Outside my window… It’s California. It never changes. Chilly morning with clear blue skies, transforming into glorious t-shirt weather by 4pm.
I am thinking… I realized the other day that we leave for Thailand in about 2 months. I don’t know what the next 6 weeks or so will look like. We finish up here in Fresno on November 14, and then we’ll be traipsing all over the country side, leaving us about 10 days in Florida to get packed and ready to go. Not my ideal. We had planned to be in Florida by Thanksgiving. Flexibility is the order of the day. I find it harder and harder to ‘stretch’ as I get older.
In the Kitchen… I made a cherry cheese cake the other day. It was devine. I think I’ll make brownies with Samantha over the weekend.
I’m thankful for… weekends.
I’m reading… ‘Into Abba’s Arms’ by Sandra Wilson. One of the concepts I’m grappling with in this book is “Abandoning Grace”. Basicly, in many churches we teach a grace that is temporary, that abandons us. Her analogy is that of a booster-rocket that launches you into orbit in your Christian walk (It is by Grace you have been saved), but in order to stay in orbit, you must depend more on good works and outward ‘acts of righteousness’ than on relationship with God. Tithing, quiet time, attending church, avoiding sin. It’s easier to follow rules than to depend on God’s Grace. I’m thinking about how that ‘booster-rocket’ concept of God’s amazing Grace has effected my relationship with Jesus. Striving for perfection and holiness, working out my salvation with fear and trembling are noble and pious goals for life, but I can’t do it by resting of my laurels, by trusting in my own righteousness. It can only finish well when I’m trusting in God’s ‘Nonabandoing Grace’, His grace that gives me the power to do the right for the right reasons. Out of thankfulness for His love and mercy that is already mine, not out of a need to earn his favour again and again.
I’m hearing… a big dog barking. I think it’s a German Shepard, but I can’t be sure. That makes me miss my wonderful Golden Retriever, Rusty. He really was the perfect dog.
Around the house… Last week we aquired some new ‘furniture’ for the kids. Cool story. We went to a Thrift Store, and got a bunch of free stuff. As were were talking to the Store Manager, we mentioned we were Missionaries on home leave, and then he said, “Oh, in that case you can have everything for free.” We were floored. So we got a couple of extra toys, a play gym and a chair for the kids. Timothy is alot happier now that he can sit in the kitchen with me when I’m making dinner.
One of my favourite things… Timothy’s Giggles. He brightens my day when he looks at me with a big toothless grin and just starts giggling.
Plans for the weekend… I don’t have plans, but I imagine Sean has something exciting up his sleeve.
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