Bible in 90 Days Update

It is day 26 of my reading challenge and that is exactly where I am. So far reading hasn't been a challenge, but I am expecting that this week might bring some challenges. We are on vacation for my sister-in-law's wedding. So I anticipate that towards the end of the week I may miss a day or two of my reading. So my goal is to read a little ahead so that if Saturday is super busy (which it will be) I won't have to get stressed about not getting all my reading done.

What I have been learning this week: First,we serve a HOLY God. The chapters that I read this past week seemed to be filled with much blood shed. The Lord brought the Israelites in the land He was giving them and He also handed the people of the land over to them too. As I read, sometimes there were things occurring that were very graphic. But it still speaks to the holiness of God. God didn't choose the Israelites to be His people because they were better than everyone else. He chose them and set them apart to be His own. He brought them into a land that was spacious, flowing with milk and honey. The people already living in the land did evil in the eyes of the Lord. They did not worship the one true God, so God gave them into the Israelites hands to destroy. Nothing unholy may come into the Presence of God. I am so thankful for the new covenant, Jesus. His blood was poured out for me and covers all my sin. Through Jesus, I can come into His Presence. Second, it is repeated many times throughout Deuteronomy, Joshua, and some in Judges, and 1 & 2 Samuel, to "be careful to follow all the commands of the Lord, hold fast to Him, & walk in His ways." The Israelites didn't always follow these directions. And slowly evil crept in and their hearts where turned away from the Lord. My prayer is that I will hold fast to Jesus, keeping my eyes fixed on Him, so that He will help me to see the areas of my life where I need to rid the evil and fill up with more of Him.

Happy 7th Birthday Emma!

Seven years ago, I was in the hospital holding my 1st little baby, Emma Adeline. She was perfect and precious. I can't believe 7 years have gone by already. She is quite the young lady. She may have turned 7 today, but much of the time she acts like she is 14! Emma is full of life. She is energetic, smart, LOVES to talk, and is a friend to everyone. I told her that I didn't feel old enough to have a 7 year old, but she informed me that since I am almost the big 3-0, I am already old! Happy Birthday Emma, we love you!

We're ALL home!

I have all 4 kids back home. Emma spent 10 days at grandma's house and then it was Noah's turn. He spent a week there. I was so happy to see Noah. I missed him when he was gone. I think a week is a little too long for mama! We picked Noah up on Saturday. When Gideon saw Noah, he gave him a big hug for about a minute, same with Noah and Emma. It was the sweetest thing. I am so thankful that Emma, Noah, and Gideon are each other's best friends.

Normalcy has returned to the Breker household. We rode home from small group last night with 3 of the 4 kids in tears. But I just smiled & laughed because the crying was (almost) a sweet sound in my ears. I had all kids back home with me!!

AWANA

I am thankful for AWANA. Emma and Noah are in AWANA on Wednesday nights. They have a lot of fun with friends from church but more importantly they learn how to speak God's Word from memory. What a blessing it is to be able to recall God's Word by heart at a moment's notice for those times of fear or pain or...JOY!

New Trouble

Gideon used to be the master at getting into things. He was always making messes, such as dumping out cerael, playing in pancake mix, painting the carpet purple, etc. He still gets into lots of stuff, (just the other day, he gave his stuffed animals a bath in the sink), but it isn't quite so messy.

Yesterday I walked into the kitchen to find this!
Benaiah has officially filled Gideon's job! Today, I caught him just in time.
He was not happy that I had to end his fun!! My vacuum and broom are going to get in some good work over then next few months!

Bible in 90 Days - Update

It is day 11 of my Bible in 90 Days challenge and I am on track! I am in the middle of Numbers right now. It has been really great so far. In order to get my reading done each day, I have had to cut out computer time, TV time, etc. But time with God is so much better!! I finished Leviticus yesterday. Leviticus is not the most exciting book, but it is the inspired Word of God, so it is in the Bible for a reason. Leviticus may seem "dry" but it really speaks of God's holiness and our need for a Savior. Leviticus mainly talks about the offerings ( burnt, sin, fellowship, grain, wave, atonement) and moral laws. As you read, you might think "wow, there were so many rules and regulations," but they were there for a purpose. Overall it shows us our need for a Savior, Jesus. His blood had to be shed for our sins. He is our atoning sacrifice. It also shows us that God Almighty is HOLY. Many times throughout Leviticus, it states, "I, the Lord am Holy, who makes you holy." I was just struck with how often I forget to see God as Holy and I approach him with such casualness. We serve a holy and mighty God. He is worthy of our praise. I am so thankful for Jesus and the new covenant. I can approach the throne of God with confidence because Jesus has washed me white as snow.

One more thing......

Emma has never liked going to bed. She has become a master at thinking of ways to stay up "just a little bit longer!" Talking (which comes very natural to her) is one of favorite ways to keep from going to bed. She just has so many things to talk about right at bedtime. Here is a little of our conversation tonight after already listening to her talk for about 15 minutes straight!

Me - "Emma, go to your room & get into bed."
Emma - "But I have soooo many questions and things to say, because I have soooooo much fun, and soooooooooo many things to talk about. I have to tell you and dad and Noah and Gideon and everyone. "
Me - "It is time for bed."
Emma - "Tonight I had a big pretzel stick and two bowls of grape nut flakes for a snack."
Me - "Please go back to bed."
Emma - "Are we going to be here for AWANA the week after next week, because it is store night and I looovvee store night. I think I have like 100 points!"
Me - "Yes we will. You always think of so many things to talk about."
Emma - "Yes, I have soooo much fun I have to tell everyone about it!"
Me - "Especially at bedtime!"
Emma - (she slowly smiles & nods) "yes, I guess so."

She is bed now, but probably not sleeping!

Happy 5th Birthday Noah!

Noah is 5 today! I can't believe it! Wow, where does the time go? Noah is becoming such a little gentleman. He is so sweet and brings joy to me everyday. He has a huge imagination and loves to learn. God has great plans for him. I am thankful that God has given him to me! I love you Noah.

Genesis

I am on day 4 of reading the Bible in 90 days. I just completed the book of Genesis. It has been awhile since I have read Genesis straight through. Much of Genesis is familiar to me; creation, Noah, the Tower of Babel, Abraham, Issac, Jacob, and Joseph, but there was much that grabbed my attention this time. Genesis is so rich with history, especially just in the first 11 chapters. This year for school, Emma and I have been studying early civilizations. I haven't been interested in this before, but now that I am teaching it to my daughter it has become much more important. How the secular world (and even many christians) teach history is very different than what the Bible says. Secular culture just leaves the Bible out. It dates and defines history outside the parameters of the Bible. Most historical accounts are not consistent with a literal 7 day creation and don't fit with what the Bible tells us about the Flood and the Tower of Babel. But the Bible is Truth and the framework for our history is found within it. I believe we can take the Bible and use it as a foundation for history and civilization. What is more, despite what secular historians claim, the body of evidence in favor of a Biblical Earth history is growing. Phil is fascinated by Genesis and he has focused a lot of his Biblical study on its amazing historical content. For example, the Flood provides such an incredible explanation for the billions of dead things we find buried in rock layers laid down by water all over the Earth [Geology]. The ice ages which followed the Flood exlain the biological diversity within species (as opposed to evolution) as well as their global distribution which we observe today [Biology]. And Babel explains the origins of differing human languages and the founding of early civilizations [Anthropology]. It may not seem important for such a young age (1st grade), but it is. What our children learn at this young age is molding their worldview; what they will come to believe about God, life, and humanity. They need to know from the beginning that the Bible is God's Word, it is Truth and it can be trusted.

God is already teaching me lots, just within the first book, can't wait to see whats in store for me as I keep reading!

Missing Emma

Emma has been at Papa Joe's & Grandma Patty's for over a week now. I am missing her. She is having a blast, and I think she might be missing us just a little! She got to stay over night at her twin cousin's house, play with her friend Emily, go ice-fishing, play barbies (with no T-Rex's eating the barbies), and stay up late! I am ready for her to come home. It is not really quieter around our house, but the noise is just different. However, once the boys are in bed, it is quiet. There is no one who keeps thinking of things to talk about just to stay up a little later. No one coming out of their room to say they just finished reading the book of Daniel. There are no books all over the house, (expect the ones Benaiah has pulled off the shelf.) No one constantly doing cartwheels and handstands. Thankfully she is coming home soon to rescue me from all the boys in our house! I can't wait to give her a big hug and hold her in my arms for as long as she will let me!

Benaiah - Playing Games with Confidence

Here is a video Phil made. Enjoy!

Abiding in Him

Happy New Year! It is time for new beginnings, new adventures, and new challenges. I am not usually the type to make resolutions, but I came by a blog the other day that was participating in a Bible in 90 days challenge. I think God brought me there for a reason. He has been speaking to me lately about abiding in him. I need to rest in Him and surrender and let His vine life flow through me. But so often I am so "busy" with life to just sit at His feet. So I am up for the challenge! I am going to start 2010 off with a bang! I can't wait to see what God has in store as I immserse myself into His Word.

If you are interested in joining the challenge, checkout:

http://www.momstoolbox.com/blog/

Joy to you!