Human Trafficking

I keep hearing about this advertisement on K-Love about a non-profit organization that is helping girls are being trafficked in northwest Ohio. I must confess I don't know a lot about this subject, but it has tugged at my heart for a few years, since I saw a Law & Order SVU episode. It's funny how God works... I also soon after discovered an amazing Christian artist, Natalie Grant, who also began wanting to help women in this, because she too saw the Law & Order episode.

So I decided to check out this website, and to begin asking God how I can help and be more aware. If I am not aware, I can't pray... and that's at least a place to start.

If you are interested in learing more too, check out http://thedaughterproject.org/

Psalm 86

Psalm 86:4-13
Great Is Your Steadfast Love
A Prayer of David.

4Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
5For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
6 Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer;
listen to my plea for grace.
7In the day of my trouble I call upon you,
for you answer me.

8There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,
nor are there any works like yours.
9 All the nations you have made shall come
and worship before you, O Lord,
and shall glorify your name.
10For you are great and do wondrous things;
you alone are God.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.
12I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your steadfast love toward me;
you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

My prayers from this Psalm - "gladden the heart of your servant" & "teach me your way, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name." I don't exactly fully understand what uniting my heart to fear God's name means, but I know it's something I should strive for. I found this sweet little commentary on verses 8-17.

The psalmist pleads his earnestness, and the mercy of God, as reasons why his prayer should be heard.

Our poverty and wretchedness, when felt, powerfully plead in our behalf at the throne of grace. The best self-preservation is to commit ourselves to God's keeping. I am one whom thou favourest, hast set apart for thyself, and made partaker of sanctifying grace. It is a great encouragement to prayer, to feel that we have received the converting grace of God, have learned to trust in him, and to be his servants. We may expect comfort from God, when we keep up our communion with God.

God's goodness appears in two things, in giving and forgiving. Whatever others do, let us call upon God, and commit our case to him; we shall not seek in vain. (Ps 86:8-17)

Psalm 67

I love the Psalms. Psalm 23 has always been one of my favorite passages. I have been slowly making my way through the Psalms as I've been trying to make my way through the Old Testament, and I found this sweet, simple prayer in Psalm 67:1, but I'll post the whole Psalm, because it's short, and all of it's great!

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song.

1May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us,
Selah
2that your way may be known on earth,
your saving power among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!

4Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth.
Selah

5 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!

6The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, shall bless us.
7God shall bless us;
let all the ends of the earth fear him!

FA LA LA LA LA LA.... LA LA LA LA LA

Shopping. Done! Work. Almost Done! Baking. Never Done! You know what's sweet about the Christmas season? There are millions, or I guess more like, billions, of people rejoicing over Jesus! This week at work we have been listening to The River, the local radio station that play Christmas music 24/7, and it makes me giggle when I think of how many other people are listening to it, and singing or enjoying songs that are celebrating Jesus. It reminded me to pray for all those listening who might not fully understand what they're listening to or why these Christmas songs make their hearts stir. I hope they hear some of those words, and begin to think "oh, that's what I'm singing about?" And the sweet little children who love to sing along, may God plant those seeds deep in their sweet little spirits! Rejoice! Rejoice!

I think I could spend hours reading these verses over and over.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Might God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Baby Will!

Bo & I had the greatest Christmas present ever! We got to meet our baby boy on the 16th. He's really cute. The nurses were ooing and aahhing over his sweet little cheeks and nose. Perhaps I should stop here, and state that this was only an ultrasound! haha He was moving a lot! His teeny arms and lips were moving up and down. I think he's going to be a talker - like his Dad of course!

Technology is amazing I must say. I always thought this kind of thing would weird me out (and some of the skeletal looking shots did), but for the most part I just stared at the screen in awe. This experience to the Christmas magic of the season to a new level. Will's Grandma's, and Grandpa (Popo?) were there to participate in the fun. It was sweet to see what a blessing it was for them, since this was their very first ultrasound experience also. You can check out pics of our little monkey below. :)

Christmas-time is Here!

love Christmas! Since we are receiving are first snow of the season I was inspired to express my yuletide joy! :) Plus I thought I should post some pics of Bo's and my holiday festivities thus far. Bo and I always have fun on our day of decorating. We set the mood with some Christmas music, hot cocoa, and goodies of some sort! It was also fun to have our housemate, Stacy, help us decorate this year! The more the merrier!! Now that we actually have our very own home to decorate, Bo is actually out today hanging lights around the house. He is even feeling so adventurous as to try to line the peaks of our house, which are not really easily "accessible." So let's hope and pray that he doesn't fall of the roof. :) (As I sit inside snuggled up on couch, blogging, and watching Barefoot Contessa)

Next, we made our annual trek to Frankenmuth. It was a lot of fun, as my mom & dad, brother & his girlfriend, accompanied us this year! We stayed at the Bavarian Inn Lodge, which was a really fun place to stay, and a recommendation if you have kiddos! Every year we manage to get some crazy pics, so I posted some of those below! I really think my dad missed his calling as a lion tamer! He would have been great! haha





Last but not least... We went to the Christmas tree lighting in downtown BG! It was a fun little festive treat for the community. They also had carriage rides, but I was too pooped to wait in line.

Pumpkin Carving!

Bo did a great job carving our pumpkin today! I helped for a little bit, but there was only so much carving we could do at the same time. However, I did get to spend some quality time (like an hour) which I haven't done in a really long time, especially since I've been pregnant. I finished the last 22 chapters of Job, and am excited to keep plugging through the Old Testament.

I am excited for the holiday's, and for Bo & I to have trick-or-treaters for the first time this year!! We really are enjoying our new home, and as fun as it is getting our pumpkin ready for Halloween, I am even more excited about decorating for Christmas!!! Yes, I know, it's too early, and Bo has been trying to get me to stop talking about Christmas already, but I can't help it! :)