Our Great Expectations

As the heart longs for flowing streams,

So longs my soul for You, O God.

My soul does thirst for the living God.

When shall I come to see Your face?

My tears have fed me day and night,

While men have said, "Where is your God?"

But I recall as my soul pours dry

The days of praise within Your house.

Why do I mourn and toil within,

When it is mine to hope in God?

I shall again sing praise to Him,

He is my help, He is my God.

Psalm 42 has always been a favorite of mine, but for whatever reason, I never paid much attention to the last verse. Yesterday, the Lord brought it to my attention. It never fails... whenever I am going through something difficult, the Lord always drops into my soul that morsel of wisdom and comfort specific to my problem. Many times, it is a Scripture, and oftentimes, it is a song. Sitting down at my piano at home, I closed my eyes, and waited for His prompt as I often do... and once more He was faithful to speak to me and calm my spirit. Isn't He good?

The answer is YES!

He is good. He is good ALL THE TIME. Why is it easier to say that when things are going well for us? When we are not grieving for the tragic loss of a dear friend? Is it because we are momentarily disappointed with God? Is it because we cannot help but ask, "Why?"

"Why do bad things happen to good people?" That seems to be the question of the ages. It is also a question that causes many to doubt God and turn their back on Him. We sing about how God will "never let us down"... but, why is it that we sometimes feel He has done exactly that?

When someone "lets you down", it is because they failed to meet the expectations you established for your relationship. For example: I would not be a bit upset if our mail man does not come sweep off our porch tomorrow morning. I have absolutely no expectation for him to do so. My expectations for him are very minimal: I want him to deliver our mail, or find someone else to do so in his place. That's it. Nothing more.

On the other hand, if my mother ceased to tell me "I love you" every once in awhile, I would be deeply hurt and surprised! Why? Because I've come to expect that from her. That is the nature of our relationship.

 But, what are my expectations of God? Are they justified in Scripture? I have been asking myself this very important question over the past couple of days. You see, when I close my eyes, imagining my future and the plans God has for me, I picture all of my family being healthy, always having a nice place to live and plenty to eat, everyone living to a ripe old age, my children growing up to start families of their own.... my vision of my future is pristine. There is no suffering. There is no loss. I only imagine good things.

If I am honest, I will admit that these ideas have become EXPECTATIONS that I have for the Lord to perform in my life. If my husband Nick died tomorrow, not only would I be devastated, but I would be more than a little offended with God and confused as to why He would "allow something so dreadful to happen to me". I might even wonder what I did wrong to deserve such treatment.

Sometimes, my own foolishness just amazes me! I actually look at God and say, "I don't deserve this treatment!!", not even considering that He allowed His own PERFECT Son to be brutally tortured and murdered. If ever there were someone who did not deserve to suffer: it was Jesus. 

Well, here it comes... perhaps the most unpopular message of all time:

According to Scripture,

we as Christians are "called to suffer".

(see 1 Peter 2:20-21 & Acts 9:15-16)

Though we will not all experience it in the exact same way, suffering is necessary in obtaining the character of Christ in our lives.

"But it just doesn't seem right that someone like an innocent little baby would die! I thought God was loving... I thought He would protect His children from evil!"

I hear statements like this on a regular basis. There are so many misconceptions in our logic when we say things like this. So, let's just take them one at a time:

#1 We ourselves do not establish the standards of what is right. Only the Creator of all reality can do that. We need to settle it, in our minds and hearts, whether we understand it or not, that whatever God does is, by definition, right. “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Genesis 18:25)

#2 I hope this does not sound too harsh... but in truth, there is really no such thing as “innocent” suffering. Since “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), there is no one who has the right to freedom from God's wrath on the basis of his own innocence.

#3 Life is a GIFT, not a DEBT that God owes us. It's difficult for us to comprehend anything beyond this life- but God thinks much more long term than we do! He knows that compared to eternity, our time here on earth (no matter how lengthy) is only a blink of an eye.

