3 Oct 2012

31Days: New Life Verse (Day 3)

by | posted in: 31days, Bible | 1

A new friend pointed me to this Psalm as a way that she was able to persevere through the first couple of weeks of her child’s life.  Once her sweet daughter was born she was immediately taken into surgery and then faced several days in the NICU.  Sounds familiar – except the surgery  part.  I haven’t even met this friend or her daughter but already I know we are going to be good friends.

This Psalm I have whispered to myself probaby 100 times over the past two weeks.  I have whispered it to Eric as we lay in bed at night, exhausted from a newborn and the joys of moving to a new state.  It is definitely taken out of context, because we know the psalmist is not moving and has not just born a child, but the truth remains because God never changes.

Psalm 68.19 “Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation.  Selah.”

I hope this offers you encouragement in whatever daily battles you are facing.

19 Jun 2012

Peace and Wisdom

by | posted in: Bible, James | 0

There are two types of wisdom according to the book of James: earthly and “wisdom from above”.  Which one characterizes you and your daily interactions with other believers.  As I read some in Lydia Brownback’s book this morning, I was reminded of how we should act and be in our relationships with other believers, especially in corporate gatherings.

So often since I’ve been old enough to recognize it, I see and dislike politics within the church.  I am not talking here about Democrats and Republicans.  I am more referring to one-upping others to get one’s way or catering to the powers that be or financial preferences one can see any virtually any religious organization or denomination.  I’m referring to fights at religious gatherings or arguments over non-important matters.  Even in important matters, there is a way to discuss with “wisdom from above.”

As we relate every day as Christians in a world full of other Christians, all in need of saving grace, may we remember these verses:

James 3:13-18

“Who is wise and understanding among you?  By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.  But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.  This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.  For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.  But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.  And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

18 Jun 2012

That’s My Job

by | posted in: Bible, mothering, parenting | 0

Conway Twitty.  I remember riding in the car blaring 97 Country or sitting in our trailer on the Suwannee listening to him.  His voice is unmistakable.  One of my favorite songs by him is “That’s My Job” about a dad to a son.  I woke up singing it this morning and then as I was quoting it to the hubs this morning over breakfast, tears flowed.  I knew what the post would be today.

I woke up cryin’ late at night when I was very young
I had dreamed my father had passed away and gone
my world revolved around him I couldn’t lie there anymore
so I made my way down the mirrored hall and tapped upon his door
And I said Daddy I’m so afraid how will I go on with you gone that way
Don’t wanna cry anymore so may I stay with you and he said

Chorus:
That’s my job
that’s what I do
everything I do is because of you to keep you safe with me
that’s my job you see

Later we barely got along this teenage boy and he
most of the fights it seems were over different dreams we each held for me
he wanted knowledge and learning
I wanted to fly out west
said I could make it out there if I just had the fare
I got half will you loan me the rest
and I said Daddy I’m so afraid there’s no guarentee in the plans I’ve made
and if I should fail who will pay my way back home
and he said

::CHORUS::

Every person carves his spot and fills the hole with light
and I pray some day I might light as bright as he

I woke up early one bright fall day to spread the tragic news
after all my travels I settled down within a mile or two
I make my living with words and rhyme and all this tragedy
should go into my head and out instead as bits of poetry
but I say Daddy I’m so afraid how will I go on with you gone this way
how can I come up with a song to say I love you

That’s my job
that’s what I do
everything I do is because of you to keep you safe with me
that’s my job you see

My friend, Lara, posted a convicting blog the other day about our job as parents.  So, that is where I want to take this post:

The Bible has much to say about what our jobs are as parents.  As E and I have both celebrated our first “Day” now and we get closer and closer to the birth of our son, we are only beginning to realize the burden and responsibility (and joy) that it is to raise a son in light of the Gospel.

Here are some Scriptures that remind us of what our job is as parents:

Colossians 3:21

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Psalm 78:1-11

Proverbs 22:6

Of course, these are just some of the MANY that tells us what we are to do with our children, for our children.  But, no where in the Bible does God, our Father, tell us to SAVE our children.  We cannot.  The job of our child’s salvation is not ours.  The role of salvation in our children is directed by the Holy Spirit.  When we get overwhelmed with the responsibility of making sure our children follow Christ one day, all we can do is:

Pray.  Lead.  Guide.  Teach.  Train. 

