Kaitlyn and Kyra have had big new things happen this past month.

Kyra started crawling.  In two days she was up to full speed and also pulling up to standing and trying to cruise.  Needless to say I have had to do a bit of rearranging and am learning how to keep track of two mobile girls.

Kaitlyn is adjusting to life without diapers.  We started potty training before we left China but I never really got serious about it until a few months ago.  This month we quit diapers at nap time and when we go out.  She has done great and had no accidents!  I did make an unnecessary stop at Target last week because she told me she needed to go but then really didn’t.  But hey, I don’t mind a stop at Target.

Hello!  I am back. (“Backstreets back, alright!” just started playing in my head as I typed that.  Good luck not getting it stuck in yours!)  Thanks Dad for filling in some while I was gone!

The first week of the fast I had lots that I thought would make a good blog post but now as I sit down to actually write a post none of it is coming back to me.  I guess it couldn’t have been that good if I can’t remember it.

What I am thinking of is my awesome God.  We started the fast because our church was doing it and because we knew we needed miraculous intervention or we would not make it past February.  Like the wonderful God He is, He not only has provided for us and created powerful times of worship at church but He has taught me so much about Love.  His Love.  And about what it really means to call yourself a Christian.  I have called myself a Christian for 25 years but I feel like this month, what that means is really starting to sink in.

A Christian is a follower of Christ.  We are to be Jesus to the world; a reflection on earth of what Christ was on earth.  In a phrase – perfect love.

I thought that I had been doing a good job but this past month I have seen a lot of Me in my motives, actions, thoughts and little Christ.  In His gracious guidance He brought books and stories to me to show how I truly can love unconditionally without fear.

I choose to love.  The truth is slowly settling in that I am nothing of myself and can only do or accomplish anything worthwhile through perfect love.

Included in what I am learning in Love is giving and intercession.  I have always been “letter of the law” about giving but now I am slowly learning to truly give.  I am learning what it means to be a vessel that God can use to pour resources through.   God’s principle is true the more love you show the more love you get.  The more finances you give, the more finances you get.   The more concern you give the larger heart you get.  Intercession has been a big one for me.  Just seeing the word intimidates me.  But God is walking me through what being an intercessor is about and I am liking it.

There is a big difference between knowing in your mind and knowing in your heart.  All the principles I mentioned I knew in my head but during the fast God placed them in my heart.  I hope that they remain and grow there.

So this feels like the start of the year for me.  And I am glad that this month we celebrate Valentines Day.  I think it is an appropriate start to my year.  God is revealing His love to me and how I can be His love here.

What has God been showing you as you start this new year?

From Sing-Song by Christina Rossetti

Who has seen the wind?

Neither I nor you

But when the leaves hang trembling

The wind is passing through.

Who has seen the wind?

Neither you nor I;

But when the trees bow down their heads

The wind is passing by

I want to recommend a few books to you that I read this past year.  I have not actually been keeping a list, but the following are ones that I can remember and recommend to you.

The Joyful Christian by C S Lewis

Most anything by Lewis is worth reading.  Some of it is a hard slog but you usually find some great nuggets of wisdom.  This book is a collection of short items that look like they just came rolling out of his brain and he was not certain what to do with them, so they got placed in this book.

At times, you’ll think it’s a bit much, but then a sentence or paragraph or a whole thought, will jump out at you and you’ll want more.

Wild at Heart by John Eldrdge

I know I’m behind times on reading this but I read it and I actually read it twice in just this past year.  It really speaks to men, but I think it’s also beneficial for wives and soon-to-be-wives.  Marianne – the owner of this blog – told me that she read it  and thought it was good. It’s good stuff to put it simply.

When the Game is Over, It all Goes Back in The Box by John Ortberg.

If you’ve never read any Ortberg, you should.  Just his titles should make you want to jump in and have some fun with him.  Lots of humor with good teachings, all mixed together. I think he’s one of the best Christian writers out there today. A Couple of other titles of his are If You Want to Walk on Water You’ve Got to Get Out of The Boat, and Everybody’s Normal Till You Get to Know Them. I haven’t read the last one yet; waiting to get my hands on it.

The Covenant by James Michner

I totally missed this book of his all these years. I have always been amazed by Michner since I read Hawaii in high school.  You walk with a family or families through history. You learn history as you become enmeshed in the lives of the families.  The Covenant is based in South Africa.

