God- the First Artist

As I continue to read Edith Schaeffer's The Hidden Art of Homemaking, I am amazed of God and the creativity I can read about in the Word and experience with my own hands. I have been spurred on to create more in the home and it is so fulfilling. I am in the process of making drapes for the kids room (so they might sleep longer without the sun shining in their beds)- we'll see if it works but so far it has been fun. I was just reading this morning about Solomon's temple. I Kings 6:18,29 says, "The cedar within the house was carved in the form of gourds and open flowers [...] Around all the walls of the house he carved engraved figures of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, in the inner and outer rooms." It is endless of the beauty of Solomon's temple- lattics with wreaths , on panels were lions, oxen and beveled work. The bronze work was done by Hiram from Tyre- the son of a widow and his father was a worker of bronze. Hiram was "full of wisdom, understanding, and skill for making any work in bronze. He came to King Solomon and did all his work." (I Kings 7:14)
As I read this, I realize God wants us to be used up in every area- creativity included. Hiram must have been used up as he created many beautiful things of bronze for God in the temple. I pray to be used up more and more in Louisville, in our home, and in my heart. God let the work of my hands be glory unto you.

Get Over Yourself

Lots of lessons being learned in our house. Jack is learning about time-out and consequences of disobedience, Isabel is learning to read (just kidding of course)- she is learning the simple joys of life, Josh is learning about spiritual disciplines as he takes a summer class, and I am learning to get over myself. I praise God that He has put us in a path to meet some Godly families; one of those families have 4 kids under the age of 5 and the mother told me she has to say to herself, "get over yourself". She is an amazing Godly woman- you can just tell. I don't know her that well, but I do know her daily routine must be crazy and hardly any room for herself. I find myself complaining because Jack needs constant attention/discipline and Isabel wakes up right when Jack goes to sleep so I don't get a "break". Well parenting isn't about breaks so I'm learning to get over it and let God do with me as He wishes. The picture is of 3 of the kids with Jack.
Today I read Psalm 90 and it was just what I needed to hear. Verse 16-17 "Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!" That is my prayer for this season of life- that I would be a servant of God no matter what I have to give up and that God would establish the work of my hands (wife, mother, and friend as we learn to live in this new place).
I am reading some awesome stuff right now that is great to think about. I just finished Bringing Up Boys by James Dobson and I started The Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer. They are both books that are growing and stretching me for the journey ahead- raising Jack to be a man of the Word and for hospitality. One last thought from the first chapter of Edith Schaeffer's book. She is talking about God as the first artist when she explains, "we are created in the likeness of the Creator. We are created in the image of a Creator." She points out that we weren't made as robots so that a choice is involved in the process of creativity. Why? Because we have a "choice so that love would have meaning. Love could have no meaning without choice." I know this is such a simple thing but the more I think about it the more I am in awe of God.