A Different Easter

Deuteronomy 6:7

(NASB)

You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.

This past weekend was so wonderful for our family. We got to spend Easter at my parents home and enjoy some down time. I watched a great "Easter" movie from the 1950's with Rachel and ran around my parents 9 acres with the kids. We picked up sticks, did Easter egg hunts, made mud pies, looked at ants, and just enjoyed one another for a couple of days.

Leading up to Easter (I fully admit) I didn't do a lot of "Easter" things with them. We didn't dye eggs this year or have our Easter egg hunt with neighbors. We didn't color pictures of the tomb, or do fun crafts from Oriental Trading. I saw a beautiful picture on a friends FB post of a stunning stain-glass cross they made and I thought, "how beautiful". I pinned tons from Pinterest but this year it was different. I wasn't too busy to do the crafts, or lack the desire or creativity to do it. I didn't feel envious of others crafts or what they did to celebrate the resurrection. We didn't really do anything but this:  we talked about Easter. We talked about it when we brushed our teeth. We talked about when we ate breakfast. We talked about during devotionals. We talked about on the way to the Y. We talked about on the way home from the Y. We talked about when we ate lunch, dinner, played outside, and when we went to bed. This year, we really, really dove in to what Easter is just by talking about it.

My daughter is a verbal learner and she asked some of the most amazing questions. I was intentional, yes, but I also just shared to joy for Christ with my children because I love Him. I love Christ. I felt it overflowing from my heart to their ears and it brought me great comfort to know they were listening.

So, fellow Moms, take heart!  Some years will look very different from what you think or anticipate it to be. But, sometimes, we just need to listen to that quiet whisper that tells you to do it a little different this time.

Yes, yes, yes, it was the most glorious Easter. Simply, because I thought continuously about Christ.

With JOY,
Leeanne

Joy

James 1:2-4  Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Perspective is everything.  Did you ever stop in the middle of a bad situation and re-frame it to look totally different?  James says to, "Consider it pure joy, " in the midst of a trial.  I can assure you this does not come natural to thank The Lord as some has just stolen your purse and wallet, when the stomach flu is making it's round in your family, when your best friend has just been diagnosed with cancer.  You name the trial.  What are you dealing with today?

This past weekend a lovely virus decided to pay a visit to our home.  And this is a week that my husband is traveling.  Here are two thought patterns:

Thought Pattern #1

- Why does this always happen to me?

- Now I'm not going to be able to get a good night sleep.

- I will have to call in sick to work and make sub plans, which is not fun.

Thought Pattern #2

- Thank you Lord for everyone not having this illness all at the same time.

- Thank you for allowing me to have a day off to spend with my child alone.

- Thank you Lord for choosing me to nurse my children back to health.

Considering any trial pure joy does not come naturally in the flesh.  Notice that all of my thoughts from the first one are all about me.  The second one is about God and others.  A simple acronym that I learned years ago was, If your want pure JOY, put J-esus first, O-thers second and then Y-ourself.  It has proven to be a good motto in my own life.  God has a plan and purpose in all of our trials.

With Joy, Jill

Testimony Part 2

 Part Two of Kim Braddy's testimony! God is faithful!
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 I immediately knew that this was not a healthy pregnancy due to the symptoms that brought me to the Dr in the first place.  A series of tests showed that the pregnancy was no longer viable.  A few days later, I went to the hospital for surgery.  When I woke up, the OB told me that I had been pregnant with twins in one of my fallopian tubes. While I was saddened that they had stopped growing around 6 weeks, had the Lord allowed them to continue to grow, my fallopian tube would have soon ruptured and I could have died.  He told me that they removed my fallopian tube and this would significantly reduce my fertility. 

 A month later, I conceived our last baby.  So much for reduced fertility!! About 10 weeks into this pregnancy I had a lot of bleeding that continued for several weeks and made for a complicated pregnancy where my life and the life of the baby growing inside of me were at risk.  This time, instead of freaking out, I was able to look back at the faithfulness of God in my life and say, "OK God, I am weary of this, but you are good and your plans are good so lets do this, whatever your will may be."  I'm thankful to say she is healthy and happy and our family is doing great.  So how does this story have anything to do with blessings?  I used to sing the song, "Blessed be the name of the Lord" and there is a line in this song that says, "you give and take away, but blessed be your name".

