Children are a Treasure from the Lord!

Well, today was Carson's first day of kindergarten. The Lord allowed us to be able to send him to LOBS and we are so excited to see what the Lord has for him. While driving him to school today, my eyes welled up with tears. It seems like just yesterday we were bringing him home from the hospital. My prayer is that he will grow academically, but even more importantly, spiritually. I praise the Lord, that Carson has the privilege of attending a christian school, where the Word of God is proclaimed. He is so blessed!

Kate will be starting preschool in two weeks. She, too, is excited about going to school this year. My prayer for her is that this year will be a year of learning more about God and Jesus Christ and the gift of salvation that can be hers if she trusts Him.

Our precious, little Caden gets to stay home with me! I'm glad. It would be so strange to have all three kids gone for the day. That day will be here soon. My prayer for Caden is that he, too, will come to know Jesus Christ as his personal Savior at a young age and will grow to love Him more every day.

I am so thankful to God for the precious children he has given to me. They are such a joy! I have learned so much in these past 5 years about them, myself, and my Lord. Children are a treasure from the Lord!

It doesn't just happen

I was recently going through some mounds of baby boy clothes that Caden has already outgrown. I had a desire to give them away, but couldn't think of anyone having a baby boy this Fall. So I decided to take them to the resale shop in Lake Orion. An old friend works there and just happened to mention an acquaintance who was pregnant with a little baby boy to be born this October. So I scooped up the big bag of clothes and thanked the Lord for clearly directing my steps and showing me a person who could really use them. We often think and act as though things "just happen", but the Bible tells us otherwise. Proverbs 16:9 says, "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." And Matthew 10:29 tells us, "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father." God ordains the details of our lives and is in control over all that happens. I praise Him for allowing me to see that first hand!

He knows just what I need

The past few days have been days of discouragement and many tears at times. I have been particularly frustrated with my son's behavior. His disobedience had taken it's toll.

I want so much for him, but I think sometimes my expectations are just too high. He recently made a profession of faith in the Lord and I forget that he has just begun this path of sanctification. He will not immediately nor completely act like Christ. I have been saved for almost 30 years and every day I struggle with acting like Christ!

I have felt like a failure at times. Many of his sin issues, he learned from me! I have felt incapable, unable to raise my son to be someone who loves God and who walks in His ways. I have felt alone and have been tempted to compare my son to other children. In my tears and discouragement today, I thought it time to pick up my Bible and devotional book that I recently purchased called "Sacred Parenting".

The Lord caused me to pick up this book and had already determined that I would read this fitting lesson on this day that I needed it so much. It amazed me as I read, and caused me to cry out in thanks to Him. He is so good to me. The lesson was entitled "The Right Person for the Job".  It spoke of the great discourager, Satan, who sometimes causes us to doubt, to feel incapable of accomplishing the task that God has called us to do. But he reminds us that God created us and our children and he, in wisdom, chose to place those children into our home. To doubt any of this is no less than doubting the very sovereingty of God. If we worry about what we lack in abilities as a parent, we can find comfort in God's promise: "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:32). The author writes, "The stakes you face as a parent are much too great to go unnoticed by God who loves you - and your children - so much that he didn't spare his own Son in his zeal to redeem you. The God who did that is the God who watches over you now and this same God inspired you to pick up this book to hear these words anew. You are the right person for the job, because God himself has assigned you the task. And he is committed to seeing you through. In the end, that's all we need to know."

On another note, we mailed out our first ten deputation packets today! Looking forward to seeing what God is going to do as a result of these mailings!

My purpose

For some time now, I've been wanting to keep a journal about the things the Lord is teaching me; what I'm learning from His Word. It's hard to find time to sit down and write, but I think it is important. This is my effort at doing so.
My second purpose in creating this blog is to update my family and friends as our family begins the trek toward Kenya. We are just beginning the deputation process and Lord-willing, will move to Kenya by the summer of 2012. 
So here it goes! Enjoy!