Once we got settled in Shel was given an epideral, once she had that she was in heaven! For the next several hours we waited for her to be fully dilated. By about 11am it was time to PUSH! The midwife, nurses, Shelby's mom and I all prepared for the birth. Poor Shel, she got ready to push 2 or 3 different times, but the midwife would end up having to leave to check on 2 different emergency situations. She was so calm considering she was more than ready to push the baby out, but they were delaying it. I am pretty sure I would be freaking out!
Swollen feet to your right
Easter baby!
There is more to this story than what meets the eye...I was asked before Christmas to go with my other dear friend Ainsley when she gave birth to her twin baby girls. Due to some of my poor choices to meet some goals that had been set for me I was not able to go with Ains. Little did I know that later God would redeem this opportunity to me.
Ainsley had her two, precious baby girls on January 29, 2010, Emmi-Rose and Blakely. Although I wasnt able to be there for the actual birth, I was able to go visit Ains and her precious girls in the hospital. Ainsley gave her girls up for adoption to a very loving family.
We only got to see one of the girls because the other was in the NICU for a short bit
She and Shelby are both very good friends... Ainsley was supposed to go with Shelby to the hospital, but she was told it might be best for her to not go because the whole thing might be tough after doing such a brave thing and giving up her own girls. That is when Shelby asked ME to go with her instead. What a redeemer God is! I was MORE than happy to stand in Ainsley's place!
What a testament to each of us of giving up things sacrificially to the Lord. Think of all many things we hold onto both physical and mental that really have no worth or value, things that we cant even give up for a day without going crazy. If these young women can give up their own children to the Lord, then how much could we give?
Giving out of our excess is not genuine giving. The sacrificial giving of a sinner moved Jesus heart and spirit. I’m not saying you shouldn’t give if you’re not doing it sacrificially; what I am saying is that I don’t believe that kind of giving strengthens your faith, the kind of faith that brings you salvation and eternal life.
One of the reasons I believe God calls us to give sacrificially is that it strengthens our faith and helps us grow spiritually. If we merely give out of our excess we don’t give God the opportunity to prove his faithfulness. That’s like lifting a very light weight. It won’t strengthen your muscles. But when we give sacrificially, when we give to the point of it hurting a bit, we exercise our faith…we learn to trust in God by giving him a chance to prove himself trustworthy.
If we’re honest we’ll admit that most of us put a lot more trust in the security of money, possessions and people than we do in the security of God’s promises. There’s a word for that; it’s called idolatry. Nothing breaks the spell of idolatry like sacrificial giving. God, he first checks out our hearts to determine the motive behind it. He also checks if our attitude is right and if we are giving out of obedience. Remember when giving to God that he does not need your offering. Genuine giving benefits us. It strengthens our faith and protects us from idolatry. He just wants to build a character in you that will make room for more of his blessings into your life.
Giving to God should make you feel that something important has left your life. Give God the best you have. This will move God. He will move in your life and pour down a blessing you do not have room to receive.What cant God do for you when your heart is right? In order for his blessings to pour down on you, release what you have in faith. Let go without knowing how God will provide and watch his faithfulness to honor and bless you!
Shel, Me & Ains before
"Let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." Heb. 13:15-16
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." Ps.51:17
"In view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Rom. 12:1-2
"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and
sacrifice to God." Eph. 5:1-2
1 comments:
Meagan that was so beautifully written. Thank you I needed to hear that today. It brought tears to my eyes meag. I love the three of you more than you'll ever know. Thanks for you're obedience you are such a beautiful girl after God's own heart. I love you.. Jess mc2 :)
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