Archive for Baby Noble
Eyes LOCKED! August 24, 2007
I took Charisse to her crib the other night–but before I put her down I decided to spend a few minutes with her in the rocking chair. I am not even sure what I was saying–but all of a sudden she opened her eyes really big and just stared at me.
To be honest–I got lost in that moment. She didn’t look away–she didn’t even hardly blink–she just stared right at me and I nearly melted right there. There is NOTHING that pleases a father more than when he has the undivided attention of his child. I will have to say that up until this point it was probably the most special time I have had with just she and I…and I felt SO connected with her.
Walking out of her room down the steps I felt the Lord whisper to me, “Hey Perry, that is what I want with you! Not some ritual…but an intimate connection.”
From time to time I get caught up in “having a quiet time” just to say I had one? Sure, a verse or two will stand out to me…but if I am not careful I will forget that my time with God in the mornings isn’t about a spiritual to do list–it is about a connection…a connection that I need and God wants.
God doesn’t want our lip service–He wants our undivided attention. And that is SO hard in today’s society–everything competes with our time with Him…ESPECIALLY technology. I just know that what I experienced with my daughter was REAL…and the Lord used it in my life to show me that I need to take my walk with Him to the next level!
Then I was reminded of Jesus–the Bible says in Luke 5:16 that He often withdrew to lonely places and prayed–translation–He got alone and LOCKED EYES with His Father…amazing! We see this again in Mark 1:35 where the Bible says that the first thing in the morning Jesus went to a solitary place to lock eyes with His Father…and the result was direction and power. (See Mark 1:36-39)
BUT–I believe the most intimate and challenging time Jesus had with the Father was in the garden of Gethsemane where we see Him praying in Matthew 26:36-45 one of THE most unselfish, sold out prayers EVER recorded in history. Translation–when we LOCK EYES with the Father there is NOTHING that we are not willing to do for Him!
My prayer lately has been that I will have my eyes LOCKED–focused on Him! It blows my mind that He wants that–and I know I need it!!! I never want to merely offer God lip service–He knows my heart. My desire is to LOCK EYES with Him and then to do whatever He asks…how about you?
More Pictures Of Charisse August 12, 2007
Here she is getting a bath–dang she’s cute!!!
This is what she wore the first Sunday she came to NewSpring.
BEAUTIFUL!!!
Here is one of my favorites!!!
And finally–this one concerned me a little–if you will look at her left hand then it would seem she is already using non-verbal communication in a not nice way!!!
God Speaks Through Rascal Flats!!! August 7, 2007
I read something recently that rocked my world - it said, “God is ALWAYS speaking…we just need to learn to listen.” BAM!
AND…one of the things I have learned recently is that God often has a unique was of communicating with His people…yes, He speaks through His Word and the Holy Spirit and church–but sometimes He speaks in unmistakable ways that are unique and awesome.
Let me share an experience that I recently had.
Back in May I began listening to the Rascal Flats song, “My Wish.” (AWESOME SONG!) Every time I heard it my mind automatically went to my daughter, Charisse - who had not yet been born. It made me think about how God has a plan for her life and that my wish is for her to succeed in life.
Well, on May 22 of this past year my world got ROCKED. I was in a senior management team meeting and left for a second to go to my office. When I got there I saw Lucretia sitting at my desk with a very concerned look on her face.
My heart fell into my stomach! I knew she had just been to the doctors office to get an ultrasound done on Charisse because she hadn’t felt her moving a whole lot and we wanted to make sure things were ok.
Things were not ok!
Lucretia was told that her amniotic fluid was low - extremely low; in fact, we had been ordered to see a specialist the next morning so that a special ultrasound could be done. The doctors were concerned because low amniotic fluid can be damaging. AND…I was NOT at peace, when you hear the words “possible brain damage” associated with your child…I don’t care who you are–your faith takes a hit! MINE DID!
I was speechless. I wanted to tell ‘Cretia everything was going to be alright…but I could not speak. There was a lump in my throat. I knew I was supposed to be strong–but in that moment I felt weak and vulnerable. ‘Cretia, on the other hand, was a rock! She said, “Perry, I know this is from the Lord. And no matter what happens with this–He is still God!”
We prayed and then she went and got in her car and I headed for mine. On the way I prayed, “God, I REALLY need to hear from You! Seriously…this hurts…I am scared and I need to know everything is going to be ok.”
Right when I got in the car and cranked it up - BAM - “My Wish” by Rascal Flats was on the radio and I lost it! Hollywood could not have scripted that moment any better…it was amazing. AND…in that moment I had a peace that I cannot explain…it was like God was saying to me, “I STILL have a plan and I AM STILL GOD!!!”
