Great Sermon

You know how sometimes you hear a message and it is just such good meat? That is what we had this morning. One of the ministers from our church oversight committee spoke today. I of course can't transcribe the message but I would like to share his main thoughts.

He started by asking two questions:
-What were your initial expectations when you got saved and began your christian walk?

-Which is more important to you today; Christ's agenda for your life, or your agenda for you life?

He spoke about the fact that our plans for our life often don't come true and referred to the old song, "I never promised you a rose garden" and how sometimes people get saved with the expectation that from here on out, they will be sitting pretty. Then when this doesn't happen, they take their marbles and go home. Once a man asked him, "what is God's plan for my life?" and he answered him, "He wants to kill you." Of course this is a little extreme, but his point was, God's plan is to get us out of the way so he can use us and work through our lives. Often this involves things that were NOT our expectation when we got saved. We tend to have a very "American Christianity" that involves few trials and lots of prosperity...they may or may not be God's plan for us.

Then he talked about our agenda vs. Christ's agenda. Of course we would all say that of course we want Christ's agenda for our lives! But really... how are we living? Do we seek to avoid pain and hardship or do we seek God's will? He spoke about Paul and how on the way to one journey to Jerusalem it was prophesied to him several times that if he went, he would be bound and jailed. Think about it, we feel God telling us to do something, but we get actual prophesy that if we do, we will be jailed, beat up, lose our health, or our family, or some other catastrophe. Our interpretation of that would of course be, "Oh, I misunderstood God's plan! I must not be supposed to go after all" and in our spirit of self-preservation, we do not go. Paul's response to this was, "Yes, you are undoubtedly correct, but God's will is that I should go, regardless." Well, of course Paul went and not only was he arrested in Jerusalem, but he was shipwrecked on Malta and to add insult to injury, he was bitten by a snake. However, from this came a whole ministry and the beginning of the christian church on the island of Malta.

The minister said one refrain over and over, that we must grow up, learn to "shake it off" (reference to Paul shaking off the poisonous viper) and continue to follow God... without allowing our plans, expectations, or agenda get in the way.

I hope I haven't made it sound like this sermon was in any way dark or depressing, it wasn't at all, but it was really some good meat. I know that I have a great need in my own life to "grow up" and continue to trust God and follow his will, no matter what. I was also greatly challenged by the notion that we shouldn't allow predictions or even occurrences of bad situations deter us. Don't be so sure that negative (in our eyes) situations means that we shouldn't go through with God's plan. I've grown up in church circles that studiously avoided any part of a "prosperity gospel" but I know that I've heard negative situations interpreted to mean that the individual was not supposed to have taken that path or that they were mistaken in determining God's will.

meet BabyJ

We had an ultrasound on Friday, baby looks good, did lots of waving and kicking and posed really nicely for some face pictures. No, we did not find out if it's baby Jonathan or baby J'girlyname. Jeff prevailed in insisting he wants another surprise. Whoever is in there thought that holding still for boring measurements of hearts and kidneys was just not cool, so we get to go back in 4 weeks for more pictures.

Pictures

double take

yes, if you are keeping track of the baby ticker... it did change. yesterday it said 21 weeks pregnant, today it says 19 weeks pregnant. I'm taking charge.
the midwives have one date, I have another date. I bowed to their wisdom and used their date for the ticker. Well, all that has gotten me is a load of anxiety because I didn't feel the baby move, haven't had various pregnancy things happen that should have happened by now, etc.

WELL.... if I'm right, then everything is right on... viola, no more anxiety.

I'll take up the fight with them (again) officially in a week. I have my "big ultrasound" on Friday the 18th. Until then, I've changed my ticker and decided to relax.

It's my baby and I'll have it when I want to.

*I do think I got it mad enough last night to feel some "for sure" kicks. If I can get a repeat performance tonight, I'll count it as baby movement.

Blogs of Note

Some of you have recieved emails from me about my friend Shelley... here are her blogs. If you haven't gotten emails of prayer requests, here is a super quick back story:

Shelley and Robert like to adopt kids. specifically kids with disabilities from Eastern Europe. It has been my joy to meet Shelley this year in MOPS and to get to know her and watch what amazing things God can do with a willing family. Shelley and Robert are the most regular people you would ever hope to meet. Not perfect, not "have it all together", just normal people. I laughed the last time I saw Shelley, she had just had a "midlife crisis" and dyed her hair pink! I guess that is what happens when a mom of many gets two hours free at the mall, LOL.

Anyway, here are her blogs. The first one is her life blog, it will have stories about all the kids and just daily life. http://chroniclesofhousehold6.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.html

This is the blog dealing specifically with the latest adoption. They have one son from Romania, one from Hungary, and are leaving in a few days to get their son from Serbia. This will be the first international adoption of a child with Down Syndrome from Serbia. (This is in addition to their kids they aquired in the "normal way." ) http://gatheringthemfromtheeast.blogspot.com/

I encourage you to visit Shelley's blogs, be encouraged and amazed as you follow their journey of faith.

The Sweetest Moments

Back Story: Jessi has been struggling with carnality, specifically hot emotions and a quick temper. I heard a marvelous teaching back at the beginning of our MOPS year and as a result, Jeff and I knew we had to do something to curb this behavior. It was certainly NOT an overnight fix, but has been amazing to witness the power of Scripture in the life of 4 year old. After much prayer I decided that she had to memorize, understand, and begin to apply several scripture verses. Her verses are:
2 Corinthians 10:5b ... we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

Phil. 4: 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

Proverbs 25:28
A person without self-control is as defenseless as a city with broken-down walls.


What has been beautiful to see is that even a four year old can begin to control themselves with Jesus' help.

So, current story. Joy is two and beginning to experiment with "having fits", we are of course intervening and training for this. (True confession: I often have to turn away and giggle before I can properly intervene. She wants a fit, but she also wants comfort. She will start on the floor, get up and lean on the wall, and finally go recline on the couch... all during the same fit.) I honestly hadn't even thought yet about teaching her any verses... she's 27 months. Apparently Jessi realizes that the earlier, the better, and has no compunctions about age or limitations. The other night I was in my room and Jessi proudly marches Joy in, tells me to listen, and then word by word, guides her through saying the Proverbs verse.

I cannot tell you how my heart melted.

Moments like that are truly life's sweetest treasures.

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