One Reason I Love My Job

Let me preface this post by saying, I do not always love my job.  Some days, I am so exhausted, I can barely get out of bed.  Some days, I am so tired of repeating myself, I think I might snap.  And some days, my high school students act more like two year olds than my two year old.

But.

Then there are days when God uses one of those students to bless me and encourage me in ways I have never been blessed before.

I have a senior who is a refugee from Nepal.  He is an amazing, Godly leader, and I am learning a lot from him.  He recently came to class and explained to me that during his quiet time, he prays for a handful of students and teachers specifically, and by name.  For the past few days, he had been praying for me and wanted me to know.

He then handed me a piece of paper that said:

"So thankful that God has given me teacher and sister in Christ like you.  I always feel bless to be in your class.  Let you know that you're in my prayer...

 This is how I pray for you...

Numbers 6:24-26 "The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace." 

1.  I pray that God give you wisdom that you need to teach high school students!  For His glory!

2.  I pray that you would grow closer to Christ each day to become a better mother, wife, teacher, sister in Christ for His glory.

3.  I pray that you heart would be right before God, and that you will be faithful to study God's word each day.

4.  I pray that God would grant you wisdom in the decisions that you need to make each day.

5.  I pray that you will be blessed and a way of blessing to others each and every day of your life.

6.  I pray that God be with your family and make your family a blessed and happy family."

 I am so grateful for the opportunity to meet so many wonderful youth, who encourage me, strengthen me, and challenge me in my faith.  Please pray that I can be a Godly example to them, and that I will have opportunities to share the things that God has taught me through my life experiences so far.

Thankful Thursday

Today, I want to share some things that I am incredibly thankful for.  Of course this list is not all-encompassing, just some things I am particularly thankful for today:  :)

1.  A beautiful, bright shining sun (even though it is stinkin hot!)

2.  An amazing husband who helps with the kids even though he has been working all day and then had a ridiculous commute.

3.  Our friendly (FREE) public library, with a fun-filled children's section.

4.  Starbucks coffee (that's for you, Brittany!)

5.  Friends who look out for me even though they are not here with me.

6.  Casting Crowns.

7.  My beautiful daughter, who insists on feeding herself. 

8.  A good natured, easy going cat who is gentle with and "plays" with my babies.

9.  My handsome son who is learning to entertain himself, but who loves to be social and play with other people (especially his sister).

10.  The amazing freedom and forgiveness that I have through Jesus Christ.  I could not make it through the day without Him!

What are YOU thankful for today??

One Thankful Thanksgiving

"I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High." Psalm 7:17

This thanksgiving, I have two, yes two, children celebrating their very first Thanksgiving (and no, they are NOT twins).  Even though I realized this about a week and a half ago, this little fact still kind of blows my mind.  Just a year ago, I had no children.  And now I have two.  

And although a part of me wants to (and sometimes does...) whine and complain and cry about the fact that it's not fair that we don't get to spend this momentous occasion as a family, or that my two week old son has to spend his first Thanksgiving in intensive care, or that my daughter can't even visit her new brother (and in fact, does not even know that she has a brother), or that we are spending yet another holiday in the hospital, or that I never get any sleep, I am not going to.  Because instead of thinking of all the things about this situation that are frustrating, or "unfair," or hurtful, I choose to be thankful.  I WILL give thanks to the LORD, because we are so unbelievably blessed.

Just a year ago, I had no children.  And now I have two.  Two beautiful, amazing, strong children.  Thank you, Lord, for such wonderful gifts!

Want to know what else I have to be thankful for? Well, let me tell you...

I am thankful for my amazing, STRONG, Godly husband, who puts up with so much from me!

I am thankful for a wonderful church family, who has been a tremendous support and blessing.

I am thankful for friends and family who are willing to take care of my daughter while I spend time at the hospital.

I am thankful that my son is finally gaining weight (3 lb. 2.5 oz!).

I am thankful that my son is at the best Children's hospital in the metroplex, receiving the very best care.

