2008 at 10:02 pm | by Janelle Bradshaw
My baby girl is 9 days old today and as of this morning’s doctor’s visit, weighing in at 8lbs 8oz.
I really cannot write another word without thanking all of you for your prayers and kind e-mails! They were such an encouragement to me.
I have been completely overwhelmed by God’s kindness to me in the birth of my MJ. He graciously answered my prayers for no c-section. My recovery has been completely different from Caly’s as I have regained my strength much more quickly and have not battled those baby blues like I did the first time around. The world of two kids has proved less challenging for me than one. And though I know that there will be difficult days to come, I’m enjoying the Lord’s gift of a smooth start. I have been spoiled by my husband, mom, sisters and mother-in-law. They have taken super great care of me and my girlies. Love y’all lots!
Here are some of the first pics of MJ girl. She was very cooperative during her photo session.
2008 at 5:09 pm | by Carolyn Mahaney
Filed under
Biblical Womanhood Suffering
On his blog today CJ recalls where we were on the morning of 9/11:
September 11, 2001 was, for me, memorable. It marked the first morning of a very special trip with my wife to the quaint town of Chatham on Cape Cod. Carolyn and I had just finished breakfast at the Wayside Inn and were eager to begin this relaxing and romantic day together. And the day could not have been more inviting.
But while preparing to pay for breakfast, I noticed a gathering of people in the adjoining bar area, studying a television screen. Curious, I took a place among them and learned what they already knew: Two jet airplanes had crashed into the World Trade Center towers, both the apparent attacks of terrorists.
We made our way back to our hotel room stunned and perplexed by the images we had briefly viewed. Just yesterday we had flown into Logan International Airport in Boston, now the airport of origin for the two flights that slammed into the towers.
What about you? he goes on to ask:
Do you remember what you were thinking and feeling as you watched horrific replay after horrific replay of the commercial jets crashing into the World Trade Center towers? How about when you learned that Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon and Flight 93 crashed into a Pennsylvania field? And if that wasn’t incomprehensible enough, do you remember what you were thinking and feeling as you watched replay after replay of the towers rumbling, collapsing, and disappearing from the New York city skyline?
In this article (intended to help pastors lead through crisis situations) he also reminds all of us what is most important to remember in a crisis: the sovereignty of God.
For the Christian, there is no greater comfort in a crisis than to be reminded and reassured of the sovereignty of God. But the common temptation and tendency in the midst of crisis is to forget or doubt God’s sovereignty. In the immediate unsettling emotional effect of a national crisis, we are tempted by sins of fear, worry, and unbelief. We are confused and perplexed. How can we reconcile God’s sovereignty, goodness, and wisdom with the looping video clips of events like 9/11?
Crisis has a way of rudely reminding us of mystery—the mystery of providence, evil, sin, and suffering. And these mysteries won’t be solved by more reading and study. D.A. Carson writes:
The mystery of providence defies our attempt to tame it by reason. I do not mean it is illogical; I mean that we do not know enough to be able to unpack it and domesticate it. Perhaps we may gauge how content we are to live with our limitations by assessing whether we are comfortable in joining the biblical writers in utterances that mock our frankly idolatrous devotion to our own capacity to understand.
There will always be an element of mystery in relation to our comprehension of God and his purpose. And especially in crisis. There will always be secret things we are incapable of understanding in our sinfulness and finitude (Deuteronomy 29:29). We must…become comfortable with—and appropriately humbled by—mystery.
But it’s not all mystery. God does not simply leave us paralyzed by the mysterious. In Scripture God has revealed his character, his purpose, and—most importantly—the work of his Son on the cross. These provide us with more than sufficient certainty and comfort in the midst of the most mysterious and perplexing crisis and suffering. God doesn’t reveal to me all I want to know; but he has revealed all I need to know. In crisis situations I must resist the temptation of devoting time and energy to trying to figure out what is clearly beyond my comprehension, and instead devote myself to what is clearly revealed in Scripture about the sovereignty and purpose of God. This will have a transforming effect on my soul.
