Stolen from Mark Blogerson

I think God measures our acts of worship by their level of sacrifice. No sacrifice = No worship. Remember the story where David wants to buy a threshing floor from Araunah the Jebusite? Araunah offers it for free, but David refuses. He says, "I'm not going to offer God, my God, sacrifices that are no sacrifices." Other versions says use the phrase "cost me nothing."Honestly, I wonder how many of our acts of worship don't even count because they don't involve any sacrifice? His sacrifice warrants more than spare change. His sacrifice warrants more than spare time. We've got to do better than leftover spirituality that offers God what's leftover. For the record, I don't believe anyone has ever sacrifice anything for God. Sure, we make temporal sacrifices. But let me ask a question: if you always get back more than you gave up have you really sacrifice anything at all? The think the answer is no! In the words of Jim Elliot, "He is no fool who loses what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

Mark Batterson
www.evotional.com

I have been thinking about this very premise all week. I wanted to write about it, but Mark is an amazing writer so when I read this on his blog this morning I figured I would just steal it!
One word of encouragement...make sure your not just thinking about the great things your gonna do "later on" or "one day" for God. Instead do what he is telling you today. Even it feels a little difficult or uncomfortable. It might even seem a little foolish or humbling, but HE IS WORTH IT! Don't let your emotions discourage you from something you know you are supposed to do for him and don't ever make a decision when you are mentally, physically, or spiritually exhausted. Those who chase after the comforts of this life will always end up wanting. It's amazing how pushing through the sacrifices God asks us to make do something amazing...we learn, we become better people (more like Him), and we truly see how sufficient His grace can be when we let it!

Smorgablog Part 2

More things kids say... (taken from my Facebook status)

Convo with Jack "So God gets to pick what I will be when grow up?" Me- "Yes, but don't worry He knows you the best and will pick the perfect thing for you." Jack- "I sure hope he doesn't pick dentist!" Me- "Why?" Jack- "boooring, all they do is check out people's teeth all day!"Read More
August 11 at 12:34pm

He also hoped God wouldn't pick a guy who cuts down trees or a pizza maker.
August 11 at 12:35pm
Caught Micah dragging puppy across the floor by a fistfull of fur. The poor dog didn't do anything, she just went along with it!
August 3 at 8:34pm

Micah is a starbucks addict. He is walking around with a vivanno and won't let anyone touch it and he keeps saying "mmmmm".
August 3 at 4:29pm

From the mouth of Jack..."ahh a bug!! Somebody get me my gun."
July 20 at 6:43pm

Jackson eyeing the storm clouds. "Looks like there's gonna be a brain storm!"
July 13 at 8:51pm

Aww Micah learned how to give a kiss and say "Love u too" in the same day!
June 20 at 8:52pm

Sam's club...kids...tomatoes rolling every where...
June 15 at 1:48pm

is at Jack's first gymnastics class... He won't stop jumping up and down on the springy floor...he looks like a little pogo stick
June 8 at 3:59pm


For Smorgablog part 1 and more Carroll family craziness http://ladylighthouse.blogspot.com/2009/06/smorgablog.html

George Muller blogs my mind...

Well he BLOWS my mind actually. I am so blessed by his utter dependence on God. He had such amazing faith. George Muller's autobiography makes me want to get on my knees! So much of it is resonating in my heart. He never asked for support from people, but instead made his request known to God and God supplied...not only for his family, but for the thousands of orphans he cared for over the years. If God can miraculously provide for thousands of children he can certainly provide for three! His amazing faith and prayer life aren't the only things speaking to my heart. Also, his love and desire to care for children. He just thought so big when it came to changing the lives of kids. I have new found LOVE for children's ministry. It's one of the greatest joys in my life. I pray the Lord lead me to think big and trust Him for great things.
It's kind of funny I truly think God wants me to glean from Muller's life. Not only am I reading his autobiography right now, but both devotions I read the past two days featured stories about him as well!

Here are some quotes from Muller...

"4 hours of work after an hour of prayer accomplish more than 5 hours of work."

"In my...69 years...that I have ever SINCERELY and PATIENTLY sought to know the will of God by the teaching of the Holy Ghost and through...the Word of God...I have always been directed rightly. But if honesty of heart and uprightness before God were lacking or I did not PATIENTLY wait upon God for instruction, or if I preferred the counsel of my fellow men to the ...Word of the living God, I made great mistakes."

Blogyond the window pane

Micah loves to sit at the window. It's cute to see him discover that the world is bigger than he thought!

big blog out!

Well, Micah became an artist today. A diaper artist. He started earlier than my other children. Jacey dabbled in diaper art covering her crib. Jackson was a diaper art aficionado. His works of art were not confined to the crib noooooo. He loved to cover walls, grind his work into the carpet, paint toys. He would walk through it, hide his works of art under toys, once he actually rode a big wheel through it...in his bedroom.

If you have never had children this post might confuse you, but most likely you too will one day know the joys of your child expressing himself (or herself) through diaper art.

What's in my Bookblog? (or What am I reading right now?)

Decided to turn off Facebook for awhile and draw closer to the Lord. If you've read some of my previous blogs you know we are in the midst of a big transition. I am trying to use this time to make sure I have surrendered what I need to and that my life is quiet enough so I can hear His still small voice. So quickly my life fills up and then the quiet moments I do have I can spend them mindlessly clicking through the Internet.

Anyway, this is what I am reading right now...

Absolutely amazing devotional for the heavier times in life.

A man who lived by faith his entire adult life once he surrendered everything to God. Not only were all of his personal and family needs met, but he opened orphanages from the ground up with out ever asking for a penny (from man, he asked A LOT from GOD.) This book inspires me to go deeper in God's word and in prayer.

A really great book written by a man who's joy and hunger for the Lord inspires me to get creative and look at my obstacles as opportunities to see God glorified. I am also reading through Mark Batterson's other book Wild Goose Chase.

Blogeroni

Micah loves pizza. I don't know if he knows it's food though because it never looks like he eats much...more like he smears it all over himself!

Not a good pic, but this is what I was able to do with his hair after his pizza. It stayed for over an hour...

Picking bloggies!

I had the privilege of taking some of my favorite people in the world to one of my favorite places in the world! Some of my Sunday school class came with me to Berry Patch Farms! :)The sweet and beautiful Laura came with us too.

Clarissa
David
Jacqueline with Micah- she has a very motherly heart. :)

Sammy

Jose :)

Laura

David and Bacon...she was resting in front of the door to the little store blocking the way! lol

Sabrina :)

Alejandro on the tractor to the berry fields

Ricardo

Alejandro found the biggest berries of the day.

Love the picture below!

i think maybe Jose ate a few! ;)

Micah sampling the berries.

At first he wasn't so sure and spit them out...

But after another try...

Sammy and his fake berry blood.

So after another try he was eating so many that Laura had to give him every other one she picked!

Oops Moving to slow I'll just take one from here!

Uh oh...someone found out that berries squish nicely!

Dropping lunch on the ground and watching chickens eat it...

Carrots

Flowers for their Mom's

Miraculously Bacon can walk!
I've had enough fun for one day!!!