baked bread

I'm not much for the smell of incense...especially that stuff in mall that silently sneaks out of it's store, assails my nose and punches me in the stomach as I walk by...but I have to believe that the incense of Psalm 141:2 is different than all that cheap mall stuff.

Psalm 141:2
May my prayer be set before you like incense;
may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.

Then again in Revelation:

Revelation 5:8
And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Revelation 8:3
Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne.

Revelation 8:4
The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand.

Yes, our prayers are pleasing to God. And I long to please Him. I don't know what "incense" smells like to God, but when I think of pleasing smells, fresh baked bread comes to mind! Yes, I love it, at the right time it can even make my mouth water. Sometimes I want bread just because it smells so good. Do you think it's possible that our prayers can be that kind of aroma when offered up to God?

feeling blue

Oreo strikes again! When the kids and I came home from choir rehearsal tonight, we found Dave scolding Oreo, and a blue polka-dotted home -- yep, Oreo discovered ball-point pens! Both floors of the house, all down the stairs, and even on some furniture...keep in mind we JUST HAD THE CARPETS DONE!

oreo

...thought I'd share the joy with you! We got our carpets cleaned last Thursday to prepare for Thanksgiving Day. And of course Oreo got very sick all over the carpets Friday morning, and again, and again...I'm not sure about this whole dog thing!

Check out my Slide Show!

worship

I had an interesting conversation with the Lord this morning. I was telling Him I was sorry I had to "miss worship" today....

You see, this morning at 4:30am I woke up to find a crying little boy vomiting in his bed. Yes, I think it's yucky too. But I love this little guy so with Dave's help we dealt with the bedding, got him cleaned up and snuggled into a fresh blanket in the family room. I was "resting" with him (and dealing with an excited puppy at the same time) when the whole process started all over again.

Then my daughter woke up around 5:30am with and unidentifiable itchy rash on her arm, and again the puppy got excited...you get the picture.

So it's time for church and I'm outside hosing off the bedding, saying to God something like, "I wish I didn't have to miss worship today." When suddenly I felt Him answer, "You are worshiping Me."

fantastic 7

cheesy chuck

Ever hung out with Chuck? If not, you have to try it at least once. Chuck E. Cheese parties can be a little rowdy, but for a 7-year old (and younger) it rocks! T. Michael had his party there this week and they had a blast!

...and for those of you who know what this means: yep, Dave got the mouse a little riled up!

light

In our Jr High small group we are covering the basics, like:
Having your own Bible is like having your own flashlight...Sure it's nice to share with others, but when you use your own you can see more clearly.

would you rather?

"Would you rather buy a new jacket or praise the Lord?"

...was a question asked very loudly by one of my jr hi small-group girls in a random conversation with her friend. This had nothing to do with our group discussion at the time and the outburst made me laugh, and I thought it needed to be blogged!

(I also laughed when without hesitation her friend replied, "Hey, why can't I just praise the Lord in my new jacket?!")

Yakima

I spent a great weekend in Yakima visiting family. My Mom and several of her sisters were able to spend time together in their old home town. What a beautiful land. Still, I loved coming back into the very rainy, green valley yesterday!

cooties

okay...here is my official definition of "Cooties" for my new 12 year old daughter: "Cooties" is a very serious disease caused by touching, hanging around, or even thinking about boys. Some boys are cured of the disease after they grow up -- but that is yet to be determined...on a case by case basis. Therefore, the best medicine is prevention. Just say no. Be strong...don't worry about it, just avoid it...always...forever...and ever...(you get the idea :-)

Of course the brilliant 3yr old that I care for said it best yesterday when my 12yr old again asked me: "What are cooties?" With all seriousness and confidence he answered, "It's a game!" (Way to go practical on me!)

cooties

"Jen, what are Cooties?" asked my new 12 year old from Korea...so, how would YOU answer that one?

overload

I need a little grace. I mean it's not a really big deal, but I need grace dealing with all this change. Some would say it's my pride talking, but I think it's really a symptom of the dreaded disease: Change Overload


For me it started way back when our church's Vacation Bible School changed its name from VBS to SSS which stands for Super Summer Spectacular. Please don't get me wrong, I'm all for change (stop it Dave) and I "get" why we change the name of things -- in this case it was important because our church ministers to kids in a truly spectacular way. Our children's ministry is very creative and SSS much better represents what really happens that week in the summer. But then this amazing tidal wave of changes started.

