The Family Table, Psalm 128

How important is The Family Table?

Recently I have taken an interest in the family dynamics and how they relate to shaping our culture. Better yet, how they COMPLETELY shape our culture. In our itunes library, we have a great audio message by Doug Phillips called "The Family Table." What an amazing 45 minutes. What seems like just a place to eat our vegetables and balance our checkbooks actually is the key to defining family culture. Especially Christian family culture.

Did you know the table was patterned by Christ through the bible? Doug Phillips explains how the table... your table is the center of peace, instruction, hospitality, discipleship, and cultural transformation.

It was at the table where we were given our first communion and where Christ broke bread. We in turn gather with our families and break bread with them.

In Psalm 128 we read about the gathering of the table and who is to be seated there... The righteous man, his wife, who is the fruitful vine and the sons... like olive shoots. Olive shoots.... did you know that olive shoots were highly sought after in a Hebrew economy? The bible compares children as highly sought after jewels. Blessed is the man who has them...

The knowledge this man pours forth is amazing. Too much to ever include in one post.

We have one precious table in our home. It was our dream to have a big one. So far ours seats 8, but we have squeezed 12. We are never limited. There is always room.

Our table is the center of our home.

Its where we laugh, where we gather to talk, where we teach, where we play and at times where we cry. Each chair has a story. We have welcomed many many people at its side in the couple of years we have owned it.

In the center sits our big red cast iron pot filled with delicious warm food I cooked on my stove. Its used every day.

Every meal is eaten together at this table. Hubby at the head, children gathered at its side and myself on the other end.

All are welcome. We discuss our day and share our souls. The table is our heart.

During the day, we school on it. We learn, we study and we write. What better place than learning at our heart?

I would not have it any other way.

Our table remains the center point in our home. Its worn and a bit stained. Its comfortable. I don't wish for another. 2 tables do not excite me. I love my one.It defines OUR Christian culture. It defines OUR family. Its where dreams and hopes are shared. Its where we break our bread.

How do you define your table?

Luke 6:45

Our words tell who we are...

The expression on your face shows what is in your heart...

Your face is the greatest witness you have...

Your face tells others who Jesus is...

"The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks...."

Psalm

"IN THE MORNING, O LORD, YOU HEAR MY VOICE; IN THE MORNING I LAY MY REQUESTS BEFORE YOU AND WAIT IN EXPECTATION."

PSALM 4:3

I have come back to this verse several times in the last week. During bible study with the kids we read Psalm 4. I kept reading this verse and tried to explain how awesome it is. To me, its a fresh start. We wake to a new morning and begin by handing it over to the Lord. Our burdens are lifted as we leave our worries, requests, fears, anxieties, sorrows and all those problems at the cross. I leave my room slightly lighter than when I entered and have a joyful bounce in my step... knowing Jesus will take care of me. I will wait on Him and He will guide me. When I mess up, I just go to Him. When I have questions, I just ask Him, when I need wisdom, I just go to Him... I search the scriptures and get my daily bread.... always yearning for more.

Listen to the words "Sweetly Broken" on my playlist and wholly surrender!

Just Reflecting

Every time I turn on the news, read the paper or browse the internet I am bombarded with grim news. Last night was no exception. After a wonderful time celebrating the Mpact moving-up ceremony and feasting on cake with fellow believers and friends , we hurried home and tucked the kids in bed. The news was on and so was Aol. Latest news was read. My eyes and ears could not believe what was before them.

This comes as no surprise. To anyone with any biblical knowledge, know the events that must unfold... whether or not they choose to believe. How close it was at hand was what really hit home. A few years? If that? Guns being found in elementary school? Our health being handed over on a platter? Being forced to vaccinate or lose your job?? On vaccines that are not even done with testing? Laws are being placed into effect without our knowledge and when we finally get the "memo" its too late. The list goes on and on. Perhaps this was Gods way of knocking on my heart and telling me to get ready. Prepare our hearts and continue building our foundation.

I was chatting with a non-homeschooling friend a few weeks ago and we were discussing whether certain people feel that every Christian should homeschool or not. I have always stood on the grounds of..."its a personal choice..." its a calling from God and should not be done without His leading. As the world rapidly shifts so has my thinking. Last night as I prayed and thanked God that Homeschoolers still have this freedom, I realized that perhaps we should not wait for God to call us to home school. Perhaps we need to seek Him on this subject. Maybe us moms need to step forth in faith... as us home schoolers know, faith is needed in heavy doses. See, the world has blocked so much of our way to Him. So much muck and grime has slipped into our paths of us Christians that we sometimes don't know a clear line of Christian vs. worldly doctrine.

I started letting fear fill me last night. 100 scenarios filled my heads, all pertaining to my precious children. For one of the first times in my life, I lifted my head and asked the Lord to rapture us real soon....

I opened my bible knowing the only one that can calm my fears and ease my anxiety is Him. I would love to write that God led me right to this amazing prophetic verse... but He did not. Instead I "stumbled" across the life of Paul... an all to familiar missionary. I skimmed thru his letters and read about his persecutions and imprisonments... all due to his faith.

"Oh Lord" I prayed..." Im way to weak to ever go thru what Paul went thru... just take us now and guarantee our place..."

It was a cowards prayer but a truthful one, after all, God already knows what im thinking anyway.

I got too tired to even hold the book and had the most restful slumber. I dreamed of shopping (seriously) and for all of you that know me, know, God could not have placed me in a more peaceful sleep than that!! =)

This morning I felt lighter. "Joy comes in the morning..." as promised. I still was not happy about our current situation but knew I would have to pray it thru.

As I was doing the dishes and discussing our day with the kids, I (not so happily) reminded Hannah that her bible verse MUST be memorized by the end of the week. I write a new one on the board every sunday night from her list of "Must learn" for Mpact. I pick them in no certain order.

I glanced over at the board again and there it was. My answer to prayer.... in my own handwriting from 4 days ago... Its from the "End-Times" unit. I read it and smiled. God is so Good.

The very verse I needed for the exact reasons of why I was fearful was on my board in big bold letters... It was as good as if God had hand written it himself. Click on the picture, maki it bigger and read for yourself. Isn't God amazing????