Comments on: Freely You Have Received http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2007/12/23/freely-you-have-received/ Mon, 13 Oct 2008 06:13:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.2.5 By: Megan Okimoto http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2007/12/23/freely-you-have-received/#comment-33091 Megan Okimoto Fri, 11 Jan 2008 21:50:50 +0000 http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2007/12/23/freely-you-have-received/#comment-33091 Just now noticed your comment, Valerie. Thanks. :^) Just now noticed your comment, Valerie. Thanks. :^)

]]> By: Megan Lindsay http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2007/12/23/freely-you-have-received/#comment-33025 Megan Lindsay Fri, 11 Jan 2008 04:43:52 +0000 http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2007/12/23/freely-you-have-received/#comment-33025 Oh, wow, how I wish I had read this during the holiday season. Starting the week of Thanksgiving we took 6 weeks off from homeschooling, thinking that this would afford me the time to relax and enjoy the festivities. Actually, I had only the week after Epiphany to enjoy anything at all. The rest of the time I was in a whirlwind of manic exhaustion. Needless to say, when I faced school again on Monday I crashed and burned. Now my poor family has been forced to pick up the pieces. One thing I am overwhelmingly thankful to the Lord for, and very humbled by, is that my oldest daughters -- ages 6 and 4 -- have encouraged and ministered to me during the crash. Both have reminded me over and over that "a cheerful heart is good medicine," and since I was having so much trouble getting my own heart to be cheerful they decided they would give me some of their own medicine -- cheerful obedience, peaceful play, frequent hugs and kisses, forebearance with unreasonable requests, and lots of "have we helped you feel better yet, Mommy?" Indeed, a cheerful heart is good medicine, because today I finally feel capable of throwing out the rotting leftovers of nagging, unprofitable criticisms and moving on with joy and strength in the Lord! I am amazed by how beautiful His mercies are. And I am very thanful He has brought this sin to the surface so we can skim it off and enjoy the soup. My husband and I have had several discussions about Christmas next year, and we are vowing to change things drastically. I will keep these admonitions as a reminder of what to look out for when those bigger-than-my-britches visions begin to dance in my head! Thank you so, so much, Nancy. Oh, wow, how I wish I had read this during the holiday season. Starting the week of Thanksgiving we took 6 weeks off from homeschooling, thinking that this would afford me the time to relax and enjoy the festivities. Actually, I had only the week after Epiphany to enjoy anything at all. The rest of the time I was in a whirlwind of manic exhaustion. Needless to say, when I faced school again on Monday I crashed and burned. Now my poor family has been forced to pick up the pieces.

One thing I am overwhelmingly thankful to the Lord for, and very humbled by, is that my oldest daughters — ages 6 and 4 — have encouraged and ministered to me during the crash. Both have reminded me over and over that “a cheerful heart is good medicine,” and since I was having so much trouble getting my own heart to be cheerful they decided they would give me some of their own medicine — cheerful obedience, peaceful play, frequent hugs and kisses, forebearance with unreasonable requests, and lots of “have we helped you feel better yet, Mommy?” Indeed, a cheerful heart is good medicine, because today I finally feel capable of throwing out the rotting leftovers of nagging, unprofitable criticisms and moving on with joy and strength in the Lord! I am amazed by how beautiful His mercies are.

And I am very thanful He has brought this sin to the surface so we can skim it off and enjoy the soup. My husband and I have had several discussions about Christmas next year, and we are vowing to change things drastically. I will keep these admonitions as a reminder of what to look out for when those bigger-than-my-britches visions begin to dance in my head!

Thank you so, so much, Nancy.

]]> By: Ruth Turner http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2007/12/23/freely-you-have-received/#comment-32688 Ruth Turner Mon, 07 Jan 2008 06:30:53 +0000 http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2007/12/23/freely-you-have-received/#comment-32688 "Keep all your plans surrendered to the Lord, so if it doesn’t go “your way,” you will know it went His way and you can be content." The above comment made me think of every day of my life and every situation I get discontent about. It is always going His way and I need to be content with that. Thanks for this thought. “Keep all your plans surrendered to the Lord, so if it doesn’t go “your way,” you will know it went His way and you can be content.”

The above comment made me think of every day of my life and every situation I get discontent about. It is always going His way and I need to be content with that. Thanks for this thought.

]]> By: Kristi http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2007/12/23/freely-you-have-received/#comment-32190 Kristi Sat, 29 Dec 2007 04:32:48 +0000 http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2007/12/23/freely-you-have-received/#comment-32190 Haha, me, too - nightgowns! For me it was lots of eye pillows, heat therapy packs, and crayon rollups for the kids.... too bad that I just now read this post; I know it would have encouraged me tremendously! That's okay, I can smile now and appreciate the words of wisdom so much. It was so hard for the last several weeks with 3 kids under four and 9 weeks sick and pregnant with baby #4, but God sustained me, and all of your advice is so good. I will have to tuck this away and read it again next November! :) Haha, me, too - nightgowns! For me it was lots of eye pillows, heat therapy packs, and crayon rollups for the kids…. too bad that I just now read this post; I know it would have encouraged me tremendously! That’s okay, I can smile now and appreciate the words of wisdom so much. It was so hard for the last several weeks with 3 kids under four and 9 weeks sick and pregnant with baby #4, but God sustained me, and all of your advice is so good. I will have to tuck this away and read it again next November! :)

]]> By: Valerie (Kyriosity) http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2007/12/23/freely-you-have-received/#comment-32104 Valerie (Kyriosity) Fri, 28 Dec 2007 03:23:48 +0000 http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2007/12/23/freely-you-have-received/#comment-32104 Megan, I didn't know y'all were expecting again! Congrats! Megan, I didn’t know y’all were expecting again! Congrats!

