Life as we know it in the Smith House. Dad & Mom, Son & Daughter. This blog was started in 2004 to capture on going family life, it has morphed and grown into what it is today (both the blog & family).
Each year I ask Graham the same 21 questions about his amazing mother. This is year 3.
1. What is something Mommy always says to you?
Obey
2. What makes Mommy happy?
She loves me.
3. What makes Mommy sad?
When I don't obey.
4. How does Mommy make you laugh?
Like she does this "Ahhh, ahhh".
5. What was Mommy like as a child?
Nice.
6. How old is Mommy?
I can't remember...14? is she 14?
7. How tall is Mommy?
Um this big (raises hands).
8. What is Mommy’s favorite thing to do?
She likes to play sometimes...that's all.
9. What does Mommy do when you’re not around?
Well, I've never been here when she goes to school so I don't know.
10. If Mommy becomes famous, what will it be for?
Putting clothes on, maybe.
11. What is Mommy really good at?
She really good at games.
12. What is Mommy not very good at?
I don't know, she is, she is, I don't know, I can't remember.
13. What does Mommy do for her job?
She likes work, putting clothes on maybe.
14. What is Mommy’s favorite food?
Soup.
15. What makes you proud of Mommy?
Doing puzzles.
16. If Mommy were a cartoon character, who would she be?
George.
17. What do you and Mommy do together?
We play games and puzzles and everything we have.
18. How are you and Mommy the same?
we are not the same but, abigail is a girl and mommy is a girl and that's the same, and we are boys and thats the same.
19. How are you and Mommy different?
Because God made us that way.
20. How do you know Mommy loves you?
Because she loves me sometimes...I just know it.
21. Where is Mommy’s favorite place to go?
To the store.
Adriane, We honor you! You are truly an amazing wife, mother and friend. Thank you for loving us so well and so faithfully.
WE LOVE YOU!!!
Happy Mother's Day!
Tonight Graham and I wrote a song about our love for each each person in our family. He actually came up with the melody as I was strumming the guitar, I love that boy.
Mommy and Abigail were present in the room and Abigail was dancing the whole time. You will hear her part of the song at the very end.
Now we are presenting Our Family Song to the world via the blogosphere.
Enjoy! (sorry about all the 'ohs')
A great post from Mark Lauterbach
Preaching the Gospel to ourselves is something of a novelty. It is helpful. But it is not enough.
Reminding ourselves of the greatness of Christ and his salvation is faith-building. But it is not enough. There are more ways to remind ourselves of the Gospel that are more effective.
Let me explain, with a story.
When God told the Israelites to cross the Jordan River (Joshua 3), he instructed those in the lead to march up to the River and place their feet in it. When the soles of their shoes touched the waters, they would part (Josh 3:13). They did as instructed, and the waters parted.
Consider this from the point of view of “preaching to ourselves.” The issue here was the power of God to part the waters and keep his covenant promises.
They are believers, members of the people of God. They did not have any means at hand to stop the Jordan. They were called to go in and take the land. They had to rely on God alone to do this. That is as Gospel-ish a story as I can imagine.
So, what did they do? Gather in small groups and review the story of redemption from Egypt, recall the parting of the Red Sea? No, they acted upon the Gospel. They preached the power of God to themselves by acting in faith, by doing and not by talking. The people in the lead did not stand by the Jordan and preach reminders of the power of God to themselves.
No, they acted upon the Word of God and experienced a reminder of the power of God in their obedience. They could have preached the power of God to themselves and refreshed their faith. Or they could act in faith upon the power of God and experience his power. Talking to themselves was not enough.
Back to our day.
This train of thought pulled into the station of my meditations as I was preaching Galatians. Paul upholds the Gospel in Galatians. But he does not merely call them to receive it. He calls to act upon it.
He tells them to STAND in the freedom Christ has won. He tells them to act upon it by serving each other and quit thinking of themselves. He tells them to act upon it by walking in the Spirit and putting to death the deeds of the flesh. The list goes on.
The way I put it when I preached Gal 4:1-7 is this: Christ has made you sons, act like sons. Live boldly as sons. Do not live like you are slaves. Do not live like God forgets your needs and will not supply for you. Do not pray timidly. Do not be timid in witness. You are sons of God through Christ. The Spirit of His Son is in you. Act boldly upon this.
If all I do is remind myself of the Gospel I may actually be dishonoring the Gospel I believe.
Let me illustrate again.
Imagine that you have just received a phone call from one of the new billionaires who is giving away his fortune. They have selected you, randomly, to receive 50 million dollars. That amount will be transferred to your account the next day. Sure enough, it happens. You are super rich.
Not only that, but the billionaire said you may spend it freely because he stands ready, with a phone call, and without any questions, to send you more.
What would it look like to honor the gift? Do I just need to buy an app for my phone that sends me regular reminders of the balance? No, that is crazy. If all I do is check the balance in the account a couple times a day, then I have missed the point. I honor the gift by acting upon it. When I write the check for the Masserati and it clears, then I will have a new awareness that I am super rich.
I think, for some, preaching the Gospel to ourselves is checking the account balance of the riches of grace. Period. But that is not enough. I think when we slip from believing the Gospel is true, one of the best antidotes is to write a check on Gospel riches.
Write the check and boldly bear witness to Christ.
Write the check and quit pitying yourself, go out to serve others, and watch God take care of your problems.
Write the check and well, write a check. Give generously.
Write a check and stop accepting the inevitability of your besetting sins. Act boldly upon the gift of the Spirit and walk in holiness.
Stop preaching, act upon the Gospel, and be reminded of Christ by tasting the Gospel at work.
