The Chronicles of Biscuit: I'll Try

Last week Biscuit and his brother were going golfing.  As Biscuit hugged me before going out the door, I said, "Be good!" I expected for him to reply, "Okay,", but instead he said, "I'll try."  I don't remember what I said afterwards....because I was thinking how honest he had been and cute it was....but most likely I said, "Well, try hard," or something to that effect.

Knowing Biscuit's previous experiences of golf trips with his brother and phone calls or reports I've gotten when they got home, some times Biscuit gets a little upset with his golf game.  But, some times even his older brother gets upset with his golf game and has a hard time being good, too.  I'm convinced that golf is one of the best ways to teach my boys about self control.  It's a hard process, but one that they are eventually learning to control their emotions more and more.  Sometimes they've had to learn that control by walking instead of riding in a cart (doesn't work with the oldest since he walks anyway) or they have to walk and not get to finish playing.  That really worked a few years ago when I was going with them often. Now that the oldest drives himself and his brother, I'm not always around to see everything.

So back to the, "I'll try," statement.  You know, sometimes "I'll try" is all we can do, isn't it?  We just have to try to improve our bad attitudes and actions.  As long as we continue to try, though, we will eventually see improvement.  And any improvement is growth.  The problem comes when we give up trying or just never try.

If you are a Christian, you received the Holy Spirit when you were baptized (Acts 2:38).  The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.  The Spirit will help you.  Your, "I'll try" gains power because it's no longer just what little you can do, but more about what GOD can do!  And He can do so much more than you could ever imagine!  And He can do amazing things through you and in you!  But, you have to try.  You must do your part. He will do His. And, let's give God thanks for that!

 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. 1 Corinthians 2:11-13

LIVE AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT!

For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 

Ephesians 5:5-9 NIV

Before the boys head out for school, we have a devotional with them. This was the passage for this morning, and it was a great one to send them into the "world" - where they could be tempted and persuaded.  It's a good reminder for all of us to LIVE AS THE LIGHT! 

If we are Christians, we are His children.  He wants us to live as His children, and sometimes it's hard for us to do that.  But He is there to help us. He will be right there with us! His Spirit lives within us, teaching us to say no to things we need to, and helping us to say YES to what is best.  

What a wonderful thought!  Happy Friday! Have a great weekend!

Mother/Daughter Road Trip - San Antonio and Fredericksburg

Before Lauren went to college, we didn't have time to take a weekend trip together, like I had wanted to.  Thankfully, it worked out that we  could take that trip this past weekend!  We had lots of fun, traveled lots of miles, saw new things, view some of God's beautiful creation, and made special memories.

Near the River Walk in San Antonio, we saw a few neat sites:  An old firetruck being towed...probably to that fire station museum or away from it.

Beautiful buildings with PALM TREES (I love seeing palm trees! I'm going to plant one - in southwest Oklahoma!)

The Alamo!  When Joe and I visited there years ago, I had no idea there was stuff behind this building! 

Lots of neat information about the history of the event, as well as a beautiful garden. There's a gift shop, too.

It was pouring rain as we walked along the River Walk! We had to stop in at CVS (which is right there on the River Walk) and buy ponchos.  But that's okay. :)

We ate at the Rainforest Cafe - a favorite place of our family, but we haven't been in several years.  Great food and great atmosphere! 

The mall had a GREAT Disney Store!  It even had a little castle room for little girls to admire their princess dresses.  Lauren tried it out!

The mall had a HUGE pair of boots outside of its entrance.

Saturday we went to Fredericksburg, TX. I had been there, but Lauren hadn't. We shopped up and down the main area, which was fun.

Then ate at Pasta Bella, a GREAT Italian restaurant.  Their Alfredo sauce is delicious!

Dessert was at Clear River, an ice cream, deli, and bakery shop. Very good!

                                               

We saw tons of bacon "stuff" and treats.  Hmmmmm.....Interesting.

It was a great mother/daughter weekend! We ended by attending a performance at the Rockbox Theater in Fredericksburg on Saturday night, then going to Bible class and worship and eating at the Peach Tree before heading back towards home.  It was a great little trip! I dropped my college girl off at her dorm, met her for lunch the next day, then headed back to Joe and the boys. I left her a fun surprise for her birthday, which was yesterday - lots of cupcakes and party supplies, so she could have a little birthday party in her dorm hall.

Thank you, God, for special times with my family...with all of them or one on one times.  A wonderful blessing.

Happy 19th Birthday, Lauren!

Even though I have been on a Mother/Daughter trip with Lauren and seen her the past five days, it was still waking up this morning and not being able to tell her "Happy Birthday" in person for the first time in 19 years!  I knew that some day I would not see her on her birthday, but 19 seemed to young for that!  But, we had a great long weekend together, so it will be okay (I'll tell about the trip tomorrow.)

I remember turning 19.  Even though I was going to be getting married soon, it was a weird age.  Not really a "teen" feel anymore, but not in the "total adult" ages yet, either.  Strange feeling!  Lauren said she felt that way, too, not too long ago!

The years have flown by. When I look at these pictures, some of those times seem like just a short time ago!  But then, when I think that it's been almost 20 years, reality hits....and I know it's really been a long time!

Technically Lauren will not be 19 until 9:45 p.m.  She took her time getting her, after my water breaking at midnight and heading to the hospital right after that! Nothing happened for 12 hours, so they induced me around noon.  Still nothing happened for several hours, but then I started making progress!  YAY!  There were a few scary times when Lauren's heartbeat would drop.  We didn't know if we were having a boy or girl, but when the nurse put a needle into the baby's head to track the heartbeat, she knew the baby had lots of hair! It's covered in the picture up above by a cap, but she had so much hair that it was even on her ears! She STILL has baby hair around the hairline! :)  It was an exciting time, and we were glad to welcome our baby girl!  I thought it was a boy, but had dreamed I was having a big, hairy girl a few weeks before!  (Sorry, Lauren!)  She weighed 8.9 lbs.

Dear Lauren,

Happy birthday!  We love you, and are so very proud of you - for who you are and what you are.  You are beautiful inside and out.  Your love for God is evident. You are making a difference in the lives of those around you - as well as in the lives of those who don't know you. You influence others by the way you live and the way you encourage.  We look forward to seeing how He directs your paths in the future.

Love, Mom and Dad

The Tongue - An Uncontrollable Evil

Don’t say anything that would hurt another person. Instead, speak only what is good so that you can give help wherever it is needed. That way, what you say will help those who hear you. Ephesians 4:29 (God's Word Translation)

I haven't read much about this God's Word Translation version - to make sure it is all translated according to the original meaning - but I sure like how blunt it is with things we all need to hear!

My words....maybe your words....sometimes come out of my mouth before I take time to think about them!  That's not good!

It's no wonder that James warned about the tongue in his letter.  It is an uncontrollable evil.  Scripture says "no one can tame the tongue", so it is hard.  We can't do it on our own, but with God's help....with the Holy Spirit working inside of us....we can tame it.  And we must, if we're striving to look more like Jesus.

If a person thinks that he is religious but can’t control his tongue, he is fooling himself. That person’s religion is worthless. 

James 1:26

 All of us make a lot of mistakes. If someone doesn’t make any mistakes when he speaks, he would be perfect. He would be able to control everything he does. ³ We put bits in the mouths of horses to make them obey us, and we have control over everything they do. ⁴ The same thing is true for ships. They are very big and are driven by strong winds. Yet, by using small rudders, pilots steer ships wherever they want them to go. ⁵ In the same way the tongue is a small part of the body, but it can brag about doing important things.

A large forest can be set on fire by a little flame. ⁶ The tongue is that kind of flame. It is a world of evil among the parts of our bodies, and it completely contaminates our bodies. The tongue sets our lives on fire, and is itself set on fire from hell. ⁷ People have tamed all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures. ⁸ Yet, no one can tame the tongue. It is an uncontrollable evil filled with deadly poison.

⁹ With our tongues we praise our Lord and Father. Yet, with the same tongues we curse people, who were created in God’s likeness. ¹⁰ Praise and curses come from the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, this should not happen! 

James 3:2-10

Let's think more about our words today, and use them to help, not hurt.  Let's strive to glorify God with our words!