As I approach the birth of our 6th son, I have an intense desire to publicly honor my husband.
When I think about all of the things he does for this family, and for me, I am utterly amazed at the goodness God poured out on me in allowing me the honor of being his wife. 16 years have taken us up some difficult hills and into some beautiful pastures and I am eager to see where the Lord will lead us in the years to come. Our time together can only become more and more precious as we grow in the Lord, in our marriage and as individuals.
I was reflecting last night on all of the ways Dennis serves me, especially during this pregnancy. He does so willingly because he is thoughtful, a man of character, a true servant and a faithful husband. How privileged I am!
Some of my reflections:
~ he works 12-15 hour days so I can stay home with our boys
~ he comes home and plays catch or goes on a bike ride with the boys when I know he really wants to lay down and take a nap
~ he mows and edges the lawns so our house always looks manicured
~ he will go anywhere, anytime if I have a craving for something
~ he rubs my sore feet when I know his are just as needing of attention
~ he changes endless diapers, just to give me a break
~ he works 2 nights at 2 different jobs to supplement his income
~ he brings me flowers just because
~ he is teaching our boys how to be boys of character
~ he is a loyal friend and makes people feel special and appreciated
~ he is an excellent teacher and trainer of teachers
~ he is a gentlemen - to all women
~ he is a servant in our home and no task is beneath him
~ he desires to be a family who loves, serves and honors the Lord in all we do
Thank you, Dennis, for making my life better. I could never do what I do without your encouragement, support and trust. You constantly praise me and tell me how much you appreciate what I do - whether it is laundry or educating our boys - and I know your thoughts are sincere and genuine and come from your heart.
I love you and I cannot wait to enjoy our 6th son as we have enjoyed the others. We are truly blessed with the family God has designed for us.
Your faithful and loving bride, Michelle
4.22.2009
4.15.2009
Proven faithful yet again.
Don't you love when you hear stories, or experience your own, that remind us of God's faithfulness? Especially in the small things?
I am now 12 days away from having this precious baby boy of mine. Now, some of you are thinking "That's IT? 12 days - wow - that's nothin'!" And others, namely those who have been pregnant and know what the last few days are like, are thinking, "Oh, poor woman! May the Lord find mercy and let her deliver early!"
I am embarrassed to admit that this last week has not been the best for me regarding my attitude. I am tired and uncomfortable (and large) and ready to be done being pregnant. I even started pulling out all of the "tricks" people use to go into labor. For example:
~ I mowed the backyard and pulled every single weed that existed. (my husband said I was not allowed in the front yard or he would never be able to show his face in our neighborhood again!)
~ I literally jumped up and down while moving about the house
~ I ate spicy food
~ I drank soda
~ I had Dennis rub my feet and that spot on your ankles that is supposedly "dangerous" because it can send you into instant labor (so much for that theory!)
~ And then, of course, there is "you know"
And yet here I am .... a week later and still with child.
Sunday night I was beside myself with frustration. I was up every single hour and even in my dreams I was trying to go into labor to no avail. AAAHHHH!
And then ... I started to pray. Imagine! Praying to the Lord when struggling with the flesh - what a concept. Good grief, Michelle.
I started thinking of all the Scripture that pertained to my position at the moment and two things kept coming to mind.
1) The days of my child's life were written in the Lord's book before there was yet one of them. Isaiah is going to be born at the exact moment chosen by the Creator and not a minute before or after. Who am I to think I have such power and control over life?
2) "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, through prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and MIND in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6, 7 "Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ" II Cor. 10:5
I was not surrendering my thoughts and my mind to the Lord. I was trying to exert all human control over my situation rather than seeking patience, strength and trust from the One who made me.
I confessed my sin and asked the Lord to sustain me through these last long days. I kept praying and talking to Him until I finally drifted off to sleep. And do you know what? The next morning I woke up at 6:30, BOUNDED out of bed, started my day, made a big breakfast for the boys, taught school, did some laundry, wrote letters, had a date with Luke, made a nice steak dinner for the family and gave Caleb a fun and special bubble bath. I had the energy of a 22 year old and it was fabulous!
Isn't God good? I had been selfish and whining in my heart and yet after confessing to the Lord and asking for mercy and patience, He gave both to me freely. I did not deserve it. But I was incredibly grateful for it and am praising Him still! Lord, You are GOOD!
I am now 12 days away from having this precious baby boy of mine. Now, some of you are thinking "That's IT? 12 days - wow - that's nothin'!" And others, namely those who have been pregnant and know what the last few days are like, are thinking, "Oh, poor woman! May the Lord find mercy and let her deliver early!"
I am embarrassed to admit that this last week has not been the best for me regarding my attitude. I am tired and uncomfortable (and large) and ready to be done being pregnant. I even started pulling out all of the "tricks" people use to go into labor. For example:
~ I mowed the backyard and pulled every single weed that existed. (my husband said I was not allowed in the front yard or he would never be able to show his face in our neighborhood again!)
~ I literally jumped up and down while moving about the house
~ I ate spicy food
~ I drank soda
~ I had Dennis rub my feet and that spot on your ankles that is supposedly "dangerous" because it can send you into instant labor (so much for that theory!)
~ And then, of course, there is "you know"
And yet here I am .... a week later and still with child.
Sunday night I was beside myself with frustration. I was up every single hour and even in my dreams I was trying to go into labor to no avail. AAAHHHH!
And then ... I started to pray. Imagine! Praying to the Lord when struggling with the flesh - what a concept. Good grief, Michelle.
I started thinking of all the Scripture that pertained to my position at the moment and two things kept coming to mind.
