Friday, January 25, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
More Pics
A few more to add to Kathryn's climbing pictures...I looked away for a second and found her doing this:
Friday, January 18, 2008
Ordinary Sacrifice
From Disciplines of a Godly Life (Donald Whitney):
"In some ways we would prefer to hear Jesus' call to deny father and mother, houses, and land for the sake of the gospel, than His word to wash feet. Radical self-denial gives us the feel of adventure. If we forsake all, we even have the chance of glorious martyrdom. But in service we are banished to the mundane the ordinary, the trivial."
This quote stood out to me as I read Donald Whitney's chapter on the discipline of serving. For someone who likes the approval of others, this is quite a challenge. Am I only willing to sacrifice in the "big stuff," that will be noticed by others? Or am I willing to serve in whatever way God would call me to, even if it goes unnoticed by others? Perhaps especially when it goes unnoticed by others. Whitney goes on to say:
"The ministry of serving may be as public as preaching or teaching, but more often it will be as sequestered as nursery duty. It may be as visible as singing a solo, but usually it will be as unnoticed as operating the sound equipment to amplify the solo. Serving may be as appreciated as a good testimony in a worship service, but typically it's as thankless as washing dishes after a church social...Beyond the church walls, serving is baby-sitting for neighbors, taking meals to families in flux, running errands for the homebound, providing transportation for the one whose car breaks down, feeding pets and watering plants for vacationers, and--hardest of all--having a servant's heart in the home."
Am I looking for ways to serve to be noticed by others or in ways that may be only noticed by God? Do I set aside my serving for "big stuff" or am I willing to sacrifice in the "mundane, the ordinary, the trivial"? hmmm. Food for thought.
"In some ways we would prefer to hear Jesus' call to deny father and mother, houses, and land for the sake of the gospel, than His word to wash feet. Radical self-denial gives us the feel of adventure. If we forsake all, we even have the chance of glorious martyrdom. But in service we are banished to the mundane the ordinary, the trivial."
This quote stood out to me as I read Donald Whitney's chapter on the discipline of serving. For someone who likes the approval of others, this is quite a challenge. Am I only willing to sacrifice in the "big stuff," that will be noticed by others? Or am I willing to serve in whatever way God would call me to, even if it goes unnoticed by others? Perhaps especially when it goes unnoticed by others. Whitney goes on to say:
"The ministry of serving may be as public as preaching or teaching, but more often it will be as sequestered as nursery duty. It may be as visible as singing a solo, but usually it will be as unnoticed as operating the sound equipment to amplify the solo. Serving may be as appreciated as a good testimony in a worship service, but typically it's as thankless as washing dishes after a church social...Beyond the church walls, serving is baby-sitting for neighbors, taking meals to families in flux, running errands for the homebound, providing transportation for the one whose car breaks down, feeding pets and watering plants for vacationers, and--hardest of all--having a servant's heart in the home."
Am I looking for ways to serve to be noticed by others or in ways that may be only noticed by God? Do I set aside my serving for "big stuff" or am I willing to sacrifice in the "mundane, the ordinary, the trivial"? hmmm. Food for thought.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Christmas Pictures...finally!
Okay, sorry it took me a while to get these pictures on...Here are some pictures from Christmas. We went to Muncie, IN for 4 days then on to Wheaton for 5. We are once again thankful for wonderful families with whom to celebrate Christmas.
Kathryn learned where "nose" is, and she's pointing to her new dolly's nose.
Playing with cousin Hayden, who is 3 months younger
Of course the wrapping is the most interesting part!
One of our many attempts to get a cousins picture in Wheaton...at least in this one no one is screaming. :)
"Papa" (my dad) and the girls building a snowman with the 6+ inches of snow we got
Kathryn and "Papaw" (Nick's dad)
With "Mamaw" (Nick's Mom)
"Hey, I think I can figure this one out!"
Guess Who's Climbing?
Kathryn has discovered climbing, so now it's not too uncommon to see her in funny places that she's gotten herself into. She keeps us laughing!
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
How I spent my Friday Night
Here's a video clip from a gig before Christmas...I was sitting right next to the drummer onstage, and I was able to get some video clips with my camera when I wasn't playing. This was a very fun job...definitely not my usual fare. :) Sorry the video is a little blurry...I had to compress the quality to download it.
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