Gratitude

By: Mandy

"My tongue has had a razor edge and my eyes have rolled haughty and my neck has been stiff and graceless and I have lived the filth ugly, an idolater, a glutton, and a grace thief who hasn't had time for the thanks."

Many people in "my circles" have read or at least heard of "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp. My friend, Erika, is letting me borrow her copy and I have to say (although I'm only through half of it) this book is going to be life-changing. I mean, I hope so. Basically Ann chronicles her ordinary, routine-filled life of laundry, wiping kids' noses, meal prep and clean-up, etc and has that whole "is there something more?" moment. Can it be exciting to be a child of God in "regular life?" Do we have to see 1000 places before we die? Do we have to complete a bucket list? Or can we revel in an extraordinary God in the ordinary? She comes to the conclusion that she lacks gratitude...thankfulness...eucharisteo.

So, what does she do? (And I love this) She makes lists. She starts listing things she is thankful for. An open window in springtime. The leaves swaying in the breeze. A child's laugh. Etc...to a thousand little things the first year! As she does this she realizes her heart is changing, growing more humble, more alert to God orchestrating everything, and more in love with Him.

Now, I'm no Mennonite farmer's wife with six kids (as Ann is) but I do struggle so much with pride, thanklessness, purposeless-going-through-the-day. What if I made lists? I started one today. I do not intend to blog it every week (as some of my friends do); it might just camp in my journal for now. But I do hope the Holy Spirit uses a little list to help me to see gifts all around me...and more importantly, the Giver of Good, Life, Salvation, and Joy Everlasting.

Here are my first 10:
1. Territorial bumblebees in our backyard
2. Lydia's thighs
3. The way my friend Jen laughs at her husband's jokes with love in her eyes
4. Our support goal: exceeded!
5. Tilled soil
6. "May-men!" in church
7. Erika bringing me this book
8. Sarah cooking pancakes on the griddle
9. Chris reading a book to Lydia
10. 3-year-old Halle pulling 3-year-old Ellie in a wagon

Doxology

The melodic line of the doxology within some sweet guitar. On the guitar itself, it is an Olson Guitar, one of the brands which will be in heaven. Enjoy!

Bull Riding

The Stock girls know how to have fun! There is a party all morning and night. Today, the party includes a wild, bucking bronco, mommy, and a nerves of steel bull rider, Lydia. They say that riding is a risky sport and has been called "the most dangerous eight seconds in sports":

The ride begins... Lydia is holding on tight. She wants to make it the full eight second!

The bull is throwing her best stuff at Lydia! She is staying cool!

Hold on! Only a few more seconds!

This is too much fun!

Lydia, world famous bull rider, has done it again! And the prize... a mommy kiss!

Cabin Vacation: Video Part 3

She has risen!

Cabin Vacation: Video Part 2

(There is a little extra blank space on the end... sorry)

Two Books for March

The Trellis and the Vine by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne

Gospel ministry is about people, not programs. It is about making healthy disciples, not growing churches numerically. And yet, programs and structures in a ministry are necessary for gospel growth. In the book The Trellis and the Vine, the authors lay out a simple metaphor of a church's ministry, a trellis and a vine, to help pastors and leaders of churches put into proper perspective ministry which makes disciple-making disciples. The trellis of a church is the supporting structure. It is the "management, finances, infrastructure, organization, governance" of the church (p. 8). Though important, even invaluable, trellis work won't produce disciples nor is it the goal of a church. Growing the vine is. That is, the goal of the church is growing healthy disciples who love Jesus, trust in His Gospel, and follow Him in every area of their lives who make other disciples. This is where vine work comes in. Every Christian is a vine worker. Vine work is "a Christian brings a truth from God's word to someone else, praying that God would make that word bear fruit through the inward working of the Spirit" (p. 39). From this metaphor, the authors present a ministry model which is both biblical and helpful.

The Holy Spirit by Sinclair Ferguson

Throughout the ages, the writings of Christian theologians on all sorts of topics of theology and the like are voluminous. Yet, the word "sparse" describes what they have written directly on the person and work of the third member of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit.

My guest in why there has been such little attention to the Holy Spirit is that they foresaw Ferguson's work on the topic and said, "What could I have added?" That is, tongue and cheek of course since Ferguson himself is the living ghost of Puritan John Owen, a voluminous writer himself on the Holy Spirit, and that Ferguson's work draws heavily on Calvin, who has been called "the theologian of the Holy Spirit." The book is no less marvelous in all account even if you do not agree with him on every point (which I don't). In fact, I would say that it might be the best theological work which I have ever read on one particular subject.

