Brothers and Sons

The Hamblen boys can never deny their relationship as documented below and I believe Sawyer can now be included in that category! Of course, I'm looking through eyes that may be prejudiced and do not have access to Meagan's baby pictures.

Josh's First Cry

Jeremy's First Cry

Josh with his Dad

Sawyer too sweet to cry!!

(At least with Lolly and Pops looking on!)

HAPPIEST DAY AND SWEETEST SOUND!!

THE HAPPIEST DAY...

in pictures!!

Checked in!

Dad-in-waiting!


Great Aunt Pat and Grandmother-in-waiting!


Waiting (David, Amanda, and Sally)

Finally, news!!!

Father and Son!
Sawyer Henry Hamblen

6lbs 6oz

Mother and Son!

Aunt Amanda

GP (jeep) and Uncle Tyler

Mimi, Sawyer and Mom

Lolly and Sawyer

Pops and Sawyer

Great Aunt Pat and Sawyer

Off to the nursery for my first bath


A star is born!!

"Yeah, they're all there - let's move on!"

"Hey, what are you lookin' at?!"

"That better be Johnson's No More Tears Shampoo!"

"No tan lines!"

"Dang, I'm cute!"


"What's it gonna take to get a nap here!!"

More to come...

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward." Psalm 127:3

The Second Letter

"And to the angel, or the messenger, from the church in Smyrna write: the First and the Last who was dead and has come to life says this: I know your tribulation and your poverty but you are rich and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not but are a synagogue of Satan, do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison that you may be tested and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches, he who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death." Revelation 2:8-11

This is the second of seven letters to the churches in the various cities of Asia Minor, now modern Turkey. This is one of just two of the seven where there is no condemnation, there is no discussion about sin, there is no word from the Lord about punishment. This is a purged church. It has been purged of sin through the matter of suffering. The price of being a Christian can be very high in a hostile environment. That apparently was the case in Smyrna where at this time the Caesar, Domitian had launched an extensive persecution of the church. And so, through persecution they had been purified, through persecution they had come to a serious kind of Christianity, through persecution they had been deprived and in their poverty they had become spiritually rich. And so, in these verses we see that John has only praise for this church.

The church at Smyrna is an example of how every faithful Christian should respond in the matter of suffering. We know from 2 Timothy 3:12 that suffering is inevitable. "All who desire to live godly in Jesus will be persecuted." And from Hebrews we know that our salvation is perfected in suffering (2:10) and that Christ learned obedience through suffering (5:8).

The message given to the church at Smryna told them not to fear what they were about to suffer. No matter how small or how severe, the One who has overcome death says, “fear not.” Isaiah 41:10 says, "Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." The Smyrnan Christians are challenged to face possible martyrdom with courage and fidelity to God. And for their faithfulness they will be “crowned” with the enjoyment of life “more abundant”. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." John 10:10

The letter closes with a promise to the one who overcomes that they will not experience the second death. "Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" 1 John 5:5 So true believers, He says, those of you who are real believers will never be hurt by the second death. That's the one to worry about. The first death is only physical, the second is spiritual and eternal.

All of the letters to the churches share a similar structure. There is a description of Christ, a commendation, a reproof, instructions/warnings, and a promise to overcomers. I am always captivated by the description of Christ when I stop to consider the words He has chosen to describe Himself. "...the First and the Last who was dead and has come to life..." Just think about what that means...

The First and the Last this is a name God took for Himself. I won't take you back through it again but in case you're taking some notes, in Isaiah 41:4, Isaiah 43:10, Isaiah 44:6 and 48:12, in those places God calls Himself the First and the Last. Here that same title is used to designate Jesus Christ...in chapter 1 verse 17, here again in chapter 2 verse 8, and once again in chapter 22 and verse 13. This is to say then that Jesus Christ is none other than God Himself. And yet though they be one He is distinct. He is the eternal infinite God, already in existence when all things were created and remaining after all things are destroyed. He is the first, He preexisted, He is the last, He will go on forever. When other things cease, He does not. When some things begin, yes when all things begin He is already there. He is the First and the Last, the eternal One. The idea is that He transcends time, that He transcends space, that He transcends creation. And yet amazingly, look back at verse 8, this same One who is eternal, who was before all things and will live forever, who transcends all things was dead and has come to life. Here is a paradox of all paradoxes. How can the eternally living God who is beyond all time, beyond all space, beyond all history die? How can He die? But He did. The Lord Jesus Christ, as you know, was God incarnate, entering into time, space and history for the very purpose of dying. That is the heart of the gospel.

How could the eternally living One die? He could only die as a man. He never could die as the eternal God in whom is unending life. But He died as man for sin and now lives by resurrection as the glorified God/Man. But He Himself, according to Hebrews 7:16, had the power of an endless life. ~ John MacArthur

No matter then what might happen to the Christians at Smyrna or to us, our Savior has gone through the worst life can bring. As such, He is one who feels for us in our suffering with special love and compassion and is ever present to come to our aid and comfort! Like the Smyrnan Christians we can be comforted by the fact that the sufferings of this present time do not continue forever, and the blessings that are ours in Christ through His salvation and precious promises will go on through eternity.

"And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved." Mark 13:13

Baby, Oh Baby...

I can't wait for Baby H to make his appearance and give a certain famous baby from 1928 a "run for it's money"!! In some respects it seems as though it was just yesterday that Jeremy and Meagan stopped by to give us the big news and I couldn't stop saying "Oh, my goodness!" I'm sure with all the changes Meagan has gone through the time has gone a little bit slower for her. But Easter or I should say Resurrection Sunday is quickly approaching and the thought that our arms will soon be full of sweet baby love is too exciting. Baby H is being prayed over daily and anticipated by grandparents who can't wait to "spare the rod, and spoil the child". Ha!

I have to confess that shopping for my grandson has helped to make the time go quicker. Though it always seems that there is more out there for girls, I have never had a problem finding something cute to buy for Baby H! The only thing he is missing out on is monogrammed clothing because his parents refuse to share his name until he's born! I'm sure that will be resolved shortly. ;-)

I have two things that I found that I thought were really cute. One was a soft little blue blanket trimmed with a fake cow hide materiel and on it was embroidered a cowboy boot and the words "Lil' Cow Pokie". (His room has a Texas theme!) The picture below was taken with my cell phone and is obviously not the best but we were at lunch and it was a sunny day!

One of my other favorite purchases was a little outfit that had a little vintage baseball on the front but it was what was on the bottom that sold me! On it's little rear was a large vintage baseball that I can just picture covering a little bottom with a big diaper. When I showed Tony the outfit, I laid it over his shoulder and said just imagine burping the baby and patting his little baby bottom through this baseball!!! OK, if you think I've been having some fun shopping - you're right!!!

Note: In an act of full disclosure I must admit that these are not my only purchases. Tony would want me to say these are just two of my latest! :-) I just happen to have taken these pictures and could share that boys have cute things too!!

I am so blessed to have two wonderful daughters-in-love and Meagan was so sweet to let me take this picture. On her right hand is the "Mommy" gift Jeremy had just given her for growing his baby! (His words not mine.) It is a beautiful ring she can wear now in light of the fact that her wedding rings don't fit because of swelling! Later they will have it taken up and it will be representative of a very special time in their lives.

Baby H we love you!

"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them." Psalm 139:13-16

The First Letter

"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place--unless you repent. Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.” Revelation 2:1-7

In Revelation 2 we see the first of the letters to the seven churches. They are actual churches, and the Lord gives to John, the apostle, on the island of Patmos where he was when he received the Revelation, a letter for each of these churches. And these letters are contained in chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation. Seven churches each unique with its unique characteristics and unique problems. They stand as models or examples for churches today and therefore as warnings as well.

The church in Ephesus was strong in doctrine, committed to godliness, they couldn't endure evil. They were committed to doing deeds and working hard and persevering, many good things. They endured, "For My namesake," it says in verse 3, "and didn't even grow weary." But, even with all the commendation, verse 4 strikes the tragic note, "You left your first love." And the clear penetrating eyes of Jesus see through to the heart of this church. Their hearts had grown cold. Their passion and love for Christ, their zeal for God, their deep sense of thankfulness was becoming perfunctory service. First love was gone. Enthusiasm was gone. And the Christian routine took over.

Spiritual defection comes from forgetting. "Trace your memory back to the early joys," He says. It was there at the start. "Remember," and then He says, "Repent and recognize your present state as sinful, even though you're orthodox. Confess your lack of love, your lack of communion with Christ, your lack of worship, your lack of joy." And then he says, "Repeat. Repeat the works. He did it first. Go back and do it the way you did it then."

Well, they didn't. The church failed. The light went out, never to be lit again. Today Ephesus is just ruins. And the City of Kuzidaci, which is just a short bus ride away in Turkey, is a city dominated by Islam.

A.W. Tozer once said, “If you will not worship God seven days a week you do not worship Him on one day a week.” Every single moment of life is an opportunity to worship, because every aspect of creation is under God’s authority, including the minuscule details of your existence. So then worship is not about being in tune through a song but being in touch with God. Worship is not praying so that you can be heard but praying to hear. Worship is not about living to get ahead but rather to give away self for God’s glory.

A heart of worship will unite every moment of your life into a symphony of praise to God. This heart is established by recognizing God as the Psalmist wrote in chapter 95: He is the LORD, the Rock of our Salvation, the great God, the great King above all gods, the LORD our Maker. When you see God as this, you will bow down, you will surrender, and you will put him in his rightful place OR else you don’t really see Him. ~ Aaron McRae

Have you seen Him as the Rock of your Salvation? Have you worshipped today?

“One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, "What commandment is the foremost of all?" Jesus answered, "The foremost is, 'HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.' The second is this, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

Mark 12:28-31