math=humility

   When I was in grade 4, math became a subject that I loathed, detested, and despised. In the beginning of that year my teacher carefully cut out a sailboat for each student and in big, bold letters she wrote each student's name on it. She told us that we would be "sailing" through the multipulcation facts all of the way up to 12. I took a big gulp. I could do multiples up to 5, but up to 12 - that was a challenge that I would not enjoy. Each day we got a slip of paper and in a short period of time we would have to multiply a number. If you got it all correct your little sailboat would move to the next number. When you completed number 12, your name would get to go in the school newsletter for a reward. These little boats were up on the top of the wall in our classroom for all of the world to see. Within two weeks most of my classmates sailed through all of the facts. By Christmas time, the teacher was ready for a scenery change on her wall but I was still stuck on number 9. It was a terrible, humiliating time for me. To have my name mentioned in the school newsletter when I finally finished the multiplcation facts was a punishment, not a reward. Even writing this story down has me trembling and I had to be very brave to relive it.
   Throughout school, math continued to be a huge struggle. I am sure that my teacher somehow missed teaching the concept of fractions because it is still a big puzzle for me. Actually, most of the math concepts I do not get. My dad spent countless hours trying to breakthrough a math concept to me, only to give up and ask my younger sister to help me. The issue here was that she hadn't been taught it in school yet, but she was teaching me. I refused to learn from her.
   In highschool I needed a grade 11 math credit in order to be accepted into nursing for college. I took the most general course I could. I am sure that the math teacher could see the steam coming from my ears while trying to grasp the math concepts but nothing sunk in. By the time the math exam rolled around I was a huge bundle of nerves and devoured four rolls of mentos within minutes of starting the exam. My math teacher took pity on me and somehow I passed. Occasionaly I see Mr.S in the grocery store and he still gives me a sympathetic smile.
   After I was married, Adam tried to explain a math concept to me, to which I replied "I am perfectly content going to my grave without ever getting it."
I love Fanny Crosby's poem, "Multiplication is vexation, Division is as bad; The rule of three puzzles me, And fractions make me mad."

But this is the point of my story. God's math does not make sense to me either, but it works.
Here is what I read from the book "Confrontations with Grace: Red Like Blood." (book review coming up soon)
1.God's math is always profound. Whenever you realize things are not what they seem to be, you're probably learning God's math. Here are some mind-boggling examples of single-sentence paradoxical equations straight from the Bible:
It is more blessed to give than to receive.
The greatest among you shall be your sevant.
For whoever would save his life will lose it.
You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.
When I am weak, then I am strong.

2. Brokeness is a constant in God's formulas. Our brokenness forms the cracks through which grace flows in and joy pours out. Learning the Math of God invoves embracing brokenness the way He does. It involves a collision between His grace and our brokenness.
3.The resultant sum of all of God's calculations is the same: We get more of Him. Getting more of God equals finding satisfaction, significance, and fulfillment in Him. When we do, it is axiomatic: we get more joy and God gets more glory. And that results in living a life that transcends circumstances.

God's math is hard to get but, oh so worth it when a Biblical breakthrough occurs.

Hospitality

I was reading through my torn, worn note book. This is my brain. Whatever I need to remember I write it in there and then hope that I can find it. I found two paragraphs that I wanted to share with you. I can't remember where I got it or when I wrote it, but it is a good thing to be reminded of.

Entertaining has little to do with real hospitality. Secular entertaining is a terrible bondage. It's source is human pride. Demanding, perfecting, fostering the urge to impress, it is a rigorous taskmaster that enslaves. In contrast, scriptural hospitality is a freedom that liberates.
Entertaining says, "I want to impress you with my beautiful home, my clever decorating, my gourmet cooking." HOSPITALITY, however, seeks to MINISTER. It says, "this home is not mine. It is truly a gift from my Master. I am His servant, and I use it as He desires. Hospitality does not try to impress but to SERVE."

And here is another one from Ruth Bell Graham on interruptions through out the day.

"Everyday is full of interruptions. I think that one thing that a busy housewife and mother has to learn is to accept interruptions as from the Lord. And the sooner she learns it, the happier she'll be. When you do, then you roll with the punches, and each interruption is an opportunity. In other words, if I tried to keep a rigid schedule, every interruption would make me frustrated and irritated. But when I accept each interruption as from the Lord, life becomes much more interesting and much more relaxed."

