27.9.11

faith...only took me 29 years to finally 'get' this

I’m struck anew by how simple the Christian life is, how simple God makes it for us, but how complex it feels. From the first response we have to God’s call, to the offer of freedom and love, we have to choose whether or not to believe. Does he mean it? Will he do what he says? Will I trust him?

Faith is not a blind leap. Faith is resting in what is true no matter what. No matter the feeling or experience. In the day-to-day series of mountains we climb, with all of the uncertainties and financial/relational/spiritual pressures, we have to choose again and again. Will I trust God? Will I believe in his faithfulness? Will I rely on myself? Will I find something/someone else to trust that makes me feel better?

Without faith it’s impossible to please God. With faith, placed correctly, it’s impossible not to please him. Whatever is on my horizon that presses me toward unbelief and worry is actually a potential opportunity to please the one who made me. And the bigger uncertainty, the more reliance on him I can have.

When I come to the end of myself I catch a glimpse of the beginning of God at work. Today I choose to believe not in myself, but in Him.
 
~ chris fabry

9.9.11

(a very belated) 11 months!


And…we have a walker! She took her first steps on August 20th and loves practicing her new skill - she still prefers to crawl though, as she’s much faster at it. Needless to say, she’s gotten quite a few bumps and bruises this past month – she’s just about as graceful as me! She’s also taken to climbing furniture – I find her sitting on any shelf that’s her height, her favorites being the little table in the dining room and the bottom shelf of the linen closet. She took her first trip to the ocean and she had a blast. Her favorite thing was eating sand which made for some pretty interesting diapers! Mary, Justin & Mira (and Ace) got to spend about 6 weeks with us this past summer and Adelaide loved having that time with her cousin. She also loves Ace and now says ‘dah’ (dog). They’re gone now, but every time we get home, she says ‘dah’? when we come in the back door. She also says it whenever she hears one bark. I still nurse her at night & in the morning and it’s my most precious time with her. She’ll hold on to my thumb or necklace, sometimes stopping and just laying in my arms  jibber jabbering away …ah, it is priceless. Mornings with her are the best, I bring her into bed and we snuggle, it’s the best way to start the day! She’ll sometimes get slaphappy before bedtime and it’s just so fun to see her little personality developing. She has such a raspy little voice and I can’t wait for her to talk more! She’s eating pretty much everything now. She gets fed Very well at Zia’s house (…’today she had 3 popcicles, lasagna and 2 icecream cones’…kidding, kind of!). She is not a picky eater at all and likes her vegetables just as much as the sweets! Zia & Zio taught her to turn off lights, so now whenever we leave her room, she has to turn the switch off.  She is the joy of my life and I am amazed by her every day. Can’t believe she will be one in just a few short weeks!