My Child's Blood

Seeing the blood of one of my children isn't a new thing to me. With three boys, we go through our share of bandaids.

Three days ago, Gideon was running through the room, slipped on something and caught the corner of the bed frame with his forehead. Head wounds bleed ALOT and this was a deep one. We got him fixed up, determined that a butterfly bandage would suffice and that we didn't need to go get stitches. But since then, he has picked the scab off everyday.

Today, he had gotten the scab half way off before I caught him and convinced him to leave it alone. Later, he tripped and hit his little head AGAIN...in just the right spot. Here comes the blood...lots of it. Maybe more than the first time. His clothes, my clothes, wash clothes...you name it, we got blood on it. Laundry time.

Later, as I was moving the blood stained-rinsed-but-not-yet-washed clothes to the washing machine, I paused a moment to look at my child's blood. It reminded me of the time Silas broke his face (Yes, broke his face...I know I have very talented children) in the garage sending us to the emergency room on a Sunday evening. The day after the incident I went into the garage to once again tend to the blood stained laundry. While there, I stopped to stare at the drops of my child's blood on the cement floor.

Both times, these thoughts came to my mind.

What was it like for God to watch His Son bleed on the cross for my sake? I did not allow my children to bleed. I would have prevented it if I could have. Yet God SENT His Son to bleed for me. I am humbled by His ultimate humility.

Then I thought of John 17:23. Jesus prays that "the world may know that...you love them even as you have loved me"

God loves me the same as He loves Jesus. He put Jesus on the cross.

Gulp.

Romans 12:1 says I am to be a living sacrifice. My mom always used to tell me that "the problem with living sacrifices is that they can crawl back off the altar" I am to daily put my own desires, my own plans, my own comfort, even my own body on the altar...and stay there. I am not very good at this.

But I ask myself today, What is God asking me to sacrifice for others...that they may know Him. That they may glimpse His tender mercies in my tenderness, when I really feel like being rude. That they may see His patience when I am patient, when I really feel like screaming.

That they may understand His loving sacrifice when I do for others at my own expense.

Thank you, Jesus, for your Grace and for being my ultimate sacrifice. Help me to put my life on the altar and to bleed for others today.

I haven't put any pictures on here in so long...so I thought I'd just share this one real quick. Oliver being hilarious!

Things That Have Helped Me Get the Job Done

We are still in the process of moving. Almost all of our things have been moved to the new place. We will sleep here tonight and in the morning we will eat breakfast, throw a few more things in a box and go over to our new place (of course, I'll be coming right back to clean). I was thinking about the little things that have helped me get this very big job done. Here are a few

Letting my kids sit in boxes. The first day I started taping boxes together it went like this. Tape up a box..."Silas, Mommy needs to put something besides you in the box"..."nevermind"...Tape up another box..."Silas, what happened to the last box I taped up? I need this box, dear"..."Forget it"....go get the last box I taped..."Hi Gideon, are you have fun in Mommy's boxes"...leave them alone and tape another box.

Bubble wrap...seriously, I know adults who can't resist the stuff

Old pictures. This occupied my boys for quite a while, but I didn't get much done while they were looking because I wanted to look to.

Last but not least, Toy Story 1 on you tube...even after the TV and DVD player where on their way to the new place I could put the boys in front of the lap top. It kept them out of the way and safe while we were carrying the other big stuff down the steps.

Verses the Lord led me to this morning

Isaiah 26:7 The way of the righteous is smooth;

O Upright One, make the path of the righteous level.

Hebrews 6:19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast

Psalms 40:2 He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.

Are we catching the theme here...God is so good to me. His word washes over me this morning. I praise His holy name and I will walk through this day securely, my feet will not stumble (Proverbs 3:23) for He will lead me to the Rock that is higher than I (Ps 61:2)

Moving

We are moving...after months of barely being able to pay rent, we decided something was going to have to give. We started talking over our options and what the Lord was speaking to us...the two seemed to conflict, UNTIL...Quentin's parents offered to let us move into their basement apartment.

And so begins the packing of the boxes and moving of furniture. I'm sure the boys will be very helpful. :)

We will have a little less space, but we're determined to make it work. Please pray that this goes smoothly and quickly. Thanks!