I couldn't resist posting these pictures of our sweet little girl after we came home from church today...I have to say, I love having a girl! I LOVED dressing my boys too and may have even shed a tear as we packed up all our boys clothes and sent them to our dear friends in Arizona who just had their 2nd boy. Some many of the outfits held such vivid memories for us as both boys experienced so many "firsts" in them. It was wonderful knowing our dear friends will clothe their little one in them now and they had to go to make room for our girl! Here is one of John's favorite outfits we received from friends in California :) When we received it he said, "Now that's my Cora! Classy!" (This was before she was born too!)
Well, you know me and I can't just post a picture and call it quits, so I also want to share about the great teaching we heard this morning from our pastor at church. He spoke about Jesus' last words to his disciples regarding the vine and branches. In John 15:15 Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for without Me you can do nothing." I loved hearing our pastor's teaching on this the morning after I posted my last entry...more scripture to remind us that we are nothing without the presence of God in our lives. Jesus uses the picture of the Vine and the branches to remind us of this. He is the Vine and we are the branches. What happens when you remove a branch from it's vine...it dies, shrivels up, bears no fruit, no longer has purpose or value. I say this not to depress you...instead this should bring us all great hope! I can't speak for you, but for me, this means that my value and worth does not depend on what I can do, but instead who I draw my strength from. How comforting since my abilities are very limited!
In His last words, Jesus encouraged the disciples to bear fruit. In order to bear fruit we must be connected to our lifeline, the Vine. Without being joined with the Vine we lose all hope of bearing fruit. God not only desires for us to bear a little fruit, but He says with Him we will bear MUCH fruit! We could be satisfied with little and call it a day, but why not want God's best for us, especially since He's making the offer! Before we moved to Illinois, I've mentioned before how John and I were involved in many good things. Teaching, playing saxophone, singing, children's ministry, bible study, etc...all good things. We wouldn't of stopped "doing" any of these things unless we were literally cut off from them. In John 15:2, Jesus says about God the Father who is the gardener, "He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." I DO believe God produced good fruit in us through our involvement in each of these areas of ministry...how incredible to think, however, that when we care called into a season of pruning it is so that we can become even MORE fruitful for His glory. I'm humbled at the thought....and that's exactly what God wants from me...humility as I recognize that my only responsibility in bearing fruit is to be connected to the vine. It is the Gardener (God) and the Vine (Jesus) who are responsible for the fruit. As the branch, I just hold it, display it, offer it to others and delight in what God has produced!
In order to have abundant fruit, our pastor reminded us of the importance to "abide" in the Vine. That is my primary responsibility as a branch....to abide....to drink up all He has for me and pass it on to my children and others I meet. Again, without the Vine, the branch dries up. Without Jesus, I am nothing and have no fruit to share, no patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control or love that is lasting for my family or others. You may ask, "With 3 kids and no time to breathe, why do you write all of this? Why aren't you napping right now or resting, or doing something else for yourself?" I have to say, it is because I am so drawn to Jesus that in the moments when the kids are sleeping and time is mine again, I can't help but spill over to you about what He's done for me...what He's shown me about His character that day, how calmed I am in my fears by His strength, and how much purpose He brings me in the moments I can't see beyond the spit up on my shirt and dirty diapers piled up in my garbage. He is enough for me. He came so He might be enough for you too. Sure, the visionary part of me dreams of being used for His glory in some grand way someday, but I am in a season of constant reminder that we were created to be near to Him, and the rest is none of our business! We are just branches...it is up to the Gardener to direct which way we grow and to prune what He sees necessary in order to produce greater fruit in the future.
Thank you, Jesus, for children who remind us of your love for us...in the same way mothers care for little ones, you care for and love us...temper tantrums and all! Thank you for drawing us to the life you bring as the Vine! May MANY draw near to you as the true source of LIFE!
Cora couldn't be more precious. I can't wait to get to hold her!!! Beautiful mom/daughter shot!