Monkey see monkey do...

I am well into the study of 2 Kings and I’ve had to devise a system to help me keep up with the kings. From what I can gather (no study aids), the land of Israel is divided into two territories, each with their own king. In the Bible they are described as king of Israel and king of Judah. (for you scholars, if this isn’t correct, let me know and I’ll post the correction). As each new king is introduced I write their name In the margins of my Bible and place an “I” for Israel and a “J” for Judah. All of the Israel kings on the left margin, and all the Judah kings on the right margin. I also place a happy or sad face by their name. This determination is based on the description of “he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord” = :); “he did evil in the eyes of the Lord” = :(.
I did notice the kings whose fathers did evil, mostly passed this evil onto their sons and they onto their sons. Not that a man can’t break the pattern of how he was raised, because by choice and surrender he can. But, as a father you set a pattern of behavior and response. Mom’s do as well, but Kings was focused on the men.
Dad, if you want your child to live generously, joyfully, peacefully and peaceably then he/she needs to see that in you.
Tomorrow, I will focus on what I’ve learned of the importance of the word “however”.

More II Kings..."who, me?"

2 Kings 9 the prophet Elisha called one of the sons of a fellow prophet for a job. The man (boy perhaps?) isn't even named in the scripture. He told him to go into the warcamp of the king of Israel (Joram) and find a soldier named Jehu. "Take him into the camp temple's inner room and anoint him King of Israel" (I think thats called treason?) then after that you best run for your life boy! And so he did, setting into motion a plan of God.

2 Kings 11 A evil king (Ahaziah) was killed (by the above Jehu) and his mom was some kind of mad. She started having everyone in the royal family killed. One of the women took the deceased king's infant son and hid him and a nursemaid in the temple of the Lord for 6 years. In his 7th year the boy, Joash, was taken out of Solomon's temple and crowned king. The evil-kill-everyone mother was killed. The boy reigned king in Jerusalem for 40 years.

The people that I found amazing in these events were the unnamed prophets' son and the nurse. Talk about risk and sacrifice. For the son...imagine being instructed to enter a war camp and say..'scuse me..uh.. can I speak with uh, a specific soldier that I dont want to acknowledge because you might kill me if you figure out what I'm going to do? His act changes the outcome of a war and kingdoms..yet he isn't even named.
GOD knows his name and he will one day be rewarded for his obedience. I'm thankful for this story. It tells me...be bold, trust Me, be obedient for what I ask of you is a cog in a wheel of an event that you don't see.

A nursemaid one day is quickly told to hurry and take the baby into hiding because we are all going to die! What does she do? What does she take? Whats going on! She does as instructed and stays in hiding for SIX YEARS with this baby. Can you imagine the bond formed? The fear? Finally soldiers come one day and form a guard around their hiding place and soon she's told to come out for the child will be king. Just like that! What a sacrifice! Twice. What's her name? Surely she's recognized by name for her great deed. No. "The nurse". That's it.
This nurse teaches me to endure. Stay strong. She didn't have a wall calendar to count down the months until she was relieved of this duty...Would it last a week? A year? Did they forget about us? Six years, are you kidding me?! Then one day. there it is. Don't grow weary in well-doing. We don't know the whole picture of God in this event for it is God 's story to write and reveal as He deems best. It is about His work. Keep doing what you have been asked to do and worry about no other.

This whole post makes me laugh. ...even at myself. I can't even IMAGINE what a tiny speck my ministry is in God's over all span of time and plan for eternity. I doubt my name is written down on a huge Post-It in heaven for my efforts. Oh, wait a minute...
I can't wait to see these two obsecure servants receive their reward. I want to tell them their faithfulness encouraged me. I want to thank them- by their names.
Do you think God will let me do that?

Do you know who it is?

Mike Constantine, our Family Life missionaries sent this to us....

