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Sunday was “Hope Sunday”. This was a nation-wide event for the Covenant Church, with a goal to get 15,000 kids from the Congo sponsored. The Covenant Church partnered with World Vision in hopes that Jesus’ followers would give up $40/month to provide clean water, schooling, food & prayer for these children.

Being the emotional nutcase that this pregnancy has made me, I broke down.

The pictures & videos of these children struck me like nothing else. They were so happy, but so needy. You could tell that they werecontent. These children are lucky if they have one meal a day, both parents alive & access to drinking water that doesn’t double as a bathroom. $40/month seemed like so little.

$40/month? That’s only a little more than $1/day! I could easily drop $40 in one day for my unborn child on a couple of outfits that he won’t care about.. at all. All I could think about is how selfish I am, how unlucky these children must be & how there has to be something I can do to help.

The Lord spoke to me though, and through showing me my selfishness & brokenness, I realized that maybe they are the lucky ones. I am blessed with material things, and health. Through this though, my heart became hardened to what was truly important. These children, these citizens of the Congo, were blessed with love and complete dependance on our Lord.

Their happiness shined through their toothless grins & love radiated from their bloated bellies. They are in love with the Lord, and love Him with a child-like faith that is apparent.

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Mark 10:14-15

“Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:4

It is still hard for me to humble myself to a point where I can resist the cutest button up flannel at Target, but the Lord is teaching me. He is transforming me, and turning me into amother. I am not perfect. I still mess up daily. I always will. But it is comforting knowing I have a shephard who is guiding me & loving me through the slow process of transforming my heart.

**sorry if this is jumbled/makes no sense/etc. i will blame the fact i couldn’t type this without tearing up… & pregnancy brain. we can blame everything on pregnancy**

(Source: sweatersloveandcoffeemugs)

my God is not dead, He’s surely alive.

living on the inside, roaring like a lion.

(via pugking)

Uncle Logie

“there was a prayer booth thing these old dudes had set up in the lbcc courtyard a few weeks ago. so i went to make a prayer request for the baby to be healthy and stuff. and Jason, the guy ive been meeting with was right next to that table and thats how we met. your baby is making me new relationships and closer with god. i was thinking about that today. kinda cool”

Conversations like these make my heart full of joy. My brother is growing into a man of God, something that I have prayed for since I started growing into my own personal and more intimate, real, relationship with God. That was my sophomore year of college, the same age as he is now. Not only is this a miracle, but this child in my womb is already aiding in answering prayers. He/She is a tool of our Creator already. God’s child. Wow. Thank you God.

Word on the street is, Daniel & I are going to be parents. REAL Parents. Wow.

God has blessed us both so much since the moment we met and his favour continues to pour on us. Sometimes (okay..a lot of the time) I wonder why or how I am so deserving of such a loving and caring God. He continues to love me, lure me in and provide even when I am the most disobedient of children. It’s such a perfect fatherly love. Even though the baby I am caring for now is just 13 weeks old, and there is not much I can do for him/her besides avoid alcohol and lunch meat, I am already knowing so much better the type of unconditional love that He showers down on me.

I know I won’t be a perfect parent as God is to me, but as I seek out His Spirit in pregnancy and parenthood, I am confident Daniel & I will be led with clear direction and will be able to love unconditionally, and provide a good home. He calls us (all) to be like Him, provides His Spirit to do just so, and is full of grace when we mess up along the way.

So while my hormones already provide anxiety and occasional tears as I think about holding our baby for the first time, breastfeeding, playing, working, finances, stability, changing diapers and everything in between, it is a comfort to know that I am given grace. I am given love. And most of all, I am given a perfect example of parenthood when I look above to our Heavenly Father.

Romans 8:15 “So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, Abba, Father.”

God Bless.

J

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love this painting, it totally sums up my appreciation for those who serve sacrificially and love those they don’t know. #sept11 #neverforget (Taken with Instagram)

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I serve a glorious and Passionate King; He is in such fiery love with us, to provide us with masterpieces that are never the same.

curious-traveler asked: hi~ just wanted to drop by and say thank you for following <3 God bless

My pleasure, you are a blessing!

i reblog so much stuff. but it’s more beautiful than i could do.

(Source: sweetksenia, via justbreathehesgotyou)

(via livelovebreatheworship)