The Suydam Family

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Spoiler Alert--Mother's day surprise for my MOM (ginger) please don't look at this yet! :)

Just ordered a sweet card from Shutterfly and they gave me a coupon if I use this link to advertise for them...by the way, I have used Shutterfly for a LONG time and LOVE that company!!

5x7 Folded Card

View the entire collection of cards.

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Trusting God

Recently, Pastor Michael preached on Exodus 3 & 4, and during the sermon, Karissa asked me: "Why did God harden Pharaoh's heart to not let the Hebrews go, if God wanted him to let them go?"

I told her we'd talk about it later.

We still haven't talked about it, mostly because I didn't have a ready answer for her.

Today I was reading Exodus 5 and 6, and this jumped out at me:

6:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country."

It became clear to me that God was granting an opportunity to see his glory: he allowed Pharaoh's heart to be hardened so that his glory could be revealed when Pharaoh "changed" his hardened heart, only by God's mighty hand.

This made me think of the ongoing experience of a seizure disorder in my now 9 1/2 year old daughter's life. Oh how I have longed for God to heal her...and there have been times in the 6 past years when it appeared that she had been healed. But she is experiencing them again, and again, it brings me to the throne of God with the question WHY? on my lips.

Maybe only for the purpose of revealing God's glory, to prove his mighty hand? I can't try to understand this. I cling to Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord, with all your heart, and lean NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING. In all your ways, acknowledge him, and he will make your path straight. (I added the caps)

This made me think of one of my favorite Sovereign Grace songs, God moves. These words articulate the error of "judging the Lord with my feeble sense" and remind me, gently, just as Jesus does, to trust in him as he moves in my life (and in Karissa's).

VERSE 1
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm
Deep in His dark and hidden mines
With never-failing skill
He fashions all His bright designs
And works His sovereign will

CHORUS 1
So God we trust in You
O God we trust in You

VERSE 2
O fearful saints new courage take
The clouds that you now dread
Are big with mercy and will break
In blessings on your head
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense
But trust Him for His grace
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face

CHORUS 2
So God we trust in You
O God we trust in You
When tears are great
And comforts few
We hope in mercies ever new
We trust in You

VERSE 3
God’s purposes will ripen fast
Unfolding every hour
The bud may have a bitter taste
But sweet will be the flower
Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain
God is His own interpreter
And He will make it plain

Here is a youtube video of this song

Sunday, April 24, 2011

that's it

We have to do this again. I just had fun looking through the past few years of this blog...first of all, I miss my babies! Second of all, this is such a great way to document my family.

So, in light of trying to get back on the "horse"...here is a picture today of my four growing children, on Resurrection Sunday.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

spring breakin' with the Wedins

at the Devil's Punch Bowl
We spent a weekend during Spring Break at the Coast with Josh & Rachel, Angie & Erik and Uncle Doug & Aunt Debby Wedin. They let us join their family vacation...it was so fun to see them and get the kids re-aquainted. Now we can't wait to see them again!