#4 Psalm 121:7 says, "The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul." While God is surely capable of protecting us from physical harm when He so chooses, the verses in Scripture speaking of protection from evil can not possibly be taken in a literal sense all the time. Consider the countless martyrs God allowed to be burned at the stake, boiled in hot oil, and stoned? Why were faithful Christians thrown into concentration camps during WWII, enduring all kinds of brutality, even death? Why did God let evil men drive nails through the hands and feet of his precious Son? No, it is clear that these promises take on a much deeper meaning!

He has promised to protect our soul. Whenever we put our faith and trust in Him, our soul is in safe keeping. The power we have through Christ Jesus ensures that while men may kill our physical bodies, they are powerless to separate us from God. It is an assurance given us in Scripture. God has made certain promises to us in His Word, and on THOSE promises we may depend.

Let THOSE be our expectations-

Because God CAN NOT fail,
He DOES NOT lie,
and He WILL NOT forsake you.

God wants us to have expectations- the right ones. It's called FAITH. Do we REALLY trust Him to work all things together for good in our lives? Do we REALLY trust that He is in control and has a master plan?? Trust and fear battle against each other in our minds. They cannot co-exist. Which will you give in to?

Mourning over loss is natural and necessary... and He will be your comforter. But don't ever allow grief to let you lose sight of the hope we have.

Keep your eyes fixed upon it.

Dwell on it night and day.

Sing about it.

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on your side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;

leave to your God to order and provide;

in every change God faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul: your best, your heavenly friend

through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: your God will undertake

to guide the future, as in ages past.

Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake;

all now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know

the Christ who ruled them while he dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on

when we shall be forever with the Lord,

when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,

sorrow forgot, loves purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,

all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

A little pregnancy update

Hello everyone! Hope y'all had a great, if rainy, Labor Day Weekend!

I thought I should give an update of the pregnancy "and stuff". :) If you are online a lot, you've probably noticed I've been posting a lot less frequently. That's because I've been battling with my usual first trimester morning sickness. Actually, with Ben it lasted about 4 1/2 months. I'm queasy all day, pretty much EVERY smell irks me, and I require almost as much sleep as a newborn. (I'm sure most of you moms can relate! :) I only know a few lucky women who haven't experienced at least one of these symptoms!

I'm so grateful for my mother's help these past few weeks! I'm not quite sure how my laundry would be getting done if it weren't for her assistance! Although I didn't think this to be possible: it seems to be a little worse this time around- in the respect that some days I just can't keep anything down. Oh, and the fact that I have a one-year-old... that may have some affect on the situation... :) 

Now, those of you who know me well will vouch for the fact that I am like, the "Anti-Drug" queen. I DETEST medicine and very rarely take it- but, I think my desperation has hit an all time high, because I have finally given in. I've been taking something for a couple of days that seems to be helping. At least I can eat now! My midwife always says that severe morning sickness is a sign of a very healthy pregnancy. I pray that to be the case! I will have my first appointment and ultrasound in 1 week!! (yay!!)

So, besides all that, we are doing great! Everything is on schedule for us to move into our new house before the holidays. (Although I've been too sick to continue working on it, but oh well!) Benjamin had the chicken pox, but is now all better! Nick was almost sent to Florence, Italy this week by his job- but, thankfully they sent someone else... He really didn't want to leave me since I've been so sick. But, if he has to go at a later time I think he'll be excited about it.

Although this little one seems to have put my life on hold currently, I know the end result will be worth it! Holding that sweet baby in my arms is the part I look forward to!!


Blessings,

Brittney

Ben's Bathroom Makeover

Before Pictures...

Frilly... girly... and country. Not gonna work for Benjamin's bathroom :)

So the work began...

mmm... boy, that part sure was loads of fun...

the baseboards had never been caulked or primed...

...nor had the inside of the cabinet.

Who knew painting such a small space would take SO LONG?!

Alright! Now for the...

After Pictures:

I used this same soothing gray color on the walls since I had some left over from the guest bath downstairs. Those are dollar-store picture frames on the back of the toilet. The red one was a really ugly gold color before I painted it. :)

My inspiration piece was the rug:

When I *spotted* this polka dot rug in Kohl's, I fell in LOVE! So, the rest of the bathroom design stemmed from this piece. I decided to bring out the Cherry Red color by spray painting all of the bathroom hardware with a no-rust paint.

Replaced the doorknob... light switch plate covers... and, OH! The LIGHT FIXTURES! I'm so glad I went with these modern ones- they ended up adding so much to the room... by the way- if you are going to replace something like this, try Wal-Mart first. If there is ANYTHING there you like, I can guarantee you it will be less the half the price of the cheapest ones at the hardware store!

I bought fluted casing at the hardware store to frame up my mirror. Of course, my original measurements were WRONG... :) so I had to make some adjustments with an old hand saw when I got home... a little sanding on the ends... spray painted the same cherry red... then I used CLEAR liquid nails to adhere it to the mirror. This element was totally worth the extra sweat! I love the way it turned out!

A few fun accesories...

A little organization with some red bins...

...and a bucket for bath tub toys...

It's all ready for our little man!

The secret antidote to a grumbling spirit

Brittney, "the complainer"

Is that how I would like to be known? Most definitely NOT! I'm sure we've all been around someone who complains endlessly... about their food they ordered... the way someone treated them... about the weather... about LIFE in general...? I know I have!...... Oh, wait- maybe I'm thinking of me...?

Yep... guilty as charged. I have been known to complain in the past- many, MANY times! Yesterday, my husband, very lovingly brought my grumbling to my attention. After my initial self-defense mechanism kicked in; I concluded he was correct. The subject of my gripe was exceedingly trivial... silly, even. There was really no excuse for my critical spirit.

Knowing how undesirable a trait I was developing, my brain immediately went to work to "remedy" my problem. "Why is it SO difficult to just STOP complaining!", I asked myself. And then, my mind went back to a very important lesson my mother taught me when I was young. She told me the "opposite" of being discontent was being grateful. That's why I couldn't seem to WILL myself to think more positively- because I was missing that key element... GRATEFULNESS. Whenever I begin thanking God for the good things in a situation, it is eminently more difficult for that disgruntled attitude to creep into my heart. Gratefulness simply leaves no room for unhappiness.

Helen Keller said,

"So much has been given to me,

I have no time to ponder over that which has been denied."

What an amazing attitude! Whenever I feel like complaining about "having nothing to wear", all I need to do is think of those who literally have nothing but the tattered and torn clothes on their back. How embarrasing would it be for them to hear my grosely exxagerated statement! Our late pastor Bro. Patton used to say, "Thank God for your toothbrush... some people don't have one!" He was right. We should not "be above" thanking God for those little things... it's then that we realize how vast our blessings truly are!

Whenever you are feeling a little "down in the mully-grubbs"... just start thanking God. Go ahead, TRY IT, and just see if it doesn't work for you too! Isn't it remarkable how praising and thanking God, does a miraculous inner working in OUR spirit? God created us with a void that can only be filled by giving Him thanks.

(The following are excerpts from "The Power of True Success")

"True gratefulness springs from an awareness of our total unworthiness and inadequacy before a holy and just God."

Gratefulness is defined by God as a sacrifice because it means surrendering our natural tendency to murmur.

"I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD." -Psalm 116:17

When Should We Be Motivated to Be Thankful?

1. When we remember His name- (Psalm 92:1 & Hebrews 13:15)
2. When we remember His holiness- (Psalm 30:4)
3. In a special time of worship during the night- (Psalm 119:62)
4. During gatherings with other believers- (Psalm 35:18 & Colossians 3:16-17)
5. When surrounded by evil- (II Samuel 22:50)
6. When your faith is put to the test- (Daniel 6:10)
7. When in need of a miracle- (Matthew 15:36)
8. When eating a meal- (Acts 27:35)
9. When we see growth in another believer- (II Corinthians 8:16)
10. When remembering the saints in prayer- (I Thessalonians 1:2)

An arrow for our quiver

Many of you are already aware of our "big news", but I thought I should make an official

on my blog... so here it is:

We are expecting another baby!!!

