signs of a sick kid

Isaac was going strong until yesterday at my family's Thanksgiving celebration.

4:00 p.m.

Cuddled on my lap humming "Rock of Ages" in almost monotone. Over and over and over.

After several times through this song, he got up to play some more.

5:30 p.m.

Cuddled on Jared's lap singing in very slow motion...."You've got to move it, move it....you've got to move it, move it....you've got to move it, move it...." That was monotone, too.

6:00 p.m.

Crash on the bed.

NEXT DAY

Picking up Legos while humming "I'm in the Lord's Army" over and over and over. Still marching in the infantry slowly while laying on the floor. And his "Yes, SIRs" aren't quite considered enthusiastic.

It'll get better.

mind wars

Have you ever thought of your mind as a battleground? For believers in Jesus, it is. One preacher preached that our call as Christians is to be spiritually stable, and spiritual stability is a result of how we think.

Several times yesterday, Philippians 4:8 popped into my head. Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Of course, I couldn't recite the whole verse from memory, but "whatever is true, whatever is right" summed it up pretty well. Daydreams and even night-dreams got the best of me. It was a mind war: truth vs. untruth, real vs. unreal.

The amazing thing about these battles are: the Spirit of God invades our thoughts. Romans 8 tells us that "those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace." So when we're instructed to "set our minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth," does that mean we never fail?

My good friend used the word intentional (actually talking about something else, but it fits here). We must intentionally take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Cor. 10:5). We will fail in our own strength, but in His strength we must intentionally be transformed by the renewal of our minds (Rom. 12:2). How do you do that? Test everything; hold fast what is good (1Thes. 5:21). If you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding...you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God (Prov. 2:1,2,5).

Whatever is TRUE...the only truth to dwell on is the Word of God. Christ.

Whatever is NOBLE...whatever is worthy of awe...the worship of God.

Whatever is RIGHT...righteous...think on what is consistent with the holiness of God.

Whatever is PURE...clean

Whatever is LOVELY...sweet or gracious

Whatever is ADMIRABLE...whatever is highly regarded (it's not the things of this world).

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:7).

our rock

1. Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
   Let me hide myself in Thee;
   Let the water and the blood,
   From Thy wounded side which flowed,
   Be of sin the double cure,
   Save from wrath and make me pure.
2. Not the labor of my hands
   Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
   Could my zeal no respite know,
   Could my tears forever flow,
   All for sin could not atone;
   Thou must save, and Thou alone.
3. Nothing in my hand I bring,
   Simply to Thy cross I cling;
   Naked, come to Thee for dress;
   Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
   Foul, I to the fountain fly;
   Wash me, Savior, or I die.
4. While I draw this fleeting breath,
   When my eyes shall close in death,
   When I rise to worlds unknown,
   And behold Thee on Thy throne,
   Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
   Let me hide myself in Thee.