A Day at the Beach

Bryan and Melissa came last weekend for a visit. We had so much fun with them. We had a picnic on the beach for the first time. Isaac seamed to love it! We are really enjoying being in Mount Pleasant, 10 min. away from Isle of Palms! Here are some pictures:

chubby baby!

He was just talking away at the wind and the sun

Isaac at 6 months

Here is a video of Isaac! Isaac has been doing so well. He has started to make more and more noises. He is so much fun to watch!

Taste and See By John Piper

How can Eternal Life Be A Free Gift and Yet "According to Works"?
meditation on Romans 2:6-8
God will render to every man according to his works: to those who by patience in
well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are factious and so not obey truth, but obey wickedness, there will be wrath and fury.

One of the questions raised about death is whether Christians face a divine judgment and, if so, why and what kind. It is a good question because, on the one hand, we believe that our acceptance with God is based on free grace purchased by the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ and that this acceptance is attained through faith and not through meritorious works. But, on the other hand, the New Testament frequently teaches that believers will be judged by God along with all men and that both our eternal life and our varied rewards will be "according to works."
For example, Romans 2:6-8 says,"God will render to every man according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immorality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are factious and do not obey the truth, but obey wickedness, there will be wrath and fury." (RSV)
This passage teaches that eternal life will be "according to works." To those who seek glory by patience in well-doing, God will render eternal life. The same thing is taught clearly to believers in Galatians 6:8-9, "The one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap [eternal life] if we do not grow weary."
So in both Romans 2 and Galatians 6, eternal life is rendered in accord with patience in well- doing.
But this does not mean that it will be earned by works instead of obtained by faith. In Romans 6:23 Paul says, "The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Eternal life is not earned. It is free. "By grace you were saved through faith, and this is not your own doing, it is the free gift of God, not of works lest any many should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9. Faith receives eternal life freely as a gift. There is no way it can be earned as a wage through works.
But eternal life is rendered according to our works. This is made plain not only in Romans 2:6-8 and Gal. 6:8-9, but also in Cor. 6:9-11; Gal 5:6, 21; Eph 5:5; James 2:14-26; Hebrews 12:14; Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 10:25-28; and many other places that teach the necessity of obedience (which is the fruit of faith) in the inheritance of eternal life.
So we must learn to make the biblical distinction between earning eternal life on the basis of works (which the Bible does not teach!) and receiving eternal life according to works (which the Bible does teach!) Believers in Christ will stand before the judgment seat of God and will be accepted into eternal life on the basis of the shed blood of Jesus covering our sin (Eph 1:7) and the righteousness of God reckoned to our account through faith (Romans 3:2;4:5, Philippians 3:9). But our free acceptance by grace through faith will be according to works.
"According to works" means that God will take the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and the "good deeds" by which the light of our faith shines (Matthew 5:16) , and he will accept them as corroborating evidence of our faith.
He sentence of acquittal will not be because we are not guilty. It will be because Christ bore our gilt. The place of our works at the judgment is to serve as corroborating public evidence that we did indeed put our trust in Christ. "We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren." (1John 3:14), "By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments" (1 John 2:3). Therefore when we are acquitted and welcomed into the kingdom, it will not be earned by works but it will be according to works. There will be
an "accord" or an agreement between our salvation and our works. (See A Godward Life, Book One, reading #90.)
If these things are so, two practical effects emerge. One is a sense of peace with God that Christ has died for us and lives again to intercede for us with an all-sufficient sacrifice and a perfect obedience. "We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). This is precious beyond words in the times of assailing doubt. The other effect is a sense of urgency and seriousness about the demand that we be real and not phony in our faith. If a changed life of love (the sum of good works) is the evidence of our faith, then oh, how vigilant and earnest and passionate we should be about the things of God and the fight of faith. Lord, let us deed 1 Timothy 6:12, "Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called."

February

little munchkin

Isaac is getting so big! He is 4 months now

I love his little tiny baby hands. Looking at them makes me so amazed at God and how He forms us so wonderfully.



