New verse, new comments

As I have thought about this verse throughout my christian lifetime it has carried different significance. Isnt that the wonder of the Word of God? We can read a verse, then reread it and have different thoughts illuminated by the Holy Spirit within us.

WOW. If you like mysteries......then that is right up your alley.

Now for the next verse;

Philippians 3:14 "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

The word PRESS used to mean something specific for me for much of my lifetime. Of course it is basketball related. A "press" is used by the defense to dictate the tempo of the game or to create turnovers which can lead to easy baskets. There is no "resting while pressing".... that was a phrase I used a lot as a coach. *SMILE* . Hopefully you can see the easy transition to our christian walk...

however... I have been led down different significant paths as I read this verse lately....

Goal.... win.... prize... all these definitely speak to me as former athlete and now as "poser" athlete! Yet.... still not .... quite.......fully..... now.......here it is......

.....HEAVENWARD in christ jesus....I am sorry to say I have missed this significance for much of my lifetime....

As I continue to learn how PRIDE and self worship prevents me from loving my savior intimately;

He teaches me that He has called me HEAVENWARD. Not to fix my eyes on these troubling times and treacherous waves (alas Peter). Not to fix my eyes on these temporary prizes and comforts. And certainly not to look elsewhere for answers for my needs for He is my Creator and He knows exactly what I need.

He teaches me that these years in this rented body (temple) which houses a soul that was bought with a heavy price.... are truly short.

and He loves me enough to keep saying, "Joe I am your Father and I know you need me and I know you are scared and I know you dont understand but you must trust me...I am preparing a place for you which is more than you can imagine..."

Oh Father, please continue to put your hand under my chin..... lift up my face so that my eyes may look heavenward.

Do you all feel his fingers under your chin??? I do and it is the best feeling in the world.

Heavenward...

looking up,
joe

Pray for Stellan

Please find it in your day to pray for sweet miracle baby Stellan. You can find him at my side bar- mck mama. He is definitely a mckmiracle already, but is now in the hospital fighting for his life with RSV.

Toy Explosion

We just finished our 4th Christmas celebration and our house looks like a toy store explosion. Actually, it looks better than in past years. With the kids getting older, their gifts get more "sophisticated". We had a great Christmas and were able to spend time with those we love so much. We were also able to spend time reflecting on the real reason for all this celebrating: the birth of our sweet savior. As a mom, I always think of Mary so much leading up to Christmas day. Being pregnant, riding a donkey and traveling 100 miles pregnant-ughh! Yet she treasured all these things, and was scared, but obedient.
As I was driving to work on Christmas eve, I was thinking and praying about how I didn't feel I was in the "spirit" of the season. I thought back to the night we watched "The Nativity Story" as a family(excellent movie). There were so many teachable moments with the kids that night, but God taught me an important lesson. As I watched as God spoke to Joseph and told him to flee Bethlehem for Egypt, I realized that God has spoken to me that same way and continues to. Wow- the same God that spoke to Mary and Joseph speaks to me-if I will listen! That is amazing and so humbling.
If you know me at all you know that I tear up easily- so as I realize this driving down Carmel Drive to work I start to cry. I end up in my van in the parking lot trying to compose myself before heading in to work, praying like everyday, asking God to help me be a blessing to others I come in contact with.

Have you ever been in a real dark room? The kind where you cant see your hand even when you hold it right in front of your face?

Then there is a light... either through the bottom of the door.. or a lit match or something which allows there to be light. Isnt it amazing how the light overcomes the darkness?

The light.... it ..... WINS. Allegorically speaking light wins over dark all the time.

We (as christians) are the Light of the world.

I love this picture Christ paints for us....

Help me, O Lord, to be the brightest light I can.

joe

Christmas Cookies

Another tradition we have in the Bennett household is to deliver cookies to all of our neighbors. (Even the ones we don't talk to much-according to Ann). We packed the kids up in the van since it was below 0 windchill and drove them from house to house. If the weather is nice we walk it with the stroller or wagon full of treats. We fill up tins, ziploc containers, or like this year, pretty bags, full of a variety of cookies and goodies homemade for the holidays. Most of our neighbors have come to expect it now, and some even give the kids a gift back. One house gave the boys $3. each. The girls were too cold and didn't go up- they went to ALL the rest. It was cute watching the kids run up and down to each of the houses, they have fun doing it. Hopefully a good memory for them all, I know it is for me.

Merry Christmas to Me!

Didn't she do a great job? I told Amy that I wanted a new blog background etc. for Christmas. I am way too impatient to do it and she loves to sit here and mess with it. Thank you Amy it is beautiful and I love listening to the music.

AHEM.

