Thursday, December 13, 2007
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
understanding the things of God
I'm sure most of you heard about the shootings in Colorado on Sunday, December 9. The first was at a YWAM (Youth With A Mission) and the second was at New Life Church. When W told me on Monday morning it hurt. It was one of those things I could not fathom in my mind. I went to foxnews.com and read the story... and it just absolutely grieved me. I started praying for their families and friends, and the family of the shooter. All day yesterday it was on my mind, and I kept thinking of the scripture "precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." Psalm 116:15. I am grateful that it was their lives - because they had already spent their lives on the kingdom of God. I would rather it be someone (as Pete Saint said in "the end of the spear") who is ready for heaven die, so the others may have the opportunity for salvation.
But grasping this... understanding this. Where do you begin?
I feel like I pray so many prayers of protection over my family and friends... am I missing it? Would it be more beneficial to pray "God I trust you with these lives"?
I have no idea to any of these questions. I wish I understood the things of God... I pray in time and in each situation He will help me to a little more.
But grasping this... understanding this. Where do you begin?
I feel like I pray so many prayers of protection over my family and friends... am I missing it? Would it be more beneficial to pray "God I trust you with these lives"?
I have no idea to any of these questions. I wish I understood the things of God... I pray in time and in each situation He will help me to a little more.
Saturday, December 01, 2007
December? Wow.
I suppose it is true. Today is indeed December 1. As most people, as the new year is around the corner I tend to reflect on the past year. So much has happened. We found out we were pregnant in February! We thought several times at the beginning of the pregnancy that I had miscarried because of some bleeding... only to come out 9 months later with a beautiful bundle of joy named Sam who has brought a whole new dimension to our family. I can't believe she is already six weeks old. She is beginning to coo a lot and smile, too. This is such a precious age, but it goes by so quickly!
On a slightly different note, we have dear friends who are in the process of adopting a son from Ethiopia. I dreamed about this family last night, and in my dream I was trying to find the perfect gift to bless them with. I had so much excitement and anticipation for them to step off the plane with their new addition that I couldn't contain myself.
We are training T-Puppy to have "quiet time" and sit still and not talk for a set amount of time. We are working towards a goal of twenty minutes, however at this point we have successfully made it to five minutes (working our way up). This way if he goes into church with us or a meeting, he can sit still without us having to force it. I say all of this to say in this training, we let him listen to something he would consider boring: our choice, the teaching "Mordecai's Cry" by Jim Goll. As I've been sitting with him, and enjoying the teaching, the spirit of adoption is so present right now. Hearing him talk about Mordecai and Esther, and thinking about our friends adopting from Ethiopia... it's so exciting.
"Pure and undefiled religion is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27
W and I were talking a few weeks ago, and I made the comment "you have two children now!" and he responded something like "well, I actually have thirty!". I have to remember that God has indeed entrusted us with an "extra" family right now that we are responsible for - our youth group. I pray the day will come when He will allow us to adopt children into our physical family, however our hands are not empty right now.
The number 8 means new beginnings. I know that 2008 will hold many new beginnings for us (especially as W starts grad school) but I pray there will be many new beginnings in the Holy Spirit as well... I pray this for you, too.
On a slightly different note, we have dear friends who are in the process of adopting a son from Ethiopia. I dreamed about this family last night, and in my dream I was trying to find the perfect gift to bless them with. I had so much excitement and anticipation for them to step off the plane with their new addition that I couldn't contain myself.
We are training T-Puppy to have "quiet time" and sit still and not talk for a set amount of time. We are working towards a goal of twenty minutes, however at this point we have successfully made it to five minutes (working our way up). This way if he goes into church with us or a meeting, he can sit still without us having to force it. I say all of this to say in this training, we let him listen to something he would consider boring: our choice, the teaching "Mordecai's Cry" by Jim Goll. As I've been sitting with him, and enjoying the teaching, the spirit of adoption is so present right now. Hearing him talk about Mordecai and Esther, and thinking about our friends adopting from Ethiopia... it's so exciting.
"Pure and undefiled religion is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27
W and I were talking a few weeks ago, and I made the comment "you have two children now!" and he responded something like "well, I actually have thirty!". I have to remember that God has indeed entrusted us with an "extra" family right now that we are responsible for - our youth group. I pray the day will come when He will allow us to adopt children into our physical family, however our hands are not empty right now.
The number 8 means new beginnings. I know that 2008 will hold many new beginnings for us (especially as W starts grad school) but I pray there will be many new beginnings in the Holy Spirit as well... I pray this for you, too.
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