I do not think this video is "the big lie", on the contrary it is incredibly well spoken truth! The big lie is the joy of sex before marriage. This video is the best word I've heard all wrapped together concerning the worldly attitude and acceptance of sex, (casual, recreational, premarital sex) and the grave ramifications of it. The bruises and scars simply do not make it worth doing!! I wish I had known. I love that he points out that it is a great blessing in marriage. Unfortunately, coming to enjoy it as a blessing in marriage when you've experienced it so much outside of marriage is difficult - I robbed myself. A couple other key things that struck me:
- You are not having sex with a body, your are having sex with a soul. There is much more involved than the physical and the impact therefore is long lasting.
- The girl who continues to open the present just to find it empty, but continuing to look for something she can't find. Perfectly said!
- The illustration of rape made us think about this. Everyone, even those who are perfectly okay with premarital sex, know that rape is a very damaging experience. If everyone knows that how have we not made the connection to the damage done by casual sex in general? While you may consent to having it, you are still being robbed. In rare instances are you giving it away to someone who is taking it for anymore than to just take. So either way you have to deal with the pain of giving away something for nothing.
- But in the end the most important part: Christ washes us clean!! No matter what you've done of haven't, He takes us, Loves us and paid it all so that we could walk clean and free from our sin. HALLELUJAH!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
2012 Goals
I am going to hone in on two things that will make my relationships healthier this year: Gentleness and Intimacy. First and foremost with the one's most dear to me: Father God, my dear husband and my sweet kids.
Gentleness: I am purposing to gain control over my tongue. I've wanted victory over this for a long time and I'm saying right now - it is finished! I will conquer this beast by the power given to me.
Proverbs 31:26 She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
Proverbs 14:10 The wise woman builds her house, but with he own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
1 Timothy 6:11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
Proverbs 21:9 Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
Proverbs 17:27 He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit
Intimacy: #1 Nothing can be gained except through an intimate relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. To Know Him, to Love Him, to Listen to Him and to Obey Him (out of love). Psalm 119:10 - With my whole heart I have sought you, oh let me not wonder from your commandments. #2 My primary marriage struggle is a lack of intimacy with and responsiveness to my husband, a fault of none other but me. I can make excuses and blame the past, the world, the work load, yadda yadda, but the clear instruction is simple in 1 Corinthians 7 - Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
Books I plan to Read:
Intimate Issues by Linda Dillow
How to Be a Lady by Harvey Newcomb (1864)
One I've read bits and pieces of but have never finished (like most books on my shelf) - Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian
Gentleness: I am purposing to gain control over my tongue. I've wanted victory over this for a long time and I'm saying right now - it is finished! I will conquer this beast by the power given to me.
Proverbs 31:26 She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
Proverbs 14:10 The wise woman builds her house, but with he own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
1 Timothy 6:11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
Proverbs 21:9 Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
Proverbs 17:27 He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit
Intimacy: #1 Nothing can be gained except through an intimate relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. To Know Him, to Love Him, to Listen to Him and to Obey Him (out of love). Psalm 119:10 - With my whole heart I have sought you, oh let me not wonder from your commandments. #2 My primary marriage struggle is a lack of intimacy with and responsiveness to my husband, a fault of none other but me. I can make excuses and blame the past, the world, the work load, yadda yadda, but the clear instruction is simple in 1 Corinthians 7 - Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
Books I plan to Read:
Intimate Issues by Linda Dillow
How to Be a Lady by Harvey Newcomb (1864)
One I've read bits and pieces of but have never finished (like most books on my shelf) - Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian
Friday, January 29, 2010
Rejoicing in the progress of God's miracle!
Our baby is a little over a week into the second trimester! Praise God! I get emotional often when I think about this journey and God's goodness and faithfulness to our trust in Him.
I just want to give a quick recap of events since May to bring light to God's glory. After my second miscarriage in May I experienced a series of complications, mainly erratic cycles, culminating with one in which I had 39 straight days of menstruation. I had been advised to consider a cycle of birth control pills to reset my menstrual cycle at about 36 days. I went with another alternative method since I hate BC pills. The progesterone supplement reduced me to spotting within about 3 days. At about this point, I was given a word by an amazing man in our church (who did not know what I was currently experiencing).. that God was making me whole and that the Holy Spirit was quickening in me right then to bring forth great days to come. You can read the full version of this in my blog around September 22nd or 23rd. After 39 days of full menstruating and 3 days of spotting, the next morning I awoke to cramping and what was indicative of a regular first day of my cycle. How could this be I asked? Is it possible for me to be starting a cycle when I had just stopped menstruating for such an extended period of time. But, I had a stirring in my spirit that God had just given me the reset we had been looking for! :) I called my midwife and she advised again that I try a cycle of BC pills. I resisted and decided to wait it out, because I just knew God was bringing forth something that could undeniably be His workings, as this restart of a cycle was highly unlikely under medical logic. Sure enough, that cycle progressed perfectly for 28 days. During the cycle I started 28 days later, we conceived this little miracle! Had I not trusted what God was doing and went ahead with the BC pills in September we would not have this little one!!
