with suffering

i have realized lately that there's not a lot of suffering in my life. i say i want to be compassionate, but i'm lacking an element of suffering. com (with) passion (suffering). just the whole idea of saying i'm passionate about God, and yet lack any type of real suffering in my life makes me wonder if i'm in quite the right spot. i'm open right now to entering into some real un-safe situation, and even taking on some elements of suffering. i'm not sure if this is a good thing or not. Libby would certainly say that this is not a good thing...right???

Philippians 3:8-11 (TNIV)

What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Philippians 3:7-11 (The Message)

7-9The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I'm tearing up and throwing out with the trash—along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I've dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn't want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God's righteousness.

10-11I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it.

the tragic glorifying life

is the less tragic life less glorifying? (that question is doomed, but it is making a point for me)

i've seen a couple of friends go through some deep dark times recently, and it's at those times that God has certainly been most glorified in their lives - and in a very public positive way. death and tragedy certainly thrust faithful people into this deep realm of the spirit. i'm not envious of the tragedy, but i am a little spellbound on what it's like to be that deep in the spirit.

so now i'm wondering if the less tragic life is less glorifying? i will say that when things are going well it can be easy to gloss over the spiritual side of life - and miss God altogether on some days. i've recently been trying really hard (hopefully in the Spirit) to glorify God in the less tragic life. my tragedy is right around the corner, and maybe when that day comes i'll have more of a public voice of faith for God. but i'm trying really hard (hopefully in the Spirit) not to miss glorifying God in the every day.

Praying for Silas this past Sunday @ the alter was such a rich time for me, I prayed that I would not hold back my love from him, and that I would not hold him back from God. It was one of those times when I felt the deep weight of being a parent, but realized how little is in my control. I pray for my kids every day, praying that tragedy will not come our way. But if it does I know it will be to Christ's glory. Life is too short for some, like Elizabeth and maybe Charity - but God can do so much through what little time we have here. So I need to be more about God's kingdom with the time I do have.

I love you Silas, Eden, Elias & Libby

f e a r

what has fear kept you from doing that God is calling you to do?

Silas Cole

Silas Cole Foester

Silas is finally here! We waited, but it was worth it. He's really cute, and his big bro and big sis are already making up nick names for him.

Silas Cole was born April 29, 2007 @ 1:37 AM. He came so quick that his mama almost didn't have time to get her epidural - but all is good now.

He weighted 7 lbs even, and was a lengthy 22 inches. He likes to chill and sleep.