It's been different lately...and I long for final change!

Sorry that I haven't posted in quite some time, but aside from the busyness of the church plant, our family has changed. Just over two weeks ago we brought a sweet little 19 month old boy home from Children's Hospital.  The reason we brought him from there is because he had been in for 10 days for an infection.  He unfortunately knows that hospital all too well as he has cystic fibrosis.  Before we got him, we didn't know much about this disease, but we are learning quickly and we still have a lot to learn.  If you want to know more about the disease the best place to go is here.  (Sorry no picture right now...not positive the rules for foster children...I'll figure that out and get one up...he's absolutely adorable!!!)

As I was typing I had to head back upstairs because he started crying.  For him, when he does that after being put to bed it is not because he woke up, but because something hurts.  He has a tendency to vomit what he just ate...especially if he burps and coughs at the same time.  The trouble with that (besides the sheer grossness) is that he needs more calories than most kids.  It goes with the disease.  It's so hard to see this precious little boy like this.  When I get him in the morning and his lungs have gathered more mucus, he coughs and turns red and shakes.  It's so hard to watch!

As I was holding him tonight I just kept praying and hoping that God would do something.  Why is this little boy's body so broken?!  Why does he have to have this?  Why doesn't God come back and put it all right?  It makes me long for heaven.  Maybe that's part of this little boy's role in my life - to help me long for heaven...to long for completeness...to long for a world where there is no sin, no death, no mourning, no crying, no vomiting, no cystic fibrosis!!

Read Revelation 21.  Long for God.  Long for His return. Long for no more sickness.  

21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. ² And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. ⁴ He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 

⁵ And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” ⁶ And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. ⁷ The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.   (Revelation 21:1-7)

Stepping out because we are not alone

³⁴ And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ³⁵ For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. ³⁶ For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? ³⁷ For what can a man give in return for his soul? ³⁸ For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”  (Mark 8:34-38)

These words are always a challenge to read.  Sometimes I think - "I'm doing that...stepping out in faith, moving my family, planting a church - starting something new and scary."  Then I think how well we have it.  Sure, we are still raising support in a bad economy.  Yes, we don't have a church yet (though things are moving along and we have even started informal Sunday morning worship).  But we are still so very blessed and loved.  I don't think my wife and I have ever really lacked for anything.  Our parents love us and have shown that for years by providing for us in so many ways...and we are grateful!  

Recently though, we have been on a journey that has included foster care.  We have done respite once and then had a little boy for nearly a month.  It was hard for us when he left, but we were glad to provide for him a loving home while we could.  It hasn't been an easy journey as we get a good number of calls about kids in need that we haven't been able to say yes to,...until now.  Though it's not completed yet, it looks like next week we will be bringing home a young boy with cystic fibrosis.  He is adorable and sweet, but he's also alone.  He has bounced around and he needs a home.  Erin and I have cried over the thought of a young child being homeless.  It's just not right!!  It's not the way things are supposed to be.  And we believe God has tugged on our hearts to provide that home.  Honestly, I'm scared of what it's going to be like.  I'm already feeling quite busy and full with a church plant...and now we'll be adding a child we know little about with a disease we know less about (though we are learning quickly).  

I have much more I could say, but I want to end with the lyrics to a song by Andrew Peterson.  The whole cd released last week sometime and these words in particular have brought tears to my wife's eyes and much comfort to my heart.  The thought that we are not alone - that Christ is always with us is amazing, and it's always good to be reminded.  But when we coupled that with the thought of this little boy being alone we knew we had to act.  Even though it will mean sacrifice for us and surely hard times, we can't deny God's call.  The words of Jesus never said it would be easy and I'm sure some people think we are crazy, but God's way doesn't seem normal to the world.  He calls us to lose our lives in order to gain them.  I don't want to ignore His harder words like these and this is one way I believe we can follow them...this child needs a home and I'm happy to be seen as crazy to lose my life and my comfort to provide that home for this boy.    

Rest Easy

Andrew Peterson

You are not alone
I will always be with you
Even to the end

You don’t have to work so hard

You can rest easy

You don’t have to prove yourself

You’re already mine

You don’t have to hide your heart

I already love you

I hold it in mine

So you can rest easy

Do not be afraid

Nothing, nothing in the world

Can come between us now

You don’t have to work so hard

You can rest easy

You don’t have to prove yourself

You’re already mine

You don’t have to hide your heart

I already love you

I hold it in mine

So you can rest easy

You work so hard to wear yourself down

And you’re running like a rodeo clown

You’re smiling like you’re scared to death

You’re out of faith and all out of breath

You’re so afraid you’ve got nowhere left to go

Well, you are not alone

I will always be with you

You don’t have to work so hard

You can rest easy

You don’t have to prove yourself

You’re already mine

You don’t have to hide your heart

I already love you

I hold it in mine

You can rest easy