JOY BOYS

Just thought I should put a few recent pictures from Ty's birthday party at the Corn Maize. The Lord gave me some names and identities for the boys over the past few months.

Jacob is my Humble Warrior, Ty is my Tender Champion, and Kyle is my Fearless Fighter/Joy Boy. Dad named Kyle "Joy Boy" a long time ago -- and he's very fun and brings us lots of joy. But so do Jacob and Ty in their own ways. It's an awesome experience. Sylas and I are having a blast!!

What I'm Learning

So I figured I shouldn't wait until the two year anniversary of my last post to post again... :)

For the last 6 months I have put myself in a spiritual time-out. I had to examine myself and ask the Lord "Who am I?" Every mom knows how many different hats we wear on a regular basis, and I was drowning in a sea of different identities thrown at me every day. There are too many to list, and it just gets overwhelming to even think about it. Funny thing is, the Lord consistently answered my question "Who am I?" By saying "You are the daughter of the I AM." That is my identity. Who I am is wrapped up completely in the great I AM. He covers me, empowers me, inspires me, teaches me, cleanses me, heals me, walks with me, loves me, romances me, pursues me...it has been an awesome journey.

And now....He is telling me to begin to teach again....and to write. I'm not sure what this blog will turn into. But I am excited about it. I have learned to watch the hand and heart of the Lord at work each day in different ways. And I do not want to keep that to myself anymore. And I figure, it's 2010, guess I'll put it on a blog. ;)

So this week I was reading in John 17 and was moved to meditate on verse 13:

"But now I come to Thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy made full in themselves."

As I thought about that, my mind went back to when Jacob was an infant. In his first year of life there were so many milestones. I would see him roll over, begin to scoot across the floor, finally get up on hands and knees and crawl...and eventually....at the ripe age of 14 months....he began to walk. What made those occasions so joyful was sharing what I saw. I would call Sylas if he wasn't home or call my family and share the news of Jacob's latest accomplishment. It made my joy complete to share those things with people I loved.

I have been silent too long about who Christ is to me. And He has called me to write and to teach. And it is, in this way, that my joy in Him will be fulfilled. Matthew Henry says of John 17:13 -

"Christ earnestly desired the fulness of the joy of his disciples, for it is his will that they should rejoice evermore. He was leaving them in tears and troubles, and yet took effectual care to fulfil their joy. When they thought their joy in him was brought to an end, then was it advanced nearer to perfection than ever it had been, and they were fuller of it.

We are here taught,

[1.] To found our joy in Christ

[2.] To build up our joy with diligence; for it is the duty as well as privilege of all true believers; no part of the Christian life is pressed upon us more earnestly."

I just love that. Pursue JOY in Christ. And we all know that as we turn our eyes upon Jesus, our affections for this world slowly fade. And it's a beautiful and freeing thing. The only thing harder than doing this -- than releasing our affections for things of this world -- is to hold onto them so tightly that we miss what the Lord has for us. He has abundant life. We are far too easily pleased with what we think is abundance.

This journey I've been on over the past six months has redefined what abundance is to me. Abundance is walking with Christ, and being led by the Holy Spirit, daily. Dying to flesh and choosing to live for Christ. It brought new meaning to that chorus I've sung a hundred times "Better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere." I love it when he awakens my soul to words I have sung over and over and gives them fresh new meaning.

I've got a hundred ideas for blog posts whirling around in my head. My prayer is that I'll be more disciplined to write. I want to complete my joy by opening my heart to whoever wants to read about it. I want to share what Christ is doing. I want to experience abundant life by being diligent to find my joy in the author and perfecter of my faith. Who, for the joy set before Him, endured the Cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. And there He rules and reigns...just as He did from the manger on that night in Bethlehem. If that doesn't make you fall to your knees in awe...well....just ask Him to take you there. It's better than a thousand days anywhere else.

Sifted Like Wheat

So tonight I was grieving over my latest battle with sin...again...and as I was pouring out my heart to Sylas I was reminded of something my precious Mom said last time I was in Liberty Hill. She said she was reading about Peter and about how after he denied Christ three times, Christ looked at him in the face and Peter went away and wept bitterly. She said when she read it, she thought of me. Now, while I haven't exactly publicly denied Christ, I have done so with my actions. No need for blatant confession on my blog. But what I DO want to do is give you a link to something I came across tonight that really gave me some perspective on my sin. I have really been in spiritual warfare like never before. I never knew the extent to which a believer could experience that until the last 2 months. Some of you know more details than others but it has been the roughest time of my life. Life has just been hard. No awful tragedies or anything, just sin and it's consequences and, I truly believe, Satan demanded to have me, that he might sift me like wheat. Here's what I read tonight:
http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/murray/absolutesurrender/abssur4.htm
It gave me incredible insight. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the Word of God and it's intense practicality and supernatural ability to show us ourselves in spite of our (my) limited understanding. I don't even know if that makes sense to you, but it makes perfect sense to me. God is so faithful. That seems like such an understatement. I sleep at the foot of the Cross every night and am in awe of His great love for His people that allows us to find rest there. I have so much to say, my heart is so full, but I must rest!! I took some pictures of the boys tonight and I will post them soon. They are an ever-present reminder to me of God's grace in my life.
As I close this I am reminded of the time when Jacob was four and sat perfectly still while an inexperienced nurse attempted to take his blood. He was a champ and I was in awe of his ability to trust the nurse and trust me. He knew he had to give blood so they could figure out what was wrong with him. They dug around in his tiny arm until they finally found a vein. It took 3 nurses to find it. Anyway, after we got in the car, I was basically speechless, but I managed to tell him that he made me intensely happy with his behavior. He said this "Mom, you know why I did that so good? Because I know I am loved by my God." So I sit STILL tonight knowing I'm loved by my God in the midst of suffering, knowing that it's purpose is greater than anything I could ever ask for or imagine. I trust that.

Guess Who Called Me??

BETH MOORE.
So the last several weeks of my life have been the hardest of my life so far. And the Lord has faithfully used His saints to walk me through it....and one in particular was Beth Moore. Last week I told Sylas that I wanted the opportunity to tell her someday what her service to the Lord has provided me. Then I prayed that the Lord would give me that opportunity.
So here's the story:
Today's the last day of YMCA football games and they're in Junction. I'll admit, I'm so DONE with football - usually about this time I feel the urge to throw out everything having to do with football in our home -- and that list would include but is not limited to: football plates, football spoons, football cups, football brownies, football muffin cups, football helmets, cleats, pads, pants, jerseys, t-shirts, fantasy football, football stadium bundt pan, footBALLS. Anyway, Sylas took Jacob and Ty this morning to Junction for the last day of games. So I'm rejoicing because we can finally put this 'season' behind us for awhile. (Nevermind high school, college and NFL). Well, enter DEER season. Today is opening day. That means there are men dressed up as hunters everywhere - and it's not their halloween costume!! Well if you know anything about hunting in Texas, Junction is one of the best places to be on opening day. So Sylas coaches the first game at 10:30 and then heads to Sunshine Cafe in Junction for lunch with Ty and Jacob and Kade Creek. While he's eating there, I get a phone call that went something like this:
Sylas: Hey babe, where does Beth Moore live?
Me: Houston
Sylas: Could she possibly be in Junction?
Me: I don't know do you see her???
Sylas: Is she really thin with a kind of pointy nose? There's a lady here who looks just like her.
Me: YES
Sylas: Is her husband a hunter?
Me: YES
Sylas: Ok, I'll go see if that's her. I'll call you back.

Then I went into a dissertation of what I wanted Sylas to tell her for me if it was, in fact, Beth Moore. He said "Ok" and I was just certain he didn't hear anything I had just said. So, I waited just long enough to begin to think there's no way Beth Moore could be in Junction. Then my phone rings. It says SYLAS on the ID....but here's how the conversation started:
Me: Hello
HER: Shea?
Me: (voice quivering) yes...
HER: This is Beth Moore honey how are you?
Me...I'll spare you all the verbage of what I really said but let's just say I went into a spirit-filled exhortation of her ministry and told her what she has meant to me and how I desire to do what she does -- all through tears and holding back my desire to giggle the way Ty did as he went through all his halloween candy last night.
I don't remember all the exact words Beth said but she assured me of God's love for me and she DEFINITELY called me 'Sweet one.' :)
I'm overwhelmed today with the goodness of God in the land of the living. The Lord has done great things for me, and I am filled with JOY. He has kept my foot from slipping, and answered my cry as I looked to him as the eyes of a servant looks to her master. He has brought me out of a horrible pit, lifted me up and given me a firm place to stand. He has put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise unto my God. I pray that many will hear it and trust in the Lord. And now I wait with anticipation -- great anticipation -- to see what the Lord has for the Politte family. I wait for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning. He is faithful, He is good. And with Him is abundant redemption. To GOD be the glory.

