KP Writes:
OK, so I admittedly am not an Old Testament scholar and I do not know much about many things. But, one of the glorious things about home schooling is that you are a perpetual learner. As a teacher of a younger student I was able to 'wing' it and draw on my previous education especially in the realm of secular academics. Let's face it, I have now graduated from high school, twice, and from medical college.
But as the teacher of a high school student in a year long study called History of God's Kingdom, I am at a loss. To that regard I am reading more than I thought humanly possible and learning things that astound me. Of particular appeal is a book Mallory is reading (therefore I have to read) which is a comprehensive guide to the entire Bible. Now, I typically steer clear of commentary type books until I have tried to do my own word studies, etc....But I am amazed at the way the Scriptures are being opened to me by understanding more of the historical and cultural context of certain books and passages. (I also believe these revelations are the answer to an apostolic prayer we have been praying over ourselves and each other for the last two years - Eph. 1: 17-19, "That the Father of glory, may give to me(us) the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of my(our) understanding being enlightened; that I(we) may know what is the hope of His calling, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power..."
Anyway, back to the Old Testament. This is very rudimentary for you who have studied, but my point is prayer, which I am getting to. In the Holy of Holies there were only two articles of furniture: the ark of the covenant and the golden altar of incense. Basically the ark of the covenant had the mercy seat under the overarching wings of the cherubim, where God's Shekinah glory dwelt. The golden altar of incense was that by which a nation was to offer its praise to God. This author was drawing a correlation that these two objects are symbolic of what is hidden in the depths of humanity.
The mercy seat speaks of human relationship with God. Hebrews tells us that it is blood alone that can make that relationship possible and acceptable.(Heb 9:22) It was the blood upon the mercy seat that released God's forgiveness and grace. Our Lord entered into the hidden spirit of humanity and offered His own blood. Hebrews 9:12, "He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption."
The altar of incense speaks of the communication between people and God, the place of prayer. Prayer is the deepest function of the human spirit. Nothing goes deeper than that. God, in the humanity of Jesus Christ, made the way through His redeeming blood for us to communicate with GOD! Us, not some saintly high priest, not some pastor we esteem, but US. We can pray anytime, all the time. We can 'do' what the human spirit was created to do. Whether driven to our knees by despair, defeat, exhaustion, need, joy, thanksgiving, sorrow, our spirit can cry out to the God of the universe. That is what prayer is at its most fundamental level: the cry of the spirit. God gave us a spirit that with the need for communion and the function of prayer. Then He gave us redemption through the blood of Jesus so that we could have those needs met and perform that function. He is our all in all. Through prayer we exercise that cry in our spirit.
Blessings, Kristian
January 26, 2011
January 25, 2011
KP: Snow
KP Writes:
Well 3 weeks ago we got our first snow of the season. Although we have been thankful we have not had all the extra work and mess that comes with snow here in the midwest, we were kind of disappointed that everyone else, including our friends and family in GA were getting snow and we were not. This first snow was about 5 inches and really didn't change our schedules at all. Things just take a little more time, like backing out of the driveway or getting appropriate clothes on to leave the house.
Jeff sweeping the truck and shoveling the drive so that he could go to the prayer room. Don't worry, we have an equal opportunity household. Ashton and I each had the privilege of shoveling the driveway during this snow as well. That will teach us to wait a couple hours between each other when we have leave the house.
Mallory and Ashton dressing to go out and play in the snow during their lunch break from school. Yes, we still have school when it snows, Papa. One of the many benefits of home schooling. (But we also get to take a late fall/early Christmas break to go with you on cruises because we home school!)
Ashton in her Canadian Olympic gloves.
Why is it that the first thing my kids do in the snow is eat off the dirty trampoline?
Oh no. Here they go again....WHERE IS THE MOM??
Yes, they always want to make snow angels. Not in the yard, but in the middle of the street. (There was a car coming behind the mail truck. But the girls assured me they would be done before it got there because they had to drive so slow with all the snow. )
Struttin' Mallory.
Snow eating Ashton.....
......with some great manners. Must be from the Price side.
None of our snow had gone anywhere until six days later when it began to rain heavily. In a matter of hours the snow was gone. That however, only lasted about 2 days. Then we got a big snow!!
