I've been praying for God to humble me more. I think it's working, because I'm starting to see what a wretch I am in everything that I do for myself, how wicked I am apart from Christ. It is tempting to be driven to despair, to lay around and cry for myself, but that is definitely not humility. I need to fall to my knees before the precious cross of Christ, to cast myself upon His mercy which never fails, to follow His footsteps wherever they lead, to praise Him that, although I am a failure to the core, He is MIGHTY to save all who call upon His name with a pure heart. JESUS! Help me. I need new life in my soul today.
This morning, Daniel and I read about Adoniram Judson. What a mighty man of God! He was tortured in prison in Burma for 17 months, came back to his mission to bury his only son, lost his wife shortly after, and his baby daughter just six months later. He was utterly alone. Yet the Gospel was what gave him hope, what caused him to keep going, what encouraged his weary soul in hours of turmoil and suffering.
As both James and Paul wrote, trials produce perseverance so that our faith may be completed, tested, and purified....Lord, bring on the trials! Give me a desire to follow you wherever you may lead, and I promise that I will, no matter the cost.
"God created the world out of nothing, and so long as we are nothing, He can make something out of us." --Martin Luther
Monday, April 26, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Oh, Baby....
The rumors (well, perhaps you haven't heard any of them...) are true! We are having a baby! Little Spencer should be here around November 1st. What a blessing from Yahweh!
(Above) Here he/she is! Still a little peanut.
(Above) In this one you can see the lobes of his/her brain forming! Amazing! There are the little fists also ;)
(Above) This is a better profile shot....that is either the umbilical cord or his/her feet at the bottom there.
(Above) Annnd this is my favorite! You can see his/her little arms and legs. What a precious baby! He/She was moving all around in there, doing acrobats. It's amazing! I can't even explain it....How can anyone deny God's hand in this world? (Psalm 139:13)
(Above) This is a better profile shot....that is either the umbilical cord or his/her feet at the bottom there.
(Above) Annnd this is my favorite! You can see his/her little arms and legs. What a precious baby! He/She was moving all around in there, doing acrobats. It's amazing! I can't even explain it....How can anyone deny God's hand in this world? (Psalm 139:13)
I will write more soon! So much is happening, blogging has been low on the list. Sorry everyone! Keep seeking to honor Christ and His Gospel!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Time is March-ing (get it? Har har har) on!
I am slacking again! It's already been more than two weeks since my last post....can it be? Time is flying by, and Daniel and I are flying with it. (Can I blame at least part of it on the fact that we lost an hour Saturday night?) I feel like we have only gotten BUSIER since February, but this is indeed only a season. We won't always work opposite schedules. We won't always eat dinner apart. Sigh....
Okay, so I'm being a drama queen :) Sorry! We are so blessed by the Lord to have good jobs and to be able to live for Him in so many different places. God forbid that we ever complain over the joys that He has placed in our lives. Do I ever have room to complain? A few weeks ago I was thinking about the apostle Paul glorying in every situation because he could represent the Gospel in all of them. No matter what situation we find ourselves in, if we are in Christ, we have a reason to rejoice! Who could imagine that the Living God would want to dwell in a clay jar....
Lately, I have also been challenged about my desire to see others come to Christ. Do I really long for this? Do I pray for this and live for this in all that I do? Now don't get me wrong, I'm not talking perfection or hinting that I can save anyone myself (or make them want to be saved, for that matter), but we are His ambassadors. I am convicted to be more purposeful in my time with others and to love them as Christ did--by laying down His own life, encouraging them to do so, and showing them a better way. What a privilege it is to be a bondservant of the King!
Well folks, that's my ramble for today. Hopefully there will be more next time :)
P.S....a friend of mine who lives in Western Australia asked me a few months back if he could include my testimony in the Christian magazine where he works. I said yes, typed it up, and now it will be featured in this month's issue. If you want to read about the amazing work of grace that God has done in my life, check it out! Honestly, no glory to me....I did none of it. All glory to Him!! It will be available on Thursday. Click this link: Http://challengenews.org
Blessings in the Sweet Name of Jesus
Okay, so I'm being a drama queen :) Sorry! We are so blessed by the Lord to have good jobs and to be able to live for Him in so many different places. God forbid that we ever complain over the joys that He has placed in our lives. Do I ever have room to complain? A few weeks ago I was thinking about the apostle Paul glorying in every situation because he could represent the Gospel in all of them. No matter what situation we find ourselves in, if we are in Christ, we have a reason to rejoice! Who could imagine that the Living God would want to dwell in a clay jar....
