Here's another of the minor Bible characters. She's Zechariah's wife, John's mom, a relative of Mary. You know, the Mary.
We were studying Luke tonight in our Bible study with the youth, and I couldn't help but find some amazing character wrapped up in this fairly minor character. The unveiling of Elizabeth's character starts in Luke 1:6. The verse relates to she and her husband, Zechariah, describing them both as " righteous in God's sight, living without blame according to all the commandments and requirements of the Lord."
Man, what a title to be given! I mean, have you read the Old Testament and outlined all of the commandments and requirements? I have, and I fail daily! To be seen as righteous and faithful after a time where God hasn't spoken for almost 400 years, that is a faithfulness I can't comprehend.
But it gets deeper.
Luke 1:7 says that Elizabeth and Zechariah were without children, and the text clearly states "Elizabeth could not conceive." To understand the depth of this it is important to know that in Old Testament times (which is the last time God had spoke at this point), being unable to conceive children was not only a burden personally, but was looked down upon by society as a curse from God due to some sin in your life.
So here is this couple, who we find out later is very old, who are called righteous and as living without blame, through many, many, many years of trying to conceive, and most devastatingly, the label that she is living in sin.
The worst thing you could do to me, especially when I'm really living for Jesus, is point your finger out me and say that I'm not. I've been told before, "And you call yourself a Christian." Talk about heart piercing. But how does Elizabeth handle this? She's faithful. It's a faithfulness I can't understand.
And as the angel Gabriel comes and visits her husband, telling him of the child that Elizabeth is going to carry, finds himself struck mute, and it's Elizabeth upon hearing Mary's greeting who breaks the silence of God exclaiming: "You are the most blessed of women, and your child will be blessed. How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me."
To have the faithfulness of Elizabeth, through long trials and pointy fingers... that is perseverance.
We get one journey... here's putting into words what is going on in ours.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Check Out Amazon
* This sale was supposed to last until July 16th and it seems that Amazon has ended it early. It may be to overwhelming response. You can still try this if you'd like, but make sure you look for the discount before finishing the transaction!*
Amazon is having a pretty sweet deal on Playskool toys today. Not only are they all marked down, but with a $30 purchase of participating playskool items you get $10 off! Also, the items qualify for free super saver shipping, regardless that your cost could go below $25 with the coupon. I also used a $5.00 gift certificate I had ordered from Swagbucks a couple weeks ago, and I scored two toys for Bryton (either for Christmas or birthday) for $17.98 shipped to my door! Here they are:
I would advise checking these deals out before the day is done! The discount shows up right before making the transaction! Make sure you check for it!
-a
-a
A Pregnancy Blog
So it's only been three days since I've found out I was pregnant, but I feel like I've known for some time. About a week and a half ago I began feeling extremely tired, and I was having some pulling sensation in my abdomen. (Note, none of this happened with B, aside from the biggest 'absence' being a clue with him, I had no clues.) Fast forward to camp and all of a sudden dresses and clothing that had been fitting wonderfully a week or more before was suddenly tight, and my belly seemed 'unsuckable'. It wasn't going anywhere for sure. I even told Lindsay at camp, "If I'm not pregnant then I've gotta go on a diet. This is ridiculous." But who ever gets this bloated barely 4 weeks into pregnancy. I mean, really?
I'm now having a couple other symptoms here and there, but nothing like nauseousness, which I'm happy about. I didn't have any issues with that with Bryton so I'm hoping we are good to go on this one.
I'm reaaaalllly trying not to rush this pregnancy. I want to be able to absorb and enjoy every second of it if I can, but I'm remembering how nervous first trimesters make me. I'm trying to just sit back and relax and enjoy it. Hindering the enjoyment is this summer cold I've suddenly come down with. It isn't bad by any means, just uncomfortable. I'd love to be able to take any kind of medication I wanted to get feeling better, but I'm trying not to take anything this early on. As weird as it sounds, I'm thankful for being able to appreciate the cold symptoms. (But I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't be happy when they are gone.)
I'm really excited about this journey in our family, and am really looking forward to naming and bringing home another Gregg. Aaron and I have already been working on names ;) We knew when we found out what Bryton was that his name was Bryton. I want to know going in to that ultrasound what Baby's name is going to be! We have some time for that... approximately 4 months ;)
Until next time!
-a (and Baby)
I'm now having a couple other symptoms here and there, but nothing like nauseousness, which I'm happy about. I didn't have any issues with that with Bryton so I'm hoping we are good to go on this one.
I'm reaaaalllly trying not to rush this pregnancy. I want to be able to absorb and enjoy every second of it if I can, but I'm remembering how nervous first trimesters make me. I'm trying to just sit back and relax and enjoy it. Hindering the enjoyment is this summer cold I've suddenly come down with. It isn't bad by any means, just uncomfortable. I'd love to be able to take any kind of medication I wanted to get feeling better, but I'm trying not to take anything this early on. As weird as it sounds, I'm thankful for being able to appreciate the cold symptoms. (But I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't be happy when they are gone.)
I'm really excited about this journey in our family, and am really looking forward to naming and bringing home another Gregg. Aaron and I have already been working on names ;) We knew when we found out what Bryton was that his name was Bryton. I want to know going in to that ultrasound what Baby's name is going to be! We have some time for that... approximately 4 months ;)
Until next time!
