Of things hoped for....

A blog I try to read often because it is such an encouraging blog for mothers to read is this one. She has written a wonderful series on Biblical Motherhood and this post is just one in that series. I love the way she describes motherhood and leaving her legacy. I love the way she describes family, just as it should be, in my humble opinion. Have you ever considered just how you will treat your children's future spouses? Do you pray and prepare for them, even now?

She gave me some things to think about, that's for sure! Why don't you go on over and read for a bit? It will be time well spent. I promise!

sweet note ....

Well, I am supposed to NOT be blogging but I just HAD to share with ya'll this sweet note I got in my mailbox today! (I will try to take a picture of it and post it later). It's the prettiest card with dainty little flowers and this sweet poem from our precious friend & cousin, Melissa!! What a wonderful surprise and encouragement for me! :)

"A person can hear, but a friend listens for the meaning,
A person can look, but a friend sees the heart,
A person can know, but a friend understands your dreams,

Thanks for listening, seeing & understanding!
Thanks for being my friend!"

Well, you're welcome & Thanks so much for being such a wonderful friend, sweetie! LOVE YOU, TOO!!! :)

And, here are the lyrics to the song included in the card (I love music and girl, you know that! You just spoke right to my heart today!)

I Was Made To Praise You by Chris Christensen

"I was made to praise you
I was made to glorify Your name
In every circumstance
To find a chance to thank You
I was made to Love You
I was made to worship at Your feet
And to obey You, Lord
I was made for You"

LOVE those words; so much truth in them. :)

Thanks, Melissa, precious friend, for making my day!!

Holding fast to this truth..

"But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations."(Pslam 33:11)

Romans 5

Romans 5

Peace and Joy

1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a]have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we[c] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 10For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ

12Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— 13for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. 14Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.
15But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

18Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

20The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

*This was my quiet time reading this morning. I read a devotional last night that discussed Romans chapters 5-8. So, that is what I am going to focus on this week. Read along with me if you would like! Have a great week, everyone!

His Yoke is Easy, His Burden is Light

Philippians 4:13 (New International Version)

13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.


This is a verse I have memorized before when I was pregnant with Lily and in the hospital and scared to death that I would die from the complications I was having and I would have to leave Charlie & Claire. I did not know how long I would have to be in the hospital or how long it would take me to get better or if I would. But, I read my bible as much as I could with the IV's in my arm and this is one of the verses I leaned on the most.

Today, I am feeling a lot better about things. Coming through a lot of YUCK! A lot of worry. Things are not necessarily better but I realize just how much I have been giving Satan a stronghold in my life but allowing him in my mind. He has convinced me that I am not capable of handling anything. When in reality, I am capable of handling EVERYTHING that comes my way because I have the Lord who is my true stronghold.

I have always been full of self doubt. I am very hard on myself and I tend to dwell on my mistakes. Lately I have been thinking how I can't possibly handle a third child. I make so many mistakes with the two I have! How on earth is this going to work? And, I beat myself up all the time for the things that I don't do or don't do right with the girls. I think that I am the most terrible mother ever. And the biggie? I don't think that I deserve my babies. I don't believe that I deserve my husband. I am a failure. The list could go on and on forever. I get in this pit, this self incriminating, destructive mindset and I stay there and live in self pity. Because it is comfortable to me. It's easier to believe in others than to believe in myself.

But, today, God has given me this WORD and I must soak this in and Pay Attention to what HE is telling me. I CAN DO THIS!!!!! I am a good mother. I am a good wife. I can be all these things through Christ. And, that my friends, is the biggest relief of the huge burden I have been carrying! So, today, I am letting God carry it for me. For "His yoke is easy, His burden is light."

Hope ya'll have a wonderful day!

Random stuff

Charlie took the girls to visit his parents last night. I stayed home to rest although I actually got more done than I do if the girls are with me. lol. Right now, ALL the laundry is done, the floors are clean and the clutter is picked up and put in its place. It feels GOOD.

I have been so full of anxiety lately and Charlie has constantly told me to "be still" and let God work. Just keep on praying and let his peace sustain me. This has been difficult to do not only because I am nearing the end of my pregnancy (with no new OB, so far) but also because of family situations. But, God has started this work, he knows the reasons for these events and circumstances. I MUST trust.