Lately, I have also been challenged about my desire to see others come to Christ. Do I really long for this? Do I pray for this and live for this in all that I do? Now don't get me wrong, I'm not talking perfection or hinting that I can save anyone myself (or make them want to be saved, for that matter), but we are His ambassadors. I am convicted to be more purposeful in my time with others and to love them as Christ did--by laying down His own life, encouraging them to do so, and showing them a better way. What a privilege it is to be a bondservant of the King!
Well folks, that's my ramble for today. Hopefully there will be more next time :)
P.S....a friend of mine who lives in Western Australia asked me a few months back if he could include my testimony in the Christian magazine where he works. I said yes, typed it up, and now it will be featured in this month's issue. If you want to read about the amazing work of grace that God has done in my life, check it out! Honestly, no glory to me....I did none of it. All glory to Him!! It will be available on Thursday. Click this link: Http://challengenews.org
Blessings in the Sweet Name of Jesus
Monday, March 1, 2010
The whirlwind that was February....
I am the most delinquent blogger on the planet, and for that I apologize (to you, whoever you are, who actually reads my blog!) Life in February has been crazy and busy, but full of joy and fun. Here's a little summary of the "love month".....
The first week passed without much to write home about (although, as is marked on the calendar, we changed the Brita water filter on the 1st of the month!)
The first weekend was spent eating with friends. First we had dinner with Patrick and Sally, our dear soon-to-be newlyweds, at Olive Garden with our Christmas gift cards, and the next night we shared homemade pizza with Lauren and Anna at our house. This was a good time!
That night we left home to go and babysit/dogsit/housesit for my boss and 4 of her 5 foster children until the following Sunday. (Yes, folks....7 full days with a 9 year old, 8 year old, 1 year old, and 6 month old.) We had a BLAST! The older girls were out of school for three of the five school days because of snow, so we got to know them pretty well. I'll have to upload some pictures of the little ones too (the one picture that we have of the older girls is stuck on my camera because it didnt get saved on the memory card....boo!) Lydia (the 1 year old) was a riot of course and is in a really funny stage. Kye (the baby) stole our hearts with his precious little smiles and funny mad faces. What a wonderful week!
We got home on Valentine's Day evening. The following day (the 15th) was our 6 month anniversary! Because of another snow day (off of work!), we were able to go to dinner at Rafferty's, then come home and sample some of our frozen wedding cake. Don't worry, we saved most of it for the one year mark since it was still pretty good! ;) It was nice to spend that time together because I barely saw Daniel for the rest of the week....he worked like a crazy man!
We had more people over that weekend (Daniel's new friend Grant, my dear Leah, and sweet Sarah and Regina!) I also went to Rachel's baby shower....it's hard to believe that Arianna will be here in less than 2 months! I spent more quality time with friends at the beginning of last week (on the phone with Maria and Alex on Monday and Haley and Sarah came over on Tuesday!) and had a nice lunch with the ladies from Pleasant Plains. On Friday, I went to breakfast at Waffle House with some other girls (after driving to the wrong Waffle House, waiting there for 20 minutes, and realizing I was in the wrong place, that is) and it was lovely :)
This weekend we went to Dickson and Nashville for Michael and Ashton's wedding! It was a blast and we are so excited for this new marriage in Christ. In Dickson, we went hiking with Daniel's parents, played several games, and watched a great movie (Mr. Smith goes to Washington....I really recommend it!) Sunday afternoon, after church at Grace, we had lunch with the Lankfords.
Phew. Welcome, March! I hope that you don't fly by like February did!
The first week passed without much to write home about (although, as is marked on the calendar, we changed the Brita water filter on the 1st of the month!)
The first weekend was spent eating with friends. First we had dinner with Patrick and Sally, our dear soon-to-be newlyweds, at Olive Garden with our Christmas gift cards, and the next night we shared homemade pizza with Lauren and Anna at our house. This was a good time!
That night we left home to go and babysit/dogsit/housesit for my boss and 4 of her 5 foster children until the following Sunday. (Yes, folks....7 full days with a 9 year old, 8 year old, 1 year old, and 6 month old.) We had a BLAST! The older girls were out of school for three of the five school days because of snow, so we got to know them pretty well. I'll have to upload some pictures of the little ones too (the one picture that we have of the older girls is stuck on my camera because it didnt get saved on the memory card....boo!) Lydia (the 1 year old) was a riot of course and is in a really funny stage. Kye (the baby) stole our hearts with his precious little smiles and funny mad faces. What a wonderful week!
We got home on Valentine's Day evening. The following day (the 15th) was our 6 month anniversary! Because of another snow day (off of work!), we were able to go to dinner at Rafferty's, then come home and sample some of our frozen wedding cake. Don't worry, we saved most of it for the one year mark since it was still pretty good! ;) It was nice to spend that time together because I barely saw Daniel for the rest of the week....he worked like a crazy man!
We had more people over that weekend (Daniel's new friend Grant, my dear Leah, and sweet Sarah and Regina!) I also went to Rachel's baby shower....it's hard to believe that Arianna will be here in less than 2 months! I spent more quality time with friends at the beginning of last week (on the phone with Maria and Alex on Monday and Haley and Sarah came over on Tuesday!) and had a nice lunch with the ladies from Pleasant Plains. On Friday, I went to breakfast at Waffle House with some other girls (after driving to the wrong Waffle House, waiting there for 20 minutes, and realizing I was in the wrong place, that is) and it was lovely :)
This weekend we went to Dickson and Nashville for Michael and Ashton's wedding! It was a blast and we are so excited for this new marriage in Christ. In Dickson, we went hiking with Daniel's parents, played several games, and watched a great movie (Mr. Smith goes to Washington....I really recommend it!) Sunday afternoon, after church at Grace, we had lunch with the Lankfords.
Phew. Welcome, March! I hope that you don't fly by like February did!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Hope Deferred Makes the Heart Sick.....
So, my husband is crazy about Chick-fil-a.
I mean, who wouldn't be? Delicious, chickeny goodness.
What has enhanced his love for said chain is their restaurant grand openings. Every time that a new Chick-fil-a is opened, the first 100 people at the restaurant receive 52 combo meals for free. FREE. That equates to about 300 dollars worth of free food....not just any ole' food....Chick-fil-a. Need I say more?? In college, Daniel went to about 15 of these grand openings (which works out to about 5,000 dollars worth of free Chick-fil-a, mind you) which entail camping out in the parking lot for 24 hours, but enjoying free food and great company during the wait. He has eagerly taken me under his wing in following in his footsteps.
Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, there's a catch. If there are more than 100 people at the restaurant 24 hours before it opens, the workers do a raffle to see who gets to stay and get the prizes. (I know, I'm speeding through the explanations. Feel free to email me with any Chick-fil-a related questions and I will expound...especially if you would like to hear about a certain incident at a Chick-fil-a near Cincinnati involving sticker name tags and cheering crowds :-p) If your raffle number is chosen, you get to stay. If it's not, you're sent packing. Two of the three times that I have gone to one of these grand openings, I have been sent packing....let me go into further detail about my latest defeat.
There was a grand opening scheduled for tomorrow morning near Nashville. Daniel couldn't go because he had to work, but my very kind and patient boss told me that I could go (not without a few chuckles and head shakes, mind you). Tim and Austin, two of Daniel's closest friends, also went, so we rode together. We left Jackson at 3:30 am.....yes, 3:30 am. If we weren't at the Chick-fil-a by 6:00, we couldn't get in to the raffle. We heard rumors along the way that there were a lot of people waiting already, but we held out in hope that we would get in. When we got there, all rumors proved to be true. There were around 160 people waiting!
