Even in the wee hours of the morning

After an extensive research this morning, I have found it to be Biblically true that marriage is a picture of Christ and the church.  Men and women are to submit to each other in love, the husband is to be the head, the leader, the one in charge, as a picture of Christ; and the wife is to support and be under the husband as a picture of the church.  If you're going to go with what the Bible says, there's really no way around it . . . and really, it's pretty simple to understand.

Some good verses to see this in are Ephesians 5:21-33 and Colossians 3:18-19

This Momentary Marriage by John Piper is an excellent book showing the beautiful picture marriage was created by God to be.  

He Used to be JoeJoe

Our Joseph has always made me smile.  When he was a baby, a little girl named Alex tagged him JoeJoe.  Then later, he was often called Joey.  I hear now, he's often referred to as Joe.  His speech was hard to understand when he was a toddler, but he had a lot to say.  Charity was his interpreter.  When Joseph spoke, everyone would turn to her and she would patiently explain what Joseph was trying to say.  It was quite an occupation for Charity, following him around and keeping everyone happy.  Joseph was from the beginning an engineer.  He would often disappear into his bedroom, quietly close the door (so no one would detect him), and work on K-Nex or Legos for hours.  He would then proudly ask me to come look at what he had made.  I am still amazed at what he can make!  But that's just like a mom.  I have always been amazed at him.  It all started the moment I found out I had another baby on the way.  The amazement has never stopped.  When Joseph was born, the doctor in attendance saw the cord tied in a perfect little knot, but not stopping the flow of blood.  I was amazed.  A few days later, I escaped (still don't know how) a surely fatal car accident with my precious Joseph in the car weighing all of 7 lbs.  I shake my head in amazement.  For Kindergarten, Charity sat at a little table her Grandpa had made and learned her letters and numbers.  Joseph being 18 months younger sat on the floor and played with Legos.  The next year it was Joseph's turn for Kindergarten.  I quickly found myself out of that job.  He already knew his letters and numbers from osmosis sitting on the floor with his Legos.  Amazed again.

Joseph isn't really amazing, but I do love him.  No, our God is amazing!  His ways are perfect!  Thankyou heavenly father for boys.  Wouldn't we girls be unbalanced without them?

Happy Birthday Buddy!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Becci!!!!

Luther Grows Fond of Katie

"I would not exchange Katie for France or for Venice, because God has given her to me and other women have worse faults."  Martin Luther grew in his resolve to take Katie as his wife.  His friends were shocked by his proposal, with comments such as, "For heaven's sake, not this one."  It was predicted that "the world and the Devil would laugh and Luther's work would be undone."

Spalatin was Luther's mentor/father in Christ.  He surely had a non ending challenge and source of concern trying to keep Martin Luther calm, far away from those who would kill him.  At this juncture, Spalatin asked Martin what he thought of long engagements.  Luther replied, "Don't put off till tomorrow!  By delay Hannibal lost Rome.  by delay Esau forfeited his birthright.  Christ said, 'Ye shall seek me, and ye shall not find.'  This Scripture, experience, and all creation testify that the gifts of God must be taken on the wing."

Three days later, Luther made a public announcement of his betrothal to Katie.  At this point it seems that Luther began to get a bit more excited about his upcoming wedding.  He sent out letters of invitation, telling Spalatin, "You must come to my wedding.  I have made the angels laugh and the devils weep."  To a gentleman who helped arrange the escape of the nuns, "I am going to get married.  God likes to work miracles and to make a fool of the world.  You must come to the wedding."

On June 27th, 1525 at 10:00 AM Luther escorted his beaming wife to be, Katherine Von Bora, to the parish church in Wittenberg.  The bells rang out the good news through the streets.  The religious ceremony was performed.  Afterward a banquet in the Augustinian cloister followed by a dance at the town hall.  That evening another banquet occured.  All took their leave at 11:00 PM.  Isn't that a fun wedding day?

So, an ex -priest married an ex- nun.  Luther was socially past marrying age, Katie on the furthest edge (late 20's).  They weren't particularly 'in love' as we would say.  They both however felt called to the marriage, took joy in the marriage, and had what appears to be a very good time.

Katherine Von Bora

Two years after Luther helped the twelve nuns escape the cloister, all were safely tucked away in marriages or positions except one.  Her name was Katherine Von Bora.  A match had been made for Katherine, but her partner went and married someone else.  Poor Katherine!  Then, Luther made another selection for her.  His name was Dr. Glatz.  Katherine defied Luther's choice, and said she would marry Luther instead!  It was meant as a good humored rebuff because Luther was past marrying age at forty two.

Luther did not respond seriously to Katy's suggestion until he went home to visit his parents.  His father it seems, loved the idea!  Luther began to think that perhaps it would be good to marry.  He could give Katherine the status as a married woman she needed and give a testimony to his faith.  Luther wrote,
"...  I believe in marriage, and I intend to get married before I die, even though it should be only a betrothal like Joseph's".

Well, Ok Luther.  It was a good thing to do... to take care of Katy.  It makes the more romantically inclined  wonder at his frankness.  But, the story gets better.

