My one flaw

Right.  You know.  I only have one flaw.  But in thinking about it this morning I was reminded of a certain someone who is very near and dear to my heart, who, when told by her physician to stop smoking said, "But it's my only sin!"

So, assuming that I, too, live in Fantasyland and I only have one flaw, I shall be transparent before you and share it here on my blog.

Occasionally in the past, maybe three or four times that I can remember, around the end of the year or the beginning of the next year, God has laid on my heart something in my life that I need to work on.  Maybe it's because it's the time of year when I do like to reflect on my life, and so I am more sensitive to His prompting or leading in this area than at other times.  Maybe it's because in that reflection I realize He has been trying to get my attention in a given area that I've been resisting for some time.

Anyway, last year it was prayer.  I spent all of January and February working through (reading, thinking about, noting, and seeking to apply) this amazing book by Daniel Henderson called Transforming Prayer.  I loved it.  It really opened my eyes to how prayer (admittedly, a struggle for me) could be dynamic and exciting when based in worship.  I talked about it frequently and I ordered a few copies to give away to friends.

And that was that.

I have (two or three times) gone through a tremendous Bible study on biblical eating.  It makes absolute sense and I believe it to be true ~ that food to me is an idol that needs to be abolished.  Whenever I do the lesson, I sense truth in my heart and a desire to do life differently.  And then I close up the study for the day and move on to the next thing on my to-do list.

And that is that.

I love love love to read and study my Bible.  I was introduced this past year to Kay Arthur's inductive study method and it appeals to my heart so much that it brings genuine joy to me to get out my colored pencils and mark my Bible and make my lists. 

And that's that.

Are you following me?  I have been convicted this past year that I lack application in my life.  Sure, there are certain messages from God that are simply and immediately applied (even some I haven't liked), but the ones that involve true heart change and lifelong habit change - not so much.

And so I am sensing my "theme" for the coming year ~ application. 

What's funny is that in pursuing that character trait of putting into practice what God is teaching me, some of the other things I've yearned to learn (including prayer and self-control and discipline) should flow out of that.

Recently I finished Packer's Knowing God.  (Side note:  my least favorite genre to read is Christian non-fiction, but ... This. Book.  It's tremendous.  I resisted reading it for years and now I wish I hadn't.  It is amazing and the majority of my book is noted and highlighted because there are so many nuggets of wisdom that I need to remember and apply...)  A wise commenter on Facebook said:

Knowledge without obedience (read: application)

just takes up brain space.

Lack of obedience is poor stewardship

of our brain cells.

- TG Rousch, 8/18/15

I confess that knowledge is something I crave.  I love learning, especially learning about God and His Word.  I have several Bible studies going at once, and I love love love to talk about what I am seeing through them.  (Knowledge may be, perhaps, even an idol in my heart.)  But knowledge is different from wisdom, which, I believe, is the application of knowledge. 

Application.  Obedience.  Wisdom.  It's what's for dinner.

From Grace's tournament in November

 

This was a forms event in a tournament in Aurora for elementary kids in northern Colorado.  Grace was a blue belt (just promoted to red belt a couple of weeks ago) and took first place in her group.  Forms is definitely her strongest category of the four main competitive genres (forms, grappling, sparring, and board breaking)  

All is well

I just didn't get a chance to blog last week while I was at work, and at home my netbook does not apparently like me to blog (although I'm kind of wondering if that new router my Ro installed this weekend might help that...)

But we are good, fine, A-OK, and still kickin'. 

Christianne has returned to work at the soup kitchen - I mean - Panera.  They were happy to have her back and gave her a little bit of a raise so that always helps.  She/we is/are currently processing her separation paperwork from the Navy and have quite a bit to figure out over the next few months - including whether or not she wants to go back in or not.  We are moving forward as if that were a yes, but there is still much to determine ~ whether or not she can re-enter as a CTI, whether or not she can get waivers for the items which separated her.  She just returned to work, so we will begin attacking those other things soon.

Master Scott (he is officially a Master, now, by the way, earning his 3rd degree black belt two days ago) has graciously been allowing Christianne to train for free at the dojang until she returns to the Navy.  She is finding that she is loving it, especially sparring, despite the beating (no pun intended) her body took last week.  Her foot was badly bruised and her sternum hurt when she laughed, or ran.

Joshua and Grace are out of school this week, and I dare say I will not likely see much of Grace as she has friends who seem to adore her and keep her for long periods of time.  She, too, has been doing well, scoring first place in forms at a tournament last week, and earning her promotion to red belt after testing last week as well.  She has been studying taekwondo now for about 3 and a half years and this red belt signals a definite turning point as all things now are training for her black belt.  It will be at least a year in the making, probably more.  She is so excited, though, as are we, and we're all very proud.  I will figure out how to upload some video of that in another post.

Josh has indeed earned all the money he needs for his trip to Europe in just a few months.  Actually, if you would, please pray for our boy and the trip and the circumstances in Greece and other parts of Europe that give us a little pause in our excitement.  Josh has worked so hard, and continues to work hard, and has been learning to balance a heavy work load on top of a heavy school load with a little bit of social life and driver's ed training thrown in.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Breckenridge

A week or so ago, my Ro and I got to get away.  We were able to check out beautiful Breckenridge for the first time since we've been to Colorado and stay in a friend's condo.

It was just awful.  Here is her unkempt backyard.

There was nothing really to see, nothing to look at.

 

So boring.  We had to entertain ourselves by geocaching.

OK, seriously, I can't keep up with that because it was breathtakingly beautiful there.  We did geocache, and one in particular took us here.  This is one of my favorite pictures of all time.

And another here.

Perfect weather, too early for the skiers to bombard the little town, time spent with the one I love, what a wonderful weekend.

Oh, we didn't forget to thank our host, either.  She is a Patriots fan.