In This You GREATLY Rejoice

Well...I promised I would post a picture of Linnea inside my tummy and outside my tummy, so here they are! Sorry about the magnets...I took a picture of the ultrasound picture while it was on the fridge :) As you can see, that is her blurry face (I think she looks like a Parker :)...well, ok...I guess you can't really tell) and her foot is covering her mouth and nose. If you look closely, you can see what I think are three of her fingers below what I think is the umbilical cord.

32 Weeks Old!

This was taken in March...lol, and I thought I had a belly THEN!

Now THIS is a belly! :) 7 more weeks (give or take some) to go!

God has been SO gracious in sustaining me! I don't usually sleep well, so it's quite easy to start my day off somewhat depressed after a long night of tossing and turning...BUT, I know that is NOT how I am to start my days nor continue in them. I decided to take a little detour from Romans yesterday morning, and read in 1 Peter. This is what the Lord reminded me of!

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls."

Should the salvation of my soul not cause me to rejoice EVERY morning!? And even every moment I lie awake at night?? He saved ME according to his great mercy, and I have so much hope! Who am I to wake up and start complaining?...about anything! So...as you can see God graciously gave me a little kick in the pants and a great encouragement that could not have come at a more appropriate time. The cross of Christ and the hope of seeing Him some day gives us so much to rejoice in, and I am ashamed at how often I live in a "me" world and forget this GREAT truth and His GREAT love!

May we never stop rejoicing!