Monday, April 29, 2013

The Branson Road / Ruth

It's awesome the things that God can teach you in the strangest places. at this moment, I'm in the back row of a mini van. Who knew this would be the quietest spot?! John is asleep in his carseat & Jax is watching Winnie the Pooh on the DVD player. We are on our way home from a quick getaway to Branson.

I'm currently studying Ruth & I am going through Kelly Minter's study: Loss, Love, & Legacy. (Can I just take a sec to recommend any study Kelly Minter does? Greatness. Ok. Good. :))

I have to steal a story from my Husband's childhood. It's one of those where I feel like I was there because I've heard it told countless times by both parties. When Dustie was little, he had a slumber party & all of his little friends came over. Dustie's best friend (named Dusty...yes lol) is a year younger, so my D thought he was so big & cool & was being mean to Dusty. He told him that the only reason he invited him to his party was because his Daddy MADE him! Oh the scandal! That was seriously the last sleepover Dustie had. And poor Dusty! An invitation to anything (or lack thereof) can mean so much.

Today, I'm in Ruth chapter 3 & reading about when Boaz invites Ruth to dinner. Kelly (we're on a 1st-name basis...she just doesn't know!) compares this story here to the one in 2 Sam. 9:1-12 where David inquires abt, invites, & then takes in Mephibosheth.

She says how we probably all long to be invited "to the table," because it represents belonging, acceptance, & the honor of being chosen. It's a picture of intimacy, conversation, nourishment, & safety.
I must take a second to say how thankful I am for all of those who have invited my family to their table. In the ministry, we are so fortunate to get many invites like this. It is always such an honor to us because the host is blessing us with their time, their earnings by feeding my brood, & most of all, they are welcoming us in to do life with them. It's one of the things we absolutely love about ministry. We are especially spoiled, because for some people, we have a standing invitation, & then for others, they just put up with us when we keep showing up. :)

Kelly reminds us that part of what's so great about Ruth & Mephibosheth being invited to eat with nobility is that they weren't considered worthy. "They had no entrance on their own, no right to the meal, no privilege to the table. This gift could only be extended by someone who not only had a heart of extraordinary kindness but also had the authority to so so."

There is a meal that we aren't worthy to be present at, yet we have been invited, & we are to prepare for this meal now.

Revelation 19:6-10 talks about this feast: the marriage supper of the Lamb. In verse 8 it says that, "Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Here's the part to get crazy excited over...) "The linen has been given to us to wear! It is not up to us to clothe ourselves in our own self-righteousness any more than it was up to Mephibosheth to mend his feet or Ruth to redeem her heritage. Jesus Christ is our righteousness. The good news of the gospel is that Jesus has extended an invitation to EVERY ONE OF US."

I am SO thankful for the Grace of God &, although I'm so unworthy, I GET AN INVITATION!!

Friday, April 26, 2013

John's Baby Dedication

Last Sunday was our Baby Dedication at church. Just like most things in life, it did not quite go as planned.
Jax was sick all Saturday (like 103 fever sick). So, my family came for the Baby Dedication Sun. morning & left right after to take Jax home.
Typically, we would go out to lunch with all our family after, but we have a new Sunday schedule where we have SS after church, so our family went out to celebrate without us :)
After church, we DID get to go eat with Blake & Lori (which is totally appropriate b/c they're basically family).

Here's a link to the great sermon Dustie preached. It plays in Windows Media Player, so I can't link the single sermon. Here's the page where D's secretary posts them: http://fbcvivian.org/index_files/Page1090.htm It's named "Hitting Close to Home." (We're working on a website/podcast system for D's sermons...anything more accessible!)







Wednesday, April 24, 2013

My Baby Bunnies/Easter 4

Yes, I do have 4 Easter posts! :)

I couldn't resist posting these two pics. Jax & John are both June babies, so I love comparing their pics at the same age.

They are both 9 months old in these & are doing similar things with the EB.

Funny huh?! (Btw-the EB at that venue is looking MUCH better these days. The makeover was successful.)

 
 

Visiting the Bunny/Easter 3

I just have to get the funny Bunny pics posted.

We went to 2 EBs because the first encounter was not so great.

 

EB2 was awesome. While waiting, Jax asked why the EB had square feet. The EB heard him & just shrugged! Haha...what a great personality! Jax remained quite concerned for the Bunny's square feet. The last picture caught Jax staring at them! Haha!
 





 

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Easter 2

Christ Has Risen
Matt Maher

Let no one caught in sin remain
Inside the lie of inward shame
We fix our eyes upon the cross
And run to Him who showed great love

And bled for us
Freely You've bled for us

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave...

Beneath the weight of all our sin
You bowed to none but heaven's will
No scheme of hell, no scoffer's crown
No burden great can hold You down

In strength You reign
Forever let Your church proclaim

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave...

O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
The glory of God has defeated the night

Sing it, o death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
Our God is not dead, He's alive, He's alive

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave...
________

This was my favorite Easter song this year. I'm so thankful that Christ died for me WHILE I was a sinner. He showed the ultimate love while I was ultimately least deserving.











Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Easter 1

These next couple of posts are some catch-up from Easter. We've had a lot of fun things going on & another few fun things coming up, so I gotta get Easter pics up. I want everything to stay in order!

If you haven't noticed, we love to celebrate. I was raised in a family who celebrates anything & everything! (Just ask D. :)) We're always looking for an excuse!

One of my friends accompanied an Easter Basket picture on Instagram with the hashtags: #worshipGod & #eatcandywhiledoingit
Couldn't love it more!! Just had to share.

Here is a picture dump of friend/nursery worker/Sunday School teacher gifts, as well as the boys' basket fun.