  When life is good, this is so easy to sing.  The question is, can you sing it and mean it in the midst of the storm?  It is by God's grace that I can say yes!!  God was so faithful to walk with me every step of the way.  I was so often comforted by the verse. in Isaiah 43 - "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior."

 God does not ever promise in His Word that I will have it easy in this life but He does promise to walk with me when it isn't!  And what a blessing that is!!!  My hope is in a God who does not change even when my circumstances do. Hebrews 13:8"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever."  That is a blessing!!  I always think about how that probably isn't the worst thing I will go through in my life and how I can look at an uncertain future with joy, hope, and confidence instead of fear.  Because the God of the Bible is faithful!!  This is a blessing to know.  When I look back on this child birthing season of my life, I miss the intimacy I felt to the Lord during those trying times but through these times, He has taught me that total dependence on Him is for my good. 

 It is by God's grace that I am not angry and bitter, but hopeful.  And God continues to use this in my life...

2 Cor 1:3-4 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God."  The Lord continues to allow me to shed tears and share hope with friends who have gone through this same thing and that is a blessing!  So now, when I think of blessings...I don't just think of the obvious things that the Lord has graciously given me but I think about what a blessing it is to know and walk with a faithful, compassionate, loving, unchanging  God who uses all circumstances of this life to shape us and make us more like His Son.  I look forward with great anticipation to the day when I will be with Him for eternity and He introduces me to those 4 sweet babies that we did not get to hold this side of Heaven. 

Teach Us to Pray

Luke 11:1 Lord, teach us to pray.

This weekend at church I was challenged and asked if my prayers were more for my own comfort, safety and current events in my life or were they more heavenly-minded, gospel-centered and mission minded? 

During our nightly devotions as a family, we all take turns praying.  My six year old likes to go first and his prayers are sweet, but do not vary much.  He thanks God for the roof over our head, food on the table and whatever he had fun doing that day.  He may occasionally pray for someone or something else but he is growing. My middle one who is seven is my prayer warrior.  She prays for everything and everyone.  She has a tree in the front yard she calls her, "praying tree".  She climbs it and prays.  She prays without thinking about it.  Such an example.  My oldest prays from her heart and is deep and serious.  I remember one night listening to her on the monitor when she was five years old.  She was praying to Jesus and said, "I asked you into my heart Jesus and I will never ask you out.  I will never say to come in and go out."  I laughed and cried at the same time.

My prayers vary.  The more tired I am and the less time I spend with God and in his Word, the weaker and more temporal are my prayers.  I thank Him for the day, where I saw His hand at work and pray for the next day.  As I write this, I am coming off a two week break from school.  I've had lots of rest, relaxation, play time, getting caught up on life and mostly had an abundance of time with Him and in His Word.  I feel close to my  Heavenly Father and my prayers are so much more potent.  I am reminded that we were created for Heaven.  Heaven is my home and ultimate destination. Do my daily prayers reflect that?  Sadly, not always.  But today, I'm so thankful for this time of renewal.  

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for saving me from myself.  Thank you for choosing me to be part of your Kingdom.  You have transformed my life and heart and I'm forever grateful.  Lord, I pray that you continue to grow me and mold me into your Son's image.  Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.  Strengthen and protect my marriage from the demands of a busy life. Help me to be an example for my children, to rear them in such a way that their foundation is unshakeable when they leave our house because You are their rock.  I pray that others come to know  You and Your saving grace through the way we live and the choices we make.  Give my children the boldness to stand firm in their faith and not be wooed by the temptations in this world.  Teach us to love like You love.  In Christ's name, Amen.

