Official Sugar-free Post Place

I am officially starting my sugar fast today. If you would like to join me, please leave a comment. I know Zo, you're starting on May1, which makes perfect sense. It's a long story why I am starting now (one reason being the three pounds I gained on vacation). I'll spare you the other details. My vision for this "support group post" is that we would just comment here throughout the month. Comments could be anything from struggles to victories. So if you're joining in, come back here to encourage or be encouraged. It would be great to get first comments about why you are doing this. Even if you aren't cutting out sugar, if you have something encouraging to say, please leave your comments. Also, I hope to continue more meaningful posting soon. I know the last few have been just chatter. I have a conference later this week, but hopefully after that I will be inspired to offer something on this blog that is a bit more substantive.

minivan moments

I'm doing time this weekend. Time in the minivan that is. (I'll spare you the obvious parallels). We are taking a truly God-provided family vacation next week which requires a four hour drive to get there. "Four hours, big deal," I hear you saying. But did I mention that my boys are very typical seven and six year olds who don't sit still for four minutes, let alone four hours. One of them does school standing up, and eats dinner with one knee in his chair and the other leg standing. They also have this thing about touching each other. I never dreamed (or read about in parenting books) how many times I would repeat the phrase, "stop touching your brother," along with its synonym phrases, "stop hitting, stop tackling...in the bathroom, stop hugging your brother - he can't breathe!" I'll leave to your imagination what four hours with only a booster and seat belt to separate them could look like. Enough whining. I have to say that the mini van, even with its built in propensity for sanctification, is a place where family memories are made. Here are a few mini-van moments: moment #1 There was the time I saw in the rear view mirror my son picking his nose and corrected him. Two minutes later, after deep thoughts, he said, "Mom, did God see me picking my nose and tell you to tell me to stop?" If I were smarter I would have said "Yes, God tells mommy everything you're doing behind my back." moment #2 Then there was the time I thought it would be good to have a discussion about what Daddy did for a living (my husband was going to be ordained as a pastor that Sunday). The conversation went something like this: Me: "What do you think daddy does when he goes to work?" boys: he's a fireman! No, he's a builder who builds things! I know, Daddy is police guy! Me: (a little apprehensive, but hopeful) Well, daddy helps people like those guys, but - boys: I knew it, He's a superhero! Me: (as enthusiastically as possible) Daddy's a pastor!!! boys: (quiet for a minute) What's that? Me: (brief explanation of Jason's role) boys: (clearly unimpressed) As a side note, however, I will say that because of their daddy's hero-status, as they have grown older, all of my boys have said at one time or another that they want to be a pastor when they grow up...along with being profession football players. Moment #3: In contrast to the conversation discussing Jason's job, I recall a mini moment when they were discussing what they wanted to be. The conversation included military careers, professional sports, carpentry, fire fighter, police officer, and any other exciting, action packed jobs you can imagine five and six year olds aspiring to. I was curious what my two year old daughter would say so I asked, "Maggie, what do you want to be when you grow up?" She answered, "a mommy," Caleb (one of my twins) immediately said, "Whoa, no way...THAT is a really hard job." (a comment which did not follow any previous job titles. From the mouths of babes...) Other moments from the minivan include one of my sons always wanting to pray when we see an ambulance en route. Or, times when I hear my daughter singing at the top of her lungs, "Oh what a dorious history I know" (instead of oh what a glorious mystery You are). Or the numerous times I have had to ask their forgiveness (always readily given) on my way to church because of anger and impatience getting them out the door. When I look in the rear view mirror I am amazed how the four faces have changed. They have gone from chubby, fuzzy-headed babies in car seats to skinny, scruffy-haired kids. I will blink and one of them will be driving me. In my metaphoric mini-van, I want to enjoy every minute of the ride. God help me to love everything entailed in the rear view mirror image. I can't wait for tomorrow's drive.

My Fifth Grade Eating Habits

No, this is not about how I used to eat in the fifth grade. It's about the fact that my current eating habits could be described as what a fifth grader would eat if left alone in the house. For example, this morning I am contemplating a breakfast consisting of chocolate birthday cake (leftover from Sunday), and another cup of coffee (okay, the coffee isn't usually a fifth grade choice, but you get what I'm saying). I want to begin eating healthier. It seems every time I decide to focus on improving my eating habits, vanity creeps in. What begins as a desire to eat in a way that honors God and contributes to energy for the tasks He has called me to, degenerates into trying to lose weight or look better. I read a book a while ago called Love to Eat, Hate to eat by Elise Fitzpatrick. I think I'll pull it out again. It discusses the heart issues behind eating (or not eating). But what I would love to get my hands on is a website, book, magazine, etc. that tells how to just eat healthy. No low-carb trends. No barley green beneath the tongue. Just good old fashion nutrition. Does anybody know of such a resource? If you could leave your suggestions that would be great.

the bucket and The Fountain

I admit I am not a poet. Most of my poetry can be sung to a Barney melody. But still, I thought I would attempt to articulate something God is revealing to me through verse. I was inspired by a teaching called The Supremacy of God in Prayer * by...yes...John Piper (I know I'm a bit obsessed). Well, here it goes:

A foolish lady labored gravely

struggling up a mountain,

With a bucket full of dirty water

to pour into a Fountain.

This Fountain gushed with grace

and mercy for the ones below;

She thought her bucket of effort

could contribute to its flow.

Exhausted by the staggering weight

of "do better and try harder,"

She thought she heard the Fountain say,

"Listen to me, my daughter.

If you truly want to honor Me

and show the world My glory,

Then empty your bucket of everything

whenever you come before Me.

Don't come with two ounces of goodness,

Don't come with a cupful of deeds,

Don't come with a gallon of effort

To pay off your balance of needs.

Instead take the empty bucket,

And stand in the Fountain of grace.

I will cleanse you; I will fill you

And I will receive honor, glory, and praise."

She dumped upon the dirt worn path

The murky works and deeds.

She jumped into the fountain;

She was washed, and filled, and free!

A much more poignant way of saying this is:

Nothing in my hands I bring

Simply to Thy cross I cling

Naked come to Thee for dress

Helpless look to Thee for grace

To Thy fountain, Lord I fly

Wash me Savior, or I die.

*in case you don't know, if you click on the blue words, it will send you to that link (John Piper' teaching in this case).