We are currently about 14 weeks into the pregnancy. We will go to the doctor in a couple of weeks, but we are about a month away from finding out if we are having a boy or a girl. I appreciate all the enouraging emails and cards we have recieved. My mom sent me this the other day and I thought I would share it. There are many things I’m looking forward to when the baby arrives, but this is not one of them.
In my FINAL semester of seminar I’m taking a Christian Missions class. Today’s quote comes from the textbook that we are studying. The quote is from Adoniram Judson, a pioneer missionary.
“The motto of every missionary, whether preacher, printer, or schoolmaster, ought to be ‘Devoted for Life.’”
Adoniram Judson, 1956
While in Burma Judson suffered the death of his first wife and child, the death of his second wife, imprisonment, and poor health, yet he remained devoted for life. It is always encouraging to read a quote, and know the individual lived the words they proclaimed.
Since it is President’s Day I thought we would look to Abraham Lincoln. Reading some of these quotes will make you desire that one of the party frontrunners held the same convictions.
“In regards to this great Book (the Bible),
I have but to say it is the best gift God has given to man. All the good the Saviour gave to the world was communicated through this Book. But for it we could not know right from wrong. All things most desirable for man’s welfare, here and hereafter, are found portrayed in it.” – Abraham Lincoln
But we have forgotten God. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us! –Abraham Lincoln
Have a blessed week.
Matt
If you do let me suggest you go here. It is a SEBTS chapel message by JD Greear. I know you all are pressed for time, but you will be challenged.
Matt
As part of my ministry experience over the last five years I have had the privledge to visit numerous hospital rooms after the birth of a new born baby. I have sat down and held newborns, amazed at the power of God, but recently my vantage point has changed. Over the past three months I have been apart of the birth process in a new way, not as a supportive pastor, but as an expecting father and supporting husband. This new perspective has allowed me to see a bigger picture of a life and has taught me one thing, my view of God was too small. I believe we all go through various moments in life in which we step back and realize that our view of God was too small. I also believe you could come to this realization daily and still not have accurate understanding of the greatness of God. He will always be greater than we can imagine and more powerful than we can understand.
Currently we are 12-13 weeks into our journey. Please pray for my wife, it has been a struggle for her. She often finds herself sick, but still teaches kindergarten each day and puts up with me each evening. We have been to the doctor twice, we have seen an ultrasound and heard the heartbeat. In only a couple of months the doctors will confirm my belief that we are having a boy. Now we are trying to learn all we can about the development of out child. At this point the development includes hardening bones, most of the organs are developed or well on there way, and the baby is now about three inches.
We are excited, although not as excited as the grandparents, about this blessing from the Lord and look forward to experiencing the miracle of life in a new way.
Just when I thought I was going to return to being somewhat regular, I went out of town last Monday. Last Monday I was carving up the slopes at Snowshoe Mountain. It was the second year that I went skiing with a group of friends from High School. We had a good time and luckily no one was seriously injured.
Today’s quote comes from the assigned reading in my Hermeneutics class. We have been reading a book entitled, “Living by the Book.” It has changed the way I approach my personal Bible Study time and worth a read. Reading this book has also made me want to read other books like it such as Eugene Peterson’s “Eat This Book.”
I plan to blog multiple times this week so I hope you will have the time to make a return trip.
“You are either in the Word and the Word is conforming you to the image of Jesus Christ, or you are in the world and the world is squeezing you into its mold.”
In what ways have you allowed the world to squeeze you into its mold in the past couple of days, weeks, or months? Can you see a direct relationship between that and your personal Bible Study, or lack there of?
