What have our boys been up to?

What happened to the animals Joshua?... Juice time laughter... Peek-a-boo with Caleb... Bowling in the hallway... The field outback... Tyler & Caleb's first time playing the piano... Where's Tyler?... Tyler standing on his own... Our family... AND A SURPRISE...first steps :)

Book Review: A Gospel Primer - Learning to See the Glories of God's Love

I just finished reading A Gospel Primer - Learning to See the Glories of God's Love by Milton Vincent. What a gift this book is! A picture comes to mind to describe what Milton has done with this book. The gospel is indeed precious, like the most beautiful of diamonds. Milton takes this precious diamond and keeps turning it so that the light of the sun reflects off it and leaves you standing in awe of it's beauty. We could never exhaust the glories of Calvary! The more I learn about the gospel, the more I stand in awe of God...in awe of His glory, His mercy, His patience, His goodness...and on and on I could go. Rehearsing the gospel has a humbling and gratitude producing affect on my soul. And, since I will never grow beyond my need for the gospel or my daily need to be reminded of the gospel, this is not a book I plan on putting away. Not only is it drenched with Scripture references, it also includes two gospel narratives (one prose version and one poetic version). I heartily recommend this book as a helpful supplement to your feasting on God's Word.


Just to wet your pallet:

Thankfulness Enriched by Relief
"The more absorbed I am in the gospel, the more grateful I become in the midst of my circumstances, whatever they may be.

Viewing life's blessings as water in a drinking cup, I know that I could discontentedly focus on the half of the cup that seems empty, or I could gratefully focus on the half that is full. Certainly, the latter approach is the better of the two, yet the gospel cultivates within me a richer gratitude than this.

The gospel reminds me first that what I actually deserve from God is a full cup churning with the torments of His wrath (Revelation 14:10 & Psalm 75:8). This is the cup that would be mine to drink if I were given what I deserve each day. With this understanding in mind, I see that to be handed a completely empty cup from God would be cause enough for infinite gratitude. If there were merely the tiniest drop of blessing contained in that otherwise empty cup, I should be blown away by the unbelievable kindness of God toward me. That God, in fact, has give me a cup (Psalm 116:12-13 & Psalm 23:5) that is full of "every spiritual blessing in Christ," (Ephesians 1:3) and this without the slightest admixture of wrath, leaves me truly dumbfounded with inexpressible joy. As for my specific earthly circumstances of plenty or want, I can see them always as infinite improvements on the hell I deserve.

When I look at any circumstance that God apportions me, I am first grateful for the wrath I am not receiving in that moment (The empty part of the cup never looked so good!). Second, I am grateful for the blessings that are given to me instead of His wrath. (Life's blessings, however small, always appear exceedingly precious when viewed against the backdrop of the wrath I deserve.) This two-layered gratitude disposed my heart to give thanks in all things (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and it also lends a certain intensity to my giving of thanks. Such a gospel-generated gratitude glorifies God, contributes to peace of mind (Philippians 4:6-7), and keeps my foot from the path of foolishness and ruin (Romans 1:21-22, 28-29)."

Several friends have told me lately that I just have to take time to listen to the testimony of a woman named Rachel Barkey. I now know why.

If you just passed Rachel on the street, you would have no idea the turmoil and suffering she is facing. Rachel is a beautiful woman who is a wife and a mother of two children. After fighting with cancer for over 4 years, she has now been diagnosed with terminal cancer and is not expected to live to see her 38th birthday.

Several weeks ago, Rachel shared a message with a group of women entitled “Death is Not Dying: A Faith that Saves.”
As quoted on the Girl Talk Blog...Many people have asked Rachel, “Why? Why is this happening to you? To Neil? To Kate and Quinn? To your family and friends?”

“I don’t ask ‘why?’” says Rachel. “Because I know.”

Please watch or listen and learn what Rachel knows.

I have been deeply impacted by Rachel's hope and joy in the Lord through Jesus Christ, her Savior. Although I have not personally suffered with cancer, I have lost a brother I love and I have walked with others through painful trials and I am confident that there is no other way to explain such peace in the midst of suffering other than the power of God, imparting eternal hope and genuine joy through the gospel. What amazing grace is ours through Jesus Christ! We don't have to minimize our sufferings in order to make him great. In the face of real, deep, intense suffering, He is our peace, our joy, our hope, our salvation.

If you do not yet have peace with God through Jesus Christ, or, if you don't even think you need a personal relationship with Jesus Christ in order to have peace with God, please take a moment to visit Two Ways To Live to learn more about the most crucial decision you will ever make.

My Sweet Pappy

This picture was taken back in August 08 as we were able to stop by for a short visit on our way to Maryland.

My sweet Pappy (my mom's dad) has been in the hospital for 3 weeks now. To not go into too much detail ... he has been having heart trouble, has been in and out of consciousness and has lost oxygen to his brain which has resulted in having much difficulty even being able to talk or to swallow on his own. It has been very sad for me as I would so love to be able to be there with them during this time ... but they’re in South Carolina and I'm in Maryland … I am resting in the Lord’s wisdom and in the boundary lines He has set for me. (Psalm 16) I’ve written him and was just able to talk over the speaker phone to him today for the first time. I broke down crying towards the end because it is hard to hear him struggling like he is. Gratefully, he knows our Savior and so there is comfort and peace even in this time of trial.

I've heard, which I'm not surprised about, :) my Pappy has been very joyful and sweet during this whole time of trial. Even though he's been unable to talk well, he's been making everyone laugh by doing his silly forehead trick and just by being his sweet self.

We would be so grateful for your prayers...for healing for my Pappy and for comfort and rest in our Savior during this trial.

One of the main scriptures that has been precious to me through this time is Psalm 23:
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
forever."