My handsome husband had a birthday today. While I am thinking about him even more than usual (Is that possible?), I am also thinking of a few other people.
First, I have to thank my dear mother-in-law who birthed a ten pound baby so many years ago. No epidural, either!
Second, I thank her and my equally dear father-in-law who raised a charming, kind, God-fearing man who is a fantastic father, amazing husband, and my best friend.
Finally, thanks to my mom, who prayed for Stud before she had even met him. I think her prayers for a righteous and loving husband for me were answered in a MAGNIFICENT way.
Happy Birthday, Stud! I love you!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Sunday, November 16, 2008
"Mom, Someday Can We..."
This week I learned of the death of the daughter of one of my mom's friend. She was 47 and left behind a husband and 4 children. An email I received contained this paragraph written by her husband:
"God answered our prayers tonight. He healed S by taking her to Him. S passed from this life surrounded by family []. She was never fully ours but a wonderful gift from God on loan to all who knew her for 47 years. She also was not her own but she belonged body and soul to her faithful savior Jesus Christ. There is no better place that she could be than in Heaven. There is no one who can care for her more completely than Jesus can. No more tears, sorrow, or sickness. No more Cushings, or cancer, or swelling. She expressed a desire to walk again. I believe she is walking on streets of gold this very day. She has completed her work on this earth and is hearing her savior say to her "well done good and faithful servant enter into my Kingdom." She has fought the good fight. She has finished the race. She has kept the faith. She has received the crown of righteousness awarded by the Lord, the righteous judge. "
As I grieve for her husband, children, and parents, I know that they are not mourning as those who have no hope. They are still, however, mourning. Yet, her husband's words evidence the hope.
Just this week I heard Sweet Pea again ask, "Mom, someday can we..." Usually, she asks if we can go to Bisney (where, incidentally, you can ride a variety of rides that spin around and get you "busy") or Old MacDonald's. I answer, "Yes, Sweetie, we can hope to do that someday." That's enough for Sweet Pea. She doesn't know when it will happen, but she trusts us that it will happen. I want to believe that her trust is based on her knowledge of our love for her, that we have good things planned for her, and that we have the capacity to make it happen. That's where she gets her hope.
It struck me that that is where I get my hope. I do not know when it will happen. I watch parents lose children and children lose parents. I watch sickness shred life. I watch pain immobilize. So, I pray, "Father, someday can we..." And I already know His answer. I know His love, what He has promised, and His unmatched power to make it happen. And my hope comes from this. Someday...we will.
"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Revelation 21:3-4
"God answered our prayers tonight. He healed S by taking her to Him. S passed from this life surrounded by family []. She was never fully ours but a wonderful gift from God on loan to all who knew her for 47 years. She also was not her own but she belonged body and soul to her faithful savior Jesus Christ. There is no better place that she could be than in Heaven. There is no one who can care for her more completely than Jesus can. No more tears, sorrow, or sickness. No more Cushings, or cancer, or swelling. She expressed a desire to walk again. I believe she is walking on streets of gold this very day. She has completed her work on this earth and is hearing her savior say to her "well done good and faithful servant enter into my Kingdom." She has fought the good fight. She has finished the race. She has kept the faith. She has received the crown of righteousness awarded by the Lord, the righteous judge. "
As I grieve for her husband, children, and parents, I know that they are not mourning as those who have no hope. They are still, however, mourning. Yet, her husband's words evidence the hope.
Just this week I heard Sweet Pea again ask, "Mom, someday can we..." Usually, she asks if we can go to Bisney (where, incidentally, you can ride a variety of rides that spin around and get you "busy") or Old MacDonald's. I answer, "Yes, Sweetie, we can hope to do that someday." That's enough for Sweet Pea. She doesn't know when it will happen, but she trusts us that it will happen. I want to believe that her trust is based on her knowledge of our love for her, that we have good things planned for her, and that we have the capacity to make it happen. That's where she gets her hope.
It struck me that that is where I get my hope. I do not know when it will happen. I watch parents lose children and children lose parents. I watch sickness shred life. I watch pain immobilize. So, I pray, "Father, someday can we..." And I already know His answer. I know His love, what He has promised, and His unmatched power to make it happen. And my hope comes from this. Someday...we will.
"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Revelation 21:3-4
Friday, November 7, 2008
She's Five!
Praise be to the Lord, for He has heard my cry for mercy.
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.
My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.
Psalm 28:6-7
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.
My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.
Psalm 28:6-7
Thursday, November 6, 2008
The Fruit of the Spirit
Two days ago the kids and I were driving to the grocery store. A boy who was old enough to know better threw a football into the middle of a busy street. The ball landed in front of my car and another kid jumped in front of the car laughing. I had to brake quickly. I kept a guard on my lips, not letting anything I was thinking be heard by the little ones in the backseat. I confess, however, to mouthing the word "stupid." I was proud of the self-restraint I had shown in front of my little ones who could not see my lips. A few seconds later Sweet Pea says to me, "Mama, can we sing the song about the fruit of the Spirit?"
Apparently it's not just God who knows my heart.
Apparently it's not just God who knows my heart.
Three Things
Three things strike me as I consider this week's election. Can I share them? (Will they be read if I don't include pictures of my sweet miracles?)
Election Day is always a big deal for me. I get emotional. Not because I feel strongly about who should be president, though I do. I tear up because I realize what a great privilege it is to be able to vote. Men and women have given their lives for the freedom we enjoy here. I take Sweet Pea with me (when I can) when I vote and I tell her again and again what an amazing privilege it is to vote and about the price some people paid so that we can live free. Even if, I tell her, the candidate we want to win does not win, it is still far preferable to living somewhere where we have no say.
If you know me at all, you know how I voted. Beyond the greater political and partisan arguments, it boils down to one thing for me: the candidate's valuing of life. Some say that you can't legislate morality. Of course, not, but you can legislate moral behavior that protects the weak and innocent. Others want me to look at the greater picture of "good" being proposed by one candidate over another. I can't. You may think me simple for this, and that's fine with me. What I know is that someday I will stand before Almighty God, the Creator of life, and I will give an account of how I voted. In 2004 Al Mohler (as quoted by CJ Mahaney on his blog, http://www.sovereigngraceministries.com/Blog/) said this:
"With an issue like human life and human dignity on the line, a vote that would lead to the further destruction of human life or a failure to vote in a way that would restrict the destruction of human life is a vote that makes a citizen complicit in the taking and destruction of human life. There is no innocence. There is no neutrality. "
Obama was unwilling to decide when a baby is entitled to full human rights; such decision making was "above [his] paygrade." Running mate Biden stated that he believed that life begins at conception, but...it wouldn't be right for him to impose his views on others. (referencing the always neutral msnbc http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26593948/)
That being said, you know I didn't vote for Obama. But (and I'm at my third thought here) I am struck by the historic significance of the election of our first African-American president. My final thought is that President Elect Obama needs our prayers. We need to pray for him. The following piece is far more eloquent than I could ever be with this darn kidney stone bouncing around in me. (and, thanks to Mr Biden I will remember to cite my source) From Ligon Duncan (http://www.reformation21.org/blog/2008/11/some-initial-thoughts-on-prayi.php):
"We will also pray for our new President because he (and we) face challenges that are not only daunting but potentially disastrous. We will pray that God will grant him wisdom. He and his family will face new challenges and the pressures of this office. May God protect them, give them joy in their family life, and hold them close together.
We will pray that God will protect this nation even as our new President settles into his role as Commander in Chief, and that God will grant peace as he leads the nation through times of trial and international conflict and tension.
We will pray that God would change President-Elect Obama's mind and heart on issues of crucial moral concern. May God change his heart and open his eyes to see abortion as the murder of the innocent unborn, to see marriage as an institution to be defended, and to see a host of issues in a new light. We must pray this from this day until the day he leaves office. God is sovereign, after all.
For those Christians who are more dismayed than overjoyed about the prospects of an Obama presidency, there should be a remembrance that as our President, Barack Obama will have God-given authority to govern us, and that we should view him as a servant of God (Rom. 13:1, 4) to whom we should be subject (Rom. 13:1, 5; 1 Pet. 2:13-14). Thus, again, we are to pray for Barack Obama (1 Tim. 2:1-2). We are to thank God for Barack Obama (1 Tim. 2:1-2). We are to respect Barack Obama (Rom. 13:7). We are to honor Barack Obama (Rom. 13:7; 1 Pet. 2:17).
For those Christians who are more overjoyed than concerned about the prospects of an Obama presidency, there should be a remembrance of our ultimate allegiance: Jesus is Lord (and thus, He, not we, decides what is right and wrong), we serve God not man, and the Lord himself has promised to establish "the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him" (Malachi 3:18). Thus, where our new president opposes or undermines biblical moral standards in our society, fails to uphold justice for the unborn, undermines religious liberties or condones an ethos that is hostile to the Gospel, we will pray for God's purposes to triumph over our President's plans and policies.
Without doubt and whatever our particular views may be, we face hard days ahead. Realistically, we must all expect to be frustrated and disappointed. Some now may feel defeated and discouraged. While others may all-too-soon find their audacious hopes unfounded and unrealized. We must all keep ever in mind that it is God who raises up leaders and nations, and it is God who pulls them down, and who judges both nations and rulers. We must not act or think like unbelievers, or as those who do not trust God."
Election Day is always a big deal for me. I get emotional. Not because I feel strongly about who should be president, though I do. I tear up because I realize what a great privilege it is to be able to vote. Men and women have given their lives for the freedom we enjoy here. I take Sweet Pea with me (when I can) when I vote and I tell her again and again what an amazing privilege it is to vote and about the price some people paid so that we can live free. Even if, I tell her, the candidate we want to win does not win, it is still far preferable to living somewhere where we have no say.
If you know me at all, you know how I voted. Beyond the greater political and partisan arguments, it boils down to one thing for me: the candidate's valuing of life. Some say that you can't legislate morality. Of course, not, but you can legislate moral behavior that protects the weak and innocent. Others want me to look at the greater picture of "good" being proposed by one candidate over another. I can't. You may think me simple for this, and that's fine with me. What I know is that someday I will stand before Almighty God, the Creator of life, and I will give an account of how I voted. In 2004 Al Mohler (as quoted by CJ Mahaney on his blog, http://www.sovereigngraceministries.com/Blog/) said this:
"With an issue like human life and human dignity on the line, a vote that would lead to the further destruction of human life or a failure to vote in a way that would restrict the destruction of human life is a vote that makes a citizen complicit in the taking and destruction of human life. There is no innocence. There is no neutrality. "
Obama was unwilling to decide when a baby is entitled to full human rights; such decision making was "above [his] paygrade." Running mate Biden stated that he believed that life begins at conception, but...it wouldn't be right for him to impose his views on others. (referencing the always neutral msnbc http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26593948/)
That being said, you know I didn't vote for Obama. But (and I'm at my third thought here) I am struck by the historic significance of the election of our first African-American president. My final thought is that President Elect Obama needs our prayers. We need to pray for him. The following piece is far more eloquent than I could ever be with this darn kidney stone bouncing around in me. (and, thanks to Mr Biden I will remember to cite my source) From Ligon Duncan (http://www.reformation21.org/blog/2008/11/some-initial-thoughts-on-prayi.php):
"We will also pray for our new President because he (and we) face challenges that are not only daunting but potentially disastrous. We will pray that God will grant him wisdom. He and his family will face new challenges and the pressures of this office. May God protect them, give them joy in their family life, and hold them close together.
We will pray that God will protect this nation even as our new President settles into his role as Commander in Chief, and that God will grant peace as he leads the nation through times of trial and international conflict and tension.
We will pray that God would change President-Elect Obama's mind and heart on issues of crucial moral concern. May God change his heart and open his eyes to see abortion as the murder of the innocent unborn, to see marriage as an institution to be defended, and to see a host of issues in a new light. We must pray this from this day until the day he leaves office. God is sovereign, after all.
For those Christians who are more dismayed than overjoyed about the prospects of an Obama presidency, there should be a remembrance that as our President, Barack Obama will have God-given authority to govern us, and that we should view him as a servant of God (Rom. 13:1, 4) to whom we should be subject (Rom. 13:1, 5; 1 Pet. 2:13-14). Thus, again, we are to pray for Barack Obama (1 Tim. 2:1-2). We are to thank God for Barack Obama (1 Tim. 2:1-2). We are to respect Barack Obama (Rom. 13:7). We are to honor Barack Obama (Rom. 13:7; 1 Pet. 2:17).