In one Wednesday evening /night we got 9 inches! In fact the weather forcasters had predicted this storm and issued a winter storm warning before it started. Ashton's boss (the manager of the hotel where she works as the breakfast hostess) had called her Wednesday morning and said he had made a room reservation for her for that night at the hotel, if it was ok with her parents. In all, he had made 8 reservations for all the people who were scheduled to work first thing Thursday morning. With her shift starting so early, it would be doubtful she would be getting anywhere before the snow plows could do their job. So, Mallory and Ashton headed to the hotel for a "girl's night". Mallory got the best end of the deal since she slept in until 9:30AM and then just read some of her literature until Ashton got off at noon when they checked out. It was really comical, when Jeff and I dropped them off; they checked in carrying a couple bags of popcorn they had microwaved at home. (good movie snacks) Right beside them was the morning front desk guy checking in with a Little Caesar's pizza!
Nine inches. You can zoom in if you want! :)
The driveway, steps and front porch must be shoveled before you can even leave the house.
I wonder how our six fish are doing in this fish pond? Can anyone say 'fishcicles'?
It is hard to believe there is a big multi-level raised, rock enclosed garden here. There is also a large patio that starts at the lamp post on the left.
It has now been 13 days since the 9 inch snow and we still have 7 inches in the yard. Most of the streets were fairly clear until today. We were above freezing and sunny yesterday and today causing daytime melting with runoff. Now we have ice slicks where the water went across the roads. You have to be alert, ever mindful...To me this is a reminder in the natural for the prayer cry I have for the church in America. "Awake o sleeper!" You must awaken, be alert and ever mindful!
Love you,
Kristian
Well 3 weeks ago we got our first snow of the season. Although we have been thankful we have not had all the extra work and mess that comes with snow here in the midwest, we were kind of disappointed that everyone else, including our friends and family in GA were getting snow and we were not. This first snow was about 5 inches and really didn't change our schedules at all. Things just take a little more time, like backing out of the driveway or getting appropriate clothes on to leave the house.
Jeff sweeping the truck and shoveling the drive so that he could go to the prayer room. Don't worry, we have an equal opportunity household. Ashton and I each had the privilege of shoveling the driveway during this snow as well. That will teach us to wait a couple hours between each other when we have leave the house.
Mallory and Ashton dressing to go out and play in the snow during their lunch break from school. Yes, we still have school when it snows, Papa. One of the many benefits of home schooling. (But we also get to take a late fall/early Christmas break to go with you on cruises because we home school!)
Ashton in her Canadian Olympic gloves.
Why is it that the first thing my kids do in the snow is eat off the dirty trampoline?
Oh no. Here they go again....WHERE IS THE MOM??
Yes, they always want to make snow angels. Not in the yard, but in the middle of the street. (There was a car coming behind the mail truck. But the girls assured me they would be done before it got there because they had to drive so slow with all the snow. )
Struttin' Mallory.
Snow eating Ashton.....
......with some great manners. Must be from the Price side.None of our snow had gone anywhere until six days later when it began to rain heavily. In a matter of hours the snow was gone. That however, only lasted about 2 days. Then we got a big snow!!
In one Wednesday evening /night we got 9 inches! In fact the weather forcasters had predicted this storm and issued a winter storm warning before it started. Ashton's boss (the manager of the hotel where she works as the breakfast hostess) had called her Wednesday morning and said he had made a room reservation for her for that night at the hotel, if it was ok with her parents. In all, he had made 8 reservations for all the people who were scheduled to work first thing Thursday morning. With her shift starting so early, it would be doubtful she would be getting anywhere before the snow plows could do their job. So, Mallory and Ashton headed to the hotel for a "girl's night". Mallory got the best end of the deal since she slept in until 9:30AM and then just read some of her literature until Ashton got off at noon when they checked out. It was really comical, when Jeff and I dropped them off; they checked in carrying a couple bags of popcorn they had microwaved at home. (good movie snacks) Right beside them was the morning front desk guy checking in with a Little Caesar's pizza!
Nine inches. You can zoom in if you want! :)
The driveway, steps and front porch must be shoveled before you can even leave the house.
I wonder how our six fish are doing in this fish pond? Can anyone say 'fishcicles'?
It is hard to believe there is a big multi-level raised, rock enclosed garden here. There is also a large patio that starts at the lamp post on the left. It has now been 13 days since the 9 inch snow and we still have 7 inches in the yard. Most of the streets were fairly clear until today. We were above freezing and sunny yesterday and today causing daytime melting with runoff. Now we have ice slicks where the water went across the roads. You have to be alert, ever mindful...To me this is a reminder in the natural for the prayer cry I have for the church in America. "Awake o sleeper!" You must awaken, be alert and ever mindful!
Love you,
Kristian
MP: Toilet Flower Pot
MP writes:
Hello,
Wow! It has been a really long time since I last blogged but it is kinda like my mom said it is a feast or a famine. Things are getting back into the swing of things now: school is going full blast, dance is back, and we have even set our new prayer room schedule.
From the title of this entry you are probably wondering where is she going? :) About four months ago on my way to dance I saw this one yard that had a toilet in it and I thought (and I quote) "That is absolutely disgusting." But the next time I went passed it I gave it another chance and noticed that it had some drop dead gorgeous flowers in it.
That is how we are sometimes. We see our outer self and feel torn down. When we then take a second glance we see that we are beautiful and our inner being gets stronger and we feel more full of the spirit.
It is as if God is taking ashes, the ugly, and showing us the glorious beauty. The Lord loves to give beauty for ashes.
"to bestow upon them a crown of beauty instead of ashes," Isaiah 61:3b.
Well hope you learn from this too.
Love Always,
Mallory
P.S. You should go to google and type in toilet flower pot pictures to get the full meaning of this blog.
January 24, 2011
JP: What's Your Crown a Memorial To?
“Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “Receive the gift from the captives; from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have come from Babylon; and go the same day and enter the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah. Take the silver and gold, make an elaborate crown, and set it on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest.” Zech 6:9-11
We all know the story of Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon ransacking Jerusalem and taking Daniel and thousands captive. Seventy years later, Cyrus king of Persia overthrew the Babylonians and ordered the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. So, here we find three of the exiles - Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah - returning to Israel bearing a gift of silver and gold from the exiles in Babylon. Only a relatively small number of the Jewish exiles returned with Zechariah the prophet to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. The rest either stayed behind in Babylon because they weren’t physically able to make the journey or because they knew that Jerusalem was the “hood” compared to Babylon.
The Lord commanded that the silver and gold be taken from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah. Why did He choose these three? The Lord reveals a lot about Himself as we examine their names (Heldai means vigor, Tobijah means God’s goodness, and Jedaiah means God knows). Our Heavenly Father knows that through His goodness, He will put His King on the throne, and He will do it in a vigorous manner.
This gift was to be taken and made into a crown to be placed upon the head of Joshua the high priest. It was really unusual to crown a high priest, because priests were never crowned as kings and kings were never priests. Throughout the history of Israel there has always been a separation of religious and civil leadersship. For example, 2 Chronicles 26 tells us the tragic story of King Uzziah who tried to function as a priest and as a result was stricken with leprosy for the rest of his life. Imagine what was running through Joshua's mind as they came to put this newly fashioned crown on him!
However, this was to be a symbolic act of crowning the high priest as one would crown a king. Joshua was crowned because he was representative of the character of the Messiah. He was a picture of the ruling Priest-King in the future. It will be Jesus who will be the only King who will also function as priest upon His throne and everlasting peace will be between His two offices.
"Now the elaborate crown shall be for a memorial in the temple of the Lord for Helem (healing), Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen (gracious) the son of Zephaniah" Zech 6:14
Here, the Lord tells us that the crown was to be a memorial in the temple of the gift given by the exiles from Babylon. They endured much to bring their gift to the Lord. Leaving the beauty of Babylon and going to ashes of Jersusalem. Conversely, when we invest our time, finances, and talents into reaching others for the kingdom, the people that are rescued and saved trade their ashes for the beauty and joy of the Lord. They become our crown memorials in the heavenly throne room.
If He asks, how much are you willing to endure in order to bring your?
Is 51:11 Those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Jeff
January 22, 2011
KP: Christmas in the Sky
KP Writes:
On Wednesday evening before Thanksgiving a local radio station puts on a big holiday celebration to kick off the Christmas season with singers and dancers followed by fireworks over the lake in the park near our home. They then light the Christmas light displays for everyone to drive past during the 6 weeks between Thanksgiving and New Years. We went again this year with our friends the Kopplins.