Although I have not been to see my midwife yet, I believe I am about 5 1/2 weeks along, and due sometime next April. We would REALLY appreciate your prayers for a healthy pregnancy!

We couldn't be more excited that God would bless us with another
"arrow in our quiver".

We get the question a lot (as all couples do, I'm sure): "So, how many children do you plan to have?" Our answer to that question is: as many as God sees fit to bless us with! Sure, we could try to put a number on it and make our own plans, but let's face it: our plans NEVER work out, and God's plans are always SO MUCH BETTER! So, we are leaving that up to Him.

Children are an incredible blessing from the Lord! The Bible depicts children as "arrows in the hand of a mighty man". Picture that... as Christians we are in the Lord's army, fighting a battle in this increasingly dark world; and God wants to give us "arrows" for battle... to aim, and send out for His cause. Whenever we look at God as say, "Well, I'll take one... MAYBE two... actually, not sure if I really need any at all!" God must think, "Wow, these guys really DON'T get the concept of preparing for battle!" :0)

God's ways are so different than those of our world... OPPOSITE, in fact! His ways are so much higher, and sometimes, so hard for our minds to comprehend. Thank God He gave us a "road map" to follow! (i.e. the Bible) He wants GOOD things for His children, and He is right there to guide us all the way!

If God chooses to never bless us with another child, He will still be a GREAT GOD, but it is our prayer that He gives us a "quiver full"!

Psalm 127

"Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate." 

 

Brightening the Corner Where I Am

When I began this blog, I didn't really understand what it's purpose would be. Perhaps to catch everyone up on our family life? Maybe sharing recipes!! (I dearly love to cook! :) Just a general "journal" for me to eventually have printed up for my children to remember me by. (Did you know there are websites that will do that? Yep, your blog can be PUBLISHED now!) Well, I hadn't a clue what God intended for my blog...

I would like to say, that if you are reading this post and are not a follower: you are not alone! It's been brought to my attention that many people have chosen to "follow" me anonymously- and that's perfectly alright by me! I have received so many emails, facebook messages, and people coming up to me in person, to let me know they were encouraged by something I wrote. And I say, "Praise the Lord for that!" It's hard for me to imagine that God would use "little old me" to exhort someone in their faith- who am I? I am hardly worthy! But, as soon as this thought entered my brain, I realized that was a lie from the devil! God can use anyone or anything! God can make SOMETHING out of NOTHING! If I don't lift my voice in praise, who will take my place? If I don't testify of His goodness, and share the treasures I've found in His Word- will someone else do it for me? Well, we know the answer to that. It's up to me. My testimony is mine and mine alone; and it is my duty and honor to share Christ with others at any opportunity that arises!

Due to the difficult situations our church family have been facing in recent years, I have been compelled to search God's Word and really DEPEND on it in a completely new way! I would not trade the lessons I am learning, for anything! Some of the topics about which I'm currently writing are quite controversial. There was a time I was scared of controversy- mostly because I was fearful to lose the approval of whomever I was opposing! But, I have found that by embracing that fear, praying, and seeking God's face; I have reached out to others who are suffering similar problems- and perhaps have no one to share them with. What a miraculous God we serve, who can use tumultuous times to draw us closer to His love and mercy- and to one another!

I have very much enjoyed following a blog this year called "One Bright Corner". This blog is written by 19-year-old twin sisters in Washington state, with whom I have found like-minded vision, and, what I call a "kindred spirit"! Their superb writing and thought provoking topics challenge me to continue seeking the LORD. One of the sisters, Mikaela, recently wrote describing the story which inspired their blog title. (Click HERE to read the post.) This interesting tale reminded me that God wants to use each and every one of us! Whether it be ministering to the masses, or comforting one lonely soul, He has a divine purpose for us each day, if we will only yield to His spirit's leading. I was encouraged to continue "brightening the corner where I'm at", knowing that God has a bigger plan for my blog than even I imagined. If something I write causes just ONE person to draw closer to their Redeemer, it will be worth it. I'm sure I will continue to occasionally post about things of no matter- throwing in a recipe or two... but, I know now that those things are just "fillers". Proclaiming the truth found in God's Word is the mission I feel bestowed on me by my Savior, and I will allow my tiny light to flicker in this gruesomely dark world- so long as my God gives me breath.

How's your corner doing?

Pants and Earrings - Do they offend you?

Do women wearing pants and earrings offend you? If so, then the question is, why?

There is no biblical premise for saying that these things are a sin.

Last week, someone told me that I had lowered my "standard", because I now wear pants and earrings. It saddens me that some people actually believe the "standard" Christians should live by is referring only to clothing. I believe your "standards" (i.e. principles) should be rooted in God's Word, and go much deeper than outward appearance- into issues of the heart. Am I condoning any type of clothing? Absolutely not! Biblical modesty is very important. But, I believe the entire point of "covering up" our bodies to not defraud our brother. When you focus on specific clothing rules, somehow that point gets missed entirely and you lose the conviction behind the clothing choices you make.

Let's examine each of these issues individually:

women wearing pants:
The ONLY verse I've ever heard to support the teaching that women should not wear pants is Deut. 22:5:

"The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God."

When I hear this verse used in the "women wearing pants" issue, I have to laugh- mostly because when this verse was written, men and women both wore long robe-like dresses. Knowing this fact, I always wondered at this verse's meaning. It just didn't seem to add up... Someone else prompted me to examine the original Hebrew text and translation of this verse. That's when it got really interesting.

The Hebrew word used for "man" is gheh-ber

Translation: Valiant man, Warrior or Soldier.

Geh-ber is very rarely translated as "man".

So, women should "not wear that which pertaineth unto a WARRIOR"?? Meaning, it is not Biblical for women to go to war? Hmmm...

After realizing the root of this word, and what the point of this verse was, it began to make a lot more sense to me. After all, women going to war would be a direct contradiction of everything the Bible has to say about the role of a woman.

That said, I firmly believe the Bible is clear in differentiating the roles of male and female.

They were created VERY differently and I believe they should look very different. Have you ever glanced at a person walking down the road, and did a double-take to figure out if they were male or female? Perhaps you still couldn't tell. God is not pleased with that. Women should make an attempt to not only look, but ACT feminine!

 Godly womanhood is something I am VERY passionate about. I believe that daughters should submit to their fathers, and wives to their husbands. I believe wives should be resourceful "keepers at home" (Titus 2 & Pro. 31). I detest women's lib and the feminist movement... So if you are thinking I want to wear pants so I can be more like a man, you are very mistaken! I love that God made me a woman! :)

In case you are wondering... I still wear skirts and dresses to church, when "dressing up", and sometimes just because I love to wear them! I wear pants to keep warm in the winter, for modesty when playing sports, for modesty/convenience when wrangling my 1 year old in and out of a tall truck... etc. When getting dressed in the morning, I simply consider what my day holds, and try to dress appropriately.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

earrings:
Several years before I got married, I did a study on earrings. You may assume I did this because I wanted to wear them. Not true. Actually, I was scared to death to have someone poke a hole through my ear lobe, and had absolutely NO intention of ever having it done. :) I stuck to clip on's!

(Note: 6 years later I got them at the request of my husband and I love them!) 

So, the reason for my study? I simply wanted to know what God thought. I knew people who considered them to be sinful. I also knew very Godly women who had them.

I just wanted the TRUTH.

In Ezekiel 16:11-12, God is speaking to His church. He says:

"I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck. And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head."

Wow! What a picture! If you saw a woman walking down the street that looked this, what would you assume her to be? A Jezebel, perhaps??

Nope... it's the Bride of Christ,

His beloved whom He plans to adorn with precious jewels. Do you still think earrings are sinful? Do you dare criticize the way God plans to adorn His church?