For more on God’s sovereignty in suffering we recommend—
How Long O Lord? By DA Carson
When God Weeps by Joni Eareckson Tada and Steve Estes
and
Suffering and the Sovereignty of God edited by John Piper and Justin Taylor
2008 at 4:03 pm | by Nicole Whitacre
Filed under
Biblical Womanhood Modesty
With the changing of the seasons come the new fall fashions. As we stand in front of the dressing room mirror or our closet at home, John Calvin, the great reformer, has two questions for us. In short, he wonders, what do our clothes say about our relationship to God?
“Where is our gratefulness toward God for our clothing if in the sumptuousness of our apparel we both admire ourselves and despise others, if with its elegance and glitter we prepare ourselves for shameless conduct?”
and
“Where is our recognition of God if our minds be fixed upon the splendor of our apparel? For many so enslave all their senses to delights that the mind lies overwhelmed.” (HT: Justin Taylor)
If other words, what brazen ungratefulness is expressed if we proudly admire ourselves for the clothing God has provided, if we dress to attract the attention and admiration of others instead of drawing their attention to God, and worst of all, if we dress to “allure men sexually?” What kind of “thank you” is this to God for His good gift of attractive, comfortable, and warm clothing?
And how can our minds be fixed upon the goodness and the glory of God if they are consumed with thoughts of what we wear? If we are preoccupied with the latest fashions, which (like the grass) will be here today and gone tomorrow, how can we worship and love the eternal Savior with all our minds?
Sobering questions as we consider fall fashions. I am convicted.
2008 at 3:16 pm | by Carolyn Mahaney
Filed under
Biblical Womanhood Joy
There is nothing special about today. It is not a holiday. It’s not my birthday or wedding anniversary. I am not celebrating any particular milestone in my life. It’s simply another ordinary day, filled with the usual commonplace tasks: cooking, cleaning, laundry, caring for the needs of my family….
And yet author Samuel Ward has reminded me that though ordinary, this day should be like a holiday, a celebration. I should have a Christmas-like spirit on this rainy September day, because, as Mr. Ward writes:
“It is sad to see a Christian pursuing joy in coarse and earthly pleasures when he has more noble and angelical delights, second only in degree and manner of enjoyment to heaven itself. Our faith takes us to the third heaven. We roll and tumble our souls in beds of roses, that is, our meditations of justification, sanctification, and salvation through Christ. No day should pass without these enjoyments. Should not our soul have her due drinks, breakfasts, meals, snacks, and desserts, as well as our body? Cannot such meditations make pleasant work of our daily tasks? They would make time pass by like a boat with full wind and tide, needing no oars. They would make all of our days like holidays and celebrations.” (HT: Tony Reinke)
As we “roll and tumble our souls in beds of roses, that is, our meditations of justification, sanctification, and salvation through Christ,” it makes pleasant work of our daily tasks and turns the most ordinary days into holidays.
Won’t you celebrate with me today?
2008 at 1:38 pm | by Nicole Whitacre
Filed under
Biblical Womanhood Spiritual Disciplines
I made a new resolution recently. It’s a good idea I’ve known about for a long time but never consistently put into practice. (Sadly, it’s one of many!) I’m purposing to review the Sunday message in my Monday quiet time.
My mom made this point (in a post I can’t find at the moment): If our pastor, whom God has called and gifted to preach, spends many hours studying God’s Word to share it with us, shouldn’t we be humble and diligent to review and apply that truth?
Our Senior Pastor here at Sovereign Grace Church, Mark Mullery, is an exceptional expositor of Scripture, as are the other men who regularly fill the pulpit (you’ll forgive my bias if I tell you my husband is my favorite?). Sunday after Sunday I am instructed, convicted, and encouraged only to forget what I heard by Monday morning. I want that to change. I want to extract the full benefit from the weekly preaching of God’s Word.
So this morning I reviewed my notes from yesterday’s sermon. My dad happened to be the visiting preacher and he spoke from Psalm 42 on “Speaking to Yourself.”
“In the Psalms,” he explained (quoting David Powlison), “God meets you where you are.” Then he made the potentially audacious claim that “The truth in this Psalm, if applied, can dramatically change your life” It’s true. That’s why I’m trying to apply it today.