Let’s obey what God has told us to do and leave the worrying, fretting, and salvation regeneration to the only One who is able to do so.

7 Jun 2012

Dan(vers) in Real Life (Part 2)

by | posted in: Bible, Women | 1

Continuing on our discussion of the Danvers Statement from yesterday, we finish off with Affirmations 6-10.  I hope these have been an encouragement to you and not another list of rules to follow.  Sometimes it is difficult to know how to apply Scripture to our lives when sin has marred the world we live in.  Thank God that He is redeeming all of creation for His glory!

6.  Redemption in Christ aims at removing the distortions introduced by the curse, both in the family and in the church. (Titus 2:3-5; 1 Peter 3:1-7; 1 Cor 11:2-16)

The death of Christ on the cross is available for all who believe (and if they believe they will be the elect of God).  God knows those whom He has saved – both male and female.  Males don’t have an easier time being saved.  We are all on equal footing: sinners in need of a Savior.  While we are equal in that rite, there are some standards and roles that God set up before the foundation of the world, that now that sin has entered the picture, these roles are more difficult to adhere to – but nevertheless, we are told to adhere to them.  Husbands and wives have equal partnership but different roles in the home.  Elders and roles in the church that require biblical teaching of men needs to be reserved only for men.  God has a great purpose in this.  We would find great joy in the beauty of submission in these areas.

7.  In all of life Christ is the supreme authority and guide for men and women, so that no earthly submission – domestic, religious, or civil – ever implies a mandate to follow a human authority into sin. (Daniel 3:10-18; Acts 4:19-20; 1 Peter 3:1-2)

This definitely was seen with the DOMA voting that occurred in NC recently.  Many politicians and even many Christians Iwere agreeing with the government in their allowance of homosexual and lesbian marriages.  There were so many issues that were included in this.  My thought process started out as one thing, moved to another, and then voting day came and went.  We do not live in a theocracy.  Even though truth is truth, we can’t expect non-Christians to want to adhere to the same biblical truth that we obey and live under.  So, even if we passed a lot (which NC did) that marriage is between one man and one woman, it is only one state – any couple can just choose to up and move to another state.  As Christians, we have a different standard in life than non-Christians.  Non-Christians will be under the wrath of God at judgment day.  We have been freed from the wrath of God because of the blood of Jesus.  But we can’t impose biblical standards on those that don’t believe Christ is the only way to heaven.   But, we must live according to the Bible.  And that goes for every area of our lives: home, church, gender roles, etc.

8.  In both men and women a heartfelt call to ministry should never be used to set aside biblical criteria for particular ministries. (1 Tim 2:11-15; 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9)

Earlier on in my life I struggled with this one, primarily because I hadn’t been taught any better.  When I was in college, I was assistant to our youth pastor at a church (whom I loved and learned a lot from and loved being in ministry with those girls and families). I was encouraged to go to a certain seminary because the seminary I wanted to attend put too many restraints on women.  When I started being taught what the Bible had to say about roles within the church, I learned more about women could do and what women couldn’t do.  These mandates are not set up for our punishment, but for our good, for us to thrive under God’s authority.  When women will come to me saying they are being led of God to be a pastor, I honestly have to suppress a laugh (which is sinful), but then I’m hurt that they don’t see the laws of God as beautiful.  I want them to open their eyes and see God’s beauty.  What this is saying is not that women have nothing to say to men or they don’t have the ability to teach, it is just saying God’s way is His way and it is the best for our good and His glory in the church, our families, and the world.

9.  With half the world’s population outside the reach of indigenous evangelism; with countless other lost people in those societies that have heard the gospel; with the stress and miseries of sickness, malnutrition, homelessness, illiteracy, ignorance, aging, addiction, crime, incarceration, neuroses, and loneliness, no man or woman who feels a passion from God to make His grace known in word and deed need ever live without a fulfilling ministry for the glory of Christ and the good of this fallen world. (1 Cor 12:7-21)

Some people ask this question: can a women lead a man to Christ.  By all means, yes.  That is declaring the truths of salvation.  Whether you are sitting on a bus, waiting at a terminal or hospital, sharing with your husband – this isn’t haven’t Scriptural authority over a man in a church’s teaching role.  There are many ministries: orphanages, nursing, sex trafficking freedom, etc that women can do and have such a great impact in this world.  Why some women understand that the only way they can have an impact for the kingdom is by preaching to men/leading worship to men is beyond me?  There is so much more out there.  Women can have a huge impact for the gospel in many arenas that men can’t.  Think of Muslim cultures.  Men and women don’t talk to each other.  How else will these lost women hear the gospel if women don’t share it with them?

10.  We are convinced that a denial or neglect of these principles will lead to increasingly destructive consequences in our families, our churches, and the culture at large.

This has definitely been the case.  Look at: single-parent homes, divorce rate both in and outside the church, the feminization of the church, lack of men’s involvement in local churches, gay marriages and lifestyles on the rise.

The Danvers Statement was written 25 years ago.  Men and women have been upholding it by the grace of God ever since.  Will you strive to live by the laws and beautiful truths found in God’s Word, or will you demand your own way.  Self-enslavement is worse than God-enslavement (taken from Amy Spiegel’s new book, Letting Go of Perfect).

Go in peace and grace.

5 Jun 2012

Culture, Family Worship, and Legalism

by | posted in: Bible, mothering, Worship | 0

The following quote is taken from the 1689 London Baptist Confession:

And verily there is one spring and cause of the decay of religion in our day which we cannot but touch upon and earnestly urge a redress of, and that is the neglect of the worship of God in families by those to whom the charge and conduct of them is committed. May not the gross ignorance and instability of many, with the profaneness of others, be justly charged upon their parents and masters, who have not trained them up in the way wherein they ought to walk when they were young, but have neglected those frequent and solemn commands which the Lord hath laid upon them, so to catechise and instruct them that their tender years might be seasoned with the knowledge of the truth of God as revealed in the Scriptures; and also by their own omission of prayer and other duties of religion of their families, together with the ill example of their loose conversation, having, inured them first to a neglect and the contempt of all piety and religion? We know this will not excuse the blindness and wickedness of any, but certainly it will fall heavy upon those that have been thus the occasion thereof; they indeed die in their sins, but will not their blood be required of those under whose care they were, who yet permitted them to go on without warning – yea, led them into the paths of destruction? And will not the diligence of Christians with respect to the discharge of these duties in ages past rise up in judgment against and condemn many of those who would be esteemed such now?

Breakdown of the family unit in today’s society is something that not only Christians and churches worry about, but for many reasons politicians and sociologists are concerned with it as well.  However, this isn’t just a problem that plagues our society today.  It is a problem that for over 300 years church leaders have seen as something that needs to be addressed.
I live in a part of town that is known for some crime and general “lolly gagging” by people of all ages.  This part of town is also known for single-parent homes or absent parents altogether.  Latch key syndrome.  Yes, this is definitely a problem and the breakdown of the family has been at least one cause, if not the leading cause, of the rise in crime among teenagers/college students. The trend continues.
I think another danger that we have to be careful of is a type of legalism.  I was watching a video the other day that showed four youth getting baptized.  All of them said something like this: “My parents raised me in a Christian home and we read the Bible, did Christian things, etc.  But, it wasn’t until later that I accepted Christ.”
The Psalms and Proverbs talk much about delighting in the Word, meditating on the Word, etc.  Deuteronomy 6 tells fathers to talk about the Word every chance you get – teaching it to your children.  It is something we are commanded to do as parents.  It is our main responsibility.  But, we are parents cannot assume that our church going and Bible reading is going to save our children.
1.  Shepherd your children.  By leading home worship you are doing this very thing.  Home Worship doesn’t need to be long and complex.  Some ways my husband and I started doing it when we were engaged were praying together at night and reading a Bible verse at meal times.  We look forward to continuing and building upon that when Baby Campbell arrives.  If you have someone who can sing or play an instrument (or a YouTube video), incorporate singing into your home worship routine.  Make sure the Word and the Gospel are intrigal parts of your time together and that you do it.  It doesn’t have to be done every day, but some sort of schedule will help you keep doing it – habit, right?
2.  Home Worship can’t save your children.  In Elyse Fitzpatrick’s book Give Them Grace, she talks about rule following that would lead your children to be better Pharisees (in a negative light) than Christ-followers.  The heart of your children need to be changed by a gracious God.  We can’t save our children by doing more and better home worship, or demanding their obedience, or regulating their wardrobe, iPod playlist, or friends.  We can give them the Word and pray for their salvation, showing them much grace and forgiveness as they are coming up in our homes.
Grace and discipline.  The two go together in this thinking of home worship.  We need to have discipline to do home worship with family members and show the Word of God as a permanent and prominent fixture in our home.  One of the ways we are doing that as we prepare for Baby Campbell’s arrival is by adorning the nursery walls with Scripture.  We also must rely on grace.  We can’t possibly adhere to the true gospel and think that by us doing family worship, even every night of the week, will gain us (or our children) an audience and relationship with God – we can’t have that apart from Christ.  The Gospel is D-O-N-E not D-O.
“As the years go by, more and more we realize that if our children turn out right, it is only because of amazing grace.” – Joel Beeke, Parenting by God’s Promises
29 May 2012

Sojourn, Charleston, and Psalm 148

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“Let every creature rise and bring, their grateful praises to our King.

Angels decend with songs again, and earth repeats a loud amen.”

Neil and Kate Robins – Sojourn, Advent Songs

 

Psalm 148:

  Praise the LORD!
 Praise the LORD from the heavens;
  praise him in the heights!
 Praise him, all his angels;
  praise him, all his hosts!
  Praise him, sun and moon,
  praise him, all you shining stars!
 Praise him, you highest heavens,
  and you waters above the heavens!
  Let them praise the name of the LORD!
  For he commanded and they were created.
 And he established them forever and ever;
  he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.
  Praise the LORD from the earth,
  you great sea creatures and all deeps,
 fire and hail, snow and mist,
  stormy wind fulfilling his word!
  Mountains and all hills,
  fruit trees and all cedars!
 Beasts and all livestock,
  creeping things and flying birds!
  Kings of the earth and all peoples,
  princes and all rulers of the earth!
 Young men and maidens together,
  old men and children!
  Let them praise the name of the LORD,
  for his name alone is exalted;
  his majesty is above earth and heaven.
 He has raised up a horn for his people,
  praise for all his saints,
  for the people of Israel who are near to him.
 Praise the LORD!
(Psalm 148 ESV)

(Picture taken by Eric Campbell at the South Carolina Aquarium on 5/25/12 – Charleston, SC)

16 Apr 2012

Prayer Journaling for Your Husband and Children

by | posted in: Bible, marriage, mothering, Women | 2

“So train the young women to love their husbands and children.” – (Titus 2:4 ESV)

I learned this very well from my mentor, Phyllis, through the years as I’ve watched her diligently and passionately pray for her husband and children, and their spouses, and now her grandchildren.  As I’ve started my own for my husband, and now my Baby Boy Campbell coming in September, I wanted to share some thoughts and how-tos that I’ve learned from her over the almost 20 years of knowing her.

1.  Get paper.  I remember after my second date with my husband, I went to B&N later that night and got a moleskin notebook and started journaling and praying for him, knowing one day I would give it to him at our wedding.  And I did.  He is reading through it now.  But, really, ladies…you don’t need a moleskin or fancy notebook.  You can use a journaling Bible (like this one from Crossway) and journal through your reading in there or just grab some loose-leaf paper and stick it in a folder (like we did back in high school, before everything needed to be turned through a computer).  The paper doesn’t matter, the action does.

2.  Get a pen/pencil/crayon.  I have tried to steer away from pens that will bleed through the pages of my moleskin (almost done with #2 right now) but sometimes a bleed pen is the only one around.  I would also challenge you to get a real pen and paper (not a computer) because you’ll be able to cherish these notebooks for years to come and your children and husband can read them as well!  I know we are a techno world now, but I truly believe that some things are better hand-written.

3.  Get a Bible.  One of the MUSTS for this type of praying is that you pray Scripture over your spouse/children.  What Phyllis taught me is that I don’t need books or even to be really creative, I just need God’s Word.  She trusts in its sufficiency, and so do I.  You don’t have to start a new reading  plan – just read.  If you want to, start with the Psalms, or one of Paul’s epistles or (gasp!) even the book of Deuteronomy.  Pray these Scriptures for your husband/children.  Here is an example from Psalm 112:

   Praise the LORD!
 Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
  who greatly delights in his commandments!
 His offspring will be mighty in the land;
  the generation of the upright will be blessed.
 Wealth and riches are in his house,
  and his righteousness endures forever.
 Light dawns in the darkness for the upright;
  he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.
 It is well with the man who deals generously and lends;
  who conducts his affairs with justice.
 For the righteous will never be moved;
  he will be remembered forever.
 He is not afraid of bad news;
  his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
 His heart is steady; he will not be afraid,
  until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.
(Psalm 112:1-8 ESV)

“Father, I praise you and thank you that you have given me a Psalm 112 husband.  Thank you for answering that prayer.  I thank you that E fears you more than he fears man and that he takes great delight in your word each morning, even as we are going through James this year as a couple.  I pray that our children, even this little one in my tummy right now, will be blessed to follow and know you and dwell richly and mightily in the land as they seek you wholeheartedly because of your grace and the display of faithfulness of their earthly Father (all because of grace).  Thank you for allowing my E to show me grace and mercy when I fail, and fail miserably at times.  Thank you also that he pursues you and righteousness.  Continue to weigh in his heart and his actions so that they might please you.  I praise YOU that E is a generous man who does not hoard the money that you have blessed us with but wants our giving and our home to be a place of blessing for others.  May we continue to live in that way.  I pray Lord, that even in difficult times, that you would make his heart strong and firm in you – knowing that you never change and that you will lead him in righteousness (Psalm 23).  Do not let him coward and be afraid, but be bold and know that you are God until the day that you make him triumph over his enemies for the glory of God in the world.”

And you can take the same chapter and pray it for your children, as I will for baby Campbell.

4.  Pray.  I know this may seem like the easiest one to do, and I do pray for E all the time and pray for baby Campbell as well (honestly mostly in the shower), but do this.  I remember living for a time with my mentor and her family.  I remember waking up early in the morning and walking downstairs, and Phyllis had already been there for hours praying and reading for her soul and the soul of her family.  This was such a testimony to me.  I fail in this so much.  I need more grace to make it happen and to make it a glorious habit.

5.  Save.  Save your journals.  I will save mine.  Got an email from Phyllis this morning even that she has bookshelves and a chest full of these journals.  What a legacy for your children and spouse as they see a wife/mother who first loved Jesus then prayed and loved them as well all the days of her life. 

6.  Side note: I sometimes read these journals to E as a way to encourage him.  I let him read the first one (I gave it to him before our wedding).  I use it as part journal of our marriage too.  So for part of the journal I’m talking to God and part of it I’m talking to E, or baby Campbell in his.  I’ve already seen how encouraging this can be and how much fruit can be harvested from this daily duty of delight (see John Piper). 

PS…You can definitely read through books and pray those for your husband or children.  I remember reading through A Guide to Biblical Manhood written by SBTS profs Dan Dumas and Randy Stinson and praying through those traits for E before we got married.  By all means, use other things, but let Scripture be your guiding principle!

May I encourage you to begin today to be a wife and/or mother who lives by prayer and the Word of God.  We fail miserably without them both.  Thankful the Holy Spirit works His Word in us and shapes and fashions us according to His Plan and for His glory!

Phyllis – thank you for praying for Billy, Jeremy/Katie, Jill/Matt and all your beautiful grandchildren – and for me.  You have truly been a Scriptural blessing in my life and continue to be so!  Proverbs 31 by grace, you are!   And if you have anything you would like to add Phyllis, please add it in the comments: I still have much to learn!

 

10 Apr 2012

Good Friday Thoughts

by | posted in: Bible | 4

Good Friday was indeed good, as my husband said on his facebook status.  We got glorious results from our u/s at Duke before lunch, enjoyed MadHatters and some shopping afternoon, and then shared in the Good Friday service at church that night. 

I usually don’t post my journal thoughts, but I haven’t sobbed in a service in a long time (ok, blame some of it on pregnancy hormones).  So, here goes…

My husband is the worship pastor, so when he got done he immediately sat down on a pew – complete opposite side of the sanctuary from me.  (Don’t worry, nothing was wrong between us, he had his reasons and he later explained them, and moved during the transition to the Lord’s Supper which was a blessing to me). 

However, as soon as E sat down over there and I knew he wasn’t coming over to me, I just hung my head and started sobbing.  I had never felt so alone in my life – really.  I don’t know why the loneliness hit me so hard right then.  Maybe its the been the difficult transition of churches and relationships.  Maybe it was just cause I wanted him to sit beside me.  But, I’ve been by myself mean times before, but there was a wall of loneliness I’d never felt before, right at that moment.

Our pastor preached on Psalm 22 that night and walked us through the text.  This is why I love expository preachers and journaling Bibles.  Here is Psalm 22:1-3:

“My God, my God why have you forsaken me?  Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?  O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.  Yet You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.”

Here is what I wrote in my journal next to these verses:

“I will always be rejected and forgotten.  I can’t always count on anyone.  There will be extreme times of loneliness.  There’s only one who will never leave me.  E will leave me, Baby Campbell will leave me, family will leave.  Lord, thank you for that clear reminder that Christ has indeed been forgotten. He had been left on the cross and rejected by all friends and even His Father.  Let no other have dearer place to me – God is so near to me.  Nearer than anyone else will ever be.  Like Hebrews says, Jesus knows my struggles.”

Having that reminder that Jesus knew our pain and our struggles (Heb 4:14-16) helped that night come alive in teaching for me.  I sobbed the rest of that service.  When E came over to sit by me, I sobbed more – it almost made it worse, though I was very glad he was by my side.  A friend brought me some tissue, that was sweet, and I needed it.  Lord’s Supper was hard to even look up to take the elements and harder to swallow the bread and juice.  As we sang The Power of the Cross I sobbed through that and then that seemed to finally bring the crying to an end. 

I left the service, got ready for bed, exhausted, both physically and spiritually.  I didn’t tell E that night why I had been crying, but then when I told him I was even able to do so without crying (I don’t think I had any tears left).

Needless to say: it was indeed a Good Friday.

3 Apr 2012

Pain in Childbirth (Thanks, Eve!)

by | posted in: Bible | 6

* Please don’t hate me because of this post.  I weep with those who weep during miscarriages or infertility.  Ask my husband, this is something always on my mind.

* I am excited to be pregnant and know that having a baby will be a life-changing experience that God has granted for my good and holiness and His glory.  I look forward to being a mom.

There are different situations in life that illuminate familiar passages of Scripture.  Being pregnant is one of them.  Genesis 3 is a familiar passage to most who will read this blog.  After the sin of Adam and Eve, God gives out punishment or tells all involved what will be the ramifications of them not following God’s laws that He gave them.  For the woman, it was to be pain in childbearing.

“To the woman He said, I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children.” – Genesis 3:16a

I don’t know what God exactly meant by this statement, but I’m sure He saw the future of epidurals and different birthing techniques.  And He even saw through time (because He is God) and sees my struggle with being pregnant. I know some women who absolutely love being pregnant.  They would be pregnant all the time because it agrees with them: not much weight gain, no morning sickness, no tiredness.  That is not me.

Here is the timeline for me:

1.  Since before we even found out, I was extremely more tired than I was before I was pregnant.  Even last night (I’m halfway through week 16 today) I couldn’t even get through watching a whole movie (Moneyball with Brad Pitt – good movie) with my hubs before falling asleep on the couch.  I was so exhausted.  And it wasn’t even 9pm when it was over.  I am tired most of the time.

2.  Weight Gain.  This honestly is the biggest problem for me and I know God is working all things for my good.  I had already gained weight since moving back to NC in 2010, but then I had a lost a bit before Christmas.  Excited I mapped out a chart for the year to get back in shape and lose the post-NC/writer weight.  That didn’t happen.  And with my pregnancy, I need to keep food in my tummy to keep from being nauseous.  That doesn’t do well for the scale.  I can’t even do anything about it right now.  It makes me sad to know I won’t be one of those moms that wore their regular pants till they were like 8 months pregnant and got back in their skinny jeans less than a month after giving birth.  That won’t be me either.  I can choose healthier foods (but sometimes I want pizza) and I can exercise (see #1).  My husband has finally said I have to quit saying I’m fat.  I’m working on that.

