T-Bo and Willie's Adventure

(Written by my 11-year-old daughter, Callie)

Once upon a time there was this tiny dinosaur named T-bo. He was only 5 years old.  And his friend’s name was Willie. They were best friends. One day they went to play hide and seek at Mr. Fredrick’s house. Mr. Fredrick loved to play hide and seek with them.  Then, they would go eat lunch. They always ate cheese sandwiches.  The next day T-bo and Willie went to the river to get water and T-bo tripped on a rock.  “T-BO!” said Willie. “Are you ok?”  “No, I hurt my leg!”, replied T-bo. “Can you help me up?”  “I’m coming hold on,” Willie said nervously.  “Momma!” cried T-bo and Willie together.  “We’re coming!” said T-bo and Willie’s mothers.  Then, Willie thought of a good idea. They should pray that T-bo would feel better.  So then T-bo’s mom prayed and then T-bo felt better. They all thought praying was the answer! And it always is!  After they prayed, T-bo went home with his momma to rest his leg.  Willie was so scared to what happened to T-bo.

The next morning Willie went to see T-bo and T-bo was so happy to see Willie. He gave him a huge hug.  Next, they went to church. They sang songs and went to Sunday school to learn the miracles Jesus did. They loved to go to church and learn about Jesus. He is our Maker, Redeemer, Friend, Father, Forgiver, and more!  He loves us no matter what happens. He sees you anywhere you are. He will forgive you if you’ve done anything wrong. He’ll be your friend when no one else will be your friend. He made you the way you are out of his image. Don’t ever change yourself!

He is your Heavenly Father and will always care about you. He died for you. He put all your sins on him.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (Jeremiah 29:11 KJV)

Read your Bible, pray, and thank Jesus for bringing you in this world.  That’s all Willie and T-bo said the whole way home.

 HI       T-BO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!           JESUS           LOVES            YOU!!!!!!!!!!

  

~ A Real Man ~

I just got back from a quick little getaway with my husband to South Carolina.  This was not a vacation but a business trip for him that he asked me to tag along.  What a blessing it was!  I enjoy every second that I get to spend with the love of my life and I was honored that he asked me to go.  I am also very blessed to have a mom who jumps on the opportunity to keep my kids so I can spend time with my hubby. 

In the last few weeks, there has been so much hype in the media and on social networking about this new movie centered around a male stripper named “Magic Mike”.  Women and mothers all over are rushing to the theatres to see this movie as men strip off their clothes and dance around as women “ooh & aah”.  Now, I have not seen this movie, nor will I, I am getting my information from the reviews of those that have seen it and of course, the previews that, in my opinion, didn’t leave a whole lot to the imagination.  When I hear the comments that women make about the good looking men in this movie, it really makes me wonder, and feel a bit sad, about what they view in their fantasy of “real man” status.  Sadly, I see women wishing they had men like this in their homes and are missing the mark on what a REAL man is.

I began thinking of all the traits that make up a real man and here are some of those:

A real man loads his family in the car and drives them to worship the Lord on Sundays.

A real man opens the Word of God for fellowship and direction from the God of the universe.

A real man gathers his family together and prays for them.

A real man views his wedding vows he took with his wife as a covenant with the Lord and not a contract that can be severed whenever things don’t go his way.

A real man guards his eyes with the truths of God’s Word against other women and considers his wife the most beautiful woman on earth even though she has gained some weight.

A real man comes out to the driveway when his wife gets home from the store and helps unload the groceries.

A real man leaves sweet love notes on his wife’s pillow before he has to go out of town on business.

A real man flies his family to the other side of the globe to bring home his third child that was waiting in a Chinese orphanage.

A real man puts his arm around his 15-year-old son and tells him how proud he is of him even after he didn’t play his best basketball game.

A real man cuddles up with his young daughter to watch "High School Musical" again because she loves it.

A real man shows patience when his young son asks him 100s of questions about everything he is doing.

A real man gets up on Saturday mornings and makes chocolate chip pancakes for his family.

A real man carries his wife’s purse as she tries on clothes at the mall.

A real man paints his little daughters fingers and toes with pretty pink nail polish because she wants them to look like mommy’s.

A real man works long hard hours to provide his family with the necessities of life.

A real man treats his grandmother like a beautiful girl and listens to her stories over and over again as if it was the first time he’s heard it.

A real man sets his hobbies aside to spend time with his family in his spare time.

A real man teaches his sons how to treat women with respect.

A real man models for his daughter what she should look for in a guy.