Announcement and Burdens of Today

Dear Friends,

We are excited to announce that our blog will be moving over to Wordpress in a couple of weeks. We feel that Wordpress best meets our needs for hosting our blog and all the big dreams we have for the future! The Lord has been so very kind to Jill and me and when our writing adventures began several years ago we never thought we would see it come as far as it has. He has given us vision and goals for the years ahead and we are eager to obey and walk in faith. We will continue to post here and on our new blog for the next two weeks then we will turn off our blogspot blog. You can go ahead and check out our new spot at Wordpress. It will match the current content we post here as well.

http://prayingthroughlife.com

Grateful to walk through life with you all!
Leeanne and Jill

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Burdens of Today

"Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."   Matthew 6:34

I am type A personality.  I joke and often say OCD, although that is nothing to joke about, but I definitely have tendencies.  My tasks and responsibilities often become my burdens.  Why is it on a Friday after teaching school I can go outside and play with my children in the driveway, play a board game and watch a movie with my husband feeling fine about it all?  Monday-Thursday after school I am a different person.  I am focused on chores, tasks and the responsibility of making sure it's all done.  

This winter we have had several snow days (as most people!).  As soon as the next day is called off, I am back to the me I get along with best (and the one everyone else gets along with best).  I have often looked around me so accusatory.  If she would just make her lunch, if he would finish his homework, if she would just take her shower and get ready for bed, if I could just finish folding this laundry, etc.....then I would be able to relax and get along with people better.  

The truth of the matter is, it's me- it's my issues that I am projecting on everyone else.  Yes, if they would just do their task (s) then I would be able to relax more.  But, like weekends and snow days, if I would just relax, things might get done with more peace for all.  Do you have anything that is more your issue than others, but you keep blaming the others for your issue?

God has started to work on this with me.  Taking the unnecessary, stressful emotions out of the day to day routine.  If I can do it on a snow day, weekends, and track outs than I can certainly do it otherwise.  In the meantime, I'll be working on making small changes and trying to not be anxious about getting ready for tomorrow.  

Warmly,

Jill

Our Boy

Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

 When I found out I was pregnant with my third child and it was a boy, I was a little nervous.  I was used to girls and not really sure how I would handle raising a boy.  Many of my friends warned me that boys are wide open, full of energy and untamable at times.  Then came along Titus.

He was nothing like I had prepared myself for.  He was sweet, tender, well-behaved and wanted to do what his big sisters were doing.  At first, this was cute...especially when they would put dresses on him.  It quickly became obvious to my husband and I that he was choosing to play with "girl" things more than "boy" things.  The world would say, let him be who he is.  Give into his desires to play with girl things.  My husband, being a guy's guy, was having a fit when he would want to play with barbies or other girlie things.  We made a conscious decision to train him to be a boy, point out the differences between boys and girls (besides the obvious), encourage boy activities, have regular wrestle time with daddy and we started cultivating boy friendships and having boy play dates.

My boy, Titus, is still sweet, tender, and (mostly) well-behaved.  The difference now, he desires to play boy things including creative play, toys, wrestling, etc. more than girl things. The other day one of the girls was aggravating him and he turned and burped and blew it in her face.  She was, of course, appalled.  I, secretly, cheered and pulled my closed fist to my hip in victory- only a boy would do that to his sister, right?

God says to not conform to the patterns of this world.  He says he made us in his image and the likeness of man, not the likeness of a woman.  It is my job as his mama to steer him in the right direction to being a godly man.

Warmly,

Jill

Relationships and the Son of God

My Friday night was a much needed "catch up" night with a girlfriend.  After a long winter, some cabin fever, and desire to catch up, we went to our favorite restaurant (Bella Monica) and to see the new movie, Son of God.  Hence, killing two birds with one stone.  

It's so easy to let weeks and months pass without being intentional with your friendships.  I'll be the first to admit that it's hard.  After each child my circle of intimate friendships got smaller.   And then I went back to work.  I didn't think my social life could shrink anymore, but it did.  What I have realized is that it comes down to prioritizing what's most important.  These are my life priorities:  God, husband, children, work, friends and family, house and hobbies.  As I type this, I am quickly reminded at all the ways I fail and mix things up on a regular basis.  I am also reminded of God's grace in all of this. 

The movie, Son of God, is the latest depiction of Jesus and His life.  This one is more broad and tells his story from conception, birth, teachings, torture, death and resurrection.  What I enjoyed most was how accurate it was.  Mark Burnett and Roma Downey's History Channel mini-series, The Bible, was put together to make this movie.  There is less room for controversy than other Jesus films, in my opinion.  For a full movie review, go to http://www.pluggedin.com/movies/intheaters/son-of-god.aspxutm_source=nl_focusenews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=200605&refcd=200605.

The movie was a great reminder of the sacrifice Jesus endured for me and you.  The gospel is real.  As my pastor said at church yesterday, "I'm a bigger sinner than I thought, but He gives me more grace than I could have ever hoped for."  

Warmly,

Jill

Your Refuge

Do you have a place of refuge you go to when you have trials?  Perhaps not even a trial but a place that quiets you and causes you to be still, listen, and think. Jesus had a place like this. In Matthew 26:36 it says, "Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”  

I have a place that I go to whenever I feel I need solitude. Sometimes there are heavy things on my heart. Other times, I just long for the scenery and a quiet drive. I am fortunate that even though I live in a big city, I am 5 minutes from a very rural area. When I take my children to preschool, many days I will go on my "refuge drive" as I have come to call it. It isn't too far from their school and it is in the heart of farmland, gardens, a large lake, and tons and tons of pastures and greenery. Perhaps being raised in the country, I relate to it. The second I turn down the route, I feel myself become peaceful. I cannot tell you how many decisions I have made on that drive. Other times, especially spring, I open the sunroof and crank out some country music and just enjoy God's creation. To say this place and drive is good for me is an understatement. I think Psalm 23 reflects it best:  He restores my soul. My soul is at rest when I go. Not because of the location but because HE calms me.

Some days I find myself longing to get out there and once I do, I breathe deep and get quiet. Jesus  most always speaks in a whisper but I get so busy with life I forget to get quiet so I can hear. Many, many decisions have been made on that drive because there was silence and I listened for my answers. 

Quiet yourself today. As I type this it is calm in my home. The kids are napping and the snow is falling. I am always amazed at the magnificence of God when it snows. Job 37:6 says, "He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth...".  At His breath the snow falls. May His stillness be your refuge today. 

In His Joy,
Leeanne

Little Blessings, Big Meaning

Over the past few months my oldest daughter (5) has been telling us her blanket, aka, "lovie" is falling apart. It was given to her before she was born by a sweet lady in our church. The colors were white, pink, and green and I know it was lovingly knitted together just for her. We have noticed after 5 years of continuous love that it is literally falling apart.

My husband and I kept saying to each other that she needs another one but also perplexed with how do you replace THE LOVIE?  You all know what I mean when I say that. The sacred thing no one else gets to play with. The one thing that cannot be missing when we travel. The only thing that brings comfort on a sick day. The one thing that makes everything right with the world.

Honestly, I have dreaded the day the last strand unraveled and sadly, it was fast approaching!

A few months back we had a close family friend live with us for a short time. We had also become friends with his parents as well.  Last week, UPS delivered a big box to our door and I couldn't for the life of me figure out what it was.

As I began to open it after dinner and started removing the tissue paper one by one I started crying. I kept saying, "It can't be! Greg, it can't be".  He looked in the box and he started crying too. It was just one of those precious, tender moments that needed absolutely no words. Greg knew. I knew, and the Lord knew. Our dear family friend's mom had knitted us all new LOVIES. Rachel got one, Nolan got one, Georgia got one, and Greg and I got one. Beautiful, new afghans from a sweet family.

All I could think about was this is a gift from the Lord. I looked at Greg and said, "you know why God gave us this gift don't you'?  He said, "yes". We both nodded because we knew the answer. He gave us a sweet, unexpected gift simply because he loves us.

The best part?  Rachel's new lovie is the same size as her old one and the same beautiful colors of white, pink and green with a little extra purple thrown in.

Just because He loves us. Extravagant love. Kind love. Specific love.

With great joy,
Leeanne,

What's Your Love Language?

I had a thought today.  What is God's love language?  I would guess prayer as it encompasses so many things.  Have you read The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman?  It's a faith based book that describes five ways to communicate love to your spouse (and now he has other versions, i.e., to your children).  

