I was sorting through the bookmarks on my computer, and I came across this one that I found while we were going the the schooling decision making process. I so wish I could put my thoughts down on paper as clearly as this guy at Challies.com has. Be sure you check out the "Part 2" post, as well. Here are some of my favorite quotes"
"As my pastor says in this article, depending on your view on this subject you may fall into the weak category or the strong category. In either case, you will be “tempted by the devil, the world and your flesh to either despise or condemn those who hold a different view from yours…Depending on whether you are weak or strong, you are being tempted to despise other members of this church or condemn other members of this church. If you deny that, you deny God’s Word. Paul does not say, some of you are in this weak/strong struggle. No, he says all of us fall into one or the other classification.” The strong are tempted to despise and the weak are tempted to condemn. Let’s be sure that we do not fall into either sin."
"Trusting that my children will grow up to be believers, I am convicted that it is my duty as a parent, and as a Christian parent, to prepare my children to fulfill that calling in their lives. I believe they can best heed this call by being in the culture in which God has seen fit to place them. I want them to be with kids who are not Christians, to be friends with them and to love them, to learn what separates them from their friends, and to begin to understand how their convictions make them different from others. I want them to see and know and understand and believe in the superiority of Christianity to any other religion or way of life. I want them to see what the world has to offer and to see that it quickly loses its lustre."
"Now some may argue that young children are unready to be evangelists and that it is unfair to expect them of this. Once again, both experience and Scripture prove this a false assumption. If our children are believers, they are filled with the same Holy Spirit as you and I. They are equipped to reach out to the most tender-hearted segment of the population."
"The key to escaping worldliness is not to avoid the world, but to avoid acting like the world and thinking like the world. To do this we do not escape the world, but allow ourselves to apprehend the allure of the world so it might lose its glow."
"The fact is that worldliness comes from within. Worldliness is not something that is forced upon people or that is extrinsic to them. Worldliness is intrinsic and arises from a person’s sinful nature. A person who never experiences the wider culture can still be worldly. A child who never darkens the door of a public school may be far more worldly than one who does so every day."
If you're thinking through this decision right now, I really encourage you to read all that he has to say because context is important. It's long, so be sure you have a good chunk of time, but it's really worth it, I think.
In his "Part 2" post, Tim links to another blog that I also really like. The author of the Cerulean Sanctum blog is an educator with much experience in so many aspects of schooling...public, Christian, and home. He's a parent who homeschools, but points out the flaws of that system and gives credit to those families who know that homeschooling is not what God has called them to (assuring them that there is no guilt in choosing not to homeschool). There are a bunch of great posts related schooling on this blog, among other good topics.
Both mens' postings were/are refreshing to me as we continue to seek out what God would have us do with each of our children, day by day and year by year.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Crazy Love
My friend got me the book Crazy Love, by Francis Chan, a few weeks ago. I've been wanting to read it for a while, ever since our youth group talked about reading it while they were doing their missions trips over the summer. It's a quick read, but, for me anyway, really kind of heavy spiritually. As I've mentioned before, I'm a slow processer, but I'm really hoping to post a few thoughts on the book and how it is stirring my soul. Unfortunately, my time to think is not abundant at this point, so you're gonna get some small, random chunks...hope you don't mind :O)...
So here is the first quote that struck me:
R.C. Sproul writes, "Men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their insignificance, until they have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God."
I serve an amazing God. The One who placed trillions of stars in the sky and knows each one by name. The One who is, at this moment, dropping snowflake after unique snowflake outside my window. The One who knows exactly how many seconds my heart will beat on this earth.
In the great scheme of the universe and history of the world, my life isn't more than a speck of dust. Niether is yours. Yet, day after day, we try to convice ourselves that we are something. That we can accomplish something. That we are entitled to the "American Dream". We chase after careers, beautifully furnished homes, perfect children, name brand wardrobes, retirement nest eggs.
Really? These are things we are going to put time and effort into?
This amazing God, who spoke mountains into place and designed every atom in every particle of matter on earth, created us for relationship with Him. Not only did He create us for himself, but He loved us enough that He sent his only Son to die for us. He sent his Son to die for me...to erase every stupid, cruddy, foolish thing I've ever done and will ever do.
