Two Books that have really helped me

Aside from the bible there are two books that have really helped me overcome issues that I had.

The first one is called Every Women's Battle by Shannon Ethridge. It is a book about the dangers of fantasies and comparing our husbands to others, to even the dangers of porn. These issues, well aside from the pron, are so much more hidden from the world as they occur in our own minds. We are often the only ones that know that we have this issue. I know for me fantasy started in high school, and this doesn't even have to be s*xual to be wrong and hurt ourselves.

While reading this book was very convicting, it was also very freeing. It allowed me to see that yes, I was choosing sin, but I was not alone. Other women also had the same problem and had over come it.

The other book is called Loving God with all your Mind by Elizabeth George. This book helped me to refocus my mind so as to not fall into depression. While we all have moments of depression, when I was a teen I was very depressed. I didn't know how to change my thinking and like so many I put myself down often. Learning how to focus first on what is real and true, even in a bad situation has helped me to keep from falling into that pit during several very hard times in my life. One of them I am going through right now. I have learned to keep my focus on God and to get myself up and doing what I need to do each day.

Half way there

So I am now over the half way point in this pregnancy. Things seem to be going well. The baby is growing as the doctors would like, the 18 week ultrasound looked good. As far as the obgyns go their only concern is my lack of weight gain, or more my continued weight loss. Mostly the concern is that my body gets what it needs, since the baby is growing and moving that helps.

As far as my heart goes, it looks great. There has been no real change in my echos and my doctor does not expect anything different to be there at the end of March when I am due to see him again.

I have been having a very hard time coming up with names for the baby. I really have no idea what I would like to name the baby. I only have 1 real rule for naming the baby, the name can not start with the same letter as one of the other children.  

Peace in my heart

I can not begin to explain the peace that is in my heart right now. Life keeps throwing things at me that I was not expecting, both good and bad, and yet the peace that is in my heart has been such a blessing.

One of the great things is how quickly my oldest's calling to a college seemed to happen. My son had his eye on 2 of the colleges that he had visited. Out of the blue a coach of a school I had not even thought of and he had not really heard of called him and wanted to talk. It seems that this coach had called my son's coach and told him he was looking for a catcher for the next year, my son's position and he will be in college next year. Coach came out to see my son at practice and said yep, he wanted my son to come play for him. S (my son) went to the college, which is an hour train ride from home, he liked the school, but really felt like the coach was someone that he could play for. Now I have to get transcripts ready, filled out finical aid forms, and get him signed up for the ACT, yep he hasn't taken it. I am bad. But he is signed up. :) 

How will you respond?

When push comes to shove and you have no where to go, how will you respond? Do you run to God or away from God? Do you let  your guilt, shame and pride keep you from reaching out for the help that you need. When offered forgiveness and love, do you push it away? Would you rather deal with the consequence of your actions or hide from them?

Do you not realize the payment for your sin has been paid in full. Grace has been extended. Yes, the consequences are often still there. But the prison you have confined yourself to has been unlocked. There is healing and comfort waiting for you, but it will not be forced on you. God will not make you take it.

Even if you do, and things don't become what you thought, and hard times still come and you are not given all you think you are due; are you then going to reject the good you have been given? See true blessings as a punishment?

God does not promise that life will be easy. He does not promise you will have earthly wealth. In fact we are told many times to expect trials and hard times. To not see earthly wealth as a blessing.


Jam 1:2 NKJV - My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

1Pe 1:6 NKJV - In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,

2Cr 1:4 NKJV - who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Rom 5:3 NKJV - And not only [that], but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;

2Cr 6:4 NKJV - But in all [things] we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,

2Th 1:4 NKJV - so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure,