But we do know when we will back again! :-)
Tomorrow morning we leave for Denver. I am not sure if I will be able to do blog posts each day or not...but if I can I will!
Please pray for us as our little family makes this big journey. Thank you!!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
More Sweet Friends
On Friday some friends brought us a yummy lunch from Chick-Fil-A and I snapped this sweet picture of Daniel and Rhonda...
Thank you for the fun visit and yummy food! :-)
Thank you for the fun visit and yummy food! :-)
Saturday, February 26, 2011
A Visit From Friends
Today some sweet friends brought us a Subway lunch and some fun sugar cookies!!
The cookies were Star Wars characters! So much fun...
Abby loves her little friend and they were cute as ever dressed up as fairies...
Thank you all for a fun afternoon and bringing us a great lunch! :-)
The cookies were Star Wars characters! So much fun...
Abby loves her little friend and they were cute as ever dressed up as fairies...
Thank you all for a fun afternoon and bringing us a great lunch! :-)
Friday, February 25, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Sweet Moment With a Sweet Friend
Tonight some dear friends came out to play and brought dinner along with them. Tonight Daniel had a sweet moment with my friend Michelle...
I wish I had taken a picture of the 4 boys together, but besides for supper we barely saw them. :)
I wish I had taken a picture of the 4 boys together, but besides for supper we barely saw them. :)
Friday, February 18, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
"Why Doesn't God Cure Everyone Who Prays Fervently For Healing" by Mark Yarbrough
A friend sent me this article last week. I know that we are far from the only people who are struggling with some sort of health issue. I know that we are not the only people pleading with the Lord for the life of their child. And so I wanted to share this here today, in hopes that the truth in this article might encourage someone else, maybe you, to "Hangeth Thou in There" in your darkest hour.
"Why Doesn't God cure everyone who prays fervently for healing?"
The life context of this question is all too familiar. The issue arises in our darkest hours-in the hospital ward, the doctor's office, when the unfavorable test results return. Our need often arises unexpectedly and then consumes us.
Embedded in the question are two key assumptions. First, that ours is a God of miracles, including healing. A quick evaluation of scripture attests that miracles display God's power, arouse wonder and function as a sign to confirm his message. The second assumption is that believers are instructed to pray fervently. The Thessalonians are commended to "pray continually" because habitual prayers express dependence on God. And positioned as little children, we anticipate "good gifts" from our heavenly Father. Yet three additional points are critical.
First, God does not always respond to our desires, and He frequently allows circumstance we wish he would not. Theologically, we call this sovereignty. Inherent in our faith is the scriptural truth that God is in control. This includes events He directs and circumstances he allows. He has the power and responsibility to exercise His right over creation according to His will. Yet God repeatedly chooses to veil the ways in which he exercises those rights. Hence our requests will not always coincide with God's response. Peter understood this as it applied to suffering: "So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good." (1 Peter 4:19)
Second, our tendency is to doubt God's sovereignty in the midst of tumultuous times. Unfortunately when we doubt we presume to comprehend more than He does. Yes, from our vantage point we might think that God's miraculous intervention would produce waves of affirmation to His authority. Yet in his reply to the "rich man" Jesus said, "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead." (Luke 16:31) Instead, the nature of our faith is being "certain of what we do not see." While the world looks for proof in signs and wonders, we should never forget that "the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." It is in this power that He asks us to trust Him.
Third, we must embrace the sufficiency of God's grace in all circumstances. In other words it is imperative that the God of the mountaintop also be the God of the valley. The apostle Paul requested three times to be healed of his "thorn in the flesh". The response from the Lord? "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness," (2 Corinthians 12:9) The sufficiency of God's grace is that we can endure suffering just as Jesus endured the cross!
Jesus endured for the "joy set before him" (Hebrews 12:2) and God's grace allows us to do the same. Our affliction is purposeful and passing, ad although we may not be able to understand it, we must cling to Go's goodness and follow the pattern of His Son.
So we are left with this: We do not know why God allows some to be healed and others not. We have all been touched by situations where God did not heal despite the faithful prayers of his people. The words of Alister McGrath in "Mystery of the Cross" are well posed, "Experience cannot be allowed to have the final word-it must be judged and shown up as deceptive and misleading. The theology of the cross draws our attention to the sheer unreliability of experience as a guide to the presence and activity of God. God is so active and present in the world, quite independently of whether we experience Him as being so. Experience declared that God was absent from Calvary, only to have its verdict humiliatingly overturned on the third day."
As with the cross, our darkest hour may be God's finest moment. It may be that He does His greatest work-albeit unseen to us-Thus instead of letting circumstances consume us, we are able to be consumed with God. To that end, we pray without ceasing, trust in His sovereignty and find comfort in His hope."
Mark Yarbrough, Dallas Seminary, Christianity Today, 2004
Without the hope of the Lord, I would not be able to stand. God's grace...lest anyone would think it is anything else...it is all grace.
Another friend recently sent me this song...(you should pause the music on the side before you listen)
I listened to it over and over tonight. So thankful to know that I never leave His Hands.
The life context of this question is all too familiar. The issue arises in our darkest hours-in the hospital ward, the doctor's office, when the unfavorable test results return. Our need often arises unexpectedly and then consumes us.
Embedded in the question are two key assumptions. First, that ours is a God of miracles, including healing. A quick evaluation of scripture attests that miracles display God's power, arouse wonder and function as a sign to confirm his message. The second assumption is that believers are instructed to pray fervently. The Thessalonians are commended to "pray continually" because habitual prayers express dependence on God. And positioned as little children, we anticipate "good gifts" from our heavenly Father. Yet three additional points are critical.
