Others

From Mama...

Know that I share this lesson with you, not to boast in your dad (even though I must say you have the best one!) but to boast in the Lord and what he is doing through your dad that is teaching me. Since you can't see the things I see yet, I thought I would feel you in on something he is teaching me that I know God taught him.

One of my prayers is that you will see people the way God sees them and love them the way He loves them. Yesterday as we went to see family at Spoons (a yogurt place in Alexandria), your dad noticed a guy outside. We sat inside with family for about an hour and a half. When we came back out, the guy was still there. Your dad went to get the car and stopped to talk to the man named Brian. Your dad asked what he could do for him. Brian and your dad had difficulty understanding each other, but finally Brian said Wendys. Your dad couldn't see a Wendy's but Brian pointed in a direction. Your dad came and got us and we went on the search for Wendy's. We returned and your dad gave Brian the Wendy's. The smile that spread across his face touched my heart. Brian said thank you and walked straight across the street to the air conditioned Krogers that had a few tables to eat on inside. Once again this is not a story to brag your dad, we didn't even pay for the Wendy's, another couple in our car did. I just want you to understand that to show God's grace to people we must first see them. To truly notice all people. People's whose needs are obvious and those whose needs are better hidden. You have to notice in order to take action. People are in desperate need of God's grace, yet we can't show it if we aren't looking. Notice others. Don't be consumed in yourself. Notice and take action. Be God's hands and feet. Serve others, not yourself. Do not live your life entitled as if you have earned whatever "it" is. Be the guy (like your dad) who parks in the last spot in the parking lot at church even if you are the first one there. Think of others above yourself. If Jesus came to serve and not to be served, how much more so should we?!

I'm so Unworthy, but Still You love me; Forever I'll sing of how great You are

From Mama...

Man, today was an amazing day in the house of the Lord. I wish so badly you could comprehend and truly understand the lesson your dad taught this morning in Sunday school. He talked about something that is, I think, a hard lesson for most people to learn. We are saved by grace, so that no one has any room to boast, except in our LORD, a gracious God. I pray that you will follow Christ with all that you are from a young age and if you do, there will moments when you will be tempted to gloat and revel in the person of good character that people see you as. However, my son, know that any good in us is not of our own doing. It is God working in us as He bestows grace upon grace upon us. We are sinful in our very nature, but God, who is holy and just (oh that you may understand one day soon His holiness), sent His Son that by grace we can be saved. Redeemed to a relationship with Him. Glorious!!! If I may be so bold to challenge you from there and plead with you to not only to soak in these truths, but to adamantly share it with others. May God give you a heart that says all people are dead in their sin, so I will share with all who I come in contact with that they may know the grace of God and be saved.

Again, as I sang in the church service, a truth rang out that I so desperately want you to understand and live out. It goes along with the lesson your dad taught this morning. It says, "You are holy, great and mighty, the moon and the starts declare who you are. I'm so unworthy, but still You love me. Forever my heart will sing of how great You are." May this one day be the cry of your heart. May you truly understand how unworthy you are and yet God still loves you. He is holy, great, and might. May you, my son, always sing of how great He is.

And again, another lesson from this morning. A student, Samuel Gates, a student who has been in church his whole life, was baptized by your daddy this morning. What can you learn from Samuel's story? You can learn tons from Samuel who knows Scripture so well. The part that I was reminded of today was that head knowledge does not bring about salvation. Samuel has studied Scripture for a long time and has lived the church life. However, two weeks ago at camp he realized he didn't have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. While he knew of Him, he didn't know Him. God pursued him, and Samuel surrendered! What a testimony!!

And again, Pastor Chuck talked about the pottery and the clay. May you allow God to turn the cracks that come from sin in your life into something beautiful for His Glory and Name. Allow Him. Trust Him. He is faithful. He is God. He is I AM.

Car Rides

From Mama...

You Know You Are Pregnant When...

You spend a few hours in the car and then spend the whole next day trying to recoop because you feel like it is the third day after a car wreck!