Birth Announcement and More

   So our 8th blessing who was due the 7th of January made her entrance exactly 2 weeks later! She just had to drive her mom crazy like that!! She had me nervous as ever about having to deliver another 9 lb. baby, about having to be induced with hard and painful labour like my last one, and because of those 2 concerns had me trying everything I knew possible to kick labour off , and had me praying desperately and almost constantly that I would start labour on my own and that if not and the DR. had to induce that inducing would be better experience this time around. (Now the latter thing was a good outcome of it all, because praying desperately is what we all need to do anyway. It is trying circumstances that drive us to the feet of Jesus, and show us we are nothing and can do nothing with out Him. If everything worked out the way we wanted, when we wanted, and how we wanted we would not rely on Him as much, and we would not see Him at work. Though He would be there the whole time doing His thing, but it's much easier to take Him for granted that way, or not even know it was Him at work in the first place.)

So now for birth announcement details!
Rebecca Marie born Jan. 21st, at 9:04 p.m. Weighing 8 lb.s exactly! Rebecca is little sister to five older brothers and 2 sisters.

 

 

     Labour was 5 1/2 hours after they started me on the drip at 3 :30 p.m. to induce labour. At which I was already 4 cm.s, which I am sure was due to the Foley bulb that they had used the night before on me. Out of those 5 1/2 hours though only 2 of them was hard and more painful contractions. Until 6 p.m. I did not feel them at all even though they were showing up good and strong and steady on the monitor. From 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. I started to feel them and breath through them, though not bad at all and I even remained reading my book!!. Then after 7 p.m. at which point I was at about 7 cm.s they were painful enough I needed something for pain relieve, and my book that I no longer was able to read was put aside.  So that gives you a picture how great my labour and delivery experience went for me this time. Even though I was induced it went well, and was not crazy and supper painful or anything.( This is not the birth story though, just a few details for now, the birth story will come later.)

Looking back at what may have helped to make this labour and birthing experience different than last one and the all the others really was a few different things. Top thing was God of course. I had been praying so much for this labour and delivery, and many others were too. This was also the very first time I drink red raspberry leave tea which I started drinking in my 39th week. I would have started earlier but only just was recommended to me. I got to drink it for 3 weeks since baby was lovingly over due for me!! Also was using a product called EZ Birth for the first time. You start taking it in 37th week up to delivery, well I ran out of it. So got more and kept taking it up to birth of baby. Also used blue cohosh off and on in the 2 weeks before baby came after I hit 40 weeks which is noted to induce labour naturally, but only works if body is ready and doesn't always work for everyone or every labour. And it id not induce labour for me. Yet just the same it can be good and helpful anyway when labour does start, so thinking that could of played a part too in my wonderful labour. ( It is noted that blue cohosh does not work alone, but use together with black cohosh. )

If you want to learn more about the effects and benefits of the red raspberry leave tea, EZ Birth, and blue and black cohosh tinctures just google them. Lots of info out there on those, though you can't believe everything out there or trust every source of course, but I found the info very helpful just the same. Also if your looking for things for naturally inducing labour you will be surprised at what all is suppose to work for that, from dates to pine-apples!! Literally!!

Here our sweet baby girl is now 3 days old. Healthy as ever, a great nurser, and beautiful to boot!! I can't ask for more! I am so ever thankful and grateful to God!! She did drive me crazy there going so far over due and all, but all is good, and like I mentioned above it made me rely on God just that much more! And what a great an awesome God He is!! No one else I would rather be totally and completely dependent on!!

In Him, Mae

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10


I sought the Lord and He heard me and delivered me from all from all my fears. Psalms 34: 4

The righteous cry and, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. Psalms 34:17

Waiting on Baby!

So most of you reading my blog will know we are expecting our 8th baby. And due date is like now!
 So we are anxiously waiting on baby right now.
 Any momma I know gets just a tad impatient when it's about her time. Gets a little hard to wait patiently. But that doesn't help much. I try to comfort my self in the knowledge that the baby is easier to take care of inside the womb than out. No Diapers, no feedings, and every where you go, baby goes too! Much easier isn't it!? So that is a comfort!!

 I never am really excited about labour. But I do know that is what it takes to get baby here. So with that in mind I do always anticipate labour, and am like, "When is it going to start already!!?" And every night I go to bed wondering if this is the night, and every morning I wake wondering if this is the day?
 Last labour was very long. I was at the hospital 23 hours before baby was born. Though that was not all in full labour. I was in very early labour with regular contractions though not painful at all when I went up to the hospital. But being my 7th I thought it would go very fast, and being an hour away too, I thought I should go see if I was progressing at al. Well I wasn't, but they did go ahead and keep me in the hospital in case things started to progress and went fast. But id did not! In fact basically stalled altogether. Eventually the contractions did start more and harder, but before it was all over the had to give me something to speed labour up. That was the first time I ever had to have that in my labours, and was it ever rough on me. I used laughing gas to make it through. That and praying! I was constantly talking to God through it all. He kept me going!!

