Our Olive Plants: Lovely Is His Name

Every Thursday, Around Our Table will feature one of our children's thoughts. It will be in whatever form they decide to express themselves. This section will be titled, 'Our Olive Plants,' with a subtitle of their selection. Enjoy!

~Lovely Is His Name~

Oh, how lovely is the name

Of God our sovereign Lord.

A name to fear, a name to love,

A name to be sought for.

The One who came, and through His love,

Died on Calvary's tree,

And suffered for OUR transgression;

He died for you and me.

And from that came salvation

From Hell and misery,

To be with Him, through thick and thin,

Because of Him we see.

Now we are called His church, His elect,

Though we may stumble and fall,

And find a way to make a mess,

He helps us through it all!

About the Author:

Elise Judith is a 12-year-old that LOVES to read. She's been known to consume 7 books in a single week. She prefers to read biographies. She also loves playing the piano.

This has been weighing heavily on my mind. How often do I call God good, but only when things are going the way I want? I must trust that ALL of His ways are good!

You know what's a pet peeve of mine? When one of my kids ask me for something, and then ask me when and how it will be done. And some have had the nerve to complain because what they asked for didn't come when they had expected, or how they expected it to come. You know what I've done because of their ungratefulness? I've withheld what I was going to give them for a time. Then, I ask them if they believe I have their best interests at heart, and if they do, why did they not trust my decision and timing.

I'm not saying that God acts like me. He never has sinful motives, and He has more patience in one finger than I have in my whole body for a lifetime! But, I can only imagine how we grieve God when we act like spoiled children. When we complain when we didn't get quite what we wanted, when we wanted it. We constantly say, "God is good." Do we truly believe this? Is He still good when we lose our homes? Or when we don't get the job we applied for? Or when we see the wicked living comfortably? Ask yourself. Is He good then?


"He is the rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He." Deuteronomy 32:4

Our Olive Plants: Brethren

Every Thursday, Around Our Table will feature one of our children's thoughts. It will be in whatever form they decide to express themselves. This section will be titled, 'Our Olive Plants,' with a subtitle of their selection. Enjoy!

~Brethren~

Love of the Brethren, pride of the pack.

Helping to gain what another might lack.

Serving as pages, individuals who are saved.

Fighting as knights for the victory claimed.

Together we are nothing, sinners hell bound

Under Christ, we are something, once lost, but ever found.

Purging our flocks of wolves who deny

The sovereignty of Christ, the Trinity on High.

But why?

Because we love our dear Brethren, and pray they are blessed

Let a hypocrite never enter and cast lies in our midst.

For our Church is the Body, the workers of Christ.

How can we honor God if our crowd disunites?

Let us stay joined together as a temple for Him.

Fitted in position to destroy any sin.

But why?

Because we love our dear brethren and there is no people like us

Sodom did fall for its vile, sensual progression.

Babel, the same, for its prideful conception.

But us? We will stand and draw closer to God.

Oh, Holy Spirit, let us ever the road of Love, trod!

And keep us in unity to our Master, the Father.

And why?

We love Him...He first loved us.

About the Author:

Ian Gabriel is a 13-year-old, with an interest in writing and reading. He enjoys reading books on Theology and poetry. 

But God...

Before going to work this morning, Aaron said that if I would've shown him a picture of our marriage now, 3 years ago, he wouldn't have believed it. I had to agree. There was no communication. There was no oneness. There was a cheap imitation of love. The love that the world portrays. The love that demanded from the other, but not from oneself.

But God...

God has a way of using the most foolish, unworthy people. The people that others would say, "Yup, I give them 6 months and it'll be over. " And, we gave more than ample evidence for believing so.

But God...

The morning when it seemed as though we had reached our final plateau, I remember thinking that I was going to exit with a bang. My will at that moment was to shatter any hopes of Aaron and I working out our marriage. I was so filled with rage and pride.

But God...

But God had His will and His purpose. I sing praises to His sovereignty! His that is not contingent upon mine! I turned to Aaron, and in an instant, my will was overcome by God's love. I couldn't speak. Just tears. Love-HIS love, filled the room. It was so tangible that I was sure Aaron felt it too. I asked, "Aaron, do you feel that?...what is that?....is that love?" I fell to the floor in repentance, first towards God, then towards Aaron. We both repented. It was strange, because although I was ashamed of my behavior and my actions, the guilt was gone upon realizing that His sacrificial act surpassed all that I had done or could do. It surpasses ALL understanding! Aaron and I haven't looked back since, but only to sing praises to God for His intervention. 

What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? ~ Psalm 8:4

How often do I meditate on this verse. This verse has become my heart's puzzled, yet joyful cry. I know that what I am about to say will fly in the face of the ideology that we are to believe in ourselves, and work on our self-esteem. I actually believe that when we hit rock bottom, and think that we're nothing but a wretch, that's when God appears. When all is hopeless, that's when God can be glorified. He's not looking to share His glory, but to reveal His glory and His alone. And then, when we esteem HIM, will we see our worth, being the creatures He delighted in creating.

I believe that God saved Aaron and I for His good pleasure. If anyone knows our situation intimately, I pray that every time they see us, they glorify God in what He alone was able to do, and say, "I know Aaron and Lizzy shouldn't be together right now. They were selfish and stubborn. But God..."

Run update

I have recently started running to stay healthy. I will start sharing milestones and goals. Here's an update:

<div id="fb-root"></div> <script>(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script> <div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/TwoBecomeOneFlesh/posts/10152256841654572"><div class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TwoBecomeOneFlesh/posts/10152256841654572">Post</a> by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TwoBecomeOneFlesh">Aaron N Elizabeth Hanson</a>.</div></div>

I'm learning to quit sweating the small things.

These past few days have been rather trying with the kids and their messes. My first instinct is to go ballistic! I think at times my kids make messes on purpose just to see me have a stress attack! I mean, I'm trying to teach them to be responsible and be clean as well, but without obsessing over it! I'm still learning. Every day is a new day to try again. And hopefully, learn from yesterday's mistakes. So grateful for God's forgiveness....and the children's!

I'm learning to quit sweating the small things. In the past, I used to let a piece of paper on the floor ruin my morning...no lie! Now, if someone comes over, they would probably think, "Lizzy, there's no way you ever suffered from OCD!" Lol! Books on the bookshelves are not perfectly lined up, toys are not categorized by type, the dining room has become a campsite with comforters over the table as a tent, the bathroom looks as though a tornado went through after evening baths...

My point is not that we shouldn't keep our homes clean! My kids have chores they do daily, and Saturdays are let-us-get-this-home-clean days, so don't think I've turned into a slob! What I am saying is let the children feel like your home is their home, too! I, too often, made the children feel like the only place they could be themselves was in their own rooms. That shouldn't be the case! They should feel free to be creative throughout the home! (Within reason! I wish the little guys would quit tagging the walls!  ) 

The day is coming that I will miss the toys on the floor, the little ones streaking through the hall after their baths, leaving trails of water behind. I will miss the ruckus of two boys doing the dishes, and yelling because the other keeps throwing a soapy wet sponge at him. I will miss the moments of genius that has left the living room to look like a parade of elephants just went through. Don't sweat the small things. One day you will miss the messes that only happy, laughing, joyous, creative kids can make!

I am sitting here.... I am drained here.... I am alone here....

I am sitting here....

I am drained here....

I am alone here....

I'm so glad that I can feel! Feelings remind me that I am affected by my environment and all those in it. I have to be on my guard on a regular basis because of this. Although these feelings are very real, they can also be very deceiving.

Am I really lonely? Am I feeling this way because man is not approving of me? Or am I feeling this way because I have failed to bring my concerns to the Lord? Yes, I just admitted that. I have to. We were made to glorify God and to be in communion with Him, so when we fail to do this, our hearts become desperate for affection. The truth of the matter is, I have a God that will never leave me or forsake me (Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrews 13:5). I must stay grounded in this truth. It is vital to my survival. OUR survival! Why? So we can avoid looking to other gods for company or approval.

A. W. Tozer wrote in his book, Whatever Happened To Worship?, "The Chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever." How beautiful it is for a believer to come to the knowledge that their whole existence is to glorify their maker! We have come to the realization that in order to enjoy and adore God in eternity, we must do so in time. So, in those moments when I feel like no one's watching, no one cares about what I'm doing, I know who it is I am aiming to please, and can say, "He's watching! He cares about what I'm doing!"

I am sitting here...

I am drained here...

But, I am NOT alone here!