Seriously, it was one of those moments I will never forget…and now every time I hear that song I get all teary eyed! I know God has a plan for my little girl…and He used Rascal Flats to confirm it.
I know that for some this story seems a little funky…but for me it is one of the most real moments I have ever had. God wants to communicate to His kids…and do it in a way that they can understand. I seek His face every morning…and all throughout the day I am begging to hear His voice. BUT…sometimes, for no known reason, God will use unique circumstances to communicate His powerful love in an unforgettable way…I know He did for me–and I will never forget it.
God is ALWAYS speaking…are we open to hear His voice?
A Few Pictures Of Our Daughter July 28, 2007
Here she is in one of my her favorite outfits! :-) Proverbs 22:6 sums up this picture!
Charisse makes friends quickly–here she is hanging out with Jordyn!
And finally–this one was so cute–I just had to share it!!!
Please pray for me–she smiled at me for the first time the other night and my heart melted…I think we are going to go and buy her a car tomorrow!!! :-)
We Are Family–Charisse Update July 6, 2007
Hope you like the picture…it was snapped on our back deck. It was so crazy driving home from the hospital…I don’t think I’ve ever been that careful in my life!
As we have been home there have been several things happen and quite a few discoveries made…I will try to share a few…
- Today I saw what projectile crap looks like! Lucretia was changing Charisse’s diaper and our beautiful little girl fired a poo poo missile at my wife…I’ve never seen anything like it.
- ‘Cretia is recovering very well from her C-section! Continue to keep her in your prayers.
- Charisse continues to enjoying taking a pee on me when I change her diaper.
- She does not like having a blanket on her! We put one on her at night and when we wake her up for her feeding she has usually kicked it off. (This is evidence that she is my child!)
- There is a car seat in my Yukon…no matter how manly your car looks…once you put the car seat in then you just can’t look cool anymore.
- Despite being pee’d on–changing diapers isn’t that bad…BUT…and just being honest here–I will probably never desire mustard again. (If you need an explanation then forget it!!!)
- There is NOTHING like having my little girl look at me in the eyes. She already has my heart!
- I bought her a rose on the day she was born…some young punk isn’t going to be the first guy to give her flowers…she’s getting them from me every year…all the time!!!
- I think Charisse is looking more and more like Lucretia…which is an answer to prayer–I begged God to let her look like ‘Cretia and not like me…I would make one ugly female!!!
- Someone told me that one day she will be dating and that I should be scared…I told them that does not scare me because I am willing to start a prison ministry because of her!!!
AND finally…Lucretia and I gave Charisse a bath last night–I just had to show this picture. How could you NOT love a girl this awesome!!!
What God Is Teaching Me Through Charisse… June 29, 2007
OK…a few thoughts on this Friday (and YES, there is a picture at the bottom!!!)
- So far I have changed every diaper that Charisse has demolished!!! AND I haven’t minded at all…I want her to be clean…that is how God feels about cleaning us up, He actually became sin for us! (II Corinthians 5:21)
- All I want to do is hold her…be close to her…and freeze those moments. God has those same desires, for His children to be close to Him! He sent Jesus to die on a cross NOT just so that we go to heaven…but to have an ongoing relationship with us!!!
- Charisse does not completely understand all of the good things that I want to do for her…she never will, and I think we have no idea what wonderful things God has in mind. (Matthew 7:11)
- There is NOTHING I would not do for her–NOTHING! That is how God feels about blessing His kids! (Psalm 2:8)
- In cleaning her up I have had to put her in uncomfortable situations…but only because I love her and want her to be clean. That is why God takes us through uncomfortable situations. We don’t understand…but it is all for our own good. (Romans 8:28)
- There is NOTHING that Charisse could do to make me stop loving her–that is how God feels about His children. (Romans 8:38-39)
- Charisse has not worked for my love, she was born. that’s it–we do not work for the love of God. He just radically loves us!!! (John 3:3, John 3:16)
Dang–this fatherhood stuff is awesome–speaking of that here is me and my daughter!
I am REALLY looking forward to speaking on Sunday!
Charisse IS HERE!!! June 27, 2007
NO, this is NOT a JOKE! She was born this morning–eight pounds!!!
Mommy and baby are both great–daddy, on the other hand, feels like he could run a marathon RIGHT NOW! Holy cow–this is AWESOME! WOW! YEAH GOD!!! How in the world can anyone witness the birth of a child and deny that HE exists!!!
I can’t wait to preach on Sunday…and YES, I WILL HAVE PICTURES!
Here’s one for now! Thanks for the prayers.
Oh yeah, two more things…
#1 - No flowers please!!! We ask that, if you really want to send something, please send a restaurant gift card to the office–that way we can grub and ‘Cretia doesn’t have to eat my cooking.
#2 - No visitors please…mommy and baby need rest.
