Make Me Wise

A friend sent us this cd, and on it is the song, Make Me Wise. I've been singing it all day...

"Make me wise, make me wise

Let me see through this world's lies...

There are so many paths to follow 

And I don't want to compromise...

Make me wise, make me wise

So I'm pleasing in Your sight...

Lord, I want to bring You glory

So I'm asking You to make me wise..."

The last three weeks have been WONDERFUL. And I am exhausted. Two weeks of work travel with The Engineer and oldest two, followed by a week of Spring Break that included Mama and my sister visiting, along with other commitments we'd made...I am pooped. 

And I find myself hungering and thirsting for alone time with my Savior. With three crazy weeks came crazy schedules. And time in His Word suffered most.

I was working through my CBS lesson and came across this:

The Lord's Supper also reminds us that God has sanctified all of life. One of our highest acts of spiritual worship (partaking of Communion) is expressed by common physical acts - eating and drinking. There is no division between the sacred and the secular, the physical and the spiritual. "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will recieve an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." -Col 3:23-24

There is "no division" between the "sacred" and the "secular!?"

Do all things with all my heart like I'm working for the Lord and not for men.

All things? Like, scrubbing the shower? And folding the laundry?

Like...these seemingly meaningless things I do, we do, day in and day out...

Making lunches and sweeping floors and hours waiting in the dentist's office...reminding them again and again and again to say "please" and "thank you" and "yes ma'am and no ma'am."

These things, these COMMON things can be done to the glory of God!!! Yes! Yes! (And I know this. Why don't I LIVE it?!)

We are talking about the very things I do day in and day out. The things no one notices until I don't do them and then there are cries of dissatisfaction - the very things, the things I -yikes, like to feel bitter about - because I want the thanks and praise of man. Those things can be done to the glory of God.

I read on...

"true greatness is expressed in a life of service (Phil. 2:5-8)....However, the Lord goes on to speak of the necessity for continued moment-by-moment cleansing from the sin that spiritually defiles us even after our initial salvation experience. (John 13:10). And then on to Galations 5:16,25 - "Live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature....Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."

And I remember reading Stepping Heavenward. Once in high school and again last summer, and I remember Katherine finding herself utterly frustrated over the demands of motherhood and the lack of time she had to spend in scripture and how in the throes of life with children, she felt she needed that time most and then it dawned on her...

These days are where it counts. This, THIS is where I practice what I preach, what I claim, what I have for so long in the past feasted upon. This is where the rubber meets the road.

This is when it counts. Now. When no one is looking and it isn't always fun and thanks are not offered as often as my flesh would like.

And these often thankless, seemingly mundane and meaningless tasks can be done in a spirit, with a heart, that brings God glory and honor.

How precious to be reminded that God has sanctified all of life. That there is no division between the sacred and the secular, the physical and the spiritual.

Because today, there is a lot to do. Tomorrow there is more. And I am tired. And time is scarce. And though this is nothing new, I struggle to remember that God is glorified in the seemingly mundane and that He sees and knows all. How precious that He redeems fallen, sinful, self-loving people (me). 

Breakin' It Down

Saturday, April 2nd started off slow. Two little kiddos were so worn out they were difficult to wake...until they remembered...

it was somebody's birthday!

Even then, it was hard to wake.

Of course, starting your birthday off by opening a gift in bed helps!

This tree was at Fort Pulaski. Suffice it to say, I was the only one interested in photo opps. Never got a shot of both of them with their eyes open. Still, it's a sweet memory.

We learned all about loading and firing and even "aiming" cannons. It was fascinating. Little Man wowed us all with his four year old awesomeness first by letting everyone during a quiet demonstration know he needed to potty, and once we returned, having rushed the entire time so as not to miss the actual firing of the cannon, he lobbed a nut towards the confederate soldier (who is actually from the North) who was doing the demonstration. We're obviously really super parents.

I love that Little Man put his hand over his heart. {Side note: We painted today and Little Man painted "de war at Canada." - After a little questioning, he clarified, "it's de war at Fort Pulaski and dese are de cannon bawls dat hit de port. And dis is a Army man and his bride." Sweet.}

They were HILARIOUS exploring. Both were just certain they would discover a hidden passage or secret room. (I feed the curiosity - I love hidden passages and the like and have made such suggestions at, ahem, opportune times.)

As they examined the lock, I asked them what they thought might be hidden away in there. Sister wasn't sure...

With conviction, Little Man said, "That's where they keep the nursin' women." 

While a horse and buggy ride was out of the question ($), we did get to pet this beauty. Sister loves animals and I think, could have stood there stroking his neck all day.

We made our way to the Peacemaker. Very awesome.

The children's excitement and curiosity was equaled by our own.

I kept thinking about the book The Maggie B by Irene Haas. It is a favorite of mine from childhood and is about a little girl whose wish to sail on a boat named after herself for a day comes true. She spends the day sailing with her brother James. LOVE it! And I could see it with Sister and Little Man.

That night we hung out on the Riverwalk. And our kids were a scream. Here you see them in action breaking out their best moves. It was some semblance of ballet and breakdance wannabe. After a bit, we headed further down and noticed a crowd had gathered. 

Which is when we happened upon this.

And after a few minutes of watching, they stopped for a break. Sister encouraged Little Man to get out there in front of the crowd and show off his skills. He would take a few steps and run back. Finally, he worked up the nerve to go ask the pros how they did it.

And much to my surprise, they happily showed him a thing or two.

I mean really, how precious is that?

Those guys were so sweet to my baby.

And even wished him a happy birthday.

When the show was over and we headed on, Little Man turned around and shouted, "You guys are de coolest in de whole world!"

And truly, they were very cool.

And so we made our way up from the Riverwalk towards Bay Street.

We'd made a promise we needed to keep.

 Regardless of the fact that it was 10pm, and rather chilly, we let 'em strip down to their suits and play in the fountain. SO. MUCH. FUN!

As I look back through the pictures, I am reminded how blessed we have been to get to travel with The Engineer. His travels, while difficult, have also been a tremendous blessing to our family and marriage and the opportunities that have come with working away - incredible! I am so thankful. So very thankful.