It's not just our church, it's sort of a nation-wide thing. Churches in general started changing their names and establishing new identities. I remember when a wave of new "Community" churches started...in the same buildings with the same people as the Baptist Churches used to be. (Hey, I grew up Baptist, so I get to talk about this!)


When I first started attending our church here in Portland, what I grew up calling "Bible Study" was called "Home Group" and sometimes "Small Group" and now changed again to "Life Group." Last year our youth "Retreats" changed to "Advances" (See, it's a GOOD thing I know, I'm not saying it isn't I promise!)

Just for fun, I call Christian Supply (the local Christian book store) "Supply" just because it will save me a step later...you know, one less thing!

Well, I propose we extend a little more grace to each other when we accidentally use the old name for things. Remember, some of these names of things I've been using here in Portland for the last 12 years! Other names of things I've been using since I first started attending church at age 3yrs. I am getting older you know, and change happens a little more slowly. Hey I know, I propose that you laugh at my mistakes and I'll laugh at yours! Maybe its not so much an overload of change, as it is that other dreaded disease: Correction Overload

road kill

It's interesting having a 7th grader in the house. They do lots of dissecting of things in Science class. It's also interesting how easily I get queasy in my old age.

The last two days have involved transporting "extra credit" (road kill) to my new daughter's science class. One day a mole, the next a rat -- they were donated by my very helpful neighbors. Both days I had a stomach ache -- any correlation you think?

Last night we passed a dear in the middile of the road on the way home from youth group, "Forget about it!" I declaired in my best New York accent.

real ministry

"Do you think I have cancer?" asked my son's seven year old friend with all the seriousness that little boys should never have to have.

This was an important moment in his life. You see this little guy had just lost his 6 year old t-ball buddy to cancer the year before. His neighbor to cancer the month before. And his Grandpa to cancer the week before.

Now he's standing in my kitchen, rubbing an itch on his eye and asking me in all seriousness if he has cancer. When I take his shoulders, look him in the eye, and tell him with great motherly confidence that "No, you do not have cancer." I can feel God working through me -- Now that is real ministry, and it is an honor.

bad dog!

...actually, just "teething dog!" Dave had the great idea to make a giant Christmas wreath out of all the chewed up victims of Oreo! I can't wait. It will be a very big wreath!

school

"What a splendid day!" said Anne, drawing a long breath. "Isn't it good just to be alive on a day like this? I pity the people who aren't born yet for missing it. They may have good days, of course, but they can never have this one. And it's splendider still to have such a lovely way to go to school by, isn't it?"
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

My kids started school this week and this paragraph just about illustrates their excitement! "My class feels just like a family!" exclaimed McKenzie. "I have so many friends already!" shared T.Michael with great enthusiasm. That was the FIRST day.

Yesterday, day two, McKenzie shared, "My teacher said she went to bed at 8:30pm." (Poor dear) And then T.Michael reluctantly shared, "I...um, have to sit by someone else tomorrow." (Hmmm)

Here we go with real life already!

...did I mention we had a complete blast this summer?!

Adios Felix!

Thank you for your prayers. Felix passed over Honduras with little effect on our loved ones!
Here's a copy of the email sent by the Director of the orphanage in Honduras to Rona who is our U.S. contact person:

Dear Rona,
Thankfully we are all fine. Just a bit of rain.....we are blessed that Felix veered south after hitting land. The children and staff are fine, and school should resume as normal tomorrow. The community stepped up to the plate, offering assistance, water, etc.....Our internet is down at Hogar, even at our house the service comes and goes, as does the electricity.
Please spread the word.
Thanks for your love and prayers,
Vivian

felix

Please pray for my friends in Honduras as they face Hurricane Felix today. I've been in contact with them, and they are prepared and praying. Please pray specifically for the Hogar de Ninos Emanuel (the orphanage) and for the Maradiaga family. From what I've read, landslides are also a big issue during these storms. I got an email from Jeny Maradiaga, she was thanking me for the prayers on their behalf.