Heritage

I've been participating in a Beth Moore bible study - Believing God. Great study. The premise is that so many of us believe IN God but do we actually BELIEVE God and that He is and does all that He says He can. I know that I have the tendency to "humanize" God in my own mind and attribute "human" traits to them - it's not that I forget He is omnipotent and omnipresent but I forget to rely on His powers to hold me up and guide me. I fall into the "me do it" nature that my 3 year old has. That however, is not what I desire to write about today.

In yesterday's message Beth talked about Heritage. She pointed out that if you've ever known an Orthodox Jewish family then you know that they are steeped in their tradition and heritage. Children just "know" their heritage, beliefs and background because their parents, grandparents and community of believers teach the heritage and tradition in everything they do. It is hard for their children to leave those beliefs because they are just so ingrained into every fiber of their being. She says she's just a bit jealous of that...I think I am too. I know my background. I know my history. I know my own story of salvation. My children don't. Oh, they know God but I suspect I've been teaching "fire insurance". I don't think they really know that the most important thing is God's love and if they miss out on that point...they'll miss it. Without the love...it's all just law. Thankfully our God is the God of second (and third and fourth, etc) chances. I want them to KNOW their Heritage and be so ready for God to work in and through them that they can't stand it. I want them to be crazy in love with Jesus. I want them to know that they are heirs to the throne and the spiritual seed of Abraham. Who am I kidding? I want that for myself - such a deep knowledge that my Heritage is in every promise of the covenant cut by Christ's blood.

The Old Testament is filled with moments when a memorial stone was set up - the original word used means "stood on end". Those stones were "set up" so that when their children would ask, the people of Israel could share the story of how God led them through. We are to be living stones (1 Peter 2:4-5). We are spiritual graffiti as Beth puts it. We announce "Jesus was here" - or at least we are called to do so. I endeavor to fight for my children's Heritage. I want to be writing the message of our spiritual inheritance - our Heritage in God's covenant - on my heart, on my home, in my car, in my daily actions, in the tone of my voice, in what I read, in what I watch, in every choice I make so that my children's knowledge in their Heritage will be ingrained into every fiber of their being. My children will have such strong armor that Satan's boots will shake when they get up every morning. I want them to have their hands out and up to accept each and every blessing that God wants to pour into their lives. It's time walk out in faith and quit sitting in the middle of the road - I know the direction God is calling me to. I am His servant and responsible for teaching the next generation. He's helped me thus far and will continue day by day to guide my steps until I reach the goal.

Renew

Already we're nearly a quarter into the new year. Mother Earth is waking up...let it also be a time for us to renew our spirits and our minds.

Ahhhh, Spring

Ahhh, the sun. I love the sun. I am so excited about Spring this year. After 2 years out here on the prairie we are finally going to embark on growing a garden. Now this is not a minor undertaking...we live with red clay...thick, slimy, heavy red clay. Thanks to a friend we have a rototiller which Ron is in the process of repairing. Soon, he'll bust up the ground and then off to get a load of top soil to mix in and a trip to Atwoods or TLC to get some organics and fertilizer to mix in.

The boys can hardly stand it - I think they think the plants will magically produce the pumpkins and watermelons overnight. So sorry boys! However, they are getting involved by helping me plant the seeds in our little seed starters so they are easier to plant and have a better chance of surviving. First the hardy plants - broccoli, cauliflower, onions, lettuce and peas. Then in April the more tender plants - beans, peppers, tomatoes, squash and pumpkins. Finally in May the watermelon and cantaloupe.

I am toying with the idea of putting in a few vines of grapes, raspberries and blackberries along with some strawberries in another area. Grapes will take a couple years to really establish but it would be worth it to have all those frozen grapes and grape jelly. Ron is building me a raised bed for herbs too. We are praying all the hard work pays off and we have an abundant harvest in our garden to help get through the winter. Happy Spring!!

The Update

Ugh...for someone with time, I sure don't manage it well and get this blog updated nearly as often as I should! Here's the updates for The Cardwells...

Ron has a job!!!! That is good news - he is now with the Oklahoma Conservation Commission as the engineer in charge of the Abandoned Mine Reclaimation Project. It's very interesting and he loves it. For sure a long haul in getting there with patience and finances stretched thin but God is ever faithful and always provided a way. We are thankful for this new chapter.

Jacci, Jake and Evan are back from Washington. We took a 2 week hiatus to visit family and friends. Now it's back to the job hunt for me. I have some good prospects out there. The boys start daycare next week which leaves me days to find work, interview and get the household in full order in anticipation of where God wants me.

Kyle is nearly done now with his Senior year. Golf is the next sport of choice for spring so we'll have fun attending those matches when we can. Less than 100 days until graduation...yep, still in shock. He's not sure of his future plans since he's such a procrastinator but we know he'll figure it out!

