Burned and burned again

     Yesterday, I took James to the ER. After Doctors examining him, and giving his leg an X-ray, they found that his Femur was fractured. Yesterday, my husband took a tumble with our baby down our very steep set of stairs, and they fell a couple steps. It was enough for both of them to get hurt. So now James has a cast on his leg for the next month at least. It's funny. I feel like every time we leave the hospital, or get through something, God decides to bring something else into our life to give us a time to practice faith, patience, and perseverance.
     In between going to the hospital several times during James babyhood, and just challenging times with our little boy, I feel like I've been burned. I'm burned out quite honestly. I'm tired of getting burned. I'm tired of feeling tired. Every time I think to myself, "This is it! After we get through this, it'll be fine." Quite honestly, it is... just not the way I had pictured. It's funny how different our plans are from Gods, aren't they?!
     Every battle that we finally win with James, is a step closer to being who God wants us as his parents to be. But every battle that comes, there's another one to follow. On top of having my son in the ER yet again, we're trying to purchase a house, plus I'm pregnant, and there's constantly things happening throughout our week that make things challenging through one thing or another.
     I read this article today- Walk Slowly, Mama, and couldn't help but cry. Cry because this is where I am in life... that and I'm pregnant, so things are a lot more emotional for me. ;) The things we do for our children on a daily basis helps to grow us in many ways. We all get burned in one way or another. We get burned by yet another child sick and you've already had 4 days of restless sleep. We get burned because someone let you down. We get burned because we're tired of doing the same thing over and over again. It's funny though. When I think I can't go on any longer, God brings me the encouragement and will to fight. Today, it was my sister-in-law lending me her car to go to Starbucks while James slept. Some days, it's my husband sending me a sweet text telling me that I'm doing great as a mom, and that he's proud of me, and some days, it's reading a part of the Word of God that you just needed to hear. Whatever it may be, God brings you the energy you need to continue to fight the good fight.
     "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." ~2nd Timothy 4:7~

Engagement Pictures and Bible Verse's

     Hello all! I'm not going to write a post this week, because I'm getting married on Saturday, and I'd like to spend as much time with family/friends as I can. So, I thought I'd just show some pictures of our engagement back in December, and how my hair will look for my wedding. I'll post some pictures of the wedding in a couple weeks. :)


     "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that  could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all

 things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails..and now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." ~1st Corinthians 13:1-8,13~

   



    "Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for her, that he might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or winkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband."
~ Ephesians 5:22-33~

~Love
Bears,    
Believes,
Hopes,
Endures~

~Faith, Hope, Love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.~

After this week, my name will change from Caitlin Baughman, to Caitlin Narwold. I love you Josh, and I'm so incredibly blessed to be able to call you mine! You make me so happy, and I can't imagine my life without you! I love you Joshua Narwold!

Everyone thinks this picture is funny because
this is the only picture where Josh and I are
separated... and we're NEVER separated. ;)

Having a Child-Like Faith

As I was going on my jog this morning, I couldn't help but notice the beauty in the air. The clouds that God created, the trees, grass, and flowers that were there. Everything was so beautiful!
I couldn't help but be reminded of our faith in Christ. Yesterday, at church, the exhortation was about faith.
Hebrews 11:1-3, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible."

Faith is what you live by; faith is accepting, receiving, and resting upon Christ. Hope and faith keep us going. Believe in God and let the spirit work in you.

 Having a child-like faith can be difficult at times. We're reminded in Matthew 18:4-5, "Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me."

It's amazing how children trust. They trust that when their parent and/or sibling picks them up, they won't fall.  We trust that when we sit on a chair, it won't break. We put our trust in so many things on a daily basis. I pray that I will have more of a Child-Like Faith as I walk in the ways of the Lord.

In the Midst of the Storm

I was reading Matthew 14:22-33 this last week, and was in complete awe as I read
this passage from scripture!
"Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid." And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to  sink he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

The reason I was so awed in this, was because this applies to our real lives... not that the other passages don't! But, let's look closely!
Jesus didn't CALM the storm to grab onto Peter's hand! He grabbed his hand in the MIDST of the storm! What a great God! Notice, how the Bible says, "Immediately."... Jesus "Immediately" reached out His hand...
I was thinking about how this applies to our lives. God is there beside us, holding onto our hand. He never leaves our side! He grabs our hand in the midst of the storm, and walks us through our daily trails! It's up to us, to let Him guide us! We must have faith!
"Now Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen..."
~Hebrews 11:1~

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."
~1st Corinthians 10:13~

To Hide with Fear or Faith?

This past week as I was doing my Bible Study; I was going through Exodus and the story of Moses's birth. I started putting myself in their shoes, and wondered what it must have been like for Moses's mom. For 3 months, Moses's mom had to hide him! What do you think it was like living from day to day hoping the guards wouldn't hear the Baby cry. That's what got me thinking... faith!
By faith we live our daily lives. Sure, Moses's family probably were very fearful with every cry that could be heard that could send a guard killing the baby at any time. However, it was all by faith!

I looked up Hebrews 11:23-29, "By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's edict. By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that
he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. By faith they passed through the Red Sea
as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it,
were drowned..."

To think what kind of Faith Moses and his family had during the time of Moses's birth.

"Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a daughter of Levi. The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was beautiful, she hid him for three months. But when she could hide him no longer, she got him a wicker basket and covered it over with tar and pitch. Then she put the child into it and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile. His sister stood at a distance to find out what would happen to him. The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the Nile, with her maidens walking alongside the Nile; and she saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid, and she brought it to her. When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the boy was crying. And she had pity on him and said, 'This is one of the Hebrews' children.'... The child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter and he became her son. And she named him Moses, and said, 'Because I drew him out of the water.'"
~Exodus 2:1-10

After reading these verses I was very much astonished. Not because I was surprised  but because I had put myself in Moses's family's shoes. What great faith they had! It made me realize how little faith I have. We need to have a child-like Faith. Have faith just like Hebrews 11 talks about.
So, don't hide in fear, but instead... have Faith!!!

On Faith Alone

On Faith Alone-Robert Pierre

On faith alone I stand
There is no higher ground
I give all I am For my soul will never doubt
Though the storms they may be raging
You have always held my hand
To thy cross my heart will always cling
On faith alone I stand
On faith alone I live
Not in what I say or do
But the blood you freely give
Covers me and makes me new
For your love is ever with me
Lord Jehovah Great I AM
oh my trust grows stronger On my knees
On faith alone I stand

Chorus: Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, on faith alone I stand

When I reach my final breath
And I fall into Your arms
I'll proclaim with no regrets
On faith alone
on faith aloneI stand

Hallelujah, Hallelujah,Hallelujah, on faith alone I stand

Martyred

Martyred:

This last Sunday,
our pastor, “Kevin Swanson” announced to the congregation that there was a
martyr who died for his faith this last week.
To be honest, I didn’t think that
“Martyrdom” happened very often. I thought that…sure people would be put in
prison, or beaten, but…killed...for their faith? Wow! I pray that God will have
mercy on those that have wronged.
It’s sad, isn’t it? We have so much
in this world, and yet so little. We have hot water for showers, food to eat, a
roof over our heads, a bed to sleep in, blankets to keep us warm, a car to get
us from here to there, (most of the time) and so many other things. We have
money to go places, and see things. There are so many people in this world who
don’t have that kind of stuff. They are lucky if they just get to sleep in a
bed, and they are blessed if they get 2 meals a day. Can you imagine?
Some people that are poor, know that
they are blessed to be alive. Do we know?
I know that there’s no such thing
as, “What if?” but let’s play the game for just a minute. Imagine yourself as a
Missionary, or even someone who just wants people to know the Gospel. Would you be willing to teach the Bible, even
if you knew that it could kill you? If someone asked you to recant your faith
or be killed, which would you choose? If someone tortured you brutally until
you recanted your faith, would you give in?
What does it mean to be a “Martyr?”
Do you remember Steven in the Bible?
...he was stoned to death for his faith.

Let’s pray for:
those who are serving in other countries and states to bring the gospel to
those that need it. Let’s pray that God will have mercy on those people who
have done wrong. Let’s lift our cries up to the God who is in control of
everything, and has a purpose and a plan for everything.

Courageous

Earlier tonight, my brothers and I saw the movie, "Courageous"...
so many things to say, but one of the most precious things to me in the movie was that
a father asked his daughter if she would be willing to trust him to know when the "right" man would come along. The daughter told the father yes, and the father then took out a ring with a heart on it, to remind the father and the daughter the trust, and love between both of them.
When my father gave me my purity ring...I didn't appreciate as much then, as I do now.
Many people ask me what the ring signifies, well...it signifies my purity between me, God, and my dad that I will keep my heart faithful and pure until the day that my dad gives me away to my husband...if the Lord wills.

Sometimes in life we are tired, and worn out. We want to quit, and just give up, but just like in the movie we need to run the race that God has set before us.
In the movie, a tragedy happens and the mother says, "I feel like I am in a black hole, and that I can't see anywhere in front of me"...that's exactly how I felt when I went through various trials in my life. I felt like I couldn't breath, or see in front of me. God is there though, and I was reminded time after time, that God is there and that he will never leave us or forsake us!

The main part of the movie, is to have fathers take a step up to the plate, and train their children in the admonition of the Lord, so that their children can have a strong faith.
I hope that you will all see the movie if you haven't already.
By the way, bring some tissue!

This movie has made me really appreciate the times that I have with my family!
I love you daddy!!!