The Stuff In The Middle

The stuff in the middle

November 17, 2009 at 9:38am

 

I love hymns. One of my favorite memories is waking up to the sound of my Mom playing away on the piano. She would tell you that she is not a very good pianist, but to hear her play those mornings for nobody else but Jesus, you would think she was the worlds greatest pianist. It is still one of my favorite ways to wake up. One of the things I first noticed about Shannon was that he would sing "old" hymns... and not just the first and last verse that I knew... but the stuff in the middle too.

So, in church Sunday when we were challenged during praise to pick up a hymn book and just read through some of them this week (ALL VERSES) I was eager to oblige. One small problem, I have no idea what box it might be in... ha! What to do? Well, I just listened to my heart this morning to see what it was feeling and what do you know, I started singing one... I looked it up online and read ALL of the lyrics... wow, why do we skip over verses just to fit praise in to a nice time box? Let us praise! All verses, regardless of the time we have left for the message.

Here is today's (11-17).

Praise Him! praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Sing, ye saints! His wonderful love proclaim!
Hail Him! hail Him! mightiest angels in glory;
Strength and honor give to His holy name!
Like a shepherd, Jesus will feed His people,
In His arms He carries them all day long;
O ye saints that live in the light of His presence,
Praise Him! praise Him! ever in joyful song!

Praise Him! praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer,
For our sins He suffered and bled and died;
He, our Rock, our Hope of eternal salvation,
Hail Him! hail Him! Jesus, the Crucified;
Loving Savior, meekly enduring sorrow,
Crowned with thorns that cruelly pierced His brow;
Once for us rejected, despised, and forsaken,
Prince of Glory, ever triumphant now.

Praise Him! praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer,
Heavenly portals, loud with hosannahs ring!
Jesus, Savior, reigneth for ever and ever;
Crown Him! crown Him! Prophet and Priest and King!
Death is vanquished! Tell it with joy, ye faithful,
Where is now thy victory, boasting grave?
Jesus lives! No longer thy portals are cheerless;
Jesus lives, the mighty and strong to save.


Wednesdy, November 18th -

1.Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling—
Calling for you and for me;
Patiently Jesus is waiting and watching—
Watching for you and for me!Come home! come home!
Ye who are weary, come home!
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!

2.Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading—
Pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not His mercies—
Mercies for you and for me?

3.Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing—
Passing from you and from me;
Shadows are gathering, death-beds are coming—
Coming for you and for me!

4.Oh, for the wonderful love He has promised—
Promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon—
Pardon for you and for me!

 

(This post originally appeared on FB.  I am in the process of streamlining all blogs)

Weeds

One of the great things about having my Grams so close is all of the new things she is teaching me, lately mostly about gardening. The other day, I went out to pull the weeds from the front flower bed and was a bit bummed that I didn't have any means of listening to music. I'm someone that likes to have background noise when I do tasks.

I am SO glad that I didn't. In the natural state I was in, there was a quiet that I had forgotten existed. One that I had, to my own disadvantage and demise, not sought out in awhile. There I was, doing a mundane task and not having any distractions...and I began to fellowship with my Jesus. All too often I, admittedly, rush through the day praying without ceasing and talking to God and praising Him for one thing or another (or asking about things) but if I am being honest, I haven't been a very good listener lately. Even my "quiet time" I realize has been full of me talking. In that moment I was listening and what a sweet voice I heard. How ashamed I was when I realized the fact that I had been very selfish in my fellowship. It was nice listening and more filling in that short time, than all of the time I had spent with Him in passing the last few months.

I have heard time and again that pulling weeds is a lot like sin. That we really need to pull the roots up in order for them to die. I've always agreed with that, but there was something about actually doing it that made it come alive in a new way. My Grams had told me to pull all the weeds that had grown in this one spot, it looked like a big pile of them. When I started to pull them, I realized that underneath was a bush that they were entangled with. My Grams had forgotten about it I guess because she told me it was all weeds. How true is this in some of our lives? The beautiful bush that was once there is no longer seen to the world, and forgotten to many because we have allowed our "weeds" to take over! It also made me realize that a passerby would look at the flower bed once I was finished and think it looked nice and clean, having not seen what was there before, but I, having been the one pulling the weeds would know the truth. I didn't pull all the weeds up by their roots. I knew that some would grow back and I would have to get out there again and pull them, but they would be more manageable because I had gotten rid of "most of them." How often do we do that in our lives too... clean up our sin/weeds so that we look good to people passing by, knowing full well that there is still sin lurking beneath the surface. How many times do we tell ourselves, well I got rid of most of it, I can control the rest...I can stay on top of them... I can maintain a good appearance. I have learned in my life that it is better to do it right the first time. Pull the weeds, roots and all, so that nothing remains. Yes, different weeds may grown in their place in the future... but plan to pull those up too. Gardening is a lot of work. Especially if you are going to not take shortcuts and do it the right way. God is the ultimate gardener... how awesome is it that once we allow Him in to our lives that He works diligently on us, pruning us, loving us, planting us in rich soil to grow... if we allow Him!

