Mary's song {and a New Year goal}

The month of December has been spent reflecting on Luke 1 and 2. The Lord has taught me so much through it. I am in awe of how He chose to send His son to this earth. In the form of a baby, birthed in a manger, given to us as the most precious sacrifice. It really is incredible. The whole story of our savior, Jesus. During this month the Lord has really pressed Mary's song upon my heart. My goal for 2012 is to show the kind of faith Mary had. To take on whatever task the Lord gives me with honor and strength. And above all not to question his mighty plan.

Here are Mary's words found in Luke 1:46-55

And Mary said:

   “My soul glorifies the Lord
  and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
 for he has been mindful
   of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
   holy is his name.
 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
   from generation to generation.
 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
   he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
   but has lifted up the humble.
 He has filled the hungry with good things
   but has sent the rich away empty.
 He has helped his servant Israel,
   remembering to be merciful
 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
   just as he promised our ancestors.”

Powerful words right? And to think Mary was just a young woman. I am sure she was like many of us, unsure of who we really are but putting our trust in the Lord hoping to one day be called a faithful servant. But than one day all of a sudden an angel came to Mary and told her what she had been made for. Why God had created her to walk this earth.  That her life would be an example for generations to come and they would all call her blessed because she carried and cared for God's son. Incredible.

I pray as this new year approaches us that we all can sing "My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savoir". That no matter what task the Lord calls us to carry this year we will all carry it with strength and might. That we will rejoice in the Lord of Lords and sing praises to Him for choosing us. 

I often look at what Mary had to do, and although it seems like such a wonderful task, to carry the son of God. It must have been the hardest thing to do. To know your son would be killed. To see satan constantly trying to defeat your child. To see armies of people trying to bring him down and doubting He is who he says he is. Mary had no easy task. Her burden was not light. BUT she put all her trust in the only one who could carry us and He walked her through it. I will rejoice in whatever the Lord gives me because I know His plan is mighty and true. And I know if He carried Mary through it He will carry me too. 

2012 will be a year that I truly embrace all God blesses us with and will accept the task at hand without question (gulp) knowing that He can carry me through.

Yo

Is that the proper way to title a blog post? {Truth} Some days I spend more time thinking of a title then actually writing the post. So today this post is being titled Yo because that's the first word that came to my mind. 

I feel like everyone around me is in a funk. Whether its my in-person friends or my far away friends. It must be the season for funky-ness. I myself am not really experiencing this. Which is nice but kind of weird. Ya know, because I figure I should be in a funk when everyone else is. But then it hit me. God doesn't want us all to be in funk town together. He wants us who are joyful to share joy with those around and give them encouragement. Pray for them, encourage them, and above all show them love. So if you are in a funk, know that I am praying for you. I am praying the joy of the Lord will fill you again and you will experience His joy unspeakable.That He will wipe away the sins of the world in your life and refresh you. You would be reminded of His promises. His goodness. His unmistakable joy. I write those words to encourage you. As Hebrews 3:13 says:

"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness."

Don't hear me wrong, I have been in a funk or two in my life. Some very seemingly unbearable times and the Lord pulled me out of them and reminded me He has the greatest and best plans. He reminded me to put my trust in Him and daily surrender to Him and He would set me free from the bondage of sin and of life in a sinful world. And He did, He does. He is faithful.  

So as we all prepare to give Thanks with our family in a few days remember to give thanks to the Lord above. Who is the one who rescues us from all the pains of the world. And if you are in the midst of those pains I will be praying for you and so will those around you. Share the burden with us so that the Lord may clean them away. 

Fingerprint Friday

A week full of sickies and a wide awake toddler since 5:30am makes me think this link up is perfect for today. Definitely need to be reminded of the Lord all around us. Hop over to Beki's blog and join in.

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:
I can see the fingerprints of god
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of god
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of god
So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them?

Seeing God through the new blooms lasting through the cold front (its currently 47* here)

Dreams

This is W's grandpa's barn. I have a thing for barns. I told W one day I want to drive all through the midwest and stop at any cool looking barn we see from the road. Something about barns scream country living to me. I have always wanted to be a country girl. Live on a big farm and have chickens running around my yard. Spend our summers harvesting from our huge rows of tomatoes, corn, lettuce, and all the other delicious vegetables we'd grow. Spend our fall days picking apples straight from the tree branches shading our yard. Spend the long cold winters cuddling by the fire roasting chestnuts. Spend our springs watching everything come into bloom from our huge open windows and picking wildflowers to dot our table in the evenings. 

I love to dream about these things with the man I will spend the rest of my life with. Dreams of growing old together and watching our children's children grow up. 

Yet I have to remind myself everyday is not guaranteed to me. I must remember how big our God is and that He could wipe this life of mine away in one breath. So as much as I love to dream I must stay rooted in the reality of my world right now and praise God for the son he has given me and this season we are in right now. I will praise the Lord.

Psalm 104

"Praise the LORD, my soul.
  LORD my God, you are very great;
  you are clothed with splendor and majesty.
The LORD wraps himself in light as with a garment; 
 he stretches out the heavens like a tent
 and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters.
He makes the clouds his chariot 
and rides on the wings of the wind.
He makes winds his messengers,
   flames of fire his servants.
 He set the earth on its foundations;
   it can never be moved.
You covered it with the watery depths as with a garment;
   the waters stood above the mountains.
But at your rebuke the waters fled,
   at the sound of your thunder they took to flight;
they flowed over the mountains,
   they went down into the valleys,
   to the place you assigned for them.  
You set a boundary they cannot cross;
   never again will they cover the earth.
 He makes springs pour water into the ravines;
   it flows between the mountains.
 They give water to all the beasts of the field;
   the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
 The birds of the sky nest by the waters;
   they sing among the branches.
He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;
   the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work.
He makes grass grow for the cattle,
   and plants for people to cultivate—
   bringing forth food from the earth:
wine that gladdens human hearts,
   oil to make their faces shine,
   and bread that sustains their hearts.
 The trees of the LORD are well watered,
   the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
There the birds make their nests;
   the stork has its home in the junipers.
 The high mountains belong to the wild goats;
   the crags are a refuge for the hyrax.
 He made the moon to mark the seasons,
   and the sun knows when to go down.
You bring darkness, it becomes night,
   and all the beasts of the forest prowl.
The lions roar for their prey
   and seek their food from God.  
The sun rises, and they steal away;
   they return and lie down in their dens.
Then people go out to their work,
   to their labor until evening.
 How many are your works, LORD!
   In wisdom you made them all;
   the earth is full of your creatures. 
There is the sea, vast and spacious,
   teeming with creatures beyond number—
   living things both large and small.
There the ships go to and fro,
   and Leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.
 All creatures look to you
   to give them their food at the proper time.
When you give it to them,
   they gather it up;
when you open your hand,
   they are satisfied with good things.
 When you hide your face,
   they are terrified;
when you take away their breath,
   they die and return to the dust.
When you send your Spirit,
   they are created,
   and you renew the face of the ground.
 May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
   may the LORD rejoice in his works—
he who looks at the earth, and it trembles,
   who touches the mountains, and they smoke.
 I will sing to the LORD all my life;
   I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
May my meditation be pleasing to him,
   as I rejoice in the LORD.
 But may sinners vanish from the earth
   and the wicked be no more.
 Praise the LORD, my soul.
 Praise the LORD"

Life {stay at home mom}

I love being a stay at home mom. I love the opportunity I have been provided to stay home and raise our child. There is no greater joy I could imagine then raising LB in the Lord and to be a man after His heart.

Lately though, my heart has been saddened seeing other SAHM lament about how they don't feel like they are using their brain. I have also heard this from random people who feel the need to give an opinion on my choice to stay home and raise our kids. It saddens me that people think in order to use your brain you must work outside the home. 

That is simple untrue. Yes, my day filled with lots of dirty diapers and household chores. But it is also full of so much more. I get to teach LB about life. I get to be the first one to experience new things with him. I get to tell him what something is for the first time and see pure joy swipe across his face when he figures out how to stack blocks for the first time or he figures out how to say a new word.

I am seeing that satan has twisted the world into thinking that being a stay at home mom is bad. That you are not a modern woman if your work is inside the home. That sickens me. It is a choice. I am not saying that if you work outside the home that you are buying into a lie but I am saying that if you are a SAHM and you feel you are doing nothing then you are listening to a lie. You are believing that you are insignificant. And that is so far from the truth. You are raising your child to be the best person they can be and are laying the foundation for a lifetime of learning. That is a huge job. A job that requires daily surrender to the Lord. A job that requires you to think outside the box when you are teaching your child a new skill. A job that requires seeing life from a whole different perspective so that your child may learn about this huge world.

Are there times I miss working? Yes. I miss my job in the heart of DC where I ran an after school program for at risk children and in the same area ran a teen pregnancy program. I miss providing those kids and teenage moms an opportunity they may never have had. An opportunity to learn so that they won't end up in the same situation their parent(s) are in. BUT I know my work raising LB is so much more significant. I know that me being home right now with him is giving him the head-start that many of these children in DC didn't have. I know that I am exchanging a paycheck and a "cushier" life for something that will far outlive us, the opportunity to teach LB about our Father in heaven. 

So daily I surrender my need to feel "significant" in this world for a significance that is everlasting. I am proud to be a stay at home mom. I am excited to see what these next few precious years will bring. What opportunities the Lord will provide for me to teach LB and watch LB grow into a child of the Lord. 

So please if you feel what your doing is insignificant know that is a lie from satan. His goal is to destroy. Pray that God will give you fresh eyes today so that you may do the Lord's work with joy. (whether that work is in the home or outside). 

Now time to get this handsome boy up from nap

Beauty

The beauty of Our Lord. Displayed for all the earth to see. It just takes us looking up into the skies and seeing His fingerprints all over. Breathing in His sweet mercies.

This week at House Church we spent some time recapping our summers. Seeing how the Lord is working in everyone's life. It was so good to hear and to see how many similarities there were in the group. The main theme God has been teaching the individuals in our group is: Trust. How to fully and completely trust in Him. To not just be complacent with where we are in our walk but to daily strive to be who HE has made us to be.

 

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:1-3

Such a powerful verse, that sums up what our goal as Christians is. To be a witness to those around us. To live such good lives that they will have no choice but to praise our Father in heaven. To trust that through all this muck there is in life God has a beautiful, perfect plan in it all. He sent His Son to die for us, so that we would not grow weary and lose heart. 

Not only did God send His Son to die for us but He also gave us the beautiful gift of the Holy Spirit. To direct us and lead us on the path God has laid out. We spent some time talking about the Holy Spirit this week and if we really do let Him direct us. Or are we afraid of what HE may ask us to do and therefore ignore the still small whisper that is His voice? I am afraid far too often I ignore that voice. I think my way is better than His. Then I get a big Holy Spirit slap in the face to remind me who is really in charge. Then I repent and in God's loving kindness He picks me back up and sets my feet back upon His path. I wonder though, if I had listened to His small voice the first time around how different my relationships would be. 

During this season of life I am now cultivating the discipline of listening and doing. No matter the cost to me. As I know God's ways are far better than mine. I am beyond grateful that we are able to walk through this journey with other like-minded people. That God answered the cry of my heart by bringing us this group of believers in our House Church. That we are able to challenge and encourage one another to be the people God has made us to be.

The Word

My husband sent out this email to our house church last night. I was really encouraged by what Wade is learning in the word and what God is stirring in his heart to think and ponder about so I thought I'd share it with you all.

{Reading in 1 Corinthians today was interesting to me. In chapter 4, verses 8-16 (bear with me):

"Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have become kings--and that without us! How I wish that you really had become kings so that we might be kings with you! For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men. We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world. I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me."

So humbling!!!!! We are that verse for certain! We have all we want; we are rich by 95% of the world's standards. Yet it is the plight of the Christians thousands of miles away that captivates our souls and the eyes of the unbelievers. We Christians here are thought of as wise, good people, but the Christians in China or Vietnam or Iraq are considered fools. Those Christians barely have food to survive. They're beaten and hated by their neighbors. Yet they turn and bless their captors. Christians in India really embody the "scum of the earth, the refuse of the world." They are a lower caste and survive by bathing in water infested with parasites and bacteria/viruses that would have you and I literally crying for God to take away the pain. Yet they endure. But there's hope. Paul says that this should not be a source of shame to us, but a warning. Although we have our churches and our families and our friends, we lack mentors. We lack people who will correct us when we're wrong. We lack people who challenge us if we believe false gospels. That is why Paul says "you do not have many fathers... I urge you to imitate me." So my question: Who is your mentor? If you fall, who will correct you? (PS: The answer is not "my spouse".... that answer is a fail. God says very clearly "the two shall become one," thus your spouse is part of you. I've seen so many couples start their life as Christians only to fall away together because they egg on each others false beliefs.)

