Do we need God?

I mean, really need Him?  I've been thinking about this for a long time now.

In our depravity, clearly we need Him.  That's not what I'm talking about.

But in our affluence, do we need Him?  Or do we structure our lives in such a way that there is no opportunity to see Him at work?  

Do I live with reckless abandon?  Or is everything scheduled and detailed in such a way that there is no room for Him to be needed?  

Do I desperately need Him to get through the day?

Do I need to see His handiwork to pay my bills?  Or do I rearrange my budget so that it works just fine?

Do I sit and wait to see His miracles as He solves a problem I can't fix?

Generally, I give an additional offering as it fits in our budget.  I go on a mission trip if I can work out the details.  I fill my cabinets with our favorite foods.  I take my kids to the doctor and get the medical care we need.  I am merely inconvenienced if one of our cars is in the shop.

I'm  not sure how to change this while we live in this culture... do I give freely that He has to provide to pay our bills each day?  Do I give more instead of putting it in savings and trust God to provide when the need arises?  We have 10% of a church's budget going to missions, yet we pay more than that in childcare while we have committee meetings and events.

This is what I mean... am I living my life in such a way that I need him?  Or am I playing it safe every day?  And what about the "That's not faith, that's stupidity!" argument?

There are children DYING this day, and we're accruing interest in a retirement account.  There are children DYING this hour, yet we're not adopting them or even feeding them.  There are children DYING this very minute, and ours are watching cartoons on cable.

What in the world is wrong with us?

I have to say, I miss the excitement of living with a reckless abandon in trusting Him.  There is renewed faith each and every day when we're in situations that only He can fix.  There is desperation for His power when all seems impossible.  And there is closeness as His power is displayed.

Change Me, God!  Rock my world and make me absolutely desperate for You.  No matter the cost.

Haiti Relief Information

Here is a blog written by an RN who is on her way to Haiti for disaster relief.  I thought you might like to see it and follow her journey.

Here is a blog post about some different, legitimate ways to help.

Here is Compassion's blog post with their info too.

The devastation there is horrendous.  I can't even imagine.  But if it draws people to Him in their heartbreak, then good will come of it.  Lord, have mercy!

Contentment

Christians are to be good stewards of the circumstances God has placed in our path.  It does no good to wish for different ones.  Contentment is a very important quality, and it is found only when we act as passionate caretakers of the lives we actually have, not the ones we wish we could have.

Mark Grawehr, Such Precious Clay

Some Pictures to Share

Here are just a bunch of pictures from the last few weeks in no particular order. :) A bunch of these are nieces and nephews, just in case you're really confused!


Cousin sleepover by the Christmas tree!


Opening the Wii from Gramma and Grampa! (Thank you!! We are all enjoying it thoroughly!)


Mattie excited about her new scooter!
(She used to have one, but Robert deemed it unrepairable the third time it got run over.)


A cozy, colorful blanket for my boy who appreciates both!


Our beautiful Happy Birthday, Jesus! cake. (Quite honestly, just for some camera fun.)


She is one mean guitar player!


Baking wheat free cookies with Tante Jeni... and getting to eat the batter!!



Cousin fort building fun!

 
Yeah, she can sleep with us... as long as she sleeps over there.



Gracie just couldn't make it to midnight on New Year's Eve, poor girl! (Pneumonia will do that to ya', I hear.)


My water bugs.
(We went to an indoor mini waterpark with some friends on Friday. It's an odd feeling to be in a swimsuit surrounded by glass only to see snow and icicles all over outside.)



Logan crashing Mattie's quiet reading moment.


"Man! We can't go up or down??! But that's where all the kids are!!"
 


Aaaaah. Catching me some snuggle time with the worn out little boy.



Sweet blessing.

The things they say...

Jacob to the 7 year old neighbor boy...
"Sometimes I swallow this snot in my throat that I cough up and it's not even gross.  It is gross when there are chunks though."
"Do you ever feel like you're going to puke after you burp?"
"Your mom won't let you be home schooled?!  Home school is the best place to be!  Your mom must be mean!"  :)

(And in case 7 year old neighbor boy's mother reads this, I don't think you're mean! lol!)

Mattie to Robert while she was feeding her baby...  "You know those two round dots on my chest?  There's milk in them and that's how you feed your baby.  That's how you nurse.  Or sometimes, you can just pump and put the milk in a bottle and feed it to the baby like Aunt Cherilyn.  I'm just kidding.  I don't have any milk in my chest.  Sometimes too when mommies are feeding their babies they cover them up because they don't want to look at them anymore.  I'm a good mommy, so I don't do that."