Divine power…

I was reading in “Morning and Evening” and this really stuck out to me, so I thought I would share it in hopes that it would bless someone else also. Praise the Lord that he doesn’t call us to live the Christian life in our own strength.

Divine power will rend asunder all the toils of our enemies, confound their politics, and frustrate their knavish tricks; he is a happy man who has such matchless might engaged upon his side. Our own strength would be of little service when embarrassed in the nets of base cunning, but the Lord’s strength is ever available; we have but to invoke it, and we shall find it near at hand. If by faith we are depending alone upon the strength of the mighty God of Isreal, we may use our holy reliance as a plea in supplication.

“Lord, evermore Thy face we seek:
Tempted we are, and poor, and weak;
Keep us with lowly hearts, and meek.
Let us not fall. let us not fall.”

Morning and Evening
by Charles H. Spurgeon

Multiple posts

I have gotten behind on posting lately…my desktop was piled with my “to be posted” folders. Grandpa and Grandma…I hope you enjoy the pics and videos. I have been trying to keep up better with family events now that you are reading my blog. I hope it is a blessing to you…the rest of you who still read this, you just get an extra dose of my personal life.

Grandpa Ron…Ben just finished texturizing and painting his room. He doesn’t have it all cleaned up yet, so I have to wait to take a picture.

Life is pretty much the same as it has been. I am still working at the church and recently started up my photography business again. I have a couple photo shoots this weekend (including John, Deana and Silas) so check my business site in a couple weeks to see the new pics. (www.melissajoyphotography.com)

Our pastor asked us to read a book on Christ’s Atonement over the summer and I have been working my way through “In My Place Condemned He Stood” by J.I. Packer and Mark Dever. It has not been the easiest book to read, but is an always needed of what Christ did for us on the cross.

“The basic description of the saving death of Christ in the Bible is as a propitiation, that is, as that which quenched God’s wrath against us by obliterating our sins from his sight. God’s wrath is his righteousness reacting against unrighteousness; it shows itself in retributive justice. But Jesus Christ has shielded us from the night-mare prospect of retributive justice by becoming our representative substitute, in obedience to his Father’s will, and receiving the wages of our sin in our place.” – J.I. Packer

Praise the Lord that Christ has taken our place…that he took our sins upon himself and suffered the wrath of God for our sins. I know that I don’t and may never fully appreciate the fullness of His sacrifice, but I pray that the Lord would continue to reveal it to me.

I also wanted to put up lyrics to a new song that we started singing at church, but since I am currently swapping batteries between my mouse and keyboard to finish this post…I think it will have to wait till later.

Boy or Girl?

John and Deana announced what they were having at John’s birthday dinner a couple nights ago. In typical John fashion…he couldn’t just tell us. He made us wait and wait and they he opened a present to tell us what it was. Since I had to find out this way…I figure you can too. Yup, you guessed it…I have it all on video.

Deana couldn’t stop laughing and kept hiding her smile trying not to give away the secret

Silas is always a ham and was in usual form that night. This first video he is hiding in the kitchen cabinets and the second he is pretending to get soap (he even holds his hand so it won’t drip) and wash Christi’s feet.

And some more pictures of this cute little guy.

Home Group Wars

At our end of the year party all the “adults” broke out into an impromptu beanie baby fight. Everyone keeps trying to blame me for starting it, but truth be told Gary Michels did, I just assumed it was my dad and well…you just have to see for yourself. Enjoy!

So, now you know what we do at our home group get togethers…

Books and Eight Balls

These video’s and pics are from a party at the Coda’s a few weeks back. At the time these videos seemed really funny, but looking back they may only be comical to those who were actually there. I have been so busy lately that it has taken me a while to catch up, but here it is for those who care