6/29/08
Here's what a jam-session at the Altrogge home looks like. Stephen strummin' along on the guitar, and Charis tappin' the keys of her little fisher price piano (which she loves, mom), and then there's me, the un-musically-gifted mom/wife who looks on with a smile and takes all the pictures.
Recently, whenever we put on music, Charis bobs to the beat. Pretty cute. It's funny that from seeing her wacko dad dance to music, she's already making the connection! It's like her little mind registers, "Wait, there's my cue. The music is on and it's time to dance."
6/24/08
Things that I have been doing instead of posting:
- Going out to our church's youth camp, where Stephen led worship and preached
- Searching all over tarnation for boxes to pack our stuff in for the move (apparently, so is everyone else in my town)
- Making lists of things I need to pack (I live off of lists)
- Packing
- Reading "Our Founding Mothers" and "Knowing God"
- Spending time with our dear friends from out of town
6/20/08
Whenever I was reading The Gospel for Real Life, I came across a section that was particularly helpful, specifically in my prayer life. Jerry Bridges paints a beautiful picture of the specific ways we see God caring for us, Father for child. This has helped me grasp more fully what it means that God is my Father. He connects those dots that I am just to slow to bring together myself!
God provides for us:
"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).
God protects us:
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth far more than many sparrows" (Matthew 10:29-31).
God encourages us:
"You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry" (Psalm 10:17).
God comforts us:
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God" (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
God disciplines us:
"Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness" (Hebrews 12:10).
(Note the preceding five points are the words of Jerry Bridges and not my own.)
Seeing these truths brought out in Scripture, has guided me in thanking God for the specific ways I see Him caring for me and in praying for Him to provide, protect, encourage, comfort and discipline me in my present circumstances.
6/16/08
"You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
yet they are more than can be told."
Psalm 40:5
I read this verse in my devotions while I was away and was keenly aware that God's wondrous deeds are too great in number for me to call to mind. Wow! How I am filled with faith knowing God will continue to provide all I need, specifically in this season of moving.
6/6/08
Now, one year later, we're off again.
How fun to take our little girl!
I'll be back in a week or so.
Enjoy the heat.
6/1/08
This afternoon, one of the biggest servants in the universe came over to take pictures of our family. Janelle is always babysitting for us, and today she dropped what she was doing yet again. She would be the first to admit she isn't a photographer, but I explained I simply needed someone who was capable of using a digital camera (more simply put, not my mom:).
The pastors' college needs a picture of our family, and we didn't have a recent one of the three of us. We have lots of pictures of Charis, Stephen and Charis, and Charis and I, but are lacking ones of our whole family together.
At lunch, I dropped the bomb. "Stephen, do you mind if we wear coordinating outfits for the picture?" (I was trying to milk this opportunity for what it was worth. I love pictures and possibly take way too many).
"Define 'outfit," he said. Apparently, "outfit" wasn't a term thrown around during the bachelor days. I'm workin' on him.
I made some smart remark, and then explained, "I just want us to wear clothes that blend." He asked me what he should put on, and I told him it was ironed and laid out on the bed already. Given my love for photographs and my desire to have them years and years from now, this "photo shoot" blessed my socks off. Thanks, Janelle.
Speaking of the pastors' college, God has faithfully provided a home for us. We will be living with a pastor and his family. That's the extent of what I know!