I am thankful for friends who have so graciously invited us to share in their Thanksgiving dinner.

I am thankful that my recovery was quick and relatively painless, so that I am able to spend all the time I need at the hospital.

I am thankful for all the wonderful people who are following along with us on this journey (both those I know personally, and those I have yet to have the pleasure of meeting), and share their encouragement and prayers. 

I am thankful that my baby has not needed a ventilator to breathe.

I am thankful for other mothers who have so kindly shared their stories and experiences with me.

I am thankful that I live close enough to the hospital to be able to drive back and forth as I need to.

But, most of all, I am thankful for the truly amazing, and undeserved grace and mercy of my Savior, that I might have the hope and assurance of an eternity in Heaven with Him.

I am praying that you have that assurance as well, and have a wonderfully blessed and thankful Thanksgiving.

"Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done." Psalm 105:1

The results are IN!

Well, I'm 21 weeks pregnant now, and we are officially having our first............

BABY BOY!

To say that we're excited (especially my husband!) is an understatement. :) Now our baby girl will have a little brother, and we're so excited to prepare for his arrival. You would think that there would not be as much to do this time around, but I still have moments of feeling overwhelmed, like I will never have everything done in time for the baby. We have to start all over-we need another crib, another dresser, another carseat, another wardrobe, and so on and so on...

But that's ok. Because God gave us this child, and I know that He is going to provide for us and for him. Just like every other moment in our marriage when I thought we had nothing left and just when I thought we were out of options, God has provided for our needs and then some. And we are so thankful.

If only I could remember that all the time and never get to the we-have-no-options-left point in the first place. Guess I still have some growing to do ;)

Redeemed

Although I have not posted in <ahem>, well, some time, there are quite a few things that have been on my mind and heart, as well as my husbands. Today, I am going to try and put some of these things into words.

Ok, so I'm actually going to use someone else's words, but I think the following lyrics just portray what I've been thinking and wrestling with so beautifully.

I used to wish that I could rewrite history
I used to dream that each mistake could be erased
Then I could just pretend
I never knew the me back then

I used to pray that You would take this shame away
Hide all the evidence of who I've been 
But it's the memory of
The place You brought me from
That keeps me on my knees
Even though I'm free

Heal the wound but leave the scar
A reminder of how merciful You are
I am broken, torn apart
Take the pieces of this heart
And heal the wound but leave the scar

I have not lived a life that boasts of anything
I don't take pride in what I bring
But I'll build an altar with
The rubble that You've found me in
And every stone will sing
Of what You can redeem

Heal the wound but leave the scar
A reminder of how merciful You are
I am broken, torn apart
Take the pieces of this heart
And heal the wound but leave the scar

Don't let me forget
Everything You've done for me
Don't let me forget
The beauty in the suffering
~Point of Grace

I've been thinking a lot about the church in America, the people that fill the pews each Sunday, and what they are accomplishing. I've been thinking about how the church here in America compares to the early church in the book of Acts, to the church in Central America, to the church in East Asia. We all claim to be a part of the same body. All claim to serve the same God. All claim to be changed by the same Savior. So what do we have in common?

Unfortunately, not much.

The people of the early church added to their numbers daily. (Acts 2:47)

80% of the churches in America have memberships that have either reached a plateau or are declining.

People in Central America are among the poorest in the world, yet worship God at the top of their lungs, arms raised, in buildings with nothing but a few plastic chairs and dirt floors.

People in America worship God in multi-million dollar buildings, yet are concerned that the plush carpet is an ugly color.

People in East Asia are forced to worship in secret, for fear of going to prison, or even losing their life, for the sake of the gospel.

People in America are more concerned with what their neighbor will think, than spreading the gospel.

So what is going on with the church in America? Well, I think there are many answers to this question, and a lot of issues to address. Complacency, misplaced priorities, lack of love and concern for one another. But ultimately, I believe each of these things, and more, all stem from one root. Lack of understanding, or simply forgetting, exactly where God has brought us from as believers. If you have a true understanding of where you stood in relation to God before you were saved, versus where you stand after, how can you not have a zeal and fervor for living out the commands of scripture with your whole heart? For serving God everyday of your life with everything in you? For having a self-sacrificing attitude for your fellow man that completely consumes you? How could you not?

