How Firm a Foundation

Last night we went to a going away party for a friend of ours, Tyler, who is going to Minneapolis to study at The Bethlehem Institute. We are sad to see him go, but excited about what an incredible opportunity God has laid before him. At the end of the festivities, we sang a few songs and then prayed for Tyler. As we were singing I looked around the room and my heart was warmed by the sight. There were about 20 people there, most in the mid-twenties, and all but four were men. And there they were singing their hearts out in praise to the Lord. What an incredible sight. I know that one of my prayers for years, and the prayers of many other women, is that God was raise up an army of men of faith in our generation. Last night, I was with part of that army. And how it refreshed me! It was so encouraging to see how God is moving in the lives of the young men at our church. Once again, I was overwhelmed with thankfulness for Treasuring Christ Church (for more reasons on this subject go to my March 9th post). Of course, I was also thankful for the three other women there as they were being Biblical women in serving with great hospitality.

I am learning that I really am happiest when I am most satisfied in Jesus. I will leave you with the words from the hymn "How Firm a Foundation" that we sang last night.

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?

In every condition, in sickness, in health;
In poverty's vale, or abounding in wealth;
At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,
As thy days may demand, shall My strength ever be.

"Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand."

"When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of grief shall not thee overflow
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress."

"When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine."

"The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to break,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake."

Praise God For Technology!

I am very thankful for technology. I am very thankful that God always men to learn and develop new and inventive ideas. Today, I am very thankful for the internet, downloading capabilities, and CDs. As a stay at home mom of a 3 month old, I often don't have the time, energy, or resources to read and study the Bible in the way that I would like to. However, I do have access to men of faith who do have that time. And with a few quick clicks of my mouse, I can listen to these men for 30-60 minutes and learn so much and be refreshed and encouraged in my faith. So while I am doing laundry, or making dinner, or cleaning up the house, I can be "studying." And if I don't catch but half of it the first time around, then I can listen to it again. Because half is better than none. I used to think that I really had to sit and focus on the sermon if I was going to listen to it, which meant that I never listened to any because I didn't have the time or patience to do that. But I am learning that listening to the Bible on CD or sermons even as background noise during the day greatly increases my affections for God, and I'm surprised at how much I catch. And I think it's a great witness for my Charissa as she grows - her mama would rather listen to sermons as background noise than the TV. Maybe if I do it enough her first word will be "justification." :)

If you're looking for a good tool for finding sermons online go to The Alliance Counsel.

Gym Membership/Cable Combo?

For Mother's Day Britt gave me a gym membership to Planet Fitness. I suppose for some women it would insulting that their husbands give them a gift of the gym ("Here Honey, I thought you needed this!"), but I LOVED it! It gives me an opportunity to get out of the house, and I get to work out which just doesn't happen regularly if I'm depending on going jogging outside. It gets hot, or it rains, or it's dark, or whatever. Planet Fitness is open 24 hours a day, and I just can't wait for the time I go at 300AM. AND now there's the added incentive of investment - Britt paid for me to go for the next 18 months so I better get my tail there.

I really love this gym because it's not filled with those really ridiculously in shape people, or pushy employees. I can just go, get on the treadmill, run, and then go home. It's easy. And it's never really that crowded, which is also nice. I haven't really explored the weight section yet but so far I haven't seen any of the type of guys that creeped me out at NC State's gyms. You know the ones - they're super muscular and they laugh at all the girls who come in there, even if they know how to use all the machines correctly (which I never did).

But today as I was jogging along, I saw a new perk to my gym membership: cable TV. This fact was pointed out to me by the guy who was on the treadmill next to me, not using it, but just standing there and watching ESPN2. He stood there for about 20 minutes watching the TV and then went off to the weight section. I never really thought about it before, but you could totally just come to the gym and watch TV. Each of the aerobic machines (treadmill, stair climber, bikes, etc) face the TVs and there are two rows of ten. There are ten different channels you can choose from, and each machine has a little box you can plug your headphones into and you can listen to whichever channel you want to. There's ESPN, ESPN2, MSNBC, FOX, VH1, MTV, and some others on the far side that I haven't figured out yet.

Just think, for $10-$20 a month, you can get a gym membership, and cable! Now that's a deal. You could go to the gym when your show is coming on, hop on a treadmill, and just lazily walk through your program. Then when it's done, you go home feeling like you weren't a couch potato. I think they should use this idea in their marketing. I'm sure it would work for some people. Me, I'm content to finally start using my iPod after owning it for a year.

What's Wrong With Girls?

Recently I've noticed that there is a large male infant population around us. So much so, that I only know of one other girl under the age of one whereas I know 4 boys under one and two in utero. This is a bit distressing to me. And people will say, "Well that just means that Charissa will have her pick of all the boys!" Ok ... that may be true, but I would also like for her to have a playmate that she can play dolls with or dress-up with.

