Thursday, October 2, 2008
New Bundle of Joy!
On Saturday, September 20th, I received the best thing I could possibly get besides my salvation and my husband. At 4:52, Joshua arrived, and I was finally able to hold him in my arms and see his beautiful face. Although many people tried to explain the excitment and awe of the situation, I never understood (nor think it is possible) the love and joy that overwhelmed me and still does. The sickness and pain that I went through was worth it all. I thank God for this wonderful gift that He has given my husband and me, and I pray that God will help me to raise him for His glory.
Friday, September 12, 2008
For His Glory
I haven't written in quite a while, and a lot has happened. The Thursday before, last David, my mom, and I went to my doctor's appointment and on the way home we got a phone call. My aunt told us that my grandfather was passing away and may not make it until we got there. Well, to make a long story short, he did make it for us to get there, and we took him home. My family and I stayed with him there day and night until the following Wednesday night, when he went on to be with the Lord. During the week, my Grandpa did suffer some, but he also had some good moments: sweet moments that we will never forget.
My Grandpa lived 78 years, a good long life. Yet, it seemed so short as he lay there and I watched him pass into eternity. I thought about life and it's purpose. I thought about my Grandpa's testimony of salvation, and how thankful I was that there was a pastor who was willing to go to my Grandparents house late one night and lead him to the Lord. Then, I thought about the millions and billions of people across the world that lose loved ones who do not have the assurance of their loved ones going to heaven or of ever seeing them again. Devastating, hopeless: these were words that came to my mind. Then, I thought that as my husband, child, and I go to the mission field, we must first go to glorify the Lord, but it gives comfort that we will be able to give peace, hope and assurance of heaven to a people who have nothing they can fully trust in or rely on. Please pray that God would continue to work on my heart. Pray that He will make me like Him and will prepare me to leave this country and to help my husband reach a people who do not necessarily want us there. Pray that our entry into the country goes smoothly and the transition into the culture is fast and with few mistakes. Pray that the Lord Jesus will do a work in my heart and the hearts and lives of the people that will glorify Him to the highest. When I think about this task, I realize more than ever my need for the Lord. I know I can not go it without His power.
My Grandpa lived 78 years, a good long life. Yet, it seemed so short as he lay there and I watched him pass into eternity. I thought about life and it's purpose. I thought about my Grandpa's testimony of salvation, and how thankful I was that there was a pastor who was willing to go to my Grandparents house late one night and lead him to the Lord. Then, I thought about the millions and billions of people across the world that lose loved ones who do not have the assurance of their loved ones going to heaven or of ever seeing them again. Devastating, hopeless: these were words that came to my mind. Then, I thought that as my husband, child, and I go to the mission field, we must first go to glorify the Lord, but it gives comfort that we will be able to give peace, hope and assurance of heaven to a people who have nothing they can fully trust in or rely on. Please pray that God would continue to work on my heart. Pray that He will make me like Him and will prepare me to leave this country and to help my husband reach a people who do not necessarily want us there. Pray that our entry into the country goes smoothly and the transition into the culture is fast and with few mistakes. Pray that the Lord Jesus will do a work in my heart and the hearts and lives of the people that will glorify Him to the highest. When I think about this task, I realize more than ever my need for the Lord. I know I can not go it without His power.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
My God shall supply all your need... Phil. 4:19
I recently heard a man teach that God has not promised to meet all of our needs. He said that because of the sins of the world, we may not have our needs met whether we were doing right or not. He went on to say that the portions of the Bible that taught about His faithfulness to meet each need were not written to us in this time period.
My immmediate reaction was probably anger. How dare him, I thought. Then, sadness. Wow, how much more hope, joy, peace, etc. does this man, his followers, and other Christians that believe similarly have than unbelievers? What caused this man to believe this.. merely false doctrine? a catastrophe in his life? Perhaps.
I know that Christ meets the needs of my husband and myself. I can mishandle money and other things and pay the consequences for my own actions, but I do not believe that God will not provide for my needs because of the sins of others. If I did not believe that God would provide for me, I would tell my husband to forget the mission field or to go without me because I would need to find a way to provide for myself. After all, if I can't rely on God who can I rely on? Man? Churches? I think not. He uses man and churches, but He is the One that every good and perfect gift comes from.
I write this because the Lord is continually teaching me how HE meets my EVERY need. In the last week, He has helped us to pay off some bills and provided immensely for the Baby through Lighthouse Baptist Church and family and friends, but more than that, He has given me more peace, security, and comfort for the near and far future! I thank Him that I can trust in Him for all things!
My immmediate reaction was probably anger. How dare him, I thought. Then, sadness. Wow, how much more hope, joy, peace, etc. does this man, his followers, and other Christians that believe similarly have than unbelievers? What caused this man to believe this.. merely false doctrine? a catastrophe in his life? Perhaps.
I know that Christ meets the needs of my husband and myself. I can mishandle money and other things and pay the consequences for my own actions, but I do not believe that God will not provide for my needs because of the sins of others. If I did not believe that God would provide for me, I would tell my husband to forget the mission field or to go without me because I would need to find a way to provide for myself. After all, if I can't rely on God who can I rely on? Man? Churches? I think not. He uses man and churches, but He is the One that every good and perfect gift comes from.
I write this because the Lord is continually teaching me how HE meets my EVERY need. In the last week, He has helped us to pay off some bills and provided immensely for the Baby through Lighthouse Baptist Church and family and friends, but more than that, He has given me more peace, security, and comfort for the near and far future! I thank Him that I can trust in Him for all things!
Monday, August 11, 2008
Because HE Lives!!
My heart has been so heavy lately. The Lord has been blessing just as He always does, but I have been so focused on my own desires and so full of pride that the smallest things have discouraged me. I have wanted to blame it all on the pregnancy, but the Lord has shown me how wretched my heart has become.
During the song service at Church last night the Lord spoke to me so clearly. I can't do what Christ has called me to do except by fully relying on HIM. So many times, I have thought that there was no way I would make it on the mission field. I have felt so insufficient and honestly I have despised the idea of leaving my family. But last night, as we sang "Because He Lives" I just cried and cried as I realized how and why I WILL live out the Lord's will for my life by HIs grace.
This morning I had one of the best times I have had with the Lord in a long time. I read in 2 Corinthians and cried and prayed for His forgiveness and His help and strength. I pray to become closer to Him with more of a love for Him and for souls. I pray to be a help to my husband, and to make the ministry more personal and to become even more involved. There's so much I can do to help him. My desire is to be the Christian the Lord expects me to be, and the wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, witness, etc. that the world needs me to be. I pray for the qualities given in 2 Corinthians 6:3-10.
During the song service at Church last night the Lord spoke to me so clearly. I can't do what Christ has called me to do except by fully relying on HIM. So many times, I have thought that there was no way I would make it on the mission field. I have felt so insufficient and honestly I have despised the idea of leaving my family. But last night, as we sang "Because He Lives" I just cried and cried as I realized how and why I WILL live out the Lord's will for my life by HIs grace.
This morning I had one of the best times I have had with the Lord in a long time. I read in 2 Corinthians and cried and prayed for His forgiveness and His help and strength. I pray to become closer to Him with more of a love for Him and for souls. I pray to be a help to my husband, and to make the ministry more personal and to become even more involved. There's so much I can do to help him. My desire is to be the Christian the Lord expects me to be, and the wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, witness, etc. that the world needs me to be. I pray for the qualities given in 2 Corinthians 6:3-10.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
One More Soul!
David and I returned home Thursday and left Saturday night for a meeting in South GA. It went well. Directly after the service, we left for a meeting in Conyers. David preached and was able to lead a man to the Lord afterwards. It was truly a powerful service, and we thank the Lord for His blessings!
Monday, July 28, 2008
In Louisiana!
My family gave me a baby shower on Saturday! I got some of my bigger presents: a carseat, pack-n-play, crib bedding set, etc. So exciting! The Lord is so good to us.
Directly after the shower, at 3:30, David and I left for Bossier City, LA. We got there at 2:00a.m. to find that there was no key to the prophet's chamber we were supposed to stay at. We were so tired, and David was sick to his stomach most of the way. I thank the Lord that he was feeling better toward the end of the trip and felt fine the next morning and was able to present the ministry and preach. Directly after the service, we left for Zachary, LA, about 5 hours away. We only stopped for gas and a 20 min. lunch break. Thank the Lord for good traffic and being able to make good time. Both Church services went really well. David always does an excellent job preaching and presenting the ministry. (Sorry ladies, I have the best husband and preacher in the world!) We love these Churches and felt right at home in them.
Right now we are staying with a family in Zachary. A couple with 3 sweet children that have just surrendered to the mission field. They have made us feel so welcome and have really gone out of their way to have us here. Its a humbling thing when people give up their bed for you. I pray that God blesses them.
Tomorrow morning we leave for Alabama. We will be staying in a prophets chamber in Oxford and attending a nearby Church to present the ministry on Wed. night. Then, on Thursday, we get to go home and go through all the things we got at our baby shower!!! So exciting!
Directly after the shower, at 3:30, David and I left for Bossier City, LA. We got there at 2:00a.m. to find that there was no key to the prophet's chamber we were supposed to stay at. We were so tired, and David was sick to his stomach most of the way. I thank the Lord that he was feeling better toward the end of the trip and felt fine the next morning and was able to present the ministry and preach. Directly after the service, we left for Zachary, LA, about 5 hours away. We only stopped for gas and a 20 min. lunch break. Thank the Lord for good traffic and being able to make good time. Both Church services went really well. David always does an excellent job preaching and presenting the ministry. (Sorry ladies, I have the best husband and preacher in the world!) We love these Churches and felt right at home in them.
Right now we are staying with a family in Zachary. A couple with 3 sweet children that have just surrendered to the mission field. They have made us feel so welcome and have really gone out of their way to have us here. Its a humbling thing when people give up their bed for you. I pray that God blesses them.
Tomorrow morning we leave for Alabama. We will be staying in a prophets chamber in Oxford and attending a nearby Church to present the ministry on Wed. night. Then, on Thursday, we get to go home and go through all the things we got at our baby shower!!! So exciting!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
At Home!
We made it home from FL on Monday and on Tuesday morning David left for TN (another 7 hour trip). I was unable to go due to a doctor's appointment I have already postponed and other slight complications. I already miss him so much; this has already been the most time we have been apart since we got married, and he doesn't return home until Friday. I am attending VBS at Lighthouse this week. It is going great! Several people have accepted Christ already and things are running so smoothly. I was able to counsel with a young girl last night. She did not accept the Lord, but I pray that if she is not saved that she will accept Christ before the week ends.
It is so good being back at Lighthouse. It was like being in my own house. I miss the people so much. I sat in the back at the beginning of the service just taking in the whole atmosphere, looking at people I haven't seen in months and just smiling, and remembering how much work I had put into that program just the year before. I was a little saddened (and very grateful at the same time) that everything was taken care of, and I wasn't really needed. I thank the Lord for the Church that took me in after I was saved and trained me.
I am also spending time with family this week and trying to get things caught up at home before we leave for Louisiana on Sat. I thank the Lord for this time of refreshment and preparation before getting on the road again. Pray for David as he travels alone.
It is so good being back at Lighthouse. It was like being in my own house. I miss the people so much. I sat in the back at the beginning of the service just taking in the whole atmosphere, looking at people I haven't seen in months and just smiling, and remembering how much work I had put into that program just the year before. I was a little saddened (and very grateful at the same time) that everything was taken care of, and I wasn't really needed. I thank the Lord for the Church that took me in after I was saved and trained me.
I am also spending time with family this week and trying to get things caught up at home before we leave for Louisiana on Sat. I thank the Lord for this time of refreshment and preparation before getting on the road again. Pray for David as he travels alone.
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