The Pearly Gates....

For the past year, our pastor has been taking us through the book of Revelation. He preaches what I would call "John MacArthur style" or expository preaching. We are finally toward the end of the book. Tonight he preached from Revelation 21:9-22:5. We've all heard the stories of the pearly gates. I think we've reduced them to something they are not. As my pastor noted, we picture a person standing at the little pearly gates with his checklist of those who may or may not enter. We must never forget that our God is so much bigger than that. And that He is a God of order. Revelation 21:19-20 goes through all the gems and stones found in the building of our heavenly home. Sapphire, Topaz, Amethyst, and Emerald just to name a few. Revelation 21, verse 21 specifically talks about the gates of pearl. A single pearl massive enough to form these great gates. Tonight in his sermon our pastor read us this quote:

"How appropriate! All other precious gems are metals or stones, but a pearl is a gem formed within the oyster - the only one formed by living flesh. The humble oyster receives an irritation or a wound, and around the offending article that has penetrated and hurt it, the oyster builds a pearl. The pearl, we might say, is the answer of the oyster to that which injured it. The glory land is God's answer, in Christ, to wicked men who crucified heaven's beloved and put Him to open shame. How like God it is to make the gates of the new Jerusalem a pearl. The saints as they come and go will be forever reminded, as they pass the gates of glory, that access to God's home is only because of Calvary. Think of the size of those gates! Think of the supernatural pearls from which they are made! What gigantic suffering is symbolized by those gates of pearl! Throughout the endless ages we shall be reminded by those pearly gates of the immensity of the sufferings of Christ. Those pearls, hung eternally at the access routes to glory, will remind us forever of One who hung upon a tree and whose answer to those who injured Him was to invite them in to share His home." (Exploring Revelation, rev. ed. [Chicago: Moody, 1987; reprint, Neptune, N.J.: Loizeaux, 1991], 254)

How like God and how appropriate, indeed. May we not take for granted what He has prepared for those who He loves.

"The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl...."
Revelation 21:21

Five...

That's how many weeks of homeschooling we have left. Five. Five long weeks. This time of year, every year, I suffer from burn out. I don't know if it's because we've been going for 8 months now, and we need to let our brains rest? I don't know if it's because the beautiful Spring weather beckons us to lay aside our books? Nah, it's not the weather. Today is cloudy and stormy, and I still dread the school hours today. Yesterday, I started thinking of a plan to shorten those five weeks. I haven't thought of a good plan yet. And then there's the dread of testing. Love it or hate it; we are testers. I both love it and hate it. Well, love is a little strong. I like it and hate it. I worry have I taught them enough? Will they do well? Will they bomb? I'm worn and weary I'm telling you. Worn and weary. But in five weeks, I'll find Summer Bliss! The countdown has begun....

Sunday's Comin...

Monday was surely a Monday. I spent a good part of the day worried and depleted. That evening I watched this clip on facebook posted by my Worship Pastor. When I first started watching, I thought, "Not really sure I like the look of that artwork." But what it said overpowered how it looked. And I must warn you that if you watch the clip, "It's Friday, but Sunday's comin'" may get stuck in your head. I went to bed right after watching with "It's Friday, but Sunday's comin'" rolling around in my head, and I thought about the disciples and those that loved Jesus so, and how absolutely dejected, discouraged, depleted that they must have been after Jesus died . Surely they must have felt like all hope was gone. And then I thought about my day...feeling some of those same emotions. I may be in a season of my life that "It's Friday"....but I know "Sunday's comin'"!!!




Yes, It's Friday...but Sunday's Comin'

Celebrate his Resurrection!

The goal is not just good choices...

I had the privilege of going to a Mother/Daughter type conference with Fep yesterday. The speaker was outstanding. She had three children: an oldest son in college, and daughter in her first year of college, and her third son in his senior year in high school. She said that when the first two were teenagers, starting to branch out on their own, able to leave home and go do stuff, stuff with their friends, that one of the last things she would say is "Make good choices." And then with her 3rd she realized was that the goal? Good choices? Because even the world's best choices are not necessarily even "good choices" for a Christian. So with the last son still at home, but ready to branch out, she tells him before he leaves the house, "Remember the Cross". Remember the Cross. Mmmmmm. I love that. Because if we remember the Cross in all we do, we will not just make "good choices". We will, hopefully, make "His choices". So, when my children are of age that they are branching out, I can already see them walking out the door, with my voice reminding them to "Remember the Cross."

You can find out about the speaker at our conference here.

And with this being Palm Sunday, read Dawn's post here. I thought it was lovely. Embrace Passion Week with your family this week!

Pesky...

Pesky, they are. More than just getting in our bird feeders. Here is a snippet of a recent conversation between The Bob and I:

The Bob: (working on truck, has the hood up) "Those darn squirrels are chewing on wires in my truck. They've chewed on this here. This cable has been chewed on. Look at this...."

Me: "How do you know it's the squirrels. Maybe it's mice?"

The Bob: (putting his hand into a foam covering in the top of the hood) "Because he's left his nuts in here!" (Pulls out acorns...)

Me: (walks away giggling)

:)

Fep's Feathers...

All photos by Fep :)

For Aunt Heather and Mrs. Jen. By the way, Jen, we really missed Feathers on Friday this past Friday!

Not a feather...just for you, Jen ;) Photo also by Fep :)

Their Adventure Books...

If you haven't seen the movie UP, you really should. I took my children to see it last summer, and I expected so little from it. I only went because my children wanted to see it. When I cried at the beginning of the movie and again at the end, I couldn't believe that such a little movie would bring out such emotion. And again I expected so little of it when I walked in the theater.

Yesterday, Fep put in the UP dvd. I was in the kitchen only half watching it. I was cooking up some spaghetti for supper...slicing onions to be exact. The little boy character, Russell, began telling grumpy Mr. Frederickson what he liked doing with his Dad. At the end of his conversation he said, "I know it sounds boring, but the boring stuff is what I remember most." And that line cut to my heart, and I wasn't sure if the tears were from that movie line or the onions. Maybe it was both. But I can't help but have my heart filled by that one simple statement. Because it is the boring stuff that I like to remember most from my childhood. The simple everyday stuff. And it fills my heart to know that that is what my children will remember, too. Just the simple everyday stuff their Mama did with them, that they did with their Dad, and that they did with each other. The days pass so quickly that I can't remember it all. But they will. They will remember the boring stuff the most. And just like Ellie in the movie, their Adventure Books will be full.

Flowers....

I know. I know they're just weeds. I started to throw them in the trash, but then I couldn't do it. I saw the face of a little boy out playing who saw them as a treasure for his Mom. How much longer will he see weeds as flowers? How long until the reality hits that they are just weeds? I rather dread the day when he's gotten so big that he sees the difference. I'm sure that day is just around the corner. But for now, I'll keep accepting what may be just a weed, because to Moose it's a flower, and it's rooted in love.

This post is linked at Emily's Tuesdays Unwrapped.

Just a glimpse more...

Because just one glimpse was not enough...not for my heart anyway...

Glimpses of Home....

Emily at Chatting at the Sky is hosting Glimpses of Home...just a simple something or something representing home...


I picked this because this is what I'm longing and waiting for. Plush green, flowers blooming, and front porch swinging...I'm ready for the life that Spring brings to home....