FALL HAS ARRIVED {quietly}

Have I been a little quiet? 


It seems in the midst of doctor appointments for Lydia*, home schooling and regular life, the seasons have changed.  Fall has arrived on quiet feet. 

And, truly I welcome it's effects.  It invites us to don a cute sweater; say yes to making an indoor fort out of sheets; to cuddle up with a good book and even look forward to the prospects of eating homemade pancakes by the fire (the girls tell me that some of their best memories have been on cold days with homemade pancakes in front of the fire and books read aloud.  It's always the simple things, isn't it?)

Faith smiling at her daddy.

For our family, the seasons have changed in another way as well.  After five years of needing to work a night shift, Tom has been able to switch to a day schedule. 

That means I now wake up at 4 am to make his breakfast, coffee and pack his lunch- which I love.  Would you believe it?  It turns out I am really a morning person.  It also means that he is not rushed to squeeze in Bible before he needs to leave for work; he is home in the evenings to play Loving Family with the girls- which they love; and this Friday when we have a party to attend- I have a date and won't be going solo! 

Yes, sometimes change is good.


 

The BBQ King strikes again.

As our minds begin to think about celebrating the harvest and a big meal of Thanksgiving we think a lot about food.  

I am reminded that in Scripture we are told if we love our Lord, we will feed His sheep (John 21:15-17). 

Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him three times, and in response to Peter's affirmative and eventually troubled reply- the Lord commanded that if Peter loved Him, he was to feed His sheep.


How are we doing feeding the sheep in our homes?

 

A cheery little scarecrow welcomes us home.

Years ago when my step-mother was diagnosed with breast cancer I began to read and study about the disease. 

Do you know that most people who die with cancer don't die from cancer itself?  They die from malnutrition. 

I remember sitting with her at the convalescent hospital near the end when a nurse delivered a tray of food.  "Pat-pat"  I encouraged her "please try to eat a little."  She was uninterested. 

The food was right there. 

I was willing to help. 

But she would not eat. 

Sadly, she did not live much longer.

Is it really pumpkin season again?

Without spiritual nouishment our children have little hope of survival in this world.  They will waste away while Bibles in our own language gather dust on the shelves. 

 The food is there- we must feed Christ's sheep. 

In our children's case we actually have control over what they eat both physically and spiritually.  Scripture memory, meditating on God's Word day and night (Joshua 1:8) and our excitement for the Word and it's application to every area of our lives cannot be underestimated. 

Yes, salvation is of the Lord and yet He gives us verse after verse that indicate that we must know His Word.  Scripture is profitable for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17); from His mouth come wisdom, knowledge and unserstanding (Proverbs 2:6-9); and by hiding His Word in our hearts we are kept from sinning against Him (Psalm 119:105).  It is a combination of meditation, application and work by the Holy Spirit.

Rich warm colors replace casual cool ones.

I appreciated this quote by John MacArthur:

"Godly character is not the result

of good intentions, wishful thinking,

some mystical 'zap,' or even sheer

Bible knowledge. 

It's developed through the self disciplined

application of God's Word at a very basic

level, enabled and powered by God's Spirit."

Amen.

May we feed His Sheep, teach them to apply God's Word to every area of life, pray for them diligently and trust God's Spirit for the rest.


 

Time with my sisters- left to right:  Dale, Me, Elizabeth.

 

 

 

 

Fall blessings to you!

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*For those of you praying for Lydia- thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! She had significantly fewer seizures this month (4 vs. 11 last month).