A real man treats others with kindness and teaches his children how to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the world.

Yes, THESE are the traits of a REAL man and he does exist.  This is the man I live with, share my life with, and am honored to call my husband, best friend, and father of my children.  This is my “Magic Matt”!  I love you babe!

A real man!

The day I married my best friend!

Caleb's first time in daddy's arms!

Ben's biggest supporter!

Callie's favorite dance partner!

Our beautiful family!

  

Ephesians 5:25  “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her”

Ephesians 6:4 “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

Can You Hear Me Now?

Several years ago there was a popular commercial on television that just kind of stuck in your head when you’d hear it. Remember, “Can you hear me now?”  It was referring to cell phones and the bad service coverage certain companies had when the person you called could not hear you.  The reason it was so funny was because that is exactly what would happen.  Coverage at that time wasn’t great and sometimes you would have to stand on your head and hold your mouth just right to find that spot that your phone would get the best signal.  Haha!  Well, maybe not stand on your head, but you get the meaning here.  People would walk around saying that popular little phrase even when their phones were picking up optimum signal.  Cellular technology has advanced so much over the years but still today, we joke about that and to be quite honest, have had to say that to our phone recipient from time to time.

We traded in our minivan several months ago on what is considered a “cross over” vehicle.  I will admit that I was a little sad to depart from my minivan.  We were very close. Yes, yes, it sounds ridiculous, I know, but all you minivan moms can probably relate.  We practically live in our vehicles sometimes.  A good deal of time is spent in those vehicles with our children going from school to church to practice to the grocery store back to church, back to practice, back to the grocery store many more times. Ok, ok you get my point.  It becomes in some respects, our home away from home.  Anyway, we traded it in and after I got over my mourning period, I really began to enjoy my new vehicle.  Now, we have never been ones to get all the bells and whistles on our vehicles because, well, because it costs too much, but this particular vehicle came with a new amenity of “hands-free calling”.  (I really think this is why Matt liked this car so much since I am on the phone a lot.)  All I have to do is push a button and speak the name of the person I want to call.  Then the eloquent-voiced female asks me what number I would like to dial for the person I am calling, whether it be home, work, or mobile.  I tell her which number and she dials it.  It’s very high tech and very convenient, oh, and safe too.  That is the main purpose, SAFETY.  See, my husband is a safetyman by profession so this was HUGE for him! Lol!  But you know, even with all that high tech gadgetry, you still have times when you go through bad cellular signals and have to ask, “Can you hear me now?” 

I began thinking about our relationship with God.  There are times we feel in sync with our God and everything is crystal clear.  We hear is voice and feel as though he hears our praise and our heart cries.  But then we have those times when we feel like the “signal” is weak and we keep asking him, “Can you hear me now, Lord?”  It’s as if our reception is bad and our prayers don’t make it past the ceiling.  Well, let me just say, IT IS NOT A MALFUNCTION ON THE PART OF OUR SAVIOR!  Did you hear that?  God hears the cries of his children!  Praise him for that!  Though it seems as though our prayers are not being heard, we have confidence from his Word that he hears.  His answer may not come in our time or in the way we want, but in the perfect time and way of our Father.  He hears each cry, each heartache, and is holding you up.

In the book of Psalms, we hear David’s pleas to the Lord over and over.  David had great confidence that God did hear him and would be with him.  David knew that God has set his children apart and will hear their cries for help and answer in his time. 

“Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord will hear when I call to him.”

Psalm 4:3

David is a man of great faith and had his own share of problems (needless to say), but he knew that as a child of God he was forgiven and set apart to be heard and answered by the God of the universe.  He also knew that God would answer him in the way that was best for him. We too have to go to God with confidence that he does hear us and wait expectantly for his answer, knowing that it will be what is best for us. I love the commentary in my Bible on this verse and I would like to share it with you.

“Look at your problems in the light of God’s power instead of looking at God in the shadow of your problems.”

(Life Application Study Bible)

Many times we go to God and think he does not hear, but we are so focused on our problems that we forget about his mighty power.  So, when we come before our God and feel like our prayers are muddled by insufficient signals and we cry out, “Can you hear me now, God?”; we can have confidence that he has heard and is in full control of our situation and our lives.  Precious soul, he does hear you!  The reception is better than anything you will ever get here on this earth.  There are NO bad signals, there are NO “dead spots”, and there will be NO dropped calls.  He hears you loud and clear! Glory, hallelujah

Jeremiah 33:3 says, ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’

Rejoice today that God is listening and call him today!

Blessings~

Allison