Seeing God's Goodness

We've started to do a bit of more structured fun here at home. Last week and this week we are learning about how God created the world in seven days. I'll be posting more fun stuff over at Live, Learn, Love but thought this was too cute not to share here.

We made binoculars. Again. In the spring when we made them they didn't survive much use. These seem much better!

This is not a creative or special craft, but I thought I'd share since these seem sturdier than some others.

Using toilet paper tubes, I hot glued them together. I also hot glued the yarn on the sides. Meghan decorated the binoculars with lots of stickers. She told me what each sticker was (mostly animals), and then I asked her who made it. She happily told me, "God!" I highly recommend hot glue to keep them sturdy! Some of the stickers didn't want to stick, so we also used packaging tape to keep them on the tubes. The tape probably helped it to stay sturdy, too.

Then we went on a sight-seeing walk to find all sorts of things that God made. We saw birds, bugs, rocks, plants, neighbors, and animals (okay, just one dog).

Why not go outside and enjoy God's creation right now? Have fun!

Can I Trust God?

For several weeks now God has been teaching me that though He truly is all powerful, He is not my magic genie, willing, though able to fix each of my problems and could even prevent them. Many people struggle with God and choose not to accept His gift of Jesus because they just don’t understand how a loving God would allow sickness, poverty, and even the death of children.

I have recently read through the book of Job in the Bible. Job was a wealthy and respected man, while remaining upright and blameless (though not sinless…he is still just a man) according to God. Everything- his health, family, friends, wealth were taken from him. Yet Job still maintained that God was sovereign and good. He wanted answers from God, but he did not blame God. What Job did not know was that God allowed Satan to remove all of Job’s blessings. God knew Job would continue to trust Him. It seems to me that God allowed this horrible suffering for the purpose of glorifying Himself. In the midst of struggles, it’s hard to remember that it’s not about us.

In the book Lies Women Believe by Nancy Leigh DeMoss the second chapter focuses on lies Christian women believe about God. The sixth lie she focuses on is that God should fix my problems. The book explains that this type of thinking is deceptive for two reasons. First, it makes God seem like a genie, here to please and serve us. This thinking also suggests that often our goal in life is to be without problems and difficulties…anything unpleasant. Though God does not always prevent or remove our problems, He uses our trials to mold and shape our lives. James 1:3 says, “because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” As a Christian, I have great hope in this promise found in Romans 8:28-29: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. The truth is that He will use our problems to reveal His grace and power to the world.

Our pastor spoke on this recently. Here is some of what he had to say. So often we ask God, “What have you done for me lately?” For so many it’s about what God can do for us, rather than what he already did for us on the cross. We make it about what He can do for us instead of about who He is. Our Savior. He’s God. The Messiah. He is the Potter; we are the clay. It’s easy to trust when your child’s health gets better and marriage is great, but we need to take him at His word when life does not happen the way we want it. Do we trust when the miracle does not happen? Malachi 3:13-14 gives a great example of this mindset. The Israelites said, “It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out His requirements…?” Their complaint revealed their faulty thinking – it is not about what we gain but about glorifying God. If our goal is to glorify God, as it should be, then yes, we must trust in all circumstances. (If you are interested in hearing the sermon, click here. The church's website is listed in the sidebar under favorite sites.)

I think back to when Meghan was in cardiac ICU medically paralyzed in hopes that her heart and other organs would recover…or before that when we learned that her heart was beating 320 times each minute, and the team in the ER could not get it under control. Derek and I prayed. We hoped. And we trusted God. We had had 17 happy and healthy days with her before this. We are forever grateful that we did not have to find out then how we would respond to losing our baby, but we trust we would go on loving, trusting, and worshiping our Lord and Savior. 2 Corinthians 12:9a says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” What a promise!

Just because a person becomes a follower of Jesus Christ does not mean that God gives them an easy life, free of sickness, poverty, and heartache. A Christian doesn’t have to go through the trials by themselves. God is always with us. Not only that, we have the assurance of eternity spent with God free of all of this life’s troubles.

When troubles come let’s lean on true grace, Jesus. Let’s consider how we think of God and begin to truly trust in Him, at all times and in all circumstances. We don’t have to be thankful for each trial, but we should be thankful during the trials, trusting God’s plan for each of us. God is good. We can trust Him. Always.

(Now that I have finally put my thoughts to “paper” and share them with you, I wonder how soon I will be tested in my faith.)

I am Mommy

To give you a bit of perspective on Meghan's speech, she should have about 75 words by now. A month ago we were working on repeating simple sounds like da da, boo boo. Getting her to do that was extremely hard.

But over the weekend while she and Derek were rough housing, she was saying day-ee repeatedly, without us prompting her! That's Daddy!

Tuesday I could have cried. During therapy, we got her to say mah-me. I am finally Mommy! She has to really work to say it, and she doesn't do it spontaneously, but this is wonderful!

Since then she has said, without prompting, Elmo, apple, and elbow. None are truly clear, but they are understandable. Two syllable words are very difficult for an apraxic child to master. We are very pleased that progress is by leaps and bounds.

As excited and thrilled we are that we are now Mommy and Daddy in words, I think our heavenly Father must get even more excited when we call on Him to be our Daddy.

Mark 14:36 "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." (He was speaking of the suffering he would endure through crucifixion. He was expressing his feelings respectfully, but not rebeling against God's will.)


Abba is Aramaic for daddy and is used as a name for God several times in the Bible (not just by Jesus)! A daddy relationship is close and personal. God wants us to call on Him in that same personal way. I can't wait for Meghan to call on me and not just say mommy when she'll be rewarded with a piece of Play-Doh or a toy, but to say my name because she wants to share with me or because she needs me.


We certainly are thankful for her strides! We look forward to sharing more progress soon!