Endurance and Enjoyment

Each year I ask the Lord to direct me to a word or words or phrase to help me in my walk with Him.  As is His perfect character, He never fails to give me just what I need!


My words for 2011 are ENDURE and ENJOY.  While it is probably pretty corny to most (my hubby laughs every year when I share my words), I hold tight to my words knowing they are His words to me.


And because I believe in the total inerrancy of Scripture, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 is something I cling to in my (many!) times of need.  It states the following: 

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."

So, today, I am running to the book of James that gives weight to my words for 2011.  As I've been (slowly) working on memorizing the book of James, I am getting fresh faith to "count it ALL joy" and to "remain steadfast when under trial" and "to bridle my tongue" as I deal with the lot for today.

Today I have already had dirty diapers to change, mouths to feed, dishes stacking, children to correct and train, Scripture to review, laundry to continue, a baby to nurse, and then... the HEAT which has me seeing how much I need my God and how thankful that He is near to me.

My heat?  Vomit.  Yes, and I LOATHE vomit.  The smell is horrible but cleaning it up has got to be the most undesirable chore to me.  But, I will endure and... dare I say, enjoy it.  All because He told me to count it as joy for He will use it for my good.

What are you joyfully enduring today?

A Helpful Reminder

Are you, like me, needing to be reminded that God has a specific purpose in the things He is ordaining in your life today?  I am so quick to lose sight of the marvelous reality of the Lord wanting to use my momemts to glorify Him... and for my good.

I read THIS earlier and believe it will be helpful in reminding me to keep asking myself, "Lord, what are You calling me to right now?"

May we endure and enjoy where the Lord has us this day..

Being Pregnant

... is kind of normal for me.  But, pregnancy is also such a miracle.  The normal is I generally know what to expect as far as my body goes.  That's also where the miracle shows itself.  Being pregnant, for me, is a season of needing God more but knowing His intimate care even more.

Carrying another life inside you is pretty remarkable.  I marvel that God created women to do that.  Yet it only points to how He carries us perfectly, without incident, and nourishes us with exactly what we need, when we need, in the way we need it!

So, you may think it old hat for someone to be pregnant... again... but it never is.

And for this pregnancy, my hope is that I will NOT once be embarrassed by someone else's look of disgust or disappoval regarding "all our kids."  They... all SIX of my WhitneyKiddos babies... are gifts from God, my Father.  And I know He only gives GOOD and PERFECT gifts!

If the Shoe Fits

Here's a snapshot of what I see often in our adventures.

Various shoes, various sizes.  All piled on top of one another and generally in the same (oddly, correct!) location.

Just messy looking.

Quite messy looking.

Yet I've realized that somewhere along the way on this adventure, I made the decision that it just doesn't matter that much.  The mess isn't THAT big of a deal.

I imagine to some the picture would seem quite chaotic and bothersome.  But to me, in this moment, I see a lot that is just "right."

I see evidences of lots of fun activity.
I see the emphasis on more important matters.
I see togetherness.
I see quiet exhaustion.
I see purposeful decisions to bring God glory.
I see trust in the only wise God.
I see His undeserved kindness... to me...

So, I guess the shoes here do fit!

Failings of the Weak

Having our QTs this morning.  Sipping our hot coffee, enjoying silence.  Then it happens.

Boy #1 says from the foyer, "Mommy, I'm... I'm wet."

It's 6:30am and already dealt with Baby Girl #3 wet ~5:30am in a cloth diaper followed by Boy #2 wet ~5:50am in a disposable diaper.  What is going on?  I (again) tell myself I will not buy one more stupid disposable diaper to simply throw away after changing wet sheets!

Then Girl #1 comes into the office where we are trying to focus on our QTs to tell us, "I peed in my bed.  But just a little bit."  It's 6:33am.

Well, may as well go and check the remaining child to see if she is wet too!  (Thanks, Pops, for going as I type this!)

Thankfully, though I am scratching my head and asking God, "What am I doing wrong?" I hear Romans 15:1 very clearly,

We who are strong have an obligation

to bear with the failings of the weak, 

and not to please ourselves.

Yes, failings of the weak bladders!  And my response so reveals my wicked heart.  How long O Lord?  When will this five year season be over?????

Don't answer that!  Though there is MUCH urine I wouldn't change it.  I love them so much!

So, the Whitney Adventure continues.  And in case you've been wondering what we've been up to lately, well, this about sums it up!

OH- and Papa-son just came back down.  He informed me that Girl #2 was wet too!  Enough to change her sheets as well!  Hee hee!  Better get started on the laundry, eh?