More Pictures

Motherhood isn't allowing much time for pastime activities, such as blogging. But NO Complaints here. We are getting a regular schedule now, so writing will come again soon. Right now I'm having fun hanging out with the little man!! Today I'm answering the requests for new pictures - so here you go.


HAPPY BABY!!


COOL DUDE!!

Good Stuff!!

Tony Campolo on politics. I love this guy!

The Kingdom of God

Here is a concept I’ve heard all my life. But it wasn’t until recently (from November to today, to be exact) that “the Kingdom of God” became more that just some religious jargon or just a concept – it was the central purpose of Jesus. Throughout the gospels we read Jesus speaking of the Kingdom of God over and over; “The Kingdom of God is at hand”, “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done.” It wasn’t a warning of impending doom, it was His mission – and for too long I’ve missed it…I missed Jesus mission. I thought it was only to save, and yes it was that. But if I limit Jesus to that one moment I have missed His life!

Jesus came to create His Kingdom here…on earth. Recently I’ve asked, “What does that look like?” Check out Isaiah 65 starting at verse 17 – the sound of weeping and crying will be heard no more, never again will infants live but a few days or older people not live out their years, no labor in vain, no misfortune, before we even call God will answer. Surely little me couldn’t bring that here, that is the after-life reward for behaving so well on earth. If we live that way, we have missed the life Jesus came to give – abundant. Every Christ-follower is to bring the Kingdom of God here and now.

Over 2,000 verses in the bible dare us to respond to the poor and the oppressed. When we care and respect people just because of God’s love in us, - not because it is our job, or because of some church program or challenge, or because we have some agenda to bring them to church or get them saved – then we have brought the Kingdom of God to the here and now. The Kingdom of God happens when we see beyond ourselves, when we reach out to someone, when we partner with others who are doing what we can’t do alone, when we look at someone who doesn’t look like us and see a child of God not color, class, wealth or lack of. One day we will stand amazed at the simple things we’ve done, some we will remember others will be long forgotten, and we hear “Well done good and faithful servant”.

Check out the YouTube of Tony Campolo telling two great stories of ordinary people bring the Kingdom into their ordinary days.

Promises of Psalm 139 for Seth!

The Lord has searched you and He knows you.

He knows when you sit and when you rise; even from a distance He knows what you are thinking.

He knows when you go out and when you lay down; and he is familiar with all your ways – you are not out of His sight for one moment.

Before a word even comes out your mouth, God knows it.

Look behind you - God is there, Look ahead of you and He is waiting for you. His hand will always comfort you, even when ours can’t.

All this is too wonderful and almost too much to take in!
Is there any where you can go from his Spirit or run from His presence? If you go up to the heavens, there He is. If you go to the depths of the earth, underground, God is there. If you ride on the mornings wings or settle on the other side of the sea – even there He waits for you; to guide you, to love you.

If you say, “I know, the darkness will hide me.” Even the dark isn’t dark to God – night and day, dark and light, they are all the same to God.

God created you from the inside out – He formed you in the womb – you are amazing. We praise God because you are fearfully and wonderfully made. God knew exactly how you were made, bit by bit, how you were sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, God watched you grow from conception to birth; all the stages of your life were spread out before Him. The days of your life all prepared before you even lived one day.

God’s thoughts about us are incredible. They are so many we can’t even count them – they absolutely out number the grains of sand.

Seth, May you wake up every morning knowing God is with you and be willing to walk with Him every day! -Mom and Dad

Surreal

Surreal, that is the best way to describe the life since Thursday, March 20 from 12 noon until right now! (I had no idea the gift that would be born to us the very next day after my last posting.) Seth is awesome - well worth unexpected mid-day phone call to come to Columbia pick him up as he is discharged from the hospital, then the hour of complete chaos that followed, and of course the missed sleep here and there! (God is amazing, not only did he answer in a great way, but in ways we couldn't even imagine...another awesome gift at Easter...that is almost too much!) As we were signing the papers and even seeing him for the first time, I had an incredible since of calmness...and it hasn't left yet. (Which says a lot for the highly stressed woman I have always been!) This little guy is the only thing that has ever made me forget about completing the to-do list, inboxes, and a kept house! NO ONE ever told me being a parent was so much fun - even the late nights!! Marcus is an incredible dad - not that I was surprised! Seth, you were worth the wait!!

Adoption - a powerful message

For those of you that missed the Carolina Hope / Caedmen's Call concert a couple of weeks ago - here is an amazing video that was shown. What an amazing take on adoption!!! (By the way...we are still waiting!!! No word yet...please keep praying. We know it is all in God's timing, but waiting to start a family is hard work!! ;0) Enjoy the video....

Give me normal and HOME!

I am so glad this week is done and over!!! Nothing last week was normal or ordinary. I like variety, but make it somewhat ordered-variety please. Here was the total randomness of last week:

• - So I realized the reason for the 4 am wake up from God about the vine and the branches. I'm so thick in the head sometimes! It was about intimacy, total dependence on Him! I need to be reminded of that often - I tend to handle things on my own too often and intimacy doesn't always come nature to me. But I still wonder why God felt the need to wake me up at 4 am for that one!! (Maybe that was His way of being intimate!)
• - Monday afternoon I met up with some friends to catch Eve Ensler (author and activist of ending violence against women) to speak at Clemson. She was incredible. Her controversial play, The Vagina Monologues, have helped women all across the globe find their voice after being assaulted and has made a huge impact in raising awareness, funding, and changing laws. Another reminder that one person can make a difference with passion, determination, and compassion.
• - Tuesday I spent the day at Fair Oak Elementary presenting the Safe Touch Program for 2nd graders. That's always a great experience. Kids want to know about keeping their bodies safe...I wish more adults would take prevention as serious. (I've contacted 8 to 10 churches now concerning the Stewards of Children training...So far there is no interest or immediate need to schedule Sexual Abuse awareness or prevention in our area. I WILL NOT BE DISCOURAGED OR FRUSTRATED...change takes time!)
• - Wednesday I tagged along with Marcus to keep him company on a sales trip to Tennessee.
• - Thursday we hit the road again, this time to Orangeburg to check on the family - mom's heart cath went well! Thanks for your prayers and thoughts. :^)
• - We made it back in time for Home Group and practice Thursday night!!
• - Friday was the usual helping out at the church office. And then the rest of the day....STRESS. Marcus and I played some original and covers songs at The Corner Bagel. We haven't done that in 10 years!!! (It probably showed!!) But life right now for us is about going beyond our comfort zone (I am definitely not comfortable singing!!) and living without regrets. It was a good experience! I learned a lot and have somethings I want to work on...so it is all good, I'm just really glad it is OVER!! Thanks TO EVERYONE that came out Friday night...Your support meant A LOT to us!!!
• - Saturday we hung out again with our friends under the bridge - Always a blessing. Then we did NOTHING the rest of the day....We were exhausted!!

I've sat down several times this week to blog, but just too tired. With all the car time and new experiences this week, there have been new thoughts and lessons learned...maybe I'll blog on that later, but for now I'm looking forward to a normal week ahead and catching up with an old friend tonight.

Until next time - be blessed!