Waiting in Hope

Whate'er my God ordains is right.

2012-01-13T13:37:00.001-05:00

Reminded of this hymn and really thankful for the truth in it! Hope this encourages your heart in knowing that God is good and faithful through trials. Even if I am sad-girl and totally have cried the 'ugly cry' the past couple of days, the Lord is still good to me by helping me to run to Jesus. I want to be holy, so why am I surprised by trials? "It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutues. The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces." (Ps.119:71-72). Please Father, teach me that you are far better then anything this world has to offer! Help me to treasure Jesus and make Him known through my little life. For your great glory, Amen!

Whate'er my God ordains is right

Whate’er my God ordains is right,
Holy His will abideth.
I will be still whate’er He does,
And follow where He guideth.
He is my God,
Though dark my road.
He holds me that I shall not fall
Wherefore to Him I leave it all

Whate’er my God ordains is right,
He never will deceive me
He leads me by the proper path,
I know He will not leave me
I take, content,
What He hath sent
His hand can turn my griefs away
And patiently I wait His day

Whate’er my God ordains is right,
Though now this cup in drinking
May bitter seem to my faint heart,
I take it all unshrinking
My God is true,
Each morn anew
Sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart
And pain and sorrow shall depart

Whate’er my God ordains is right,
Here shall my stand be taken
Though sorrow, need, or death be mine,
Yet I am not forsaken
My Father’s care
Is round me there
He holds me that I shall not fall
And so to Him I leave it all

Be still my soul

2011-12-20T10:40:00.001-05:00

I am horrible at waiting and have been in every season of my life. The truth is that I often try to run away from waiting by escaping mentally somewhere else. This is sin because I am not trusting in the Lord's kind hand in my life and wanting to be else where then where He has placed me. Yet, the Lord calls His children to wait upon Him and that actually is part of His good for us to wait.

God is the only One worth waiting on because He alone holds all Power to bring about change. He is my Father and controls all things. If I know these truths, why do I have such difficulty waiting on the Lord? My mind is reminded with wonderful verses that tell the believer to wait on the Lord (Psalm 27:13-14, Isaiah 64:4). I know that it's for my good and I am always encouraged when I remember Lazarus story in John 11 in how Jesus waited an extra 2 days before He went to Lazarus because He loved them. Yet, I still question the Lord in unbelief and let's be honest, even despair when the Lord ask me to wait. I long to have this heart of this hymn writer below. This hymn always reminds me to be silent and still before the Lord. My Father knows all things and it's up to Him to order and provide all of His providence's in my life. I want to bless the Lord no matter my circumstances. I long to challenge my self or any others out there who are in the season of 'waiting' before the Lord. Don't waste this season in anger, self-pity (which is pride), despair or even trying to escape because all of that is sin and breaks our fellowship with the Lord.

Repent again of unbelief and Trust and Behold Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 3:18). Remember the Gospel of Christ! Jesus is my righteousness and paid for all my sin on the cross! Consider Jesus in Isaiah 53. He is the perfect example of humility and submission to the Father. And actually His perfect works count for me through faith! What grace! Oh how I need to remember this constantly!

It's comforting to know that even back in 1752, Katharena (the writer) was learning the lessons of waiting on the Lord. May the Lord grant grace upon grace to His children who are waiting in faith and grant true worshipful prayer to God through Christ our King in every season of waiting. This season is meant for my good. To make me more like Jesus (Romans 8:28). May we count it all joy when we meet various trials...knowing that it the testing of our faith that produces steadfastness in Christ, that we maybe perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4). All for the praise of His glorious name!

"Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.
Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessèd we shall meet at last.

Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, be leaving, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine."

-Katharina Von Schlege

1752

nap time thankfulness

2011-11-07T13:54:00.001-05:00

It's nap time for Molly and the little boy I babysit, so thought I could make a little post! It is only 1:38pm and I have so much to be thankful for:

Early morning run with a friend
Encouraging time in the Word and in prayer for family & friend's needs
Crock-pot meal cooking for dinner
Little boy to babysit who really loves to smile and laugh and play with my little girl
Story time at the Library with the kids, then lunch at a dear friends home
Got to chat with my neighbor and was invited to visit with her and her new baby after naptime!
Nap time-which leads me to where I am right now! Peace and Quite and a chance to do laundry and clean up our home and I might have time to start my sewing projects...

There is so much to be thankful for...must call my mind to remember the Lord's faithfulness. The Lord has been good to me, better then what I deserve!

Lamentations 3:21-27

²¹But this I call to mind,
andtherefore I have hope:

²²The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;
²³they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
²⁴ "The LORD is my portion," says my soul,
"therefore I will hope in him."

²⁵The LORD is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul who seeks him.
²⁶ It is good that one should wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.
²⁷It is good for a man that he bear
the yoke in his youth.

time for change and updates...

2011-11-04T10:11:00.002-04:00

Here I am. Trying once again to do the blog thing. I am excited to share all the Lord has been doing and just simply about His faithfulness. I hope this blog will enable me to recall of the Lord's graces and kindness to me each day. As I am learning to be a homemaker, a wife to my kind husband and a mother to my precious 19 month year old girl! Lots of things I am learning in the place the Lord has called me. How I long to grow faster, but trusting that He is growing me in His perfect timing and way.

Excited to announce that we are in the foster to adopt program! All the paper work is completed on our side, now we are just waiting to hear from the other side that we are officially approved! The Lord has give us favor with our case worker and said she will approve us and in about 4 months we can receive a foster baby into our home! As of yesterday, we are praying for twins or a sibling group to invite into our home!! I know it sounds crazy, but really would love this and be excited to see the Lord provide in His perfect way to grow our family! Just thinking through how we have had 2 miscarriages in the past 9 months and perhaps I will never be able to get pregnant again (not that I know the mind of God about this matter, but learning to trust Him in how He wants to grow our family). If we were to foster to adopt a sibling group or twins it would be a forever memory of the 2 little babies that we lost and are now with the Lord. Not that I want to replace one of those babies, but it would be a constant reminder that the Lord knows exactly who He wants to place in our family. It would only remind me of His compassionate love towards me, to my unborn babies, and to the potential adoptive foster babies. May He do this for His glory! May His kingdom advance through our little family! All to Jesus I owe! All to Jesus I trust!

SBTS Graduation = Praise the LORD!

2011-05-22T23:35:00.001-04:00

Graduation

May 20th, 2011

I have so many pictures that were taken that day for me, but my computer is not letting me download them quickly, it maybe b/c we have slow internet? anyways, can't get another picture up tonight and must go to bed! it was a very special day and so thankful for the Lord's grace to carry me to this point! He is gracious and I have my Masters! :) Praise God from Whom ALL blessings flow!

Hope has come!

2011-04-21T09:36:00.000-04:00

Had to share this as I'm listening to one of my favorite Christmas Albums by Sovereign Grace Music. I know it's April, but we listen to Christmas music-year round! All these songs point to Christ and his finished work on the Cross & Resurrection. Very encouraging with Good Friday coming tomorrow and Easter Sunday! Also, one of the songs is describing how Hope has come! And this is the reason why we gave Hope as Molly's middle name! It serves to remind us to pray and continue praying that she would run to Christ for her only hope and salvation!
Here's the lryics of that song....really consider the words because truly is the greatest thing that has ever come in history! Christ has come....and our only hope! May whoever reads this know the true meaning behind this Easter Season...Christ has come! He is Risen, indeed! Let us praise His Name!

Hope Has Come

by Sovererign Grace Music

"Let us join with the angel voices
Let us join their happy song
All of heaven and earth rejoices
For the Lamb of God has come
He has come to rescue sinners
Come to meet our desperate need
He was born to bring forgiveness
Born for Calvary

Alleluia, Hope has come
Alleluia, Christ has come
We once were slaves in misery
Till You appeared and set us free
Alleluia, Hope has come

Let us lay our gifts before Him
Let us magnify His Name
With our thankful hearts adore Him
For the Lord has come to save
He has come to break sin’s power
He has come to set us free
Hope was born that glorious hour
Christ the mighty King "

Once again, it's been a long time!

2011-03-07T10:40:00.002-05:00

Okay, so I'm not so good at keeping up with this blog!

But here's to another attempt to start blogging again! :)

An update on the Gronotte Family:

Our little Molly is going to turn 1 at the end of the month (March 30th)! How is this possible? I can't believe that I have had her in my arms for a year! What a gracious God! She is just a delight and a ball of energy! She is crawling so well and fast! She recently won us 472 Huggie diapers because she won a little babies crawling race at Babies-r-us! It was so funny, never thought she would win! But a surprise blessing of tons of diapers ($150 value!) She is starting to pull up on everything! And is gaining strength in her legs each day! I can't believe that she will be walking in the coming months...so hard to believe that she growing this fast! Lord willing, I will have weaned her by her birthday! 12 months of nursing has served her well and she is transitioning great to people food! LOVES to eat! Her favorite is baby yogurt and fruit! She has my sweet tooth! We are in the works planning her 1st birthday party! :) Spring flowers are going to be the theme, perfect for a Spring baby!
Mark's job is going well. We are getting use to the traveling (not my favorite, but thankful he has a good job!) The Lord is blessing his work and he has continued to gain favor with his boss! And recently was able to share the Gospel of Christ to him! The Lord gave him boldness to share with him his hope in Christ! His boss listen and hopefully there will only be more conversations to come. Right now we are praying for the Lord to direct Mark's work for the future...desiring to stay in Louisville as long as we can! We just love our church family and see the bennifit of staying and growing/serving under the leadership of our church.
For me, I'm taking my last class for my masters in Biblical Counseling at SBTS! It's been a long time coming and very excited to graduate and be finished with school ( forever)! :) I'm enjoying my class, it's just a lot of work. (another reason blogging has not been happening!) Learning a lot about counseling and practically able to start serving my church in this way! Such a blessing to learn from our counseling Elder and one of my dear mentor/friends, Patti! The Lord's timing is always perfect. He has made a way for this to be possible! Not to mention my sweet In Laws are willing to watch Molly for me anytime! Such a blessing to have grandparents just 30 minutes away! Molly loves her play dates with them too! She is such a people person already! :)
Also, Mark and I have been training for the mini-marthon (13.1 miles) coming up at the end of April! We are up to 6 miles. We are running in a 10K this coming Saturday (my 1st ever) and really excited! It's been a fun way to excerise and just release some stress! I love running for the feeling I get after I finish! :) A couple of sweet friends have been training with me and so it's been a fun relational activity too! Really running is similar to our spiritual lives, and is teaching me a lot through it! Such a mental game!
Our couple friends has moved out a couple weeks ago because they decided to stay in Louisville longer (we were just going to be a transition place for them until they move back to Boston!) They only stayed with us for 4 months! It was a good season and really taught me a lot through it! Thankful they are staying in Louisville longer! :)
We get to go to Florida for our 2nd year anniversary at the end of May! :) Pretty much everything is paid for through Mark's travel points he has saved up from his traveling for work! We are excited to leave for 4 nights and enjoy the beach and sun! Molly is staying with her grandparents too! I just love my sweet husband and excited to get away with him! We are going to the same beach we went to on our honeymoon, so very romantic! :)
Well, I guess that is about it for our family. The Lord is so faithful! I can not even recount all the ways He has been faithful to me. Praise Him for His kindness and faithfulness! Praise Him for his mercy and truth! All the earth is to praise His name! He is my life, my salvation! He is my boast!

I can't get my computer to upload any more pictures! I think because our internet is the slower kind....hopefully soon I can get more pictures up! We have so many! :) Enjoy at least this one for now! :)

Miss Molly

2010-12-16T13:56:00.001-05:00

Molly is growing and developing so well! She is 8 1/2 months old! She is starting to crawl this past couple of weeks and loves to try new baby foods that I've been making her! She is such a joy! So thankful for the Lord for this sweet baby girl! We are enjoying this season TONS! Check out my new thankfulness blog I just started yesterday....my goal is to post what I'm thankful for each day! In hopes to grow in more worship to our Faithful Father! He is The Giver of all good gifts! annagronotte@blogspot.com

thankfulness

2010-12-15T15:37:00.003-05:00

I started a new blog about thankfulness.
(going to keep this blog going too!)

I am taking the challenge of posting what I am thankful for each day!

Really desire to grow in the art of thankfulness!

We have so much to be thankful for!

The Lord is so good and we owe Him all our worship!

Will you join with me

and practice this art of thankfulness?!

...all for the praise of His wonderful name!

http://annagronotte.blogspot.com/

It's been awhile...

2010-11-10T10:11:00.002-05:00

So, if you haven't notice (for those who still read this thing) I haven't posted in a long while! I think it's just the business of life...you know how that goes! This truly is a season of lots of learning and growing for me. Thankful that the Lord really does want us to grow and so He makes it possible through stretching us with new circumstances He places us in. Which He has ordained so that I will keep running back to Him for all my strength, joy, and rest! He really has been so good! Here's a little update on our little family.

Molly is almost 71/2 months old! Can you believe it? She is doing so well. Growing and developing tons each day. She talks all the time, and by talking I mean babbling non-stop! Marks convinced lately that when she says 'Dada' she is really referring to him! Not sure if she can know whose who yet, but it maybe almost that time!? She started saying the 'm' sound too! Which makes me work even harder to remind her how to say 'Mama'. :) Lots of joy in this season with her! She is sleeping through the night (8 or so hours between feedings-not all the time, but I'll take it when she gives it!) and has more of a rhythm for her naps during the day (still needing at least 3 a day!) This girl needs her rest! She is at least 16 pounds, but we haven't weighed her lately...last time we went to the doctor she was in the 75% for height and has stayed in about the 40% for weight! This baby is tall and petite! And she is enjoying her solid foods too! I've been making homemade baby food for her and she can't get enough of it! I think I'm needing to increase the amount I've been giving her! She still loves to nurse, but you can just tell that she's wanting more when she's eying everything she sees me eat in the day! So funny! ;)

For Mark and I we have been just adjusting to his new work position which involves him to go on business trips every other week or every couple of weeks for about 3-4 days at a time. We are thankful for this new position because Mark is loving it and the Lord is blessing him already in this position with continued favor from his boss. Yet on the other hand, who wants their husband to be gone from their home several nights at a time? I'm learning to be more okay with it and has made our time together sweeter when he is home. Thankfully, his training period is over and Molly and I are going to start traveling with him about once a month on some of his closer locations he travels to! So that will be good to be with him and enjoyable to explore new cities too! Hopefully Molly will be a relax baby with the traveling, we will see! haha! Just more opportunities to rely on the Lord and know that He truly is my supply! (this picture is the 2nd anniversary of our first date! we walked all around downtown Louisville and ended up stopping here on these steps and had some good conversation-good first date, babe!)

Other news...we have a new couple that moved in with us a couple of weeks ago! They are expecting their first baby next month and are moving back to Boston, closer to family in about 6 months. They didn't want to have to sign another apartment lease and we have an extra room downstairs! It really works out well for all of us. With Mark traveling some, it's nice to have 'family' in the home with me and really will help cut down the price of our electric bill by splitting it, during these cold winter months approaching! Just really good timing and really the Lord's leading! We desire to be a blessing to them as they enter in this new season of parenthood. Praying the Lord will give me eyes to serve them and help them to feel like this is as much as their home as ours. With the transition of nursing and lack of sleep, really want to be a help to her! She is such a sweet friend already! Very thankful that this has worked out. Repenting lately how I really do love others to serve me, and knowing that is not why Jesus came. He came not to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many. This too should be our perspective! Praying the Lord makes my heart quick to serve and not try to wait for someone to serve me!! Very gross how much my sin has been revealed to me lately, with getting married and having a baby!! This exposes lots of gross sin in my life! Thankfully, now my call is to repent and run to Jesus. He really has forgiven me and given me a new heart to want to serve joyfully from the heart!

Okay, I hear Molly waking up from her morning nap and I've got to get ready for the day! More to come....praying that the Gospel would be more the center of my thoughts and life! May Christ be more treasured then any other blessing!! By His grace this is possible! ;)
(this picture is from Halloween, molly was the cutest little ladybug ever.)

I asked the Lord that I might grow.

2010-09-09T14:02:00.002-04:00

I MISS my Mark!

I wasn't going to be one of those wives who always seems needy! But today is hard and I miss my husband. It's been a long week without him! I'm trying to be full of faith in the Lord's will, but it is just plain hard. Single parenting is not for me! Last time he was away we could talk lots, this trip of training seems even more intense and he has basically no breaks! Pray for me! Molly is doing great and we are filling our days up with good activities and tasks, but ready for this crazy training to be over! Soon this will past. I know it's only a season. Thankfully, the Lord knows and see this for my good! I just want to see how it is for my good too! :)

I can't believe it has been a month since I've posted on this thing! :) Hopefully more pictures and updates to come! I was going to write down Molly birth story too! I can't believe she is already over 5 months old and growing and smiling lots! ;) For sure I have lots be thankful for! Just one of those days! Needing to meditate and consider the Gospel of Christ....this is the only answer to any struggle!

Just talked to Mark on the phone and he reminded me of this hymn that I just love and so helpful to consider how good God is in knowing how to grow us up and sanctify! The Lord knows exactly what will cause us to run to Him! Which is a grace. I pray that I can see this all is from my loving Father, set up for me so that I may flee to Him and find my all in Him alone. I pray that this hymn encourages you as it did just me!

"I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith, and love, and every grace;
Might more of His salvation know,
And seek, more earnestly, His face.

’Twas He who taught me thus to pray,
And He, I trust, has answered prayer!
But it has been in such a way,
As almost drove me to despair.

I hoped that in some favored hour,
At once He’d answer my request;
And by His love’s constraining pow’r,
Subdue my sins, and give me rest.

Instead of this, He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart;
And let the angry pow’rs of hell
Assault my soul in every part.

Yea more, with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe;
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.

Lord, why is this, I trembling cried,
Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?
“’Tis in this way, the Lord replied,
I answer prayer for grace and faith.

These inward trials I employ,
From self, and pride, to set thee free;
And break thy schemes of earthly joy,
That thou may’st find thy all in Me.”

-John Newton

'prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love...'

2010-08-11T15:57:00.003-04:00

I am so thankful for hymns that are full of truth and remind my heart of the hope I have in Christ! I'm just feeling a little down today. Why? Well, not for sure...just a mixture of things and just being an emotional girl today. Life is always full of changes, yet I have a hard time being full of faith when change is just around the corner! Mark starts his new job this coming Monday (Aug16th) and has training for 2 weeks in FL and then 1 week on location TBA! Which is just a lot of him not being around!!! Molly and I are heading to TX for the first 2 weeks of his training! I'm excited about seeing family and friends, but just going to be weird not seeing him every day! Thankfully, he gets to have the weekends with us during those 3 weeks! I know this is a good thing, but just a little nervous about this. I see the Lord's hand has led us in this way, so why am I fearful? Oh for more grace to trust our infinitely wise God! It's just one of those days. The Lord is good in all of this and know that He will provide!

Molly has been extra fussy today and I when I was nursing her and then rocking trying to calm her down, I started to sing this hymn to her and the Lord used the truth in it to remind me of what a good God we serve. He doesn't leave us on our own, but is faithful to see us through all the changes that are bound to come about! I was just singing this hymn to calm my baby, but thankfully it calmed my heart too (Molly was so cute, she doesn't care that my voice isn't the best, but whenever I sing she stops fussing and smiles at me)! And I just repented to the Lord that my heart was feeling prone to wander...so glad that the Lord holds my feet by His grace that I will not fall away!! And one day, I will see my Savior's face! Please Lord, come quickly! We long for your appearing, that we may be free of unbelief and fear!!

"Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.

Sorrowing I shall be in spirit,
Till released from flesh and sin,
Yet from what I do inherit,
Here Thy praises I’ll begin;
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by Thy great help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.

Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood;
How His kindness yet pursues me
Mortal tongue can never tell,
Clothed in flesh, till death shall loose me
I cannot proclaim it well.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

O that day when freed from sinning,
I shall see Thy lovely face;
Clothed then in blood washed linen
How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace;
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,
Take my ransomed soul away;
Send thine angels now to carry
Me to realms of endless day."

Molly is dramatic!!

2010-08-02T13:43:00.000-04:00

Oh Molly, you crack us up with your dramatic pouty faces!

We LOVE you and all your little moods! ;)

Cute Polo Outfit from Aunt Ali

2010-07-31T11:25:00.001-04:00

Dear Aunt Ali,

Thanks for the cute Polo outfit!!

I love playing in it and I look so stylish!

You know I love wearing pink too!!

Can't wait to see you in a couple of weeks,

and give you a big hug and kiss! :)

love you lots,

baby Molly

Miss Molly laughing and talking!

2010-07-29T10:16:00.001-04:00

We try to make little videos to email out to our family about every couple of weeks! We sent this one a week or so ago and had to share it on the blog...so cute! She is growing and doing very well!! Still trying to figure out her naps...going towards 3 naps a day that are longer, instead of lots of little naps! Hopefully, that will help her and help me to get more accomplished in the day! :) She still is unpredictable and can be fussy baby around 6pm till her bedtime (my mom said we all were the same-guess that's a baby thing)! The night before she woke only once at 2am to nurse and that was great! Yet, last night she was hungry every 4 hours!? Maybe it's time for another growth spurt!? She turns 4 months tomorrow! Next week she gets her shots and we will see how much she has grown at the doctors! On our measurements she is at least 13 pounds and a very tall girl! :) Praise the Lord for His kindness in this sweet season of motherhood! Mark and I are having a blast watching her grow and learn! The Lord has been so good to us!

And for some other exciting news: We get to visit Texas for 12 days! August 16-27th!! If you are in the DFW area, let us know! Would love to meet up for lunch and catch up with old friends!!! I haven't been in Texas for a year and 1/2! Molly is so excited to meet all her cousins and see her grandparents too! My mom couldn't be more exited to see her Molly! :) Mark will be training for his new position in Jacksonville, FL while Molly and I are in Texas...but the cool thing is that he gets to fly over the weekend to DFW for a little break from training and see us girls and Texas family! The timing couldn't be better! We are just grateful that the Lord has opened up this new position for Mark that will give him a new challenge to take dominion over (which he couldn't be more excited about), be able to provide for our family without a 2nd job, and be able to be more of a blessing to the nations! Pray for us in this new transition approaching. It will mean more travel for Mark, which mean more alone time for me with baby Molly! I think it will be fine b/c we will get to travel with him some, but just transition once again! Which means, we need the Lord more! ;)

Update and "Be Still, My Soul"

2010-07-23T12:52:00.000-04:00

The UPDATE:
The Lord is gracious and kind in all His dealings with His children! It for sure has been a season of seeing more of my need for our Lord ( I think that's every season)! I never knew how hard motherhood was going to be! Don't get me wrong, I totally am enjoying this new season because I know it's directly from the Lord. However, had no idea how much it would once again be so sanctifying and humbling! I am seeing more of my need for our gracious Father as I seek to care for my husband and our baby! This year has been so crazy with so many life changes! I want to be more faithful in in what the Lord has given me!
Therefore, I must again go back to the Gospel of Christ! In all the life's changes, there is a constant...and that constant is Christ, my Savior. Oh, so thankful that I don't have to walk this road alone. He has given us His Holy Spirit, I don't have to be afraid or even need to fear! Jesus directly commands us many times not to be afraid because He is with us always, even to the end of the age! My sin struggle with fear must be stopped with trust in the Lord. He knows exactly what is necessary to make me more like His Son...and that I know that is far better then anything else. Paul says it best.

"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead." -Phil.3:7-10

Perhaps, this has been vague, ask me and I can share more personally what the Lord is teaching me!
All this being said, we know that we are in our Sovereign God's hands and not one day has happened that He hasn't planned before the foundation of the world! Like an old Caedmon's Call song, "He knew this day long before He made me out of dirt..." This brings so much comfort...my soul can be still in Christ alone!

Read this hymn below...totally encouraging to your heart! It looks long, but really read it! ;)

"Be Still, My Soul"

by Catharina von Schlegel, 1697-?

"Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend

Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul, though dearest friends depart
And all is darkened in the vale of tears;
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrows and thy fears.
Be still, my soul; thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last."

our little baby girl

2010-07-13T12:59:00.000-04:00

Molly Hope turned 3 Months Old!

2010-07-05T16:21:00.005-04:00

Our baby just keeps on growing and developing so well!

She loves to smile, which is such a joy for us!

Praise the Lord! We are so THANKFUL!

11 pounds and 8 ounces!!

Molly LOVES to eat!

I have been laying low on eating dairy this past month and it seems to be helping her lots!

I miss ice cream and milk shakes, but if it helps her not feel sick, it's totally worth it!

Molly LOVES her hands!

She recently has found her little fingers and has gained more control in her arms so is able to sooth herself better! Which totally is great. Often I go check on her when she is napping and I find her fast asleep with her hand in her mouth! :)

Molly LOVES to talk!

If she's not sleeping or eating, she is talking!

Should I be surprised, this is my daughter!

Check out the video of her talking below! :)

The Power Fist

2010-06-12T10:38:00.001-04:00

Molly is a lot like me...I love to throw the power fist (mostly when I hear truth of the Gospel during worship...gotta love songs that point to Christ and I can't help but throw my fist in the air...desire to teach Molly the truth of the Gospel, so her power fist has true and encouraging meaning!)!

The other day, Molly kept throwing them and finally captured it in pictures!

Molly is 2-months old!

2010-06-12T10:21:00.004-04:00

Molly had her 2-month check up, shots and everything on May 30th (meant to make this post a couple of weeks ago!)! She handled herself like a true pro, but for sure we both cried during the shots! :) Mark was strong for us girls! She shows to be growing at the same rate as her first month check-up! And, we are thankful! God is gracious to answer our prayers for her growth and development!

9lb and 9oz (25%)

23 3/4 inches long (90%)--she's tall!

15 inches around her head

Our Guests this past 6-weeks!

2010-05-18T21:40:00.000-04:00

We have had lots of sweet family come to meet baby Molly! We just want to thank our family for making it all the way from Texas to Kentucky to meet our baby Molly! What a sweet gift each of you were to have in our home and we are thankful for all your support and love! We know that this is such a grace from God.

Here's some pictures of our special guests in our home:

First, my Mom came to help us in our first 2 weeks of Molly's life. It was such a service to us to have her in our home! Th e Lord was so kind to allow her to come the day before she was born! We totally couldn't have planned the timing any better! The Lord was so gracious to arrange this all for us! He always gives us what we need at the right time. Mom cooked and cleaned for us and just was a huge relief as we started to adjust to being parents for the first time ever!

Then, my dad joined mom here for several days. It was so special to introduce Molly to her Nana and Poppy! They had fun loving on their 10th grandchild ( I know-my sisters have 9 kids all-together!)

Next, my sister-April came to for the weekend to meet Molly when she was just 2 weeks old! We did lots of special things when she was here. She is an artist and painted cute flower canvases for Molly's nursery too! She helped me get Molly's room organized and hang things on the wall! She left her husband and 3 little boys to come spend time with us! It was such a fun weekend! We tried to go to Thunder over Louisville together-what an adventure with a newborn! We went on lots of walks too! Also, she was able to be at our churches baby dedication, when our pastors prayed for us and Molly-such a sweet memory to have her there!

Lastly, this past weekend my two oldest sisters, Ali and Aimee and her daughter (my niece) Belle came to visit and meet Miss Molly! We had such a great weekend together! It was super special because I know it took a lot of work to get them to come here! Their husbands took off work to take care of their own children (they each have 3 kids!) and they were able to get plane tickets from Aimee's father-in-law for free! So, they really took great leaps to make it here to see Molly at 6-weeks old! They cooked for us, we made home-made bread together, and they even baby-sat for us so Mark and I could go on a quick little date! I was thankful to talk to them about nursing and motherhood, which they offered nothing but encouragement for me to persevere in! And, it was such a joy to see little Belle whose now 7 years old and she was so helpful too!

We just wanted to say THANK-YOU to our family for making it a point to meet little Molly as an infant! She was born into such a sweet family that loves her and prays for her! We see all this as such a mercy from the Lord! Not only do we have the support from my family in Texas, but also on Mark's side of the family that lives here in Louisville! We've had lots of time already to share Molly with his parents and sister, Rebecca and we are so thankful they live so close to us! Such a grace!

We just wanted to say that we are grateful for everyone's care and support!

Today, Molly is 7-weeks old! I can't believe it when I look at her how much she has grown already and how much I'm starting to feel more human! Each week, I feel a little better and encouraged how much the Lord has sustained us and given us tons of grace! Also, are sweet church family has been a huge blessing of support! We can see the Lord's faithfulness all around us as we consider His providence in our lives! Praise the Lord for all His help and for using our family and church family to remind us of His loving faithfulness He has given us through giving His Son, Jesus Christ! We have a wonderful Savior and seeing all the more need for Him and His perfect care and love! How wonderful is it that He ordains and orders everything in our lives to help us know Him and love Him more!

Molly's Stats

2010-05-03T21:05:00.001-04:00

We went to Molly's 1 month check-up and she has GROWN!

At 1 Month she is:

8 pounds -in the 25% for weight

22 inches long -in the 75% for height

14 1/4 inches circumference of her head

At Birth she was:

5 pounds 11 ounces -in the 5% for weight
19 inches long
12 1/4 inches for circumference of her head

We are so THANKFUL that the Lord is growing her and sustaining our little baby! She started off so small! The Lord is so gracious to make her a good eater! I have to say that nursing has been one of the most challenging things I've ever had to persevere in...still getting the hang of-hopefully it will keep getting better! Thankful that the Lord is giving me grace in this! Praise the Lord for His kindness and mercy to our family! :)

....more pictures to come!

walks with Miss Molly

2010-04-28T13:50:00.002-04:00

I love that Miss Molly sleeps well on our daily walks!

One things for sure, she knows how to rest and sleep!

This friday she will be 1 month old! And to the looks of it, she is growing steadily!

We will have her 1 month Dr. check up May 3rd and get her weight and measurements.

We are thankful for a healthy baby girl!

Yet, sometimes she's not so happy after our walks,

she knows when she's hungry and lets everyone know!

baby dedication

2010-04-21T12:56:00.001-04:00

This past Sunday at church we had baby dedication time for all the recent new babies! It was perfect timing since Molly is just 2 1/2 weeks old! Two of my sisters, Ali and Aimee, gave Molly this sweet little pink dress and bonnet before she was born and thought it was the perfect dress for her to wear! My other sister, April was in town this past weekend and so she was able to join us! Also, Mark's parents came to the service! We didn't get very many pictures of Molly because there wasn't much time in between feedings! But here's a few shots of the day! We are thankful for the prayer that was prayed for us as we aim to point Molly to the Gospel of Christ all of our days and we are dedicated to train her in the fear and admission of the Lord. May she turn to the true Savior-Jesus Christ-at an early age and place her only hope in Him! May the Lord give us much grace and wisdom in parenting her and training her. What a special memory and a sober time for Mark and I. Thankfully, we have all the grace we need during this season....and we can testify the Lord's supreme help to us as we walk humbly before our gracious God. The Lord has really been our help! As we are sleep deprived and just kind of learning by trial and error....Molly is doing well and growing too! Her 1 month appointment is next week and to our measurements she is already over 7 pounds! :) I feel like all I do is nurse, but hopefully it's paying off and making her a healthy baby girl! I never knew how motherhood would really be like, and wow it's a lot harder then I ever knew! Makes me all the more appreciate my own mother in her sweet care for me all my life! The Lord is good in giving all the grace we need, for we are for sure have lots to learn in this new season! I still hate it when she cries, but Mark is such a huge help and has a good touch in getting her to settle down! All in all, we just can praise the Lord for knowing this is exactly what we needed this first year of marriage (almost our 11 month of marriage!). The Lord's ways are good and way higher then ours! Praise the Lord for this sweet gift of our baby Molly Hope! :)

Praise the LORD with us! Molly Hope is HERE!

2010-04-05T21:13:00.004-04:00

Psalm 95:1

"Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;

let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!"

Only after 13 hours of labor, Molly Hope Gronotte was born March 30th, 2010 at 9:56am. She was just a little thing, 5 pounds and 11 ounces and 19 inches long! These are just a few pictures of our first 6 days with Molly Hope. We are so thankful for the Lord's kindness and mercy He has lavished upon us by his grace alone! She is a healthy baby girl and is already sleeping, pooping, and nursing well!

Psalm 145:3

"Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and his greatness is unsearchable."

Let us Praise the LORD continually!