So, cleaning did a good work in me. I feel less stressed even with maybe 4 hrs. sleep last night snatched here and there! Claire was up about every hour, I don't know why. She has been sleeping in the same room as Sissy and I am finding it a lot different and less peaceful than when they are seperated! Bless you, Mom, for all the sleepless nights that Crystal and I gave you! SO sorry! lol.

Anyway, just feeling better but still struggling to be peaceful about all that is going on right now. Thank you to those who have been praying for me and my family. We really do need and appreciate it.

Charlie gave the lesson at church yesterday and it was over, can you guess? "Be Still and Know that I am God". One of my very favorite passages and I LOVE the way my husband always knows just what to say when I need him to say it. Thank you so much, baby.

I also mentioned a while back that I have some family that graduated this year and things happened and I never got around to congratulating them (on my blog) so here goes:

Congratulations to high school graduates:

*Garett Burns
*Jesse Phipps
*Michael Rogers
*Jake Morgan
*Amber Bunn

If I forgot anyone I am sorry, truly did not mean too!

Well, I have to go get off the computer and do something productive today to stay awake. I think the girls and I may go for a walk in awhile although it is supposed to be in the high 90's with like 97% humidity!!! I will be SO happy when we get our pool and get in it!!! :o)

*Also, please continue to pray for my swelling in my legs and feet. Thank you.

Love and Prayers to all & Have a wonderful week!

Julie

"Before they call, I will answer"

This is a beautiful story was written by a doctor who worked in South Africa .
One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died, leaving us with a tiny, premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive; as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator).

We also had no special feeding facilities.
Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in.
Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates)..

'And it is our last hot water bottle!' she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles.

They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.
'All right,' I said, 'put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts Your job is to keep the baby warm.'

The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough,mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.
During prayer time, one ten -year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. 'Please, God' she prayed, 'Send us a hot water bottle today. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon.'

While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, 'And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?'

As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say 'Amen?' I just did not believe that God could do this.

Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything; the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever, received a parcel from home.

Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator!
Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there on the verandah was a large 22-pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box.

From the top, I lifted out brightly-colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored.. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend.
Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it really be?
I grasped it and pulled it out. Yes, a brand new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried.

I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could.
Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, 'If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!'
Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully-dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted!
Looking up at me, she asked, 'Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?'

'Of course,' I replied!

That parcel had been on the way for five whole months, packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator.

And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it 'that afternoon.'
'Before they call, I will answer.' (Isaiah 65:24)

A pregnancy update & the power of prayer

This is a 4D ultrasound photo of a baby boy at 30 weeks. It's not Drew but I just thought it was neat to look at! I wish that we could do that but probably won't get to with this one. We have a 3D of Lily but not one of Claire(they were not performing 3D's yet). Lily's looks just like her & it would be neat to see how Drew looks but that's okay, we can wait! :o)

So, an update on my pregnancy, I am SO tired! My legs and feet are really swelling up and my hands and face do sometimes. I don't have toxema (that we know of), it's just a lot of fluid! The doctor is a little concerned about all of the fluid, especially in my legs because of family history with phlebitis. So, we are keeping an eye on that.

Other than the swelling & just being tired, I am doing pretty good. :o) Just anxious to see our son! But not too soon! We want him to be strong and healthy.

I can't really tell you how much I have gained because I actually don't know! I kept track of it religiously with the girls but haven't been able to with this one! But, that's okay, I am still well within normal range and I am not too worried about it as I tend to lose it fast when I need to. I will just up the healthy eating & exercise another notch after Andrew arrives. Which actually, I am looking forward to getting more exercise. I am wanting a double stroller so that we can take long walks and I am actually wanting to take up running again after the baby comes so we will see how that goes.

On another less happy note, I want to ask all of you who read this to pray hard for my family right now. There are a lot of circumstances I can't go into but we all need prayer very much at this time. I can give you a few specifics so here goes:

*My mom & dad for strength and wisdom to deal with circumstances that directly involve them but are completely out of their control. (sorry so vague)

* My sister, Tammy, her husband George, and their children: Jesse, Michael, Sarah & Rose. Just that God will intervene and cover them with HIS love and peace. For wisdom and strength.

*For our church family, wisdom, courage & strength.

* My Uncle Edwin who is undergoing chemo right now and is not taking it very well, physically. He is fighting his 3rd round with pancreatic cancer.

*For Charlie, me, my sister, Crystal, her husband Paul and our children, strength and courage and wisdom to say things we need to say in love and not anger.

