Facebook posts - January 2013

For those of you who don't read my facebook entries, here are some of the things posted recently:

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For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him!
(Psalms 103:11)

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Through the blood of Christ, we can "serve the living God"! (Hebrews 9:14). What an amazing privilege!
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Krista Horning's testimony (partial transcript):

Krista began her testimony with these words: “People ask me how I live with disability. How do I live with disability? …For me, disability is the deep hurt and shame that says I am not accepted. Disability says ugly things to me. It tells me I am alone. I am different. I am worthless. I am weak. It tells me my life is hopeless. Disability lies to me and sometimes it is easy to listen and believe. Sometimes I don’t want to live with disability. Sometimes I don’t want to be who God made me to be. [But] God tells me the truth. So I keep listening to Him. He opens the eyes of my heart and I believe. I trust Him and His words. God says beautiful things to me. Listen.”

God tells me He is in control of everything in the world, including my disability, all of our disabilities (Exodus 4:11).
God tells me I am not alone (Isaiah 43:1-3).
God tells me He will always help me (Psalm 121:1-8).
God tells me He has called me for His purpose (Romans 8:28).
God tells me that nothing in this world is greater than knowing Him (Philippians 3:8-10).
God tells me He is more interested in my heart than my outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7).
God tells me He gave His only Son for my sins (Isaiah 53:4-5).
God tells me He has a special plan for my life (Jeremiah 29:11).
God tells me He is changing me to be more like Him (2 Corinthians 3:18).
God tells me nothing can separate me from His love (Romans 8:38-39).
God tells me His grace is enough (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
God tells me I have hope (Romans 5:3-5, 8).
God tells me He is good (Psalm 34:1-5, 8).
God tells me this life with disability is short, but I will spend forever with Him (2 Corinthians 4:7-10, 16-18).

Krista’s testimony then closes with these powerful words:

For now I live with disability.
Disability still says ugly things to me.
Disability is a part of this broken sin-filled world.
But God has so many beautiful things to say.
And so I’m filled with hope.
God’s words grow louder and louder in my life.
The glory of his grace and mercy grow stronger and stronger.
I need to listen to his words.
I want to listen to his words.
God’s words change everything.
God’s beautiful words have changed my life.
And that is how I live with disability.

http://theworksofgod.com/2012/11/20/gods-beautiful-words-have-changed-my-life-krista-horning/

http://counselingoneanother.com/2012/11/23/truth-that-shatter-the-lies-of-disability/

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Special Needs Children From God:
http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2010/07/children-with-disabilities-perfect-for-us.html

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My experience is that the absence of firm prior resolve results in regular rationalization. Like when to go to bed, etc. (quote from John Piper)

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He didn't say, "tolerate it with grim determination", but rather:
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds... Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." (James 1:2,12)

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http://connect2thevine.wordpress.com/2013/01/24/the-questions-should-rather-be-j-r-miller/

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God chooses what is foolish, and weak, and low, and depised in the world, to display His glory and to shame the wise and strong, that no one should boast except in Him. (1Cor.1:27-31). God values even the severely disabled: He made them; they are in His image; and in them He can display His glory more than in those who think themselves wise and strong. He loves dependence.

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“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him." (John 9:2-3). May the works of God then be displayed!

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Ian and Larissa. Read their story if you have not done so. http://prayforian.blogspot.com/p/our-writing.html?m=0


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An abortion proponent agrees that life begins at conception, but holds that an unwanted baby is "a life worth sacrificing." Surely by this reasoning, any other inconvenient life is also worth sacrificing - the disabled, the elderly, the terminally ill - for the convenience of those who would otherwise be bothered by them. This is why every human life must be valued, especially by Christians. Otherwise no one has value once they become an inconvenience. "You knitted me together in my mother's womb" (Psalms 139:13) - this is no less true once they are old and infirm. Every human life must be valued, or else none can be.

http://theaquilareport.com/feminist-says-baby-is-a-life-worth-sacrificing/

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Changes

Our family is in a time of transitions, changes.
New van (to us), acquired last week, to accommodate Peter's new special stroller (on loan to us)
New roof on our house (today - an army of guys banging away!)
Possibility of a job change for David within the same company
Hopeful prospect of building a different house sometime this year, God willing

Likelihood of putting the children in school rather than homeschooling, so I can focus on Peter's therapy for the next year. A great little Christian school (Bradford Academy) meets in our church facility, and we would be happy to have our kids there.  There is a sadness in giving up homeschooling (at least for a time). Yet I feel like I have already said goodbye to homeschooling and am just eager to finish out the year and be done now.  I think that's because the burden of getting Peter progressing in development, if possible, outweighs the desire to homeschool. It overshadows a lot of things, and it woud be easier to not have to have the responsibility of homeschooling right now.

Stromboli

One of our favorite meals currently:  Stromboli.  Kind of like pizza folded up.  We do the dough in the bread machine, but I'm sure you could just mix it by hand and let it rise in the bowl.  This recipe is from "The Bread Machine Cookbook II" by Donna German.

Stromboli

1 cup + 3 tbsp. water
2 tbsp. butter
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. coarsely ground black pepper
1 1/2 tsp. sugar
3 cups bread flour (I do up to 1/2 whole wheat)
2 1/2 tsp. yeast

When the dough is ready, roll it out into a big rectangle (I divide it in two and put half in each cookie sheet / jelly roll pan, then make each half into a rectangle). 

Put your ingredients down the middle third of the rectangle so they run the length of it.  Our favorite is ham and sausage with cheese.  Some people put pizza sauce on their filling as well before closing it up - we just pour sauce on top after it is cooked, for those who want sauce.

Fold one side of the dough over the filling, then the other side, to meet in the middle (or overlap some).  Pinch together, and pinch ends closed.

Turn it over (seam-side down) in the pan, and brush the top with olive oil.

Let rise 30 minutes. (Preheat your oven during this time).

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until done.