Steps of Faith

It has been a little while since my last post and a lot has happened!!! Several weeks ago I was praying and the Holy Spirit printed me to Ecc. 3:1 "To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven...." I have read this scripture many times, but it stuck out to me more then ever before. My husband and I had been walking through a season of trial. This was a time to really put our faith to test, to see who we really leaned on and trusted in. It was a time that our faith grew even stronger then before. It was during this season that He showed Himself faithful as we have been faithful. While the season has been very difficult, we are now out of the season of trial and onto a season of harvest! One of the issues was that my husband had a work accident and had to have major surgery. For months we waited and prayed for a job to come after a wait he got a job. Check one, of  the prayers we were believing for! Second, we really wanted to do a pre-adoption shoot. I wanted pictures to show our children, just how much we love them and have been waiting for them! To adopt is a very special gift not only for the child but, for us as well.
The third step of faith was to look beyond our circumstances of needing to move into a bigger house and just make the call to start our adoption classes. WE DID!!! We will start our Orientation class next month and are looking at 9-12 months for the process. The case worker asked me if that was to long and I have to say it was a little relief. I have it set in my mind that certain things need to happen but, I should no by now that is not how it works. I do know that God is faithful, we have and will continue to be faithful and as we put our selves out there, it gives Him a great opportunity to work wonders in our lives.
Here are the pictures from our photo shoot that my dear friend Jessica did from Capturing Essence.

Life Lessons from a Seedling

This morning I was standing in my kitchen looking at some tiny vegetable seedlings I had planted a couple weeks ago. The other day the weather was beautiful, so I thought I would put the seedlings outside to get some sun. I got so busy that day and had forgotten to bring them in that night. Unfortunately the weather dropped down and we got snow in the mountains around our valley. That morning I looked outside and remembered that I had put them out there. When I brought them inside I noticed the leaves were now withered. I ran some mild water on the roots, then put them by one of my kitchen windows.
Today, I noticed that while the leaves were still a little withered and beaten, there was new growth coming up from the core. I have really fallen in love with gardening, there are so many lessons to be learned from it.
Here was this tiny plant that had been beaten by the weather, that had appeared to be dead, but had new life growing out from it.
How many times in our lives do we get beaten by weather (storms, the trials of life) and count things dead in our lives. Maybe you are waiting for something to happen and it has not only been months, but years! Do you count that thing dead? I believe just as my tiny plants had new growth, God wants to bring new growth (life, faith, joy, etc..) into our lives. Do not count something dead because life (dreams, progress, etc) has not yet came. Growth can spring forward fast at any moment. Continue to grow in faith and see those things you counted as dead, begin to come to life.
Matthew 17:20 "For assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed. you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you."

Have faith!

Leah

In the Bible there is a lot of great heroins, but my favorite ones are those that rose above their circumstances to become the woman God had created them to be. Leah is one of my favorites! I think about how strong she had to be in her faith, to walk through so much hurt and disappointment, but God loved and honored Leah. I have had this is my bible for sometime about Leah and thought I would share. Enjoy.

She was the unwanted one, the unattractive one, the one her father used as a trick. She was Leah. By birth, she was Rachel's older sister. And, by deceit, she was Jacob's first wife. She must have seen the disappointment in his eyes when he discovered she wasn't the woman he'd spent seven years longing and working for. And she must have known, as well as any woman today, the deep and lasting sting of rejection.
But, for all his weakness and all his cunning, her father did provide for her. And for every woman who stands in the shadow of one who seems more beautiful or more brilliant, there is a Father who says, "This one is worthy." There is a Father who is looking out for you. There is a Father in whose eyes you are the loveliest of all. He is a Father who delights in you so much that He sings and rejoices over you. It is time to see yourself as He sees you - the apple of His eye, the joy of His heart, the masterpiece of His hand.
Leah may have felt inferior to Rachel, and we know she felt unloved by Jacob; but her heavenly Father had a purpose for her life. She bore Jacob a daughter and six sons, among them Levi and Judah. From Levi, the priestly tribe arose and ministered to God for the entire nation of Israel. From Judah cam King David and his royal lineage, which included Jesus Christ. God has a destiny for you, too. Find a place to be alone with Him, not simply to seek His will, but to let Him show you who He created you to be, and to let Him tell you how beautiful He thinks you are.

The Sweet Smell After the Storm

Have you ever smelled the sweet smell right after a rain storm? Felt the breeze, knowing that a storm is over?

I have been thinking a lot about rain storms lately. Living in Southern Oregon we are very blessed at experience rain storms at any given time this time of year. As a matter of fact we had our pre-adoption photo shoot planned today and had to reschedule for next weekend due to the rain.

This last year has been really rough for my husband and I. He had an accident and had to have major surgery, which he is still healing from, but it is getting better all the time. It has been really rough to bounce back financially and has felt like one storm after another. 

Today we went to church like we always do then, had another one of my favorite things happen. An afternoon talking about the dreams and paths we believe God is going to take us. What does this have to do with the smell after the storm? What does this have to do with the storm?

I sit here and close my eyes and think about what it smells like after the rain comes down. The smell is one none of us can forget nor do we want to.we even try to put it in a spray and candle form. It is the smell of cleanness and purity. I believe that my husband and I are in this season. Right before God moves, He takes away anything that is keeping us from the journey He has for us, it is the sweet smell of change and anticipation. You know that at any minute the winds are going to change and the storm is over!!

While things have been really rocky and the storm has seemed bigger then I could have ever imagine. I now feel that the winds are changing and that our dreams are ever closer. I may not have liked the storm, but He has always been there, helping to rise above, increasing my faith, and helping to see that He is bigger than any storm I will ever face. Psalms 107:29-31 "He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. Then they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven. Oh that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness."

In the Stillness

Tonight my husband and I went to a prayer meeting that we go to every Tuesday night and our Pastor asked people to get up and thank God for what they are grateful for about Him. Not what He has given us, but specifically something about God that we are thankful for.
While I did not get up and pray, I sat in the pew thanking about my relationship with Christ and what I am thankful for. One of the many things that came to my heart was His presence.
I know that in my life things get hectic, busy and loads of weight is put on my shoulders from the cares of this world. Something happens though when I take time to just sit still and talk to Him. I feel an overwhelming sense of peace, tranquility and reassurance. I feel like the problems and cares that I have are for a moment in time gone and the only thing I want to do is stay where I am at and not move.
Matthew 11:28 "Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." God beckons us to come to Him when the cares of this world are heavy upon us and to sit, be quite and allow Him to speak to us and give us rest from our cares. It is at this time I get to sit at my Father's feet and get a hug from God.
If you are heavy laden, burden, overwhelmed, depressed, etc. and have a relationship with Christ, stop what you are doing, take time to just sit and allow Him to take the burdens you have off your shoulders.
If you do not have a relationship with Christ, the first thing you have to do is ask Him to forgive you for your past and then ask Him to help you walk with Him, allow Him to come into your life and begin to work in you. As you walk with God take time to talk to him and watch as He is faithful to be there!

Fight Like a Warrior Princess

This last week I have been thinking allot about the words fight and perseverance. There are people who hear these two words and think Oh No, but I am the opposite. The word persevere has become my life word or motto.
I have always been a natural fighter and overcome. i am a go getter who wants to secretly conquer the world and do everything that my heart dreams of. Travel, write, own several businesses, etc.. These words have had so much more meaning to me.
Since beginning my relationship with Christ, I have had so many circumstances that I have had to persevere and wait for. First was getting married, being able to stop, focus on Him and wait for Him to bring my husband. just within this last year my husband and I had been praying for 3 years for another vehicle, but we did not want to go into debt and did not have money to buy another vehicle. Well, after 3 years of waiting and praying we were given a beautiful truck!! That's right, given! He cares even  about the small things. Currently as I shared earlier we have been waiting and praying for a baby for 51/2 years. WOW, time flies, but even in times of struggle, crying, and pain He has always been faithful!
I decided to look up the word fight and one meaning is: to engage in battle or in a single combat; attempt to defend oneself against or subdue, defeat or destroy an adversary. Synonyms are perseverance and endure.
So, why fight? Where is the fight in these circumstances? You see each day I have to make a choice to get up and fight against the lies in my head, the unbelief that tries to come and nay Sayers. It is a battle for the strong hearted. It requires courage and Faith to continue even when your circumstances say the opposite of what you are believing for.
Over and Over again we see people who fought a good fight of faith. God specifically mentions them in Hebrews 11 and there are many more throughout the Bible. Each one had to persevere, endure, fight and walk by faith.
I titled this message "Fight like a Warrior Princess" because I want each one of us to fight with a stance and passion that is so fierce and as a Princess because we are His daughters (Princesses). So, while we may have tenacity that does not give up and holds onto what God has spoken (to His Word, through prayer) we are still soft, beautiful and giving; just the way He created us to be.
Do not give up! Make a choice to FIGHT, PERSEVERE AND ENDURE!

Welcome

Today, I have decided that I am going to start blogging on our family and my life. This has been on my heart for sometime but, I just ignored that small voice inside. Then, thus last weekend I went to a conference at my church. It was at this conference that I had the chance to meet a sweet dear woman named Keri Harvey. It was here that she told me her story and her family story. I had met someone who new what I was going through and who new how I felt. Everyday I am surrounded by great family and friends but, still feel alone.
 A little over six years ago I met my husband and my best friend. We had both been involved in the same church and planted there for years. God has had His hands on our marriage and I finally had been blessed with the man my heart desired to have. Later I will share my back story but, for right now I want to share my current story because, I think it is almost a secret thing that even Christian couples go through, but because of the intimacy and privacy of the issue. The enemy comes in and plays in our minds and hearts. For about 5 1/2 years my husband and I having praying, trying and believing for a baby. We new we did not want to wait long with getting married at 26 and 35. I want to note that while this is a very private matter for me, I want to be able to help other women stay strong in their faith along their own journey. So, I will pick up my sword (my story and the Word of God) and share that even in my struggle and pain His hand has been there along!!
Lately I have been reading the Book of 2 Samuel. I love 1 and 2 Samuel then the other day I came across a scripture that I had read millions of times and it never stuck out to me but, today it did! 2 Samuel 5:17 "When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold."TNIV Now you are probably saying what does this have to do with anything. I decided to look up the word Stronghold. A stronghold is a fortified place or a fortress. A place of survival or refuge!!
I know that in my life the enemy likes to wear me down, but when I take time to be in God's Word everyday and spend time in worship, I am going to my fortified place or fortress. It is in the Word of God we get courage and strength to continue. It is in the Word of God that He speaks to us. It is in the Word of God we not only find survival and refuge, but we overcome!!
If you are dealing with infertility, loneliness, or anything hard in your life know that there is a stronghold for you in spending time with God, reading His Word, and Worshiping who He is and what He has done. I do not know for sure what God has planned for us as far as natural children. I do know that I have a God "Who will never leave me nor forsake me", a husband who loves me, friends who are supportive and a family backing us all the way.