Also, ponder this vague question that God laid on my heart. No need for deep answers (unless you have one). Just pray about it, seek God's guidance, and be honest with yourself. The question is: Where are you going and why are you going there?}  

Great words for us to think about too. God laid out very clearly for us in Titus what it looks like to be in a mentoring relationship. How we as women are made to one another each other. Yet in our society today we are so quick to put that wisdom aside and think we know better than the generations that have come before us. But God has given us those women to teach us and correct us when we have gone astray from the Truth.

Fingerprint Friday

Over at The Rusted Chain Beki does a fun little linky on Friday's. Basically it is how you saw God's fingerprints through the week. It is always fun to see how other people see God in the seemingly mundane so I thought it would be fun to link up.
In the words of Beki:
"There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:
I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God
So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them?"
The Rusted Chain is probably my favorite place to order jewelry from, I even have a K-State Wildcat necklace from her AND just this week I won a fun giveaway over on her blog to get even more jewelry! So if you have never checked her out before head on over there, I promise you won't be disappointed and while you are over there link on up :)

We have had lots of storms this week. Even one that caused me to wake LB up and head to the basement, all alone because W was working late, because the tornado sirens went off. Luckily they only went off because of high winds, they hit around 70 mph near our house and no tornado touched down praise the Lord. We definitely do not need any tornadoes in these parts, we are dealing with quite the flooding issues and I think a tornado would just set our area over the top. 

This is a picture I took right before a rainstorm. I love the bigness of the cloud and all the colors represented in it. Whenever I look in the sky and see big clouds like this it reminds me of God's hugeness and power. He has created everything, yet He cares and loves us all as if we were his only creation. Now that is powerful.

Word(less) Wednesday

Zoo days are here and this kid loves the aquarium

He could have stared like that all day. He loved watching all the fish swim by him. I think next time we go to the zoo I will take him to this exhibit first.

Completely unrelated to this post but please say a prayer for my family. We lost my Great Aunt on Sunday and she really was an incredible woman. I think of the legacy she left and it is one of unrelenting love. She loved people like Jesus calls us to but we so often don't. She was 90 years old so we knew this day would come but I was hoping it would happen after we visited this summer so she could meet LB. 

Long story short but she let my cousin, the one with 5 babies from 5 different men, live with her and she raised her kids. My great Aunt never complained and just showed those children the outpouring of Jesus. She loved them, cared for them, and most importantly tried to shield them from the world their mom participated in. 

When my Great Aunt went into the hospital about a month ago my cousin lost all her kids to social service except her oldest who is now in jail for shooting someone. It is such a sad story but laced with the love only Christ can provide through my Great Aunt. My prayers are now for my cousin who so desperately needs to wake up and see there is so much more to this world. That Christ came to set us free from the bondage of death and lies and destruction. Her story often makes me think back to Gomer and how lost she was. How desperate she was in need of a savior. My Great Aunt started the path to saving her but only the awakening in Christ can complete it. Please pray for that. Please also pray for my family. My Great Aunt touched so many of our lives and will live quite the hole in our family. 

The great news is I will see her in heaven again and she is now safely resting in the arms of Jesus out of the pain of this earth. And really there is nothing sweeter than that.

A choice

"As iron sharpens iron, so does one man sharpen another" Proverbs 27:17

Daily I choose to be the kind of spouse, the kind of mom, the kind of friend, and the kind of family member that sharpens. I choose to put my own selfish gains aside in order to uplift someone else.  To think outside myself and look at the Kingdom. 

This choice is not easy. I often fail and have to remind myself what my goal is. This verse is the thing that reminds me. Every time I read it I remember what my purpose is about. Why God has given us one another. Why God was intent on creating humans all different and all unique. So that we may build up one another. That we may encourage one another to be all that God has created us to be. 

There was a time in my life that I dealt with depression. It was not the kind where I couldn't get out of bed and see daylight but instead the kind where I could not find joy in anything. I could not see the beauty God had laid before me. I struggled daily to look outside myself to look outside my woo is me heart. My life seemed to be crumbling before me and I froze. Luckily though God had surrounded me with people who were able to lift me out of that cloud of darkness. They were able to remind me of the promises of God and how worthy I am to be His child. 

Some days I fear going back to that dark place. But then I make myself pause and look around me. I see the beauty God has created, I remember His promises. I see the joy He has brought me in my husband and my son and I tell myself I will choose life in God. I will not allow darkness to enter my heart and as much as the devil tries to weasel his way in I will call him out with the name of the Almighty.

If you are in that place please know there is hope. There is comfort in the cross. God will make everything anew around you. And choose to believe that. Choose to let those around you sharpen you. Daily it is a choice.

{Five Minute Friday} When seasons change

I haven't done this hop in a while but lately I have been thinking alot about seasons of life so when I saw this title I knew it was time to link back up and its perfect because 5 minutes is all I got to write on this topic that honestly I could spend hours on.

In the words of The Gypsy Mama here is how five minute friday works:
"This is the place where once a week we take the chance to
just write, and not worry if it’s just right or not.
For five minutes flat.
Here’s how the game works: you simply stop, drop and write. Set your words free. Don’t edit them, don’t fret over them, don’t try to make them perfect."

Ready. Set. Go.

This picture is from when we lived in DC. That was a season of our life that God taught us some big things.
Like how to have a solid foundation for our family and marriage. We moved to DC right around our 1 year anniversary and it was so hard. We were leaving behind a wonderful small group of life long friends and had no clue why God was taking us out of a place we thought we were suppose to be. 

God taught us how to rely solely on Him for our comfort and not in other people except one another.

We learned how to shine Christ in a place that He is quickly forgotten due to busy lifestyle.

We learned that God always has a plan and even if it is not what we dreamed up His is infinitely better.

That season lasted 2 years. Some of the longest years of my life as I kicked my feet screaming at God through most of it. I was not happy there. I made it very clear to God and my husband. 

Now looking back I long for the community we made there. It was diverse. It was full of real genuine believers who wanted nothing more than to make His name Great.

This season of life though is wonderful. I love being a mom and a wife. I love the challenges God sets before me each day. But I do long for community again. But as with every season God has a reason for taking you through it and in that I find hope.

Time is up. Five minutes goes so fast! Link on up too.

Self

"The greatest burden we have to carry in life is self. The most difficult thing we have to manage is self... In laying off your burdens, therefore, the first one you must get rid of is yourself. You must hand yourself... into the care and keeping of your God.... He made you and therefore He understands you, knows how to manage you, and you must trust Him to do it."  

-Hannah Whitall Smith

I read this this morning and it really spoke to me. Thought I'd share it with you all too. It is amazing how much I let myself get in the way of God's working. How quickly I disqualify myself from a task the Lord has laid out in front of me. How often I take back myself from the One who created me. As I read that quote and let it sink into my heart I realized how much more God has in store for me and how I must truly daily give myself over to Him. It really is freeing to know that He created us and that He can manage every aspect of our life. If only we let Him. If only we allow His awesome power to move. 

How freeing is that y'all? To know the Creator has your back, to know the One who made the seas and skies cares for you individually? All we have to do is let Him in, allow Him to work. I don't think there is anything more powerful more awe-inspiring than the love of God. He loved us so much He gave His Son as a perfect love offering. He laid His life down on the cross so that we could have freedom. So that we could have God moving in us and through us. He loves you. He wants to use you wherever you are. He has a plan for you and it is an awesome plan! Can I get an amen? 

{Five Minute Friday} Waiting

Fun little Friday blog hop that I saw LeAnna, one of my favorite bloggers linking up with, so I headed on over to The Gypsy Mama to find out the scoop on this and it sounded so fun that I had to link on up.

In the words of The Gypsy Mama here is how five minute friday works:
"This is the place where once a week we take the chance to
just write, and not worry if it’s just right or not.
For five minutes flat.
Here’s how the game works: you simply stop, drop and write. Set your words free. Don’t edit them, don’t fret over them, don’t try to make them perfect."

Ready. Set. Go.

Waiting.
Currently I am waiting on my husband to finish fixing our mailbox so we can get out as a family and enjoy this beautiful weather.
I am also waiting on our first ever house cleaner to finish so that we can leave the house. I felt weird leaving a stranger alone in our house. So instead I stayed here to supervise.
I do feel like a lot of my day is spent waiting. Waiting on LB to take a nap so I can work on things around the house. Then waiting for LB to wake up so we can get out of the house.
I have realized though that I don't spend as much time waiting on the Lord as I should. I often rush Him into making a decision on my time. Then when He doesn't I get impatient and do it my way, which often ends up in a big fat failure. Surprise surprise. When I don't wait on the Lord things don't turn out good. So maybe I should spend some more time waiting on Him to tell me what to do next and less time worrying.
Or maybe I should stop waiting on things to happen and instead start doing things that can be done now.
One thing I am thankful I don't have to wait long for is my morning coffee. Yep, that Keurig is getting some good use in our house and it takes only a minute to be done so by the time I fix LB's breakfast it is ready for me.
Speaking of waiting, my five minutes are up.
Just in time as LB just shoved a big wad of paper in his mouth.

Click on the button and join in.

This Lent

I grew up Catholic. Therefore I was always told to give something up for lent. I never understood the meaning behind why but I knew if I didn't do it I would be asked by all my relatives and friends why I didn't pick something. So I normally gave up pop (or soda or cola, whatever you may call it) or sometimes I would be really brave and give up bubble gum, seriously I chew like 5 pieces a day. During the 40 days leading up to Easter I also always ate fish on Friday and felt guilty if I ate meat. But really, it was never explained to me why we gave things up or why we only ate fish on Fridays. I did it all because I was told by my Grandma and parents. 

I don't want that to be the case with LB. I don't want him to only do "religious" things because we tell him to. I want him to know the reason behind it and make the decision for himself. Our God is so much  bigger than a set of rules and guidelines. He is so much more awesome than we can imagine. If LB chooses to give something up for lent I want him to do it for a purpose. I want him to pray about it and think it over. I want him to be able to really lay something down at the feet of the King Most High. So that at the end of the fasting God will reveal Himself in new ways to him. That he will be changed by the sacrifice he made and he will see Jesus' sacrifice on the cross even more powerfully.

So this year as I prepare for the coming of our King's rising from the dead I have decided to fast from the thing that distracts me from seeking the Lord the most during the days. Television. I always have that thing on in background. Most of the time I am not really watching it but instead just letting the noise of it filter into my mind. I am almost afraid of what God will say to me if I sit in complete silence during LB's naps. Will He point out something I am doing wrong as a mom? Will God tell me I am not being the woman He made me to be? I am sure if I let myself sit in the silence and listened for that still small voice to speak out I would hear God speak blessing over me and reminding me of the love only He can provide me. Sure there will be a lot of correcting in those moments of silent but there will also be a lot of love given from the only One who can truly satisfy my soul. I yearn for these moments. To really feel God flowing through my life again. Which is why I am giving up television. Taking away a distraction that is far to present in my life. Allowing that still small voice to become louder and in turn allowing me to cry out to Him again. 

Now I will say I am not totally giving up television. I will still watch it if it involves guest in our home. I feel it is important not to impose my convictions upon others and really when people are in our house my job is to show them the love of Christ by opening my house to them and making them feel welcomed. 

How about you all? Do you participate in lent or just fast from things as the Lord lays them on your heart? I try to do both but Lent is always a good reminder for me to "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all things will be given to  you as well" Matthew 6:33

*Also, thank you all so so much for your kind words and tips with LB's pink medicine joys. You guys are the best and I really appreciate all your words. Reading them has definitely made the last few days more bearable. *

Titus 2

Today I spent some time reading over this chapter and the Lord stirred my heart quite a bit with it so I figured I'd share it with you all. What a great picture of how our faith should be laid out:

"You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you."  Titus 2:1-15

God's Love

First, please take a moment to check out LeAnna's blog from today. Her family is in need of some prayer, big time! Even if you don't consider yourself a prayer warrior, read what she wrote and pray as you read it. God answers prayers, God heals through prayers, and God works through prayers. We can never ever have too much prayer or wear God out with our constant request. He loves to hear from us and He loves to move in big ways.  Ephesians 6:18a "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests"  I know LeAnna will be blessed by all the prayers offered up for her family in this time, so even if you don't know her or have never read her blog check it out and bless them with your words to our wonderful maker.

Also, I would love and be honored to pray for any of you. No matter how small you think your problem is or how silly, God cares. Romans 12:10 "Be devoted to one another in brotherly (or sisterly or blogfriendy) love. Honor one another above yourselves." So if you have a prayer request let me know and/or let those around you know.  We are called to be devoted to all of our brothers and sisters in Christ and to be there for them and to honor them and to ask God to grant them joy in the midst of heartache or love in the midst of hate and many other things from depression to infertility to praises for God's great gifts.

