Matthew 21:16

"Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies 

You have prepared praise." 

Matthew 21:16

 The interesting thing about planning a picture is that it can make time appear differently than it truly is. What is behind this soft, tender photo? I had wanted to catch a picture with Jonah on this antique prayer bench before he was too big. Time was passing quicker than I wanted and Jonah was growing with each passing day. I had the idea, I had the verse, I just needed to snap it. Yet, capturing this idea came at a cost.  I was hard on Jackson and spoke in anger trying to get him to stay out of the picture. Not too long after that, Jonah rolled off the bench onto the floor. You would have thought the child had seriously injured himself… tears fell hard. I held him, and regret immediately followed. I asked for Jackson’s forgiveness.

When I looked up the scripture little did I know this picture, and this verse would bring, phao, or light to such a humbling lesson. Jesus is clearing out the temple in righteous anger. His house of prayer had become what he calls a “den of robbers.” Money making business was taking over His place of worship. What was built for something beautiful was being filled with greed. Who were the men behind this? The Pharisees, men that appeared “holy ” on the outside but were full of ugliness under their elegant robes. How my heart sunk. What I thought I really wanted, a beautiful picture of Jonah, crumbled when I realized the ugliness that hid behind it. As the staged beauty began to fall I saw the true beauty I missed - to set the camera aside and “capture” time with my sons. Time is a funny thing. We want it to pass but we fear what is ahead. We can’t escape stepping into what’s ahead but regret what has passed. It’s fleeting, it’s fragile, it’s cursed because of the fall… yet God says it’s set with purpose if we would grab hold of Him in the midst of this fleeting & frail life.

The passage ends with a picture of irate Pharisees due to the children who are filling the temple with praise, crying “Hosanna”. Jesus’ response, “Have you never read, 'Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise?”  Jesus didn't just put a stop to the ugliness but He restored the time, setting it back in place to begin ticking with purpose.

May we be able to discern when to stop and reset, so our ticking can be one that passes with purpose too.

“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom” Psalm 90: 12


To listen to a beautiful sermon on Psalm 90 visit:
http://www.providencepca.org/downloads-links/sermons/
click on the sermon listed as Psalm 90

Like Father, Like Son

Precious Pumpkin Seed

Been meaning to post this. It's hard to remember exactly what it was like when Jonah was such a little seed. One things for sure my back probably didn't hurt as bad! He turned 6months the day of yester... that is, yesterday, in my silly lingo. It goes by too fast. 

Covenant

A little over four years ago Jack rested on one knee and I said, "YES!"

Come back tomorrow, February 14th, to read a Valentine poem...

If Love Is…

If love is a choice and not a feeling

And if love is a mindset and not an emotion

And if love is a calling and not a duty

And if love is inwrought and not made by hands

Then it’s you who I would choose to love

And it’s you I would set my mind to love

And it’s you I would accept the call to love

And it’s you my soul longs to love

For it’s God who chose us in Him to love

And it’s God who set His mind to love

And it’s divine of God to call us to love

And it’s through Him our souls sing to love

So, if love includes all the things above

And if it’s you a lifelong I'm called to love

And if it’s God who decided you, my Love

Then this I cannot help but say,

“It’s His sovereignty shown in such a beautiful way!”

                                                                © Emily Murphy

 Written for my husband, February 14^th 2009

A Dripping Day

The day drips like the leaking of a faucet.

Falling flakes out the window offer

happiness to my tired, hurting heart.

It’s white outside. The snow sticks.

Jackson plays with toy trucks,

He laughs when one falls in the flower pot.

Jonah watches Jackson. He coos.

I brew a cup of chicory.

The day drips on.

Flakes still falling…

Wishing the day would fall just as fast.

I should make dinner.

Hearing babes in the background while stove top burns.

Husband comes home, tired but helps.

We eat together, we talk together.

The day drips on.

I nurse.

Jonah sleeps sweet now.

Hear laughing, splashing in the bath.

Jackson soon to close his eyes.

The night keeps its constant drip.

“Knock, knock”

It’s May May.

A ten year old boy steps,

Into this dripping day.

Wet from flakes yet full of brightness

He’s outside? At this hour? Alone?

I think to myself.

"Stay here for awhile, I’ll make you coco."

His favorite.
He smiles and takes comfort inside.

The night still doing its drip, drip, drip.

But it’s this dripping at this hour,

I find...

Even the dripping days are set for purpose.

©Emily Murphy – Reflections from White Rock
Feb. 11^th 2010

“My heart overflows with a pleasing theme;

I address my verses to the King;

my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.” 

Pslam 45:1

O' Come

Scripture tells us repeatedly to come to Jesus as a child. We (including me), are pros at doing just the opposite. We've grown up, right? We should only approach God when we have it all together, when we feel we have the right words to say, or in the right setting when our minds are fully attentive on Him... where are these moments, I'd like to know!
Yet, Jesus tells us to approach him as a child. Having children has turned this concept on it's head for me.  Jesus, are you really saying I can come in all my messiness, with my short attention span, fumbling for words to say, and to come whenever I want, saying whatever is on my mind and that I can say it over and over if I desire? You get the idea... like children!

In light of these lessons I share my second poem. 

O' Come

O’ Come unfaithful to the faithful One

Come messy, weary, heavy, undone

Come just as a little child

Come O’ heart that is not mild

In My arms I’ll hold you well,

 O’ weary one I’ll hold you well

Come My own just as you are

Come raw, guilty, in painful scar

Come just as a little lamb

Come wobbly to your great “I Am”

In my arms I’ll hold you well

O’ weary one I’ll hold you well

Come like Thomas in doubtful pride

Come and touch My very side

Come just as an infant cries

Over and Over and Over once more

In My arms I’ll hold you well

O’ weary one I’ll hold you well

Come little girl or little boy

Come skipping in youthful joy

Come just as tiny ones dream

Come twirl and dance with your King

In My arms I’ll hold you well

O’ Precious one I’ll hold you well

(c) Emily Murphy - 11/19/20008

Inspired by watching my children & A Praying Life –
By: Paul Miller

Bottom Dimples...and A Little Pee

The Apple Of My Eye

If the lighting is just right I can look into the center of Jonah's eye and see a reflection of myself holding him. This is called the apple or "little man" of the eye. Being a stay at home Mom I experience days that seem insignificant as I go through the daily routine of life. But one of my favorite things about nursing is when this happens. God sweetly reminds me how important I am to Him and how important my job as a Mother is.

For He calls me the apple of His eye.

"He found him in a desert land,and in the howling waste of the wilderness;
he encircled him, he cared for him,
he kept him as the apple of his eye." 
Deuteronomy 32:10

Let The Sunshine In

This is Granmommi, my beautiful mother with Jackson when he was almost 2. She has taught Jackson many songs and calls frequently to sing him new ones.
"Let the Sunshine In" is one of his favorites.