Prayers taken from "Devotions and Prayers of John Calvin"

Grant, Almighty God, that as we are prone to every kind of wickedness and are easily led away to imitate it, when there is any excuse for going astray and any opportunity is offered, O grant, that being strengthened by the help of they spirit, we may continue in purity of faith, and that what we have learnt concerning thee, that thou art a Spirit, may so profit us, that we may worship thee in spirit, and with a sincere heart, and never turn aside after the corruptions of the world, nor think we can deceive thee; but may we so devote our souls and our bodies to thee, that our life may in every part of it testify, that we are a pure and holy sacrifice to thee in 

Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Grant, Almighty God, that as thou shiniest on us by thy word, we may not be blind at midday, nor willfully seek darkness, and thus lull our minds asleep: but may we be roused daily by thy words, and may we stir up ourselves more and more to fear thy name and thus present ourselves and all our pursuits, as a sacrifice to thee, that thou mayest peaceably rule, and perpetually dwell in us, until thou gather-est us to thy celestial habitation, where there is reserved for us eternal rest and glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Selah's Arrival!

First Posted on May 22. 2011

Tuesday, May 17th was a normal day of work and the evening held much excitement as we looked forward to our doctor's appointment and childbirth class. Only the Lord new how different things would be. We arrived at our check up at 3:30pm, we talked with the doctor about what would happen at the next doctors appointment, listened to Selah's heartbeat and then it was our turn to ask questions, so Somer mentioned how she had not felt much movement in the last three to four weeks. Our doctor ordered a Non-Stress Test. We then went to the OB unit at the hospital and started the Non-Stress Test at around 4:15pm. After monitoring Selah's heartbeat, movement and contractions the nurse told us that Selah's heartbeat was not fluctuating like it should. There was still no movement and I wasn't having any contractions. By 4:45pm we where having an ultrasound. We found that there was no fluid inside the uterus and because of this she was still breached. Selah's heart was still not fluctuating and she was not moving. The nurses called the Doctor and she came in to talk with us. She said that we would most likely be having a baby that night and she called another OB doctor for a second opinion because she was very concerned. They moved Somer into a room and as soon as she got settled the OB doctor came in to tell us that she would be having an emergency C-Section. At that very moment the nurses started prepping her. At 6:33pm Selah Grace Rother was born. We heard her cooing as the nurses cared for her and then she was laid on Somer's chest. After getting a kiss from mommy Selah was handed to daddy who took her to the nursery to cut her umbilical cord and hold her hand as the nurses finished tending to her. After Somer was settled in her room Selah was taken to her for some cuddling time which lasted about 30 -45 min. During this time we where able to take a few pictures and record Selah sucking her thumb! Selah was taken back to the nursery while we waited on the ambulance to come pick her up to take her to Green Bay. Around 10:45pm Selah came to tell us bye as she was all ready to go in the incubator. By 12:30 we received a call from her doctor letting us know that she was doing great and that she was breathing on her own and that tests where being run to let them know if she had any sickness and so forth.The next morning when the doctor checked on Somer he told her he was so surprised for he didn't think that Selah would have made it...we were all amazed...
Who would have thought that in just two and a half hours our lives would be changed forever. We thought we have five more weeks to plan for Selah's arrival, but our Lord had other plans, plans that where so much better than we could have ever imagined. We are praising the Lord for His timing, grace and this life that he created in His image for His glory!

Our First Easter as a Family of Three!

Easter Sunday

Good Friday Service

Dying to Self!

Whatever spiritual knowledge or feelings we may have, they are all a delusion if they do not lead us to the real and constant practice of dying to self. And it is true that we do not die without suffering. Nor is it possible to be considered truly dead while there is any part of us which is yet alive. This spiritual death (which is really a blessing in disguise) is undeniably painful. It cuts "swift and deep into our innermost thoughts and desires with all there parts, exposing us for what we really are." The great Physician who sees in us what we cannot see, knows exactly where to place the knife. He cuts away that which we are most reluctant to give up. And how it hurts! But we must remember that pain is only felt where there is life, and where there is life is just the place where death is needed. Our Father wastes no time by cutting into parts which are already dead. Do not misunderstand me; He wants you to live abundantly, but this can only be accomplished by allowing Him to cut into that fleshly part of you which is still stubbornly clinging to life.

~ Francis de Salignac de La Mothe Fenelon, Archbishop of Cambric, France (17th Century)

Modeling her hat for our Florida trip in June!

1st Pig-Tails!

 

God hath not promised skies always blue,
Flowers-strewn pathways all our lives through;
God hath not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing kindness, undying love.

~Annie Johnson Flint; They That Sow in Tears

Playtime with Daddy!

                                                                          

 

                                                              

For Me to Live is Christ (song)

Vs. 1:There often are distractions from devotion to my Lord. I'm tempted with the things of earth and pleasures of this world. Lord may there be but this one thing in my life I pursue, to know thee more, to love thee more and be consumed with you.

Chorus:
For me to live is Christ and nothing more. For me to live is Christ whom I adore. Lord help me be consumed with thee, so that for me to live is Christ.

Vs.2: In my life there'll be trials and testings that He will ordain but selfishly I ask Him for relief from all my pain. May I be so consumed with Him that even when I'm tried my only prayer when suffering is Christ be magnified.
Vs. 3: And when someday God calls me home through deaths dark fearful door to enter to eternity with Christ forevermore, if one this earth my only goal in goodness and in pain, for me to live was Christ alone then death would be my gain.
Lord help me be consumed with thee so that for me to live is Christ!

For me to Live...

Last Wednesday I was told that I needed to go to the ER because the swelling and pain in my jaw had not gone down after three days of taking medication. As I helped pack my daughters diaper bag to drop her with some friends I remembered that only six months ago my brother had went to the ER for something that we all thought was simple but twenty-one days later he was in heaven. I was faced with the reality that maybe God's will for me was to be with Him. As I kissed my daughter I realized that I might not again. I was so torn because I wanted so much to be wife and mommy yet the thought of being with my Heavenly Father was awesome. My husband and I sat in the ER before my Cat Scan and EKG talking about this and he mentioned Phil. 1:21"For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. On some small scale I started to realize what this verse meant for Paul when he wrote it and for me today. I praise the Lord for allowing me to come home that night and to see my baby girl again but most of all for putting this "trial" in my life to help me understand this verse a little better and to be reminded of my purpose while I am on this earth; glorify God, seek souls for Him, train and disciple my daughter in the things of Him, serve my husband, daughter, friends, family and those I don't even know, etc. Praise the Lord that He keeps showing me where I need to grow to become more like Him!