it's a sign...

my father-in-law saw this today.

being the ridiculously plan-ahead type of person i am, i just sent an email detailing our "birth plan" this week to all our family and a few friends (yes, i'm not even 28 weeks yet!)

i like to be organized and ready...even if the plan changes! :)

i have my 28 week appointment tomorrow, at which i'll schedule john paul's birthday....june 18th (my grandmother & sister Rebecca's birthday!) i'm thrilled for him to share his birthday with two amazing women in my family, and it was just a nice day to plan for family to come up since it's a friday. when the opportunity allows, i try to plan things around them since they have a ways to travel...this just happened to be one of those times it worked out well.

of course, anything is up for change...who knows what this little guy & God have planned? can't wait to find out...81.5 days to go till the c-section! :)

(i promise next post will include some pics of james & noah...i'm soooooooooooooo behind on posting about my sweet "big" boys!!!!!)

I Will War for You

Thank you, Father for this needed reminder!

I Will War for You

Posted: 11 Mar 2010 12:01 AM PST

by: Margaret C Mullings

I will war for you when you are weak
and can't go on.
Giving to you renewed strength.

I will war for you when people
are slandering you, with words
and assassinating your character

I will war for you, that you will
not get stuck in the mud.

I will war for you maintaining your integrity
for you were born to win, to soar above
the storms of life.
Yes I will carry your pain, humiliation
and all of your shame.

I will war so that you will live above sin.

I will war for you to continue to display
My love, embracing each hurting soul
whose path you cross, in spite
of the false accusers.

I will war for you, fighting your battles
giving to you the victories, and ushering
you into My presence where you will find
joy beyond measure.

I will war for you, you are my Choice Vessel
whom I have chosen, to display my love
to a hurting world filled with pain.

I will war for you, I love you so much
that I sacrificed My only Son Jesus Christ
to die in your place
so that you can live daily abundantly
free from the ravages of sin.

Always remember Jehovah Gibbor will arise
to war for you, through Jesus Christ
your Intercessor, your High Priest.
The Lamb who died for you.

Signed: Your Abba Father who loves you
unconditionally!!!!!!

You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2010/03/11/mm_war-for-you/

on march 10, 2006...

...my life changed forever and i'm so glad it did.

(march 10, 2006)

(february 2007)

(march 2007)

(james-6.5 months, march 2008)

(aaron, james {18 months} & noah {2.5 months})

(march 2009)

(present - february 2010)

90 days is all it took to seal the deal.

now, i'll be the proud mama of 3 boys in less than 3 years

and the luckiest, most blessed wife this world knows.
(james {2.5 years}, noah {14 months}, and john paul {25 weeks in womb})

i married my best friend and my life companion. thank you, Jesus, for saving him for me.

i love you, my sweet a-wyn.

you fill my life with joy, comfort, laughter, endless possibilities and hope.

it's so much fuller and safer with you in it.

thank you for loving me just as i am, faults and all.

i couldn't ask for more.

love,

your doodlesnoop

Remember Whose You Are

And just as doubt began creeping back in......

Why is it so hard to feel like I fit in? Maybe because I don't and I'm not supposed to? I have been seeking an answer to this question since grade school, and just when I thought I finally had it all together it starts nagging at me again. I thought once I was married and had children and a beautiful house and family that I'm proud of, things would start to change. Guess what, they don't! None of that can fulfill the void, the longing, the need to be accepted.

My husband is a gem in a dirty, dusty world and my children bring me endless hours of unspeakable joy....but something still hurts and aches inside. Why do we care what others think of us? Why do I place so much importance in it? I'm trying so hard to do good and maintain a servant's heart, but I'm always second-guessing myself.

A friend recently told me, "You are to do all things for Christ. He's the one you're living for, not anyone but Him." Oh, how I need to remember that each day!

Now if I could just get the pesty little voice inside my head that tells me, "You're no good. Why did you say that? Someone is going to take it the wrong way. Why did you do 'it' (whatever 'it' maybe) that way? They're going to think you're crazy. You soooo don't fit in!" to go away, it might be easier to move forward and not question every word that comes out of my mouth on a given day. Of all the things I inherited from my dad, this constant self-doubt and internal working of the mind at all hours is something I'd gladly give back! It's allowed me to cry way too many tears and lose countless hours of sleep....sleep I desperately need!

If you need me today, I'll be working at remembering whose I am! (and comments are not necessary for this post...I'm sure I'll question having even put it out there as soon as it's posted!)