And we're going to invest ourselves in things that mean nothing ten years down the road, let alone eternity?
I think our society makes it so hard for us to take our focus off of what the world sees as significant and focus on what God sees as significant. I say this with my own conflict over the idea that I do believe that God wants us to be happy and live life here on earth "to the full"...because that's what anyone wants for those they love. He allows us to experience joy and happiness for a reason. He gives us dreams and passions for a reason. Yet, I feel that we, too often, strive after things that we think will make us somebody, when God just wants us to be His. He just wants us to sit in his "lap", look around us, believe that we are a result of his majesty, and fall crazily in love...
So here is the first quote that struck me:
R.C. Sproul writes, "Men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their insignificance, until they have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God."
I serve an amazing God. The One who placed trillions of stars in the sky and knows each one by name. The One who is, at this moment, dropping snowflake after unique snowflake outside my window. The One who knows exactly how many seconds my heart will beat on this earth.
In the great scheme of the universe and history of the world, my life isn't more than a speck of dust. Niether is yours. Yet, day after day, we try to convice ourselves that we are something. That we can accomplish something. That we are entitled to the "American Dream". We chase after careers, beautifully furnished homes, perfect children, name brand wardrobes, retirement nest eggs.
Really? These are things we are going to put time and effort into?
This amazing God, who spoke mountains into place and designed every atom in every particle of matter on earth, created us for relationship with Him. Not only did He create us for himself, but He loved us enough that He sent his only Son to die for us. He sent his Son to die for me...to erase every stupid, cruddy, foolish thing I've ever done and will ever do.
And we're going to invest ourselves in things that mean nothing ten years down the road, let alone eternity?
I think our society makes it so hard for us to take our focus off of what the world sees as significant and focus on what God sees as significant. I say this with my own conflict over the idea that I do believe that God wants us to be happy and live life here on earth "to the full"...because that's what anyone wants for those they love. He allows us to experience joy and happiness for a reason. He gives us dreams and passions for a reason. Yet, I feel that we, too often, strive after things that we think will make us somebody, when God just wants us to be His. He just wants us to sit in his "lap", look around us, believe that we are a result of his majesty, and fall crazily in love...
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Snow Day
It was obvious that we needed to get out of the house and play in some snow after Natalie made a "princess" with her provolone cheese at lunch today.
Here are some pictures of our fun:
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Something Cute
Just wanted to record this really cute story about Levi:
The other night he didn't seem ready for bed when we put all the kids to bed. He hadn't eaten really great at dinner and had taken a good nap that afternoon, so we let him come down and have an extra snack and play around for a bit. After about a half hour we put him back to bed, but he still was rolling around and whining in his crib. About 5 minutes later we heard him get out and come down the hall. We waited as he made his way down the stairs and on his way picked up a random sock that was laying on them. He ran over and handed it to Mark, like that was his reason for getting out of bed the whole time. We said "thank you" and told him to get back in bed.
He slowly made his way up the stairs, and we heard him walk down the hall. We waited to hear some more whining, but, surprisingly, he stayed quiet. About a half hour later we went up to bed and when I turned the light on in our room there he was...he had climbed into our bed, snuggled under the blankets, and curled up to sleep on my pillow. Little stinker got moved to his crib, but not without a few kisses and a wish for a hundred thousand more moments like this!
The other night he didn't seem ready for bed when we put all the kids to bed. He hadn't eaten really great at dinner and had taken a good nap that afternoon, so we let him come down and have an extra snack and play around for a bit. After about a half hour we put him back to bed, but he still was rolling around and whining in his crib. About 5 minutes later we heard him get out and come down the hall. We waited as he made his way down the stairs and on his way picked up a random sock that was laying on them. He ran over and handed it to Mark, like that was his reason for getting out of bed the whole time. We said "thank you" and told him to get back in bed.
He slowly made his way up the stairs, and we heard him walk down the hall. We waited to hear some more whining, but, surprisingly, he stayed quiet. About a half hour later we went up to bed and when I turned the light on in our room there he was...he had climbed into our bed, snuggled under the blankets, and curled up to sleep on my pillow. Little stinker got moved to his crib, but not without a few kisses and a wish for a hundred thousand more moments like this!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
I Am a Work in Progress
I am a work in progress. I see myself kind of like clay in the hands of a potter. The same artist who designed the universe is molding my life into a masterpiece.