Well, I realized I haven't posted in awhile and I'm not sure exactly what to write about because we have been super busy, but I thought you might enjoy some pictures. Eldorado has a pumpkin patch this year so we have become frequent visitors there -- Thursday with Jacob's Kindergarten class and then today with Ty and Kyle's preschool class. Here are some highlights:
Here are some fun pics from when Ty and Kyle gutted the costume trunk!! Just a little taste of what Halloween will look like at the Po House:

Kyle Pooped a Penny

Yes, I got a call from our sweet sitter Lindsay today and she said "Shea, Kyle went poop, and I was changing his diaper, and he pooped a penny." HA!! That's all for that story -- no spiritual significance that I know of. :)

However, I DID take a picture of it (yes, she saved it for me)...would you like to see it? I don't know just how distasteful it would be for me to post it. I'll ask Sylas.

You know what? I don't know how many dirty diapers I have changed in the last 5 and a half years, but I have NEVER gotten a TIP!!!!! NO FAIR!!!

P.S. Ty was having a hard time going to sleep tonight and since Sylas is gone to Ozona, I spent some quality time with him. I told him the story about Kyle and guess what he asked me (after he finally stopped cracking up) "Did you get it out?"

Bringing Up Jacob

I have to share our joy with you all when it comes to our oldest son, Jacob. First of all, here's a copy of the letter he received from his teacher last week:

Dear Jacob,

I am so glad you are in my class this year!

I love to listen to you sing while you do your work. It makes me smile.

I'm proud of you for following the rules.

Fondly,

Mrs. Mikeska

Awwwww, how sweet, right? Yeah, it made my day. He does sing a lot - and I love that about him. My favorite was the time he busted out with "No sweeter name than the name of Jesus, no sweeter name have I ever known...." in the bathtub.

And here's a story I've told several people but I thought it was certainly blogworthy.
9/14/08

Jacob: "When people say "you're the best" at everything, it stresses me out.

Me: "Well, Jacob, people say that to encourage you and to let you know how much they love you."

Jacob: "Oh, I didn't know that."

Me: "You know what, Jacob? It's ok to not be the greatest at everything. Mommy isn't the greatest at everything."

Jacob: "Yeah, only God is perfect."

Me: "That's right!"

Jacob: "And besides, when I mess up I can just erase it with my pencil."

Me: "That's right! And that's what God did for our sins with Jesus. He erased them!"

Jacob: "Yeah, but He did it with His blood."

I asked him to repeat that, and he did -- with certainty and confidence. I was blown away -- encouraged -- and excited. He was getting ready for his bath when we had that conversation and right after I ran in and wrote it down before I even helped him wash his hair. :) I have been meaning to blog about it ever since but, well, there's also Ty and Kyle and Sylas and.....LIFE!

Thanks for reading!!

My Sweet Ty

OK, here's the story of the week at the Po House:
Last Monday on our way back to Eldorado from Liberty Hill, I was stressed out and flustered because Kyle cried off and on almost the entire way home. He's attached to his Daddy and doesn't understand that I was TRYING to reunite them!!! Anyway, we stopped at Dairy Queen in Menard and I decided to cheat on my diet -- BIG time. I don't remember the last time I had ice cream, much less a Blizzard...so I ordered one. I must say that Ty, Kyle and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I didn't even care that Kyle was in his diaper and a nasty shirt with no shoes and Ty was shoeless as well. I won't say what people probably thought about my parenting. :)

That's the background to what happened today:

I have been watching FOX news more than ever before because I'm a little obsessed with McCain/Palin. I secretly want to be Sarah Palin. :) Ty came in the living room and saw the hurricane Ike coverage. They were showing people boarding up a Dairy Queen in South Texas. Ty said: "Mom, that's where we stopped and you got ice cream."

I said: "You're right, Ty, I shouldn't have eaten that -- you should tell me next time NO, Mom!!!"

Ty said: "Mom, Jesus taked that sin away"

I said: "Ty, how do you know that?"

He said: "Because I can hear Jesus and He told me".... a few seconds pass "And because I'm so smart"

Isn't God good? :) We're aiming for a Cross-centered childhood for these three boys. God is Faithful!!