November 15, 2013
"On
judgment day many will say to me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your
name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in
your name.' But I will reply, 'I never knew you . . .'" Matthew 7:22-23
Father, do I know You?
I realize that seems like a ridiculous question. However, I believe it is a question worth asking of myself every once in a while. One day when I stand before my King I long to hear the words of Matthew 25:21, "Well done, my good and faithful servant . . .." What if instead I hear a paraphrase of Matthew 7:23, "Do I know you?"
I stand firm in my salvation. I recognize my salvation as a gift from God available to me (and to anyone else, for that matter) through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). And because of Christ I know I will stand before God one day right and pure and holy.
But do I know Him?
I teach a Sunday school class. On occasion I have the privilege of encouraging groups of women in their walk of faith. I once traveled half-way around the globe to lead Bible study.
But do I know Him?
God's own people missed Him. In John 5:39 Jesus says to the Jewish leaders, "You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!"
One of Jesus' disciples nearly missed Him. "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don't know who I am?" (John 14:9)
I realize this question is a lot to ask. But it is a question worth asking of ourselves more than every once in a while; more like each day.
Father, do I know You?
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life." (Psalm 139:23-24)
Friday, November 15, 2013
Monday, October 28, 2013
The Litttle Things
October 28, 2013
"The
master said, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been
faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more
responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!'" Matthew 25:23
Why do the little things prove so hard to accomplish? It seems the more I have on my "to-do" list the better I manage my day. The bigger and better the task the more anxious I feel to complete it. But give me a day with only a few mundane tasks to finish and I spend most of my time grumbling and complaining. So many days I've even felt this way toward my children. "Is this all God? Stay home and raise children? Don't you want me to do something more?"
A guy in the Bible by the name of Naaman shared a similar struggle--not over raising kids but over faithfully completing the small, mundane, simplistic task God set before him. 2 Kings 5 tells us that though Naaman served as a mighty warrior he also suffered from leprosy. Following the advice of a young servant girl Naaman decides to visit the prophet Elisha. Elisha sends a messenger to tell Naaman that if he will wash in the Jordan River seven times his skin will be healed.
Naaman feels outraged at Elisha's advice. 2 Kings 5:11 reads, "But Naaman became angry and stalked away. 'I thought he would
certainly come out to meet me!' he said. 'I expected him to wave his
hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me! Aren’t
the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of
the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?'"
Naaman felt owed a better, more majestic course of treatment. Washing in the Jordan River seemed too small of an assignment, too mundane a task for such a mighty warrior to complete.
Then in stepped the voice of reason. In 2 Kings 5:12 Naaman's officers ever so gently suggest, "Sir,
if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn’t
you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, 'Go and wash and be cured!'" Naaman follows the advice of his men and receives both the physical and spiritual healing Elisha promised.
The story of Naaman reveals to me my tendency to desire only "big" assignments from God. In some ways I found it easier to minister to women in Africa than I find it to stay at home and teach my own children. I must remember it is simply a matter of perspective. As followers of Christ we do not get to chose how we bring God glory. In Hosea 6:6 God says, "I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings." What better way to show love than to faithfully raise my children--His children--for Him? What better way to know God than to receive the unconditional love of a child . . . or of four children?
With God's help I proved faithful in a big thing in traveling to Africa last year. With God's help I will prove faithful with my Little Things too.
"The
master said, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been
faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more
responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!'" Matthew 25:23
Why do the little things prove so hard to accomplish? It seems the more I have on my "to-do" list the better I manage my day. The bigger and better the task the more anxious I feel to complete it. But give me a day with only a few mundane tasks to finish and I spend most of my time grumbling and complaining. So many days I've even felt this way toward my children. "Is this all God? Stay home and raise children? Don't you want me to do something more?"
A guy in the Bible by the name of Naaman shared a similar struggle--not over raising kids but over faithfully completing the small, mundane, simplistic task God set before him. 2 Kings 5 tells us that though Naaman served as a mighty warrior he also suffered from leprosy. Following the advice of a young servant girl Naaman decides to visit the prophet Elisha. Elisha sends a messenger to tell Naaman that if he will wash in the Jordan River seven times his skin will be healed.
Naaman feels outraged at Elisha's advice. 2 Kings 5:11 reads, "But Naaman became angry and stalked away. 'I thought he would
certainly come out to meet me!' he said. 'I expected him to wave his
hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me! Aren’t
the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of
the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?'"
