To Obey is Better Than Sacrifice

I Samuel 15:22 says: But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. (Heed means to pay careful attention to).

My kids were memorizing this passage for something. It was a verse that honestly didn't make a whole lot of sense to me in the past, but this time the words started penetrating my heart. God has something to teach me about this.

Life seems to just get busier. The work to keep up is a huge task. Most days I think of how I should have helped my mom more, and how much I took for granted all that she did for us each day. I often think about how the "maintenance" of life is enough to keep a woman busy 24 hours a day-- when in the world do we have time to move forward? You know how you keep doing something a certain way, because you just don't have time to stop and redo your system to make it better? Survival mode, I'll call it.

God has had a bit to say to my heart about all of this. I love how He says that to obey is better than sacrifice. So, it's not wrong to sacrifice, but to obey is the better choice! So, the things I am doing to sacrifice, or the things I give up can definitely be good things. But He wants obedience first. Let me give you a few of examples in my life:

SACRIFICE #1: I will work like a dog to keep my house picked up/clean.
GOD'S COMMAND: (Philippians 4:5) Let your gentleness be evident to all.
CONCLUSION: Being frustrated with my family, because the house is a mess or having unkind words towards my children in order to get the house the way I want it is putting sacrifice over obedience. By the way, while having a picked up and clean house is a good thing, God does not command it.

SACRIFICE #2: I will work to remove Mt. Everest from my kitchen sink while my family enjoys an episode of Little House on the Prairie.
GOD'S COMMAND: (Eph. 4:31) Get rid of all bitterness
CONCLUSION: I have two choices here. I can change my attitude (the attitude that says, "Will I ever get a break? How in the world can they feel the freedom to relax on the couch when there is work to be done!!!) and continue to wash the dishes. Or, I can go watch Little House on the Prairie with my family and leave a pile of dishes in the kitchen sink for an hour. God does not command an empty sink at all times, but he does command me to get rid of all bitterness.

SACRIFICE #3: I will make a glorious meal in the crockpot that will take me an hour to prepare in the morning. I have to get this meal going, so I am going to have to skip spending time with the Lord this morning.
GOD'S COMMAND: (John 15:4) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
CONCLUSION: I can get up an hour earlier to prepare my meal, or I can choose to make something simpler like grilled cheese and tomato soup or even.... a frozen pizza! God does not call me to make glorious meals, but He does call me to abide in Him.

There are many more examples I could give, but you probably get the point. Anyway... I just thought I would share what has been rolling around in my brain and heart for awhile.

Andi

Before the Throne of God

Charles & Joan (and their 7 sons)


My dear neighbor and friend, Joan, died Saturday. Her husband died just a year and a half ago. They had seven boys in seven years (5 boys and then a set of twin boys). They loved Jesus and served Him joyfully. They were both such a great encouragement to our family-- if even just for the fact that they raised seven kids so close together and never had a cross word to say about the entire experience.



It seemed that God would send her husband (a retired Lutheran pastor) over to my driveway at just the times I needed encouragement. There Mr. Piazza would be and he would always give me a little hug and usually would pull out a bookmark or sticker from his pocket that said, "God Loves You." I still have one of those bookmarks in my kitchen drawer.



I tell people that Joan was THE most positive person I have ever met. Her husband died on a Wednesday and Monday she was scheduled to start chemo for her cancer. Never a complaint or a woe or self-pity. She just did what she had to do and her ailments were the last thing she was concerned about. As I sat at her funeral tonight, I remembered the verse (Prov. 18:21) that says "The tongue has the power of life and death." And I thought about how Joan used her tongue to give life-- whether it was to me, my kids, or the other ladies in the neighborhood. Everyone always said, "She's the most positive person I have ever met." She lived it out every day.



Another memory I will never forget was the little things she would take the time to point out to me and the kids. The last two years, robins made a nest in her gutter and she would come and tell me that the nest was there and the baby robins were there waiting for food. It is so neat that she took time for these kinds of things.



While I was waiting for the service to start, I was flipping through the hymnal and Before the Throne of God caught my eye. The words and the truth behind these words are incredible. Though there is a huge hole on our hearts from losing this dear couple, I am so thankful that we were blessed by being their neighbors for eight years. We learned so much by watching them live. And while, of course, I dreadfully wish they were still here, it is indescribable to think that they are both before the throne of God right now.



BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD



Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea
A great High Priest whose name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me
My name is graven on His hands
My name is written on His heart
I know that while in heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart

When satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see him there
Who made an end of all my sin
Because a sinless savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the judge is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me

Behold Him there the Risen Lamb
My perfect spotless righteousness
The great unchangeable I Am
The King Of Glory and of grace
One in Himself I cannot die
My soul is purchased by His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God
With Christ my Savior and my God

Going Down the Stairs with Jeremiah

“My sweet Jeremiah, it is time to go downstairs. You do not need to fear, for I will be with you the whole way. In fact, I will carry you in my arms. Trust me, you do not want to stay upstairs forever. Yes, it will be different, but there are good things awaiting you downstairs…. Things you need, like breakfast, and things for you to enjoy, such as your siblings and a box full of toys that are yours. I know you don’t even understand words I use, like “breakfast” and “siblings,” but I am your mommy and you can trust me.”

Jeremiah was terribly frightened of being carried down the stairs. I am not sure why he was so scared. I have never dropped him or even slipped while holding him, on the stairs or anywhere else. No matter how I held him—whether tighter, closer, or in a different position, nothing seemed to help. He would throw his arms straight out, every muscle would become tense, and he would take a deep gulp of air, as if he couldn’t even muster up the strength to cry. He always had a look of sheer terror on his face. But, as soon as we got to the bottom, he would be just fine. I felt so badly for him. I knew we were going to get down the stairs just fine, yet I could not convince him otherwise.

One morning recently, however, something completely different happened. We started down the stairs and Jeremiah clung to me instead of fighting me. He rested his head on my shoulder, in the crook of my neck. His body did not tense up. In fact, he seemed to relax right there as I held him close and tight. When we got to the landing, I was so happy for him that he had made it down the stairs peacefully. I praised him for holding on and trusting me. I will never know why he made the choice that day to react differently to our trip down the stairs, but I suddenly realized a deeper spiritual truth through all of this.

God promises us that we will have trials. He is going to take us “down the stairs.” But, he also promises to be with us at all times. He is a powerful and trustworthy God who is able to get down the stairs safely every time. And He is a good God who knows what we need at the other end of the stairs. He has good things planned for us there. So, we can fight Him, stiffen up and be terrified through our trip, or we can choose to take refuge in Him, cling to Him and enjoy Him through the process. Either way, when we’re going down the stairs, it’s up to us what the trip will be like.

I realize this all sounds so easy, but the analogy came so vividly to me that day that I pray that I will remember it as I face trials of my own. I hope it encourages you as well.

…under his wings you will find refuge Psalm 91:4b

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,"

declares the LORD.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph. 2:10

He tends his flock like a shepherd:

He gathers the lambs in his arms

and carries them close to his heart; Isaiah 40:11a

The LORD your God is with you,

he is mighty to save.

He will take great delight in you,

he will quiet you with his love,

he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. I Peter 4:12-13

The Mommy Quiz

THE MOMMY QUIZ
Here you have it folks… what my kids think of their mommy!
I gave this quiz to the kids individually so they wouldn't be influenced by each other.

1. What is something mom always says to you?
Jackie: “Don’t dawdle”
Jillian: “Share with Jenna.”
Jenna: “Good night.”

2. What makes mom happy?
Jackie: “When we give her a BIG hug.”
Jillian: “Sharing with Jenna”
Jenna: “Obeying”

3. What makes mom sad?
Jackie: “When we disobey.”
Jillian: “Not sharing with
Jenna.”Jenna: “Disobeying”

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Jackie: “When she tells a joke off of the computer.”
Jillian: “When you tell Joey to do “Chick a waa waa.””
Jenna: “By tickling us.”

5. What was your mom like as a child?
Jackie: “Happy.”
Jillian: “You played baseball.”
Jenna: “Blonde hair?”

6. How old is your mom?
Jackie: “30”
Jillian: “30”
Jenna: “30”

7. How tall is your mom?
Jackie: “5 feet, 8 inches.”
Jillian: “10 feet tall.”
Jenna: “Like a hundred big… or 11.”

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Jackie: “Play with us.”
Jillian: “Sit and work at the computer.”
Jenna: “Dance with us.”

