'Tis Mercy All

Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 

Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, 

keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. 

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:11-14 

We read this at breakfast the other morning and it really struck me - the teaching part of it. I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 

Neither we, nor our children, will learn to fear God unless we are taught. If we didn't learn to as children, the Spirit is glad to teach us as adults. Our hearts do not naturally choose to submit to authority - we delight in being our own boss. But this is not God's way, not what is best for us, or for our children. It's not what He instructs in His Word.

Once we realize as parents that God calls us to teach our children the fear of the Lord, then we must get busy being obedient to Him in this. 

I don't have any advice to offer, just throwing out these thoughts, talking to myself, especially. I must actively, prayerfully, with the Spirit's power and help, teach my girls to respect God's authority, to delight in obeying Him, and to desire to bring Him glory. And every time I say these things to them, God teaches me: Beth, are YOU eager to see God glorified through your obedience? Are YOU delighting in obedience, even when it means inconvenience or you don't understand why He is asking you to do something?

Much to think about, much to pray about...

Now, here are a LOT of pictures of Miss CJ, who is obviously the most popular occupant of our house at this time. I couldn't resist putting out most of the photos of her being held -

Pretty in blue - held in the pink Boppy

MB holding CJ - she loves babies! Hey, she even helped cut the cord when CJ was born!

Looking sweet in her tiny pink jacket and green dress

My dad (PaPa) holding CJ - he gave her lots of feedings the week he was here. She probably liked it better than when we do, since he pats her much more gently when he burps her. :-)

Daddy with swaddled Baby Girl

Beautiful EG and tiny new CJ. I've now come up with a "system" of sorts for making sure everyone gets to feed her and hold her.

I think she was two days old here, and had fallen asleep with her arm up against her head like that. Of course, I had to pick her up and hold her cuteness!

LC having her turn. She's totally in love with Baby. Keeps saying: "she's SO cute!" (and, I love baby girls in blue!)

My little brother gets his turn with CJ. There is never a time when another child isn't right next to the person holding Baby.

MK begged me to take her photo when she was having this turn with CJ. She is the little mama in the house. Has great maternal instincts and is extremely interested in everything about the baby. She says, "Mom, she's the cutest baby in the whole world!!" I agree with her, and always add, "Actually, I gave birth to the FIVE cutest babies in the world!"

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Mercies:

337 we have everything that means anything in life....a line from a Jamie Soles song...I don't know the title of the song, but every time I hear it, I think yes, yes, yes, we do!

338 a cart when I needed it at Target (made the mistake of trying to shop using a hand basket...)

339 long, detailed errands completed Saturday, with God's help and strength

340 BB "herding cats" - BB's phrase, describing his efforts to get the big three girls going in the same direction with the house cleaning on Saturday - made me laugh.

341 BB serving, sacrificing, making me nap....

342 an unexpected and very welcome visit from old friends and their six little ones Saturday

343 being reminded of the privilege it is to serve our Good God, that He chooses to use broken, so-imperfect vessels for His work

344 watching the Holy  Spirit at work in conversations with others