My endless source of entertainment . . .

Delivered in a Herring Barrel

Luther had no thought of marriage whatsoever.  His was a life of controversy  which would very likely end in certain death by the hands of the papacy.  During the reformation however, monks began to marry.  "Good heavens! They won't give me a wife," he boldly proclaimed.

In a short time a situation arose which would challenge his stand.  Monks and nuns were leaving the cloisters.  Some sisters nearby asked Luther what they should do now that they didn't agree with the church and their chosen profession.  He arranged for their escape.  On the eve of the Resurrection 1523, twelve bundled nuns were taken from the cloister in empty herring barrels packed in the back of a wagon. Three of the nuns returned to their homes.  The other nine came to see Luther!  

Luther took it on himself to find homes, husbands, or positions for all nine women.  He stated that he would not marry one because he expected daily the death of a heretic.

Luther At Home

Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther has a chapter on the building of Luther's character.  It is an inside look at Luther's home life. I found this humorous because I would tend to think that our Martin Luther's character was constantly being put to a test with the controversy surrounding him because of his arguing against the papist abuses and heretical teaching.   The author Roland H. Bainton  points out that after Luther's wedding he begin to feel that marriage was a school for character.  It displaced the monastery which up until then was thought of as the training ground of virtue and a sure ticket to heaven.

Luther's children were the same as yours and mine.  Darling to him, but full of mischief.  It seems that the babies cries were particularly hard on Luther. In the middle of one child's crying experience Luther said, "Child, what have you done that I should love you so?  You have disturbed the whole household with your bawling."  Another time when a baby cried for an hour, he remarked, "This is the sort of thing that has caused the Church fathers to vilify marriage.  But God before the last day has brought back marriage and the magistracy to their proper esteem."

My favorite quote about babies was declared after being the brunt of his neighbors' amusement when hanging out the diapers to dry.  "Let them laugh.  God and the angels smile in heaven."  LOVE THAT!!!

Baby Nora eats some grapefruit

Nora tried her first grapefruit slice last month....and she made about 100 faces in less than a minute! Here are some of the best.... She really liked it!  She is a little more cautious when I hand her a slice, now..... Just thought I should go ahead and put the real macoy up here so you blog readers didn't have to frantically search.
 (just in case anyone was actually frantically searching...) haha!

Lord, You hear

My Pastor

I think we are all  really happy here.  Feeling very privileged to get a picture with my favorite preacher ever!

The Beach . . .

is so fun.  So so so fun.  I don't know why.  It is the same kind of fun that the snow is.  It just makes me want to play.  I have no idea how to do anything in the water but swim and that not very well, but it is so fun.  This weekend, I had the privilege of going on a retreat with my "fellowship group" (or sunday school) from church.  We went to Long Beach which is just south of here.  Many from my Bible study were there including Aubrea, one of my newer friends who also goes to Master's and lives on the same wing as me :)  She's from Wisconsin which explains why she would jump in with me just one more time.  

Whoever has the key to the heart . . .

When I was about 13 or 14, my dad bought a ring.  A ring with a heart.  A ring to wear on my left hand reserving the place for another ring which would be placed on my hand by a man, a real man who would have won my love.  He also bought a key.  The key has a heart shape upon the top.  This key is the key to the heart I wear on my finger.  One day, a man will come, I believe.  He will come and he will ask the bold question of whether he might have this heart which my dad has so long and carefully protected.  An audacious question, yet one that God gives men the ability to ask and gives fathers the ability to grant.  Upon the day when there stands in front of a small crowd a pastor and this same man, my dad will take me, walk up to this man and there give the key to my heart to him.  The key will pass from one hand to another, my allegiance will have to change and there I will be vowed to serve this man the rest of my days.  

The groom I still wish I had

I am working on being content.  Often I am content, even more than content in my present situation, but then there are those times when I am not.  Yes, I do want to be married, I do want a man so in love with God that he hates me in comparison.  I want a man that, as I decided in high school, is pursuing the list of the 12 Knightly Virtues.

I used to also want a man that was tallish, with dark, wavy, thick hair.  One with dark eyes and skin.  Maybe even one with an accent as my sister's man had.  How romantic does that sound?  Well, alas, I think that wonderful dream has disappeared.  My prayers have instead turned toward this man's heart, his ministry to the Lord, and his growth in the knowledge and love of God.  

I have asked God for a great man.  My prayers have been for a man with a heart to serve God as Luther and Bonhoeffer had.  Only recently have I begun to think of what this would really mean.  I have been greatly humbled in reflection of what this man, if God were to give him to me, would have to deal with in having me given to him.  So then, my prayers have also turned to becoming the kind of woman that this kind of man would need.  Praying for such a thing is like praying for hardship and trials, yet God is good and gentle and kind and He is a wonderful master and teacher to me.  

After some discussion about this with my mom and dad I have changed my attitude a bit towards this man who will someday be mine.  If I have met this man or if I meet him in the future, my desires now are to behave toward him in a God honoring way.