I'm a Singuh-Part 1 and Part 2

Matthew 28:19

It was our joy and blessing to baptize Alyssa this
Sunday morning...

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,"

Grateful

As Thanksgiving has come and gone, I am, again, grateful for my family. The holiday season does that to me.
In light of that gratefulness, my mind shifts to one of my family members who is not with us this holiday season, instead she has chosen to leave her father and mother and brother and sister for the sake of the kingdom (Luke 18:29).
Five months ago, my niece Katie, began an eleven-month missions trip with the World Race. Katie, presently stuck in Bangkok due to political protesting throughout the city, recently posted this video:

Orphans of the Storm from katie rowland on Vimeo.

As I have watched each of Katie's videos documenting her journey, I am ashamed of how self-focused I can be, living my comfortable suburban life while so much suffering is going on around me. I am too quick to forget the (approximate) 143 million orphans worldwide. These children will not be with family this holiday season, their lives have been shattered by tragedy.

Katie, thank you for the joy you are bringing these children in the midst of their sorrow, in particular for laying down your life in order to share the gospel with them that they may, someday, experience lasting joy with their Father in Heaven. You are bringing Him much glory as you continue to pour out your life for these people. Thank you for your example to all of us at home. We love you and miss you very much.
xoxo,
Aunt Juli

Praying for Our Children

I read this fabulous reminder this morning from Praying the Scriptures for Your Children by Jodie Berndt. (Thanks, Jamie!)

"Before I started writing this book, I polled more than one hundred mothers to see what they wanted most for their children. My informal surveys, tucked into our family's Christmas cards and randomly distributed to friends and neighbors, listed everything from health and safety to academic success and strong family ties. I asked folks to check their top five desires or prayer requests, and I eventually used this feedback to shape the book's table of contents.
On the survey I also included an "other" category, where folks could comment on the topics or add their own thoughts. My friend Troy Lee shared this story of how God answered her prayers for her children:

"Before each of my children was born I prayed that they would be first a Christian and second healthy. I prayed that as long as we would be allowed to enjoy our children on earth, it would be long enough for them to accept Christ as their Savior. In other words, please let them live to be saved- however old or however young.
This prayer has been answered for two of my children so far, but very significantly in Abner IV's life. You may know that he died at age seven and a half. Seven months prior to his unexpected death, Abner prayed with his father to accept Christ and was baptized the next week. God let him live long enough to be saved.
This is even more interesting as we found out exactly what Abner died of (it took nine weeks to determine). Endocardial fibroelastosis is very rare. We were told that Abner's case would be published in a medical journal because in the last forty years, only two other people in the world had ever lived past age one with this condition.
And I keep thinking, God let him live long enough to be saved. Praise Him!"

Isn't this an amazing story? Where others might see only pain and loss, Troy Lee recognized the hand of God and the answer to her prayers. But, you might ask, shouldn't she have asked God to make her children healthy-no matter what? And if she had, would she have been spared the anguish of losing a child?
I can't answer these questions, but I know that in placing her children's salvation at the top of her prayer list-and in praying for them even before they were born-Troy Lee demonstrated an incredible maturity and depth of insight. She recognized what so many of us miss: that a relationship with the Savior is more important than anything else. A child can be blessed with a healthy body, good grades, an outstanding character, a wealth of friends, and an athletic scholarship to the college of his or her choice-but without a relationship with Jesus, it all counts for nothing."

"Praying for your children's salvation is asking God to give them the only gift that lasts forever."

I'm Thankful For...

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Winter Wonderland

Gathering Leaves

"Spades take up leaves
No better than spoons,
And bags full of leaves
Are light as balloons.
I make a great noise
Of rustling all day
Like rabbit and deer
Running away.
But the mountains I raise
Elude my embrace,
Flowing over my arms
And into my face.
I may load and unload
Again and again
Till I fill the whole shed,
And what have I then?
Next to nothing for weight,
And since they grew duller
From contact with earth,
Next to nothing for color.
Next to nothing for use.
But a crop is a crop,
And who's to say where
The harvest shall stop?"

-Robert Frost



*All photos courtesy of our wonderfully-talented Maggie Flanigan.

