Just reading chapter 3 of Galatians, and reflecting on a simple truth, we are to live by faith. We cannot please God unless we have faith. We have no hope unless we have faith. Faith, faith, faith.

In a world governed by sight, touch, smell, bank accounts, 401k's, credit cards, loans, debt, materialism, pleasures, invesements, fast food, cars, bikes, entertainment, professions, work, safety deposit boxes, attics, basements, storages, walgreens and walmarts, hobbies, trends, fashion, popularity, safety, locks, police, hospitals, computers, cellphones, iphones... and the list goes on...

...we are to live by faith. There is enough in this world to make us think we don't need it, but then again, without faith, true Life can't happen.

"Withouth faith it is impossible to please God." Hebrews 11:6

Labels: faith, galatians, life, truth

I say "It's" because at 2cm's long it's still too small to know if it's a girl or boy. We're shooting for a girl, but God will let us know. That is the first picture of our baby. The heart beat we heard gave the moment a special touch. 176 beats per second. It's amazing how God does things. As I stood there looking at that monitor, again I was blown away of God's work.

Today I read Galatians 4:8-20 and Paul is mentioning how he feels the pain of childbirth because of the path his spiritual children were taking. They were being fooled to follow the world's pattern again, and Paul is talking sense in them.

Interestingly, he uses the image of a mother giving birth to express his pain. It's like he's going through labor again with the same children.

But he mentions something that caught my attention. Even though a 2cm baby is amazing to see, I don't want it to stay like that. The natural process is growth. That's why I say "it's cooking". As the baby comes out of the womb, my wife and I need to provide the necessities for a healthy development until we say "you're on your own".

Spiritually Paul says what our goal is, not to stay 2cm's, but to grow "until Christ is formed in you". We pray God gives us the wisdom to bring up our children to love and serve God passionately! But our prayer also is that we may "grow up" and let Christ be formed in us too.

Labels: baby, childbirth, Christ, life, womb