Happy Birthday, Morgan!!

UNBELIEVABLE that Morgan is already 6!! It seems like just yesterday that I was walking up and down the stairs of the girls' dorm over and over to try to get labor to progress. I so fondly remember Mark Worth serenading me with a guitar from the Dorm maintenance room as his beautiful wife, Drill Sergent Steph, forced me to keep going. And it still seems so recent that Morgan was bouncing in his jolly jumper.

But now he's six years old.

Aaaaaggggggghhhhhhhhhhh!

And he's NOT my oldest!!!

AAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

We had a great day with our family celebrating our special birthday boy. He had a special birthday hat, a #6 pancake, presents, a birthday dinner out and several phone calls. A party will follow next week.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PARTY GUY! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!

Happy Mommy Day to Me!

Get Your Own!

I'm celebrating my 9th Mother's Day this year, and they just get sweeter every year. I love Mother's Day because I have such a fantastic husband that I raise my children with. We are a great team, and enjoy our children together so much! We've had many great moments just today that cause us to catch each other's eye and laugh. And we also have so many moments that draw us straight to the Lord because we are so uncapable.

Our kids are so special....

Mackenzie is a strong protector. He is bold and smart, talented in so many ways and full of life. He will succeed at whatever he sets his mind to. I pray that the strength of his character will always exemplify the nature of God. And I pray that the Lord will pour into Him godly wisdom, and that Mackenzie will be filled with the knowledge of the Truth.

Morgan is zealous and passionate. He does everything at high speed and with 50 extra words. He plays hard and loves even harder. I pray that his passion for the Lord will ever burn and spread like wildfire. And I pray that his swift feet will remain always on the straight and narrow way, as he loves with Christ's love those whom the Lord brings his way.

Grace is a go-getter. She is determined in all things, loving, and capable of causing ANYONE to melt. I pray that her hospitable spirit will draw people to the foot of God's throne as she ministers with His compassion. And I pray that she will be passionate about remaining pure, and that she be an instrument of God's peace.

Lord, I am so unworthy of being your child, and so unworthy of caring for these little ones of yours. I thank you for the honor of being called "Mommy". I pray for your wisdom and grace in each moment of every day as I shepherd my little flock. Bind our family together in You, and set us apart for your purposes.

Happy Mommy Day to me!!

Bonded

What does it mean to be a bond-servant of Christ?

And...am I really one?

A servant exists solely for the benefit of another. A servant has no rights.

Is my existance solely focused on glorifying the Lord? Or do I worry more about pleasing men? I'd have to say that I very often stumble over myself as I realize I'm trying to please man more than I'm trying to glorify my Lord. Have mercy on me, Lord, a sinner...

Have I laid down my rights? Or do I view the world through the lens of what I think I deserve? I'd have to say, I'm often submitting my hurt feelings to the Lord, humbly asking the Lord to help me to die to myself and lay down my rights. Have mercy on me Lord, a sinner...

When I deserved death and the grave, He shed His blood on the cross to give me life. When I deserved complete abandonment, He endured the wounds of nails in His hands so those hands could welcome me in. When I deserved an eternity of punishment, He bore stripes on His back so that I can lean forever on His grace, and trust in His strength.

When I deserve nothing, He has called me to the privilege of being His bond-servant.

Have mercy on me, Lord, a sinner....help me to lay down my rights, lay down my opinion, lay down my reputation, lay down my future, lay down my independance, lay down my abilities, lay down my desires...lay down my life for your glory.

Bond me to You.