Learning the hard way about God's timing!

Several days ago God layed it on my heart to share a little about our trials and triumphs and how our family has experienced life in GOD'S TIMING, not our own! Being a Type A personality myself I am so thankful God placed "Mr. Type B" personality in my life. I cannot tell you how many times Marc has had to talk me down off the ledge (figuratively speaking of course)... One night several months ago we were having dinner at the family table and I was going through the "what if's" of life which has always been a huge part of my thought process, but more so in 2011. Marc looked at me and said "Jennifer, if you continually doubt God's timing you will keep going around the same mountain." Now most of you that know Marc, know that he is a fun loving and goofy guy..he is more likely to listen and observe than be full of opinions. So, as I stopped and actually HEARD the words that came out of my husbands mouth, I KNEW it was OUR God speaking through him!
At that time I did a lot of soul searching and even more praying. I knew that God was teaching us a lesson through these trials, I just didn't know what it was (which drove me crazy since I am a get it done and get it done now kind of girl). There were so many lessons God was teaching me and I didn't realize it was coming until it was staring me right in the face.. but not one time did He leave our side. Through each trial my faith grew little by little. Have you ever heard the statement "you can't have a rainbow without a storm?" The first time I heard that it put so much into perspective.. That rainbow is so incredibly beautiful and so worth waiting for! James 1:12 says "Blessed is the man who perserves under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." HIS promise.. just like the rainbow is a reminder of God's promise. This is what gets me through every day.. knowing that I have the PROMISE of Jesus Christ!
When I think of God's timing vs. my own I sometimes snicker.. After getting married Marc and I talked about when we would like to start having children.. we put a two year time stamp on it and set it to the side.. Well, to our surprise three months later we found out we were expecting a baby and I went into FREAKING OUT mode.. Seriously. what happened to my TWO YEARS!!! So here we go again... WHAT IF, WHAT IF, WHAT IF (looking back I don't know how Marc put up with me). When Marc got home from work and I announced I was pregnant and began to cry (mostly from the fear of child birth) Marc reassured me ONCE AGAIN that God was going to take care of us. He would not bless us with a baby and not the resources to take care of one. Right then and there we dedicated our baby to Him! Hebrews 11:1 says " Now faith is being sure of what we do not hope for and certain of what we do not see." I have to say that was our first HUGE test of faith in our marriage and God blessed us with a BEAUTIFUL 6lb. 13 oz. healthy baby girl! WOW.. I sat in awww at God's PROMISE!

Good Reading

A while back someone gave me a xerox copy of a picture of Billy Graham at 90 years old and his prayer for our nation.. I have read it several times and keep it in my Bible to remind me of what a wonderful country God has given us and we shouldn't take it for granted. It also makes me so thankful for God's Grace, love, and forgiveness! I wanted to share it on our blog and I hope those of you who read this are touched the way I was!

"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it a choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbors possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. WE have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and Set us free. Amen!"

Please feel free to copy and paste and keep this prayer moving on! God's Grace is sufficient for us ALL!

Welcome 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My New Year's Resolution.. to blog more (seeing as I only have 2 and the last was from 2010!!!) 2011 was a crazy year and we are welcoming 2012 with open arms!!! Marc has started his new job with Norfolk Southern Railroad and we are so excited! Although 2011 was filled with disappointment, sadness, and grief we still feel blessed to be children of God. He never said there wouldn't be hard times, but He did promise he wouldn't leave us in the hard times! Thank God for that!! Hopefully the first of many blogs.. I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for The Rollins in 2012!!!