sermon notes - Generational Blessings

Another great sermon today I have to record.

Deuteronomy 34:9
Blessing from one Generation to Another
Tim Broyles was talking about Moses and his biological father, adopted father and then his father in law. How each of them had blessed Moses with different things throughout his life.

[quick pause to tell you I went to Parenting:  An Honest Conversation yesterday at the church. It was led by Mike & Kristen Berry and I would recommend anyone and everyone go to one of their discussions sometime. Anyway, the topics discussed yesterday so closely tie into what today's sermon was about I was a little shocked. But then I realized of course there's a tie because God's timing is perfect. He's always right on schedule! The related topic was about how there are stages in your child's life where their influences will shift.]

Deuteronomy - 1. words of encouragement, 2. detailed instructions regarding inheritance and 3. blessings for the future

What's it like to bless a child in our generation?
     It's not providing happiness for we can't guarantee happiness.
     Is it giving an inheritance?
          What if that gift we give is not used for good.
          What if our child chooses not to walk with God.
          What if we scrimp and save, nurture & teach, provide safety and love yet our child turns from the Lord.

3 John 1:4
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in truth.
[The worship team this morning was children. There were two kids on guitar, one on piano, one on drums and 5 singers. They were accompanied by 3 adults but it was primarily the kids. I would be on cloud 10 if Madi or Rawley were to do such a thing. I hope that their best friends walk in faith. I want them to grow, struggle and pray with their youth group. As Dan and I's influence in their lives fall out of 1st place I want the other adults that will move ahead of us in influence to be like-minded and replace what our influence would be, reinforce the same values.]

Am I strong enough to offer blessings? Am I a "good enough" Christian?
Moses murdered a man, buried him in the sand and then ran to another country to hide. I haven't done any of that!! So yes, I can provide a blessing for God does not call the perfect, he calls the willing.

Tim went with a friend to his first PG movie, American Graffiti. Afterwards when his Dad came to pick them up he had his sister along. They met up as Tim and his friend were leaving the movie. His Dad asked, How was it? Tim and his friend were speaking over each other telling him how funny and great the movie was. Then his Dad said, Good. Let's go watch it again with me and your sister. Dun Dun Dunnnnn. As Tim watched the movie again he was ashamed he found the movie "so cool" the first time. Sitting next to his Dad, seeing it through his eyes, made him want to apologize and strive to do better. What do we do...say...share with friends...find humor in...that if we were sitting next to our parents or had our children on our lap would not be appropriate? Do you think there's a moment that God is not with you?

Tim mentioned the 4Kids program with Nora Elementary where volunteers read with the kids. One of the female volunteers, Gretchen, met with her student near the end of the year and excitedly asked him what he wanted for next year. He shyly said he'd like a guy tutor. Gretchen asked why and he replied that his Dad works alot and isn't around so it'd be nice to have a guy to hang with.
     Wonder what that kid's Dad would do if he was aware of his son's longing.

Be a blessing to someone. Prepare your children so they're ready when given a choice that will either glorify God or not. Maybe you need to prepare yourself before you can prepare your children...

Rawley's kidney ultrasound check-up

Yesterday was Rawley’s follow up with the pediatric urologist for his hydronephrosis. These are always long appointments as we start with an ultrasound then have 30-45min before we meet with the doctor. It’s at least a 2-hour affair. When I scheduled the appointment I anticipated Rawley being at Heartland where his naptime starts at noon. Picking him up at 1:30p for a 2p ultrasound didn’t sound that bad. BUT, he moved to Early Childhood which doesn’t start their naptime until 1p, give or take. All the sudden a 1:30p pick up has potential to detonate the Rawley-bomb. I have to schedule the appt 6mos in advance so it’s not possible to call up and ask to move it by an hour.

 

It was a LOOONG afternoon but Rawley did pretty well overall. The hospital didn’t have orders from Dr. Cain’s office for the kidney ultrasound. It took 45min for them to get the orders before we were able to check-in with the hospital. Rawley was adored by several people in the waiting area. We walked up and down the hallways. Rawley pretended to read a magazine – would hold it from the sides and bring it up to his face then put it on his lap and turn the page. Of course he tore out several pages too. Rawley climbed up on the chairs/benches and would put his face against the windows out into the hallway. He got several waves from people walking by.

 

We finally made it to radiology and got to wait for another 20min. Bill was our technician and proficient but not very kid-friendly. The room at IU North had cartoony posters on the wall and a kids area in the waiting room with cartoons playing. Rawley was pretty still at the beginning but kept looking at Bill trying to size him up. As Bill was finishing the top of Rawley’s right side Rawley came to the conclusion that he didn’t like Bill. He started to cry big tears and became a squirrely little guy. We still had the top of Rawley’s left side and then back views of both sides. Yay! After the top of his right side I asked for a little break as Rawley was starting to sweat from all the crying and squirming. Plus I needed a break from having to hold him down on the table. As a parent, that’s tough. We got through all sides & views and praise God, when Bill checked with the radiologist all the images Bill had taken were clear enough. There was a Mom and son Rawley was flirting with in the hospital waiting area which we ran into again in radiology. They were asking for directions to the professional building and the receptionist needed to know which professional building as there’s several on the 86^th St campus. I heard the Mom say Dr. Cain and I asked if it was the urologist Dr. Cain. She said yes so I said they could follow us as that’s where we were going too. In Dr. Cain’s waiting area we sat across from a Mom with a teeny-tiny baby. I’d seen them check-in at the hospital. I can’t identify what it was about the Mom’s actions but I figured she was a NICU grad so I asked how early he was born. She smiled and said 5 weeks, yesterday was my due date. We talked a bit. They were also there for hydronephrosis. She delivered at Hendricks County but they transferred her son to Women’s right after he was born. She was able to come up 2 days later. They were in the NICU on the 2^nd floor but she preferred the pumping rooms on 3. I did too, bigger rooms and outside the NICU for a little break from all the beeps. Before they went back she said, maybe we’ll see you at the picnic!

 

I’m sure you’ve enjoyed reading all this but I will (finally) get to the results of the visit. No change. Rawley’s not gotten worse or better. Dr. Cain said he’s charting his own course of resolution. Usually by now boys have either self-resolved or require surgery. Rawley’s not had any kidney/bladder infections. His dilation is |    | where Dr. Cain operates on gaps this big |                |. Unless Rawley gets a kidney/bladder infection we’re cleared to not come back for a follow up until 15mos from now. Should Rawley get an infection Dr. B can treat it with antibiotics like any other kid but then let his office know. Urine values would help Dr. Cain decide whether to order another ultrasound or just see how Rawley does after the infection is resolved.

 

It was 4:45p when we left Dr. Cain’s office. Like I said, LOOONG day. We were so close and Rawley wasn’t to the end of his rope yet so we popped up to the 6^th floor to visit Rachel & Wes. Rachel was asleep when we got there so I chatted with Wes for a bit. She woke up shortly after and we celebrated her “it’s not cancer or a tumor” results. I said “thank you Grandma” as I know she’s still praying for those of us on earth. And we laughed about being able to go back to worrying about normal, everyday stuff – what to wear, what to fix for dinner, will the house sell, etc. Rachel continues to be a miracle and I’m so grateful!