Ice Cream Snow...

Yum.  Yum.  Ice cream snow. I had never even heard of it until Grandma Marla mentioned it, in her reminiscing of fun snow times.  She gave me the ingredients to this wonderful snow treat.  Snow, milk (or half and half), sugar, and vanilla.  Easy!

Fun Snow Day!

We thoroughly enjoyed the blanket of fresh white snow when we woke this morning!  I'm not sure if it's playing in the snow that's best or the response from the boys when they see it.  Grant had been prepared and already bought a new plastic disk for the boys to slide down on, a couple days before.  Isaac was the first one up out of bed (he usually is, because he knows Dad will let him help start the fire.) Next Michael.  Isaac and Michael helped Dad start the fire and were not yet aware there was any snow.  I finally asked, "Did you look out the window?" Michael and Isaac ran to the window.  "Wow!!  It's snow!"  By this time Isaac ran into the bedroom to tell Zechariah.  Of course, this got Zechariah out of bed fast.  It took about 3 seconds and then I heard it, that squeal of delight!  Zechariah was so suprised to see snow and couldn't contain his giggles for about 5 minutes.  All of them we quite the happy campers all morning...and finished all their school work early (imagine that!).

 When we did finally get all the layers of clothes, gloves, hats, and boots on, we were ready for action!  Sledding was a hit...sometimes literally... or barely missing a tree (for Isaac).  Next, was a snowman, that didn't last long...one of the boys thought it would be fun to knock over...and finally Michael wanted to build an igloo....we got about 1/8 of it finished, before we all began losing interest (my back was telling me to stop) :)  Throughout all of this they thought it was the coolest thing to "eat the snow"...as long as it's clean it's all good! 

Headed up the hill to find a good spot to sled.

Wipe out.

Wipe out...lost the gloves.

Zechariah is actually trying to get Michael to face the camera.  :)

This is our "igloo".

Now that we are all nice and warm , with clothes hung on the drying rack, it's nice to reflect on God's goodness of even allowing us to experience not only the snow fun but the joy that comes from hearing the children play and enjoy themselves.  "Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; Yes, our God is compassionate." Psalm 116:5

Depths and Riches of the Gospel

The gospel...something I'm am continually tasting and treasuring more and more everyday.  There is no deeper truth than the gospel.   To be transformed by the gospel...not just simply one day "believing" the gospel, but meditating on it DAILY.  So I never "get over it".   In fact, in Paul's letters to the churches he preaches the gospel...not to unbelievers only, but especially to the believers.
Here is a quote from a brilliant book, by Milton Vincent "A Gospel Primer for Christians":

"From Paul's testimony I learn that if I wish to become all that God wants me to be, I must behold His glory each day.   But where do I find God's glory to behold?  Indeed, the glory of God is revealed throughout all of Creation, but the Bible indicates that, outside of heaven, the glory of God in its thickest density dwells inside the gospel.  It is for this reason that the gospel is described in Scripture as "the gospel of the glory of Christ" and "the gospel of the glory of the blessed God" (2 Cor. 4:4 and 1 Tim. 1:11). Consequently, as I habitually gaze upon the glory of the Lord revealed in the gospel, I can know that actual deposits of God's very glory are attaching themselves to my person and transforming me from one level of glory to another. (2 Cor. 3:13)"

The gospel is what brings about the sanctification in my life. Another wonderful quote by Milton Vincent:
"The righteousness of God, credited to me through Christ, is not merely something I rest in, but it is also the premier saving reality by which God governs me.  According to Romans 6, when I obeyed the gospel call I was both declared righteous and "became a slave to righteousness" at the same time. Quite literally, the righteousness that God credited to me became my master on the day I was converted!  And now I am daily called by God to surrender the members of  my being as slaves to do whatever this righteousness dictates."

I love the deep joy that comes when I meditate on what is called the "golden chain of salvation" (Romans 8:30) "..and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified." 

I'll never forget the time I finally understood that when Christ paid the penalty for my sins on the cross, He not only justified me...but imputed His righteousness to me! I had often heard the "clean slate" example. "When Jesus died on the cross" they would say "it's like all your sins were erased and you had a clean slate".  The only problem with this analogy, is it doesn't give the full truth of what happened.  The "clean slate" would not be enough to get into heaven.  Christ attatched His righteousness to the slate! So the slate is actually full...of His righteousness.  There is nothing I can add or take away from it!  What a glorious truth!  I don't have to "work" for my salvation...Christ has done it all.  This motivates me to truly honor and obey Him out of a heart that loves Him and is so thankful for His grace. 

Another truth of the gospel is that Christ paid it ALL for me.  This means God will NEVER punish me, because Christ has already taken upon Himself every drop of wrath that was due to me.  God chastises those He loves, but never punishes.  How much easier it is to humbly come to Him to confess my sin...I don't need to "clean up" before I approach Him for prayer, knowing that He already forgave those sins.

One more quote from Milton Vincent's book:
"More than anyting else I could ever do, the gospel enables me to embrace my tribulations and thereby position myself to gain full benefit from them.  For the gospel is the one great permanent circumstance in which I live and move; and every hardship in my life is allowed by God only because it serves His gospel purposes in me.  When I view my circumstances in this light, I realize that the gospel is not just one piece of good news that fits into my life somewhere among all the bad.  I realize instead that the gospel makes genuinely good news out of every other aspect of my life, including my severest trials."

How good the Lord is to His children...As Paul would write, "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God." (Romans 11:33) 

If you haven't read or heard of the "Gospel Primer for Christians" by Milton Vincent, I highly recommend.  Another great message I heard on this was done by Carey Hardy at the 2010 Shepherds Conference.  I have attatched it so you too can be blessed by this message, as well.
http://www.shepherdsconference.org/media/details/?mediaID=5230

Enjoy...may He continue to show us more of who He is through His glorious gospel!

Zechariah...

 I thought I might share a few thoughts about Zechariah since his 6th birthday will be here in a few days.  When I think of Zechariah, I liken him to large boulder. Not merely because of his size (and strength!) but because of his will.  He's hard to move.  At the beginning, this strong willed little man, at times brought frustrating tears to my eyes.  As the Lord does, He used Zechariah to show me many things about Himself.  His wonderful patience!  How the Lord has graciously changed this little bundle of will.  He is still full of strong will...but I see now the effects of bringing that will under the commands of the Lord.  Zechariah is one that is not easily moved from doing what is right.  He is certainly not perfect, but I can trust him with so many things.  He has chores that I know he will do on his own.  He can do his homeschooling work a lot of the time by himself.  When the boys are all playing outside, I don't need to worry that the younger brothers will be in too much trouble, before Zechariah intervenes...and sometimes comes to get me.  He is also a "thinker".  When I say thinker, I mean thinker.  Sometimes he will have a focused look in the middle of a meal and you can just see the mind remembering something or figuring something out.  Then he will pop off with some connection he made on his own...."Dad, your mom is Grandma Karen, and Grandma Karen's mom is Grandma Ernie". We affirm he is correct.   He will ask questions about things I hadn't planned on him even  understanding to ask.  He definitely takes after his Dad in this.  Grant is able to think a thought through to it's logical conclusion...at times, Zechariah is already learning to do this.  We are blessed by his desire to read the Bible to us (with his own real Bible) at morning devotions...and of course this prompts Isaac to want to read some too.  Zechariah also finds delight (as well as Grant and I) in "preaching a sermon".  He will set up the bar stool and set his Bible on it, pray, lead a song (usually "Joy to the World") then read a bit out of whatever he turns to, then finishes with another prayer.  Of course this prompts the other brothers to want to do this too!  What a sweet time! 

So after the first years of trying to bridle this strong will for obedience to us as parents (ultimately the Lord), what a joy and blessing Zechariah is to our family! Of course none of us are perfect and daily we all need reminding and correction, but with God's grace, we can already see the beginnings of a great leader...perhaps not in the world's eyes, but in the eyes of all he will have influence on,Lord willing, his own wife and children. 

"Behold children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward."  Psalm 127:3

Great expectations...

I heard this wonderful quote today in a sermon: "It is ignorance or at least the lack of consideration of divine things that makes earthly things whether they are good or evil appear great in our eyes." -Robert Leighton

1 Peter 1:3-5 says,  "Blessed be the God and Father or our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."

I would love to keep typing out that rest of this chapter, because it's so good!  But I have to stop myself, because that one sentence (yes, verses 3-5 is one sentence!) has so much rich truth in which to stop and meditate on. There are so many different things to go on about, but what really ministered to my heart today was the realization of my true home in heaven.  The Inheritance. The living hope. But it's not the place that makes this a yearning desire...it's Christ. The One who redeemed me, justified me, and imputed His righteousness to me.  It's Jesus Christ the King!  He is sitting at the right hand of God making intercession for me. (Romans 8:34)
What a gift of God to enjoy such great expectations, of our heavenly home, even now!
"...keep sober in spirit, fix you hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." I Peter 1:13

Why Blog?

If someone would have asked me a day ago if I blogged, I would have replied, "No, I wouldn't know how nor do I have a reason too."  Just this weekend I was given a few personal blog sites to check out.  I was so inspired by the simplicity and encouraging information, that I decided this was what I should have been doing long ago.  Facebook has it's place, but it had given me a heavy heart for the past few months...is it quite easy for me to fall into the trap of wasting time. 
There has also been a stirring in my heart for quite some time to share the Lord's goodness in my life. I had not found the proper venue to be able to share my heart...until now.  I hope to (with the Lord's grace) be able to share with family and friends more of who we, the Smith family are, but more importantly the work the Lord is doing in our life.  I also want to sharpen my writing skills...a lost art in our fast paced world.  So please be patient with my writing, as I too, am learning, with my boys, the rules for writing. I hope you are encouraged as you read. 
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." - I Peter 1:3-5