June 28, 2011

Fear God, Not Man

“Listen to me, you who know righteousness,
the people in whose heart is my law;
fear not the reproach of man,
nor be dismayed at their revilings.
Isaiah 51:7

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 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.  Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.  Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.  Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  So we can confidently say,

The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?”
Hebrews 13:2-6

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 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.  Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.  For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.  Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Hebrews 13:12-16

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The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe. Proverbs 29:25

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 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling,  if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked.  For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.  Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.  So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
2 corinthians 5:1-10

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"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."
-Jim Elliot

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If I am afraid to speak the truth lest I lose affection, or lest the one concerned should say, "You do not understand", or because I fear to lose my reputation for kindness; if I put my own good name before the other's highest good, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
-Amy Carmichael

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There is no more blessed way of living, than the life of faith based upon a covenant-keeping God - to know that we have no care, for He cares for us; that we need have no fear, except to fear Him; that we need have no troubles, because we have cast our burdens upon the Lord, and are conscience that He will sustain us.

The good man has his enemies. He would not be like his Lord if he had not. If we were without enemies we might fear that we were not the friends of God, for the friendship of the world is enmity to God.
-Charles Spurgeon

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Temptations which accompany the working day will be conquered on the basis of the morning breakthrough to God. Decisions, demanded by work, become easier and simpler where they are made not in the fear of men, but only in the sight of God. He wants to give us today the power which we need for our work.-Bonhoeffer

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Fear is faithlessness. -George MacDonald

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Many... would like glory, who have no wish for grace. They would [want to] have the wages, but not the work; the harvest, but not the labor; the reaping, but not the sowing; the reward, but not the battle. But it may not be.
-J.C. Ryle

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Christian, let God's distinguishing love to you be a motive to you to fear Him greatly. He has put His fear in your heart, and may not have given that blessing to your neighbor, perhaps not to your husband, your wife, your child, or your parent. Oh, what an obligation should this thought lay upon your heart to greatly fear the Lord! Remember also that this fear of the Lord is His treasure, a choice jewel, given only to favorites, and to those who are greatly beloved.
-John Bunyan

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Seeing that a pilot steers the ship in which we sail, who will never allow us to perish even in the midst of shipwrecks, there is no reason why our minds should be overwhelmed with fear and overcome with weariness.
-JOhn Calvin

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Therefore, if we give into the fear of man and do not allow wisdom to rule in our hearts and manifest fear of God bringing holiness to completion then we are denying the power of the cross and saying that He has not overcome the world. Christ Himself says "DO NOT FEAR THE WORLD, FOR I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD!" How much more certainty do we need that no matter what occurs in this present season, this fleshly time, we are still held in the power of the Master who knows the paths we will tread. There is no need to dread or fear what man can do, but there is much to fear from God if we do not attribute to Him the wonders and glories due not just to His name, but also to His character!

FEAR GOD! DO NOT FEAR MAN!

June 26, 2011

What's In A Name?

Originally Posted by William on our old site for the benefit of those following the arrival of our first daughter and now reposted since we have once again expanded the female wing of our family tree.

We thought we would give a little insight into the names we have chosen for our children, especially since I didn't go into much detail when we shared the good news of adding a little female presence (Now two little girlies) to our boy house! The names we chose for our children have been mostly inspired by men of the faith who have impacted our lives greatly either by their writing or by their testimony of faith, but most especially their exposition of Scripture.





Silas Haddon - Silas is the name of the missionary partner of the apostle Paul, with whom he was stranded in prison. Also the amanuensis of Peter for the book of 1 Peter. Haddon is named for Charles Haddon Spurgeon who was quite possibly one of the most influential Christian preachers in history. This man has truly been an inspiration to me as a man called into pastoral ministry and a lover of good preaching.





Kace Renwick - Kace was to be named Cornelius after the centurion in Acts whom Peter witnesses to, but after some issues we decided to nix the name and only call him Kace, as that was to be the nic-name. It was taken from a theologian and famous apologist Cornelius Van Til whose family called him Kees (pronounced Kace). Renwick is taken from a covenanter named James Renwick (pronounced Rennik) who was martyred for the faith. His life and testimony can be read in Fair Sunshine, it is a wonderful story of God's glory going forth in the lives of His people.





Gresham Jeremiah - Gresham is named for J. Gresham Machen (rhymes with kitchen) who carried the mantle of reformed theology to Westminster after the death of Warfield and old Princeton. He founded the OPC denomination and was a great proponent of conservative and biblical theology. Jeremiah is obviously taken from the great prophet whose ministry could never be measured in worldly standards as a success although he was so faithful to the Lord in all he did. Jeremiah and the New Covenant made in Jeremiah 31 have truly been a great encouragement to Larissa and I throughout the years.





Petra Anastasia - Petra is a Greek word that means foundational rock(It is also a historical location that was said to be unconquerable and therefore named petra) and is found in Luke when Jesus explains the importance of building your house on the solid rock (there are also other places in the Greek New Testament that the word is found all of which refer to Christ and the nature of salvation and His gospel). As a Greek student I liked the connotation of the word, but also the female of Peter. Anastasia is from the Greek word anastasis which means resurrection or a new beginning. She will have a name that reflects the truths of the Gospel of grace in Christ.

Libi Shiloh - Our Second Daughter gets the distinction of being the only child lucky enough to have my (Larissa) amazing naming skills. When we named the last four children, my awesome husband always had some great ideas and apart from Silas (which was our second name choice) I am just not as creative as Will!Turns out I am the WORST baby namer out there! I cannot decide on a name to save my life, I have to try out bunches to see if they "fit" my idea of this baby. But finally, I was able to narrow our names list. I began calling our littlest girl by this name and it really seemed to fit. So we decided to name her Libi, which in Hebrew means "my heart". We hope that Our daughter will have the Heart of Him who is the author of Love, Mercy, Grace, Compassion, Liberty, Redemption and most especially Life! Shiloh is a name we have enjoyed for years.  Shiloh means "peace" in Hebrew or place of peace. This is where the Israelites built the tabernacle and also a name used of the Messiah. We hope that is peace will reign in her heart and that she would not sacrifice truth for the sake of worldly peace, but always pursue peace that is rooted in the Gospel alone!

I hope that all of you enjoy this very intimate look into the history and legacy of the names we have chosen for these boys and girls. We continue to pray that they will be as faithful to the truths of the gospel.

June 19, 2011

Doug Fam Photo Round-Up

Does this make you want to squeeze these
 kids as much as I do after looking at this??

Crazy girl!

The crazy Doug clan, all the orignial members!
With a few extras!
Timmy and Libi, cousins are best!

my nest is best! This is what happens
when dad is charge of baby for a bit! :D

Silas and Timmy, both talking!
Handsome boy!!

Buzz Lightyear!

June 17, 2011

Pictures Of Libi





someone elses baby arrived too :D

My Daughter, O My Daughter!

"There came to port last Tuesday night (afternoon)
The queerest little craft,
Without an inch of rigging on;
I looked, and looked, and laughed.

"It seemed so curious that she
Should cross the unknown water,
And moor herself within my room--
My daughter, O my daughter!

"Yet, by these presents, witness all,
She's welcome fifty times,
And comes consigned to Hope and Love
And common metre rhymes.

"She has no manifest but this;
No flag floats o'er the water;
She's rather new for British Lloyd's--
My daughter, O my daughter!

"Ring out, wild bells--and tame ones, too;
Ring out the lover's moon,
Ring in the little worsted socks,
Ring in the bib and spoon."


--George W. Cable





Announcing Libi Shiloh
wieght: 7 lbs 2 oz

Height: 19 inches

June 12, 2011

Talk At Our House

If You were a fly on the wall you might hear......


"My baby is hurting my belly!" -Translation "I need to go to the potty and am just not in the mood to go." I am starting to wonder if her babies are ever going to get born, they are extremely convenient as an excuse for anything!

"I'm singing the baby in your belly to sleep, momma, okay?! Rock-a-bye baby in the tree tops....." -Never mind that his sister sings this to her dolls and throws them down when the baby falls. Guess that's a clear indicator that baby girl will not be holding baby girl number 2 for a little while!

"Momma, I don't want water. What if I give you this money and you give me a glass of juice?" -My son trying to use his birthday money to buy a glass of juice from me in place of a glass of water! At least it made me laugh!



"Momma, you have gotten really big! I think you might have to go onto biggest loser to get thin again, having our baby won't get all that weight off!" -Though I love hulu and Biggest Loser (yes I am still up on somethings) I am regretting letting that be some of my one on one time with my kiddo!



"Looked Momma, that house got fired up!" -Translation "That house burned down!"




"I LOVE potatoes!" -Translation "Tomatoes!" :D and no matter how hard I try to make the differences clear with one of our chillens this remains the normal form of reference!




"Can I have a sucker-cycle?" -Translation "can I have a Popsicle?"

"Is Jesus God's middle name?" -I had hoped our explanation of the trinity had gone over more clearly, obviously this is an area of work for us! :D

"There's a bee in my eye!!!" What followed made this episode note worthy. Eyes opened to buggy proportions and then the back of the head and neck slapped repeatedly! Man, I wonder what would have happened if it had actually been a bee!

June 04, 2011

Good Reminder



I forget often how fast the time flies. So I decided to make a quick reminder that we can all look back on! Makes me remember all those sweet moments that they have grown out of and the future which is just in front of us!

June 02, 2011

The beginning

Seven years ago our family looked like this...

Our first crazy joined the party...

He sure was cute...

He still is cute....only HUGE now!

And our crazy family looked like this seven years later.....today.
Happy Birthday

Silas!

We LOVE you!!!