tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333349328382044242024-03-12T16:27:15.866-07:00You Are a SoulWhat it means to be a woman, a wife, and a student, from a sinner that's still learning.You Are A Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13557581311900593236noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33334932838204424.post-61293594705283751642014-12-06T13:39:00.003-08:002014-12-06T13:39:51.999-08:00New BlogHi All!<br />
<br />
It's been nearly a year since I've posted anything.<br />
Shame on me.<br />
Life has been busy with a toddler.<br />
So I've decided to start a new blog that I hope to be more focused with a better domain name!<br />
I will now be blogging at:<br />
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orozconleche.com<br />
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Hope to see you all there! :)You Are A Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13557581311900593236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33334932838204424.post-60553495956080911452014-02-26T15:27:00.001-08:002014-02-26T17:49:52.720-08:00The Joy in SufferingAbout a month ago, I found myself praying something shocking. I prayed for suffering. I didn't directly come out and ask God to allow me to get into a car accident or anything like that. I had noticed that I was learning so much about Him and His character, but life's circumstances didn't really provide much opportunity to practice certain things I was learning. Of course I was still (and am still) battling the sins that so naturally reside in my heart, but I realized that my circumstances were comfortable. While I'm thankful for times when the waters are calm, I found myself praying that He would make me more like Jesus through whatever means necessary and whatever means would most glorify Him. I wanted to live out and exercise my faith. Be careful what you pray for.<br />
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Now, my trial isn't even close to what many saints have gone through or are currently going through. But it still shook me. I was sinned against. OK. That didn't sound too earth-shattering, I know. Let's just say that the sin against me was deep, unprovoked, and <i>way </i>out of left field. I was really hurt and profoundly shaken. By God's grace, my first instinct was to retreat to prayer. I wish I could write that I did that well. Even my first attempt at prayer was sinful. For the first minute or two, I was basically throwing myself a pity party and I invited the Sovereign as my sole guest.<br />
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He was so kind, though. I had been reading Hebrews 11 that week. The "hall of faith." Paragraph after paragraph of giants of the faith. The common thread all these shared was their obedience. They were all obedient to God's instruction albeit imperfectly. In their obedience, which was a result and act of faith, they were blessed. So, in this quiet moment of feeling helpless, I asked God, "What would you have me do?" When someone sins against you, there's really only one thing to do that will result in peace in your soul: you must forgive.<br />
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Forgiveness can seem impossible sometimes. But when it is when it's difficult to do that it is often wonderful to do. There were a few really great things that came out of this trial that I'm glad I got to practice or relearn.<br />
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Firstly, this trial provided a good reminder of the ugliness of sin. I felt betrayed, hurt and torn apart. It felt pretty miserable. And yet, this sin against me, as powerful as it was, was just a whisper of the grotesqueness of our sin against God. The sin in my trial was one sinner harming another sinner by one singular action. Our sin is against a Holy, perfectly beautiful, majestic God. And before salvation, it's an entire life lived in rebellion and defiance against Him. If that comparatively minuscule sin was as offensive to me as it was, how much so is our sin against God? This trial provided a good reminder of the gravity of sin -- of MY sin. And knowing how repulsive your sin is, makes the joy of your salvation all that more profound.<br />
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Secondly, I realized how focused I was on myself, or my indignation, or my pain. Focusing on the the reality of my offense made it hard to forgive. As long as my efforts and energy are poured into defending my righteous indignation, forgiveness can't be possible. For the Christian, there can no longer be any drive to hold on tightly to our "rights." I have no "right" to withhold forgiveness. My identity is found in Christ. This identity is one <i>based </i>on forgiveness. Because the entirety of my worth and value is dependent on the forgiving power of the cross, my life is no longer about me. It's about living in such a way that is a reflection of Christ's work on earth and on the cross.To focus on the offense (whether intentionally or just through a failure to fight against it) is a practical denial of what Christ has done and therefore a practical denial of your claim to Him in your identity.<br />
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After forgiving this person, I found that even though the relationship was on the mend, I still struggled with feelings of bitterness. Though I wasn't angry with the offense against myself, I found thoughts like, "How could this person do this?" enter my mind. Beware of bitterness. It's sneaky. Thoughts like this are usually present for one reason. It's a sign that resentment that is being harbored and that's an indication that there's a lack of understanding of what forgiveness means. When the offender seeks forgiveness from you after they have sought forgiveness from The Lord, it's helpful to understand that they are already forgiven by God. Thoughts of bitterness and resentment essentially ignore that truth. How arrogant of us to know that the Lord will actively choose to no longer remember that person's wrong doing and yet, through bitterness and resentment, we keep replaying the offense in our own mind! If the Lord has chosen to not remember, we must as well.<br />
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But to CHOOSE not to remember is easier said than done. Lastly, I found that even though I no longer wanted to have bitterness, it kept creeping in my thoughts. I was reminded of a couple of things. Firstly, our nature is so wicked! I was reminded of what Paul said in the 7th chapter of his epistle to the Romans when he said that that which he wanted to do he didn't do, and that which he didn't want to do, he found himself doing. That is every believer's struggle. I was also reminded of the need to take every thought captive. Thoughts can be so destructive. They seems innocent. We often view thoughts not as something we control, but as things that just wash over us. This is how we get into trouble. Taking thoughts captive is hard. But if we want to improve our relationship with God and stop sin dead in its tracks, it's so necessary. Then I was reminded of how to do this is a complete act of dependence on grace. There were so many times I wanted to be bitter, but I had to just trust that thinking about something else was better for me than what my sinful flesh wanted to think about. It's far better to meditate on a truth or promise found in the Word of God than to allow your mind to wallow in ugly bitterness, even if bitterness seems to promise cleansing. Instead of thinking, "What kind of person would do this?" I would think, "Thank you, Lord for this trial to give me the opportunity to see your faithfulness in this way."<br />
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Let me say this, I wouldn't recommend you pray for suffering. Life will bring it on its own. But do be prepared for it. During times of rest and peace, arm yourself with scripture so you have a well-stocked armory when the battle for your mind and affections wages. It's the only way to rise from the ashes of the trial singing, "It is well with my soul!"You Are A Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13557581311900593236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33334932838204424.post-10216196097741421922014-02-10T22:14:00.003-08:002014-02-10T22:14:39.965-08:00The Beauty of God's Novel: A Book Review of N.D. Wilson's Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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On special
occasions, most women wear lipstick. Speaking from a purely objective
and rational perspective, this makes no sense. Painted lips serve no
practical purpose. And yet, when our anniversary rolls around year
after year, we pull out our most inviting shade. We do it in the name
of beauty. We do it for an audience of one. And we do it to compel
our husbands to delight in us. N.D. Wilson argues that all of
creation exists for the same reason painted lips do: to compel its
audience to delight. However, we are not the audience for which
creation exists. We are part of the creation. We, along with super
novas, spiders, snowflakes and volcanoes, exist for God. In his book,
<i>Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl,</i>
N.D. Wilson explores the implications of a truth we readily accept,
but probably rarely meditate on: that all of creation (including us)
is the spoken word of God. He examines this doctrine in light of
God's creative power and purpose. We are His novel. We are his
tapestry. We are His characters whose purpose is to act out His grand
narrative. We exist for an audience of One. It is all for the
pleasure of the singular Triune God.
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Each
chapter and section of the book has an overarching theme that either
examines the implications of his thesis or gives insight into how he
arrived at his thesis. The themes include the problem of
evil,assumptions about beauty, heaven and hell,the human need to
explain our existence, the theory of natural selection in evolution,
the authority of God, the incarnation of Christ, and the gospel. For
many of these, he employs a helpful and comical technique. He boils
down the seminal work of some philosophical giant and tests the
strength of the philosopher's conclusion. This summation is usually
followed by a graciously witty dismissal that cleverly highlights the
theory's shortcomings or even its practical absurdities. In my
opinion, this tactic of his allows his levity to shine. In listing
several philosophers, Wilson mentions Hume: “David Hume, the Scot
<i>(knowingly) </i>declared
God and knowledge impossible without any apparent sense of irony.”
With his treatment of themes like the incarnation and the gospel, the
reader is left with a fresh perspective arrived at through the lens
of Wilson's thesis and new beauty in old truths is exposed.
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Appropriate
to his premise, the style of this book is very poetic. Some might
find his style off-putting. The entire work is an artistic endeavor
and that is made clear from the very beginning. Sometimes, sentences
feel choppy and thoughts don't always have the fluidity we've come to
expect from Christian books. But considering the purpose of the book
is to get its readers to appreciate the whole of creation as God's
artistry, the style is fitting. If his thesis interests you in the
slightest, don't let the unconventional style deter you from
immersing yourself in the book. If the idea of poetic Christian prose
excites you, that is essentially what this book offers.
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Wilson's
greatest strength besides the originality of his topic and approach
is his command of language. Wilson has an ability to demand wonder
and amazement from his reader as he explores the profound
implications of his thesis. His use of imagery, analogy and wit to
get an idea across is unparalleled. It should be noted that at times,
Wilson's word choice can be crude and even a little shocking. (This
is probably why it isn't available in the church bookstore). Approach
the book with caution as it does contain strong – potentially
offensive – language and consider yourself warned. If you feel that
flow, subject matter, tone, and poetic license can lend leniency, be
forgiving. Please don't misunderstand me. His choice to employ strong
language is certainly not gratuitous. Nor does he chose to do so
often. But it does occur.
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There
are two things a reader should be aware of as they read this book.
Wilson's theology doesn't line up perfectly with what our husbands
are being taught. The discrepancies don't affect the effectiveness of
the book, but there are small moments that they do appear. This is
particularly true eschatologically and in his chapter on hell. So,
take that with a grain of salt. Secondly, and really just a personal
annoyance, is Wilson's treatment of C.S. Lewis' <i>The Great
Divorce. </i>It would behoove the
reader to know that <i>The Great Divorce </i>is
a work of fiction. This is something Wilson neglects to mention and,
to some, may result in Lewis seeming like a theological loon. But
this grievance is very insignificant to the whole of the book. Some
will buy <i>Notes </i>and
wonder why I so highly praised it. It won't be everyone's cup of tea.
But you'd still have to honestly admit that it's not like anything
else you've ever read. All in all, I'd highly recommend this book,
particularly to the young adult believer who is feeling beaten up by
his/her Philosophy 101 class. If nothing else, it's a fun read.
Wilson's competence as a story teller is a rare find and he does have
great stories to tell in this book. Wilson has also authored a number
of adventurous chapter books for children. Or adults who like
children's literature.
