Faith

Sometimes God uses the faith of others in the most miraculous ways...

Luke 5:17-20:

“One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord’s healing power was strongly with Jesus. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, ‘Young man, your sins are forgiven.’”

In the Fall of 2017, a coworker and patient both told me something...the same something. They prayed for me and told me they believed I would be pregnant by December 2017. 

I was on continuous birth control because of endometriosis. During the first week of December my coworker prayed again that God would give us a baby. This time he said if I wanted a baby, I have to take action and prepare for that to happen. 

I thought about his prayer and what he said, about taking action. Did that mean God wanted me to stop taking the pill and step out in faith? I talked to my husband and we were both hesitant. However, because two separate people told us similar things and believed in faith for us, we decided to step out...

...Oliver is going to be a big brother!

It had snowed the day I found out I was pregnant, so this is how I told my husband the news.

That first week in December I stopped taking the pill, and God answered those prayers my coworker and patient prayed. 

Oliver's sibling is due in September! Praise the Lord! To God be the glory! 

If you ever feel compelled to pray for someone, please do. It could change their lives. God could bring about their miracle...through your prayer. 

This picture was taken in Fall of 2017 

Custom Built

We are beyond grateful to be in the process of building our dream home on family land. Obtaining the construction loan felt like a beautiful mess at times. It still feels like I could pinch myself and wake up from a dream! 

As the foundation was laid and the walls are being placed, my heart is full of excitement. I cannot help but ponder how the build of our home compares to what Christ is building in all of us through our own journeys.

A solid foundation is key to building a home. Our foundation must be built upon Jesus Christ in order to withstand the storms of life. James 1:2-4 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." 

Over the past three years, one thing God was building inside of me is the life lesson that I am not in control. Truly learning that has brought about a new kind of joy...a joy likened to the sureness of sunshine after a storm.

God is the master builder. He has the master plans. Although He does not show us the blueprints for our lives, nor does He always give us answers for why, He does give us a promise. 

We were elated the day we officially closed on our construction loan. We promised the bank we would pay them back for the loan and our builder made promises as well. We all trusted each other to keep our promise. 

God gives us promises throughout the Bible. One of His promises is to love us unconditionally.

2 Peter 3:9 declares, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 

Building a dream home takes time. What our God is building inside of us takes time too. What is He building inside of you? 

I can tell you He is building something beautiful. He is building something sturdy and precious...something that won't fall apart over time. He is etching into your soul the heart of a warrior. He is fighting for you and working from the inside out. He is guiding you too.

For us, and most people I would assume, getting to the place of being able to begin the building process was somewhat of a battle. All the saving, paperwork, phone calls, and meetings took determination. 

Jesus is determined to build His dream inside of you. Ask Him for patience. Ask Him for joy. And you know what? If patience and joy doesn't come right away it's okay. He is patient with us. He loves us unconditionally. 

Whatever you do, don't beat yourself up during the building process. After all, God loves us unconditionally. Ask God to fight for you. In the end, you will look back and say, "What a beautiful mess."  

After all, YOU are custom built...

In Him,

Candace 

No More Sorrow

 

"No more sorrow" was the title of the filter in this picture.

Jesus has taken away my sorrow! There was a physical downpour during most of our vacation, and I believe a spiritual one too! Jesus welcomes our questions about life and He holds us just as a child squeezes their favorite toys. Thank you Jesus for showering me with your presence through our miracle child whose gaze at life encourages me to gaze upon you! Five years ago, I was six weeks pregnant with this little miracle. Little did I know, at five and half years old, this little miracle would take me on a journey of finding true satisfaction in Jesus alone.

Little I did I know that all my efforts of having another child (fertility treatments and adoption) would fail. Little did I know the blessing that was in store through the questioning, the silence, and the downpour of depression. Little did I know those long eyelashes I noticed when I first gazed upon his face would be a constant reminder of God's long lasting faithfulness. I always thought he needed a sibling to journey through life with. Now, I am realizing he has everything he needs with Jesus by his side. So when our son questions the complexities of life, we can tell him to ask Jesus, and we will know he will be held tightly. Jesus has heard my prayer and He hears your too! He is still the God of miracles! I believe all babies are miracles. However, when you go through any form of infertility or pregnancy loss, I believe the miracle of a baby becomes more meaningful. I also believe finding satisfaction in Jesus is a miracle too. 

    "Help me, O Lord my God. Save me according to   your steadfast love!
27 Let them know that this is your hand..." 

Psalm 109:26-27

 

 

Thank you Jesus for rescuing us from sin and sorrow. You are our lifeboat!