Josiah is here!

That's right. We are parents. Josiah was born January 6, 2012, 7lbs 9oz and 20.5" long. And as the one carrying him, I was happy to find out as a first time parent, that babies do, in fact, come out. I was beginning to wonder if he was just going to stay in there. A great lesson in patience, eh?

As you all know, we are very excited to be blessed with this child. The chance to be parents, and have the joy of this little one being here is something the Lord himself has put within us. Maybe we're naive (we haven't gotten to the walking stage yet, or the dreaded teenage years), yet we trust the Lord to know that His plans for us are good. Good and challenging, but always good. His word says that "Children are a gift of the Lord" (Psalm 127:3) and "blessed is the man (and woman) whose quiver is full of them" (Psalm 127:5). We are seeking the Lord how to raise him to be pleasing to God, and though we may have many nights without sleep, frustrations with crying and whining, and difficulties disciplining him, we look forward to it, knowing "that the testing of our faith produces endurance" (James 1:3).

I love the question that most people ask around a newborn, "Who does he look like?", trying to see the resemblances the child bears of either parent. Some have very definitive opinions of which parent the child looks the most like, some may not, but almost everyone is thinking this. So much so like the truth of how we, even as adults, look like our father. 

We have resemblances of our father. Which one is yours? 

Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word."You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies." John 8: 42-44

"The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked." I John 2:4-6

Children of God are to walk accordingly. Now don't get me wrong. I thought I was a believer for many years, because I knew the right answers and walked according to my own self-righteous deeds, but since coming to faith in Christ---Christ himself has made me to look more and more like him. He has done the work, I am just supposed to be obedient to what His word says. And why do I do it? Am I trying to look more like my father? Well yes, but I'm not trying to earn it. It's because I love Him. When Matt and I were dating, I remember him serving me in so many ways. I once came out to find him washing my car--why?---because he loved me. 

I pray that as someone who has been found by God, rescued in his grace, that I would daily look more like him. And not just in appearance to appease my pride. But that as he grows grace in my heart as a wife and mom, as a neighbor, as so many other positions...  that I would be conformed into his likeness (Romans 8:29).

Josiah is being used by the Lord to teach me biblical truths already. But sadly, even though Josiah has two parents that the Lord has redeemed by his grace, that does not automatically make him a christian. Yes, he will come to church with us, already has in fact. Will he grow up knowing the bible? Yes, as well, as memorizing many hymns and christian worship songs. But as great as it is with him growing up in a home that is seeking the Lord, the Lord himself will have to make his heart new just like he did with Matt and I. I am already having to remember that he is the "cutest little sinner I know". 

Please be praying for us as we transition to this new stage of our lives. For Matt and I as husband and wife, to walk in unity and for the glory of God in our marriage. For us as parents and being humbled in this responsibility, For Josiah, that he would grow to be a man that walks with God, and loves the Lord with all his heart, soul and mind. 

Here are just some recent snap shots that we've taken. They grow so fast so you have to take pictures practically everyday right?

Thank you friends and family for being apart of our new life :)