Great "Expectations"

I need to preface this post by saying it is a bit long, but I PROMISE it is worth the read! This is one you will want to pay close attention to;-)

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I have been slightly cryptic but mostly pretty quiet about some recent events in our family's life. This is not because I am trying to hide anything, but simply because my heart has been so very broken and confused that I don't even know how to put my feelings into the right words at this time.  It is times like these--times when your world feels shattered and you have no idea where to go from here--when all you can do, which is the very best thing to do, is to fall limp into your Daddy-God's arms and cry. I love that my Saviour never grows tired or weary of my cries, because His mercies truly are "new every morning." I have been reminded these past few months that even when our world feels like it is falling apart, the Word stands firm! So, as I've cried out to the Lord, He has continually brought me to His Word to encourage me, to correct me, and to nourish my soul. The following are some very specific verses He has led me to during these past few months:

B: "BUT for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13

A: "AND not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." Romans 5:3-5

B: “You’re BLESSED when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. 

You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.

You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.

You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for. You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family. 

You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.

Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble." Matthew 5:3-12

Y: "YOU will go out in joy and be led forth in peace. The mountains and the hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." Isaiah 55:12

I'm not sure if you noticed, but check out the first letter in bold of each of those verses, then connect them all together to form a word. 

Do you see it? 

See, the Lord wasn't only using these verses to heal my wounded heart during a time of grief in our lives, but He was using those verses to prepare my heart for a tremendous GIFT in the midst of such grief: 

B

A

B

Y

BABY!! 

That's right! Two days after my husband and our pastor resigned from our church, we received the shock of our lives: we are expecting!  In the midst of a pretty dark time, the Lord has given us such a gift--such a bright spot! I told a friend this week how we are just so thankful for His perfect plan. All those years we struggled with infertility, when my heart felt so broken, the Lord was working.  If we had things "our" way and had gotten pregnant when we wanted to, we never would have gotten our son...and I just shudder to think of our life without Gabriel! No other baby could have filled that void in our family that he has. He is SUCH a special gift that God ordained to be a part of our family! God is so good to let us kick and scream along the way, knowing that He has it all figured out for us. So, I choose to trust in that glorious hope He gives us as His children, even in the midst of such a confusing time in the life of our family and our ministry. I know He has a much greater plan than we could imagine, and I am confident that He will make beauty from these ashes. 

So, as I am currently "expecting" a child, we are also "expecting" for our God to move in great and powerful ways in our family's life--ways that only He could! We are so thankful for the hope we have in Him, and we choose to trust in His goodness and His grace. Please join us in praising Him with great expectations!