*For my state of mind as we prepare for the birth of our little Drew. God's peace to be with us.

Thank you SO much and please let me know if I can pray for you in anyway at all. Thank you to all of those who have offered to help in various ways, you are truly wonderful! :o)

Praising God for the glorious people HE has placed in our lives.

*Updated: My OB, Dr. Dwain Doyle has died. Please keep his family in your prayers. Also, please pray that we may find a wonderful doctor to replace the amazing doctor that we had. You will be missed, Dr. Doyle. He was a wonderful man who loved children and life. And for those of you who subscribe to my blog posts, I am so sorry about all of the edits! I have to keep fixing it because I was crying when I typed it.

Love and Prayers,

Julie

How Much God Loves You....

"May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God." Ephesians 3:17-19

Marriage & Prayers

Marriage is hard sometimes yes, but right now, I know that there is NO place I would rather be than with my baby. Charlie is my rock. He is the best thing God has ever granted me. He is my strength. He loves me despite my flaws and sees the best in me. God LOVES marriage. God has ordained our marriage to be sacred and right now I am ever more reminded that I MUST work all the harder to keep my marriage vows sacred and untouched by the enemy.

If you can would you please say a prayer for me tonight? It's not about my marriage but I have some things going on right now that I need strength for. I also ask specific prayers for my sister & my brother in law & their children tonight. Please ask that the Lord would equip me with the strength, knowledge & peace to be the help I need to be. To say the right things. That the Lord would help them find strength and peace in HIM.

Right now, I am off to bed to hold my husband close & thank God for him.

Love and Prayers to all,
Julie

The Blues

This was my daily Insight For Living yesterday and I just had to share it! May it bless you as well!


THE BLUESby Charles R. Swindoll
Read 1 Kings 19:1--9

Elijah was a heroic prophet, without question. He was also a man of great humility, as we have seen. But let's keep in mind that he was just a man---a human being, subject to the human condition, as we all are. He suffered discouragement, despondency, and depression. On one occasion, he couldn't shake it.
It is not surprising that at this point in Elijah's life the great prophet hit bottom. For several years he had stood strong amidst and against almost insurmountable odds and circumstances. But now, after a great victory, he dropped into the throes of discouragement and total despair.
He's a man, he's human, just like us, remember. Since this is true, we shouldn't be shocked to read that.

He was afraid and arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, "It is enough; now, O LORD, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers." (1 Kings 19:3--4)
I'm glad that this chapter has been included in Scripture. I'm glad that when God paints the portraits of His men and women, He paints them warts and all. He doesn't ignore their weaknesses or hide their failures.
Elijah had to get his eyes back on the Lord. That was absolutely essential. He had been used mightily, but it was the Lord who made him mighty. He stood strong against the enemy, but it was the Lord who had given him the strength.
Often we are more enamored with the gifts God gives us than with the Giver Himself. When the Lord brings rest and refreshment, we become more grateful for the rest and refreshment than for the God who allows it. When God gives us a good friend, we become absorbed in that friendship and so preoccupied with the friend that we forget it was our gracious God who gave us the friend. How easy to focus on the wrong things.

Taken from Charles R. Swindoll, Great Days with the Great Lives (Nashville: W Publishing Group, 2005). Copyright © 2005 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.

I Know the Plans I Have For You

Ephesians 3:20 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

I love this verse! It always speaks to me in times of distress or doubt. I have been going through a lot of both lately and as always this verse has brought me back to the feet of my Lord. What a beautiful precious place to be.

This verse has carried me through a lot of hard times in my life and I use it on almost a daily basis. Sometimes it is the prayer I say under my breath through out the day when life seems to overwhelm me. The words of the Spirit just grant me a peace that I really can't explain or comprehend. When we went through so much pain with infertility, this verse is often what Charlie and I read before bed at night. There are others, of course. But, I believe this is the verse that really sustained me through that painful time. And, each time I prepare to have another baby I focus on these words. It helps calm the storm in my heart. Something about these words just erases all fear.

Lately I have been doubting myself, my actions, my purpose that God has called me to. Satan has been very active in trying to control my mind and thoughts. I am by nature, a worrier. Everyone that knows me, knows that! :o) It has been extremely hard to overcome this flaw. I am still fighting that uphill battle but lately I am feeling the power within me is greater than the force that is trying to drag me down.

