The Wiley Family: October 2013

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

All about Elizabeth!

Elizabeth has been doing a lot of new things lately!

She is 9.5 months old now....

and in her usual style,
she hit several milestones within a few days.

Standing up on her own all the time,
Saying "Dada", Clapping (especially if you say "Yay!"),

Waving and saying "bye-bye," saying "ball",
and saying "Woof, woof, woof" - oh, this is ADORABLE!

She is such a climber, too!
Very crazy/fearless and hard to keep up with!

Elizabeth modeled for our photographer and pinkbowtique.com

Mommy snapped a couple of pictures, too :)

Climbing into the swing

Trying to get in on the fun with her brothers

9 months old!

A sweet, contagious smile :)

Chillin' with the pumpkins :)

Mommy's girl :)

She looks so smart here....

Too many good books to choose from, Mommy!

1st Halloween!

I love this sweet girl!

<>< Stacy

Monday, October 28, 2013

Is facebook really all that bad?

I sat down at facebook after a tiring day at Co-op
expecting to read a few quick interesting status messages.

Instead, I quickly came across both of these stories.

A heartbreaking story and A story of hope.

(adoption page)

Read, Pray, and if you can, Give,

but most of all, PRAY.

------

A lot of times we hear about facebook in a negative light...

addictive, time consuming, and makes us compare our lives to others.

Although this CAN be accurate, it doesn't have to be.

Facebook is a great way to spread the word about people in need,

and to develop prayer chains for those in need of prayer.

God quickly showed me both heartache and hope today.

I didn't need to see anymore status updates.
I was encouraged to press on and pray without ceasing.

Please join me in praying for these!

<>< Stacy

Friday, October 25, 2013

Clear the Stage

What do you devote your time, heart, thoughts, and actions to?

This is powerful. Watch and listen.

No, really.

Turn your mind from everything else

and purposefully watch and listen.

Listen for God.

If you can't hear Him,

then watch and listen AGAIN.

Idols.

We all have them.

We may not worship golden images,

but we have other idols in our lives.

We take something we like or want,
and give it prominence over God.

And to make matters worse,
we try to justify it instead of overcoming it
to make ourselves feel better.

Clear the stage.
Seek the Lord.
Crush the idols.

We must not worship something that's not even worth it
Clear the stage, make some space for the one who deserves it

"Clear The Stage"

Clear the stage and set the sound and lights ablaze 
If that's the measure you must take to crush the idols 
Jerk the pews & all the decorations, too  

Until the congregations few, then have revival

 Tell your friends that this is where the party ends  
Until you're broken for your sins, you can't be social 
Then seek the Lord & wait for what He has in store  
And know that great is your reward so just be hopeful 

 'Cause you can sing all you want to 
Yes, you can sing all you want to 
You can sing all you want to 
And still get it wrong;
Oh, worship is more than a song 

 Take a break from all the plans that you have made  
And sit at home alone and wait for God to whisper
 Beg Him please to open up His mouth and speak
 And pray for real upon your knees until they blister
 
Shine the light on every corner of your life
 Until the pride and lust and lies are in the open
 Then read the Word and put to test the things you've heard  
Until your heart and soul are stirred and rocked and broken 

'Cause you can sing all you want to 
Yes, you can sing all you want to
 You can sing all you want to 
And still get it wrong;
Oh, worship is more than a song 

We must not worship something that's not even worth it 
Clear the stage, make some space for the One who deserves it 

Anything I put before my God is an idol
Anything I want with all my heart is an idol
And anything I can't stop thinking of is an idol
And anything that I give all my love is an idol

 'Cause I can sing all I want to 
Yes, I can sing all I want to 
And we can sing all we want to
We can sing all we want to
We can sing all we want to
 And still get it wrong 
Worship is more than a song

Clear the stage and set the sound and lights ablaze
 If that's the measure you must take to crush the idols

------

Lately I have been convicted to realize my own sin.
It's not enough to be a 'good person'.
None of us are 'good enough'.
The Bible calls us to mourn over our own sin
and realize that we are broken without God.

God is all that matters.

<>< Stacy