Naaman felt owed a better, more majestic course of treatment. Washing in the Jordan River seemed too small of an assignment, too mundane a task for such a mighty warrior to complete.
Then in stepped the voice of reason. In 2 Kings 5:12 Naaman's officers ever so gently suggest, "Sir,
if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn’t
you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, 'Go and wash and be cured!'" Naaman follows the advice of his men and receives both the physical and spiritual healing Elisha promised.
The story of Naaman reveals to me my tendency to desire only "big" assignments from God. In some ways I found it easier to minister to women in Africa than I find it to stay at home and teach my own children. I must remember it is simply a matter of perspective. As followers of Christ we do not get to chose how we bring God glory. In Hosea 6:6 God says, "I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings." What better way to show love than to faithfully raise my children--His children--for Him? What better way to know God than to receive the unconditional love of a child . . . or of four children?
With God's help I proved faithful in a big thing in traveling to Africa last year. With God's help I will prove faithful with my Little Things too.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Just Jesus
September 5, 2013
"God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God." Ephesians 2:8
"We're going to be Baptized in the river on Sunday!" my two oldest daughters explained with much excitement to our neighbor. "That's wonderful!" she replied. But as my children ran off to play, the dialog which continued between my neighbor and me filled my heart with sorrow.
"At our church," my neighbor began, "we believe all people are born with original sin stemming from Adam and Eve."
"I couldn't agree more," I replied.
"And," my neighbor continued, "we believe Baptism washes away that sin."
"Oh, no," I thought to myself.
I think my neighbor could see the concern on my face because she continued, "Oh yes, that is why we sprinkle children with water as infants, you know . . . just in case something happens."
Yes, I do know. I've buried an infant.
My neighbor continued, "Then when children turn twelve we Baptize them again and then they're set . . . "
What stirred my heart was not necessarily the method of Baptism discussed but rather the method of salvation implied.
Travel the Romans road with me for a moment.
Romans 3:23 tells us that "everyone has sinned." Romans 6:23 tells us that "the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." Detour to Hebrews 9:22 and we find that "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin."
In the Old Testament God required animal sacrifices as atonement for sin. Why the shedding of blood from an innocent animal? To foreshadow the shedding of blood from an innocent Man. But Old Testament sacrifices only provided temporary covering for sin; that is why animal sacrifices were repeated year after year. Skip forward to the New Testament. Jesus' death on the cross put an end to the sacrificial system. Jesus was (is) God's Perfect Lamb. Jesus died, shed His blood once for all time for all sin (Hebrews 9:28). We receive forgiveness of sin by recognizing and professing that Jesus died for our sin.
My surviving twin daughter recently asked me how her late sister entered into Heaven if she was not old enough to profess Jesus as her Savior. {I love young minds, don't you?!?} I explained to my daughter that while Scripture does not explicitly address the Salvation of infants I do know that God is good. I know that in Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me." I know that David, whom Scripture identifies as "a man after God's own heart" (Acts 13:22) once said of his own deceased child, "I will go to him one day, but he cannot return to me" (2 Samuel 12:23). I believe with everything in me that my daughter is alive and well with Jesus even though we chose not to sprinkle her with water before her death.
I write not to condemn other belief systems but to share great news! Salvation is not up to us. As one woman who paints masterpieces with her words, Ann Voskamp, wrote in a recent blog, "Your sins aren’t enough to separate you – and your strengths aren’t enough to save you." It is up to Jesus. Jesus proved faithful 2000 years ago. It's done. In His words, "It is finished" (John 19:30). The only action required on your part is to believe in the One God sent (John 6:29).
It isn't the sprinkling of water. It's Jesus.
It isn't submersion in water. It's Jesus.
It isn't good deeds.
It isn't being good enough.
It isn't the right pedigree.
It's just Jesus.
"God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God." Ephesians 2:8
"We're going to be Baptized in the river on Sunday!" my two oldest daughters explained with much excitement to our neighbor. "That's wonderful!" she replied. But as my children ran off to play, the dialog which continued between my neighbor and me filled my heart with sorrow.
"At our church," my neighbor began, "we believe all people are born with original sin stemming from Adam and Eve."
"I couldn't agree more," I replied.
"And," my neighbor continued, "we believe Baptism washes away that sin."
"Oh, no," I thought to myself.
