We named our newest son Owen. Here is one of the reasons why. May the thrice holy Lord see fit to use this quote from John Owen to convict and encourage His saints as He did with me. I know it’s long, but I took the time to type it because I know the Spirit can use it to bless someone who takes the time to read it.

“We must hate all sin, as sin, and not just that which troubles us.  Love for Christ, because He went to the cross, and hate for sin that sent Him there, is the solid foundation for true spiritual mortification.  To seek mortification only because a sin troubles us proceeds from self-love.  Why do you with all diligence and earnestness seek to mortify this sin?  Because it troubles you and takes away your peace, and fills your heart with sorrow, trouble, and fear, and because you do not have rest through it?  Yes, but, friend, you have neglected prayer and reading!  You have been vain and loose in your conversation with other things.  These are just as sinful as the one that troubles you.  Jesus Christ bled for them also.  Why do you not set yourself against them?  If you hate sin as sin, and every evil way, you would be watchful against everything that grieves and disquiets the Spirit of God.  You would not be concerned only about the sin that upsets your own soul!  It is evident that you fight against this sin merely because it troubles you.  If it did not bother your conscience you would let it alone.  If it did not bother you,  you would not bother it.   Do you think God will help you in such a hypocritical effort?  Do you think that the Holy Spirit will help in the treachery and falsehood of your own spirit?  Do you think He will free you from this so you are free to go and commit another sin which grieves Him?

‘No’, says God, ‘if I free him from this lust, I will not hear from him anymore, and he will be content in his failure.’  We must not be concerned only with that which troubles us, but with all that troubles God.  God’s work is to have full victory, and universal obedience, not just the victory over the sins that trouble our soul.

‘Let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God’ (2 Cor. 7:1).

If we will do anything, we must do everything.  So, then, our need is not only an intense opposition to this or that particular lust, but a universal humble frame and temper of heart that watches over every evil, and seeks the performance of every duty that is pleasing to God.”

John Owen pp. 50-51, The Mortification of Sin

Well, it was fun while it lasted.

 This week, will probably be the last week of Gabe’s Lovaas therapy. It’s just more than we can afford.  I think it’s more than anyone who makes less than six digits annually can afford =) But I am much more knowledgable now. It’s helped me understand a little more about my son and how he thinks.  It was worth the expense overall.

The school down the road from us is supposed to be one of the best in the area as far as special ed goes. They do ABA, just like Lovaas does. So, he will be getting basically the same kind of therapy there.  I am anxious because, I always thought of public school as “the devil’s school”. I have presuppositions about public education that I know I need to work through, to see what are legitimate concerns and what are not. We are praying for wisdom.

I took Gabe to the school today and he saw all the other kids playing and having fun and he kept saying “I want to go to school!” So, maybe the transition won’t be too hard for him.  I am expecting to shed a tear or two sending my first baby off into the big cruel world.  Pray for my nerves if you think about it.

Aaron (3yo in 6 days!) has been showing a greater interest in praying this past week. He’s been asking to say the blessing before we eat.  Here is his first completely self-formulated prayer…

“Thank you for this food. Thank you for Madison (his friend), and Emmie and Mommy, and Gabe. Thank you for this food. Please help everybody not to be stuck. And thank you, in Jesus name, Amen.”

I especially liked his next prayer…

“Thank you for this food. Please help us to obey without complaining. Please help us to be like Jesus. *then he mumbled for about a minute and I couldn’t hear what he was saying*In Jesus name, Amen.”

I get discouraged sometimes at how my kids treat each other. But then don’t we as parents fail in this area too? Josh and I have been noticing with our boys, that there have been moments recently when they have been making obviously conscious attempts to treat each other kindly. Aaron wants to pray. Gabe asked forgivness for something of his own volition last night.  I have been wondering for quite sometime now whether God will ever bless the efforts Josh and I are putting forth to raise godly children. I am encouraged to know that He is. It is a slow process. But then, so is my own sanctification. It took me 17 1/2 years to have a conciousness of my sin and have godly repentance.  And I was raised in a very stable God-honoring Christian home.  I don’t know why I expect every administration of discipline to single-handedly regenerate my kids.  I need to trust the Holy Spirit to work in my kids’ hearts when it is time. And patiently do my mommy job in the mean time.

10 points for anyone (besides my hubby =) who can name where this dialogue came from.  This dialogue took place between my then 31/2yo, Gabe and 2 3/4yo Aaron. They did the best they could

Gabe: “Guero! Look alive! *slaps Aaron* There is a man sick…*forgets some words*…I need for you to pay him a visit.”

Aaron: “But the sister and I…”

Gabe: *interupts Arron* “Go now! So the sister and I may speak of pony things.”