I'm so humbled that God used me as a vessel to work a miracle and that we continue to experience it as this baby grows and develops with no issues, not even one little hint of another miscarriage scare. God, you are awesome!
I just want to give a quick recap of events since May to bring light to God's glory. After my second miscarriage in May I experienced a series of complications, mainly erratic cycles, culminating with one in which I had 39 straight days of menstruation. I had been advised to consider a cycle of birth control pills to reset my menstrual cycle at about 36 days. I went with another alternative method since I hate BC pills. The progesterone supplement reduced me to spotting within about 3 days. At about this point, I was given a word by an amazing man in our church (who did not know what I was currently experiencing).. that God was making me whole and that the Holy Spirit was quickening in me right then to bring forth great days to come. You can read the full version of this in my blog around September 22nd or 23rd. After 39 days of full menstruating and 3 days of spotting, the next morning I awoke to cramping and what was indicative of a regular first day of my cycle. How could this be I asked? Is it possible for me to be starting a cycle when I had just stopped menstruating for such an extended period of time. But, I had a stirring in my spirit that God had just given me the reset we had been looking for! :) I called my midwife and she advised again that I try a cycle of BC pills. I resisted and decided to wait it out, because I just knew God was bringing forth something that could undeniably be His workings, as this restart of a cycle was highly unlikely under medical logic. Sure enough, that cycle progressed perfectly for 28 days. During the cycle I started 28 days later, we conceived this little miracle! Had I not trusted what God was doing and went ahead with the BC pills in September we would not have this little one!!
I'm so humbled that God used me as a vessel to work a miracle and that we continue to experience it as this baby grows and develops with no issues, not even one little hint of another miscarriage scare. God, you are awesome!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
The beginning of this journey
In September 2008 we learned I was pregnant with baby #1! At this point in time we were actually trying NOT to get pregnant. But with an accelerated biological clock since I was only 7 months away from turning the big 3-0... the excitement quickly consumed me. I must confess though, to a fault, having a baby COMPLETELY consumed me and took priority over everything in my life. I was obsessed with reading everything I could read and spent a great deal of time doing so, and was already stocking up maternity clothes within a couple of weeks of the news.
I have since grasped that many things in my life preceded and take priority over my motherhood and two in particular - my relationship with Jesus and Matthew! I've mentioned this in a previous post, but God has really transformed my heart on this issue and it's worth mentioning again. First Samuel is the story of Hannah and her struggle with barrenness. In Chapter 1:7-8 the scripture reads: Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. Elkanah her husband would say to her, "Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don't you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?"
This verse in particular spoke volumes to me, I felt as if the Lord were asking this very question of me, "Heather, don't I mean more to you than ten sons?" I had to ask myself am I really putting God first, am I really seeking what He wants for me rather than seeking what I think I want for my life? Why is it that when our life is on the up and up we tend to put our Father on the back burner? And on the flip side when plans aren't going the way we think they should, why do we not turn to God, our Father, Abba, our creator? If we would just sit at his feet or better yet, crawl in His lap, He has so much to tell us and so much love and comfort to give us. One of my favorite Jennifer Knapp songs "Whole Again" eludes to this.
There is one thing I am blessed to have grasped long ago - God's sovereignty!! On October 30th, 2008 the understanding of His sovereignty was my key to overcoming the loss of this first pregnancy. As devastating as it was, I truly felt God's peace! On top of that, I was enlightened on how common miscarriage is. I really had no idea. Many women offered comfort and encouraging words to me by sharing their experiences. I gleaned lots of hope from hearing of God's faithfulness to their trust in Him!
P.S. I just found out I'm pregnant again! I'm so amazed, this conception is truly God's little miracle!! I had my first round of blood work yesterday and my progesterone and hcg levels look great! Shhh... it's a secret from our kiddos.
I have since grasped that many things in my life preceded and take priority over my motherhood and two in particular - my relationship with Jesus and Matthew! I've mentioned this in a previous post, but God has really transformed my heart on this issue and it's worth mentioning again. First Samuel is the story of Hannah and her struggle with barrenness. In Chapter 1:7-8 the scripture reads: Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. Elkanah her husband would say to her, "Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don't you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?"
This verse in particular spoke volumes to me, I felt as if the Lord were asking this very question of me, "Heather, don't I mean more to you than ten sons?" I had to ask myself am I really putting God first, am I really seeking what He wants for me rather than seeking what I think I want for my life? Why is it that when our life is on the up and up we tend to put our Father on the back burner? And on the flip side when plans aren't going the way we think they should, why do we not turn to God, our Father, Abba, our creator? If we would just sit at his feet or better yet, crawl in His lap, He has so much to tell us and so much love and comfort to give us. One of my favorite Jennifer Knapp songs "Whole Again" eludes to this.
There is one thing I am blessed to have grasped long ago - God's sovereignty!! On October 30th, 2008 the understanding of His sovereignty was my key to overcoming the loss of this first pregnancy. As devastating as it was, I truly felt God's peace! On top of that, I was enlightened on how common miscarriage is. I really had no idea. Many women offered comfort and encouraging words to me by sharing their experiences. I gleaned lots of hope from hearing of God's faithfulness to their trust in Him!
P.S. I just found out I'm pregnant again! I'm so amazed, this conception is truly God's little miracle!! I had my first round of blood work yesterday and my progesterone and hcg levels look great! Shhh... it's a secret from our kiddos.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
Day 25
I have not been as diligent with blogging as I had hoped to be, but I am going to settle in being content that this is a journey, not something I have to master overnight. The Holy Spirit has spoken to my yearning for perfection lately and I am coming to terms with "the journey."
On to blogging business... my last post on September 23rd was one of many significant happenings within a span of a few days.
On September 15th - I went to see my midwife after 36 days of menstruating, trying some other alternative approaches and being in the midst of a drowning in my own sorrows of "but what if I can't have children." Her suggestions were to either start on a naturally derived bio identical progesterone to combat my obvious estrogen dominance or to start a cycle of birth control pills to reset my system. I went with option A because I loath birth control pills of any means, even though this was coming from my very alternative natural midwife.
On Wednesday, September 16th - I started 200 mg of Prometrium and by Friday the menstruating had stopped, I was down to only spotting (sorry if this is too much information, but it's important).
Sunday evening, September 20th - when Matt and I swung by church to drop of some food for an event is when Jenny pulled me aside and gave me the words of encouragement I previously wrote about.
On Monday, September 21st - As Matt, Abby, Austin and I were leaving Monday Night Prayer our great mentors Mike and Beckey Cortines caught us and Mike gave me the word I wrote about in my last post and prayed over me. It is important to note that neither Mike or Jenny knew I was having any current "issues." Go Holy Spirit!
On Tuesday, September 22nd - I woke up crampy, and sure enough, here it went again....
But, I was pretty at peace with this menstruating. I had a stirring in my heart that this was a "reset." All of the symptoms were consistent with a normal cycle start. Granted I had just finished menstruating for 39 days only 3 days prior AND I was still taking the Prometrium because I was still spotting and wanted to make sure everything to clear up. So, with all of that into play it was nearly physically impossible for me to have started a new cycle. For back up I called my midwife and she advised me to try a cycle of birth control pills. I told her I would think about it and call her back. I just could not bring myself to do it. Instead, I stopped the Progesterone hoping my body's hormone production would take over and progress as it should and decided to wait it out.
Today, October 16th is Day 25 of a cycle that has progressed with near text book perfection. I have taken my basal body temperature almost every morning and the trend shows a pretty strong indication that I ovulated on about day 14-15! I am anxiously awaiting day 28, praying that this cycle continues to progress normally and that I either start a new cycle in a few days or have a positive pregnancy test. While I am obviously hoping for the later, having my full faith in God's perfect timing for children, I would be overjoyed with the start of a new cycle that indicated I finally finished a long awaited "normal" cycle. Please offer up prayer and praise!
On to blogging business... my last post on September 23rd was one of many significant happenings within a span of a few days.
On September 15th - I went to see my midwife after 36 days of menstruating, trying some other alternative approaches and being in the midst of a drowning in my own sorrows of "but what if I can't have children." Her suggestions were to either start on a naturally derived bio identical progesterone to combat my obvious estrogen dominance or to start a cycle of birth control pills to reset my system. I went with option A because I loath birth control pills of any means, even though this was coming from my very alternative natural midwife.
On Wednesday, September 16th - I started 200 mg of Prometrium and by Friday the menstruating had stopped, I was down to only spotting (sorry if this is too much information, but it's important).
Sunday evening, September 20th - when Matt and I swung by church to drop of some food for an event is when Jenny pulled me aside and gave me the words of encouragement I previously wrote about.
On Monday, September 21st - As Matt, Abby, Austin and I were leaving Monday Night Prayer our great mentors Mike and Beckey Cortines caught us and Mike gave me the word I wrote about in my last post and prayed over me. It is important to note that neither Mike or Jenny knew I was having any current "issues." Go Holy Spirit!
On Tuesday, September 22nd - I woke up crampy, and sure enough, here it went again....
But, I was pretty at peace with this menstruating. I had a stirring in my heart that this was a "reset." All of the symptoms were consistent with a normal cycle start. Granted I had just finished menstruating for 39 days only 3 days prior AND I was still taking the Prometrium because I was still spotting and wanted to make sure everything to clear up. So, with all of that into play it was nearly physically impossible for me to have started a new cycle. For back up I called my midwife and she advised me to try a cycle of birth control pills. I told her I would think about it and call her back. I just could not bring myself to do it. Instead, I stopped the Progesterone hoping my body's hormone production would take over and progress as it should and decided to wait it out.
Today, October 16th is Day 25 of a cycle that has progressed with near text book perfection. I have taken my basal body temperature almost every morning and the trend shows a pretty strong indication that I ovulated on about day 14-15! I am anxiously awaiting day 28, praying that this cycle continues to progress normally and that I either start a new cycle in a few days or have a positive pregnancy test. While I am obviously hoping for the later, having my full faith in God's perfect timing for children, I would be overjoyed with the start of a new cycle that indicated I finally finished a long awaited "normal" cycle. Please offer up prayer and praise!
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