I think my neighbor could see the concern on my face because she continued, "Oh yes, that is why we sprinkle children with water as infants, you know . . . just in case something happens."
Yes, I do know. I've buried an infant.
My neighbor continued, "Then when children turn twelve we Baptize them again and then they're set . . . "
What stirred my heart was not necessarily the method of Baptism discussed but rather the method of salvation implied.
Travel the Romans road with me for a moment.
Romans 3:23 tells us that "everyone has sinned." Romans 6:23 tells us that "the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." Detour to Hebrews 9:22 and we find that "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin."
In the Old Testament God required animal sacrifices as atonement for sin. Why the shedding of blood from an innocent animal? To foreshadow the shedding of blood from an innocent Man. But Old Testament sacrifices only provided temporary covering for sin; that is why animal sacrifices were repeated year after year. Skip forward to the New Testament. Jesus' death on the cross put an end to the sacrificial system. Jesus was (is) God's Perfect Lamb. Jesus died, shed His blood once for all time for all sin (Hebrews 9:28). We receive forgiveness of sin by recognizing and professing that Jesus died for our sin.
My surviving twin daughter recently asked me how her late sister entered into Heaven if she was not old enough to profess Jesus as her Savior. {I love young minds, don't you?!?} I explained to my daughter that while Scripture does not explicitly address the Salvation of infants I do know that God is good. I know that in Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me." I know that David, whom Scripture identifies as "a man after God's own heart" (Acts 13:22) once said of his own deceased child, "I will go to him one day, but he cannot return to me" (2 Samuel 12:23). I believe with everything in me that my daughter is alive and well with Jesus even though we chose not to sprinkle her with water before her death.
I write not to condemn other belief systems but to share great news! Salvation is not up to us. As one woman who paints masterpieces with her words, Ann Voskamp, wrote in a recent blog, "Your sins aren’t enough to separate you – and your strengths aren’t enough to save you." It is up to Jesus. Jesus proved faithful 2000 years ago. It's done. In His words, "It is finished" (John 19:30). The only action required on your part is to believe in the One God sent (John 6:29).
It isn't the sprinkling of water. It's Jesus.
It isn't submersion in water. It's Jesus.
It isn't good deeds.
It isn't being good enough.
It isn't the right pedigree.
It's just Jesus.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Packin' Lunchkits
August 20, 2013
"There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?" John 6:9
Yesterday was one of those days. One of those days when I feel tempted to resent the fact that I stay at home to raise our kids. I realize that shocks many of you. But I didn't grow up dreaming about how many children I would one day raise. I always assumed I would have children, because having children is something most married people do, but as a child and young adult I filled my imagination with thoughts of earning a paycheck. Why else would I labor through five-and-a-half years of school in a male-dominant field of study if not to become financially self-sufficient?
I do not travel to the land of resentment very often nor do I stay in that dreary place very long but I do take the occasional day-trip, tempting myself to believe that I would find greater self-worth if I had a job which brought home a paycheck. I love my kids and I want to serve as their daily caretaker. However, sometimes I allow feelings of inferiority, insignificance and just plain ol' boredom to take rule. Is this all God has for me? I question. Isn't there something more I can do? I ponder. And then God in His goodness reminds me of His perspective.
Remember the story of Jesus feeding 5,000? Overcome by grief over the gruesome death of His cousin, John the Baptist, Jesus attempts to retreat for some alone time with His disciples. But the crowds follow Jesus. Seeing the crowd Jesus "had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So He began teaching them many things" (Mark 6:34).
Evening falls and the 5,000 men and their wives and children grow hungry. Let's feed them, says the Savior. With what, exactly? reply the weary disciples. "Then Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up. There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?" (John 6:8-9) Jesus takes the boy's lunch and blesses it and uses it to feed the upwards of 15,000 people.
Jesus feeding the masses from the contents of a young boy's lunchkit is one of His great miracles; a story so significant its one of the few accounts which all four gospel writers captured in their books. But someone once encouraged me to consider the story from a different perspective.
What about the faithful mama who packed her little boy's lunchkit that day? A mom who pushed aside feelings of inferiority and insignificance and instead saw to it that her young son had everything he needed before he left home. Jesus blessed what that mama packed in her son's lunchbox and used it to feed thousands and thousands of souls.
The story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 causes me to realize that I have a chance each day to pack my children's lunchkits. Now, one beauty of homeschooling is that I do not have to pack actual lunchkits. Come lunchtime, we simply raid the kitchen. But I do have the opportunity to pack my children's spiritual lunchbox. I have the chance, indeed, the duty--homeschooling or not--to train my children in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6). And prayerfully one day Jesus will bless what I packed in my children's lunchkit and use it to feed thousands and thousands of souls.
Inferior?
Insignificant?
I think not.
Rather than spending one more day in the land of resentment I think I'll head into the hallways of motherhood to see what I can pack into my child's lunchkit today.
"There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?" John 6:9
Yesterday was one of those days. One of those days when I feel tempted to resent the fact that I stay at home to raise our kids. I realize that shocks many of you. But I didn't grow up dreaming about how many children I would one day raise. I always assumed I would have children, because having children is something most married people do, but as a child and young adult I filled my imagination with thoughts of earning a paycheck. Why else would I labor through five-and-a-half years of school in a male-dominant field of study if not to become financially self-sufficient?
I do not travel to the land of resentment very often nor do I stay in that dreary place very long but I do take the occasional day-trip, tempting myself to believe that I would find greater self-worth if I had a job which brought home a paycheck. I love my kids and I want to serve as their daily caretaker. However, sometimes I allow feelings of inferiority, insignificance and just plain ol' boredom to take rule. Is this all God has for me? I question. Isn't there something more I can do? I ponder. And then God in His goodness reminds me of His perspective.
Remember the story of Jesus feeding 5,000? Overcome by grief over the gruesome death of His cousin, John the Baptist, Jesus attempts to retreat for some alone time with His disciples. But the crowds follow Jesus. Seeing the crowd Jesus "had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So He began teaching them many things" (Mark 6:34).
Evening falls and the 5,000 men and their wives and children grow hungry. Let's feed them, says the Savior. With what, exactly? reply the weary disciples. "Then Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up. There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?" (John 6:8-9) Jesus takes the boy's lunch and blesses it and uses it to feed the upwards of 15,000 people.
Jesus feeding the masses from the contents of a young boy's lunchkit is one of His great miracles; a story so significant its one of the few accounts which all four gospel writers captured in their books. But someone once encouraged me to consider the story from a different perspective.
What about the faithful mama who packed her little boy's lunchkit that day? A mom who pushed aside feelings of inferiority and insignificance and instead saw to it that her young son had everything he needed before he left home. Jesus blessed what that mama packed in her son's lunchbox and used it to feed thousands and thousands of souls.
The story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 causes me to realize that I have a chance each day to pack my children's lunchkits. Now, one beauty of homeschooling is that I do not have to pack actual lunchkits. Come lunchtime, we simply raid the kitchen. But I do have the opportunity to pack my children's spiritual lunchbox. I have the chance, indeed, the duty--homeschooling or not--to train my children in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6). And prayerfully one day Jesus will bless what I packed in my children's lunchkit and use it to feed thousands and thousands of souls.
Inferior?
Insignificant?
I think not.
Rather than spending one more day in the land of resentment I think I'll head into the hallways of motherhood to see what I can pack into my child's lunchkit today.
Monday, June 24, 2013
The Truth About Lies
June 24, 2013
"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32
What lie are you believing?
Adjusting to life with four kiddos (one who only sleeps two hours at a time) has left me feeling overwhelmed these past few weeks. I tried to brace myself for those first few months of new motherhood: irregular schedule, little to no sleep, no regular quite time with the Lord. Yet this past weekend I found myself actually dreading the start of another day. Desperate for God to hear my concerns I turned to my prayer journal this morning.
"I'm tired, God. The baby requires so much of me that I have little left to give to our other three children. I can barely meet the needs of our kids, what about being there for my friends and for those in need? What if I miss out on what you called me to do because I'm so busy caring for our kids?"
And suddenly I realized . . . there it was in black and white.
A big. fat. lie.
This past Sunday my pastor preached about the end of King David's life as David commissioned his son Solomon to build God's temple. In 1 Chronicles 28:20 David says to Solomon, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord
God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will
see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly."
Did you catch that last part? David tells Solomon, "Don't get discouraged . . . God will see to it that you accomplish all He has called you to do."
