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It’s Saturday. This is day four on the NICU floor at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital. Jacy is slowly improving every day. We actually got to hold her this afternoon. She’s been in an isolette since we arrived, so holding her was a big treat! Below are some pictures.

Jacy has some sort of skin disorder. We’re not sure how serious it is yet, but that’s the reason she became dehydrated and had other complications. They plan on doing a skin biopsy in the next few days. Hopefully it’s something very minor or turns out to be nothing at all. That’s what we’re praying for.

Thanks for your prayers and support. It means so much to us!

Below are a couple more pictures of Jacy. Isn’t she adorable?

Here are a few pictures. More later!

Our baby girl was born last night (8/31) at 11:24 p.m. She weighed 8 pounds and was 19 1/2 inches long. Her name is Jacy Grace. Mom and baby are doing well.

Please no visitors until after 5 p.m. today. I’ll post pictures later!

Thanks for your prayers.  

Today’s reading is Proverbs 3:1-35. You’ve got to love the proverbs! It was written as a leadership training manual for the young men of Israel. There is so much wisdom in this book. What a treasure! If you read one chapter a day, you can read Proverbs just about every month. Just think how wise you could be!

Earlier this year I preached a message on Proverbs 22:6. In that message I quoted from How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth. I highly recommend this book. Below is my favorite paragraph from the chapter “Wisdom: Then and Now.” Keep this in mind as you read Proverbs today.

1. Proverbs Are Not Legal Guarantees from God

Proverbs state a wise way to approach certain selected practical goals but do so in terms that cannot be treated like a divine warranty of success. The particular blessings, rewards, and opportunities mentioned in Proverbs are likely to follow if one will choose the wise courses of action outlined in the poetic, figurative language of the book. But nowhere does Proverbs teach automatic success. Remember that inspired Scripture also includes both Ecclesiastes and Job, which remind us that there is very little that is automatic about the good or bad events that may take place in our lives. (Fee & Stuart, p. 235)

Our reading today is Deuteronomy 5:1-6:9. Something that caught my attention was the phrase: “that it may go well with you.” This shows up three times (5:16, 33; 6:3). It makes sense, doesn’t it? Things “go well” when we’re obeying God. They’re not always easy, but things “go well.” Life is just better.

For example, one of the 10 commandments is: “You shall not commit adultery.” Don’t do this “that it may go well with you.” Does it “go well” for those who commit adultery? There’s obviously grace and forgiveness available, but does life “go well” when adultery is committed? I think King David would say, “No.”

How about the Sabbath? Does life “go well” when we fail to observe a weekly Sabbath rest?

I don’t know how your life is going, but I do know that life works best when we obey God. It’s just that simple. That doesn’t mean you’ll never get sick or have a bad day. It just means things will “go well.” Do you trust that?

Ask yourself: In what areas am I being disobedient to God? Identify those areas. Repent. Confess it to God. Start obeying God so “that it may go well with you.”

I would love to hear what God is teaching you during the 4 Week Bible Challenge. Shoot me an email or post a comment.

We continued our journey through the Gospel of Mark on Sunday. I’m really enjoying it. Hope you are too. Click on the link below to view my message outline. This is what I carry in my Bible to the pulpit. The yellow highlights are for the guys running PowerPoint. They follow along and make sure the right slide is on the screen. “The Golfing Preacher” joke is not included. I added that at the last minute.

Marks of Jesus - Mk 7:1-23 Outline

I want to encourage you to participate in the 4 Week Bible Challenge. We must get in the Word of God daily. If you need a bookmark, please drop by the church office or you can download it below. Be sure to hear from God today.

4 Week Bible Challenge Bookmark

I love what Mark Batterson writes on his blog today. Click here to read the post. Would love to hear your thoughts! Guys, don’t you love the name C.T. Studd?

Didn’t Isaac do a wonderful job Sunday? Below is a recap of my notes.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)

Four Steps to becoming a Victorious Runner

1. Run with an EXAMPLE to follow.

- Noah (Genesis 6:5)

- Moses (Exodus 3:11; 4:10)

- Abraham (Genesis 22:12)

Illustration: Roger Bannister/3:59 mile

2. Run with ENDURANCE.

Question: Anything holding you down?

- TV?

- Things other than sin?

Galatians 6:9; Hebrews 12:3

3. Run with EYES fixed (on Jesus).

Illustration: Horse blinders

4. Run and ENCOURAGE others.

Illustration: Derek Redmond and father

What we do matters! (How we run matters.)

What a message! I love how Isaac ended with showing appreciation to those at OCC who have helped him run the race and get to the place where he is today. Very powerful seeing everyone stand!

If you missed it, contact Mary K. Shutt at the church office (330.682.3686) and order a CD.

The “love offering” collected for Isaac totaled around $3,700. You can find the exact total in the bulletin this Sunday.

Way to go, Isaac.

Yea God!

I just created a Twitter account today. You can follow what I’m doing throughout the day by clicking here. I don’t know how this will work, but I’m giving it a try.