Teacup Theology

Well, it's been awhile since since I posted, but the project 365 is still going on and I found some really good dinosaur books. I will update some new pics later...

Now on to teacups. A friend and I started this Bible study and oh my, I just started reading the first chapter and I'm even more excited about it! It's called Calm My Anxious Heart, by Linda Dillow. The study is about how to find contentment. In the first chapter she talks about Philippians 4:11-13 (New International Version)

11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

She says, 'This often-quoted verse is translated literally from Greek as, "I am able to face anything by the one who makes me able[to do it]"' Paul is recognizing the source and strength of all Christian contentment is God Himself. She gives a translation of Phil 4:13 from Greek scholar Kenneth Wuest: I am strong for all things in the One who constantly infuses strength in me.

To infuse means to pour, fill, soak, or extract. Linda says,'Every morning when I dip my herbal tea bag into boiling water, I witness infusion. Contentment occurs when Christ's strength is infused into my weak body, soul, ad spirit.'

She goes on to bring this analogy even more to life...

'God has lovingly assigned each of us a uniquely special teacup. Perhaps we're an antique cup, painted with dainty roses set in gold. Maybe we see ourselves as an everyday cup- useful, but a little chipped around the edges. Or we could be a heavy duty mug- rugged, unbreakable, and able to hold much. Then God fills our cup with our portion, what He determines best. Our portion is our physical and emotional being, our abilities, circumstances, roles, and relationships.
Sometimes we don't like what's been poured into our cup. Remember the Garden of Gethsemane? When He saw the suffering He was about to endure, He pleaded,"Father,if you are willing, take this cup from me;yet not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 22:42). Christ grasped the handle of His cup and lifted it to God and said, "I accept my portion. Infuse me with Your strength that I may drink."
Every cup- whether dainty china or rough-hewn pottery- has a handle. God has placed our portion in our cup. We either choose to grasp it by the handle and lift it to Him, saying, "I accept my portion; I accept this cup." or we choose to smash our cup to pieces, saying, "God, I refuse my portion. This cup is not the right size for me and I don't like what You've put in it. I'll control my life myself."'

I can use some infusing today. So, which teacup are you? Grasp the handle and lift it up! May you be infused with God's power!

Project 365 and dinosaurs

O.K. so I think this project is going to be harder than I thought. I'm not sure if I'm going to post once a week or twice...I know I won't be able to everyday, but I'm already getting the pictures confused.

Anyway, I had a lot of fun with the fam today. Today was officially the last day of school!!! Excalibur Academy is now closed for the summer! Bear told me summer was his favorite season, because he can eat watermelon and he doesn't have to do school. Too funny.

Well, here's some more pics for the project 365:
Sunday we went to the Friends and Family night at Sears, with my sis. My sister and I got new bathing suits! This was taking as the boys were racing to the elevator so they could push the button. What you don't see is John running towards them to try to catch the door before it shut, with them in the elevator. :) Good Times.




Monday was a Route 44 day. Me and the boys went to happy hour at Sonic. Slushes (or as Monkey calls them, flushes) and drinks for all.



Tuesday we all went to see my nephew play the clarinet at his band concert.






That's all the pictures I have for now...now on to the dinosaurs. Bear is becoming more and more fascinated with dinosaurs. The problem I'm having is almost all of the books I can find lean towards evolution. We've talk to him about how some people believe differently about this, but I would just really like to do a further study one this subject. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions on books or websites about dinosaurs, with a Christian perspective?

Everyone have a good week and go take some pictures :)

365 project

I'm starting this project a little late, but I just found out about it, and thought it looked like fun. The idea is to take a photo a day, for a year, hence the name 365 project. Anyway, it's like a journal in pictures. I'm hoping it will help me take better photos, plus it will be interesting to see all the pics I've taken after the year's over. I'm sure most of them will be of the boys.

Be aware that I'm not a photographer and I know nothing about lighting. Here's the first photo:
I couldn't decide between the two. We went to the mall to visit daddy and the boys got new Webkinz. It was Wekinz Extravaganza Day! That means sale. As you can see Bear picked a dragon and named it Silk Dragon. Monkey picked out a black cat with green eyes, because he has green eyes. :) The cat's name is Lucky. We picked out a horse for Puppy Love. I'm not sure if he's trying to kiss the horse or eat it.









This one is from today. The lighting is horrible. This is the rose bush in front of my house and I thought it looked pretty in the rain.












Bear also decided that he wanted to do this project with me. It's going to be fun! Here's his photo for yesterday. His new Webkinz, Silk Dragon. He had me tie it to the fan so it would look like it was flying. He may be a little better at this than me. :) The next picture is of one of his favorite movies, this week. Sword in the Stone. He's on a dragon kick lately. he paused the movie so he could get it just right.

Legacy of Love

A few weekends ago my hubby and I went to the Weekend to Remember conference in Little Rock. It was wonderful to be able to have a weekend to focus on each other, as husband and wife. We really need to date more often, when you have three young boys things tend to get busy.

Anyway, there are several things that I have been working on...but they can all be summed up in this: What kind of legacy do I want to pass on to my future generation? In other words, what will my boys learn from me? What will I be remembered for?

I want my boys to know what is important to me, without even having to think about it. I can tell them everyday that I love God...I love their daddy...I love them, but am I showing them? Do they see that I love God, do they see that I love their daddy, do they see my love for them?

God should be my first and foremost relationship, He hasn't been. My husband should be right after Him, he hasn't been. My children should be after my husband. They have been first in my life. The thing is I have been a stressed mommy, a tired mommy. I wonder why? Yes that could have something to do with trying to keep up with my 7 yr old in basketball, or trying to keep my 3 yr old from breaking a limb when he jumps off the furniture, or from all the craziness of my 10 month old(I could go on forever about that one!) I don't expect to not have any stress in my life. My peace is not made up of quiet. It's just that when I have my priorities out of order, my life will be out of order. I wish the Container Store had something for my priorities :) Luckily the Bible does:
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16

Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' – Matthew 22:37-39

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. . .And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. - excerpts from 1 Corinthians 13:4-13

What it all boils down to is I'm praying that God will help me keep my priorities straight. To seek Him first. To love like He loves.