Heidi Marie Hutton, April 23rd, 2007

Hello all. Just a quick report that we had a healthy
baby girl on Monday, April 23rd, 2007. Both Tammy and Heidi are doing well. Heidi weighed in at 8 lbs. 15 oz. and
was 21 inches long. Thanks for all of the prayers as we
delivered this baby!

H

Who Knew?

OK, so we didn't plan to have a baby during the first year of our church start-up adventure! God knew. We didn't expect to be expecting and go through the ups and downs and joys of a new addition during this intense time. God knew. I hate to see Tammy miserable...and ready to 'pop.' She is ready to 'pop' me in the jaw! I don't think she reeeeeeeeally blames me...at least not fully :) Nevertheless, the due date is only four days away and our physician says that he will be surprised if she lasts through the weekend. We are so excited about the new baby. The kids are ecstatic...our new little church family are fully supportive and behind us. Thank God for the people here and Tammy's mom, Betty! Pray for us and the new little gipper.

-Michael :)

When it comes down to Faith

So, I awoke early in the morning to help one of our little ones to the washroom. Then I realized that falling back to sleep was going to be a struggle. My mind was going full-tilt with thoughts of a new baby on the way, the call on our lives to start Harbour Wesleyan, and some other important things. Faith: This is a key ingredient to living life as a follower of Christ. This is a defining factor in the face of adversity, challenge, mistakes, failings, temptation, etc... I am reminded of this as I was awakened in the wee hours this morning. Different voices in my mind vying for position, for mastery over me. The granddaddy of them all, fear, wants control. I guess that is why, way back, I chose 2Timothy1:7 as my life's verse..."For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-discipline." Even then I realized that fear and faith do not coexist. They are mutually exclusive. I have learned that God's love casts out fear and replaces it with a relationship that fills me with faith. I know that Christ will lead me through the places of doubt and insecurity into the higher places of assurance (not self-assurance by the way) and confidence.

So, this morning, the voices in my head come. They want to rule me. I will stay firm in my trust in Christ and His call in my life because it is His true love that is more real than any of the things I have to worry about. It is love and direction that will take us through the realities that cause worry. As he says in Matthew 6 (paraphrase) I feed the birds and clothe the lillies of the field...how much more do I love you!...of course I will make sure you are taken care of. I have faith that those words are true. It is faith that brought us to Sydney and it is by faith through God's unmerited favor that He will sustain us! Writing is good for the soul, I remember truth as I sit and write these thoughts down!


- Michael

Musing 1

So, yesterday, I was sitting in my car in the driveway after taking my two daughters, Catherine and Laura, as well as a friend, Nicole, to school. I pulled into the driveway and felt a peaceful moment happening, so, I stopped the engine and sat. While I sat in the car the CD player advanced to a song by U2..."Where the Streets Have No Name." The intro. is so other-worldly, haunting, reaching I felt not only a peaceful moment, but a holy moment happening, stirring my soul. As I entered into that moment I knew God was near and whispering, "Give it to me."

At one moment in time I began to weep. I sobbed. I released something to Him. I cannot tell you exactly what. I do not exactly know. As the tears began to subside I questioned God, "What is it?" Help me to know. God didn't answer. It was almost as if that wasn't as important as my "giving it" to him. Deep down I knew it was there, but didn't know what it was. It hurts, it frustrates, it feels insecure, it...wants to take over. God knows and wants the best. Giving it to him is one of the hardest things in the world to do. It takes more than one event of giving it away for it to actually go away. I think that I have to give it away to God daily because it comes back...not because God can't hold it, but I (perhaps even subconsciously) take it back.

That happened yesterday and I thought you might like to know.

-Michael