Labor of Love
Some friends of ours showed us this song the other night, and I love it! I wanted to share it with you too. It is especially meaningful as Niyah is just months past being born and my dear sister-in-law is days away from having her baby girl. What a truly humble way our Lord entered into this world.
My Leader...In so many ways
This is my handsome husband. Today I have many reason's to be thankful for this man. Here are just a few I've been thinking about on this 9th day of February:
He tells me he loves me everyday
He shows me he loves me everyday
He adores our daughter
He thrives off of the study of God's Word
He loves to worship His Savior
He has a burden for the lost
He works three jobs to provide for us
He is a man of integrity
He is trustworthy
He is humble
He is faithful
He is quick to forgive
He is honorable
He is patient
He is a diligent student
He is a strong leader
He is respectable
He makes me laugh
He listens
He is a wise teacher
He is a servant
He is a hard worker
He is joyfilled
He knows the One to find ultimate joy in
Oh yes, and he calls me 'my love' :)
Mother of a 7month Old
This picture was taken when I was 7 months pregnant and today the little one who was inside is 7 months!
It's hard to believe my little girl is over one half of a year old! She is truly full of joy. Very fitting for her name, Niyah Joy.
Everyday I am given the privilege to raise this lil' miracle. She never ceases to amaze me with her new discoveries and developments. Currently she has tackled the skill of raising herself up onto her hands and knees...crawling only days away! She will rock herself back and forth, back and forth, back and plunge! This routine causes her to swiftly move backwards rather than forwards but she doesn't seem to mind. At least she's moving somewhere! Oh yes, and this entire time a huge grin radiates from her proud face.
She is also quite the eater. Her present favorites are green beans and sweet potatoes. I got a new steamer for Christmas so I've been experimenting making her baby food. So far, so good! The financial savings are especially nice when baby food is up to 80 cents a jar and she'll plow through 3+ a day!
Niyah has two teeth now. The bottom left poked through the day after Christmas and the right one was only a couple weeks behind. I do have to say... she is adorable with those two bunny teeth! Her aunt got her a 'bunny' winter hat with pink ears and when she has that on with her big grin she is priceless.
She LOVES listening to her daddy play the guitar and piano. She will sit in his lap while he plays the piano and join him in chorus. I hope she picks up his musical talent since her mom seems to lack any! She is also discovering her 'singing' voice. She enjoys joining in on song when I, her daddy, her "baby reading video," her cousin Ella, or cousin Levi start to sing.
She sure knows how to giggle! We have the funnest time playing together, mother n' daughter. She and I can laugh and laugh together. I get glimpses into the future of joy filled moments we'll have together when at such a young age we can already sit, laugh, and 'chat' together. And she does have a hearty laugh followed by a definite girly sequel and then sigh.
So that's a brief update on our Niyah Joy; One of the best gifts we've ever been given!
God's "Common Grace" poured out on Niyah Joy
Here are a few thoughts I've had this past week as I've been studying Wayne Grudem's, "Systematic Theology"Thus, when human beings sin they become liable to the wrath of God and to eternal punishment, "The wages of sin is death" Romans 6:23. Therefore God's perfect justice requires one thing of sinners--that they be eternally separated from His holiness; From God Himself.
Cut off from anything good, receiving only His righteous wrath.
So the question is, why was Adam and Eve spared from immediate death? Why are any past and present day sinners spared from God's immediate wrath? How can this be possible knowing the essence of God's character? Even more so, how can God continue to give blessings to sinners who deserve only death when he knows they will never ultimately be saved through coming to know His Son Jesus Christ?
The answer: God bestows common grace.
"Common grace is the grace of God by which He gives people innumerable blessings that are not part of salvation. The word 'common' here means something that is common to all people and is not restricted to believers or to the elect only."
So why is this mother thankful for common grace today? It is because I can see the Lord's gracious goodness poured out on my daughter in these specific ways:
She awakes with breath in her lungs... each day the sun sets and rises to shine down upon her innocent-pale face...The soft rain shower upon the land to bring her nutrients in the days to come(Matt. 5:44)...She has been given the ability and opportunity to think, create, learn, communicate, and imagine...And most significantly of all, she has been born into a home that will teach her the good news of Jesus Christ... She has been given parents who pray ultimately for her to receive saving grace.
In Niyah Joy's short lifetime, she has already experienced innumerable amounts of God's common grace. As her mother, I know this common grace poured out will not save her sinfilled soul. But I can, and will, rejoice in the hope of a sovereign God who has born this child into a family who will earnestly plead with God to awaken her spirit, unveil her scaled eyes, and soften her heart of stone to the truth of Christ and the redemption found in Him.
There is joy abundant, peace immeserable, hope everlasting knowing, if it the Lord's will, Niyah Joy will one day call upon the name of the Lord...
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13
8th Anniversary of 'Feb. 1st'
The sweet face of looking at daddy
Today marks the day when 8 years ago my dear husband, Carey, took me for a walk and asked me to pray about starting a relationship together. Little did he know....Three months later I'd agree. 1 year later we'd be in England celebrating our 'young-love' together at Bible school. Two years later , to the day, we'd be engaged (February 1st 2004). Two and a half years later we'd be married. Seven and a half years later we'd have a baby girl. Eight years later we'd be sitting in a quaint breakfast cafe in Leavenworth reminiscing of God's goodness in our love.Carey, I'd take that walk with you again in a heartbeat.
I Thank the Lord for your love, leadership, and most of all devotion to Christ. You are a husband and father to be praised. Your girls love you very much!
Quote from Jim Elliot- Martyr for Christ
"Always seek peace between your heart and God, but in the world, always be careful to remain ever-restless, never satisfied, always abounding in the work of the Lord." Jim Elliot
Today my heart has been tempted toward impatience. Peace has not been my hearts song. I came across this quote as I sat reflecting on what my heart needed. Kids are sweetly sleeping, the sweet songs of worship play softly in the background, and my Savior is showing me peace.
Christ...
The One who brings me to my knees. The One who fills my cups 'til it overflows. The One who never fails. The One who's mercy is new every morning. The One whom I can know true peace. And for this I am thankful....
I now experience this true peace.
I will go forth through the rest of my day with a quiet, peaceful spirit.
Because of The One.
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you." Jn 14:27
"--but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." 1 Pet 3:4
Steadfast With Hope
Today I am encouraged with the promise of hope as I read:
Psalm 130:5-6 " I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I hope; my soul waits for the LORD more than a watchman for the morning, more than a watchman for the morning."
and
"They gave our master a crown of thorns, why do we hope for a crown of roses?"
"The law works fear and wrath; grace works hope and mercy." Martin Luther
As I reflect on the current events in our home I have been brought to a place of bowing the knee, humble surrender, and a newness of hope in Christ my Savior. I am in awe of the strength of God during the weakness of 'Tarah". I am amazed at the goodness of Christ during the weariness of "Tarah". I am astonished at the comfort of the Spirit when chaos attempts to take a hold of "Tarah". I am humbled by the greatness of this Savior, when "Tarah" is called one of His elect, His child, His redeemed. "According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." 1 Peter 1:3-5
God the Father, Christ His Son, and the Holy Spirit are the beautiful source of my hope and ultimate joy. Thank you Jesus for being my provider of hope.... hope everlasting.
God the Father, Christ His Son, and the Holy Spirit are the beautiful source of my hope and ultimate joy. Thank you Jesus for being my provider of hope.... hope everlasting.
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