]]> By: Megan Okimoto http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2007/12/23/freely-you-have-received/#comment-32101 Megan Okimoto Fri, 28 Dec 2007 02:13:05 +0000 http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2007/12/23/freely-you-have-received/#comment-32101 How did you know I had sewn three nightgowns? Okay, they were for American Girl dolls, but still....spooky. I didn't stay up all night, though. Women who are just finally out of their first trimester (on Christmas Day! Merry Christmas to me!) aren't allowed to be nearly as crazy as they otherwise might be. teehee. But, I think the fact of being pregnant made my brand of craziness a little bit crazier. I'm afraid that I'm proud of that. How did you know I had sewn three nightgowns? Okay, they were for American Girl dolls, but still….spooky. I didn’t stay up all night, though. Women who are just finally out of their first trimester (on Christmas Day! Merry Christmas to me!) aren’t allowed to be nearly as crazy as they otherwise might be. teehee. But, I think the fact of being pregnant made my brand of craziness a little bit crazier. I’m afraid that I’m proud of that.

]]> By: ladyrita http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2007/12/23/freely-you-have-received/#comment-32068 ladyrita Thu, 27 Dec 2007 14:28:33 +0000 http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2007/12/23/freely-you-have-received/#comment-32068 Wonderful post! I agree about the coffee and fudge, apparently this is a rather common occurrence. My father-in-law filled my stocking with tools. I hope I didn't offend him because I cannot stop laughing at them. I know they are very handy, and will be useful, and it just cracks me up. Wonderful post! I agree about the coffee and fudge, apparently this is a rather common occurrence.
My father-in-law filled my stocking with tools. I hope I didn’t offend him because I cannot stop laughing at them. I know they are very handy, and will be useful, and it just cracks me up.

]]> By: Missy http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2007/12/23/freely-you-have-received/#comment-31941 Missy Wed, 26 Dec 2007 01:27:27 +0000 http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2007/12/23/freely-you-have-received/#comment-31941 When I read the bit about coffee and fudge, I thought perhaps you were hiding somewhere in my house. My entire family has been blessed by this message, thank you for that. I have a funny rendition on the "chainsaw" theme. 25 years ago my father gave my mom an extension ladder for Christmas. About the moment it dawned on him that it wasn't just what she might have wished for, she hopped out of her chair and said, "Let's take it outside and see if it reaches the high window in the front. I'll climb if you boys will hold it steady." It was a great moment, and I have always been warmed by how well she saved face for him. When I read the bit about coffee and fudge, I thought perhaps you were hiding somewhere in my house. My entire family has been blessed by this message, thank you for that.
I have a funny rendition on the “chainsaw” theme. 25 years ago my father gave my mom an extension ladder for Christmas. About the moment it dawned on him that it wasn’t just what she might have wished for, she hopped out of her chair and said, “Let’s take it outside and see if it reaches the high window in the front. I’ll climb if you boys will hold it steady.” It was a great moment, and I have always been warmed by how well she saved face for him.

]]> By: diane l. vaughan http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2007/12/23/freely-you-have-received/#comment-31840 diane l. vaughan Mon, 24 Dec 2007 19:08:32 +0000 http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2007/12/23/freely-you-have-received/#comment-31840 A good word indeed! Those three words you mentioned sum up my need when feeling bad because I didn't meet my standard - "Let it go." I've had to embrace these words about some of the things on my list that just didn't get "checked off." And I well recall, Nancy, your admonishment not to get wrapped up doing the "morbid introspection" thing. After all, it is Christmas! Shame on us for allowing discontent and anxiety to steel away the focus of the greatest gift of all - Jesus, our blessed Savior! Merry Christmas to you all! A good word indeed! Those three words you mentioned sum up my need when feeling bad because I didn’t meet my standard - “Let it go.” I’ve had to embrace these words about some of the things on my list that just didn’t get “checked off.” And I well recall, Nancy, your admonishment not to get wrapped up doing the “morbid introspection” thing. After all, it is Christmas! Shame on us for allowing discontent and anxiety to steel away the focus of the greatest gift of all - Jesus, our blessed Savior! Merry Christmas to you all!

]]> By: Becky http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2007/12/23/freely-you-have-received/#comment-31833 Becky Mon, 24 Dec 2007 16:35:29 +0000 http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2007/12/23/freely-you-have-received/#comment-31833 The chainsaw thing made me laugh - my dad was famous for giving my mom a fishing rod, a shotgun, etc. for Christmas. But you know some of my best childhood memories are of how she laughed at it, and then we all went out and had a great time fishing or learning to shoot together! The chainsaw thing made me laugh - my dad was famous for giving my mom a fishing rod, a shotgun, etc. for Christmas. But you know some of my best childhood memories are of how she laughed at it, and then we all went out and had a great time fishing or learning to shoot together!

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