Trust and Obey

While talking to my little one yesterday about why she must take a nap, I realized that when she disobeys my simple command to "go to bed," she is showing a lack of faith. When she finds some excuse to not do as she is told, then she is showing that she does not trust her provider (me.) As I shared this knowledge with her, I was struck by the weight of it. So many times truths do not become real to us until we can vocalize them.

Reading in Hebrews later that night, I discovered in 3:18,19, "And to whom did He swear that they should not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? And so we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief." The context here is in reference to the Israelites in the wilderness, and that they did not enter His rest (the security of the promised land) because of their unbelief. But notice that these two verses are parallel statements, thereby making disobedience and unbelief interchangeable. Therefore, we must understand in our hearts that we cannot have one without the other.

We, also, are like little children desiring to choose our own path as if we know what is best. We say we are people of faith, but there is no fruit of submission, no turning away from our own interests, no trusting the Provider. Jesus Christ is our Sabbath rest; without Him we will surely labor in vain.

"And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness." Romans 4:3

"For as through the one man's [Adam] disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One [Jesus] the many will be made righteous." Romans 5:19

Belief=Obedience=Righteousness

"There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall through following the same example of disobedience." Hebrews 4:9-11

Another Birthday

My Bella's birthday just happens to fall... on the first day of fall-- or Autumn Equinox, if you prefer. No matter what you call it, it is so good to move in to fall. Who among us in the South isn't ready to cool off? Not only that, but fall colors are just around the corner for us. Apple orchards, mountain drives, pumpkins, and my husband's personal favorite of fall--football. Bella Grace, who just turned five, started getting excited about the approaching football season back in August because she knew that her birthday was in its midst. Therefore, she associates football with her birthday. Imagine that.

I tend to feel overwhelmed at birthday time, but I have begun to realize that we should take nothing for granted but rather give praise to the One who has numbered our days. Many thank yous from Bella to those who made this week special!

First Days

Some good
and not so good moments of homeschooling.

Ants Update

I tried grits which worked for a few days, but the ants are back. They have completely infiltrated the dog food.

No worries, though, my kids are happy to have an ant farm...

Ants...and Love

What do you know about ants?

Well, some are big and some are small. They may be red or black or reddish black or blackish red. They may build hills, trails, or hang out in trees. They may bite like a madman or just leave you with a creepy tickle. Then, there are the ones that come into your house...

It was rather funny, if you can call it that, to see my laundry room clothes heap swarming with ants. Several squeals from my kids alerted me to the fact that they had also paid a visit to the dog bowl. With unity of mind, the critters had formed a healthy regiment from somewhere around the dishwasher and continued along the floorboards, behind the refrigerator, and around the corner into the laundry room. In the midst of contemplating a solution to this year's Third Annual Ant Infestation, my focus gave way to a softer, deeper understanding of the plight of the ant.

"Go to the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise, which, having no chief, officer or ruler, prepares her food in the summer, and gathers her provision in the harvest." Proverbs 6:6-8

It is true that ants' ways provide an example of focus and hard work, but what I like even more are the selfless acts they pursue. For a believer and follower of Christ, we must be willing to give up our own selfish desires and allow God to lead, yes, but we also must be willing to give up our own selfish desires about the church and allow the Holy Spirit to unify our hearts to one another. Philippians 2 must resound in the hearts of all those who profess Christ as He has spoken to His church:

"If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose." Philippians 2:1,2

And then in verses 3 and 4:

"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others."

Does this remind you of my determined visitors? They are diligently working, but for the purpose of something much greater than a single ant. Honestly, if they were just in it for themselves there would probably be no need for them to work so hard, and they for sure wouldn't thrive the way they do. So then, we see the need for unity of believers. Not that we should let down our guard lest the wolves come in to devour our fellowship, but that we seek to edify our brothers and sisters and help them carry their load-- whether that be physical or spiritual.

The defining characteristic that we share with the Father, but not with the ant is love:

"If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." 1 Corinthians 13:1

The quality that we do not share with God, but rather with the ant is this:

"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also have been fully known." 1 Corinthians 13:12