Friday, August 26, 2011

His and Hers

His and Hers Blueberry Buckets:
Can you guess whose is whose?
(Hint: Upon arrival at home, I am the one who does all the cleaning/processing of the berries!)  Admittedly, though, Jeremy is the faster picker...

We got only 5 gallons this year, in about 4 hours of picking.  Usually we get around 10-12 gallons but this year we were busy enough to fit in only two short trips up to pick. Although the kids LOVE playing around in the weeds, rolling down the steep hill and wrestling, and "calling in" marmots with their whistles, it's fun that we now have one full-time berry picker in Ryley. Anna was a big help this year too.  She loves to pick till she's bored, then she catches up with the boys to play.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Be Still

"Instead of glorifying two-fisted fighters in the John Wayne tradition of American folk heroes, Christians would do well to sit still until the power of God is manifested in their Christian activities.
   Churches need to develop the quiet disciplines they have lost- practices such as
  • contemplation
  • fasting
  • listening
  • meditation
  • prayer
  • silence
  • Scripture memory
  • submission and
  •  reflection.
   Many Christian leaders are caught up in secondary issues that sap their time and energy...
  ...In the years I have lived and worked in the United States, I have watched believers and whole congregations get caught up in all kinds of similar [aforementioned] crusades and causes that, while not necessarily bad in themselves, end up taking our eyes off obedience to Christ.  And in this sense, they become anti-Christ.-Revolution in World Missions by K.P. Yohannan

I'm reading this book and was reminded and convicted that while action is a necessary part of living a Christ-like life, silence, solitude and stillness are vital in order to receive God's direction for our lives.  How are we to receive our "marching orders" without choosing to listen?