another perspective...

So our sweet boy (youngest) is resting on the couch (in between throwing up into the small trash can next to him)---good times. Needless to say, I'm sitting here for a few minutes.

Last night I attended a waterbirth class. My precious hubby stayed home with our boys (plus they had a martial arts class at the same time as my class) so I figured I'd share with him about the class when I got home. Can I just give a good chuckle...here I am sitting with 8 other COUPLES, all having their first, and then there's me, by myself being looked at quite strangely. Being an only child, I've never much minded going places alone (movies, to eat...) in fact it is part of my time of unwinding-just being alone. BUT, last night it took lots of prayer for me not to jump up and run out of that room. I ran through scenarios of how I could get hubby there (even though he was 30 minutes away), get childcare, show my hand with the wedding ring, mention "husband" a few times...panic, panic! Our gracious Lord, calmed me down, showed me how silly I was being and got me through a great class.

I must say, I'm glad it happened that way though. It is good to get perspective from another person's situation. I am above and beyond grateful that yes, I am married, my husband loves the Lord, we have healthy children, we are both healthy, we have a home, vehicles, food to eat, jobs, blankets and clothes to keep us warm, a bit of extra cash here and there for "extras". These are all things I take for granted. I don't thank the Lord nearly enough for His above and beyond blessings to me/us.

A group from our church travels to Uganda, and the children sleep under rugs...rugs that were compared to something we wouldn't give our dogs here. I might think this is the least of their worries as AIDS is rampant there, leaving many young children orphans, mothers or fathers widowed, older siblings (possibly as young as 7 or 8, probably younger) to take on the responsibility of caring for younger siblings. Food is eaten out of necessity, if even available, not out of luxury; water is gathered from a well, not in your kitchen, but from a place you have to travel to and pray there is enough for you to carry back home. You have to walk for miles, possibly days to receive meager medical treatment, if even possible because you may not have the option as you have no income, and no hopes of it. The list goes on...

I've never been on a missions trip to see these things up close and personal. But the people who come back from these trips are changed. They are humbled and broken by the Lord. Their hearts are squeezed out of the old and molded into the new...

But as I sat there in that class, the Lord gently reminded me of those close to us here. The single parent, the couple struggling to save a marriage, the spouse broken by the infidelity of their spouse, the wife or husband praying for the salvation of their spouse or a child, the parent/spouse widowed, the neighbor in foreclosure, the person living with a terminal disease or the parent of a dying child, the man/woman/child on the street asking (or not asking) for help to have just a meal, the thought of a warm bed or home not even conceivable. Or that "bad" child down the road, that you hope your kids avoid, that goes home to verbal/physical abuse or maybe no one at all..so far away from the love God created that they don't know the way back to peace or hope....

We are the body of Christ. We are not here for us but for HIM. How hard it is to live beyond ourselves, our own struggles, outside of our "box". This is not meant as a guilt wrencher, for God is mighty and gracious and He does bless us immensely! We each have our own walks, our own struggles, our own fires, for He loves us and is refining us, bringing us closer to Him even though we are in a fallen world. All of these things are part of our testimonies. My past, He is using and will use to glorify Him (praying I allow Him to). Situations I chose, He didn't put me in, but He will use to His glory and is bringing me peace and healing in the process...because He loves me, not because I deserve it. Grace and mercy truly are gifts from the LORD. Job was a man who loved and adored our most precious GOD, and he lost everything. But the Lord never left him, and when all was said and done, Job knew his most precious Father loved him, not hated him or desired to punish him. And today, Job's testimony still speaks to us, and will continue to.

For the Lord's ways are not our own, we have to trust with our faith (even that mustard seed worth) for He truly is a loving Father who has heart for us, this is why we accept Jesus as our Lord and saviour, confessing our sins and believing He rose and beat death and as has beat it forever, that we might have everlasting life when we ask Jesus into our hearts and commit to live a life FOR Him, not a perfect life, but a life we try our hardest to live by His example and He'll provide the strength and endurance to do His work and show His love to others-both the lost and the saved...and to have hope or each new day, BUT the promise of a life with HIM. How precious...

