Daily Sacrifices

Abraham has been on my mind a lot lately. I've found myself reading and rereading about his life, thinking of his daily routine, and his relationship with God. Here's some background info on Abraham for those that might not be as familiar with his life. 

Abraham, born Abram, is the son of Terah who is a 10th descendent of Noah. He had two brothers, Nahor and Haran. Haran's son is Lot, and since Haran died, Abram considered Lot to be like a son to him. Abram was married to Sarai and at the time had no children, as she was barren. Fast forward a few years to when his father passes away, Abram receives a message from God telling him to leave his home for a land that He would show to Him. He promised to make Abram a father of many nations.

"Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of they country, and from thy kindred, and from they father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great ; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bess thee, and curse them that curseth thee: and in thee shall allfamilies of the earth be blessed." Genesis 12:1-4

So Abram leaves his town, with his wife Sarai, their many servants, and his nephew Lot. He was 75 years old when this happens. A lot happens during the next few years but to fast forward a bit, Lot ends up leaving with his servants to go and live elsewhere, and eventually settles in Sodom. Since Abram's wife Sarai can't have children she tells him to take her maidservant, Hagar, to conceive a child with. They had a son named Ishmael when Abram is 86 years old. Several more time passes and if you have the chance to read about Abram, do it. During this time God changes Abram's name to Abraham, and Sarai's name to Sarah. Sarah also ends up having a child, though she was previously Barren. They name their son Isaac. 

This is where I wanted to get to, Abraham and his son Isaac. At some point during Isaac's childhood, Abraham is instructed by God to offer up Isaac as a sacrifice. For three days Abraham and Isaac traveled up the mountain to make the sacrifice. I think about this moment a lot. It wasn't a quick decision to do this. Abraham had to walk with his son for three days after being told to sacrifice him. He had to look upon the face of his son, he had to talk with his son. I can't even imagine this. In the end Abraham ends up not having to sacrifice his son, at the last second God provides a lamb for the sacrifice but only because Abraham was willing to do it. Can you imagine that? Trying to have a child with your spouse and it not happening until you were 100 years old? How many nights had Sarah asked the Lord and prayed to the Lord for a child. And here is Abraham, being told that he is going to have numerous children but only having one with his wife, and now being commanded to sacrifice him. 

This makes me reflect on my own life and what God commands of me. We all have felt that we can't do what God is asking us to at times. And it is only through Him that we have the strength to carry on and do His work. But I dont ever recall God telling me that I needed to kill my child. And to be truthful, I don't know if I would be able to have the strength or the faith like Abraham did, to actually go through with it. Which leads me to this point, that I am so thankful that God does not require that of me, or of us. All he wants from us is service and the rest will fall into place. If Abraham, who is flesh, and born with free-will like you and like me, can have enough faith to trust the Lord when He says to sacrifice his son, then surely I can do whatever he asks of me. 

And because Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac, the Lord blesses him. When his wife Sarah passes away, Abraham takes a new wife, Keturah, and with her they had six sons. God fulfilled his promise to Abraham, to bless him with many children, all because he was willing to do whatever God asked of him. 

When you know Him

I came across some thoughts that I had written down back in February of 2012. They are still relevant in my life today and I wanted to share them with you, as well as expand on them. 

As I was getting my kids ready for preschool, I quickly got on Facebook and scrolled through some posts on the news feed. I came across one posted from a sister in my church that said, "Don't forget to pray today, because God didn't forget to wake you up this morning." How true are these words? I've never really giving much thought to most of the mundane things I do on a daily basis. I just do them, as I am sure a majority of people do as well. I go to bed at night. I wake up in the morning. I brush my teeth. I make breakfast. The list goes on and on and for most of us, they are similar tasks, the basics of living. I never thought too hard about it in the sense that God is the one allowing me to do these things. He is the one allowing me to go to sleep and rest my mind. He is the one waking me up to another day in this life He has allowed me to live. I brush my teeth because he has given me another day with the use of my hands to take care of this body He has given me to use. Everything I have in this life, is His. 

