31 Days: Day 30/31

S0...I will be hanging out with my family tomorrow evening for Harvest Night, thus bringing me to my last post of the month.  Obviously, I didn't have 31 posts....I did post 58% of the days (academically that is still an F---but mathematically it is at least the majority of the month).  So for now, I will lay down the "discipline" posts for a bit and either practice what I preach or stop being so hard on myself and my lack of discipline.  But speaking of Harvest Night---I came across this verse tonight:  No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.   Hebrews 12:11


I also came across this definition of discipline that I hadn't necessarily thought of from American Heritage Dictionary:  A state of order based on submission to rules and authority.  So I am most excited to share how I am disciplined or where I see discipline in my life: I have submitted to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and have a persevering obedience of faith in Him since age 11 and due to this disciplined lifestyle of faith I will win a crown of glory and live eternally!  I am running the race! And will await the best possible result/reward from any type of discipline.

Excerpt from Matthew Henry's Commentary on Hebrews 12: The persevering obedience of faith in Christ, was the race set before the Hebrews, wherein they must either win the crown of glory, or have everlasting misery for their portion; and it is set before us. By the sin that does so easily beset us, understand that sin to which we are most prone, or to which we are most exposed, from habit, age, or circumstances. This is a most important exhortation; for while a man's darling sin, be it what it will, remains unsubdued, it will hinder him from running the Christian race, as it takes from him every motive for running, and gives power to every discouragement. When weary and faint in their minds, let them recollect that the holy Jesus suffered, to save them from eternal misery. By stedfastly looking to Jesus, their thoughts would strengthen holy affections, and keep under their carnal desires. Let us then frequently consider him. What are our little trials to his agonies, or even to our deserts? What are they to the sufferings of many others? There is a proneness in believers to grow weary, and to faint under trials and afflictions; this is from the imperfection of grace and the remains of corruption. Christians should not faint under their trials..............But the Father of our souls never willingly grieves nor afflicts his children. It is always for our profit. Our whole life here is a state of childhood, and imperfect as to spiritual things; therefore we must submit to the discipline of such a state. When we come to a perfect state, we shall be fully reconciled to all God's chastisement of us now. God's correction is not condemnation; the chastening may be borne with patience, and greatly promote holiness.

Hebrews 12:7-9 (NLT)

⁷ As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? ⁸ If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. ⁹ Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

SO......I finish this series with these questions:  Have you submitted to Jesus Christ's authority in your life?  Are you in fact disciplined, orderly, and obedient in your faith and striving to share in His holiness?  Do you consider yourself His child and planning on living forever?  If not, I pray you will evaluate and become disciplined-----like me!  :)  And if you want/need to talk to someone call me---I would love to share with you my testimony of discipline.

Proverbs 1:7 

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Job 5:17 

"Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

Proverbs 10:17 

He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

Proverbs 12:1 

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid

2 Timothy 1:7 

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Hebrews 12:10

Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.

Thanks for listening.  

Love, 

Disciplined Daughter of God

"Adoption is the Visible Gospel" [John Piper]

So something has been brewing in my head and I've got to let it out in blogland.....

The other day while someone was informing me that they would donate to our adoption auction I typed one thing, backspaced, and then typed another. And for some reason it has been bugging me ever since....

I typed "Thank you for helping us with our cause." Then I deleted 'cause' and typed in its place "adoption journey". Both statements are true---either way they were helping us and either way I am grateful. But the thing is through some of our adoption classes, we were instructed to really think about how we viewed adoption, not as a "cause", not as "saving" someone, not as "helping the needy"---but simply as giving a home to someone who needs it. Again, true statement. But let me tell you something: It is a cause. It is THE cause. The Cause of Christ. 2 cor 5:20. We are called to be ambassadors to the world. Each one of us as believers have the responsibility to contend for the faith (Jude 1-4) and share the HOPE that we have. We are His hands & feet, we are to be His voice and answer His call. That is what we are doing--it is such a crucial cause.

THEN: Just today Chris comes home excited to play a new Mercy Me song. Besides making me cry, it only confirmed my need to write this and what I had been thinking these last few days ok-months)

Granted we are only adopting one child. Just one. Pretty positive (unless God hits us in the head with a brick) that this little girl will be our only adopted child. And at times, reading about others who are sure they are adopting multiple children, or siblings, etc. I think that we are not doing much. But just like the old starfish sermon illustration, it sure does matter to that ONE. And that one has the potential to be anything she wants. Luke 15 tells us how Christ cares about the ONE sheep that He goes out to search for it. She very well may go back to Ethiopia and lead others to Christ. She may be here in Missouri raising her own family and breaking cycles and leading her children to Christ. My other children will leave my nest (at some point) and some of them may go far away as well for the cause of Christ. Perhaps our successful adoption story will encourage others to adopt. I do not know---but God does and for this reason I am no longer going to feel guilty about just one. "Adopting one child won’t change the world; but for that child, the world will change." Because just one matters to God. There is a statistic (that unfortunately I cannot find at this time--but I will keep on searching)---that states that 92% percentage of children will take on the religion of their parents---whether that be Christianity, Muslim, Jewish, etc. That is quite an astounding statistic---basically adoption is evangelistic and Christians need to be adopting---yes, so they can have a forever home but more importantly so that they have an opportunity to have a forever home!

"Horizontal adoption is an earthly expression of a heavenly [&vertical] reality" ---Voddie Baucham. We have said this all along---it is the verse that is on our cool "bring Chloe home" bracelets---Ephesians 1:4-5. Adoption is the perfect picture of what God did for us (i.e. He adopted us!) We pray that our future daughter chooses some day to be doubly adopted and accepts her inheritance as God's princess! 4 God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. [Galations 4:4-7]

More reading: http://www.christianexaminer.com/Articles/Articles%20Jan05/Art_Jan05_08.html
An amazing podcast on adoption & proclaiming the gospel (you can download it here---it is about an hour long-but a.m.a.z.i.n.g: http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=113101250246

I'm No Marathon Runner......or Am I?

Being that this is a family blog....I gave Chris permission to post posts if he so desired...he finally did so. (I love him & am proud to be his wife by the way!!!)

A marathon runner? No, not me. Running 26.2 miles (in a row) seems quite daunting. Although I have a few friends who have done this numerous times and enjoy it immensely, I’m not sure I will ever be up for the challenge of a run like a marathon…or am I actually running in about 4 of them as we speak?
I have struggled with being at healthy weight for years.(Insert "Fatter Than I Want To Be" by Shack) About 15 years ago, I was at a weight I wish I was at now. It has taken me 15 years to get to the unhealthy point I am right now. I have made some strides toward getting healthier in the last few years but sometimes it seems as if I’m going two steps forward and one step back. It is progress none the less, but not as fast as I would wish. Why should I be discouraged when the solution doesn’t happen over night? It took me 15 years to get here so it might take me some time to turn it around. It isn’t a sprint, it is a marathon run. I’m in it for the long haul, the long run.
I have been married to my wife for almost 12 years. She is beautiful, amazing, and my best friend. We currently have 3 kids, true blue blessings from God. I love my family. But there are times when Amber and I just aren’t connecting, the kids are running us a little ragged, and family life seems a bit crazy. We also just recently jumped in head first into the world of international adoption. Something we have prayed about for literally years. We are excited but know there are many hurdles to clear before we have a beautiful baby girl from Ethiopia in our arms. (Insert the song “Jesus Loves the Little Children” here) Even with all the excitement, it sometimes seems overwhelming; the time, the money, the unknown. I have to remember, I’m in it for the long haul, the long run. It is not a sprint in time like a few bad days, weeks, months or even a few tough years. I want to glorify God in my marriage, be the best husband I can be, show Jesus to my kids and help bring them to a saving relationship with Him. My family life is a marathon run.
Being a part of ministry is a blessing. Being able to help people come to Jesus, care for people, and help lead them in worship is great! There are times when, believe it or not, discouragement sets in. Church attendance was down one week, offering seemed a bit low, no one showed up for the event we planned, and someone is calling to let me know my choice of songs wasn’t quite their cup of tea. The church is in it for the long haul, not the short sprint from week to week. I want to be a part of what God is doing in the life of those who are in my community. None of us is perfect; we are all growing and learning, and running a marathon in ministry.
The most important race I am in is a race to eternity. New life in Christ is a race. I have to set my life and my mind on the things that are eternal and stay focused. I can get tripped up with all kinds of worldly distractions, my own sin issues, feeling discouraged or tired, but I keep running. (Insert 33miles song, “Today” here) Paul said in Hebrews 12:1-3 “Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!” (The Message) I got a feeling that if I am running THIS race focused, and on target, the other races will come along nicely.
A marathon runner? Hmmm….maybe I am. Maybe we would all do well to remember that life is a journey not a destination (insert NewFire song, “Journey” here). Let’s start and keep running!
(Sorry for all the song references, my life sometimes seems best played out in a musical)