Noah Was a Cool Man!

Did you ever realize that Noah built his ark for a hundred years? God spoke to Noah, gave him a job, and explained it to him. Noah agreed to do what God asked and started working. God was probably quiet all those years. Noah had three sons during that time, and they grew up watching their dad build a big boat on dry land, started to help when they were big enough, and stood by their father's side while others mocked. They married godly women who did not care about the mocking either. I wonder if Noah had difficult times with himself while building the ark. I wonder if he ever doubted.

I am glad God limited the years of man, because I do not know if I could handle waiting for the Lord for a hundred years. I have received promises from God, and while waiting for their fulfillment, I have even started to doubt if it was really God speaking to me, or if I just made it up! How could I even call myself a believer if I ever second-guessed God's words! He has shown me many times that He always keeps his promises, without exception.

Dear friend, if you are holding a promise you have received from the Lord, keep holding on to it. If you have not received any promises, open your Bible and read. It is full of them, for you and for me! Then grow closer to Jesus as you wait for those promises.

Jesus is one of the promises that God has already fulfilled. He came, taught, died, rose from the dead, ascended to Heaven, and will return. That's the promise I am holding on to. People call us crazy, but I ask them, "In what or in whom do you put your trust? Is it enough? Are you sure? Are you free?"

Nothing to Say

God knows what is in my heart and that's enough.

. . .Feet Fitted with the Readiness that Comes from the Gospel of Peace. Ephesians 6:15

Listening to *this* (and looking online where to find her album to buy) and admiring *her* doodling. The story behind Rhema. . . words can't even begin to describe. She is such a blessing to thousands of people. Her voice and her character are something I didn't even know exists.

Now What's that Sound?. . .

. . .I think it is the sound of my patience growing.

I did not decide to be negative or positive today. I decided only to take the day as it is, and today it is like this:

I wear my noise reducing earmuffs. Sally screams her lungs out in the bedroom as my husband is trying to put her down for her nap. I have already tried it. Jonah has been waiting for three hours for our mother-son Bible study. "I just have to lay Sally down first" has been my answer for these long hours. He has more things piling up on his mommy-do list. Some small Legos are firmly stuck together. "Mommy, can you help?"

"Yes, as soon as Sally is asleep."

"Can you teach me how to make a real painting with watercolors?"

"Yes, as soon as your sister falls asleep."

"Mommy, can I have another cup of cocoa? You've said I can have two cups per day when I'm sick."

"Yes, you can have a cup of cocoa, as soon as Sally is asleep." T comes home from the art supply store. I had called him thirty minutes earlier and asked if he can check if they have black fabric markers. "Yes, honey," he replied and hung up. I was excited to look in his bag when he got back home. No fabric markers. Did they not have them? "I forgot to ask as soon as I hung up the phone."

Jonah is now getting upset over the delayed cocoa. A four-year-old can only wait for so long. It is now the fourth hour that I am putting him off. Sally gets quieter in the bedroom. Jonah picks up his guitar, strums, and Sally gets a second wind, screaming. The thousand previous times I had told Jonah that musical instruments are off-limits while someone is taking a nap, or attempting to, were clearly not enough. He makes an irritating whiney noise when I once more explain the rules and put the guitar away. He drinks his cocoa and comes to sit on my lap as I type and nods off. I am sick, too, and all this would be easier to handle if I didn't have muscle aches, a dizzy head, and a terrible cough that makes me throw up and nearly pass out.

The day is almost gone and I have reached none of my goals. I guess that I can forget about that much needed shower and that second cup of coffee. I am afraid to make a move in any direction, since it is finally quiet. If I boil water, turn a page, or flush the toilet, someone will start screaming again.

Wise Men Still Seek Him

Click on the picture to read more about this.

Am I wise? Am I wise in my own mind or in the eyes of God? What is wisdom? These are questions I have been asking myself in the past couple of days.



Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

James 3:13-18

Kuka on viisas ja ymmärtäväinen teidän joukossanne? Tuokoon hän näkyviin tekonsa hyvällä vaelluksellaan viisauden sävyisyydessä. Mutta jos teillä on katkera kiivaus ja riitaisuus sydämessänne, niin älkää kerskatko älkääkä valhetelko totuutta vastaan. Tämä ei ole se viisaus, joka ylhäältä tulee, vaan se on maallista, sielullista, riivaajien viisautta. Sillä missä kiivaus ja riitaisuus on, siellä on epäjärjestys ja kaikkinainen paha meno. Mutta ylhäältä tuleva viisaus on ensiksikin puhdas, sitten rauhaisa, lempeä, taipuisa, täynnä laupeutta ja hyviä hedelmiä, se ei epäile, ei teeskentele. Vanhurskauden hedelmä kylvetään rauhassa rauhan tekijöille. 

Jaakobin kirje 3:13-18

Happy Birthday, Jesus

                                                     

 Happy Birthday Jesus

I'm so glad it's Christmas

All the tinsel and lights and the presents are nicebut the real gift is You.
Happy Birthday JesusI'm so glad it's Christmasall the carols and bellsmake the holiday swelland it's all about YouHappy Birthday JesusJesus I love You!

I don't know who wrote that song but it sure is wonderful. We have been practicing it, but aren't quite done yet. (I think we will make a youtube video of the recording and I will share it here). Meanwhile, you can admire this little girl sing it.

At Peace

Christmas! How excited I am this year! I chose not to stress about anything, but making the deadline to mail all the gifts and cards did raise my blood pressure a little bit. Once that was done, I have been at peace. We are all having a tough cold and it is eating up all of the energy I might have had, but that's just fine. We have been relaxing, doing little crafts (more of that at Learning at Home), blowing our noses and coughing.

I have one Bible verse stuck in my head, along with some songs in Finnish,* and I want to share it with you:

It is better to trust in the LORD
Than to put confidence in man. Psalms 118:8

On parempi luottaa Herraan,
kuin turvata ihmisiin. Psalmit 118:8

 Tämä olen saanut kokea todeksi, Jumala on uskollinen.

*Valtaa mun sydämein Jeesus, sinua palvelemaan
niin että kokonaan sulle, elää mä tahtoisin vaan...