In 14 days she will be three months old and I can not believe just how fast she is growing! Its amazing to think that just three months ago, we had no idea what she would look like, or what her personality would be, and now she has grown into this beautiful daughter of ours. For those who may not know this, when Fen was born, she had a broken collarbone and four broken ribs, all on her right side. It was one of the scariest moments of my life, knowing that this was extremely rare, and that she may have a bone disease that could cause her to have very brittle bones. Our hearts were broken for her, as she cried in pain, but through the many prayers of family and friends, she was ok. I now ask that as she grows into a beautiful daughter of Christ, that you would continue to pray for her relationship with God. That as she grows, she would continually seek to fall in love with Jesus, making Him the sole purpose of her life. With the distractions and trials she will face, we know how hard it will be for her to remain strong in Christ through all of it. We want Him to be number one in her life...not myself, nor my wife or any of our family. But Him solely. This is what we want most for our baby girl, over anything else, and we would love to have y'all praying with us for her growth in Him.
This is my other child. You can pray for him not to be a psychotic, hyper, and crazy, dog. Makes me want to pull my eyelashes out sometimes.
1992 chevy pickup truck was my very first car. I got it when I was 16 years old, right as I got my drivers license. It was my grandfather Chuck's, then it was my fathers, and was then passed on to me. Was an amazing truck and lasted through the ages. But as of last week, I did sell this truck and I will now be riding around on this bad boy for the next couple months...
It is going to be quite the ride (pun intended) and I am excited for the new, simpler way of commuting. Excited for the new adventure.
Just recently, I was left alone with my daughter for a good four hours, just hanging out while my wife was at work. As I flipped through Netflix and glanced at the multiple options of movies/TV shows, I came across a movie that I could probably watch every single day...World War Z. Was this a good flick for my daughter watch, probably not, but again she is only three months old.
If anyone has seen this movie, you know that it is nothing short of excitement; quite a nail bitter. Or maybe you hated it. But as for me, I thoroughly enjoy watching this movie. I do not know what it is about it, but I love it.
There is one line in the movie that I absolutely love. If you have not seen it, I am sorry for spoiling this part, but about 20 minutes in, Gerry (Brad Pitt) and his family find themselves in an apartment complex hiding from zombies, trying to make their way to the rooftop, where a helicopter is waiting for them. Overnight, they stay in a little apartment, owned by a hispanic family. Before Gerry and his family leave in the morning for the rooftop, he begs the family to come with them. That there is safety, and they can make it out of the city. But the family insists on staying...they think they are better off. And here is the line the Gerry responds with...
"I used to work in dangerous places and people who moved survived and those who didn't...movement is life. Movement is life."
Gerry was ultimately referring to his time of service in the United Nations, but everytime I watch this movie, this line catches my attention. Movement is life...movement is life...movement is life. Another spoiler, but the family that stays behind in the apartment, any guess as to what happens to them? You got it...they die.
Now for some of you, this may be a stretch, but, this statement easily transfers into my walk with Christ as I continually search to be more and more like Him. That hispanic family, they had a choice to make...move out in danger with Gerry and his family, searching for help, or to remain in their apartment and literally wait to die. They chose the later, but I am sure they didn't actually think they would die. They probably assumed they would be just fine and safe living with the resources they had. When I look back at my walk with Christ, I see this statement, movement is life, littered throughout the whole thing. See, as Christians we are called to go...we are called to move...we are called to invest in the unknown. Step into uncharted waters...like the beautiful song "Oceans" states, "Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the waters, where ever you would call me." God teaches us in His word, that He will lead us out into uncharted waters, but He will always be with us. We could remain...we could live the cautionary life, but wouldn't we just end up like that hispanic family? Dead...lost...never putting our trust in God and allowing Him to lead our lives. Ultimately, we end up thinking that everything is fine, when in fact, the life we seek can only be found in movement...moving closer to Him. And before you know it, we are further away from who God is calling us to be than ever before. All because we wanted to stay behind, play it safe, putting no risk before us.
My prayer for all of us is that we will not stay put. That we will not continue to live a mediocre life where we choose safety over risk. That we would move. That we would seek Christ in all aspects. That we would look to serve Him and serve people, whatever it costs, because movement is life. Paul writes in Philippians 4:4,
"Rejoice in the Lord always; I'll say it again, rejoice!"
No matter where your life may take you, Rejoice. Rejoice. Rejoice. I am going to end with the beautiful lyrics of a song Bethel has recently wrote.
You make me brave.
You make me brave.
You call me out beyond the shore into the waves.
You make me brave.
You make me brave.
No fear can hinder now the love that made a way.
Remember you serve a God that is capable of all things, and that God is good, even when life isn't good to you. Don't be a result of lack of faith and movement. Be brave.
Until Next Time,
-JTD-
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