Anticipation

"Are we going to have the baby today mom?"
"How do you feel Angie?"
"Anything???"

Everyone is excited around here these days. Waiting in anticipation for the "arrival" of the new baby! It is an exciting time in a family's life. Very personal & special... not many other experiences in life truly compare to the birth of another member of a family or the "birth of a son or daughter." For the woman giving birth it is an especially intimate, introspective time. Every woman prepares for birth differently of course. Some are relaxed and have an aire of confidence there body will do what its supposed to and so they just go with the flow calmly, some women are so wound up nervous they feel scared...the unknowing of what will happen over comes them... they don't like not being in control. Then there is the in between crowd... they aren't paranoid or nervous (maybe a little, but thats normal), but they exhibit confidence and emotional stability.
Having giving birth naturally 5 times already, I can say that you don't just "become a pro" like some may think (or say). The anticipation still gets to you a bit... you still have moments of doubt... maybe even moments of fear, but those can all be overcome through Christ who gives us strength. When I was pregnant with my first born, I wanted to be educated so Isaac and I attended prebirth classes, I read as many books on pregnancy and childbirth I could find. To my dismay, I only found 1 good book ("The Christian Woman's Guide to Childbirth" by Debra Evans) that had a strong solid Christian foundation when it came to natural childbirth. Now there are more resources and I have benefited from a few; however, Nothing prepares you more for childbirth than studying the scriptures on the topic. When I was pregnant with my fourth I decided to go through scripture and write out every verse that related to pregnancy or childbirth in the Bible. What the Lord showed me was far greater than what I could have read in any childbirth book.

In Genesis 4:1 Eve gives God the Glory for the birth of her son when she says...."With the Help of the Lord I have brought forth a man."

Eve didn't do it on her own... she is giving Him the glory and praising Him for His part in the creation and birth of a son. How is this missed in Christian Childbirth books? In my mind this is so critical to truly experiencing God in the process.As Christian women we should learn a lessn from Eve. She was the first woman God created, she was the first woman to disobey God and he personally punished her (and all women) with pain in childbirth, but even though that existed... she Glorified and praised him. Was she overwhelmed with the joy of her baby boy? Yes, but she was still very much in pain... she had another son to birth... in between there births she praised God. Shouldn't we do the same?
Now, I am not in any way trying to knock the "Bradley Method" or any other great books out there on Childbirth... ("Ina May Guide to Childbirth" although I do have to warn people about the new age stuff in this book, "Gentle Birth Choices" by Barbara Harper- founder of Waterbirth International and my first midwife when I gave birth to Kelsey under water) all I am saying is in all the preparing we do as women do we get into scripture and rely on God completely? When you are packing your birthing bags and nesting getting every thing "just right" for the arrival of the new baby... do you prepare spiritually for one of the most spiritually, emotionally, physically, and mentally challenging experiences you will ever get the privilege of experiencing.... and prepare to invite the Lord of Lords into your experience?
I have to be honest, I have for many years hesitated in sharing these thoughts with women... not wanting to make people feel judged. I am sharing now b/c until this week I wasn't preparing like I had the other five times. I was distracted by nesting, activities with the other five children, business adventures with my husband, household projects, etc... the list could go on and on. So I began to get anxious last week, feeling unprepared. Not b/c I didn't have my bags packed, b/c I did. Not b/c I didn't read the childbirth books through again, b/c I did. But because I hadn't rested in the strength & peace that comes only from the Lord and being in HIs Word Deeply. For me, I have always given my birth experience to Jesus 100%... all of me. I bring worship music to keep my focus on Him and that He knows more pain than I. Keeping my perspective clear. I have family to be praying over me. I sing during and in between contractions, I pray, I cry out for God to help, He is my focus, the fact the He is giving me this gift of a child is the focus. I am not trying "sleep" through the contractions. I am not trying to have a "painless birth" b/c scripture says we will have pain. Instead I accept it, and I ask Him who is able to help me and give me strength to Glorify Him in those moments. And when I have self doubt... HE is the ONLY one that "brings forth man."
I have been so incredibly blessed to have the Holy Spirit present at every birth, whether in the Hospital or Birth Center, God is not to be put in a box.... he can be everywhere- anywhere! And he wants to be! I have always had the perspective and openness during my labor & delivery to let my light shine before men through the process. God has blessed it ten fold spiritually for me. Each of my children have a "birth song;" a song they were born too. I remember after my longest labor, Drew (my 4th), he was 9lb 7 oz big guy... 16 hours... and I was at 10 cm FOREVER... the nurses linked arms and started singing "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee, God of Glory, Lord of Might" which was the song that was playing when he was born. Who knows if they were Christians or not... they were moved. That birth was at Kaiser Permanente. They experienced God with us... in His Sovereignty & Mercy. I thank God He allowed me to be a light. One nurse had never seen a natural birth before and was so moved she came to see us everyday we were there (very out of the normal). My point is... it is so easy for us to waste our energies "nesting" or getting ready for the baby, but I we putting our energies in the right places. Are we preparing to have music and prayer, are we preparing for this to be an opportunity to witness or to mentor up our daughters (let them come), are preparing for an exciting journey of letting God be in control. Inviting Him to be present and helping you.
I am back, I am confident, not in myself, but in my God b/c He has never let me down. He has always shown up when I needed him most and blessed my marriage and my relationship with my children b/c I have given it to him.

Thank you Lord for allowing me the time I needed, even by going "over due," to get back with you, spiritually prepared for the adventure to come. I am not anxious, but confidant that the baby will come in your timing, which is always perfect, even when we don't understand why. And thank you for showing me why already and speaking to me through your word.

May I Glorify you while I am in Labor... may I "praise you in the storm" and give thanks to you fr you are good in all things. May I call on you to help me and remove my burden through the relief of birth. May I praise you through it all and when my work is done in birth, give me the strength Lord to continue to prepare and give you my days as I raise this son you are girting me with. Let my energy not be in vain, help me to stay the course and stay motivated all the days I am called to raise him for your Kingdom's Work. His birth is one very quick event... help me not to forget to prepare spiritually for the every days of training him up with the same diligence and perseverance. Thank You Jesus, for understanding our pains... and blessing us through suffering by making us stronger. I look forward to this sacred time with you Father in Heaven.
Amen

Prayers for a Spiritually Sleeping Country

We have been so blessed with Isaac's work to be treated to great trips all over the world. Monday we came home from Prague, Czech Republic. While much of what we saw seemed surreal (the architecture, historical buildings and landmarks) there was an overwhelming sense of emptiness. Before leaving for our trip I took a few weeks to study up a little on the Czech Republic, the history, the people, their religious history. Wow! I had now idea what I was about to go see. Even in studying it with the kids I can't say I even touched the tip of the iceberg... there was is just so much history there. Since I really enjoy history I loved being there ... going on the tours...sitting amongst the old buildings... walking through the old monasteries, synagogues and churches.
The kids and I were praying for the country before we left. Praying for the people! As we were reading in "Operation World" we realized that for most of the past century Czech has not enjoyed the liberty of freedom of religion. The Czech people have endured the leadership of socialistic dictators... communists... Hitler even. Today the do have freedom of religion; however the have been taught through their education system that there is no god. We had a very good conversation with a Czech woman and her husband while we were there... the last night we were there actually. We bought a painting from them and while he was wrapping it up Isaac asked her if she had any spiritual beliefs. She quickly said "no I do not! Our country education system teach to be atheist." She stumbled with her English as you can see, but we got the jest of what she meant. She continued to tell us that she was raised in Russia and her husband was raised in Czech... they were both brought up with the same theology... None!
What amazed me was that she recognized that her beliefs were taught her by her education system. It seemed very clear to her. We asked her if she had ever questioned what she was taught and she looked at us like... "why should I do that?"
I have been thinking of her and the other Czech people... European people actually. They have been through so much turmoil... so much hardship that our country has never experienced. Sadly, there is an emptiness... as they adorned their churches and buildings with statues of saints, gold and precious jewels. As the people work during the day to fund their "night life" of hopping from dance club to bar. They were trying to fill a void hundreds of years ago and they still are.
Lord I pray for your people that live in Eastern Europe. I pray you draw them to you. I pray you hear their cries and send your leaders to go and minister to the lost there. Lord let us not forget them, but impress upon our hearts those people we meet and their stories. Let us not forget to pray for people in the Czech to come to know you in a real way. May the one day see your Son's face and See His Glory. May the be so blessed to experience a real relationship with you.

Love Until It Hurts

After the Election this past November I have been "done" listening to politics!
During the 2 year campaign I get sick of listening to the debates and attacks going back and forth. Personally for me once my favorite candidate was out of the running I had genuine remorse. To be honest I have enjoyed having the "political mental break" the last month or so.
I have never mentioned my political stance on my blog before so I am not certain what kind of response I am inviting. However, I feel compelled that if I was to stay quiet I would be committing a sin of my own.
January 22, 2009 is the 35th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade.
I am 29 years young it is hard to believe that our country who prides itself in giving personal freedom to everyone legalized murder 6 years before I was born.
In all my years of being an educated and self concerned individual I have never been actively aware of this particular anniversary. I feel that as Christ followers, who pray and petition to God, we need to be deeply bothered and moved towards action.

Mother Theresa once said, "I feel the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child, a direct killing of the innocent child, murder by the mother herself. And if we accept that the mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell people not to kill one another?As always we must persuade her with love, and we must remind ourselves that love means being willing to give until it hurts. Jesus gave even His own life to love us... By abortion the mother does not learn to love, but kills even her own child to solve her problems. Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want. This is why the greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion."
Mother Theresa who helped to save over three thousand babies from abortion leads by example what we are Christ followers who are called to love should follow. We can not just sit back and do nothing. We need to love until it hurts! God calls us to Love Until it Hurts!

I am posting this for one main purpose:
To move you into action!
Here are a few ways you can Love Until it Hurts:
You can go and support the new Movie Come What May!
(I am posting a link and info below)
Pray that this Movie would Glorify God and that people would be moved to help save the unborn!
Sunday January 18th from2-3pm you could attend a Roe vs. Wade Memorial Rally at Pioneer Courthouse Square Portland, Or.

You can get involved with your local Pregnancy Resource Center on either a volunteer basis, donation basis, or prayer and financial basis.

You could pray about whether God would call you to adoption.
We can fight abortion by adoption- by the care of the mother and the adoption of her baby.

You can join our church for Sanctity of Life Sunday (www.hofcc.og). Come early to pray for the abortion doctors, those who are considering abortion as well as our government who is so terribly mislead and not protecting the unborn! Service starts @ 10am. Prayer time starts around 9am.

I hope though that you can make it to this movie! There will be pro-life booths and a free book and handout written and donated by Randy Alcorn.

The Movie is showing at Rolling Hill Community Church in Tualatin, Oregon.
Pro-life booths open at 5:30pm
Movie begins @ 7pm
Pro-life booths open afterward @ 9 pm as well
http://comewhatmaypdx.com/

Go to this link to register or just get information! I pray you are moved to tell your pastors and get your churches involved! We want this to be a movement! We want and pray that God would be glorified and that our country would be impacted, repent and change!

Come What May Movie Portland Screening - Trailer from Jeremy Bowen on Vimeo.

If you go to the Come What May website and go to the Resources link you can find free Bulletin Inserts and more to help you promote this movie.

Lord, please give us all a burden for your created and loved unborn children. Show us how we can be your servants here in this world to save the unborn and those who think they want to abort their own children. Give us a burden for them, to love them as you love them! Amen!

Hope to See You There! God Bless!