study plans for the fall

I am excited about the studies I am doing this fall with friends and at church. I know that God will be teaching me lots and giving me opportunities to serve Him and others.

1) Attitudes of Success- http://hopechurch.com/teaching

2) Experiencing God- http://www.amazon.com/Experiencing-God-Knowing-Doing-Workbook/dp/0805499547

3) Here & Now, There & Then- Beth Moore- http://www.lifewaystores.com/lwstore/product.asp?isbn=L06314448X

So I will have lots to blog about as I learn. I know that it is a lot of study but I have found that if I fill my spare time with Him, life just gets richer and more incredible! God is the love of my heart. Right now He is asking for me to remain faithful even as the busyness hits and to remember to pray for others consistently! I guess that means I should get back at it.....

My theme verse is:

Ephesians 5:16 NIV
"making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."

MIA again... for a good reason

Hello blog land,

I am so sorry that I have been MIA for so long now but I have a great reason. We had a big surprise a little earlier than expected around our home.

Lucas Braydon White was born on 6/11/10. He was 5 pounds 8 ounces, 18 inches long and healthy as could be.

Needless to say I have been a little occupied the last few months with a newborn. I am back at work and we are loving being parents to Lucas. He is a great baby and totally loves his daddy! Here are some fun pics for you to enjoy!

Are you a child or an imposter??

Hebrews 12:7-11 NIV
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

I have been memorizing verses about endurance and hardships, staying through to the end even in the tough times and God brought this one to my attention this morning. It was very powerful and I wanted to share it. Be encouraged because if you are going through hardships, it is discipline and God counts you as one of His children that He is working in for your benefit! There is always a silver lining in the storm cloud if we will let God show it to us!
Thank you Father for counting me as Your child and working in me for my best. Even when it is hard and hurts, help me to trust You and endure!

Looking at David's example

I have been studying some of king David's life and God showed me something I hadn't thought about before.
I was studying David's fall with Bathsheba and the four fold consequences of his sin. The four fold consequences used to seem harsh to me but the Holy Spirit revealed that David's consequences were in proportion to his sin and that David humbly accepted them because he understood his God. He knew that God was completely holy and could not allow David to get away with his sin. He also understood that God was merciful and loved him even during the consequences.
The really cool thing that struck me was that God redeemed David's sin. In the short term God blessed David and Bathsheba with another son- Solomon- who carried on his lineage and eventually brought about Christ through God's hand. In the long term, millions of people have learned about God's forgiveness, mercy and restoration through seeing David's life illustrated in the bible. How awesome is our God for that kind of love and grace extended to all of us!

2 John 1:3 NIV
Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

Newsy update

Just can't believe that it is April already. I have been meaning to get on here and blog several times and just haven't gotten around to it. 2010 has been extremely busy so far. I think that I mentally decided to cram as much into the months before the baby came as possible since I will be bowing out of so many things after he is here (or so I imagine).
I have been working a lot more on several of my contract jobs and God has been faithful to bring a new dietitian to take over for me on some of them once the baby comes. Needless to say, training and making sure everything is ready to turn over has been an extra job! But it is going well and I am thankful for God's provision.
I am working on maternity leave details and how much work I am going to do after I come back . I struggle with this area because I have a hard time saying "NO" and I feel responsible to keep up the same level of excellence and commitment after the baby comes. I am praying about this and asking for God's help but it has been a struggle and he isn't even here yet. God is in control and my hubby has been a great sounding board to help too!
I have been taking 2 bible studies, teaching 1 and helping lead 1 this semester so that has been a little nutty but so good. God has really been teaching me in different ways with each study and the people that I am coming to know. Lots of reorganization of my selfish flesh and putting others over myself. That is great but also a struggle each day. It can be painful but I am pushing myself to do it because it is for God's glory and not about me. But when May hits, I am going to be ready to transition for a little break. I am praying about what to study to stay in the word and spend daily time with God over the summer and with a new little one.
We have had a busy family season with one of my siblings getting married and helping with that. It went fantastic but needless to say we have had a lot more family time, parties and visitors than usual. They were excited to get the wedding over with and just be married. Now real life is settling in! ;-)
Lastly I have been loving the spring weather. This year was a hard winter because it was long and dreary but God has been so faithful with the pretty weather and beautiful growth and green. Everywhere we look something is growing and blooming. My hubby is a little dismayed at this because it means more yard work but it is still a reminder of the renewal of the LORD and I am grateful for that!

Isaiah 61:11 NIV

"For as the soil makes the sprout come up, and a garden causes seed to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations."

Anxiously awaiting

I have been playing a little catch up with work and life this week after a great weekend celebrating my brother's marriage. My new sister in law is such a joy and I am so happy for them.
During their wedding preparations and the big day I couldn't stop thinking about our marriage to the Lamb and the wedding feast that we will all celebrate together someday.
My brother was pretty calm as the days up to the wedding came. He was excited but stayed busy with the preparation and details. As the big day got closer, his excitement and anxiety increased. During the day before the ceremony, he paced and waited and waited and paced. He was so ready to just get married and start his new life with his bride.
Standing at the altar watching my brother's myriad of emotions this past weekend brought home how Christ is waiting in anxious anticipation of His father's words- "Go get her Son!" As His bride, I can imagine Him pacing through heaven anxiously awaiting the moment He gets to come bring me to Himself. What a joyous moment! I can't even really imagine what it will be like but I can't wait either!

Revelation 19:6-9 NIV

"Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
"Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready.
Fine linen, bright and clean,
was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)

Then the angel said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!' " And he added, "These are the true words of God."

20 weeks and counting

I have been a little busy lately but wanted to get on here and post the latest news.
We are expecting our 1st child and just found out that we are having a little boy! My husband is excited about the baby boy and is looking forward to teaching him to play basketball.
Everything is going great and God has blessed the pregnancy far more than I could ever imagine. We continue to see Him teaching us things before this little guy even comes and are amazed at God's love and grace towards us. My heart overflows with love and praise for Him.

Ephesians 1:5-7 NLT
God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.