Forgiveness gives us God

"It is impossible to risk your life to make others glad in God if you are an unforgiving person.  If you are wired to see other people's faults and failures and offenses...you will not take risks for their joy.  This wiring--and it is universal in all human beings--must be dismantled.  We will not gladly risk to make people glad in God if we hate them, or hold grudges against them, or are repelled by their faults...We must become forgiving people....

It is true to say: The motive for being a forgiving person is that we have been forgiven by God when we did not deserve it...But the bottom of this motive is not God's forgiveness, but what God's forgiveness gives.  It gives us God...

A free and clean conscience enables us to see more of God and frees us to enjoy Him.  Escape from hell at the cost of Christ's blood shows us more of God's commitment to merciful holiness and His desire for our happiness.  The gift of seeing loved ones [in heaven] highlights God's wonder in creating relationships of love.  Getting a new body deepens our identification with the glorified Christ.  But if God Himself is not there in these gifts--and I fear He is not for many professing Christians--then we do not know what forgiveness is for.

Forgiveness is essentially God's way of removing the great obstacle to our fellowship with Him.  By canceling our sin and paying for it with the death of His own Son, God opens the way for us to see Him and know Him and enjoy Him forever.  Seeing and savoring Him is the goal of forgiveness.  Soul-satisfying fellowship with our Father is the aim of the cross.  If we love being forgiven for other reasons alone, we are not forgiven, and we will waste our lives...

God's forgiveness is important for one reason: it gives us God!"

~John Piper in Don't Waste your Life

Miracles still happen

It was 2 years ago today that my parents came home from the doctor, finally with solid news.  The past month had been long, trying to discover what was (medically) wrong with my dad, and now he was diagnosed.  Dad and Mom came home with faces that said there was news...and it wasn't good.  We were all gathered into the living room to hear what the doctor had said, fearing what we thought to be the worst.

On July 22, 2013 my dad and mom together shared with Tirzah and me that Dad had a disease with no cure apart from God.  Not only that; the doctors were saying even 3 more months of life would be impressive.  As we prayed around as a family, in shock over the finality, tears came and would not stop.  I could not pray aloud.  Dad, also beginning to cry, called me over to him.  I crawled up next to him on the recliner, usually set apart for him only,  and laid next to him, his arms around me, and we both cried.

From that date forward, knowing that healing was now medically impossible, I began praying constantly for healing. How fearful I was as I counted down the 3 months, and then realized that he had lived a miracle just to pass the doctor's predictions.  Now it is 2 years later.  Despite the desperate, numerous prayers, God did not choose healing.  Dad has only been gone from us for a little more than 2 months.  I am so thankful for those extra months and years that God added to Dad's life.  So I remember today to say, "Yes, God does miracles."  Maybe not how we expect or how we ultimately want, but He knows what we need.  The past 2 years have been a daily miracle.  Even now God works miracles of the Spirit in my life.  I must not let myself stop believing that He knows best and still works miracles today just because He did not choose my ideal.  

"Dear God, Give me peace!  You know that it would be our desire that he could get well...It seems like there's still so much left for him to do!  Now, Lord, that is the earthly perspective.  What is Your will?  Lord, I know it is not beyond You to heal him, but maybe that's not Your will.  Your will be done!  Give us all peace in Your plan!  Replace our fear with joy and confidence...."

(Part of a prayer written at the time of finding out that Dad's doctors were predicting 3 months.)

Beach, friends, family, and babies

Praise our God, all ye His servants,

Ye that fear Him, small and great;

With a sacrifice of worship

In His glorious presence wait.

(how important to learn to often sacrifice "our" time to give Him worship.  He deserves so much more!) 

Praise our God, all ye His servants,

For His condescending grace,

For His love that brought salvation

To a sinful, fallen race.

Praise our God, all ye His servants,

Him whom angel hosts acclaim;

Let us join the seraph chorus

And His worth to all proclaim.

How much we have to praise God for, and how often we forget or neglect doing so.  He has (and is) put so much "investment" into us; how is it that we find it hard to even give back the smallest bit?  I have so much to learn about giving God my all in every day, not for me to be acknowledged in my life, but Him.

Yesterday we were very glad for a chance to go out to the beach together with Ema Burt (as well as Keren and kids) for a bit.  Tirzah and I are pushing to get in as much time with Ema as possible before she leaves in just over 2 weeks.  =(  

Following our time at the beach where we got wetter than we expected and had a great time, we got to have dinner with the brothers and their families.  I can't really honestly apologize for all the pictures of the kids (specifically a few of the nephews).  Between passing around babies and getting lots of pictures of them, the used-to-be-youngest of Matt's family still needed some attention.  Well, I enjoyed taking his picture as much as he wanted it taken.

"Sand between my toes and the sunshine on my nose..."

"Seeing that that wave was over our shoulders,
I guess we should stop worrying about getting too wet."

Our supposed friendship names.  Thankfully we don't use them too often.

Laughing: what we do best together.

Levi!

Titus, and most recent big brother.

"We're both big brothers now??"

"Yes, and I will always make sure Levi over there is safe,
even while my picture is being taken."

"Sometimes he embarrasses me."

It's not all fun and games.
Sometimes Titus has to take a break and think of his next plan of attack
for someone who might be fighting over holding  Levi.

Levi and Gideon.

Ema and Gideon became best friends.

*I am glad I don't really have ears like that*

"Ema, let's be friends forever."

Friends and birthdays

"Friends are hard to find, harder to leave, and impossible to forget."

This week was Johannah's birthday, so we spent the first 2 days of the week celebrating her!  It was super fun, involving lots of laughing and new memories together.  I'm really glad Ema, Johannah, Tirzah, and I got to spend time together all over the place this week.

This was our first time getting to celebrate with Johannah on her birthday, so we had to make it extra special by first surprising her in town, then surprising her with some "plans" and getting ice cream at "Hoodsport Coffee Company," and, lastly, making a quick stop by the water.  It was a really fun, memorable afternoon together.

The following day, we hosted a big party for a birthday dinner.  After playing Taboo and 4 on the couch, everyone left except for Johannah and Ema.  Then the 4 of us pulled out Guesstures for some good laughs before heading to bed.

So basically, I'm really grateful for these 2 friends God has brought into my life in the past couple years.  They are really wonderful and a real joy to my life.  If only they could be around more often!  I'm going to miss you two a lot when summer's over!!  =(

"Best sign of the day" award.  But this gang of girls doesn't need coffee to do stupid things fast.

Ema and Johannah

Our friendship.  That's all.

"We better get one nice one."

Real friends share ice cream.

If we aren't going to get wet, then the camera will.  (Ema and me)

This froggy looking rock reminded us of a short video/song we had all just seen that afternoon, which was really cute.  I haven't been able to find the video and song together, but here's the song.

These lantern things were putting on a little light show.

"I'm a tree, guys!!"

Wonder why Ema looks so happy?  She was a pro at Guesstures!

"If you take my picture again..."

"Oh, yeah.  I can't resist being my cute self."

Fun side note on an ice cream package.
I love it when companies do something creative like this.
And, yes, life is bold (and boring) without ice cream.

"The rose of the valley may wither,

The pleasures of youth pass away,

But friendship will blossom forever

While all other flowers decay."