Over the years I have often found encouragement in the verses from Ecclesiastes 3. "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven...a time to plant and a time to uproot...a time to weep and a time to laugh." These words have brought me comfort during hard times, as well as many smiles. Usually when I read this poetic section of Scripture I focus on all of the different specifics that are mentioned. It is so easy to find real-life applications for "a time to keep and a time to throw away." If you have a garage like mine you know what I'm talking about!
Recently I was reading these verses and one particular word caught my eye. One little, tiny word changed the way I read these verses. Which word, you ask? The indefinite article "a" that appears in each phrase has captured my attention.
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven." Read it carefully with me. /There is A time for everything. /It does not say, "there is time for everything." As a mom, I am sure you feel the time pressure daily. How can you find the time to cook, clean, do laundry, feed, bathe and dress children, have quality time with each child and your spouse, shuttle kids to and from play dates or preschool, keep up with friends...some days I can hardly find time to go to the bathroom!
There is a time for everything. But the time I have right now, I will never have again. What am I supposed to do with this time? I have learned that I don't HAVE to do everything right now. I need to simply focus on what I am supposed to do right now. I don't have to tear down, build, mourn, dance, scatter stones, gather them, tear and mend all at once. Mothering young children is a wonderful and challenge season. Some things may have to wait for a different "time" in our lives.
All I really need to do is start each day by saying, "What time is it today, Lord?"
Friday, February 20, 2009
Friday, January 2, 2009
Growing Like Jesus in 2009
I have a favorite Bible verse for this time of year: Luke 2:52. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men. At Christmas we talk a lot about when Jesus was born. Pretty soon it will be Easter and we'll be talking about when Jesus died and rose again. In between we may read about his miracles or his teachings or stories about his disciples. But aside from the story about him teaching in the temple as a young teenager (Great story to read when you're having a bad mommy day...if Mary and Joseph could lose the son of God for a couple days some of my problems start to seem a little smaller!) we don't read much about his childhood. But I love this verse that summarizes his growing up. I love it because it points out four different areas where we can grow too.
Look carefully and think about ways that you - and your children - can grow like Jesus in 2009. The four areas in the verse are intellectual (wisdom), physical (stature), spiritual (favor with God) and social (favor with men). Think of one goal for each of these four areas for yourself and your kids.
Maybe you'd like to take a class, start learning a foreign language or just read a book that doesn't have pictures in it! For your children, an age-appropriate goal might be to learn colors, shapes or the alphabet.
Choose a physical goal that is actually attainable - literally growing in stature doesn't work; believe me - I've tried. A physical goal could be in regard to eating healthier, adding more activity into your lifestyle, or learning a new sport, and similar goals could be made for things you want to work on with your kids.
A spiritual goal could have to do with reading the Bible more often, memorizing certain verses or praying FIRST instead of as a last resort. For our children it may mean taking them to Sunday School, starting them in AWANA, or teaching them to pray out loud by repeating after you.
Social goals for our kids may involve making new friends, practicing sharing or learning manners. For us adults, it may mean being more intentional about practicing hospitality or not gossiping.
Will you take the Luke 2:52 Challenge with me? Pick one goal for each area. Write it down. Tell someone and ask them to check in with you periodically throughout the year. Whether we like it or not, we will get older this year and so will our children. So let's be intentional in our growth for 2009.
Look carefully and think about ways that you - and your children - can grow like Jesus in 2009. The four areas in the verse are intellectual (wisdom), physical (stature), spiritual (favor with God) and social (favor with men). Think of one goal for each of these four areas for yourself and your kids.
Maybe you'd like to take a class, start learning a foreign language or just read a book that doesn't have pictures in it! For your children, an age-appropriate goal might be to learn colors, shapes or the alphabet.
Choose a physical goal that is actually attainable - literally growing in stature doesn't work; believe me - I've tried. A physical goal could be in regard to eating healthier, adding more activity into your lifestyle, or learning a new sport, and similar goals could be made for things you want to work on with your kids.
A spiritual goal could have to do with reading the Bible more often, memorizing certain verses or praying FIRST instead of as a last resort. For our children it may mean taking them to Sunday School, starting them in AWANA, or teaching them to pray out loud by repeating after you.
Social goals for our kids may involve making new friends, practicing sharing or learning manners. For us adults, it may mean being more intentional about practicing hospitality or not gossiping.
