Guess who's celebrating a birthday.....

Sixteen years ago, my second son was born, and my first son was greatly relieved to finally have a brother!  That little brother isn't so little anymore....

Elliot is 16

Happy Birthday Elliot!  The Lord has certainly got His hand on you, growing you and teaching you faithfully.  We are so very thankful for His work in your life, for His amazing creation of Elliot Stefan Hellwig :  Elliot - (English version of Elijah: Yahweh is God); Stefan - (Greek: crowned)

We love you, Elliot! 
This next year:

          The LORD bless you, and keep you;
    The LORD make His face shine on you,
            And be gracious to you;
     The LORD lift up His countenance on you,
            And give you peace.’        
                                                            Numbers 6:24-26

                                   



                                   A bit of blackboard art....

 ... the obligatory birthday picture....

Gazing on the bonfire!

Happy Birthday to Timothy

                                            Cliche alert:  "Where have the years gone?"

Okay, now that I've gotten that thought out of my system, we can move on to more pertinent matters!

Timothy turned 22 today, and, as a proud mother, thank God for my son.  We had the usual dinner of favorite foods.... but this time, as he didn't tell me what he wanted for dinner, I got to pick  favorites of the whole family.  I did include some seafood for him, as he loves shrimp and mussels.  Cheesecake is everyone's favorite, and chocolate is on nearly everyone's list of preferred treats.

There were presents and the usual singing and pictures, and Benaiah snuggling with his beloved Timothy.  Pepe and Meme were there.  All that was missing was Arianne, who had to work that evening.  Missed you, Arianne!

We love you, Timothy, and look forward to seeing God work in your future for your good and His glory!

What Wondrous Love

How often do we think on the depth of Christ's amazing love for us?  What did that Love do for us?  Do we really understand the sacrifice in that ultimate act of faithfulness?  What does our love, for Him or for others, look like?

Well, I have an answer for that last question : puny and pitiful.

On Thursday evening, our church held a Maundy Thursday service.  Our speaker shared with us a few points regarding the scene in the Garden on the night Jesus was betrayed.

John 13:1 tells us that :
  Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He should depart out of this world  to the Father, having loved His own  who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 

After the disciples had witnessed His love to them at the Passover feast, they went with Him to the Garden of Gethsemane.  Had they realized what He'd just shown them?

Jesus asked them simply to watch and pray.  They couldn't do this.  They fell asleep.  Did those disciples sense the urgency of His quiet request?

What does Gethsemane describe for us?

1. Jesus' crushing sorrow : He was being separated from His Father.  The Trinity, an indivisible Union,  had never been separated in all eternity.  This point marked a pivot in the 'history of eternity.'  Christ chose to endure this.... for us!                                                                                           
2. Jesus' humble submission :  He was heard because of His reverence to His Father. "...for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him."  (John 8:29) "For I have come down from Heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me." (John 6:38)  Christ is the path to the Father....our Father.                                                                                                                                   
3. Jesus' unwavering concern :  Even in His darkest hour, Jesus is concerned for His disciple.  He demonstrates His faithful shepherding, concern for their temptation.  "Watch and pray," He speaks to them, taking the time to disciple His disciples.                                                                             
4. Jesus' strength and resolve : Standing in our place, He moves toward His captors, moving forward toward His death, pushing things along. He set His face like flint. (Isaiah 50:1-10) His time had come.  Gethsemane is the Holy of Holies of Christ in His time on earth.

What wondrous Love this is!

A holy God demands that perfect justice be paid for our sin.  His Son steps in, sorrowful, humble, concerned and resolved to take our place.  He endures unmitigated wrath as punishment for our crimes.  He lays down His life for those He loves.

What ought to be our response?

                                       Hushed worship.