Answered Prayers

     On Sunday, our pastor was telling us how quick we often forget answered prayers. We forget the little things that God does for us. Satan likes to attack our lives in every way he can to tear us down. He wants us to forget all the good things that Gods done in our lives, and all the prayers that we asked to be answered, that were answered.
     I used to make a list of all my prayer request, and then write down the date when they were answered. I haven't done that in a while... maybe I should get back into doing that. We often forget the little things such as God answering our prayers about finding a job, or a spouse, or giving us a child. I know for me, I've often forgotten to thank God over and over again for giving me what I asked for. The Bible says in James 4:2, "...You do not have because you do not ask."
     Even though God already knows what we want/need, he still wants us to ask Him. He wants us to have that deep relationship with him, that we can still go to him with everything. "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you..." ~Matthew 7:7
     I'm reminded of the hymn: What a Friend we have in Jesus...

What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Oh what peace we often forfeit,

Oh what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged,

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness,

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden,

Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge,

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In his arms he'll take and shield thee,

Thou wilt find a solace there.

     So, remember to thank God for answered prayers, and to continue to ask him for things that are according to his will. He'll answer... in HIS time.

I'm thankful and grateful that God answered our prayers,
and blessed us with a baby. We're excited to welcome him
into this world in the next couple weeks! <3

Almost There!

     As the weeks get closer to my delivery of this little boy I carry, I'm reminded of Gods goodness every day. Gods goodness to bless even me, a sinner, with a child? A child that I can call my own, a child that my best friend in the world, and I can share together? A child who's father is the best man in the world and the love of my life?!
     In the preparation of delivering a baby, I've been super busy. Buying things that I'll need for delivery and birth, and getting things ready and "set up" for the labor and delivery has kept me busy.
     I'm 36 weeks into my pregnancy now. There's a couple of the ladies in our church, including myself who are all due within a couple weeks of each other, so it's been great to grow with them, and to learn new things from other mommies in the church.
     The more I think about it, the more I'm grateful that God has somewhat prepared me to be a mom by the way I grew up. I helped take care of my youngest brother, who's now almost 8,  and helping my sister, who's almost 14 has given me some practice that I wouldn't have been able to do if I didn't have them in my life.
     Having babysitting jobs throughout my life has also been super helpful, and to know how to take care of things when they go wrong, or merely how to change a diaper... every little piece of my life, God has used in some way or another to help prepare me to be a mother. On top of that, having a mother who's wonderful example has been to lead us all in the ways of the Lord. I feel truly honored and blessed to have everyone in my life who's been able to give me wisdom and advice on what they've learned. I'm thankful that I know what I do, and I know that we still have a ways before Josh and I will feel like we know what we're doing, but I feel like we've got a great start thanks to family and friends. :)

     Prayer Requests:

• Labor/Delivery will go smooth without any complications.
• God will grant my husband and I with patience and perseverance as we learn how to be parents
• God will grant me with strength and calmness as I endure labor.
  
  
  

 Video Below of Baby James moving... at the end. He usually stops moving when I get the camera out, but this time I caught him giving me a kick. ;)

When God Seems Silent

     Waiting on the Lord can be tough sometimes; especially when we want an answer right away. I was reminded of this again on Sunday while our pastor was preaching. It's easy to say that we'll wait on Gods timing, but to actually believe it, and put it into practice is whole other ball game.
     I like what Jon Bloom says in his article, "When God Seems Silent":
I believe there are clues for another purpose...I’ll phrase them as questions.

• Why is it that “absence makes the heart grow fonder” but “familiarity breeds contempt”?
• Why is water so much more refreshing when we’re really thirsty?
• Why am I almost never satisfied with what I have, but always longing for more?
• Why can the thought of being denied a desire for marriage or children or freedom or some other dream create in us a desperation we previously didn’t have?
• Why is the pursuit of earthly achievement often more enjoyable than the achievement itself?
• Why do deprivation, adversity, scarcity, and suffering often produce the best character qualities in us while prosperity, ease, and abundance often produce the worst?

Do you see it? There is a pattern in the design of deprivation: Deprivation draws out desire. Absence heightens desire. And the more heightened the desire, the greater its satisfaction will be. It is the mourning that will know the joy of comfort (Matthew 5:4). It is the hungry and thirsty that will be satisfied (Matthew 5:6). Longing makes us ask, emptiness makes us seek, silence makes us knock (Luke 11:9).  (http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/when-god-seems-silent)

     I believe that during the "waiting" season in our lives, God makes us grow. In James 1:2-4 we're reminded, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trails, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have it's perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
     I pray that during the times in my life when God seems silent, that I can just listen, be patient, and wait upon the Lord, for His timing.
     In what ways can you wait upon the Lord? Are there times when you feel like God doesn't seem to be answering? What things have helped you?

Pregnancy Update: 34 weeks along now, and my husband and I are so excited to welcome our son into this world soon! Baby James is very camera shy, and anytime I try to take a picture of his moving around, he stops. ;) I have the normal pregnancy swollen feet, so I can't fit into to many of my shoes. My midwife says that my water intake is great, and to just keep my feet propped up when I can. It's starting to feel a little real now that we're going to welcome a little boy into this world soon! <3