Will you take the Luke 2:52 Challenge with me? Pick one goal for each area. Write it down. Tell someone and ask them to check in with you periodically throughout the year. Whether we like it or not, we will get older this year and so will our children. So let's be intentional in our growth for 2009.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Merry Christmas! For years we have enjoyed writing an annual newsletter, selecting the "Christmas card photo" and recently added the tradition of the annual video. This year was no exception - but, we have had to switch to an on-line format instead of an actual printed card, letter and the mini dvd. So, above is the family photo. Here are the links to the video (on youtube) and the newsletter (as a pdf file).
Musni Newsletter 2008
Musni Video 2008
Most of our regular columns are back - Josh and Annie's updates on themselves and their little brothers, my month by month year in review, and Craig's (infamous) Top Ten list. The only one missing was the "Was it a rumor?" column from 2006 and 2007. Hopefully we've dispelled all myths about moving to Boise by now...
We truly are enjoying the printed cards we are receiving in the mail as well as all the e-mails and facebook messages. We love hearing from you (so please post any comments!) and wish you all a wonderful Christ-filled Christmas.
God bless,
Vickie
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Simple CHRISTMAS Tips
C-hrist should be the center of Christmas
H-help others however you can this season
R-emember to say thank you
I-nitiate conversations with others about the true meaning of Christmas
S-hop carefully - debt is not good!
T-raditions are important, but it is okay if you don't do every one every year
M-ake or bake gifts for people
A-lways choose "people" over "things"
S-avor the moments!
H-help others however you can this season
R-emember to say thank you
I-nitiate conversations with others about the true meaning of Christmas
S-hop carefully - debt is not good!
T-raditions are important, but it is okay if you don't do every one every year
M-ake or bake gifts for people
A-lways choose "people" over "things"
S-avor the moments!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Thanksgiving Blessings
What is Thanksgiving all about? I've heard lots of lessons about Pilgrims and Indians over the years but as a mother of preschoolers, that isn't necessarily where I want to put the emphasis when teaching my little ones about Thanksgiving. Say it with me, Thanks-giving. It's about thanks and giving. It's about counting our blessings AND being a blessing. This is something that with some focused effort on our parts, even our toddlers can begin to understand.
How can we teach our kids to say thanks? With really young ones, simply have them repeat kind words of thanks every time an opportunity arises. As their vocabulary grows and kids can create their own sentences, encourage your little ones to come up with their own expressions of thanks. Whether we are leaving Sunday School, a friend's house, or the childcare center at the gym, I nudge my 3 year old toward the teacher or friend and ask him to say something kind before we leave. I don't care if he says "thanks for playing with me" or "thanks for the snack." I just love hearing him express thanks in his own words. Count blessings with your kids. Write them down in a journal, make a blessing scrapbook, or simply thank God for something or someone together each day.
What about the giving part? This is a great time of year to have kids make cards or pictures for special people in their lives as token of their thanks. Brighten the day of your child's teacher or babysitter, grandparent or your neighborhood mailman with a beautiful piece of art! For older preschoolers, you may want to type a thanksgiving message using a "bubble" font and let them color in each letter. Look for opportunities to model generosity. In our household the buzz word is "share" at this age. Whether we are packing a shoe box full of goodies to share with another child, baking cookies to share with a neighbor, or sorting clothes and toys for our "share" pile, young children can be a part of meaningful giving.
This Thanksgiving, I encourage you to help your children to give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and teach them by your example that God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 1:9). Count your blessings together and be a blessing to others!
How can we teach our kids to say thanks? With really young ones, simply have them repeat kind words of thanks every time an opportunity arises. As their vocabulary grows and kids can create their own sentences, encourage your little ones to come up with their own expressions of thanks. Whether we are leaving Sunday School, a friend's house, or the childcare center at the gym, I nudge my 3 year old toward the teacher or friend and ask him to say something kind before we leave. I don't care if he says "thanks for playing with me" or "thanks for the snack." I just love hearing him express thanks in his own words. Count blessings with your kids. Write them down in a journal, make a blessing scrapbook, or simply thank God for something or someone together each day.
What about the giving part? This is a great time of year to have kids make cards or pictures for special people in their lives as token of their thanks. Brighten the day of your child's teacher or babysitter, grandparent or your neighborhood mailman with a beautiful piece of art! For older preschoolers, you may want to type a thanksgiving message using a "bubble" font and let them color in each letter. Look for opportunities to model generosity. In our household the buzz word is "share" at this age. Whether we are packing a shoe box full of goodies to share with another child, baking cookies to share with a neighbor, or sorting clothes and toys for our "share" pile, young children can be a part of meaningful giving.
This Thanksgiving, I encourage you to help your children to give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and teach them by your example that God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 1:9). Count your blessings together and be a blessing to others!
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