KURTIS THE STOCK BOY AND BRENDA THE CHECKOUT GIRL
In a supermarket, Kurtis the stock boy, was busily working when a new voice came over the loud speaker asking for a carry out at register 4. Kurtis was almost finished, and wanted to get some fresh air, and decided to answer the call. As he approached the check-out stand a distant smile caught his eye, the new check-out girl was beautiful. She was an older woman (maybe 26, and he was only 22) and he fell in love.Later that day, after his shift was over, he waited by the punch clock to find out her name. She came into the break room, smiled softly at him, took her card and punched out, then left. He looked at her card, BRENDA. He walked out only to see her start walking up the road. Next day, he waited outside as she left the supermarket, and offered her a ride home. He looked harmless enough, and she accepted. When he dropped her off, he asked if maybe he could see her again,outside of work. She simply said it wasn't possible. He pressed and she explained she had two children and she couldn't afford a baby-sitter, so he offered to pay for the baby-sitter. Reluctantly she accepted his offer for a date for the following Saturday. That Saturday night he arrivedat her door only to have her tell him that she was unable to go with him. Thebaby-sitter had called and canceled. To which Kurtis simply said, "Well, let's take the kids with us."She tried to explain that taking the children was not an option, but again not taking no for an answer, he pressed. Finally Brenda, brought him inside to meet her children. She had an older daughter who was just as cute as a bug, Kurtis thought, then Brenda brought out her son, in a wheelchair. He was born a paraplegic with Down Syndrome. Kurtis asked Brenda, "I still don't understand why the kids can't come with us?" Brenda was amazed. Most men would run away from a woman with two kids, especially if one had disabilities - just like her first husband and father of her children had done. Kurtis was not ordinary - - - he had a different mindset.That evening Kurtis and Brenda loaded up the kids, went to dinner and the movies. When her son needed anything Kurtis would take care of him. When he needed to use the restroom, he picked him up out of his wheelchair, took him and brought him back. The kids loved Kurtis. At the end of the evening, Brenda knew this was the man she was going to marry and spend the rest of her life with. A year later, they were married and Kurtis adopted both of her children. Since then they have added two more kids.
So what happened to Kurtis the stock boy and Brenda the check-out girl? Well, Mr. & Mrs. Kurt Warner now live in Arizona. If you tune in on 1 February, you can watch him quarterback the Arizona Cardinals in the Super Bowl against the Pittsburg Steelers! Is this a surprise ending or could you have guessed that he was not an ordinary person? Some athletes are also great people. It should be noted that he also quarterbacked the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI. He has also been the NLF's Most Valuable Player twice and the Super Bowl's MVP.
On Sunday, 1 Feb I'll be rooting for Kurt and the Cards.

A date, pearls and fun!

Tonight Tim and I went to Hibernia Baptist for date night. Voddie Baucham, a pastor and speaker on the family and marriage, was the speaker. We had fun this evening with our dear friends, the Rays. Saw several old friends there as well as PLBC couples!
After a prime rib at Outback, and Starbucks and dessert @ Hibernia, we settled in to hear great pearls of wisdom from God’s word. Here’s some highlights:

• Many couples spend their entire married life trying to have the marriage their parents had, or to avoid it at all costs. Unfortunately we’re depending on our perception which becomes skewed over time and our parents probably tried hard to cover the blemishes. So, what’s our example? The divine example of Christ and His Church.
• Make a plaque and hang this in your room: Ephesians 4:17-32
  1. ID my unbiblical behavior
  2. Repent
  3. Replace it with biblical behavior (tangible evidence of repentace)
  4. Repeat when necessary
• Either your excuses are more powerful than the cross or the cross is more powerful than your excuse of why you behave like/with ______ in your marriage.
• I am sinning against my spouse when I do not repent of unbiblical behavior (Gal 5:19).
• Ephesians 4:20 Learn Christ.
• Galatians 5:16 Can’t walk in the flesh and simultaneously be in the spirit. Issues: flesh; overcoming them: spirit.
• Take off old (nature,self,habits) and put on new( Galatians 5:22)
• He’s not just mine. He IS me. The two became one. To defeat him, I’m defeating myself. To smug over him, I am causing pain to myself. To not forgive, causes pain in me.
• Are these words: Truthful? Necessary? Edifying? Do they cause pain to others? What’s the outcome?
• Am I modeling honor and respect of Tim? I honor him, they honor me. I submit to him, they submit to me. Show them how to treat their spouse.
• Don’t let unforgiveness be a foothold for the devil.

A year's end

I cant believe how the past few weeks have flown by. I have to keep lists sometimes to make sure I'm covering all aspects of my life. You know how it is. Business, household stuff-we are in the process of new medical insurance applications, refinancing and changing mortgage companies- the onslaught of paperwork for those two things alone are overwhelming. The 2006 escrow account paperwork...wha..???? There's the kid's school stuff...run to the library, forgot the book at school. Also the disaster team stuff..alot of aggrivation there lately. I sometimes wonder is it worth it. I love the helping of victims, but the other non-deployment stuff can be a hassel.
Ministry...honestly, at times it isnt all a blast. Can I just be honest and say that? Ever get overwhelmed with the doing-good? Want to give in to the call of "take a break?"
Some things, yeah take a break. That might give others a place to step up. Spend more time with your family. We can be so busy DOING, particularly in good stuff such as ministry. Hey, in your time of setting an example of ministry for your children, don't forget your children ARE your ministry. When's the last time you went for a walk with just your son? Don't teach, don't lecture. Listen. When's the last time you tucked your daughter in bed and just spent precious time with her? She doesnt want a strategy for her problem...just your ear and comfort.
Kevin, our student pastor at church gave a great message on staying faithful to see the payoff. What is the payoff? Do I want to say that I'd see a student under my ministry grow in their faith? I pray so. Will I see a student demonstrate mercy towards another because of a lesson I taught? I dont know. My payoff for being faithful isnt always going to be tangible. I think my greatest payoff for being faithful is...more faith. My prize is Him. Lookin more like Him, talkin more like Him, loving more like Him, serving more like Him. What a payoff.
So, as I sit here and encourage myself, I am thankful I have a husband to share in all my burdens and joys. I am thankful for our children and Mimi. I am pretty blessed.