AHEM. Hello! Its Amy here. i just wanted to point out (In case you couldn't see) that I changed the picture and background. Well, if you ask me, i think it looks WAY better. And I like the bigger picture too. We got the background from "cutest blog on the block"! A very cute (and FREE) website that lets you decorate your blog! So, I just wanted to see what you guys thought! Please comment with suggestions and/or agreement! Thanks!

Amy

Oh yeah, and the music is from playlist.com FREE too!

(Hehe. I know how to do the linky thing! And my motha doesn't! *sneaky grin*)

The Polar Express

Andrew and I were able to go on the Polar Bear Express in Fishers with his class yesterday. It is a take on the classic storybook which was made into a movie with Tom Hanks, " The Polar Express". We got to ride on the train to the North Pole all the way across Fishers and back.

We ate cookies and had apple juice while we rode the rails. Santa and Mrs. Clause made an appearance, along with a polar bear and of course the Conductor of the train. We then went into the train station and heard a rendition of the story read by actors.

It was a very cool day and I was glad I got to share it with him.

Amy went as a kindergarten, Aaron's got snowed out, and Ann's class went to the Elk farm instead that year.

Gingerbread House

Another tradition we have is to make a gingerbread house. We just use the store bought kind. The kids really like it and it smells good and they generally have fun making it, in between fighting over the frosting.

The Nutcracker

Friday night I took the girls and Haley to see the Nutcracker Ballet by The Central Indiana Dance Ensemble. It is an ameteur group out of Carmel. They do a great job, very professional. This has become a tradition with the girls and I. We love the story and the music and dance. It just starts the Christmas season off for us. Ann especially likes it, she listens to the music year round! This year was fun too, because we knew quite a few of the dancers. It was fun to watch and pick out who the kids knew from school.

Thankful List Part 2

I was talking to my friend Stacie last night on my home from dropping Amy off at Drama rehearsal. Talking to Stacie always puts me in a good mood. As I walk in the house, which is strewn with Christmas stuff, I see Andrew has made a maze with the boxes and also made a "store" in said maze with all of his toys. I blow my top, completely out of proportion. You see, I hate my house in disarray. It makes me grouchy, and I take it out on whomever is around. My husband thought I was saying he was being a bad parent because he was playing chess with Aaron and talking on the phone while all of this was occurring. I wasn't, and had to explain myself later, I don't think I ever apologized though.(note to self- apologize).
I was reading before bed later and it hit me where I was.

From an excerpt of " I'm glad I'm a Mom" #14 "I love Smelly Shoes" by Lysa TerKeurst(Thanks Linda for the Book:)
For those not familiar with Lysa, she founded Proverbs 31 ministries and has a blog I read. She is real, funny and simple.

"It's all in how you look at things that makes a world of difference. If my approach is one that living life simply drains me, then I'll constantly feel drained. But if I can pull back the veil and peek behind the messes, chores, and faults of others, I'll see the treasure of what these things represent. I'm a wife! I'm a mom I've been handed the privilege to fulfill these eternally significant roles for some pretty amazing people... my family! " (Thanks God for the smack upside the head!)

So, what about my thankful list? I am thankful for smelly shoes , because that means I have active kids that can run and play, they are evidence of life well lived. Thankful I have a husband that works so hard we can pay for shoes for each of our kids, thankful for healthy kids who are blessed with athletic abilities that may pay for college some day, thankful for my creative kids I am blessed with who leave messes everywhere. Help me Lord to see past my grumbling spirit of chores and see all the things to be so thankful for.

Ephesians 2:7-9

It is the GIFT of God...

During this time of year the idea of Gift giving and receiving is at the forefront of our minds. We are eager to exchange gifts with our friends and loved ones. And many do really find more joy in giving than in receiving.

But the thought of a FREE GIFT..... From our Heavenly Father can make me speechless. NOT from our own works. Or in my paraphrase, not in our abilities, talents, achievements, looks, personality, attitude, graciousness, piousness, loyalty, work ethic, reputation, or even humble spirit. We cant earn it.

So that NOONE can boast. Cuz (text lingo rears its ugly head) we would boast if we could. Of course, not outloud in the chamber halls as the pharisee's did because Jesus specifically pointed them out as frauds, but rather in our own little loud boasting ways.

"God must have recognized my servants heart when I volunteered at the shelter"...or something disgusting like that.

By God's grace alone do I stand as a redeemed man who is glad that my works are not counted FOR me nor AGAINST me in regards to my eternal salvation.

I hope as you exchange gifts this Holiday season God will remind you of the Free Gift of God he is offering to all of mankind and I really like this, He is offering specifically to YOU. And me of course.

more to come,
joe