Christianity 101

While Ocean was napping, I settled down with my notebook and worked on my list of "Christianity 101" topics. This is not an exhaustive list, but it's a start. And I'm planning to make an individual post touching briefly on each item. They won't be anywhere near exhaustive, but it'll be good. Whole books could be written on each topic, and indeed, whole books have been. There is value in such books, but, at the end of the day, it is scripture alone that we need to teach us. Still, I hope you'll enjoy my small thoughts on each topic, for small thoughts is all I have time to write in this season! I definitely have big thoughts as well, but perhaps in another season of life I will write more.

 

Favor upon the Children

 "The Blessing" by Kari Jobe always causes strong emotions in my soul.

The Lord bless you

And keep you

Make His face shine upon you

And be gracious to you

The Lord turn His

Face toward you

And give you peace

Amen, amen, amen

Amen, amen, amen

Amen, amen, amen

Amen, amen, amen

May His favor be upon you

And a thousand generations

And your family and your children

And their children, and their children

My heart resounds with the words. Even with the loss of my son, I know the favor of the Lord carried him seamlessly from our arms to the arms of the Father in Heaven. Until that last line - (May His favor be upon you, and your family and your children) And their children, and their children. My heart breaks again every time. Uri's blood cries out from the ground, for his entire bloodline was cut off. Uri's children, and their children, and their children. 

But just as Abel's bloodline was cut off and his blood cried out from the ground, he had a younger sibling, Seth, who came to carry the legacy forward in place of his brother. So now does Uri have a younger sibling. Ocean will never replace Uri just as Seth never replaced Abel. All the same, here she is, a miracle and treasure all in her own right. May she be blessed, and her children, and their children. Amen.

How I'm Doing 2021

I came across this picture I took in August of 2021, two years ago! Friends of friends were asking how I was doing, and friends wanted to know what to tell friends of friends. This was my solution! A visual on how my scars were doing, and a peak into my emotional state as well for anyone who felt like looking up a bunch of scriptures. ;)

 

Her Older Brother's Toys

Ocean is a little sister to a big brother in heaven. But he has left his mark. On the hearts of Mama and Dada, on the hearts of so many others, and even on the backyard. Seeing his ball, his bikes, his swing... fills this Mama's heart with such mixed emotion. Sorrow, missing my boy. And a spark of anticipation, knowing the day will come to give everything a good scrub so little sister can play too. I live a life that is bittersweet, both today and in the days to come. Praise the Lord for the sweetness this little girl brings.

Helpful Distinctions for Today

I found this gem floating around the internet somewhere, and I'm sharing it here. Truly, these are indeed helpful distinctions to keep in mind in this day and age with so much confusion in society!