Monday, December 12, 2011
His law is love and His gospel is peace
The post title are beautiful lyrics from "Oh, Holy Night." It is a very moving song. That phrase speaks volumes to me. That is the God I know. He sent Jesus, for me. For you. Let us live our lives in the law of love and being peaceful. I have shared some powerful images that I've seen (while on Pinterest). I feel these images really help depict how we are supposed to live.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Staying grounded in Truth
I apologize in advance if this post is hard to follow. It has been on my mind for a few days and I'm just now able to sit down and write it. I'd really love advice or feedback on this one, so please leave me a comment.
We all have a sense of what we believe is right and wrong. For most of us, that began as we were small children and our parents instilled beliefs into us that they felt were important enough to pass on to us. For some of us, these core beliefs and values were reinforced by church. Maybe some of them through school. But what I believe now, as an adult, isn't really the same as what my parents taught me. It took me living my life and experiences to make me who I am today. I certainly have used a lot of what I was taught by my parents as my building blocks. So as a parent, I understand that foundation is vital. Especially to keep my children grounded through childhood and adolescence.
I won't really dive into too much of what my beliefs and values are because that isn't the point of this post. I'm a Christian, but I'm pretty liberal with my beliefs, especially compared to how I was raised and the beliefs that were instilled in me as a youth. Essentially, most of what I believe, is supporting human rights 100% because I feel that is what Jesus supported. So that makes me hardcore pro life, against all forms of the death penalty, and equality for everyone with civil rights. Then there is a bunch of stuff in between.
For example, I was raised believing that drinking alcohol was absolutely wrong. Granted I had an alcoholic father for the bigger part of my life, but it was also instilled in me through my church. As an adult, I've learned it isn't consumption of alcohol isn't actually what is sinful, it is how much you consume and what you choose to do while consuming it that can be sinful. Now anyone that knows me, knows that I love beer. But I do not drink to get drunk. I just love beer. Just like I love coffee. Just like I love chocolate. Now the lessons that I've learned through being irresponsible with alcohol are definitely noteworthy, but again, not for this post. I know on a very personal level that irresponsibility with alcohol can ruin your life. It can ruin your child's life. It can ruin a lot of things, like making you do something that will change your life forever, in a way you did not wish for. At all.
Now, I look at my children and what we are trying to instill in them as core beliefs. Ultimately, I want my children to grow up loving Jesus and loving others. Everything else really doesn't matter. I can already see kindness and a love for people developing in my oldest son's heart. Is this just his personality or is something that has been nurtured to become that way? I really don't know.
We don't let our kids use crude language. Well, we try our best not to. It has definitely been an area of our life that has been difficult. I used to have the mouth of a sailor and so did Chris. I think mine developing from working in restaurants through college, but Chris used to work in news, and it was just a way of life. I think we are both pretty desensitized towards some words because of our pasts, but are mindful of how we speak in front of our kids. This lesson was learned, when we were visiting our now church home. Harrison was two and screamed, "damn it" really loudly in church. It is actually pretty funny, so ask me about it sometime. But what we are teaching our kids right now about crude language, isn't really something essential. I mean, I don't want them flippantly using the F word, but I'd much rather them say the F word than get belligerently drunk every weekend in college.
And as I'm aging I'm seeing that Christians who are real and that aren't completely sheltered from everything the word has to offer, are definitely more effective than the judgmental and sheltered type. If I live in my Christian bubble of contemporary Christian music, Sky Angel cable and only hanging out with my church friends, how am I to relate to unbelievers? How can I love them if I'm judging them and I'm stuck in my Jesus bubble? And I'm not saying that super conservative Christians are not good people and that they don't reach others, but I've found it is not the way for me.
So my question, is how do you teach your children to stay grounded in their beliefs and it actually work? My main reason for questioning is because I feel I strayed so incredibly far through my 20's and basically made the choice to ignore what I knew was right. I don't want that for my children. I don't want that for anyone that I know and love. Is the reason I strayed so far, because I was unreasonably conservative and just felt the need to rebel? I have actually questioned if my faith was even real as a youth, because I strayed so far. But I know deep within my heart that it was real. I was not raised in church. I went on my own accord from the time I was twelve until early college and I had some of the most spiritually rich experiences that really impacted me. I honestly feel it was because I let myself become desensitized to the point where I knew I was turning my back away from God. But why did I make that choice? I can never get those years back and I don't want the people I love to make those same mistakes. Has anyone else had similar experiences? Why do you feel it happened? Is there something I can do as a parent to keep my children from going through this? Or is this where faith comes in? Does it depend on the personality of a person?
