Monday, September 28, 2009

Crazy kids

I need to share a few Joeisms...I can't bare to forget.

" Mom I'm so glad I was not born a boy, then I would just have to look embarrassing all the time. I would have to wear flat underwear and have a flat butt. "

" Jaden, do you want to play a board game? It's not boring though. "

Auh Joei. She still thinks everything "butt" related is funny. I hope that passes. She and Lily have the typical sister relationship. Joei completely is the boss of Lily and tries to push her out of any affection from Joey as she possibly can. They do have moments where they play nice with each other, Lily runs to hug sissy every morning. But more often then not, they push each others buttons. Anytime I am telling Joei no, Lily pipes in and points to Joei yelling, "NO!" That makes Joei as mad as can be! It's funny to watch, I can't help but chuckle. And this, Joei does not appreciate.

They are doing great though. We decided to start Joei in Kindergarten next fall, one more thing she does not appreciate. She wants to be in Kindergarten. But we figure with her B'day so close to September, it's better she be in the oldest group than the youngest. We'll see...

Lily is a typical toddler now. I forgot how much work they are at this age! Lily is far more into stuff than Joei ever was so I feel like I'm getting my money's worth in toddler hood. She is cute though, so that makes up for it. Sometimes.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Grace and Truth

Luke 4:22 says, (speaking of Jesus) "All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips."

Gracious. That word just jumped off the page at me this morning! I think so often we picture Jesus' ministry here on earth to always be so intense; as if He was just turning over tables, calling people out on their sin & going after Pharisees. It's easy to over look the real reason He came, for grace. Perhaps it's just me that thinks this way though, since I tend to be the one that thinks Jesus has grace for everyone else, and not for me. The Lord has really had to work with me in this particular area, and still does. It's much easier for me to say that God has grace for you; I can believe that with every fiber of my being however, it's humbling to say that He has grace for me.

The Bible also says in Isaiah 30:18 that He longs to be gracious to me, that He rises to show me compassion. That became one of my favorite verses awhile back, that the Lord would long to be gracious to me is mind boggling. I'm the least deserving of such a thing and yet, He longs to do it.

No matter what I've done, no matter what I will do...wow. I look forward to being in Heaven one day and watching the old movies about Jesus' ministry here on earth. He spoke truth. Truth is always authoritative and gracious. Authoritative words should never be harsh, and gracious words should never be without power. Everything about Jesus was mixed with grace. Yes, even the time he over turned the tables in the temple, it was done in grace. When He met the woman at the well and read her mail so to speak, that screamed grace as well. The way that Jesus spoke to sickness with authority, there was grace. When Jesus would cast a demon out of someone, He drove it out with authority but again, the grace for that person was present.

That is amazing. Oh if we could only live our lives by the same token that Jesus did. That we would show grace to people, yet walk in authority. That people would want to be around us just because of that sweet grace we walk in. That we would take authority over the things that try to hold us captive. That we would take authority over the sickness that would try to come against us. That we would take authority over the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts. All the while, showing grace to others and not forgetting to show grace to ourselves.

The Lord longs to be gracious to us, He rises to show us compassion. Sit on that for awhile! If that does not make you smile and have a fantastic day in the Lord, I don't know what will. Thank you Jesus for that amazing grace.