peaceful parenting: Breastfeeding in Church: A Picture of Christ's Sacrificial Love

peaceful parenting: Breastfeeding in Church: A Picture of Christ's Sacrificial Love

Wow. I never saw breastfeeding as such a spiritual act before. Very cool!

Discipline of Rest

There was a time in my life when God's law seemed burdensome, condemning and impossible. Lately though I've been seeing it as good, as God's instructions for our best life.

Along the way, I've been learning about Biblical holidays and feasts. How beautiful it is that they point to Christ! (This website is a good overview). I'm interested in doing something this year to mark them -- to join in divine history and celebrate God's creative and saving action in the past, present and future.

The next major feast is the Feast of Trumpets (September 8 this year).

But I don't have to wait until then to start celebrating one of God's days.

Every week, there is an opportunity to keep the fourth commandment to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.

But what would that look like?

I don't want to get caught up in a bunch of rabbinical laws or other forms of legalism.

I like this list of 10 simple principles over at The Sabbath Manifesto. I like the idea of a "Family Fun Day" where we relax and reconnect together and make a point to talk about and enjoy God and his creation.

Tonight I think I'll light some candles around 7:45. Maybe we'll go to a park or the beach as a family tomorrow. Keep the TV and computer off. Visit family. Enjoy a quiet day of rest.

Abba

This Father's Day, the message at church focused on how men can be good fathers because God is such an awesome father to us.

The pastor told this story to illustrate.

He saw a father and young son together on a flight to Israel. The son was playing in the aisle when some turbulence struck.

"Abba! Abba! Abba!" the child cried and ran as fast as he could back to his father's safe, waiting arms. Abba is Hebrew for Daddy or Papa.

That intimacy, that child-like faith is what Paul means when he says we have a Spirit of sonship that allows us to cry, "Abba, Father."

It got me thinking of all the different intonations a child can use when saying "Daddy!"

Joy - rejoice with me Daddy!
Fear - protect me Daddy!
Curiosity - teach me Daddy!
Confusion - which way, Daddy?
Awe - you're amazing Daddy!
Relief - there you are Daddy!

What a privelege we are given to call God our Abba Father!

Overview of Gentle Discipline by a fellow mommy blogger

I loved this post and wanted to share. So much good stuff there.

Especially this:

I suppose it's the rampant teaching that discipline starts at birth and you have to control every thing and "keep your baby in line" or your baby will grow to be a child who rules you.

That's a lie, well the second part is.

But yes, discipline does start at birth,

Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother's breast(Psalm 22:9)

We can't learn every thing we need for life unless we trust. We can't grow up confident and able to stand up in the world and what it throws at us unless we feel secure.

Teaching a baby that you are always there is discpline.