7 Quick Takes: in honor of Joseph Adam Coleman
Jen bravely posted her 7 quick takes this morning, in spite of everything happening with her right now. Please take a look at what she has to say, and take a moment to breathe a prayer for her healing and her baby's health.
1. As many of you know, my nephew was born 7 weeks early and with many complications. You can read the story as told by me, by clicking here. He is still in critical condition, living at the NICU at Children's National Medical Center here in DC. While he's an hour away from his mom, dad, brothers and grandparents, as well as most of his aunts and uncles, this auntie is only a 20-minute drive away. So far this week I've gotten to visit him every day, and he's making progress daily.
Some people will extol the virtues of modern medicine, and those are a huge blessing.
I, however, am a firm believer that Joseph's daily progress is only attributable to a massive prayer network spanning the globe. We have humbled ourselves before an all-powerful God, who showing what He is able to do, even when the doctors say all they can do is follow the baby's cues (and they aren't sure what's making him sick). When we just don't know, all we can do is bow the knee. Hundreds and hundreds have done so in the past week, and we are seeing the fruit!
2. To stay up-to-date on Joseph's daily developments, you can "Like" his Facebook page here. The prayers of friends, family, acquaintances and strangers are felt on a regular basis.
3. The way that Joseph's tiny life has progressed thus far has taught me to never take life for granted. I will certainly never again take a healthy baby for granted. Holding a baby, hearing it coo, even hearing it cry -- all things that have begun to seem like priceless treasures when they are not yet part of our experience with Joseph.
This has made me so much more in awe of another friend of mine who is due February 17th with her third (the day before Joseph was scheduled to be born!). Her baby has received a diagnosis of fetal acrania -- a condition which is terminal. She is sharing her story with an immense amount of courage on her own blog, which you can and should read here, and I encourage everyone to read it. Her faith and commitment to her convictions is unparalleled in my life. I hope you will pray for her and her baby and their family, and stay with her story over the next 6 weeks and beyond.
4. Fear in all it's forms, good and bad, is shaping up to be a theme of my year, if not my entire life. 2013 started out with a bang, almost as soon as I'd chosen my first memory verse, the most frightening episode of my life came on the scene without warning. 2 Timothy 1:7 tells me "God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline."
The fact that I am memorizing Scripture with the express intention of changing the way I respond to everyday life has caused me to go back to my memory verse and think about how it might be helpful for what I am facing. Because of this, I am actually applying Scripture to my life. I have always wondered what it meant to do that, and it's a mysterious thing, but it's finally actually seeming to happen. Baby steps. Joseph would approve, methinks (especially based on his current bedding).
You can still join the Scripture memory team! Click here and add your memory verse to the comments. There is no deadline, you can join at any time!
5. One way that fear popped up again in a new and different manifestation is through the discussion group I attended lastnight with my husband, which was started by one of his friends from his youth. Our topic of discussion lastnight was, "What does it mean to fear the Lord?" I'd love to share with you our conclusions, but first, I'd like to know what YOU think the answer is? Anybody?
6. A song that has really be comforting me through this past week was given to me at Christmastime by my brother-in-law, the father of baby Joseph. Because I don't know how to put mp3's into my blog, you shall receive a YouTube video:
And also, the lyrics as translated into English:
7. Finally, if you have stayed with me this long, I have the exciting news that not one but TWO new businesses are opening up in the building I manage (for a living)! You can now eat frozen yogurt from Menchie's while getting a pedicure at Mancini de Paris! This weekend is going to be warm and beautiful and absolutely hopping, so if you're in the Arlington, VA / Columbia Pike area, please stop by Penrose Square and say hello!
1. As many of you know, my nephew was born 7 weeks early and with many complications. You can read the story as told by me, by clicking here. He is still in critical condition, living at the NICU at Children's National Medical Center here in DC. While he's an hour away from his mom, dad, brothers and grandparents, as well as most of his aunts and uncles, this auntie is only a 20-minute drive away. So far this week I've gotten to visit him every day, and he's making progress daily.
I, however, am a firm believer that Joseph's daily progress is only attributable to a massive prayer network spanning the globe. We have humbled ourselves before an all-powerful God, who showing what He is able to do, even when the doctors say all they can do is follow the baby's cues (and they aren't sure what's making him sick). When we just don't know, all we can do is bow the knee. Hundreds and hundreds have done so in the past week, and we are seeing the fruit!
2. To stay up-to-date on Joseph's daily developments, you can "Like" his Facebook page here. The prayers of friends, family, acquaintances and strangers are felt on a regular basis.
3. The way that Joseph's tiny life has progressed thus far has taught me to never take life for granted. I will certainly never again take a healthy baby for granted. Holding a baby, hearing it coo, even hearing it cry -- all things that have begun to seem like priceless treasures when they are not yet part of our experience with Joseph.
This has made me so much more in awe of another friend of mine who is due February 17th with her third (the day before Joseph was scheduled to be born!). Her baby has received a diagnosis of fetal acrania -- a condition which is terminal. She is sharing her story with an immense amount of courage on her own blog, which you can and should read here, and I encourage everyone to read it. Her faith and commitment to her convictions is unparalleled in my life. I hope you will pray for her and her baby and their family, and stay with her story over the next 6 weeks and beyond.
4. Fear in all it's forms, good and bad, is shaping up to be a theme of my year, if not my entire life. 2013 started out with a bang, almost as soon as I'd chosen my first memory verse, the most frightening episode of my life came on the scene without warning. 2 Timothy 1:7 tells me "God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline."
The fact that I am memorizing Scripture with the express intention of changing the way I respond to everyday life has caused me to go back to my memory verse and think about how it might be helpful for what I am facing. Because of this, I am actually applying Scripture to my life. I have always wondered what it meant to do that, and it's a mysterious thing, but it's finally actually seeming to happen. Baby steps. Joseph would approve, methinks (especially based on his current bedding).
You can still join the Scripture memory team! Click here and add your memory verse to the comments. There is no deadline, you can join at any time!
5. One way that fear popped up again in a new and different manifestation is through the discussion group I attended lastnight with my husband, which was started by one of his friends from his youth. Our topic of discussion lastnight was, "What does it mean to fear the Lord?" I'd love to share with you our conclusions, but first, I'd like to know what YOU think the answer is? Anybody?
6. A song that has really be comforting me through this past week was given to me at Christmastime by my brother-in-law, the father of baby Joseph. Because I don't know how to put mp3's into my blog, you shall receive a YouTube video:
And also, the lyrics as translated into English:
Our recent circumstances have shown us what true charity and love really are. They have shown me how many people FULL of sincere love are surrounding me in my life. And, not least, they have shown me how many controversies in life are really just a wretched waste of time and opportunities to love.
- Where charity and love are, God is there.
- Christ's love has gathered us into one.
- Let us rejoice and be pleased in Him.
- Let us fear, and let us love the living God.
- And may we love each other with a sincere heart.
- Where charity and love are, God is there.
- As we are gathered into one body,
- Beware, lest we be divided in mind.
- Let evil impulses stop, let controversy cease,
- And may Christ our God be in our midst.
- Where charity and love are, God is there.
- And may we with the saints also,
- See Thy face in glory, O Christ our God:
- The joy that is immense and good,
- Unto the ages through infinite ages. Amen.
7. Finally, if you have stayed with me this long, I have the exciting news that not one but TWO new businesses are opening up in the building I manage (for a living)! You can now eat frozen yogurt from Menchie's while getting a pedicure at Mancini de Paris! This weekend is going to be warm and beautiful and absolutely hopping, so if you're in the Arlington, VA / Columbia Pike area, please stop by Penrose Square and say hello!
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