Last Friday = False Alarm

2010-03-26T11:51:00.004-04:00

This was last Friday at Cherokee Park. We had fun walking around the park and playing with the new camera.
Little did we know that a couple hours later we would be headed to the hospital because we thought that my water broke! I was wrong! We called our midwife, Beth Bary and she said that if our water bag had broken we would need to go to the hospital because you would want to deliver our baby within 24 hours of it breaking! We rushed home and grabbed our bags (finished packing) and went to our hospital, Clark Memorial. Needless to say, I was a wreck and fearful that something had to be wrong...again lack of trust in the Lord! Mark was super calm and trying to be patient with me! The nurse was super kind and gracious at the hospital and gave me a check to see how I was doing and if my water bag was in tact still. Which to our surprise it was and found out that I was 80% effaced and 2cm dilated! We got to hear Molly's heart beat for a long time and it was great to hear her so steady and healthy! :) The nurse said we both were healthy and now its time to keep waiting till the baby is ready to come out! It was dinner time so we decided to go out on a date to Cheddar's after we left the hospital....what a night!
Now, 1 week later I am still in the same position...waiting. I'm finding it harder and harder to keep waiting. I've learned from our Bradley classes (natural birthing classes) that the typical woman goes 41 weeks and 1 day before having a baby...since this is the norm I have plenty of time. My due date isn't till Sunday, so I am still in good shape to wait. Just realizing once again how impatient my heart really is with God's timing! I hate that I'm not joyful in waiting and seeing as waiting as an opportunity to worship our loving Father. Whatever season we are in, we are called to wait on the Lord. And, waiting is worship to the Lord. For He knows all our days and has written them in His book before one has come to be! So, just trying to remind my soul to wait on the Lord....He knows the best day for Molly to arrive and is lovingly sovereign in all His dealings with His children! I can find rest today and be thankful!

On a plus side, Mark and I have been enjoying nice quality time together and going on many "last dates" together....I know that it will be so different once Molly is here and now the Lord is giving us time for Mark and I to be just us. Which has been so sweet. Since we've only been married almost 10 months in a couple of days, I shouldn't be in such a hurry to pass this time away...I cleaned the whole house yesterday and had some sweet fellowship with a friend too! Then watched the UK game last night with Mark. These days are precious and given by the Lord...all our days!

I was just going to ask that you'd pray for me in this time of waiting. I know in the big picture there really isn't much time until she arrives, but just want to be full of faith in this time. And, please pray for the labor and delivery aspect too! We are hoping with the Lord's grace to go naturally. The Lord has provided us a Doula, our good friend from church, Athena! This is such a mercy! And, for the past 12 weeks we have been a part of a Bradley class and have learned so much! God is so wise in all His designs! Crazy how every detail is planned by our gracious God...seriously this whole baby-prego time is truly a miracle and only grace that we get to go through this season. Also, my mom is arriving this coming Monday to help us! She delivered all her 4 daughters, naturally! God is the only one who can sustain life and He has been kind to do so for Molly thus far! May He keep doing so and be so glorified in her life! Also, may the Lord prepare Mark and I to point her to her only true Hope, Christ....may she see the Gospel in our lives and see her need for a Savior! May the Lord save her early!

This morning I read Psalm 63. Super encouraging, may it be my prayer continually! ...Stay tuned...truly it could be at anytime now...and now is the time for me to worship the true King and wait in faith! :)

Psalm 63

"O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

But those who seek to destroy my life
shall go down into the depths of the earth;
they shall be given over to the power of the sword;
they shall be a portion for jackals.
But the king shall rejoice in God;
all who swear by him shall exult,
for the mouths of liars will be stopped."

11 Days till Estimated Due Date & Video Clips!

2010-03-17T02:10:00.036-04:00

I can't believe how much time has flown by. We are now approaching just a week and 1/2 till my EDD...which it being our first baby I have a feeling we will pass the EDD (March 28th) and end up having an April baby! I have no clue and can't pretend to have a clue on when the day our baby will finally arrive! Our prayer is sooner then later because we are excited to meet Molly Hope!! :) Sleeping has been harder to come by these remaining weeks (given why I'm awake now at 1:30am!) and having to go to the bathroom every hour tends to be harder to get sound sleep!
...But, we have a lot to be thankful for! I went to my weekly check up today with Mark and everything looks good. I even managed not to gain any weight this week (which is a first since being prego) and so hopefully things are steadying off and my body is getting ready for her arrival. I choose not to have our midwife give me the check to see how far I'm effaced and dilated because not really a need to have it done yet! Next week, I think I will have her check. Glad that our midwife doesn't pressure us to have vaginal checks weekly b/c of how it can lead to bacteria growth that could be harmful for the baby. Also, even if I'm a little dilated it isn't the true test of when my labor will start. Lots of things are working behind the scenes in my body before true labor can start. So, must be content to wait. Like my mom says, "the fruit will fall when it's ready!" So, the way God designed the body is amazing and works for the most part like clock work. My main job is to wait and trust that the Lord governs all our days and will allow our baby to come in His good timing!
...We are just doing last minute type of things around our house. We even got our car seat in the mail yesterday (a sweet gift from my sister-April!) which makes it feel pretty official. My mom is coming in town March 29th and planning on staying as long as we need her to! Which is such a grace! And my other sisters are planning to come in April to meet Molly too! We are thankful our family wants to be a part of her life. Of course, Mark's family lives here in town so we will get to share Molly with them lots too.

Here's 2 video clips of us painting Molly's room PINK....this was several weeks back and we are now basically finished with her room, I will put up a video of that soon! ENJOY family!

Molly's Room-Part 1

Click to Play

Molly's Room-Part 2

Prego Pics & Updates!

2010-03-08T10:12:00.014-05:00

We finally downloaded some shots from the camera last night! It has been a long while and haven't really shown my family in Texas what I look like prego! I can't believe that I just started my 38th week yesterday! Only 3 weeks till estimated due date (March 28th). Time is going by so fast now! It's hard to believe that really at any time from now (since I'm considered full-term) I could go into labor! Still haven't had any milestones that lead to this (mugus plug or water breaking), but it does seem that she has dropped a little. Again, I'm no expert at this so I guess we will find out soon! Thankfully the Lord knows the BEST timing of all these things and when we will get to meet our baby Molly Hope! Thankfully, the house is coming together more and Molly's room is almost complete! Just need to rest in God's timings and plans....Now for some pictures:

We were blessed with 2 sweet baby showers! The Lord is gracious and always provides!

Family baby shower given to us on Feb. 13th

33 Weeks:

After my IBC baby shower!

34 Weeks:

37 Weeks:

We took some pictures for my nephew, Coleman around Louisville area for a school project this weekend. We went to Churchill Downs and that's why we have a picture of me there the other day! And, this is a picture of my sweet friend, Lauren in our entry way of our house. We (Katie White and myself) had the joy of throwing her a shower for her this past Saturday for upcoming wedding-April 3rd! So, you can see my belly-large and in charge! :) It was fun having lots of friends in our home for their shower-first time we have been able to have a bigger group over, since our house is almost all complete from all the crazy renovations! Totally need to put pictures of that process up...

The Lord has been so faithful and gracious! I can't believe that time is approaching and Lord willing we will get to hold our baby in our arms! We are so grateful for this blessing...knowing everything in our lives is only grace and nothing we will ever earn or deserve....it is all from the Lord's hand! Both the good and the hard! And for that we can trust Him and have rested hope. It has been such a busy season with trying to get the house ready...we are looking forward to rest...ultimatley our Final Rest in the Lord. All these changes has grown Mark and I to long for Heaven to be with our Christ forever...knowing that is where are true joy and hope are found. May the Lord create in us a deeper longing for Himself and not loose sight that this earthly home is only temporary and we have an eternal destiny to be with our Savior forever-which far out weighs any blessing here on earth! We long to teach and instruct Molly to see her only true hope and happiness is in Christ alone! May the Lord grow our understanding and our longing for His appearing above all! Love you all...grace and peace.

FlipVideo!

2010-02-12T08:01:00.003-05:00

We got a cool gift this Christmas from Mark's sister Rebecca. It's a Flipvideo, a little recorder to capture and make fun movies! I finally got around to downloading the clips we've made so far.
The first one is Christmas Day when we recieved the gift. And as you can see, my husband loves to make people laugh...we are laughing all the time in our home! He just loves life! Sorry this is so old...it's already in the middle of Feb! :)

Enjoy....more little videos to come!! soon to be starring the famous baby Molly! :)

Click to Play

"Jesus Paid it All"

2010-02-04T04:48:00.000-05:00

Sometimes (okay all the time) I just need to be reminded of the simple truths that are the foundation of my life. "Jesus Paid It ALL" is what gives true and lasting hope. Lately, I haven't been sleeping too well, and the Lord is good to call me to Himself in the wee morning hours! I was writing an email to a friend just now who is in a super hard trial and was reminded of this song we sing at our church. Thankful that this truth is always relevant...no matter what season we are experiencing. This was written way back in the 1800's and is still precious and true today! Praise the Lord, for He has done the impossible-reconciling man to Himself, only through the precious blood of His Son! May our hearts worship the true living King and humbly embrace all His harder providences in our lives...knowing it's producing a peaceful fruit of righteousness (Hebrews 12:11)...for the praise of His glorious name!

Jesus Paid it All

-by Elvina M. Hall, 1865

1. I hear the Savior say,

“Thy strength indeed is small;

Child of weakness, watch and pray,

Find in Me thine all in all.”

Refrain:

Jesus paid it all,

All to Him I owe;

Sin had left a crimson stain,

He washed it white as snow.

2. For nothing good have I

Whereby Thy grace to claim;

I’ll wash my garments white

In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.

3. And now complete in Him,

My robe, His righteousness,

Close sheltered ’neath His side,

I am divinely blest.

4. Lord, now indeed I find

Thy pow’r, and Thine alone,

Can change the leper’s spots

And melt the heart of stone.

5. When from my dying bed

My ransomed soul shall rise,

“Jesus died my soul to save,”

Shall rend the vaulted skies.

6. And when before the throne

I stand in Him complete,

I’ll lay my trophies down,

All down at Jesus’ feet.

'babymoon'....here we come!

2010-01-29T14:59:00.001-05:00

We are going away for the weekend to Cincinnati for our 'babymoon' trip! It will be our last little weekend away before Molly comes (and we are celebrating our 8th monthivseary of marriage too)! I am so thankful to be with my husband non-stop all weekend! We are so blessed and praise the Lord for His kindness He has shown us!

We are going to hit up the Creation Museum and the Planetarium tomorrow (Saturday)! And plan on swimming in the hotel's indoor pool, walking to breakfast to a local spot near our hotel we saw online, relaxing and reading together, and before we head back on Sunday we are going to hit up IKEA to look for some deals for our house and Molly’s nursery! :) We got an incredible deal at a Marriott's 4 star hotel! :)

I had a horrible dream last night that Mark got shot and died! It was so real and vivid that when I woke up this morning at 5:45am I had to call Mark's work and make sure it was just a dream! (Mark goes into work at 4:30am!) Thankfully, it was just a dream...and I have more time with my sweet Mark. It just made me thankful for him and his servant hearted-leadership in my life! He constantly is pointing me to my great hope-Christ and wants me to find all my contentment in Christ alone. It was just one of those dreams that made me appreciate the Lord's wisdom and provision in my life!

I'll put up pictures when we get back of our trip!
Grace and peace in our faithful King Jesus.

a full-time homemaker?

2010-01-26T12:16:00.003-05:00

All I can say is that once again change is here. 2009 has been a lot of changes for me and I can only imagine that will continue in 2010 because we will be experiencing many first... yet it's freeing to know that we are in the exact spot/season the Lord wants us to be in! He determines our times and places according to what He has predestined to take place (Acts 4:28)!

Last night was my last night working for The Artist in You. It's hard to believe that since I was 15 years old I've always had some form of part-time job. Also, since before kindergarten I have not taken a semester off from school! This is the first time I will not be in school! That is a long time, since I will be 27 at the end of March! I have 1 more class remaining at Southern, it's my internship class for my Masters in Biblical Counseling. They only offer this course in the spring, so I won't be able to take it this spring because Lord willing Molly Hope will be arriving near the end of March-early April. So next year I will be able to take my last class in order to complete my Masters, if the Lord wills. I do desire to complete this degree since I'm so close! Yet, thankful for a season outside of school!

This is why it's transition time....I am now considered a full-time homemaker for my home with Mark. Wow, I've always desired this role, but still seem a little scary to take on. I know it’s a real blessing I do not have to work outside of the home, which will allow me to have time to focus on our home and help finish up the renovations needed before Molly comes in the next 2 months! Also, just provides me time to love and serve our church family, and not to mention learn more about being a better helper for Mark. Mark really has wanted me to be in the home full-time, and I'm thankful that he desires to be the provider for our family. Again, a blessing from the Lord. We came up with goals for each day for me to accomplish while Mark is at work. I even got to go walking this morning at 7am with a friend from church who lives down the street! So far day #1 has been good. Cleaned the bathrooms and cleaned the floors (the kitchen is next!). I just want to work hardly unto the Lord and not become lazy. We have plenty of things that still need to get done around here and made a list of projects that I can do without the help of Mark. Just going to need a lot of grace and self control to work wisely. Especially since my energy level is just not the same being pregnant.

Been reading online and learning from other woman how to be more frugal with our money. We are down to one car and one cell phone, which help a lot. We did get the internet (the slower kind) which is a perk but also a sweet helping to me while I'm here in the day. Still needing to learn and grow in this new role! Please pray! I feel so weak and need the Lord in everyway! The Lord is so faithful. And is gracious to give all the grace we need for each season. Regardless, we are all called to work since the Fall. Now, just learning a different sphere of work. And cleaning tolits has never been a fun task, but a task that needs to get done! :) I know things will look even more different with a baby! That's why I want to learn all I can before she comes!

(FYI-this is not really what I look like anymore...I can't find my cord to plug my camera in to download new pics..so hopefully soon I'll be able to put recent pics of me prego!)

wanting to run away tonight...

2010-01-20T22:53:00.001-05:00

We have lots to do on the house...feeling a little bit emotional tonight and just praying that we will get the upstairs finished before Molly comes! I know that she is only a baby and won't know the difference if there's pink paint on her wall, but totally want to be organized and nest before she arrives!

I was explaining this to Mark tonight, yet with some tears. He understands, but said he can't 100% promise it all well get done in time, b/c he never thought he'd hurt his knee...we can plan all day long, but the Lord is the One who determines the outcome. He governs all our days and so I guess Mark was just wanting me to remember that I'm not the one who is in control. I know this sounds silly and after posting this I'm sure I will laugh at myself for posting this emotional moment! Mostly, I just need to be reminded that my hope is not in our house being perfectly organized and ready for our baby Molly or hope in anything external. I must rest in the Lord and let Him be my final hope.

Pray for me in this...I do want to grow in trusting the Lord and resting He knows what is best. My world will not fall apart if my home is not completly finished...most likely there will always be another project to do!

Thankfully, we can never really run away from the Lord. Whenever I start to feel this away, I must remember what Psalm 139 says....read it below. It's nice because we know the Lord will not let us run from Him and He alone is the one we can run to! May we keep running to the Lord no matter how we feel or what the circumstance maybe...He alone is faithful and our resting place!

Psalm 139:7-12

"Where shall I go from your Spirit?

Or where shall I flee from your presence?

If I ascend to heaven, you are there!

If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

If I take the wings of the morning

and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

even there your hand shall lead me,

and your right hand shall hold me.

If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,

and the light about me be night,”

even the darkness is not dark to you;

the night is bright as the day,

for darkness is as light with you."

Where Do I Even Begin...finished this post!

2010-01-14T18:01:00.005-05:00

I haven't written on this blog is so long...and so much has changed in my life! The Lord's hand has been upon every turn and change, thankfully! For by His grace I have not run away from His ways! Though at times, I wanted to run...He has kept me and guided me into wonderful paths (both hard and good ones)! This Psalm is super comforting...

PSALM 121

"I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From where does my help come?

My help comes from the Lord,

who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;

he who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, he who keeps Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;

the Lord is your shade on your right hand.

The sun shall not strike you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all evil;

he will keep your life.

The Lord will keep

your going out and your coming in

from this time forth and forevermore."

I praise the Lord for all the ways He has moved me and has brought me into a new season in life! I never thought that so much could change in a matter of months, yet the Lord loves to do the impossible and in doing so, grow us and make us more like His Son. Here's a little list of what has been happening in the past year, all taylored-fit for me to learn how to depend upon and better know our faithful God!

Febuary 21, 2009...engaged to a wonderful man, Mark Gronotte. He took me sking and gave me a surprise proposal on the slopes! Now the next 3 months were planning the wedding and finishing up my semester at Southern! We had so much help and encouragement along the way...thanks to my sweet family for coming all the way from Texas to be with us and for being in the wedding too (with all their kids-9!)

May 28, 2009...We signed the papers and closed on our first home Thursday before the wedding! This is for sure a fixer-upper home! It was built almost 100 years ago. We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into for our first year of marriage! But the Lord graciously opened it up for us! There will be lost of pictures to come of the renovations we have done. We just put our boxes in the house with the help of friends and family and came back after our honeymoon to see crazy mess of boxes! It's been an adventure for sure! We have had lots of help from his family and friends from church!! We couldn't complete it without them! Its located just a couple blocks from our church! We have lots of friends from church who moved in nearby to help reach out to this community!! May the Lord bring many in Shelby Park to a saving knowledge of the Gospel of Christ!

May 30, 2009...we were married at our wonderful church, Immanual Baptist by our Pastor Ryan Fullerton. By God's grace, our first kiss on the lips was at the alter, thanks for the Lord's kindness!We had such a wonderful time at the wedding celebrating the goodness of the Lord in fulfilling our desires to be married and with much anticpation to display the Gospel through our marriage! (I'll get a picture of us from our wedding soon!)

June 1-June 7, 2009....We went to Disney World for our honeymoon!! It was a blast and a sweet joy to be with the love of my life, Mark in the funnest place on earth! :)

June 30th weekend....We went on our first month-aversary to Mammoth Cave to go hiking! We stayed in a cute little cabin and enjoyed the beauty of God's creation! It was such a sweet and joyful weekend! and to our surprise we got Pregnant that weekend...we didn't know it at the time, but all dates point to this weekend! More shock and surprise to come when we realize it several weeks later! :)

Well, the next 7 months have been dedicated to renovations on the house, working, and learning a lot of what it means to be a wife for Mark! (And feeling the ups and downs of expecting a baby!) The Lord has given us alot of grace for each other and through misunderstandings and joys we both can see the Lord's growth in us as we are approaching our 8th month of marriage! The more as time goes, the more we can see the Lord's hand in directing our lives together for His glory!

Back in October Mark hurt his knee in a major way through teaching at his side job martial arts to kids! He was doing a demonstration and came down wrong on his knee and tore the insides!! This put him in a brace for one month before we could get him into surgery! 6 weeks ago he had his surgery and it was a success! This is his first week off crutches and able to drive himself to work! :) We did not expect this at all, but the Lord has shown us grace all along the way! I hate to admit, I didn't handle this very well in the begining. However, the Lord has shown faithful throughout this whole trial and see that the Lord purposed it to do good in us and unite us in Him! We are so thankful that Mark is on the way to recovery and is almost back to his full energy! :) We had so much support and help through our church family and our family that we know we have been carried along by so many prayers and encouragement! Praise the Lord for this trial, which might be the first time I have said that and meant it in my heart! :)

I need to download pictures of my baby bump! It has grown alot by now! I'm in my 31st week of pregnancy and can't believe how much time has gone by! We are expecting a baby girl by the end of March! Oh, I see and can taste the kindness of the Lord in every detail of life! May our lips praise Him and our hearts rejoice in the goodness of the Lord all our days!

More Pictures to come...grace and peace in Christ. :)

Times a Changing....

2009-08-31T19:59:00.000-04:00

I haven't written on this blog since last December! So MUCH has changed...so I thought I'd like to start updating the blog every so often with pics and info of how the Lord carried me into another season to show me more of His faithfulness and grow my dependence upon Christ, that I maybe formed more into the image of His Son! I won't spill the beans in this post...cause out of time now. But, soon lots of news will be coming your way!!

Psalm 34:1-4

2008-12-06T10:38:00.005-05:00

"I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name togther!
I sought the Lord, and he answered me
and delievered me from all my fears."

"More Love to Thee, O Christ!"

2008-11-20T20:23:00.007-05:00

Hymn by Elizabeth Prentiss, in 1856:

"More love to Thee, O Christ, more love to Thee!
Hear Thou the prayer I make on bended knee.
This is my earnest plea:
More love, O Christ, to Thee;
More love to Thee, more love to Thee!

Once earthly joy I craved, sought peace and rest;
Now Thee alone I seek, give what is best.
This all my prayer shall be:
More love, O Christ to Thee;
More love to Thee, more love to Thee!

Let sorrow do its work, come grief or pain;
Sweet are Thy messengers, sweet their refrain,
When they can sing with me:
More love, O Christ, to Thee;
More love to Thee, more love to Thee!

Then shall my latest breath whisper Thy praise;
This be the parting cry my heart shall raise;
This still its prayer shall be:
More love, O Christ to Thee;
More love to Thee, more love to Thee!"

I just bought the biography of Elizabeth Prentiss and I am looking forward to reading about her life and testimony of her sweet faith in Christ. It is always joyful and helpful reading about other's faith in God and seeing the Lord's faithfulness! This book is on the list to read this coming Christmas break, which happens to be in 2 weeks and counting! I need much grace and endurance to finish out this semester well and to the Lord's glory! If you think, pray that the Lord would help me endure strong and study well for my finals and remaining reading I need to do! Thanks! And, I'll update this blog about the happenings in my life soon, or at least sooner then much later! hahahaha! :) Blessings and Grace always in our Christ! May we have more love for Him each day, for His love is better and greater then this life! May our lips and hearts and life's express God's love for us in Christ! Praise Him for loving us first, so that we are freed to love Him back!

hello strangers!

2008-10-07T18:36:00.010-04:00

It's been awhile since I've been on this thing! Why? you may ask. I think it's a combination of several reasons:

Mid-semester stresses-lots of reading, paper writing, mid-terms approaching, ect. Please pray for me in this! I need motivation and don't really have it! I have a year left in my grad school track, come December! And, just feeling burnt out...please pray for more grace for me to focus and work unto the Lord in my studies!
Working around 30 hours, give or take a few-my library collection agency job and cleaning houses for 2 families.
Social life has changed some-the Lord has placed a very sweet guy in my life, who is pursuing me and really stinkin' encouraging to me in the Gospel! He makes it his aim to point me to Christ. And, honestly that's amazing! And, he's super hot! haha (I'll put a picture up eventually or check my facebook)

For now, I just want to encourage those who still read this thing (mostly my family), in the Gospel! The Lord is so faithful to His children and His love for us will never fail! I want to mediate more on God's character, His attributes. For the more we consider God's character, the more we learn how to love each other and reflect what He has given us, by showing sweet graces to each other! For we are given everything in Christ and now we have the "mind of Christ", by His doing we are hidden in Christ and able to love radically...unto His glory! By fixing our eyes on Christ, we are given an eternal perspective! May the Lord grant our hearts rich fellowship with our Maker and count all things lost in comparison of knowing Him and being identified with Him, even when this requires suffering!!

"Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
God, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer's;
he makes me tread on my high places."
-Habakkuk 3:17-19

read this old hymn...full of truth and grace!

2008-09-02T17:12:00.003-04:00

I listened to this hymn on repeat the Summer of 2003 (on this cd) when I was serving as a youth intern at my old Church. I found these words super refreshing in pointing me back to the purpose of this life. Read each line and may it bring perspective in light of our "momentary struggles". One day, we will no longer need faith because we will have be able to see our Savior's face with no hindrance of sin and embrace His full glory! This hymn just points to the truth that this is not our home, and so much is still to come...when "our faith is sight."

Pray for the church in India, I heard that there was a natural disaster of flooding came yesterday morning. Pray for the Believer's to be sustained and embolden to share the Gospel, that the Word would go forth in fullness across the land in the midst all the storms of life!
Unto His glory, we pray!

"Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken"
by Henry Francis Lyte, 1793-1847

1. Jesus, I my cross have taken,
All to leave and follow Thee;
Destitute, despised, forsaken,
Thou from hence my All shalt be.
Perish every fond ambition,
All I've sought or hoped or known;
Yet how rich is my condition!
God and heaven are still my own.

2. Let the world despise and leave me,
They have left my Savior, too.
Human hearts and looks deceive me;
Thou art not, like them, untrue.
And while Thou shalt smile upon me,
God of wisdom, love, and might,
Foes may hate and friends may shun me;
Show Thy face, and all is bright.

3. Go, then, earthly fame and treasure!
Come, disaster, scorn, and pain!
In Thy service, pain is pleasure;
With Thy favor, loss is gain.
I have called Thee Abba, Father!
I have stayed my heart on Thee.
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather,
All must work for good to me.

4. Man may trouble and distress me,
'Twill but drive me to Thy breast;
Life with trials hard may press me,
Heaven will bring me sweeter rest.
Oh, 'tis not in grief to harm me
While Thy love is left to me;
Oh, 'twere not in joy to charm me
Were that joy unmixed with Thee.

5. Take, my soul, thy full salvation;
Rise o'er sin and fear and care;
Joy to find in every station,
Something still to do or bear.
Think what Spirit dwells within thee,
What a Father's smile is thine,
What a Savior died to win thee;
Child of heaven, shouldst thou repine?

6. Haste, then, on from grace to glory,
Armed by faith and winged by prayer;
Heaven's eternal day's before thee,
God's own hand shall guide thee there.
Soon shall close the earthly mission,
Swift shall pass thy pilgrim days,
Hope soon change to glad fruition,
Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.

let's remember, let's always remember.

2008-08-27T20:45:00.012-04:00

wow. that is all i can say. this can never get old...

i am once again astonished at God's sweetness to me in revealing the Gospel. the only hope that i can bank on is that Christ came and lived a perfect life, died in my place to satisfy the wrath of God for sin, and then He rose gloriously and is now sitting at the right hand of the Father.

this is the Gospel.

what a gift, what a Savior!

To be reconciled completely to my Maker, only through the blood of Christ and His imputed righteousness He has given me, through faith alone by grace alone!
The only thing that gives me peace with God is the fact that Jesus has come and taken my sinful, dead heart and replaced it with a heart that now wants to glorify God and find my delight in Him alone!

what a joy, what a Savior!

May He grant you deeper affections in the Christ and consider more every day the wonder and beauty of the Gospel, this free gift of grace! Rejoice that even while we were dead in our trespasses, Christ died for the ungodly! May we treasure our Redeemer and long for His Return!

"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

-Philippians 2:5-11-

i love this song:

2008-08-12T20:55:00.000-04:00

O Great God
(words & music by Bob Kauflin)
~
O great God of highest heaven
Occupy my lowly heart
Own it all and reign supreme
Conquer every rebel power
Let no vice or sin remain
That resists Your holy war
You have loved and purchased me
Make me Yours forevermore
~
I was blinded by my sin
Had no ears to hear Your voice
Did not know Your love within
Had no taste for heaven’s joys
Then Your Spirit gave me life
Opened up Your Word to me
Through the gospel of Your Son
Gave me endless hope and peace
~
Help me now to live a life
That’s dependent on Your grace
Keep my heart and guard my soul
From the evils that I face
You are worthy to be praised
With my every thought and deed
O great God of highest heaven
Glorify Your Name through me

Kirstina and Jordan Stone

2008-08-09T15:02:00.006-04:00

1/2 Marathon, anyone?

2008-08-09T12:19:00.005-04:00

Do you want to run a 1/2 marathon with me? Any takers? pretty please! (this is a pic of my new running shoes)

A long-term goal of mine has been to run the Full Marathon (26.22 miles). Yet, I need to work up to that goal, so I figured I should start with the 1/2 marathon first! It maybe super hard and kill me, but I'm willing to take the leap! :) But, when in life will I have the time to actually train and prepare for one? I figure this might be the best timing! I have started and stopped training for one so many times that I can't even count. Which is sad to say, but true. Perhaps, if I blogged about it, I would have more accountability to actually complete one! I googled for the next one in Louisville and it's October 19th. So, I have like 3 months to train!

If you're interested, let me know and we can run the longer runs together on the weekends. If not, I'm still doing it. I'm taking the jump and going to start preparing! It's a good discipline for my body and it will be fun goal to achieve too! Let me know! I'm going to start training for it this week.

I'll put up a running plan next post....also I'll put up pics from my trip home last week w/ an update! (check my facebook for pics if you can't wait) It was great to see my family and thankful for it! I can't believe school is starting August 19th! Summer time is almost over! crazy how fast it went!

family

2008-07-21T21:34:00.011-04:00

Going to Dallas tomorrow...

Please pray for the time with my family. That the Lord would bring a refreshing to us all in unity, with thanksgiving through Christ. That we would be strengthen in our inner-being as we fellowship together! I only go home twice a year and really desire for the Lord to use this time well in furthering my families unity in Christ. May we treasure Christ and His sweet grace upon us and continue to pour out grace to each other in reflecting the Gospel. Even so that His Spirit would grow our love for Him more and more through His Word, that we could not help but love and cover each other with grace, as so our Father has done so with us!

My heart is burden in several ways this past week or so and just desire for much growth and change from our Lord. It's true that often we don't have because we don't ask. The Lord is gracious to hear our prayers....and remembering the sermon at church yesterday, the Lord will continue His purposes for His people. Despite how diverse our backgrounds(personalities) might be, how slow we can be in learning, and how we can still struggle with the same sin...the Lord is merciful to complete His purposes for His people. This is seen throughout the early church in the book of Acts and we can see this truth today. God shows His glory through weak people and advances His kingdom despite their lack of trust in Him. The truth that He is the dependent factor in changing us and in revealing Himself to the Nations...is extremely encouraging! Our Pastor Ryan, went through these points seen in Acts and I highly encourage you to listen to that sermon off our churches website!

I don't know about you, but often when I go home I can struggle with the same tendencies of sin and unbelief as I did growing up. It's like a flashback of my old sin patterns and just desire for the Lord to give abundant grace to cause me to remember the Gospel and God's faithful promises during my time at home. And that I would use this time to rest well, resting in the Lord and not just wasting time or growing in laziness! Finding deep rest in Christ through His living Word and letting that be what waters me and causes me to love my family well.

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 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. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,and arise from the dead,and Christ will shine on you.”

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ."
Ephesians 5:1-21

Thanks for the prayers, I am eternally grateful for them...unto His glory we pray! Amen!

Kept By God in Christ

2008-07-17T19:23:00.008-04:00

I am so thankful that the Lord is my Keeper. I am at work right now and was just reading through the Valley of Vision prayers. Which is always refreshing reminder of the Gospel. I originally was just going to post a prayer below, but wanted to share my interesting conversation I just had...

We just had our 15 minute break and I was talking to this guy at work, who happens to be a devout Mormon who did a 2-year mission in Thailand.

...On a side note, I have a heart for Mormons and there are several I work with. Several years ago I got to live in Salt Lake City for a summer and serve with Hidden Valley Presbyterian Church. I spent the summer loving on the youth group girls and encouraging them with the Gospel of grace found in Christ alone. It was an incredible summer growing in the knowledge of Christ and how we were saved only through His grace, not by works. It was such a blessing to work this Gospel-centered and Christ-exalting church, I am forever changed through my time spent in Utah! Pray for this church to continue to be a light in a city that clings to Mormon belief's of works-based salvation to receive peace with God! Oh my heart needs to be more burden for the deceived and lost around me, for apart from grace in Christ I would be in the same place!

...Okay, now that you are caught up to speed...we (my co-worker and I) just had some good dialogue at break that has left me challenged! It started off by him asking how my j-term class went because I had told him I was taking a class over the New Testament last week. Now it gets tricky! The thing that blows me away is that what I explained about the New Testament, he agreed with me. I tried to prob more questions to him about why the Mormon's used there Book of Mormon's in addition to the Bible. You can tell that he has had a lot of experience in explaining what they believe. Yet, they use the very same terminology as Christians do! It's hard to get any where because they think we are meaning the same thing, when I say key words like, "gospel" and "grace" and "salvation". We had to get back to work, but I said to him that I would like to continue to discuss this more later. He agreed.

I'm explaining this story because I'm asking for two things:

Prayer. Please pray for my Mormon friends here at work. That the Lord would give me favor and wisdom in discussing true Christianity with them in how the absolute truth found in the Bible competes and wins over Mormonism. That the Spirit of God would move and soften their hearts to desire to know the true God of Scripture and bring conviction of the fallacies of their belief and in His kindness bring them to repentance and faith in Christ.
Can anyone have any tips in evangelizing to Mormon's? I see that its over my head and totally dependent on the Holy Spirit's work. I need to grow in understanding still and knowing how to communicate clearly the excellencies of God and dispute their wrong-thinking and teaching! Again, this is so humbling and sobering that the God of creation would use His little children to declare the goodness of God in the face of Christ! So really, if you could help me with tools and ideas of communicating clearly to them, let me know! Please PRAY for much grace in all of this!!

Oh how I take for grant it the grace I have been given in Christ. That it was His complete righteousness that I needed and the only way I could ever have peace with God. It was His life, death and resurrection that was necessary, for there would not be forgiveness of sins without it! For Christ is my only Hope for today and eternity....may we declare the true Gospel to all we encounter. For His Return is sooner then ever! Let's hasten' His Return together, unto His glory alone! Amen!

"Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!" -Romans 11:3

READ. STUDY. GROW. SERVE.

2008-07-05T11:13:00.018-04:00

My Recommended Books for Summer Gospel-Centered Reading (and the list goes on...we are blessed with Christ-centered authors in past generations and even this generation! I'm taking a summer school class starting this Monday and have to get back to reading my "assigned reading" plan for my New Testament 1 class! But, if you have time and want to be refreshed in the sweetness of the Gospel-check out these books!):

1. Because He Loves Me By Elyse Fitzpatrick

2. Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye: Trusting God with a Hope Deferred By Caroline McCulley

3. Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots By J. C. Ryle

4. Loving God with All Your Mind By Elizabeth George

5. When God Weeps: Why Our Sufferings Matter to the Almighty By Joni Eareckson Tada and Steven Estes

6. To the Golden Shore: The Life of Adoniram Judson By Courtney Anderson

7. Running Scared: Fear, Worry & the God of Rest By Edward T. Welch

8. Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts By Jerry Bridges

change is hard, but not impossible in Christ!

2008-06-25T18:55:00.017-04:00

Check out this article! It really was helpful today. John Piper is explaining the importance of treasuring Christ above all else. He described what it means to covet:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"There is no difference between the Hebrew word for desire and the Hebrew word for covet. Coveting means desiring something too much. And too much is measured by how that desiring compares to desiring God. If desiring leads you away from God rather than closer to God, it is covetousness. It is sin."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was struck with the fact that this is a daily struggle in my life. I am quick to compare myself with others in "blessings" the Lord has given them and not me. Even today, my heart struggled with coveting over what a dear friend of mine received. My response was sinful in my heart. I responded in questioning God in why He hasn't given me that blessing! I repented to the Lord and realized how much my heart is so prone to deceive me. The truth is I am greatly blessed!! I have been given a wonderful Redeemer who has qualified me to share in His inheritance through the blood He has shed! "All You have shown me is grace, love and mercy. Now and forever I am Your child." I wonder if the Lord ever grows tired of my complaining?!! eeeee!! Oh me of little faith!

Thankfully, God is greater then our hearts (1 John 3:20)! He is teaching me so much in this time and in all of His delays and detours, He is using it all for my very good! May the Lord continue to mature us from our former way of thinking and idols in our hearts (idolaters, enviousness, and all bitterness) ...and may He continue to make us treasurers of Christ alone!

heart questions:

Am I satisfied in all that God promised to be for me in Christ?
Am I treasuring anything or anyone in a way that competes with God’s supreme place in my life?

so, READ the article, it's helpful!

May we treasure Christ in the midst of our fight against our idolatrous and "idol making" hearts! For now we are NEW creations in Christ! For He is able to do this in us and has given us much grace to walk forward in obedience, unto His glory! Amen! (1 John 4:4)

unworthy to even untie His shoe laces

2008-06-13T20:51:00.008-04:00

some thoughts...

This past week I have been considering and wanting to grow in understanding of the mind of God. Lately, I have been dumb-founded with how my thoughts are so FAR differ then God's. I have no STINKIN' clue the mind of God (which am I owed this?)! At times, I think I'm kind of clued in to what He is doing and then some circumstance changes (that may seem for the worse) or a surprise blessings is given and I'm shocked at His plan. I know that I am not the one who gets to call the shots or control what is to come...in fact, most of the time I don't want that job. However, if I'm being ruthlessly honest, I know that I do want to be the deciding factor of what happens to my life...!

This is confession time and my heart is NOT so pretty! In fact, who am I? I must remember who I am in light of God! Job 38-42 always gives good perspective! I was not there when God laid the foundation of the earth and I have never seen His storehouses of snow or hail that He holds or the place where light is distributed or even know when the mountain goats give birth....all these things and more are governed and controlled by our Sovereign Lord and King! WOW to me to think I get to organize the happenings of my little life, for I am just the creature and that right is only worthy of the governing Creator! I must be brought low to see things in light of God's perspective.

For in faithfulness God afflicted me (Ps. 119:75), so that I may turn to Him and know Him. What a grace, that out of His love for us in Christ, He chooses to afflict us and cause us to turn to Him and rely on Him! Otherwise, I would be stuck in my unbelief and wrong thinking--that I get to control my life! Praise be to God to humble His people! For by this we know we are His children, for He disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 13). So for that, we should be rejoicing, knowing we are His! And He is my Great Reward! Thankfully, His ways are Higher and Far Better then my ways...oh for more grace to trust my gracious God and His perfect wisdom! Amen!

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." -Isaiah 55:8-9

"For who has understood the mind of the Lord so to instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ." -1 Corinthians 2:16

"No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you." -John 15:15

Still Alive...

2008-06-11T22:24:00.003-04:00

Hey Everyone...I am still alive and doing okay! I have moved in officially to my new house and LOVE it! Such a blessing already! I live with a sweet couple from Church, Jack and Heather. AND a sweet sisterfriend from my church, Lyssa! I will put pictures up next post! It's a pretty sweet set-up, might I add! I get my own room for cheap rent and the luxury of living in a house with sweet fellowship! Very gracious of God!

Hope all of you are doing well! It has been challenging past couple of days...I'd appreciate prayer! Yet, it's good of God to humble me and want to keep on humbling me, to make me more dependent on Him...for this is His love to me! Therefore, I have much Hope....that this too will past...and will continue to conform me into His image. Which is exactly what is Best!

May He continue to fulfill His purposes for me and may He continue to receive all the glory!

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever."
-Psalm 23

Packing and Diet Cherry Coke!

2008-05-22T14:14:00.004-04:00

Nothing goes better with packing then Diet Cherry Coke! That's what I'm doing today and for the rest of the weekend...packing with some Diet Cherry Coke breaks and perhaps a couple of friend breaks too! That's the latest for me!

AND yes, I'm still waiting to hear back from the job....I've called a lot and haven't got any responses back....maybe this is a closed door? Pray for me, that the Lord would make it clear, so I can start looking else where if I need to!? I really would enjoy this new job! I haven't given details about it yet b/c its not for sure I have it?! Hopefully I will know either way by the end of this week! Please Pray! .....back to the fun-filled day of packing until I work tonight! eeeee!! Thankfully the Lord really knows and holds all things together, especially when it feels very gray on a lot of fronts! Oh for more grace to trust Him! :)

Updates:

2008-05-19T17:29:00.005-04:00

The Lord is so gracious to me! And all my days I will sing of His everlasting Faithfulness, through His providing Grace! No matter what the circumstances may be, we know that He is good and upright and faithful to keep us firm until the very end...my friend on the phone this morning reminded me that God's Word is what remains and will never fade away. Pointing me to Mark 13:31 in where it says: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." What confidence we have in our Creator God who will never be shaken, even if at the time we feel a little bit shaken! Thank you to my friend, who reminded me of the Gospel...very timely words!

Change is all around me! Which, I do invite but can be hard when its happening all at the same time! I feel a little shaky with the changes, yet I know that it will be for my benefit and growth and that my Anchor in Christ is secure!

New Job, which means training should start next couple of weeks....more on that later!
Moving from my campus apartment into a house with a family! This is such a blessing because I didn't ask for this, but the Lord open the door for me! Its a young couple from my church who lives 5 houses down from our church! They recently renovated their entire house and have the upstairs ready for two boarders! There are two rooms upstairs for me and another single girl! So, it will be extremely nice and just all around a great environment to live in! Yet, I do feel a little bitter-sweet b/c I'm going to miss my room-mate now...but we are ending on a good note and she understands that this is going to be helpful for me b/c I will be able to save money and live more cheaply! Such a grace for our Lord! Just really want to payback my school loans as quickly as I can!
And there is something else, but don't feel free quite yet to blog about it...will eventually, Lord willing! If you know me well you prob. know what the scoop is...so I ask that you'd pray for wisdom in this as well! :)

In total, these aren't the craziest changes ever, but enough to make me not too comfortable, so that the Lord would use this to grow me up and make me mature in Him! And, often I have to admit, when things become too comfortable I can become complacent and less reliant on our Lord...which is the very thing that He is wanting to prevent! I just need more trust, grace, and rest in Christ!

Also, thanks for your prayers because my parents arrived home safely this past Thursday night! They got back to McKinney, TX very simply! Now, they are in Colorado because Dad is receiving some award from his old job...but at least they are back state-side and have access to their cell phones! I've enjoyed talking to them both several times and have heard interesting stories from their travels! Until later....grace and peace in Christ, friends!

Oh to the harder providences of God...

2008-05-14T19:12:00.006-04:00

I ask that you'd pray for my parents and that the Gospel of Christ would go forward through this earthquake disaster! My parents have been in China these past several weeks, right in the area of where the earthquake hit! Thankfully, the Lord has protected them and their friends who are there. However, records show that there is a shocking 10 Thousand + who have been killed as a result! There is utter chaos all around them and shortage on food, water, and medical supplies. This is beyond anything I have ever seen in real life, the pictures I've seen look like a movie! I am sobered and reminded of how much we need our Lord to intervene, not only for my parents but for the Chinese Christian church to be bold in witness and declare the glory of God in the face of Christ! That the Kingdom would advance through this natural disaster! Thank you for your prayers! My parents are scheduled to fly home tomorrow (May 15th) yet we are not sure there will be many flights available! Pray that they would be able to return safely and that they'd be bold in faith in the midst of seeing so much tragedy!

So what do I do now? I turn to the One who hears our prayers and is faithful to care for His children! In my dad's email, he mentioned Psalm 46, it couldn't be more fitting to meditate on!

"God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,I will be exalted in the earth!”
The Lord of hosts is with us;the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

movin' on up...

2008-05-10T14:12:00.008-04:00

guess what?

I may get a different job! Yes, I think I am surprised by this too! I'll let you in on the details soon! For now, please pray for God's wisdom and direction! Just been enjoying and reading in James this past little bit and it's full of nice truth reminding me to pray with-out doubt for God's wisdom, that He is faithful to provide and lead us forward! Totally need His perfect wisdom and insight! This is kind of bitter-sweet...not sure if I'm ready to have a grown up job? eeeeee!! I'll keep you posted...

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
-James 1:5-8

"But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."
-James 3:17-18

loving is costly, but worth it

2008-05-06T21:48:00.007-04:00

"There is no safe investment. To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket — safe, dark, motionless, airless — it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell. I believe that the most lawless and inordinate loves are less contrary to God’s will than a self-invited and self-protective lovelessness…We shall draw nearer to God, not by trying to avoid the sufferings inherent in all loves, but by accepting them and offering them to Him; throwing away all defensive armour. If our hearts need to be broken, and if He chooses this as a way in which they should break, so be it."
-CS Lewis, "The Four Loves"

My dear friend/mentor, Patti Wither's shared this quote with me the other day when I was meeting with her. Reminding me that it is FAR better to love then to walk away. We are called as Christians to be known for our love. Perhaps, that is not the first thing on my mind, I am quick to be so self-centered in love. Oh how I long to point people to the love that has been given to me in Christ. That I would resolve at every station I find myself in to love. Regardless of how I feel, how busy I think I am, or how risky it may seem. It is completely worth it.

How? Why?
Well, now are able to love each other well, unto the glory of God. This is only possible through the work of Christ. He has given us a new heart and has written on our new heart His law (Ezekiel 36:26-28), which can be summed up by "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself"(Luke 10:27). Therefore, we are new creations, the old is gone and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17-18). What hope this brings because the Lord is going to continue to provide all the grace I need to love. This is freeing because it's not a love that is built in my strength or my vanity or for my glory. He will cause me to love, despite who I naturally am. In order to point to the One who has the power to change sinners and make them love in the way the Christ has loved us first. This is the mystery of the power of the Gospel at work!

Let us grow in love for each other by bearing with each other and even learning to love when the love is not returned. For ultimately that is the Gospel. Christ loved at all cost. He never stopped going forward to the Cross until His love for His people was fully expressed through the shedding of His own blood. Christ is the ultimate display of love. Therefore, we have hope that He will teach us to love each other and learn to prefer each other over our own interest.

May He give us grace to walk worthy in the manner of which He has called us. May He pour grace over our lives and remind us of the love He has given us, so that we may in turn and love those He has placed around us. Not in vain but simply so we may reflect His love!

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

sad news...but always Hope in the Gospel

2008-05-02T21:30:00.011-04:00

Last night I heard some very sad and sobering news (this is post is long, but stay with me) about my Grandpa Rogers (my Mom's dad). I have to say that it didn't come in the timing I thought and in the way I expected, perhaps it never does. Truthfully, I haven't thought of my Grandpa in a good while. That's sad to say, but true. He lived in Long Beach, Oregon all my life...and I hardly knew him.

Now saying all that, this grieves me now when I tell you that he passed away the morning of April 30th. Here's what my Dad and Mom wrote in an email that we all received the other night (and to be honest, I learned more about him through this brief summary of his life...for those who know me well--I have a fascination with Canada, and He's Canadian...I had no idea) :

"On April 30, Manis "Rog" Rogers - your grandfather, passed away. Your grandfather was born November 20, 1916 in Canada. As you are aware he lived a very tough life on a farm and left home after his Mother remarried. He made his way to Iowa and became a baker, later joining the Army during WWII. He spent time in the European theater and at the conclusion of the war came back to Oregon, where he met your grandmother Estella Rogers. Pam was born in 1950 and lived in Beaverton, Oregon where she attended elementary and High school. Rog and Estella had one son (Eddy who lived a hard life... after school working in the commercial fishery industry in Washington). Pam's father left Estella and his family for a life to be lived out along the Washington coast. He became a charter boat Captain, later worked as a commercial fisherman on his own boat. When being a commercial fisherman became to tough physically, as he advanced in years, he received training in auto mechanics and opened his own shop in Long Beach, WA. After selling his mechanics shop he spent part of his time as a gold prospector traveling the West coast panning, and hydro-sluicing, with very modest results. He enjoyed the out of doors and this provided him time to travel and be engaged in the excitement of discovery. His small plot of land in Long Beach, where we all visited, was a special spot for him and in later years became his central pleasure and pass-time. We enjoyed annual visits with him during this later part of his life. In '06, he told us just prior to arriving in Long beach, that he did not want us to visit him because he felt too embarrassed about his loss of a considerable amount of mobility. When we visited him in the Fall of '07 we did not tell him that we were going to visit him... we just showed up and ended up having a good visit.

The executor of his will, Jan Ross and her husband who lives in the Long Beach area, have been wonderful friends for over 40 years. Pam and I spent time with Jan during each visit, and communicated fairly regularly with her about Dad's needs and condition. Justin, Eddy's son, called us a week or so before we left on this current trip letting us know that Dad had again experienced a turn for the worst. Upon medical testing they had discovered growths on his lung and ribs - likely cancerous - though he was not strong enough at that time to have them biopsied. We thought this might have been completed if he had regained his strength (which was uncertain). As we communicated with you, the doctors felt he had six months or so to live, and after discussion with both Jan and Justin we made plans to visit him in Long Beach next month (June). Another complication was that Grandpa Rog had a stroke which hindered his ability to speak - no one was certain if this would be permanent or temporary.

The first morning, after arriving in China, we received an email from Justin letting us know that Grandpa Rogers had passed-on (April 30, 2008). Grandpa Roger had expressed to both of us his earnest desire to not suffer long when it was his time to "go" - he got his wish. Jan and Justin had visited him everyday during his very brief hospital and nursing home stay. It was his explicit wishes that there be no funeral or memorial service for him. He had voiced this to us several times and had even left these instructions in his will. We had discussed his wishes with him about leaving his property in Long Beach to Jan and her husband for their long and faithful care and friendship (40 years) - he once told us, "you guys don't need this little plot of land in Washington". Throughout our married life we prayed for your Grandpa Roger's salvation. Over the last years, we visited him annually and numerous times attempted to share with him about the redemption that could be his in our Lord. To our knowledge, we are unaware of him receiving the Lord Jesus as his savior. Over the last day we have taken time to grieve and pray... his passing no doubt will take time to process, but we have peace that our righteous and loving Lord, who knows each man's heart and their eternal destiny, will show his wisdom throughout his entire creation. We now trust Grandpa Rogers into our Eternal God's hands! Pam and I have been comforted by the words of a verse from an old song and wish to share them with you....

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

By His mercy we remain with you in His abiding presence! Be comforted in the fact that your Grandpa Rogers did not suffer, lived a long life and had a wonderful daughter, your Mom - Pam. Please pray for her over the next days; we'll be praying for you as well! We look forward to seeing you when we return - we will attempt to call you in the next few days as conditions permit. Attached are two photos which we thought you'd like to have from our last visit with your Grandfather.
All our love,
Dad & Mom"

Wasn't he cute?

Here's a sweet-tender Gospel-centered song:
I Have a Shelter
"I have a shelter in the storm
When troubles pour upon me
Though fears are rising like a flood
My soul can rest securely
O Jesus, I will hide in You
My place of peace and solace
No trial is deeper than Your love
That comforts all my sorrows

I have a shelter in the storm
When all my sins accuse me
Though justice charges me with guilt
Your grace will not refuse me
O Jesus, I will hide in You
Who bore my condemnation
I find my refuge in Your wounds
For there I find salvation

I have a shelter in the storm
When constant winds would break me
For in my weakness, I have learned
Your strength will not forsake me
O Jesus, I will hide in You
The One who bears my burdens
With faithful hands that cannot fail
You’ll bring me home to heaven"

Today, I do feel better. I am reminded of our Father's goodness. That we can really look at God's character and find complete rest. Even though we do not know where Grandpa Roger is today, we do know we have a gracious God who loves sinners. It's a mystery of what actually happened on his death bed. What he was thinking about and if the Lord led him to repentance and faith in Christ. Yet, I don't have to know. And, I guess I'm actually okay with that.

I was pretty low yesterday and more so last night. I was glad that my parents called from China to check on me and see how I was feeling. They know me well, and that I verbally process my thoughts out loud. They were a good listeners to me as I was processing my thoughts. Thank you Mom and Dad for your care for me! And for my sister, April. She was so gracious to me last night as well. She let me cry and explain all the thoughts that were clouding my mind (both rational and irrational) . I love to see the Lord's care and how His care always comes in the right way. Looking at God and His character brings rest. Being reminded of the beauty of the Gospel and that I have a Redeemer, brings deep rest.

The most challenging thing my sisters and I discussed is that we never really had any form of relationship with him. I feel challenged that I never tried to pursue anything with him. We did live on opposite sides of the country...but still. I have this precious gift of the Gospel and I regret not going and sharing it with him, personally. My sisterfriend, Jenn reminded me the other day that people believing the Gospel in not dependent on me. Yes, we are called to go and share, but then to leave it in God's wisdom and hands in leading them to repentance and faith in Christ. The power rest in God alone. Not little Anna! Thank goodness! Thanks Jenn for reminding me of this truth! The Lord is providential and "knew this day long before he made me out of dirt." And so...today I can have rest and have confidence that God is good in all of this and COMPLETELY Sovereign.

The Lord has reminded me how often I don't live life in the right perspective. Death always reminds us that this life is not our home...James 4:13-15 says it best:

"Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes."

I pray that we would live in such a way--radical obedience and boldness of sharing the goodness of Christ, until He takes us Home! May He give us the sweet grace to do so, for His great Glory!

my big 25th birthday weekend...some highlights!

2008-04-14T10:41:00.007-04:00

Lunch with Mierma family

Me and Patti and Mom

Sweet friends from church threw me a surprise

party at the Clothes Closet!

sweet friends

Care group girls

My two set of parents!

My roomie, Chandler

Laughing

My sweet parents came into town to celebrate!

i love hymns...

2008-04-04T21:50:00.004-04:00

Whate'er My God Ordains Is Right

1. Whate’er my God ordains is right, Holy His will abideth.
I will be still whate’er He does, And follow where He guideth.
He is my God, Though dark my road.
He holds me that I shall not fall
Wherefore to Him I leave it all

2. Whate’er my God ordains is right, He never will deceive me
He leads me by the proper path, I know He will not leave me
I take, content,What He hath sent
His hand can turn my griefs away
And patiently I wait His day

3. Whate’er my God ordains is right,Though now this cup in drinking
May bitter seem to my faint heart, I take it all unshrinking
My God is true, Each morn anew
Sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart
And pain and sorrow shall depart

4. Whate’er my God ordains is right, Here shall my stand be taken
Though sorrow, need, or death be mine, Yet I am not forsaken
My Father’s care Is round me there
He holds me that I shall not fall
And so to Him I leave it all
©1998 David Braud Music

"pray without ceasing"

2008-04-03T21:52:00.018-04:00

"My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep." Psalm 121:2-4

Our faithful God answers prayers. We all have seen answered prayer, from the big stuff to the mundane requests. Yet, often when I'm in the middle of a certain request that seems so urgent for God to answer, I become over-whelmed with the request that it consumes me. Like God needs to answer it immediately and/or in my way that I think is best! Well, let's be honest this is not good. Who can truly understand the mind of God? Who am I to be so demanding? I have no rights to demand from God, but we are told that we can present our requests to God (Philippians 4:6), He's faithful to hear them. I want to learn the balance of praying without ceasing, but guard against becoming impatient with the Lord when He may be working in other ways that are better for me (that I can't see), and so delaying my requests or perhaps saying no.

More and more I am convinced that I have no clue what I really need. Which is good because I can trust that the Lord does and that He will give me what I need in every station of life. In fact, He has given me all that I need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), He has given me His Son. And like the Psalmist said above, He the Keeper of my life. In fact, He is so very different then I am...He never needs to sleep and never grows impatient!

The reason I wanted to share this is because tonight a little prayer of mine has been answered! I starting praying specifically for it Monday night and found out just an hour ago that it has been answered...it was pretty urgent that the Lord would answer it, and He did in His right way. It's nice when God reminds us that He does hear our prayers (even the little ones)...and in the prayers that haven't been answered (like salvation for friends and family,better job, future husband, future stuff in general) I can rest that He knows and is in fact is sovereign over all my prayers and desires and needs! And is giving me exactly what I need for today, so that I may worship Him and depend upon Him.

Praise God that He remains faithful, when I can be so faithless! His providence in my life is always for my good and always for His glory! May we learn to pray without ceasing and walk in confidence that our Father knows and is gracious to His children! Let's keep lifting our hearts to the One who holds all things together, for this is where our true help comes from!

A John Piper Quote from his book Future Grace:

"It's a deepening, ripening, peaceful willingness to wait for God in the unplanned place of obedience, and to walk with God at the unplanned place of obedience-to wait in his place, to go at his pace. And the key is faith in future grace."

Happy Easter! ...here's two songs we sang on Easter Sunday!

2008-03-25T17:21:00.009-04:00

Christ the Lord is Risen Today!

"Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!

Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!

Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!

Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!

Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!

Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!

Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!

Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia!

Where's thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!

Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!

Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia!

Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia!

Praise to thee by both be given, Alleluia!

Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!

Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia!

King of glory, soul of bliss, Alleluia!

Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!

Thee to know, thy power to prove, Alleluia!

Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia! "

-Charles Wesley, 1739

See What a Morning

"See, what a morning, gloriously bright,

With the dawning of hope in Jerusalem;

Folded the grave-clothes, tomb filled with light,

As the angels announce, "Christ is risen!"

See God's salvation plan, Wrought in love,

borne in pain, paid in sacrifice,

Fulfilled in Christ, the Man, For He lives:

Christ is risen from the dead!

See Mary weeping, "Where is He laid?"

As in sorrow she turns from the empty tomb;

Hears a voice speaking, calling her name;

It's the Master, the Lord raised to life again!

The voice that spans the years,

Speaking life, stirring hope, bringing peace to us,

Will sound till He appears,

For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!

One with the Father, Ancient of Days,

Through the Spirit who clothes faith with certainty.

Honor and blessing, glory and praise

To the King crowned with pow'r and authority!

And we are raised with Him,

Death is dead, love has won, Christ has conquered;

And we shall reign with Him,

For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!"

-Keith Getty, 2003

what Day was yesterday...?

2008-03-22T11:24:00.015-04:00

Yesterday...March 21st was my Mom's Birthday!!
She is such a blessing...and I want her to know how much I love her!!

Here's our family's silly Birthday song:
"Happy Birthday Happy, Happy Birthday! This is your day, so have a lot of Fun!
Blow out the candles on your cake and make a wish and we'll serve every body's favorite dish, Happy Birthday Happy, Happy Birthday! This is your day, so have a lot of fun!!"

Thanks Mom for all you do and have done for me all of my life!!! I am eternally grateful for your care and unconditional love that points me to our Christ!!:)

Here is a list of characteristics that make my Mom very Special:
1. Her listening ear
2. Her quick to encourage heart
3. Her love for the Nations and the lost around her
4. Her love for traveling and learning
5. Her love for reading
6. Her care for our family and her church
7. Her quick wit humor!
8. Her great skills in spontaneous tap dancing!:)
9. Her ability to spell crazy hard words!
10. Her teach ability and desire to grow in the Lord!
11. Her graciousness in forgiving quickly when wrong done to her!
12. Her example in submission/helper to her husband, Biblical Womanhood!
13. Her prayers and love for the word of God!

...these are just some ways the Lord has made her and how He has and is transforming her more into the image of Christ! It is so fun to see the Lord working in my Mom's heart, for her good and God's glory!

I hope you had a wonderful day Mom, and that you were super refreshed and encouraged and reminded of God's faithfulness to you all of your days!!

I LOVE YOU! But, Most of All, God has set His Love on you in Christ!

Happy Birthday Happy!

the perscuted church...

2008-03-14T18:59:00.012-04:00

Here's a website that helps awareness of what is going on around the world! It breaks us from our little "bubble" in the west and shows us what God is up to around the world! Check it out! And join and be a member in order to see latest news and prayer request! Even though we may not be able to go overseas right now to share our hope in Christ, we have a huge role to play in praying for the ones who are risking their life's in dangerous areas abroad! I pray that God would grow our vision for His heart for the Nations and that we would be obedient in prayer...that the Lord would be exalted among all the Nations...and in that His Kingdom would come! For Christ is the Hope of the Nations and God is gracious in drawing His children to Himself and He won't stop till He gathers His people to worship Him!

I have a desire to "Go" to the Nations...I'm not sure what that will look like? If that means the Lord wants me to be faithful to mobilize His heart for the Nations state-side and be intentional with "loving my neighbor" here, or perhaps He has a place for me over-seas!? I do love cultures and learning from those who are different from me! Please pray that the Lord would direct my steps for my future...for His glory, I pray!

"Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in all the earth!" -Psalm 46:10

What will be your part in advancing His kingdom? Will it be through the faithful work you do at your job, school, neighborhood, in your family and at your church (all given through His grace and the "good gifts He has prepared in advance for us to walk in")? This to is how His Kingdom is advanced...through His children being faithful to proclaim Him in place He has placed us! Perhaps it will be to "Go"! This has been an increasing desire of mine ever since I hit my college days...for now it's time to wait and see what the Lord has. Perhaps a better question is not "If I will go" but "When will I go?" May He give us a heart that is willing to risk our life...knowing we are not our own and are called to declare His name to all the earth! May He give "the persecuted church" boldness to share the Gospel and joy in Him in the midst of pain and struggle...knowing our destiny...that forever we will be with our King!! How can our mouths not share this hope we have!? And how often I am quick to not speak at all! May God give our hearts compassion for the lost and in truth and in love point them to our Christ! Oh, I need more grace to be faithful to share the Gospel where God has placed me today! Here's some truth in God's Word to remind us of our living hope...may He use His Word to change our hearts and that would change how we live! For His glory....lets be prayer worriers for the persecuted church!

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." -1 Peter 1:3-7

Snow Day!!

2008-03-11T00:58:00.008-04:00

Louisville can get snow! It's amazing to actually see snow and not just ice! We've already have had 3 snow days in the past month! So Fun! We were snowed in this past weekend and I didn't even have to go to work! Instead, we went sliding!! So Fun! I wonder if this will be our last snow day of the season? Even though I'm ready for Spring to come, I'm thankful for this season today and learning to enjoy each season in life. Knowing that it's the Lord who places us where we are for our very good, that we might know Him more. For we have so much to be thankful for! The Lord is teaching me the art of thankfulness and true contentment. This most likely will be a life-time process to grow in thankfulness! He is committed more then I am, to conform me into His image and to make me fully delighted in Him alone (not just the gifts He gives or circumstance). May God continue to change us to be thankful in Him, overflowing from a heart of worship. He has given more than we ever knew we needed, Redemption through His beloved Son! As Christians, we ought to be the most happy, joyful people alive!! I have been forgiven much, so considering Christ should produce genuine thankfulness....even when life's hard and circumstances seem mundane! By His grace, let's look to our Redeemer and walk in thankfulness!! ...Anyone have other thoughts/insights about thankfulness you want to share to help in this journey?!

Enjoy the pics!

"Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Check out my Slide Show!

2008-03-06T11:14:00.001-05:00

I've Been Tagged!!!

2008-03-05T22:43:00.010-05:00

Thanks Jill for tagging me!! ...this brings up many funny memories, and great laughs!:)

10 Years Ago:
I was a freshman in high school walkin' the fast lane of Popularity....No wait, let's be honest here. I was the shy, awkward and bit silly and naive. I was on the tennis team and just tried to stay out of the way of upper class man. I think the reason I joined tennis team was for the way "cute" older guys on the team. I played board games on the weekends with my two best friends, which would often end by one of them peeing on themselves (not me) because we were laughing so hard, I can't tell you what we were laughing at...but we often did and often were super silly! Oh the old days that I can laugh at now, for reals. But, thankfully God is merciful to change us and mature us from our stupidity (in which He is still doing).

Things on My To Do List Today:
*Meet with some girls this morning for coffee at 7:30am (and I wasn't late!)
*Work out after that (and I actually did).
*Read for my classes (I still have tons more to read, which is normal).
*Lunch with my friend Esther and then planned to "read" together after! aka, talk more after!
*Work from 6-11pm

What Would I Do If I Suddenly Became a Billionaire?
I think I would freak out and pay for every person I know who has school loans (self-included). Then in my room-mates exact words, "feed Africa, cure cancer, free all air pollution". I'm on board with that...and then send out tons of missionaries to all the nations who haven't heard the Gospel yet. Then, let's be honest perhaps after I finish my masters here, go back to school to study the arts and practice painting under famous artist....that would be so cool. Oh, and did I mention travel, travel, travel! ....And, finish my personal library collection of every book I've ever wanted to own and perhaps get around to read! OK, I'm done, I promise. :)

3 of My Bad Habits:
1. I can't spell very well (and I don't always catch my errors, and being in grad. school to write papers doesn't always work out so well!)
2. Sometimes I don't brush my teeth before bed....I know that sounds gross, but sometimes I'm just too tired and/or lazy to get around to do it....I know that it can't be good because I drink coffee! yuk, I'm grossing my self out....maybe I'll work on that! At least I maintain washing them in the morning regularly.
3. I rarely vacuum my car out and get all the crumbs and junk all out! OK, this is kind of making me seem super dirty...but I'm not that disgusting. I just don't take time to clean it out in a super detailed way. And, so I spill say Diet Coke on the carpet...I think, "oh well, not the first time it's happen" ....maybe I should work on this too!

5 Jobs I've Had:
1. Baby-sitting was my first job.
2. I worked for a small family's insurance company. Needless to say, I didn't last long. It was my first "real" job at 16 and I was left alone in a little office by myself each day. I ended up calling my friends, sisters, mom and just talked with them while I "worked"( I didn't have my own cell phone yet, so I would take my mom's for my personal calling time at work). I was so bored and don't think they really liked me there either...that we had a mutual agreement that I'd stop working there. It lasted all of two months, I'm surprised I made it that long!
3. I worked at the Gap in High School, the one at the Collin Creek Mall....and this fit me very well! I loved working there, until I had to graduate and go to college and grow up.
4. Cleaning houses for some extra cash flow from time to time in college.
5. Working at a Collection agency for Library's is my current job. I have to say, I never saw this coming in a million years. But, it's good for while I'm in school and yeah, it works out OK. Makes me laugh and others too, every time I tell someone!:) I had no clue that library's had collection agencies!!?

5 Things You Might Not Know About Me:
1. I've lived over-seas for a year and went back-packing through the UK and Europe, just being 18 years old (what were my parent's thinking?)
2. I love having my toes painted at all times, even in the winter months.
3. I enjoy a really good cleaning job....I get out my frustration on my tub and 409/bleach my stove like no other, speaking of which my little apartment needs that done again.
4. I just started eating scrambled eggs for the first time since "adulthood" about 8 months ago. I use to hate eggs and think how strange they were, and they are if you think about it. But if you add milk and cheese, and salt; it doesn't get much better for a tasty, cheap meal.
5. I don't have a middle name. In fact, my parents didn't give any of my sisters middle names!

Now I'm Tagging: My room-mate Chandler, my sister Aimee and Ali, and my friend Jennifer Simmans, and anyone who wants to fill this out on your blog....let me know if you do! (not sure if any of these girls will, but might as will ask!:)

Introducing: Jaxson Casey Henegar!

2008-03-03T19:16:00.015-05:00

My newest "little man" in my life.....my 5th nephew to be born (I have 2 cute nieces too)! All weekend I kept calling my sister's new baby, "my little man" because he was born with thick dark hair and looks already like a little man! Praise God for his health and easy delivery! And for my sister, April's health too! Everything went so smoothly this weekend! You would never believe that God made his heart to be on the right side of his little chest! What a miracle! Again, showing that it's God who sustains life! What a great picture of God's sustaining power in Jaxson's life! This will be a testimony to God's faithfulness to our family...we didn't know what the implications of his heart being on the opposite side of body would mean? Yet, so far this "little man" is doing really well! He was born at 8 pounds 11 ounces and was 20 3/4 inches long w/ wavy brown hair and great coloring! The doctor's will run some more tests this next month and see exactly what is happening inside his little body! I'm just curious to wonder how it's all working!?

For we know...The Lord is the one who formed him in his mother's womb and is the One who holds all of life together! We praise Him for he was fearfully and wonderfully made and hand-crafted by God's design! It was such a joy to be with my family this weekend to celebrate life and be reminded who is the Author of life!

Psalm 139:13-16

"For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the

depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me

were written in your book before one of them came to be."

(stay tuned for more family pictures from the weekend to come!)

Leaving on A Jet Plane....TOMORROW!

2008-02-27T23:34:00.004-05:00

I get to visit my family this weekend back in Texas!! I'm really thankful and excited to spend some time with them and meet my newest nephew who is due to be born Friday AM (pictures to come)!! I am blessed by such a gracious Lord, who Loves to give me good gifts that draw me back to Him!

Sing with me:

"When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride

See from his head, his hands, his feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did ever such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown

O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live
O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
All who gather here by grace draw near and bless
Your name

Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all"

(this song happens to be playing in the background right now as I write this post and was finding it very encouraging, wanted to remind you of it! ...what a sweet humble, King we serve and love, who gives grace to the needy and sustains the faint-hearted!)

"What is your One Thing?"

2008-02-16T10:48:00.006-05:00

"One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and seek him in his temple. (Ps.27:4)

Check out Paul Tripp's blog. Recently I have been reading his blog, and have found it to be most encouraging! Here's a quote from this blog entry from "What is your One Thing?" based off the verse above:

"It's an incredible statement, one that I'm not sure I could honestly make. It's made even more powerful when you realize that it's written by a man who's under attack. His "one thing" isn't safety, or vindication, or victory. His "one thing" isn't power, control, or retribution. No, even under personal duress, the "one thing" that David wishes for is to be in God's house taking in the grandeur and glory of the beauty of the Lord. This desire was designed to be the central motivating desire of every person created by God and made in his image. And yet, this side of the Garden, it seems a statement that could only ever be made by a deeply devout human being.

It does beg the question, "What's your one thing?" What's the "one thing" that your heart craves? What's the "one thing" that you think would change your life? What's the "one thing" that you look to for satisfaction, contentment, or peace? What's the "one thing" that you mourn that you've had to live without? What's the "one thing" that fills your day-dreams and commands your sleepy meditations? What's your one thing?

The spiritual reality for many of us is that that "one thing" is not the Lord. And the danger in that reality is this; your "one thing" will control your heart and whatever controls your heart will exercise inescapable influence over your words, choices, and actions. Your "one thing" will become the one thing that shapes and directs your responses to the situations and relationships of your daily life. If the Lord isn't your "one thing," the thing that is your "one thing" will be your functional lord."

Wow, this hit me...it's so crazy how easily we can make something become our "one thing" in replace of our Lord. I fall into this when I think of the future. I get a little panicky when I start to consider what is to come after I graduate? I realize that I DON'T NEED TO KNOW TODAY what the future is because it's not something I can control or even worry about for today!! I wonder what the Lord has for me...and wonder if the desires I have today are even going to come to pass? Yet, I'm reminded now of I Cor. 2:9 say that we can even imagine what the Lord has for us...because He is that loving towards us! We do know that He desires to conform us into His image for His glory. We know that He will NOT STOP changing us...until He completes what He started in us!

This is encouraging and this is my hope: that the Lord would be my "One Thing", for He alone holds all things and is worthy of all our worship. We were created to worship this King and find our heart's satisfaction in Him alone!

A side note:
Paul Tripp is an author and Biblical Counseling for CCEF in Phili. I'm reading one of his books for my classes this semester, "How People Change".
This book is very practical and helpful in considering our sanctification process and how the Gospel is really that powerful to change us, making us into His image for His glory!

You should read it! :)

snow.snow.snow.

2008-02-12T16:42:00.000-05:00

can you relate?

2008-02-09T09:48:00.000-05:00

"I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.

For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin."

-Romans 7:15-25

a little update

2008-02-02T00:07:00.000-05:00

I'm taking a class called Theological Foundations of Biblical Counseling (it's just a fancy title for explaining the importance of looking at God's Word for our final authority for counseling). The first class was this past Thursday from 12pm to 6pm...very intense! I was challenged with what our professor (Dr.Burrelli) taught. This class is going to stretch my thinking and I'm thankful for that.

I want to insert some of my notes from the class (later this week!) because it is helpful to consider the importance of laying the Bible as our foundation in all aspects of life. God's Word is such a grace because it show s us the beauty of Christ and why it was necessary for Him to come and live, die and rise again for our behalf! Praise Him for this great Love He has shown us through the blood of Christ! We are now reconciled to our Father and can approach His throne with confidence believing that He hears our prayers, struggles and joys...based on the righteousness of His Son.

I'm already growing a little weary and it's only the 2nd week of class!! Pray that the Lord would use these classes for His glory and grant me (us all) better understanding of who He is and as a result produce in me (us all) deeper affections for Him alone, through His living Word!! Oh how easily pleased I am and settle for His creation, rather then looking to the Creator! I am marked for eternity because of Christ; this alone should produce in me humble joy of thankfulness in my heart for our loving King! May we be marked as joyful and thankful people because our God is not only Just, but He is the Justifier--Praise God because I got to share this (the Gospel!) with my cleaning lady boss on tuesday, for to all He has called according to His purposes!

The answer for weariness is looking back to the Gospel by mediating on His Word of truth! I started to read the Psalms today because of the hopefulness the Psalmist brings of God's ever-loving help and care for His people. Meditating on God's Word is key in actually remembering it throughout the day, so when you are faced with unbelief you can recall truth that God keeps His covenant with His people and will sustain them!

Psalm 3:2-5

"But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,
my glory, and the lifter of my head.
I cried aloud to the Lord,
and he answered me from his holy hill.
I lay down and slept;
woke again, for the Lord sustained me."

Let us be a Voice...Let us Pray!

2008-01-23T19:46:00.000-05:00

Check out this Site. It is very sobering to consider the amount of deaths due to Abortion since 1973: 48 Million!!

Carolyn McCulley wrote an interesting article of this horrible epidemic that has spread, costing the lifes of unborn children! We must be a voice and light in this dark world...

and pray that this would come to an end! We trust that God hears our prayers and is faithful

to care for His people! Read the article and consider what ways you can be a part of of being a voice for those who don't have a voice! I'm challenged with how much I don't pray for this matter and others alike!

Christ is the only answer to this utter rebellion!

He has come to bring Light into this darkened world of destruction! May we cling to Him and find confidence to pray boldly for the unborn children!!

Therefore, we have Hope...our gracious God has the Final Word and Victory over sin and rebellion! Praise Him for this truth! And Let us Pray!

Psalm 8

"O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is thy name in all the earth, who hast displayed thy splendor above the heavens!

From the mouth of infants and nursing babes thou hast established strength, because of thine adversaries, to make the enemy and the revengeful cease.

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou dost take thought of him?

And the son of man, that thou dost care for him? Yet thou hast made him a little lower than God, and dost crown him with glory and majesty!

Thou dost make him to rule over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes through the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is thy name in all the earth! "

A Prayer.

2008-01-21T20:37:00.000-05:00

"O My Savior,
help me.
I am so slow to learn, so prone to forget, so weak to climb;
I am in the foothilll when I should be on the heights;
I am pained by my graceless heart,
my prayerless days,
my poverty of love,
my sloth in the heavely race,
my sullied conscience,
my wasted hours,
my unspent opportunities.
I am blind while light shines around me;
take the scales from my eyes,
grind to dust the evil heart of unbelief.
Make it my chiefest joy to study thee,
mediate on thee,
gaze on thee,
sit like Mary at thy feet,
lean like John on thy breast,
appeal like Peter to thy love,
count like Paul all things dung.
Give me increase and progress in grace so that there may be
more decision in my character,
more vigour in my purposes,
more elevation in my life,
more fervor in my devotion,
more constancy in my zeal.
As I have a position in the world,
keep me from making the world my position;
May I never seek in the creature
what can be found only in the Creator;
Let not faith cease from seeking thee until it vanishes into sight.
Ride forth in me, thou king of kings and lord of lords,
that I may live victoriously, and in victory attain my end."
Amen!

-The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions.
By Arthur Bennett

Marla's Wedding--January 1st!

2008-01-13T16:25:00.000-05:00

This is my Marla's Wedding! (Marla and Antonio's)!! One of my room-mates in college got married January 1st! What a crazy wedding weekend!:) It went by super fast, but I enjoyed every moment of it! Here's some the pics from the wedding. It's was nice being back in Lubbock, even if it was just for a couple of days! Thanks for such a fun time, friends!

Sleep-Over at the Henegar's

2008-01-07T15:43:00.001-05:00

I stayed a couple nights while I was back in Texas at my sister, April's house. Grayson is 19 months and they are expecting a 2nd boy at the end of Feburary!! It was fun watching Grayson play and loving on him...he's working at saying my name and like his cousins, he's a talker!!! I LOVE being an Auntie!!

Christmas in Texas

2008-01-07T15:19:00.001-05:00

I had a sweet Christmas with my family! I loved spending time with the kiddos and seeing my sisters!! Thanks to Mom and Dad for flying me home to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus!:)

LOVE The Getty's

2007-12-29T22:44:00.000-05:00

Check out The Getty's website...I've been enjoying their music a lot lately! (there the One's who wrote the song, "In Christ Alone") I learned this song at a conference I went to last month...read the lyrics, super encouraging! No matter how we are feeling or what we are encountering, we can trust every promise in God's Word...for every season of our soul! May He draw us to His Word and remind us of His promises that are "yes" in Christ Jesus!

Every Promise of your Word
"From the breaking of the dawn to the setting of the sun,I will stand on ev'ry promise of Your Word.Words of power, strong to save, that will never pass away,I will stand on ev'ry promise of Your Word.For Your covenant is sure,And on this I am secure—I can stand on ev'ry promise of Your Word.

When I stumble and I sin, condemnation pressing in,I will stand on ev'ry promise of Your Word.You are faithful to forgive that in freedom I might live,So I stand on ev'ry promise of Your Word.Guilt to innocence restored,You remember sins no more—So I'll stand on ev'ry promise of Your Word.

When I'm faced with anguished choice, I will listen for Your voice,And I'll stand on ev'ry promise of Your Word.Through this dark and troubled land You will guide me with Your handAs I stand on ev'ry promise of Your Word.And You've promised to completeEv'ry work begun in me—So I'll stand on ev'ry promise of Your Word.

Hope that lifts me from despair, love that casts out ev'ry fear,As I stand on ev'ry promise of Your Word.Not forsaken, not alone, for the Comforter has come,And I stand on ev'ry promise of Your Word. Grace sufficient, grace for me, Grace for all who will believe—We will stand on ev'ry promise of Your Word."

2007-12-25T01:12:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas family and friends! Our Savior is born!
May we consider the goodness of God in sending His Son!

"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

-Philippians 2:5-11-

Taking Suggestions

2007-12-18T20:52:00.000-05:00

what to do, what to do?

I'm currently cleaning houses for a lady in the mornings and afternoons, and by nights I make calls for a library collection agency. They are okay jobs and have provided for my needs the past almost 8 months, while I'm finishing up school! I know it has been the Lord's provision for me, yet lately I've been desiring differ jobs or at least one main job.

here's the options:

1. stay where I am, and persevere through it...knowing, that I will have no social life next semester b/c the way my class schedule falls is Tuesday and Thursday nights in class...which makes me work: Mon, wed, Fri. nights and sat. aka--no time for Prayer at my church Wed. night and say good-bye to Friday night social events...realizing it would only be for a semester.
2. apply, apply, apply for jobs! either Starbucks or perhaps some type of social-service job, that I would hopefully be able to practically help women and children and apply what I'm learning in my studies!

Please Pray for me in this! It's hard to know what would be Best!? Thankfully, we know He leads faithfully!

...on a side note: you should know that my collection agency job has given a 10% bonus of my earnings this year and tonight just gave me an additional bonus for my job performance! They are extremely generous! And, it's come a great time too! Praise God for providing extra surprises for me, to stir my heart in worship to Him! Therefore, I know that He will lead me to know how to spend time next semester! Just need Wisdom! It just would be hard to give up every night of the week, and not be able to use it in other ways....? What do you think?

On an AMAZING note...It's almost Christmas!! Our King Jesus was Born! We have so much to be thankful for, our Savior humbled Himself and came to earth in a form of a baby and yet is fully King!

(5 days and counting I'll be back in McKinney-DFW area--another one God's blessings that Christ has bought for me at the Cross--the joy of family and fellowship!)

Thank-you, Ms. Minnie!

2007-12-14T17:28:00.000-05:00

This post is a tribute to a God-fearing Widow, who placed her hope in God until her last day here on earth. She passed away this past Monday at 11:30am, after recovering from hip surgery, her body was weakened do to the fact that she was 94 years old! I had the joy of getting to know her this past year and I'm thankful for her Godly Example of perseverance till the end. We rejoice knowing that she is with her Savior, Christ and will experience the joy of His presence forever-more!

It's humbling and sobering and a celebration all mixed together. I'm not sure how to explain that, but we know that she is with her Maker and is without pain, sorrow, and sin! A place we all long to be one day! I am reminded of how the Psalmist warns that are days are numbered and that in fact they are but vapor. I live sometimes with the thoughts that I'm invincible and that this life will always be go on like it is now...yet, how can this be true? I'm thankful that God has better plans for us, that which do include-death b/c we are reminded that this life right now is NOT our Home, for those who have trusted in Christ for Salvation! There is eternity awaiting and it's nearer then ever!

Ms. Minnie prayed and wet her pillow with tears that her family would believe in Christ finished work on the Cross and repent and believe that Jesus came to live, conquer sin and death, and rise Victoriously from the grave! Her family hasn't not shown to have had fruit of faith and how she has longed for their salvation in tears and prayers!!

What an example!

May we follow in her example, and pray and admonish our loved ones who don't believe in the Gospel and may God grant us the grace to pray on for Ms. Minnie's behalf for her family to believe and place their hope in Christ! The Funeral was today, and our Pastor Ryan Fullerton shared the Gospel Message in boldness declaring the glories of God and and the judgment that will come on those who don't know Christ. Pray that the Lord would use the truth that was spoken in the service to pentrate the hearts who heard to turn to the Living God in repentence and full trust in Christ!!! May it not have fallen on deaf ears, but may the truth draw sinners to a faithful Savior and Father who is gracious to save many!

Praise God for allowing me to see and example of perseverance of Faith till the end in a 94-year old Widow...I love the grace that was given to Ms. Minnie because it has drawn me back to my living God, who hears our prayers and offers free grace to sinners, for which I am the worst! May we live with eternal perspective, that our days are numbered...and as a result live radical life's of Love, Faith, and Hope, for the glory of God!

see yha later...

2007-12-14T00:12:00.001-05:00

Thanks Suisan for coming to Visit!!

I was so blessed with our time together! From checking out the University of Louisville's Master's program in social work for you to walking through randomly the Uof L's Art Museum and the security lady saying, "no pictures" to our trip to Wal-mart for emergency baking ingredients to getting our hair-cuts together to seeing the movie, "Enchanted" to late night dinner at Karma's Cafe (after i got home from work!)...and the list goes on! What a joyful time to rest and enjoy a "break" from life together!! ....Most of All, I was thankful for being encouraged in the Gospel this week, as we spoke it into each other's life throughout the time she was here! It's great that even though a year goes by, we can pick up where we left off and get to the heart of the matter and point each other to Christ! Praise God for this! Thanks you for coming, friend!! Here's our last pictures together:

(these two pics are us "shining" in the light)

Suisan's HERE!!

2007-12-10T09:00:00.000-05:00

My Friend Suisan Walker (from my college in Texas) has come to visit me in Louisville!! She came in Last night (sunday) and we headed straight to my Care Group's dinner and she got to meet some friends from my church. Today, we went to Lynn's Paradise Cafe with Jenn and Kate...it has been such a blessing catching up on this last year I've been gone!! I am so thankful for her and her sweet heart!! God is gracious to bless me with forever friends!! We had fun eating some world famous brunch and loved Jenn and baby Kate joined us!!:) Aren't those pics adorable of her! We had fun dressing her up with some of the fun accessories this crazy cafe supplies!! More pics to come from our fun-time with Suisan!

Work Christmas Party!

2007-12-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

These are some pictures of some sweet friends from my church.

My friend, Athena works with me at Unique (but now she's on maternity leave, her baby in the picture was 3 weeks old that day! His name is Oliver Spurgeon) And Patti and Mike Withers are my sweet special parents here in Louisville (and my "date" that night) ! I'm so thankful for these families who have truly taken me in and encourage me so much in my walk with Christ! God is gracious to me! My other co-workers are a mixture of other seminary students at Southern or attend various colleges around the area. And the fun surprise was that we are receiving a 10% bonus from our earnings this year! This job is providing for me as I finish my master's program....though this job is not my ideal, I know the Lord is using this for my good as I learn the importance of work for the glory of God.

old pics you will LOVE

2007-12-08T17:14:00.001-05:00

(these are pretty old pictures!)

2007-12-08T10:19:00.001-05:00

(LOOK ABOVE AT OLD PICS in the SLIDE SHOW, i couldn't figure out how to combine the two post!! still learning about this blog-world....hahahhaha:)

...these are some old pics of my family and some friends...from my facebook pictures! i really need to start taking pictures again...i miss having recent ones of fun events going on in my life! i will totally work on that! ...for sure tonight i will be taking some fun pics b/c i'm going to my work's Christmas dinner party! it's a sit down dinner at the holiday inn! my "date" is the Withers (Patti and Mike!) i figure that since they are my *parents/mentors here in Louisville, they totally should come!!:) ...i'll update w/ pics of tonight, Tomorrow!! stay tuned...

(p.s. it is a PLUS that i have a job that i can write post and be on the Internet in between calls...
oh Lord, make my heart thankful for your provision and grace in every detail of my life, may You grant me a heart of thankfulness for your Sovereign Control, Love, and Wisdom in giving your Son, Christ...Amen!)

...is it 11pm yet?

2007-12-06T22:45:00.000-05:00

I'm ready to go home...it's been a long day, still at work! ...I need more grace and patience!

Pictures

2007-12-05T14:22:00.000-05:00

Dancing Elves!

2007-12-05T14:19:00.000-05:00

Want to see some cute Dancing Elves that are Sisters?! Check out the site (thanks to my sister, Aimee!) and click on the link...it takes a sec to load up!
Super funny!

"that was so nice of God!"

2007-11-29T22:12:00.000-05:00

I will be posting some recent pics in the next day or so...stay tuned!
...on other news, I'm at work making calls for a collection agency for libraries...and I just left a message for a lady named "Precious Unique Loving"....WHO names a kid that?! ...pretty funny, at least my job makes me laugh sometimes!
...only 40 mins left for the night, which ends my day of work from 7:40am till 11pm (disclaimer: had a 2 and a 1/2 hour break between my two jobs today to eat and rest a little--played with baby kate and talked with jenn and chandler-God's providence for me, to be refreshed with friends in the midst of a LONG day!)

...THANKFULLY, tomorrow (fri) I have off from work! Lord Willing, I will get to Enjoy Tomorrow by:

1. Clothes Closet (a mercy ministry through my church to provide clothes, lunch and the Gospel message, and great opportunity to meet people that I would not naturally get to meet, with hopes to share the good news of Christ by connecting with them in relationships and meeting some practical needs!)
2. Hopefully, time will allow--to visit our widow in our church who is in the hospital-Ms. Minnie, she is such a dear lady and a great example of perseverance of faith till the end. She is 94 years old and is proclaiming the Gospel to her family and asking them to believe before the Lord takes her home...apparently she has been soaking her pillow with tears at night as she prays for their salvation! What a godly example of a women who hopes and trust in God till the very end! Praise God! When we visited her last, we sang some hymns and had the nurses talking about our singing!!
2. Resting and Reading
3. Cleaning the kitchen
4. Meeting up with a friend for coffee in the later afternoon
5. Friends are going ice skating at night, which I plan to make an appearance for a little while...
6. and after that, Sleep-over with some ladies from my church! Great idea of getting some ladies together, from all season of life (some with children, married, and singles) to share a girlie night of fun and fellowship! (need make chocolate cookies to bring!)

...to conclude this post: I LOVE looking forward to fun-filled day of resting and fellowship...it makes the days of work all the more worth it!

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven."

ONE more day to go!

2007-11-27T18:32:00.000-05:00

It's hard to believe that this semester will be OVER by TOMORROW (wed)! God has been so gracious to me to carry me through! I have been in school since the age of 5, so almost 20 years!! Which is crazy to think about b/c school has never been "my thing"...for purposes unknown to me, God sees this the best fit way to sanctify me for His glory! Therefore, though it has had its hard patches...I see it has been for my good.

So, looking ahead to my J-term class (3 day class from 8am-8pm in January!) I got excited to see what books I would get to buy and read for it! I LOVE to read and I LOVE to collect books for my library, (so maybe that's why this school thing has been working for me for so long!?)

The class I'll take is called, Gender, Marriage, and Sexuality w/ my professor Dr. Scott(click on his name). Which I must say, I am very thankful for his teaching! He makes it so Christ-center and practical!

Anywho, here's my list of books I need for the class (click on the book if you want to check it out on amazon for yourself):

Adams, Jay. Solving Marriage Problems
Harris, Joshua. Sex is not the Problem (lust is)
House, Wayne. Divorce and Remarriage
Koestenberger, Andreas. God, Marriage, and Family
Peace, Martha. The Excellent Wife
Piper, John and Justin Taylor. Sex and the Supremacy of Christ
Powlison, David and John Yenchko. Pre-Engagement: 5 questions to ask yourselves
Scott, Stuart. The Exemplary Husband
Strauch, Alexander. Men and Women: Equal Yet Different

I have only 1 of those books already! So, looks like I've get to hit the bookstore soon! I better start this reading and planning for the class this coming week! We have some assignments that will be do at the start of the class (January 22nd)! ...I must say, I am thankful for this time the Lord has given...that He has called me to study and better understand Him and learn how to point myself and His people to Christ! I must praise God for this time He has sovereignly planned for me...don't you hate it when you start to forget that His purposes are Higher and Far better than mine!? I have to admit, eariler today I was forgetting this truth and being a little complainer!

Oh Father, Help my unbelief! Let me be thankful for every season you bring and find rest that you know what is best!

Here's a nice Hymn...May this be our Prayer:

"Guide Me, O thou Great Jehovah! Pilgrim through this barren land! Iam weak but thou art mighty. Hold me with thy pow'rful hand. Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven, Feed me till I want no more.
Open now the crystal fountain. Whence, the healing streams do flow. Let the firey, cloudy pillar. Lead me all my journey through. Strong Deliv'rer, strong Deliv'rer, Be thou still my strength and shield.
Feed me with the heavn'ly manna. In this barren wilderness. Be my sword and shield, and banner. Be my robe of righteousness. Fight and conquer; fight and conquer, All my foes by sov'reign grace.
When I pass through death's dark shadow. Bid my anxious fears subside. Death of deaths, and hell's destruction. Lead me safe on heaven's side. Songs of praises, songs of praises, I will ever give to thee."

free rice

2007-11-24T11:15:00.000-05:00

check out this site....a fun game, that is a little addicting, but expands your vocabulary!

(got it from my friend Jill's blog, thanks jill! it's a great game to play, if you have a job like mine!)

Happy Turkey Day!

2007-11-23T01:29:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving! May the Lord draw you to Himself and remind you of His Love and Grace because of Christ! We have TONS to be thankful for! We have a Sovereign God who cares for His people! And He will be exalted in all the Earth! May our hearts see it as joy to Praise Him!

Psalm 148
Praise the Name of the LORD

"Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts!
Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars!
Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!
Let them praise the name of the LORD! For he commanded and they were created.
And he established them forever and ever; he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.
Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word!
Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars!
Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds!
Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth!
Young men and maidens together, old men and children!
Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven. He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his saints, for the people of Israel who are near to him. Praise the LORD!"

when painful surprises, turn me to the Lord....grace upon grace

2007-11-21T22:02:00.000-05:00

Today has been hard. Perhaps what I'm about to share is too honest for the blog-world...yet I will share my little story...the purpose being that it shows God's grace and providence all over in the events of this day! And, that brings true encouragement to my heart in the midst of frustration! So, in all reality...today asked the question--Do I really believe that God is fully in control, my provider and support...and is faithful to make me into the image of Christ? What I wrote on yesterday's post...Will I believe and take heart in Christ, in the midst of my own frustrations and limitations? And smile at the future?

So here it goes my little story:

I took my room-mate, Chandler to the airport at 3:45am (after going to bed at 1am!) she was headed home to Delware for Thanksgiving. this is a picture of Chandler---isn't she cute!? I'm blessed that God has placed her in my life! This pic is her loving me, by doing some dishes...

After the airport trip, I feel straight back to bed till my boss called me at 7:45am, saying she was running a little late and would meet me in 15 minutes! (for those who don't know, my second job is cleaning houses for a lady who owns her own cleaning company.) Needless to say, I ran out the door in a huge hurry and made it! We cleaned a million dollar home for about 3 hours...

Then I headed to the bank to deposit some long over due paychecks (3 to be exact). This is where it gets interesting...the reciept the teller gave me said my current balance was -$68 dollars!!! I freaked out and of course there was tears...went back inside to the teller to get some clarifications about the matter! She said I was over-drafting my bank account since November 12th! A whole 10 days I have gone without even knowing that I was in the hole! I got no notifications from the bank and was left with fat charges over $400 dollars worth! Now its freak out time! The tears began to roll and wouldn't stop...the lady said they could waive 50% of the charges (total gracious of God) and then i closed my savings account by adding the amount in my checking!! As you can tell, this was A COMPLETE SHOCK to me!

I immediatly felt frustration to anger to shame and then to self-pity!

This resulted in talking to my dad and he is gracious to help me in this trickyness once more (confession: this isn't the first time i've over-drawn, but to my credit it's been over a year, since my last time...I am a slow learner!) He said he would pay next months rent for me, so I won't be in trouble with other finances that come up! Praise the Lord for loving, supported parents! Thanks Dad and Mom, for always being a picture of grace to me--pointing me to our Great God who has lavished us in mercy and grace through His Son!

Learned THREE things:
1. I tend to put my trust in how much I have in my bank account and not in God, who ultimately is my Provider.
2. I must trust the Lord's providence, even in the details of life! I had some immediate questions of how I was going to make ends meet. The Lord is the answer, He used my parents to provide some immediate help, my savings account (though only 100 dollars, that's better than nothing), even down to the sillyst thought i had, "i need to buy another noise stud b/c my fake dimand fail out of it, how am going to do that?" Well, later in the day I found another nose stud on my bathroom floor! I know that sounds silly, but that's something I asked the Lord to take care of. There are other questions that come to mind. What about Christmas gifts, getting my hair-cut, other thoughts...if God can take care of providing a little nose stud for me and next months rent, then how could He not provide grace for what He sees fit in the future?
3. Practically speaking, I've got to cultivate discipline in my finances and learn a way in keeping up with money. Anyone have any suggestions? I'm open! I desire to do so for the glory of God. I desire to be a good steward of what He has given me. I must continue on the pursuit of cultivating more Biblical disciplines in my life! May His grace enable me to do so! I do feel motivated and ever more knowing, how dependent I must be on His grace!

but ultimately...the heart questions is: Who do I trust? Is my hope in myself, or in God?

Thankfully, we are all a work in progress...He is preparing us for glory. Why am i surprised when I see myself fail? My problem is that I don't really understand the grace He has given me in Christ. Therefore, this may skew how I can give grace to others. If you are like me, be encouraged...Christ kept a perfect checkbook and never bounced a check! He came for sinners alike, that His life might count for ours! THIS IS MY HOPE! Praise God, for not giving up on me, but for using this to draw me to Himself and see my need for a Savior!

(a special thanks goes out to Jenn and Nick for encouraging me today by edifying me through my tears of frustration and pointing me back to Christ! And, for Patti Withers for encouraging me with words of truth too! And, for my family who sees all my faults and still loves me! Thank God for the Body...He is gracious to take care of us through the edification of Believers!)

At Prayer tonight, we read Psalm 13...it describes David's depression and how He turns to the Living God for releif! May this be my response, all the days of my life (no matter what tomorrow holds, for we know "He had dealt bountifully with me", by Redeeming me through His Son):

1 "How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me."

new seasons, new beginnings...

2007-11-20T20:54:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving is in TWO days and it's hard to believe that it's already this time of the year again...before we know it, it will be Christmas!

I love this time of year because it reminds me of the new beginnings that are approaching, along with new mercies. Makes me excited to see what the Lord has instore this upcoming year! Trusting His providence!

Things I'm looking forward to(Lord willing) apporaching the New Year:
1. A friend is visiting me! My dear friend, Susian Walker is coming--December 8-11th...she was in my bible study and she became so dear to me, we met for several years weekly and was challenged and encouraged by her friendship!
2. Visit my family--December 23rd-30th in dallas and ft.worth area! Lots of time with family...which is long-over due!
3. Visit Lubbock (college) friends--Decemeber 30th-Jan.2nd! I'm in Marla Lees's Wedding (one of my college room-mates)! So I get to celebrate the New Year with old friends...so fun!
4. Completing my First YEAR of living in Louisville, come January!
5. Completing 23 credits(almost half done) towards by Masters in Biblical Counseling, by end of January!
6. My sister April's 2nd baby boy due at the end of February!
7. I turn half a century (25 years old!), come the last day of March!
8. Training for my 1/2 marathon...this spring I want complete this goal! keep me accountable to this!

And knowing that the Future is the Lord's! I want to laugh at the future, like the Proverbs 31 woman, knowing confidently God holds it! Therefore, whatever He see's best fit for me (come joy, pain, struggle), I pray that I'd have grace to believe that it's because of His love for me in Christ...is Why. Nothing more I need to know!
...like in Habakkuk 3:17-19!

For His glory, let this be my prayer and heart too:

"Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
God, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer's;
he makes me tread on my high places."

Can Women be Theologians?

2007-11-19T22:21:00.000-05:00

I was challenged by Carolyn Custis James (author).
She spoke at the CCEF conference I went to begining of November, and was totally blessed! I know this looks long, but READ the interview below, it's really challenging and true! Tell me your thoughts on this!

We are called to be thinker's of God's Word. And can NOT leave it for the "experts" to handle it. This is a picture of Carolyn James up-coming book...which I plan on reading once school slows down!

Check out her interview:

"The following is an candid conversation between author and speaker, Carolyn Custis James and President of New Growth Press, Karen Jacklin Teears:

Karen: In your work with the Whitby Forum, you state that part of your mission is to encourage women in their pursuit of a deeper relationship with God. You also state that "theologian is simply another word for Christian." For the everyday woman, why is the word theologian, as it applies to our everyday lives, necessary? Don't we have enough buzzwords around our faith? Isn't it enough to just be a Christian?

Carolyn: Using a strong term like "theologian" jars us out of our complacency and compels us to consider what I believe is one of the most serious issues facing women today. We live theological lives. We're called to live by faith in a God we can't see, in a fallen world where our heartaches, losses, and tragedies make no sense to us. Trouble brings out the theologian in us. As I wrote in When Life and Beliefs Collide, "The moment the word 'why' crosses your lips, you're doing theology." There's no way to avoid it.

J.I. Packer describes the person who neglects the study of God as "stumbling and blundering through life with no sense of direction and no understanding of what surrounds you." I don't want to do that myself and I don't want to sit back while my sisters in Christ try to survive on fluff.
We need a wake-up call. We need to get serious about getting to know our God. By self-consciously pursuing a deeper understanding of God, we fortify ourselves for the challenges and difficulties that will inevitably come our way.

Karen: Your teachings on women and gender roles have ignited substantial levels of debate amongst theologians. Did that come as a surprise to you? How have you dealt with the seeming backlash of criticism from many in evangelical circles?

Carolyn: I have three brothers, so I can't say I'm surprised by criticism. However, I will say, there's a big difference in the criticism that comes from people who love and want the best for you and the criticism that comes from those who don't.

It's flattering to think my work has "ignited substantial levels of debate." If that were true, I'm sure it would be good for book sales. To be honest, I think that's overstating things. Yes, my work has been criticized, but actually the biggest surprise has been the wonderful support I have received.

Many Christian leaders have written on the theme of the importance of theology for Christians. But no one has taken up the importance of theology for women."

*Taken from The Gospel of Ruth by Carolyn Custis James. Copyright 2008. Used by permission of Zondervan