First, God does not always respond to our desires, and He frequently allows circumstance we wish he would not. Theologically, we call this sovereignty. Inherent in our faith is the scriptural truth that God is in control. This includes events He directs and circumstances he allows. He has the power and responsibility to exercise His right over creation according to His will. Yet God repeatedly chooses to veil the ways in which he exercises those rights. Hence our requests will not always coincide with God's response. Peter understood this as it applied to suffering: "So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good." (1 Peter 4:19)
Second, our tendency is to doubt God's sovereignty in the midst of tumultuous times. Unfortunately when we doubt we presume to comprehend more than He does. Yes, from our vantage point we might think that God's miraculous intervention would produce waves of affirmation to His authority. Yet in his reply to the "rich man" Jesus said, "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead." (Luke 16:31) Instead, the nature of our faith is being "certain of what we do not see." While the world looks for proof in signs and wonders, we should never forget that "the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." It is in this power that He asks us to trust Him.
Third, we must embrace the sufficiency of God's grace in all circumstances. In other words it is imperative that the God of the mountaintop also be the God of the valley. The apostle Paul requested three times to be healed of his "thorn in the flesh". The response from the Lord? "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness," (2 Corinthians 12:9) The sufficiency of God's grace is that we can endure suffering just as Jesus endured the cross!
Jesus endured for the "joy set before him" (Hebrews 12:2) and God's grace allows us to do the same. Our affliction is purposeful and passing, ad although we may not be able to understand it, we must cling to Go's goodness and follow the pattern of His Son.
So we are left with this: We do not know why God allows some to be healed and others not. We have all been touched by situations where God did not heal despite the faithful prayers of his people. The words of Alister McGrath in "Mystery of the Cross" are well posed, "Experience cannot be allowed to have the final word-it must be judged and shown up as deceptive and misleading. The theology of the cross draws our attention to the sheer unreliability of experience as a guide to the presence and activity of God. God is so active and present in the world, quite independently of whether we experience Him as being so. Experience declared that God was absent from Calvary, only to have its verdict humiliatingly overturned on the third day."
As with the cross, our darkest hour may be God's finest moment. It may be that He does His greatest work-albeit unseen to us-Thus instead of letting circumstances consume us, we are able to be consumed with God. To that end, we pray without ceasing, trust in His sovereignty and find comfort in His hope."
Mark Yarbrough, Dallas Seminary, Christianity Today, 2004
Without the hope of the Lord, I would not be able to stand. God's grace...lest anyone would think it is anything else...it is all grace.
Another friend recently sent me this song...(you should pause the music on the side before you listen)
I listened to it over and over tonight. So thankful to know that I never leave His Hands.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Monster Cuteness
Daniel's Valentine goes well with his Monster Cuteness status here at our house...
We all LOVED it! :-) Daniel did too!
We all LOVED it! :-) Daniel did too!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Valentine's Day
With most holidays come our tradition of gifts outside the kiddos doors...just like on their birthdays. Today was no exception...
I love setting this up. I just love most everything to do with gifts!! :-)
We had plenty of "So Big" sightings today too...
These sightings pictures were taken within about 2 minutes of each other...so that should give a good idea of just how often he does it!! He is also waving "Bye Bye" now. So cute. I will have to try and capture that one tomorrow.
Today was not without a few bumps in the road, but that is true with moat every day with 5 sweet (and salty!), growing, independent thinking kids we are raising.
Today was Day 140 in A Day in the Life with Daniel. So thankful for each one. And for his smile and so big that light up our house.
Happy Valentine's Day! I spent the day with mine, but we failed to have one of the kids take our picture together...the kids are MUCH anyway! :-)
I love setting this up. I just love most everything to do with gifts!! :-)
We had plenty of "So Big" sightings today too...
These sightings pictures were taken within about 2 minutes of each other...so that should give a good idea of just how often he does it!! He is also waving "Bye Bye" now. So cute. I will have to try and capture that one tomorrow.
Today was not without a few bumps in the road, but that is true with moat every day with 5 sweet (and salty!), growing, independent thinking kids we are raising.
Today was Day 140 in A Day in the Life with Daniel. So thankful for each one. And for his smile and so big that light up our house.
Happy Valentine's Day! I spent the day with mine, but we failed to have one of the kids take our picture together...the kids are MUCH anyway! :-)
Sunday, February 13, 2011
A Special Visit
Brent's cousin Joel is here for part of this week. He has a conference in the heart of the city and so we are blessed with his company when he is free! He was able to spend most all of the day with us today. This afternoon we walked over to the lake or pond or whatever you want to call it...
I love how pretty much everytime I talk to Daniel he throws his hands in the air..."So Big!"...because he knows he will get a great reaction from me. He does it at least 100 times a day right now. So we have many pictures today that capture on of the 100 "So Big" sightings! I LOVE it! :-)
Then cousin Joel thought he should do it too...
Another So Big moment...
Brent took a few pictures of me with our Big Boy...
Hoping that we will spend more time with Joel in the next few days!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
A Trip to the "Pond"
We have a little lake by our home. The kids call it the "pond". It probably is more like a pond. :) It was a great day to go there altogether. Daniel LOVES to ride in his car and he especially loves the wind. So it was a perfect day for him...
And for everyone else too...
It is amazing that we can have an ice storm and school canceled on Wednesday and sunshine and warm temperatures on Saturday.
Friday, February 11, 2011
My Big Brother Drew Took This Picture...
Daniel got to hang out with the big boys in their room this morning and Drew took this picture of Daniel. Notice the baseball gear surrounding him. :)
A Picture From Yesterday
Our internet was down last night. So here is a picture of my three youngest kiddos that I would have posted yesterday if I could have...
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