SPIRITUS SANCTUS
O HOLY SPIRIT,
As the sun is full of light, the ocean full of water,
Heaven full of glory, so may my heart be full of thee.
Vain are all purposes of divine love
and the redemption by Jesus
except thou work within,
regenerating by thy power,
giving me eyes to see Jesus
showing me to the realities of the unseen world.
Give me thyself without measure,
as an unimpaired fountain,
as inexhaustible riches.
I bewail my coldness, poverty, emptiness,
imperfect vision, languid service,
prayerless prayers, praiseless praise.
Suffer me not to grieve or resist thee.
Come as power,
to expel every rebel lust, to reign supreme and keep me thine;
Come as teacher,
leading me into all truth, filling me with all understanding;
Come as love,
that I may adore the Father, and love him as my all;
Come as joy,
to dwell in me, move in me, animate me;
Come as light,
illuminating the Scripture, moulding me to its laws;
Come as sanctifier,
body, soul and spirit wholly thine;
Come as helper,
with strength to bless and keep, directing my every step;
Come as beautifier,
bringing order out of confusion, loveliness out of chaos.
Magnify to me thy glory by being magnified in me,
and make me redolent of thy fragrance.
Our Little CulpritAfton never had a foggiest clue that she had caused any trouble. She has another new past time besides shutting doors. She now loves throwing dirty diapers into the trash can. That is a past time that comes in pretty handy around here, so I guess we'll keep her. Oh and don't worry, we asked for new door knobs and locks today and until they arrive we will make sure there is a mini screwdriver in every room.
Afton's New Roommate
We are all home and back under one roof again and very, very happy. Thank you for all your prayers!I like living. I have at times been wildly, acutely, despairingly miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing. ~Agatha Christie
Tomorrow my sweet husband leaves the country for a three week long business trip to India and Pakistan. That means that for the next three weeks Afton and I will be without our greatest source of earthly joy. I know other women and babies have had to do without their men for much longer and in much more dangerous situations. My heart truly goes out to them. Knowing that, though, makes me feel his absence no less.
I, also, know and firmly believe that God has the whole world squarely, securely in his hands - India, Pakistan, outer space. No Christian will ever wander outside his all-loving, all-knowing, all-powerful sovereignty. No place is too far, too high, too unstable, or too remote for God to protect his people. This I know and this I believe and this is my sleep granting peace. Still, it is hard for my not worry about Ron's safety and to let my mind wander to worse case scenarios. It is hard to let the dearest thing in the world to me out of my sight and out of my reach for so long.
So this post is just a plea for your prayers, dear friends. Pray for my Ronny. Pray that God will bring him back to me safely. Pray that the days will fly by like seconds. Pray that little Ponder will stay put in my womb until her daddy gets back. Pray that Afton won't miss her daddy too sadly but, that in some sweet way her little heart will grow in even more love for him while he is gone. Pray that Ron and I will be reminded afresh of our love for one another and that the fondness that absence brings us will erase any pettiness that has been born of our familiarity. Pray that I will learn anew to trust God and God alone with the most important things in my life. Pray that He would fill my heart with peace.
Three weeks with my husband in the Eastern Hemisphere. A small concern, even embarrassing to mention, compared with the trials of so many. But it is my present reality. One I dare not face without the gracious aid of my Lord. And so I ask for your prayers. Pray that God will bring him back to me safely. Pray that the days will fly by like seconds. Pray...
Bring your written birth plans to the hospital, review them frequently with your OB in your weekly visits, go into the experience with all your hopes and dreams, but always be ready to go with the flow and cooperate if there is any untoward event that challenges your plan. In this way, you establish yourselves as informed consumers who can participate in the the team effort at the hospital, while allowing yourselves the necessary flexibility to deal with unexpected events, without wrecking your self-esteem and your dreams about this birth.
Dear Sir or Madame,
Forgive me. You are obviously very important and I didn't take that into account when I left my laundry in the washer for a few extra minutes so I wouldn't have to leave my bawling baby unattended. Don't worry I am not as important as you, so it doesn't matter if all my towels air dry in clumps and smell like mold.
Your friend,
Nobody
Miss Manners' dear mother, a teacher, often heard the parental lamentation of "But we give him everything" from those whose children confided in their teacher, separately, how much they cheerfully hated their parents. The parental complaint was followed by a list itemizing valuable goods given.
"I could never find a correlation between the parents' generosity and the child's feeling about them," noted Miss Manners' mother. "Then I began to notice a connection between the child's feelings and the parents' facial expressions when they came to pick him up at school, or even when they just talked about him. The parent who beamed at the child had a loving child, and the one who didn't, didn't. After that, it didn't seem to matter what else the parents did or didn't do."
Miss Manners is happy to present such unmaterialistic news, although she does not deny that many people's fondest childhood memories have to do with toys or other presents. Yet the parent who gives whatever is asked, when it is asked, seems to get no return except increased expectation. The generally sensible parent, who restricts giving to fixed occasions and choice of presents to items that are educational, useful, or apt to be of lasting, rather than fleeting enjoyment, will give enormous pleasure by a rare wild deviation from this policy.
I don't know about you, but I feel wiser for the reading of that.
I read this book when I was engaged and I thought it would really help me as a new wife. I am sure it did, though not nearly as much as it is helping me now on my second reading of it. By helping I really mean giving me a much needed kick to the behind. It was one thing to read it with stars in my eyes and my wedding day and honeymoon ahead of me. It is quite another reading it again with those things, as well as three and half years of marriage and one and two thirds children, already under by belt. True, it is not the inspired word of God, but it does seem to be pretty adept at cutting through to the true thoughts and intents of my heart. Very convicting, but very, very inspring and instructive. I ardently recommend to any woman who has a husband.
