Grounded

As with most everything I seem to get into, I’m honestly surprised that days and weeks will go by between posting here. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think, “man, I really should blog on that…” We’ve been challenged by a number of great messages and teachings on the Word lately and I’d like to work through those. I keep random thoughts on my phone as they pass by, probably 10-15 thoughts that I’d like to work through. And of course, I’d like to discuss more of what God challenging me to in each day.

But, while I don’t seem to get the time for those things, one thing I can do is point you to a great story of faith and love. My mother-in-law spent almost two weeks with us leading up to and after Lia’s birth. I can’t remember exactly how she knows about this couple and their story, but every day she was here she’d check in on this blog to see the progress of what was happening. The blog I’m about to point you to is kept by a husband who’s wife has Cystic Fibrosis and their amazing journey in just four short years of marriage. She is now awaiting a double-lung transplant and delivered their daughter at the beginning of January at barely 25 weeks old… 15+ weeks early!! Their story and his passion for sharing it is inspiring to say the least.

This post is fairly recent and it’s two videos he made to be shared at a banquet for what I assume is a local Christian Pregnancy Center. They had asked him to come speak but he declined to go onsite so that he could be with his wife and daughter. In leu of his appearance he recorded this videos.

Men, I’m pretty sure this is one of the best pictures of faith I’ve seen.

http://cfhusband.blogspot.com/2008/02/before-tricia-was-activated-this-week-i.html

For those of you that haven’t heard – or aren’t reading the much better blog by my wife – Lia Monet Booz was born on Monday, February 18 @ 3:07PM. Lia means “bearer of good news” and Monet means “to be heard”. Booz means… well, depends on the country and generation…. For you men that will have to report to your wives the “stats” – Lia was 21″ long and weighed 7lb. 6oz. Seriously, a real cuttie!

From start to finish, Laura’s labor was 12 hours and although there were a few brief “take a sigh” moments, it was tremendously different from Vivienne’s more spirited (and long) labor process. When it came time to actually push, Lia was delivered in about 10 minutes. CRAZY!!

As far as not knowing that we were having “Lia” until she was born – it did feel very traditional. However, to be honest, I’m not sure I’d do it again. I don’t regret it one bit (partially because it confirmed a word I believe the Lord spoke to me a few years ago), both Laura and I really appreciated the ability to form a relationship with Vivienne for weeks before she was born.

In all though – it doesn’t really matter. We have a tremendous gift from God that just blows our minds away. YAY!

Some initial pics at: http://gallery.mac.com/rlbooz

So, as is to be expected, it’s been two+ weeks since I’ve posted. ARG! But, no frustration here.

This morning, as we continue to wait and hope for this little baby to come (due date is tomorrow and Laura is MORE than ready), I have been living without much of a schedule. This means that I’ve worked late, gotten up late and arrived at work late (but then again, I was working late… so…). It also means that I’ve taken little to no time for reading the Word or simply praying.

This morning, actually getting up at a decent time (although still later than I should) – I got ready for work and decided to grab the guitar – yet another thing I swear I’ll do a few times a week but never get to. Honestly, I don’t know why I don’t grab the guitar more. If the house is quiet and I can just strum through a few basic chords – the Holy Spirit always moves in me. It usually takes a long time for me to get past the “if I just do this chord I’ll sound really good and then maybe I’ll get discovered and make a CD” thoughts. Once I’m past those, then I have to lay down the “let me find the perfect words to express how much God means to me – which of course I can then make into a song that I’ll sing at church and everyone will love me…”. Sometimes this happens more quickly – sometimes I’m just a dope and it takes a while. I’m a fleshy human I guess.

But, what I love is when I can get past those things and just find a melody that calms me down and actually begins to open my heart. This is the part where I should interject that with all of my “frustration” lately (from a Christian perspective that is) that one of the notes I’ve written down a few times in recent months is “worship seems so effeminate to me lately. I don’t feel much like ‘this is the air I breath… and I’m desperate for you’ during corporate worship with female voices leading.” I’m not saying that’s a good attitude at all, just that when I say “it begins to open my heart” – I know that there is actual work going on in my spirit that’s beyond the temporal. I love it when the Holy Spirit actually just moves past my junk.

Back to this morning. As I was playing through some chords – an old song came to mind that was perfect for this Valentine’s day. It actually moved my heart to a small time of worship. I was reminded that in all of this, the good, the bad, the frustrating – even when we’re (sometimes impatiently) waiting for our new child – God’s love is better than all things.

Your love is better than all things
Your love is better than all things
And I don’t have the strength of words
To tell You truly how I feel

Your love is better than life
Your love is better than life
And I don’t have the strength of words
To tell You truly how I feel

My God, You are the only one
For me, the only one for me
My God, Your love is better than all other loves
And now You’re drawing me
And I just want to be closer to You

Want to get closer
Got to get closer to You …

Today, worship and this music doesn’t seem so effeminate – it seems very real and very personal. That’s a good way to start Valentine’s day.