Is it wise to reason.......

I have been pondering this for a few weeks now. To reason: ask.com defines it as this...a term that refers to the capacity human beings have to make sense of things, to establish and verify facts, and to change or justify practices. .^[1] It is closely associated with such characteristically human activities as philosophy, science, language, mathematics, and art, and is normally considered to be a definitive characteristic of human nature.^[2] The concept of reason is sometimes referred to as rationality and sometimes as discursive reason, in opposition to "intuitive reason".^[3]

Reason or "reasoning" is associated with thinking, cognition, and intellect. Reason, like habit or intuition, is one of the ways by which thinking comes from one idea to a related idea. For example, it is the means by which rational beings understand themselves to think about cause and effect, truth and falsehood, and what is good or bad.

In contrast to reason as an abstract noun, a reason is a consideration which explains or justifies some event, phenomenon or behaviour.^[4] The ways in which human beings reason through argument are the subject of inquiries in the field of logic.

The "reason" I bring all this up is because I have been going through "something"....I am not sure what but I am trying to reason out some things. I also have been trying to reason with my 2 almost 3 year old daughter. I know, I know, you can never reason with a child, but I so want to understand what she is thinking and WHY she is doing some of the things she is doing,( aside from the fact that she is a sinner in need of a savior) and it is driving me nuts!!! I love her to pieces....too much sometimes, some might say, but I am so weary of trying to understand!!! I am new to this parenting thing and at times have been overly sensitive in my approach and reception of council. I don't want to do that. I want to fear God above ALL men and rest in knowing that HE has handpicked me to be the mom of these 2 girls.

I used to pride myself on being a "why" child....it was sometimes seen as a lack of submission and sometimes seen as all out rebellion,....which I am sure at times it was....but often times, it is a genuine sense of wonder and a desire to understand. I know that as a child of God, I don't need or have to question God because ALL HE does is for my good and HIS glory and this I believe with all my heart. But, I digress....what got me thinking about all this reasoning, is over the course of the last few days, Gracelyn has REALLY come into toddlerhood!!! We have seen her as smart and a quick learner, so naturally, we have assumed that she would KNOW why she does what she does, but, she is no different than me really. She does what she does because she desires to please her own flesh.....even if she doesn't know it!!! So, when she smears baby lotion all over herself from head to belly and I ask her why, she proudly replies...."because I did"!!!! Oy, Help me Lord. This has been my cry over the past few days as I have been wrapping my mind around the new year and the joy of the upcoming arrival of baby #2...Help me Lord....Help me to Love these kids the way that You love me. Help me to honor YOU in my marriage and in my parenting. Help me to show Jesus to a watching world but first to my kids. Help, me Father, to stay out of the way as You work in the hearts of my kids. Help me, Lord to point my kids to You at every turn. Help me to fear You MORE THAN ANYTHING. Help me to rest and trust in YOU alone....

There is a song our choir used to sing....I didn't love it the first time I heard it but it keeps going through my mind...I don't remember what it was called but it was an acapella piece.. and the words were: Help me Jesus, Oh help me Jesus...Help me Jesus Oh help me LORD! THIS is my cry!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Wow! What a blessed but very busy weekend. It is over. Can that be right? We have striven all year long to make sure that this ONE weekend was not a rush job and that we would be able to savor every moment. Well, we did savor every moment but there were many moments. We started the weekend by having a family potluck with DH's extended family and then woke up early on Saturday (early as in 2:50 am) and grasped for sleep until 5:50 when there was no other option but to get up. Went to my moms before heading off to do child care at church for the Christmas Eve service and then back to moms for gifts and dinner. Got home that night at 10ish....put out cookies and milk, got to bed, woke up for breakfast and gifts then got ready for church....after church, came home for a big lunch and round 2 of gifts with Aunt Shelley and then down for a small nap....after which, Nan-nan and Papa came out to eat AGAIN and watch a movie! Did I say that we are blessed? We are, we truly are. So much going on in my mind right now, so many things changing and some fears rising up in me yet again but today, just for today, all is well. So thankful that Gracelyn looked forward to giving her gifts as much as she looked forward to getting them. Now, to transition back to real life and get focused on getting things in order and ready for Anabelle Kate.....a little over 7 weeks to go....yes, that is right. CRAZY. So thankful for this life. So ready for the new year. I look forward to the new year like some people look forward to a new school year. I am looking forward to a fresh clean calendar and making some schedules for my family. As I think about the new year, I am hopeful that Kevin and I will be able to sit down and make some goals and plan some things out for the new year. Right now, though, my heart is full.

