Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:35-38

Friday, December 2, 2011

Sorrow Turned to Joy

Today marks the first day of my 2nd trimester.  In 6 months, Lord willing, our little baby will be here for us to hold in our arms.  I'm so excited.  Some days I find myself not able to wait.  With the excitement of the baby coming in 6 months, brings fears as well.  We worry that we will loose another child, that something will be wrong and we won't know it.  This week has been especially hard for Eric and me as far as missing Savannah.  A dear friend of mine sent me some encouragement yesterday that I want to share with you.  It comes from a book called "Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith" (daily readings by C.H. Spurgeon).

"Your sorrow shall be turned into joy."  (John 16:20)

Their particular sorrow was the death and absence of their Lord, and it was turned into joy when he rose from the dead and showed himself in the midst.  All the sorrows of saints shall be thus transmuted; even the worst of them, which look as if they must for ever remain fountains of bitterness.
 Then the more sorrow the more joy.  If we have loads of sorrow, then the Lord's power will turn them into tons of joy.  Then the bitterer the trouble the sweeter the pleasure: the swinging of the pendulum far to the left will cause it to go all the farther to the right.  The remembrance of the grief shall heighten the flavour of the delight: we shall set the one in contrast with the other, and the brilliance of the diamond shall be more clearly seen because of the black foil behind it.

Come, my heart, cheer up!  In a little while I shall be as glad as I am now gloomy.  Jesus tells me that by a heavenly alchemy my sorry shall be turned into joy.  I do not see how it is to be, but I believe it, and I  begin to sing by way of anticipation.  This depression of spirit is not for long, I shall soon be up among the happy ones who praise the Lord day and night, and there I shall sing of the mercy which delivered me out of great afflictions.

Reading this yesterday was so helpful.  Sorrow will get easier as time goes on but I have the joys of Heaven to look forward to.  One day I will get to be with Jesus where there is no more hurt, sorrow, or bad things.  Plus, I will get to see my sweet Savannah again.  My sister and I have talked a few times about how this is not our home and how we long for Heaven so much sometimes.  It reminds us of how there are many people around us who don't have a relationship with Jesus which means separation from God for eternity.  There is such an urgency to spread the news about the love of Christ.  It's not just praying a prayer, or sitting in church, but a relationship with Christ.  Think about it.  Your relationship with your husband or best friend.  If you never talked to them or didn't trust them, it wouldn't be much of a relationship.  I have been burdened lately for all those people around me who don't know the Lord, some who say they don't and some who say they do but show no fruit.    We are not promised our next breath and Jesus is coming back soon.  There's no time to wait around because we are scared people will think we are weird or that we might create an awkward moment.  I hope this all makes sense.  I just felt like I should share this.

Thanksgiving was good this year.  Eric and I were able to spend time with both sides of the family.  I was sad that Savvy was not there.  I do know that if there is food in Heaven, I'm sure Savannah had sweet potatoes and turkey for Thanksgiving.  That was her favorite food.  I was also thinking about next Thanksgiving when we will have sugars #2 with us (Lord willing of course).  I can't wait to play with the baby, hold it, sing to it.  I will have to pick out a new song for this baby to sing to it every night.  I always sang "All I have is Christ" to Savannah.  I will get to tell the baby all about Savannah and how great she was.  I think I will always celebrate Savannah's birthday with our kids.  Probably with monkey cupcakes since that is what she had at her first birthday party (monkey themed.)  I'm so thankful that the Lord blessed us with a new little baby right away.  I love being a mommy and I look forward to having a house full of children. 

Here are a few pictures from our Thanksgiving trip to SC:

 Daddy relaxing after a big Thanksgiving meal.
 Jeremy, my brother-in-law, hanging out with the boys.
 I had a picture taken of me and Aspen.  She mostly stayed in the kitchen hoping a piece of turkey would fall to the ground.
 My sister, grandma, and mama.
 A little game of Mall Madness with my sister...
 and dream phone!!!
 The Sinclair clan (the pics a little bright.)
Eric and me!!!

I hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving and I hope you have a Merry Christmas!!!

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