Ram Brave

When you are holding your breath waiting for the Lord's will to be done...for months and months alongside your friends.

We are humans...so of course we are tempted to hold our breath...to stop breathing while we wait for our GOOD and RIGHTEOUS and COMPASSIONATE and TRUSTWORTHY Lord to answer with a "yes" or a "no"  or a "not yet"  in His perfect timing.

When in the last 72 hours you are eating like a pig while holding your breath.  And you countdown...hour by hour.

What an honor to live life with others.  What an enormous blessing.  To share in sorrows and to share in joys.  To share in disappointments & failures and to share in victories.  To strive alongside one another towards a common goal.  To wait patiently alongside one another for answers...for comfort...for healing.  I do not think life would be worth living if it were not for living life in this way. 

We are all celebrating the birth of a baby boy over here today.  His name is Ram Brave and his arrival has been MUCH anticipated and  MUCH prayed over.


Because of all of our yelping and hollaring and celebratory dancing...our neighbors showed up...knocking at our door last night...excited themselves for the good news.  The look of anticipation on their faces as they stood on the porch...

Is it a job?  Did Brad book an acting gig?  Cedars?  

It's so what they were thinking.  I love that they ran over here and needed to hear in person.

We got to tell them that the baby is Jeni and Neal's.  He is Ram Brave.  It's official.

SUCH better news.  By far.

What a joy to share in  a baby being added to the circle of fellowship and then to know that others are rushing over to share in your joy...even if it's not the joy they anticipated.  Then them sharing in the actual joy.

Living life togehter.

This morning we got the best wake-up call.

Redeeming Love / Chapters 23-27

Okay...so....life sometimes happens in the middle of all we are trying to accomplish on a day to day basis....and our plans for this or that must take a backseat.

Hence the recent silence in regards to the Book Club.

Sorry.  Back on track.

A few thoughts....

This story has really touched Galilee.  Like really.  I love that!

Like really love it. 

Jemima has a good question...If the Lord warns us against being unequally yoked...why did He tell Michael Hosea to marry Angel?  We would love to hear your thoughts.

Mama had worked to keep Alex Stafford's love alive.  Angel wondered now if it hadn't been those very efforts that served to drive him away.  Mama had been so hungry for his love. 

1.  Scripture tells us that the Lord is jealous for us.  Have you ever been the object of someone's focus...so much so that you feel as if they are placing you before the Lord?  If so...describe some of what that made you feel.

Have you ever put someone on the throne of your heart?

How could she, of all the women, be so loved by a man like this?  Oh God, if you are there listening, why did you do this to him? 

2.  Have you ever felt so low about yourself that you have wondered why the Lord is putting others through the ordeal of sticking by you? 

Angel only saw Michael and worshiped him. 

* Thought on this...too much pressure.  No human can stand being worshiped.  Maybe for a while they can...but ultimately being on the throne will cause disdain.  No?  Even when people appear to enjoy being worshiped...do you think they really do?

3.  Michael and Miriam!!!!!  I do not remember it ever occurring to me that the way they interact  is dangerously inappropriate.    Whoa!  Private walks together and Angel is not brought in on what's being discussed!!!!  Discuss.

Read Chapters 28-32  March 28th

 

Gabba Gallery

So....since we've got a budding street artist in our home....Bradley and I decided to spend our Date Nite at.....


The Gabba Gallery. 

First thing we thought?  How cool is it that the gallery chose to support a local church by acquiring their lot for the evening?

Right when you walked in...in the first room was the piece by Plastic Jesus we've all heard so much about.

Thrashbird told Bradley that he and Teacher love our son's work and that when they were out and about one night putting up a piece they saw one of his that needed a fix.  They were gonna stop to do it but ran out of paste. 

Thrashbird is extremely nice.  Like one of the nicest most friendly and approachable guys I've ever encountered.  He said Brad and our boy can go out with him anytime.

A mentor's heart and  hands on education.  I love that!

This lady in the coat...with the suitcase....if she's not made of money she wants everyone to think she is. 

I'm dying to know if she bought a piece.  And if so...which one. 

Cute Photos of Zion

 

 

The Hollywood Manager

When your husband asks you if you own a gold chain he can wear.  For an audition.

The Little Prince

 

This precious child cried herself to sleep last night.  Belly cried into her pillow.

"Why did the snake bite the Little Prince?"  

"Why is he so evil?"

 "I'm so sad."

"Why did the Little Prince follow the snake"'

"Why did the Little Prince let the snake bite him?"

"Why did he even go near him?"