I have been thinking alot about how great God's love is. That He has chosen us to be His children. As the birth of our son approaches I have been praying that hubs and I be able to show our son God's great love and that our son will never doubt whose he is. That we will be parents who continually point our son to God and shows him through our life, God's word, and God's working in the world that God in fact is who He says He is and that our son knows God' great love. This world is a crazy place and filled with so much doubt and sadness. I never want our son to question the man God has created him to be or the love God has for him. I know that this will probably happen at some point, and I know that without our son encountering God for himself He will not know God's love. BUT I pray we are able to show him God's goodness and surround ourselves with people who will point him to our wonderful Creator.

I think back to when I first encounter the living God and how dramatically it changed my life. How much hope I found in God's love and truth. I know God's word is true and I know He is who He says He is, even when others doubt or don't believe. When you encounter God for who He is there is no way you can deny Him. When you allow God's love to consume you there is no denying you are in the arms of the Creator. His love is never ending even when we fall away or try to live "our life", He is still there with arms open wide asking us to "Be still, and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10.

Counting our Blessings

This weekend we made our way to Kansas City to celebrate baby boy's upcoming birth with our family and friends there. Unfortunately on Friday the skies decided to open up and bring a winter storm through the midwest. The storm started early in the morning on Friday and continued throughout the day. We decided to still go ahead and make our way back to KC Friday night as it is a 3 hour drive and we wanted to make sure I was well rested for baby's celebrations the next day. During our drive the winter weather continued to intensify and move along with us. Well this is where the counting our blessings comes in.
We were about halfway to KC and all of a sudden our car loses control and begins to surve all over the road finally landing us in the median. We were only going 45mph so it is not like we were speeding down the highway but something got under our tire causing hubs to lose control. Luckily, none of us were hurt and neither was the car. We know that God was there protecting us and He guided us to safety. Within 2 minutes of landing in the median a police car pulled up and was able to call a tow truck for us and we were out of the median with 20 minutes. This to us was totally a blessing from God, His hands were there not only to keep us safe but to provide help immediately. We are so thankful that God's love for us is always around. He is always there to protect His children and keep them safe. Once we got back on the road we were praising God the rest of the trip, as we know things could have been much worse especially with this little guy inside of me. Thank you Lord.

Saturday afternoon was our first shower for baby boy and it was so great! It was so wonderful to see all our friends that we don't see often enough and family and all celebrate baby boy. He was blessed like crazy by these people and I can't wait to introduce each of them to him when he arrives. Here are some of the pictures from the shower:

Diaper Cake and yummy food. The shower was cars themed so there are

 little cars all over the table. too cute:)

Lemon Raspberry Cake... yummy!

Some of his car themed bedding

I love daddy towel wrap :)

A little monster shirt for our lil monster. Too cute!

My sister, Nikki, and me

My sweet niece Ashlyn.

Wade and Jordon playing before the guest arrive.

 He's going to make such a great daddy :)

There are a ton of other pictures of gifts we received and all the party guest but I think this is enough pictures for one post. If you're my facebook friend and you want to see all the things baby boy was blessed with and all the fun people there you can check out the album there :)

Hope you all had a great weekend and enjoying this spring weather that has returned and hopefully will stay this time!

A proverb a day...

Do you think God put Proverbs in the bible to remind us of all the things we do wrong? Cause man when I read that book I just think... fail. Yesterday I was reading Proverbs 27, cause it was the 27th day of the month and for some reason I think I need to read a proverb everday according to the date on the calender :)

So anyway I came across these verses:
" A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day;  restraining her is like restraining the wind
or grasping oil with the hand. " 15-16
I began to wonder if this is the kind of wife I am and do I sound like a constant drip but then I read this verse:

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." 17
And it gave me hope that maybe just maybe I was more like this. That I am not a constant drip but a woman who sharpens her husband and in turn get sharpened by him.
In fact "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another" was Wade and I's wedding verse... and in fact has become a life verse for us.

But I'm afraid if I am being honest with myself I would more often fall into how verses 15-16 describes a woman. Not all the time and not in big ways... but I think it is easier for us to vent to our spouses about life then think of how to say things in a way that encourage our spouse, even when life is hard.. (or at least for me it is)
I am so thankful that God puts these gentle, or sometimes not so gentle, reminders in His word to us. He reminds us that He loves us and wants the best for us and in order to give us the best we must be disiplined and take correction when we are failing to live up to the picture He paints for His people.
I do love how these verses are wrote. It's like God is saying... here is what you are doing wrong and here is how to fix it. He is reminding us to be ones that sharpen each other and not ones that let the weight of our daily lifes bring us down. So glad God is always on our side.

Proverbs 31

So I have never been a fan of Proverbs 31 as I thought it was an unrealistic expectation of a woman. BUT today I was so convicted by it. I have been reading a devotional book called Women of the Bible... in fact I have been going through this book for years and have always avoided this section, until today. I decided to read it as I love the way the writer puts a new light to the women in scripture.
Oh man how wrong I was about the Proverbs 31 woman and man was I only reading the surface of this story. I always read it as a woman who got up early, sewed clothing, bought things to honor her husband, did whatever her husband needed, and basically was a people-pleaser who just had to make everyone happy in spite of her own happiness. BUT today when I read it I realized something... she didnt do these things in spite of her happiness but instead these things brought her great joy! She was a woman who never wanted to waste a moment of the day the Lord had given her. She wanted to do everything she could to please the One who had given her breathe. Everything she did was to bring honor to God. When ever she was working in the home it was so that the Lord could be honored through her. Not only that but she wanted to allow her husband to share in the honor of God so she made sure his things were in order too.
Wow I am so convicted. I have so often looked at this woman as an unrealistic expectation of some man. I mean I know it was written in the bible, but honestly I looked at it as a man's idea of the perfect woman. BUT after reading it tonight I realize this is God's plan for not only women but men. He wants all of us to spend our days pleasing Him. Spend our time wisely, not wasting the precious moments He has given us with those around. Whever that means providing clothing for our household, making healthful dinners to feed our family, or going to work to bring a paycheck  home to provide a shelter and food for our family. Everything we do should bring honor to God.
So in light of what I have read and been convicted of I am making a plan for this new year. My plan is pretty simple, but something I think will benefit my life, my husbands, my soon to be baby's, and everyone around me's life, and that is to really understand who this woman in Proverbs 31 is. Not only understand her but focus my life on living each moment to the fullest and not wasting so much of the time God has entrusted me with. Cause lets face it, I waste a lot of time each day and I know my husband will be greatly blessed if I spend more time focusing on pleasing God and making our household one of honor.
If you have the same image I had of the Proverbs 31 woman, I urge to read it again.. and as you do think of how she spends her day and her time. Look at the way she thinks of her husband and most of all think of the way God is honored by her life. Oh and let me know what you discovery!

Its been a while..

Sorry about that! I didn't mean to ignore all my fans out there ;) This past week has been beyond crazy.

2 Fridays ago, I got a call from my mom saying that my brother had a stroke. I didn't know how to respond at first. I was shocked. Beyond shocked, I was in disbelieve. He is only 26. I was also in the middle of a youth event so I had to gather all my things together and leave. Anyway, we get back to KC that next morning and find out that they did not think it was a stroke after all. But he had completely lose of movement on his left side and couldn't speak. We stayed in KC with him for a day then had to get back to Omaha. Well on Tuesday we get a call that he had multiple seizures and was back in the ER. We finally got back to KC again on Thursday. He is able to talk better now but still unable to walk or feel his left leg. The doctors still don't know what is wrong and he is undergoing some more neurological testing this upcoming Tuesday, so if you think about him be praying that they will figure out what is wrong and how to fix it! Thank you all, my brother, his family, and our family greatly appreciate all the prayers.

On to a lighter note, it is officially fall in Omaha! This morning we woke up to a brisk 36*. Wow! I forgot how cold it got in the Midwest so early. Time to bust out my scarfs and invest in some cute fall boots :) Yesterday, we made a trip out to Vala's Pumpkin Patch and it was wonderful! I love the sights and smells of fall and this place definitely screamed fall. We rode a hayrack ride to the pumpkin fields and picked out our very own pumpkin.:) We also partook in fresh apple cider slushes, caramel apples, kettle corn, smoked turkey legs, fresh roasted corn, and so many other things! I even got to pick up some fall decorations for our dining room table!

Oh and today is Wade's birthday! I am beyond blessed to have him as my husband! He really is the best thing to happen to me, next to Jesus. I could not imagine sharing all the ups and downs of life with anyone else. He is my rock and he blesses me each day. Even this morning on his birthday he got out of bed first, turned on the floor heater and warmed up the room for me so I wouldn't have to get up in the cold. He is such a stud! I am so glad God put him in this world 25 years ago today just so I could have the pleasure of calling him my husband! :)

Have a blessed week! And I will try not to be such a slacker on this blog :)