The Children of Israel and Me

I have decided to read through my NIV Study Bible again this year. Last year I took a break from a "formal reading plan" because I wanted to take my time and read through the New Testament in The Message (a paraphrase in contemporary English). That was a really good change for me because over the years I have become so familiar with many texts in the NIV that I can gloss over them without even thinking about the meaning. The language in The Message caused me to think about familiar passages in a whole new light. (Follow those links if you need a wake-up call!) I often had to refer back to my NIV to look up the more familiar wording, but The Message brought some passages back to life in my mind. That's not to say that God's Word is ever dead or dull, but sometimes this reader is!

Well, back to this year. I have been staying on track with a couple of chapters in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament each day. (By the way, did you know that it only takes 15 minutes a day to read through the whole Bible in a year...even for a slow reader like myself!) This week I started the book of Exodus and I was really hit by something. After God had miraculously delivered the children of Israel from their oppression in Egypt - remember the horrible plagues of boils, flies, frogs, blood, etc. - they immediately began to grumble against Him and against Moses. On one page of my Bible I can read their beautiful songs of praise and deliverance and (literally!) on the next page I can read about their grumbling and complaining.

Take a look:

Exodus 15:13 (pg. 108)

Exodus 16:3 (pg. 109)

I was so tempted to mock and criticise those ungrateful wretches...until I realized how very true that is in my own life. One moment I am praising God for his wisdom and sovereignty and the next moment I am doubting and resisting His plan for my life. BUT GOD DIDN'T ABANDON THOSE SINNERS AND HE WON'T ABANDON ME. I am so thankful. And - I'm excited about all the other things I will observe and apply through my Bible reading this year.

My Dad

My Dad

...preaches hard,

...works hard,

...plays hard,

...sleeps hard,

...and loves hard!

Happy Birthday, Dad!
(We love you.)

She finally did it!

Ally has been talking about getting her ears pierced for a long time. BUT - the fear of pain has always got the best of her. Until last weekend. When I mentioned that we could surprise Chuck and Missy at our New Year's party she suddenly had all the motivation that she needed.

Ally is a nail biter - poor, nervous, little girl!

I was proud of her for sitting so still.

A few seconds later the flood-gates broke...nerves mostly.

All done!

All of that excitement must have taken its toll. She fell asleep in Chuck's arms at about 11:33 on New Year's Eve.

And here's to 2011!

(Just Martinelli's - don't worry!)

Christmas Scrapbook

It was

most certainly

a Christmas

to

remember!

From Your Girls, With Love

Happy Birthday

to a great Daddy....

...and a wonderful husband!

Christmas Card

We're Off!

Tonight the house is a mess, stacks of clothes are everywhere, the suitcase is flapped open, grocery bags are spilling their contents all over the counters, trash cans are full, the carpet is covered in pine needles, and the girls' Christmas dresses are wrinkly. But in just a few hours we'll all be sleeping soundly. The dresses will have been ironed, the carpet vacuumed, the trash cans emptied, the suitcase and cooler packed, and everything will more-or-less be in its rightful place. And then we'll wake up tomorrow and watch our kids sing in the children's program at church before heading up to the snowy mountains to spend 5 glorious days with some of our favorite people on earth!

Merry Christmas

to all and to all a

good night!