Life and Death

"God is most glorified in you when you are most satisfied with Him in the midst of loss, not prosperity." John Piper

Christ Community Church (where my brother serves as shepherd) has lost another sheep. A young woman, 28, mother of two, missionary to Ethiopia, was called home on Tuesday, January 22, in a car accident in TN.

I remember speaking with her one time. It was a short conversation but one I will never forget- not because of the content of the conversation but because of the love of Christ that radiated through her.

I cannot quit thinking about this situation, praying for the family and the church, and following the story through blogs, etc. The Lord has taught me so much.

First and foremost, my mind has been stayed upon Christ (thank you, Lord). Amber, through the testimony of her journals, friends, and husband, treasured the person of Christ. It would be trite to say that she is in a "better place." No, it is SO much more than that. She is where her treasure is.

In her husband's testimony during the funeral, he told of notes Amber tucked into his suitcase the weeks before her death as he was away in Ethiopia. These notes were not notes proclaiming her love to him but notes proclaiming the love of Christ to Him.

What better way for a wife to lavish love upon her husband than to remind him ALWAYS of the great love of Christ. The love of the most devoted wife cannot compare to a glimpse of our Saviour's love.

Her notes read something like this: Count His presence more precious than every earthly good. Christ, is He not precious to your soul- the only friend to whom you can truly unveil yourself to.

As Anthony said, the great glory of the Lord has been unveiled to Amber. She sees Him face to face for she has become like Him.

I thank the Lord for allowing me to be a part of their journey. I am humbled that the Lord would teach me to pursue Christ, to treasure Christ, to bask in His love, to speak of it always, to hate sin, to love the Saviour, to KNOW Him- not just talk about Him.

No more do I want to pursue loving my husband perfectly, teaching my children properly, keeping my house clean and being a good friend. No, no, no- I want to pursue Christ- every minute, every second of every day. What better gift to give this world than for me to know as much as is humanly possible- the love of Christ and then to give this to others.

If the Lord would call me home- I would want my family to know that I am where my treasure is. . . for truly- to live is Christ and to die is gain.

On the morning of the accident, Amber read in Daily Light, "For this is God, our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to death.

Today, in Daily Light Anthony read, "As your days, so shall your strength be."

PRAISE THE LORD FOR HIS UNFAILING LOVE!

You know your child is homeschooled when. . .

she gets mad and calls someone a carnivore. For example: "Stop it, you carnivore!"

Sunday's Points to Ponder

We've been looking at 2 Thessalonians. It's been refreshing to read of a church who is an encouragement to Paul and not one he must rebuke. It's neat to see the work of God in the lives of the people. The merit is not upon people and their choice to follow God. Paul clearly shows in 1 Thess. 1:4 that they were "chosen. . . in power and in the Holy Spirit" so that they "became imitators. . . of the Lord." I love the reminder that we are helpless and it is God who works in us. My heart is so wicked that whenever I have the slightest thought of the Father, I thank Him.

I also like the admonishment of Paul in 1 Thess. 4:1. Here is relating his joy to the church because of their faithfulness in Christ in the midst of great trial and suffering. . . but does he stop there? No. He says. . .

". . . just as you are doing, that you do SO MORE AND MORE."

A Christian's pilgrimmage is NOT boring

Our Father is SOOOO worthy of our every thought and effort. . . May He give us the grace "in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction" that we are "brothers loved by God." With those thoughts we will be humbled and led to live as Thessalonians- a testimony to the work of God who encourages those in the household of faith, even to those who suffer greatly.

Hope-ism Again

"Dad, can we go to a consignment (convenient) store to buy some gum?"

Hope-ism

Hope asked me if she had ever had chicken pox. I replied, "No, you had the vaccine." She responded a bit excitedly, "Is that worse?!"

Hope-isms

They are so cute. I forget so many of them, but here are a couple that I just heard her say in the past few days-

"I like it when Dad gives me prep talks."

While watching Huckabee speak on the tv- "He's godful, isn't he?"

Sooooooo cute. . .

The Believer's Pocket Companion

"Infancy itself is not more helpless in natural things, than a believer is in spirituals."

We do not need the HELP of Christ to be righteous; he IS our righteousness.

"[The unbeliever] is insensible of of his own weakness and therefore proudly trusts in and vainly glories of his own strength."

And, on the flip side, if the unbeliever "fails" she finds herself in utter despair because of her inability instead of resting peacefully in the righteousness of Christ.

John 15:5
Jeremiah 9:24
Phil. 4:13

Fishing

Tonight in church, our elder spoke from John 21. He noted that a commentator made the following observation: In the accounts of the gospels, the disciples (professional fishermen) never caught any fish without the help of Christ. Interesting. . .

Basketball

It's a Wonderful Life

This was my "It's a Wonderful Life" moment. When Will lifted Hope up to the tree, it reminded me of the final scene in the movie. Also, you can't tell, but Faith is hanging a jingle bell onto the tree. You can't get more "It's a Wonderful Life" than that.

We went to my parents' home for Christmas. I don't know why I packed clothes for Faith- she never wears any. . . Anyway, we truly are blessed and God has given us "a wonderful life."

Cowgirl Cousins

Hope and her cousin, Catherine, at Christmas.