Pictures-Matchy Monkies

Better Than a Hallelujah

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lD_pCr_Xrnc


"We pour out our miseries, God just hears a melody. Beautiful the mess we are, the honest cries of breaking hearts are better than a hallelujah."

Amy Grant

Taming the Tongue

"But no one can tame the tongue. With it we bless our Lord and Father and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not be this way. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? - James 3:8a-11"

I'm a complainer. I was born that way, or maybe having struggled with that for so long, I thought that was the way I emerged from the womb. The flame of my critical nature was so furiously fanned until it burned uncontrollably and began to leave a smoky path of destruction everywhere I went and with every person I met. Unbelievably, like others with the same problem, I lived in denial, unaware of this personality trait until a loved one, clothes still scorched by the heat of my mouth, sat me down and told me the truth. I could smell the fresh smoke and see the singed burn marks that had been left by my heated comments. They were kind yet honest. The conversation left me stunned, shocked by the self-revelation to which I had been so blinded to but better after being made aware of it.



The Spirit came with His strong conviction that uncovered this fleshly part of me yet soothing grace to cool the embers of my critical nature. “The tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a fire is set ablaze by such a small fire! The tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the very course of life . . .”(James 3:5-6 ESV). I looked around at the life I had and saw small fires raging all around me, and in most cases, I knew I’d started them.



In the days and weeks that followed, I began to feel a twinge of conviction every time a complaint or unnecessarily offered critical comment escaped my lips. Soon, I’d feel the conviction before the comment was spoken. The smoldering coals of criticism would sit on the tip of my tongue longing to make their escape. Then I had to decide whether to light the match and let the fire burn or submit to the soothing cool living water of God’s grace to me as I extended it to someone else. In those moments, what I knew for sure was that both things couldn’t be accomplished at the same time. I had to choose to indulge one option or the other; to submit to the fleshly complaints of my tongue; or to allow my mouth to be a resting ground for the praises of God. It had to be one or the other, and I was the one who had to make the choice.



“Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water?” James asks. The answer is a resounding “No!” Both cannot come out of the same spigot. If we want our homes and workplaces to be filled with the sound of God’s praises coming from our mouths, then we must cleanse our palates of anything that would squeeze out its position of prominence. Let’s make a choice to hold in our mouths only those things which will bring honor and glory to our great God. "

~Priscilla Shirer

The "Hurt Cry"

Three times today my mama heart jumped.....and weirdly.....each time it was a different child.


This morning I was in the bedroom and heard Aubrie scream with a cry I hadn't heard before. And she didn't stop.......I was in the middle of pumping in my "milk parlor" and couldn't very well get up quickly so I yelled at Jase to go to her. He said she had rolled over and twisted one of her arms behind her and was laying on top of it with it pinned down. I think she's fine.......but my heart still jumped at that certain cry that was different from all others.


Middle morning Gabe's eyes started glazing over with a pained look and sure enough, before long, he started crying and holding his tummy, saying it hurt really bad. He did this for hours, so I laid with him until he fell asleep during quiet time. As I laid there, I started dozing off, as did he, but all of a sudden, he let out a hurt cry again, and again....my mama heart jumped. We prayed in Jesus' Name and are gonna keep doing so until we get his poor tummy figured out...we're not gonna let the devil win this battle!!!!


Right before Ellie fell asleep during quiet time, she decided to lean over the side of her crib and try to reach a toy in the play grocery cart next to her bed. I heard that "hurt cry" and went running again. Here she was hung upside down, holding onto the rails for dear life, but not able to pull herself back up in bed.


Tonite as I thought back on the day and was rocking Aubrie......I just heard God saying:
"Child......just as I wire all Mamas (and Daddies) to know their children's whiney cries apart from their hurt cries.....it is the same with Me. As your Heavenly Father, I know each and every one of my children's cries. And I especially hear the "hurt cry". I will come to You every time. I will not leave you comfortless.....I will come to You. I will hold you, child.....I will wipe away your tears. I will never forsake you. I will be there every time to pick you up when you fall down. I will be there every time you feel afraid. I will hold you when you feel no one else loves you and the pain is so great. Because I love you like no one else ever will. And I will be there every time you cry out."