Is That Really You God? by Loren Cunningham

I know – I’m late to this one too, but I got my hands on it early this year and loved reading the testimony of this man who founded one of the great mission agencies of modern times.

Psalms  I recommend that you read at least one every night before you turn out the light. It brings a certain peace to me and reminds me who is truly in control when all seems out of control.

I also usually start my day with My Utmost for His Highest. Oswald Chambers challenges me just about every day.

Well, that’s a few of them that I can remember. I may post a few more later if they come to mind.

Looks like a fun one

Birthday girls family

Today is Kaitlyn Jane’s 3rd birthday and we are not there to celebrate and we’re not too happy about that.  She’s a wonderful granddaughter.  We are so blessed. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Sweet Kaits.

An old m-type shared something very good with a group in Chiang Mai, Thailand as we were awaiting Kyra’s birth last spring.  It was Jehoshaphat’s Prayer.  He said that we tend to get praying wrong.  We come to God with the problem and expound on the problem and plead the problem.

He said that the best way to pray is like Jehoshaphat

First – Praise God

Second – Tell God what He has done before

Third – Tell God of His promises

Fourth – Tell God the problem.

Try it, you’ll like it.

Marianne promised that I would appear in this space over two weeks ago, so I guess I better do what daughter says.  I have debated for some time about doing a blog, so this is an experiment.  Don’t worry, Marianne will be back in a few weeks with more wonderful pics of Kaitlyn and Kyra. That will make it worth dropping in here.

So, for my first post, I present the following.

Early in the 19th century the French statesman, Alexander de Tocqueville, made a study of democracy in the United States and wrote as follows:

I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers, and it was not there.

I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her fertile fields and boundless forests, and it was not there.

I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her rich mines and her vast world commerce, and it was not there.

I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her public school system and her institutions of learning, and it was not there.

I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her democratic congress and her matchless constitution, and it was not there.

Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power.

America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.

You often read that last sentence but I believe it is important to know what he wrote before he wrote that last sentence.

LeRoy

I will be taking a break from blogging and Facebook for the month of January.   I am petitioning my Father to take over the blog but he is traveling so I haven’t gotten a response yet.  So maybe, if you’re lucky, you still soon get to read some posts by the famous author, LeRoy Ramsey.

But for the rest of the month I will not be blogging.  Please check out the links to blogs and sites on the right hand side and I will be back in a month!

I pray God’s blessings on you for the new year!

The holidays are starting to wrap up.  We have one more Christmas celebration and then I think we’ll officially be entered to 2010.  That looks weird to write.  2010.  I am feeling old.  I turn 30 in six months but I have realized that I am now one of those people who can say,  “I remember when you were…” and I can’t believe that I have two children and that it’s been over 10 years that I graduated from high school.

So 2009.  It has been a full year.  It certainly had its ups and downs with births, deaths, moves, and travels.  So much in fact that I really don’t want to write about it.  It was full and God did amazing things but I am looking to the future.  Which we should always do.

“Press forward.”

I am not sure why Jesus took hold of me but He certainly has.  So I am pressing forward to attempt to figure it out.  I think the main part of it isn’t necessarily to figure out “why” but to learn who Jesus it and who He wants me to be.  In my character, my mind, my heart.  Which will then reflect in my words and my actions and take me to the places He needs me to be to reach the people He needs to reach.

I always had a hard time because I wanted to know exactly what Jesus had for me.  I wanted to see where I would end up and then I’d know what to work towards.  But as Graham Jones told me, “The Holy Spirit is not MapQuest.”  I like MapQuest, I love GPS, I like maps and plans and order.  But, the Holy Spirit is not MapQuest.  He doesn’t work how I think He should work.  He breaks me out of my mindset and makes me stretch to be a better person.  A person I never thought I could be.  He uses my family, my husband, my children and my friends.  He shows me that order is good, maps are good, plans are good.  But they are not the answer.  Change and uncertainty are not bad.  Going without a plan is okay.  Feeling lost and disoriented and out of control can bring growth.  ‘Cause sometimes His plans can be higher than mine. *smirk*  If I let them.

I encourage you as you start 2010 to let loose a little bit; if you’re like me.  Let the Holy Spirit stretch you; make you like Jesus.  Follow the path without a map and as you enjoy the sites and bumps along the way you’ll learn the destination.