How to pray for your husbandy

I see so many families fall apart each year that it is extremely ridiculous. Being in the ministry you would think that you would see so many 'perfect' marriages,with 'perfect' kids, and all the 'perfect' things that come along,but you DONT. Its crazy to see all the families fall apart. I just think of families that are going to church are falling apart, think about how many families that are not going to church are falling apart.

I think the key to keeping a marriage wholesome and Godly is praying for your spouse. I'm sure in your head your saying of course I pray for my husband. Duh. Who doesn't? You would  be surprised. Saying a unheartfilled prayer is not praying for your husband.

When praying for your husband you should think of your own struggles, there struggles, and what you both strive to be.

1. Pray for conviction- I would never want my husband to become numb to the sins of this world. When that happens it seems that sinning becomes so easy to do. I want my husband to truly be convicted of his sins,and to strive to walk in perfection.Will it happen,no. But that's the way Christian's should strive to be. I think that husbands and wives should share there struggles of sin with each  other. For one, it will keep you more accountable. And two, your spouse can specifically pray about that sin in your life.
2. Pray for humbleness- My husbands favorite quote," A humble man does not think to highly of himself,nor does he think to lowly of himself, but a humble man does not think of his self at all." I think I could stop there, but I will go on. In Proverbs, it talks about being prideful. Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before the fall- Proverbs 16:18. I love my husband and I pray that he is successful in everything he does,but with that I pray that he gives all the glory to God and he stays humble.
3. Pray for patience's- I'm sure Chris will not mind me saying this,but he is extremely patient with me. That within itself is a blessing. I am not patient at all, and its a terrible trait to have. Not only should one be patient because it is a commandment from God but because it is a necessity in marriage. With kids,with finances, with problems, with relationships, with family Patience's is needed.Especially with my cooking, and laundry problem.Lol. Have you ever seen the impatient person that is so quick to complain, and get angry? Well that is definitely not something you want in your husband.
4. Pray for love-No not love for myself but for the Lord. I pray that my husband loves the Lord more than he loves me and my child. When someone can put God before anything else, it is then when everything else gets closer. It is so easy for people today to worship idols. Some people have no clue. I love sports, but when a sport comes before worshiping God it becomes an idol. I am not a good god, I would hate for my husband to put me or my children before the Lord.
5. Pray for Guidance- Do you ever feel like your husband is not where he should be in his spiritual walk? He has strayed interest, lost focus in a sense. You need to share your thoughts with your husband, and then you need to pray. Pray for your husband's guidance when he is walking the right path. He needs help making the right decisions. Then also pray for your husband when he is off the path,that God will lead him back on to the right trail no matter what has to happen.

Happy Easter

Our family had a great Easter!!! Although we were not able to see any family, we had a great time with our church family. The most exciting news is we had a record breaking number of people in church Sunday morning. It was amazing. We were finally able to see the fruit from the work of visiting for weeks. Hopefully some of the people continue to come to church, but as for now, the seed was planted.

Chris and Jase wore matching suits, probably the cutest thing in the world for a mama. To just add to the amazing timewe had on Easter, my class quoted Psalms25:1-10. I was so proud of them. They have came such a long way.

Well I thought I would share some pictures of the great time we had.

Are they Handsome,or what?

I told you we had a lot of visitors on Easter!!!!

Mhmm

I heard a song today on the radio and it touched my heart. I was on the way to our local produce stand to pick up some grapes for chicken salad( I have been craving it ) and this song comes on. I heard it and I almost starting crying, which isn't very hard lol. But I loved it 

Make me broken

So I can be healed

'Cause I'm so calloused

And now I can't feel

I want to run to You

With heart wide open

Make me broken

Make me empty

So I can be filled

'Cause I'm still holding

Onto my will

And I'm completed

When you are with me

Make me empty

[Chorus:]

'Til You are my one desire

'Til You are my one true love

'Til You are my breath, my everything

Lord, please keep making me

Make me lonely

So I can be Yours

'Til I want no one

More than You, Lord

'Cause in the darkness

I know You will hold me

Make me lonely

[Chorus]

'Til You are my one desire

'Til You are my one true love

'Til You are my breath, my everything

Lord, please keep making,

I know You'll keep making

Lord, please keep making me

  

These are the lyrics. It's insane what we need to praise God. Getting up in the morning, breathing, having a family sometimes is not enough. Sometimes heartache, pain, change needs to happen to honestly praise God. This is my prayer, that God uses me no matter what he has to do. Is it scary? You better believe it. But I know I am a child of God and he will protect me. 

Sometimes this is not a persons prayer but it's what God does to I turn get this person back to were they need to be. I know a handful of people that have lost everything, on there knees asking why? Then it's in a moment they have a revolation and find Gods loving peace. 

Today two people talked to me about there situations going on. Both of them in a little rut needing Gods grace over them.  If you know anything about me I'm terrible at quoting scripture. I try and try and try I just can't seem to recall it when I need it. This week my Wednesday night class I teach had a memory verse, Psalms 118:113. You know what,some how today that verse is just what those people needed. 