We all have a sense of what we believe is right and wrong. For most of us, that began as we were small children and our parents instilled beliefs into us that they felt were important enough to pass on to us. For some of us, these core beliefs and values were reinforced by church. Maybe some of them through school. But what I believe now, as an adult, isn't really the same as what my parents taught me. It took me living my life and experiences to make me who I am today. I certainly have used a lot of what I was taught by my parents as my building blocks. So as a parent, I understand that foundation is vital. Especially to keep my children grounded through childhood and adolescence.
I won't really dive into too much of what my beliefs and values are because that isn't the point of this post. I'm a Christian, but I'm pretty liberal with my beliefs, especially compared to how I was raised and the beliefs that were instilled in me as a youth. Essentially, most of what I believe, is supporting human rights 100% because I feel that is what Jesus supported. So that makes me hardcore pro life, against all forms of the death penalty, and equality for everyone with civil rights. Then there is a bunch of stuff in between.
For example, I was raised believing that drinking alcohol was absolutely wrong. Granted I had an alcoholic father for the bigger part of my life, but it was also instilled in me through my church. As an adult, I've learned it isn't consumption of alcohol isn't actually what is sinful, it is how much you consume and what you choose to do while consuming it that can be sinful. Now anyone that knows me, knows that I love beer. But I do not drink to get drunk. I just love beer. Just like I love coffee. Just like I love chocolate. Now the lessons that I've learned through being irresponsible with alcohol are definitely noteworthy, but again, not for this post. I know on a very personal level that irresponsibility with alcohol can ruin your life. It can ruin your child's life. It can ruin a lot of things, like making you do something that will change your life forever, in a way you did not wish for. At all.
Now, I look at my children and what we are trying to instill in them as core beliefs. Ultimately, I want my children to grow up loving Jesus and loving others. Everything else really doesn't matter. I can already see kindness and a love for people developing in my oldest son's heart. Is this just his personality or is something that has been nurtured to become that way? I really don't know.
We don't let our kids use crude language. Well, we try our best not to. It has definitely been an area of our life that has been difficult. I used to have the mouth of a sailor and so did Chris. I think mine developing from working in restaurants through college, but Chris used to work in news, and it was just a way of life. I think we are both pretty desensitized towards some words because of our pasts, but are mindful of how we speak in front of our kids. This lesson was learned, when we were visiting our now church home. Harrison was two and screamed, "damn it" really loudly in church. It is actually pretty funny, so ask me about it sometime. But what we are teaching our kids right now about crude language, isn't really something essential. I mean, I don't want them flippantly using the F word, but I'd much rather them say the F word than get belligerently drunk every weekend in college.
And as I'm aging I'm seeing that Christians who are real and that aren't completely sheltered from everything the word has to offer, are definitely more effective than the judgmental and sheltered type. If I live in my Christian bubble of contemporary Christian music, Sky Angel cable and only hanging out with my church friends, how am I to relate to unbelievers? How can I love them if I'm judging them and I'm stuck in my Jesus bubble? And I'm not saying that super conservative Christians are not good people and that they don't reach others, but I've found it is not the way for me.
So my question, is how do you teach your children to stay grounded in their beliefs and it actually work? My main reason for questioning is because I feel I strayed so incredibly far through my 20's and basically made the choice to ignore what I knew was right. I don't want that for my children. I don't want that for anyone that I know and love. Is the reason I strayed so far, because I was unreasonably conservative and just felt the need to rebel? I have actually questioned if my faith was even real as a youth, because I strayed so far. But I know deep within my heart that it was real. I was not raised in church. I went on my own accord from the time I was twelve until early college and I had some of the most spiritually rich experiences that really impacted me. I honestly feel it was because I let myself become desensitized to the point where I knew I was turning my back away from God. But why did I make that choice? I can never get those years back and I don't want the people I love to make those same mistakes. Has anyone else had similar experiences? Why do you feel it happened? Is there something I can do as a parent to keep my children from going through this? Or is this where faith comes in? Does it depend on the personality of a person?
Wednesday, December 07, 2011
To My Love
I love you and I know you know it. But I hope you know how much I love you. You consume my thoughts. Good or bad, you consume them. You are my best friend. You are my soul mate. You make me crazy, giddy, angry, silly, frustrated, and joyful.
Twelve years ago when I was cooking dinner for you and just your friend, I had no idea. No idea. I was in my "bad boy" phase and you weren't even close to that. Still aren't, and that's cool. I had no idea that you would make me a wife, a mother and a different person. A better person.
I love you. I love your eyes. I even love your beard. I love your thick hands. I love your ridiculously corny jokes. I love how you still give me butterflies when we go on dates and the way my hands tingle when you hold them. I love that you give things voices and that you make up silly songs about everything with me. I love sharing my life with you and I can't wait to share many more years with you.
You make me want to be a better person. After nearly 12 years together, and 10 1/2 of them being married, we've had our shares of high and lows. It hasn't always been easy and some days seemed impossible, but I know that God gave us each other for our lifetime and that makes me happy. You rock.
I love you, Christopher.
Twelve years ago when I was cooking dinner for you and just your friend, I had no idea. No idea. I was in my "bad boy" phase and you weren't even close to that. Still aren't, and that's cool. I had no idea that you would make me a wife, a mother and a different person. A better person.
I love you. I love your eyes. I even love your beard. I love your thick hands. I love your ridiculously corny jokes. I love how you still give me butterflies when we go on dates and the way my hands tingle when you hold them. I love that you give things voices and that you make up silly songs about everything with me. I love sharing my life with you and I can't wait to share many more years with you.
You make me want to be a better person. After nearly 12 years together, and 10 1/2 of them being married, we've had our shares of high and lows. It hasn't always been easy and some days seemed impossible, but I know that God gave us each other for our lifetime and that makes me happy. You rock.
I love you, Christopher.
Monday, December 05, 2011
ABC's
I woke up this morning thinking today was going to be a wonderful day. It felt poetic. I generally don't wake up happy because I stay up too late and get up too early, so it is a process for me. Usually a process that involves several cups of coffee.
Today has been one of those days that I want to forget. In fact, my wonderful husband is bringing me a bottle of wine home so that I can chill out. That actually makes me really, really happy.
But I'm not actually going to write about my terrible day. I really don't care about it anymore. It is a just a day and all of the unpleasant things that happened today really won't matter by the end of the week. Some of them won't even matter by tomorrow.
I'm just blogging tonight just because. I'm feeling quite random. Well, I'm never completely random because I'm a little bit OCD. I think I'm going to list all of the things in my head that come to mind with each letter of the alphabet. I feel like blogging but I really don't have any meaningful words to post. I'm feeling quite the opposite right now. So here goes...
A- Amazing Grace -my favorite song
B- Box of wine that my husband just arrived with and we can't remember if it was the good kind that we liked or the gross kind that sat on top of the fridge until we poured it out. A close second was Banjo. I am starting to have a thing for banjos, especially dudes who play banjos. I may relent and let Chris purchase one.
C-Cacti - I used to have a cacti collection when I was a young girl.
D- Dread locks. I want them and I'm going to start out with some wool ones really soon.
E- Elephants. They are cute in a weird, awkward way.
F- Flowers for Algernon - Chris just informed me, that at the rate I'm going, my blog post is going to be comparable to the format of this book.
G-Giddy. Man is a giddy thing.
H- Harrison Elliott - pretty freakin' awesome little dude. He makes me really happy and challenges me about 1,000 times a day. He is so stinkin' smart.
I - Ink - Planning another tattoo. I'm thinking of a tree of some sort to represent me & the hubs, with our names incorporated. I'd like to incorporate our kids into it as well. I need an artist friend to design it for me.
J- Jesus is a friend. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-NOZU2iPA8&feature=share
K- Kids. They drive me batty but I love them so much it hurts. They are such a big part of I have become in the past 6 years and I would not trade them for anything.
L -Lionel Ritchie. His name and face has brought me endless tears of laughter since August-ish.
M-Marriage. I freakin' love him. He is the only man I've ever loved. He has my whole heart. He makes me happy. He pisses me off too. But I still love him like crazy.
N-Naps. I don't take them. Chris would take them all of the time. H & K don't take them. Sam does. I would love to, but I'm a freak and I can't take a nap unless I'm pregnant. Not enough reason for me...
O- Obligatory. I just really like saying that word.
P-Pearly - She is so girly, and I'm sooo not. She twirls, dances, giggles, hugs and gives me hugs, just because. She is very pink and sparkly. She is wonderful.
Q- Quilt. I want to make a quilt. We have some really cool pieces from Cho's great grandma that I just need to put on a backing.
R- Reggae. Because I happen to be listening to a reggae-ish song right now.
S- Samchop - seriously the coolest baby dude, ever. He keeps me on my toes, but I love that kid so much. He is awesome. He makes me smile like a million times a day.
T- Troglodyte. Cave dweller!
U-Unadventurous. I do not want to live my life lacking boldness.
V- Violet. If we were to ever have another girl, her name is Violet.
W- Wookie. We are Star Wars fans.
X- Xanthan gum. It is a food additive. Because what else start with x?
Y- Yankee Doodle went to town riding on a pony.
Z-Zap - see video listed under "J".
So there you have it. And by the way, the box of wine was the good kind.
Today has been one of those days that I want to forget. In fact, my wonderful husband is bringing me a bottle of wine home so that I can chill out. That actually makes me really, really happy.
But I'm not actually going to write about my terrible day. I really don't care about it anymore. It is a just a day and all of the unpleasant things that happened today really won't matter by the end of the week. Some of them won't even matter by tomorrow.
I'm just blogging tonight just because. I'm feeling quite random. Well, I'm never completely random because I'm a little bit OCD. I think I'm going to list all of the things in my head that come to mind with each letter of the alphabet. I feel like blogging but I really don't have any meaningful words to post. I'm feeling quite the opposite right now. So here goes...
A- Amazing Grace -my favorite song
B- Box of wine that my husband just arrived with and we can't remember if it was the good kind that we liked or the gross kind that sat on top of the fridge until we poured it out. A close second was Banjo. I am starting to have a thing for banjos, especially dudes who play banjos. I may relent and let Chris purchase one.
C-Cacti - I used to have a cacti collection when I was a young girl.
D- Dread locks. I want them and I'm going to start out with some wool ones really soon.
E- Elephants. They are cute in a weird, awkward way.
F- Flowers for Algernon - Chris just informed me, that at the rate I'm going, my blog post is going to be comparable to the format of this book.
G-Giddy. Man is a giddy thing.
H- Harrison Elliott - pretty freakin' awesome little dude. He makes me really happy and challenges me about 1,000 times a day. He is so stinkin' smart.
I - Ink - Planning another tattoo. I'm thinking of a tree of some sort to represent me & the hubs, with our names incorporated. I'd like to incorporate our kids into it as well. I need an artist friend to design it for me.
J- Jesus is a friend. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-NOZU2iPA8&feature=share
K- Kids. They drive me batty but I love them so much it hurts. They are such a big part of I have become in the past 6 years and I would not trade them for anything.
L -Lionel Ritchie. His name and face has brought me endless tears of laughter since August-ish.
M-Marriage. I freakin' love him. He is the only man I've ever loved. He has my whole heart. He makes me happy. He pisses me off too. But I still love him like crazy.
N-Naps. I don't take them. Chris would take them all of the time. H & K don't take them. Sam does. I would love to, but I'm a freak and I can't take a nap unless I'm pregnant. Not enough reason for me...
O- Obligatory. I just really like saying that word.
P-Pearly - She is so girly, and I'm sooo not. She twirls, dances, giggles, hugs and gives me hugs, just because. She is very pink and sparkly. She is wonderful.
Q- Quilt. I want to make a quilt. We have some really cool pieces from Cho's great grandma that I just need to put on a backing.
R- Reggae. Because I happen to be listening to a reggae-ish song right now.
S- Samchop - seriously the coolest baby dude, ever. He keeps me on my toes, but I love that kid so much. He is awesome. He makes me smile like a million times a day.
T- Troglodyte. Cave dweller!
U-Unadventurous. I do not want to live my life lacking boldness.
V- Violet. If we were to ever have another girl, her name is Violet.
W- Wookie. We are Star Wars fans.
X- Xanthan gum. It is a food additive. Because what else start with x?
Y- Yankee Doodle went to town riding on a pony.
Z-Zap - see video listed under "J".
So there you have it. And by the way, the box of wine was the good kind.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)