I bet a lot of great sermons were preached all over the world yesterday. I wish I could have heard them all. But let me encourage you to review the notes from your pastor’s sermon. And if you have extra time, listen to “Speaking to Yourself.”
Let’s take full advantage of the preaching of God’s Word.
“The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” Ps. 19:7-11
2008 at 9:50 pm | by Nicole Whitacre
Filed under
Fun Stuff Friday Funnies
Janelle and MJ came home from the hospital today and hopefully they will both have a good night sleep tonight. We’ll sign off with just the Friday Funnies today. Maybe this young girl can give Caly some babysitting tips!
Thanks again for all your prayers for Janelle!
Nicole for the girltalkers
2008 at 3:47 pm | by Nicole Whitacre
Filed under
Fun Stuff Birth Day Diaries
I spoke to Mike a little while ago (Janelle was sleeping, thankfully!) and he sent me these pictures of MJ. If any are blurry it’s probably because I took them…I’m not the photographer in the family. But Mike asked me to thank all of you again for your prayers and emails of encouragement. God answered your prayers for no c-section and for a healthy baby. Mike and Janelle are grateful for your care as yet another evidence of God’s undeserved goodness to their family.
2008 at 6:08 pm | by Nicole Whitacre
Filed under
Fun Stuff Birth Day Diaries
Baby MJ and Mommy are both doing great. Janelle is feeling very good and MJ is healthy and content. Soon they will be transferred to the postpartum room. Right now Caly is getting acquainted with her new little sister and Mike’s parents are getting to hold their new little granddaughter for the first time. Mike and Janelle want to thank all of you for their prayers. They are so grateful!
The only pic I have right now is one I snapped with my phone, but we’ll post more as soon as we are able…
2008 at 5:16 pm | by Nicole Whitacre
Baby MJ came into the world just a few minutes ago. She was delivered naturally and is screaming her cute little head off right now. She’s 8lb even and 21 1/2 in long. More details and pics to come!
2008 at 4:01 pm | by Nicole Whitacre
Filed under
Fun Stuff Birth Day Diaries
Well, the epidural worked the second time…so well that she’s been playing Solitaire on her phone while contracting. Then, just a few moments ago her water broke on its own. Nurse says she is completely effaced and ten cm. Shouldn’t be too long now!
2008 at 2:40 pm | by Nicole Whitacre
Filed under
Fun Stuff Birth Day Diaries
Not much to report except that unfortunately the epidural didn’t seem to take. She’s in more pain than she was before, but hopefully they’ll be here soon to give it to her again.
2008 at 12:17 pm | by Nicole Whitacre
Filed under
Fun Stuff Birth Day Diaries
Just saw the doctor. He’s given the order for the epidural so she won’t have long to wait now. After examining her charts the doctor thinks she might not be as overdue as she thought. He thinks the due date was probably more like August 29 or so. That’s good news. Janelle would continue to appreciate your prayers that she will be able to deliver naturally. But of course, she is trusting God for whatever the outcome, and still joking around in between contractions. Oh, and they will break her water around 1pm or so.
Talking to Caly: "Baby MJ’s gonna be here today!"
Mike helping her through a contraction…
2008 at 11:38 am | by Nicole Whitacre
Filed under
Fun Stuff Birth Day Diaries
Pitocin has been administered and her contractions are between 3 and 7 minutes apart. Still at 4cm though. She’s starting to feel some pain and asking for the epidural now before it gets really painful….
2008 at 11:26 am | by Nicole Whitacre
Filed under
Fun Stuff Birth Day Diaries
Here are the first pics…
Chalkboard in MJ’s room….
In the waiting room…
Hooked up to the IV and all ready to go….
2008 at 10:37 am | by Nicole Whitacre
Filed under
Fun Stuff Birth Day Diaries
Checked in at the hospital at 8:46 am and were assigned a room a few minutes ago. Janelle has started to have some contractions about ten minutes a part. She’s already wants an epidural! More updates and pics soon….
Page 2 of 3 pages < 1 2 3 >
