Pastors Wives

Never since the beginning of time.  Okay.  Maybe I should qualify.  Since James started at the lazy mountain church, the pastors wives had always known each other.  However, we all have lives (like everyone else).  It wasn't until Wednesday April 24th that we enjoyed a night out with just us.

I am so thankful for these women/sisters in Christ.  They give and hurt and love others deeply.  Lord, may we encourage each other daily all the more as we see the day approaching.  Amen.

At last the video....

Ladies Retreat 2013

Surrounded by lots of women, this years retreat was soo good.  Not only did I get to meet new people (like Lisa my steady driver), but I was able to meet with the Lord.  The speaker had a great testimony, but I preferred the quiet prayer chapel with a fireplace and the Bible to speak to my heart.

I was able to get away on many hikes, runs, and even yarn shopping.  My heart was warmed by laughter until we cried (I do that often).  We had speed puzzle making.  Worship into the wee hours of the morning.

Thank you Lord for weekends of refreshing and stillness.

In an Igloo for the first time!

Craziness.  I cannot explain or express why in the world people will intentionally kill or harm others.  However, it is nothing new.  It is happening all over.  In Iraq 30 car bombs went off in 12 different locations killing 30 injuring 300 people.

In Alaska, my children heard and prayed. It was hard to stay focused on anything, while wanting to hear the why's and hows.  Lord, hear our prayers.

After two back to back retreats, James and I headed to the mountains (Mt. Baldy in Eagle River).  I convinced James to get kahtoola microspikes (love them).  We are officially winter hikers.

Anger EXPOSED

Anger 
by Debbie Kenny

Anger is an emotion.  It is neither good or bad.  It is never said it was a sin to be angry.  Sin comes when we act on our anger feelings in an inappropriate way.

God's Anger

His anger is appropriate.   We are told in scripture that He is slow to anger,  his anger is balanced by compassion, and that compassion can turn his heart away from  expressing that anger.  His anger is never to push away or punish.   As believers we know that Christ’s death saves us from ultimately having to face God’s anger at our sins.  In Romans 5:9  Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!

Because of the blood of Jesus, we are saved from God's wrath.  

God is against the rebellion, sin, and desires for others to turn TOWARD him.   His goal is always restoration of relationships that have been broken by sin.

Often our human Anger, pushes people away.  But, God's Anger brings about righteousness.  In James 1:19-20 " My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires."  

Two Types:

God's Anger	Man's Ungodly Anger
Brings about righteousness	doesn't brings out the righteous life
slow to	not compassionate, but self seeking
leads to life	will hurt, leads to murder
refusing to normalize a wicked relationship	tend to normalize or look good on the outside (just simmer)

We must look at the patterns of how to deal with ungodly anger in our lives.  It is also necessary to look for the triggers in our lives that leads us to express anger in ungodly ways.  *I believe we need to replace those triggers with TRUTH.

Four types of wrong anger expressions looking at pots.

MILD	a few sharp words, nothing too showy
controlled	usually self inflicting, stress internally, shame, or redirect anger at a safer place (ie. to family instead of boss)
boiling over	actually pushing away, putting anger on something else
explosion of liquid *tea cup in microwave	watch out world, not rationally thinking

Causes of Anger:

1) Hurt: unmet needs or desires, expectations

2) Injustice: violated rights

3) Fear or feeling of loss

4) frustration or intimidation

The greater our expectations are from the reality of a situation, the more likely hood we will feel frustration and move into feeling angry.

We have often set goals for others that they do not have.  We only can own our goals.

*Invite them to make it their own goal and listen to them.  

Ungodly anger also frequently occurs when progress toward goal is interrupted.

Ungodly Anger is self based.  

My worth, My needs, My security, My convictions = Self protection

Remember, Anger is an emotion that is a signal.  The ideal is to  pull towards restoration.  I need to make good choices when anger arises.  I need to STOP.  I then need to explore what is going on to clarify the situation.  

Then I want to look for a way to use the energy the emotion of anger creates and seek to find a way to express it that would draw the person I am angry at to me, not push them away and risk destroying a relationship.

Good things can happen from feeling angry.  But it means learning a whole new approach to expressing our anger.

What is your ANGER TRIGGERS? What is the truth from the Bible that needs to be coupled with that trigger?

Loved Spring Break

But, now we are racing to the end of school.  Thankfully, I was able to make a little video of our Winter 3rd term.  We had little snow at our home, but just a short drive to Hatchers pass we had SNOW GALORE.

We have seven weeks left of school (I am counting).  It looks like we didn't do much for academic, but it is not as exciting to film.

Hopefully it will catch

Have you ever been so passionate about an activity that you just would do anything to have your children love it?  In my life, I am a new skate-skier.  James and I both took the learning plunge last year.  We enjoy the refreshing outdoors and love the vigorous exercise.

We held off last year, but this year we "forced/encouraged" our children to try Jr. Nordic.  It is an amazing program with positive coaches.  I have heard many groans and complaints from my children.  So, I put together a little video of the fun of outdoors activities.

We will do our best.  But, it is not a requirement to have fun.  It is an option.

In God's creation is where I love to Worship!

Shots!

Can we research this?

I love my kids.  When it is time to get their school vaccines, they don't just want to do it, they want to know why and how it will effect them.  I love their inquisitive minds.
"If your gonna get a shot, you might want to research what it is about," Max says with confidence.

As you know, I will not be going.  I will be home.  I am thankful for James who takes the kids. My hands get a bit clammy just thinking about it.