When Steve and I were dating we took the quiz to discover what our primary love languages were so we could best speak to each other's love language.  What we discovered was that we are completely opposite.  Isn't that just like God?  To pair us together so we would knowingly have to work at filling the other's "love tank" in a way that does not come natural.  

The five languages are:

1.  Words of affirmation- that person thrives when positive words, recognition and appreciation are expressed.

2. Acts of service- that person feels filled when someone does something for them.

3.  Receiving gifts- that person feels special when they receive special, thought-filled gifts.

4.  Quality time- that person feels loved when someone spends time with them, even if they are just in the same room.

5.  Physical touch- that person feels loved when they are being touched, rubbed, or just plain ole snuggle time. 

Steve has jokingly said that my primary love language are all five.  LOL.  I am an intricate person, but my primary love language is quality time and my least is physical touch.  I am just not a touchy feely person and need my space.  Steve, on the other hand, feels most loved by physical touch and least by quality time.  When we first got married I felt smothered by him, always wanting to snuggle.  I actually said to him one time, "Stop mauling me, I can't breathe!"  And he looked at me with puppy eyes and said, "I wish you would maul me."  I feel most loved by playing a board game, watching a movie together, doing a project together...feeling like that person carved out time for me.  Steve is a project person and we both are "over responsible"  and often forget to stop and smell the roses.  We have had to work at each other's primary love language and often fail.  Truthfully, for a healthy marriage and relationship all five languages need to be present.  

What is your primary love language?  Take an online quiz to find out and see how it will strengthen and better help your understand your relationships.  Go to this website:  5lovelanguages.com/profile and click on "click here to begin".  God made each of us different for a reason.  Steve and I often find that my strengths are his weaknesses and vice versa. 

Jill

Beginning Advent

"Is not my word like fire, says the Lord" Jeremiah 23:29

"And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,  and you shall call his name Jesus. he will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High And the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." Luke 1:30-32

I love Advent. As I get older I realize the deep need I have to devote more and more time in worship and prayer to Christ during this season. I awoke extra early this morning for prayer and study time and as I pulled out my special "advent journal" I began reading through the past few years and was overcome with one thought -- He is faithful. As I read the pages I felt so overwhelmed with gratitude for His faithfulness. Prayers I wrote in 2009 to prayers I wrote just last year. Jesus Christ is the same and His word is a comfort to me when nothing else satisfies. His word is like fire.

I feel an igniting in my heart for His word lately. As I prayed, I wrote this out in my Advent journal. It is word for word and exactly what my heart is reflecting for the season. I wanted to share it with you:


2013 - December 1

Lord, a new advent season is here. Lord, let You be my great joy this season. Let me not fall into comparisons or trivial things that make me view my/our advent as less. Let my jealousy be only for YOU!  Give me bright eyes for your glorious jewels and let me not fall into any form of legalism this season on the whens, where, how, do this, memorize this, create this, draw this, craft this, study this....

Let it be season where I draw deep into your well and drink over and over and over and over. May I leave Christmas far more deeply in love with you and desiring to dust of all the world says it can offer.

May my affection for You not be overshadowed with even good things. My heart Lord can get too caught up in what I should be doing because that is just "what you do". Will you make my advent and the family's advent exactly what WE need as a family.

Lord, give the kids a heart for You, your word, Your goodness, Your vision, Your salvation, Your hope, Your glorious joy, Your love, Your peace, Your great gift of Jesus.

You are all we need this Christmas. You are advent. You and you alone will make this season spectacular.

You are El Roi. The God who sees me.

Search my heart and remove anything that interferes with You.

In the Only Name that saves,
Amen


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This advent Jill and I will be posting in anticipation of "the coming" . May your great hope in Christ be renewed as we remember, watch and prepare.

