Tuesday Ten

Thank you, God:

1. For the Schweitzer twins, healthy and beautiful, born today,

2. for God's sovereignty in Kristin's affliction,

3. for His great love for Mark and Kristin,

4. for their love and care for each other,

5. for His promise that the prayers of His people availeth much.

6. For all the promises we are finding and recording in I Peter

7. That my husband humbles and inspires me

8. For October 25th - the day John proposed to me.

9. That Leah's voice teacher quickly agreed to our request to sing a Christ-centered hymn after first saying that the recital could be secular songs only

10. For building godly character as John Jr. is forced to make close calls as an umpire

11. That my failing eyesight is a reminder that outwardly we are wasting away but inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

12. That He has shown me so much grace.

13. For the upcoming Reformation Day Party

14. For two surprises: a home school discount on music lessons and an account credit from our dentist because the kids helped him make a video

15. For leaks and drips and so many things that need repaired -- reminding me that decay reigns on this earth, but that the One who changeth not abides with me.


JANUARY 22, 2010

I thank God:

1. That I still have 7 months with my son before he leaves for college and our family changes in ways I can only imagine. (Also that He promises that His grace is sufficient)

2. That my husband cares about the approval of God more than the approval of man

3. For Sewing Thursdays and how much they minister to me

4. For a pastor who has always had the heart of my children because they know he loves them

5. For my "strong oak" friends who challenge me to think beyond my own immediate circle

6. For the sweet and difficult questions that the children decided to ask during Children's Church, and for Leah's clear answers

7. For my mom who rescued another dog from the pound to give to my Dad for Christmas

8. For that exercising "high"

9. For a certain sense of completion and satisfaction regarding John's homeschooling and character, even though there are so many more things I want to read and learn with my son.

10. For providing the upcoming trip to NYC for our whole family to make a college visit and to celebrate Leah's 16th birthday. Praying for unforgettable vacation memories and discernment about the school.

11. The Schweitzer baby network, which led me to new friends whom I greatly admire and stirred fresh appreciation for the faithful, loving and reliable women of our church.

Tuesday Ten

I thank God, the Overflowing Fountain:

1. For the 5-year-old girl whose whole face was transformed with joy when I ended our Bible story by telling her about Jesus, our Rescuer. She then threw herself at me saying, "Oh,THAT was a beautiful story." Now that is the correct response to the Gospel!

2. For times when our children shine to the glory of God and we realize what a sacred trust God has given us.

3. Getting to see Fiddler on the Roof starring Topol, who played the lead in the 1971 movie -- and, best of all, getting to watch Leah watch it.

4. For limited time and money because it forces us to prioritize what fills our days

5. For the horrible sinking feeling of a letter from the IRS and the wonderful feeling of an H & R Block tax preparer taking total responsibility for her error and making it right.

6. For God's protective hand over our finances. I noticed several unfamiliar charges on hold in our account. (A charge of .01 cent and then several random charges of $9.95 for things we would never order.) After talking with a friend who had encountered a similar scam, I cancelled the card and the charges were never taken out of our account.

7. For the Veritas Press Author's Study with Gene Edward Veith

8. For the refreshing power of sleep and laughter

9. That "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." (Isaiah 40:29)

10. For coffee Thursday, or Saturday, or Sunday with my dearest friend

Tuesday Ten

I thank the Living God for:

1. Jesus, who prays on my behalf and keeps me: "Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one." (John 17:11)

2. That life is never boring when you're married to an interesting funny man with a great library

3. Leah's resourcefulness in finding inexpensive patterns and new crochet projects online

4. My son's honesty when he was overpaid for his umpiring

5. The talks that John and Leah have until way too late

6. The reminder that while it's important to tell little children stories they rarely hear (like the story of Uzzah), there's a reason that Noah's Ark has always been such a crowd favorite.

7. The community center down the street, which is close enough for my kids and I to go to in the middle of the day to get the P.E. we needed: It has a great fitness center, racquetball courts, gym, pool and jacuzzi.

8. That completing the mundane day-to-day duties and grappling with lofty ideas are not mutually exclusive.

9. Giving us the Proverbs to make sure we do not lose our way

10. Mothers who take seriously this call to raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord

11. God's grace in restraining evil every day

12. Anxiety that drives us to Him,

13. The godly men who love and teach my son

14. Father-son time and the love for sports and current events that the men in this house share

Tuesday Ten

I thank God for:

1. Our amazing road trip last month, especially my husband's cheerful perseverance in visiting a drizzly Civil War battlefield, rewarded by finding dedicated re-enactors camped out in a field hospital tent

2. The warm Christian fellowship at Bryan College and the fun of "discovering" David Beisner (when we had been searching for him all weekend) -- up in a cherry picker taking a picture of the students posed on the ground.

3. Sunday's sermon and the reminder to continually recognize and kill the idols that raise their heads up in the "idol factory" of our hearts. "Prone to wander..."

4. The beautiful picture of Redemption in the many Christian couples I know who have adopted children or who serve as foster parents. What a way to serve as living sacrifices and to make disciples.

5. The inglorious way that we finished the last chapter of How Jesus Transforms the Ten Commandments when we were all particularly exhausted and peevish -- and my husband's summation: "Well, even this devotion time was considered righteous and pleasing to God because of Jesus." I love my husband.

6. Getting to hear historian Bradley Birzer from Hillsdale lecture on the virtues of Western Civilization -- and the encouragement of knowing that there are great minds out there training young people to think clearly from a biblical perspective about politics and current events.

7. The humility, hope and zeal that come every time I hear the good news that God is not like us (oh, how glad I am of that) -- and that instead of despising us for our sinfulness He credits us with His holiness because of Jesus. I could never express how thankful I am for this and how it helps me to fight on. The Word of God saves and keeps us.

8. John Jr.'s confidence as an umpire and realizing how every job he has is preparing him for his vocation, his calling from God, whatever that may be

9. The beautiful dress that Leah completed and the vivid imagination that makes her want to sew costumes rather than practical clothes.

10. The new students in my 5-year-old class, who have already won my heart when I thought I could never get over letting this last class move up.

11. The sweetness of deep talks with my husband and those special friends whose hearts burn and yearn for more of Him, knowing there is always so much more. "We drink of Thee, the Fountainhead, and thirst our souls from Thee to fill."