I have been praying through this all week as we have dealt with various trials. This morning as the girls finally feel better and we feel somewhat normal (what a horrible stomach bug), Charlie and I were drinking coffee and discussing what we need to accomplish before Drew arrives and also just basic plans for today. All of a sudden while talking through things with my husband, I realized just how much control I have been allowing Satan to have over my mind! I rebel at the thought of relinquishing control of even one tiny aspect of my life. That is a very sobering thing to realize about yourself. However, I must face this battle head on. I DO NOT have control of my life, nor should I even try. The battle belongs to the Lord. My job is to praise and follow HIM with every fiber of my being, with everything that is within me! The very idea that I can control my life is an idea that spawns from the enemy. Yes, I can make decisions from my own free will but I cannot control the circumstances that evolve from those decisions! I cannot control the plans that my God has for me and my family. We are only to pray to make the best decisions and to serve our Lord God with all of our ability!

Even now, as I type this, Satan is pressing in and trying to convince me that nothing will ever change, that God does not care about me, that HE is not with me! And, I know, without a doubt, that is the biggest lie ever from the Father of ALL LIES!!! God will pull me through and carry me throughout all of my trials and struggles! I am the one who often pulls away in my doubt.

Thank you for reading my novel today and for praying for my family this past week. It really means so much to me. Thank you for standing in the gap for me when I need someone the most!

I hope this helped someone today and even if it didn't, it really helped me to get it out and Satan has been defeated through yet another struggle!!!

Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Please Pray!!!!!!!

Remember the story of baby Audrey? Tragedy has once again struck this amazing family just 7 short weeks after the loss of their baby Audrey. Please read this & pray to carry some of their unbelievable burden at this time.

Love,
Julie

Please join my family in prayer for Brooklyn...

This is an email I received from my dear friend, Denise, yesterday. Please keep her sweet niece Brooklyn and Brooklyn's son Logan and the rest of the family in your prayers. Pray hard and often. This is truly something that only the Lord can take care of. Thank you.

"please pray for my niece brooklyn, she has cancer. it started out as a small place on her back, they tell us it has now spread up her spinal column, beneath her breasts, and under her ribcage. as of today, she is in the hospital in a semi-coma. she just turned 21 in march, and her little boy logan just turned 1 in march. I would very much appreciate your prayers." Denise

Just some links I found today...

This guy is the kind of preacher that I wish every man had. I think he really gets it. And this guy has a very challenging post that I just had to share.

So, if you get time, read these and tell me what you think.

Love & Prayers,
Julie

Day 8- Husband Encouragement Challenge

REVIVE OUR HEARTS.COM

How are you doing with the "30-Day Husband Encouragement Challenge"? In case you've forgotten, here's the challenge:

* You can't say anything negative about your husband . . . to your husband, or to anyone else.* Say something that you admire or appreciate about your husband . . . to your husband and to someone else.

"But who can find a faithful man?" (Proverbs 20:6b)

Faithfulness is a wonderful but rare quality today, especially in regard to marriage. Do you understand how important this quality is? Your challenge is to continue to root out all negative speaking, and plant seeds of encouragement instead. You may be amazed at what will grow.

Contemporary culture often entices men to be unfaithful to their wedding vows and spiritual commitments. Appreciate your husband's faithfulness--how he is loyal to you. Let him know that you are glad he has "stick-to-it-iveness" in your marriage. Appreciate his faithfulness to God.

If you have an unfaithful husband, this is a difficult area for you. Pray, speak the truth in love, remain faithful yourself, and discover ways to encourage faithfulness in your mate. The Bible says that husbands may "be won by the conduct of their wives" (1 Peter 3:1b). You may also want to seek counsel from a mature, godly individual or couple.

*My husband is faithful to me and always has been. However, he does struggle like most men. I am very blessed to have a husband that overcomes his struggles instead of giving in to his own self. He does this in numerous ways, not just physical. He also supports me and defends me and believes that I am the answer to his prayers. (His words, not mine). I do not take this lightly and I try so very hard every day to be the wife that he deserves. Because of the love that we show each other and the respect that we have for one another, our marriage is truly wonderful. Not that we do not struggle, but we always try with everything within us to put each other first. And, that makes for a wonderful and truly faithful marriage.

Please join us in this "Husband Encouragement Challenge"! You will see great results!

Love,

Julie