Family Devotional
The Name of God:  El Roi "The God who sees me"
Attribute:  His kindness (or favor like he spoke to Mary)
Reading:  Matthew 2:1-14

Personal Devotion
In my personal reading I read John Piper devotional from his 2013 advent book and then I add in the verses below.

http://dwynrhh6bluza.cloudfront.net/resources/documents/5544/DG_Advent_eBook-2013.pdf?1384881563

The Birth Of Jesus Advent reading:
December 1 - Luke 1:30-33

Jesus is...  Advent reading:
December 1 - Revelation 22:13

The Coming King Advent reading:
December 1 - Genesis 3:14-15

"One Another" Advent reading:
December 1 - John 13:14


Monday, December 2:

Family Devotional
The Name of God:   Adonay "Lord, Master"
Attribute:  His Joy
Reading: Luke 1:46-55

Personal Devotion:
John Piper's advent book
http://dwynrhh6bluza.cloudfront.net/resources/documents/5544/DG_Advent_eBook-2013.pdf?1384881563

The Birth Of Jesus Advent reading:
Luke 1:41-42

Jesus Is... Advent reading:
John 6:35

The Coming King Advent reading:
Genesis 22:18

"One Another" Advent reading:
John 13:35

(My friend Norma Weekman composed these verses a few years ago and I have treasured them). This week I will share what we are doing for the season. I have a few things I have put together along with other ideas from different people far more talented than me!)

With Great JOY,
Leeanne

Victory

As a Christian, there’s always that fine line of sheltering your children from the world and what it has to offer and exposing them to the world and giving them the tools and strategies to handle it and be an effective witness.  I teach at a very small school that my children attend.  It is a blessing in many ways.  They are getting a great education, there are many Christian families and other families who are just good people.  The Bible says to make disciples and go out into the world and share the love of Jesus.  It says, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.  We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”  (2 Corinthians 5:20) I want to teach my children to be His ambassadors.

Not too long ago, my middle child, who is in 1^st grade, came to me and was appalled by what she saw in a science book from her room.  It showed pictures of evolutionism.  From an early age, we (along with my neighbors) have taught my children that the Bible teaches that God created us.  We have read books to them, watched videos and given them all kinds of important facts to support this view.  My daughter was passionately explaining to me why this was false from the book and also shared the same to another student.  On the way home, I took the opportunity to tell her how proud I was of her sharing her beliefs as it is part of her.  I also told her that we can pray for those who do not believe this.  

However, once she has shared God’s Truth it is up to God to do the rest.  We cannot be disrespectful of other’s views and beliefs.  She understood.  She asked if she could bring her Bible to school and share from God’s Word why she believes God created man and woman. 

I was in awe that my little seven year old would be so bold and evangelistic.  I thought about how ignorant I was at that age.  This is important to her.  Her life’s path and choices will indeed be so different from mine in my childhood because she has Truth and wisdom. I was choked up and crying on the way home that day from school.  One of my kids noticed and said, “Mommy, what’s the matter, why are you crying?”  I simply replied that I was so proud of my children and Truth that they live by.  

Warmly,

Jill

The Birds and The Bees

  

It is inevitable that our children will learn about how babies are made and the intricacies of sex.  As a child, I vividly remember getting my sex education on the bus in 2^nd grade as I listened to the older kids.  I would not say it was healthy or an accurate depiction of the way God intended it to be.  I was well taken care of by my parents, but communicating these types of topics were ignored and uncomfortable.  I remember when I was fourteen and I got my period.  I told my mom while we were on our way to softball practice, she almost hit a tree on our street. 

I made a conscious decision that no matter how uncomfortable it was going to be, I wanted to be the one that gave my children God’s perspective on love, sex and baby making.  My oldest daughter has always been emotionally mature.  So, I knew the day would come sooner than later.  However, I did not expect it when she was seven.  She has always been inquisitive and whenever she asked questions that centered around babies and where they come from I told her that God gave us each one of our children out of love for each other.  That was enough until she started to put two and two together when one of our dogs got neutered.  How was it that he could no longer make babies? 