...so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Romans 12:5 (New International Version)

So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. Romans 7:4

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:10 (Read all of chapter 5 here)

Dear heavenly Father, I pray you would forgive me for living this life you've granted me solely for my self and giving you just an ounce of it. Father please help me to live for you and show me how I can serve you that I might be part of the body of Christ as you've called us. Thank you for your grace and mercy and your abundant blessings. Thank you for my family and I pray for your blessings and covering over them. I pray for Your spirit of wisdom and discernment that I may know you better and serve you faithfully. Thank you for you love and sending Jesus Christ to be my savior and calling me to you, never leaving me. In Jesus name I ask this, Amen.

praying...

Praying for the Lord's wisdom and discernment for us as believers...

Something to pray about...here...

God bless~

Happy Easter...

Oh, it has been a while....I have all these wonderful things I'd like to write about but when it comes to putting them on here, I can't seem to.

Well, just an update will do I suppose :) God is gracious and mighty first and foremost! I am feeling well and growing by the minute! Our sweet boy will be arriving anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks (our other 3 were two and three weeks early...yes, dear ladies I can't imagine going to 4o weeks and plus-oh my!) I've entered into the nesting stage-lovely! But it is combined with the, "I want to just sit here" stage as well...much prayer I say!

Our youngest will be 5 next weekend, it is hard to believe that he will be that big already and that it has been that long since we've had a baby in the house! I'm one to admit I've been a bit nervous lately of the impending delivery, like it's my first time, except I know (for the most part) what to expect. Oh, but again I bring this to our precious Lord and ask for grace and peace...as He tells us not to be anxious or to worry :)

Church is going well. We're growing which is an amazing thing to see. I believe it is happening slowly and cautiously, as it should. Please be in prayer for our little church as we are the process of searching for our next pastor. Our interim pastor and his wife are a precious family and they have been a blessing in this time of in between. Continued prayer for our last pastor and his precious family, for good health, peace and the joy of the Lord upon them and His leading as to the new season they've entered. Finally, for reconciliation and forgiveness between those who the Lord needs there to be (isn't that all of us I might say, in one way or another)...that there might be a release from the things of the past...thank you dear friends....:)

The Lord has been continuing to work on my heart-praise Him! As hormonal as I am, He still continues to show me my heart (wow, and I'm actually asking Him to show me-that's probably half the battle!) and His grace allows me the chance to ask for forgiveness and to hopefully grow closer to Him. I am currently part of a bible study at church that is based on the book, "You Can Be the Wife of a Happy Husband" by Darien Cooper (I think this is the author, but I'm truly too lazy to get up and check-sorry!) It is a lovely book and I'm only on chapter 4 but it is speaking greatly to my heart simply as a woman and a child of God. Her words are gentle...should I say she shares God's words to us through the scriptures, which are gentle to us, reminding us of the love of Jesus. His love is what we should receive and give freely, without expectations or reserves, without guilt, without hesitation. We are to look to the Lord to fill our needs, not to our husbands or children, parents, friends. Remembering we are all fallen and dealing with our own insecurities and "bagagge" and prayerfully seeking the Lord's will and healing, should help put into perspective that we shouldn't put others up on any sort of pedestal. No one can fill a void only meant to be filled by our heavenly Father and Creator, through the love of Jesus. It is only by asking Him to come into our hearts, admitting our sins and asking for forgiveness (He truly does love and care for you and really will help you), that healing and the filling of "that void" can begin.

As I've said before...if He can forgive me, He can forgive anyone...what a precious gift, with the resurrection of the body of Jesus and His words, "it is done," that me and you can have HOPE. All of the "things" that are such "big problems" in the world's terms are truly not to God when you can release it to the Lord and say, "God you are in control" and then let Him, by allowing Him to work and guide you, with His everlasting peace. God is not a band aid for not paying a bill or mortgage, for a desperate plea in sickness or sadness or worry. He is an everlasting Father who can give you calm in the storm, peace in the midst of the valleys, and hope for the days to come, that He will work everything out to His glory...and by His grace and mercy, give you joy, when you never thought possible.

God is good, always. I thank you, Lord for sending us a saviour, Jesus Christ. I thank you for your love and fulfilling of a promise you gave to those so many years ago...

And Jesus Christ our Lord was shown to be the Son of God when God powerfully raised him from the dead by means of the Holy Spirit. Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name. (NLT) Romans 1:4-5

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. (NIV) John 11:25-26

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." (NIV)
Matthew 28:1-10

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead... (NIV) 1 Peter 1:3

Amen! Happy Easter!!!