Well, we finally got settled inside and they handed out raffle tickets. There we stood anxiously peering at our numbers and trying to work some mental brain waves towards the Chick-fil-a employee who was calling them out (Mama Sue for those of you who know the traveling Chick-fil-a gang....I know, I am only proving my nerdiness here, but hear me out...) First number called....not me. Second...third.....fourth.....thirteenth.....twenty-second. I was getting nervous, but we were only a quarter of the way in, right? Thirtieth......thirty-ninth....forty-fifth....fiftieth. Half way through, still none of our numbers called. Sixty-first....sixty-eighth.....seventy-second....eightieth. Okay, so this was getting ridiculous. Our luck was getting increasingly worse. Eighty-fifth.....Ninety-second.....ninety-ninth. We all held our breath and our tickets for dear life. one-hundredth. Not us. Nooooo!!!!!!!!!!!
Luckily, they called 10 extra numbers in case someone dropped out. Austin's was called as #101. We had agreed to share coupons if only one of us got it, so we didn't completely lose....but Tim and I left in the rain, feeling rather dejected (well, Tim more than me. I got to go home to my sweet husband, so I wasn't too disappointed ;-)
My dear mother-in-law heard of our plight from Daniel, called, had us stop at their house on the way home, and made Tim and I a delicious breakfast. Didn't turn out so bad after all :)
So, for future reference......don't go to a Chick-fil-a openings with me. I'm only one for three!!!!
I mean, who wouldn't be? Delicious, chickeny goodness.
What has enhanced his love for said chain is their restaurant grand openings. Every time that a new Chick-fil-a is opened, the first 100 people at the restaurant receive 52 combo meals for free. FREE. That equates to about 300 dollars worth of free food....not just any ole' food....Chick-fil-a. Need I say more?? In college, Daniel went to about 15 of these grand openings (which works out to about 5,000 dollars worth of free Chick-fil-a, mind you) which entail camping out in the parking lot for 24 hours, but enjoying free food and great company during the wait. He has eagerly taken me under his wing in following in his footsteps.
Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, there's a catch. If there are more than 100 people at the restaurant 24 hours before it opens, the workers do a raffle to see who gets to stay and get the prizes. (I know, I'm speeding through the explanations. Feel free to email me with any Chick-fil-a related questions and I will expound...especially if you would like to hear about a certain incident at a Chick-fil-a near Cincinnati involving sticker name tags and cheering crowds :-p) If your raffle number is chosen, you get to stay. If it's not, you're sent packing. Two of the three times that I have gone to one of these grand openings, I have been sent packing....let me go into further detail about my latest defeat.
There was a grand opening scheduled for tomorrow morning near Nashville. Daniel couldn't go because he had to work, but my very kind and patient boss told me that I could go (not without a few chuckles and head shakes, mind you). Tim and Austin, two of Daniel's closest friends, also went, so we rode together. We left Jackson at 3:30 am.....yes, 3:30 am. If we weren't at the Chick-fil-a by 6:00, we couldn't get in to the raffle. We heard rumors along the way that there were a lot of people waiting already, but we held out in hope that we would get in. When we got there, all rumors proved to be true. There were around 160 people waiting!
Well, we finally got settled inside and they handed out raffle tickets. There we stood anxiously peering at our numbers and trying to work some mental brain waves towards the Chick-fil-a employee who was calling them out (Mama Sue for those of you who know the traveling Chick-fil-a gang....I know, I am only proving my nerdiness here, but hear me out...) First number called....not me. Second...third.....fourth.....thirteenth.....twenty-second. I was getting nervous, but we were only a quarter of the way in, right? Thirtieth......thirty-ninth....forty-fifth....fiftieth. Half way through, still none of our numbers called. Sixty-first....sixty-eighth.....seventy-second....eightieth. Okay, so this was getting ridiculous. Our luck was getting increasingly worse. Eighty-fifth.....Ninety-second.....ninety-ninth. We all held our breath and our tickets for dear life. one-hundredth. Not us. Nooooo!!!!!!!!!!!