winter activities

Winter can be challenging with energetic children especially when there is a lot of mud outside and not much snow to play with.  Loud noises have always bothered me and now our house at times is so loud, I am sure that it is rocking. On top of that we have hardwood floors just to make things echo.We have someone living in our basement so running downstairs and being crazy far away from me is not an option. So, God has been teaching me a lot through this winter. The biggest problem is my inconsistencies. There are times that I can handle the boys running around me in the kitchen and up and under the kitchen table - in fact I even laugh with them. There are other times, however, that I feel my blood pressure jumping and steam coming out of my ears. I cannot handle the craziness and I just wait until I hear one boy run head first into a piece of furniture or even worse, the corner of a wall. This never fails even when I am yelling "beeee carefullll" as they chase and bang into one another. It is a challenge to find the right balance of letting the boys get rid of all of their wiggles and caring too much about my house. I do not want them growing up and only remembering me saying "No."  When I was growing up my mom let us do anything in the house. She even moved the furniture around so that we could get around without ever touching the floor. But then again, she had four girls. There has to be a difference?! I struggle with finding the right balance. Should I have a rule that does not allow chasing eachother? Should I let them run as much as they want to even though they usually end up getting hurt or breaking something? Is is wrong that I base what I allow them to do, on how I am feeling that day? Finally, is it wrong that in the midst of the craziness I sing "I am slowly going crazy, 6,5,4,3,2,1, switch. Slowly crazy am I going, 1,2,3,4,5,6, switch."  Do you know that song?!
When there are quiet moments I savour them and enjoy watching the boys play together. Here are some indoor winter activities that our family loves to do.


My aunt and uncle gave us a fooze ball table. This has been great and we hear many shouts of glee as the winner scores goals. We have also heard many sighs and protests from the looser of the game but it is all good. They are learning how to play together and how to take loosing.

Reading. What would we do without books? It warms my heart when I catch them reading quietly on the couch. So cozy.

The boys have spent hours playing with this wooden board game. This was a Christmas present from their opa and oma and we have all enjoyed it. Last year we also spent a lot of time playing shuffle board but this year Tyler has made it his duty to wreck each game by taking the pucks and throwing them at his brothers. Shuffle board has remained in the closet this winter but we look forward to playing it again next year.

                   While the other boys play or chase eachother, Tyler finds his own things to do!

devotionals for our family

This is a wonderful family devotional that we use in the evenings. The book is interactive and teaches Biblical truths in a way that relates to all ages. Each Old Testament story points back to Christ and His gift of grace. Many families in our church recommended it and after I read the reviews I knew that this would be a book that our family could grow with. (Right now it is on sale through "Sovereign Grace Ministries" until the end of February. )

We read this book as a family on Sunday evenings for our devotions. We are learning that God has many names throughout Scripture that help us know Him; not just about Him. This is also a well written book that gives us a picture of the bigness of God.

Nate is going through this devotional this year. I have skimmed through it and so far it looks like a really good book for boys in his age group (8).  Each devotional has a contemporary story that gets the lad into the Word. Then there's a "How about you?" section to make personal applications.

Last year Nate read this devotional to Liam and now when Liam goes to bed, he is reading it on his own! Each chapter gives a lesson on an animal or an insect and then it has a section about "In the Bible."  The chapter ends with a "What about you?" section that asks questions that apply these lessons. For example they learn about crocodiles and helping your enemy; ants and doing your work well. What a great book for young boys.

Jerry Bridges has always been one of my favourite authors and now he has his thoughts in a devotional. He has a way of making Biblical truths that are hard to grasp become understandable.

I am part of the ladies weekly bible study in our church. During the months of September through December we study a book of the Bible usually through Kay Arthur. In January until the end of the season we study a topical book and right now we are studying "A Praying Life" by Paul Miller. This book is a well written, easy to read yet deep and life-changing book. Prayer can be a struggle in every Christian's life and this book deals with these struggles head on. I highly recommend this book for group Bible studies or for reading on your own.

wordless wednesday

I could not have put it better.

pictures from the past

Just a few pictures from times past. These boys are growing up way too quickly.

Nate and Liam. These two guys are 17 months apart and when they were young they kept me running. I was as busy with those two boys then as I am now with two more little boys. I love this picture because of the bruises. It showed what life was like when they were three and two years old.

                                                           Andrew at ten months.

When Liam was young he didn't look at childrens books but at pictures of food in my recipe books. I have a feeling that he will be my "kitchen help" as the boys get older and have more friends over:)

BOOKS

Some books for your bookshelf....

Written in a loving, and encouraging way, the Duggar parents share how they strive to have a household that is God glorifying. By speaking kindly, softly, and in an encouraging voice they spend more time training their children rather than disciplining. Although I did not agree with everything written, this was a great book. It tells of the story of the birth of their premature baby, and the struggles that they went through. The book gives guidelines and resources for living a Christian life. They have wonderful points and tidbits that they share. This is a book that stresses the importance of a godly family and encourages families to strive for that goal. A book worth reading.

When you have been encouraged, your first impulse is to encourage someone else. Encouragement is infectious. One of the motivations behind the apostle Paul's letters to the New Testament churches was his desire to encourage his friends. This book explains the importance of encouraging and ways to encourage. Hurting people need encouragement, children need encouragement, and the list goes on. Encouraging others brings much joy! This book is a must read.

Wow. Very intense. This book was hard to put down and had me captivated right to the very end. Mosab Yousef, a young Palestinian gets captured by the Israeli army and makes a decision that changes his life. This book shows the complexities of the Middle East and how God is still working through many people to bring His Word.