Two Pink Lines

It has happened again! Last Friday morning, with heart beating rapidly, I leaned over the bathroom sink and watched as two little pink lines slowly appeared on my pregnancy test.... "I'm pregnant!" I said to my husband as he anxiously peeked around the shower curtain. Wow! I am still in awe at the thought of God giving us a third child. What a blessing! Even now as I think about this child who we won't know for another nine months, my heart leaps in my chest, and my overwhelming tiredness momentarily fades into the background of my mind.

When Travis and I got married, we agreed that instead of using birth control we would let God be in control, believing that it is He who opens and closes the womb and believing His word that children are a gift of the Lord and that the fruit of the womb is a reward (Psalm 127:3). And what a true blessing and reward our children are to us! The thought that had we not fully trusted in the Lord by obeying our convictions and had consequently missed out on these gifts--Abel, Amariah, and baby #3--is devastating. In a society where pregnancies are often viewed as an "oops" and children as an expensive inconvenience, Travis and I are so thankful that we are able to rejoice when those two pink lines appear, knowing that each child is a gift from God.

"For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother's womb.
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them." (Psalm 139:13-16)

Husbands, Love Your Wives

Tonight my husband came home not feeling well after a long day of work to a wife who didn't have supper prepared or even planned. While working outside in the garden, I asked him what sounded good for supper, and instead of telling me what to fix, he offered to go inside and start the preparations. By the time I finished the yard work, Travis had found a new recipe, adapted it to his liking, and was in the process of cooking his experimental dish. I walked in the house to the wonderful aroma of his creation and through tears told him how much I appreciated his willingness to help me out in the kitchen even though he didn't feel good. And let me say, I appreciated it even more when I tasted it! And by the way, he (and Abel) even baked brownies afterwards! I am so blessed to have a husband who serves me and loves me and who views our marriage as a partnership. I am greatly encouraged by his obedience to God's command for husbands to love their wives sacrificially as Christ loves the Church and gave Himself up for her. Thank You, Lord, for giving me a husband who loves and serves both You and me.

Because He Is...

Because He is faithful, I can witness to unbelievers with confidence.
Because He is true, I can cling to all His promises.
Because He is sovereign, I can look to Him for help and peace.
Because He is powerful, I can be weak.
Because He is holy, I can sin less.
Because He is consistent, I can trust in Him.
Because He is loving, I can love.
Because He is personal, I can have a relationship with Him.
Because He is omniscient, I can be truthful.
Because He is redeeming, I can spend eternity with Him.
Because He is caring, I can be comforted.
Because He is blameless, I can be justified.
Because He is God....

My First Garden

Today I put in my first garden! Sowing and planting was a lot of work, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I always love being outside on sunny days, and it was nice to be able to be productive while catching some rays! (I caught a few too many rays, as it turns out; I guess I should have used more sunblock!) I kept thinking how amazing it is that those little tiny seeds will soon sprout and poke up through the dirt and grow and bear fruit. Maybe I now better understand on a very small scale why farmers love what they do.

Thinking of You

Do you ever think that the Lord causes you to think of someone for some reason? Last night I dreamt about a high school classmate of mine whom I haven't seen or thought of for years and woke up thinking that I should try to look her up. I shrugged off the thought rather quickly, though, because I didn't know her new last name. Then tonight, as I was getting ready for bed, I discovered that this very girl whom I dreamt about had in fact looked me up through Facebook, an online networking utility. What a strange coincidence that we should reconnect just hours after I had thought of her! Maybe it was nothing more than just that--a strange coincidence; or maybe the Lord was working in His sometimes mysterious way. Whatever the case, I guess it serves as a good reminder to pray for those who cross my mind....

Transforming

I was looking at an old friend's Facebook profile the other day, and she had the following quote listed in reference to our hometown: "There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered" (by Nelson Mandela).

Upon reading this quote, I immediately thought of the change that happens in our lives because of salvation. I think I've mentioned in a previous post that although I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior at a young age, it wasn't until my first year away at college that I really started to grow...and change! My first summer back from college, I got together one night with my three closest high school girlfriends. As we sat around talking, I remember my best friend in the group saying, "You've changed. We're you like this in high school... I mean, all religious and stuff?" At the time I remember feeling hurt and disappointed that I had obviously been too conformed to the world around me to stand out as a Christian even to my closest friends. But looking back, I realize that it really wasn't until after high school that I began to change as a result of my salvation; and how thankful I am that a change was noticed by my friends that night! May God receive all the glory for what He has done in me!

Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...." May I be continually changed because of my great God who saved me, justified me, and sanctifies me!

For an encouragement to those who might be afraid to reveal their new selves to old friends--"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes..." (Romans 1:16).

Motherhood...

"The days are long, but the years fly by." I heard this quote about motherhood at the Women's Conference I attended on Saturday, and I think it hit me harder than anything else I learned that day. As I reflect on it, I have been encouraged by the truth it holds. Let me just say, it took no time at all to realize the truth of "the days are long!" Motherhood is a 24/7 job, and most of it is about serving someone else. But now I am beginning to learn the truth of "the years fly by." Abel, our son, is already two; and our "baby" Amariah is 10 months old!

Even though the days are long, I know that because the years fly by I must embrace each moment of motherhood and make the most out of each day. When I thank the Lord each night for the day He has given me, I hope that I will be able to say that I accomplished something that made it all worthwhile.

The Body of Christ

What a blessing it is to be a part of the body of Christ! When Travis and I moved to a new city where we knew virtually no one, we had no idea how we would ever find a good church. But God, by His awesome sovereignty and grace, quickly led us to a Bible-believing church, blessing us with the opportunity to become a part of a body of believers who truly seeks to live in Him and to walk as Jesus did (1 John 2:6). Not only do we have the privilege of worshiping and celebrating together with the body each Sunday, but we also have found true fellowship there. With fellowship has come accountability, encouragement, learning, and real friendships. There is no stronger bond than one founded on Christ. Praise God for the fellowship of believers!