Remember Whose You Are

Remember Whose You Are Posted: 09 Mar 2010 12:01 AM PST by Sylvia Gunter I don't know your story and you don't know mine, but we share a common theme. We are driven by the search for true identity, a desire to be understood and appreciated for who we are. We have longing to seek out something more. Those are not evil desires. God gave us the desire to seek the essence of who he created us to be, so that he can fulfill it. He created the thirst so we can enjoy the Living Water. Unfortunately, we spend a lot of time and energy looking everywhere else but to him for that fulfillment. In Jeremiah 2 God paints a picture of how his people loved him like a bride loves her groom, full of passion and complete in their devotion to him. But their hearts changed. In Jeremiah 2:13 God says that his people have forsaken him, the spring of Living Water, and have dug their own cisterns. They are looking for fulfillment in all the wrong places. You can hear the Father's grieved heart as he lays out their behavior before them and then ends with "How's that working for you?" My heart sinks as I see the areas in my life where I have chosen to find identity in my own cisterns, rather than drinking the Living Water. We too easily revert back to our own cisterns that can hold no water. Look at the cisterns in your life. What seemed like such a good source of legitimacy suddenly pales in comparison to true legitimacy found in God. That is why it is critical to meditate on the truths of who God is and who we are in Him until it sinks down deep into our spirit, soul, and body. John Calvin wrote in The Institutes Of The Christian Religion, "It now remains to pour into the heart itself what the mind has absorbed. For the Word of God is not received by faith if it fills the top of the brain, but when it takes root in the depth of the heart." Calvin is urging us to take deep drinks of the Living Water of who he is and what we have because of who he is: He is Jehovah-Jireh (provider). Genesis 22:14 Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. You can be sure he sees and knows your every need. Matthew 6:8 Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. He is Jehovah-Rophe (healer). Exodus 15:26 I am the LORD, who heals you. You are being renewed. Isaiah 40:31 ... those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength... He is Jehovah-Shalom (peace). Judges 6:24 ... and called it The LORD is Peace. You have life and peace. Romans 8:6 ... to be spiritually minded is life and peace. He is Jehovah-Nissi (banner). Exodus 17:15 Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner. You are led in Christ's triumph. 2 Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ... He is Jehovah-Rohi (shepherd). Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd... You are his well-tended sheep. Psalm 100:3 We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. He is Jehovah-Tsidkenu (righteousness). Jeremiah 23:6 This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness. You are free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2 Through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. He is Jehovah-Shammah (THE LORD IS THERE, Ezekiel 48:35) Matthew 28:20 Surely I am with you always... You are continually with God. Psalm 73:23 Yet I am always with you... Stop and allow these truths to sink deep into your spirit. You may "know" these Scriptural facts, but now really receive their truth deeply in your spirit where your legitimacy, identity, significance, and birthright are defined by God. Remember whose you are... and who you are in him! You can comment on this devotional online at: http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2010/03/09/sg_whose-you-are/

Thoughts about Salt

I love how God is gently breaking my heart day-by-day this week! I'm so thankful He's made me stop in the busyness and take time to actually read these devotionals as they have come across my in-box the last few days. The messages have put into plain terms what I've been needing to hear regarding certain situations that my family and I have been involved in over the last several months. May we all be salt!

Thoughts about Salt

Posted: 07 Mar 2010 12:01 AM PST

By Katherine Kehler

“You are the salt of the earth. . .” Matthew 5:13

"Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another." Mark 9:50

After I read these verses during my Quiet Time one evening, I began to think about the reasons for salt being good thing.

1. Salt enhances the flavor of food,
2. Salt is used to preserve meat.
3. Salt is used to thaw ice.
4. Salt is a water softener.

So how can we apply these “salty” things to our lives because Jesus said we are the salt of the earth?

We can enhance our surroundings. For example our behavior must be based on Biblical values—integrity, truthfulness, peace, joy and love. Our yards and houses can set a standard of excellence and enhance the neighborhood.

We can preserve by being there to help neighbors, co-workers and family when they need someone to comfort them (be like a healing ointment). We can share the gospel
http://www.thoughts-about-god.com/4laws/law0.html with them so they can come to know the power of Christ within them.

We can melt icy relationships by being kind and loving to those around us even when they are cold to us. In time they will melt. Love never fails.

We can soften the world around us by smiling and being gentle and kind. We must make an effort to be friendly to all people—regardless of their race, religion, color, or lifestyle.

So, let me ask you, are you a salty Christian? Are you a nice person? Or have you lost it? You can become a salty Christian again by repenting and asking the Lord to be in control of your life http://www.thoughts-about-god.com/biblestudies/spiritfilledlife.htm once again. He will produce salt in your life.

Father, thank you that when you ask anything of us you will always provide the resources. We love you—enable us to love others like you do. Amen

You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2010/03/07/kk_salt/

Overcoming the World Step by Step

Overcoming the World Step by Step

I love how God knows exactly what I need to read or hear just when I need it the most. He's been doing a number on me lately, and what comfort He brought me in this little devotional this morning. I know we all have our own struggles, grief and heartache we experience on any given day. My prayer is that you will also find comfort in God's love and faithfulness, and that our spiritual growth and kindness towards others will only increase until His return. May it be soon!