</div>
You Are A Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13557581311900593236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33334932838204424.post-84631066210619766702014-01-26T17:24:00.004-08:002014-02-10T22:14:50.394-08:00Next ChapterSergio and I kind of exist by semester. As long as we've been together, it's been this way. We were college students when we met, dated, got engaged, and during the first two and a half years of our marriage. Then he started seminary. And though my days aren't measured by deadlines and finals anymore, I still feel the burden of them. Even though I don't have winter and summer breaks from studies, I still enjoy them as just that. I no longer have "first days back," but they still encroach bringing excitement, anticipation, and hopeful planning alongside them.<br />
<br />
Well, we recently started a new semester. Last semester was our first as parents. In a way, this semester feels like a first as well. I guess it really isn't, but it feels that way sometimes. This time around, by the time school started, we felt settled. The newness of being parents has worn off (although it still hits me at random times). Calvin and I are in a groove in our day to day routine. We get each other. He knows how to let me do my housework and I know when I've asked too much of him and he needs some play time with his mother... or a nap. We eagerly await my husband's return at the end of the day. And we feel so thrilled (in a settling way) when he does arrive. We are comfortable.<br />
<br />
Sergio and I evaluate each semester. We don't formally sit down and write out our hopes and plans, but we do talk about them at each school break. We communicate what we would like to see done better or differently than the previous semester and what we would like to see accomplished in the one to come.<br />
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I'm keeping myself busy this semester. I'm attending Every Woman's Grace, a women's group bible study that meets weekly. We go through a study of a book of the Bible by doing homework-styled questions pertaining to the book. I'm still a part of the Seminary Wives fellowship that also meets weekly. It is a group of women married to seminary students that break into smaller groups for the purpose of encouragement, edification, praying for and building one another up. I'm also exercising regularly and we have decided to bring in Sergio's parents' dog, Paxton. This isn't to mention some of the books I want to read! In addition to these, I have a couple side projects in mind that would use some of my gifts to serve the body in different ways.<br />
<br />
As wonderful as all these things are, I think that this semester will be a good measuring stick for my threshold of time management. I don't want to neglect my duties and responsibilities in the home (as they are my first priority). But Sergio and I also want our family life to revolve around the church. We want to love what Christ loves and the church is his bride. We want to establish those relationships, grow in our understanding of Scripture, and serve our brothers and sisters. We want our son to see the love of Christ displayed in what we choose to do with our time. So this semester will really be instrumental in me finding that balance of time in the home and time outside of it.<br />
<br />
I have women in my life whom I love, admire, and want to emulate who vary greatly in their involvement in activities outside the home. I've come to the conclusion that the amount of things someone can put on their plate and execute well is different from person to person. I don't know how many things I can do yet. That's what I'm trying to determine. And I realize that things will also change as life's circumstances do (finances, more children, etc.).<br />
<br />
So far, about two weeks in, it's going well. I don't feel at all overwhelmed or stretched too thin. I'm feeling refreshed, encouraged and blessed. Above all though, I want the Lord to be glorified in my life. I so don't want to compromise my relationship with him or my calling to my husband, children and home to pursue other things. I think it'll be a good learning experience. If I have bags under my eyes come June, you'll know why and I'm sure another blog post about the lesson I learned will soon follow!You Are A Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13557581311900593236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33334932838204424.post-73113805392908785162013-10-28T23:31:00.002-07:002013-10-30T12:57:46.221-07:00My New JobI really don't know how long this post will be. It's 11 pm. I don't feel like sleeping, which I should do, or taking a shower, which I should also do. My husband is burning the midnight oil, diligently studying some foreign language. Probably Hebrew. My son has been asleep for the last three hours. I know I'm going to have to wake up in about 4 hours to change his diaper, so I should be getting to bed as soon as possible, but there's just something in me that won't allow it.<br />
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"How do you like being a mom?" I feel like I've been asked that a lot lately. I usually say something like, "I love it!" or "It's fantastic." They feel like such generic responses, but I genuinely do love it, and it genuinely is fantastic! I don't know that any woman has ever answered that question any other way. Things have gotten much easier than in the early weeks. Cal is on a great schedule that works with our daily routines. Between my mom and mother-in-law, I have babysitting available 24/7. He's sleeping about 10-11 hours through the night (minus a routine diaper change in the middle and the occasional pacifier demand). And he's cuter than I had predicted him to be!<br />
<br />
He has started to laugh a lot. He's happy to see me each morning when I come to his crib to greet him. He loves watching Veggie Tales (for about 20 minutes. He's still just a baby.) He has started to show the early stages of teething. He's still cute even when he drools! How is that possible?! He has started to respond to instruction. That's one of the coolest things of all!<br />
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As great as all of these things are, they are not exclusively what makes me love my new role as "Mommy." You know what I love most about being a mom? The influence. I get this person for about two decades to instruct, raise, shape and influence. No one else can do what I do for this little guy. I have been given the opportunity to share my life and give of myself to a tiny person who needs everything done for him. Sometimes, I get to receive a toothless grin as payment for services rendered. Later, I get to set a foundation on which he gets to grow -- a foundation that will be with him for the rest of his life! I get to love him. I get to be the first person he loves! That blows my mind away! Sergio and I get to be the first example of the love between man and wife to him. I get to be the first example of Christ's love to people. No one else can do those things for him like I can.<br />
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There can be nothing more fulfilling or rewarding than motherhood. I refuse to believe there is. With that said, I'm so thankful that I have the opportunity to do it full-time without the demands of another job. Given this job's importance, endless demands, and my unique giftedness to meet them, why would I want to be anywhere else but home? There's very little out there that requires more of a sacrifice. But there's also nothing out there that offers a reward that even pales in comparison to the glorious rewards of motherhood.You Are A Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13557581311900593236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33334932838204424.post-46267778611940280942013-09-30T21:46:00.002-07:002013-09-30T21:46:45.220-07:00New Year's ResolutionsI feel kind of silly to have "resolutions" as my topic when we are only about to embark on October. As if the holidays don't come too quickly on their own, here I am talking about a holiday tradition that is still months away.<br />
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Truth be told, I'm not one for new year's resolutions. I don't mean that I don't make them. I make them pretty much every year. What I mean is that they lose their novelty quickly. I suppose that's true for most people. But, throughout the year, they are resurrected and pursued for a season until circumstances fade them into the background again. I think that's normal, right?<br />
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My resolutions generally fall somewhere within three or four categories. They are generally spiritual, physical, and day-to-day. Specifically, they are usually, "read my Bible more," "workout more," "become better organized." Occasionally, I'll be driven to be more frugal.<br />
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Don't we live life like this? We begin on a new journey with energy and vigor. The demands of day-to-day life begin to creep and you've realized you haven't prioritized those resolutions enough, or intentionally carved out time for them, to sustain the momentum you began with.<br />
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Unfortunately, this is also true for our walk in the faith. It's not something to boast in, but I don't think it's something to beat yourself up about either. God knows His creation. He knows how easily we forget and how easily derailed we are by distractions. But He's patient. And loving. And available. And accessible. And faithful. And forgiving. And kind. And merciful. And gracious.<br />
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I just want to encourage anyone that might be reading and feeling like they are in a significant low point in their obedience and walk. Firstly, repent. God is gracious and eager to forgive. Secondly, don't feel like you have go into an emotional whirlwind stirring up your affections so you can "recommit" your life to Christ. Just start practicing obedience again with diligence, humility, and dependence on grace.<br />
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Jonathan Edwards had great resolutions. 70 of them. Here are some:<br />
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#25 Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.<br />
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#42 Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism; which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the communion o the church; and which I have solemnly re-made this twelfth day of January.<br />
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#60 Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination.<br />
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#53 Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer.<br />
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#3 Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.<br />
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So, though it is nearly October, renew a diligent pursuit of the resolutions you made earlier this year so you can close 2013 on a high note and embrace 2014 with the joy the Lord provides!You Are A Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13557581311900593236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33334932838204424.post-57884467035427234882013-08-20T20:49:00.002-07:002013-08-20T21:12:51.221-07:00My Adventures in Motherhood and Some Words for Moms-to-be. My darling boy is six weeks old. It is surreal to think that I have been a mother for over a month. These last few weeks have been filled with all kinds of emotions that I'd rather not admit to. I have felt overwhelmed, anxious, and weary. There have been times when I have been overcome by fear (usually irrational), or felt hopelessly helpless as desperate cries of despair fill my ears. There have been times that - because of unintentional words or circumstances - I have felt like a bad mother. And there have been times that I questioned whether or not my son even liked me.<br />
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To all mothers-to-be, those first few weeks are hard. Very hard. So many emotions cloud your judgment and it's not surprising that even some of the godliest of women struggle against post-partum depression. If you're reading this and are pregnant, be aware of the trials ahead. If you are a brand new mom experiencing this, I can relate and trust me, it does get better.<br />
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I've come to appreciate certain truths that have sustained me through this trying time. Firstly, knowing that my task of raising this adorable little boy is given by God specifically and purposefully to me has been encouraging. It has been easy for my mind to lend itself to thoughts that perhaps other women are better equipped to be mothers than me or even thoughts that I'm a subpar mother. But, considering my commitment to be faithful and obedient to God's instructions, I know that there is no other mother better suited for Calvin than me. Yes, I'm not as experienced as some women may be, and I often doubt my abilities, but I need to trust that God knew what He was doing when he gave me Calvin and when he gave Calvin me. He needs me. He doesn't need me plus grandmothers (although they are super helpful and truly blessings from the Lord). He doesn't need me plus other women. He doesn't need me plus other family members. He needs me as a mother and Sergio as a father. And nothing else. And Sergio and I need grace (and tons of it).<br />
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Secondly, I have a new appreciation for a dependence on the sovereign will of God. Of course I want to be diligent in my obedience to God as I raise my son, but using my best judgment in whether or not to establish a strict feeding and sleeping schedule will not matter in the long run. (The long run meaning Calvin's adulthood). Decisions like that are completely within my discretion and knowing that God's will will be done, reassures my heart. I can't screw up God's will for us when I pursue wisdom and His glory. That's settling.<br />
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Lastly, it's helpful to remember that I - and no one else - will be accountable for Calvin. New moms get loads (LOADS) of well-meaning (and sometimes pushy) advice from every direction. When you're in an already emotional state questioning whether or not your son has some deep-seeded disdain for you, it's really easy to take that advice and put too much stock in it. It's easy to second-guess decisions you've already carefully thought out because you feel pressured to not ruin your child's psychological development by letting him cry himself to sleep once in a while -- even when you know he can. But when I remind myself that I (I! Not so-and-so) am going to have to give an account for what I decided to do for and with my child, it helps to trust my gut.<br />
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Besides marriage, this has been the greatest journey. Yes I have been tired. And yes, I have struggled with grumpiness and irritation. And yes, I have been jealous of those who were able to shower on any given day. But my son's face, the way he looks at me when he's fighting naps, the way he grabs my fingers while I'm feeding him, the way his head bobbles when Sergio burps him, the way his mouth stays open when he's falling asleep to a feeding, the way he cries sometimes (he says, "ah-la!"), it makes my days full of joy and purpose. Being a mom is the greatest feeling and occupation in the world. It really is. There is nothing I'd rather do.<br />
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I just want to close with this considering I know a lot of women who are pregnant with their first babies. Please let me encourage you in the following ways:<br />
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-- Seek the Lord and His wisdom throughout all you decide for your children.<br />
-- Submit to the leadership of your husbands. (Just because you are suddenly endowed with a mother's instinct, does not justify contradicting the leadership God has placed over you. Besides, you'll find that they are generally more clueless than you and will usually defer to your judgment anyway).<br />
-- Ask for the opinions of those your respect, and politely listen to the opinions of those who like to give it a bit too eagerly, but rely on your own filter of all those opinions.<br />
-- Sing hymns to your baby. You'll find you're singing them to yourself too.<br />
-- Consider long term goals when you make little decisions.<br />
-- Do not neglect the relationship with your husband. The best thing you can do for your baby is to have a strong, vibrant, happy marriage.<br />
-- Don't overlook or underestimate how well you know YOUR baby. The best advice may not be applicable for YOUR baby, and so don't feel bad when you've tried something that didn't pan out.<br />
-- Don't focus on how unattractive you feel. That too shall pass. And besides, you're a mom now. There is a whole new beauty that comes with that.<br />
-- Remember that your baby won't remember the times that his/her crying was your fault.<br />
-- Pray more for wisdom and grace than for anything else (including sleep -- though you will definitely be praying for that too).<br />
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I'm sure there are tons more. But, I don't want to be one of those people that are "too eager" to give counsel. :)You Are A Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13557581311900593236noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33334932838204424.post-30801068578759050842013-07-09T14:23:00.002-07:002013-07-09T14:24:11.920-07:00Best Fourth of July EverOn July 4th, 2013 our son, Calvin Peter Orozco was born.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MGScfmWB5Xa2b36FUKSw92c80GyIt6359WsU4G0kXF1b73XMJ23sG4VNvZFdtobjUZHGUIdZ3SjQmn6zFKYS7bcCbB0Vj9dRZb3hEHZz3HJS9tMCu_zDwZ_2N8drZxDr-9QJWL5Gi7I/s1600/Calvin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MGScfmWB5Xa2b36FUKSw92c80GyIt6359WsU4G0kXF1b73XMJ23sG4VNvZFdtobjUZHGUIdZ3SjQmn6zFKYS7bcCbB0Vj9dRZb3hEHZz3HJS9tMCu_zDwZ_2N8drZxDr-9QJWL5Gi7I/s640/Calvin.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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He was born in Glendale on Thursday, July 4th at 9:43 am. He weighed 7lbs 15oz and measured at 22 inches long.<br />
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I'm in love.You Are A Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13557581311900593236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33334932838204424.post-70692708162535634082013-07-01T15:05:00.001-07:002013-07-01T15:12:55.867-07:00Preparing for Calvin: Part Three; Prayers for the Hearts of my Husband and my SonThankfully, now we are logistically prepared for the arrival of our first child. The car seat is in the car, the crib is assembled, and his closet is organized and diapers are handy. See, we're not <i>that </i>negligent. But one day after his due date, Calvin is still comfortably mooching off in my womb. We are eager to meet this little boy, but he seems content to make us wait. I guess he's doing this because he knows I still have not finished my series of blog posts. He's so smart!<br />
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Well, in the two previous posts, I've explained the ways in which I'm spiritually, mentally and emotionally preparing for the arrival of my son. The first way was through reading. The second way was through prayer. I explained that I bring myself up to the throne of grace often and pray for my own ability to mother him. Well, I also pray for two other people quite regularly.<br />
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The first is for Sergio, my husband and Calvin's dad. I'm sure anyone who reads this blog on a somewhat regular basis already knows how I feel about my husband. (He's FANTASTIC!) And I don't mean to sound like a broken record, but I really do love him and admire his character. He's faithful to me and to our covenant bond of marriage in ways in which many people don't even consider.<br />
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When a woman has this type of man by her side, it's easy to eagerly want to do what is in his best interest. This desire to serve him plays out differently from day to day, but the best thing I can do for him is pray for him. I do this often. I pray for his safety, for his health, etc. but today, I'm going to talk about how I'm specifically praying for him as we wait to be given a baby to raise.<br />
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Firstly, and most importantly, I'm praying for his relationship with the Lord. Before he can be a faithful husband and father, he must be a faithful follower of Christ. A man's relationship before God governs the quality of his relationship to his family and to anyone else. When his relationship to his Savior is tested, frayed, or weakened, it's only a matter of time before his relationship with his wife and his children will be negatively affected. My primary prayer for my husband is that God's grace sustains his faith and confidence in Christ and that He give Sergio the desire, drive, and diligence to continue to pursue Him as his greatest treasure.<br />
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Secondly, I'm praying for Sergio to be given abundant wisdom and clarity as to what is required of him as a husband and as a father. The best way for a man to be a great father is to first be a great husband. Nothing gives a child a better sense of security and love than a mother and a father who are wholly committed to the strength of their marriage. Sergio excels in this area. I pray that God continues to give him the grace needed to excel still more. But there also exists the need for wisdom and clarity in God's calling for fathers. At the end of the day, when Sergio comes before God to give an account for his life, the buck stops with him for the state of his household. He will have to give an account for his performance as the head and leader of the household. That is exclusively the role of the husband/father. It can't be a charge that is neglected or taken lightly and I pray that Sergio remains mindful and consistent. I believe he will.<br />
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Lastly, I pray for Sergio's biblical convictions to remain strong and for those convictions to be lived out in every area of his life. It's one thing to communicate convictions to children. It's quite another for them to see you cherish them and live them out with joy. I'm praying for Sergio's courage and boldness in this as our society is quickly changing into one that is hostile to many of the convictions we hold. I do not want our children to see us waver out of fear of man or persecution. I want them to see us love our Lord's standards and I want them to see it especially in their father.<br />
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The other person I'm praying for is Calvin. Duh! Firstly, I'm praying for Calvin's level of understanding. I know that as his mother, I'll be in the unique position to speak truth into his life more often than any one else - especially in the early years. I'm praying that God gives him a mind that is eager to listen and learn and understand. I pray that he's a little boy who asks a lot of questions, who loves to read, and who knows how to use his imagination skillfully. I pray that he desires to soak up as much knowledge as possible and for a desire to live out the knowledge and truth he does acquire.<br />
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The other way I'm praying for Calvin is in the company he keeps. The Lord was very gracious to me in the friends I made throughout my childhood, adolescence, and now adulthood. Not all were necessarily Christian or came from a Christian home, but he spared me from potentially corrupting elements. Children are impressionable and easily swayed. And rarely do they have the wisdom to discern when they are being influenced negatively. In his childhood, I pray that God gives Calvin friendships that would be edifying and that would point him back to Christ. In adolescence, I pray that God shapes and informs his discernment as he makes friends that will have a significant impact on his development into adulthood.<br />
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In my own adulthood, the Lord has blessed me with a wealth of godly women friends of all ages from whom to draw wisdom and insight. They have labored with me in prayer over countless issues, spoke into my life, helped me to see God in areas of my life that I was ignoring or neglecting, and have provided nuggets of truth that I often turn to when I'm in sin. I pray that God gives Calvin an army of godly men to surround him in this same way. Also, I pray that God makes Calvin the kind of friend and the kind of man that would edify, challenge, and sharpen other men as iron sharpens iron for the glory of God and the building up of His church.<br />
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Lastly, and most importantly, I'm praying for Calvin's salvation. I realize that this prayer really should've been the first mentioned as it dictates the rest. If Calvin is full of biblical knowledge, and knows how to play the part of the Christian, but has never been redeemed through Christ, it's all hypocrisy and he would just be a pharisee. The reason I saved this for last is because I can instill in him a habit of reading and study. I should and I will. I can also instruct him in how to be a good friend and when he's little, I can have authority over the company he keeps. But when it comes to the regeneration of his heart and the salvation of his soul, I can do nothing but pray. Sure, I can teach him what the bible says on the matter - and I will - and I can point to ways to look for evidence of his salvation - and I will. I can even encourage him to search his own heart and question its motives - and I will. But I cannot ensure there any specific conditions in our home that will guarantee his salvation. Nor will any amount of prayer guarantee his salvation. I can only pray for it and trust that the Lord has already decided the final state of his soul.<br />
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In one sense, this can be discouraging. Why bother going through all the trouble of raising up a child in a Christian home with Christian standards if there's no guarantee of his eternal security? Raising up a child in this manner requires sacrifice, denial of yourself, and hard labor. But in another, more real sense, it's a relief. My faithfulness to raise my child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord is not primarily to ensure a specific outcome for my child: it is an expression of my love and desire for obedience to the Lord that saved me. That love for Him then secures my confidence in that whether he saves my son or not, He will be glorified for eternity. Therefore, my joy in Him not dependent on circumstance, not even the circumstance of my son's eternal security. His glory - not my children's salvation - is my soul's joy and satisfaction.<br />
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So, that's how I'm preparing for the newest addition to our family. This is how I will prepare for all subsequent additions, however many that will be. As for now, we patiently (not always as patiently as I ought) await God's blessing and know with a heavy heart that ultimately, this child (just like everything else we have authority over) is not mine. He is the Lord's and I am just a steward until the Lord sees fit to end my stewardship for his purposes.<br />
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Just waiting for the labor pains to begin.... :)You Are A Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13557581311900593236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33334932838204424.post-24317739189746642942013-04-27T09:44:00.000-07:002013-04-27T09:44:42.570-07:00Preparing for Calvin Part Two: Prayer for my Own Heart and SoulFirstly, I know that this post is long overdue. I had intended to post it so much sooner. It's not that I didn't know what I would write. I've had it all mapped out since the beginning. But I didn't want to write this hastily without contemplation, so I let it stew in my mind for a few days. And then, before you know it, a few more days went by and I still had not written anything. This morning, Sergio along with a few men from our Bible study are at our home having breakfast for a monthly meeting as they go over Al Mohler's book, <i>A Conviction to Lead. </i>I'm at Starbucks and so I thought this would be a great opportunity to finally write what has been on my mind for some of the last week and a half.<br />
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In my last entry, I mentioned how we have done little to prepare for baby Calvin practically. That hasn't changed this week. But I mentioned how despite my lack of practical measures taken towards his arrival, I have been vigilant in spiritual preparation.<br />
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Firstly, my preparation has taken form in reading. Primarily, reading the Bible is the most beneficial measure of preparedness. Secondly, reading good parenting books by well-learned and Biblically wise people has spoken into my heart as I begin to think about a life of child-rearing.<br />
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The second way I'm preparing for Calvin's debut is in prayer.<br />
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As sort of a preface, as well as a connecting thought between the two blog posts, though prayer can be seen as a separate point/measure, it actually penetrates into my reading life as well. The reason is that when we're talking about the Bible, it's one thing to read it and it's quite another to read it and allow the Holy Spirit to pierce your soul THROUGH reading it. Reading your Bible for the sake of knowing what it says is nothing beyond a human endeavor. It is independent of divine intervention, and really serves no other purpose beyond an academic one.<br />
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To read your Bible for the purpose of allowing it to inform and transform first your heart/affections, then your mind/thought processes, then your life/behaviors is a spiritual endeavor dependent on God the Spirit. It's something that you can't leave up to your own ability. Just try and you'll realize that after a short-lived spiritual "high," all you'll have are vapors and you're running on fumes longing to recapture a subjective and shallow experience in your past. For the Bible to inform your living to the point of change, there must be a complete and vulnerable dependence on the Holy Spirit to complete the task. This is a humbling reality that causes me to come before the throne of grace often to ask for understanding and discernment and rejoice in the fact that God is far more able to provide these than I am to seek them out.<br />
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There are three people I'm fervently praying for as I prepare for Calvin. These three people are myself, Sergio, and Calvin. Of course, I'm praying for all who will be in Calvin's life (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, church family, friends), that they would be blessings to him and examples of God's grace to us, but I know that there is a greater need to bring myself, my husband, and my little son up in prayer as I think about the task of raising a child in the fear and admonition of the Lord.<br />
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Firstly, I'm praying for myself.<br />
I'm praying for my own spiritual growth<br />
<i>"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:14-17</i><br />
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The truths of God are food to the regenerated heart. And, like food, we don't reach a point in this life time where we've had enough to live on for an extended period of time. You are always either eating, digesting, or starving. The Christian life is not stagnant. You are either learning, growing, or regressing. My son is going to see that. And children are more observant than I think adults generally give them credit for. I'm not saying I don't anticipate Calvin will see me sin. I know he will. But I want there to be evidence to his heart of a kind and loving God who is growing ALL his children, including his mommy. (Side note: "Mommy"... whoa... weird).<br />
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I'm praying for a faithful commitment to my charge of parenting.<br />
<i>"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:4-9</i><br />
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Israel was instructed to teach their children diligently, when they sat, when they walked, when they lay down and when they rose. Essentially, taking every opportunity presented to instruct them about their God. I'm not even the parent to a speaking child yet and I already find it easy to dismiss children's inquisitions that I either don't feel like talking about or don't have the answers for. This is so contrary to the principle laid out in Deuteronomy! What a disservice I would do to little Calvin if I didn't look for and seize every opportunity to inform him about Christ, my faith, God's love, and everything else found in the pages of Scripture! No one wants to set their children up for failure. And yet, that's the reality we flirt with when we become haphazard or lackadaisical about diligently teaching and correcting them because of selfish motives.<br />
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I'm praying for my own wisdom and patience.<br />
<i>"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." James 1:2-5 </i><br />
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<i>and</i><br />
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<i>"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control..." Galatians 5:22-23</i><br />
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Sergio and I will be parents who spank. I know that spanking is becoming a taboo sin in the eyes of our culture as time goes on. And I partly think that there is good reason for spanking to be viewed as harmful and barbaric. When people vilify spanking, I think that there is a general concept of spanking that they are standing firmly against. The kind of spanking that comes to mind is an enraged mother or father unloading their discontentment or anger on a poor defenseless and confused child who has somehow fallen short of their selfish expectations. And yes, that is horrible! That is NOT the kind of spanking Sergio and I will be doing.<br />
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But, our children will know that there are consequences to their actions. Not every time, but sometimes (particularly when their smaller and have less capacity for lectures), those consequences will be spanking. Their spanking will be done in private so as to not shame them in front of others. It will be done as a result of deliberately and sinfully failing to obey Mom or Dad. It will not be done out of anger. If their disobedience particularly angers me, I'll probably have to delay the punishment for a brief period of time to pray, get rid of my pride, and get my heart right before the Lord so that I'm not sinning against Him or my child. Their spanking will be accompanied with an explanation of their offense against the authority God has placed in their lives (Mom and Dad) and consequently, their rebellion against God. It will also be explained that Mom and Dad also have to be obedient to God and other authorities in their lives and that the chastisement is done out of love and a desire for them to learn from mistakes to show that it is better to obey than it is to rebel. Because loving obedience results in blessing. Spanking will be accompanied with affection and it will never be followed by maintained anger or resentment. It will always restore the relationship to the state it was in before the offense was committed because that is its purpose.<br />
