Monthly Archives: April 2008

An Unusual Picture

 

A friend and I were working on campus one day and I saw this chair sitting at someone’s apartment. I thought it was quite odd and here is why. How can someone change the world or be a “World Changer” sitting in a chair? I guess they are so busy changing the world they have to rest occasionally. This could be a point of discussion concerning “felt needs ministry” only. For anyone setting out to change the world let us be reminded that Jesus Christ changes the world through the preaching of the Gospel. “As you go, Preach.”

 


from the hospital- 10/25,26/07

October 25, 2007

More friends visited and prayed over us today. Praise: Jason’s mom arrived safely and other financial gifts have been given.

October 26, 2007 Friday

The pregnancy complication that brought me here has ended. Maybe I will get to go home on Monday. We still got to have our Family Fun Friday Night. Jason, the girls, and his mom came up; we ordered a pizza and watched a movie!

Getting to have our Friday night together meant a great deal to me. “Family Fun Friday” is a tradition we began about three years ago. We plan for it all week sometimes. Whether we go out or stay at home, it is always an evening that we focus on being together and having fun as a family (hence the name!) As the children are growing up, we have seen this is a perfect set-up in place for a special family devotion as well. I hope we can share some of those as they develop.


Divine Election is…

As I have been reading 1 Corinthians, more on election should be stated. So, as Paul states it clearly and our pastor exhorted the body of Christ with and I too exort you with these words…

The Apostle Paul,

“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.’ Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God

  1. Chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise;
  2. Chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;
  3. Chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Therefore, as it is written,

LET THE ONE WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.” (1 Cor. 1:18-31 ESV)


from the hospital- 10/24/07

October 24, 2007

My condition is the same. The baby is still doing well. A friend came by to visit and shared that she also had a complete previa with one of her children. She ended up delivering in an emergency situation at 33 weeks, without steroids. This was very encouraging to hear, since I would never have known this by looking at her now six year old daughter. She prayed over me before she left.

We have an offer for family to come help us. After prayer, we decided Jason’s mom is the right choice to come at this time.

It is one thing for someone to say they will pray for you, but there is something special about someone stopping to literally lay hands on you and pray. I realize that we can’t always be there in person and I am extremely thankful for all those who prayed from a distance. I just encourage you (and I am pointing back at myself) to take the time, if possible, to pray over someone in person or on the phone in the middle of the situation. Let us just be careful not to do this to be seen by others, or in any way lift ourselves up.

To be continued…


Encouragement from The Word

For the LORD your God is God of gods

and Lord of lords,

the great,

the mighty,

and the awesome God…

He is your praise.

He is your God,

who has done for you these great

and terrifying things that your eyes have seen.

Deuteronomy 10:17, 21


from the hospital-continued

Sorry for the delay; if you do not remember how this began, scroll down two posts!

Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007

Well we made through the night! I was transferred out of Labor and Delivery to the high risk pregnancy floor. The problem is getting better, but not enough to go home. At this point the baby is fine. I have been given two steroid shots to speed the baby’s lung development. Our friend brought the girls by for a visit. It was so good to see them and difficult at the same time. Madi does not understand all of this, of course, and doesn’t want anything to do with me.

We are not sure what to do: Jason wants to stay at the hospital with me and be at home with our girls. Our family is over 600 miles away. We are praying for God to work out all these details.

To be continued…