4 in the A.M.

ZOINKS!

How does it happen? A week has passed since I last posted something that I was thankful for! So very thankful for so many things in my life. Today especially, I am thankful that I passed my glucose test and do not have gestational diabetes with Anabelle like I did with Gracelyn! Also, I am thankful for Wayne and my mom......they came and painted my bedroom and it looks great! No more blue! What was I thinking? Anyway, these are a few things I am thankful for!!!

Nov 16

Well, I have missed a few days but be sure that I have been thankful for several things over those days!! ; ) Today, I am so very thankful for a hard working husband and a God who provides generously so that we can pay our bills. We don't have "it all" but we have all we need. So very thankful for the fact that I serve Jehova-Jire.....the Lord provides!

Days 11 and 12

These are weekend dates. These two days, I am thankful that it is the weekend. Thankful that I have a car that gets me to town and back and that I can get groceries and that we got to sleep in and have a big big breakfast. I am thankful for many things but in these days when we are rushing around daily, I am thankful for the slower pace of the weekend.

Nov. 10

Today, I am thankful for time. I am thankful that I have help in my home and life. Today, I am thankful that I get a chance to spend some adult time with my mom and sister and that I get the afternoon off! My great mother in law is staying with us for a while (I am thankful for that too) and she is giving me the great gift of time today. I have a little work to do first but then, I am outta here until I meet my mom and sister for a dinner at my moms church! So, thank you dear Lord, for the gift of time!

thankful #9

Today, I am thankful for stuff! I don't mean this in a worldly sense. I mean it was not long ago when I was fretting over stuff. Stuff I wanted and didn't have and stuff I thought I needed. When we were expecting Gracelyn, we had very little. And, right after she was born, Kevin lost his job and we were on unemployment for the first 6 months of her life. With him bringing in not even enough for our mortgage payment, we still managed to have enough! As I was cleaning house today, I ALMOST began to grumble about all the "stuff" but immediately became convicted by my rotten attitude and thankfully I was able to turn that into a thankful attitude. Thankful that we have MORE than we need or could really ever use!!! God help us to share all that we have with our family and friends and even more so with others who have less than us. Especially as we are focusing on this time of year and then we are about to celebrate Christmas, help us to see the needs of others and not just our wants!!!!

11/8

We are family! Today, I am thankful for my family. There are many struggles within my extended family right now and as odd as it sounds, I am thankful for those struggles too. I am burdened but the struggles are pushing me closer to the Lord and closer to my husband and my own family. You don't get to pick your family and sometimes we joke about that, but considering that I don't always make wise choices, I would probably choose incorrectly anyway! So thankful for a God who in His infinite wisdom chose this family for me. I love you my family!

Monday

Today, I am thankful for tears. That might seem strange to some of you, but I am thankful for tears. For me, tears mean many things.....today, they meant release of stress. They meant cleansing and they meant joy. By the way, I am NOT bipolar!!! : ) Well, today I might have been! But generally, I am not! But, tears, they are what I am thankful for today!

This is the day the Lord has made!

Today I am thankful for the body of believers at BCLR!!! I love you my church family and am so thankful to be part of this body of Christ......thankful for men who preach the word with passion and in truth!

Day 5

So very thankful for a friendship that is lasting! It has taken work at different times over the years but I believe that anything worth having is worth working for. So, today, I am thankful for all my friends but especially, I am thankful for one in particular. You see, this friend has put up with a lot from me and has taught me so much about how to be a wife and mom. I cherish this friendship and am so thankful that this friend is willing to keep on keeping on with me. Thankful that she loves my Gracelyn girl and thankful that she loves the Lord with a passion that I can only pray comes with age!!!! ;) Becky, I am thankful for you. I love you and I praise the Lord that He saw fit to join our hearts together years ago. I know we are in different seasons of life and I know that friendships come and go but, today I am thankful that we are hanging in there. I love you my friend!

