August 6, 2014
He is for all people…If only, all people were for Him!
…The Promised Land…
Events this summer have made beautiful memories and have held countless blessings with the celebrations of ‘life’ in our family. Baby Samuel Eldon was born on July 17. Two weeks later, our youngest grand-daughter, Ginny, celebrated her ‘first’ birthday, and the next day, Charlee Ann Marie entertained a few of her friends and family and turned ‘two’. The girls relished the attention and the ‘birthday song’ and the candle on the cupcake; but, both were much more interested in the festivities than in the ‘tasting of the cake’. That is certainly one of the differences between a child and a grown-up. (I am certain that appreciating a delicious birthday cake or wedding cake is a sign of maturity…at least I hope so!)
Perhaps the birthday cake or cupcakes are for the adoring parents…at least in our family this must be true. For Charlee’s parents, the day of the ‘wedding cake tasting’ to determine which cakes they would serve to their guests was the highlight of their wedding planning…And birthdays are incomplete without the delectable treats…right?
To properly commemorate the birth of our first grandson, the ‘Celebrating Samuel’ confections were delicious sugar cookies from a little bakery in Marble Falls, Sugar Mama Cookies, absolutely the best! They were individually bagged with love and care…Yes, and as I reflect, each one of the grand-children has been welcomed into this world with the distribution of a scrumptious cookie or cupcake…Hmmmmmm
“I am the bread of life. No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry again. Those who believe in Me will never thirst…” John 6:35 (NLT)
Distribution of Love…
I am constantly amazed at our Almighty God…nothing is more miraculous than new life…new birth…and nothing connects lives with such adherence other than the birth of a child. And I know that God, in His omnipotent wisdom planned accordingly. New life is a beginning…it is fresh, it is hope-filled…it is a gift of confirmation by the Giver of Life, by the Creator, by the Author of Eternity…confirmation that He still reigns…He always will. He is Sovereign…He is God Almighty. And this God of Love, this God of Life, gives this world a chance, with each new life…a chance to connect…to reconcile…to commit to life and to love. A chance to live beyond ourselves, and an opportunity to embrace the Holy God who makes all of this possible. A chance for Hope…the Hope who came as an infant, Yeshua Christ…bringing with His Life, the chance to live in God’s presence, in His Kingdom.
Connection of Love…
As I remember those hours of ‘the wait’, in the St. David’s North Women’s Center, I reflect on the relationships and the human connection which occurred during those long moments, while our daughter labored to bring their son into this world. Not only was a child being brought into this world, but lives were being connected during ‘the wait’. Bill and I were blessed by the visit of life-long friends, the Capertons, who have been doing life with us for over twenty-five years; we were blessed to sit and to wait with Barry’s father…a loving, amazing grandfather to his grands…a U.S. Veteran, so proud and thankful to be an American…and we listened to some of his life experiences…yes, lives were connected. And then, the beautiful, lovely woman from India who was visiting the U.S. to celebrate the birth of her grandchild as her daughter waited for a c-section delivery. She sat alone in the large waiting area while all of the other people sat in groups, talking and waiting. She was lovely…and somber…and appeared to be lonely…
“Jesus soon saw a great crowd of people climbing the hill, looking for Him…Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and passed them out to the people…” and Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry again. Those who believe in Me will never thirst…I am the true bread from Heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever and not die as your ancestors did, even though they ate the manna.” John 6:5, 11, 35, 58 (NLT)
Distribution of Love…
Our friend had brought delicious bakery treats to help us to pass the time…and, there is no doubt that food speaks a universal language…Jesus taught this principle as He cared for the physical hunger of His followers and the curious seekers…and yes…He was the answer to their spiritual hunger as well…
I took a box of the baked goods and a bottle of water and slowly approached this woman…Although there was a distinct language barrier, the offer of food is universal…a smile is universal…new life is universal…grand-mothers’ hearts are universal…And I sat with her for a few minutes…just sat with her. And I know in my heart that God connected our lives in these moments…I told her that I would pray for her daughter…for safe delivery for her grand-daughter…Yes, I was able to determine that the baby was a little girl…
I checked on her periodically during the long wait…After a few hours, a young man came out into the waiting area and she went back to see her daughter…still no baby…The young Indian man spoke English and thanked me for the kindness…And I thanked him for the lovely gracious family member of his…Once again, food is universal…a smile is universal…new life is universal…and yes, I told him that I would pray for his wife…for his daughter because God is an amazing God! And he accepted some of the delicious treats and a bottle of water…
And finally, hours later, their baby girl came into this world…and all was well…The beautiful woman from India, so many miles from her home country, stood and with tears in her eyes, she looked at me, and held her arms, as she would do to cradle a baby…and rocked them gently…all was well…Her grand-daughter had come into this world bringing with her hope! And yes, new life is universal…God is Love…and Love is universal…
He is for all people…If only, all people were for Him!
The Promised Land
And, our wait finally passed as little Samuel Eldon was born into our world…new life is universal…And, as we had experienced before as our son and daughter-in-love became parents three times…and as our daughter and son-in-love have now given birth to their second child, we, as the ‘grands’, are in the Promised Land of the blessings of the fruit of life…of the connection of family…of friends…of other pilgrims in this world…the miracle of new life…the miracle of our own children experiencing the great love and the great hope of new life…the great miracle. They now have the opportunity and the responsibility to live beyond themselves and to sacrifice for a greater purpose other than for themselves…And they have the duty…the privilege…the responsibility…and the opportunity to teach their precious ones about their Loving, Almighty, Sovereign, God of the Universe…and about His Love who came as an infant, baby…as the Hope and the Light of the world. They are blessed…they are blessed. Yes…we are blessed…we are blessed…It truly is the Promised Land…
The Promised Land…
Into his Hands…
It is a rare moment to have the opportunity to sit and speak with someone who delivers into this world, on a daily basis, numerous bundles of joy. After our wait, Bill and I had the opportunity to sit with the doctor who delivered our fifth grandchild.
I am constantly amazed at our Almighty God…nothing is more miraculous than new life…new birth…and nothing connects lives with such adherence other than the birth of a child. And I know that God, in His omnipotent wisdom planned accordingly. New life is a beginning…it is fresh, it is hope-filled…it is a gift of confirmation by the Giver of Life, by the Creator, by the Author of Eternity…confirmation that He still reigns…He always will. He is Sovereign…He is God Almighty. And this God of Love, this God of Life, gives this world a chance, with each new life…a chance to connect…to reconcile…to commit to life and to love. A chance to live beyond ourselves, and an opportunity to embrace the Holy God who makes all of this possible. A chance for Hope…the Hope who came as an infant, Yeshua Christ…bringing with His Life, the chance to live in God’s presence, in His Kingdom.
Dr. Mark Akin and Bill have interests in common, it is true. This physician, who attended The University of Texas on a football scholarship, received his Undergraduate and Masters Degrees with honors in Environmental Health Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, earned his medical degree from The University of Texas Southwestern School of Medicine, and completed his residency at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, now has delivered hundreds of babies and has designed hospitals. He also is the proud grandfather of three grand- babies with more on the way! But, not one person would guess that this gifted physician would have a passion for the profession which established Bill’s initial career…yes, both men have the common interest in the sport of drag racing…Dr. Mark Akin loves sportsman racing at the “Plex”…the Texas Motorplex! And he is the car owner…and he is the driver!
I am amazed at how our Great and Mighty God connects our lives…connects our lives with His people, with His creation, allowing us to do life with one another.
We sat with this man and talked, and listened, and laughed and shared life stories…we sat with the man who now has had a significant and life-changing impact on our family…and thousands of other families throughout the years. We sat with the man whom God has gifted as His instrument to assist in bringing the miracle of life into this world. A world which cries out for Hope…for Life…for Love…for New Life…and this man, Mark Akin, is allowing his hands to be used by our Great and Holy God…just as Dr. Akin asks his nurse assistants for necessary medical tools and instruments…God is asking this physician for his hands to be used as God’s tools and as His instruments. And Dr. Mark Akin said, “Yes!” to the calling on his life…
The Promised Land…Into His Hands…
“Don’t be afraid for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)
And, we are so deeply thankful for each connection that God has made in our lives…every day, every year…every hour of ‘the wait’. I am so thankful that the Lord, our Yeshua Christ made sure that the physical needs of curiosity seekers and of His followers were met…that they were fed and that they were given drink…And I am so deeply thank-filled that our Lord gave to us the Bread and the Wine so that we would have every deep spiritual longing, craving, and every spiritual necessity satisfied by His provision…by His Life…and with it, He paid our ransom…We belong to Him!
And when the hands of the gifted physician, Dr. Mark Akin, and the other doctors who answer the call on their lives…when their hands receive the blessing of new life, of new hope, of new love, at the birth of new life, and then hand over the tiny infant to their parents…I pray that these parents know the God of the Universe…I pray that they have a personal relationship with Him…the One who is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords…I pray that they entrust…that they place…that they yield and submit their precious baby’s life…Into His Hands…the Hands of the Giver and the Sustainer of Life…
And I pray for Dr. Mark Akin…and for the other physicians…that they know and that they believe that they are the tools and the instruments of the Almighty God…I pray that they know and believe that they are living as the hands of God…I pray that the miracle of life leads each one of them to a very personal relationship with their Savior…with their God…who loves each one of them…and who delights in the work of their hands…the work of their heart as they contribute to the “Promised Land”…to the Kingdom of God!
And, I am thankful for the sweet grandmother who baked the beautiful cookies, which helped to welcome little Samuel into the world…I am thankful to our friends who visited and brought the yummy treats to the hospital…I am thankful for the baker of the wedding cakes…for the baker of the cupcakes for our other grands…and for the birthday celebrations…I am thankful that the sharing of food and water is universal…that the celebration of new life is universal.
I know that in this life, I will most certainly not see my beautiful Indian friend again, the woman who waited for the birth of her precious grand-daughter…but I know in my heart that I connected with another soul on this earth because of love…because of life…connected by the physical needs and connected by the spiritual needs…and for this beautiful woman I pray that her search leads her to the One true King of Kings…the Only True God who has given to her a step into the “Promised Land”…filled with new life…new love…new hope…I will never forget her.
And, I celebrate life with each one of you and I pray that your lives connect today with others who need to hear the universal language of love through food, water, sustenance, through life…through the Hope of their Savior…through the great news that God wants to lead each one into the “Promised Land”…for it is a place where one yields and submits their life into His care, into His Love, “Into His Hands”…into the Loving Hands of Yeshua Christ…
Abundant love, hope, and joy,