1. He once spent the last $12 dollars we had in our checking account to buy me fancy J. Crew flip flops.
2. He always, always, always assumes the best of people.
3. He calls himself a perfectionist, but mercy is his strong suit.
4. He likes to think.
5. He works hard to put others at ease.
6. He honestly pursues excellence in all he does.
7. He does what is right without ever drawing attention to himself.
8. He is wise with money.
9. He loves kits and I think that is adorable.
10. His passwords are adorable.
11. He is good to others.
12. He is ravenous about learning.
13. He bears with me.
14. Children adore him because he knows how to have fun with them.
15. He has an opinion.
16. He loves discussion.
17. He knows how to deny himself.
18. If I were more like him I would be more like Christ.
19. He isn't afraid of hard work.
20. He likes my cooking.
21. He is patient with me.
22. He will help anyone in need.
23. He doesn't write people off.
24. He will admit when he is wrong.
25. He is fun to hang out with.
26. We both hate the same foods.
27. We both love milk.
28. He loves our daughter with all his heart.
29. He cares about me.
30. He is merciful with me.
31. He learns everything he possibly can about the things he is interested in.
32. He tries to make things easier for those around him.
33. He goes the extra mile.
34. He spoils me in his own sweet way.
35. He misses me when I go out of town.
36. He plans little surprises for me for weeks in advance.
37. He aims to please.
38. He *never* really complains. (Is that even possible?)
39. He is good to his nieces and nephews.
40. He is kind to my family.
41. He knows what is funny and what isn't.
42. He doesn't give up.
43. I know if he set his mind to it he could climb Mt. Everest. He might be surprised to know that I really admire that about him.
44. He gets involved.
45. He is not selfish with his time.
46. He tries hard to see other people's points of view.
47. One of his favorite words is "charitable" and I think that describes him perfectly.
48. His vocabulary.
49. His smile.
50. His kindness wrinkles and the kindness that caused them.
51. He does not influence me to evil.
52. He brings out the best in me.
53. His eye lashes.
54. How much I want my sons to be like their father.
55. Knowing our daughters will always be secure in his love.
56. How much he loves having a beard.
57. His polished manner of speaking.
58. His eagerness.
59. His caution.
60. His kindness to strangers.
61. His ability to make friends.
62. His evangelical heart.
63. His willingness to question the status quo.
64. How much fun it is to what T.V. and movies with him. I used to hate watching movies until I started watching them with him.
65. How much fun it is to travel with him. Same scenario as above!
66. I know I can trust him completely.
67. He once biked across town to bring me eye drops at work.
68. He once brought me home a half gallon of milk during the middle of his work day.
69. He always sneaks me pizza and bagels when they have them at his work.
70. He is kind to my friends.
71. He is respectful to service personnel.
72. He does what he has to do without grumbling.
73. He takes time for people.
74. He absolutely does not hold grudges.
75. He got be to actually love sports.
76. I learn from him all the time.
77. He buys books we can go through together has a family.
78. He always has New Year's Resolutions.
79. He has the purest heart I have even known. It is hard for someone to know you really well and still you think you have a pure heart. I know him really well and I still think he has a pure heart.
80. He forgives easily.
81. He proudly wears the scarf I made him.
82. His is not easily influenced to go against what he knows is right.
83. He has firm convictions.
84. His warmth of heart.
85. His humility.
86. He appreciates fine things, but doesn't need them to enjoy life.
87. He enjoys life.
88. He takes care of things for me.
89. He is not easily spooked.
90. He is stable and dependable.
91. He is always trying to better himself.
92. He is anything but a downer.
93. He is very generous.
94. He is not a fool.
95. He puts up with a lot from me.
96. He tries to always ease my burden.
97. He loves books.
98. He is a very good neighbor/tenant.
99. He is my most tangible reminder that God really, really loves me and hears my prayers.
100. I know there is absolutely nothing he wouldn't do for me.
101. He is the best husband I have ever even heard of.
We are home from Java. Thanks so much. I had a cheese danish. You know, for protein. Afton and I shared an orange juice. It was nice. I realized on the way there this is pretty much the worst week of my life not including a tragedy. I particularly mean as far as my performance as a wife and mother goes. Culminating in me accidently stepping on Afton's arm and breaking her heart. All I can say is TGIF! I love you soupy!
I heartily recommend Home-Making by J.R. Miller to anyone who is a part of a family! Yes, that is everybody! Do not be misled by the title or the cover. This is not a book written only for wives and mothers. All members of a Christian home – fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, husbands, and wives will be blessed, encouraged, sharpened, and challenged by a reading of this book.
Miller begins his book with a chapter on what the calls "The Wedded Life" which is the very bedrock of the family. He then devotes a chapter to each role in every family. There is a chapter directed to the husband, the wife, the parents, the children, and a chapter on the special relationship between brothers and sisters.
In each of these chapters Miller describes with beauty and eloquence what it looks like when Christians live out the sweet sacrifice of Christ daily in the most important place on earth – the home. The final chapters of the book are spent on more comprehensive topics such as the home life and religion in the home.
I hope you will be as inspired by this lovely book as I have been.
"You know what a true home ought to be. It ought to be a place where love rules. It ought to be beautiful, bright, joyous, full of tenderness and affection; a place in which all are growing happier and better each day."