For those Christians who are more overjoyed than concerned about the prospects of an Obama presidency, there should be a remembrance of our ultimate allegiance: Jesus is Lord (and thus, He, not we, decides what is right and wrong), we serve God not man, and the Lord himself has promised to establish "the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him" (Malachi 3:18). Thus, where our new president opposes or undermines biblical moral standards in our society, fails to uphold justice for the unborn, undermines religious liberties or condones an ethos that is hostile to the Gospel, we will pray for God's purposes to triumph over our President's plans and policies.
Without doubt and whatever our particular views may be, we face hard days ahead. Realistically, we must all expect to be frustrated and disappointed. Some now may feel defeated and discouraged. While others may all-too-soon find their audacious hopes unfounded and unrealized. We must all keep ever in mind that it is God who raises up leaders and nations, and it is God who pulls them down, and who judges both nations and rulers. We must not act or think like unbelievers, or as those who do not trust God."
Sunday, October 26, 2008
More Answered Prayer
Sweet Pea started singing in a homeschool choir last month. Being a bit shy, she cried when I went to sit with the other moms at the first practice. I had to sit next to her for the whole practice. Over the next few days we talked about fear and God. We began to memorize Isaiah 41:10: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." We prayed. We got friends to pray. We are studying Moses, both at BSF and at home, so we talked about how Moses was afraid sometimes also.
This past Friday the homeschool choir sang at a nursing home. Once again, we see God's hand of grace in answered prayer. Look at my sweet little thing! (and notice that I am not standing next to her!)
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Meet the Miracles
Some of you have never seen Sweet Pea or Handsome in person. They are our two miracles. We experienced a total of 9.5 years of barrenness and 3 losses. These two were born against all odds. They were and are much prayed for.
Sweet Pea's birth announcement included James 1:17. "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like the shifting shadows."
Sweet Pea's birth announcement included James 1:17. "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like the shifting shadows."
Handsome's birth announcement included John 1:16. "From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another."
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Welcome?
I know that at least two of you will be reading this. I thank you for validating my blogging presence.
As I start this blogging "journey" I want to have a goal in mind. I guess my goal is, more than anything, to share the stories of grace that we have been given. God's grace is so great. I want to always be speaking of the wonderful things He does. Psalm 66:5 says, "Come and see what God has done, how awesome His works in man's behalf." May my words always proclaim His goodness!
In sharing His goodness and the laughter He has granted us, I hope to make "my readers" (how snooty does that sound?) feel like they know us a little better and that they are a little less far away. In contemplating a title for this blog, "Not My Home" came to mind. Florida has never felt like home, but now our hometown doesn't either. I've come to the realization that no place on earth will ever truly feel like home. I am not home yet and won't be till I cross the Jordan. Until then, I am realizing that feelings of home come with sharing our lives with friends and family - wherever they are.
One last note. I'm a bit paranoid, so I won't be using our real names. I am Aimster. My beautiful daughter will be known here as Sweet Pea. My son is Handsome. My husband has requested that I herein refer to him as Stud.
As I start this blogging "journey" I want to have a goal in mind. I guess my goal is, more than anything, to share the stories of grace that we have been given. God's grace is so great. I want to always be speaking of the wonderful things He does. Psalm 66:5 says, "Come and see what God has done, how awesome His works in man's behalf." May my words always proclaim His goodness!
In sharing His goodness and the laughter He has granted us, I hope to make "my readers" (how snooty does that sound?) feel like they know us a little better and that they are a little less far away. In contemplating a title for this blog, "Not My Home" came to mind. Florida has never felt like home, but now our hometown doesn't either. I've come to the realization that no place on earth will ever truly feel like home. I am not home yet and won't be till I cross the Jordan. Until then, I am realizing that feelings of home come with sharing our lives with friends and family - wherever they are.
One last note. I'm a bit paranoid, so I won't be using our real names. I am Aimster. My beautiful daughter will be known here as Sweet Pea. My son is Handsome. My husband has requested that I herein refer to him as Stud.
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