Joshua

I wish I had a picture of Joshua playing football (I need a digital camera!), but I don't so this one will have to do.....

Joshua home schools through a small Christian school that formed a football team this year. Joshua is the quarterback. They played their second game last night and Caleb, Noah, Charity, and I went to support him. Very interesting game. First of all, it's flag football but there is still plenty of physical contact and of course they aren't wearing helmets or pads. Second, it was two Christian schools playing each other but the opposing team didn't seem to have a "fair game" in mind. The referee for the game was the head of that school and overlooked penalties and tackles from his players. One of our kids got tackled so hard, he actually got hit in the face with a fist and was bleeding. Joshua pointed it out to the ref, who responded "I didn't see it....". The other school also had one of those intense, yelling, screaming coaches who not only verbally abused his own players but ours too. He called Joshua "pretty boy" among other insults and was allowed to get away with it. Our center would get tackled so hard and so quickly that he kept snapping the ball way out of Joshua's reach, causing him to chase after it and get piled up on by the other team. This was definitely a lesson in patience and endurance for our team! The coach would call time-outs to encourage the players. calm them down, and remind them to keep Christ-like attitudes. We were tied with the other team in the last quarter. Our team scored a touchdown which would have won, but Joshua's flag got pulled after he threw the ball but the other team fussed about it, and of course the ref didn't see it, so he called for a replay. They fought it out for three overtimes til our team scored again and won the game. I was so proud of my kid and his teammates.

Repentance

My spirit has been stirred up for two days; maybe venting here on my blog will help settle me down. This week it seems like everywhere I turn, I am reminded of our need, as Christ-followers, for the conviction of the Holy Spirit that leads to repentance. Well, not so much our need for it, but rather our refusal to do it. It seems to me that even in the Christian communities, arrogance, pride, and rebellion rule in place of humility, submission, and obedience. Yesterday I read in Isaiah 64:7 "No one calls on Your name or pleads with You for mercy". Why not? Are we so full of ourselves that we forget we belong to the Lord and are called to serve and obey Him? Where is the reverence? the fear of God? the willingness to surrender? And not to mention obvious sins.....do we think we can escape the consequences of our sins forever?

The Elijah in me wants to see the God of Fire come and consume our fleshly and evil ways. I want to see people who say they love the Lord treat each other with love. I want to see men and women willing to forgo their own agendas to fulfill the Father's mission. I want to hear the voice of the prophets and see response. I want our country to repent of our wicked ways and escape the judgement of a sovereign God.

Sigh.....yes, this helped. I feel better.

"I tell you again that unless you repent, you will also perish."

-Jesus, Luke 13

Happy Birthday Noah David

Happy 5th Birthday Noah!

Noah turned five yesterday. He had a great birthday weekend and we were blessed to see him so happy. I've been remembering his birth, how special it was. I had an easy pregnancy and natural labor with him and he was born quickly, two hours after arriving at the hospital. My doctor walked into my room the exact moment I started pushing. She delivered him sitting on the edge of the bed during the second push. I fell in love with him immediately. He was so beautiful, pink and perfect and even had no blood on him. He was my birthday present, born five days after my thirty-third birthday.

I named him. Noah means "peace" or "rest" and he certainly has brought a lot of peace to our family. He is also named after King David, as I knew before his birth that he would sing and dance for God and lead others to worship Him.

What a beautiful gift God has given us. He makes me laugh every day. Now I can't wait to see him as a big brother.

Happy Birthday my sweet Noah. Mommy loves you.

Jesus our Rescuer, part two

In case you didn't get an email from me about this video, check out this awesome drama illustrating God's desire to free us from bondages......share it with your youth/drama leader, teen friends, and anyone who is struggling with addictions. I absolutely love it!

http://www.godtube.com/view_video?viewkey=ee73e63418003b47d7d5

Oh my tummy.....

Baby is due in six weeks and all is well. My current complaint though is my sore belly. Between the Braxton Hicks contractions, Isaac's sharp kicks and punches, and the extra weight, my poor belly is taking a beating!

I spoke to a friend last night who uses the same OB practice that I do and she has had two successful VBACs with them without any problems. Her last baby was a week overdue and 10 lbs, 7 oz. Even with a big baby they let her labor and deliver. That is very encouraging to me. She is pregnant again with baby number eight!

Bo wants to change the baby's name from Isaac Mikal to Daniel Isaac. (Laura, wasn't that your pick for the name? You win!) We'd still call him Isaac. I love the story of Daniel, how he remained faithful to God in spite of ungodly leadership. So much trust in his God to protect him, and how God honored that faith!

Jesus our Rescuer

Watch this video then come back.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyjWUJ4Vels

I think this worship dance very adequately portrays God's power and willingness to rescue us from storms that threaten to overwhelm us. While I am not crazy about the little dance at the end (only because it's two men), the rest of the interaction between the man and Jesus really ministers to me. The dance team was very creative in interpreting various movements that illustrate how Christ rescues His people. I believe His deliverance is just like that. We have differing degrees of "neediness" during our life on Earth. At times we need to be pulled out of something by His loving arms, other times completely carried in them. I can relate to all the interaction, but especially being held in God's arms while completely lifeless. Years ago, God showed me that this was my spiritual state. In this vision I was absolutely non-responsive, as in dead, and Jesus was weeping over me. This revelation was confusing to me; I responded "I'm not dead!", but the Holy Spirit revealed to me that there were parts of my heart that definately were dead (and He wanted access to!), and through surrender, counsel, and healing God gloriously revived those parts of my life.

This past Sunday I participated in a bible study on Matthew 5, The Beatitudes. The first one we discussed was being "poor in spirit" which means that we recognize and acknowledge our need for God. It brings such a blessed freedom to admit that we need a Rescuer. To confess our need for One who sees and knows all and has the power to deliver us from circumstances that are too big for us to handle on our own.

Lord Jesus, you are my Rescuer.