Birth Stories

My daughter-in-law is past due with our second grandchild. Her mother came over to be here for the birth and to help afterwards. Three women and a waiting baby … birth stories are a natural result. After much sharing it occurred to me that in all of our stories there were just a couple of things that were the same,

· T The pregnant mother

· T The newborn baby

Everything else was different.

Jesus told Nicodemus, “To enter the Kingdom of Heaven, you must be born again.” If you want life … eternal or otherwise … you have to be born … you have to have a birth story. But aside from a few facts … our stories are going to be pretty different.

Sometime we get to comparing our Christian “birth” stories and either come away feeling inferior … like we did it wrong somehow, or feeling smug like we did it better than someone else. The truth is … we were born in our own unique God given way. The Word of God says that He is the One who draws all men to Himself. The story is not about us, we just get to be in the story.

Let’s look at it from another perspective. Love Stories. A true lover pursues his love in a way that is completely unique to him. One of the things that makes our stories so desirable, so compelling, is that the God of the Universe is pursuing us in a very special way … so much so that although we may have similarities our stories, each one is very unique, special meaningful, epic.

We’re interviewing a young man for a position on our praise team. Part of the process includes a written testimony. His testimony was so cool and I so rejoice with him and his family over what God has done in his life. In fact it inspires me to want to share some of the things God has done in my life.

Here are some things you can do while you are waiting for a birth … the birth of a child … the birth of a new Christian … the end of the labor pains and the return of our King …

· Time your contractions – Watch and Pray!

· Pack your bags – Trim Your Lamps!

· Exercise – Work

(work for the night is coming when man’s work is done)

· Keep your house clean - Be Faithful in the Small Things

· Love on your family – Love One Another Deeply from the Heart!

· Share Your Stories … Inspire One Another

God is coming soon … the earth is groaning as in the pains of labor … groaning for the day of the Lord’s appearing, though He tarry … wait for Him … wait for Him … He will surely come.

When We See Christ

Words and music by Esther Kerr Rusthoi

Verse 1

Oft times the day seems long, our trials hard to bear,
We're tempted to complain, to murmur and despair;
But Christ will soon appear to catch His Bride away,
All tears forever over in God's eternal day.

Verse 2

Sometimes the sky looks dark with not a ray of light,
We're tossed and driven on , no human help in sight;
But there is one in heav'n who knows our deepest care,
Let Jesus solve your problem - just go to Him in pray'r.

Verse 3

Life's day will soon be o'er, all storms forever past,
We'll cross the great divide, to glory, safe at last;
We'll share the joys of heav'n - a harp, a home, a crown,
The tempter will be banished, we'll lay our burden down.

Refrain
It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ.