Hosea

From time to time I think, "if I had to get a tattoo, what would it be?" Most of the time I can't think of anything. Sometimes I think it would have to be an ampersand because I collect them, but it doesn't really mean anything to me. I know that I would want it to be a testimony to God's faithfulness in my life or a reminder of His grace and power. 

Quickly becoming my favorite passage in Hosea is chapter 6 verses 1-4. 

"Come, let us return to the Lord;
 for he has torn us, that he may heal us;
 he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.

2 After two days he will revive us;
    on the third day he will raise us up,
    that we may live before him.

3 Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord;
  his going out is sure as the dawn;
  he will come to us as the showers,
  as the spring rains that water the earth.”

So there it is. Right now, that is what I would choose. :) in someone else's

Handwriting, of course. 

1. I am struck by how much God is doing in this passage: tearing/healing, striking/binding, reviving, raising, coming, going, refreshing as the rain. 

2. Secondly, look at what we still have to do: return, live before Him, press on. 

I'm asking the Holy Spirit for help with my  tasks today. And resting in His perfect plan. 

3. It is hard to return to someone that has struck you down, unless you know that they love you. I'm glad that I know a Soverign God who is in control of all things. 

Hosea is refreshing my soul. I can't wait to dig into the other minor prophets! 

Ps. I remembered the other book I've read this month. A Praying a Life by Paul Miller. It was excellent!! I'll probably resd it again in a few years. So many helpful ideas about prayer. 

On my nightstand...

I've been on a bit of a reading kick. It doesn't help that I just got my newest order from Westminister Bookstore. Seriously. I go on there to buy one book and end up with four or five or ten. :) 

1. Bible Reading with Your Kids looks awesome. I only briefly flipped through it. But I'm looking forward to reading all of it. 

2. Thoughts for Young Men - I've wanted this for a while and finally put it in my cart this time. I have boys that will be young men. They need good solid thoughts. :) Also I am looking forward to it. 

3. Peacemaking Family - my kids fight. I need help. I'll let you know if I like this book. 

4. The Heart of Anger - I have angry kids. I don't understand anger very well. So far this book has been very helpful. 

5. Crazy busy - pretty ordinary. There have been a few interesting points, but not revolutionary. It is short thankfully, I'm almost through. It is worth the quick read. 

6. Readers Bible!!!! Love it. The more I use it, the setter it gets. I love not having verse numbers. It is so not cluttered. It is wonderful!

7. Latest Piper Book - this one is like most Piper books, a little hard to read, but so so so so worth it. 

8. Wrinkle in Time - I got talked into reading some fiction again and I thought it was a waste for time. I enjoyed it while I read it...until the end. Then I just felt like I wasted good reading time with fluff that didn't matter. 

9 and 10. I know I've finished two other books this month and I can't remember what they are... 

5 Things

1. These three keep me busy. Especially now that they all move. They were watching Dad leave. 

2. It has been in the 90s for over a week. And it is supposed to be 97 on Saturday. We've been hiding inside a lot. The boys are getting antsy. 

3. My brother's wedding is Saturday!!

4. I've been planning the rehearsal dinner. 

5. I made a runner and almost finished a book this week. Pictures of the runner coming soon. 

Five things

1. I finished the whole Bible in six months. It was a rush at the end of June, but I did it and I am glad I did!! I really liked reading through whole chapters at a time. I'm soaking in some Old Testament minor prophets right now. I'm reading entire books repeatedly and slowly. It is balm for my soul. I'm learning to love the Old Testament the more I read it. 

Oh, and once again, The reader's Bible is amazing!!!! 

2. I am potty training Warren. He's a champion potty trained. It is so much easier in the summer time. But still, it is such an exhausting part of parenting. I sent him in underwear to my parents last night, but he wasn't ready for that challenge. So great at home. Great when I take him to church or the store, but not if I leave him places... Oh well. It is going well. 

3. It is hot and humid and the boys want to be outside All. The. Time. Why? Tomorrow maybe we will do water balloons. 

4. I've been to the beach 3 times already this summer. That is more times than the last four or five years combined. 

5. I'm almost finished two books and it is only the middle of July. Yay, for having some time for books again. 

As Long As You Are Glorified

Shall I take from Your hand Your blessings
Yet not welcome any pain?
Shall I thank You for days of sunshine
Yet grumble in days of rain?
Shall I love You in times of plenty
Then leave You in days of drought?
Shall I trust when I reap a harvest
But when winter winds blow, then doubt?

Oh let Your will be done in me
In Your love I will abide
Oh I long for nothing else as long
As You are glorified

Are You good only when I prosper
And true only when I’m filled?
Are You King only when I’m carefree
And God only when I’m well?
You are good when I’m poor and needy
You are true when I’m parched and dry
You still reign in the deepest valley
You’re still God in the darkest night

Oh let Your will be done in me
In Your love I will abide
Oh I long for nothing else as long
As You are glorified

You all know I love my Indelible Grace CDs. Let me recommend another all-time favorite. This song is from an album called Come Weary Saints by Soverign Grace Music. I bought it in college and it has been on my favorites ever since. This song gets me every time. So good. 

Have you discovered any new or old music recently? We put our Rain for Roots CDs back in the car a few weeks ago and are loving them just as much as before.