One of my biggest fears is that I will somehow fail to accomplish the work that God made me to do. I've experienced a taste of fulfilling God's call on my life and now I find my appetite for doing God's work insatiable. But as I captured my emotions on paper I suddenly realized that I've fallen for a lie. The word "fear" served as my first clue. Fear isn't from God. Lately I've feared that I would miss God's call because I am in a season where my children consume my every free moment. But Scripture reminds me that it isn't up to me to figure out how I'll ever fulfill God's call on my life. Yes, I must walk obediently with the Lord but God will see to it that I do all He has called me to do.
Clinging to Truth instantly set me free from my bitterness and allowed me to embrace the season in which God has me. As I reflected on other times of bitterness and resentment I realized those times all shared one thing in common--those were times when I had fallen for a lie.
The truth about lies is that they lead us to believe, to settle for something less than what God has promised us through His Word. Rather than believing that God will meet our needs from His glorious riches (Philippians 4:19), we believe the lie that we'll never be able to make ends meet. Rather than believing that God has plans to prosper us and not to harm us (Jeremiah 29:11), we believe the lie that life will never be full and rich without the ones we so dearly loved.
I could go on but my weary eyes are beginning to grow dim.
What lie are you believing? Allow me to encourage you to replace that lie with Truth. Visit www.biblegateway.com or one of the many other free Bible websites and perform a word search about that which concerns you most. Replace your lie with truth and then the truth will set you free.
"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32
What lie are you believing?
Adjusting to life with four kiddos (one who only sleeps two hours at a time) has left me feeling overwhelmed these past few weeks. I tried to brace myself for those first few months of new motherhood: irregular schedule, little to no sleep, no regular quite time with the Lord. Yet this past weekend I found myself actually dreading the start of another day. Desperate for God to hear my concerns I turned to my prayer journal this morning.
"I'm tired, God. The baby requires so much of me that I have little left to give to our other three children. I can barely meet the needs of our kids, what about being there for my friends and for those in need? What if I miss out on what you called me to do because I'm so busy caring for our kids?"
And suddenly I realized . . . there it was in black and white.
A big. fat. lie.
This past Sunday my pastor preached about the end of King David's life as David commissioned his son Solomon to build God's temple. In 1 Chronicles 28:20 David says to Solomon, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord
God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will
see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly."
Did you catch that last part? David tells Solomon, "Don't get discouraged . . . God will see to it that you accomplish all He has called you to do."
One of my biggest fears is that I will somehow fail to accomplish the work that God made me to do. I've experienced a taste of fulfilling God's call on my life and now I find my appetite for doing God's work insatiable. But as I captured my emotions on paper I suddenly realized that I've fallen for a lie. The word "fear" served as my first clue. Fear isn't from God. Lately I've feared that I would miss God's call because I am in a season where my children consume my every free moment. But Scripture reminds me that it isn't up to me to figure out how I'll ever fulfill God's call on my life. Yes, I must walk obediently with the Lord but God will see to it that I do all He has called me to do.
Clinging to Truth instantly set me free from my bitterness and allowed me to embrace the season in which God has me. As I reflected on other times of bitterness and resentment I realized those times all shared one thing in common--those were times when I had fallen for a lie.
The truth about lies is that they lead us to believe, to settle for something less than what God has promised us through His Word. Rather than believing that God will meet our needs from His glorious riches (Philippians 4:19), we believe the lie that we'll never be able to make ends meet. Rather than believing that God has plans to prosper us and not to harm us (Jeremiah 29:11), we believe the lie that life will never be full and rich without the ones we so dearly loved.
I could go on but my weary eyes are beginning to grow dim.
What lie are you believing? Allow me to encourage you to replace that lie with Truth. Visit www.biblegateway.com or one of the many other free Bible websites and perform a word search about that which concerns you most. Replace your lie with truth and then the truth will set you free.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
The Culmination of Africa
April 14, 2013
"God answered, 'I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.'” Exodus 3:12
Yesterday marked forty weeks since I returned home from Africa. I realize counting "weeks" may seem like a strange way to track time . . . but that's how they do things in the maternity world. Shortly after my return from Africa God allowed my husband and me to conceive our fourth living child; a child which was born to us yesterday in perfect health.
Many times in Scripture God issues a call to obedience, and then follows that call with a blessing. In Exodus 3 God called Moses to lead His people out of Egypt. Moses doubted his own ability and God responded by saying in verse 12, "I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.” God promised Moses that once he obeyed he would see God in a new light.
The same holds true for the patriarch Abraham and for the shepherd-turned-king David. In Genesis 12 God called Abraham (then known by the name Abram) to leave behind all that he knew with the promise that God would one day bless him and make him into a great nation. Over four-hundred years passed before the culmination of God's promise to Abraham, but Abraham obeyed nonetheless. In 1 Samuel 16:13 God instructed the prophet Samuel to anoint a young boy named David as the next king of Israel. But David waited nearly twenty years and endured many trials before God brought about the fulfillment of David's calling.
About eighteen months ago my husband and I felt God leading us to trust Him with the size of our family. My husband and I always dreamed of having a large family but when you consider finances and logistics and tons of other issues, the decision to have more children proves difficult. "Trust Me. Let Me decide," we felt God say. Believing God as the Author of life we decided to obey.
We conceived two months later in October 2011. But I miscarried just five and a half short weeks into the pregnancy. Though we were disappointed over our loss we moved forward trusting that God had other plans. When I received the invitation last March to teach in Africa it seemed God made His purpose in allowing my miscarriage evident. My due date had been June 12, 2012. Our team left for Africa on June 15th.
Following God's call to Africa proved very difficult. It meant leaving my husband and children behind for three weeks. Our team would spend part of the trip in a region of Africa where violent attacks on women run high. (Indeed, ministering to a group women affected by such attacks was one of the biggest blessing I received during our trip.) The decision to follow God proved difficult. But God in His goodness made it abundantly clear to me through personal prayer time, through His Word and through many other little ways that, "Just as I was with Moses, I will be with you" (Joshua 1:5).
At the risk of sharing TMI I experienced my LMP (I'm using acronyms in attempt to throw off the few male readers who visit this blog) while teaching in the Congo. Congo of all places. A memorable experience to say the least. Four weeks later I found myself adjusting back to life at home and . . . unexpectedly expecting. We would later learn it was a son this time, due two days shy of my husband's birthday. Talk about a blessing.
I share our news with caution. I know many women who struggle with infertility. The enemy would love nothing more than for these women to believe that God has denied them a child because of a lack of obedience on their part. We must remember God never promised us children. However, He does promise that His plan for us is good (Jeremiah 29:11). We must continue to walk in His plan and He will show us the path to life; when we walk with God we experience the joy of His presence (Psalm 16:11).
God did not reward my husband and me with a child because we deserved it. Our son is not a result of our "goodness" to God. Isaiah 64:6 reminds us that even our most righteous deed is like a filthy rag compared to our holy God. The birth of our son is simply an example of an incredible gift from the perfect Father (Matthew 7:11).
I do not want to imply that God only rewards us after obedience or even that He always rewards obedience. Romans 5:8 reminds us that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. In other words, God gave us His greatest gift while we were right smack dab in the middle of disobedience. We should follow God's call out of our love for Him, without the expectation of a blessing.
God does not always respond to obedience with a blessing. But sometimes He does. This time we believe He did.
Allow me to introduce our blessing to you. Below is a picture of our son, Tyler Henry, born weighing 9lbs 4ozs, measuring 21 3/4 inches long.
"God answered, 'I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.'” Exodus 3:12
Yesterday marked forty weeks since I returned home from Africa. I realize counting "weeks" may seem like a strange way to track time . . . but that's how they do things in the maternity world. Shortly after my return from Africa God allowed my husband and me to conceive our fourth living child; a child which was born to us yesterday in perfect health.
Many times in Scripture God issues a call to obedience, and then follows that call with a blessing. In Exodus 3 God called Moses to lead His people out of Egypt. Moses doubted his own ability and God responded by saying in verse 12, "I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.” God promised Moses that once he obeyed he would see God in a new light.
The same holds true for the patriarch Abraham and for the shepherd-turned-king David. In Genesis 12 God called Abraham (then known by the name Abram) to leave behind all that he knew with the promise that God would one day bless him and make him into a great nation. Over four-hundred years passed before the culmination of God's promise to Abraham, but Abraham obeyed nonetheless. In 1 Samuel 16:13 God instructed the prophet Samuel to anoint a young boy named David as the next king of Israel. But David waited nearly twenty years and endured many trials before God brought about the fulfillment of David's calling.
About eighteen months ago my husband and I felt God leading us to trust Him with the size of our family. My husband and I always dreamed of having a large family but when you consider finances and logistics and tons of other issues, the decision to have more children proves difficult. "Trust Me. Let Me decide," we felt God say. Believing God as the Author of life we decided to obey.
