It's Not Over Until...

This morning I woke up to a lot of anxiety about pregnancy. It seems that there is always something to worry about! I have had many people get all wide-eyed at me when they find out that I am almost 18 weeks along and not showing much at all... much of it is still bloated belly-ness. So, with that said... this morning I woke up and just felt so flat and panicked a little as a result of that and going from feeling the baby a ton last week to not much at all this week. I know... I know... I have heard it all.. "this is your first" or "you must have had some strong abdominal muscles" or "it is not too uncommon to go to your 20 week check-up and still not be showing much"  or "baby must have shifted a little" so as much as I want encouragement... it still does not take away the thoughts that go through a future mother's mind. You always want to know that your baby is growing as it should and developing as it should. As I was getting ready to go meet with some lovely women who love the Lord, I knew I needed to clear my head a little bit. So I opened to Psalm 145 and this is what I found myself feeding off of...


Psalm 145:13-20
 "Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. [The LORD is faithful in ALL his words and kind in ALL his works] The LORD upholds ALL who are falling and raises up ALL who are bowed down. The eyes of ALL look to you, and you give them their food in DUE SEASON. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in ALL his ways and kind in ALL his works. The LORD is NEAR to ALL who call on him, to all who call on him IN TRUTH. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. The LORD preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy."

The Lord showed up for me this morning!! He is faithful!!

Now, I want to break this down a little bit and share with you what encouraged me the most. First off, I apologize for being so full of worry.. so it appears... and as that is a true struggle. It is not a consuming thought all the time but when it does creep up... it brings me right back to where I need to be, on my knees(or I should say... when I am humbled and let go of the sin of worry and lay it down before the Lord)!! I can choose to focus on the worry/sin or I can choose to focus on the sustainer/God of Grace!

I loved how this scripture spoke to me! It was exactly what I needed to hear from the Lord today. In verse 13 when it says "the LORD is faithful in all his words" it reminded me of God's promises to his children. Everything the LORD says he will do... he does! I can rest in his promises, I can let go of the worry that likes to consume all because of what this verse is saying! He is faithful to what he says, which the whole Bible is the word of God and so.. we can cling to every promise and every command and every lesson taught in the book! Now do I always do this.. no.. but I can strive to remember his faithfulness every day and cling to every word He gives us!


 I listened to a sermon today by Dr. James MacDonald called "Grace When I am Overwhelmed" and he is talking about Jesus and the story of Lazarus in John 11. It was another amazing way God showed up today! One thing he said that really stuck out to me is "It's not over until Jesus says it's over!" How great is that!!!  This pregnancy is not over until Jesus says it's over! This life... is not over until Jesus says it's over! Why? Because of what verse 13 says... "the LORD is faithful in all his words!" He sustains until he says his sustaining this or that is over! In regards to the story in John 11. Mary and Martha are thinking their brother's life is over and are not overly happy with Jesus but she says something else to take note of... "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. BUT EVEN NOW I KNOW that whatever you ask from God, God will give you." In the end, the power rests in the Father's hand. Its not over... until he says its over! Lazarus, I am sorry to say... you may have been in Heaven with the Father... but its not over until Jesus says its over!


In that same verse in Psalm 145, verse 13... it also says "and kind in all his works!" I try to be very careful to not read too deep into something... as far as taking one word and running with it in my own interpretation... but for the sake of what I am struggling with... the wording hit me more when it used the word "kind" instead of "faithful." Now in no way am I saying that God is not faithful in his works... because he SO is but when we are struggling to understand why things happen... it is easier to comprehend the Lord being faithful in his words and kind in his works. The word "kind" really stuck out to me... it seemed that faithful should be there but I find it interesting God says kind instead. When we do not understand why things happen and do not grasp the faithfulness of God at that time.. we still need to remember he is kind in what he is doing! It may not seem faithful... but we better not forget God's kind(even though he is kind AND faithful). When we remember he is kind in what he is doing we can not help but remember his faithfulness. Make sense? In the sermon I heard today MacDonald said "what appears unloving may be God's GREATEST kindness." See how I could be so excited about this! What the Lord was telling me early was so reaffirmed for me in this sermon!


Verse 15. "You(The LORD) give them their food in due season." God is not late or early in keeping his promises! He is right on time! When we are in the right season and food is due.. then it is given... not before... not after!


All these verses contain great wisdom and encouragement... but for time's sake I am going to move down to verse 20. "The LORD preserves all who love him!." Back in John 11, talked about in that sermon, the disciples are trying to remind Jesus that he can not go back to where Lazarus is, in Judea, because the Jews are wanting to stone him. Jesus's response was this, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles because the light is not in him." Simply saying this, that as long as he is in the light, in the LORD's will(which lets face it... Jesus was always in his father's will because he is perfect!!) nothing can stop him. You walk in the darkness... you will stumble... you walk in the light... you will not stumble. 


I am very blessed by a very special friend of mine, the beautiful Cassie Deputie! We have been through a lot together! And I have had the honor of watching the Lord work and refine her so much over the past 5 years or so! She is completely dependent on the Lord! Not that I am proclaiming she is perfect... but pretty dang close! (hehe I love you Man!) But there was one thing that she said to me that really has been encouraging me through this pregnancy and I have been able to use this to encourage others in different situations from mine and yet it still applies! She said "Remember, nothing touches you that had not passed through the Father's hand!" I have really been trying to remind myself of that often as I know I forget who I serve and the power He has! Is he not SO big that NOTHING can touch me that has not gone through him first!!!? Oh Praise God and his Grace! Praise Him and His faithfulness!! What would I be... what would you be... without him!!? May I NEVER know!!!!


Pray for me as I have my next appointment a week from today and will hopefully then receive my slip to FINALLY see my little one in an ultrasound!!! May all go well and may I rest in his peace instead of being anxious for the days to pass! Also, please just pray for our marriage! Just working through some things right now! :-)

At ALL times!

This is a verse that has been continually working on me for many months now!

Psalm 34:1

I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth!

I want this verse to be applied every day of myself and I so often forget it and choose to dwell on other things. The LORD is so worthy of all glory, honor and praise!! I needed this reminder the last few days to get back on track. As I was looking for this verse I also ran across another one that was very similar and something I really need to start living by!

Psalm 19:14

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

As you may of picked up from my last post I have been kind of feisty and weighted down lately. I am now 16 weeks 5 days along in my pregnancy and feeling pretty good physically but emotionally have not been doing as well. I have been very emotional for really no reason and very resentful and angry for really no reason as well. I am praying that this is just a huge hormonal transition period and that there is not more going on. I have really been struggling in my marriage to love my husband and serve him with a joyful heart. I have struggled to really be able to express to him what it is that is going inside of me.. which leaves him feeling frustrated and confused. I am so grateful for his patience with me!!! He has grown so much since we got married just a little over a year ago and I praise God for the work that he has been doing in Andy! So if you could be praying for me as I work through this little bump in the road I would really appreciate it. I am not sure if it is a pregnancy thing or a spiritual thing or both...


As I was just sharing with you about this struggle I am facing... I was reminded of a sermon and book I read by Dr. James MacDonald with Walk in the Word called "Why Trials."

James 1:2-4

Count(press your mind down upon) it all joy, my brothers when you meet(fall into) trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness(endurance, ability to remain under). And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

For me.. what I am going through.. is not really a trial but it is definitely God  is refining me. Praise God for that!! I am not really suffering right now... but sometimes I think our emotions and attitudes can be considered a trial(in a personal sense and not in a external/physical sense). I have been richly blessed and fortunate to say that the trials in my life are tiny in comparison to what some people go through. This is not to say that it has done any more or less work in my heart then what some serious trials do in other people's hearts. God works in many ways and situations!

Anyways, what I am trying to get at is... I really liked something MacDonald brought to light on in this scripture. He talks about steadfastness, which can also be considered endurance, and he brings out the Greek word for endurance to bring a clearer understanding to these verses. The word in the Greek is hupomone and actually comes from two words--the word meaning remain, and the word meaning under. What a beautiful picture that is. The trials we are are facing--whether physical or emotional-- put pressure on us and weigh down on us more and more and more with each passing day. BUT GOD supplies us the strength to withstand the pressure instead of running from that trial(no matter how big or small). He sustains us and enables us to REMAIN UNDER it! I am reminded of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and the fiery furnace and how the Lord sustained them in that furnace and was WITH THEM! 

I know that whatever is going on, I must remain under it and know that the Lord is with me! I need to stop throwing a fit, hands in the air, storming off to the bedroom(for my sake and for my husbands sake). I must remain under and fight with the sword of God whatever is weighing down on me... whether it be simply spiritual, body changes hormonally, whatever it is! I have so much to Praise my Father for!!

Baby Hentges seems to be doing well!! I believe I may have started feeling my little one as early as 2 weeks ago but was not really aware of it at the time. I am not 100% sure on what I am feeling... but if it is my baby... he/she sure likes car rides, his/her daddy (thankfully, we would hope that would be the case no matter what! hehe), and likes food! The first time I really considered whether what I was feeling was the baby or not was two weeks ago(Monday the 9th) when I was driving home from Arizona. I felt a pretty strong tapping going on in my lower abdomen(from my view--Left side). So like I said... Baby likes car rides! It was just a very treasured moment for me because I was driving... Andy was asleep... the sun was setting and it was just very peaceful(this has nothing to do with Andy sleeping) in the way the whole thing played out! Just mommy and baby bonding! I have felt it a few times more... late last week I was not feeling all that great so I did have a lot of gas cramps and could not decipher between the two but since then I think I can definitely tell the difference between the baby and my digestive system! Sometimes I am feeling this down in my lower lower abdomen.. almost feeling as if it is coming from my vaginal area.. obviously not the case but the baby must have been putting some pressure on my cervix or something. I went shoe shopping this weekend(for all these wedding coming up) with my mother and I had to tell baby to be a little more gentle because it was causing this twitching sensations almost. Baby must already be getting on my nerves.. HAHA! (Sorry for the babbling... this is more for me so I have it recorded :-)) Now I am feeling the baby more in the center under my belly button... almost favoring the right side. Which might explain why I have been a little sore in my abdomen over the weekend.. things must be shifting or something!! So overall things are going really well!! Next appointment is June 7th and hopefully we will receive the go ahead for our ultrasound and will know within the following weeks of my next appointment whether Baby Hentges is a boy or girl!!!!

I really do not enjoy showing baby bump photos... just cause I don't know whether to smile or not include my face or what... but I have many friends who are going away for the summer and family living across the U.S. and want to keep them updated :-) Plus, it has been very helpful for me to see other people's picture and what they looked like when they were at each point in their pregnancy so now I hope it is helpful to others. So I figured.. why not!

16 weeks 1 day

One last, quick story! I had a very special other moment with Baby Hentges this weekend but this time it involved Andy(making it more special)! We were at my parents house watching a movie and Andy came into the house and plopped down on the couch next to me. He laid down with is head on my side and his arm across my belly. I noticed something as we sat there... He had his hand pressed against one side of my belly! It just totally warmed my heart!! It was the first time I had really seen Andy initiate like that! It was just a precious moment for our little family! I loved having him feel my belly in anticipation of bonding with his precious baby too!! He is going to make a fantastic Dad!! I can not wait for him to be able to touch my belly and really get to feel the baby move... and I look forward to seeing to look on his face when he sees that baby at our ultrasound... and I smile at the thought of seeing him hold our precious little one for the first time!! He is going to be amazing!! He is amazing!! :-) Lord, THANK YOU for providing me with such an amazing husband!! Thank you for your saving grace that I may experience the joy of a child in the way that you intended!! ... in marriage... and with an amazing man to love his children and lead them!! May you be glorified above ALL else!!! "Not to us but to your name be the glory!"

What A Wonderful World? Really?

Bear with me as I share my heart in a matter that may not be the most cheery go lucky... but I pray that it brings light into your life today... in a world of complete darkness. So I will start us off with TRUTH.

2 Samuel 22:28-30

"You save a humble people, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down. FOR YOU are my LAMP, O LORD, and my God LIGHTENS my darkness. For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall."

Psalm 27:1

"The LORD is my LIGHT and my SALVATION; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the STRONGHOLD of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

Psalm 56:13

"For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the LIGHT of life."

Micah 7:8

"Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness,the LORD will be a light to me."

Ephesians 5:6-9

"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is PLEASING to the Lord."

1 John 1:5-7

"This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.  If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin."

Sorry to just throw verses at you... but those are only a FEW examples of what the bible has to say about light. I have been finding myself asking a lot of what kind of daughter of the King am I being? Am I being a daughter of light as I should be..? I mean not that any of us is perfect and we can never master it. But I have been greatly distressed at some of the nastiness I have residing inside my own heart. And as I look at myself... and look at the world.. am I much different? 

I was at a open house for one of Andy's sisters this past Friday and was talking with someone and in passing someone said something to the person I was talking to about their friends saying stuff about Judgement Day that was "supposed" to happen on Saturday. The person said to me... "I hope the end of the world happens fast and is painless." And all I could say is "No one knows the time that it will happen.. but all I can say is there will be chaos." And as I look back on that conversation I know I FAILED! That is ALL I could say about Judgement Day... Really? I would hope I would have much more to say about it than just their will be chaos! :-(  I think this is difficult for everyone... there is always this "fear" with sharing.. but why should there be... we have a hope that is a "SURE and STEADFAST anchor of the soul" and we should be able to speak with utter boldness!

I have something some other thought that have come to mind from this whole "Judgement Day" hype. I am sure you will recognize the following song.

"What A Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong

I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom, for me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

I see skies of blue, and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, dark sacred night
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces, of people going by
I see friends shaking hands, sayin', "How do you do?"
They're really sayin', "I love you"

I hear babies cryin', I watch them grow
They'll learn much more, than I'll ever know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

Yes, I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Oh yeah

   This song seems pretty harmless, doesn't it? Peaceful almost? But years ago I remember sitting in choir in high school and my teacher talking to us about this song. She was trying to get us to sing this much more passionately than we were. I remember her saying to us... "We live is this WONDERFUL world, now lets take that and express it in the way we sing it!" She said something of that sort... but I remember just really struggling  and getting worked up over her statement. Many of my friends did not see where I was coming from at all and did not understand why I was so worked up over it. These were some of the thoughts going through my mind...  "I live in a 'wonderful' world... really... pretty sure there is a whole lot of repulsive, sickening things going on in this 'wonderful' world. How can a world where sin is reigning in the hearts of so many... be 'wonderful.'"

   Now praise God that we who have surrendered our life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ can see the beauty of his creation and say wow!! God is so good!! For me to say that Baby Hentges is not precious to me and is not a wonderful blessing would be a lie!! I praise God for all the wonderful things he has blessed me with!! I must not forget though, there are many things in this world that are not so wonderful. All you have to do is turn on the news and its in your face. You can rarely sit down and watch a movie without the ugliness of this world in your face! Overall... this world and what is in it... is not so wonderful!

  An example of how not so wonderful this world is... is the people that are looked up to and idolized! I had a friend on facebook comment on Lady Gaga's performance on Saturday Night Live... people think her act is funny... some find it repulsive as I do... but still think its funny and kind of giggle about it. It sickens me! I do not know if you know much about this lady but she is one lost and messed up soul. While Andy and I were staying in a hotel in AZ for the night a couple weeks ago... we turned on the tv to relax and one of her concerts were on. I had only heard of her but never seen what she looks like. Well, She was pretty much wearing a plastic bag (literally) with some tape over a small portion of her breast and underwear that did nothing for her... and she is speaking "hope" and "passion" into her fans. Telling them that she believes in them and that if she can be Lady Gaga they can be anything they set their minds to. Pretty great huh? She had to make a comment about an inflatable unicorn saying "Do you know whats better than a purple unicorn... a gay purple unicorn." That was enough for us. We did not have to hear or see anything more of her to know she is sick and lost. Then, to hear people I know say they think she is great and love that she stands for equality is disturbing to me... (sorry for the trail off there but for me this was a great reminder how lost this world is... people have nothing to hope in.. so they hope in someone like Lady Gaga instead of Jesus Christ... pretty sad!) 

