Bugz-Jonathan's 1st grade production

Here's my little dragonfly's line:

"That's right, I'm a dragonfly! I may look rather odd. I just went through a metamorphosis. For I'm an arthropod."

I was so proud that he got all his big words out! He was so cute and the show was great! Here's the opening song, "Picnic, Let's Have a Picnic"...appropriate for a bunch of bugs!

Field Day at BES 2012

Josh came in second in the pie eating contest (wearing the black shirt on the right), and although it was a close one, he managed to keep the pie down!

It's hard to see from my vantage point, but josh finished in 2nd place in the 50 yard dash!

Here's the announcement of the 4th grade winners. Coach Billing did a great job of keeping the kids on the edge of their seats.

Mr. White's 4th Grade Field Day Champs!

The Commanded Blessing

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment poured on the head, that ran down on the beard, even the beard of Aaron [the first high priest], that came down upon the collar and skirts of his garments [consecrating the whole body]. It is like the dew of [lofty] Mount Hermon and the dew that comes on the hills of Zion; for there the Lord has commanded the blessing, even life forevermore [upon the high and the lowly]. Psalm 133 (Amplified)

This morning in prayer with Luis and two of our friends from the ministry, this scripture became so real to me, and the greatness of these words resounded inside of my spirit. As I listened to the blessings being spoken and poured out over our leaders, I saw an image in the spirit of what was happening. Each time, blessing was poured over the authority that God has placed over us, I saw that blessing fall down and come right back over the head of my brother who was offering up the blessing to our leaders. It was a continuous circuit of blessing that went from the head of the leader down to us, then back to the head of the leader again without stopping. There was a flow of blessing that covered everyone. I was immediately struck with the truth of the scripture that says "give and it shall come back to you" (Luke 6:38), and I could also feel the magnitude of the power of blessing. A flood of scriptures came to my mind: "Whatever is good and pure and lovely, meditate on these things" (Philippians 4:8). How important that our mind be firmly focused on Godly things, so that what we speak is blessing rahter than cursing. "The power of death and life is in the tongue". (Proverbs 18:21) " How we need to guard our tongue and what we allow to come from our mouth."...and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" (Matthew 7:2) which reminds us to be quick to extend mercy and slow to pass judgement.

God was also reaffirming the divine blessing in Biblical order. Reminding us of the importance of being in submission to the divine authorities in our life, i.e., husbands as authority in the home, leaders as authority in the world (which the Bible says has all been ordained by God), and the authority of spiritual fathers in the body of Christ. I was reminded of the great importance of speaking blessing over those in authority. That which we freely pour to others will come back to our own life, be it blessing or cursing. I was struck by the freedom in submission, a term that has been twisted and mutilated in today's culture. A submissive wife in our culture today conjures up images of a beaten down, weak, powerless, helpless woman that can't think or do for herself. This is nothing more that a lie from Satan himself to bring a rebellion into the divine order created by God. Never in my life have I experienced more power, more peace and more blessing as when I have willfully placed myself in the position of submitting to my husband and to those leaders that God has placed over my life. Walking in unity is taking your position in the army. No great regime has ever conquered great battles by each soldier doing their own thing. The greatest conquests have always been where there is the greatest unity, and so it is in the spirit. In that spirit of unity, as it declares in Psalm 133, is where God "commands the blessing". Lord, teach me us walk in that unity!

Why are we here?

Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the Lord’s thoughts?   Who knows enough to give him advice? And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen. Romans 11:33-36

This passage from the Bible really flooded my mind with perspective this morning. How easy it is for us to get so caught up in our own life, our own desires, even our own frustrations and to lose sight of the fact that we are simply here to bring glory to God. I had a powerful realignment of my thinking just now. We are such "ME" humans. I think that is one of our biggest challenges-to move beyond the physical, temporal view of our lives and realize that we were created to bring God glory and fulfill a plan that is His. "For who can know the Lord's thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice?" None of us. So often we arrogantly place our feet in the Lord's shoes and say, "Step aside, I've got this!", but really, those shoes look ridiculous on our feet. They were not meant for us to wear. I will make no progress as long as I think that the author and creator of my life is me. "Who has given him so much that he has to pay it back?" None of us. We approach God with our accomplishments saying, "Lord we have been kind to others" and "Lord we did this and that in your name" trying to stack the deck in our favor so that we can feel justified to do whatever it is that we want to do. The purpose of the gift of free will in our lives was not so we could make decisions on our own and do whatever made us happy (although the very fact that it is free will, that is an option!) Instead, free will was a test to see if, given the opportunity to choose, will we still choose to place ourselves under the authority of God or will we be so arrogant to ignore Him altogether and think we don't need him at all? The irony of submitting to God in all things is that it is the only avenue that brings true freedom. It is the only path that leads us to true riches without sorrow (Proverbs 10:22). By choosing to make ourselves a slave to God and his will, for His glory, we are actually breaking the chains that would forever entangle us otherwise. God is a pro-choice God. He has given us the ability to choose our own way. He knows that some will take that power of choice and wreak havoc on their own lives, on the lives of those around them, and then and have to face the consequences of every choice made. The power of choice. A gift given for a divine purpose, but not forced to be used in the manner it was designed. My free will allows me to murder, slander, destroy, curse, tear down, and it also allows me to build up, bless, create, encourage and bring life. The gift of choice is from God. The way I put that gift to use is in my control. That explains why horrible things can happen to good people. It's not the case of an unloving God just letting babies be murdered, women to be raped, etc. It is the law of free will set in motion, and God will never break His own laws, even when the consequences of our choices bring Him great pain.  On the flip side, when we take that free will and lay it at the feet of the Lord and say, "Guide me. Lead me. I want my life to bring you glory", it is then that the Lord delights in our lives and works through us to accomplish His purpose for His glory. Love that is demanded is no love at all. God wants our love and devotion to be something we choose to give to Him.