-a (and Baby)
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Lots to Catch Up On
It's been a LONG time since I've blogged, namely because I was at camp for 7 days, 3 of which I had no internet connection, and, I'm not going to lie, after going without it that long I had only a small desire to get on dutifully. So I kind of took the week off. It was nice and much needed!
Camp was good. I can only speak from the perspective of the girl's, since I was, indeed, a female chaperone and not a male chaperone ;) I must say, I think I had great talks with every girl that went. I thoroughly enjoy them not only on a 'youth minister's wife' level, but even on a friend level. Those girls are each near and dear to my heart for several different reasons, and each one is very special to me. I wouldn't trade the time I was able to spend with them this week!
It has to be said, though, I must be getting old, because I was exhausted when I got home! Whew, maybe it was all of those hills to climb, or staying up late, or getting up early, or who knows, maybe even pregnancy that had me so tired. But I was, and still am a little, tiiiiired!
I bet one phrase stuck out to you there, huh? According to my pregnancy test this morning I am pregnant. I actually have thought I was for some time, which is weird, because I never felt that with Bryton. This time I've had several pulling and stretching sensations like I had with him between 10 - 15 weeks and forward. I've also been unusually tired, and my clothes haven't been fitting right, which scares me to be honest. It's a little early for that problem. Don't get me wrong, I'd take these symptoms any day over vomiting and nauseousness!
Still yet, though, taking the pregnancy test this morning, as much as I was expecting it, I had to make myself walk away from it and go pick out my clothes and come back in to reevaluate. Finding out you are pregnant is the craziest thing ever. I remember it with Bryton, too. You don't completely feel like anything is going on with your body, and taking a test and it coming back positive makes you want more 'hard evidence'.
With Bryton I used the tests that say "pregnant" and "not pregnant." I should have done that again, because, apparently, in my head, a little plus sign is questionable. I guess it'll be more real to me when I can hear a heartbeat at some point. Being I'm only about 4 weeks in I've got a ways to go before that happens. See it's even weird writing about this. A good weird, none-the-less, but a hard to believe weird.
So that being said, everyone keeps asking me what I want... a boy or a girl, and honestly I really have no preference at all this time. With Bryton I wanted a boy, and I wanted a girl after him. Now, I don't really care. If it's a boy they'll be close enough to be friendly, if it's a girl I can dress her up and have that 'girl' time I'd never get with two boys. Either way I'm totally content. I just pray for a healthy baby. I'm already petitioning the Lord for this baby's salvation, just as I did for, and still continue to do for Bryton.
We're excited, and I'm already hitting up the baby name books ;) Trying not to jump the gun too much, ready to get through this first trimester! (But not hurrying it... going to enjoy this pregnancy!)
-a
Camp was good. I can only speak from the perspective of the girl's, since I was, indeed, a female chaperone and not a male chaperone ;) I must say, I think I had great talks with every girl that went. I thoroughly enjoy them not only on a 'youth minister's wife' level, but even on a friend level. Those girls are each near and dear to my heart for several different reasons, and each one is very special to me. I wouldn't trade the time I was able to spend with them this week!
It has to be said, though, I must be getting old, because I was exhausted when I got home! Whew, maybe it was all of those hills to climb, or staying up late, or getting up early, or who knows, maybe even pregnancy that had me so tired. But I was, and still am a little, tiiiiired!
I bet one phrase stuck out to you there, huh? According to my pregnancy test this morning I am pregnant. I actually have thought I was for some time, which is weird, because I never felt that with Bryton. This time I've had several pulling and stretching sensations like I had with him between 10 - 15 weeks and forward. I've also been unusually tired, and my clothes haven't been fitting right, which scares me to be honest. It's a little early for that problem. Don't get me wrong, I'd take these symptoms any day over vomiting and nauseousness!
Still yet, though, taking the pregnancy test this morning, as much as I was expecting it, I had to make myself walk away from it and go pick out my clothes and come back in to reevaluate. Finding out you are pregnant is the craziest thing ever. I remember it with Bryton, too. You don't completely feel like anything is going on with your body, and taking a test and it coming back positive makes you want more 'hard evidence'.
With Bryton I used the tests that say "pregnant" and "not pregnant." I should have done that again, because, apparently, in my head, a little plus sign is questionable. I guess it'll be more real to me when I can hear a heartbeat at some point. Being I'm only about 4 weeks in I've got a ways to go before that happens. See it's even weird writing about this. A good weird, none-the-less, but a hard to believe weird.
So that being said, everyone keeps asking me what I want... a boy or a girl, and honestly I really have no preference at all this time. With Bryton I wanted a boy, and I wanted a girl after him. Now, I don't really care. If it's a boy they'll be close enough to be friendly, if it's a girl I can dress her up and have that 'girl' time I'd never get with two boys. Either way I'm totally content. I just pray for a healthy baby. I'm already petitioning the Lord for this baby's salvation, just as I did for, and still continue to do for Bryton.
We're excited, and I'm already hitting up the baby name books ;) Trying not to jump the gun too much, ready to get through this first trimester! (But not hurrying it... going to enjoy this pregnancy!)
-a
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