Best Effort

God doesn't need my best effort to make faith work.
You don't accept Christ as Savior and then give Christianity your best effort.
Jesus on the Cross said, "It is Finished."
He didn't say, "My part is finished, now it's your turn..."

I need to let go of my self-effort in trying to make it work and focus on believing the promises in His Word and trusting in the Risen Life of Christ in my life- letting Him work through me.

Sounds so easy.  But it is the hardest thing to do, at least for me.  I keep coming back to this concept in my faith walk.  Will I ever get it?

I remember the first time I tried reading through the bible.  I made it through the book of Judges and quit.  I got so sick and tired of the stupid Israelites turning away from God...years later, I can see similar patterns in my own life.  I'm no better than they were.  I continually leave God behind...partially I believe is because I do not seek Him first.  Unfortunately He becomes an after-thought or a routine rather than my best friend and my Lord I serve.  Forgive me, Lord and teach me!

Me vs. Him

Recently while listening to a radio sermon, the pastor was saying that we fill our lives with "me" and things that serve our goals, our preferences, and our comfort zones.  Many times when we want to serve the Lord, we struggle to find time.  He suggested that we restructure ways we spend our time and prioritize our activities to have more activities and time that furthers the kingdom of God rather than furthering our own selves.

It was a good sermon and got me thinking.  How about you?

Whoa, Baby!

They always tell you that all pregnancies are different, and now in my third, I can attest to that fact.  However, this one is totally different than either of my first two.

This baby, according to the ultrasounds, is located in the back of the womb, and boy do I feel it!  I have sporadic pains and sore muscles all over from my sciatic to my lower back and of course my non-existent abs.  I haven't experienced the nausea that I had with my two girls, although my super strong gag-reflex is back.  In fact, I've only thrown up once and that was due to trying to brush my tongue.  However, I do feel poorly if I haven't eaten often or the right nutrition the baby wants.  I wonder if this symptom will go away, or if I'll have to deal with it the whole pregnancy.

I don't have specific cravings, but I prefer warm meals rather than the cold lunches I was eating before getting pregnant.  I am also absolutely HUGE already...although everyone around me has been very nice about it (thank you!).  With my first, I barely showed a baby bump until 6 months along.  I am already bigger than that and only 3 months along!  I know part of it is the added belly fat I had from my previous two pregnancies.  At least it is round like a pregnant belly instead of just floppy...

I'm also already having trouble sleeping with this belly of mine.  I think that I am carrying lower than ever before because that pooch is getting in the way and I'm getting ready to go buy myself a wedge pillow to sleep it on!

So far all the genetic testing done due to my "advanced maternal age" has come back negative.  That is a relief, and the extra ultrasound was fun!  It was neat to see the baby jumping around and moving its arms and legs already.  The only kind-a scary part was because the baby is so far back in the womb, it was hard for the Doppler to find the heart beat at my last appointment.  The doctor almost called for an immediate ultrasound to make sure it was there...then she found it on her last try.  Silly baby!