?

He was very upset, and we had to explain that his aunts and uncle were once babies. I realized that kids have no concept of growing up, and no concept that adults were once children.
Out of the mouths of babes....

Pondering the circle of life....

It's sad, joyous, and just plain interesting. My weekend has been a study on the circle of life. A good friend of mine from bible college passed away on Friday, and another friend of mine welcomed a baby into the world early Saturday morning and yet another was married on Saturday afternoon. I've been thinking about how just as God adds another member to heaven, he sends another down to be with us. Not that He's in the business of trading a life for a life - I would never believe that He's that kind of God. It's just made me think about how short life can be, and how much time we (me) have spent wasting it on things that are of no consequence. I guess it's another step on finding the meaning of life, how to live it to the fullest and be happy. There are different degrees of all those things, and I have and understanding to an extent on all of them. But is there a pinnacle to be reached? I don't think so. The friend of mine that passed away still will have her work on earth continuing after her physical body has left this planet. Her spirit and outlook on life was pretty amazing, even though we hadn't been in contact in recent years, even though her doctors had never been optimistic. I've already learned from her, and I'm in a pensive mood as I continue to draw from her example.

Settling in...

Advice to all parents: Moving with small children has the same effect as taking away everything that may be near to their hearts and throwing it into a pit of eternal flame. I would have thought that once all the toys emerged from their boxes at the new house all would be well. I was sadly mistaken. The toys may have made it to the new house, but all rules and general common sense guidelines were lost along the way. Needless to say, it was a rough week. Caleb likes having his own room, but now has some huge issue with sharing his toys with his little brother. Reece has handled it pretty well, other than trying to stand on furniture before he was ready and getting a black eye in the process. (This combined with Caleb falling down the outside flight of stairs to the basement and his getting several scrapes and bruises has confined me to the house over the last few days to prevent people questioning my parenting skills. Oh, and Reece decided to get some new teeth over the last couple of days, so it's been especially pleasant to be housebound.)
Shawn and I have settled in much easier, I think. I'm sick of putting new furniture together. (One computer desk, three bookshelves, a dresser, a cabinet, and a filing cabinet) I've spend a ridiculous amount of money at IKEA; on some new furniture for us, and on the kitchen for the suite; but am enjoying the armchair I am now relaxing in. Oh, and have I mentioned how lovely it is to have the laundry on the same floor as the bedrooms? Who knew this could be a luxury.
So the next month promises to be equally draining. I go back to work in just over a week. We're trying to finish the suite downstairs to be rented for September. And the studio has people waiting for business, but is still an empty shell of a detached garage. It will be busy, but will pay off in the end.
Time for sleep....