God Breathed

Great Prayer Points for Parents

Elizabeth — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 05:13:30 +0000

My husband referred this blog post to me almost a year ago and I have been so blessed by it. I have since printed it off and keep it in my daily reading Bible to pray through for my own kids now (and for myself!). I pray that this will be helpful to you.

Tikvah = HOPE (Update #5)

Elizabeth — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 01:01:16 +0000

We are so grateful to be able to report that Tikvah Hadassah Kirkland was born on Friday, October 28, 2011. After about 2 hours of active labor and 2 pushes, she entered into the world weighing 7 lbs., 13 oz. and measuring 19″ long.

The NICU team whisked her away after a brief “hello” in order to stabilize her and confirm her diagnosis of transposition of the great arteries (TGA). They found everything as anticipated and scheduled her for surgery the following week.

On Wednesday, November 2, 2011, Tikvah had open-heart surgery to correct the placement of her arteries. The Lord brought her through the surgery and immediate recovery with flying colors. After waiting a couple of days to allow her heart’s swelling to subside, they were able to surgically close her chest cavity by Friday, November 4, 2011.

The next goal was to try and remove the breathing machine and begin weaning her off some of her meds. By Monday, November 7, 2011, she was completely off the breathing machine and off of all of her medication.

The final goal before the hospital could discharge Tikvah into our care was to get her to feed orally. It is not uncommon for babies to loose their ability to coordinate the suckling, swallowing, and breathing reflexes successfully enough to be able to feed from a bottle following such extensive surgery. However, God displayed His amazing grace once again in allowing Tikvah to take to the bottle right away. By Monday afternoon, she was feeding orally from the bottle and able to keep everything down. Today, we tried nursing and she latched-on right away!

Now, they are planning to discharge her as early as tomorrow morning! To God be the glory for the great things He has done in the life of this little soul. We are so incredibly humbled to have witnessed first-hand His amazing hand at work in the life of Tikvah Hadassah Kirkland. It will be such a joy to see the rest of His plans for her life unfold in coming weeks, months and (Lord willing) years!

Tikvah = HOPE (update #4)

Elizabeth — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 23:52:58 +0000

Scheduled to arrive this Thursday, October 27, 2011 (by inducement), we are looking forward to discovering how our great God is going to answer all the prayers and petitions that have gone up on behalf of little Tikvah Hadassah Kirkland.

Specifically, these are some things we have been praying for:

DELIVERY
1) God would uphold the health of mother-and-child during labor so that Tikvah might be born “naturally” (without the need of a cesarean).
2) There would be no additional health complications during labor/delivery.
3) God would bring the right team of doctors together to address Tikvah’s needs following her delivery.
4) God would give the doctors wisdom to determine exactly when it would be the optimal time to schedule the surgery.

SURGERY
1) God would begin (even now) to prepare each member of the surgical team for the surgery they will be performing on Tikvah (i.e. providing them things like appropriate research, information, experience, adequate rest, heightened awareness, ability to focus, etc.).
2) Clarity and communication among the members of the surgical team before and during the surgery.
3) The heart-bypass machine transfer goes smoothly.
4) Steady hands for the surgeon.
5) Connection of pulmonary arteries is straight-forward. (Apparently, this is one of the most crucial aspects of the entire surgery.)
6) Wisdom for the team of anesthesiologists in responding to any potential “surprises” during the surgery.
7) God would fuse all of the new placement of Tikvah’s arteries and not allow for any leaks.

If you would like to join us in prayer, we will be sure to post how God answers these prayers so that you can rejoice along with us in our God’s great goodness!

God is an end in Himself

Elizabeth — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 23:52:12 +0000

After being convicted recently about my lack of consumption with God’s glory (namely, His personhood), my husband wisely pointed me to one of his theology books, Christian Theology by Millard Erickson. Skipping straight to the section on “What God is Like,” I have since been soaking in the seeming simplicity and vast complexities of our great God. However, one section in particular really seemed to strike the point of my conviction and that was the following:

“Further, our relationship with God is not merely a one-way street … He is a living, reciprocating being. He is not merely one of whom we hear, but one whom we meet and know. God is to be treated as a being, not an object or force. He is not something to be used or manipulated. While our thinking and practice may at times betray such a view, it is not consistent with the biblical picture. The idea that God is simply something to be used or something that solves our problems and meets our needs is not religion … God is an end in himself, not a means to an end. He is of value to us for what he is in himself, not merely for what he does … it is because of what he is that he is to be loved and served, not only supremely but exclusively. God as a person is to loved for what he is, not for what he can do for us.” (p. 270-271)

That is the rub for me. After reading this passage, I was confronted with the question, “Do I worship God because of all that He is or because of what I think He can do for me?” I want to be able to say that I am a follower of the true and living God for Who He has revealed Himself to be through His written Word, but when I truly examine my “thinking and practice” at times it would suggest otherwise.

May God continue to humble me and reveal areas of sinful idolatry that I may return to a sincere heart of worship before Him … that He may be my supreme end!

Are You Suffering from the Departure of God’s Arrangements?

Elizabeth — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 18:02:07 +0000

“And what is one of the chief causes of hindrance? What is it that in these times so often prevents the child of God from “taking heed” unto himself? This: he is far to much engrossed in attempting to “take heed” for others. The woman who has spent much of the day in attending to domestic duties, the man who has been toiling for his daily bread, instead of spending the evening quietly in spiritual devotions, prayerfully studying God’s Word, giving “attendance to reading” (1Timothy 4:13), and thus feeding his soul, removing the world’s stains acquired through the day, and conversing with his family upon the things of God, has a round of religious meetings which he must attend, numerous church duties which he must perform. So it is with many on the holy Sabbath. Instead of that being, as God has designed, chiefly a day of rest, only too often it becomes the busiest of the whole week. No wonder that so many are little better than nervous wrecks! And all because of departing from God’s arrangements.”

-A.W. Pink,

When was the last time your faith turned into wonder?

Elizabeth — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 05:04:07 +0000

In speaking of the believer’s knowledge of God, Bavinck writes:

“Their faith turns into wonder; knowledge terminates in adoration; and their confession becomes a song of praise and thanksgiving. Of this kind, too, is the knowledge of God theology aims for. It is not just a knowing, much less a comprehending; it is better and more glorious than that: it is the knowledge which is life, ‘eternal life’ (John 17:3).“

-Herman Bavinck

Do you hold confidence in the flesh?

Elizabeth — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 23:00:15 +0000

“The flesh “profiteth nothing.” The flesh has no part in the works of God. All fleshly activities amount to nothing where the regeneration of dead sinners is concerned. Neither the logical arguments advanced by the mind, hypnotic powers brought to bear upon the will, touching appeals made to the emotions, beautiful music and hearty singing to catch the ear, nor sensuous trappings to draw the eye — none of these are of the slightest avail in stirring dead sinners. It is not the choir, nor the preacher, but “the Spirit that quickeneth.” This is very distasteful to the natural man, because so humbling; that is why it is completely ignored in the great majority of our modern evangelistic campaigns. What is urgently needed today is not mesmeric experts who have made a study of how to produce a religious “atmosphere,” nor religious showmen to make people laugh one minute and weep the next, but faithful preaching of God’s Word, with the saints on their faces before God, humbly praying that He may be pleased to send His quickening Spirit into their midst.”

—A. W. Pink (1886–1952)

Pain

Elizabeth — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 23:39:39 +0000

“‘Unbearable,’ did I say?
I take it back, Lord;
Forgive me for staining my lips
with the world’s language.

What I mean is
it hurts—it hurts a lot,
and I am having difficulty
bearing up.

But I know
You won’t test me
beyond my ability
to face pain
Your way.

And in time—Your time—
You have promised
to bring relief.
That expectation alone
helps immensely.

Help me also to remember
that others have endured successfully
among whom, principally,
was my Savior Himself,
Who bore all I am undergoing
and much more.

It is He Who sets pain’s limits.
I must try to understand
something of the pain He suffered
for me.

That opportunity makes it all worthwhile
But there is more in this for me.
As at no other time I look forward
to the new body I shall receive,
a body weighed down
with everlasting glory.

As I see this
suddenly, thankfully,
I realize—by comparison—
my pain
is but a temporary, light affliction
that I can endure
for my Savior’s sake,

Amen.“

-Jay Adams, September 24, 2011

A Couple of “Must See” Movies for your Weekend

Elizabeth — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 22:49:14 +0000

Movie #1 – Do you support the American Holocaust? Not sure? Then, take a half-hour to watch this amazing non-fiction movie:

Movie #2 – Men, how would you rate your performance on the job? How about in the home? This movie will likely help shed some light on this all too neglected issue:

Love the LORD, all you His Saints!

Elizabeth — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 13:27:44 +0000

“¹⁹Oh, how abundant is your goodness,
   which you have stored up for those who fear you
and worked for those who take refuge in you,
   in the sight of the children of mankind!
²⁰In the cover of your presence you hide them
   from the plots of men;
you store them in your shelter
   from the strife of tongues.

²¹Blessed be the LORD,
   for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me...
²²I had said in my alarm,
   ”I am cut off from your sight.”
But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy
   when I cried to you for help.

²³Love the LORD, all you his saints!
   The LORD preserves the faithful
   but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.
²⁴Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
   all you who wait for the LORD!“

-Psalm 31.19-24