A New Direction

It's been a heart-wrenching week. Today I cleaned house for a fellow teacher at our homeschool co-op. Last Sunday evening her sweet two-year-old, Abigail, was accidentally run over on the weekend of her second birthday. Sometimes even God's sovereignty can seem cruel, but I know He is good. Caleb has cried on and off all week, as Abigail Hope's brother and sister are his friends. It's just been a somber week. The reminder of death and life. The stark embrace that this world is not my home. I grow so weary.

If you're in my life at all personally, you know Jamie and I are restless. We know God is moving, stretching, breaking our hearts for the things that break His heart. We've seen our vision and longings go places we could have never dreamed of hoping for. I have an amazing leader and husband. All this to say, we feel God tenderly pushing us in a new direction.

We are broken for orphan ministry. We've come to realize our longing is not to simply rescue one little girl from injustice, but to develop a lifestyle of ministering to those who are face to face with the consequences of sin's depravity...on a more deep and dirty level. We want not one orphan in our home, but many, and we want to come alongside the birthmothers, pointing them to the transforming power of the gospel. I've never seen Jamie so passionate, or so confident of what God is leading us to. It's scared me. But I've also never been more uncertain of what our life will look like a year from now, or five, or ten. I'm so excited.

So, what does that mean? I don't know. I don't know who, or where, or what or when. I just know that we both believe God has conceived a dream and promise within us for our family. So we'll wait, and hope and rest. We've registered to take the class to become certified foster parents through Alabama Baptist. These classes would begin in September and, Lord willing, we be able to open our home around Christmas. So, that's our first steps.

This past week I shared some of the deep talks and struggles Jamie and I've been having concerning these things with an acquaintance. This person remarked, "Why would you do that to your children? You're not content with what God has given you." It humbled me because I would have been the one saying these words, even two years ago. What an honor it is to pass a vision of the gospel on to those in the covenant body. But also for my children, what a scary place it would be for them to suffer the consequences of comfort and complacency as a result of my lack of faith.

Pray for the Dahlen family. Pray for God's mercy, comfort and compassion to be evident like never before. Pray that Brandy, Michael, Sweet Anna Faith, Nathan, Samuel, and Eli would feel the Father's loving, tender pursuit.

Because of Christ's great love for us,

Catie

Friday and Saturday Family Devotional

Hi All!

Yesterday was semi-nutty with Good Friday services and activities. Here's the Friday and Saturday devotionals. I'm super excited about some of the things God has done through them this week. I'll share more later!

Friday

Shorter Catechism Question #141

Did Christ remain in the grave after his crucifixion?

No. He rose bodily from the grave on the third day after his death.

John 20:1-18

After Jesus died, his friends took His body and placed it in a tomb. Then, they rolled a giant stone in front of the tomb to keep Jesus’ body safe.

Early on Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene, Peter, and some of Jesus’ friends returned to the tomb. They went because they loved Jesus, and their hearts were so sad that He was dead. When they reached the tomb, the stone had been rolled away. Jesus was not there! Suddenly, they understood all the things Jesus had said to them. They remembered that Jesus had to die, but that He would rise again.

As the disciples ran home, Mary Magdalene stood crying. When she looked in the tomb, there were two angels where Jesus’ body should have been. Suddenly, someone called her by name. It was Jesus, and Mary Magdalene worshipped Him. Jesus gently rebuked her and encouraged her to go and tell the disciples that he would be returning to His father, our Father, very soon. Jesus’ simple words reminded Mary that we no longer have to be separated from God. His death rescued us to be free in God’s love.

· Have you ever had someone close to you die? How did you feel when that happened?

· How did Jesus’ friends feel when they found His body was gone?

· How do you think Mary felt when Jesus called her by name?

· How can our lives be different if we are free in God’s love, and no longer have to be separated from Him?

· Praise God that He made Jesus alive again! Thank Him for the life we have because of Jesus.

Sing the Doxology.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Praise Him all creatures here below.

Praise Him above ye heavenly host.

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Amen.

Saturday

Shorter Catechism Question #142

Where is Christ now?

In heaven, ruling His kingdom and interceding for us.

Read Matthew 27:50-66

As Jesus Christ struggled to breathe, darkness fell. When He was nailed to the cross, all of God’s wrath and anger that we deserved was put completely on Jesus. There was nothing left for us. Jesus took our full punishment. As soon as Jesus’ physical body died, the Bible says the temple curtain was torn in two, from top to bottom. In God’s temple, man could not enter the Holy of Holies, which was God’s special dwelling place beyond the curtain. But now God, himself, destroyed it. God’s children were now welcomed into His presence. He longed for them. God had been planning and waiting for this moment since the first sin of Adam and Eve. He had been weaving together His plan to rescue His covenant children.

Jesus is our priest, our High Priest. He took all the sin that ever was, and all the sin that would ever be, on Him when He died. We never have to fear going to God because of what Jesus did. We can be honest about who we are and the bad things we’ve done because God only sees Jesus when He looks at us.

· Describe a time when someone defended you, or when you defended someone else.

· Have you ever felt unloved by God or afraid to go to Him?

· How does it make you feel to know that God welcomes you into His presence?

· What are some things you can do to be open to God’s presence in your life?

· Thank God that He longs for us. Thank Him for rescuing us through His plan in Jesus.

Sing verse one of Holy, Holy, Holy!

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Reginal Heber 1826

Thursday Easter Family Devotional

This one is my favorite!

Thursday

Shorter Catechism Questions #140

Who may rightly partake of the Lord’s Supper?

Those who repent of their sins, trust in Christ, live a godly life, and profess their faith before the Church.

Read Matthew 26:1-16

Jesus talked with His disciples as He had several times before. Except now, the time had almost run out. He told them He would be turned over to be crucified at Passover, in only two days. While Jesus talked with His closest friends, others, who thought He was a dangerous enemy, planned His death. Jesus knew what was coming, and He knew His Father, the one true God, loved Him more deeply than we could ever dream. So days before His death, Jesus sat and ate with those no one else wanted to be with. He dined at Simon the Leper’s house, a man who would have been the outcast of society. He watched as Mary, a woman other men wouldn’t be in the same room with, washed His feet with expensive perfume, and wiped the dirt off with her hair. And when the disciples said she wasted precious money that could have been used for better things, Jesus said she gave Him beautiful worship.

· Describe a time you felt “left out”, like an outcast. How did it feel?

· What would it have been like to be in a room with Jesus just days before His death?

· Would you have been willing to spend time with those others didn’t want to be around? Why or Why not?

· How can you worship Jesus today as the one true King?

· Thank God that He loves you, and invites you to worship Him.

Sing “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High.”

Lord I lift Your name on high

Lord I love to sing Your praises

I'm so glad You're in my life

I'm so glad You came to save us

You came from heaven to earth

(To show the way)

From the earth to the cross

(My debt to pay)