Moved to the Core by Songs!

I have always known that songs are one of the most powerful influences in my life. I literally fall to my knees and cry out to God when a certain song just moves me. Sometimes it’s choruses we sing on Sunday evenings, or sometimes it’s a new song on the radio or an old song on the radio that I recall an especially joyful or sad moment. Lately I have been so touched by the songs on the movie Fireproof and I have looked to find a soundtrack for the movie, but there is no such CD made. Besides the first track that is playing here on my blog (“Slow Fade”) which I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, I also have fallen in love with “While I’m Waiting”. Here are the words:

I’m waiting.
I’m waiting on You, Lord.
And I am hopeful.
I’m waiting on You, Lord.
Though it is painful,
But patiently, I will wait.
I will move ahead, bold and confident.
Taking every step in obedience
While I’m waiting.
I will serve You while I’m waiting.
I will worship while I’m waiting.
I will not faint.
I’ll be running the race,
Even while I wait.
I’m waiting.
I’m waiting on You, Lord.
And I am peaceful.
I’m waiting on You, Lord.
Though it’s not easy,
But faithfully, I will wait.
Yes, I will wait.
I will serve You while I’m waiting.
I will worship while I’m waiting.
I will serve You while I’m waiting.
I will worship while I’m waiting.
I will serve You while I’m waiting.
I will worship while I’m waiting on You, Lord.

That song really speaks truth to my soul. (I need to add it to my blog....think I'll try to find it now!) It’s such a deep reaching tune and the words are enough for me to raise my hands to the Father in adoration every time I play it! (And I did buy John Waller’s CD at Lifeway thanks to mom’s birthday giftcard even if I couldn’t get the Fireproof soundtrack!) We’ve recently been talking lately in Sunday School about moving ahead and not sitting there idly waiting for the Lord to tell you where to go and what to do, but listening intently for the Holy Spirit as you move—for He may move you in another direction and you’ll be called to OBEY and move ahead BOLDLY and CONFIDENTLY. Flexibility is the key when you’re talking about plans and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

While I was in college, my motto was, “I’m running the race!” Ask Michelle J. or Lydia and they’ll tell you that I was constantly on the go and would reply to them, “Gotta run that race!” I think it drove Michelle nearly crazy, but the same motto should still be true today. We must wait for His perfect will and plan, but we cannot sit like couch potatoes and do nothing. Our God is a God of forward moving action. Paul’s ministry was a forward moving ministry, yet He patiently listened and obediently followed the Spirit’s leading. He served while he was waiting; he worshipped while he was waiting. Are we able to be so flexible that we could just pick up and move our family, our lives to another place that same day in order to follow the Holy Spirit?

Over Committed?

You all know I struggle with maintaining balance when it comes to our church activities and family time/structure...I have learned last night that Jason has taken on the youth as another activity for Wed. nights now while Emma Grace and I are busy with Pioneers and MITI (at least they are in the planning stages and he's one of the planners). I just wonder what will become of my little boy during this time. Hope the youth group likes him because that's probably where he'll be if Bibbi and Papa don't come get him. :) I just think with all the activities our church is doing, we really need a paid sitter on at least Sun. and Wed. nights ("oh no", Michele says, "she didn't just say that!" Ha!) for those nights when we are involved in leading our church children, mothers, youth, and congregation. It's just an hour, so I'm not concerned about a sitter for him for an hour, be it grandparents or paid sitter, but I am concerned about when we will eat supper. With Jason not getting home M-R until 6pm, I guess I'll have to start feeding the children at 5:30pm by myself in that rat race it already is because I flat refuse to eat dinner at 7:45 or 8:00. It's not feasible for children who are supposed to be in bed by 8pm or 8:30pm. Jase is WHIPPED by 7:30 or 8:00 when we get home, so we'll have to work out something different or this mommy is going to have to stay home evenings too and let daddy do the work of ministering and being involved. 8th floor psych ward, here I come! (JK)
So I pose the question to you all, do you think you can become what I call over committed to God (that isn't possible since our lives are totally about Him anyway, right?!) and in turn miss out on time with our families and ministering to THEM first before we focus on outward ministry to our church family? When they are involved too (the kids) and when they aren't rocked so much by a weird, altering, unexpected schedule every night of the week (babies are not good at weird schedules and our 4 year old proved that eating dinner at 8:15pm works out very poorly for sleep the other night!), then we as parents can be more involved. Wish the time for activities could be 5:30-6:30 or something like that. I'd love to help out with the youth--I've worked with youth for 8 years so far in my profession--but I'm just not sure how much I can be stretched without popping. Just an item of discussion...

Baby news all around us

It is with sadness that I write this blog...just thinking about and praying for our friends Justin and Megan Pifer who have miscarried this pregnancy just this weekend. Most of you know it was 2 years ago on Thursday the 19th that I underwent at D & C for our miscarried second pregnancy. It was very painful, yet we were strong in the strength of the Lord and He again blessed us with Jase last May. :) So we pray for their peace, comfort, healing, and the joy that comes from resting in His unfailing love.

Also, a baby has been born today! Congrats to Leanne and Jonathan Rambo on the birth of their third son (still waiting to hear final name and stats)! God is sooo good! We also received word that Jason's uncle Connie Fortner and his wife Joyce will be grandparents again in September! Congratulations to Cory and Leah Wilson!! I know it must be such a surprise to them as well(Nate just turned one last month)! In this uncertain world, it's good to know that we have a Savior, a King, a Father, who watches over us and directs our every path. I am not afraid for He knows the plans He has for ME. Thanks be that I am not in charge!!!

End of the Nursing

So we're down to 4 ounces a pump, if even that. I can't say that I'm sad. I'm actually ready for no more attachments, 10pm with Jason looking at me from the couch with the look like, "Are you done yet, woman? It's time for bed!" He's been such a trooper with it---stays up with me while I pump---we always go to bed at the same time and I must say he's usually been an encouragement to continue the breastmilk journey. Jase knows the formula by now and is comfortable with it, and it won't be long now before we start adding in a little whole milk here and there as he nears 12 months. He LOVES, LOVES baby food; like a little birdie with mouth wide open just waiting for food. If I didn't cut him off, he'd probably still be eating endlessly. I have not found even one food so far that he doesn't like...if it's edible, he wants it! He was only 19lbs. 15oz. at his 9 month checkup on Monday (which is the 42nd percentile), but he was 82nd on length, which was like 29 inches long. Gonna be a tall boy!! Well, hope you enjoy his 9 month pics above.