That's it for us. Looking forward to spring and working on our property and finishing a bit of room painting once we can open the windows wide again to let out fumes. ~The Cardwells

Updates

Well, it's been a couple weeks since I posted. We still have found a job for Ron yet but we know God has a plan. Our church is doing Dave Ramsey's Life.Money.Hope series for the next 3 weeks which is such an awesome series. Everywhere we turn we see signs of God's plan and how He's prepared us and paved the way during this time of trial. I truly believe He has something amazing in store for Ron. Don't kid yourself...this is tough for us and we have people around us who say careless things and call us silly for relying on God to open the doors. In fact, one person said that God slaps people down just to humble them. I feel bad for someone who thinks that way - I don't know what God they know but I know it isn't the God I believe in, worship and treasure.

As for the kids...Kyle just finished up cross country. The team made state and the guys placed 7th overall. Kyle came in 55th out of 142 - not bad! We're pretty proud. Camdyn is just finishing up his pitching machine baseball season. He has improved so much!! Jacob is busy, busy, busy. He spends a ton of time playing on the trampoline, riding in the Rhino and zooming up and down the driveway on his bike. The weather has been gorgeous so the boys are rarely inside. Evan is growing like a little weed. His 6 month checkup is Thursday - he should weigh in at probably 21 pounds since he was 19 lb 15 oz at 5 1/2 weeks and has been gaining a pound every two weeks for quite a while. He likes to sit up, roll over and chew on everything with his new tooth...hmm, almost like a puppy! His cute smile and laugh melt the heart...so cute!

The grownups are busy just being grownups. Ron is doing P90X at church 6 days a week and I am doing Slim in 6. We are working on getting fit both physically and spiritually. Ron has also been doing all kinds of "honey do" things for me that we just haven't found time to get finished. I've been busy with MOPS, Women's Ministry, Children's Ministry Council, getting jewelry ready for the craft show, leading the ladies' workout and all kinds of other things. Somehow I have managed to be busier now as a stay at home mom than when I worked 50 hours a week.

Keep praying for us that God's wisdom would rule and Ron would have a strong sense of which opportunity he should take when it presents itself. He doesn't want to just run into a job because it's there but wants to make sure that he is placed where he feels led.

Resting in Him~ The Cardwells

Remember the Titans!

I don't know why football seems to be such a theme in my daily devotions lately...HELLO, I'm a girl...I didn't even play football. That being said...I love the sport. I love it! I love Monday Night Football. I love Thursday Night Football, Saturday College Ball and we LIVE for Sundays for football. Since my husband is crazier than I am for the game we are perfectly matched.

We LOVE football movies - Radio, Rudy, Facing the Giants, We Are Marshall, Varsity Blues...waaay back to The Longest Yard and All the Right Moves. One of my particular favorites is Remember the Titans. Ever seen this movie? The passion for being the best in football, in life, in relationships is shown so well...alongside the challenge of racial integration in Alexandria,Virginia. The white coach is put aside as head coach for the black coach. The players have to combine white and black in the turbulent South. The team heads off to football camp and since they are away from family and town folk influence really begin to bond as teammates and friends. Once they are again immersed back into the reality of living in their hometown - the rivalry and prejudice starts again. The story has a bittersweet and happy ending though - the team becomes a true team that supports and builds each other up. The two coaches become friends and gain enormous respect for one another. The town realizes that the old attitudes are going to have to change and begins to support the black coach.

What on earth does that have to teach you might ask? Well I realized that as a Christian, I have that same struggle every day. Old vs. New. Sin vs. New Heart. I made a decision to put aside Coach Self for Coach Christ. Now, Coach Self really doesn't like that much. Coach Self thinks that she knows it all. I've gone away to camp - ladies retreats and really felt my old and new self were getting along and becoming a team. It was exciting to deeply "feel" the Holy Spirit take hold and coach my heart team. I didn't have the outside pressures of the world pressing in. BUT - All retreats come to an end and I have to come back to the real world every time where the enemy would use the town folk - prejudice, self doubt, replaying of sins that were already forgiven - to tear me down and to cause my team to fall apart.

Now I am not saying that Coach Christ and Coach Self are going to go out and become best friends and share equal credit for my eternal salvation - THAT'S ALL CHRIST'S GRACE AND MERCY but Coach Self is learning that Coach Christ has great plays for my life. He's got a plan and it's a good one. Coach Self has respect for Coach Christ and is realizing that it's best for her to take a backseat to Coach Christ. I'm going to have a happy ending because I am saved by the blood and will go to Heaven. It's just reassuring to me to know that Coach Christ recognizes that though Coach Self has brought me a lot of grief...she's still part of my nature. Coach Christ doesn't expect perfection from me. I am perfected because of HIM. Perfected. I'm not perfect but I am made perfect because He died for my imperfections. One day, Coach Christ will have me come to the Hall of Fame and I hope He'll say..."Well done good and faithful servant." - not because I overcame the world but because I continued to strive to be like my Coach Christ while in the world.