Interesting huh? How we've developed certain opinions about outward appearance. If you do a thorough study, you will find many occasions in Scripture where it's clear that jewels and adornment are viewed favorably by God. You will also find occasions where adornment is used to describe harlots and rebellion.

1 Timothy 2:9 says, "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array"

Seem like a contradiction to the verse in Ezekiel?? What God is saying to us, is that these outward embellishments can not replace our inward character. He wants us to focus on the heart, rather than on outward beauty.

As I read this I realized that we females quite often attempt to "gain honor" or "favor" by embellishing the outward appearance. Wearing the latest fashion... making our hair look just right...  The question is, do we put as much effort into preparing our hearts with the character of Christ? Where is our focus? That is the issue at hand.

Note: While conducting my own "interrogation", I stumbled across an article written by Doug Phillips titled "Questions Concerning Piercings and Body Mutilation" (click on title to read the article.) I found this to be quite helpful in understanding what is historically pagan and what is not when it comes to piercings.

Ending Notes:

The point of this article is not to defend myself. Defending Brittney is utterly pointless. I am just a sinner saved by grace, and still make mistakes daily. Defending God and His Word, however, is definitely worth writing about. I do not claim to have it all together, and I know I sometimes falter in the area of clothing. I look to the Bible and my husband for guidance in this area. The reason I write this is to plead with you not to assume yourself better than someone who dresses differently than you. By doing that, we run people off from the Christian walk and the blood of Christ. We are not being faithful ambassadors when someone feels judged in our presence.

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"The Sinner Woman"

A group of preachers sat around the table, eating and conversing with their new acquaintance. They were determined to question this man until they found out his true identify- and his agenda. They wondered at his "strange doctrine", and whispered among themselves that perhaps he was just a lunatic. From where did he get his authority? What gave him the right to come into their territory and "steal their saints"?

When the woman entered the room, all fell quiet. Although the space was dimly lit, the men recognized her immediately as a sinner. Her clothing gave that fact away. She wasn't the "sort" they mingled with. As they glared down their noses at her in contempt, the host tilted his gaze to the floor in embarrassment. His thoughts raced as he searched for an appropriate response to the situation. Before he could conjure up a reason to show her out the door, she slowly began to approach their guest. The men gasped collectively at her boldness, each of them doing little to hide their horrified expressions. As she grew closer and knelt at the man's feet, it was apparent she was weeping. With her head bowed low to the ground, her tears trickled onto the feet of the man called Jesus, washing away the dust and sand. After using her long, undone hair to wipe away the salty liquid, the woman leaned down to kiss the feet upon which she had wept. The men were silent, stunned by the scene unfolding in front of them. As the woman proceeded to pour ointment over Jesus' feet, his host, Simon, privately thought, "This man is no prophet! He is so naive that he does not even recognize this woman as a sinner. If he knew, he would never have allowed such a display!"

Of course, Jesus already knew Simon's innermost thoughts, just as He knows ours. Jesus perceived Simon's motive, and saw his heart. He also sees our heart whenever we make a snide comment about someone else's apparel. He knows our motive when we toss a sideways glance at a friend regarding a person we disapprove of.

"Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little." Luke 7:47

What marvelous compassion! What mercy flowed forth that day! I believe this woman's clothing gave away her sinful status, which leads me to ask myself, "Whenever I am in the presence of someone dressed inappropriately, which spirit do I have towards them? That of a pharisee, or that of Jesus?"

Jesus ate with sinners, spoke with harlots, and allowed a woman with a bad reputation to anoint Him for His burial.... and WE feel it's our duty to judge others who don't "measure up" to our standards?

Shame on me for ever thinking that way! Oh, Lord have mercy on my wretched soul!My heart is desperately wicked, oh God... but YOU... YOU can save me from myself!YOU can cleanse and purify my inward being! YOU can change my heart so that mercy and compassion flows forth from my being...

...just as it does from yours.