Learning to Abide

It's funny how many of my "moments" are captured on Family Fun Fritay Fridays! It's our movie night...as the movie plays I look around at our beautiful children and bask in our family here. Tonight right before devotions and movie night one of our girls, Nerlande comes up to sit and talk. When your children hurt, it is so hard not to want to react in defense; as she's sharing some painful experiences of her day I say all the "right" things; you know: - Forgive & pray for them... - people will always talk but God knows truth and sees our hearts - keep seeking Christ; keep your eyes on him and the fruit of His Spirit will shine through you and be your defense and blessing - people are hurting and jealous and it's really hard at times to be happy for others when they don't have what you do Then, I realize a few things: 1. I am hurting with my girl but I'm not mad - Wow! 2. I have finally learned not to respond in emotional reaction and can live in Exodus 14:14 because God is our defender and will fight our battles Then she says, you know what I love about House of Moses; the love. Well, that sums it up; people can say whatever they say but our children are confirmed and affirmed first by their identity in Christ and second confident in the love they have at home...Victory! During the movie, I look over at our one boy that didn't pass his government exam who has other dynamics entwined in his situation and is going to have a season of reflection out of the home because of choices he's made. Through this tough time, we stay faithful to our call as a leadership and discipleship home with which discipline and accountability come but He is more impacted by the fact that: 1. He completely owns his choices and how they impact him 2. This is his family and he is loved - God will do the work he needs to do for He is Soverign, in control as he saw in his brother Kenken's life and he rests in that. There is no condemnation in Christ... As John and I unplugging the movie and projector, I ask him if he responded publicly on facebook or blogging about Joel Osteen's wife's rant about obeying for yourself and not for God - so on and so on...He said, "No, it would have been out of a wrong heart and a reactional response." Looks like he's living out the same triumph lesson tonight too... I want our words, our life, our love to be not that of ourselves but from God. Tonight I am filled at the fruit of that desire; I go to bed with extra girls sleeping over with Terah; the littles extremely happy having a sleep party with two of their big sisters, Lovelie and Nerlande, a house full of secure and happy lives in Christ who survived a week of Rheto re-takes, first week of school, another week of Rheto and Philo prep club Summer School and getting home from Cap Haiten for a visa. We are all back home together and nothing else matters.