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When done appropriately, spanking is a wonderful opportunity to display loving correction and ultimately to explain the gospel to little unregenerate hearts that need it so desperately -- regardless of how cute their faces are.<br />
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With that said, I'm not so deluded as to believe that I will do this perfectly each time. I'm a sinner. And I know that I will probably spank out of anger sometimes. But I pray to have wisdom in the manner I choose to deal with disobedience, and that I be governed by love and patience for my child, not selfish desires to have my wishes met by my children's behavior, lest I provoke them to anger. If and when I spank wrongly, I pray that I have the humility to seek forgiveness from my children, showing them that I am not above God's standards for life and that I, too, love to be obedient to God.<br />
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I feel like this might be enough for one blog post. I had intended to go on to explain how I'm preparing for baby Calvin in how I'm praying for Sergio and for him, but I think I need to save that for another day as well. I apologize! but I didn't realize how much prayer I needed!<br />
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So, stay tuned. Next time: how I'm preparing for baby through prayer for Sergio and for Calvin.<br />
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Thankful for your partnership in prayer!You Are A Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13557581311900593236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33334932838204424.post-70435376892071893362013-04-17T11:07:00.002-07:002013-04-17T18:56:38.185-07:00Preparing for Calvin Part OneWell, baby Calvin is due at the end of June. That's just over two months from now. Sergio and I are eager to meet this little man. (My eagerness is partly influenced by the fact that I'm not crazy about being pregnant and am quite ready for it to be over).<br />
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Sergio and I are not planners. What's more, we're both procrastinators. So when people ask, "What do you still need to get ready?" My response is, "Everything." We have some baby clothes as well as bottles that a couple of families have graciously handed down. We have a small supply of diapers and baby formula ready to go in case he comes early. And the baby registry is mostly finished. But that's it. What more is there? I have no idea. I figure we'll learn as we go. We're experts at winging it.<br />
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But there are aspects of child-rearing that I am not leaving to chance. No, I have not read up on colic, sleeping patterns, development markers for growth, diaper rash, baby Einstein videos, or toys to help motor skills. I probably will one day soon, (or not, who knows.) but that's not what is consuming my head space when it comes to preparing for baby Calvin. The two major things I'm doing to be adequately prepared for this little gift is reading and praying.<br />
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*I won't be able to exhaust all I want to say in one sitting. So today, I will expound what I'm reading in preparation for baby Calvin and either later today or tomorrow, I will write about what I'm praying in preparation for him.*<br />
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As broad as reading and praying are, they each have particular and specific manifestations.<br />
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My reading falls into two categories. The Bible and parenting books.<br />
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In preparation for Calvin, I'm reading the bible. I want my own knowledge of God to be built up so that my life is an informed and intentional living sacrifice to the God who saved me from my own sin. First Peter 2:9 says, "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." I was saved so that my life could be one of good works as a form of worship to God and as a testimony of his goodness to an unbelieving world. Because my husband is a believer, and therefore a fellow heir in Christ, my first evangelistic ministry is to my children. My life ought to be a living example of God's kindness and mercy to them. And my understanding of God informs and enhances my ability to live out this task.<br />
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A deeper understanding of God not only motivates my living for him, but it allows me to directly and correctly instruct my children. Though it is essential, it's not enough to assume that my holy living will inform my son about the characteristics of God. I need to be able to communicate those truths to him at every level of his understanding. In order for me to do that, I need to know those truths like the back of my hand. Second Peter 1:3 says, "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence." The Bible contains all truths that "pertain to life and godliness." Have you seen how big the Bible is?! Then you can appreciate the burden and gravitas of that charge!<br />
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Well, I'm not just reading the Bible in preparation for baby Calvin. I'm also reading good parenting books. I think it's important to make two distinctions right off the bat here. Firstly, I need to say that no amount of reading outside the Bible, even books by wise Christian authors, can replace or substitute reading to gain knowledge from the Bible. The Bible is the inspired Word of the creator of the universe. All other books, as helpful as they can be and as God-honoring as they may be, are not. I admit that I have a tendency to spend more time reading books by MacArthur, Piper and others because of the ease of readability. But this should not be. And I'm making efforts to combat this. I'd encourage anyone reading this to make more efforts in getting your wisdom and knowledge PRIMARILY from the Word of God and not being content with Christian books that quote the Bible. I promise there is a difference in authority, and there is a difference in how your soul will be influenced.<br />
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Secondly, I want to emphasize my word choice. "I'm reading <i>good </i>parenting books." By this, I don't just mean I'm reading Christian parenting books. Unfortunately, in the majority of Christian bookstores, there are few choice of books that have sound doctrine, that exalt God above man, and that have principles rooted in scripture. It's sad. And I really exhort anyone reading to be careful in those stores. Many Christian parenting books and resources today is just secular psychology wrapped in "christian" language that vaguely and superficially address biblical concepts of parenting. A secular psychological concept that is supported with a bible verse taken out of its context is NOT biblical. Be careful.<br />
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With that said, getting your hands on a good parenting book is not only helpful, it's wise. As important as it is to get your wisdom primarily from the Bible, God has gifted people with the ability to teach and help communicate the truths found in scripture. Don't be foolish enough to think you have it all figured out. Find reputable, Bible-exalting authors you trust who have proven to be beyond reproach and read what they have to say on different subjects. Make use of the resources available to you. I have read <i>Shepherding a Child's Heart </i>by Tedd Tripp and am currently reading <i>What the Bible Says About Parenting </i>by John MacArthur. Both are blessings to my heart and soul because they are rooted in scripture and I highly recommend both to parents, parents-to-be, or anyone who has children in their care (aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc).<br />
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At a later time, I will write about the other way I am preparing for baby Calvin: through fervent and sincere prayer. As important as reading the Word is, it's imperative that we remember that even in our study and diligence, we are dependent on God's grace to understand his truths, and to apply them to our lives.<br />
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Cuteness side note: as I was writing this, this little son of mine was squirming and kicking restlessly. I love being a mom. Right now, it's so easy. :)You Are A Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13557581311900593236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33334932838204424.post-24893487625649649662013-02-21T13:39:00.003-08:002013-02-21T13:57:12.123-08:00Why I Prefer the "Old." My husband often tells me I'm an old lady at heart. Sometimes, this is very true. When it comes to style, I often prefer things that look like they've come out of an Alfred Hitchcock film. At times, I prefer to listen to music from an LP instead of my ipod. I'd rather read about people that have been dead for hundreds of years than people that are alive today. It annoys me when people say "like" too many times (incorrectly) in a sentence -- though I must admit that I'm guilty of this as well. I appreciate it when men properly don neck ties. I consider many modern styles/make up trends to be garish. I use words like "garish."<br />
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Another area in which the "old lady" in me comes out is in my preference of worship music. Give me an old timey hymn over a contemporary christian ballad any day! There are several factors that feed into my preference. These are in no particular order. (Beware, there will be song lyrics quoted so it might be a bit long).<br />
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1. Profound truth. I'm not saying that contemporary christian music has no substance. It often does. The difference is that that which is found in old hymns seems more... substantial. If contemporary christian music is jell-o, classic hymns are creme brulee. They're both sweet. But one is far more complex, intricate, and enjoyable to the discerning palate. Let's look at two songs. The first is a contemporary song about God's kingship and his faithfulness to us. The second is about the same thing, but is an old hymn.<br />
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<i>"You're the God of this City</i><br />
<i>You're the King of these people</i><br />
<i>You're the Lord of this nation</i><br />
<i>You are</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>You're the Light in this darkness</i><br />
<i>You're the Hope to the hopeless</i><br />
<i>You're the Peace to the restless</i><br />
<i>You are</i><br />
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<i>There is no one like our God</i><br />
<i>There is no one like our God</i><br />
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<i>For greater things have yet to come</i><br />
<i>And greater things are still to be done in this City</i><br />
<i>Greater things have yet to come</i><br />
<i>And greater things are still to be done in this City."</i><br />
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Not bad. No heresy. Kind of vague, though.<br />
And here's the classic hymn.<br />
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<i>"Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!</i><br />
<i>O my soul praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!</i><br />
<i>All ye who hear, Now to His temple draw near;</i><br />
<i>Join me in glad adoration!</i><br />
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<i>Praise to the Lord, who o'er all things so wondrously reigneth,</i><br />
<i>Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!</i><br />
<i>Hast thou not seen How thy desires have been</i><br />
<i>Granted in what He ordaineth?</i><br />
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<i>Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;</i><br />
<i>Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee. </i><br />
<i>Ponder anew What the Almighty can do</i><br />
<i>If with His love He befriend thee.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him!</i><br />
<i>All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him!</i><br />
<i>Let the 'amen' Sound from his people again;</i><br />
<i>Gladly forever adore Him!" </i><br />
<br />
Specific, worshipful, spiritually meaty, saturated in truth.<br />
<br />
<br />
2. Poetic beauty. I'm convinced that people who prefer the contemporary to the antiquated don't read or like poetry. I love poetry. Specifically, I love poetry that is beautiful. Even more specifically, I love poetry that is beautiful and calls you to adore its subject matter. So beautifully authored poetry that begs us to adore and admire the beauty of the Creator of the universe and all his works really has no rival.<br />
<br />
Here's a contemporary Christian song that speaks of the beauty of Christ and the beauty of Salvation.<br />
<br />
<i>"You are beautiful my sweet, sweet song</i><br />
<i>You are beautiful my sweet, sweet song</i><br />
<i>You are beautiful my sweet, sweet song</i><br />
<i>And I will sin again</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>You are so good to me, You heal my broken heart</i><br />
<i>You are my Father in Heaven</i><br />
<i>You are so good to me, You heal my broken heart</i><br />
<i>You are my Father in Heaven</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>You are beautiful my sweet, sweet song</i><br />
<i>You are beautiful my sweet, sweet song</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>You ride upon the clouds, You lead me to the truth</i><br />
<i>You are the Spirit inside me</i><br />
<i>You ride upon the clouds, You lead me to the truth</i><br />
<i>You are the Spirit inside me</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>You are beautiful my sweet, sweet song</i><br />
<i>You are beautiful my sweet, sweet song</i><br />
<i>You are beautiful my sweet, sweet song</i><br />
<i>And I will sing again</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>You are my strong melody, yeah</i><br />
<i>You are my dancing rhythm</i><br />
<i>You are my perfect rhyme</i><br />
<i>I will sing of You forever</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>You poured out all Your blood You died upon the cross</i><br />
<i>You are my Jesus who loves me</i><br />
<i>You poured out all Your blood, You died upon the corss</i><br />
<i>You are my Jesus who loves me </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>You are beautiful my sweet, sweet song (x6 -- I was tired of writing this out)</i><br />
<i>And I will sing again (x4)</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>You are my Father in heaven</i><br />
<i>You are the Spirit inside me</i><br />
<i>You are my Jesus who loves me. "</i><br />
<br />
That song encourages us to view Jesus as beautiful especially in light of his sacrificial work on the cross. But so do this one... and, in my opinion, does so more beautifully and more effectively.<br />
<br />
<i>"My Jesus, I love Thee; I know though art mine.</i><br />
<i>For Thee all the follies of sin I resign.</i><br />
<i>My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou:</i><br />
<i>If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me</i><br />
<i>And purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree.</i><br />
<i>I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow:</i><br />
<i>If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>I'll love Thee in life; I will love Thee in death</i><br />
<i>And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath.</i><br />
<i>And say when the death-dew lies cold on my brow,</i><br />
<i>'If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.'</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>In mansions of glory and endless delight, </i><br />
<i>I'll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright.</i><br />
<i>I'll sing with the glittering crown on my brow,</i><br />
<i>'If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.' " </i><br />
<br />
3. Spiritual Maturity. Like most pleasures in life, the level at which we enjoy something is revelatory of your maturity. The entertainment you enjoyed as a child you probably now find juvenile. And likewise, if you've been a believer for a while, your worship is probably more informed and therefore deeper than when you were first saved. This doesn't diminish from the genuineness or sincerity of our pleasure in those things when we were younger, it's only a natural progression of physical maturation as well as spiritual maturation.<br />
<br />
Here's a song we might sing with a fullness of heart on the eve of our salvation. (And in the car on our way to work too...)<br />
<br />
<i>"Everyone needs compassion</i><br />
<i>A love that's never failing</i><br />
<i>Let mercy fall on me</i><br />
<i>Everyone needs forgiveness</i><br />
<i>The kindness of a Savior</i><br />
<i>The hope of nations</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Savior</i><br />
<i>He can move the mountains</i><br />
<i>My God is mighty to save</i><br />
<i>He is mighty to save</i><br />
<i>Forever</i><br />
<i>Author of Salvation</i><br />
<i>He rose and conquered the grave</i><br />
<i>Jesus conquered the grave</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>So take me as You find me</i><br />
<i>All my fears and failures</i><br />
<i>Fill my life again</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>I give my life to follow</i><br />
<i>Everything I believe in</i><br />
<i>Now I surrender</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Savior</i><br />
<i>He can move the mountains</i><br />
<i>My God is mighty to save</i><br />
<i>He is mighty to save</i><br />
<i>Forever</i><br />
<i>Author of Salvation</i><br />
<i>He rose and conquered the grave</i><br />
<i>Jesus conquered the grave</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>(2x)</i><br />
<i>Shine Your light and </i><br />
<i>Let the whole world see</i><br />
<i>We're singing</i><br />
<i>For the glory</i><br />
<i>Of the risen King</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>You're the Savior</i><br />
<i>You can move the mountains</i><br />
<i>Lord You are mighty to save</i><br />
<i>You are mighty to save</i><br />
<i>Forever </i><br />
<i>Author of Salvation</i><br />
