- Is there anything that raises our protective instincts more than a helpless little baby?
- Even more so for God, our heavenly Father, who sees us caught in our sin and unable to free ourselves, worried and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd!
- Try as hard as we will, we can't protect our children from all the pains and struggles of the world, which is why we commend them into God's powerful hands and loving will, from Holy Baptism on, for He has promised,
- "I will never leave you nor forsake you; no one can snatch you out of My hands!" (Joshua 1:5 and John 10:28).
- Enjoy another "grandchild" video, this time accompanied by Barbra Streisand singing "Not While I'm Around," from her Broadway album.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
SAFE AND SECURE IN HIS LOVE
Labels:
God's hands,
grandchildren,
parental love,
protection,
safe,
secure
Monday, July 20, 2009
ONE LITTLE HEARTBEAT AT A TIME
- Just a little "movie" in honor of our daughter and her husband who have been gifted with "Isaac Aaron," who is now 9 days old!
- All of us who are older are saying to them, "Enjoy each day you have with him, noticing each change and growth milestone, because before you know it, he;ll have grown up and want to be on his own, which is what you'll have been preparing him to do for all of his life . . .
- So before that day comes, delight in the events, developments, and progress they make one day at a time. Celebrate it with them.
- I'd give just about anything to have those days back again w/ our 4, knowing more today than I did then! At the time, I let myself get too caught up in keeping the bedrooms and playroom clean and neatyard work and housework and seminary coursework, instead of playing and making memories.
- So set your priorities better than I did, dear young ones: let time with them be the most important thing in your lives after time with God---all the rest of it will fall into place and what doesn't get done as soon as you wish, isn't as important as you think it might be. But raising a child who knows and loves the LORD is the most beautiful and important task there is.
- "Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:58b).
- Enjoy the chronicle of Isaac's quiet life for the last week, set to a song by Steven Curtis Chapman, from his CD, This Moment, called "One Little Heartbeat at a Time."
Sunday, July 12, 2009
YOUR LOVE IS EXTRAVAGANT
- Rejoice with us!
- We have a new grandson, Isaac Aaron born to Tessa & Jeremy on July 11, healthy, happy, 6 lbs. 13 1/2 oz. and 19 3/4 inches long.
- Grandma Denise is already out there with them & I leave Tues. a.m. Can't wait to hold him!
- Isn't it amazing the love we have for our children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren?
- Do we understand that God's love for us in Christ FAR surpasses what we feel for our own. "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though SHE may forget, I will NEVER forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands!" (Isaiah 49:15-16a).
- The gift of a child sure does bring us back to basics and what's really important: relationships. Treasure them!
- And enjoy this song about our relationship with Him by Casting Crowns, called "Your Love is Extravagant."
Labels:
children,
grandchildren,
Jesus Christ,
love,
relationships
Friday, July 3, 2009
YOUR GRACE STILL AMAZES ME
- My apologies to those who actually were reading this blog--it's been a while since I've written. Lots has been happening in our lives and God has been busy as usual, always working visibly and invisibly for His people's benefit, including ours.
- In the midst of our loss of Tessa, Jeremy & little Isaac (due any day now in CO), we had the joy of having Gianni with us for three weeks and he kept us happy & busy to say the lease as school wrapped up here in WA finally and we got to have some time away with him at Cannon Beach. Such a joy and so hard to let him go back to his homes in the midwest.
- Denise will be leaving Monday morning for CO to join Tessa for the "labor" process as only a mom can do. I will follow July 14, not soon enough.
- I had the joy of attending our NW District LCMS Convention w/ one of my elders and actually enjoyed it. But we had a sad event--the very first day, one of the delegates, Bill Brackman of Puyallup, WA, slipped and fell, hitting his head at the Convention Center in Portland, OR. He went into a coma, never regained consciousness &, unable to breathe on his own, the Lord called him to his heavenly home! Who would have expected such a thing? Reminds us all to appreciate each day we are given and to be ready in faith, because out time could come at any moment.
- We were privileged several years ago, w/ friends from our congregation to visit Bill & his wife and their beautifully tended rhododendron gardens. The pictures below were taken then. We pray for their family in confidence that the Master Gardener has received His son into heaven . . . . for His promise to us all is "Be faithful, even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life" (Revelation 2:10).
- God has fulfilled for Bill this promise as well, "The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land; you will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail" (Isaiah 58:11).
- The Water of Life, our Lord Jesus Christ, has refreshed Bill fully. May He do so for us in part as we live in this world still, amazing us with His grace each day! Enjoy Phillips, Craig & Dean's song, "Your Grace Still Amazes Me," as you watch some of Bill's rhododendron garden.
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