Pictures-Sunflowers

The field beckoned us.....so we went.....and partook of the beauty.....

Blueberries Foster

BLUEBERRIES FOSTER:
Blueberries,sugar,blueberry liqueur,dark rum, corn starch, blueberry concentrate, honey, lemon juice, and vanilla.

So there are perks to having to buy Gabe's groceries at the natural foods store......I always come out of there with something unique and yummy! The above being one of them.....let's just say it's about the best blueberry goodness I have ever tasted! And topped on a toasted Eggos waffle that has also been slathered in butter......faaaaattttttttennnnninng.....but so worth it!

The Bible

"Hold fast to the Bible.

Base everything on the Bible.

If you're going to criticize someone, criticize them from the Bible.

If you are going to affirm someone, affirm them from the Bible.

If you're going to do a strategy, do it from the Bible.

Be a Bible saturated people."

~John Piper

Saying Yes to God

I was so blessed to meet Lysa TerKeurst in real life.

And I've been so blessed by her Bible Study book: "What Happens When Women Say Yes to God"........and blessed to have a book study group that started it together.

But then MamaMonkey had babymonkey #3 and started feeling overwelmed, so we took a break. We are now planning on starting up again in August and I can't wait.
I've missed these group of friends so much, but I've also missed digging into Lysa's book
and learning more about Jesus and His unending love for us.

Back to the purpose of this post: Lysa TerKeurst.....what an annointed woman.
Now I don't put her up on a pedastal because she's a human woman just like you and me.
However, this woman has "said yes to God" time and time again. And that takes humbleness and a servant heart.

That takes the courage to say: "None of me, Jesus, but all of You."

Example: Her and her husband had 3 beautiful little girls and she was content to be done having kids. Then God asked them to adopt 2 boys from Liberia. They said yes and God has blessed them for it.

She has said yes to God every time He has asked her to write a book.....13 times.

If you have time today, read this post.

http://lysaterkeurst.com/2010/07/you-are-not-the-only-one/

And then you tell me it doesn't touch you somewhere in your heart of hearts.

Prayer Warriors

PRAYER WARRIORS THAT READ MY BLOG:

PLEASE PRAY FOR THIS PRECIOUS FAMILY.
MY HEART CANNOT EVEN COMPREHEND THE PAIN....
THE FAITH.....AND THE LAYING IT ALL ON THE ALTER.

http://jkschroeder.blogspot.com/

Pictures-This & That

Just started BabyMonkey on cereal this week as I can't seem to fill her up at night anymore ;(

Not a fan of it so far.....

However, she is a big fan of Uncle MattMatt!!! (aka: Uncle WapWap)

as are the other 3 monkies.....horsey ride races.......ahhhh the sounds that fill our house ;)

and she is also a big fan of her Daddy

I'm learning to let my dirty dishes set more often and snuggle more......

these picts are backwards but Little Missy is getting around these days really well....

she started up on the pillow

We thanked God for the rain we finally got today and we all went out and danced in it!

Big Monkey has been making some crazy faces lately....

And Middle Monkey has another bladder infection and was fighting off high fevers.... ;(

This is how I found her this morning.......no more fevers praise God!!!!

Taking time to catch lightening bugs

and play with Uncle Josh cuz he has the bestest toys ever!!!

and just enjoying each other.....

and being big helpers...ahhhhh......these are the moments we'll remember forever!!

Prayers

Who’s to say that God did not take the faith that you exerted toward one prayer that He chose not to answer, and apply your faith to answer another prayer that you didn’t even know to pray?

~ Pastor Steven Furtick

5 months

Happy 5 months Sweet Pea....you are just growing up way too fast....

And Daddy and Mommy love you more and more every day!!!!

Pictures-Puppy Love

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE CAN WE HAVA PUPPY?????

PRETTY PLEASE???? No......not until we live in the country someday ;) but you can play all you want with everyone else's puppies ;) Thank you to Jay & Amy for bringing them to play!

Baby Monkey got her snuggles....

And other 2 monkies got to teach the puppies what a leash was....

and got lotsa cuddles too ;)

And then they thought the puppy should learn how to drive the car.....seriously....what nuts!