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Jackie: “Get on the computer and email stuff to friends.”
Jillian: “I don’t know, because I never see her when I’m not around.”
Jenna: “Clean up and feed Jeremiah.”

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Jackie: “Kindness.” (wow… humbling.)
Jillian: “Gymnastics and being a good diver.” (um… is someone going to dig up the archives?)
Jenna: “Don’t know.”

11. What is your mom really good at?
Jackie: “Rub backs! And that’s with a V!” (Ruvbacks is the word for back rubs in our house)
Jillian: “Diving mostly.” (uh…. Like 12 years ago!)
Jenna: “Writing.”

12. What is your mom not very good at?
Jackie: “Playing chess. You don’t even know how to play!”
Jillian: “Putting your feet above your head while sitting down.” (interesting….)
Jenna: “Can you do this?” (sticks her tongue out) “Sticking your tongue out to your chin. Yeah… you can’t do it!”

13. What does your mom do for a job?
Jackie: “Teach us.”
Jillian: “Dances.” (that’s worship dance, folks!)
Jenna: “Washes the dishes.”

14.What is your mom's favorite food?
Jackie: “Pizza.”
Jillian: “Steak.”
Jenna: “Mostly everything.”

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
Jackie: “That she’s wiling to give us ruvbacks.”
Jillian: “That’s she loves me.”
Jenna: Reading us stories at nap time.”

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Jackie: “Snoopy! Because we have a snoopy that is funny and it has an x-ray in front of it that shows his heart.”
Jillian: “If you were in Little House on the Prairie, you would be Laura.”
Jenna: “I don’t know.”

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Jackie: “She reads to me.”
Jillian: “You help me do my bead set.”
Jenna: “Go out for ice cream.”

18. How are you and your mom the same?
Jackie: “We’re like-minded on how to edit pictures on the computer”
Jillian: “I like to braid her hair and I like to braid my hair.”
Jenna: “Brown hair.”

19. How are you and your mom different?
Jackie: “She has brown hair. I have blonde hair.”
Jillian: “Mommy’s hair is brown and my hair is light.”
Jenna: “You’re big and I’m small.”

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Jackie: “The things she does for me. Like reading to me and giving me ruvbacks and hugs.”
Jillian: “Cuz she snuggles with me.”
Jenna: “You give kisses and ruvbacks to me.”

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
Jackie: “That he’s her husband.”
Jillian: “She kisses him.”
Jenna: “That he kisses you and hugs you on the lips.”

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Jackie: “When she dies… heaven”
Jillian: “To the store.”
Jenna: “Target! No… ice cream place!”

Even Super Heroes Need Their Rest

Ultra Yummy Baked Potato Soup

I just made this for lunch today and forgot how great it is!

Baked Potato Soup

From: the IFRBC Recipes to Enjoy(Sandy Kivett's recipe)

Ingredients:
2 cups chicken broth
2 cups milk
4 T. butter
1/4 cup flour
3 bay leaves (I've left these out before)
1/4 tsp. pepper
salt to taste
1 lg Idaho potato, peeled and finely diced (sometimes I add more)

Topping:
1 cup sour cream
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup green onion, chopped
1/2 cup bacon, fresh, cooked, crumbled

Directions:
Makes 4 cups. 2-4 servings.

1. Heat broth and milk in saucepan to almost boiling. Remove from heat and set aside. Reduce heat to low.
2. In large soup pot, melt butter.
3. Add flour, stirring constantly for 3 minutes making a roux.
4. Gradualy add milk mixture to roux, pouring in a steady stream while stirring vigorously to blend and eliminate lumps.
5. Add bay leaves and pepper.
6. Add diced potato and salt.
7. Continue to simmer over low heat 15-20 minutes.
8. Lightly mash potatoes in soup and stir to blend well. Pour soup into oven proof crocks and top with toppings.

Happy 10th Month!

Our Snowman

This may be our best snowman in Hogan history yet...

We had our first REAL snow today! We're ELATED over here! It's a snow celebration!

He finally lost it!

Changes for 2009

Happy New Year!

I overheard my husband on the phone telling a friend during a phone conversation the following:

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

Einstein said that. Boy does that make me think! Good timing for the new year. When I start feeling a litte insane, I will remember that it is time to make changes!