The Big Announcement
It's official! Tara's being induced on Sunday, so we'll have Halloween babies unless they take a long time and are born on Monday. Thanks for all the prayers, kind thoughts and warm wishes!
Almost Baby Time!
The Haps
Been pretty busy, as you can imagine!
We were able to move into our house when we wanted to, and the buying process went very smoothly. I wasn't sure I wanted our brand new church friends to help us move, since we didn't know them and they didn't know us very well at all. But it went fine, and I'm very grateful to them all. Tara says they saved us around $500!
There was a guy getting into his storage unit as we were moving out of ours, and he gave me an organ! It's pretty cool. I think the amp inside it must be bigger than my little amps, because plugging it into my amp doesn't make it sound any more impressive at all. It's got a pretty great sound on its own.
I did my civic duty last week in the comfort of my own home. It was nice...I didn't know anything about the candidates for Supreme Court Justice in Ohio, so Tara helped me do some research while I voted. Now I don't have to worry about getting to a voting booth on Election Day when I may very well be stuck in a hospital! Now if I could just get Tara to complete her ballot before she goes into labor...
We're looking at that happening any day now. Tara even thinks there's a possibility they may induce her tomorrow! We really don't know.
Thoughts
I've been really stressed lately, with all the craziness of the last few months. Stress is not a normal part of my personality, and I don't think it suits me well at all. I truly believe that Tara is the only woman who could fit the role of my wife and support me as well as she does. I'm so thankful for her!
We held Christmas stockings a while ago that had "Mommy" and "Neave" stitched into them (the other two haven't arrived yet). What a moment that was. It's feeling more real every day. This is happening!
Today's Scripture
Romans 4:1-8 (NKJV)
Key verse: (5) "But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness..."
Reflection
"Faith alone, apart from works." This phrase sums up the greatest part of Paul's teachings in the New Testament. As he told the Galatians (2:16), "a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ."
The way he words our key verse in Romans chapter 4, "to him who does not work...his faith is accounted for righteousness," seems to put him in conflict with James's teaching that "faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead" (James 2:17). But does it?
Did Paul think that we might as well rest from ministry since Jesus did all the work that was necessary on the cross? We can say an emphatic "no" for two good reasons: Both his example and his other letters said otherwise.
Paul told Titus (3:8), while speaking on this same subject, that "those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works." Why? "These things are good and profitable to men," he said. We can certainly see, in the Book of Acts and in most of Paul's letters, that he lived his life to glorify God and spread His message far and wide. While he didn't write much to encourage work by church members outside the church doors, he certainly taught by example.
In today's passage, Paul explains to new Jewish believers in Rome that what they had always thought about Abraham was not quite right. Jews and Muslims alike believe that God favored Abraham because he obeyed the Lord. Paul is saying that it was Abraham's belief, before he ever obeyed, that God accounted to him for righteousness. "For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God" (Romans 4:2). Abraham relied totally on God's promises, not on his own good works. We know this because "he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness" (Genesis 15:6).
It is clear throughout the Bible, however, that maintaining good works is "good and profitable to men". Just look at God's first covenant with His people, and their part of it, as spelled out by the Ten Commandments. After Christ's death and resurrection, Paul told the Ephesians (2:10) that we are "created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Good works is part of who we are as adopted sons and daughters. But they don't happen automatically; otherwise Jesus wouldn't have to say, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).
How natural it should be for me to obey my Christ! He walks beside me even when I forget He's there. He communes with my inner man and intercedes with His Father on my behalf. He died on a cross and asks only that I believe in Him and love my fellow man, whom He loves (1 John 3:23). Why should anyone have to tell me to do the work of God? I want to do whatever pleases Him! May I ever seek it out.
"If you love Me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15).
Prayer
Lord Jesus, no matter how stressful life gets, and no matter how many arrows Satan fires at me, may I always delight in obeying your commands. They are good, and few would argue with that. Keeping them is "good and profitable to men". May my good works be evidence of a faith that is always alive in me and always hoping for all that You've promised, and may I "always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks [me] for a reason for the hope that is in [me]" (1 Peter 3:15). In Jesus' name I pray.
Final Thoughts
Just a big thanks to everyone who has prayed and supported us in so many ways this year. I know you'll keep doing so long after our kids have arrived. I expect this will be my last post before I actually am a "New Dad". I couldn't be happier.
 |
| Not exactly the hilarious picture Tara was going for, but you get the idea. |
We were able to move into our house when we wanted to, and the buying process went very smoothly. I wasn't sure I wanted our brand new church friends to help us move, since we didn't know them and they didn't know us very well at all. But it went fine, and I'm very grateful to them all. Tara says they saved us around $500!
There was a guy getting into his storage unit as we were moving out of ours, and he gave me an organ! It's pretty cool. I think the amp inside it must be bigger than my little amps, because plugging it into my amp doesn't make it sound any more impressive at all. It's got a pretty great sound on its own.
I did my civic duty last week in the comfort of my own home. It was nice...I didn't know anything about the candidates for Supreme Court Justice in Ohio, so Tara helped me do some research while I voted. Now I don't have to worry about getting to a voting booth on Election Day when I may very well be stuck in a hospital! Now if I could just get Tara to complete her ballot before she goes into labor...
We're looking at that happening any day now. Tara even thinks there's a possibility they may induce her tomorrow! We really don't know.
Thoughts
I've been really stressed lately, with all the craziness of the last few months. Stress is not a normal part of my personality, and I don't think it suits me well at all. I truly believe that Tara is the only woman who could fit the role of my wife and support me as well as she does. I'm so thankful for her!
We held Christmas stockings a while ago that had "Mommy" and "Neave" stitched into them (the other two haven't arrived yet). What a moment that was. It's feeling more real every day. This is happening!
Today's Scripture
Romans 4:1-8 (NKJV)
Key verse: (5) "But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness..."
Reflection
"Faith alone, apart from works." This phrase sums up the greatest part of Paul's teachings in the New Testament. As he told the Galatians (2:16), "a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ."
The way he words our key verse in Romans chapter 4, "to him who does not work...his faith is accounted for righteousness," seems to put him in conflict with James's teaching that "faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead" (James 2:17). But does it?
Did Paul think that we might as well rest from ministry since Jesus did all the work that was necessary on the cross? We can say an emphatic "no" for two good reasons: Both his example and his other letters said otherwise.
Paul told Titus (3:8), while speaking on this same subject, that "those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works." Why? "These things are good and profitable to men," he said. We can certainly see, in the Book of Acts and in most of Paul's letters, that he lived his life to glorify God and spread His message far and wide. While he didn't write much to encourage work by church members outside the church doors, he certainly taught by example.
In today's passage, Paul explains to new Jewish believers in Rome that what they had always thought about Abraham was not quite right. Jews and Muslims alike believe that God favored Abraham because he obeyed the Lord. Paul is saying that it was Abraham's belief, before he ever obeyed, that God accounted to him for righteousness. "For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God" (Romans 4:2). Abraham relied totally on God's promises, not on his own good works. We know this because "he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness" (Genesis 15:6).
You've surely heard the tired but still important question, "Why should someone who's gone to prison for [insert terrible crime here] be saved and go to heaven just because he said a prayer?" Paul's teachings about faith alone, without works, are not easy for everyone. Particularly for those who have continued to refuse God's Way, it's hard to understand how Jesus' sacrifice on the cross paid for every person's sin, no matter how bad. But for those of us who believe, what an incredible thing it is to be forgiven, chosen, included and adopted because of our faith in the cross!
It is clear throughout the Bible, however, that maintaining good works is "good and profitable to men". Just look at God's first covenant with His people, and their part of it, as spelled out by the Ten Commandments. After Christ's death and resurrection, Paul told the Ephesians (2:10) that we are "created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Good works is part of who we are as adopted sons and daughters. But they don't happen automatically; otherwise Jesus wouldn't have to say, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).
How natural it should be for me to obey my Christ! He walks beside me even when I forget He's there. He communes with my inner man and intercedes with His Father on my behalf. He died on a cross and asks only that I believe in Him and love my fellow man, whom He loves (1 John 3:23). Why should anyone have to tell me to do the work of God? I want to do whatever pleases Him! May I ever seek it out.
"If you love Me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15).
Prayer
Lord Jesus, no matter how stressful life gets, and no matter how many arrows Satan fires at me, may I always delight in obeying your commands. They are good, and few would argue with that. Keeping them is "good and profitable to men". May my good works be evidence of a faith that is always alive in me and always hoping for all that You've promised, and may I "always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks [me] for a reason for the hope that is in [me]" (1 Peter 3:15). In Jesus' name I pray.
Final Thoughts
Just a big thanks to everyone who has prayed and supported us in so many ways this year. I know you'll keep doing so long after our kids have arrived. I expect this will be my last post before I actually am a "New Dad". I couldn't be happier.
Still Here!
I haven't given up on this blog at all! But we haven't found our wireless modem yet, since the move, and my posts on this blog take a lot of time. I can't take time out of my office work to write those long posts, and at home I just don't have time.
We're still unpacking boxes and waiting for kiddos to arrive. We love our house and our new town, and we're making friends!
And I got an organ!
Hopefully I'll get around to writing a real post one of these days!
We're still unpacking boxes and waiting for kiddos to arrive. We love our house and our new town, and we're making friends!
And I got an organ!
Hopefully I'll get around to writing a real post one of these days!
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