Sunday, August 22, 2010

Blessed

Sometimes, I need the Lord to remind me of how many blessings he has bestowed upon me, and I don't even know it. But He always knows it and I think he enjoys reminding me that He loves me.. that He cares about me.. and that He cares about the things I care about, however small they probably are. Lately has been one of those times. How easy would it be for me to pout over small things and ignore all the good, amazing things that are going on in my life. So I will focus on these things in this post, as a praise to the Lord for being the Provider, the Comforter, the Healer, and the Lover of my soul.

- Brad and I are having a baby in about 5 weeks!!! We get to be parents!!!! We have been praying together for months that the Lord would be present throughout this pregnancy, and throughout us learning to be parents. We have been praying for the health of this child and that, above all else, this child would grow to know Christ as Lord and Savior... that is of utmost importance in our role as parents.. that we teach our child the Truth that we know, that the Lord has promised. John 3:16 style.

- Facing the challenge and the excitement of becoming parents has really deepened my marriage with Brad. We have prayed together more than ever, we have really been bonded over similar worries and anxieties and been such a comfort to each other as we both learn (or re-learn) every day to give these anxieties to the Lord... 1 Peter 5:7... really I must learn this every day, Brad not quite as often! He does much better in this than I do :)

- This move has been quite an adventure, and it is really easy for me to focus on the negatives of it, to focus on the loneliness of being in a brand new place all alone (but Brad gets back in about a week!) But I know that being here is God's will and I can already see Him proving to me that He wants me here. I don't know what His plan for us here really is, but I do know that His plan for us IS here. He has been proving this to me by:
1)finding a Church so soon. The first day that Brad left I went to a Church we had found online and loved the service. Usually you can't tell much about a church from their website, but that is all we had to go on this time and it has been such a blessing already!
2)Having that Church be so welcoming and reaching out to me. I have had two men on the visitation team stop by my house (a deacon and a guy on the worship team) to welcome me and see if there is any questions I might have or anything they can do to help me feel more welcome there. I have had one lady from the Church e-mail me and call me. I was invited to a newcomer's class (which I went to by myself!) introducing me to the opportunities in the Church. And the deacon who stopped by my house invited me to go to lunch today after Church with him, his wife, and two of their grandchildren.
3)Understanding that I am not someone who likes to be alone very often, and bringing things to fill my days, or at least some of my days! :)
-I have family members that are willing and able to come stay with me to make things a little easier, both now and after baby is born!

-although my house has had somethings that have needed dealt with, the neighborhood is wonderful and really the Lord has provided... this house fits our needs and most of our wants!

-Brad and I are able to get all the baby items we think we need (how do you really know what baby items you actually need though?!) without it stressing us financially.

Since I know that the Lord truly cares about the things I care about, I am holding onto His promise that He will give me the desires of my heart. (Psalm 37:4) I do know that He knows the desires of my heart even better than I do... and that usually my desires are transformed into what His desires for me already are. Not always.. I am a little stubborn sometimes.. but in the end I always lose. (which in all actuality is winning, right?)

Anyway... I have been praying that the Lord would continue to reveal to us where He wants us within the Fort Bragg/Fayetteville community as far as ministries, that He would provide us with good friends who would lift us up and encourage us in our beginning parent-hood journey, and that He would be visibly present in our lives to us and to those around us.

This post might feel a bit scattered, it is midnight right now and I was in bed when I felt like I just needed to write this all down! Part of that might be the insomnia that comes with being uncomfortable due to 35 weeks of pregnancy, but who knows :)

Blessings to you!

2 comments:

  1. Jessica- this is such a sweet post! It's so beautiful to see how God has worked and is working in your life. I love how you are looking at all of these blessings in your life and praising God during a tough time- very encouraging to others!

    35 weeks, eek! It sure is coming up fast...I hear ya though on the "uncomfortable" part and the insomnia. I thought we were supposed to be getting lots of sleep right now??? ;)

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  2. So excited for you my dear! and it is so wonderful to see that God is reminding you and surrounding you with His love. I so wish we lived closer and I could come over and keep you company and visa versa. Oh well, one day ;) Love you tons and we should chat again soon!

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