As I continue in my pregnancy, I have many many times wondered how I could bring a child into this dark world... BUT GOD! We serve a God who is sovereign and all-powerful! There is nothing in this world that he has no control over!! Yes there is much going on in this world that is not honorable to him.. but when man chooses to sin... they choose to suffer. Maybe not now... in this world... but one day when they stand before him and are told "Away from me! I never knew you!" then they will suffer... I have been really thinking a lot about the responsibilities Andy and I have coming our way with this little life! I pray that the Lord will be changing me... molding me... shaping me even now into the mother he desires me to be to this little one! May I speak truth into this little one's life and pray for this little one as the Lord commands us in his word!

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

May I not take this command lightly... but may I also remember that the Lord is in complete control over the future of my baby! I must be obedient.. but it is the Lord who has to call my child out of darkness into light! I pray that Baby Hentges WILL be brought out of darkness into the light of God's truth.. his salvation for his children!

I apologize for the intensity and not so uplifting-ness  of my post... as it is not my intention to have your eyes on the darkness of this world... but my intention is that it may turn your eyes even more to Jesus... the "author and perfecter of our faith!" In a world of utter darkness we can cling to the hope that the King has for us! That one day he IS coming for us!! We will be permanently brought out of this world of darkness and be brought into the glorifying, marvelous light of his throne!! May we examine our eyes and see what darkness may be lingering... what things we are holding onto that need to be put before the cross... surrendered... confessed... whatever it may be.. And may we ultimately rest in the grace of our God and the hope we have! And SHARE IT!

  

Pregnancy...Gift of Grace

Being pregnant has been such a walk by faith for me... I have no control over all the things that are going on in my body... I have no control over the emotions... the not feeling so great... the collapsing at night in exhaustion... Those things are one thing to have no control over, but to not have control over the development of the precious little one who is inside me is another. Is he/she growing? Is their heart still beating? Is he/she kicking even though I can't feel it? Is this all really happening to begin with? All these questions I have found myself asking time and time again. In order for me to function properly God has really been working on my heart to trust him... to really remember who is he is as the Lord my Sustainer.. and the sustainer of my precious baby.


The Lord Upholds My Life!


Psalm 54:4
BEHOLD, God is my helper; the LORD is the UPHOLDER of my life!


Psalm 62:5-9
For God ALONE, O my soul, WAIT in SILENCE, for my HOPE is FROM him. He ONLY is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, MY REFUGE IS GOD. Trust in him AT ALL TIMES, O people; pour out your heart before him; GOD IS A REFUGE FOR US!


Psalm 63:8 
My soul CLINGS to you; your right hand UPHOLDS me!


Now I will be the first to admit to you.. that I have absolutely failed.. at clinging to the word of God like I should. It not only hurts my Father in heaven... but it hurts me SO MUCH MORE.. because I am refusing the beauty and the joy of trusting in the Lord as I should be! But.. I am a work in progress and the Lord IS AT WORK! 


So that brings me to the next thing that I have really been thinking about throughout my pregnancy thus far.. God's Grace! Throughout all my life... the accomplishments I have made were not of me.. but of the Lord. BUT with those accomplishments, it was easy for me to believe that it was because of something I did. I rode my bike without training wheels because of MY diligence.. I got on the 4.0 honor roll because of how hard I WORKED... I got that solo in choir because of the training I PUT IN to get my voice to hit those notes... I got a superior in my Vocal Assessment because of how many times I practiced that song... I graduated from high school because of my devout devotion to my studies... I made it into Northwestern College because of what a great Christan I am and how good I did on my ACT... Even with meeting Andy.. I could get caught up in the thought that I won Andy's heart because I loved the Lord... I got a supervisor position at Lifetime Fitness Child Center because of how good I am with kids and because of what a great employee I am... A lot of "I's" There huh? We do this without even consciously thinking about it.. and it is SO sinful.. it is PRIDE.


Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace


Isaiah 13:11
I will punish the world for its evil,and the wicked for their iniquity;I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless.


God hates pride.. he hates us finding identity in the accomplishments we may have. Anyways,  It has been kind of baffling me... because throughout the past few weeks I have been hearing some disturbing news. I know of 3 ladies... well 4 ladies who were/are expecting a child within DAYS of my due date. Most of them the day before or the day after... and only 1 of those ladies is still pregnant... You can imagine how I may of felt as this news poured in on me day after day over the past week... I was so very shocked. Not that this is always the case and not that this has anything to really do with it.. but it surprised me as I thought about it and realized that these 3 ladies that miscarried... none of them were Christians... NOT THAT THIS IS ALWAYS THE CASE. But it really got me thinking.. It was like God was saying..." this is ALL BY MY GRACE! You do not deserve this baby... there is NOTHING.. absolutely NOTHING that you have done to deserve this baby. Every beat of this baby's heart is  a result of ME, YOUR LORD, giving it to this little one. Katie... I have EVERY right to take this baby from you... if you were to miscarry... it would be well deserved. But I am a Father who desires to give GOOD gifts to his children... and this baby is such a wonderful thing! But start now.. and remember from here on out.. that this baby I am entrusting to you. Be a good steward of this little one because this little one is MINE... NOT YOURS." 


 I have NEVER been in a stage in my life where it was so clear that where I am and what I am going through is ALL by God's Grace and out of nothing I have done. This has really been teaching me so much more about what God's grace looks like. I DESERVE to be where those other ladies are... without this baby... BUT GOD has something in store for me I guess.. because I will be 14 weeks tomorrow and baby is still safe and sound...!


 I had my 2nd prenatal appointment yesterday. Baby Hentges's heart rate was 154. It was super funny because when the midwife was looking for the heartbeat... you would hear this sound... kind of like the sound a stick makes when you whip it through the air.. and she smiled at me and said to me.. that is your baby kicking.. and I could not stop laughing! I thought that was hilarious!!! It was so cool to hear the baby MOVING! So this thing inside me... even though I can not feel it is kicking and waving it's arms and who knows what! Crazy... It was also good to hear from the midwife that the chances of miscarrying now are very low. Things can ALWAYS happen.. but to hear it from someone else instead of reading it somewhere online was very reassuring. 


People have started to ask whether I am showing or not.. Well... I will let you decide for yourself :-) 

Prayer Requests:
Continue to pray for Andy as when the baby comes.. things will really change! I have a feeling this will be harder on him then me.. not that he will not love being a father and love this baby... but for a father it is such a different transition from that of a mother and I know I can do very little to help him in that transition except PRAY... So just that the Lord would be preparing his heart for that now! Also, just as him as a provider for this family. He may have some tough decisions to make in the next few weeks if the Lord should open doors.. and if he does not thats fine too. But he could use some wisdom from the Lord as to where the Lord is directing him right now. 


Pray for me as I continue to work hopefully through the summer. Pray that the Lord would reveal to me when he wants me to walk away from this job. Also, just that I would step up as a wife and be more diligent about taking care of the house and cooking meals as hopefully in the weeks to come I will start to feel better and have more energy.  Pray for us spiritually just that the Lord would be preparing our hearts and instilling in us things He wants us to be diligent with our children on. I heard a wonderful sermon on "loving the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might." Just how it is not to be separated from being a husband or wife and from being a mother or a father. Ministry is not to be separate from your children or your marriage... it all needs to be one unit. Really made me realize that I need prayer on that.. as transition can just stir things up and I really do not want to lose focus on what my life is to be about.. Jesus Christ... obeying/serving/loving him. 


Also, Andy and I are flying to Arizona on Friday to spend time with my Grandparents! Andy has YET to meet ANYONE on the Scholta side so this will be very exciting. And then we are driving a vehicle back for my dad and will be back hopefully Tuesday morning. So if you could be praying that it would be a wonderful time together as husband and wife as we will not get very many chances to do this once the baby comes and overall for safe travels!


Have a wonderful rest of the week and weekend!!! May the Lord bless you this week and reveal himself more to you as you grow in a passion and love for WHO HE IS!