Busy Time Full of Blessings!

Darrin and I are both starting into a very busy season, but one that will no doubt be full of blessings!! For starters, Darrin's work is about to pick up again - so we're gearing up for leave-at-a-moment's-notice texts and phone calls and long days. Even though it can get crazy at times, He loves it and that's the most important thing! We're ready to tackle the crazy days! Darrin's also going to school -- so that is an extra weight he's been carrying. It's been a lot of work for just 2 online classes and he ends up studying 2-4 hours a day. He's doing really great though and getting good grades! :)

This year I've been asked and after prayerful consideration agreed, to lead a table at The Mom's Connection at church. Yikes. To say I'm nervous is an understatement. But I know God is powerful and will work through those that are just willing to be His hands and feet. So that's what I'm doing -- relying solely on Him to use me to His glory and to give me the strength and wisdom needed to minister to these girls. I have a table of 6 girls and one mentor mom. Oh man.... my mentor mom is AMAZING and a total answer to prayer. Last year, our pastor's wife spoke and mentioned something about having spiritual giants in your life. I've been praying that the Lord bring those giants into my life and He's certainly been faithful in answering that prayer! Martha, our mentor mom, is one of those giants and even after only 2 meetings with her, I am so blessed! She is an incredible wealth of knowledge of the Scriptures and NOT afraid to speak the Truth of God into you (in the most loving way possible). I love how she goes off on "God Tangents". :) God has done an AMAZING work in her life and she has an unbelievable story of reconciliation and God's grace and faithfulness. She also really challenges me to continuously be in the Word, to preach the Word the kids and to let the Lord infiltrate every nook and cranny of my life. I know God is going to do amazing things this year through her and through me. One thing that we have been praying for (and I would love prayer from you too) is that I will resist Satan's temptation to go into my comfort zone. That I will be stretched and molded, and will rely solely on God for His wisdom and strength. He's already taken away a lot of "safety nets" so that I am put into a position where I can only rely on Him. And I just would like prayer that I will continue to rely on Him and He will use me for His glory. The Moms Connection is such a wonderful ministry at our church and I know God will work in wonderful ways this year. I'm so excited to see what He does!!!!

Our church has A LOT of ministry opportunities and wanting to get even more involved, I thought about joining a Bible Study as well. There's several studies to choose from and I narrowed it down to two : a Wednesday morning and a Tuesday night. I decided that nights just wouldn't work for me, so that left the Wednesday morning study -- every Wednesday, for 2 hours for a year. I struggled with the idea for a long time, wondering if I should fill my plate so full in an already busy time, right before (and even after) baby #3 comes. Monday and Wednesdays I'll have all to myself since both kids are in school. Ah....that would be so nice to just enjoy that alone time. I had decided against it several times and every time I did, I felt the Lord continue to whisper "Why don't we talk about it some more" :) So we did. I prayed and struggled and asked God for guidance (and wondered why this was such a difficult decision for me to make). And God continued sending the most random people to me, telling me that they too were doing this particular Bible Study or how amazing the teacher is and just encouraging me to take it. Finally, it hit me. I kept praying for guidance and God kept sending people, time and time again, pointing me in the way to go. God's answer was right in my face but I chose to listen to all my human desires and excuses rather than God. DUH!!! My goodness, I bet I give God a headache sometimes. :) Thank goodness He's so patient with me, huh? So I finally took the plunge and signed up. I'm really really excited about it. I know that it'll be a sacrifice since I won't have that Wednesday to myself, but I know that God will use the study to teach me some wonderful things and what I will gain from the study will be SO worth the "sacrifice". The study is called "Lord, Change My Attitude". Here's the little snippet from our church's website:Would you be surprised to know that the joy and fruitfulness that God wants to flow into your everyday life doesn't come by way of your circumstances or your relationships or even your life’s calling? It comes by way of… your ATTITUDES --The patterns of thinking formed over time about how you look at life.— And though attitudes don’t change in a day, you can choose to recognize negative ones that keep you in a wilderness existence and learn to replace them with life-giving responses. In this 23 week study, you will move from the “acceptable sins” of complaining, covetousness, criticism, and doubt to the God honoring attitudes of thanksgiving, contentment, love and faith as you pray, Lord, Change my Attitude." Pretty awesome, huh? I think so. I'm so ready!

And on top of everything else - Darrin also decided to join a Bible Study this semester!! :) I'm so excited for him and he seems pretty excited as well. Our church is making a big push to revamp the Men's Ministry and get men really involved in the church. God talks about the importance of Men in the church, but unfortunately, it's so easy for men to concentrate on other things and let the women start to "run" things. That is certainly not what God wanted. So our church is asking that every single man, 18 years of age and older, get into a Wild at Heart study. I think it's a great thing our church is doing and Darrin will be blessed because he's honoring God and taking this step of faith to get more involved and to grow deeper with Christ. It'll certainly be a sacrifice for him, since he's so busy already. But God will bless him and be blessed through him. But prayers for strength would be greatly appreciated. It'll take a lot to balance work, school, family and now bible study. Pray that God gives him a clear mind and he's able to give 100% to each area.

WHEW!! Thanks for all the prayers ! We're so excited to see what God does in our lives in these next couple months. We'll keep you posted. And please, keep us updated on your life and all the wonderful things God is doing!! He's always working in some way -- be on the lookout! :)
Blessings!!!