God-shaped hole

Sometimes I can characterize time periods in my life by a certain song or by a certain artist. I recently rediscovered this song from a very distinct time period in my life. I was lost, empty, sad...everything was gray. Then a friend gave me this CD, and I listened and re-listened and re-listened. And for the first time in my life God began to speak to me. I wasn't saved until probably a month or more later, but I very distinctly remember feeling the reality of God being personal when I first heard this song and the others on the CD. I fell asleep listening to them and listened to them when I woke up. Could it really be that God was real? Could it really be that He would be willing to be at peace with me? Could it really be that He was actually the One seeking me?

There is a God-shaped hole in all of us. And it is a void that only He can fill. I still feel gray sometimes. Sometimes I even feel lost and empty and sad. And He's still the only One who can fill the void. And He can. And He does. I love You, King Jesus.

Beautiful fall

"For the beauty of the earth

For the glory of the skies,

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies,

Lord of all, to Thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise!"

Happy 2nd birthday, sweet girl!

Gulf Shores 2012

Charlie's 3rd birthday

Can you guess how he feels about Toy Story?

Cleared

In April (yes, I'm just now posting from allll the way back then!) we took Charlie to Children's Hospital for his final CT scan. It was clear! Because he was so good and grown-up (And because those nurses and staff are INCREDIBLE! The first picture is a lady demonstrating to our 2yr old how he would go into the "big doughnut" like the little boy she was holding.) he was able to do it without sedation. And because of that, we were able to take him to the zoo afterwards. We had such a wonderful time enjoying our precious, healthy, whole (not even one scar) son. God is so good.

Slave

I'm thankful tonight to be a slave. I'm even more thankful that I haven't had the same master all my life.

"But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart..." Romans 6:17

"Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, 'These men are slaves of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!'" Acts 16:17

Honestly, I write with tears of gratitude. Talk about counter-cultural! Oh God, thank You, thank You, thank You that I can be Your slave!

The little sister

When Brother Kevin Williams tried to take a picture of Charlie and Zac in their matching wedding outfits, little sister Bethan jumped in front right at the last moment. The picture speaks for itself. :)

Good times

Charlie & Daddy

Bets

Washing dishes for Mommy

Glorious

"Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand. With Your counsel You will guide me, and afterward receive me to glory." Psalm 73:23-24

Near

"The nearness of God is my good." Psalm 73:28

"Those who are far from You will perish." Psalm 73:27

Yes, it is very good to be near to God. But I never noticed before that the writer isn't talking about degrees of nearness (like "the nearer the better"). He says you're either near or far, and if you are far you will perish. Sobering.

Choosing Gratitude

Though I haven't finished this one yet, what I have read of this book has been tremendously helpful and life-changing for me. There are no "new" truths in this book--just a wonderful reminder of an absolutely basic truth...learning to give thanks for all things.

Picnic...in March!

Sweetness Wherever

Sweetness Wherever

(Young Amy's Madonna Lily)

She grew, a plant of fair renown,

Where other lilies be.

They saw her white and golden crown,

And nevermore was she

Among the lilies of the wood;

For they that plucked her thought it good

That in another kind of room

That lily flower should bloom.

And to that room one day there came

A little wild-bird child,

But lately caught, and nowise tame,

And all unreconciled

To cages and to careful bars

That seemed to ban the very stars.

The lily looked at her and smiled,

As though herself a child.

And their eyes met; no word was said

That man could hear or say;

But thus the child was comforted.

And after, flown away

To far, far lands, rememb'ring this--

A comfort it were loss to miss--

Would even in this later hour

Sing joy to some dear flower.

O whosoe'er ye be, and where,

However straitly bound,

Your ministry is as the air

That sails the whole world round.

Do ye but fill your present room

With sweetness as of heavenly bloom,

Ye know not where it may be found:

Is Christ within you bound?

-Amy Carmichael

Do you feel bound by your present circumstances today? Bound by lack of money, lack of time, lack of a large sphere of influence, bound by trials, etc.? Christ is not bound. Let us joyfully serve Him in the "cage" He has graciously placed us in today and trust Him that He and His supernatural influence, in and through us, are not bound.

A praying mother

". . . Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter." Mark 7:26

J. C. Ryle comments,

The woman who came to our Lord, in the history now before us, must doubtless have been in deep affliction. She saw a beloved child possessed by an unclean spirit. She saw her in a condition in which no teaching could reach the mind, and no medicine could heal the body — a condition only one degree better than death itself. She hears of Jesus, and beseeches him to “cast forth the devil out of her daughter.” She prays for one who could not pray for herself, and never rests till her prayer is granted.

By prayer she obtains the cure which no human means could obtain. Through the prayer of the mother, the daughter is healed. On her own behalf that daughter did not speak a word; but her mother spoke for her to the Lord, and did not speak in vain. Hopeless and desperate as her case appeared, she had a praying mother, and where there is a praying mother there is always hope.

Expository Thoughts on Mark (1859).

HT: John Piper

Beloved man: A tribute to my husband

I wrote the poem below in June of 2006. Mason had moved to Kirksville in January of the same year. At the time I wrote this poem Mason was renting a house across the street from my parent's home. My room was the room on the second story facing the street. Though I was fairly sure that Mason had feelings for me, and 100% sure that I had feelings for him, he hadn't officially said anything to me. And I was losing my mind. :) On June 27th, 2006 we were engaged.

Now after 5 1/2 years of marriage I can honestly say that Mason has far surpassed my overblown and love-struck notions of what a husband should be. God brought our marriage to pass and He has graciously preserved and blessed it. Blessed be His name!

Beloved man, why have you come?

Have you come to try me?

With silent lips and burning heart

You whisper one word, “Crazy.”

For I have found, when you’re around

I lose my mind—can’t seem to

Direct my thoughts down other paths…

Why can’t I just forget you?

And live my life in my own way—

Collected and together

And so it seems that I can do

Until you look at me and shatter

My dreams of independence and

Instead, induce surrender…

O Lord, where did you find a man

So gallant and so tender?

Warrior, take my trembling heart

I will be won—don’t falter

I am constrained to risk it all…

He says, “To this, I’ve called her.”

(6-9-06)

Photo taken June 28th, 2006.

All we will get is mercy

"Let us make crystal clear at the beginning of each new day, all we will get from God as believers in Jesus is mercy. Whatever pleasures or pains may come our way in this day, they will all be mercy." - John Piper, "Life As a Vapor"

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

The smallest things

"Sometimes,' said Pooh, 'the smallest things in life take up the most room in your heart." - Winnie the Pooh

Eggs, muscles and little boys

This morning during breakfast Charlie and I were discussing the fact that eating helps him to grow big and strong. (Yes, I have resorted to such tactics just to get the child to EAT.) When part of his egg fell on the floor, he looked up at me with a dismayed expression and said very sadly, "Now I can't grow bigger!"

We sure love that little (but bigger) boy.

Wrecked

"I can thank my God for every storm that has wrecked me upon the Rock, Christ Jesus!" - Charles Spurgeon

Christian Wives

Sometimes I feel like in the 11 1/2 years since the Lord saved me I've made marked progress in learning what it means to be like Christ. And then I hear something or read something or see something--something basic and something foundational to the Christian life. And I feel like I've never even heard of it before! Recently I felt a measure of that when I listened to this sermon by Ryan Fullerton about Christian submission. If God only calls me to one thing as a Christian wife (that is, to submit), then shouldn't I focus all my "wifely" strength on doing that one thing really, really well?

Southern living

A late Merry Christmas from all of us to all of you! We hope yours was as good as ours!