Charlie

We have a new addition to our family, and as you can see he's well loved by all. I just hope he survives all the love! He seems to love the kids back just as much as they love him. He sleeps in Braden's bed at night, crawls up under the covers with him every night. And even though Emily carries him around all over the place like a dolly, he'll hop up and sit with her so she can pet him. The big girls are enamored with their new kitty, too, but I don't have any pictures with them to share yet.

Happy Birthday Mom

69 Years ago she was born. The first of her mother's four children. I don't know a whole lot about her early years, but I know the woman she became. She was smart and strong, yet quiet and soft spoken. She loved freely, gave generously, and served tirelessly. She loved the Lord, and I know today she is with Him. What better way to celebrate her birthday than with her greatest love? I miss her, but am thankful for the thirty years I was blessed to have her here.

Romans 8:18-39

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Future Glory

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

God's Everlasting Love

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Death and Suffering

Death is not my favorite subject. I doubt it is for anyone. It is a painful reminder of our fallen state. It reminds me how sinful our sin really is, that death is the penalty. Today is my parents wedding anniversary. She would have been celebrating 42 years of marriage to my father, and turning 69 in five days. Instead I remember her birthday and anniversary, but cannot call her to tell her how precious she is to me. I miss her greatly, but hers is not the only death on my mind. My Dear Aunt told me this week that she has been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and liver cancer. There was a lot of information in her email that I didn't understand, but I know this isn't good news. The treatments she will face are only to prolong her life, not cure her. Her greatest prayer isn't for her healing, but for the salvation of her husband and sons. As a believer, she knows that at the end of her hard-fought battle, she will be healed and forever beholding her God and King, so her prayer is for them. So I am asking you, dear friends to please pray for my uncle, and cousins. That they will know that their sin is against a Holy God, and that they will turn to the Only One who can save them. And please pray for my Aunt who is suffering from this horrible illness. Pray that she will endure by His strength this very painful road. Thank you.

Behold Our God

Hebrews 12

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Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Do Not Grow Weary

3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,

nor be weary when reproved by him.

6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

and chastises every son whom he receives.”

7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken

18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

June Happenings

We kicked off our summer break with VBS at church. It was a week of fun with kids, water play, and lots of good Bible instruction for little ones in the community. We did things a little differently this year but the kids didn't seem to mind the changes. Groups were smaller and of mixed ages. The kids enjoyed spending the week praising God and reading from His Word. My kids are still rocking out to the songs!


The next couple of weeks have been busy with swimming and birthday celebrations. Our Sweet Leilani turned 9 and my Grandma turned 92! We had a swim meet on Leilani's birthday, so she had fun passing out cupcakes to her friends and celebrating with her swim team. On June 30th, we went to visit my grandma Betty in her nursing home. She has difficulty getting around since her stroke, but enjoys visits from her grandchildren and great grandchildren. We were glad to see her in good spirits and are thankful to celebrate God's gift of life!

Pentathlon

Even though we've been swimming for three years now, this was our first time participating in the Pentathlon. Our first year swimming we joined late, after the event. Our second year, it was cancelled because the city didn't open the pool in time, so this, our third year swimming was our first Pentathlon. It was a really fun way to kick off the swim season. It was chilly out, but due to the weather it was not very crowded. Ron took the day off to come watch the kids swim. The kids all did very well! This event took times in five races (Butterfly, Breaststroke, Freestyle, Backstroke, and Individual Medley) and combined their times. The fastest three times in each age group took home a trophy and up to eighth place received ribbons. Braden raced four of the five races. He decided he wasn't ready for the IM yet, but I'm so proud of him for doing all four strokes! Melanie took fourth place in her age group and Leilani took 1st in hers! They all swam hard and had fun day together. We enjoyed our time with friends, both from the Sharks and the Skimmers. All in all it was a fun day to play!