This year another friend, Jeff H. was also able to join us. (This picture shows Ashton, Isobel, Jeff H., Mallory, and Jessica, with Paul and Angela in the background.) Needless to say it always ends up being cold and breezy too, being that we are near the lake.
Here are Ashton and Mallory with Jessica.
This year by comparison was not as bad as last year and we stood and watched fireworks rather than sitting in our car with the heat on.
Love,
Kristian
On Wednesday evening before Thanksgiving a local radio station puts on a big holiday celebration to kick off the Christmas season with singers and dancers followed by fireworks over the lake in the park near our home. They then light the Christmas light displays for everyone to drive past during the 6 weeks between Thanksgiving and New Years. We went again this year with our friends the Kopplins.
This year another friend, Jeff H. was also able to join us. (This picture shows Ashton, Isobel, Jeff H., Mallory, and Jessica, with Paul and Angela in the background.) Needless to say it always ends up being cold and breezy too, being that we are near the lake. 
Here are Ashton and Mallory with Jessica.
This year by comparison was not as bad as last year and we stood and watched fireworks rather than sitting in our car with the heat on.
Love,Kristian
January 21, 2011
KP: Real Knowing Takes Purposeful Time
KP Writes:
My mind rarely finds rest from from a restless swirling of thoughts: tasks to be done, blog articles to be written, newsletters to create, home school to be taught, children's cares, the demands of days, finances, future...you know the story. But in a moment, if I purpose to set my mind on the Lord, a scripture verse or thought from Him often pops into my head. Reflecting now, I am reminded of a hymn that says, "There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God".
Which, brings me to my next thought. We have realized that people suppose that they know our family from reading our blogs, newsletters, hearing about us and what we 'do', seeing us around, knowing our extended family members, etc...Yes, words do help and provide some truth as do pictures. But without spending time in our presence, people can only suppose that they know us.
Often people fill in the gaps of what they do not know about us using their imagination and ascribing to us their own values and and tastes. But most of the time, what they have supposed about us is not really true. To know us truly, they must spend time with us over a period of time in the real moments of our lives with us.
So, still pondering the line, 'There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God' - it struck me that the principle is the profoundly the same with Him. You cannot just read words on a page, or sit in a pew once a week thinking of what you will have for lunch, or read a 5 minute blog post and really know Him.
A real relationship is built over time through every moment of sharing life.
You cannot just read God's Facebook profile and suppose you can be close to His heart. To be near to His heart-understanding His heart, believing He really loves you, experiencing His personality, requires hours and hours of real life in His presence-knowing His words through the voice of scripture and then talking to Him-pouring out your heart in prayer that is engaging with Him in the privacy of your own room, all alone, believing-living through years of seeing His faithfulness.
God is grand, beyond our imagination, everywhere, powerful, gentle. We may never know Him fully. But acknowledging His presence in the reality of a quiet snow storm, the painted evening sunset, the comforting embrace of a friend or lover, the grace of forgiving, gentle words from a loved one, in the flesh real live person who is being God to us, laughing or crying or having a warm, intimate embrace, and actively loving Him through each moment, we understand that He was the designer of these gracious moments of life.
It can't be found from saying, "Tomorrow, I will do better." Or "Tomorrow I will make myself have a devotional," with guilt in my heart.
It is found in a heart fully alive to Him-through my messing up and my being a child in my faith-but loving, loving and seeking Him while He may be found. It is not virtual-imagined by reading one more book, but it is days upon days of just being, walking with, talking to, resting in-His presence, in His word, contemplating Him, complaining to Him, doubting Him, knowing His patient grace and love when most undeserved-just like a real relationship. If I invest my time and my heart, I will indeed end up with a real relationship.
And so if I am to find that place of quiet rest-it must be as a result of being with Him, day in day out and then coming to know. Knowing and understanding Him through all the moments of my life, through what He has made, what He has said, what He has taught me through His Holy Spirit, what I have learned from being with other godly people who are filled with His attributes. It is a real live relationship-exciting, always mysterious, an adventure. Being close to His heart-will always, always bring confidence, peace, security.
