Cathy’s Corner

 

Today we celebrate the most important time for us as Christians. We celebrate the resurrection of our Savior and the Son of God, Jesus Christ. While the Cross Service on Friday evening reminded us of all that Jesus was willing to go through for us, today brings the celebration of a new life that we can have in Him. As I ponder all that means and thank Him for what He has done for me, I can’t help but think about the new life that was born into our family last week.  Jackson Scott Osterhoudt was born Thursday the 25^th at 5:02 pm. He weighed 8lbs 12ounces and of course is a beautiful baby.

 

But as I think about Jackson and how he is just barely a week old, I marvel at the miracle of his birth. Every baby is a miracle from God. Just to stop and think about conception and all the intricate details of a baby being formed in his mother’s womb makes you know that it is a miracle from God. Psalm 139:13 says “for you have formed my inward parts.” Think of all those inward parts, the tiny heart that begins beating instantly, the lungs that one day will take that first breath of air and function outside the womb, and the many other organs that are so vital to our day-to-day living. Verse 13 goes on to say “you have covered me in my mother’s womb.” I think of Jackson all tucked away nice and neat in his mother’s womb and how God was covering him and keeping him safe until he was ready to come into the world. Verse 15says “my frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.” Jackson has a beautiful little body, perfect shaped head, all ten fingers and toes. God skillfully put him together.

 

Jackson has his whole life ahead of him and he will bring his parents and family great joy. Psalm 139:16 says.”… and in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.” God already knows exactly what Jackson’s life will be like, He knows the plans He has for Jackson, He knows what Jackson’s personality will be like, what his bent will be and He has a purpose for Jackson’s life. Just as we celebrate Jackson’s new life (every day will be something new and fresh for him and the pages of his life are waiting to be written), as Christians we have the opportunity to start fresh every day as well. We have the opportunity to celebrate our new life we have in Christ and ask God to help us live each day for Him and for His purposes. God knows what will be written on the pages of our lives. If we choose to live for Him, then He can fulfill the purpose He has for our lives.

 

It is easy for me to see the miracle of a new baby especially when those new babies are my grandchildren and believe that God formed and fashioned them and He has a plan for their lives. Every week we have the opportunity to be used by God (one of our many purposes He has for us) to impact the lives of babies and children just like Jackson. I see parents bring their new babies for the first time to church and hand that baby over to a teacher like Stacie Edmiston and watch the way she reassures them that she will take the best possible care of their baby. I know that we are creating trust in that baby and those parents. I watch as Nancy Jackson sits on the floor of her class with a book telling those children about Jesus and know that we are planting seeds. I watch as Steve and Tracy Hall put their heart and soul into planning and acting out the many stories in the Bible and I know we are impacting the lives of those children and the world we are going to send them out to. When I sit in my office and counsel with a child that has come up through our preschool and listen to them tell me what they have learned and how they know that they need to be forgiven and want to ask Jesus to come into their heart, I know what we do makes a difference.

 

So, today as we celebrate Easter and what Jesus did for us, we celebrate too the miracle of birth and the unwritten pages of children’s lives that we have the opportunity and privilege to influence. Thank you from my heart for all you do, for being willing to serve Jesus by teaching children like Jackson that they can one day have a new life in Jesus.

 

Have a great day in the Lord!

 

Cathy’s Corner

 

Here we are waiting for a baby again. Cassandra is due March 25 but she was diagnosed with gestational diabetes several months ago and they told her she would probably be induced two to three weeks early. Last week the doctor put her to bed because of her blood pressure. The last two check ups they told her they would talk to her about inducing the next week. So each week she goes in expecting to be given a date but when you see a different doctor each time it seems like no one knows what the doctor the previous week told her. So here it is two weeks before her due date and we are waiting. There is nothing wrong with waiting and going to your due date, but when you are told all along that you will deliver two to three weeks early you kind of get that in your mind and expect it. So we are waiting. I think it would be awesome for him to be born tomorrow for several reasons which by the way I’m writing this on March 11^th because I plan on taking spring break off. So tomorrow is actually March 12^th and one of my very dear friend’s birthdays, I am off on Friday so I can be with her and it starts spring break which gives me an entire week to help her out after having the baby. So in my humble opinion March 12^th seems to be a great day for Jackson Scott to make his debut.

Waiting for grandbabies is really a lot of fun. When you are waiting for the ones that live far off, there is a bit of added stress/excitement wondering if you are going to get there in time. You can make the baby showers and go shopping together when they are home or you go there but usually you don’t get to go to any doctor’s visits and you don’t really get to see them pregnant very much. Waiting for grandbabies that live close by you get to share in the baby showers, shopping, the doctor’s visits watch their changing shape and are fairly sure you will get to the hospital in time when the time comes. Just like when Kiersten would call close to her due date I find myself answering Cassandra’s phone calls with anticipation of her telling me it’s time or asking me if I think she is in labor. What a beautiful experience to share with my children and I can’t wait to be able to tell the grandbabies about the day they were born and what all went on. God has blessed us with three beautiful daughters and daughter-in-law, and a great son and two son-in-laws.

