Day #15 Be Teachable

"The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise." Proverbs 15:31

"But he who listens to reproof gains intelligence." v.32

"The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor." v. 33

I have been convicted lately that I am not very teachable.  This chapter in Proverbs was full of truths on listening to reproof or a rebuke.  Now I have trouble listening in general even when it is not a rebuke!  I need to continue to ask the Lord to make me teachable in the small things and even more when someone comes to me and points out sin.  I want to love reproof, rebuke, instruction and wisdom that others can give to me and not pridefully rely on what I already know or to think more highly of myself than I should.

Day #14-Finally:)

"(God) Who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.  They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share."  I Timothy 6:17-18

I love how Paul worded this to Timothy.  He is referring to rich people here but I think it is a good reminder to anyone.  First, God is so faithful to give us so much more than we deserve and then the whole idea of being rich in good works.  These both go together in my mind because God gives us so much more than we deserve and that causes us to want to glorify Him and through that we do good works and should want to do as much as we can to bring Him glory.  Well that was a very long sentence but that is how it all worked out in my brain.  I just love these phrases though-richly provides us with everything to enjoy and to be rich in good works.  A good reminder and a good goal.

I hope to be back at my morning time in the word.  Our painting is done, but I have no idea what SJ's new wake up time is.  She was waking up at 6:30 and 7:00 this week and then this morning she woke up at 8:30!  It was a blessing but I am a little confused.  We'll see what tomorrow brings but I hope to get up early and be blessed by God's perfect Word.

SJ's Sign

 I wanted to make a special sign for SJ for a while now and I finally got to it.  I found this ugly sign at Ross and figured it would be no problem to make it something special for SJ's room.  I am not sure how I talk myself into these little projects because I somehow turn simple projects into major ordeals no matter how hard I try to keep it simple.  That's the thing.  I love simplicity, I long for things to be simple, I try to make my life as simple as possible, but when it comes to projects like this it just does not happen.  So here goes the story of the SJ sign. 

 I sanded and painted it.  No problem.  No spills.  Everything was going good.

 Then Andrew got involved and said I needed to paint SJ's name pink so I did it but found it funny that he got very opinionated about it.  I found these cute flowers at Michaels and everything was going smoothly.

 I glued everything on and let it sit overnight with some heavy books on it to make sure none of it would fall off.  Here's the finished project.  I love it and I was so excited to show Andrew and then I saw this...

Yep, that's right people.  I glued everything upside down so now this wire that would have been so great to hang this up is useless!!!  Lesson learned-look before you glue and make sure you are putting it on the right way.  Andrew is going to save the day and put some new hanging things on it to use but still, really did I really need to make it this complicated?  Oh well, all you can do is laugh.  The funniest part is these little hangups never stop me from continuing to try to be crafty. 

A Bit Behind

These last few days have been a bit crazy.  I had to put a 2nd coat of paint on in our room and SJ decided to wake up early that morning too.  Today has been thrown off as well and I find that when that happens my time in the Word gets thrown off as well.  I am still working on that but I hope to be back in it tomorrow.  I have been getting up early though!

SJ's New Sign

So my little fun project has been to take this not so pretty sign and make it a sign with SJ's name on it to go over her crib.  It has become a bigger task than I was expecting but that is usually how things go with me.  So here it is complete with its chubby birds.  Stay tuned to see the outcome-hopefully its a good one!

Along with finishing that sign this week I am hoping to finish painting our room and SJ's room.  As soon as that happens I will have pics up of our new place.  It's been a slow process of getting things done but I will be very happy to get all the painting done! 

Day #13 Conviction on my Words...Again!

"Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin." Proverbs 13:3

You have to love Proverbs for its straightforward approach on who is a fool and who is wise.  Again, I am convicted about how important it is to be careful with my words.  Today it was harder to find a verse that I wanted to meditate on which shows me I need to read more carefully.  I read 10 chapters of God's Word and it should not be that hard!  But I am grateful for this reminder and hope to keep it in my mind today to think about before I speak.



I'll leave you with a little love from SJ!

Day #12 Genuine Love

"Let love be genuine...love one another with brotherly affection."  Romans 12:9 & 10

I was just reminded this morning how good Romans 12 is.  Its one of those chapters you just want to read again and again because there are so many good, convicting, challenging verses in it.  This one hit me hard.  It is one I really want to think on today.  I want to grow in loving others and this lays it out pretty clear on what that should look like.

Its getting close to nap time and SJ is letting me know.  I did get up early though!  Yeah for day #2!!!  I didn't get to read because I had a lovely dentist appointment.  I don't know if it should even be legal to have an 8am dentist appointment on a Monday.  I survived but my day is all thrown off.  Thankfully, I was still able to be in the Word while little SJ plays.  I am so grateful she doesn't crawl yet :)

Day #11 Praising God this Morning

"Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways!  For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor?  Or who has given a gift to Him that He might be repaid?  For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.  To Him be glory forever.  Amen."  Romans 11:33-36

I don't think I need to add much to this.  This passage reminds me that God does not need me but graciously loves me and uses me.  It reminds me that I need to humble myself before the Lord knowing that I will never understand all that He does but that does not mean I need to question what He does or has done.  This passage leaves me in awe of God and makes me worship Him.

Well these weekends are just tricky aren't they?  I woke up early to read today but Saturday was crazy and I didn't find the time to sit down.  I have to keep working on that but I know one thing that needs to change which brings me to a new 30 day challenge.  I must wake up early.  I don't like waking up early but who does?  I usually get up early a couple of times throughout the week and once I am up I love it and I am able to do so much more throughout the day.  I also know that waking up earlier helps me to be focused on the Word when I am reading it.  Its time to do this.  No more excuses.  I know it is best.  So my goal is to build this new habit into my life of waking up at 6:30 am.  I know that probably does not sound early to most of you but it is to me!  Pray for me!!!  Here we go day 1 of waking up early.

P.S. I find it hard to not put a picture on when I post so there's one of Whiskeytown Falls.  I hope to put some more up throughout the week.  Redding is so pretty and I need to take some more pictures to share with everyone!

Mustang Baby

I busted out this TMC Mustang shirt for SJ to wear today and realized this will probably be the one and only time she will be able to wear it.  She has a big belly issue:)  So we figured we should take some pics to remember her mustang shirt.

Don't worry we will give her a choice on what college she wants to go to.  We'll tell her it will either be Master's or well Master's  :)  She was born to be a mustang afterall!

Day #10 Acceptable and Wise Words

"The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom...the lips of the righteous know what is acceptable." Proverbs 10:31 & 32

I made it to day 10!  I am excited to know I am a third of the way through my 30 day challenge.  It feels like I have been doing this longer than 10 days-not sure if that is a good thing or bad thing:)  It is still enjoyable and I don't feel overwhelmed by reading 10 chapters a day.  We'll see how these next 20 days go!

I am always convicted about verses about words and what we say.  It can be so easy to sin through our speech, especially as a woman.  I would love to be described in this way-she speaks wisdom and knows what is acceptable to say.  This is so hard and takes self-control and patience.  Today I want to ask the Lord to help me to be slow to speak so I can really think before I say anything at all.  I also am reminded of the value of spending time in God's word.  I have to spend time in His word, growing in my knowledge of Him and asking Him to give me wisdom or else there's not going to be any wisdom coming from my mouth.  I also need to be in His word asking Him for discernment so I can rely on Him to show me what is acceptable and right in the things that I say.

This Week with SJ

Day #9-The Cost of Counsel

"So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the Lord." Joshua 9:14

As I was reading this story in Joshua about the Gibeonites deceiving Israel, I was thinking come on people why wouldn't you ask God first???  But then I was quickly reminded of how much I forget to ask God for His counsel, for wisdom and discernment in the decisions I am making everyday.  It is so easy to rely on myself (never a good decision) rather than spending time in His word and in prayer searching out counsel from the Lord.  I want to learn from the people of Israel and  from Joshua.  I want to learn from their mistake.  I want to be reminded to daily seek the Lord for direction and counsel and remember that I always need it!

