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While on vacation Shelton's bike got a flat (twice!) - so the two older boys doubled up now and then.
One afternoon counting heads and making sure all were okay there on the beach, I didn't spot Shelton and Christian right off in or near the water like the rest . . . they were behind me near the dunes. They were side by side on their towels flying kites together and talking. Moments like this are priceless to me.
I plan to clean out and re-arrange the girls' room today. Fitting clothing for four girls in there is going to be a challenge since I don't think I've been very successful fitting it for three yet.
Today is hot and dry. Some of the boys are building something outside in all that heat and some our involved in a game of Monopoly.
We had some great moments at the creek the last two days. The boys fished and the little ones explore and I love it.
I did all manner of interesting things to try to get my camera going again after the creek emersion, but with no success. It is done for. I pulled out my old camera and have been taking it with me - it's difficult to use and functions only half the time - but I suppose this is the test to what I've always said I believe: "It's really not the camera that gets the good shots, it's the eye behind it." 
I've been thinking a lot since church service yesterday about this verse:
"Therefore, my beloved. . . work out your own salvation with fear and trembling . . ."
Interestingly - in my experience with this verse, some folks like to stop right there. You can begin whole congregations, denominations, homeschooling movements, and followings if you just highlight this part of the verse.
Then come the lists and lists of things to do to "work out your salvation." The burdens are heaped and the lists seem endless and there is always someone somewhere that comes up with something new that must be done or worn or said or lived in order to work out our salvation.
The fear and trembling part almost sounds scary - never has been much explained that this doesn't mean the hiding-in-the-corner-scared-of-God's-angry-pointing-finger type of fear and trembling. But rather, that kind of fear or trembling you might feel (determination and excited nervousness) when you are preparing something great for a wonderful, holy, and loving God.
But here's the thing. The verse doesn't stop there and the lists don't just begin after "work out your salvation." Rather is says:
"FOR IT IS GOD WHO WORKS IN YOU, both to will and to work His good pleasure!"
And here we have the perfect combination of God's sovereignty and man's responsibility. I love it. One is hand in hand with the other. It is God who works within us, molding and making the desires of our hearts to His will and pleasure, as we in determination and excitement live for His glory. It is His work within us that gives us our desire to "work out our salvation."
This is not burdensome and long lists of do and don't with a God pointing a finger and snarling at our mistakes. This is a loving God who reaches out of His amazing, glorious heavenly place and touches humanity in all of our neediness, giving us strength and desire to love Him and live for Him - in return for His great mercy to us.
A. Ann
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| | Posted 6/6/2011 11:35 AM - 927 Views
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