Some days I find myself questioning why He seems to work so slowly. Other days I wonder how He's accomplished so much, while I've been so difficult to work with. Thankfully, He sees the finished project and continues to shape as He takes me through life.
Moving away from family and friends, two surprise pregnancies in the first 18 months of our marriage, my husband's back problems, our hard financial times, trying to achieve supermom status, sending our kids to public school.
Each experience shows me that my sculpter's hands never stop working . . . a little less worrying here, a little more trusting there . . . a little less anger there, a little more grace here . . . a little less busyness here, a little more peace there.
Some days I find myself questioning why He seems to work so slowly. Other days I wonder how He's accomplished so much, while I've been so difficult to work with. Thankfully, He sees the finished project and continues to shape as He takes me through life.
Moving away from family and friends, two surprise pregnancies in the first 18 months of our marriage, my husband's back problems, our hard financial times, trying to achieve supermom status, sending our kids to public school.
Each experience shows me that my sculpter's hands never stop working . . . a little less worrying here, a little more trusting there . . . a little less anger there, a little more grace here . . . a little less busyness here, a little more peace there.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Some Tidbits...
Here are some random tidbits (mostly in the form of pictures) about what's been goin' down in the Hunter house...
Seriously? How cute is this face??
Natalie is kind of obsessed with playing "house". She loves playing with her babies and shopping. She is always packing stuff up in grocery or diaper bags. For a while, we were randomly loosing things like keys or cans of olives. We soon realized the first place to look was in one of the 15 stuffed full bags laying around the house. Behind this chair is one of her favorite places to "live". 
Just 4 cute kids being cute.
Ethan is playing Upward Basketball this year. He was excited to try out a new sport and is doing well. He's still a little bit hesitant during the games, but you can be sure whoever he's gaurding isn't going to get the ball!
We made our pinecone birdfeeders again and the birds are LOVING them. One morning I looked out the window and there were 2 pairs of Eastern Bluebirds, a pair of Cardinals, 3 different kinds of woodpeckers, a couple of nuthatches, a few juncos, sparrows and a chickadee or two. It was crazy!
Still working for Levi's naptime. I don't mind doing the "bounce around"...I usually try to squeeze in some squats, lunges, and calf raises while I'm doing it. Ha ha...I know, I'm a dork!
Seriously? How cute is this face??
Monday, January 25, 2010
"Letting Go" in 2010
Well, in case you've been wondering where I've been...we've been sick. Nothing really terrible, but Mark started it with a stomach bug about a week and a half ago, then Karis got it last Monday, then Ethan got strep throat on Thursday, and then I got the stomach bug on Saturday night. So, we've just been in that take it easy while still trying to keep up with daily tasks mode for a bit. I had a friend invite the girls over for a play date today (I warned her, but she was willing to take the risk!) and Levi is napping, so I decided to put off the toy clean-up and laundry folding to blog instead. Feels kind of good to choose something I want to do instead of the things I should do :O).
So, I've been saying I wanted to tell you a little bit about my "word" for the year. Last year was a year of expecting God and His changes in my life, and even though I didn't end up blogging about much them, He did some very necessary things in my heart and life.
This year I'm not expecting any different, as I ask Him to teach me how to better let go. This is something I so need to work on on many levels.
As I've mentioned many times before, I have issues with control...I don't like when my house looks out of control. I don't like when my kids are at school and I don't have control over what they are doing or what's being done to them. I don't like when cars break down, water lines leak or people get sick. It just stresses me out! God, help me let go of my need to control, because I know you are glorified in my ability to focus on what's truly important, trust in your protection, and believe in your provision.
I also have issues with pride and judging. There are a lot of times that I feel like I'm doing a pretty good job at life. It may seem like a contradiction, since I know I've mentioned that I've often compared myself to other women and felt inadequate. At the same time though, I've often compared myself to some women and felt like, "...maybe I do have it all together...". I can be pretty quick to judge other peoples' ways of doing things if I think my way is better. I probably shouldn't even admit this, but there are a lot of times that Mark and I will be discussing somebody's situation and we'll jokingly say..."It's a good thing we're perfect." Yah, we're being totally sarcastic, but still, there is an element judgment and pride in it. God, help me let go of my tendency to judge because I know that I am nothing without your grace.
Another thing that I have issues with is holding on to things. I hold on to material things, the idea of future financial stability, and time. I have a hard time throwing stuff out...actually Mark and I both do. We're not hoarders by any means, but seriously, our basement has become the dumpsite of all the stuff we're not ready to part with because someday we might have a use for them. We did do really well this weekend getting rid of a bunch of stuff and setting aside plenty more for a Spring garage sale. I just want to get rid of "stuff" that clutters our life. I cling to this idea of someday being able to not have to think about money and whether we have enough for this or that. Not that I have a desire to live some extravegant lifestyle, but we want to fix up the basement and remodel the kitchen here, we want to buy land in the (sort of) country and build a house, we want to travel. Yet, I know I'm not guaranteed tomorrow, so in my heart, I feel like I'd rather leave a legacy of giving than saving for what may never come. I'm pretty selfish with the time I spend with my family. I really don't have much desire to get out by myself or for us to spend time socializing with other families. I really don't like to give up our time, especially now that Ethan is in school all day. Even though neither one of us are very willing to give up our time together, Mark and I go back and forth all the time about whether it's more important to spend time binding our family together or reaching out to come in contact with and serve those that need to see a God-loving/fearing family. So far, we're not balanced in that area at all. God, help me let go of my desire to hold on to these things...provide me motivation to get rid of things we don't need and the opportunity to give of our time and money becuase I know we have so much more of these than many, many others.
So, I've been saying I wanted to tell you a little bit about my "word" for the year. Last year was a year of expecting God and His changes in my life, and even though I didn't end up blogging about much them, He did some very necessary things in my heart and life.
This year I'm not expecting any different, as I ask Him to teach me how to better let go. This is something I so need to work on on many levels.
As I've mentioned many times before, I have issues with control...I don't like when my house looks out of control. I don't like when my kids are at school and I don't have control over what they are doing or what's being done to them. I don't like when cars break down, water lines leak or people get sick. It just stresses me out! God, help me let go of my need to control, because I know you are glorified in my ability to focus on what's truly important, trust in your protection, and believe in your provision.
I also have issues with pride and judging. There are a lot of times that I feel like I'm doing a pretty good job at life. It may seem like a contradiction, since I know I've mentioned that I've often compared myself to other women and felt inadequate. At the same time though, I've often compared myself to some women and felt like, "...maybe I do have it all together...". I can be pretty quick to judge other peoples' ways of doing things if I think my way is better. I probably shouldn't even admit this, but there are a lot of times that Mark and I will be discussing somebody's situation and we'll jokingly say..."It's a good thing we're perfect." Yah, we're being totally sarcastic, but still, there is an element judgment and pride in it. God, help me let go of my tendency to judge because I know that I am nothing without your grace.
Another thing that I have issues with is holding on to things. I hold on to material things, the idea of future financial stability, and time. I have a hard time throwing stuff out...actually Mark and I both do. We're not hoarders by any means, but seriously, our basement has become the dumpsite of all the stuff we're not ready to part with because someday we might have a use for them. We did do really well this weekend getting rid of a bunch of stuff and setting aside plenty more for a Spring garage sale. I just want to get rid of "stuff" that clutters our life. I cling to this idea of someday being able to not have to think about money and whether we have enough for this or that. Not that I have a desire to live some extravegant lifestyle, but we want to fix up the basement and remodel the kitchen here, we want to buy land in the (sort of) country and build a house, we want to travel. Yet, I know I'm not guaranteed tomorrow, so in my heart, I feel like I'd rather leave a legacy of giving than saving for what may never come. I'm pretty selfish with the time I spend with my family. I really don't have much desire to get out by myself or for us to spend time socializing with other families. I really don't like to give up our time, especially now that Ethan is in school all day. Even though neither one of us are very willing to give up our time together, Mark and I go back and forth all the time about whether it's more important to spend time binding our family together or reaching out to come in contact with and serve those that need to see a God-loving/fearing family. So far, we're not balanced in that area at all. God, help me let go of my desire to hold on to these things...provide me motivation to get rid of things we don't need and the opportunity to give of our time and money becuase I know we have so much more of these than many, many others.
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