Wordless Wednesday ~ 6 Little Indian... Cousins?

A Lightbulb Moment

One of the delights (for us) of a time of home assignment is being around to participate in the worship and teaching of our sending church... sitting once again under the teaching, leading, example and influence of men and women who've impacted our lives and who've so invested in each ministry in which we participate (within our family and in Niger). While we can't attend every service or special event due to our own traveling and speaking schedule, we try to be there as much as is feasible.

I particularly appreciated Sunday School last weekend...

"For ye are yet carnal: for whereas [there is] among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? ...we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, [ye are] God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."

~ 1 Corninthians 3.3, 9-15

During Sunday School, we were actually studying a passage in Judges (that's another post, for another day), but these verses came up briefly, probably because our senior pastor was preaching on them later, during the worship service. They are verses that I've heard taught several times, but this time was a light bulb moment: this passage DOES NOT refer to the security of our salvation or to a giving of account for our sins... those terrible, costly sins are paid in full, as far from us as the east is from the west... because of God's amazing mercy and grace, because Jesus paid the price with His sacrifice. Rather, God is reminding us that we WILL give an account FOR WHAT WE DO with:

• the life...
• the time...
• the teachable or teaching moments...
• the family...
• the gifts...
• the finances...
• the talents...
• the health...
• the lack of health...
• the testings...
• the challenges...
• the pain...
• the joy...
• the opportunities...

with which HE HAS BLESSED US. Are we redeeming those, investing in those works that will abide, eternally? Or are we wasting those, spending precious resources in work that will be burned?

It is a challenging question, one that I need to ask myself, moment by moment as I go throughout my day. I wonder, in that day, whether or not I will be surprised by the results when I stand before my Lord... if those "great accomplishments" are so consumed that not even the ashes remain because of my wrong motivations ~ seeking the approval of others, my pride, my arrogance... On the other hand, even things that seem simple and mundane ~ the giving a simple cup of cold water or the early morning petitions of a faithful prayer warrior ~ that reap eternal reward for they have been done for God alone... His glory... in Jesus name...

Multitude Monday ~ 1000 Gifts ~ Of Papercuts and Thorns

I love it when I start noticing a pattern or consistent behavioral practice in one of my children. It may be something I see, comments made by others who've observed my child, notes on a report card or awards received at an assembly... I particularly love it when it is obvious that a particular pattern is evidence of the fruit of the Holy Spirit in a young life.

This year, I've noticed in one of our children a growing spirit of thankfulness, an unprompted gratefulness to the Lord for the many graces He extends to us each day. This past Thanksgiving, Rebekah introduced to us a new Thanksgiving tradition... one I'd never heard of before, but one that I think we will continue to incorporate as a part of our family's Thanksgiving rituals.

You always hear that expression - "Out of the mouth of babes..." when children express a truth we should all readily acknowledge... or speak words that pierce and convict deeply... I should have recognized this thankfulness trait in my daughter long before. After all, she was the 4 year old who smiled through tears when she showed me her sore and red finger while softly saying, "Mama, I think God gave me this thorn to hold my papercut together."

Well, she's not such a "babe" any more... she is, in fact, all too rapidly turning into a beautiful young woman...and God recently used her to speak to me about an aspect of gratitude on which I need to work: not only do I need to consciously rehearse those things for which I'm thankful, but sometimes, I need to immediately and vocally (and sometimes that means publically) express that thanks in sweet and heartfelt prayer ~ instead of my typical practice... tucking thoughts away to ponder privately.

...this week's list of God's infinite graciousness...

#193 watching foals race around a field on the top of a mountain while the sun sets behind them

#194 Elsie Mae chasing tiny kittens so that she can cuddle them

#195 Mary Michelle chasing those same tiny kittens while squealing with ABSOLUTE delight

#196 a soft "Shouldn't we pray and thank God that He protected us?" said from the backseat when a bolt, tire, jack-less van full of sleeping or sleepy kids, tired plus road-weary parents AND a rural highway in mountainous upstate New York all collided way too late one Sunday night

#197 my pillow... my bed... home sweet home after several days on the road

#198 photos to remember such wonderful times

#199 unexpected and beautiful flowers in the back yard after many days on the road

#200 girls making banana bread

#201 her unexpected excitement and delight when she entered the church nursery at our midweek service

#202 puzzled faces as she tries to figure out pjs all by herself

#203 starting to learn to like bass guitar practice because it is important to him

#204 "I Have Decided," done African-style by an African MK

#205 marshmallow smeared fingers and faces after roasting them (the marshmallows) over a backyard fire

#206 meditating (or "cud-munching") these words: "Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus..."

#207 little arms reaching up, big and bright blue eyes with mischievious smile asking so sweetly for a snuggle and reminding me that the computer needs to be closed for the evening

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Original photo of foal "Up in the Air," @ Lynn's quarterhorses.

Make sure you read today's post at Holy Experience, "When you feel rejected: The Fish Principle." It is beautiful. And then join in, counting the many fish grace has captured in your net.

"Lost" Photos ~ THREE

These photos from last Thanksgiving were among the "lost" photos I've recently recovered. It is fun to look back at great times we've had with our family as we've been in the States this year.

"Knock Knock" Jokes from the Princess

"Knock knock!"

"Who's there?"

"Princess."

"Princess who?"

"Princess Elsie Mae!"

*giggle* *giggle* *giggle*

This has been Elsie Mae's favorite joke for the past few weeks! And she's convinced it is true... after all her favorite shirt says so!

" Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God"

People often ask how they can pray for us... when I read this today, I had to share it here because it is a very real way that you can pray for our family and probably for many other missionaries. One of the reasons why we did not want to extend our year of home assignment beyond a year is because each day that we are home makes it harder to want to go back. Life in America, with its conveniences... its privileges... its opportunities... its advantages... its blinders that make it possible to ignore the less fortunate elsewhere...

I echo Jamie Jo in these thoughts: "My prayer is that I will not succumb to worshiping the blessings instead of the Savior who blesses me with every good and perfect gift."

Wordless Wednesday ~ Rock-a-Bye Baby

Standing in line in a convenience store somewhere in Virginia the other day...

...this sports page headline caught my eye.

"In an age when so many professional athletes act like spoiled brats and the officials act like titled nobility, surely a major confrontation was moments away. But, no. Galarraga smiled at his bad luck. After the game, Joyce reviewed the tape. Realizing he'd missed the call, he sought out Galarraga and apologized. 'I just cost that kid a perfect game,' he said later.

Galarraga accepted the apology and said afterward, 'He probably feels more bad than me. Nobody's perfect, everybody's human. I understand.'

It was an awful, dreadful call. But rather than act like babies, Joyce and Galarraga dealt with it like men, and good men, at that. Baseball is supposed to teach good sportsmanship. That night, it did."

I'm sure there are probably parts to this story that I'm missing... it really seems too good to be true... but I wish my kids had seen it. In a world that is obsessed with defending rights, most would say that ball player had a "right" to his perfect game and his name in the record book. But biblically, there are things more important than fighting for and demanding our rights, aren't there? And practically, how do we disciple our children to lay aside their rights? (i.e. follow Christ's example as written in Phil. 2)

As a parent sitting on the sidelines watching my kids participate in sports this past year, the temptation to blame the umpires or refs for every bad-in-my-eyes call or to complain about overly aggressive play by the opposing team was a strong one, and I must admit those thoughts did often surface. We say we one of the key reasons for participation in competitive sports is character development. I kind of think that God chuckles and lets us think that, but really, He knows that the key reason our children are participating is for the character development of their parents. Could it be that when I learn to model a godly response to the perceived trampling of my child's rights, s/he will learn genuine good sportsmanship that goes far beyond the mere shaking of hands and "Good game!" comments traditionally exchanged after the last buzzer? Perhaps that genuine sportsmanship will then transfer into other areas of his/her life, so that both disappointment and achievement are equally accepted and embraced as evidences of God's sovereignty and grace?

What do you think?

Multitiude Monday ~ 1000 Gifts

(no pictures this week :-( ~ we are on the road)

#153 games of kickball with a beach ball that won't go exactly where you want it to go

#154 a perfectly thrown spiral - even it it is a nerf ball

#155 soft beds in a motel room

#156 blueberry pomegranate juice for breakfast

#157 hearing a friend play the bagpipes

#158 watching Mary Michelle's reaction to the playing of those bagpipes - they are intense!

#159 fields of wild buttercups that where little girls can pick them to put in their hair

#160 perfectly sweet strawberries in a summer fruit salad

#161 stopping to buy a box of 40 Timbits - in our family, that means 4 yummy melt-in-your-mouth-bites per person

#162 humorous ponderings trying to imagine why they confiscated our limes but not our apples or carrots at the border crossing

#163 freezing cold air conditioned hotel rooms

#164 little girls loving puppy dogs

#165 toddlers playing in the sprinkler with friends

#166 warm, humid days that help me appreciate the lovely coolness of less humidity and windy days

#167 the wind

#168 big boys who aren't afraid to hang out with all my girls

#169 adopted aunties and uncles

#170 grocery shopping with a friend

#171 long car rides that are finally over

#172 king-sized beds that can sleep several Wright kids all at the same time

#173 tin whistles played in the car, the shower, outside, inside, with friends, alone... and the joy he feels because of the music

#174 waterfalls, lakes, canoe rides, newts, picnics, sand

#175 raspberry mousse parfait... again

#176 visiting with friends and mentors we've not seen for several years... we've had two such opportunities in the last 4 days

#177 text messages from a sweet friend that always bring a smile

#178 talking way too late into the night just to spend time together

#179 finding the ticks before they'd become too attached

#180 little girls who open their hearts to make new friends quickly

#181 a flat tire that was rather painlessly taken care of, with a reminder that appearances from the outside don't always reflect the heart inside

#182 buying spices to take back to Niger at an Amish market ~ for a really great price

#183 seeing God answer prayer so specifically

#184 ordering plane tickets

#185 going home again

#186 listening to girls giggle, laugh and play in the jacuzzi

#187 a lodge overlooking a lake in the mountainy woods of PA and the moments of rest we are enjoying there

#188 powdered sugar kisses after powdered sugar donuts for breakfast

#189 ending our church meetings for this furlough at a welcoming, friendly, enthusiastic and interested church

#190 the relief that comes from knowing that we are done with those meetings for this season

#191 staying in a hotel with adjoining rooms for the first time this trip

#192 watching Anna as she becomes more competent at changing diapers and caring for her littlest sis

"Lost" Photos ~ TWO

This was the cake that Anna took to school to share with her class.

This really can happen to anyone ~

"Each year about 37 babies and toddlers die when they are accidentally left strapped in car safety seats or become trapped in vehicles that rapidly heat up.If you think this senseless tragedy couldn't happen to you, think again....[any] parent -- even a smart, loving, safety-obsessed parent -- can accidentally leave a child in a hot car until it's too late...."

Please take a few minutes to read the rest of the article, Tragedy in the Backseat: Hot-Car Deaths, at Parenting.com's on-line magazine.

When I saw the title of this article, it grabbed my attention because our Jonathan could have been one such tragedy... of all of my "bad-mama" moments (there have been more than plenty) and parenting mistakes, this was the one that devastated and destroyed any illusion of my competence as a parent. I am capable of any mistake imaginable, with consequences that fall anywhere on the continuum from almost nothing to laughable to tragic...

Isn't it funny how a moment of forgetfulness can be so clearly etched in the memory? We were busy preparing to return to Niger in August, 2005... I was driving my mother's car, a different car for me, and I was trying to finish up a thousand different details in as many different directions... there really was a lot involved in moving a family of (then) 8 overseas for 4 years. I had dropped Tim and a few of the kids off at the dentist while I had a meeting with one of the teachers at our church's Christian school. I pulled into the parking lot, running late, snatched my purse off the passenger seat and immediately ran into the school without a second thought, totally unaware that I was leaving 10 month old Jonathan sleeping soundly in his carseat in the backseat. Forty-five minutes later I walked out of the building and back to my car, and was astonished to see a carseat in the back with a blanket thrashing around. Confused, I ran to the car as the fog lifted ~ I realized it was my sweet little guy, laying there, kicking and screaming, dripping in sweat, very red and flushed with the soft skin on his face so hot to the touch it was terrifying. He was beyond distressed and I disolved into tears. I cannot begin to describe the horror I felt as I realized what had happened... what could have so easily resulted. That awful feeling far outweighed the simultaneous relief that he was obviously still alive. That Michigan day had been cool (70 degrees and overcast) and I had returned to the car in a comparatively short period of time. If it had been a typical August day in Michigan... if I'd lived in the south or had been in Niger... if I'd been in a longer, more complicated meeting or going to a job... the results could have been, probably would have been, tragically different for our family.

Since that day, I've always put my purse in the floor of the backseat so that I do not leave the vehicle without checking to make sure that there aren't any sleeping babies in the back seat, regardless of how sure I am that I couldn't forget... again.

"Lost" Photos ~ ONE

No, we aren't talking about photos of THAT tv show... but rather flashbacks to photos from last winter that mysteriously disappeared into a file somewhere, and when Tim recently backed-up and rearranged the hard drive (or it passed through a powerful electromagnetic field or something) they've now reappeared...

So... here are a few photos from Anna's surprise birthday party at Gammie and Gampy's last December...

There's no doubt that horses were THE theme for this little celebration! Thanks to Rebekah Joy, who took all of the photos. Sometimes, it is fun to see family events through the eyes of someone other than the regular photographer.