I know this is a tad scatterbrained, but after running it in my mind for days before having a chance to sit down and write it... it was bound to be.

Thank You Lord for helping me get out of my own way so that I could HEAR YOU!!!!!! I am sorry that I get in my own way sometimes. Thank You for the lessons You are gentle enough to teach me.

A Moment...

"What a difference a day makes", or in this case (since my last post) a year. It has been awhile since my last update and since then, I have stopped working, had a son, and moved... to name a few of the changes. I have grown a lot since the last post, in fact, I would say what a difference a moment makes. A moment can change your life... for better...for worse. One moment, fleeting, but long enough to change everything. Anyway, I don't have enough time to catch up on here all that has happened and that honestly is one reason I don't write as much, because I feel like there is too much to say. So, I'm just going to start again... one day at a time.

Dread the Feb

February is my least favorite time of year. It is filled with reminders from the 3rd - 10th of people I've lost, marriages that have crumbled and dreams shattered. Sounds pretty depressing, huh? Yeah, it usually is.

Every year I dread it... especially the 6th and I try my hardest to think of happy memories instead of sad ones and sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. God has always revealed Himself to me during this time in new ways... and I am comforted again. This year however, He has restored my Joy and has made it virtually impossible to focus on anything but HIM and HIS love for us. It has been incredible... so let me start from the beginning.

February 1st. I had a bad dream and when I woke up that morning, not only was I still replaying the scenes from the dream in my mind I was also hit with the realization that February had once again found it's way back to me. My first thought was a selfish, self pity one of "if this is the way this month is starting out, it is going to be one of the worst few weeks yet." Thankfully, the Lord has blessed me with an incredible husband who can read me in a second. Shannon just looked at me and told me he loved me and that everything was going to be okay. All without me even saying good morning. That was God's comfort. Then, Shannon began talking to the baby through my belly and out of nowhere our son reacted by moving... so much so it felt as if he were dancing inside. The image of a fish feeding frenzy is the best way I can think to describe the feeling. Our son followed his Dad's voice and reacted to it as if he was trying to break out of my stomach and get to him. It was one of the most incredible experiences. Then, Shannon, for the first time felt the baby kick/move! The look on his face is one that I will never forget. It was priceless and for the first time my husband got to feel the movement of life of his son. That was God's love.

The rest of the week had many ups and downs. I got to see three of my precious nieces faces on skype. Hear them laugh. See them smile. It never gets old to me. All of this reminded me that God continues to bless me every day in so many ways.

February 6th. Ugh. How I dread this day every year. I started it off at midnight (the fight was still on tv, so I still had people at my house) with one of the quotes I love. The I turned my mind to something positive and texted one of my closest friends because it was her 40th birthday! So, I tried to focus on that a little. I got on facebook and stalked some of my friends that I knew would be having a difficult time with this day as well. Prayed for them and around 2am, finally fell asleep. When I woke up, I was still feeling pretty bad (from a head cold I have had) and the last thing I wanted to do was get up. So, I just stayed in bed and rested my hand on my stomach as I talked with God. Then, as if to once again remind me He was here, I GOT TO feel my son move on the outside! I had tried all day on the 5th to get him to move to where I could feel him from the outside, but to no avail. Here I was, laying down talking with my Savior and the baby moved several times where I could feel him both inside and out. I laughed. Out loud. To myself. Then laughed at laughing. This was God's joy. I spent most of the day just resting and getting better. Then it was off to a friends house for the superbowl. I had (so quickly) forgotten all the Lord had done for me this week and had sunken back in to my little stooper. Once there I was sincerely enjoying the company of the friends there and then I saw it. A little cardinal statue sticking his head out of a basket by the TV. WOW. What a "God wink". Joshua was a huge cardinals fan so I have always associated him with cardinals. For years after his death at Christmas and Thanksgiving a random cardinal would show up outside my house (wherever I was). Also, most of the time when I'm feeling discouraged or sad or really struggling with his death I see a cardinal (real or not). It serves as a reminder from God that HE is still here with me. I see them a lot here in Michigan, but I hadn't seen any yet this week and it was making me sad. That was God's promise.
........... never finished blog, sorry........

Half Way

We had our 20 week appointment and I have to say that we were more than thankful for the report. Baby Marden is healthy and all of the tests came back good or negative for anything abnormal. My Mom and Grams both said, "well what did you expect?" To be honest, I expected there to be a false positive... or at least I think that is what I had prepared myself to hear. Not that I expected anything to be "wrong", but I did expect something to be "off" and that they would just need to keep an eye on, but in the end would be nothing. I know that probably sounds horrible, and I don't really know why I thought that, but I did. So, I was in complete and total shock when the doctor said that all reports were excellent and the baby was growing right on track. Wow! That is the BEST thing that I had ever heard and I started praising right then. Now, something could come up later in the pregnancy and even after he is born, and that will be fine and in God's perfect will... I know that. I think what I am trying to say is I realized two things from this report. 1) That I may be a positive person, but I tend to prepare myself for the worse a lot; and 2) That although I say and think I trust God... sometimes I don't. That was a tough lesson to learn, but a needed one.

So, as of right now we are half way through the pregnancy and everything is going well! PRAISE HIM, PRAISE HIM!!! He has already started teaching me many lessons already.

I was thinking the other day as I was getting ready for work... I would never poison my child on purpose. If someone came to the house and showed me that the water I was giving them, or the soap they used was poisoning them and killing them slowly... I would stop immediatly. I think most Mom's would. Why then do so many of us allow them to be poisoned by this world? Led away from God and His purpose and design for them? This is just something that God showed me to be on guard about with my own son.

I know this post is fragmented, but I have a bunch of random things on my mind today. Thanks for sticking with me through it and a very happy 30th birthday to my sister-in-law Katie!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNT KIKI! ~X's n O's~ your Nephew

A WHAT?!!!!!

A BOY!!!!

That's right! Shannon and I found out today that our bundle of joy is indeed going to be a BOY! I haven't gotten sick of saying that! Don't get my wrong, I would be this excited regardless, but there is something about knowing I get to say, "My Girls" a little longer and people will know I'm talking about my nieces. I love them... and I think having a boy will go well with what we have now.

I have had a lot of people ask me about names. My FAVORITE subject. We have 2 names picked out Joshua Elliot and James Andrew. We will wait and see our little guy before we pick a name for him. Joshua Elliot means "Jesus is God and He saves" so for obvious reasons we like that. Plus, Joshua has always been my favorite guys name and is named after on of the most incredible people I've ever known. Elliot is Shannon, his grandfather and his brothers middle name. So, it is family. James Andrew would be called Andrew or Drew. That names means "strong, subplanter"... and James is Shannon's brothers name. Andrew is Shannon's favorite name and is the middle name of two of my best guy friends. So, I don't think we can go wrong either way. Of course, the baby could come out looking like a Eugene... we just don't know. So, stay tuned.

I've posted some photos below... hope you can tell what they are.

A Christmas of Firsts...

Well, following the idea of change... this Christmas was anything but normal. It was full of firsts. It was my first Christmas away from my side of the family (and my first ever away from my sister)... it was my first Christmas in Canada, my first Christmas having FOUR nieces and my first Christmas as a mom-to-be. Last night (Christmas Eve) we were celebrating in the traditional Marden way decorating cookies and hanging out... then Jennie and Andrew came and surprised us by showing up and BRINGING CARMEN!!!!!! Shannon and I got to hold her for the FIRST TIME!!!!!!! It is a feeling that never gets old... I love all of my nieces, and cannot explain the feeling of holding each of them for the first time. It was SUCH an amazing early Christmas present and one I will charish forever! (See photos at the end).

Today we woke up at 5am and went down stairs. Shannon recited the Christmas story, James handed out presents and we all sat around and watched as everyone opened theirs. It was fun. Then Shan and I went over and visited with Gramsie and Grampsie before coming back to the house and getting stuff to take over to Jennie and Andrews house to celebrate with them. Well, on the ride over I'm pretty sure I felt the baby move for the first time... IT WAS SO COOL! I didn't think I would feel it this early, and especially sitting up... but I've never felt anything like it before. It was the best CHRISTMAS present EVER!!!!!! I'm so blessed.

Sorry this is so all over the place, but like I said... I've been up since 5am. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!