He didn't stay in the grave...

Here is a line from one of our favorite International House of Prayer (IHOP) musicians, speaking of Jesus...
"He's not a baby in the manger anymore,
He's not a broken man on the cross.
He didn't stay in the grave,
and He's not staying in heaven forever."

I really like this because so often I think as church-goers, we have an incomplete view of Jesus. Yes, he did come to earth as a baby and I am so glad he did. He experienced life as a human and now is a compassionate High Priest by the side of the Father. He did give his life in a gruesome and humiliating death to pay the penalty for the sins of every person in the world throughout all time! But he rose victoriously and returned to heaven. And now the Bible says he sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for us! But it also says he is sitting there waiting "til I make your enemies your footstool." (Ps 110) He will not stay there forever. The Bible is full of references of His return to the earth. YAY! He's not staying in Heaven forever. He will return as a victorious King and set all things right! He will rule with justice, truth and righteousness. Andthe whole earth will rejoice. I can't wait! Let's not get so captivated with this temporary life or this tent we live in that we miss this great news!

how we spend our time

This is how we see Rachel spend most of her free time- with her nose in a book. She is oblivious to everything going on around her when she is reading, even her mother calling her name. :( We are working on this!
You can't see him very well, but that is David in one of the big yellow buses. He only has about 6 more weeks of 5:30 am wake-ups! It fits our schedule well though and we are thankful for the job!
Keenan is having fun playing T-ball. David is the coach and is having fun "herding sheep" as he calls it. It is so funny to see everyone on the field run after the ball. We've even seen teammates knocking each other down to be the one who throws the ball. So much for the idea of a team sport. But they are learning and having fun in the process. Keenan is the best encourager on the field, always shouting "good job" or "you can do it" to his teammates.
Abby has recently begun to work digilently on a cross-stitch she started last year. Now she enjoys doing it. It may actually get finished before 2009 is over. (Can you see the box of newletters on the desk behind Abby. We are working on getting these out this week.)
Check out these serious cowboys. They are quick to fire, so don't tangle with these two!

And where is Melissa? I am the ones taking the pictures and posting the blog. No time for photos of me. Maybe we'll get one soon!

Silas

Silas is all smiles! He is such a joy to everyone! Keenan says several times daily, "Mommy, I am glad God gave us Silas!" It makes my heart happy that they love him (and each other) so much.

Father, forgive them

This week was Easter week and as many others around the globe, we were pondering and rejoicing in the sacrificial death of Jesus our Lord. Something that really stood out to me from the story this year was this simple phrase that Jesus prayed as his life faded away on the cross: "Father, forgive them..." Those who taunted him, mocked him, spit at him, called him a liar, pierced his hands and feet, all those whose past and future sin had made this horrible death necessary- these he prays for in his last moments. What powerful words! How profound and how selfless! "Father, forgive them." Even in his lasts breaths, in the intense, unbearable physical pain, and in the depths of emotional turmoil he experienced as he bears ALL sin, He never forgets his purpose. He was born for that moment, so that "in Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace" (Eph. 2:7) The writer of Hebrews says, "For the joy set before Him, he endured the cross..." Wow. And what was the joy that spurred him forward? I think it was being able to stand again with the Father and and say "Father, on the basis on my pure, sinless blood to cover their sins, I ask you to forgive them. Release them from their due penalty." And he has been standing there at His Father's side for thousands of years saying that very thing - "Father, forgive them." (Romans 8:24, Hebrews 7:25) As I read it in the Easter story this year, I knew in a deeper way that he has looked at me with compassion, even as my sin caused his brutal death, and said to the Father, "forgive her." My hearts leaps at the thought, and I am moved to worship Him! Won't you hear him say those words over you today!

the prayers of a three year old

Micah was praying at bedtime tonight for my dad who has not been feeling well. He said, God, please help Grandaddy feel better and get strong and mighty muscles." Great huh? On a serious note, I love that my kids know that they can talk to God and that He does hear us when we pray.
So dad, get ready for strong and mighty muscles!

from cute to funny looking

Abby said the other day that Silas has changed from cute to funny looking. His hair is growing in and sticks out among other things. I still think he's awfully cute. What do you think?

A Day in the Life...

I thought it would be fun for you if I wrote about what a typical week looks like for us. In one week

* David spends 18-25 hours driving a school bus,

*the girls spend approximately 18 hours doing school work, * Melissa spends about 12 hours cooking, and we all spend about 12 hours eating that food, * Rachel and Abby spend more than 10 hours each week reading books, * David spends at least 11 hours in the prayer room worshipping, praying, and studying the Bible, * Melissa spends about 8 hours in the prayer room, * the kids spend 3 hours in the prayer room and 2.5 hours at children’s worship, * Melissa spends 3 hours helping with a Bible study in the local jail, * Coach David and Keenan spend 2 hours at T-ball, * the girls spend 1 hour at a homeschool PE class, * all of us spend about 5 hours a week fellowshipping and serving others at Cornerstone, * the kids spend about 3 hours watching movies, * we spend about 1.5 hours every other week at the library, * Rachel spends 2-3 hours every other week volunteering at the local Equine Humane Center, * David spends at least 4 hours reading to us from the Bible or our latest family novel, * We like to spend 3 hours each week offering a meal and hospitality to someone, * David would like to work another 15 or so hours each week (he is looking for another part-time job since the wood cutting season is finished), and * Rachel, Abby and Keenan spend about 3-4 hours a week preparing for and attending Awana (a Bible club). That’s a lot of hours, but we are managing our busy schedule quite well with God’s help. Of course I didn’t include special days at the park or the time to check email or write letters, or plan for school or do all the chores that make the house clean, or all the hours the boys spend wrestling, swinging swords, coloring, or building with legos etc… We are so thankful for the life God has given us and count it an honor and responsibility to invest our time in eternal things and in our children.

beginning

Well, I have done it! The Trimble family is getting more Web savvy, or maybe just more "absorbed". I don't know how I feel about it all. We will see how it all works out. First Facebook, now blogging! I hope that it serves as a way to share what God is doing in our lives with those that we do not live near. Let me know what you think.