Happy Birthday Mom!

So today's my mom's birthday so I thought I'd tell you about her. 

Aside from the grace to know salvation, one of the biggest blessings I've ever experienced is the presence of my mother in this life. There are so many different things to consider when I begin to think about the ways my mom has made a difference in my life. Here are a few things off the top of my head:

• She decided that she would not abort me. So many people take this for granted. I am so thankful she valued my life even though she could have written me off as simply 'a fetus' or whatever term people like to use today to rationalize their irresponsible decisions, but she didn't and for that I am very grateful.
• She took her pregnancy seriously and did her best to manage her body and her diet responsibly in order to give me the best conditions for being a healthy baby.
• She took care of me and made sure all of my needs were met as a helpless baby. She endured sleepless nights and dealt with all my crap (literally... haha!)
• She kept her cool with me as an annoying little toddler. I can only imagine how much I drove her cray at grocery stores and the like. I would definitely be 'that kid'. You know the one I'm talking about... the one everybody in the store hates. "Where's his mother?" they all wonder.  My mom was always right there much to everyone's delight.
• She taught me how to get along with others. She taught me manners and how to interact with others socially.  This is kind of a necessity, considering how there are other people in the world than myself...
• She taught me to care for others. She would teach me about this with words from time to time, but I think I learned this more from observing the way she loved people and served them.
• She put up with me through all of the times I decided I break her rules and when I smarted off to her. This is huge. When I think back on my old self, I recall how stubborn and sarcastic. In a lot of ways, I am still like that but I don't think I am to the extent I used to be. I don't know how she dealt with me. I would've beat me with a stick and locked me away from society. Such patience and grace.
• She cooked for me...and still does! She is an INCREDIBLE cook! I absolutely love her food. She can make some of the best (insert food here) that you've ever had. She always gets mad when I can't decide on what I want her to cook when I come home from school. It's never because I'm indifferent, it's because I can't decide because it's all good. I know that my children one day are going to know her as 'the grandma who can cook'.
• Did I mention she cooks for me?
• She washed / washes my clothes. I hate doing this. If you know me, you know that I absolutely hate doing this. Don't really know why...I just do. Therefore, I appreciate this very much.
• She has always encouraged me to do whatever I want to do. If I wanted to play baseball, I could play baseball. If I wanted to do art, I could do art. If I wanted to take guitar lessons, I could take guitar lessons. A lot of parents try to mold their kids into who they want them to be, but my mom always let me be myself.
• She has always supported me in whatever I have done.  She loves me no matter what I do. If I succeed she congratulates me and tells me she is proud. If I fail, she comforts me and encourages me. I never have to worry about taking on a challenge without support.
• She believes in me. One of the reasons I have healthy self-confidence is because I know she believes in me. I appreciate that she really believes I can change the world if I want to.
• She loves my dad. In today's society that is a feat. She is committed to him and she actively shows her love for him through affection and service. I pray that my wife will be like her in this. My dad's very blessed to have her.
• Above all else, she loves Jesus. She has always exemplified this. She raised me in church. She always talked about how much Jesus loved me. She showed me His love by serving me and loving me unconditionally. If you think about it, pretty much everything I've listed up to this point testifies to this last and most important point. I am so thankful that she was there when I accepted Christ as my Savior. Long story short, late one night the Spirit moved in me and I went and talked stuff out with Mom and Dad. That night I was born again. Mom's been with me for both of my births. So thankful for that.

All that to say I have the best mother ever. I am truly blessed. I love her with all my heart and I pray that I may one day resemble a son almost worthy of her excellence.

Proverbs 31:10-31

10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. 11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. 12She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. 13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. 14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. 15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. 16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. 17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. 18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. 19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. 20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. 22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. 24She maketh fine linen, and selleth it ; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 25Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. 26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. 27She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also , and he praiseth her. 29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. 30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

MLK Weekend Photo Recap

These pictures should pretty much sum up how I spent my MLK weekend. It was full of good times with good people. I am so blessed to live the life I do.

History Is Happening

Wow. Regardless of political affiliation, today is a huge day for America. Today will forever be a milestone in the ongoing push for racial equality. No, racism is not over. Yes, we are making progress. Let's take in the moment and celebrate a victory for America, not a political party. Also, let's pray for our president. I hope you take in the inauguration today and realize the gravity of it. 

Also, here is a letter to Mr. Obama that I read earlier today. I thought it was great. Check it out.

Grace and peace.

New Year's Prayer

Here's a Puritan prayer that I read on Tim Challies' blog earlier this evening concerning the New Year. It was moving to me. I pray you will benefit from it, as well.

O Love beyond Compare,
Thou art good when thou givest,
when thou takest away,
when the sun shines upon me,
when night gathers over me.
Thou hast loved me before the foundation of the world,
and in love didst redeem my soul;
Thou dost love me still,
in spite of my hard heart, ingratitude, distrust.
Thy goodness has been with me another year,
leading me through a twisting wilderness,
in retreat helping me to advance,
when beaten back making sure headway.
Thy goodness will be with me in the year ahead;
I hoist sail and draw up anchor,
With thee as the blessed pilot of my future as of my past.
I bless thee that thou hast veiled my eyes to the waters ahead.
If thou hast appointed storms of tribulation,
thou wilt be with me in them;
If I have to pass through tempests of persecution and temptation,
I shall not drown;
If I am to die,
I shall see thy face the sooner;
If a painful end is to be my lot,
grant me grace that my faith fail not;
If I am to be cast aside from the service I love,
I can make no stipulation;
Only glorify thyself in me whether in comfort or trial,
as a chosen vessel meet always for thy use.

Christmas Thoughts

Here's some stuff that I've been pondering over the course of the Christmas season:

• The shepherds are the first to hear about the Savior's birth. For some reason, God chooses the shepherds (ranked low in societal status) to reveal Himself to and then uses them to spread the Good News. God has always had a heart for the humble and He uses them in mighty ways.
• Something I've never thought about...this was breaking news for everyone in the world at the time of His birth. For countless years people have been waiting on this King they've heard prophecies about and He was finally there! Oh, what a feeling it must have been. On Christmas Eve, no one knew it was Christmas Eve! It was just a another seemingly ordinary night. It's cool to think about what they must have felt like to hear this news. We need to tap into the joy that they had when they realized the gravity of Jesus' birth.
• It's so easy to get so caught up in stuff around Christmas. There's so much to do...most of which is unnecessary and self-imposed. It's so easy to get caught up in self and to forget about our calling to love others as Christ has loved us. It's easy to worship stuff - not necessarily physically bowing down to an ipod, a hunting rifle, or new clothes, but figuratively spending more time, resources, thoughts, and energy on them instead of God-honoring things.
• I read a quote the other day that struck me. It was about us feeling good about how much we give. The quote was, "God not only looks at how much we give, but how much we keep." I thought it was pretty simple, yet profound. Changed my perspective on giving.
• The sense of tradition can callous one to some really beautiful things. For instance, many of the traditional Christmas songs are incredible. I've never really focused on what some of them say. I sang them often, yet my singing was merely a mindless repetition of a tradition and not a song of praise to my Savior. Some of my personal favorites are "Silent Night","O Come, O Come Emmanuel", and "Joy To The World.

I've been thinking about more, and I'll address them in later posts probably. This is just some big stuff I've been thinking about. I pray that you all are having a merry Christmas. May you take a moment and in solitude contemplate what the Savior's birth actually means for the world and especially to you as a Believer. I am so thankful to be finding myself wanting to grasp the gravity of Christmas and what the coming of Jesus means. I pray it will be the same for you.
Grace and Peace. λύτρον

My Philippians 4:8 Girl

I miss this girl. I can't even guess how many of my thoughts go to this girl. She's an amazing and beautiful woman of God. She is the most giving person I have ever met. She will do everything in her power to help anyone she can. She truly pours her life out as an offering to her Lord. I am so thankful for her and the relationship that we have. I'm not quite sure why she's still with me, but I'm not complaining. :-) Anyway, I really appreciate her for all that she does for me and the ways that she blesses me. In the way she lives, she models many things I need more of in my life. She is quick to show compassion for and have mercy on those I am quick to dismiss. She is quick to bless when I am quick to curse. She is quick to compliment and see the good when I am quick to condemn and see the bad. She just gives grace in everything she does and I really admire her for that. I pray I can continue to grow into the man I am called to be. I really want to bless her. A piece of advice for guys: Get yourself a Godly girl. They're amazing, worth every second of waiting, and they truly are a gift from God. I promise.
Grace and Peace. λύτρον

How I Long To See Nature Redeemed!

Having spent last night at one of the most naturally beautiful places I have ever been, I am finding it hard to comprehend what the future holds for creation. Scripture says that the true beauty of all creation was tainted and distorted in the fall. This is a hard thing for me to grasp because I find nature so incredibly beautiful as it is - in it's fallen state. If I think that nature is this beautiful and incredible in it's fallen state, I can't begin to fathom how awestruck and delighted I will be when I first glimpse at the indescribable beauty of the New Earth and all of nature in it's redeemed state. It is one of my heart's greatest longings and I look forward to the day I will take in it's beauty and turn to it's Creator in praise and adoration.
Grace and Peace. λύτρον