 This is one of the best parts of being a parent; you get to be a grandparent. You get to share the experience of the miracle of a child coming into the world with your own child. You get to watch that tiny little life disrupt your children’s life the way they did yours. Okay I was kidding somewhat on that one, but you get my drift. Everything you think you knew about parenting goes out the window and God teaches you all these wonderful new lessons through your children. Like how a simple little smile from their sweet face when you know they have recognized you can melt your heart. How material things that you thought were so important before they came don’t seem to matter as much anymore. How you can do without and on a lot less so that your child can have what they need. How someone can hurt you, insult you and treat you very bad but if they so much as look the wrong way at your child there will be serious consequences to pay. How teaching them about Jesus is the most important thing I could do. I love my children; and I didn’t deserve to get to be there Mother. But I am so glad that God chose me to have been blessed by each one of them. I am so blessed to be a Mema too and look forward to all those lessons God is going to teach me through the grandbabies. So right now, Tex, Jax and baby girl Jones I love you and can’t wait to teach you about Jesus and how much He loves you.

Have a great day in the Lord

 

Ten Guidelines From God

Effective Immediately,
please be aware that there are changes YOU need
to make in YOUR life. These changes need to be
completed in order that I may fulfill My promises
to you to grant you peace, joy and happiness in
this life. I apologize for any inconvenience,
but after all that I am doing, this seems very
little to ask of you. Please, follow
these 10 guidelines

1. QUIT WORRYING:
Life has dealt you a blow and all you do is sit
and worry. Have you forgotten that I am here
to take all your burdens and carry them for you?
Or do you just enjoy fretting over every little
thing that comes your way?

2. PUT IT ON THE LIST:
Something needs done or taken care of. Put it
on the list. No, not YOUR list. Put it on MY
to-do-list.  Let ME be the one to take care
of the problem. I can't help you until you turn
it over to Me. And although My to-do-list
is long, I am after all... God. I can take care
of anything you put into My hands In fact,
if the truth were ever really known, I take
care of a lot of things for you that you never
even realize.

3. TRUST ME:
Once you've given your burdens to Me,
quit trying to take them back. Trust in
Me. Have the faith that I will take care of
all your needs, your problems and your trials.
Problems with the kids? Put them on My list.
Problem with finances? Put it on My list.
Problems with your emotional roller coaster?
For My sake, put it on My list. I want to
help you. All you have to do is ask. 

4. LEAVE IT ALONE:
Don't wake up one morning and say,
"Well, I'm feeling much stronger now, I think
I can handle it from here." Why do you think
you are feeling stronger now? It's simple.
You gave Me your burdens and I'm taking
care of them. I also renew your strength
and cover you in my peace. Don't you
know that if I give you these problems back,
you will be right back where you started?
Leave them with Me and forget about
them. Just let Me do my job.

5. TALK TO ME:
I want you to forget a lot of things.
Forget what was making you crazy.
Forget the worry and the fretting because
you know I'm in control. But there's one
thing I pray you never forget. Please, don't
forget to talk to Me - OFTEN! I love YOU!
I want to hear your voice. I want you to
include Me in on the things going on in your life.
I want to hear you talk about your friends
and family. Prayer is simply you having
a conversation with Me. I want to be your
dearest friend. 

6. HAVE FAITH:
I see a lot of things from up here that you
can't see from where you are. Have faith in
Me that I know what I'm doing. Trust Me;
you wouldn't want the view from My eyes.
I will continue to care for you, watch over you,
and meet your needs. You only have to trust Me.
Although I have a much bigger task than you,
it seems as if you have so much trouble just
doing your simple part. How hard can trust be?

7. SHARE:
You were taught to share when you were
only two years old. When did you forget?
That rule still applies. Share with those who are
less fortunate than you. Share your joy with
those who need encouragement. Share your
laughter with those who haven't heard any in
such a long time. Share your tears with those
who have forgotten how to cry. Share your faith
with those who have none. 

8. BE PATIENT:

I managed to fix it so in just one lifetime
you could have so many diverse experiences.
You grow from a child to an adult, have children,
change jobs many times, learn many trades,
travel to so many places, meet thousands
of people, and experience so much. How can
you be so impatient then when it takes Me
a little longer than you expect to handle
something on My to-do-list? Trust in My
timing, for My timing is perfect. Just
because I created the entire universe in
only six days, everyone thinks I should
always rush, rush, rush. 

9. BE KIND:
Be kind to others, for I love them just
as much as I love you. They may not dress
like you, or talk like you, or live the same way
you do, but I still love you all. Please try
to get along, for My sake. I created each
of you different in some way. It would be
too boring if you were all identical.
Please, know I love each of your differences.
 

10. LOVE YOURSELF:
As much as I love you, how can you not
love yourself? You were created by me for
one reason only -- to be loved, and to love
in return. I am a God of Love. Love Me.
Love your neighbors. But also love yourself.
It makes My heart ache when I see you
so angry with yourself when things go
wrong. You are very precious to me.
Don't ever forget......

 

 Touch someone with your love. 
Rather than focus upon the thorns of life,
smell the roses and count your blessings! 

 
All the wealth in the world could not buy you a friend,
nor could it pay for the loss of one