<i>You rose and conquered the grave</i><br />
<i>Yes You conquered the grave</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Shine Your light and </i><br />
<i>Let the whole world see</i><br />
<i>We're singing </i><br />
<i>For the glory</i><br />
<i>Of the risen King" </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
All of that is true. And the truth of it is glorious. But here's a song I'm actually going to put effort into memorizing and singing to myself in remembrance of the glories of salvation.<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>"And can it be that I should gain</i><br />
<i>An interest in the Savior's blood?</i><br />
<i>Died He for me, who caused His pain?</i><br />
<i>For me, who Him to death pursued? </i><br />
<i>Amazing love! How can it be</i><br />
<i>That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Amazing love! How can it be</i><br />
<i>That Thou, my God shouldst die for me?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>He left His Father's throne above;</i><br />
<i>So free, so infinite His grace.</i><br />
<i>Emptied Himself of all but love, </i><br />
<i>And bled for Adam's helpless race.</i><br />
<i>'Tis mercy all, immense and free, </i><br />
<i>For, O my God, it found out me.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Amazing love! How can it be</i><br />
<i>That Thou, my God shouldst die for me?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Long my imprisoned spirit lay</i><br />
<i>Fast bound in sin and nature's night;</i><br />
<i>Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray,</i><br />
<i>I woke, the dungeon flamed with light.</i><br />
<i>My chains fell off; my heart was free.</i><br />
<i>I rose, went forth and followed Thee</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Amazing love! How can it be </i><br />
<i>That Thou my God shouldst die for me?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>No condemnation now I dread; </i><br />
<i>Jesus and all in Him is mine!</i><br />
<i>Alive in Him, my living Head, </i><br />
<i>And clothed in righteousness divine;</i><br />
<i>Bold I approach the eternal throne</i><br />
<i>And claim the crown, through Christ, my own.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Amazing love! How can it be</i><br />
<i>That Thou my God shouldst die for me?" </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Each verse is filled with doctrine and truth that we could study and meditate on for hours on hours on end! And it's a joy to sing this song in its entirety because of its richness!<br />
<br />
4. The Story. This one is perhaps my most weak argument for the superiority of the classic hymn as opposed to the contemporary christian song. What I mean by story is that hymns have survived the test of time. They've been here for centuries and are still being used. The contemporary Christian song seems to last only a few years before it's chucked out of the musical repertoire of the modern worship leader. Not only that, I have never heard of a personal story surrounding the conception of a contemporary worship song that revealed God's character to the song writer, inspiring them to write the lyrics. This isn't to say that hasn't happened, I'm sure it has. I just don't know of when/where. Off the top of my head, I can think of three examples in which personal experience was the beginning of a timeless hymn that we still enjoy today. (I won't include all the lyrics to these three songs, but just enough to give you the taste of the spirit of them).<br />
<br />
A. Louisa M.R. Stead witnessed her husband drown in an attempt to save a boy that was drowning. In the late 19th century, being a widow essentially meant being despondent financially. Yet, she saw the Lord's hand in his provision for her in every trial. This caused her to pen the words,<br />
<br />
<i>"'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, </i><br />
<i>Just to take Him at His word</i><br />
<i>Just to rest upon His promise</i><br />
<i>Just to know: 'Thus saith the Lord.'</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!</i><br />
<i>How I've proved Him o'er and o'er!</i><br />
<i>Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!</i><br />
<i>O for grace to trust Him more." </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
B. Horatio Spafford, who had already by this time lost his only son and his business to the Great Chicago fire, experienced the loss of all his daughters as they traveled trans-Atlantic in a ship that sank. Having sent his wife and daughters ahead of him after being detained in the states, his wife sent him a telegram after the crash saying, "Saved alone." As he traveled to meet her, he wrote,<br />
<br />
<i>"When peace like a river attendeth my way,</i><br />
<i>When sorrows like sea billows roll;</i><br />
<i>Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,</i><br />
<i>'It is well, it is well with my soul.'</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>It is well with my soul. </i><br />
<i>It is well, it is well with my soul. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>...</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>My sin-- O the bliss of this glorious thought--</i><br />
<i>My sin-- not in part, but the whole,</i><br />
<i>Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,</i><br />
<i>Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Oh my soul!" </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
C. And of course I would be remiss without mentioning one of the most known, most loved hymns of all time. John Newton's life was inundated with hardships and events that had him staring at death in the face. He eventually found himself involved in the slave trade. Wikipedia says that, "While aboard the ship "Greyhound," Newton gained notoriety for being one of the most profane men the captain had ever met. In a culture where sailors commonly used oaths and swore, Newton was admonished several times for not only using the worst words the captain had ever heard, but creating new ones to exceed the limits of verbal debauchery." He was saved after crying out to God in the midst of a dangerous storm. Reflection on his life prior to conversion, particularly over regret of his involvement in the slave trade, John Newton wrote,<br />
<br />
<i>"Amazing Grace. How sweet the sound</i><br />
<i>That saved a wretch like me.</i><br />
<i>I once was lost, but now am found. </i><br />
<i>Was blind but now I see. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear</i><br />
<i>and grace my fears relieved </i><br />
<i>How precious did that grace appear</i><br />
<i>The hour I first believed.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Through many dangers, toils, and snares</i><br />
<i>I have already come</i><br />
<i>'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,</i><br />
<i>And grace will lead me home. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>When we've been there ten thousand years, </i><br />
<i>Bright shining as the sun</i><br />
<i>We've no less days to sing God's praise </i><br />
<i>Than when we'd first begun." </i>You Are A Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13557581311900593236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33334932838204424.post-13869304890521236972013-02-12T14:42:00.000-08:002013-02-12T14:43:42.432-08:00A Day in the LifeBeing married to a seminarian is kind of interesting. Though we're both done with our secular education, Sergio has a good job, and I'm making my transition into full-time motherhood, we don't exactly adhere to the "traditional" schedule most families post-university do. And that's great!<br />
<br />
The only thing more unpredictable than Sergio's study hours are his sleeping hours. Some days, we eat dinner at 5pm. Some days, dinner is at 10pm. Walking up next to my husband is rare. Sleeping in is even rarer. "Free time" is less and less of a reality when we're faced with a conviction and desire to make every moment profitable for eternity.<br />
<br />
On a Tuesday, his only commitment is his morning classes at the seminary. He doesn't teach at the university or the college. So, today he got home at around 12:45pm and lay down on the couch. He's been asleep ever since. I'll probably let him sleep until early evening.<br />
<br />
Last night, he pulled an all-nighter because of a Hebrew test he had at 7:30 this morning.<br />
<br />
All-nighters are not the norm, but they are definitely not uncommon. And they do affect me too. I'll use last night as a for-instance.<br />
<br />
Around 10pm, I noticed I wasn't feeling all that tired (though by this time, I usually am -- especially with the pregnancy). I asked Sergio if he was going to stay up late and he said he was. So, I decided stay up a bit and read my Bible. Well, I got really into it. Around midnight, Sergio asked me if I was going to bed soon. I told him I still wasn't really feeling tired. I also asked him if staying up with him helped him. He said it did because it didn't make him feel like it was as late as it was. So, I decided to stay up studying a bit longer.<br />
<br />
Normally, by midnight, even if I'm not feeling tired, I'll lay in bed until I fall asleep which happens pretty soon after I've made the decision to turn off all the lights. But, considering I wasn't feeling tired, I decided to stay up and read especially knowing that it was an aid to my husband.<br />
<br />
By about 1:30 am, I started to feel my brain lagging. My husband was still going in the dining room. I told him I was packing it in and wanted to know how much longer he'd be. (He usually doesn't stay up past that time unless he feels it's really necessary). But he informed me that that night was going to be one of those nights. I decided to sleep on the couch (which is easily seen from the dining room) because I know that him seeing me there helps him feel less tired. He appreciated the gesture.<br />
<br />
At 5:30am, he ushered me into the bedroom for a 30 minute power nap on our bed. At 6am, he was up and about to get into the shower. I asked him to wake me up when he was done so that I could make him a good breakfast. I knew that after a night like that, he was going to need a lot in his stomach to get him through the morning. So when he got out of the shower, he woke me up and while he was getting dressed, I made him a breakfast burrito. He ate and was out the door by 7am.<br />
<br />
I went straight back to bed until around 11am this morning.<br />
<br />
This is definitely not the life I envisioned we'd be living when we got married three years ago. But, I love to see my husband devoted to something he so values and esteems. I love getting opportunity after opportunity to demonstrate how proud I am of him and how much I love to serve him.<br />
<br />
Sergio and I don't do things conventionally. We're just not that couple. And that's ok! We're doing what we believe to be God's will for us. Sergio is giving his time and energy to learning how to be a faithful teacher and servant of God's Word. And I am learning that being a wife (and eventually mom) is a 24-hour-a-day job. Sure, there are temptations to complain and grumble. But I once heard a very wise woman say, "If you don't get on board, you're depriving yourself of the joys of the ride."You Are A Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13557581311900593236noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33334932838204424.post-57239067597666787622013-01-03T13:28:00.001-08:002013-01-03T13:51:25.398-08:00A Truly "Good" MarriageHappy New Year everyone!<br />
<br />
It has been so long since I've posted. And that's because a lot has been happening. I won't go through everything, but know that I have been challenged in many good ways to be more organized with my time, more intentional with my decisions, and more thankful for my husband's free time.<br />
<br />
Though there really is tons I would like to share, this post is really the result of a conversation I had last week and my own contemplation that has ensued from it.<br />
<br />
Last week, after church, I went to lunch with a friend of mine and a friend of hers. The latter had recently been through a difficult break up with a long time boyfriend and asked me a poignant question. She asked, "Would you say that a good marriage requires both individuals compromising and meeting in the middle when they disagree." I said, "No."<br />
<br />
This may come as a shock. On the surface, it would seem that the answer should be "yes" as a peaceful marriage does require selflessness from both husband and wife. But let me explain why I responded in the negative and what it was I said a good marriage required.<br />
<br />
*Please note that in this particular scenario, there was an understanding that we were talking about a Christian marriage, though I don't think it would surprise anyone for me to say that a Christian marriage is the type that is most pleasurable to be in anyway.*<br />
<br />
Firstly, it's important to define "good." The reason this is important because it was a significant condition in the phrasing of the question. I don't doubt that there are many decent, peaceful, and even pleasurable marriages where compromise and "meeting in the middle" are common place. But how I define the word "good" is why that mode of conflict resolution is insufficient.<br />
<br />
I'm talking about "good" in the most ultimate sense of the word - in the sense the bible talks about when it talks about good for believers. Yes, I'm going there. We all know the verse right? :<br />
<br />
<i>And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose</i><br />
<i>Romans 8:28</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Ok well, that's all well and... er... good. But that doesn't really tell us what the "good" is for the believers that love God (which, by definition, is all believers, by the way).<br />
<br />
The answer comes in verse 29:<br />
<br />
<i>For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Here's the "good" that is resulting from God working all our circumstances towards: our sanctification - our conformation to the image of his Son.<br />
<br />
So, back to the original question. Does a good marriage require individuals compromise to meet in the middle for the resolution of a conflict or disagreement.<br />
<br />
Here's what I said. A good marriage (in the ultimate sense of the word, "good") requires - from both individuals - a complete self-denial and unconditional preference for the other's benefits and desires above their own. In order for there to be a <i>truly </i>good marriage, both people must deny their needs, wants, and preferences, for the needs, wants, and preferences of their spouse.<br />
<br />
Interestingly, when this is occurring, the result may often be the same as it would be in a relationship where each spouse is compromising and meeting the other half way. So, if you end up in the same place, why bother opting for the harder of the two. One requires little sacrifice - really only when there is a conflict of interest which may only occasionally arise. The other requires a complete change of mindset that governs your entire married relationship.<br />
<br />
There are at least two reasons for the believer to opt for the harder of the two practices.<br />
<br />
The first is that the harder of the two requires the help of the Holy Spirit and accomplishes what Romans 8:29 promises: to make us more like Christ and therefore, honoring and glorifying the Lord (which is the purpose mentioned in v. 28). The easier of the two options still leaves room for <i>some </i>selfishness. If two people are meeting half way, they can keep around 50% of their self-interest against the interest of the other person. Yeah, it's better than 100% selfishness... I guess.<br />
<br />
The second reason the believer should opt for the harder of the two is simple. The journey towards resolution is a joy to travel. While you're preferring your spouse and you see your spouse is preferring you, you can't help but love each more deeply for two reasons. The first is simple: it's easy to love someone that loves you selflessly. The second is deeper: it's an immense pleasure to love someone who loves his/her (and your) Savior so obediently that it governs all they do.<br />
<br />
In the end, God is glorified and magnified. And, as believers, if God is our supreme treasure, what better reason to do anything?You Are A Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13557581311900593236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33334932838204424.post-59678366519267426512012-11-18T21:11:00.002-08:002012-11-18T21:11:59.882-08:00Good News, EveryoneI'm pregnant.<br />
<br />
Have a good evening.<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
DanielaYou Are A Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13557581311900593236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33334932838204424.post-51761669614781265032012-10-21T20:49:00.002-07:002012-10-21T20:52:17.771-07:00Follies of Trying to Transcend Gender<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Looking
at trends in academia is a good tool in predicting where our society
is headed. After all, our culture's future ought to be mentored and
guided by the best minds we have to offer, right? Isn't that the best
way to ensure progress? Exactly what kind of education is being
received though? Having just made the transition out of a secular
university with that coveted piece of paper in hand, I can tell you
exactly what type of education America's young people are receiving:
one unconcerned with absolute truth. I'm sure that this is not the case in all
departments. Mathematicians do not reside in the realm of
subjectivity. A rectangle will always consist of 90-degree angles,
and 25 will always be divisible by five even if you insist to look at
it through a Marxist lens. But in nearly all of my humanities
courses, there was no such thing as absolute truth. The closest we
came were well-supported theses. This absence of truth naturally led
to an abstraction of definitions. When this “logic” is followed,
it doesn't take too long before you're convinced there is no such
thing as “gender.” Gender becomes a social construct – a tool
used by a society or culture to categorize the sexes in ways they
ought not.
