PONDERING SOME SCRIPTURE

For our daily reading, we have been in Ezekiel. This morning I was journaling on some really good stuff from chapter 10 when I asked Evan what stood out to him.  I don't normally "steal" his thoughts, but the moment he mentioned this verse to me, it just popped off the page.

Ezekiel 9:4b, 6 "...put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within.. utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women, but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark"

My thoughts were this.... God was telling Ezekiel to tell the men to observe which people were grieved over the abominations in Jerusalem and put a mark on their foreheads.  What made these people stand out & ultimately save them from being slayed was their grief over sin -- their sadness for all that was occurring that didn't please the Lord.  It was obvious to others how they felt about it.  It set them apart.

How sorrowful am I over the sin and abominations that are all around me?  How grieved am I over my own sin? 

Lord, help me to be grieved & sorrowful over the wickedness in this world.  Help me not to tolerate sin in my own life.  May I have no idols before You, but seek to know You more, and serve You in greater ways every day I have breath.  Amen.

"The things that consume your thoughts -- those things are the gods in your life." 

A PERIOD OF SILENCE

I have been absent for a while.  Life has been busy, but life has been sweet.  Some things have just had to be put aside, and the blog was the first to go.  

I am desperately trying to soak the moments in with my children, who just don't stop growing up for some reason.  The other day, all 4 of them had discovered popsicles left by some special people in our outside freezer.  Each one had their favorite color and was sitting on the picnic table enjoying a really hot summer day.  I looked out my kitchen window and forced myself to stop what I was doing and go outside.  Surrounded by tomatoes and heaps of dirty pans from canning, I opened the door and sat on the step and just stared at them, soaking in the moment.... one I didn't let slip away.  There have been so many I have.

School has started back up.  It's going very well considering I have officially added Aden to the schedule this year.  They are learning so much.  I am thankful for the opportunity I have to stay home, teach them & train them up in the Scriptures.  It is a huge task, but one I know I will never ever regret doing!  Our verse for the year is Jeremiah 32:17 "Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You!"

Guess that's it for now, but I do hope to write more... I'm realizing how much I have missed it.