With all this praise, why is The Holy Spirit by Ferguson so good and worthy of reading? There is the brevity of discussion on all matter important to the Holy Spirit. He explains or concisely touches everything concerning the Spirit. There is the constant exegesis from the Scripture to clear doctrine and articulation of truth. I like books which take larger portions of Scripture and walk their way through them as they explain these awesome truths of God and His world. There is the understanding of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit in a biblical, historical and redemptive way. That is, Ferguson takes in consideration both the forest of biblical themes and the trees of biblical texts. There is the Gospel of Christ work by the Spirit at the center of this work. On almost every page gospel themes are proclaimed and loved. And finally, there is the lay out and flow of this work is creative and he is a great writer (at least for a theologian).

Cabin Vacation: Video Part 1

Cabin Vacation: Pictures

Last weekend, the Stock household had a unplanned, yet needed vacation up to Mandy's Mom and Step-Dad's cabin in Brevard, NC. We rested, relaxed, and read. We hiked, shopped the downtown and went to church. The best thing was we had fun, family time with lots of laughter. This was it! If our family was on a reality show, here is what the break down of the scene would have been like: Lydia playing on the floor... Brian is reading in the chair... Mandy is reading in the chair. Next scene: Lydia playing on the floor... Brian is sleeping in the chair... Mandy is reading in the chair. Next scene: Lydia playing on the floor... ok, you get the point. The point of this trip was rest and we got it. Here are a few pictures of us in the cabin:

"Outside in my PJs works for me!"

Daddy and Lydia are learning new words together! "Ant... Apple... Bat"

Mommy and Lydia spot ducks wherever they maybe found!

Here are a few shots from our hike at Triple Falls:

Daddy and Lydia... like two peas in a pod!

Mommy and Lydia are taking a break for a photo.

Lydia is chilling by the waterside.

Lydia takes a quick dip in the water... its cold!

The Stock girls are laughing!

A Family Picture!

Booth Museum

About a year ago, I won four tickets to the Booth Western Art Museum at a Reinhardt faculty/staff event. This is a little humorous since about four years ago, Mandy won four tickets to the Booth Museum, but we never used them. So, two days before they expired, we planned for a trip to the museum. We invited our good friends the Mobleys up and we headed out the museum.

Cartersville has a "cute" downtown with a train and ice cream parlor. But, the Booth Museum is a diamond in the rough. It is a little out of place for Cartersville since it is top-notch architecture and landscaping. The exhibits are well done with some surprises around most corners. On this trip, though not captured in any of the pictures, Ansel Adams, the famous black and while photographer, exhibit was on display. Here are pictures of our trip... and yes, Lydia is the star:

Madam Lydia, your ride awaits (up the elevator).

"P',WJZ" is what Lydia Stock is talking about... can I get an interpreter?

A sweet moment with Daddy riding out West!

Lydia Stock is off to races! Hold on!

Enjoying the day!

There is nothing like a rocking chair and a checker board on a midday afternoon.

Recent February Pictures

February has been a good month for the Stocks. In Georgia, the weather has been fantastic and we have been taking advantage of it. We have learned one BIG thing about Lydia this month: She loves the outside as you can see from the first pictures! Here are some snapshots of this month:

Lydia's favorite place to stand! She watches for birds, cars and everything else!

After work on Friday, while mommy is making dinner, daddy and Lydia are outside discovering God's creation. We are looking at birds in this picture... a Lydia favorite!

This was Lydia's first "outside" play day with mommy and daddy. You can't see it in the photo but she having fun kicking a little ball.

When Lydia is inside, she loves to read books!

Eating and having fun are what I like to do!!!!!

I am ready to go outside again!

A New Plan

Since January, we have neglected to update this blog and the readers on an important event in our life. After the aftermath in January settled down, we have reschedule our vision trip. Through our correspondence with our team leader and parents to watching Lydia, we have booked our trip from May 11th to 21st, 2011. South Asia here we come! We have applied for our visas and await their approval. We ask for pray for this major aspect of our trip. We also have a greater wherewithal on the importance of this trip. If the trip planned for January brought excitement to us, this trip adds a weightiness too truly count the cost of being missionaries in another country. We ask for your prayers as we prepare (again) for this vision trip and see where Christ to calling us to take up our cross and follow Him.

-----

UPDATE: We have just received word from the Consulate that our visas application have been approved and we will receive them in a few days! We give thanks to the Lord for He has opened doors for His salvation to be known to all peoples!

ANOTHER UPDATE: our trip is actually May 11-22. I hope Brian is with me for that last day. :)