Only 5 weeks to go!

51/2 weeks and counting! There's nothing like being pregnant during the holidays! Food has never tasted so good! However, there is a down-side to all of this...besides the massive weight gain, I'm swelling from head to toe! As if I wasn't already looking forward to having Harrison here...I have a whole new reason! :)

Saving faith is persevering faith.

As I sit to write my first blog, I feel compelled to do so in an introductory fashion as to why we decided to call it (our blog) persevering faith. At the heart of the Christian gospel is the sweet assurance that all those who come to Christ in faith and repentance will receive eternal life. The nature of this life is just that: it is eternal. That means it does not end. Once given in justification, it most certainly will see its completion in glorification. I am reminded of what the apostle Paul told the Philippians; "He who has begun the good work in you, WILL complete it..." and also to the Thessalonians he said "He who has called you is faithful, and will complete it." That is to say that the God who has called us to salvation will also be the one to bring that salvation to its full maturation in Heaven. This along with countless others in the New Testament make it crystal clear that once someone is saved, they CAN NEVER LOSE THAT SALVATION! If saving faith is the work of God alone, and it is, then our salvation rests not in our ability to keep it, but in the character of the One who gave it, and my friends our God NEVER LEAVES ANYTHING HALF DONE!! As one of my heroes in the faith, John MacArthur has said "you mean to tell me that Christ is going to demand my life, a life of sacrifice,rejection, obedience,and cross bearing only to let me fall away at the end? This is too much to ask for too little a return!!" As the Westminster Confession says " Those whom God hath chosen will never fatally nor finally fall away, but will most certainly persevere therein (their faith). My friends SAVING FAITH IS PERSEVERING FAITH. THIS IS THE FAITH GOD GIVES, AND THIS IS THE FAITH BY WHICH WE ARE SAVED!! SOLA FIDE SOLA CHRISTUS (BY FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE)!

Our little miracle

I Samuel 1:19 "...and the Lord remembered her."

We all know the story of Hannah, the faithful wife of Elkanah, who prayed every year for the Lord to bless her with a child. I cannot count the times I would read this passage while imploring the Lord for a child of my own. This was a passage of hope for me. My only desire has been to serve the Lord as a wife and mother. On May 14th, the dream of being a mother was beginning to look hopeless. I had had some tests done on April 25th and when I went for my follow up on May 14th I was told that with Jesse's results and mine, we would need to see a specialist for conception. Of course, I was upset and immediately called and scheduled an appt. for us 5 days later, May 19th. The day before our appt. was a Sunday and Jesse and I discussed the option of adoption and had settled that if that was the will of the Lord, then we would be delighted in it. So, with that settled, I was not as anxious when we went to the reproductive specialist the next day. We were seated in the doctor's personal office and Jesse was whisked away for another test. While he was gone, the nurse came in and with an awkward, giggly look, said, "um, your pregnant!" I responded with, "Shut up!" and then asked her to please redo the test. She came back with two positive tests! Needless to say, I was shocked! Jesse came in a few seconds later and when I showed him the tests, he asked what they were. When I told him the news, his reply was, "It's a miracle!" And so, that is what we call our little baby boy, our little miracle. Truly, the Lord took a very long and trying time in my life and turned it into a joyous declaration of God's glory! I think often about the times (oh, there were so many) I would cry unto the Lord with anguish and pleading! As, I'm typing this and feeling little Harrison kick and squirm, I can't help but cry and thank the Lord for His abundant grace and mercy!