What our life has been like...Part 2

Can you believe it is 2011 already?! It is incredible to me that in just two days it will be the 20^th which marks one year from the time my husband began to court me and he has been courting me ever since! :) I hope you all had a blessed New Year. We were sick for a while with colds, then just as we recovered from that we got two bouts of food poisoning from two separate sources. Talk about NO fun! But the Lord took us through it and we are doing much better now and praising the Lord for health! How good our dear Lord Jesus is to us! One thing I am thankful for, among many, is the way sickness draws us closer to the Lord and to each other. There is such a joy in serving my husband, just being there for him in his time of need. How wonderful our Savior is to bring things into our lives, that though they are not fun bring glory to our Lord.

In July 2010 we took a trip down to Charlotte NC for the annual Operation Save America event. That is the event at which we had met the year before, in Las Vegas. It was so much fun to be there this time together as a young married couple! A dear family that was out of town let us stay at their house for the week we were there, which was a blessing, especially since I was going through morning sickness. We enjoyed seeing old friends, meeting new ones, and ministering on the streets of Charlotte.

 Traveling :)

 Holding signs

 We were part of the setup and take-down team for the American Holocaust Display. Setup on Charlotte's square, it presented excellent opportunities to share the gospel.

 There was open-air preaching as well throughout the days of the event.

 We handed out countless tracts....

 

 We were very happy to see my sister Bonnie and brother Michael who traveled by bus to get there!

We had a memorial service for a precious unborn child who had been killed by abortion. Here is the processional.

 The service was very good, calling for repentance and had a time for everyone to view the little one.

 There was a large crowd watching.

 At one point the display had to be dismantled in a down pour!

 It was coming down hard!

It was a great trip and the scenery there and back was wonderful!

Since then we have been keeping very busy. From scrapping cars....

to tearing down a modular home....

Ministry on the streets...

 Having fun...yes I rode it too! :)

spending time with our growing nephew Josiah and the rest of the family...

...meeting our Midwife appointments and enjoying preparing for our little one who will be here very soon! :) ...and a host of other things that fill our days. How good the Lord has been to us and continues to be! Keep praising our dear Lord Jesus, He is worthy of all praise, no matter what!

Thoughts on Exodus

Patrick and I have been reading through Exodus and as we read through the law (in the last part of Exodus) that God gave to Moses, there are some interesting things that stand out...

We noticed that God's laws are direct instructions of how to live, down to the minutest detail. He did not just tell Moses, "Make a tabernacle, make an alter, offer sacrifices", He gave specific directions. With what metals to make exact utensils, what wood to use and what size boards of a certain number for the ark of the covenant. What kind and color of cloth with an exact number of
gems for the priests garments. What type of animals and grain to offer, and how to cut, wash, separate, and what parts to burn, what parts to eat, and what parts to cast without the camp. At that time Moses and the children of Israel obeyed the Lord and did all according "as the Lord commanded Moses." They did not question God's wisdom in using a vast amount of gold and silver to build His tabernacle, instead they gave willingly of what they had until they had to be restrained from bringing any more gifts. They found joy in obeying the Lord.

This makes me think of my life. Do I find joy in obeying the Lord my God? Are His commands precious to me? God has given us very specific commands for this life... we are told: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15) Have you thought about this? I mean Really thought about it. What does it mean to love the world? Some things come to mind immediately...immorality, profanity, idolatry, just godlessness in general. Of course these things are of the world and we should not love them, but does it stop there? How far does God take this? To the tiny details? I think so.

"I will set no wicked thing before my eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me." (Psalms 101:3) Do you love to watch TV, movies, play video games? Are you aware of the filth that you are allowing to come into your eyes, mind and heart? OK lets just say that you are very careful and only watch good movies without offensive scenes and language, or violence. Why do you watch it? To glorify God? That is the reason He gave you breath today, that should be our reason for living. It should motivate everything that we do. "For my own sake, even for my own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be profaned? and I will not give my glory unto another." (Isaiah 48:11)

We should ask ourselves, "Where is my heart?" We can find that out by asking "where is my treasure?" "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Matthew 6:21) What do you think about all day long? Seriously consider that one. Because... "The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts." (Psalms 10:4) Is God in all your thoughts? Do you find your thoughts soaring to Him throughout the day? Some would say, "you have to be able to think about other things, there is work to do." Yes, and no. Of course there are tasks that take concentration and there are things to think through, but in what context are those thoughts? Are you abiding in Christ? "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me." (John 15:4) It is a moment by moment thing, abide in Christ. Rest in Him. "Pray without ceasing." (1Thessalonians 5:17)

What other worldly things can we think of that we may find ourselves loving and not realize the danger? The list can be pretty big. I pray that the Lord will reveal those things to me in my life, help me compare my life to His Word and make me sensitive to His voice. I want to follow Jesus...and he, "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;" (Hebrews 5:8) Jesus obeyed to the tiniest detail, He offered Himself willingly until it was enough. He tells us..."If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. (John 15:18)

Do you enjoy and are you entertained by the things that nailed Jesus to the tree?

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he who has called you is holy, so be holy in all manner of conduct; Because it is written, You will be holy; for I am holy. And if you call on the Father, who without respect of persons judges according to every man's work, pass the time of your exile here in fear: Since you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain manner of life received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. (1 Peter 1:13-21)

Announcing a Courtship!!!

On January 20th, 2010 my Dad gave Patrick permission to court me! What a day of rejoicing that was, and every day following continues to be!

L-R: Leah, Patrick, Michael

Leah, Michael, Patrick

Patrick

My brother Michael and I met Patrick on our mission trip to Las Vegas in July, but we barely got to know him. Later on, my Mom, Michael and I joined the social network called, Facebook, to keep in touch with friends and family. Soon we had friend requests from Patrick. It did not take long before we began to notice his love for the Lord Jesus in his posts and comments, it was refreshing to meet a believer who sought the Lord with all his heart. Over the chat we all became good friends and had wonderful times of fellowship encouraging each other in the Lord. From time to time Patrick would call to talk with Michael, and eventually the calls became more frequent. In time he made plans to visit us, and finally made his way up from Ohio to meet the family. And the rest, as they say...is history! Someday I am sure I will share more details....but now you all know why I have been quite absent from this blog. I had a good reason this time! :)

I am very blessed to be courted by such a godly young man! His fervent love for Jesus is very evident in his walk and talk. The Lord is so good, and His mercies are beyond comprehension!

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9) Praise the Lord for His wonderful works among the children of men!!!