Monday, December 24, 2012

Joseph Did You Know? An Adoption Christmas Poem

This past Sunday I preached on Joseph who is often forgotten in the Christmas story and how a detail we often miss in the Christmas story is how his adoption of Jesus is essential for Him to be Messiah-King (by Joseph being His legal father and therefore David his forefather, making Jesus legal heir to the throne in the same way emperors often were in NT times by adoption).

There are many carols and hymns that mention Mary and shepherds and angels many times over, but only one Christmas carol I could find even gives mention to Joseph, so I decided to write my own "song." It's based on "Mary Did You Know?" but marvelling at the incarnation from Joseph's perspective to add another dimension to our Christmas reflections.

Here is a portion of the poem I ended the message with, with the parts that highlight the adoption theme from the earthly level to the heavenly level, from father to Father:

Joseph did you know? That this newborn boy you just washed clean with water,
That He would cleanse you for adoption by His Heavenly Father?
... Joseph did you know? When the angel told you to name Him as His father,
That Name would also save your biological sons and daughters?
... Joseph did you know that your little boy, the one who calls you "Abba,"
Would later cry that to heaven before the wrath of God The Father?
Did you know that your little boy you taught to tie his shoes,
That this son that you adopted would die to adopt you?

Several asked me afterwards for the lyrics so to read the rest of the poem I've posted to below in printer-friendly PDF:
http://media.sermonaudio.com/mediapdf/1224122125327.pdf

For the rest of the message the poem was based upon, you can also go to below:
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=1224121155435

As our family reflects on God's adopting grace to us, I pray you would marvel afresh, perhaps in a new light, at the Christmas story and how Christ brings us into His family.

Merry Christmas from the Laytons

Monday, October 29, 2012

Happy #1 to our son

No, we don't have a one year old, but Matteus has been with us for ONE WHOLE YEAR!!! So, yes we do have a one year celebration for a 2nd son, just a few days after we celebrated the birthday of our first son (see last post). This past weekend marked the day when he first arrived in CA to meet his siblings at the Sacramento airport (after a 30+ hour mostly sleepless journey with dad)!



It has been a year full of firsts! Since last October he has experienced his first airpline ride, first new words, first foods, first toys, first games, first swimming, first camping, first marshmallows, first rollercoaster, first winter... FIRST forever FAMILY.

He didn't know a lot of things, but he knew by the next month that Jesus loved him


Here was our little one-year-old one year ago



And here he is our two-year-old little man now ...



In one year he has grown, learned another language (French and Swahili almost all forgotten now), and so many new things, and has thrived in his new family and church family as a complete joy to all who know him. We are so thankful that the Lord has graciously given us another blessing to love. It has only been one year, but it feels like he's been with us forever. We can't wait to see what God is going to do with this little guy!

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Happy 4th Birthday Adam!

Adam is now 4!! We can't believe how fast time flies by and how big he's getting. Here are some pics from his birthday on the 21st, birthday pancake, prince crown, presents, pillow train, personal spider-man mask, and precious sisters and brother







Monday, September 10, 2012

One Year Ago Today

This is a picture from one year ago, September 8th/9th, in Congo (depending on which time zone, Congo is a day ahead of California time), as I prepared to get on an airplane. Today last year I was flying from Africa to the East Coast of the U.S. by myself physically, but spiritually I was accompanied by the special presence and blessing of God and the joy he had filled my heart with in regards to this special boy He had planned for us to adopt.



The little 19-month-old didn't know what was going on, but he had a toy moto-car now and that was good enough for him. It was just 3 days earlier that he was placed into my arms and I spent as much time as I could bonding with him before I left. I had a much bigger smile on my face than I imagined coming home from my trip after burying our first adopted son Mark Joseph. Those 3 days I couldn't get Bonheur (later re-named Matteus Samuel) to smile, but I knew it was in there. That day with Didier's help, I said to this little guy in Swahili the words of John 14:18 "I will not leave you fatherless (or "orphan" in some translations) I will come again to you." By the grace of the Heavenly Father who adopted me and with the help of His beloved Son who said those words many years ago, that was fulfilled in our family with my beloved son Matteus.

As I watched him joyfully playing in our house this morning, I couldn't imagine a more joyful child or a more different and transformed child than the one I met that day, and I marvel at the grace of God who brought him into our household and who brings us in Christ into His (Eph. 2:19) and who transforms us as well in even greater ways (2 Cor. 5:17).

To God be the glory great things He has done, so loved He the world that He gave us His Son!

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Summertime!!

Yes, yes, it has been a long long time since our last post.  We sold our house, school ended,we MOVED! went to S. CA for a week, went camping, and just have had fun enjoying our summer! Here are a few pics!
 He looks like he didn't have fun, but he did!


Six Flags, lots of fun!

Matteus loved the rides!


VBS!
Cuties
 Crazies

The Girls Got to ride in an Airplane!



Annalee's 8th Birthday!
 She liked her present :)

Dress-up!

Georgia Turned 6!

 Ella drew Fairy's, and decorated the cupcakes for the Tinkerbell Party

Matteus' first time at the ocean, he loved it!


The girls had a blast boggie boarding


Family Camp

Adam asked for "Smarshsmellows" for breakfast, why not? It's camping!

Yes, as you can see it's been a crazy summer!

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Message Video from Compassion for Congo Benefit Dinner

As a follow-up to our last post, I found out just today that one of our friends video'd the message I gave at the Compassion for Congo Benefit Dinner on 4/28/2012. It takes about 40 seconds for the light to adjust.

Click here for message

Click here for just the text notes of the message

Monday, May 21, 2012

Congo Reunion and Benefit Dinner

A little while back our friends the Wilmarths put on a benefit dinner for Compassion for Congo. Matteus Layton and Brandon Wilmarth had fun with matching ties, with sister Kara Wilmarth.


5 kids who once lived in the same orphanage on the other side of the world, got to sing on a stage together "Mokolo ngai nakokufa" and "Jesus loves me" - precious moments. Left to right: Jamie Loucks, Kara Wilmarth, Jordan Loucks, Brandon Wilmarth, Matteus Layton.


There was a great video they put together for the evening that talks about the history of the ministry and the families involved. What a blessing it was and what a blessing we have!

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Compassion for Congo Bennefit Dinner

We are in the midst of planning the first benefit dinner to raise money to help the ministry of Pastor Didier.

Please check out the video here http://www.congobenefit.org/

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Latest...

Lot's of fun has been going on here!

Chair spinning...

Kitchen Creations

Picnic table Dancing

Tea Parties


Easter Activities...





We are so thankful for our Risen Savior who conquered death on our behalf.  He did what we could not do for ourselves, and paid our debt with His blood. We praise Him that we can be sons and daughters with Christ!


Praising God for all our blessings!

And one more reason it's great to be an American...