Reflecting on this reminded me of a blog post I read awhile back where the writer expressed how blessed she was that the Lord allowed her to borrow His children as her own. Most of us, myself included, live our lives like those in the world live their lives, in the sense that we don't always fully recognize that everything in our life is the Lords. Our house is His house and He allows us to live there. Our car is His, and He allows us to use it to get from place to place. Our children are not our own, but children of God, children He has allowed us to raise in the hopes that we will raise them to be servants unto Him. 

It's funny how man thinks these things are his. The house they buy, the car they drive, the clothes and food they shop for, all of it is theirs. They earned it by working. How silly and wrong we are when we think the things we have in this life are because of us. None of it is ours. We didn't earn it. We certainly don't own it. Everything we have can be taking from us in a split second. Everything we own is the Lords, and he is the one who decides what we can have and what we can't have. 

If you're a parent, then you are all too familiar with the constant whining and nagging that ensues when children want something. Buy them one Barbie, they complain for a different one. Parents often tell their children to stop acting spoiled, that they cant have everything they want. Isn't this the same with God? When he provides us with a home but we complain that it's too small, or too old? When we complain that the vehicle we drive is old, or needs repairs. Isn't that sending the same message to Him? That what he has provided for us is somehow not good enough? How can we teach our children these things when we are doing the same thing? 

As a parent we all have desires for our children to achieve greatness. We want them to succeed in life, and to have every opportunity that they may want to pursue, open to them. However, our greatest wish and desire for them should be that they have a relationship with God. As long as they learn to rely on Him fully, as well as to serve Him and honor Him, they will go far in life. 

"When you know Him, when you know Him, you'll love Him just as others do" - When You Know Jesus, Too

Most of the time I get caught up in doing everyday things that I forget what God has in-store for me at the end. It's not too hard to get wrapped up in doing the daily routine. Before we know it, a week has passed, or a month, sometimes even a year. Most of the time I find myself saying "It's already the fall, where has the year gone?" It seems as if time just passes by way too quickly. I find myself looking at my children and wondering when they got so big. Surely they were just babies yesterday or toddling children trying to learn the way. There is no way my youngest is turning four in a few weeks. I still remember holding her in my arms that first night in the hospital. 

If you're like me than you find yourself putting things off until the next day, only to realize a long period of time has passed and the task was never accomplished. Our to-do lists are busy, full of things that are important or things that seem important at the time. The other day when I was driving Goose to her ballet class I started to reflect on this. Between all the things I do during the day, it seems I constantly loose focus of what is at the end. The song, "Your Grace Is Enough" by Matt Maher came on the radio and I found myself singing along. Most likely off key, but still loud. I can't carry a tune to save my life but that doesn't stop me from singing loudly. If there was one talent that I wish I had, it would be to sing. So here I am, driving, singing loudly, but not remembering all the words until the chorus comes around again and I find myself owning it. Thankfully my kids are too little to complain about my singing. I started thinking about how someday all I will be doing is singing with God. I will spend my time singing my heart out. I get too wrapped up in my every day life that I often forget about my promise to spend eternity with God. I'm glad it will be doing something I enjoy, like singing, and not doing laundry or dishes like I end up doing now.

It's so easy to forget that I am a daughter of the King when I have so many earthly projects to tackle. But I AM a daughter of the King. And I will get to move into my fancy and beautiful palace. I will get to spend my days singing and talking about how wonderful He is. Until then, I need to make more of an effort to spread His love and to remember His promises. Sometimes His promises are all that get me through the day. 

Cinnamon Sugar Muffins

These are such a huge favorite in our house. I make them quite a bit to eat for breakfast throughout the week and they are too die for when they are still nice and warm. 

Ingredients
1 1/2  cup   all-purpose flour
  1/2   cup   sugar
1 1/2  tsp    baking powder
   1/4  tsp    ground nutmeg
   1/2  tsp    salt
      1          egg, room temperature
      1 cup    milk
   1/3 cup    butter, melted

Topping:
   1/4 cup    sugar
   1/4 cup    butter, melted
      1 tsp     cinnamon

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 F
• In a bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, nutmeg and salt. Add the egg, milk and butter and stir until combined. Do not overmix, it will ruin the text of the muffins. Scoop the batter into a muffin tin either greased or lined with baking cups. 
• Bake for 20-25 minutes
• Mix the cinnamon and sugar for the topping. When the muffins are done, dip the tops into the melted butter and then into the cinnamon sugar mixture. If you used baking cups, remove them first to help with the coating of the sugar.

The positives of 2012: Part Two

Here is the second installment of the positives from 2012. If you missed the original post, you can read it here. To see part one, go here.

July
- 4th of July festivities (parade, cookout with the in-laws, & fireworks)
- L.L.Bean 100th Birthday celebration
- Meeting Wally, the mascot for the Boston RedSox
- Beach Day
- Panda's Birthday
- Celebrating Panda and Uncle S's birthday with lobsters
- Watching the Olympics with my kids for the first time

August
- Goose being the flower girl in our cousins wedding
- Uncle K's birthday (cookout at the in-laws)
- Bought our first ever, washer & dryer!

September
- SeaDogs game
- First day at a new preschool for Spidey & Goose
- Goose's started ballet class
- Visiting Aunt J & Family in New York
- Area Campout
- Seeing our cousin M's football game
- Spidey started soccer
- Apple Picking
- Our 6th Wedding Anniversary (sushi to celebrate!)

October
- Simba cat's 7th Birthday
- Starbucks date with Panda
- Lunch date with the in-laws at Shaw's Wharf
- Picking out pumpkins
- Family date night to On the Border
- Carving pumpkins
- Ladies Circle harvest dinner
- Roasting pumpkin seeds
- Camp Sunshine Pumpkin Festival
- Spidey's 5th birthday & party
- Halloween & Trick or Treating

November
- My Birthday
- Starbucks date with Panda
- Peek Week at Goose's dance class
- L.L. Bean tree lighting
- B & K's adopted son C was born (you can learn more about them here)
- Thanksgiving
- Tinsel, our elf on the shelf, arrived- complete with a North Pole breakfast
- Decorated for Christmas

December
- Sparkle Weekend parade with the kids
- Spidey started basketball
- Spidey & Goose received a generous surprise package in the mail from a friend
- Listening to the Polar Express on the Amtrak train
- Ladies Circle Christmas program
- My mother-in-law's birthday celebration
- Panda's work Holiday party (cookie decorating, ice cream sundae bar, & a visit from Santa)
- Spidey & Goose's preschool play of the Grinch
- Christmas cookie baking
- Making the Dean's List for the fall semester
- Christmas Eve at my in-laws
- Christmas
- Sledding
- New Years Eve fun with the kids (movie & game night)

The positives of 2012: Part One

Today's post is in reference to yesterday's so make sure you check it out here to get caught up. 

So, here we go, today I am focusing on all of the positive things that happened in 2012. Nothing negative. And while many of these things may be materialistic, they still made me happy at the time and I am thankful to look back at them. So here is my year, in review, omitting the negative. 

January
- Witnessed the miracle of Baby Ben getting a heart transplant at 8 weeks old.
- I got to see my step brothers fiance find her perfect wedding dress. I wasn't able to see her in it on her special day but I remember how beautiful she looked in it at the store. 
- Chinese takeout to celebrate Chinese New Year (eating out is a rare and special treat for us)

February
- The Patriots won the Super Bowl

- My pseudo husband, Paul Pierce, outscored Larry Bird, making him the second highest scorer of all time for the Boston Celtics.

- Date weekend with my husband in Boston/Natick MA. 
- Girl's Night Out with some fabulous mommy friends, some of whom I had been waiting to meet for several years.
- Valentine's Day
- Goose's first night in her twin bed

March

- Goose celebrated her 3rd birthday

- St. Patrick's Day

April

- Swimming lessons for the kids (Goose's first time in a pool)

- Dyeing Easter eggs

- Easter

- Found out we were moving to a bigger, nicer place.

- We went to the circus
- Lily cat's 6th birthday

- Spidey & Goose got to meet Slugger, the mascot for the Portland Sea Dogs
- Opening day and first game for Spidey's tball team

May
- We moved!
- Mother's Day
- SeaDogs game with Spidey's Tball team
- Field trip to the Narrow Gauge Railway with Goose's preschool class

June
- Our cousins 8th grade graduation, followed by Round Top ice cream! Yum!
- Spidey's Tball closing ceremony & awards ceremony
- Father's Day: Hiking & picnic at Bradbury Mountain, followed by Ben & Jerry's
- The start of Goose being potty-trained

The looking glass

The past year was a very difficult year for me. My husband and I were ready for the year to end and a fresh start to begin before summer even began to wind down. I found myself on my knees more often then not, crying unto the Lord for guidance. If there ever was a time when I needed Him more, 2012 was that time. And while I look back on 2012, the year itself feels like a bad memory. I learned a lot that year, probably more than I have ever learned before. I grew. My husband grew. Our relationship grew. All because of the course we found ourselves on. One of two things usually happens to a relationship when the rest of the world seems to turn upside down, it either falls apart and shatters, or it strengthens and grows. At the end of the year, I had a reason to hold my head up. I still had a loving husband who stood by my side, who held my hand, who gave me words of encouragement, and who wasn't afraid to tell me when I was wrong. I still had my children, and as long as all four of us were together as a family, we could tackle the world together. Best of all, we all had our health. Nothing puts your life in perspective more than seeing a family grieving over their sick children or spouse. Most importantly, I still had God to stand by me. My relationship with Him grew tremendously throughout the year and it felt like a rekindled friendship. 

Throughout the year I gave myself little pep talks. Most of them centered around telling myself that as long as the four of us were together, that is all that would matter. Whatever happened, as long as we had each other, we would be fine. I guess I should technically say the 5 of us, because if God wasn't by our side every step of the way, my pep talks probably wouldn't have mattered. The unknown can be incredibly scary. Especially as a parent.But we made it, and it's in the past.

The problem with 2012 is that when I look back on it, all I see is heartache, pain, and tribulations. I feel as if I spent a great part of the year in tears or holding them back so that the rest of the world wouldn't see how much I was hurting on the inside. It wasn't until last night, when I was trying to find an article I posted on Facebook, for a friend, that I realized my views on the year had been jaded. I couldn't remember exactly when I posted the article, and originally I thought it was in the fall so I began scrolling back through my countless Facebook posts and pictures trying to find it. What I found in the process, was happiness. I saw the smiles on my children's faces, in pictures I had temporarily forgotten about. Of moments, events and small trips around town. Doing things that seem so mediocre but meaning so much more to them. 

If there is ever a time you want a different perpective on life, view it from the eyes of your children. You'll see the world in a new light. Everything will be exciting, everything will seem brand new. It was at that moment that I realized I was no longer going to let my view of 2012 be a negative one. Yes, there were many downs, but there were also many ups. As I clung to the negative, I had forgotten the positive even existed. Because of this I have decided to look back on the year and compile a list of happy memories from 2012. I will no longer focus on the bad, but on the good. When someone asks me about 2012, I will remember the Lord standing by my side. I will remember Him leading me and guiding me. I will remember how there were times that I felt like I just couldn't go on, and I will remember how He carried me. He was there for me then and I know He will be there for me in the future, whatever comes my way. 

Check back tomorrow for my list of positives from 2012.