You see, when we entered this world, we were drowning in our sins, falling short of the marvelous glory of God. Our sins that personally offended the God of the Universe. Separated us from being able to have a relationship with Him. And there was nothing we could do about it. We were slaves to a life of sin. But when God saves us, He clothes us in righteousness! He frees us from sin and allows us to have a personal relationship with Him! How can you not stand up and shout PRAISE!?

Unfortunately, there are many people in our churches that have never known this transformation. People who, in spite of that, continue to sit in the same pew Sunday after Sunday. I pray that God will reach them with the truth and change them from the inside out.

Then there are believers who fill the pews, but have become complacent. People who have completely forgotten what their life was like before God saved them. Who are now completely consumed with the things of this world. Who have forgotten the excitement and zeal for the Lord they once had. Lukewarm in their faith.

I sing the song I quoted above often, because this is a prayer that has been heavy on my heart. I never ever want to forget the utter rubble that God found me in and brought me out of. How can my life be a witness to what God has and is continuing to accomplish in me if the lost do not see a changed life? A redeemed life?

I pray that there will be a renewed sense of awe in just what God has done and is capable of doing in the lives of His children. I pray that the believers in the thousands of churches across America would desire to stand before the Lord one day and hear the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

God is Good

I received a card today with the following scripture from Psalm 126:

"The LORD has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy." Psalm 126:3

I could not help but smile at the simplicity of this beautiful verse, because it is so true. Our Lord has done simply incredible things for us! When I reflect on all God has done, even just in the past week, much less the past year or more, I wonder how it is possible that I am ever not filled with joy? I somehow let life get in the way and focus on the negative and the stress and the hurt, instead of focusing on the magnificent power of God and all that He has done, is doing and will continue to do.

I pray that God is ever reminding me of each and every great thing He has done for me and my family so that I am not only filled with joy, but more importantly, can be thankful.

What I love about TEXAS

Lately I have been feeling a little homesick, so rather than think about or tell you all the things I love and miss about Virginia (the beach, ok I'm done), I thought I would focus on all the wonderful things about this great state of Texas! So here goes:



1. Everything is bigger in Texas! You hear this all the time, but you don't know how true it is until you get here!

2. It's a good kind of HOT. Yes, in the middle of the summer, it gets up to 108 degrees, but it feels so good, because it's not the sticky, humid hot of Virginia!

3. Houses are cheap. Now, I know the housing market stinks and you can probably get a good deal just about anywhere, but houses are cheap here all the time! You get so much more for your money.

4. Professional sports teams! Ok, so I'm not a huge Texas Rangers fan (or Cowboys, or Mavericks), but they're right here, and we can go see them whenever we want! Plus, I get to see my Red Sox play when they're here!

5. We can secede from the Union! That's right, Texas could secede. I'm not saying it should and/or will, just pointing out an interesting fact.

6. It's like watching the live version of King of the Hill. I'm not kidding, when we would watch this silly cartoon back home, we assumed it was an exaggeration! It's not. It's actually a pretty accurate take on the people and state of Texas. And I love it.

7. No state income tax. The only ones who take our money here are our good friends in Washington.

8. My daughter was born here. That's something, right?

9. People actually wear cowboy boots. Everywhere. Even to church. AND, there is a Cowboy Church! Yes, that is what it's called, The Cowboy Church. (Don't ask me what it is, I'm not really sure.)

10. We have been welcomed with open arms. The people we have met here have been loving, and made us feel more than welcome. They take care of us and our beautiful girl, and I'm so incredibly thankful for the love we have found here.

Well, I could probably keep going, but 10 is such a nice number to end on. So there you go, 10 wonderful reasons to love Texas. If you're from Texas, feel free to add to the list. If you're in Virginia, come and visit sometime! :)