Monday, July 20, 2009
Welcoming Calvin
Friday: Told to plan to be at the hospital for induction from 7-7:30am. All 15 delivery rooms were full. Grateful to have a room after lunchtime. The same room Audrey was born in.
Membranes artificially ruptured to induce labour 2pm. Active labour from 2:15pm. Straight in the shower. Out of the shower with a new baby just before 4pm. It was no ordinary shower, but I shan't blog about all the details! My midwife and my husband were very obliging to cram into the small space to "catch" Calvin. Glad I had packed spare clothes for Steve - the shower didn't get turned off for a while!
Stayed a couple of nights in hospital until Winton and Audrey were over the worst of their sickness. Was so glad for them to finally meet Calvin yesterday when they came to pick me up (although the event itself was pretty chaotic!). It has been lovely to be home all together since. We have been enjoying introducing Calvin to many special people. There are still many left to meet.
Winton has recovered from the fact that Calvin is not a girl called "Jamesy" (his name idea, in honour of his special friend James who has moved away). Initially, Calvin's arrival was a "little bit great", a "little bit exciting" and he was "a little bit glad". Now, Winton is less moderate and is regularly gushing about how cute Calvin is. The day after Calvin was born Winton told Steve that he wished we had called him Calvin when he was born.
Audrey's new favourite line is "My hold it? My cuddle baby Calwin?". She has suddenly become very maternal. She is full of suggestions whenever Calvin is crying, "Baby Calwin need your milk? Baby need my milk? Baby need cuddle?".
Steve has been working very, very hard keeping all of us going. I am so grateful. God's generosity to me through Steve is vast.
The usual fatigue is setting in as more time elapses since I have had solid sleep - not a complaint, just a fact. I am finding that there are small opportunities to read my Bible or listen to a psalm (it was a great way to block out the sound of other people snoring in hospital!). I am finding I am not really in the "mood", but it is happening. I'm sure I will write a little about how I am going with all that some time.
For now, I am off to have a cuddle with my husband and a snooze before the next feed...
Psalm 48: Who, What, Where?
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Psalm Sunday: Psalm 48
in the city of our God!
His holy mountain, 2 beautiful in elevation,
is the joy of all the earth,
Mount Zion, in the far north,
the city of the great King.
3Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress.
4For behold, the kings assembled;
they came on together.
5As soon as they saw it, they were astounded;
they were in panic; they took to flight.
6 Trembling took hold of them there,
anguish as of a woman in labor.
7By the east wind you shattered
the ships of Tarshish.
8As we have heard, so have we seen
in the city of the LORD of hosts,
in the city of our God,
which God will establish forever.
Selah
9We have thought on your steadfast love, O God,
in the midst of your temple.
10As your name, O God,
so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth.
Your right hand is filled with righteousness.
11Let Mount Zion be glad!
Let the daughters of Judah rejoice
because of your judgments!
12Walk about Zion, go around her,
number her towers,
13consider well her ramparts,
go through her citadels,
that you may tell the next generation
14that this is God,
our God forever and ever.
He will guide us forever.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Meet baby...


Off to have a baby today
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Soft, sad, little Jesus (Ps 47)
Rejoice. Praise the Lord. God is King. The Old Testament forerunner to "Jesus is Lord". The sort of thing exuberant Christians say mindlessly. Easy to say, but somewhat disconnected from the real world. What does it mean anyway?
I grew up with the idea that Jesus' lordship is about me. I invite Jesus to be Lord of my heart. As if he wouldn't be if I didn't let him. As if he is only Lord when people give him permission to be. What a little lord.
Or maybe Jesus is a "theoretical" Lord as he sits by and watches Satan ransack the world, wondering what will happen next. Maybe Jesus will be Lord one day, but until then, he doesn't really do anything (except when I let him "in the castle of my heart"!).
What a soft, sad, little Jesus. The sort of lord who has soft, scared and embarrassed followers. Followers who would rather sheepishly suggest that people "come and hear how Jesus is relevant to your life", or "how Jesus can fix you" than talk about his lordship. I am one of those people.
How much of our personal and public evangelism proclaims a king who is to be feared (vv.1-2)? One who is actually alive now? A king who really does rule over everything supremely - now. A king who deserves to be adored and esteemed over everything that exists (v.2, 9). A king who owns everything and everyone (vv.2, 7-9). A king who is so good that his people clap and sing and rejoice and praise and shout and are supremely happy to belong to him (vv.1, 5-7). A king who is in charge and who does what he wants. A king who loves and fights for his people (vv.3-4). A king who the nations flock to (v.9). A strong, victorious, unrivalled and satisfied king.
If you read about the message of Jesus spreading after his death and resurrection, (in the book of Acts), it is very much a gospel about a living king who really rules. The urgent call of the gospel is not "come and see how Jesus is relevant to your life", but, "Jesus who you killed is alive. He is coming again to judge. Repent and pin your trust on him so you will be saved from that approaching judgement." (eg. Acts 2:14-41) Rather untrendy, offensive sermons really.
You will find it in the book of Revelation too*. Revelation shows the real king Jesus ruling over every second of history. He is the lamb who was slain to take away the sins of his people. This lamb is also the lion, the triumphant, terrifying king who will judge the nations and bring the violent horror of this world to a just end. That is the sort of king to be feared, to be listened to and to be rejoiced in, Psalm 47 style. Having a good king who actually does rule (even if mysteriously) is something to be very, very happy about. It is something to talk about without apology or embarrassment. It is the very good reality.
*I highly recommend "Apocalypse Now and Then: Reading Revelation Today" by Paul Barnett as a great book to help you read and understand the whole book of Revelation, along with "Gospel and Revelation" by Graeme Goldsworthy. Both are easy to read and so, so useful. Essential resources.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Baby update (again)
While we wait, I am looking forward to finishing the Snugglepot and Cuddlepie adventures with Winton. Then Winton is reading Dangerous Journey (again) with his daddy. Special times. Audrey is spending a lot of her time wandering around with her notebook and pen anouncing, "Look! My write my name!". Frequent (and long) hospital appointments mean I am missing the children a lot. Winton is very keen to be present and helpful for the birth (thanks to Hello Baby). He keeps giving Steve and I instructions for what we will need to do when the baby is coming. One of these reenactments happened in a busy corridor of the John Hunter Hospital. Very helpful.
Anyway, there may or may not be a post on Psalm 47 soon. I have been reading it over and listening to it and writing out my thoughts (while waiting for appointments etc!). We'll see if any of them make it into sentences!