<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Any new
bride will tell you that the idea that gender only exists as a
social invention is nonsense. I was never more convinced in the
reality of gender distinctions than the first few months of marriage.
It's real. Not only is it real, it's intentional. God didn't create
male and female to be different only in anatomical components. He
created them to be different in strengths, weaknesses, abilities,
functions, and purposes. It's beautiful to realize that He didn't
just create them to be different: He created them to be
complementary. But is it really a <i>danger </i>that
we abandon the distinction? Can't the distinction be like small pox:
real, but no longer a concern because of the advancement of society?
It is impossible to advance past gender, and to attempt to do so
(especially as believers) really is dangerous. There are at least
three broad dangers in this abandonment of gender and one individual
danger.
<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Firstly, embedded in the premise of ignoring or denying the
existence of gender is a disregard for the absoluteness of God's
authorship. Genesis 3:18 describes God's intention for women. It
says, “Then the Lord God said, 'It is not good that the man should
be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.'” God intentionally
authored woman to be a helper to her husband. By choosing to deny or
ignore this role, women deny or ignore God's intentional authorship.
And if God's authority in gender cannot be seen, how will his
authority and sovereignty over the more complex aspects of life be
seen? Without God as authority, feelings and/or experience is
enthroned as that which governs and dictates life. It's important to
see what is happening here: God is being denied Kingship. And that's
a very big deal. Refusal to see God as intentional author of the role
of the female gender is a dangerously cracked foundation upon which
some are choosing to build their lives.
<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The
second danger that results in a refusal to accept God's biblical
authorship of gender roles is a discontent in marriage. When those
feelings of pride and selfishness creep in (<i>when</i>),
because emotions and experience have been enthroned as governors,
conflicts are not resolved in godly, self-sacrificial ways. Selfish
desires and that which we think we are entitled to, not God's will
revealed in scripture, become a priority over husbands, homes, and
sanctification.
<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Lastly, because of a refusal to accept gender roles, families
suffer. I don't have children, but I have seen the effects of this
post-modern mentality in family members and friends. Without biblical
commitment to God's will in gender roles, mothers cannot teach
daughters how to pursue biblical femininity and they cannot teach
sons how to pursue biblical masculinity. A new generation of
post-modern, subjective evaluators is formed and their tendency to
apply this absence of hard-and-fast truth won't stop with gender.
<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
On the individual level, the saddest result of women refusing to
submit herself to the role God has given her is the reality that she
will not be able to experience the joys of submission to the Lord
through submission to her husband. She won't be able to be that
radical woman who is so rare in our culture that finds fulfillment
and satisfaction and complete contentment in being what God has told
her she ought to be. She cannot be an example to her sons to
encourage them to be providers and protectors of such women. She
cannot be an example to her daughters by showing them that their joy
and worth is found in Christ and in obedience to Him. She cannot
teach her children how not to be swayed to and fro by every new
philosophy that comes along, but rather be grounded, governed, and
guided by the sufficiency of the Word of God. </div>
You Are A Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13557581311900593236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33334932838204424.post-24396849653811551992012-09-28T17:48:00.002-07:002012-09-28T18:22:25.382-07:00Apologizing is for CowardsSergio and I have a lot of the same interests. We have very similar tastes in music, movies, foods, and hobbies. In addition to this, our personalities can be very similar as well. We're both down-to-earth people and (relatively) slow to anger. However, we do have very different strengths and weaknesses. When we don't submit to passivity in the battles against our sin, our differences are usually very complementary. Where I am weak, he is strong and what he lacks, I supply. Wind beneath wings and all that.<br />
<br />
Problems arise when we do give into complacency and become passive about our sin. Then those differences turn into irritations and those irritations turn into disagreements. And sometimes, disagreements turn into unkind words/behavior and hurt feelings. At that point, the one who did the hurting has a decision to make: to apologize or to seek forgiveness.<br />
<br />
Apologizing and seeking forgiveness are NOT the same thing. I've been thinking carefully about what exactly I would say in this post. In my contemplation of this over the last few days, I've come up with three ways apologizing and seeking forgiveness are not the same thing and one very ultimate reason why those differences matter.<br />
<br />
The first way apologizing isn't the same as seeking forgiveness is that apologizing is comparatively easy whereas real forgiveness is difficult. Depending on the offense, real forgiveness (both seeking it and granting it) can sometimes feel impossible. To fully understand this, it's important to understand what forgiveness looks like. Genuine forgiveness (and really, there is no other kind) requires more of both parties than apologizing does. For the guilty party, it requires an acknowledgement of their fault that resulted in them somehow wronging the other person and it requires a sincere grief for doing so. For the wronged party, forgiveness requires them to let go of their offense, a denial of themselves, and a restoration of the relationship to the harmonious state it was in before the offense occurred. For both parties, seeking forgiveness requires humility and self-denial in the name of love.<br />
<br />
Given that clarification, here's another distinction between apologizing and seeking forgiveness. Apologizing has the veneer of forgiveness, but really only requires the offender to state facts and requires little to nothing of the offended. Here's what I mean. To be able to say "I apologized," all one has to do is state a fact: that they are sorry for what they did or for how something turned out. Have you ever gotten an "apology" something like this? "I'm sorry I made you feel horrible, but you shouldn't have provoked me." I've unfortunately been on the giving end of that conversation. That may fit the requirements of an apology. I really was sorry my actions resulted they way they did. But that isn't a pursuit of forgiveness. I was not acknowledging my own sin and fault as being behind the action. Or maybe you've gotten an apology like this, "I'm sorry for I have wronged you" and nothing more is said on the subject. That's pretty lame if you ask me. The restoration process has only started and then it is abandoned usually because actually finishing the process is awkward and uncomfortable. Seeking forgiveness requires an evaluation of your own heart before you seek to make things right with the person you've wronged. It's not enough to chalk it up to being a sinner. (Though that's true). There's some disconnect with what we believe and how we're living that resulted in us sinning against a particular person in a particular way. Forgivess demands an introspective inquiry of your relationship before God and how it must be somehow distorted or tainted in that it resulted in your selfishness at the expense of someone else and how that result now needs to be discounted if the relationship is to be restored. And that discounting is in the hands of the offended. Forgiveness requires the offended to deny (not as a result of naivety, but as a result of conscious refusal to retain) their desire to hold on to that grudge. It requires them to be rid of the offense now and forever and not allow it to influence their love for the person that offended them. It seems unfair to the offended and too good to be true for the offender, but it's essential to all relationships because in all human relationships, each party plays each role at some point.<br />
<br />
The last way these two are vastly different is in what each accomplishes. Though it may not be the intention of someone apologizing, apologies are very self-serving. It is usually driven by a desire to absolve the guilt felt in the situation, not necessarily a desire to see a relationship restored. I have apologized to people because I knew I wouldn't stop feeling bad if I didn't. Who wants to hear an apology motivated by self-interest? The pursuit of forgiveness however is restorative. It erases the offense and therefore returns the relationship to the state it was in before the offense. Not only that, both parties have the security to know that the offense will not be brought up again to be thrown in anyone's face or used to "win" an argument.<br />
<br />
Why does all this matter? Because for those of us who have a relationship to Jesus Christ, we have been forgiven of offenses that are innumerable and should condemn us to hell. Proper forgiveness of people is a reflection of perfect forgiveness we have by God in Christ. We didn't come to God and receive forgiveness just by saying, "I'm sorry" through a superficial apology because we felt bad. We came to God and received forgiveness because of our faith in Christ's power to pay for the sins we committed that stored up God's wrath against us. He removed our iniquities from us and grant us an inheritance which we profoundly do not deserve. With that forgiveness, how can we pridefully choose to merely "apologize" when we can seek forgiveness. And with God's divine forgiveness of a debt worthy of hell, how can we not bountifully forgive those who sin against us? When we understand this, relationship with the King and relationships with one another are radically affected and infected with joy.<br />
<br />
Some good verses to meditate on:<br />
<br />
<i>"I will be merciful towards their inequities, and I will remember their sin no more." Hebrews 8:12</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>"...as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us." Psalm 103:12</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>"I therefore, a prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing one another in love <b>eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace</b>." Ephesians 4:2-3</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, you also must forgive." Colossians 3:12-13</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>You Are A Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13557581311900593236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33334932838204424.post-38454340417627476712012-09-16T21:52:00.002-07:002012-09-28T18:11:05.197-07:00Just.... One... Word...Starbucks is going to kick me out in a bit. But this week, I will write on how and why "apologizing" is not the same as "asking for forgiveness" and why the distinction matters.<br />
<br />
*Sip of coffee*You Are A Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13557581311900593236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33334932838204424.post-73068505623399477992012-09-14T16:42:00.001-07:002012-09-14T17:02:24.476-07:00Working through 2 Peter As I said in my last post, I've begun a
study of 2 Peter. As of now, I don't exactly know to what extent I'm
going to share what I'm learning as I study through this book. I
think that for today, I'll point out things about the text that I
thought were particularly interesting or stirring. Maybe after that,
I'll go into some practical implications.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Fair disclaimer, I don't at all claim
to be an expositor, as it were. There are plenty of qualified men for
that. Like I said before, this is part journal, part insight into my
learning process.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The text before me was this (2 Peter
1:1-2):
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Simon Peter, a servant and apostle
of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing
with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and
of Jesus our Lord. </i>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
What? That's it?
Yep, It sure is.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Things that stood
out</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ol>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The ESV says
“servant,” but it is more appropriately translated “slave.”