Luckily, they called 10 extra numbers in case someone dropped out. Austin's was called as #101. We had agreed to share coupons if only one of us got it, so we didn't completely lose....but Tim and I left in the rain, feeling rather dejected (well, Tim more than me. I got to go home to my sweet husband, so I wasn't too disappointed ;-)
My dear mother-in-law heard of our plight from Daniel, called, had us stop at their house on the way home, and made Tim and I a delicious breakfast. Didn't turn out so bad after all :)
So, for future reference......don't go to a Chick-fil-a openings with me. I'm only one for three!!!!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Treasure in Heaven
I really want a baby. I know that most everyone who reads this will probably be surprised and a bit confused since Daniel and I have only been married for just under five months, but it's true. Baby fever has struck.
With marriage, problems and concerns change along with your way of life. Last year at this time, I was thinking about researching for my thesis paper, spending time with friends who would soon be less frequently in the picture, and daydreaming about my boyfriend who would soon turn fiance (French friends, please excuse the lack of accent since the blog won't let me copy and paste) who would soon turn husband! Now my mind is on grocery shopping and bill paying and house decorating. And a baby. Sigh.
And yet, deep down I know.
Last year, now, and forever, my heart is constant in the Lord. He alone is Unchanging, He alone is Faithful and True. The Ever-patient Father is teaching me a thing or two about trusting Him in every situation, rejoicing for others' joys, weeping for others' sorrows, being content in every circumstance, and living for today. Now, Daniel and I are free to do pretty much whatever we want and to go pretty much wherever we want pretty much whenever we want! Throw a crying little tot into the picture, and that will change.....He wants me to live today, to love others with His love and to humble myself under His mighty hand that HE may lift me up in due time. Oh, what a joy it is to be in the service of the King! As Job says, "Though He slay me, yet shall I hope in Him...." My life is nothing like Job's. I only have reason to rejoice in the Lord! But even if I never have children, even if I lose all of my possessions, even if Daniel dies, even if I am diagnosed with cancer tomorrow, my hope does not change. I am built upon the Rock of Ages.
I am so humbled. I have recently been reading more of The Journals of Jim Elliot, and today I was deeply moved by his openness. He writes,
With marriage, problems and concerns change along with your way of life. Last year at this time, I was thinking about researching for my thesis paper, spending time with friends who would soon be less frequently in the picture, and daydreaming about my boyfriend who would soon turn fiance (French friends, please excuse the lack of accent since the blog won't let me copy and paste) who would soon turn husband! Now my mind is on grocery shopping and bill paying and house decorating. And a baby. Sigh.
And yet, deep down I know.
Last year, now, and forever, my heart is constant in the Lord. He alone is Unchanging, He alone is Faithful and True. The Ever-patient Father is teaching me a thing or two about trusting Him in every situation, rejoicing for others' joys, weeping for others' sorrows, being content in every circumstance, and living for today. Now, Daniel and I are free to do pretty much whatever we want and to go pretty much wherever we want pretty much whenever we want! Throw a crying little tot into the picture, and that will change.....He wants me to live today, to love others with His love and to humble myself under His mighty hand that HE may lift me up in due time. Oh, what a joy it is to be in the service of the King! As Job says, "Though He slay me, yet shall I hope in Him...." My life is nothing like Job's. I only have reason to rejoice in the Lord! But even if I never have children, even if I lose all of my possessions, even if Daniel dies, even if I am diagnosed with cancer tomorrow, my hope does not change. I am built upon the Rock of Ages.
I am so humbled. I have recently been reading more of The Journals of Jim Elliot, and today I was deeply moved by his openness. He writes,
"Lord Jesus, my desire is before Thee, all of it. (reference to Psalm 38:9) Thou knowest what I want, the good and the bad, the vain and the rich things. Thou knowest them all, and I cannot discern between them. Oh, what dearth of spirit I feel for no apparent reason except that a multiplicity of details...cloud the low atmosphere. Bring Thou Thy cross before me, Lord--yea, show me Thyself. Naught else can still my throbbings and restore my strength (reference to Psalm 38:10)"
Oh, to see Jesus. May I long for HIM everyday, above all other things. My treasure is truly with Him in Heaven.
I pray that your Christ celebration was truly that, and that 2010 brings you much closer to His side! I love you all, thanks for the read ;)
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