Graham Cracker Faith

Sometimes I underestimate toddlers' and preschoolers' ability to understand the ways in which God works. Working with our little ones at KidsPoint has opened my eyes to ways they can learn about and experience our great and living God. Take Wednesday, for example. I had loaded up the kids to head to the farmer's market and pick up some produce. It was so glum outside, I didn't anticipate it being as hot and humid as it turned out to be. Even before we pulled out onto the highway, Riley began asking for something to drink and eat. A snack....rats! I knew I had forgotten something! Now, with two children, it is inevitable that I am going to forget something. I tried to satisfy him by letting him know it was going to be a short trip and we could have a snack when we returned home. Soon, he started getting specific. He didn't just want a snack, he wanted GRAHAM CRACKERS.

"There's no graham crackers in here, Riley," I explained.
"I want graham crackers, mommy!"
"We don't have any. We ate them all going to Nana's," I reiterated.
"But I just want some graham crackers," he insisted.

Recalling Lonnie Riley's story from this week's audio sermon where the man had shown up at his doorstep asking for $75 to which he replied, "I don't have $75 but if God gives me $75 then I promise I will give it to you." So, I said to Riley, "Riley, we don't have any graham crackers, but I promise if God gives mommy graham crackers, I will give them to you."

"Thank you mommy," he said and didn't ask again for the snack....until we returned home. As soon as we walked in the door, "Mommy, can I have graham crackers now?"

"If God gives them to mommy, I will give you some." I knew good and well that we were out of graham crackers and also knew that Adam had cleaned out the pantry the day before, so any remnants of graham crackers would have been tossed out. Nevertheless, I opened up the pantry and smack-dab on the first shelf laying there all by themselves were a mostly-full pack of graham crackers...just enough for Riley and I to share for a snack.

"Riley, come get your graham crackers," I called to him.
He walked up the stairs, looked in my eyes knowingly and said to me, "Who put those graham crackers there?"
"God did, Riley. You asked for them didn't you?"
He looked his little eyes up to the sky and whispered, "Thank you, God."

I'm not sure who learned more about faith that day, me or Riley. But one thing I know for sure, that was Riley's first encounter with faith, one I (and hopefully he) will never forget. God is here. God is listening. God cares. Faith like a child...

Things that sting...

Emma Reese had her 3 month shots today (we're following Dr. Sears' Alternative Vaccine schedule) and let me tell you, it was not easy! If you're a parent, you are probably cringing just thinking about it, remembering your own experiences with taking your children in for immunizations. You hold them in your lap (if you're lucky--sometimes they hold them down while you watch) as the nurse comes at your little one with a long, sharp syrenge. They look up at you with big, unknowing eyes, then the nurse jabs them in the thigh. Silent wailing (you know, the kind of cry that doesn't produce any sound for the longest time because it is so intense?) followed by shrieks, tears flowing, and then the worst of it--they look up at you with pain in their eyes and the "How could you let this happen to me?" expression. Why do we do it? Because it is best for them.

There are a lot of things in our everyday lives that sting in much the same way: loss of a job, loved one or spouse; financial troubles; heartache; natural disasters. These things leave many to arrive at one of two conclusions: 1) God doesn't exist because a good God would never allow bad things to happen or 2) God doesn't love me or He wouldn't be putting me through this horrible situation. But the fact of the matter is, God KNOWINGLY allows bad things to happen to us. He walks us right up to the needle, allows us to take the sting, all the while knowing it was BEST FOR US. God works everything together for GOOD for those that love Him. What could His purposes be, you may ask? To make us stronger, to deepen our faith and dependence upon Him, to prepare us to minister to someone else in that situation, etc.

How we choose to react to the sting is totally up to us. We can cry out in protest and anger, blaming God and becoming bitter, or we can allow Him to comfort us while He makes us stronger, teaches us, cares for us, and ultimately makes us more like Himself. Consider Job when you are going through a time of difficulty, who, after God allowed Satan to take away everything that he had and disease his body, said, "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?"

Put Your arm around me...

Last week was the first time Riley has really "held" his baby sister. I sat her beside him on his Elmo couch as she's now very interested in sitting up. I instructed him to place his arm around her to help keep her steady. Thankfully, I had my camera nearby to capture the moment: a big brother taking his little 3 month old sister under his wing. She felt so safe and secure, I'm sure, sitting with her big brother.

Sometimes I feel like I want someone to put their arm around ME and tell me everything is going to be okay... someone to keep me steady in times of turmoil... someone to carry my burdens. And then I remember that my heavenly father says, Come to me all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28) REST. In three years of being a mother, I can recall very few nights where I have slept uninterrupted. The idea of rest seems unattainable at times... an unreachable goal ...a luxury a select few (those without children! lol)can afford. But He promises us real rest for our weary souls. The kind of unshakable rest that can withstand anything that life throws at us. All we have to do is trust Him and allow Him to put His all-knowing, all-powerful arm around us. Then, by some sweet miracle, through is grace and mercy, comes what we have been longing for....REST.

Planting

We are starting a garden!!! Our first experience with a garden...Riley and Adam started hoeing the ground to get it loose for planting. Riley was excited at first, but soon retreated to a nearby chair when he realized what hard work it was. Emma Reese and I contributed by sitting in the sun and cheering Adam on. Well, I cheered and Emma Reese slept.I can't help but draw comparisons to our church plant. At first, it's new and exciting and everyone wants to do their share. Some jump right in and get dirty while others help in other ways (encouraging and prayer). But when we discover that it requires endurance and self-sacrifice, we are tempted to sit aside and let others finish the work. If we're going to reap an abundant harvest, we must be willing to labor. The harvest is plenty but the workers are few.

Interested in jumping in to serving at Crosspoint? http://crosspointchurch.com/get-connected/volunteer/

How do you measure up?

As I was looking through the pictures I took of the kids this morning, I came across this one where Riley's measuring tape made it into the picture. It reminded me of how we concern ourselves with how we measure up....to our neighbors, to our friends, in our ministry. As the children's director of Crosspoint Church, I find myself pondering this all the time. I've never built a children's ministry before much less worked in children's ministry...teaching almost doesn't count because it's apples and oranges. I often think, someone else with more experience can do a better job than I could. But it doesn't matter who can do it better because God has placed ME in this position and His strength is perfected in my weakness. As Pastor Daniel blogged a few days ago, I can never be as good as someone else but I'm the best me that I can be.

Don't let the fear of not "measuring up" stop you from what God has called you to do. He will equip you for any task along the way if you take a leap of faith and answer His call.

It Has Arrived!

I'm so excited that spring is FINALLY making it's mark. The first few weeks were nothing but days of snow, rain and cold temperatures leftover from winter. But NOW sights of lillies, forsythias, and apple blossoms adorn my yard. Not to mention temperatures in the 70s. I have to think that heaven mimics and undoubtedly surpasses springtime spendor. Both filled with a beautiful glow, sweet sounds and lovely aromas. What a joy it will be!

Simple Pleasures

Have you ever noticed how children seem to naturally "get it"? No one has to tell them to stop and smell the roses. They already innately know how to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Take Riley, for example, our 2.5 year old. He was so excited to go outside the other day and play in the "mud"...his word for a giant sand pit where the swimming pool resided last summer. He played t-ball in the "mud," climbed a tree with his papaw, and rested on a stump in the yard. You would've thought he had been to Disneyland!

And then there's Emma Reese...beautiful eight week old. Just today she cracked up at colorful pillow on her brother's bed and again at me when my bangs fell on her face and tickled her. Amused at the sound of water running, people's voices, her brother's crazy shrills.

We can learn a lot from our kids. In a world of bills, checklists, appointments and errands (even as a stay-at-home-mom) we let life take us in a whirlwind and before we know it, it has passed us by in the blink of an eye. If only we'd take time to enjoy the simple pleasures again. I wonder, what "mud pit" gets us excited. Take time to remember this morning. And smell the roses while you're at it!

Journey to GREEN

Okay, so YES it is Earth Month and everyone's thinking GREEN these days, but my journey to being more green started about two years ago when Riley was 8 months old. I randomly spotted a top 10 baby items list on Ebay and found that number 1 was "Fuzzi Bunz". Curious, I Googled them and found a whole new world of modern cloth diapering! I'll have to admit, I jumped on the modern cloth diaper band wagon simply because of the "cute factor". As I became more educated on the benefits, I came to find out that they are SO much healthier for baby (no chemicals and carcinogens) and our environment (disposibles take 500 years to break down in a landfill and considering the amount of diapers a baby goes through in one DAY, you can imagine how much waste 2 and 1/2 years creates). On the left is Riley in his cloth diapers that I made (don't ya love the matching alligator boots???).

Now, with a newborn, cloth diapering is even more fun. I LOVE putting comfy cloth on her delicate little skin. Simple pleasures. LOL

Now I'm on a quest to educate myself about what nasty things are in the things we consume and use everyday. I've come to find out....IT AIN'T EASY BEING GREEN! As it turns out, it takes an entire lifestyle change. Questioning everything you've ever known. Makeup with carcinogens. Baby wash with chemicals that lead to reproductive dysfunction. Food with additives that make us sick. Plastics that leach dangerous chemicals. Cleaners that are labeled DANGER and WARNING for good reason. Who knew that there were alternatives to such a dangerous world we've created? I'm on a personal mission to create a non-toxic environment for my children. Want to know more?

How To Green Your Baby http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/05/how-to-green-your-baby.php

Raising a Healthy Child in a Toxic World http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/05/green_babies.php

This is US

This is US. The growing family God has blessed me with. The first addition--Adam--my college sweetheart, best friend, and partner in life. We were happily newlyweds, teaching, and youth ministering, when along came Riley Scott... our now 2 1/2 year old. I'm sure you'll read lots about this "terrific two" as I blog. Our newest addition, Emma Reese, born 7 short weeks ago. Sweet baby girl. What else can I say about that. Mmmmmm... sweet thoughts only a mommy of a newborn can explain. :) OH, and then there's ME...I am a stay at home mom (formerly elementary school teacher) and a Children's Director at our new church plant, Crosspoint Church. In a nutshell, we are a Jesus-loving and serving, attempting to green-ify, pretty mainstream family.