We conceived two months later in October 2011. But I miscarried just five and a half short weeks into the pregnancy. Though we were disappointed over our loss we moved forward trusting that God had other plans. When I received the invitation last March to teach in Africa it seemed God made His purpose in allowing my miscarriage evident. My due date had been June 12, 2012. Our team left for Africa on June 15th.
Following God's call to Africa proved very difficult. It meant leaving my husband and children behind for three weeks. Our team would spend part of the trip in a region of Africa where violent attacks on women run high. (Indeed, ministering to a group women affected by such attacks was one of the biggest blessing I received during our trip.) The decision to follow God proved difficult. But God in His goodness made it abundantly clear to me through personal prayer time, through His Word and through many other little ways that, "Just as I was with Moses, I will be with you" (Joshua 1:5).
At the risk of sharing TMI I experienced my LMP (I'm using acronyms in attempt to throw off the few male readers who visit this blog) while teaching in the Congo. Congo of all places. A memorable experience to say the least. Four weeks later I found myself adjusting back to life at home and . . . unexpectedly expecting. We would later learn it was a son this time, due two days shy of my husband's birthday. Talk about a blessing.
I share our news with caution. I know many women who struggle with infertility. The enemy would love nothing more than for these women to believe that God has denied them a child because of a lack of obedience on their part. We must remember God never promised us children. However, He does promise that His plan for us is good (Jeremiah 29:11). We must continue to walk in His plan and He will show us the path to life; when we walk with God we experience the joy of His presence (Psalm 16:11).
God did not reward my husband and me with a child because we deserved it. Our son is not a result of our "goodness" to God. Isaiah 64:6 reminds us that even our most righteous deed is like a filthy rag compared to our holy God. The birth of our son is simply an example of an incredible gift from the perfect Father (Matthew 7:11).
I do not want to imply that God only rewards us after obedience or even that He always rewards obedience. Romans 5:8 reminds us that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. In other words, God gave us His greatest gift while we were right smack dab in the middle of disobedience. We should follow God's call out of our love for Him, without the expectation of a blessing.
God does not always respond to obedience with a blessing. But sometimes He does. This time we believe He did.
Allow me to introduce our blessing to you. Below is a picture of our son, Tyler Henry, born weighing 9lbs 4ozs, measuring 21 3/4 inches long.
"Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father." James 1:17
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
He Came
March 27, 2013
“Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem. Look, your King is coming, riding on a donkey’s colt.” John 12:15
I am unfamiliar with the pain caused by abandonment. I know many women whose husbands have left them. I know many children whose fathers have deserted them. I've seen the pain but have not experienced it firsthand.
I've seen the hurt when he fails to show yet again. I've heard the excuses given to these women and children, and the promises as to why next time will prove different . . . though it rarely does. As I listen to their stories I envision these women and children waiting, just waiting for him to show; waiting each time for the chance to shout, "He came!"
But sisters, He did come.
He came for you and for me (Isaiah 53:5).
He came riding on a donkey's colt (John 12:15).
He came willingly, obediently, knowing full well what His future held (Luke 9:22).
He came because He loves us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3).
He came because He knew He was the only Way (John 14:6).
I do not know what abandonment issues you face. But I pray this Easter you come to know the One who came for you. The One who promises to never leave you or forsake you . . . or your children (Hebrews 13:5).
“Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem. Look, your King is coming, riding on a donkey’s colt.” John 12:15
I am unfamiliar with the pain caused by abandonment. I know many women whose husbands have left them. I know many children whose fathers have deserted them. I've seen the pain but have not experienced it firsthand.
I've seen the hurt when he fails to show yet again. I've heard the excuses given to these women and children, and the promises as to why next time will prove different . . . though it rarely does. As I listen to their stories I envision these women and children waiting, just waiting for him to show; waiting each time for the chance to shout, "He came!"
But sisters, He did come.
He came for you and for me (Isaiah 53:5).
He came riding on a donkey's colt (John 12:15).
He came willingly, obediently, knowing full well what His future held (Luke 9:22).
He came because He loves us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3).
He came because He knew He was the only Way (John 14:6).
I do not know what abandonment issues you face. But I pray this Easter you come to know the One who came for you. The One who promises to never leave you or forsake you . . . or your children (Hebrews 13:5).
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