Thankful for our girls

I am so thankful for our baby girls. Pastor always quotes, "Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward." Ps.127:3 We are finding this to bee so true. Even though our girls have not yet arrived, God has blessed us with their life. We are so thankful for this great blessing and great responsibility.

Waiting for Babies

I am writing this post from my couch on a Sunday morning. I wish so much I could be with my church family this morning, but as I am often reminded I am doing the job only I can do right now. Making sure our babies are cared for and healthy before their arrival.
Our last Doctor appointment was both exciting and nerve-wracking. The doctor said " pack your bags for the hospital" he expected our babies to be here in 2-3 weeks. 2-3 weeks I thought?! I am not sure I am ready yet! I am both excited an terrified as I get ready for this new experience of being mommy and raising our children to love God.
So now, we are waiting and watching. When will our precious girls arrive? We are still only 32 weeks along, so we want them to "cook" a little longer but we are excited about their soon arrival!

Babies and Me

Waiting.... As the days go by, As the moments fly.

Anticipating.... The day they arrive!


Psalm 127:3-- Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

Nostalgia

I just finished the movie "Krull" and old favorite of mine.

Growing requires Water

I find it interesting how God seems to use different instruments in our lives to teach us and how he can use people and situations to bring to light the importance of His Word. Yesterday, my husband was talking about how Gods word is likened to water in the Scripture and our Pastor recently announced the theme for our Church this year is "Growing in Grace" both of which prepared me for my meditation time today. I resumed a Bible study that I had stopped doing a while back which includes going through the Psalms and building a notebook that describes different characteristics of God. Naturally I started in Psalm 1 where I came across this verse, "Psalm1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." The Psalm is about meditation on God's word and how God will bless the man (or woman) who walks with Him. I noted however for the first time the symbolism here. The Growing tree is planted by water. When we are planted in God's, word we will grow in Him. In fact, the chapter continues to describe what it is like for the tree to not be planted in water, "Psalm 1:4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. " When we are not planted by water, we become dried up, withered up and blow away. I can picture in my mind the field outside my house when I lived Texas. The wind would blow and bring with it these dried up weeds that would role across the open field. While on the other hand I think of the rivers in Venezuela with the lush green vegetation surrounding them. What a picture and a wonderful reminder of what God's word is for us. We can't possibly grow without His word. We must as the Psalm says " meditate day and night" in it so we can grow strong in the Lord.

If only......

Tonight culminates our 4th day in Utah. Justin and I both are amazed at the beauutiful mountains that surround us and the snow! We haven't seen snow like this in a long time! This morning however, I found myself trapped in the world of "if only", a world that can be very depressing if it is not nipped in the bud immediately. It is so funny how if only works, for instance, before we had a plan to come to Utah I found myself thinking " If only we had a plan". Then, when we started packing my "if only" became " If only I can EVER finish packing" which quickly turned into "If only we were there already". This morning I found myself caught in that world again thinking if only we were already settled in, but as I was meditating I realized the error of my thoughts. God brought a couple of key verses to my mind including Thes 5:18 "In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you". God wants us to be content in every circumstance we face from sickness to daily chores such a laundry. He has a specific purpose for every joy and trial we face that can either grow us toward Him or away from Him. We can choose to live a "if only" life, or we can choose to count our blessing, and name them one by one. It is amazing what thankfulness can do to the world of "if only"!

For some reason I seem to suffer writers block all the time. I get these great ideas in my head and then I sit at the computer and nothing comes out..... Well, tonight I am determined to get through the "writers block" so I can share something with you. I would like to begin by quoting a verse from one of my favorite hymns because the truth of it brings into perspective what I would like to share with you. It says,

When Satan tempts me to despair and tells me
of the guilt within Upward I look and see Him there,
Who made an end to all my sin

Because the sinless Savior died my sinful
soul is counted free For God the Just is
satisfied to look on Him and pardon me

Every time I think of this song I am deeply moved by the truth of it's statement. Christ has put an end to my sin.
Sometimes, I feel so trapped by my sinfulness. I sympathize so much with Romans chapter seven where Paul talks about feeling bound by the sinful nature that is still in him. Sometimes it feels as though try as I might I cannot release myself from my sinfulness and the more I try the more I get bound by it. It seems as though it is hopeless. And I am here to tell you that trying to free myself from that sin IS hopeless because I can't. I cry out with Paul "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? "Romans 7:24 But, I am so thankful that the story does not end with me and my failure, but continues "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:1-2
God has set us free. I praise God with all my heart tonight as I sit and dwell on this thought. God, in His Amazing Grace has chosen to look at me through his perfect Son Jesus Christ instead of as the wretched sinner that I am. Gods love is so great that He forgives all my selfishness, my pride and all the horrible things that I am and looks instead at the beautiful righteousness of Christ. How can I do anything but praise His name when I realize what I am before Him? How can I do anything else on earth but humble myself before Him and strive with all my heart to please Him? How can I sit here and be apathetic to Him when I truly realize what He has really done for me? You see, He has done so much more than just save me from hell. He has loved me enough to put his Son's perfect righteousness to my account and to conform me to His image. I am amazed as I think about how great God's goodness and mercy is to take me as uglified by sin as I am and clothe me with the beauty of Jesus Christ, His Son who He sent to settle my debt. As I end I think of one more verse I would like to share, I John 3:2-3 "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." One day we will be like Christ. Satan no longer has a hold on us. My debt has been settled through Christ death on the cross, and now God the Just is satisfied to look on Him and pardon me.