30/60/100

Have you ever noticed this term in the bible?  Hundredfold...sixtyfold...thirtyfold???  Or 30/60/100?  Well, there is some complicated and controversial information out there on what it means...so let's take the main verse from the Old Testament and the main from the New and see if we can make some God-sense out of it...sound good?

The only time I found "hundredfold" in the Old Testament is in Genesis 26.  There is a famine in the land and God tells Isaac to stay put right where the famine is.  I think He does it to bless Isaac outwardly so that everyone will know that Isaac is God's chosen child.  Even though there is a famine, Isaac chose obedience.  In return, God blessed the seed Isaac had sown.  Genesis 26:12 tells us "Then Isaac sowed in that land and received in the same year a hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him." It goes on to describe all the wells of water that were dug.  Springs of water flowed and the LORD made room (rachab:  to broaden/enlarge) for Isaac...he was very fruitful in the land despite the barren famine all around.

God likes to make it all about him.  So, even if you are in a place of wilderness, God can easily show up, bless the seed that you are sowing, allow springs of living water to flow, and make you very fruitful.

All for the display of HIS glory.

Let's do like Isaac, though. When God shows up, let us build an altar of remembrance and call upon the name of the LORD...not point our fingers to our own self perceived greatness.

Now to the New Testament.  We see this concept mainly in Matthew 13:23.

"But he that received seed into the ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."

I love that we have the theme of good soil already established here.  Basically, you have Believers listening to the Word of God.  They are hearing and welcoming what they learn.  We know the seed is the Word, so we know it will take root in this good soil.  The amount that it produces is up to God, but I can't help but think that those that have (understanding of the Word) will be given more (Mt. 13:12.)

Here is a commentary I liked on the 30/60/100 principle:

"Here, in the parable, these various increases intend the different degrees of fruitfulness in gracious souls; for though the fruits of grace in believers are of the same quality, yet not of the same quantity.  Some believers are grown to a greater maturity than others:  some are but little children, some are young men, some are fathers."  Gill's Exposition of the Bible

I think maybe this is what my soul is longing for...a greater "fold" of the Word and of Jesus Himself.  Whether it be 30 fold, 60 fold, or 100 fold, I will leave that to God.  I think I want more maturity in this soul when it comes to knowing Jesus and becoming like Him. 

What do you make of the 30/60/100 fold idea?

He Steals Our Art?

Eric held my hand and prayed last night.  He prayed for many things like direction and guidance.  Favor and protection.  Long desired desires to finally be brought about. 

And then he shocked me a little.  He prayed that I would feel significant.

How did he know that I have felt small and useless?  I certainly haven't whispered to him that many days I feel like I amount to the grand total of a tipless taxi driver. 

Many days, I long to enter into my true purpose.  But, then I wonder if I am there.  I know the Clay shouldn't tell the Potter what to do or even to question what He is forming.  I guess this heart just wants to know that it is still on the Potter's wheel.

Deep inside, I know we all never leave the care and the forming from the Master's Hands while on the wheel.  I am daily shocked that His Glorious Divinity chooses to enter into our human mess of mud and clay.

What if it is true?  What if Satan comes to steal and kill and destroy not just us, but everything that the Potter intends us to be?  What if the Enemy comes to steal our art?  Steal our very heartbeat for a passion for this thing called life?

That post link up there, the one that resonates so deeply, makes me realize what my soul is longing for right now:  a legacy.  I am almost 35 and I want my life to mean something deeper than it does right now.  Is that pride or is that God calling me to something for His glory?

It is a wrestling match around here, that is for sure.

If I am putting off what makes me tick, what makes my heart pound for joy, what makes me me, then the Enemy is winning.  I can't stand the thought of that.

{Come create, Potter.  I am consecrated clay in your hands.}

The Safari

Over the weekend, we decided for a quick trip to Africa.  Or Gentry, Arkansas...however you want to look at it.  They have an amazing drive thru safari that is always fun to go through.  We kidnapped my Mom, loaded up the bus, and took a picture or two...you be the judge.  I was just happy to see the zebras.  Cause as Cade says, it is now family tradition to capture a zebra bootie.



Our animal rights activist, Eli, went about ballistic every time a car would stop to feed the animals. He wanted to turn them into the authorities because he knew their diets were getting messed up.  He wrote down their license plate number and everything!

Hope your weekend was full of fun as well!

The Crown, the Beaver, and the Graduate

Geez Louise.  As of 12 noon today, school will be finished.  Final.  Capiche.  I am soon to be a mother to a 6th, yes 6th grader, a 4th grader, and a 1st grader.  My my.  Don't get me started.  I can clearly remember being in each of those grades.

The week was full of fun (after we got Sam's fever down from almost 104.)  Cade presented his state project on Oregon, the bigger boys had their awards assembly (both got Principal's award) and then we celebrated Sam with his kindergarten graduation last night.

Cade got the special honor of the CROWN award at school...only one boy out of each grade receives it.  As a mother, is is a humbling thing for your child to receive such an award because you know it is simply grace and has nothing at all to do with yourself or your parenting.  God has shown his favor on us and we gladly and very humbly receive it.



This is Cade's state float.  His state was Oregon...go Beavers.  He did it all by himself.  No lie.  I helped him paint the base (which you can't even see, ha.)  He did the rest.  Now that I know he is this gifted, he will be dubbed the Creative Projects Manager of our household from here on out....cause Lord knows He didn't bless me with any art ability!

He is showcasing "Hells Canyon" which largest river gorge in North America.  Of course, he added a beaver (Eli's idea), evergreens, and some painted salmon, all of which are indigenous to the area.

Next up, our kindergarten graduate.  Sam had a great year.  He learned how to read, do math, and write sentences.  He memorized Psalm 23, Psalm 100, the Lord's prayer, and so much more.  I love where the boys are at school and feel so blessed to have them there. 

A memorized poem about money...

Don't be fooled, this is Abe, not Sam.

I love my baby!  {Can't believe I don't really have a baby anymore....sniff.}

 Yep, he looks like his Dad.  We are proud of you big guy!

The Last Hurrah

I ordered my tall coffee.  Pike's Place.  Room for cream.  A buck eighty two.  I placed myself at my little back table nestled in the corner away from all to see.  It had been my meeting place with Jesus all year.  Our little secret hideaway.  About once a week, I would drop the kids off at school, order coffee with Bible and materials in hand, and plop myself down for an hour or two.

Greek and Hebrew came alive.  Prayers rose to the heavens for the employees that stood outside smoking while trying to muster the courage to come back inside to a job and life they couldn't seem to escape from.  The Bible promised all kinds of things, great and small. My soul came hungry, left filled.

It was my little place of refuge.  And today was the last hurrah.

Summer is upon us.  I scrambled to do the things that I can't do with kids around.  Trying on swim suits.  Check.  Buying birthday presents.  Check.  Running errands that boys despise.  Check.

Here's to summer and swimming and sleeping and sports!  {And just maybe my inlaws will keep the boys occasionally so I can go back to my little meeting place!}

BaSeBaLL FeVeR

All three boys are swinging the bats these days!  The schedule gets a little hairy, but I sure do love baseball season.  Here is Eli in action...my lil pitcher!

 It helps to have a good brother-turned-himself-into-coach around!

 And, of course, the other brother makes a good fan.

happy ball, ya'll