Learning as we Grow

As I mentioned before, I had never posted on a blog prior to the day Britton arrived, so I am not accustomed to organizing my thoughts into a daily post. Since Britton entered our lives, it is painfully clear that our lives will never be the same. We have learned and continue to learn much about ourselves, our Lord and a multitude of other life-stage based milestones.

For the past few weeks I have been diligently preparing for my ordination exams (which I thankfully passed), so most of my posts would have dealt with paedobaptism, the Hypostatic Union, Marburg Colloquy, etc. which I didn't feel would be appropriate material for anyone interested in Britton updates. It has been a good distraction, but still difficult to manage with the daily trips to the NICU.

I am still amazed at the prayers Britton has prompted from friends, family and complete strangers. Emily and I have prayed relentlessly for his precious life and stand firm in the electing love of God as our assurance and hope. Ephesians 1:3-14 so eloquently expresses this:

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. "

This love of Christ has been so compelling in our lives. It has been the rock we have rested upon. We have seen our theology underscore the practicality of how we live and cope with struggle. Recently, I began reading through the works of John Owen. This has been my first attempt at reading this puritan. And I have been overwhelmed by the truth he grasps from the scriptures--the ability to cling to the cross in despair, and rejoice in the love that God bestows to His people. "Life, vigor, courage, consolation are the privileges of our adoption made know to our souls. The Spirit bears witness with our spirits that we are children of God." Romans 8:16

Britton's whole birth (the placental abruption, emergent delivery, first 9 minutes of lifelessness, his d-sat issue) was all in God's control. None of this has taken Him by surprise. He is pouring out his grace upon Emily and I in ways we could have never known otherwise. Not that we purposefully wanted to understand, but God has equipped us in Christ to make this a time of joy and not one of sorrow, a time of expectation and not one of frustration. Someone recently counseled me, "that through this suffering, you will experience graces that others will never know." We both pray that this sweetens our ministry to each other and to those whom we will come alongside in the future. God is in all of this...He is our rock and God is reminding us that He is our portion in time of want.