Psalms 118:113 "Order my steps in thy word: and let not iniquity have dominion over me. "

I don't know what you are going through today but maybe this verse will touch your heart too. 

10 things you do know you need the first week with baby

So a 839263947 of my friends are pregnant with little precious babies. One is even having twins!! Which is awesome. So it got me thinking what could I write that could actually help them. Then it hit me the other day when I was cleaning out my bathroom cabinet and I found stool softener. Gross right ?? Just wait.

If you do not want to know the truth about after birth life. STOP READING. Some things may get a little personal but it's what needed to help. 

So first thing first. 

Stool softener. 

So this sounds a little gross but is awesome after having a baby. Basically you are sore and swollen, I mean you just had a baby so the last thing you want to do is bare down. Hahah. The softener helps everything go smoothly so no pain. Believe me,take it !!! Some hospitals give it right after birth. If not bring your own !! For real. 

Breast pads 

So if you plan on breast feeding, then you should know your going to need these puppies. Let me tell you. Your milk on tap will sometimes uhmm.... leak..... EVERYWHERE. So if you want to save your self the embarrassment of wet marks on your shirt get them!!!

Granny panties 

Okay I know it's a little weird but it is so true, you don't want to ruin all your good undies from all that after baby "stuff" so I would suggest buying some walmart dark undies till the post partum bleeding stops then switch back to your "pretty panties". Who wants to ruin those $30 VS???

Netflix (TV)

You always hear that you better get sleep when your pregnant because you will not get any when they get here. Well there is a little truth to that but newborns sleep all the time the first couple of days so a good netflix series comes in handy when wasting some time around the house. 

Food & water.

So you think it's common sense, but it's not. When your breastfeeding, at least for the first couple of months, you are extremely thirsty. I literally could drink a lake. It's crazy how women get so thirsty. Also you are always hungry. I mean your feeding another person which is hard work. I suggest always bringing granola bars or yogurt or crackers. Some kind of food or snack to hold you over will work great for on the go. 

Dry shampoo. 

Those first couple of weeks your time is stretched to the max. So getting a nice hot shower is pretty difficult ,so having some dry shampoo will ensure your 'do' is not one big grease ball. It will make you feel prettier. If that's possible hahah. 

Lanolin

I did not specifically use this a lot but I did use it a couple times and it worked great. Also I know friends that love it!! Basically breastfeeding makes your lady "milk spouts" hurt. Not to discourage anyone though. This help relieve the pain and carry on. 

Nursing bra. 

I never thought I would need one. I just figured I would make my regular bras work. It didn't work. I didn't buy the most expensive brand but I would really suggest getting a good nursing bra and a couple sports type nursing bra for the house. You will be so surprised how fast you will go through them. With all the leakage and the nasty smell you will be washing the fire out of them.

Theses are the things that I found a necessity when recovering in the first week after having Baby Jase. Some people may have thing thy loved that I have never used. I would love to hear what people have used and even if they didn't use these things.

Here comes the bride

So I have been contemplating on writing this post for a little while. But one of my friends who actually has her own blog, is getting married!!! So I said, hey!!! Let's write it 

So I had the best wedding, it was just what I wanted. I didn't spend $50,000, I didn't have everything traditional either it was perfect though.  But if I could change one thing it would be my dress. I loved the style of my dress and it was beautiful but not too modest. I regret it all the time. 

Ladies these are things you should think about when buying and trying on dresses. 

1. When my children look at pictures are they going to say " That was classy". I hope my kids think that. But they deff will not think I was modest. 

2. Is it modest. So obviously wedding dresses are sort of modest because they usually go to the grown. But the top, Not always ,which was my problem. I loved it when I bought it but not on my wedding. 

3. Will my husband love it. Okay all girls have a dream dress, but sometime there husbands have a different dream and that's okay. You should both talk about it , and meet somewhere in the middle. If I hadn't pushed my way so hard I probably would have had a more modest dress and be more pleased now. 

4.Dont break the bank. Obviously you want a beautiful dress. But after the wedding it will be put up never to see the sun again. You literally wear it for like 5 hours. So don't go spending your whole budget on a dress. The guests will remember your ceremony and reception more than your dress.

So to you friend, I wish you the best marriage. I hope it is God filled and carries on to the end of time. I pray that you find the perfect dress that pleases you and The Lord. That you have a perfect wedding and the joy carries into your marriage. 

And to those ladies with a ring on it out there seek God before seeking your dress. Find something that would be acceptable to Him, not to the worlds standards. 

To the ladies with no ring on it, seek The Lord. Find the qualities you want in a husband in your heart ,and bring it to The Lord. Pray that God sends you the perfect husband and be patient. 

-jess

Jesus in the garden

So I have not been blogging as much as I should. Our family has been so busy with the baseball coaching, and all the church events. Man our life is so crazy right now. Jase is napping so I just wanted to write what has been on my heart, and share some pictures of our sweet family for all those family members reading my blog out there.

So I was doing my devotion this morning which happens to be the study of Jesus in his last days on this earth. I was reading about when Jesus was in the garden praying, sweating tears of blood and He called on his disciples, 3 of them to pray with him. To all our disbelief, they slept. I find my self thinking how could they sleep. The man they have been following, who says He is the Christ is crying out to his father, and they are sleeping. Then it hit me, I fall asleep on Jesus too. So many times we put things of this word before praising our Lord.

I will be the first to admit I need to work on not falling asleep. Some times I get so busy and running late and I just see some one that I think God has put on my heart to witness too but Jase is crying and Im already late so I pass them by, or I hand them a track and say " Come to our church". Seriously. Writing this I want to hit delete but maybe it might help someone. I think this could all be stopped buy spending some quality time with God.  Dig deep in His word, spend time in prayer daily, seek his wisdom. When these things fall into place, God will work wonders in your life.

Well enough with my daily thoughts, and forward to sweet baby Jase.

So all these pictures were taken on the way to the baseball park, or actually at the park. Try not to die from cuteness. lol

Free clothes!!!!!

So there is this awesome app called thredup. Basically it's a high end consignment shop through an app. Awesome. Right?? So even better than shopping while sitting in your bottom, they are running a special!!! Once you sign up, you can send a friend $10 credit to buy anything, and when they use it you get $10 free. I'm planning in buying my Easter dress from here!! The best part. They even have kids clothes!!

http://www.thredup.com/r/RHJL0K 

^^^^^ click on this link to get your free $10 credit an start shopping. 

This is what the app looks like on the apple App Store. It's free and even easier than the full website !!!

Once you make an account this is what it should look like!!! Thi is awesome. Can't wait !!!

http://www.thredup.com/r/RHJL0K

http://www.thredup.com/r/RHJL0K

He is in the midst

I just want to praise The Lord for being so great to me and my family this week. My husband helps couch a baseball team of 7-8 year olds. They practice a couple days a week, so me and baby jase always tag along. They actually have a track at the fields so my goal for the past couple of weeks has been to jog. 

Yesterday I laced up my tennys and packed the stroller and me and baby jase went jogging. I use to love to run and ran cross country in high school, that was all before baby jase. I only ran 1 stinking mile. A shame I tell you. But I did it. 

As I was running my poor legs were burning, the wind was blowing I was doing all I could to keep going then all of a sudden a peace came over me. I know God was watching over. Silly right. I was just running. But I knew he was there. I prayed and lifted up my hands. I'm sure those kids and parents thought I was crazy. God gave me the strength to press forward, but to me it was so much more. The past couple of weeks have been so tiring. I have literally wanted to give up at times, in that moment I realized my God was so much bigger than any of my problems and he was with me through it all. I just wanted to share my spiritual expo wrench this week. It may help some one out there!!!! 

I want to encourage you all this week to praise God for the things he has blessed ya with. !! With out him, we have nothing. 

...

So recentley as you all know I miscarried a precious baby. It was hard but our family got through it. Well with our hearts set on getting pregnant again. It happened and we just learned that this baby has also went to a marvelous place called heaven. 

The past couple of days I have been bitter. Is it right. No. Do I have the right to be. No. God has a plan. But it's hard to stand strong in my faith. I have been questioning everything these past couple of days. And I need to admit that I am Wrong for doing that. Jesus was always talking about faith, I mean my husband preaches on it every Sunday but I feel like I have been lacking that trait this week. 

I just wanted to write to tell you all how careful to be around women who can not hav children or who have had trouble with pregnancies. Like is aid I have been bitter but God is truly convicting me of that and I'm finally seeing the light. Some women you may know might not have a relationship with my Lord and they may not be at peace. 

Things to advoid.....

Do not complain about the children God has blessed you with

I have done this. I will be the first to admit. It's wrong though. Baby Jase didn't sleep more than 2 hours till he was 8 months old. I was so tired and exhausted. But so e women are longing to be up all night with a child. Before you say things think about your problem as a blessing 

Do not abuse your privilege of being pregnant 

I always hear women complain about pregnancy. I'm so big. I am getting stretch marks. I just can't wait till I have my body back. God intended every women's body to go through pregnancy and it's a blessing. Many women may never experience it. Be thankful 

Don't say " It was or the best "

I kid you not this is what my dad said. I knew he didn't really mean it. We'll I really didn't know that. But it still hurt. I mean it hurt bad. But no matter what anyone says it's Gods plan 

Be sensitive toward people

I know it's just my emotions but I feel the past couple of days everyone had to talk about there babies. Or they have to tell me there pregnant. I am over joyed at babies but right now I'm just depressed and don't want to here it. You may not mean anything by it but remember what the other person is going through. 

Don't ask what happened it details

Some people ask we'll did they find out what happened. No. And If I did know I most likely couldn't tell you without breaking down. Once again people are just trying to comfort but women are in pain at times like these. Expect ally women that have no children. They think it is all there fault. 

At the end of the day I know I am blessed beyond measure. I have a beautiful baby boy. And if God doesn't bless me with any other children I know it will be okay because he already have me one miracle

Me Chris and baby jase will go on with our lives. One day at a time!!! But only through the power of our Lord and Savior , Jesus Christ (: