Needing your prayers again.

I'm searching for the right words tonight...real words.

I know that God is here. And I believe with all my soul that He is here. But I have been having a hard time feeling that He is here.

It's my fault, of course. Because I move and I move without stopping and sometimes without thinking. And then all of the sudden life happens. A blow. A punch in the gut and I'm not prepared, because though He is here, I wasn't drawing near.

Our most recent blow...Chad lost his job about a week and half ago. I could go on a bitter rampage about how wrong they were in their reasonings and the way they did it. But I won't because it doesn't matter.

If I'm honest, though, I am bitter. But it didn't start a week and half ago. It started almost three years ago when our financial famine really began. It's been three years of not answering the phone without checking the caller ID, of late fees, of red letters on our back statements, of robbing Peter to pay Paul, of gift cards "from Jesus" left on our front porch, and of praying for an end but hearing silence. We have been living paycheck to paycheck and right now there isn't any coming.

Funny thing is...I'm not panicked. And better than that, I'm beginning to feel Him again. I'm beginning to see His hand moving. And I'm beginning to think that this is not a curse at all, but that God is answering our prayers.

Don't get me wrong...we've had interviews, but no callbacks.

Would you pray for us again? Pray that God moves another miracle for our family. Pray that this job loss is actually the end of our financial woes and not the beginning. And pray that I would find my comfort and strength from the only One who can truly give it to me.



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Washed in the Water

Our daughter, A7, has been wanting to be baptised for some time now. We wanted to be sure it was her own decision so we waited and discussed it with her for awhile. Once we felt confident that she understood her decision she happily walked forward at church. We're so proud of our children and so happy that God is moving in their hearts at such tender ages.


I have to say, this is the best family photo we've taken in a while. We gave up on attempting professional photos long ago. But I make sure we get group shots any time we're dressed up.


Baby L cheesed it up while we waited out in the lobby of the church. I think even at 10 months she was very aware of her pretty, fluffly dress and that everyone was oohing and awwing over her.

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Our house

Some of you have asked about us having our house for sale...

We began building our home about four years ago. We were careful in picking a lot and plan to a home that would grow with our growing family. Currently we were living an hour away from our family, our church, and my husband's work. It was a three bedroom, 1100 square foot home. No basement, no garage, no storage. I was expecting baby #4. And admittedly, we were a little feverish...with house fever that is.

While building our budget was stretched and stretched a little more.

We had been in the house for about three months when I felt really convicted. I had been struggling for some time because I knew that we had not thoroughly prayed through our move. I mean we had prayed for the house to get done when I gave birth to our fourth child and we were living in my mom's basement because our house had sold three months prior. And we had praised God when it was finished. But when we began the process, we never actually sought God over whether or not we should build this new house. After all, He might have said no.

At the time I was in a bible study at church called "When God Speaks" by Priscilla Shire and it was all about diserning the voice of God. I was beginning a new prayer journal and was down on my knees. It was at this moment that I knew I had to ask for forgiveness and hand my house over to God. We built this house to raise our children in, but I knew if it wasn't God's will that we raise our children in it, then I had to be okay with that and trust him. Suddenly, my daughter who was four at the time woke up from a nap she was taking on the couch behind me. Sleepily, she looked at me on the floor and said, "Mommy, I love our new house." I smiled and asked her why. "Because Jesus built it," she said. I felt like God was telling me that we would struggle, but we would keep the house.

Fast forward to January 2007. Almost 2 years ago we had a significant loss of monthly income. Our home is our only source of debt, but the high payment was weighing down on us. We had struggled before, but there was no way we could make the numbers work now. Our income was significantly less than our outgo. We prayed and prayed and kept feeling as though God was saying, "Wait."

So we waited and each month we somehow made it. We would have anonymous monetary gifts, huge bonuses and such. But over the summer it became worse and after much prayer decided it was time to put our house on the market. As you know, this is bad time to try to sell a house...oh, that's a gross understatement...houses aren't selling now. It's been over a year with nothing.

I truly thought that when we put our house on the market we would sell, downsize in mortgage, and God would save us from this situation that way. It was desperately hard to let go of the house, but we were willing. I still think it was God's will to put the house on the market, but I now wonder if it is God's will that we actually sell it. We've had some really rough months, but God has continually provided. Rarely has he provided in ways that I wanted Him to provide, but He has and I'm grateful. We will keep the house on the market until it either sells or our income increases enough that we have enough monthly income to afford it. At this point, either of those situations would be miraculous.

