Change of Plans

Ned is recovering from surgery quite well. He finally had a bowel movement and began feedings again this morning. He started off with a little pedialyte, but has progressed to breast milk. So far so good, no spitting up.....yeah!!! Mom and Dad have been hospital duty over the weekend while Travis and I came home so I've just been getting 2nd hand reports. The last word in is that Ned is loving the vibrating bouncy seat I sent up there this weekend and is resting really well in it. I was thinking that the vibrating motion may help keep any fluids from settling in his lungs when he was so sedated last week, but now he is back off the pain medications again, Yeah!!!, and the seat is just serving as a place of comfort.....which is great! The poor child deserves a little luxury treatment, I think.

I had planned on going back up to Chapel Hill tomorrow, but I have developed a head cold. So, Travis will have to fill in for me until it passes. I'm just thankful that it didn't really develop until Saturday so I think I should have been away from Ned long enough not to have passed it on. I started to worry about it, but I remembered how much God had protected him from so far and figured a cold wasn't beyond His capabilities.

As I mentioned before, I have spent much more time this Easter reflecting on the crucifixion than before. I have found myself identifying more and more with Peter than ever before. I used to sorta see him as a traitor for denying Jesus until I realized that every time I don't glorify God for the blessings in my life before others, I too am denying Him. I have thought a lot about how Jesus must have been preparing those disciples for their mission after He left. He knew that if those twelve didn't carry the message forward, the rest of us would perish. When you look around at Jesus' influence today, it can trace back to the obedience and faithfulness of twelve men. Isn't that amazing? I wonder if Jesus would have or could have chosen me for such an awesome task and responsibility. He knew they wouldn't fail, but He knew they would stumble. I've just thought how He must have been praying over them knowing what they would endure and loving them so for it! The one thing I have learned about Jesus is that His plans have existing from the beginning of time, they are enduring and they are perfect. He knew those twelve before they were created, He knew their purpose, He knows ours.

I watched a sermon this weekend that speaks to His plan for us like nothing I've ever known before. If you watch it, you will understand more than ever how God has always had a plan for our salvation since the beginning, since creation. If you can possibly take the time to find this sermon and watch it, please do. It is "How Great is Our God" by Louie Giglio. I know you can find parts of it on youtube, but you can probably find it in its entirety on the web somewhere. It was a real eye opening experience for me. It defines the purpose of the cross in a new metaphysical perspective.....wow!


Much Love,
Betsy, Travis, Jack, Ned & Margaret