Please Pray for My Sister

My Walk Monday Meme

I would appreciate your prayers for my younger sister. She is in the hospital fighting for the life of her 22-week old unborn baby - Sadie Grace. She is loosing amniotic fluid and at risk for infection. It is possible that the baby could be born any day, but the baby is not completely developed and will probably not make it if she is born this early.

Please pray that:

• this baby will make it to full term without further complications.
• God will give my sister and her husband His peace.
• God will comfort my two young nephews. They lost their father to suicide last October and are afraid that their unborn baby sister will die.

Thank you for supporting me and my sister's family during this scary, uncertain time.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Update:

My sister has been released from the hospital and has been commanded to lay flat in bed for the next 4 months. While she was in the hospital, the Dr. told her that she had an option to abort the baby, because if it came that early there were be physical problems with the little one. That gave my sister the opportunity to state her pro-life view and her trust in God.It's so heartbreaking that women are given this option and out of fear chose abortion because the Dr. suggested it.

This week’s Bonus Question: What is the very first scripture you ever memorized? Or the one you first - remember - memorizing? And when was it?
Psalm 118:24 This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (As a young girl, I sang this verse as a song. It was one of my favorites.)

Join Carolyn for the My Walk Monday Meme. Write a post about your walk with the Savior - what you learned in your devotions, what you are struggling with, a new worship song you learned, a prayer request, a new Bible study you started, a praise report … anything that is helping you grow in your relationship with the Lord.

I'm Thankful for My Mother

Thankful Thursday Meme

Today is my Mother's Birthday. I am so thankful for my mother. The older I get, the more I realize how wonderful she is. She was a good example to me, by the way she lived her life.

My mother was very involved in my childhood. I remember her being active at my grade school: volunteering as a room mother helper and being the PTA President. My mom was my Blue Bird, 4-H, and Stamp Club leader. She kept us busy during the summer with fun outings and at Christmas with family traditions. One summer, she took me on a vacation to the beach - just the two of us. My mom went back to work as a full-time teacher just so my sister and I could go to a private Christian high school for free.

As a child, I saw my mom serving God - as a Christian writer, leading classes and volunteering at church, and being a Christian speaker. She had our family visit and take gifts to elderly ladies in a nursing home. I saw when she gave canned food to the Boy Scout food drive and made dinners for those who were ill. I listened when she told stories about being a student missionary in Mexico, and when she sang worship songs around the house. I noticed when she worked Christian words and topics into a conversation with non-Christians. I learned about perseverance when she endured through the difficult times.

My Mom used to sing a special song about the precious gifts of a mother. I think that this song should be sung about her. I couldn't find the lyrics anywhere, so I'll try to do my best to remember.

My Mother is a Precious Jewel
author unknown

My Mother is a precious jewel
she's priceless, too, this one.
I love her and I'm grateful
for all the things she's done.
Forgiving, understanding,
considerate, and true.
She taught me by example,
the things I ought to do.
In closely watching Mother,
I've discovered how to live.
True happiness is loving
and learning how to give.

Mother's Day Tradition

Our church has started their Mother's Day tradition. This time, every year, there is a baby bassinet set up outside of the church nursery. It gets filled with baby items - clothing, diapers, toiletries, even Bibles. Around Mother's Day the items are donated to the Pregnancy Care Center and given to the new expecting mothers.

I love this tradition and it's a great one to get the kids involved in. If your church doesn't do this, you can still participate and drop your items off at the Pregnancy Care Center.

Last night, I discovered that Wal-Mart has the rest of it's winter clothing on clearance. We found baby sweatshirts for $1 each. You might want to check your local Wal-Mart and see if they have any left. They are perfect to add to the baby bassinet.

Seeing God's Influence on my Family

God Stop Friday Meme

This week, God has shown Himself to me in these ways:

• God brought my husband home, safe and sound, from his business trip. After 2 1/2 months, I see a personal growth in him. I can tell that God encouraged him and helped him to grow, while he was away.
  

• A few days ago, I overheard my little girls singing praise songs to the Lord. This shows me that they love God and enjoy singing to Him.
  

• After being gone from church for 2 1/2 months, our church was very welcoming on Sunday. One family even invited us over for lunch and games. It was a great time of fellowship and getting to know their family better. I feel like God made us feel special and welcome through fellow Christians.
  

