Good stuff...real good.

Just wanted to share a little bit of the goodness that I've been blessed by lately...

1. This sermon that is chock-full of heart-stirring, repentance-bringing, gospel-centered goodness on forgiveness...it applies to you, trust me.

2. This upcoming conference that I couldn't be more excited about! In fact, it's happening tomorrow! And I know it too will be chock-full of intense gospel-centered, life-changing, paradigm-shifting teaching. Yes! Bring it on.

3. This child and her new found skill of walking...by herself...with no help, thank you very much.
She is everywhere people...you know, that wonderful pigeon-toed, almost-falling-on-my-nose, stumble-like-I-drank-too-much (milk) kind of walk, that is so incredibly cute? Yup, that's what she's doing....and she usually has this little goofy smile on her face while she does it.

4. The thing in the sky called the sun and the wonderful stuff out in the front of our house called grass...it did survive under all that snow! I am thankful that we are seeing more of both of these lately...my heart, my home and my (really white) skin are ready for spring!

5. This woman and all the joys of living with her (and her family)...her sound counsel, her humility, her desire for the Word, her gracious spirit (especially to live with me and all my family!) and her cute pregnant belly of course! She is such a huge blessing in my life...I get teary just thinking about the day we won't get to live together!

6. This little devotional that I've started using in the mornings with the kids. It's been a wonderful age-appropriate, totally-doable, Christ-centered way to start our day! The kids (and I) are loving it...and the conversations I am having with the kids, while we eat our oatmeal, are awesome. Little hearts learning big truths...there is nothing better. :o)

7. This song, that has been heard around our house as of late. Usually it is being belted by our 5 year old...there is no sweeter sound I tell ya.

7. And last but not least, my amazing and totally trustworthy God...who never dissapoints, never fails, never misses a thing...
Who is molding me and making me into something better for His glory & my good...
Who never fails to encourage and sustain when my feeble mind and heart are discouraged...
Who loves me and saved me not because of any "good" that I have done, but because of His incredible grace. Period. End of story.

And that is the most amazing good of all. 

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.     Ephesians 2: 4-10

the pink cast...

Today we are home rejoicing in the safe and uneventful surgery on Ella's left foot.  Thank you to the many who sent text messages, email and FB notes to encourage her little heart. She would beam each time she read one and she said it made her feel "so special".  She is now in the infamous pink cast (for 8 weeks) and we are adjusting to life with this new, albeit pretty, challenge.

She was, as always,
radiant...
engaging...
respectful...
cooperative...
flexible...
an absolute joy.

She makes being a mommy (and daddy) the best job in the entire world.

We love you Ella Mae and are so proud of you for letting Jesus shine through you to others while you were at Children's.  We know this pink cast is not your favorite thing, but we are so thankful for your good attitude and cheerful heart in spite of it.

For the rest of you to enjoy, here's a little "story in pictures" to give you a look at Ella's day...

Heading into Children's...

Checking in...

The waiting room...

Always observant...

Snuggles with daddy...

Waiting...with a smile on her face.

Our cool surgery outfits!

Pre-surgery dancing...a must.

Marking her foot before surgery...

Initials of the surgeon on the correct foot...

All done...

Yummy popsicle & the new pink cast...

Thankful for the Lord's protection.
Thankful for pink casts and joyful hearts.
Thankful...again and again.

(all photo credits go to daddy...who took all the pics despite recovering from food poisoning!!! You are amazing daddy!)

Some encouraging words...

I am thankful for another wave of grace today...every day. 
And I am incredibly thankful for the sacrifice of the cross...on my behalf. 
Undeserved.
Not for anything I have done.
Simply grace. 

These words washed over me today as I sat and watched a video of hymns with my kids. It's good theology to fill their minds with at this young age. And it's good for mine as well. 

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

For my pardon, this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
 

Now by this I’ll overcome—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
Now by this I’ll reach my home—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
 

Glory! Glory! This I sing—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
All my praise for this I bring—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.


(words found here...words & music by Robert Lowry, 1876)

Reasons for Hope: Number Four

Number four: There is no act of Satan that is not subject to the ultimate power & sovereignty of God. 

 I listened to a great talk by John Piper the other day called "10 Aspects of God's Sovereignty Over Suffering & Satan's Hand In It".  It can also be found in written form, along with many other great articles, in the book "Suffering and the Sovereignty of God".  

This article by Piper listed 10 excellent reasons to hope in our sovereign God.  Satan is real.  And he is a powerful enemy.  But the battle and the end result does not belong to him.  In fact, his power is always subject to our sovereign God.  

There is immense hope in that fact.  And the knowledge that our God is greater brings much comfort, even in the midst of suffering.  If you have time, download these talks here and enjoy the encouragement that comes from knowing that our powerful God is in control.  And ultimately, He is victorious. 

"And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth...but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever."  Revelation 20:9 & 10

Reason for Hope: Number Two

Number two:  Many saints have paved the way and provide encouragement & hope through their testimonies.

Just check out the familiar story of Joni Erickson Tada.  Confined to a wheelchair as a quadraplegic at the age of 19 (due to a diving accident), her story is one of endurance that provides hope to many and brings glory to Christ every time she shares her testimony. 

She spoke a couple years ago at a Desiring God Conference on suffering; a topic she is well acquainted with.  I listened to that talk today and was again reminded of the perseverance it takes to faithfully endure such a physical trial as quadraplegia.  I was struck by the thought that, although some would consider my temporary bedrest as a "trial", there is a definite "end" in sight.
 

I can look forward to a date when this will be done.  I can mark days on the calendar and plead with the Lord for the grace to endure.  But then, this trial will be over.  I will be free from the confines of this hospital room.  I will be able to walk again, take care of myself & my family, return to church and resume "normal life".  It is a very temporary "trial".

But Joni, she has no end in sight...except heaven.  She cannot mark days off the calendar in anticipation for her "trial" to end.  She is confined to that wheelchair for life.  And she must awaken every day with the challenges that come with her physical disability.  I was struck by some of her statements regarding her daily struggles.  

She stated (and I paraphrase) that the cross you bear is not the affliction...it is not the suffering...it is your attitude about such things (self-pity, anger, bitterness, unbelief, etc...). We are called to die to these sinful attitudes daily.  For then we can grow to be more like Him, to become Holy, to become sin-less.  And it is through His power, His peace and His joy that we are able to experience these changes in our sinful souls.  And through them, the Lord receives the glory...and others are encouraged in the faith. 

If you haven't read her story or ever heard her speak...do so, it will change how you view your current sufferings. It did mine. 

Reasons for Hope: Number One

Number one:  Nothing can keep us from Christ.  
No sufferings and no earthly pain will keep us from eternal life with Him.

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.  The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.  For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.  Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.  For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?  But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?  Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.  Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

As it is written: 

"For your sake we face death all day long; 

we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."  

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

 Romans 8:18-39 (emphasis mine)