Our Newborn...

It has been over a month since Rachel joined our family. She has brought even more joy and awe into our lives. To know that God has entrusted us with the lives of two precious children is beyond my comprehension at times. Though the task is difficult, I would have it no other way than to spend every moment of every day trying to instill in them Biblical values and to just love them with a godly love. There are so many things about newborns that I had forgotten. It is hard to commit every feeling, every movement, every smile to memory and to be going through it all over again is a miracle in itself. I am so thankful for the opportunity to watch this baby grow every day, and soon we will see more of her personality and watch her go from baby to toddler to little girl to woman. Her big brother is also such a blessing to observe as he gives her countless hugs and kisses and tries to include her in so many things. Of course we often have to tell him that she is too little now and he will have to wait a bit before she can do all the things he can. It is such a blessing to be called Mommy and to know all that God has given my husband and I in these two children. It is our prayer that we will guide them in the right direction so that just as it says they "will know which way to go". I know this post is a little off topic for my blog but I had to talk about the two gifts God has given us.

John Chapter 14

A section of this chapter is written on the tombstone of a 17 year old boy who died on Mother's Day of 2000. Every time I read it, I immediately remember him. However, I could read the book of John every single day if I had the time and always find something new to grow from.

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."

Thomas said to him, "Lord , we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

Philip said, "Lod. show us the Father and that will be enough for us."

Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

"If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourselve to us and not to the world?"

Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

"All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

"You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.

"Come now; let us leave.

I'm going to stop here, because if I continue on I probably would not stop until the end of the book! I was going to add some thoughts to this but I know that it stands alone and all that needs to be said is already here.

Brief Update

In the past few days since my mom left (she was here for eleven days) I have felt more than a little overwhelmed. I have struggled to find a balance in my life that allows me to be a good mom to each of my two kids, a good wife to my husband, keep the house up, attempt to cook, and continue to grow in my spiritual walk. It got to where I literally thought it was impossible to do these things every day! I have admittedly made little time for reading Scripture in the last month under the guise of needing to care for my children and not having enough time. A few nights ago I was given a few hours of quiet and was able to write in my prayer journal for the first time in two weeks. I also opened my Bible looking for encouragement. God, in His faithfulness, provided just that and brought me to my knees in shame. I was making it about me rather than making it about glorifying Him! I was ashamed to think of how I had failed to seek out the only one who could make my seemingly impossible tasks possible! As I opened my Bible I was led to parts where blind men see and lame men walk and somehow I knew I was grossly underestimating God! Of course He could give me the strength and the patience to be who He intends me to be! I am just thankful I have a wonderful husband who can put up with me when I start to get overwhelmed and I can always count on him not to flatter me or justify my feelings but to really build me up biblically!