What a Disappointment

Mmm...the smell of deliciously fresh-baked cookies...then not only do you get to smell their greatness, but you're now offered one. As you take a huge bite into the chocolate-chip gooeyness, ready to savor the flavor, your taste buds abruptly tell you it's in fact raisins - not cholotae chips.

A great disappointemnt.

Or how about hot summer days welcomed with refreshingly sweet banana pudding? Only you take the first bite and discover it's made with - none other - than banana pudding mix - not vanilla! (Okay - I understand I may be alone in my analogy here).

A great disappointment.

These past few months, whether it be through books, speakers, or just spirit-filled people God has crossed in my path, my eyes have been opening to a refreshing sort of existance. I am intentional in saying "opening" here because I am in the caving middle of sorting through truth and God's will, searching for meaning and its pertinance in my own life.

What type of existance?
In summary, one that is spirit-filled.

Have you ever really sat down and searched through Scripture to fully understand and know what it means as Christians to have the Holy Spirit living inside of you?

I have just begun this journey and already I am amazed, ashamed, regretful, thankful, excited, and proabaly many other emotions I find it hard to pinpoint.

I know that when I became a Christian at a young age that God's gift to me was the Holy Spirit's indwelling in my life. And through that he offers conviction, guidance, and counsel.

But I have neglected a huge portion of my life in allowing the Spirit to fill me...did you know that when we are filled with the spirit that we are then capable of doing extraordinary things through the power of Christ?

So this is where the shame and regret can seep in for me...

When I think back on my life...back on all the missed opportunities...back on the times where I was "Melissa-filled" going about my own lame agenda...the times where I let my kids fulfill me...Jason fulfill me...my friends fulfill me...money fulfill me...and you get the picture.

I particularly think of gobs of missed opportunities to make God's love known in high school and in college. It's sickening to think about how "me-focused" I was in those times. How much time I wasted. How much I neglected letting the Holy Spirit fill me so that God could do a great work in those around me.

Don't we exist for more than having fun with our friends...getting married...having kids...going to church on Sundays...tithing our 10%...keeping the house clean and family fed...?

I guess nowhere in Scripture over these past few months have I come in contact with passages where Jesus trains the disciples, then tells them:
"Now go back home, keep your house clean and family happy, go to church once a week, try not sin, pray to me every now and then, and try to lead a good, moral life."

Not even close. It's much more radical than that. He tells them to GO; to then make disciplies themselves of all nations; to sell all possessions if necessary; to forgo earthly treasures for the sake of the cause (which is Jesus)...

To sit at home and not share your treasure is to waste it.

I was recently convicted of this in a new light. Since becoming a stay-at-home mom, I find I do not have as much contact with hurting people like I did in my profession. I used to (When I say this, I mean last month!) make the excuse that "My kids are now my full-time ministry...when they get older, I'll get back to ministering to God's people."

I was recently convicted that this was an excuse.

That God's people still need ministering to.

Would I have to get creative with two little kids? Yes. Is this my strength? No. Praise God it's not all about me. :)

I realized that, especially in winter months, we sit in the house and play...all morning and all afternoon. Behind closed doors. While this isn't bad, and my kids need to see the love of Christ through me, we can do so much more through a spirit filled life!!! I waste most of my days in the name of having 2 toddlers!

I've been throwing around some ideas back and forth with another fellow mom (who lives in Portland!) about ways to make our days count for Christ...our HOURS count for the Kingdom of God (with 2 kids in tow!). I might share some of those at a later date (we're still brainstorming).

But for now, I challenge you to examine parts of your every day where you either are/are not claiming those hours toward advancing the Kingdom of Christ and making Him known. Our mission is to GO. Not to just try avoid doing wrong...and be nice.

I want to leave you with a passage from John Piper that I found griping. Hope it can impact you, too:

Sometimes I use the phrase "War-time lifestyle" or "war-time mindset." The phrase is helpful but also lopsided. For me, it is mainly helpful. It tells me that there is a war going on in the world between Christ and Satan, truth and falsehood, belief and unbelief. It tells me that there are weapons to be funded and used, but that these weapons are not swords or guns or bombs but the Gospel and prayer and self-sacrificing love (2 Cor. 10:3-5). And it tells me that the stakes of this conflict are higher than any other war in history; they are eternal and infinite; heaven or hell; eternal joy or eternal tourment.
I need to hear this message again and again, because I drift into a peace-time mindset as certainly as rain falls down and flames go up. I am wired by nature to love the same toys that the world loves. I start to fit in. I start to love what others love. I start to call earth "home." Before you know it, I am calling luxuries "needs" and using my money just the way unbelievers do. I begin to forget the war. I don't think much about people perishing. Missions and unreached peoples drop out of my mind. I stop dreaming about the triumphs of grace. I sink into a secular mind-set that looks first to what man can do , not what God can do.It is a terrible sickness. And I thank God for those who have forced me again and again toward a wartime mindset.

So going about my day...tithing once a month, loving my husband and kids, church on Sundays, fun times with friends, avoiding bad choices as best as possible, being nice to people...but never seeking the heart of God through ALL that I do (how I spend my money, free-time, day-to-day interactions, even through my words and actions on this blog!).

That, my friend, is what I will consider, if I were to die in this state, the wasted life (wasted on how I can do good and have fun and not on what GOD can do - cause it's SO much more!).

And with the wasted life, this will ultimately be...

The great disappointment.

No Ice, Please

I know most blog posts/facebook updates are consisting of the AMAZING weather we had over the weekend...so I thought I should jump on the bandwagon before an ice storm (yes - I said it right) rolls through in a few days. Usually I am all in favor of ice and snow, but after 75 degree weather - I am SOOO ready for spring. We (like the rest of Bentonville I do believe) hit up the park to enjoy the sunshine. I made me all giddy for spring when we can go most days of the week. Us McMahan's LOVE the park.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Obviously the swings are a big hit amongst my boys...
While Lincoln was swinging, he noticed about 10-15 older kids playing up in the gazebo (we're talking like 5th-6th graders). He pointed toward the gazebo and goes "I wanna go over there."
So I took him out of his swing and he started heading that way...I yelled to him "Lincoln what are you going to do over there?!"
He stopped, turned around and goes "My friends, mama. My friends."
Then turned back around and headed to the gazebo where he (a) made friends and then (b) played with them. Silly boy.

Favorites, Yet Again

Here's another self-indulgent post (sorry for the lameness, but kids are sleeping and I'm bored). Feel free to read on through if you wish, but you also won't offend me if you click "next" on your blog roll at the site of yet another "favorites" posting (didn't I just do one of these??).

So for those still with me (aren't you precious), here it goes:

I have now been sick for 15 straight days (yes - straight). And this little number is the only medicine that has relieved any of my symptoms. Thank you Zicam.

 However, three days ago, my sickness turned into the Flu (even you, Zicam, couldn't tackle that one) and thus, I found a new love affair for this little bottle.

And those that are friends with me on FB know I have a LOVE for "Friday Night Lights". Jason and I get giddy on Wednesday nights to watch the latest episode. There's only 3 left in the entire run of FNL. Super sad, but if you're looking for a fun indulgence, you should Netflix all these series. You won't be disappointed...and you'll be brought right back to your good ole high school days. Super fun.

Okay. Bare with me, but below is what it looks like: A Diego bubble machine!!!!! How brilliant! Well - if you have a toddler that LOVES Diego and LOVES bubbles, it's brilliant, I guess (they also make a Dora one, too - you know you want one!). This was a Christmas present from My sister and Nathan to Lincoln. What's so great about it, is that you flip the switch and bubbles blow galore!!! YOU don't have to blow hours upon end yourself while the toddler is trying to grab the bucket of bubbles and the wand from you! This thing is quite the hit in our house.

And oh...Table Mesa. If you live in the Bentonville area, you know what I'm talking about. If you are visiting the area soon, go eat here. It's quaint...on the square...fun atmosphere...and amazing food. I always get the fish tacos. Love.

Last time I put the moisturizer on here. This stuff has quickly become a new favorite. Use it before moisturizing your face to help strengthen/firm skin and add a high dose of vitamin C. It smells like an orange - that's how much vitamin C is in this beauty. It's fantastic.

And I know I beat the horse with this, but if you have yet to download Pastor Mark Driscoll's sermons, please do it. You'll be encouraged, challenged, and not disappointed.

We have over 60 downloaded (there's a lot) so for some direction, some of my favorites so far that have been impactful in my life are:

1. Peasant Princess Series (8-part marriage series also great if you're dating!)

2. Spiritual Warfare (4-part series that really simplified spiritual warfare in understandable language - good stuff)

3. Marriage and Men (I think this is his most downloaded sermon)

4. Marriage and Women

5. And then if you're still with him, all of his "Trials" series are really good

**all on Itunes Podcasts. :)

 And still love my favorite cleaning tool of all time! I just scrubbed our kitchen down with these things. And they erase crayons and magic markers from your toddler!!!!!!

 And I wish I would have found these 2 years ago. :) They're saline wipes to get those crusty boogers off the little noses. When I use these, my kids don't cry!! Ahh!!! And they smell really good.

 And oldie, but a goody. I still just love this stuff. Put it on after you dry your hair and it feels amazing.

 And this is probably my most embarrassing indulgence. Yes. A high school drama show (that is shown during naptime everyday on Soapnet): One Tree Hill. I blame my college roommate on this one.

And if you're still with me...thank you. :)

Love.

Why are snow days the best???

**Daddy gets to stay home (by far #1)

**The kids sleep in late b/c they're all warm and snug in their beds

**But when they wake up, it's crazy madness playing in the snow!

**Jason and I get to act like kids again chunking snowballs at each other (and the dogs and kids, of course).

**Bruce Wayne (AKA "Polar Bear") finally gets the weather he was born for...and has a BLAST.

**When you throw snowballs at him, he catches them and the runs...pretty awesome.

And this little rascal??????

He wasn't such a fan of the snow (we tried...he cried). So found his warmth and comfort indoors. :)

College Days

These past few days, one of my roommates, Amy, from college has been staying with us and it has been a BLAST. She's my super-smart friend who is interviewing for her doctoral internship around the country right now and one of those places happens to be HERE!!

We were both psyc majors and did some grad research together, but the major difference between us is she kept going and I didn't...SOOO proud of her!!

So we have done extensive reminiscing of the college days (which I just LOVED), and found some fun pictures in the process:

 I think this was early on...sophomore year or so.

 And this was the notorious BU vs. Westmont soccer game where we would get crazy out of control. Not sure why my teeth look so blazing here...kind of funny.

 And more fun times...love these girls.

 Cory's birthday was on St. Patty's day and it was SO much fun every year!!!! I dubbed it as my favorite holiday :) And then I happened to get married on this day!! (2 years after this picture was taken!)

 We had an obsession with airsoft guns one year. Once, we all got decked in black, each had a gun, put stockings over our faces and raided our guy friends' apartment opening fire. We later found we were close to getting arrested b/c neighbors had called police reporting people sneaking around with guns. Oops.



Enough?

That book I ordered..."Radical"?
It came in a few days ago.
I'm only on chapter 4 but God is already plowing through ideologies, sin in my heart, and misconceptions of who I think God is.
How overwhelming to serve a God who DAILY is in pursuit of your devotion...your PERSONAL devotion. And even more that He wants to use us  to further His kingdom and bring glory to His name?? He doesn't just want to use the gifted speakers..the rich and famous...the highly intellectual...the freakishly athletic...the stunning beauties...His plan involves using each of us - the average, everyday, common folk. :)
And so many of us say no to that???
I know I have been guilty of saying "No" to the God of the Universe when he wants to use me...you know, that I'm too busy, need that money for something else, have a plan I don't really want to change, etc...
Let's stop saying "yes" to ourselves, stop saying "no" to God, and fight the good fight of furthering God's Kingdom here on earth.

The question that I've heard about 3-4 times over the past few months (it seriously keeps popping up in random places) is:
"Is God enough?"
One person (don't remember who) framed it this way - paraphrased of course:
"If heaven was streets of gold, no pain, no sin, perfect relationships, all desires of the heart fulfilled, reunions with loved ones (even your pets!), and well, you get the picture...but God was not there, would you still want to go?"
And then, of course, the infamous question followed: Is God enough?

This is a question I have been working through myself...and I know these posts usually contain an overhaul amount of pictures of my babies, but this is preoccupying my mind not to share!

BTW - check out this lady's story and keep her in your prayers. An amazing woman of God, a devastating tragedy, but I am confident God is going to use this for His glory. This lady has been living her life out LOUD for Christ for years and years now. It's incredible what God has been able to do through her life because she was ready to surrender it to His purposes. She's such an inspiration.
Oh - and this stroke happened only a few days ago.

A Month Away

Our little Noah J. is 11 months this week...so close to his first birthday! It blows my mind how fast these years keep flying (please SLOW DOWN).

 He is still sleeping great...in fact, since the holidays, his wake-up time has been between 9-10am. We must have worn him out!
He has also been doing great on the "basketball schedule" which can call for some late nights (or maybe that's why he sleeps so late???). He pretty much takes one long nap a day now. If he happens to wake up earlier than 9:00 (per say, on Sundays), the 2 naps is necessary for this booger.

 He got his first haircut last week. I'm not a huge fan of it (even though it was my idea) and am already for those long curls to grow back...even if it was taking mullet-form.

 Noah has added some new little bits to his personality: he loves to dance (though his moves are far from stardom - still adorable), he now can wave "bye-bye" and say it simultaneously if you're lucky, he can give you a "high-5", and he signs "more" like a champ now.

 Thanks to his rough and tumble big brother, he's getting tougher - he can get tackled off the couch or jumped on and sometimes (note - sometimes) will just keep on his way playing.
He is still not walking and honestly not showing interest. I joked I was hoping he'd wait until after basketball season to walk (much easier to have only one child that can run away from you), and I thought there was no way that would come true...now I'm thinking it might actually happen! As long as he can walk by the time we go to the beach this summer, I don't really care. I'm enjoying this phase with him!

 Like Lincoln, this little guy also has the gift of expressiveness. I think my two boys might be a bit dramatic (which my family would say came directly from ME).
This little guy still has NO TEETH! But don't be fooled...there have been quite a few nights where he has out eaten ALL of us. Seriously.
Speaking of eating, he likes EVERYTHING. And I feel like he has basically tried everything. We've been done with baby food for months now because he will eat just about anything I cook. Fantastic.

Pretty hard to believe his next update will be his birthday party - CRAZY!