Outnumbered Mom

I wanted to take a minute and introduce a new blog written by my mother-in-law Laura Groves. She has been diligently working on a book which focuses on her life as a mom of multiple boys, four to be exact. If all goes as planned her book will debut early this fall or even perhaps late summer. I'll keep you posted as the time draws closer but for now take a minute to check out her blog and subscribe to her newsletter. It has been such a blessing getting to know her better over the years especially since Laura and I are the lone girls of the Groves clan. Just seeing her juggle a large household along with her job or even enjoying a girls night watching Pride and Prejudice I have truly grown to admire her heart and passion to encourage other women in their calling as wives and mothers. Please take a minute to check out her site and pass it along to any friends and family you think might be interested.

A Study of Acts

Recently Jon and I decided that we wanted to find a Bible study to work through together. During our days off this past week we took a trip to a local Christian bookstore and decided on a John MacArthur study on the book of Acts, which I could not be more excited about.

I cracked open the Bible study tonight hoping to work through a couple of pages when I was struck by the following quote found in the introduction to the first chapter.

Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is a divine agent who creates, sustains, and preserves spiritual life in those who place their trust in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is not merely an influence or an impersonal power emanating from God. He is a person, the third member of the Trinity, equal in every way to God the Father and God the Son. Among the many characteristics of personhood that the Holy Spirit manifests are: He functions with mind, emotion, and will; He loves the saints; He communicates with them, teaches, guides, comforts, and chastises them; He can be grieved, quenched, lied to, resisted, and blasphemed. Since Pentecost the Holy Spirit has indwelt all believers, illuminating their understanding and application of God's word. He fills them, seals them, communes with them, fellowships with them, intercedes for them, comforts them, admonishes them, sanctifies them, and enables them to resist sin and serve God."

Wow, and this was just in the introduction!! After reading that small summary on one very large aspect of the amazing God we serve I decided to call it a night on the Bible study and instead just let this simmer in my mind for a while. There will be more to come later but I felt compelled to share this little portion of my study in hopes that this would cause you to take a second to stand in awe of our God.

Waiting

Now that the holidays are over the pace of life has slowed down tremendously. It almost feels like life has stopped or at least slowed to a crawl. I guess I should enjoy this while it lasts and maybe this is just God's cue for me to savor the moment. I've been in a pretty contemplative mood lately, especially with Jon completing school and us waiting for God's leading concerning the next phase of life. I think it is safe to say that I'm content. God has been doing a lot in my heart over the past couple of weeks and my life (especially lately) has just been peaceful. This resting in the Lord is beautiful. I should do it more often!!

I was looking for some sort of picture to post with this blog, something that kind of sums up life right now and I came across this:

Anyone who really knows me would know that I love the feel of something vintage. Anything that has a sense of history about it I find romantic and intriguing. This old door makes me want to peak inside to see what I'm missing. If the outside is this beautiful what must the inside hold? That is kind of what life feels like right now. I can't quite see what is on the other side of the door just yet but I want to take in every aspect of the beauty of the door itself, the color, the lines, and every minute detail. It just fills my heart with anticipation. So for now I'm recording small signs of God's grace, writing down answers to prayers, and joyfully thanking God for the journey no matter how slow it seems. We've got a lot of great things coming this year but for now...I wait expectantly.

""Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts."

- Isaiah 26:8

A Quick Update

A picture of us after Jon's ordination.

I have been awful at posting lately. December was an incredibly hectic month capped off by a road trip down to Florida to visit Jon's family. Now that I am back into my regular routine I hope to start posting with more regularity. A few days ago my husband posted an update from our lives over the month of December so feel free to check it out. Hopefully that will tide you over until I get back into the swing of things.

http://thegrovesblog.blogspot.com/

I would post more but I have kiddos getting up soon for school and I need to spend a bit of time reading to prepare for the day.

Psalm 47
Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.
How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth!
He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet.
He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved. Selah
God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets.
Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.
For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise.
God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.
The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted.