Tuesday's Thoughts

A couple of nights ago I was reading a few pages from John Piper's book, Taste and See. It is a great read if you love Piper but can only read a few pages at a time. This book is basically just short journal entries he has collected over the years. On this one particular night I was reading the entry "Her Body, Her Self, and Her God." It is basically Piper talking about how much we, as women, have changed over the decades from women who desire good works, to women who desire good looks. This really hit me hard...or as I like to say, "It rocked my world." He quoted two different passages from scripture, 1 Tim. 2:9-10 and 1 peter 3:3-4,6.

Piper's thought on why we have drastically changed is because the "person" we, as women, seek approval from has changed from God to man. I think I fight between God's approval and man's approval daily. Don't you? I worry more about what stroller Eli is in instead of caring about the way I am leading him through life. I worry more about what clothes I have on than what clothes my heart. I worry more about how my actions compare to others instead of comparing my actions to God. I want to come to a place where God's approval is all I care about; where I am free from man's approval and stop constantly comparing myself to others.

Just the other day I was coveting a friend's possessions while driving somewhere and the Lord reminded me that all that I have, He has given me. And when I covet what someone else has I am basically spitting on what God has given me! That really cut me deep. How am I going to get past this way of mind?

I think the way this is going to happen is to daily learn more about God's character and remember and believe, as my mom puts it, "He loves me more than anyone else does and knows me better than I know myself." Oh that I would live like I believe this and that God would make my only desire to seek His approval and seek to share His name with those He puts in my path. So I am challenging myself to put God at the center of all I do and spend more time with Him EVERYDAY. Just remember, at the end of it all, He is going to be the only one that matters anyway. I would just hate to get to heaven after spending all my time on earth making more of myself instead of making more of Christ.

Monday's Meal

I am always trying to remember what things I can make for supper. "Monday's Meal" is going to be a way to help you think of some dishes you can make for your family.

On the menu tonight will be Hamburger Steak, corn on the cob (silver queen) and a salad. I love to marinade my hamburger meat with Dale's sauce, soy sauce, and some Grill mates seasoning. I put the corn in a pyrex dish with pads of butter, cover the dish in plastic wrap and put them in the microwave. It is so much easier that way! Just watch out for the steam when you pull back the plastic wrap. I've burned myself before pulling it back and it hurt like junk! Our salad will be topped with cucumbers, green pepper, and croutons (because my hubby doesn't think any salad is complete without croutons). Well, I'm off to get supper ready while Little E is still napping!

first post

I have really been wanting to share my thoughts on being a Christian woman, coach's wife, and first time mom over the past few months but didn't want to do so on my other blog. I felt the other blog was for family and friends to see into our life and the people reading our blog probably didn't want to hear me ramble about my own life. I was throwing around the idea of creating a blog just for my thoughts but thought to myself, "Why would anyone ever care to read about my thoughts?" Well, after going back and forth in my head and not being able to sleep, last night I got up and ended up on the couch looking at The Pioneer Woman's website. And much to my surprise, she had just posted about how her website was started 4 years ago today. So I took that as my sign to start up my own page. In NO way do I ever think I'll be up to her status but I know she started her blog just to share her thoughts on life as a rancher's wife and mom. So I'm going to give this a try and see where it takes me. I know it won't be near as interesting as my precious little boy but I've got to get these thoughts down somewhere. So, here we go...