I took a deep breath and brought her into the guest bedroom at my parent’s house,  as we were visiting there over the summer.  I explained to her body parts, what they do and how a baby is conceived.  She asked questions like, “Do you and daddy still do it?”  I went on to explain that God intended it to be an act of love shared between a husband and wife, although some people in the world abuse it and do not do it out of love.  I told her  that daddy and I did because we loved each other.  She asked some other mature questions and it turned out to be a great conversation.  Until…my mom and I were putting all three kids to bed that night and my daughter looked at my mom and said, “Do you and Papa still do it?”  I fell on the ground laughing and I think my mom was speechless.  So I quickly recued her and said, “Remember I told you it was an act of love.  Nana and Papa still love each other.” 

It made a great story to tell and laugh about.  I am grateful that God was preparing my heart to share this with her.  My other two children are not quite old enough and emotionally mature enough to handle that conversation.  But, I’m ready when they are. 

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”  Genesis 2:24

“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.”  Hebrews 13:4

Warmly,

Jill

The Last Decade

Ten years ago this November started the whirlwind of growing our newfound Savoye family.  After getting pregnant at three months into marriage, I spent the first five years of our marriage either pregnant or nursing.  It was a tremendously difficult year after the birth of my third child.  He was born with severe asthma, had acid reflux and food allergies (unbeknownst to me at the time).  He was constantly in pain.  I was literally nursing him every 1 ½ hours around the clock to assuage his pain and comfort him.  I was stubborn and did not want to give up the benefits of nursing. 

When he was two months old, I nearly had a nervous breakdown from sleep deprivation.  It took another eight to ten months until I was able to sleep through the night and be less anxiety-ridden.  Since then, I have had one health issue after another and have been diagnosed and misdiagnosed multiple times.  I was beyond fatigued, felt sick (flu-like) all the time, was losing my hair, had dangerously low blood pressure, experienced low body temperature and had developed severe food allergies along with brown spots all over my face.  I jokingly told my husband that Obama passed a new law that he could trade me in at ten years without any penalty. 

I could write pages and pages of all the trials that we faced as a family because of my poor health.  I refuse to focus on the hardships right now and I tried not to center on them during that long season.  There were plenty of times where I did have pity parties and wondered if God was going to rescue me on this side of Heaven.  I knew that I wasn’t right and something was severely wrong.  From the outside, it looked like I was having bouts of laziness, was extremely moody, depressed and being mellow-dramatic.  But I knew in my heart that I still had joy, was not depressed and could not just “muster up the energy” to push myself further.  I spent many days and nights crying out to the Lord for help.  My family grew in their independence as they could not rely on me when I had weeks of feeling sick at a time.

This past August I was diagnosed with Addison’s disease.  All of my ailments fit the description perfectly.  I went on medication that I will most likely be on the rest of my life, unless God chooses to completely heal me.  I feel normal again!  I have normal energy, normal moods, my food allergies are starting to heal and even the brown spots on my face are dissipating. 

Over five years of suffering, God has taught me a lot.  He has given me compassion for those who suffer with chronic fatigue or another disease.  He has given me an unbelievable respect for my husband and what he has had to endure as we raise three children together.  He has shown me that nothing is impossible with Him.  He has shown me that I do have limits and need to be wise with how I spend and conserve my energy.  He has taught me how to eat healthy and feed my family in healthier ways.  He has taught me how to rely on Him more.  Even in the midst of a really long illness, He was my ever-present help.  He continues to teach me and reveal to me all the amazing life-lessons that I would not have learned without being sick. 

“…but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:3-4

Warmly,

Jill

Is There Gluten in Heaven?

Is there gluten in heaven?

We are reading Heaven for Kids by Randy Alcorn with our kids right now.  Three out of five of us in our family have gluten allergies.  We have certainly gotten used to this lifestyle change, but it was not fun or easy in the beginning.  Titus, my five year old, asked one day as he was being denied some sort of yummy gluten treat, “Is there gluten in heaven?”

My immediate response was, “Of course not!  You can eat anything you want in Heaven.  There’s no such thing as a gluten allergy.”  His eyes got wide and a smile appeared ear to ear.  Truthfully, I do not know if we even eat in Heaven.  The Bible talks about the tree of life that bears twelve fruits.  (Revelation 22:1-3)  The text never says if we will actually eat the fruit of the tree of life.  The Bible also refers to “the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 8:11)  There are many more references that would make me think there will be food that we will eat.  I do know that our bodies will be made perfect and there will be no such thing as allergies or any other bodily ailments for that matter.  Now that is something to look forward to! (Revelation 22:3)

The whole point is, I want to get my children (along with myself) excited for Heaven.  We are all born and we will all die.  It is a choice to follow Jesus and go to Heaven or deny Him and live in eternally separated from Him.  It’s like getting ready to move to a new city or take a fancy, expensive vacation.  You would never move or take that vacation without learning about the area, examining its details and features, and weighing its pros and cons.   It’s not enough to teach my kids about Jesus, how to follow Him and become more Christ-like.  I want them to be building God’s Kingdom and not their kingdom here on earth.  I want them to know what they have to look forward to.  I want them to know that being heavenly minded has its rewards and blessings here on earth as well as in heaven.

 “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”  Colossians 3:1-2

Warmly,
Jill

Covenant Friendship

“Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as himself.” 

1 Samuel 18:3

I love reading 1 Samuel 18:3 out of the English Standard Version of the Bible. It states that Jonathan loved David as it was his own soul. A recurring principle in Scripture is that we are meant to run the race of life with others. We cannot live alone. We were created for fellowship and accountability, and our lives being intertwined with others. Jonathan and David’s friendship went beyond special. The fact that Scripture says Jonathan made a covenant with David shows the gravity of the promise he made. Jonathan, whose own father, King Saul, was trying to kill David, would honor their friendship even if it meant Jonathan lost his life. Scripture says that their souls were knit together. One of our children’s greatest influences will be their friends. I’m sure David would have rather had one Jonathan than twenty partially devoted friends. Pray today that the Lord will surround you with friendship and wise influence.

Do you have a friend or friends who hold you accountable and know you intimately?

Thank you Jesus for the example of Jonathan and David. I pray Lord that I would model their integrity in friendship today and pass those characteristics on to my child. I pray now for the friends You will bring into their lives. May their friendship strengthen their walk with You.  Amen.

Leeanne

This devotion is an excerpt from our new book Praying Through Pregnancy. We can't wait to share it with you.

Michele's beautiful design work!

Family and the Bride of Christ

"What's on your mind", my husband asked me the other day.
"Couple Mr. and Mrs. X think we are crazy. I'm sure of it", I said back to him.
"We are crazy. Our daughter wears the same dress everyday,our son just called the kids in his Sunday School class monkey butts, and our sweet baby has turned into a possessed demon".
"Yeah. I guess your right. Are we loud people"?  I asked.
"I think we qualify. Don't forget you come from the decesdants of Vikings so you definitely get loud when you are mad".
"Your Polish".
"What does my love of kielbasa and pieroges have to do with the fact that our family is crazy"?

-----------------

That my friends is my life right now. I was struggling last week with what "Couple Mr. and Mrs. X" thought of our family. Why?  Because there life seems nice and neat and us Burda's are not that. I like to think of our life as peaceful chaos. 3 children under 5 is wild enough but throw in a deaf dog and we are now on the crazy train. In 2012 I did not sleep. I got use to it. I adapted and told myself often this too shall pass. Now we finally get the baby on a good schedule and my son decides to start having nightmares. My daughter will only wear one dress and my son things every conversation should be sprinkled with potty talk.



My point? This is the family the Lord has given me. It is a wonderful, fun ride with a great extended family, amazing friends, and beautiful church. Just like my family, the Bride of Christ is not perfect but it is beautiful. It is a place to ask, seek, share, question, fall apart, build up, lean, hold up, disagree, agree, and hopefully it is all wrapped in the jewels of grace, love, and charity.

I love my church. I love Christ's church. But most of all I love what Christ is accomplishing through her. He uses all the broken people and gives us the honor to be His ambassador's (2 Corinthians 5:20).

Christ will use us if we let Him. A friend told me the other day to embrace it. So, in the same sense I embrace Christ's bride as well. Flaws and all. He loves her just like I love my family- crazy and all!

Rest in 1 Chronicles 29:11:
 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.

Clothed in Grace,
Leeanne