Stretching and Growing

I've really been dealing with a lot of internal struggles lately. There are areas of my life that I've hung on to for so long and now I feel like God is really pushing me to finally let go. Until now, I've know that He desires change in me, but He's been willing to sit back and give me time. Now, He's decided it's the right time and He won't wait any longer! I won't kid you, it's a painful process!!! And, I'm ashamed to say, I've been fighting it.

Three verses showed up in my inbox in the last week that really challenged me. I'd like to share them with you.

Romans 8:12
"You have no obligation whatsoever to do what your sinful nature urges you to do."

I can't even begin to say how many areas of my life this pertains to!! I have one personal struggle in particular that I'm having a problem saying "no!" to. Everyday there is this internal struggle that goes on. And now I have this verse posted right in front of my computer screen and it just echos in my head every time I give in to my sinful nature.

Philippians 3:8
"I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ."

This verse has me evaluating what pursuits are distracting me from and intimate relationship with my Creator. Because my sinful nature was nailed to the cross, and I have no obligation to give in to it any longer, I need to be pursuing that closeness with my Savior. Once again, this is an area of real struggle for me.

1 Chronicles 29:17
"I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there."

Is my life filled with integrity? I hope others see it! I'm still working on it - you know, the whole sinful nature thing again... I want God to rejoice when he examines my heart!!

And so, I continue to be stretched by my loving God, and I pray that I will continue to grow in Him, and that he will rejoice when he looks at me!

More Monarch's

Remember last year when I found the monarch caterpillars? Then, I didn't know the wonder of it all. Thanks to Steph T I was able to watch the process from start to finish this year. The following slide show is just a few of the MANY photos I took. We do have an AWESOME God -- if he put so much thought into the creation of a butterfly, imagine how much more he thinks of us!

Some pictures I just had to share :)

I love babies!

I was so incredibly blessed to be in attendance while my friend Steph T delivered baby #6. It was the first delivery I'd ever seen. She did so great! I think she may be my new hero :P Congrats Steph!

On the home front, things are going well. Shiloh is a bit colicky, but wonderful none the less. It is hard to believe how quickly the time goes! She was 6 weeks old on Thursday and when they checked her weight at WIC she was 10#3oz. I really need to get the pictures downloaded from my camera so I can post a few!

Well, that's it for now... Just had to share the new Baby Story :)

Announcing...

SHILOH RAYNE LOUCKS

"God's Gift of Abundant Blessings From Above"

Delivered at home...

April 19, 2007 ~ 3:01am

7lb. 12oz. ~ 19.5in.

Shiloh truly is a gift from God. Her middle name, Rayne (pronounced "rain"), is in honor of her Great-Grandma Mabel who passed away last year. Gram always prayed God's blessing on you before she said goodbye. Before she passed away I was able to tell her that we were expecting a new baby. She talked about it regularly, according to my aunts, and just before she died she told my Aunt Becky that since she couldn't stay around to meet this new one, she might as well go home. To her, "home" was in heaven with Jesus. And I know that she is smiling down on this little life that carries a name in her honor.