Happy Birthday Calvin!

We are so thankful for this sweet, precious, loving boy. He has such a sweet smile and still cuddles with me! He had a fever the day before his birthday so he felt pretty lousy on Saturday, although he like having some new toys. When each child was born, we chose a life verse for them as our prayer for them. Calvin's life verse is: 1 Corinthians 1:30-31 - "He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Therefore, as it is written,  'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.' "

Calvin loves playing with his trains ... so Mommy made a Thomas cake! I've had practice with this one since Coleman had one when he turned 5.

Opening presents with Coleman and PawPaw.

He got a little indoor trampoline. Nice for a little boy who loves to jump!

Cake time - although he didn't feel like eating it!

Opening all those gifts took all the energy he had! Poor fella!

Happy Birthday Calvin - we all love you!

Worn Out

Often I find myself just plain ole worn out. We're busy with a newborn, a 3 year old (as of tomorrow), and 4 year old and a 6 year old - we're homeschooling - we're church-planting (which requires a great deal of service from my husband). Please know (at least at this moment) I am not complaining about all of the 'opportunities' for service in my life. But that hasn't been the case all along.

I have realized in the past few weeks that my heart and my attitude have not always been pleasing to God in this area.

Read what John Piper shared at the 1990 Bethlehem Baptist Conference for Pastors about the life of David Brainerd:

I think the reason Brainerd's life has such powerful effects on people is that in spite of all his struggles he never gave up his faith or his ministry. He was consumed with a passion to finish his race and honor his Master and spread the kingdom and advance in personal holiness. It was this unswerving allegiance to the cause of Christ that makes the bleakness of his life glow with glory so that we can understand Henry Martyn when he wrote, as a student in Cambridge in 1802, "I long to be like him (p. 4)!"

Brainerd called his passion for more holiness and more usefulness a kind of "pleasing pain." "When I really enjoy God, I feel my desires of him the more insatiable, and my thirstings after holiness the more unquenchable; ... Oh, for holiness! Oh, for more of God in my soul! Oh, this pleasing pain! It makes my soul press after God ... Oh, that I might not loiter on my heavenly journey (p. 186)!"

He was gripped with by the apostolic admonition: "Redeem the time for the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:16) He embodied the counsel: "Let us not grow weary in well doing, for in due time we shall reap if we do not faint." (Gal. 6:9) He strove to be, as Paul says, "abounding in the work of the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58)." April 17, 1747.

"O I longed to fill the remaining moments all for God! Though my body was so feeble, and wearied with preaching and much private conversation, yet I wanted to sit up all night to do something for God. To God the giver of these refreshments, be glory forever and ever; Amen." (p. 246) February 21, 1746.

"My soul was refreshed and comforted, and I could not but bless God, who had enabled me in some good measure to be faithful in the day past. Oh, how sweet it is to be spent and worn out for God!" (p. 366)

My prayer right now is that these words would be the cry of my heart as well: "Oh, how sweet it is to be spent and worn out for God!"

Total Depravity According to John Piper

Praying for Our Children

I read this post today from Metro Moms about praying for my children. I was convicted about the amount of time I spend (or don't spend) praying for my children. Often times it is so easy to let little, unimportant things crowd out the really important things in my life. I love my children and want them to grow up to truly love the Lord. My prayer is for them to desire to live a God-glorifying life. One of the most important things I can do for them, with this goal in mind, is to pray!

4th pics

Dad took our 2 oldest to see some fireworks on the 4th!

"They are loud Daddy!"