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

Helping The Body of Christ

32 weeks into my pregnancy!

     The past couple weeks have flown by very quickly for me. These last couple weeks, I've been babysitting, and helping out others in our church.
     It got me to thinking of how the Body of Christ works. Last week, one of the boys in our church broke his Femur, and had to have surgery. It was amazing to see how the church came together to help babysit the other kids, bring meals, and pray.
     Likewise, this week, our pastor had surgery... our entire church came together to babysit, help bring meals, and help out by taking kids to and from work for the week.
     Isn't this how the body of Christ should work?! Helping out one another in times of need. Being there for one another, and helping out each other is such a huge blessing!
     I often think about my pregnancy, and when I have our baby, I'll need help. My mom will be here helping out, cooking meals, cleaning, while I'm trying to figure out how to be a mom.

I officially have swollen feet!

                                     Here are some Bible verses that I was reminded of as I was thinking about how we serve the Body of Christ.
   "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that form the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance;for you serve the Lord."
~Colossians 3:23-24
   "But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." ~Hebrews 13:16
   "...Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others." ~Philippians 2:4
     "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." ~John 15:12
   
     In what ways can you serve the Body of Christ more? Is there some couples in your church, or in your neighborhood that you can help out? You can be a missionary in your own neighborhood, by helping out others!

 

It's exciting to know that in just about 8 weeks,
we'll meet our little man.

Pregnancy Update: 32 weeks into my pregnancy, and I'm still feeling great! I officially have swollen feet now, so I've been trying to drink more water, and prop them up more.
     My husband and I went to sign up for our registry this last week, which was so much fun!
     Baby James moves a lot, but so far he hasn't woken me up at night with any kicking/punching, which I'm thankful for. ;) Occasionally I'll feel tightness in my stomach, and I feel my belly, and I can feel a little hand or foot pressing against me. It's so sweet to think I'll hold our bundle of Joy in a couple months!
     That's all the update I have for ya'll! Have a great week!

                                                                                              

Marriage: What I've Learned

     When I was in Colorado, a friend of mine had asked me a question. She said, "What do you think you've learned most in marriage?" I told her it was definitely a hard question for sure, and that I'd have to think about it.
     I think for the most part, it's doing exactly what the Bible says to do or not to do. Love keeps no record of wrongs. (1st Corinthians 13:5) I think when you go into marriage, and live every day life, you have to remember that you live with a sinner. You also have to remember that you're a sinner yourself. You both have faults, and you both sin constantly. No one is perfect. You shouldn't go into marriage assuming that they're going to be perfect in areas that you think they'd be. Yes, they may be great in those areas, but don't set an expectation that they or you can't meet.
     For me, I tend to set the expectation for myself too high. I want to make dinner the best for my husband. I want the house to be clean when my husband comes home, all the time. I want my life together, and I want to know what I want. However, because I'm a sinner, I fall short of those expectations for myself, every single day. I'm proud of myself if I can even get my husband's egg yolks to not crack while I cook them. ;)
     I'm not perfect. I struggle every day with being a wife, and soon-to-be mom. I have thoughts that are sinful, I do things I know I shouldn't do. I have temptations and struggles just like everybody else. I'm not pretending that I have it all together. Marriage does take work. It takes work to serve other people above yourself. It takes work to remember that the other person might be right, and that whether they're right or not, "Love does not insist on it's own way." (1st Corinthians 13:5)
     When Josh and I had premarital counseling, we promised each other, and wrote it down, not to leave the house when we're still upset with each other, or need to talk things out. We've been late for things a couple times, because things had to be worked through.
    So, yes, marriage does take work, but I wouldn't have it any other way! I'd rather work through things with Josh, then to work alone by myself.
     My parents, and so many others have been a wonderful example to me of what a good, Godly marriage looks like, and I'm so grateful that I have a husband who's a wonderful man, and who'll be a great dad soon!
     I think this woman said it best in her post: http://www.girldefined.com/my-selfishness-marriage-ruined-satisfaction

• I would now consider myself a happily married woman. Will marriage be smooth sailing in the future? Most definitely not. However, I have learned where my hope and trust needs to be. I know that my Heavenly Father will give me His truth, through His word.
• I will have to make the choice to step out in faith and remember that His way is perfect and His way will ultimately bring me amazing satisfaction.

I absolutely loved this article, so I thought I'd share it! http://joyforney.org/married-woman/

• In what Ways do you feel like you can be less-selfish every day?
• How can you prepare for marriage in the future, or if you're married, how can you make your marriage better?

Complaining

     Lately, I've been feeling very pregnant! I'm 29, almost 30 weeks along now, and my belly's getting bigger, it's getting harder to bend over and pick things up, harder to stand for a long time, and harder to do things without losing energy. It's gotten me frustrated many times. I feel bad that I don't have the strength I used to, and it got me to thinking, "I haven't even had my first child, and I know moms who've had their 8th, 9th, or 10th baby. How do they do it?" I'm a complainer. I often tell my husband, "I'm going to be a pathetic wife, because I'm already a complainer, and I haven't even had our baby yet."
     It got me to thinking about the Israelites, and how they often complained in the wilderness and the desert. In Exodus and in Numbers, we see how often they complained; yet God was still faithful, and merciful, and continued to give the Israelites things to sustain them. God will provide ALL our needs.  God brought the Israelites through the desert, for forty years, where there was no possibility of them caring for themselves.  God provided their water miraculously from a rock, their food - manna that fell miraculously from heaven, a cloud cover by day so they would not be scorched by the desert sun, and a pillar of fire that covered them by night to keep them warm.

     God is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8), and He watches over His word to perform it.  (Ezekiel 12:25) He will never leave us or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5)

     So for now, I'm taking it one day at a time. I'm in awe that there's a baby growing inside of me, who's already wanted and loved far beyond words can express. I'm grateful to God for answering our prayers, and giving us a little baby inside my womb. Every time our baby James moves, and kicks, I'm reminded of a sweet blessing from God that was given to us, when we didn't deserve such a gift! So, yes, the back pain will continue, and the bending over and standing up will continue to get harder, but in the end, when I have our baby boy in my arms, I can said, "It was all worth it!" We love you baby James! <3

      Just for cuteness sake, here's a picture of my little niece on Resurrection Sunday. Isn't she a cutie?! She's already almost 8 months old! Time flies! This time time next year, she'll have a little 9 month old cousin to play with!<3

He Has Risen!!!

     Easter's coming up on Sunday; also known as Resurrection Sunday. Some people celebrate by going easter egg hunting, painting eggs, and petting the easter bunny. Other's celebrate it by singing songs and reading in the Bible about the story of Jesus' resurrection.

      What is Easter Sunday, and why do we celebrate it?
   
     Easter Sunday (AKA Resurrection Sunday) Most people understand that Easter Sunday has something to do with the resurrection of Jesus, but are confused as to how the resurrection is related to the Easter eggs and the Easter bunny.

     Biblically speaking, there is absolutely no connection between the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the common modern traditions related to Easter Sunday. Essentially, what occurred is that in order to make Christianity more attractive to non-Christians, the ancient Roman Catholic Church mixed the celebration of Jesus' resurrection with celebrations that involved spring fertility rituals. These spring fertility rituals are the source of the egg and bunny traditions.

     The Bible makes it clear that Jesus was resurrected on the first day of the week, Sunday (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2,9; Luke 24:1; John 20:1,19). Jesus' resurrection is most worthy of being celebrated (see 1 Corinthians 15). While it is appropriate for Jesus' resurrection to be celebrated on a Sunday, the day on which Jesus' resurrection is celebrated should not be referred to as Easter. Easter has nothing to do with Jesus' resurrection on a Sunday.

     As a result, many Christians feel strongly that the day on which we celebrate Jesus' resurrection should not be referred to as "Easter Sunday." Rather, something like "Resurrection Sunday" would be far more appropriate and biblical. For the Christian, it is unthinkable that we would allow the silliness of Easter eggs and the Easter bunny to be the focus of the day instead of Jesus' resurrection.

     By all means, celebrate Christ's resurrection on Easter Sunday. Christ's resurrection is something that should be celebrated every day, not just once a year. At the same time, if we choose to celebrate Easter Sunday, we should not allow the fun and games to distract our attention from what the day should truly be all about—the fact that Jesus was resurrected from the dead, and that His resurrection demonstrates that we can indeed be promised an eternal home in Heaven by receiving Jesus as our Savior. (http://www.gotquestions.org/)

     "...But the angel answered and said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay...'"

Have a great week celebrating our Savior's resurrection!