Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Our Budding Rose

Mrs. Beaver:
 
 
Following breakfast, 5-1/2 month old Evelyn Rose's aunties gathered in the nursery to collaborate on her clothing for the day. Then it was Evelyn's turn for a mini photo shoot.
 
 
She started a bit wary eyed...
 
 
...but then began to relax...
 

...and even smile.


 
Next we tried to get some tummy time pictures...


...but that head was just too heavy as morning nap time approached.


Thankfully, just then mommy came to the rescue!


And love called forth the best expression of all!


A Fine Day, Indeed!

Mrs. Beaver:
 
We're visiting Aaron and Anna before going to a wedding this weekend in another part of Ohio. I would have to say that any day that begins with getting to watch your grandchild play with her Duplos while still in her elephant footie pajamas is a fine day indeed!
 
 
 
Thank you, Lord!

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Eric and Lissie's Wedding: The Bride and Groom



These photos were taken by professional photographer Lauren La Plante before the wedding just after Eric got his first glimpse of Lissie.












Saturday, February 15, 2014

Attending the University of Home

Mrs. Beaver:


"Our homes are the universities where our children learn about the world and how to live. What kind of basic "courses" are we offering them? As Christians we want God to be the core of our curriculum. We want our children to be leaning to know God and relate to Him."

May our children hear us pray.

May they hear us thank God.

May they hear us praise God.

May they hear us revel in God's goodness, wisdom and sovereignty.

May they hear us take responsibility when we wrong someone.

May they hear us read the Bible to them.

May they see humility in us.

May they see brokenness when we sin.

May they see us grow in our likeness to Christ.

May they see us make church a priority.

May they see us die to self.

May they see us ever endeavoring to make our marriage beautiful.

May they see us forgive no matter how deep the wrong.

May they see us honor God.

May they see us lavishly love people.

May they see us trust God.

May they see us seek God. Today. Tomorrow. Always.

O, Lord, help us. The need for our home to be the university in which our children learn to love, trust, and know You is a calling beyond our ability. We are weak. We are selfish. We prefer our comfort and convenience to the necessity to die to self to model walking with You. Please grant grace sufficient to the life-long privilege. May we steward Your children well.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

The Bible: Rubber Meets the Road

Mrs. Beaver:

I just started reading Joe Thorn's Note to Self: The Discipline of Preaching to Yourself. Before even reaching the author's words, I've been challenged and convicted by the introduction.

What's your reaction to these strong assertions?
"Good intentions, New Year's resolutions, promises, plans, personal discipline, and rigorous regimens designed to control and direct human choices only go so far. They rarely, if ever, effect a lasting and fruitful change in the soul. It is only when our thoughts are challenged and conformed to the principles of God's Word and our hearts are energized to make choices consistent with God's revealed will that a human being is transformed...
"Merely affirming that the Bible is inspired accomplishes very little. Asserting its authority isn't much better. The inspiration and authority of the Scriptures are of value to us only so far as we change our beliefs to conform to its principles and alter our behavior to coincide with its imperatives. The Bible is meant to govern our lives, to fashion our choices, to challenge our cherished traditions, and ultimately to make us look more like Jesus.

"The question for each of us, then, is whether the Bible actually functions in this way. Do we submit to its dictates? Do we put our confidence in its promises? Do we stop living a certain way in response to its counsel? Do we embrace particular truths on its authority? Do we set aside traditional practices that conflict with its instruction?

"In other words, for the Bible to be of value to us it must actually function to shape how we think, feel, and act, as well as what we believe, value, and teach...

"Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God has invested the biblical text with the capacity to change human lives...

"Let [God's Word] be the anchor for your soul. Let it be the rock on which you stand. Let it be the compass to guide your choices and renew your heart through trials and tragic times. Let it govern your choices and renew your joy and ground your hope. Build your life on its moral principles. Embrace its ethical and moral norms. Believe what it says about the nature of God. Believe what it says about the nature of mankind...

"The word of God, whether it is preached and heard or read and memorized, is more than simply true. It is effectual. The Word of God does more than merely announce: it accomplishes! It doesn't just impart information; it creates life! someone once said, and rightly so, that God speaking is God acting. God's word is always carried along by God's Spirit and empowered to produce what it proclaims...

Therefore, let us, "Crave the Word of God. Be desperate for it! Seek it. Yearn for it. Long for it. Desire it. Tolerate nothing in your life that might diminish your hunger for God's Word. And apply it with vigor and spiritual energy!"
Sam Storms, Senior Pastor, Bridgeway Church, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma