I love handing the camera to Kirsten and seeing what photos we end up with. She comes up with many unique perspectives on our home and life around here. I could put in a plethora of photos from her, but I wanted to share just this one.
For some reason, this photo reminds me of a quote from Brennan Manning:
"If we maintain the open-mindedness of children, we challenge fixed ideas and established structures, including our own. We listen to people in other denominations and religions. We don't find demons in those with whom we disagree. We don't cozy up to people who mouth our jargon. If we are open, we rarely
resort to either-or: either creation or evolution, liberty or law, sacred or secular, Beethoven or Madonna. We focus on both-and, fully aware that God's truth cannot be imprisoned in a small definition. "
Like all brothers, there are times James and Ben get along well and other times the verse "a brother is born for adversity" fits the bill!
Psalm 133:1 1Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times,and a brother is born for adversity.
James and Jerard received some bath toys for Christmas. They really enjoy playing with them during their shower time!
I want to share a prayer from Brennan Manning's book "Reflections for Ragamuffins." It speaks to what God has been teaching me.
Poverty is more than just 'lack of money.' Poor people tend to talk about poverty in terms of shame, inferiority, powerlessness, humiliation, fear, hopelessness, depression, voicelessness...in this context, we all are poor. God is using the poverty that Kurt and I see around us on a daily basis to show us more about the relational-ness of Him. He and I will be blogging more about this.
(and if you want to read a great book,read "When Helping Hurts" by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert.)
Today, I just want to share this prayer with you.
"Jesus, my Brother and Lord, I pray as I write these words for the grace to be truly poor before you,
to recognize and accept my weakness and humanness,
to forgo the indecent luxury of self-hatred,
to celebrate your mercy and trust in your power when I'm at my weakest,
to rely on your love no matter what I may do,
to seek no escapes from my innate poverty,
to accept loneliness when it comes instead of seeking substitutes,
to live peacefully without clarity or assurance,
to stop grandstanding and trying to get attention,
to do the truth quietly without display,
to let the dishonesties of my life fade away,
to belong no more to myself,
not to desert my post when I give the appearance of staying at it,
to cling to my humanity,
to accept the limitations and full responsibility of being a human being -
really human
and really poor in Christ our Lord."
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in HIM
to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
Lamentations 3:25-26
"Ipomoea batatas" (purple kamote) is a sweet potato that grows here in the Philippines.
A favourite way to serve this potato is just to boil it and eat it. It makes a great, inexpensive, and healthy snack!
(learn more about Philippine foods at http://www.stuartxchange.org/Kamote.html)
It is really easy here to eat healthy food - the market is resplendent in all its food offerings!!!!
