I love Windex Antibacterial Spray....

So I love to clean. I love to pick up, scrub, disinfect, and fold. But I haven't always been this way. In fact I remember fighting regularly with Rachel because I left my clothes on the floor of our bedroom and it drove her nuts. But for the past few years this has been a growing love of mine. It actually started in college when I had a 'less clean' roommate and I was really stressed from nursing school and being engaged and my stress reliever was to pick up after her. :) I'm not a clean freak, I don't mind if people wear shoes in my house and I can leave a dirty dish or two out on the counter. But I definitely love having things in order and germ free.
Anyway, I'm in the pre-packing time right now. I'm not packing up boxes but I'm gutting and organizing our house, in preparation for packing, which is in preparation for moving. :) As I was doing that today I felt a bit convicted. And it definitely wasn't because I don't use eco-friendly cleaners. I felt the Lord tug at my heart a bit because of my motives. When people help us move (oh please someone, help us move....) I want them to think "Wow, Rebekah is really clean." Now if that is as deep as this sin was I doubt I would be blogging about it. But God showed me, again, that I do the same thing with him. I love to tuck in my shirt tail and straighten my tie before I come to Jesus. I often want to clean up before I let HIM move me. And as I clean out closests and drawers, I like to clean up the different corners of my heart, in hopes of impressing Him. Yet he longs that I come as I am. Messy even.
Psalm 51:17 says "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise."
I don't have to impress my Lord, that's what grace is for. And even more so, his unconditional love makes it so I don't have to. It hurts a lot less if I just hand over my messiness rather than deny that it's there. The Lord does such a better job of cleaning up my heart than I could ever do. HE is the author and perfector of my faith, I must remember that and stop trying to write my own autobiography on my faith. How I long to replace my pride with brokenness and my busy d0-it-yourself mentality with a quiet stillness before God.

AT THE SAME TIME, I had another thought today on cleanliness, or more accurately, orderliness. I go to our women's bible study and we are studying Genesis. Today we studied creation and Karen Palin gave an awesome talk on the universe. I could not ignore the order that our world was created in! Karen made the point that God is a God of order and that perhaps part of being made in his image includes desiring order. I thought it was such a good point....something to think about.

That's all for now. Maybe I'll go make a mess of something....:)Here is a photo of Micah, just to make the post worth it. :)

Homeowners!

We are buying a house! God is so good! We started looking for homes in August and just put an offer in this past Monday. I am so excited--I wish we could fast forward past all this paperwork and packing and just be in our new home! Here are some pictures!










It's a tri level, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 living areas and a great back yard! DeWayne is pretty pumped. It has acoustic ceilings, which I love. The previous tenants were smokers, so we have to do new carpet and paint before we move in. Now for the God story: when we got approved for a loan back in August I felt God leading us to pray for a house for $180.000. Then we started looking at homes and there was nothing, literally, nothing, in our area for that price. We were about ready to resign our lease for our town home when we found this house. Our offer :$180,000. And it was accepted!
I'm so thankful for a God who gives good gifts--lavish gifts! I'm so thankful for a God that provides. And he provides so much more than just finances! He is so faithful to provide strength, wisdom, energy, guidance, and love right when I need it. I'm excited to take this next big step with Matt!
And I'm excited to dig our roots a bit deeper out here in the west, hopefully that will allow us to bear more fruit...

Micah's schedule

Yes, I am 'one of those moms.' I put my child on a schedule. Doesn't it sound so much better to say " I try to stick to a routine." :) To pass the blame, or the credit, it wasn't my idea. But the best behaved children I have seen are all on routines. My step sister in law (that's a mouthful) was the first one I saw, and her kids are amazing. I read the book Babywise, and ask questions like crazy to moms around me. If it weren't for those things I would be so lost. Anyway, this is Micah's routine right now, at 4 months.
7:15ish wake up and nurse
7:45-7:55 Tummy Time
7:55-8:15 "Room time"
8:15-8:45 Time with Mommy, play in Bumbo or Exersaucer
8:45-11:00 Nap
Then we repeat those things and lots of times go for a walk or run an errand
12:30-3:00 Nap
3:00-4:30 Nurse, Tummy Time, play with Daddy when he gets home
4:30-5:30 or 6 "Cat Nap"
6-7 Family Time (usually a walk)
7:00 Nurse
7:30 Bedtime

Room time is something I just started. A couple of friends at church told me about it, and it's in an older book called "Prep for Parenting." I keep Micah's playpen set up in our spare bedroom (because his room is too small) and put him in there on his back (he loves his back) with a few toys. And he loves it. He talks to himself, play with his feet, talks to his toys. My friends said that is helps them to help how to play independently and how to focus. I thought he would hate it but I was wrong! And then once he is mobile he will just play in his room without the playpen. It allows me to shower or clean up, but lots of times I just sit outside the room and watch him! :) Today I went in there and his book was lying on his face. I was tempted to help him, but instead wanted to see him problem solve. He was kinda giggling at the book, rather than being upset. And he kept trying to roll over to no avail. After several minutes of trying to lift the book off of his face he got it! And he looked thrilled! It was the highlight of my morning.
This routine is great, he and I both know what to expect every day, and I can plan social events around his schedule. However, Sundays are out the window because of church and sunday school and youth group. They have been pretty rough for him lately, he pretty much cries in nursery the entire time. ( I would appreciate prayers for this) I'm trying to stay calm about this because it's not going to change. He's a pastors son so Sundays will always be like that. He just glares at me when I tell him that now. ;)

The Greater Work

This weekend Matt asked me to share my testimony at youth group. There's a daunting task. Entertain 70 junior high students with a story that involves no good drama. :) But Matt wanted me to share my story because it was in junior high that God stole my heart. It was 8th grade where I got a taste of the abundant life and then couldn't get enough. I used one of my favorite quotes by C.S. Lewis about how we are half-hearted creatures that are content playing in a muddy slum when God has offered us a vacation at the beach. To bring this down to their level, I simplified it and said we are content in a sandbox when God has offered us the beach. The main idea (stolen from Lewis) "We are far too easily pleased." I worked on my talk all week. God challenged me with it, I was excited about it, I worked with Matt on it to make it junior high suitable. Sunday night came, I presented my testimony with every ounce of fervor and passion I could muster.
...Then I went to lead my small group.
They didn't get it.
As we went through the prewritten questions, I was depressed at each answer. No one was crying from conviction. No one was jumping out of their seat screaming "I'm ready for the abundant life!!" No one seemed the least bit motivated. Internally I rummaged through every tactic I have learned for youth ministry of how to relate to these girls, how to communicate that Jesus is worth it, that popularity and name brand clothes isn't the end all!
But then I get it.
It's not about me. Or my tactics. Or my skills in relating. I can't take them by the shoulders,(lovingly) shake 'em twice, and say "Get it?!". It is the HOLY SPIRIT. It's Jesus, not me, who is the author and perfectors of faith. I cannot work my magic and then Matt's youth group will transform into a group of sincere, passionate evangelists. They will still be a big group of sweet, funny, sometimes smelly, junior highers. But our God can work with smelly junior highers.
Oswald Chambers has a quote that says "Prayer does not prepare us for the greater work. It IS the greater work." Isn't that so true? My work for this youth group is not primarily Starbucks dates with 8th grade girls, or leading dating talks for the girls, or even cheering them on at a volleyball game. My work, as a pastor's wife, is at home. Monday through Saturday, on my knees. Begging the Holy Spirit to move in power. Praying that the Lord will entice them away, into a dessert as Hosea says, that they would see how fulfilling He is.
And the great news is that the Holy Spirit will do a lot better job than I ever could.

Today was the first Iowa Hawkeye game of the fall. We had the Einwalters over for brunch and then went to Buffalo Wild Wings for the 2nd half of the game. Micah showed his support, of course. He is obviously excited that the Hawks won, but equally exstatic that he found his feet this week. He passes a lot of time grabbing his feet and giggling at them.

The Prevention of Gratitude

This week God has been prompting me to be more thankful. I have learned that gratitude is preventative of a lot of sin. When I make it a practice to be thankful, and to express it (whether to the Lord or those around me) I find that it helps my attitude, I feel more content, I even struggle less with selfishness. I have so much to be thankful for. But not just the 'big things' like health, jobs, and a loving husband and healthy baby. But I'm learning to be thankful for the little things. Here's some of the little things that I thought of this week:
I'm thankful that Matt is a youth pastor--it was always my dream :)
I'm thankful that my baby LOVES to smile and laugh.
I'm thankful that our dog, DeWayne, doesn't bark.
I'm thankful that we live in Colorado.
I'm so thankful that Micah has hair, it's so cute. :)
I'm thankful for facebook! I have loved reconnecting with high school friends and other friends I wouldn't normally keep up with.
I'm so thankful that Ruthann moved out to Colorado. God answered my prayers about loneliness with her.
I'm thankful that Matt's job gave him a Mac.
I'm thankful that our landlord painted our townhome sage green--I love sage green. (for example, my wedding)
I'm thankful that Ryan, my bro, runs cross country--and that he is AWESOME at it.
I'm thankful that Rach had a baby the same time as me.
I'm thankful that Matt understands and practices grace more than anyone I know.
I'm so thankful for a job where I practically make my own schedule.
I'm thankful for our church where the gospel is preached, God is honored, and the people are real.
I'm thankful for Food Network. I LOVE Food Network.
I'm thankful for the new ped mall across the street.

That's just a start. Those are just the things on the top of my mind today.
Micah, Matt, and DeWayne are begging to go on a walk now. I love walks so I better not miss this opportunity.
Isn't God good? Praying that we can all experience the goodness of God today.....