So, for some of you who may be considering having a child - let me tell you why you should have a girl (not in any particular order):

1. They're pretty.
2. They smell good.
3. All their clothes are pink and white so almost everything matches!
4. They're great cuddlers.
5. Everyone "ohhs" and "ahhs" over how cute and adorable they are (which is true).
6. It's easier to find feminine baby clothes than it is to find masculine baby clothes.
7. They will melt a man's heart with one smile.
8. They will grow up to be great helpers around the house (or at least they should).
9. Small Girls + Unruly, Wispy, Uneven hair = SOOO Cute! (whereas Small Boys + Unruly, Wispy, Uneven hair = Frat Boy in Training)
10. Now who doesn't want one of these?
(Gift wrap is optional.)

All I ask is that you consider it.


PS - Of course if we had a boy we'd be rejoicing that he had so many playmates.

God Loves My Baby More Than I do!

Yesterday Charissa and I went out running some errands to finish Britt's birthday presents. While we were at the store Charissa was a bit fussy from being in her car seat for an extended amount of time so I unhooked the straps to give her more breathing room. We finished shopping, came home, and when I took her out of the car, this is what I discovered:


I just started crying and apologizing to Charissa and thanking God that nothing had happened in the 15 minute car ride on the interstate. It occurred to me in the midst of this that God loves my baby much more than I do, or ever could. And not only does He love her more, He loves her better. God would never forget to harness her in her carseat. He doesn't forget anything, and all that He does for her is good.

I am so thankful that I am not in ultimate control of my daughter's life and well-being. There is much more security in the fact that a sovereign, good God who loves her more than I do controls her every breath.

Happy 27th Birthday Big B!!

Today is Britt's 27th Birthday! Charissa and I are so happy to be able to share in his life. We feel very blessed to have him as a husband/father.

Happy Birthday Britt! We pray that we can have 50 more with you! We love you!!

Happy 396th Birthday King James Bible!

Today marks the 396th Birthday of the publication of the King James Version of the Bible. King James I had appointed a committee of 47 learned men to produce a new translation of the Bible in English. Fifteen general rules were set out in how to translate the Bible:

1. The ordinary Bible read in the Church, commonly called the Bishops Bible, to be followed, and as little altered as the Truth of the original will permit.
2. The names of the Prophets, and the Holy Writers, with the other Names of the Text, to be retained, as nigh as may be, accordingly as they were vulgarly used.
3. The Old Ecclesiastical Words to be kept, viz. the Word Church not to be translated Congregation &c.
4. When a Word hath divers Significations, that to be kept which hath been most commonly used by the most of the Ancient Fathers, being agreeable to the Propriety of the Place, and the Analogy of the Faith.
5. The Division of the Chapters to be altered, either not at all, or as little as may be, if Necessity so require.
6. No Marginal Notes at all to be affixed, but only for the explanation of the Hebrew or Greek Words, which cannot without some circumlocution, so briefly and fitly be expressed in the Text.
7. Such Quotations of Places to be marginally set down as shall serve for the fit Reference of one Scripture to another.
8. Every particular Man of each Company, to take the same Chapter or Chapters, and having translated or amended them severally by himself, where he thinketh good, all to meet together, confer what they have done, and agree for their Parts what shall stand.
9. As any one Company hath dispatched any one Book in this Manner they shall send it to the rest, to be considered of seriously and judiciously, for His Majesty is very careful in this Point.
10. If any Company, upon the Review of the Book so sent, doubt or differ upon any Place, to send them Word thereof; note the Place, and withal send the Reasons, to which if they consent not, the Difference to be compounded at the general Meeting, which is to be of the chief Persons of each Company, at the end of the Work.
11. When any Place of special Obscurity is doubted of, Letters to be directed by Authority, to send to any Learned Man in the Land, for his Judgement of such a Place.
12. Letters to be sent from every Bishop to the rest of his Clergy, admonishing them of this Translation in hand; and to move and charge as many skilful in the Tongues; and having taken pains in that kind, to send his particular Observations to the Company, either at Westminster, Cambridge, or Oxford.
13. The Directors in each Company, to be the Deans of Westminster, and Chester for that Place; and the King's Professors in the Hebrew or Greek in either University.
14. These translations to be used when they agree better with the Text than the Bishops Bible: Tyndale's, Matthew's, Coverdale's, Whitchurch's, Geneva.
15. Besides the said Directors before mentioned, three or four of the most Ancient and Grave Divines, in either of the Universities, not employed in Translating, to be assigned by the vice-Chancellor, upon Conference with the rest of the Heads, to be Overseers of the Translations as well Hebrew as Greek, for the better observation of the 4th Rule above specified.

Apparently this was a pretty daunting task for those men. To learn more go to A Brief History of the King James Bible.

Happy 3rd Monthday!

Today is Charissa's 3rd Monthday! Can you believe that she is already three months old? It's hard to believe that 3 months ago she entered our lives ... I don't know what I would do without her! We have so much fun together! Charissa has recently discovered that playtime is WAY fun. She is all giggles and smiles. And today she is actually wearing a 3-6 month outfit. Of course it's big on her, but we wanted to celebrate trying on some new clothes. Her Daddy is taking us out to dinner tonight to celebrate this milestone, so she also had to get dressed up for that.

Happy 3rd Monthday Charissa!