If I engage my worship of Him through all the moments of walking life with Him as my closest companion, then a natural result will be that I will be and feel near to His heart and then I will find that being there, it is a place of quiet rest. But, this is a life intentionally lived and pursued. Without the investment of heart, time, mind and soul (loving Him with our heart, soul, mind, strength), there can be no rest. If I invest my whole being in Him, with all honesty as I am with Him, getting to know Him, then I will come to find more than I ever hoped for.
Kristian
My mind rarely finds rest from from a restless swirling of thoughts: tasks to be done, blog articles to be written, newsletters to create, home school to be taught, children's cares, the demands of days, finances, future...you know the story. But in a moment, if I purpose to set my mind on the Lord, a scripture verse or thought from Him often pops into my head. Reflecting now, I am reminded of a hymn that says, "There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God".
Which, brings me to my next thought. We have realized that people suppose that they know our family from reading our blogs, newsletters, hearing about us and what we 'do', seeing us around, knowing our extended family members, etc...Yes, words do help and provide some truth as do pictures. But without spending time in our presence, people can only suppose that they know us.
Often people fill in the gaps of what they do not know about us using their imagination and ascribing to us their own values and and tastes. But most of the time, what they have supposed about us is not really true. To know us truly, they must spend time with us over a period of time in the real moments of our lives with us.
So, still pondering the line, 'There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God' - it struck me that the principle is the profoundly the same with Him. You cannot just read words on a page, or sit in a pew once a week thinking of what you will have for lunch, or read a 5 minute blog post and really know Him.
A real relationship is built over time through every moment of sharing life.
You cannot just read God's Facebook profile and suppose you can be close to His heart. To be near to His heart-understanding His heart, believing He really loves you, experiencing His personality, requires hours and hours of real life in His presence-knowing His words through the voice of scripture and then talking to Him-pouring out your heart in prayer that is engaging with Him in the privacy of your own room, all alone, believing-living through years of seeing His faithfulness.
God is grand, beyond our imagination, everywhere, powerful, gentle. We may never know Him fully. But acknowledging His presence in the reality of a quiet snow storm, the painted evening sunset, the comforting embrace of a friend or lover, the grace of forgiving, gentle words from a loved one, in the flesh real live person who is being God to us, laughing or crying or having a warm, intimate embrace, and actively loving Him through each moment, we understand that He was the designer of these gracious moments of life.
It can't be found from saying, "Tomorrow, I will do better." Or "Tomorrow I will make myself have a devotional," with guilt in my heart.
It is found in a heart fully alive to Him-through my messing up and my being a child in my faith-but loving, loving and seeking Him while He may be found. It is not virtual-imagined by reading one more book, but it is days upon days of just being, walking with, talking to, resting in-His presence, in His word, contemplating Him, complaining to Him, doubting Him, knowing His patient grace and love when most undeserved-just like a real relationship. If I invest my time and my heart, I will indeed end up with a real relationship.
And so if I am to find that place of quiet rest-it must be as a result of being with Him, day in day out and then coming to know. Knowing and understanding Him through all the moments of my life, through what He has made, what He has said, what He has taught me through His Holy Spirit, what I have learned from being with other godly people who are filled with His attributes. It is a real live relationship-exciting, always mysterious, an adventure. Being close to His heart-will always, always bring confidence, peace, security.
If I engage my worship of Him through all the moments of walking life with Him as my closest companion, then a natural result will be that I will be and feel near to His heart and then I will find that being there, it is a place of quiet rest. But, this is a life intentionally lived and pursued. Without the investment of heart, time, mind and soul (loving Him with our heart, soul, mind, strength), there can be no rest. If I invest my whole being in Him, with all honesty as I am with Him, getting to know Him, then I will come to find more than I ever hoped for.
Kristian
January 19, 2011
KP: Visiting With the Alan Williams Cousins
KP Writes:
During our trip to Georgia in November, we were able to spend a lot of great time with Alan and Amy's children, oh and the adults too! :) Here is a picture of Autumn, Mallory, Archer, AJ, and Abram. We love you guys very much and look forward to seeing you this summer.
Love,
Aunt Kristian
During our trip to Georgia in November, we were able to spend a lot of great time with Alan and Amy's children, oh and the adults too! :) Here is a picture of Autumn, Mallory, Archer, AJ, and Abram. We love you guys very much and look forward to seeing you this summer.
Love,
Aunt Kristian
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