Remebering...the call...

It was my b-day...August of 06'. Man...seems so long ago. I'm going to be 29 this year...wow! Okay, back to Sarala. She was born on August 26th, 3 days before my birthday. We got a call from Crystal's mom on my birthday that informed us of another child born to Christine...Sarala's biological mother. She's had a bunch of kids...all adopted by the family. Apparently she has kids, gives them up, disappears, then reappears when another kid is born. Sarala is number 7...of the kids that lived. I believe that she birthed nine....

So...it wasn't even a thought for us at that time. The question was actually whether or not Crystal's parents were going to try and adopt Sarala...or...at that time...Tamara. For some reason I couldn't help...nor could Crystal...thinking about...hurting for this little baby out in San Fran with no one around her...no one who wanted her. The whispers from God began....

Next Post: The decision...Sarala's condition at birth...the urging of the medical social worker to change our minds...us urging them to give her care....

Remembering...Pt. 1

And when your children say to you, ‘Why are we doing this?’ tell them: ‘It’s the Passover-sacrifice to God who passed over the homes of the Israelites in Egypt when he hit Egypt with death but rescued us.’” The people bowed and worshiped.
Exodus 12:26-27

We've been talking about "Remembering" at church these last few weekends and it's caused some...well...remembering. ;) God has done some amazing things. It's good for us to remember and pass these on to the next generation.
The verse above...from Exodus...refers to Passover...which will explain why Passover is celebrated...remembering what God has done...passing it on to the next generation.

Take this thought...remembering...and think about what God has done in your life...God-moments. My biggest God moment has to do with the little babe in the picture above. We are at O'Charley's in STL sharing a chocolate shake. This was her first introduction to this sort of dessert found in a eatery...which means that everytime we go out to eat now...it's expected that we'll order "something" after we eat our dinner. I love it!

This week I am going to take to look back at the miracle of Sarala. My next post will begin with the events surrounding our thoughts about adopting her...we found out she was born on my birthday...made the decision by my wife's birthday.

It's Friday...

Keeping it simple and short today...here is an amazing post by a fellow blogger about...well...just read.

Simple Truth...

There is deceit in the hearts of those who plot evil,
but joy for those who promote peace.
Proverbs 12:20

Promoting peace.

Joy.

Promote peace = joy.

Simple.

Too often we add to the fire...get in the last word...make something worse to make us feel better, look better...we want justice...things to be made right.

Is this something we need to worry ourselves with?

Is it really worth it?

Sacrifice joy?

What's the cost?

Keep it simple...choose joy.

And yes...do you like my "Rob Bell" style post here...? ;)

Lord let our light shine...

Prechorus:
Broken but singing...our hearts keep shining... broken but singing...our hearts keep shining...

An amazing song with amazing truth...or...as in the movie "Benchwarmers"...A-Maz-Za-Zing!

No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you.
Luke 11:33-36

Slowing/quieting down to listen...

So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear!
James 1:21-22

Humility. Listening...actively...as opposed to just "hearing." James is pretty straightforward here...harsh. This is a serious matter though...affecting those around us, us, and the opportunity for God to use us. It's about listening...before acting or letting thoughts...words come out of our mouth. How often do we do things, talk to people, make major decisions without listening for what God may have to say on the matter? Does this need to happen for everything? I guess we probably don't need to wait and hear from God if we're trying to figure out whether to get the Baylee Jo's Special or the Baylee Jo's Cheeseburger...though it is a tough decision in itself.

Back to the matter though...the Word. How I've neglected the Word as of late. I tend to not seek much from God when life is going good...smooth. There...I've said it.... Also harsh. Also...I give so much of my time to stuff that really doesn't matter. I come home from a crazy day at work and what do I do...sit down in front of the TV and "zone" for awhile. If I've had a tough day...it would probably do me a lot more good to come home...quiet myself, my heart...my head...and listen to God...and there it is...the key. Listen! Then comes the "Act on what you hear!" part. Too often I do things on my own and from my own understand. So...this is where I find myself right now...trying to remedy this by taking some time to read...quiet...listen.

Crystal left work today sick...and I don't mean just "sick"...but SICK...horrible, flu-like sick. Is it the flu...I hope it's not...but we'll see. She's doing better tonight after resting and was able to keep some crackers and carbonated soda down. Sarala went to bed early and it's left time for me to be quiet...out of necessity since the wife's sick and the small child's sleeping, but...to turn the tv off and chill...read...listen.

There is so much truth in the Word...from God. Hope. Life. Love. Available to all who want it.
As James says above, we need to...let our gardener, God, landscape you (us) with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your (our) life (lives). Imagine the world around your...your immediate daily-world...how different it would be if we were to let God make a salvation-garden out of our lives. This is an amazing life...life in Jesus...God-centered. Why wouldn't we want everyone and anyone to experience this also? We need to listen...take what God is giving us...speaking into us...around us...and act, not the inverse.

So, as you go into the rest of the week...listen for those whispers from God. There it is...it may be quiet...may result in us having to be intentional about seeking him...listening...being quiet...still. I challenge you to join me in this...see what happens!

Birth Certified...

Well, it is official. Sarala is a Buckman. We received her official birth certificate in the mail last Thursday and it's an utterly amazing piece of paper. She was born in August of 06, didn't come to live with us until March of 07...and here we are, Spring 2009 and she's two and a half...healthy...loved...!

And yes...she's trying to give me a kick...;)

"All Because of Jesus"

Had a chance to see these guys last night at The Bridge.

Reset...

In your anger do not sin;
when you are on your beds,
search your hearts and be silent.
Psalm 4:4

It's amazing what a little reading can do for you. Last night I found myself in a contemplative state since the school day didn't seem to end so well. Anger. I was angry. The key there is...was. That's the thing though...the school day didn't "seem" to end well. I sat down, opened up Psalms and began reading.

Then...there it was...peace. Found in all of two minutes of reading.

It was like God hit my "reset" button. My day was actually very smooth, my kids had gotten A LOT accomplished. I don't need to let my frustrations with whatever...build to anger. There's no reason for it. It just takes me out of the game for awhile. I had a free afternoon to get a ton of stuff done...an afternoon to come home and enjoy hanging out with my girls...but I squandered it on "thinking." Then, as we were...as some have said..."chillaxing"...it hit me.

Read.

Now, I almost didn't since my main Bible...the "reading" Bible...was in the car and our front yard turns into a swamp whenever it rains. I ended up getting into my ol' duct tape Bible, I've had this thing since high school. I didn't have any plan on where to start other than reading up on David (thanks to the new NBC series "Kings"). Here's a guy that God used regardless of all his issues. So...this lead me to the Psalms and boom...there it was/is.

Not only does this verse hold some major truth, check out how chapter four ends:

I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord,
make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:8

So...it's time for me to "search my heart and be silent/lie down and sleep in peace."

Amazing! God....

"My Enemies Are Men Like Me"

My Enemies Are Men Like Me

(vs. 1)
i have come to give you life
and to show you how to live it
i have come to make things right
to heal their ears and show you how to forgive them

(pre-chorus)
because i would rather die
i would rather die
i would rather die
than to take your life

(chorus)
how can i kill the ones i’m supposed to love
my enemies are men like me
i will protest the sword if it’s not wielded well
my enemies are men like me

(vs. 2)
peace by way of war is like purity by way of fornication
it’s like telling someone murder is wrong
and then showing them by way of execution

(pre-chorus)

(chorus)

(bridge)
when justice is bought and sold just like weapons of war
the ones who always pay are the poorest of the poor

(chorus)