Introspective Insights

Thanks, MJ! You were part of my inspiration on th...

2011-10-18T12:52:00.446-04:00

Thanks, MJ! You were part of my inspiration on this one. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

Raw and real. Great writing, but more importantly,...

2011-10-18T08:31:07.362-04:00

Raw and real. Great writing, but more importantly, you put into words, what many are unable or unwillingly to admit. Great, productive work, Jenny!

Thanks, Missy for the time you took to put such a ...

2011-10-04T21:22:58.165-04:00

Thanks, Missy for the time you took to put such a great comment! I'm excited to look up that book and see about implementing 4:29 with our family. I try as often as I can to apologize and say that mommy screwed up. It would be good for us to have a "code" like this to use with everyone in the family. We are not great with praying "with" the kids but more near them or at them. That is something I've been trying to figure out a way to change. The self examination has been good for me and I hope to write about it more here going forward. Thanks again!

I think when you spend all day with your kids, you...

2011-10-04T14:30:00.887-04:00

I think when you spend all day with your kids, you, leave yourself open for this kind of self-examination. (and that's not a bad thing!) I definitely struggle with this too! I just finished reading a book called Parenting on Purpose by Jason Free. It's a very easy read and although it talked about stuff I already knew, he did have some good practical suggestions that would apply to this particular situation.

One thing he talks about is instituting a 4:29 principle (Eph 4:29...talks about no unwholesome talk coming from your mouth, but I think you could carry this over into actions too). When someone in the house is caught doing something that doesn't line up with that principle, all you say is "4:29" as a reminder that that behavior or talk needs to change. It's intended for kids AND parents to call each other out on...I think that's one thing we'll be trying to implement in our family.

I think one of the biggest things is teaching your kids that you screw up just like they do and that you need to apologize for those screw ups just as much they need need to. This is so hard for me because in our house growing up apologies/I-forgive-yous were few and far between...not something my parents really modelled for us. So now, as a parent, I make sure that consciously do that for my kids because I want them to grow up knowing that we all screw up but that we all can be forgiven too!

Also I think praying with and for your kids is huge and letting the kids see you and Jerry pray together too. Really, that's one of the greatest expressions of love right there...putting someone/something into God's hands.

I'd love to hear other people's thoughts too! It really is a hard concept to play out in our lives sometimes!

Well, spoken, Rach! If only it could all be as it...

2011-07-24T22:25:03.180-04:00

Well, spoken, Rach! If only it could all be as it should. Thanks for the comment.

God's mercies are not only new every morning, ...

2011-05-16T00:10:06.661-04:00

God's mercies are not only new every morning, but also at noon, dinner time, bed time, any time! So don't hesitate to stop and ask God to renew you when you need it. You don't have to accept your "low point" of the day. Pray for renewed mercies from 4-6p every day!

I think it is difficult to equate our relationship...

2011-05-16T00:06:10.781-04:00

I think it is difficult to equate our relationship with Jesus as a bridegroom and bride since that relationship has been so skewed and perverted by the enemy here on Earth. Think about it. Genesis 2:25 says that Adam and his wife were both ...naked, and they felt no shame. Enter sin. What was the immediate consequence? "Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked;" (Genesis 3:7). I doubt it was like a bad dream where you look down and realize you are some public place with no clothes on. Adam and Eve knew they were naked before. But after they sinned, they didn't like being naked together anymore. It made them uncomfortable with each other and with God. When God comes looking for them and Adam explains that he hid because he was naked, God asks point blank, "Who told you that you were naked?" (ch. 3 v. 10-11). Obviously this shame and embarassment with being naked was not part of God's original plan. But why did the enemy attack that first? Adam and Eve could have become angry and tried to kill each other as a result of the original sin. I wonder if even then the enemy knew that the relationship of God's crown jewels of creation, man and woman, would model how God would love His people. So when given the opportunity to mess everything up, the enemy went for the jugular and hasn't let up since.

Love you too, Mom!

2011-05-04T23:04:31.325-04:00

Love you too, Mom!

Love you. You children make me so grateful to God...

2011-05-04T22:52:26.811-04:00

Love you. You children make me so grateful to God for all He has done in and through you.
Mom

Thank you, Jen. I hope your readers like it. :-)...

2011-05-02T23:42:32.669-04:00

Thank you, Jen. I hope your readers like it. :-) LOVA!

I couldn't have said it better! I don't h...

2011-04-18T13:10:07.362-04:00

I couldn't have said it better!

I don't have an solution except what you did, praying to God.

Kristi

Aunt Cindy, true - how much can we learn in a vapo...

2011-04-11T02:13:38.181-04:00

Aunt Cindy, true - how much can we learn in a vapor. I do feel like a beginner everyday. But maybe that is what faith is all about. Putting aside the preconceived notions.

Dan, thanks for the compliments. I think I agree that the more I go forward the less I believe I know about God's ways. But I think that just makes me view Him more and more as He truly is.

Share my post with people who challenge you. Who knows, maybe something will break through.

Really great and revealing blog post. I am consta...

2011-04-10T00:37:30.842-04:00

Really great and revealing blog post. I am constantly (lately) being bombarded with individuals who are dogmatic about how God is - like they put Him in a box (a box of their understanding) and say that's just how it is. I on the other hand have a hard time with any of that. It's good to see other confessional Christians saying that they don't have God all figured out. I've found, the more Biblical knowledge I acquire, the less I know about God (the Divine paradox). I am also encouraged at the transparency you've shown in how your faith has been strengthened, in opposition to the "story book" ideals that you grew up with. God is BIGGER than any of us can fathom. In fact, I dare say that if we got a "think tank" together of the smartest theologians, scientists, engineers, lawyers, politicians, oh and retail managers, they wouldn't even touch the tip of the iceberg of God's knowledge and wisdom. Anyway, good stuff Jenny! Keep it up...

While you may not know the half of it YET there wi...

2011-04-10T00:27:09.580-04:00

While you may not know the half of it YET there will be a time when it will all be reveiled and make perfect, peaceful sense. I long for that day. Until then, I would say you've learned a lot.. for a beginner! Yes, life truly is just a vapor. How much can you learn in a vapor?

Thanks, Lydia. This winter has been very hard for...

2011-04-04T00:43:35.915-04:00

Thanks, Lydia. This winter has been very hard for us. It looks like you got the same experience compressed into 1 week! Hope all are on the mend. I don't get this gratitude thing right all the time, but I'm trying the best that I can. Thank you for your comment.

I'm sorry to hear little Abby was sick! We...

2011-04-03T00:11:35.659-04:00

I'm sorry to hear little Abby was sick! We've had the roughest health week in the history of our family here this week...and like you, although it has been rough, I've found moments of thankfulness throughout. Gratitude for my husband and all the help he has given me. Thankful that I'm able to be here and to care for my sick little people...and thankful for this home where we can take refuge and regain our strength. God is so good to us!

Thank you, Peggy. I am very blessed to have such ...

2011-03-11T09:13:01.299-05:00

Thank you, Peggy. I am very blessed to have such a great family. Thank you for taking the time to comment.

Thanks, Jen! I know in the end it will be OK.

2011-03-11T09:10:42.979-05:00

Thanks, Jen! I know in the end it will be OK.

Keep your eyes and heart on Him, Jenny, and He wil...

2011-03-11T07:58:19.204-05:00

Keep your eyes and heart on Him, Jenny, and He will see you through this. That is a really tough situation to be in, no doubt. Take a deep breath, say a quick prayer, and know that He is protecting you.

Jenny, I love your post. You have a wonderful wa...

2011-03-09T18:02:37.780-05:00

Jenny, I love your post. You have a wonderful way with words. You truly have wonderful siblings. Thanks for sharing. Peggy Miller

I have used it before...

2011-02-18T15:34:01.997-05:00

I have used it before...

You need to use y'all more often. :-)

2011-02-18T00:06:36.197-05:00

You need to use y'all more often. :-)

I couldn't agree more! I think this was a big...

2011-02-11T23:28:19.836-05:00

I couldn't agree more! I think this was a big struggle for me when we first had kids. I think of the silly things I would do like rushing to get Kayla to bed so I could watch a TV show that I liked. So wrong. I'm glad that I've gotten over these things. Still have so much work to do, though.

I've long been of the mind that selfishness is...

2011-02-11T23:08:43.581-05:00

I've long been of the mind that selfishness is really the root of most sins - in relationships, parenting, regular life. How we view the world around us. Its a really hard thing to shake.

Thanks Jenny! Your description of Abby as the gif...

2010-11-23T06:46:41.885-05:00

Thanks Jenny! Your description of Abby as the gift you didn't know you needed is totally how I would describe Elisabeth. What would life have been without these little jewels! :)