October Update

Hello Everyone, Happy Fall!

Thanks so much for all your continued prayers, this semester has been a huge blessing to us! The students just got back from outreach and we've been enjoying hearing about what the Lord did in and through them. The teams went to Greece, Kosovo, Austria, Romania, Serbia, and there were a few teams that served here in Hungary. God worked mightily in the hearts and lives of the people! I can't believe there is only 6 more weeks of school, the time is flying by.

Shaun is getting prepped for his next classes to start; Men's Discipleship and Ephesians, as well as finishing the last touches on the school's newly updated website. check it out when you can at www.ccbce.com

As for me, Megan, I thought I would just share a little bit about what Jesus has been teaching me being a new mom and all. I love being a mom. Let me rephrase that, I love being a mom to Jude Henry. I never quite knew how much I would love him, but as soon as I heard that little cry on January 28^th my heart was full and overflowing with a love I’ve never quite known before. That is as true today as it was then. Just when I think ‘how can I possibly love him more?’ I do. It’s like my heart grows overnight or something!

Something else I didn’t realize before I was a mom that I do now is how being a parent is so much about applying the gospel daily, moment by moment to my son. For example, I do everything for Jude... I wash him, I feed him, I clothe him, I play with him. He doesn’t do anything for me but that doesn’t change my love for him. I love him despite what he does or doesn’t do for me. And with a self-sacrificing love...I would do ANYTHING for him. I’m realizing with my heart now, not just my head, how I don’t have to do anything for the Lord to love me, He just does. He loves me for me, after all, He created me and knew me in my mother’s womb (Psalm 139) all so that I might know Him and His Son who gave up His life for me, a sinner. Here is an excerpt from a mother’s blog I got from a friend. She sums up what I’ve been learning:

Of course, this side of heaven we will not do perfectly. Harsh words will be spoken, patience will wear thin. Frazzled mothers will act frazzled. And when this happens, our own sinfulness does not detract from the power of the gospel, it illustrates why we need it. Do not use your own mistakes as an excuse to wallow about what a bad mother you are. Repent, seek forgiveness, get it right, and move on. Believe. Be forgiven. Extend that forgiveness, that belief, that joy, to your children.

As you go about your daily transformations, set your heart on the truth. Mimic the gospel in what you do. Bring peace, bring order, bring joy, bring laughter. Bring it because it was brought to you. Give, because it was given to you. The gospel is not too big to fit into little situations. It is too big not to.

(to read the rest of this post click on this link http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/motherhood-is-application)

I feel so honored that I get to see a little more into God’s heart towards us His children. That is what God calls us, His children. We should never forget that. Because of Jesus I belong to God whom I now call my Father, my Dad! My love for Jude doesn’t even come close to the love God has for us, His kids. He loves me more than I can even dare to think, He loves Jude more than I can even dare to think, and He loves YOU more than you can even dare to think! God’s Word says this:

For the Lord your God is living among you.

He is a mighty savior.

He will take delight in you with gladness.

With his love, he will calm all your fears.

He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.

(Zephaniah 3v17)

I recently heard a message on Ephesians 1v5 that similarly talks a little bit about what I shared. It’s Britt Merrick out of Reality Santa Barabara and you can click on the link below to hear the message. It’s titled Abandonment and Adoption. I highly recommend it, Jesus will touch your heart! Thanks so much for taking the time to read my thoughts, and for simply being a part of our lives!

http://www.realitysb.com/santa-barbara/sermons/abandonment-and-adoption/