So, Simon Peter calls himself a slave <i>before </i>he calls himself
an apostle. Keep in mind that in this culture, slaves were
considered as lowly and as valuable as animals. They were very
simply, tools to be used and owned. Peter considers himself a tool
at the disposal of God. So that which is generally demeaning in a
social setting is spiritually honorable. To be God's slave is cause
for honor.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This is true
because it comes before the title of “apostle” which was
undoubtedly honorable. This is a title that few people were able to
lay claim to. (And one that no one has a right to claim today). An
apostle was a follower and witness of the risen Christ.
</div>
<ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
… and yet, he
calls himself a slave first!
</div>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In his commentary
to 2 Peter, John MacArthur says this, “Peter, in presenting himself
in these terms sets a pattern for all in spiritual leadership: the
submissive, sacrificial anonymity of a slave combined with the
dignity, significance, and authority of an apostle.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I thought that was
an interesting juxtaposition.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ol start="3">
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In his
introduction, he says, “To those who have obtained a faith of
equal standing with ours...”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ahh! There's so
much in here!
</div>
</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Firstly,
Peter's letter is to the same believers as 1 Peter is.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Secondly,
these same believers “have obtained a faith.” This is also
translated as “have received.” Apparently, the verb in the
greek that is being translated is “lagchano” which means “to
gain by divine will or by the giving of by an allotment.” So,
it's not something obtained by human means (effort, fortitude,
will, discipline, worthiness, etc). It is a faith that is received
by humans, given by God's allotment and sovereign will.
</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Thirdly, “a
faith” refers to the subjective power of the Christian to believe
the gospel for salvation.
</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Fourthly it
is said to be “of equal standing.” This is likely talking about
the equality of the gentiles' ability to believe the gospel for
salvation as the Jews' ability to believe the gospel for salvation.
Peter, a Jew, writing to gentiles, is making it clear that the
faith they have that causes them to believe the gospel which
results in their salvation is of equal worthiness to his faith that
causes him to believe the gospel which results in his salvation.
So, there is no distinction between Jew or gentile. (Also see
Galatians 3:28)</div>
</li>
</ul>
<ol start="4">
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So basically,
to those who have (by allotment) received the ability to believe the
saving truth of the gospel that is of equal standing to all other
who have done so, have done all this “by the righteousness of our
God and Savior Jesus Christ.”</div>
</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Sinners
have access to God and eternal life not because of their own
goodness/righteousness, but because IN their belief of the gospel
(the work of Jesus on the cross and His resurrection), we are given
Christ's righteousness. Jesus imputes his righteousness to our
credit, erasing our sins (past and future) from our slate, thus
making us acceptable to God.
</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Another
interesting thing to note here: “God and Savior Jesus Christ”
are not two different people. “God and Savior” both are
descriptive terms of “Jesus Christ.” He is both God AND Savior.
</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
On to
verse two's observations....
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ol>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The
substance/aftermath of the salvation found in verse one is grace and
peace. (Romans 5:1-2).</div>
</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Grace
(charis) – “God's free, unmerited favor towards sinners, which
grants those who believe the gospel complete forgiveness forever
through the Lord Jesus Christ.”
</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Peace
(eirene) - “peace with God and from Him in all life's
circumstances I the effect of grace.”
</div>
</li>
</ul>
<ol start="2">
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
All
of this grace and peace comes from the <i>knowledge </i>of
God and of Jesus our Lord.</div>
</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
As
our knowledge of God and Jesus grows (which can only be obtained
through the objective truths found in scripture) our understanding
and appreciation of grace grows and therefore peace abounds.
</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So
some personal implications? You'll have to draw your own applications, but for me, I've recently (VERY recently... since... yesterday) been thinking through what to do with my time. Do I look for full time work? Do I enjoy some of the freedom Sergio's income is allowing me to read, write, attend classes at church? I actually found myself feeling a bit of anxiety over this last night. It took me about 30-45 minutes to fall asleep because I just kept running different scenarios/for-instances in my head. The reality that you can have either money OR time (never both) was a heavy burden. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I still can't say yet that I've decided for sure, but meditating on this scripture has helped. I can't tell you how easy it is to let yourself run wild with emotions, make rash decisions based solely on circumstance, or consider yourself discontent because your soul is unsettled. The only way to fight this tug to lose your mind with worry and doubt is to remind yourself what is TRUE - not what/how you feel in the moment. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So, last night (and it was a struggle, because all I wanted to do was meditate on the "what ifs") I had to continue to remind myself that:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
1. I'm Christ's tool. I was bought with a price and I'm not my own. Hammers don't go running around looking for something to hammer. Its master will move it when it needs. It should be still until then. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
2. I am a joint heir with Christ. My salvation is secure in Christ and so I already have the kingdom. Financial circumstances are temporary and never a justification for anxiety in light of this truth! </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
3. God's grace is sufficient. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
4. I should have peace in my heart. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Knowing these things and living them are two different things. But when I remind myself of what I know instead of focusing on what I feel, living them out comes naturally. </div>
<br />You Are A Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13557581311900593236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33334932838204424.post-57172738715935002472012-09-12T17:52:00.000-07:002012-09-14T16:45:11.150-07:00Rebranding<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Why am I doing any of this? I think
it's good to take a step back from things every once in a while and
reassess why you do the things you do to ensure your heart is still
in the right place (assuming it was in the right place to begin
with). In the last post, I mentioned that I'm thankful for this blog
and a couple of reasons why I'm thankful for it. But I have had to
really take a step back and examine and refocus my purpose and intent
for this blog. Being thankful for something you do and knowing why
you're doing it are two very different things.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
After thinking about it for a day or
two, I still found myself questioning for what/whom I was doing this.
But I think the answer was kind of staring me in the face the whole
time. It says at the top of this page, “What it means to be a
woman, a wife, and a student from a sinner that's still learning.”
That's it! (Duh?) Yes, this whole blog is part journaling and part
writing for those interested in my own learning process of life. But
my desire is really for it to be (or become) an encouragement to
people (particularly – but not limited – to women) who either
find themselves in similar stages of life, or can look back to the
time when they have been in these stages and can relate in one way or
another. I pray that the main reason why it can be an encouragement
is because it points to the limitless God who is bigger than our
circumstances, stages, and preconceived notions of reality.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
What it means to be a woman, a wife,
and a student are all different, and yet they're all connected by
what it means to be part of the creation of God. Each are manifested
differently, but all serve one purpose. That purpose is the
glorification of that Creator. As a woman, it is my role to make God
look great. As a wife, it is my job to make God look great. As a
student, it is my duty to make God look great. In each role, the same
objective is (ought to be) completed, but it is done so in different
ways.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Sometimes, probably more often that I
ought, I'll write about circumstance. Other times I'll write about
other things like cooking, work, my home, etc. But I would hope that
the bulk of this blog is to point people to Jesus, encourage them
through the stages I'm familiar with (I probably won't write about
motherhood anytime soon), and help them learn about what an amazing
Lord we have and the immeasurable joy that is available only through
a relationship with Him. I do pray that as the experiences of life
give me more insight into areas of which right now I'm unfamiliar, my
motivation for blogging through it all will be the same.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Stay tuned for the first post on my
study of 2 Peter. (It's coming. Soon. No, seriously, check back by
Friday).</div>
<br />
You Are A Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13557581311900593236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33334932838204424.post-40363037815907251862012-09-06T17:40:00.001-07:002012-09-06T17:46:21.015-07:00The Post to be Named LaterI'm thankful I have a blog for several reasons. I think the foremost is that I don't want to ever lose the writing muscle that I've built up over the years. Writing definitely is a discipline. Like all disciplines, they must be exercised and refined. I love writing. I love writing without an academic prompt imposed by a professor. When I liked the prompt, I enjoyed that writing process as well.<br />
<br />
There are a few dangers to writing in a public spectrum like this for yourself without clear parameters given by someone else. There is the danger of over-sharing. Very few of you want to know what I had for breakfast this morning. Actually, none of you should want to know that. That's creepy. Also, those in my inner circle (my husband, family, closest friends) would probably appreciate a certain degree of discretion on my part when I write about conversations or interactions I've had with them. There are certain aspects of life that are either uninteresting or inappropriate to share in the context of a public blog.<br />
<br />
Another danger is prattling on about things that are trite and lacking of any real benefit. With all the things competing for place in our thoughts, I would hate to think that frivolous utterings (or worse, something potentially harmful) from me would set up residence in anyone's mind in place of something potentially edifying or helpful. I think my precaution for this danger has prevented me from many blogs. There have been countless times when I thought to myself, "I should write about that." And then I realize that it wouldn't be profitable and so I opt out. There have been times that my concern for this danger made me second-guess some posts. Anytime I begin to second-guess something, I take the safe route and promptly delete it. (If any of you were wondering what happened to certain posts you were certain were once there, the mystery has been solved). <br />
<br />
So what's personal and at the same time edifying?<br />
<br />
The Word of God, of course! :)<br />
<br />
I'll be the first to admit (to my shame), that my time with the Lord in scripture is not at all organized and disciplined. When I go to scripture, it's usually to answer a very specific question. It's usually a theological question. I'll look for passages that specifically pertain to what I'm wondering. When I find them, I'll look at the context in which it is placed and verify that it actually is an answer to my question, not one that I have manipulated to seem like an answer. Then I'll go to <a href="http://www.gty.org/">Grace to You</a> or <a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/">Desiring God</a> to listen to a sermon on that passage to make sure my quest has led me to the right place.<br />
<br />
This has been helpful in many ways, but it definitely does not replace a quiet time of study and learning of our Lord by reading through a book or books of the Bible to see how He has revealed himself to us in the way He intends for us to learn about Him.<br />
<br />
I've recently begun a study of the book of Second Peter. I chose 2 Peter because of its emphasis on growth in personal knowledge of God. (Just what I was talking about, right?) I definitely have a tendency to read scripture to look for defenses/evidences of my own theological inclinations. And though I'm not advocating ignorance of theology, I realized that a lot of what I was looking for was validation. But really, why should I care if I'M validated in my thinking? Yes, that sounds weird. Yes, being right is important when you're soul is at stake. But that's not what I'm talking about. What good is it if I can say, "Irresistible grace is clearly evident in verse so-and-so" if I'm not personally developing my relationship with the One who has so bountifully poured out that grace that was impossible for me to resist?<br />
<br />
I think I was driven by a fear of being confronted by false teachers that I wanted to have a response supported by scripture to refute them. But, as 2 Peter points out, the best way to do this is not to be able to know the ins and outs of (and stay true to) any theological <i>system </i>per se, but to be so deeply rooted in the knowledge of who God is and your own salvation, that error is obvious. Error would be obvious to me not because of my knowledge of a system, but because of my knowledge of the character of God. The difference is subtle. But it's there. If it's hard to grasp by anyone reading, I'm probably just not doing a good job of articulating the contrasting pursuits. I guess the nitty gritty of it is the pursuit of knowledge of arguments vs. the pursuit of knowledge of God. I hope that makes sense.<br />
<br />
So, I hope to kind of journal about what I'm learning through 2 Peter over the next several weeks/months (who knows how long it'll take!) <br />
<br />
This post is just to serve as an introduction that would shed light on the shift of my mindset. Let's just say that the first two verses alone deserve an entire post for another time. A time that is coming soon, I'm sure. You Are A Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13557581311900593236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33334932838204424.post-42968660598619985922012-08-19T16:23:00.001-07:002012-08-19T16:31:39.553-07:00The Orozco's Are Moving!! (For Real this Time!) Yes. It's true. Sergio and I have found an apartment! We signed the papers this afternoon and will begin the move-in process either Tuesday night or Wednesday morning! Things on our end have been happening. It really does seem like there is a lot and I don't know where to start. I'll just say that it's been of week full of things we hadn't anticipated or expected.<br />
<br />
Firstly, many of you know that we have been praying for Sergio as he was unemployed for a month and a half or so. Many of you know this because you were praying along with us. Thank you so much for your prayers. We serve such a great God who withholds no good thing! After many attempts to work at a community college with no responses, we were preparing for the possibility of broadening the job search to include non-teaching jobs. Last week, out of the blue, Sergio was contacted by the chair of the department of his old job and was offered several classes to teach. Yes, Sergio got a great job he didn't even apply for!<br />
<br />
That began our apartment search. We took an afternoon to look at different apartments we saw on Craigslist. We didn't expect to find an apartment we liked right off the bat. But we did. It was a one bedroom apartment close to the seminary and my parents. We had pretty much set our minds on that apartment even though we had one more to see. When we got to the last building and walked into the one bedroom, we thought it was OK. Then the manager informed us that there was also a two bedroom unit available that was in our price range. We decided to take a look and lo' and behold: It was perfect for us! It's also perfectly situated in between the seminary and Sergio's work and only about ten minutes from my job.<br />
<br />
So basically, within a few days, the Lord provided a fantastic job for Sergio and a fantastic place to live for us.<br />
<br />
We move in next week. Sergio begins seminary tomorrow! Glory to our God! You Are A Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13557581311900593236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33334932838204424.post-62826493372743930772012-08-14T22:40:00.003-07:002012-08-19T16:28:41.589-07:00A Thought I HadThis is going to be a quick entry, but I had a thought earlier today. It really is silly that we're often surprised, disappointed, angry when our plans don't fall through. Isn't it silly?
I mean, where did we ever get the notion that by simply making plans, we've entered into some cosmic contract that validates our disappointment when they don't happen?
Silly. Just silly. You Are A Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13557581311900593236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33334932838204424.post-9596382258348762892012-07-01T23:01:00.000-07:002012-07-01T23:32:47.697-07:00My Summer Reading ListI've never really been a fan of summer until very recently. I think the fact that I don't have another semester waiting for me at the end of August is a significant factor in my new-found taste for the season. A few people have asked me what I'm doing with all my free time now that I don't have school. Besides the time I give to work and housework, deciding what to do with my time is pretty easy. Now that I am no longer obligated to read, I'm choosing to read! :)<br />
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I do have a couple of fun (what I consider fun) projects lined up for the summer such as organizing my spices, reformatting my Alice paper to APA for journal submission, studying some kinesiology for better workouts, working on our budgets, and trying out some new recipes. But, I hold onto all of these projects with a loose grip. I don't ever want to feel any type of bondage to them. I think it's very easy for me to make myself a slave to projects. (Which is ironic because even though I do, they sometimes don't get done). Just goes to show how naturally our hearts incline to anything other than Jesus. But I'm realizing that I can have these things planned loosely or "theoretically." By this, I mean, I would like all of these things to get done, but I'm not going to commit myself to them so wholeheartedly that I'd be disappointed with myself if they don't get done.<br />
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The same is true for my summer reading list. I have a handful of books that I'm reading and hope to read this summer. This will be more easily accomplished as I don't really have a deadline for the end of summer, haha! - My summer can end around October ;) Here's the list (in no particular order).<br />
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1. N.D. Wilson's <i>100 Cupboards </i>series.
This series lies somewhere in between young adult and children's
literature. It's a little too intense for younger children, but doesn't
deal too much with the coming-of-age issues that a piece of out and out
YAL would. I have read the first two installments of this series, <i>100 Cupboards, </i>and <i>Dandelion Fire. </i>I'm currently making my way through <i>The Chestnut King. </i>The
series is about a 12 year old boy named Henry York. He is spending the
summer on his uncle's farm in Kansas when he, in his attic bedroom,
discovers a wall full of small cupboards. As the story unfolds, Henry
finds that each cupboard is a doorway into a different world. As he
discovers this, he unleashes a powerful evil that he and his family must
spend the rest of the series fighting to conquer.
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Why I'm reading it: I loved (LOVED) N.D. Wilson's <i>Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl. </i>That was not a fantasy tale. It falls on the side of apologetics. Let me give you a taste of his writing style from <i>Notes: </i>"Imagine a poem written with such enormous three-dimensional words that we had to invent a smaller word to reference each of the big ones; that we had to rewrite the whole thing in shorthand, smashing it into two dimensions, just to talk about it. Or don't imagine. Look outside. Human language is our attempt at navigating God's language; it is us running between the lines of His epic, climbing on the vowels and building houses out of the consonants." </div>
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Though this series isn't allegorical, per se, there definitely are characters that embody Christian characteristics and obstacles that remind the reader of the detriments of sin. At the beginning of the series, I found myself looking back to catch what I must have missed, and I honestly think those times were Wilson's fault. But! Not only did the writing get considerably tighter, the story was enough to keep me engaged despite interruptions of confusion. </div>
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Originally, I only had the first installment on my reading list. But after I finished it, there was no way I could continue without finishing all three books. Wilson has been called the modern-day C.S. Lewis. I don't know about THAT, but there are some Lewis-ish qualities about him. What a great segway to my next book.... </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwy8xniwX_QEAbjKpVEMa9gDSdbP9zlamujE4bLl4LjZuFlVufxYBV32XeH_iDSAFuEGHqdhdINx7sbTf4CVmsUnjWwAX6MzcREzRS6Iwxmnw_GW9i14QpxAhMUwM0aNLZtJUuojGeSsU/s1600/Mere+Christianity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwy8xniwX_QEAbjKpVEMa9gDSdbP9zlamujE4bLl4LjZuFlVufxYBV32XeH_iDSAFuEGHqdhdINx7sbTf4CVmsUnjWwAX6MzcREzRS6Iwxmnw_GW9i14QpxAhMUwM0aNLZtJUuojGeSsU/s200/Mere+Christianity.jpg" width="138" /></a>2. C.S. Lewis' <i>Mere Christianity. </i>If you know even a little about me, you know I'm a Lewis fan. I'm considering naming our next dog Clive.<i> </i>I first read this book about six years ago. I remember kind of zooming through it. Since then, I've learned that you don't ever (EVER) zoom through Lewis. Lewis is meant to be mulled over. Savored. Enjoyed. I always read a Lewis book on my "breaks." But I don't really have breaks anymore, so I'm just making my way down a check list of Lewis books. There are still plenty I have to read before I can happily say I've read every thing Lewis ever had published, but I do feel that without slowly and carefully re-reading this monumental Christian work, I'd be doing myself a disservice if I continued on to other Lewis books. Here are just a couple of rich quotes (of which there are <i>several</i>):</div>
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"My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust?"</div>
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"A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you." </div>
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"And out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we call human history - money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery - the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy."<br />
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My mom was the one who got me started with Lewis. She has loved to read his books for as far back as I can remember and when I was a child, she read the first two Narnia books to me. It was because of that warm memory of childhood that I knew C.S. Lewis would always be a significant part of my literary life. Speaking of childhood.... <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_9rcLWAn9dYCyOJ6TjWZL99SPR82Ym99OMAmeCST9plhjZNGVfnakmDLXvPfV0iLwnTye2SwyEugGNQ_oqwJsPoCACdhldFxC7KZyBJkBqa2bFaWMq83WAI5UQo8kRGE1CNQ0aMnWLc/s1600/shepherding1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_9rcLWAn9dYCyOJ6TjWZL99SPR82Ym99OMAmeCST9plhjZNGVfnakmDLXvPfV0iLwnTye2SwyEugGNQ_oqwJsPoCACdhldFxC7KZyBJkBqa2bFaWMq83WAI5UQo8kRGE1CNQ0aMnWLc/s200/shepherding1.jpg" width="128" /></a>3. Tedd Tripp's <i>Shepherding a Child's Heart. </i>I began this parenting book earlier in the year but had to put it down because of the silly demands of school. Reading my required texts for CSUN was definitely a wiser use of my time in that season of life -- especially when the alternative is a parenting book and I'm not even pregnant yet.<br />
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This book is filled (FILLED) with biblical wisdom with regards to child-rearing. I've always kind of laughed when I thought about "book parents." But then I realized that books are really one of the biggest sources of superficial comfort for me. And that the greatest book of all is my greatest source of profound, unshakeable (and sometimes difficult) spiritual comfort. While I still kind of feel that parents who rely on every new pop-psychological parenting theory for comfort are a bit silly, I don't think this book is one of those. This book does a great job of explaining and laying out what God has intended for the role of parents. It consistently points to scripture (which, ultimately, is really the only authority on anything and everything), and gives practical insight and application. Spoiler alert: discipline is not an option, and neither is diligent communication. There's so much more beyond that as it gets age-specific in the latter half, but that really is the bread and butter of it.<br />
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I'm almost done with it and am SO glad I am a highlighting and note-taking type of reader because this is a book that I know I'm going to refer to often for many many many years to come. Here's a taste of the blessings and bits of encouragement (and conviction!) I've received:<br />
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"All behavior is linked to attitudes of the heart. Therefore, discipline must address attitudes of the heart. This understanding does marvelous things for discipline. It makes the heart the issue, not just the behavior. It focuses correction on deeper things than changed behavior... Your concern is to unmask your child's sin, helping him to understand how it reflects a heart that has strayed. That leads to the cross of Christ. It underscores the need for a Savior. It provides opportunities to show the glories of God who sent his Son to change hearts and free people enslaved to sin."<br />
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"In short, you must learn to engage them, not just reprove them. Help them see the ways that they are trying to slake their souls' thirst with that which cannot satisfy. You must help your kids gain a clear focus on the cross of Christ."<br />
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"The parent must be aware of the fact that he is God's representative to the child. I know of no realization that will sober and humble the parent like this one." <br />
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"If correction orbits around the parent who has been offended, then the focus will be venting anger or, perhaps, taking vengeance. The function is punitive. If, however, correction orbits around God as the one offended, then the focus is restoration. The function is remedial. It is designed to move a child who has disobeyed God back to the path of obedience."<br />
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One last one, though there are so many great quotes.<br />
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"Teaching your children to live for the glory of God must be your overarching objective. You must teach your children that as for them, as for all of mankind, life is found in knowing and serving the true and living God. The only worthy goal for life is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever."<br />
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If you have kids, are about to have kids, want to have kids, are curious about what Christian parenting ought to look like, or want to know what the Bible says about the most important job in the world, I can't recommend this book highly enough. <br />
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4. John Piper's <i>Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist. </i>This is probably John Piper's most influential and popular book. I started reading this a little less than two years ago. I can't remember why I put it down, but I know it was a really foolish reason (it must have been) and so, it's time to pick it back up again! It really is difficult to summarize what this book does in such a small space. As I am looking through the parts of the book I've read for highlighted excerpts, I find that I can't select just a couple to indicate to you how rich, profound, enjoyable, soul-shaking, mind-blowing, joy-stirring, and overall wow this book is. I think this one and <i>Mere Christianity </i>tie for "books you have to read as soon as possible." It's not short. And it's not easy. But it's fulfilling. It is more than satisfying. It inspires to stand in awe in Jesus (and to find joy immeasurable in doing so). For those who love God, it is a feast for the soul. <br />
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That's all for now. These are the most pressing books on my list. I have several more. But these are the ones I've started and so, must finish. I've realized that somewhere down the line, I have become a bookworm. As a kid, I hated reading. Now, I'm not satisfied if I'm not in the process of reading at least two books at a time. Yes, I know, two books isn't all that much, but unfortunately I'm an incredibly slow reader. (This has been the bane of my academic career). So I can't really take more than two at a time without getting scatter brained and not really appreciating either book. I'm nearly done with the third N.D. Wilson book and Tedd Tripp's. I have a feeling I'll have to take Lewis and Piper individually.<br />
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I want to know what you're reading/you have read that you found has been either just a fun read, or a marrow-piercing blessing to your soul. </div>
You Are A Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13557581311900593236noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33334932838204424.post-84674482580184787542012-06-14T08:52:00.002-07:002012-06-14T08:54:47.783-07:00The Orozco's Are Moving!!!.... Eventually.<br />
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.... Maybe.<br />
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.... Somewhere.<br />
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.... Who knows...<br />
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My husband, Sergio, and I have lived with my in-laws for the last 11 months. It has been a HUGE blessing in so many ways. A car loan paid off, a vacation taken, and a modest savings account later, we're beginning to seriously entertain the idea of getting out there on our own again. We have seen a few apartments that we really like, and are considering some other, more exciting options as well. All that is left to do is to come to a conviction and act on it. To do so, a lot of prayer on our parts will have to take place. I'm so thankful that we serve a gracious God who, even in our uncertainty, knows His will for us and will ensure our good will come out of it. When we're really living in that truth (not just believing it, but living IN it), it really does make for a worry-free, anxiety-free life. Pride and expectation can't reside in this truth and so they have to be checked at the door. Therein lies the challenge.<br />
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I realize I haven't blogged in a while. (Shame on me). Unfortunately, this post has to be short. But I did want to update those who are interested. More posts to come in the not-distant future.You Are A Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13557581311900593236noreply@blogger.com0