A Change of Rhythm

With a new baby brings a change in the rhythm of things, to say the least! Still not one complaint or anything I would change. But finding time to stay connected to God, my husband and myself has proved to be a challenge with our new "little boss"! I watch the news now more than ever, so there have been many things that have outraged me that I've been thinking and writing about. (By the way, if gas prices were "record breaking" yesterday, doesn't that mean they are "record breaking" today too. But without fail it is said everyday!) But I just don't feel that those outrages should take this post. These days time alone is precious. Instead I wanted to share some of the scriptures that have stopped me in my tracks in the last few weeks!

James 1:6-8 (TNIV)
6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Those who doubt should not think they will receive anything from the Lord; 8 they are double-minded and unstable in all they do.
God wants us to be decisive. I struggle with that sometime - often I cheat and let time make a decision for me. But God wants us to make up our minds and not fear failures or mistakes.

Hebrews 10:10 and 14 (NLT)
10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. 14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.
In Christ we are complete right now - in Him we are whole. Jesus did everything we will ever need. There's nothing left to add or change. There is no sacrifice left for us to bring Him - He did it all. We can't add to what He has already done - not holding on to the past, not forgiving ourselves, not hanging on to our mistakes. Jesus has done all we need and we just have to grasp on to the truth that in Him we are complete!

Ephesians 1:4 (NLT)
4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
Being made holy seems to be a ongoing theme for me. God's love must come first - it is through His love that we have the power and security that enables us to be holy and fulfill our God given purpose.

Galatians 5:22
The fruit of the spirit Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control; those things are resources from God. I rethink things now, to say "I have no patience" is to say "God really doesn't have enough power to give that to me." But these are God's resources that give us the power, that isn't naturally within us, to live differently.

Genesis 1:27 (TNIV)
So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Imagine the possibilities when we put into practice being made in His image? How would you look at yourself differently? How would you look at others differently? I am stuck here in this verse - considering how different my life should be just because of that verse. So I'm doing lots of writing and study on that theme...I'll get back to you on that.

This is INSANE!!!

I am so glad to live in America, to drive in my own car...with just my husband and baby, and yes after watching this to even pay ridiculous gas prices!! I guess the Japanese don't have personal space or a body-bubble!! I would freak out, no maybe just live on the streets if this was the only way to work!!!!

The Glory of It All

For me there are worship songs, then there are Worship Songs! You know, the personal ones that dare you go deep down look at all your stuff - the good, the bad, the pain, the joys, and complete brokenness and failure - then realize it all pales in the awesomeness of who God is. You can't possibly experience God and remain who you are and where you were. Without God I am nothing - nothing works, nothing makes sense, and everything is chaos. And as messed up I am, it is amazing that he came to rescue and repair me once and for all.

Enjoy the video. It takes me to a new level every time I hear it!

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