Two teeth and all smiles

I don't know if either Randy or I could express how much we love this little guy. His warm nature, so quick to smile and snicker...he really is an absolute joy and gift from our Lord. We are so blessed to get to experience the wonders of childhood a second time.

More Snuggles!

Every time we put Liam in his room for a nap or bedtime, the immediate request is always "more snuggles!" Now that we are working on his manners, the request has become "More snuggles, please!" Who can resist this face? Certainly not I!

Cashiers, NC

We spent the 4th of July weekend in the mountains with Shelly's family. It was a great time and Liam really enjoyed getting out there in nature. He even slid down a rock into the icy cold water with Randy.

Authentic Love, sermon July 20, 2008

This sermon was given by our lead pastor, Randy Pope, yesterday. I pray I communicate it well, my notes are kind of messy!

Authentic Love-
Corinthians 13

All gifts of the spirit fall behind love. Love is the most important, central part, of how we grow and live as Christians. Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruits of the spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control). All of these fruits are before the gifts of the spirit as well.

A relationship with God falls into one of two categories-the "do" and the "done" side. On the "Do" side, we are performance-oriented, operating from a place of self-righteousness to do work for God. On the done side, we are operating in grace, in Christ's righteousness, which flows naturally to love. From love, we begin to perform works for the Lord. Without the grace of Christ, we will never reach love and never fulfill the work for God because we don't have the proper foundation.

The mark of maturity if the ability to love the unloved and the unloveable.

Love is based on something we do. Does it have emotion? Yes. Does it require emotion? Absolutely not.

The nature of children is to squabble over gifts, but the real issue is "Do you love?" The most important message Jesus delivered was to love God and to love your neighbor.

The difference between inauthentic and authentic love is : inauthentic love is a natural emotion and authentic love has a supernatural quality.

Romans 5:5 The fruit of the spirit begins with love. Our prayer to God:

"I cannot love without You. I surrender and ask You to impower me. I am committed to love and looking for Your power to enable me to love."

"The Stand"-a beautiful song we sang
So what can I say?
What can I do?
But offer this heart, O God,
completely to You.

So I will walk upon salvation,
Your spirit alive in me.
This life to declare Your promise,
My soul now to stand.

So, I'll stand
With your arms high and heart abandoned.
In awe of the One who gave it all.
I'll stand
My soul Lord to You surrendered,
All I am is Yours.

Goin' Fishin'

We are constantly searching for ways to occupy Liam so that he will sit on the potty. Our latest ploy is a fishing rod. Potty training is serious work-for me not him!

Spitting Image of Randy

These two boys are both the spitting image of their father. So handsome!

God is awake.

" Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake." -Victor Hugo

Afternoon in the sun

One of the amazing gifts of getting to spend the days with the boys is this: an impromptu afternoon picnic!

St. George's Island, April 2008

Authentic Living, Sermon May 11, 2008

This was a really great sermon by Matt Ballard at Perimeter Church. I wanted to pass along. I tried to get the quotes accurate, but I definitely will be paraphrasing some of it.

Scripture 1 John 1-10
Verse 5: This is the message that we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
Verse 6: If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.


The Christian church has a serious PR problem. Most people cite there reason for leaving church as hypocrisy. Churches aren't known as a place where you can be you. We aren't known for love and acceptance as we should be...we are much more known for homophobia and protests. John was known as the Son of Thunder in his early days (for his persecution of non-Christians) and in his latter days, the Apostle of Love. How did he do this? He spent time with the authentic God. The way to get moved is by having an authentic Lord.

We are all living a charade of life, a facade, behind is an exhausted soul. Americans are desparate for the real deal. We are hungry for authenticiy because we were created in God's image, but because of the fall, we want to live in secret, to not be found out. So we have made a lifelong commitment to hiding for self-preservation. Inauthentic perfect people do not need grace. God extends grace to those who are messed up, in a real and honest way. Jesus didn't die for the public you , you-got-it-all-together you, the impressive you: He died for the real you.

Charles Spurdgen says (paraphrase) "You can either see an acorn as a snack for a squirrel or an ocean of oak." In the same way, our heart is an ocean of sin.

Light to sleeping eyes is disruptive and even painful. To be authentic, we must let the light in to expose our secret habits and as humans, we crave dark. The light exposes you as a fraud, but the light also heals you. Authentic savior equals authentic you equals an authentic life.

There is a grace that will not let you go.

Christmas 2007

Liam admiring his little present.

Brotherly Love

One of the few things Liam can do with Deacon: give kisses!

A little explanation and a commitment

My dear friend Jessica has asked me many, many times to set up a blog like hers. I finally caved and here it is. The title, of course, is all about how blessed by God we have been. I am going to attempt to keep this updated with pictures and news of what is going on with us so that our family and friends far away can keep up with what is going on in the life of the McMichaels. I hope you enjoy!