3.  I dislike throwing up.  Ok – so thankfully its been almost two weeks since throwing up, but that doesn’t mean I’ve not taken Zofran to help me not feel that way, and I’ve eaten something every 2 hours about (except while asleep) to keep that feeling at bay.  But, really, it is no fun.

4. Back pain and stomach pain.  I already have back issues and thankfully have a wonderful chiropractor that has made life better the last decade.  But, there is constant dull pain.  Like that helps with exercising.  I know walking and working out does me well, see #1, and note that I do do this walking and exercising when I can.  And usually, for menstrual cramps, I can take Aleve.  Well, for pregnancy pain, you can’t take Aleve (not good for the baby) so I’m just “dealing with it”.

5.  Emotionalness: Wow, poor hubs.  I haven’t cried this much – EVER!  I try not to be one of those women that blame their anger and irritability on “that time of the month” because even though I know hormones are different that gives me no reason to be snide and snippity and angry and fill-in-the-blank.  There is no excuse for sin.  We must take every thought captive.  This is really tough.  Maybe I’ll quit crying about everything sooner or later!

6.  Faith.  This is a tough part as well.  Before our first ultrasound in February, all I did was stress that I would lose the baby.  I couldn’t even really get excited about being pregnant.  I wouldn’t allow myself that.  Then since then I’ve wondered about how our baby will be: with some tests we have coming up.  I know that God is good and does all things good.  And every good gift and perfect gift is from above and I know that all children are a blessing from the Lord.  And I know when I have to start timing the baby’s kicks in utero, I’ll be nervous if I go for a bit without feeling baby campbell move.  I can’t see my baby.  I can see my expanding tummy (its not all fat), and can see the ultrasound and hear the heartbeat, but all else is faith – and every moment in between those doctors appointments are faith too.

So, while I am excited about the result of this pregnancy (and nervous too – I don’t know how to be a mom), it has been tough.  Thankful for the women around me who are an encouragement and thankful for a husband who always points me to Christ. I do not know how single moms do it – my husband is my biggest cheerleader – and will be there and cheering me on with out without an epidural!

And even with Eve’s sin in the garden, all of mankind’s sin (including mine), and all the pain in childbirth and raising a child, God has provided a way for us: Jesus.  The Gospel is the answer to all of our sin.  He is the answer for the curse of the sin.  As it says in just the verse before:

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring;  he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15 ESV)

Praising God for the gospel and a chance to bear a son or a daughter that will hopefully come to know Jesus and be a Song for the Nations:

May we be a shining light to the nations A shining light to the peoples of the earth Till the whole world sees the glory of Your name May Your pure light shine through usMay we bring a word of hope to thenations A word of life to the peoples of the earth Till the whole world knows there’s salvation through Your name May Your mercy flow through us
May we be a healing balm to the nations A healing balm to the peoples of the earth Till the whole world knows the power of Your name May Your healing flow through us

May we sing a song of joy to the nations A song of praise to the peoples of the earth Till the whole world rings with the praises of Your name May Your song be sung through us

 May Your kingdom come to the nations Your will be done in the peoples of the earth Till the whole world knows that Jesus Christ is Lord May Your kingdom come in us May Your kingdom come in us May Your kingdom come on earth
21 Sep 2011

Comfort

by | posted in: Bible | 0

When you hear that word: what do you think of?

I tend to think of down comforters and chicken pot pie (or any other type of Southern comfort food – like my Granny’s chicken and rice).

But, the Lord has been gracious to me in giving me this verse lately – one that I am working on memorizing the entire chapter – it has been of great comfort.

“You will say in that day, ‘I will give thanks to you, O LORD, for though you were anger with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me.”

(Isaiah 12:1 ESV)

God had every right to stay angry with me: I had sinned against His perfect love and law.  I hate Him.  I was His enemy.

Yet…He turned His righteous anger away.

He did this by sending Jesus to come to earth, dwell among us, and die on a cross – never having sinned even once.

He did this…to comfort me.  Not to continue pouring out wrath on my life, but to comfort me with His love and goodness.

How does the mercy of God comfort you?  How do you comfort others with it?