Isacc has started just staring at things, not taking his eyes away! Here is a video of Isaac cooing!

Isaac has learned how to smile! He is such a funny little guy! I am having so much fun with him:)

Today is Isaac's due date

Praise God for a healthy baby! I am so thankful to God that He gave Isaac to us and that Isaac is perfectly healthy and doing so well. He is now 8lbs!


Even though Isaac came early in such an unexpected and scary way, I am now realizing, it was actually perfect. It was perfect in that it taught me more of my dependence on God, it greatly humbled me because I was so physically tired and weak (having a C-section and traveling back and forth 2 times everyday to the hospital), and it made me long for God's Word. I am longing in a deeper way for God's set apart and precious Word because I was so tired that I starved myself of reading it. Now I realize even more how much I need it, more than I need food and water and sleep. I now am praising God because he had a greater purpose in mind, which was to strengthen my faith.

Psalm 79:13
"Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever, from generation to generation we will recount your praise."

Treasuring God in Our Traditions

I am reading Noel Piper's book, "Treasuring God in Our Traditions" . It has been so perfect for this time as we are starting our family and figuring out our own traditions that we will pass along to our children. Her book is reminding me of the importance of repeating things that point us to God causing us to stay close to him, remember his work in our lives, and be a way to tell the children about him so that we and they will fear and honor the Lord. Whatever traditions we do make, I want us to be able to answer Isaac when he asked why we do it. Noel's book is helping me think about making family traditions that cause us to be reminded of God and who he is. Also, to not only have holiday traditions on Christmas and Easter but everyday traditions of reading God's word, talking about him, and praising him.
In her book, Noel also points to the passage, Psalm 71. "Upon you I have leaned from before my birth; you are he who took me from my mother's womb. My praise is continually of you. I have been as a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge. My mouth if filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day. So not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent."
With Isaac's birth, I have been overwhelmed with the thought of our responsibility to raise him to fear and love God. God is the greatest treasure and gift that we could ever point Isaac to. I am challenged to have my mouth "filled with God's praise and with his glory all the day".
God is seen all around me. He is amazing, more beautiful than any treasure and he is our Father. He is a Father that we can call abba. I love being his child and He is the heirloom that I want to pass to Isaac.

Isaac William

Below is Isaac's first picture taken by Chad. It was right after he was born and I had not seen him yet.

NNICU/ Isaac's Birth Story

Isaac in the Hospital


Isaac's Birth Story:
Praise our glorious and wonderful God! Monday September 22 at 12:56 pm our precious baby boy was born. This was completely a surprise, as his due date was November 19th. I started feeling a lot of pain Friday night as Chad and I walked on the beach and ...ate ice cream near our new location in Mt Pleasant SC. I figured it was just my stretching ligaments as my tummy was growing so I tried to take it easy. Sunday after Church I started feeling the pain again and it hurt a lot more. I tried to go to sleep that night and did fall asleep until about 4 am the next morning. I woke up in a lot more pain and started to worry that something was wrong. I tried to go back to sleep but ended up having to get up it hurt so bad. I took a bath and just did not think it would be possible that I could be in labor since I was only 31 weeks along. When I started counting the time I realized there really was a rhythm to the pains coming and going! So by 6am I called the doctor that I had just set up a couple days before! ( we just moved in the last Saturday and by the way still have boxes everywhere!) God is so good to show His faithfulness to take care of me! I am so thankful there was a doctor i could call who had my records. If this had happened a few days earlier I would have had to just go to the ER. They had me come in and I was so thankful that Chad decided to take me and be with me b/c when I got there, they checked me and told me that I was already 8 centimeters and that the baby would come any time! It was so overwhelming b/c right away they sent for an ambulance and told me not to get up! I was scared b/c they did a Ultrasound and it showed that our baby was breech (feet down) and that they would have to do a C-section asap. I just bursted into tears:( just because it was so overwhelming and so surprising! I was still getting used to the idea that we would have a baby soon and had/have so much to do to get ready for him! They rushed me to East Cooper Hospital that was next door to the doctor's office that I was in. They thought I would have to deliver there b/c my water could break any minute and that could be very dangerous because the baby was breech. But by God's grace they were able to slow down my labor enough to transfer me again in an ambulance to MUSC Hospital in down town Charleston( this was so good b/c they have a very good NNICU that Isaac would have to be rushed to right away if I were to deliver at East Cooper (which I did not want b/c then they would take him from us right after delivery and I would not be able to go until I recovered.) We were able to get there (with him still in me!) It was very very overwhelming b/c all sorts of doctors met us there with all sorts of questions and things to hook me up to:( They rushed me right away into surgery to get the baby out. It was a horrible experience and I had very bad chest pain during the C-section. But Chad was able to wear scrubs and sit right next to my head and he was able to watch them pull little Isaac out. We were amazed! Chad got to go look at him in the NNICU while they finished the surgery so he went and took pictures of him to show me. I was so anxious to see him. Isaac seams to be okay and so am I. He is very cute and very sweet! We are feeling so much love for him:) We were so thankful that I have been able to hold him 2 hours straight each shift and am enjoying it so much! They call it the kangaroo hold (which I think is so cute!)- where they slip him down my shirt, skin to skin with just a little diaper on him and I can do this 2 hrs each shift. He is hooked up to all shorts of machines. Thankfully He was able to come off the oxygen in the first 24 hours and I have been able to pump breast milk for him starting from the beginning. He now just needs to develop and grow stronger, learn how to eat on his own and breath at the same time and keep his temperature up on his own. We are not sure how long he will have to stay in the NNICU, maybe a month. He is very small and is truly a little miracle. As we look at each finger we can't help but marvel at how mighty and wonderful of a creator God is. Everything is the complete opposite of our plans for his birth- we wanted to stick to a birth plan, have him naturally, have special music ready and nice aroma therapy! I had special baby blanket I wanted him to use..ect We are praising God because he has showed us more of how weak we are. I felt completely out of control of everything that was happening. He is in control of our lives and truly is good in all that happens. I felt totally dependent on Him to take care of us both. We praise Him that Isaac is alive and doing well. I am thrilled to be able to meet him even though he is not supposed to be here yet:( I want him to still be in my tummy but I am trying to trust that God has a perfect plan. Thank you to all who prayed for us and to those who are rejoicing with us!

Thank you Aunt Natalie!!

Aunt Natalie sent me this blankie! It is so soft!!

Isaac was born September 22nd 4lbs 5oz. 7 weeks early. He spent the first week in the NNICU and then was moved to the Special Care Nursery at MUSC Hospital in Charleston SC. We are praising God for taking care of us. Isaac is doing really well and may be able to come home soon! We are so anxious to bring him home. We miss him so much through the night.

30 weeks Ultrasound

Here is little Isaac William at 30 weeks! We did find out that Isaac still has the same kidney problem that they found before. We are praying that it wont effect him later. We will follow up with this once he is born. He is also head up (breach) so please pray that he will flip upside down before I go into labor!



These 3D Ultrasounds distort the image a little! You can only slightly make out these pictures! It does look like he has Chad's cute lips though! :)

30 weeks Pregnant!!

I can not believe I am 30 weeks now! I can see my tummy moving when Isaac moves, it is so amazing:) I am also really glad that my pacemaker scar has not hurt me at all (I was afraid it would)
I feel like I can just hug him when I hug my tummy. I can not wait to see our baby.
Mom this picture is for you (she asked for a bare tummy picture:)

Baby Shower!

*~Emanuel Bible Church Baby Shower~*

This is my friend Noelle who is one month ahead of me in her pregnancy!! We have had so much fun talking about it!!
Lauren gave me a bib and blanket with Isaac's name embroidered on them!


Sweet Pea baby photo Album from LeAnn
I was so amazed at how beautiful (and cute!) The food was!
Baby bed bumper, crib sheet , and Tigger stuffed animal from Noelle!
Yay!!! Baby monitor!!
~Chocolate covered strawberries, baby rattle shaped cookies, and Hydrangeas~

25 weeks pregnant!!

My tummy is growing!!