Baby, Oh Baby!!!

Baby, Oh Baby!
by Louise Bergmann DuMont

Baby Girl DuMont Is Coming – Hurray!
My son and my daughter-in-law are thankful its true,
especially this year – and the reason is HUGE.
Roni is growing a bit everyday,
with a precious God-Gift inside her today.
“Its a girl,” the Doc noted, “A girl?” JC queried.
“A girl,” Roni whispered. Then together they cheered!
Our family did mark this momentous event,
with prayer and feasting and heaven’s consent.

Yes, my son and daughter-in-law are having a little girl. Have you ever seen pictures of a developing embryo? The process (called embryogenesis) is amazing. Two haploid cells meet and a single diploid cell is formed. If everything proceeds on schedule, a child is born nine months later.
It sounds so simple. But how does that combined cell know that it should divide... and divide... and divide some more? And of those divided cells, how does one cell know that should be the beautiful blue iris of our granddaughter, another know it will become her healthy liver tissue and yet another know it should form magnificent muscle to produce the delightful sound of her beating heart.

Some adult cells duplicate (skin cells are washed away when we shower and new ones replace them each day) but once a person is born a liver cell can never change to become part of a hair follicle or vice versa. Yet God provides miracles every day. He instructed one very special combination of cells to become our granddaughter. He told that very first cell how many additional cells would be needed, where each cell should position itself, and exactly when they should get started. Nine months later, a daughter is ready for her mother’s and father’s (and grandparent’s) arms. This is amazing stuff!

Some individuals would like us to believe that an embryo is nothing more than a clump of nondescript cells. They talk about the initial embryonic stage looking like a tadpole – implying that it is a throw-back to humans emerging from ooze trillions of years ago. But researchers know (although they haven’t figured out how) that cells are “coded” with information. The joining of two human cells can not create a frog because only human information is coded into those cells. It already is what God ordained – a precious child.

God wants his children to know that they are no accident. He perfectly forms each child before their mother or father even knows the child exists. As much as I already love the granddaughter whose birth we await – it thrills my heart to know that God loves her even more.

The word of the Lord came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart... " Jeremiah 1:4-5b

God's Tattoo

God’s Tattoo
by Louise Bergmann DuMont

“Look at her. It’s disgusting!” the first woman said, as she tugged at her pristine white suit jacket.
The second woman adjusted her glasses and sighed. “Why doesn’t she just have those horrible tattoos removed?”

“They are awful,” the first one responded with a snicker. Then, pretending to shield her words from others, she added in a loud whispered, “I think the one around her neck has swear words!”

Her friend’s head shook like a bobble head doll – nearly knocking her glasses off her face.

“Caroline has been spending a lot of time with her. I don’t know how Caroline can be friends with someone like that.”

At that moment Caroline appeared in the doorway and stepped directly front of the two women. Although her words remained pleasant, her face echoed the steal that undergirded her tone.

“Hi, ladies. Did I hear my name? Was there something you wanted to tell me?”

“Uh... um... no... well, actually... um... we were wondering about your friend Miki,” stammered white suit.

“What were you wondering?”

“Is she a Christian?” asked the other woman trying to more firmly place her glasses.

“Yes. Yes she is.”

“So... um... why doesn’t she have those horrible tattoos removed from her neck and her wrist? They really aren’t very attractive.” The woman grimaced, reflecting her thoughts clearly in her expression.
“And doesn’t the Bible say something about not marking our bodies?” asked the other woman?

“I assume you’re taking about Leviticus 19:28. You have to understand why the Israelites were told not to get tattoos. The Israelites had begun to take on the customs of the people around them. These included marking their bodies with the names of heathen gods in hopes that they would find favor with the heathen gods. Have you actually looked at Miki’s tattoos.”

“Well, no,” the surprised women responded in unison.

“Well... the tattoo on Miki’s neck is a snake. She got that one before she became a Christian, but once she became a believer she had something added. It says, “Exodus 15:22-27 Jehovah-Rapha – The Lord that heals”. Every time she looks in the mirror, Miki is reminded that she’s been healed of her childhood abuse and her desire for alcoholic and drugs.”

Caroline smiled as at the open-mouth stares from the two women in front of her before continuing.

“Miki actually had the tattoo on her wrist put on recently. It is a rose of Sharon and the braid that winds around her wrist says, “Isaiah 49:15b-16 ~ But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on my hand.” She had this tattoo put on as a permanent reminder that even though her earthly father disowned her, her heavenly father will always be there for her.”

Silence fell on the women. When Caroline spoke again, her voice was kind but firm.

“You might want to get to know Miki. We can all use a few more Christian friends.”

Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. 3 John 1:5