God gave me a scripture when this situation first began. It is Isaiah 13:14.

"From now on when your son asks you, 'What does this mean?' you will answer, 'With his great power, the Lord brought us out of Egypt, the land where we were slaves."

I know that we have been enslaved to a mortgage that we cannot afford because of our own ignorant decisions. I believe that one way or another God will bring us out of it and our testimony will be stronger because of it. In the meantime as the psalmist says...

"I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God." -Psalm 69:3

I would appreciate any prayers you may utter on our behalf. Pin It Now!

G7's Decision

At our house we often talk about the free gift of salvation that God offers us. Our children have all prayed to accept Jesus into their hearts since...well, since they were old enough to pray. But we want to make sure that they truly understand what this means and that the decision to follow Christ is purely their own. So we revisit this topic often.

We also believe that once this decision is made that it should be demonstrated publicly in baptism. Our church recommends that children be eight years of age before being baptized during service. G7 has been talking about getting baptized for quite some time now and this weekend he decided to walk forward at church. He will turn eight on Thanksgiving Day and then will be baptized the following Sunday. We are all so excited for him!

Here is G7 in 'big church' with me. Chad took all of the other kids to the cry room. They are usually all in Sunday school classes, but we wanted them to see G7 walk forward. He was so big, listening to the sermon and taking notes.

I just kept trying to hold myself together. It's just so amazing that we're here. I remember holding him in that sanctuary when he was less than a week old. I remember dedicating him to the Lord on the steps in front of the congregation. And now, I am holding his hand as he walks down that aisle to show to everyone that our God is his God. I gave him to God not that long ago and now he's giving himself to God. We are so blessed and God is so faithful.

This is G7 with his Decision Guide. When someone walks forward at our church, they are met by a Decision Guide. This volunteer talks to that person about the steps of salvation, about becoming a member of the church, or whatever they need. He talked to and prayed with G7. He gave him a folder and book and pen (G7 was especially excited about having his own cool pen). And he took G7 to the baptistry so he could feel the water. G7 will also take a series of classes called What We Believe to help him grow in his new walk with Jesus.

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When There's No Tomorrow

Memory Verse: Ecclesiastes 1:13-14
I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has laid on men! I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Assignment: We only have today. Should God take you today, have you accomplished everything that you wanted to, needed to. Have you said all the things that needed to be said? Let’s have no regrets, let’s make sure we get to those things, so that when we’re standing before the Lord, the only thing we need to do is to worship him.. and not regret not getting to that thing on our to do list. Stop - go take care of that thing…. then, come tell us what you choose to share.

I can't imagine I will ever be able to stand before God and be free of regret. If today were my day to go home, I know there would be plenty. Here are a few...

I would wish that I had prayed more...

worshipped harder...

obeyed Him immediately.

I would wish that I had smiled instead of frowned...

listened instead of scolded...

spoken wisely instead of sarcastically.

I would have wanted more hours spent serving in love and sharing His love with those who had no idea...

I would wish that I truly deserve it when He says, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

But I, in my flesh, do not deserve it.

I am no more than a lowly sinner full of regrets.

How in the world will I ever stand before Him without them?


Perhaps it is because He is the One that changes sinners into saints. He is the One who transforms us from holy to holy. He is the One who makes us deserving.

Because of His sacrifice I will stand before Him. And then I will live free of regret forever.

"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable his judgements, and his paths beyond tracing out!

Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?

Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?

For from him and through him and to him are all things.

To him be the glory forever! Amen."

-Romans 11:33-36

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Baby Dedication

We had our Baby dedication service at church last Sunday and we dedicated Baby L to the Lord.



While we waiting in the lobby, Baby L became very talkative and I got a cute video of her.



"Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." -Matthew 19:14 Pin It Now!

You have our attention, Lord.

God will always give what is right to his people who cry to him night and day, and he will not be slow to answer them. (Lk. 18:7 NCV)

From Max Lucado's site. Pin It Now!

Beautiful

The following poem was written by St. Cyprian in the 3rd Century, shortly after his conversion to Christianity.

This is a cheerful world as I see it
from my garden under the shadow of my vines.
But if I were to ascend some high mountain
and look out over the wide lands,
you know very well what I should see:
brigands on the highways,
pirates on the sea,
armies fighting,
cities burning;
in the amphitheaters men murdered
to please applauding crowds;
selfishness and cruelty
and misery and despair
under all roofs.
It is a bad world, Donatus,
an incredibly bad world.
But I have discovered in the midst of it
a quiet and holy people
who have learned a great secret.
They have found a joy
which is a thousand times better
than any pleasure of our sinful life.
They are despised and persecuted,
but they care not.
They are masters of their souls.
They have overcome the world.
These people, Donatus, are the Christians -
and I am one of them.

Can you imagine the courage it took for him to write these words - I am one of them? And even greater still can you imagine it possible for the early Christians to hold onto their joy when facing the stress of their persecution. At any time they and their entire family (husbands, wives, parents...their children) could be thrown into jail...or worse, the arena.

Still, Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 1 of them, "You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all believers...your faith in God is known everywhere."

Can this be me? My suffering is not nearly as great as facing the arena. I am facing a too-high mortgage payment, a declining - no, nonexistent reality market, a never ending to-do list, six children each demanding my every moment, disappointment. Can I choose joy amidst all this?

Romans 13:15 says, "May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Joy comes as I trust in Him by the power of the Holy Spirit.

As I trust.

Trust and the joy will come.

Today, I choose to trust.

Ecclesiastes 3 says "There is a time for everything....He has made everything beautiful in its time."

It is time for us to endure hardship, and I a praying not despite it, but because of it, we will be beautiful today. Pin It Now!

How Columbus helps us to share our faith.

We have been reading D'ualaire's Columbus and discussing how Columbus wanted to find riches in the new land and bring them back to the King and Queen of Spain. He also wanted to spread the Good News of Christianity to the natives that he met. So today we made a fun craft to illustrate this.


First, we made treasure boxes. I bought these gift boxes last night at Garden Ridge as the store was closing. It's been years since I've shopped there, but they use to sell kids crafts so I was hoping to find the crafty treasure boxes that kids can color and decorate. However, I was informed they no longer sell crafts (when did this happen?) So we made these gift boxes and necklace beads work.


This is the inside of the treasure box.


Then we made Witness Bracelets. Each bead (and even the knots) represents a different part of the gospel. The following is from this site I found that tells how to make the bracelets:

The First Knot reminds me that I am created to love God and to live with Him.
Genesis 1:27 - God created man (humans) in His own image

The Black Bead reminds me that sin keeps me away from God.
Romans 3:23 - Everyone has sinned. No one measures up to God's glory.

The Red Bead reminds me that Jesus is my Way out of sin and back to God.
Romans 5:8-9 - But here is how God has shown His love for us. While we were still
sinners, Christ died for us.

The White Bead reminds me that my new life with Jesus is clean and pure. No matter what I have done in the past, Jesus makes me brand new.
I John 1:7 But suppose we walk in the light, just as He is in the light. Then we share life with one an other. And the blood of Jesus, His Son, makes us pure from all sin.

The Green Bead reminds me to read my Bible, to pray, to obey & to worship God so my faith will grow.
Ephesians 4:15 We will speak the truth in love. We will grow up onto Christ in every way.

The Clear Bead reminds me to wait for the Holy Spirit to help me.
II Thessalonians 2:13b The Lord loves you. God chose you from the beginning. He w anted you to be saved. Salvation comes through the Holy Spirit's work. He makes people holy. It also comes through believing the truth.

The Blue Bead reminds me to choose to be more like Jesus.
Romans 8:14 Those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

The Yellow Bead reminds me that God has a better place waiting for me.
Philippians 4:4-5 Always be joyful because you belong to the Lord. I will say it again. Be joyful. Let everyone know how gentle you are. The Lord is coming soon.

The Last Knot reminds me that God chose me so that I can choose God.
John 14:1-3a Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God. Trust in Me also. There are many rooms in My Father's house. If this were not true, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. If I go and do that I will come back. And I will take you to be with Me. Pin It Now!

Hope for today.

I came face to face with disappointment today.

I've been waiting on God for a year and a half now. During our lives, we often find ourselves (or get ourselves) in situations that only He can rescue us from. I am there now. I have full faith that God will rescue us from this...in His timing.

We thought there might be the beginning of an answer today. But it wasn't.

Scriptures that I am clinging to:

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." -Isaiah 64:4

"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!" - Luke 12:22-28

"In this greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." -1 Peter:6-7

On how God teaches us through our children...

While disciplining my three year old today I said to her, "You will stay in time out until you begin to obey me."

And God opened my ears to what I said.

I realized that I feel very much like I have been in "time out" for the past year and a half. I have also had the tendency to resist obedience.

Areas that I need to be obedient in:

Truly seeking God each day.
Showing respect to my husband.
Modeling a joyful spirit to my children.

Anyone want to hold me accountable? Pin It Now!