• I feel like God wants me to enjoy His creation. We are finally getting Spring weather here. He has sent back some of the song birds, there is a small patch of grass where the snow has already melted, and the sun is warming up the air.
  

• Today, as my son and I watched a TV show about the moon, we learned many neat things about this part of God's creation. It's amazing how God designed the moon and gravity to effect the ocean tides. Although the show was promoting the Big Band theory, we clearly saw God's handiwork.
  

Growing Closer to God

Tuesdays in Other Words Meme

One of the most wonderful things about knowing God is that there's always so much more to know, so much more to discover.Just when we least expect it, He intrudes into our neat and tidy notions about who He is and how He works.

~ by Joni Eareckson Tada ~

My husband is back from his business trip. His 3 week trip turned into a 2 1/2 months. Though there are negatives, I want to write about something positive that came out of this long separation.

God used these past months to show more of Himself to us. I didn't realize this for awhile though. When we first knew that my husband would be gone for a lot longer than we had anticipated, my initial thoughts were - "This can't be part of God's will for us. God would never want a man to be away from his family for so long. It will hurt the children. Since he has the van, we won't be able to go to church for a few months. God wouldn't want us to not go to church, especially since we volunteer."

I had it figured out - logically. But, God doesn't execute His will with human logic. He knew that my husband and I needed time apart from each other - time to grow spiritually. Without my husband around, I spent more time learning about the Lord, worshiping Him, praying, and reading the Bible. I thought about the things that I want to do for God, and how I want to use my time to make an eternal difference.

When my husband came back, I quickly realized that he had gone through a time of growth, too. God taught and encouraged him. He came back with more passion and ideas for how he wants to serve the Lord. I can tell by the way that he is talking that God made an impact on his way of thinking.

God shook up our lives a bit. It was an inconvenient and lonely time for us. But it was also a time when God showed us more of who He is. There is so much more to learn about Him and we need to spend the rest of our lives growing closer to Him. God has a plan for us and I believe that He is encouraging us to trust Him with the timing and the details. He wants us to concentrate on growing stronger spiritually and surrendering ourselves to His will.

Read more posts about this quote at Susan's blog - Forever His

A 2-year-old Sings the Lord's Prayer

Then Sings My Soul Saturday Meme

Lately, I have been feeling more convicted about doing better at raising my children as Christians. They go to church and youth group, but I feel like I should be doing more at home. They are growing up so fast and I want them well prepared for when they go out on their own.

For years, my son has enjoyed listening to Adventures in Odyssey on the radio. He has learned so many Biblical truths and character lessons through this show. My daughters haven't had the same enthusiasm about listening to it. They want to run around outside a 4:00. So this week, we started listening together on the Internet, right before bedtime. It has worked out well, so far. These episodes are quite entertaining for adults, too.

I'm also trying to add more impromptu family praying. Yesterday, the neighbor boy (from a non-Christian home) borrowed our Thou Shalt Laugh DVD. It's a Christian comedian DVD. He wanted to watch it with his Dad. Right after he left our house, I got the kids together and I prayed that the DVD would be a witness for this family.

I'd like to continue trying more ideas. I want Jesus and Christianity to be part of our family life throughout the day. Does anyone have any ideas for me? Please share.

Hope and Perseverance

Tuesdays in Other Words Meme

Much of our difficulty as seeking Christians stems from our unwillingness to take God as He is and adjust our lives accordingly. We insist upon trying to modify Him and bring Him nearer to our own image.

~ A. W. Tozer ~

I am a "seeking Christian" woman desiring to grow closer to the Lord. However, I struggle with "taking God as He is". Though I tell Him daily that I want to do His will, I still resist totally surrendering my will and trusting Him wholeheartedly.

The reason that I want to hold on to some of that control is because my faith has not been perfected yet. I'm still working on having the kind of faith that is explained in Hebrews 11:1 - Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.

I have my days (like today) where I wonder if things will really get better. I have ideas about how God may use me in the future. But, will my life improve to the point where these things can become a possibility?

The enemy would want me to believe:

• Too much time has gone by, things aren't going to get any better.
• God was going to use me, but I blew it and missed my opportunity.
• By the time I am able to serve God in that way, it will be too hard physically and emotionally for me to do it. Just let another Christian do it.
• I've already tried hard enough and I am exhausted emotionally. Just let it go and do something easier.

But the Bible tells me:

• Our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 1 Corinthians 4:17
• God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him. They are the ones God has chosen for His purpose. Romans 8:28
  
• I will bless you with a future filled with hope--a future of success, not of suffering. Jeremiah 29:11
  

I need to keep God and His Word as my priority. I need to perfect my faith and continue hoping even though I don't see anything happening for years and years. The enemy would want me to give up. The Lord wants me to persevere - trusting in His ways and His timing.

Read more posts about this quote at Deborah's blog - Chocolate and Coffee

Bring Me to Life

Then Sings My Soul Saturday Meme

YouTube Video: Bring Me to Life

Written by Bebo Norman and Jason Ingram

I am a barren land
And it’s all I can do to stand
I am thirsty, I am thirsty

Father, reach out Your hand
I have given all that I can
Still I’m sinking, I’m still sinking

I want to run into the deep
And let the deep call out to me
I want to lose myself in Your love

So let it rain down over me
As I fall down to my knees
Let the ocean rise to meet me
I need You to bring me to life

Well of eternal things
Endless is all the life You bring
Be the water that I long for

And show me Your Kingdom Come
Father and let Your will be done
Here in me as it is in Heaven

Dear Lord,

I need you to bring me to life. I want to get fired up - to become passionate about serving You and to follow Your will for me. You are the One I need. I should deeply desire Your love, Your comfort, Your strength. I need to go to You for everything.


© 2006 Appstreet Music (ASCAP) / New Spring (ASCAP). All rights for the world on behalf of Appstreet Music (ASCAP) administered by New Spring (ASCAP). / Peertunes, Ltd./GrangeHill Music/J Ingram (SESAC)

Tagged: My List of 4's

Shontee over at A Mommy's Life tagged me with this meme:

4 Jobs I've Had:

• Fabricland Sales Clerk
• Hickory Farms Cheese and Beef stick Sample Lady
• Christian Book Press Warehouse Worker
• Waitress at the Old Country Buffet

4 Places I've Been:

• Maui & Oahu, Hawaii
• Budapest, Hungary
• Krakow, Poland
• Prague, Czechoslovakia
  

4 Favorite Foods:

• Chocolate Ice cream with chocolate stuff in it
  
• Burritos or Nachos with lots of cheese
• French Fries
• Fried Chicken and Mashed Potatoes (no, I'm not a Southern gal)
  

4 CD's Recently Listened To:

• He Reigns - The Worship Collection by Newsboys
  
• All of the Above by Hillsong United (my son's)
• The Alter and the Door by Casting Crowns (my son's)
  
• Hannah Montana/Meet Miley Cyrus (my 13-year-old daughter is always playing it)
  

4 Things You Can Do to Make My Day:

• Clean My House
• Melt This Snow
  
• Give Me Chocolate (not really, I'm trying to lose weight)
  
• Give Me Flowers

4 Shows on my TiVo/DVR:

• What's a TiVo/DVR? My TV hasn't worked since Christmas, so I don't think that I can answer this one.

Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday Meme

I am thankful for Jen at One Mom's World for starting Operation Spring Weight Off for Moms. This is probably the motivation that I need. If you want to, you can still join in.

I am thankful for the nice phone conversation that I had with my sister. I'm thankful that she is doing well, since she is 4 months pregnant. She has had complications with her other pregnancies, so I'm thankful that God is watching over her and her baby. If you have a sister - why not give her a call.

I am thankful for all you wonderful blogging women that leave such nice, encouraging comments. You women are really neat and I love reading your posts and following along as you grow closer to Jesus.

I am thankful for my daughter Boo Boo who turned 8 this week.

I am thankful for my daughter Nettie who turned 11 this week.

Wordless Wednesday: Tissue

Wordless Wednesday Meme

Unborn Babies

An unborn baby's heart begins to beat at 10 days. At 40 days she has measurable brain waves. An unborn baby shouldn't be thrown away like a piece of tissue.

• Unplanned Pregnancy Website
  
• Local Pregnancy Care Centers (they offer free services, counseling, pregnancy tests, and Ultrasounds
• Baby Center Site - The Everything Site about Pregnancy and Babies