Unending Joy

This week my Bible study has been on Joy. Beth Moore is an amazing Bible teacher, and I just can't seem to get enough of what she has to offer! I want to share a little of what the Lord has taught me through her lessons on Joy.

As a Christian, I know that my joy comes from the Lord and is not dependent on my earthly circumstances. But until this week, I didn't fully understand what that meant.

There are many reasons for us to rejoice, but there is one main reason that overshadows the others. And this is what allows us to have joy through the good times and the bad.

Our SALVATION! Seems obvious, doesn't it? But how often do we claim our Salvation as the main source of our joy?

At one point during Jesus' ministry on earth, he sent 72 disciples to visit the towns where He was preparing to go. When they returned, Luke 10:17-20 says,

"The seventy-two returned with joy and said,
'Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.'

He [Jesus] replied, 'I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome
all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.'"

Salvation is God's gift to us! We can rejoice in the fact that if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, our eternity is sealed in heaven. Satan cannot take that away from us no matter what hardships he brings to us on this earth. Our Salvation is unending, thus, our joy is, too!

In saying all this, I am not diminishing the fact that we all have hardships in our lives. Just because we are a child of God does not mean we are exempt from trials. But it means we have a hope that points us to Heaven, and that hope gives us joy in the face of difficult times.

We live in a fallen world. We all are sinners, and that sin separates us from our perfect God. We will face tough times. But we can rejoice knowing that God desires restoration with us. If we will turn from our sin, either for the first time and accept His Salvation, or for the 1,000th time and seek His forgiveness, He WILL restore us to relationship with Himself. What a reason to rejoice! The God of Heaven, the Creator of this Universe, wants a personal relationship with ME and YOU! Why? Because He loves us! God's Word is full of Scriptures that express His love for us.

So what are we waiting for? We need to live lives full of JOY simply because we have Salvation!

The Green Zone

Ok, all you mamas. What do you think?

Compared to my pregnancies with my girls, this one is very different. I had very little sickness with either of them, but this time, I have an upset tummy pretty much all day. I have frequent headaches, too. I also have less energy than I did with either of the girls... although that could be their fault and not baby related at all!

What I want to know is........ what do you think the chances are of us having a boy?!?

Of course, we will not be upset if we're having another girl, but we would love to have a boy. I'm just wondering if that's what's making me feel so differently this time around.

Or, could this baby be displaying more of Robby's genes, girl or boy? Just a curious biology thought I've had. Emma is my mini-me, as you know, and I had very little "green zone" time when I was pregnant with her. Abby favors me less than Emma, but definitely favors me (or at least my side--many people say she looks like my brothers) more than she favors Robby. I had a little more sickness with her, but not much. So, could I be working on a child that will finally favor their father? I would like that!

I go this Thursday for my first ultrasound. I should also get my official due date. I'm really just counting the weeks until I get to 12--4 more to go! Hopefully, I will come through all the yuckiness by then and it won't carry on into the 2nd trimester. We shall see, I guess...

My Firstborn

Emma. My beautiful, smart, energetic firstborn. Oh, how I love her more than words can say!

But her 3-year-oldness is going to be the end of my sanity!

Last week, my Bible study was on the Spirit's Fruit of Love. 1 Corinthians 13 tells us that love is patient. My patience is being tested! The arguing and negotiating and just plain disobedience!

Just one example... Today she was getting out of the stroller and I told her not to step on the lunchbox that was under her seat. Her response, "That's not a lunchbox." What?? Why would she even argue about that? This was not the first time.

Her mouth is going to get her in trouble for years to come... I guess she gets that honestly!

Oh, how I do love her, and I know the Lord will give me the patience to raise her in the way she should go. I just hope I don't go slap crazy first! :)

Finally, I Begin

I've tried to get this blog going for a while now. I didn't know where to start. I've played around with the title, the theme, the first post, etc. until I was ready to give up. I've finally decided to go for it.

I don't know what this blog will be for me. I'm sure I will have pictures and stories about my children, family, and friends. But I also want it to be a place where I can record what God is doing in my life. He is teaching me so much right now and I want to be able to share that.

Hopefully not, but even though I'm getting started now, these first few months may be a little slow as I drag through my first trimester with baby #3. I was not prepared for how exhausting pregnancy would be with 2 little ones to chase after. Don't get me wrong, I'm elated to be expecting again, I'm just in those first few weeks of exhaustion, and I know I've still got several to go before I hit the wonderful second trimester.

I'll close with a verse from Galatians. I'm currently going through Beth Moore's study Living Beyond Yourself: Exploring the Fruit of the Spirit. This study has challenged me and opened my heart the the whisperings of the Holy Spirit more than any other Bible study I've ever been a part of. I hope to write much more on this as the weeks go by.

But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control.
Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23