Day #8 Greatest Fear

"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angles nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, no anything else in all creations, will be able to separate us form the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

I am sure we have all been asked the question-what is your greatest fear?  I can think of a few different answers I have given in the past, but it struck me today with this passage that I have never thought about being separated from God's love as one of my greatest fears.  I am sure part of that reason is because I know it is not possible but the flip side of that is that this one truth, that I can not be separated from the love of God, should bring comfort in every situation.  This should be something that I cling on to in trials.  This should be something I tell myself when I am discouraged.  Things in this world easily come and go but God is unlike anything of this world.  His love for us can never be taken away.  This needs to be part of my everyday thoughts about God.  I know if it was it would change my outlook on everything.  So I am having a hard day, well who cares, God still loves me!  That may sound funny or very basic but it is the truth and something I need to tell myself over and over. 

Day #7 Great Prayers

"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word."  2 Thess. 2:16-17



I don't know about you but sometimes I just don't know how to pray for myself or for others.  I just don't know what to ask for or how to put things right.  I love these kind of passages from Paul that model for me how to pray for others.  I think praying scripture is one of the best things I can do for people.  Paul's prayers for people or the churches he was writing too are so sincere and full of truth and always point us back to Christ.  Today I want to pray this for myself and for others.

"Can you say, 'Da...da'?"

Day #6 Slave of God

"But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life." Romans 6:22

It's definitely Monday morning.  Aren't Monday mornings just crazy sometimes?  I often get to the end of a Monday and have to remind myself-it's just Monday!  I don't know how it happens but there's just so much going on and so much to do that by the end of the day I feel like it has to at least be Thursday.  Well I still have dishes to do and laundry to start washing and I am still sipping on my morning coffee at 11:30.  Yes, it has been a slow morning:)

But most importantly I was able to be in the Word and read this verse from Romans and be reminded that its not about me anyways.  I am a slave to God.  I am being sanctified.  I have been blessed with eternal life.  These are all good reminders and change my attitude about everything when I put things into perspective.  I am thankful that the word revives the soul and helps me to think on what really matters. 

Also, yes, you caught me!  I skipped my reading on Sunday.  I have always struggled with that.  I don't know why it is harder for me to find time to be in the Word on Sunday.  I think I can easily justify missing my time with the Lord because I am going to church, hearing His word, and being around believers but I know that is not a good excuse at all.  Do any of you struggle with this?  What has helped you? 

Day #5 Worthy to Suffer

"Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name."

Acts 5:41

I am left not knowing what to write about this but I know that it is an important verse to think about because it is amazing that they were rejoicing because they got to suffer for God!  This is so foreign to me.  I can't think of one way I have had to suffer for God and especially not any kind of physical suffering.  But I can imagine if anything even close to this happened to me I am not sure my first response would be to celebrate.  I think the usual questions of "why me?" or "can't there be another way?" would come into my mind.  I want to think about this today and be challenged by the example of Peter and the apostles who were excited to be worthy to suffer for Christ.

SJ's New Trick

Day #4-More and more

Well today was much harder to get my time in the Word.  It seems like when my schedule changes I get all thrown off.  Does that happen to anyone else?  Today is Andrew's day off which means its my grocery shopping day.  I am trying to buy for 2 weeks at a time so we'll see how that goes. 

Today I was reminded in reading I Thess. 4 that we are never done.  We have never finished loving others or trying to please God.  Paul tells the people in the church of the Thessalonians-Brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.  Later he encourages them again to keep going-Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia.  But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more.

It is good to be reminded that we are never finished, even if we are pleasing God in an area in our life we are to do it more and more.  Sanctification is a process and as long as we are here on this earth we will need to keep striving to please God in every area of our life more and more.

7 Months Old Today

SJ is 7 months old today.  I told her it is alright because 7 is a biblical number.  Today I was reminded why I shouldn't go shopping with SJ very often.  I found myself having to hold her half the time and she wanted to reach out and grab everything and put it in her mouth.  This got a little trickier when I walked down and aisle with dishes!  You would think I would learn not to venture out but I keep trying through all her different stages.  I got in the car and just started laughing-what else can you do!

SJ is loving her baby food, sitting up on her own, still not rolling very good and not even trying to crawl (but I am okay with that).  She is shaking her head a lot looking like she is saying no (its cute now but when she really means no it won't be cute), she is making the sound "dadadada" but we know she doesn't really know what it means, she is also showing her sin nature.  She definitely lets it be known when she wants something she can't have.  We knew it was in her but it is something to see it come out!

I think she is growing up so fast but Andrew can't wait for her to grow faster.  He wants her to get big enough to start walking so he can play around with her even more.

Day #3

"Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace." Proverbs 3:17

Doesn't that sound nice?  This proverb is speaking of wisdom (her-feminine-does this mean women are naturally wise???:).  I desire wisdom, not as often as I should, but I don't always think about it in this way.  I know from experience than when I am trying to be wise and putting to practice what I know to be true there is great peace in that.  It totally makes sense that things in your life will be pleasant and peaceful when you are living in wisdom.  Its not because everything in your life is great, or because your day is going smoothly.  It is because you are taking what you know to be true about God and you are believing it throughout whatever comes in your day.  I need to do this more often and now thinking about the outcome of it (pleasantness and peace) there is much more of a desire to seek wisdom, to grow in wisdom with the Lord's strength.

Day #2

I made it through another day!  I am so thankful that SJ takes a morning nap and allows me to have this precious time in the Word.  Today I was stuck by the boldness of Peter.  After Christ has ascended to heave and the promised Holy Spirit comes to the believers he delivers his first sermon.  He says twice to the people that they were the ones responsible for killing Christ.  Acts 2:23 & 37-You crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men...whom you crucified.  He had a new boldness that is so drastically different from when he denied Christ three times.  I find myself wondering if I can be that bold?  Am I too concerned with pleasing others or do I want to proclaim the truth (in love of course)?  Peter was not trying to make friends this day or trying to say what would make the people feel good about themselves.  He was being faithful to the gospel, faithful to say the hard things, faithful to be used by God to bring people to repentance.  I want to be faithful to these same things.

Another question here-how do you stay focused during your Bible reading?  I have found in every stage of life it is harder and harder to stay focused and to not let my mind wander onto what I need to do next, or do tomorrow, or make for dinner.  I have to keep refocusing sometimes.  I try to pray before I read and ask the Lord to help me focus and I know I need to continue to do that.  Any other tips?

30 Day Challenge

Well this is unusual for me.  I usually just use this blog to post pictures of what's going on with us and mostly of SJ.  Andrew and I were talking the other day about how to keep yourself accountable in the Word.  He suggested blogging, tweeting (which I just don't do), or putting something on Facebook.  At first I was thinking, not that's just not me, but then I realized using this blog could really be a great tool for me and maybe an encouragement to my few followers:)  So all that to say I am challenging myself to try a new Bible reading system for 30 days and to see if it is the one for me.  This system is from a professor at The Master's College, Professor Horner.  I have heard about it for years but always thought, that's just not how I learn, I am a slow reader, I really need to take time to soak it in and understand it, but in reality I think just reading this much of the Bible totally intimidated me!  Here's the website to explain this system if you want to check it out http://www.scribd.com/doc/12349985/Professor-Grant-Horners-Bible-Reading-System

So, today was Day 1 and I have to say I just felt like I had a feast.  I got to read so much of God's Word and though it first seemed daunting at the end it felt like it flew by.  Now I know it is my first day and trying anything new the first time is usually fun and exciting so stick around and see how it goes for me! 

 I am going to try to post one verse that I hope to meditate on for the day.  Today it comes from Job 1:20-Then Job arose and tore his rob and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped.  I am amazed, completely amazed at Job's response to the loss in his life.  Everything was taken away from him and all at once and this is what he did!  I find myself questioning and examining my own heart to see if my response would be worship.  Did you catch that?  He WORSHIPED God!  It seems like in that moment when everything was stripped from him that God's power His Sovereign Hand was made perfectly clear to Job and when we see more of who God is we are more in awe of Him and it can cause us to worship Him.  Now most of us are not going to have a trial like this, but we do have hard trials, and we do face small trials everyday.  I want my first response in whatever trial, big or small, to be to worship Him.

Okay, if you made it this far in the post, congratulations!  I know I am writing a lot but just know it is mostly for me to be able to journal and look back to see how the Lord uses this new Bible reading system in my life.  If it encourages you, great, and if you want to share with me what you are learning through your time in the Word I would love that too!

The Nelson Christmas Finally Arrived!

 We finally got to head to Merced last week to celebrate Christmas with my side of the family.  It was a nice break from the move!

SJ got a lot of love and attention from the whole family but especially from her cousins.  They love love love her and she is so entertained by them.