"Why did he even talk to the snake?  We're not supposed to talk directly to Satan!"

High discernment and excellent communication skills.  This kid.  She breaks my heart and gives it hope all at the same time.  

Things we need to talk about today:

The Little Prince was perceptive. He had insight and special knowledge.  He saw the elephant in the hat. He saw through the adults and their strange ideas.  He was wise.  He led the pilot to life giving water.  He was a caregiver.  He was innocent.  He chose to be bitten.  He sacrificed himself.  He lived on. 

Also though....

Was the author a believer?  Did Antoine De Saint-Exupery intend this story to be a Christian allegory?   Can it be read that way?  

Or is it to be viewed through a humanistic mindset.

Well, who knows???????

The story has obviously touched many people over many years and seems to perplex them all on some level.  

Man oh man...when you are the parents of a child who asks a lot of really good questions and feels things very deeply.  It is an honor to help her navigate life.  It is humbling. 

Redeeming Love - Chapters 18-22

"I don't plan on preaching at you, but I don't plan on giving up what I believe, either.  Not to make you comfortable.  Not for anything."

*1  Have you ever been in a situation where someone asks you to compromise your faith to make them more comfortable?  

*2  Have you ever been the one asking?

"Actually,  I fled.  I was fifteen, and she was more of a temptation than I could handle."  

*3  Michael knew being near the slave girl offered to him by his father was too much for him to handle.  He was aware of his weakness.  Take a moment to think about this.  Do any of your own weaknesses come to mind?  Situations you know would be difficult to navigate due to your weaknesses?  What snare might catch you?

Angel touched the smooth pink cheek-and suddenly she saw Duke's enraged face swimming before her eyes.

Then rain started again, and with it came her old ghosts. 

*We have no idea what battles people are fighting behind the scenes.  In their inner lives.  Just a thought.

At every turn, the girl undermined Angel's determination to remain aloof.  

*4  Have you ever had a Miriam in your life?  If so...describe some of the feelings you felt while she/he/ pursued you.

*5 Have you ever been a Miriam to someone who was trying to run and hide?  

Angel was disturbed that hey would go to so much work on her behalf.  The less they did, the less she would owe."

Expecting others to work for you and this ^...both rooted in pride.  Just a thought.


 Right from the first, Duke had bought her a wardrobe full of frilly frocks and white lace pinafores and filled her dresser drawers with satin ribbons and bows.  Most of her clothes had been made in Paris.

*6  Isn't that just like the enemy of our souls...to make beautiful things ugly?  To distort things.  Can you relate?  Has something lovely been soiled for you?  Do you believe the Lord can renew that?  Set it right?

"How could he still look at her with anything but loathing after all she had done?  How could he love her?"

*7  Ever felt this way?  Ever been the Michael in a situation?

"You know, sometimes you can hurt  yourself more by trying to keep yourself from being hurt!"

"She's afraid of being hurt."

"She's hurting herself now."

*8  This is one of the most difficult things to watch.  Have you ever lived it?  

She wondered now if Michael wasn't the answer to all things for her.  

Idols must be torn down.  Even when our idols are relationships.  Just a thought.

"He asked me to forgive him, and I told him he could rot in hell."

"He shot himself three days later."

Unforgiveness eats us alive.  Just a thought. 

Michael stood like a soldier going into battle.  "I can't have children."

Do you think there is ANYTHING Angel could have said that would have swayed Michael away from her?  

Mama had worked to keep Alex Stafford's love alive.  She had tried everything to please him and keep his passion alive.  Angel wondered now if it hadn't been those very efforts that served to drive him away.  Mama had been so hungry for his love.  Her entire life had revolved around Alex Stafford's coming to the small cottage.  Her happiness depended solely on him.  It had been an obsession. 

The way I see it...Angel left because she was afraid she would turn out to be just like her mother ...which would eventually... turn Michael into Alex Stafford. 

Whatever her motives for leaving...the Lord in His wisdom was using her time away from Michael... working behind the scenes......protecting her from idol worship. 





Chapters 23-27  / Friday March 7th

Our Walk in the Rain

Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who provides rain for the earth, Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.    Psalms 147:8

Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who provides rain for the earth, Who makes grass to grow on the mountains. - See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Rain#sthash.8cHGXo7v.dpuf

Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who provides rain for the earth, Who makes grass to grow on the mountains. - See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Rain#sthash.8cHGXo7v.dpuf

Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who provides rain for the earth, Who makes grass to grow on the mountains. - See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Rain#sthash.8cHGXo7v.dpuf