An Update on My Dad

A few of you may not know that my father is no longer living
with us.
Last week, John and I made the decision to place Dad into full- time care at a local assisted living facility. The establishment is actually located in our neighborhood, and is less than one mile from our home. Dad moved in on Monday.
My dad had taken several serious falls in our home since he moved in last April. As the falls became more frequent, (on the average of three times/week), it became very evident that it was not safe for him to continue to live here. Although this was a difficult decision to make, the Lord has made the transition smooth and quick for all of us.
Please continue to pray for my Dad, in particular that his relationship with the Lord would deepen in these last days/years of his life.
John and I have been amazed at the numerous people who have helped us throughout the last eight months. Beyond family, our church has been a regular source of encouragement, service, and means of grace to us during this season. Thank you all so much for your prayers, your council, and your care for Dad and our children. (Several families in our church rotated babysitting/eldercare in order for me and John to continue having "date nights" and to attend important meetings while Dad was living with us.)
We love you all and appreciate you more than you know.

Babyface

Seanna and Jack Morgan's baby shower at Carmel Country Club. (Doesn't he have the cutest little babyface?!)

Beautiful

Write Your Name on Her Heart

May Jesus write His name on her heart, with permanent ink.... like she just did on my wood floors.

Albert Mohler's Post

Americans head for the voting precincts today as the 2008 election is now at hand. Already, some 20 million citizens have voted through early voting options. Some expect a record turn-out for today's election. In any event, millions of citizens will participate in the first duty of freedom -- the freedom to vote.

There is so much at stake. We hear every election cycle that the stakes have never been higher. In one sense, this is usually also true. There is always the sense that there is more at stake this year than last, and, given the way issues unfold, that perception often seems validated by the times.

Christians face the responsibility to vote, not only as citizens, but as Christians who seek to honor and follow Christ in all things. But, beyond the vote, we also bear responsibility to pray for our nation.

First, we should pray that God will bless America with leaders better than we deserve. Democratic systems inevitably reflect the electorate's decisions, and these decisions reveal underlying worldviews. And, truth be told, all we can expect from democracy is the government we deserve. We must pray for a government and for leaders better than we deserve. May God grant us mercy as he reigns and rules over all things, including this election.

Second, we should pray that Americans will be motivated to fulfill the responsibilities of citizenship, yet also that we will be stripped of an unhealthy and idolatrous confidence in the power of government to save us. God has given us the gift of rulers and governments in order to restrain evil, uphold righteousness, and provide for civil order. No human ruler can save. No government official or office holder can heal the human heart, solve the sin problem, or accomplish final justice. These powers belong to God and God alone.

Third, we must pray that Americans will vote by conscience, not merely on the basis of celebrity or emotion. Christian citizens must vote to uphold righteousness and contend for righteous and just laws. But, at the same time, we must repent of moralism and the tacit assumption that better laws would produce better people.

Fourth, we must pray that Americans will vote to defend the least among us -- and especially those who have no vote. This starts, but does not end, with concern for the unborn and for the recovery of respect for the dignity and sanctity of every single human life at every stage of development, from conception until natural death.

Fifth, we should pray that God will prick the conscience of the nation on issues of morality, righteousness, and respect for marriage as the central institution of human civilization. So much ground appears to have been lost on these issues. We need to pray that much ground can be regained.

Sixth, we should pray that God will protect these candidates and their families. They have been through an arduous ordeal and now face the deadline of the vote. They are physically exhausted and now face the judgment of the people. They are public figures, but they are also flesh and blood human beings, who are fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, sons, and daughters. Their families have withstood much. We should pray for their marriages and their children. May God protect them.

Seventh, we should pray that the election is conducted with honor, civility, respect, and justice. We must pray that we do not face another round of litigation after an election. This brings democracy into disrepute. May there be a clear winner, not a contested result.

Eighth, we must pray that Americans will be prepared to accept the results of the election with respect and kindness. This will be no time for rancor, condemnations, and conspiracy theories. Instead, we must pray that God will settle the hearts of the people. May Christians be ready to respond with prayer, respect for office, and a gentle spirit. Others will be watching.

Ninth, we should pray that this election would lead to even greater opportunities to preach the Gospel, and that the freedom of the church will be respected, honored, and protected.

Tenth, we must pray for the church, praying that the church of the Lord Jesus Christ would be strengthened in the truth, grounded in the faith, and empowered for witness and ministry. May the church, the sign of the coming kingdom, be faithful to declare the Gospel -- knowing that this is the only message that will save.

May God grant us mercy and grace as we seek to fulfill our responsibilities as citizens -- and our responsibilities as Christians. This world is not our home, but we do bear responsibilities as followers of Christ as we are living here.

May God bless America, not because this nation deserves to be blessed, but because He is a God of grace and mercy. Oh God . . . save us from ourselves."

Amen! Read more from Mr. Mohler at www.AlbertMohler.com.