1) The days of my child's life were written in the Lord's book before there was yet one of them. Isaiah is going to be born at the exact moment chosen by the Creator and not a minute before or after. Who am I to think I have such power and control over life?
2) "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, through prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and MIND in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6, 7 "Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ" II Cor. 10:5
I was not surrendering my thoughts and my mind to the Lord. I was trying to exert all human control over my situation rather than seeking patience, strength and trust from the One who made me.
I confessed my sin and asked the Lord to sustain me through these last long days. I kept praying and talking to Him until I finally drifted off to sleep. And do you know what? The next morning I woke up at 6:30, BOUNDED out of bed, started my day, made a big breakfast for the boys, taught school, did some laundry, wrote letters, had a date with Luke, made a nice steak dinner for the family and gave Caleb a fun and special bubble bath. I had the energy of a 22 year old and it was fabulous!
Isn't God good? I had been selfish and whining in my heart and yet after confessing to the Lord and asking for mercy and patience, He gave both to me freely. I did not deserve it. But I was incredibly grateful for it and am praising Him still! Lord, You are GOOD!
4.07.2009
A righteous envy.
Have you ever looked at friends, or even strangers, and been simply awe-struck by their talent?
Regardless of what it is .... cooking, decorating, fashion, art, sculpture, dance, sewing, scrap booking, music, gardening...
I was not blessed with the natural and intrinsic gift of creativity. And yet the Lord has surrounded me with people who do have this gift and I find such joy in admiring the ways they bring that part of themselves out into the open for others to enjoy. I certainly appreciate their work and praise the Lord for blessing them with such talents. Yet sometimes, I will admit, I feel a little bit sad because I know I could never ever do what they do.
And then I read a quote that made me stop and think.
"We must remember that being made in God's image means we are like Him - each of us. If HE is creative, then we also have that potential - all of us."
Psalm 139 tells me that I was created by the hand of the Lord in the dark places of the earth and HE formed my inward parts. He placed within me every talent, skill, and quality that makes me uniquely ME. And because I mirror who He is, I also have the potential to be much more than I can even imagine!
I may not be able to paint the Mona Lisa or whip up a batch of fun aprons for my friends (if only!) but I know what I do have to offer ...
a listening ear, a thoughtful note, consistent prayer, security, discretion, wisdom, life experience, a Biblical perspective, faithfulness, loyalty and a true, passionate desire to be a source of inspiration and encouragement to those around me.
Not necessarily "creative" in the traditional sense ... but does it matter? I may not make fun costumes for a child's birthday party (an ode to M.O. :o)) but I know that I can offer the mom who does create such fun things a strong shoulder and compassionate heart when she is struggling in her role as a mother.
I may not give homemade gifts to friends for special occasions, but I know the Lord has given me the ability to discern when someone needs a word of encouragement and strength from His Word and their hearts are ministered to through my obedience.
I guess what I am trying to say is simply this ~ I do envy my creative friends and wish it was a natural part of who I am. But it is a righteous envy. I see the way the Lord has blessed them and gifted them and I am so awed by it that I cannot help but stop and give thanks to the Lord for His incredible design and detail in making us who we are.
And at the end of the day, all that truly, truly matters is that we use our gifts and talents to bring glory and honor and praise to the Father .... the maker of heaven and earth ... from whose hand we are "fearfully and WONDERFULLY made."
Thank you, Lord, for Your indescribable gifts!
Regardless of what it is .... cooking, decorating, fashion, art, sculpture, dance, sewing, scrap booking, music, gardening...
I was not blessed with the natural and intrinsic gift of creativity. And yet the Lord has surrounded me with people who do have this gift and I find such joy in admiring the ways they bring that part of themselves out into the open for others to enjoy. I certainly appreciate their work and praise the Lord for blessing them with such talents. Yet sometimes, I will admit, I feel a little bit sad because I know I could never ever do what they do.
And then I read a quote that made me stop and think.
"We must remember that being made in God's image means we are like Him - each of us. If HE is creative, then we also have that potential - all of us."
Psalm 139 tells me that I was created by the hand of the Lord in the dark places of the earth and HE formed my inward parts. He placed within me every talent, skill, and quality that makes me uniquely ME. And because I mirror who He is, I also have the potential to be much more than I can even imagine!
I may not be able to paint the Mona Lisa or whip up a batch of fun aprons for my friends (if only!) but I know what I do have to offer ...
a listening ear, a thoughtful note, consistent prayer, security, discretion, wisdom, life experience, a Biblical perspective, faithfulness, loyalty and a true, passionate desire to be a source of inspiration and encouragement to those around me.
Not necessarily "creative" in the traditional sense ... but does it matter? I may not make fun costumes for a child's birthday party (an ode to M.O. :o)) but I know that I can offer the mom who does create such fun things a strong shoulder and compassionate heart when she is struggling in her role as a mother.
I may not give homemade gifts to friends for special occasions, but I know the Lord has given me the ability to discern when someone needs a word of encouragement and strength from His Word and their hearts are ministered to through my obedience.
I guess what I am trying to say is simply this ~ I do envy my creative friends and wish it was a natural part of who I am. But it is a righteous envy. I see the way the Lord has blessed them and gifted them and I am so awed by it that I cannot help but stop and give thanks to the Lord for His incredible design and detail in making us who we are.
And at the end of the day, all that truly, truly matters is that we use our gifts and talents to bring glory and honor and praise to the Father .... the maker of heaven and earth ... from whose hand we are "fearfully and WONDERFULLY made."
Thank you, Lord, for Your indescribable gifts!
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