Birth Announcement Cards

About a month ago, give or take, Tarah asked if I could whip up some birth announcement cards to send out to family, friends, etc. So we had a friend who is very good at photography take some photographs for us. I asked her if I could have the originals because Tarah and I were wanting to make some announcements. She graciously agreed and below are the results.

Grape Face

I got to see my wife and daughter today on webcam. I love doing that. Rebekah is becoming more and more amusing by the day. She is growing like a weed. I love it because her little belly is growing bigger than her body is, or so it seems. Her eyes have opened up very much and they are always looking around. I just love watching her. She is my daughter and I have a love for her that only I can give, a love that is unique from me. It is a love that will never go away. It is a love that I am only able to give because I have tasted and seen the love that flows from my savior.

Beautiful.

Love That Old Time Religion

...or at least those old time hymns. There are just those certain hymns that strike a chord. This is one of those for me.

How Deep The Father's Love For Us
How deep the Father's love for us
how vast beyond all measure
that he should give his only Son
to make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss,
the Father turns His face away
as wounds which mar the Chosen One
bring many sons to glory.

Behold the Man upon the cross
my sin upon His shoulders
ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know what it is finshed.

I will not boast in anything
no gifts, no power, no wisdom
but I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection.
What should I gain from His reward
I cannot give an answer
but this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom.

Check out what Isaiah had to say about it.

The Cupbearer

On my quest to lay out the Old Testament in chronological order I have found myself to be stuck on the book of Nehemiah. More specifically the chapters 1 and 8. There was just something in Nehemiah's heart that just grabbed my attention and has had me lingering for a bit. Nehemiah was the cupbearer for the king of the Persians. One of his brothers shows up with some grim information. "Hey Nehemiah, yeah, news not so good. Jerusalem. In ruins. People. Very troubled. Gates. Burned down."

Nehemiah throws his emotions right out there on his sleeve.
Broken. His people had rebelled.
Torn. Bad news was brought to his doorstep.
Distraught. Over his city being in ruins.
Confident. God is true to His promise.

To be honest I think I was blown away by the selflessness Nehemiah had for himself. I am speculating that it is not a hard job to the the cupbearer for a king. Nehemiah's sole life force that we see is his distraught over his city, people, and nation. Yet, the source of his distraught isn't over what people will think if he tells them he comes from a city that is lying in ruins. The source of his distraught is that God is not receiving the glory from His chosen people that He is totally worthy of. Israel was God's chosen people and they completely dropped the ball. This was the source of Nehemiah's weeping, fasting, and prayer.

Some points that jumped out at me from this chapter.
1. Does my heart weep over the Godlessness in my country?
2. Am I so broken that I mourn, weep, fast, and pray continually for this Godlessness?
3. Does this Godlessness move me to a constant state of intercession for the Christless?
4. What steps are being molded into my life to be a man of action and not just an apathetic "man I'm glad that's not me" spiritual benchwarmer?

God took a cupbearer and delivered on His promise. Incredible.

Nehemiah 1:3-7
3 And they said to me, "The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire."” 4 As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5 And I said, "“O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses."