Crosses

"We all have our crosses to bear." You've heard the phrase before. I don't know who first said it. It's not a direct quote from the Bible, but it's likely someone's interpretation of the verses:

1. "and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10:38)
2. "If anyone would come after me, he he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Mark 8:34)
3. "And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:27)


In two of those verses, Christ was talking to his disciples. It could have been the same conversation as recounted by two different men (Matthew and Mark). In the verse from Luke, he was talking to large crowds. None of these people, disciples included, imagined that Christ was going to be crucified on a cross. But it seems to be the best way to describe that Christ knew we would face trials. I mean, do they get any greater than dying on a cross?



I read this quote in the Streams in the Desert devotional yesterday and it really hit me:

George Matheson, the well-known blind preacher of Scotland, who recently went to be with the Lord, said: "My God, I have never thanked Thee for my thorn. I have thanked Thee a thousand times for my roses, but not once for my thorn. I have been looking forward to a world where I shall get compensation for my cross; but I have never thought of my cross as itself a present glory.
"Teach me the glory of my cross; teach me the value of my thorn. Show me that I have climbed to Thee by the path of pain. Show me that my tears have made my rainbows."


I don't want to look at our baby as a thorn or a cross. But the situations surrounding our present condition seem to present themselves that way sometimes. My prayer is that God would show His glory through our son's life and ours.




On a separate note... we're leaning toward having an amnio reduction on Monday (where the dr will drain amniotic fluid in hopes that it will relieve some pressure since the fluid level is so high already). Dr. L doesn't necessarily think this will eliminate my restrictions or medications to stop contractions, but it might allow me a bit more freedom to leave the sofa and go to church, for example. She thinks I'll be on the meds through the duration of my pregnancy and that I shouldn't consider lifting anything that I can't hold outright in the palm of my hand (I think at almost 28 pounds, that includes my sweet Nathan). My appt is at 9:30 on Monday morning. Please pray it goes smoothly and does not cause my water to break. Dr. L has basically said at this point that she is hoping we can make it to 34 weeks with 36 being ideal. It used to be 36 and 38. But please keep praying for at least 36 (mid-January). Thanks so much.



Oh, for those of you in the South who have had wonderful temps in the 70's lately... here are some photos. This snow has been here for 2 weeks now. Mark and Nathan built the snowman 2 weeks ago and it is still standing. No worries... they didn't block a real entrance to the garage. Our house actually has a 3-car garage (that could park 3 cars plus the snowblower, lawnmower, and patio set), which is common up here (compared to our shrink-wrapped garage in GA where we couldn't even fit 2 cars and a lawnmower).
This is the longest period of time Nathan has actually worn a hat. He was having so much fun making a snowman with Mark that he hardly noticed. Don't you just love his rosy cheeks?
The last photo is from our back deck. Can you picture deer back there? We haven't seen any since the snow, though. I don't know where they all went.