Day 4

GRACELYN ANNELIESE SONTAG 3/23/09

There are no words to express how thankful I am for this little miracle!!! I begged the Lord for her and HE heard my cry. Gracelyn, you are a joy and a tool of sanctification in my life. You make me laugh and the thought of my life without you makes me cry!!!! I pray that God captures your heart and turns you toward himself! I am thankful for your tender heart and challenged by your brains. I love you so much baby girl and can't wait to see what a helpful big sister you will be to Anabelle Kate. I love you big girl baby girl!!!!!!

Day 3 of Thankfulness

Today, I have struggled. I know that we all do. It seems that I take 1 step forward and two steps back almost daily! But here is what i am thankful for today!

HE remembers that we are dust!

Thank you Lord Jesus that you are a God who condescends and that You know me better thank anyone and you love me anyway!

Wed. Nov 2, 2011

Today, I am thankful for a savior who forgives, covers, preserves, and surrounds. Thank you O my Father, for giving us your Son.....

Ps 32
How Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

7..You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance!

A Month of Thanksgiving

I start this often but don't always finish it. This year, I am striving to post things that I am thankful for everyday! There are so many things that I find myself thankful for these days but today in particular, I am thankful for my husband.

You see, my husband is patient and long-suffering. He is growing in the Lord and he desires to lead our family well. I am NOT a morning person and I woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. Let me tell you, he tried to avert the crisis, but I was fired up! But here is the best part......HE CAME BACK! I wouldn't have. I was ugly and harsh. He was walking out the door to go to work and I didn't care.

I knew what had taken place was ugly and sinful and wrong and I did not care! But, he came back. He often comes back! He is a good man and a wonderful husband. I am thankful for many many things, but today, I am thankful for the LOVE of my life and my very best friend!!! Thankful that he is quick to repent and to forgive even when he is only a little bit wrong! I love you, Kevin and thank you for pressing on and fighting for US! You are a wonderful husband, father and friend!

You gotta know when to hold em.......

You gotta know when to hold em' know when to fold em'...know when to walk away and know when to run!!!! This should be the theme song for me these days!

Do you ever find yourself in a situation where you wish you would have said something you didn't or hadn't said something you did? I find myself there OFTEN! Too often, I am afraid. And, to top it all off, I find myself being so critical of other things that I see and hear....Shame on me! Who am I to think that I know best or that I could do or say something better than someone else? When it comes to spiritual things, I have become the person who used to offend me and turn me off.....I might not always say it, but I think it....when someone thinks or believes differently than me, I find myself thinking of the "right" thing and then feeling justified in my actions!

Now, don't misunderstand me, I am NOT willing to compromise on scriptural truth or biblical facts, but when should I say something and when should I not? These are questions that I am working through and asking God to grant me wisdom as I consider how to love others and show the love of Christ to others as well.

Lord, please forgive me for being unjustly proud, and for thinking that I have it right! Father, I know that I am weak and lacking and have miles and miles to go in my journey. Father, thank you that your mercies are new every morning. Help me Lord NOT to be like those who follow in action but not in heart. Father, give me the eyes to see YOU and to see others in this world who need YOU. YOU are holy Lord, help me be holy as you are holy. Thank you father, that you do forgive me and thank you that you bring conviction to my soul. I love you o Lord, but I confess that my affection for you is often anemic....help me father. In Jesus name, Amen.

Under construction

Well, ONCE AGAIN!!! As I look over my bible journal and my personal journal, Once again seems to be the title of many of my entries! But, I am attempting once again to blog... I am often encouraged and challenged and convicted by other blogs and for a while I stopped because I didn't really have anything to offer, but then I realized that I blog for myself and not for the other 1-2 people who might read the post! : ) So all that to say, I am trying to fix up the blog and make it pretty....I am asking a friend to help me when she has time and when I can sit down over the phone with her to work out some of the kinks!!! So, stay tuned if you dare....I might have something pithy to say once in a while!