 Anyways so hoping this time is way different! I for one have been taking a product called EZ Birth which you start taking in the 37th week. Is suppose to be a great product. Also now this last week started drinking LOTS of red raspberry tea! And praying about this labour, that I would go in to it with out fear. And that I would really rest and trust in the Lord.
  Someone just recently told me that she really found comfort in Psalms chapter 34 and 37. So I have been reading those often.
 
  Just now while I have been thinking about waiting on baby. A verse came to mind on that. I remember it is one that I really clung to when I was going over due with baby #7. I was over due 2 whole weeks before his delivery.  So I will share that here. May it encourage you too if you are waiting on a baby, or anything you may be waiting on.

Psalm 27:14
                                     Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.         

 Beautiful isn't it?! And there is many more such verse like that through out Psalms.
 
 Take care, and no matter your situation wait on the Lord, be patient, and trust in Him! He has got you covered!!
 In Him, Mae

P.S.. I will try to post on here as soon as I can after our baby does arrive!! I usually always share the birth story. I know I love reading birth stories, and I trust other mommas do to!!                                                                    

Happy New Year 2017!!!

Happy new day, and new year ya all!

But don't take for granted that we will have this whole year. We never know when our time is up on this earth.

 We must live each day as if each day is a percious miralce and a gift from God. Because each day truly is!! And live each day for God, and be ready to meet Him at any moment!!

 The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.

The Lord lift His countenance unto you, and give you peace!

 

 Use this day and every day for our Heavenly Father! Stay strong and true in Him, and never loose hope!! He is with you and for you 24/7!!

In Him, Mae

About Christmas

  This time of year, I all most always write a post on Christmas. My family and I do not keep or celebrate Christmas so I love to share about that.
 Over the years I have written many posts on Christmas, and they are here on my blog. So you can read them if you like.
 
 This time I want to do something a little different and just share links to sites with information on Christmas, its origins and traditions. Very good info that we should all know.

Jim Staley with Truth or Tradition from Passion for Truth Ministries.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEeBzIoQVS0

Christmas -- Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas

The true origin of Christmas -- The Real Truth
https://realtruth.org/articles/169-ttooc.html


You can find many more web-sites with information about Christmas on Goggle. Just put in origins of Christmas. But I will let you do that, this will be enough to get you started.

 In Him,
Mae

Our Rest Day

  From time to time I love to post on here about our family's rest day. The day we use for rest and worship is a bit different I know from the day most people use. For that reason, it can come across as different or strange, but it is also very Biblical and very special, and that is why I like to talk about it so much. I should add that though it may be strange in our society, it is certainly not strange in the Bible.

   Our rest day is on Saturday, the Seventh Day, which is called the Sabbath in the Bible. So I always just refer to Saturday as Sabbath. I know sometimes people are confused about what day I am talking about when I say Sabbath instead of Saturday, but I feel more comfortable using that word. It helps me keep the right perceptive of what the day really is.

So what makes the Sabbath day so special?

  Well the first thing is that it's the day that God set aside for rest at the time of creation. In Genesis 2:1-3 we read, Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.


  Wow, that is pretty awesome isn't?! He not only rested on that day from His work, but He also blessed and sanctified it. No other day do we see that He did that to.

Then later on He gave it as a commandment for His people in the book of Exodus chapter 20. Yes, it is one of the 10 commandments!
Exodus 20: 8-11. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.


   Wow, now He hallowed the Sabbath day too! This day is getting even more special as we go along!! God knew we needed a rest day each week, and He set aside that one certain day, just for that purpose, just for us. Words can't describe how wonderful that makes me feel!

  I know that it is often said that the Sabbath day was changed from the Seventh Day to first day of week ( Sunday ) in the New Testament by the disciples. But if you diligently search the New Testament on that, you will see that they did not change the day. There is much evidence that the 10 commandments still stand in the New Testament. For one, Jesus spoke on the commandments in the apostles, also the Sabbath is mentioned in Hebrews chapter 4: 1-11

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.


Matthew 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 19:17 And he said unto him,Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus said unto him,Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it*, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.



   And if one was to give it much thought I think it would be easy to see that the disciples or any of the future followers of Christ did not have any authority from God to change the one of God's 10 Commandments. Even Jesus was here on earth going only about His Fathers business, and not bringing any of His own agenda or teachings. Jesus did not have his own commandments or separate teachings from God, but only spoke what God the Father gave for Him to say, and He kept His Father's commandments while here on the earth.

   God's followers did not change the rest day in the New Testament, but it was changed through the years alright. It is a good thing to check into our history and see just where and when Sunday came in to being as the rest day instead of the day God created and gave to us. At the end of this post I will share some links for you to check out.

       I can't imagine how could we possible want to substitute another day for the day that God sanctified, hallowed, blessed, and set aside just for us! Now that is very special!

   It is my desire that all of God's followers would experience the joy and privilege of resting and worshiping on the Seventh Day. And it is happening more and more these days. I am happy to say that keeping of the Sabbath is getting a lot more common now.


   Praying that this post has been a blessing to you. If you would like to read the other posts of mine that I have written through the years on the Sabbath, please feel free to look them up here on my blog and read them. And don't forget to check out the following links too.

In Him, Mae

These first four links are about the documentary, The Way. We saw this for the first time this fall. It is very good!
http://teshuvaministries.net/the-way-a-documentary/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaRcosUxn0c

https://www.facebook.com/thewaydocumentary/

https://www.thewaydoc.com/the-way-documentary-trailer/

Jim Staley -- Sabbath debate with Chris Rosebrough

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtzNcDU-h3M

Should Christians keep the Sabbath-- Jim Staley from Passion of Truth Ministries
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YJuEMUlYFY

Sabbath Truth
http://www.sabbathtruth.com/sabbath-history/how-the-sabbath-was-changed


   I will leave you with a few additional verses.

Luke 1:6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

　
John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

　
John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.


　John 15:14 Ye are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you

Exodus 20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Deuteronomy4:40 Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, forever.

Deuteronomy 5:29 O that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever!

My Revised Psalms Book

I have good news! I have revised my Psalms book, Beautiful Psalms, and just today my son up-loaded it to Blurb, and then in a few days it will be available for sale on Amazon, as well as other places books are sold on-line. So that is exciting to me, and should be to you too!
  When I first planned the Psalms book I felt it would be a really blessing to others, and would make a great gift for  your self or that someone in your life who needs encouragement . But my first edition ended up with some mistakes, and photos that was not quite clear. So I have made the necessary corrections, added different pictures, and now feel satisfied that it truly will be something special. Of course with self publishing and doing all the editing on my own, you will have to bear with me if it still is not 100 percent perfect.
 

.
 Here is the description on the back of the book.
  An amazing collection of hand picked verses from the book of Psalms categorized into various topics, Beautiful Psalms, will be sure to inspire, uplift, and encourage you no matter what situation you are in, or what comes your way in life. Beautifully laid out and designed with great photography, as well as color coded sections, it contains topics such as God's Help, God's Mercy, God's Protection, and many more. Discover God's greatness and power, and feel the wondrous love, care, and compassion He has for you.

So in a few days you can browse Amazon.com for, Beautiful Psalms Revised Edition!
In Him, Mae

Encouraging one another

  On of my greatest passions is encouraging others in their walk with God. Whether its through my writings here on my blog, my web-site,  my books, or in person, I want to encourage  other moms in their walk with God as they raise and parent their children.
   


  Raising a good Godly family in this world today is a tough job! We need all the encouragement we can get as moms. And we are instructed in His Word to encourage one another.
Colossians 3:16                                     Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  
      
  We need to not only encourage one another spiritually though, but also in parenting, and in day to day issues that arise which we moms must face and deal with. And its a lot we deal with! I often feel like it would have been many times easier to have been a mother back in the days of Little House on the Prairie than it is today.
  Sure we would not have all our modern conveniences that we have now, and our physical work would be harder as well as more hardships to contend with. But we wouldn't have issues to deal with like video games, T.V., movies, I-pods, internet, cell phones, and all the other must-have electronics, gadgets, and toys out there the kids these days have to have and almost all their friends have. Along with the immoral society in which we now live and are constantly bombarded with, and our struggle to keep their hearts and minds pure.

  2 Corinthians 13:11 NIV Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.    14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
2 Timothy 4: 2 NIV Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
Hebrews 3:13 NIV But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.                                                                                                                                                                 

      
                     Also with these last days approaching, things will get worse yet, much worse in fact, for us believers and parents. We will be looked down up on, we will be targeted because we stand for the Word of God, and we will be persecuted for His name sake.
   So we need to stand strong together as fellow believers and moms, and  stand strong for each other. Stand up for what is right, for God's Word and Truth, stand up for families, and stand firmly against anything that is not wholesome and pure, and which goes against God. Hold your light high, and shine your light bright and bold for God that you may be a witness and encouragement to others.
   Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.         Philippians 2: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;    

     Keep strong for God , do not be afraid to stand apart and stand out from the world as you parent your children for God! Make your standards and your rules in your home from the Word of God. You are God's chosen and special people, doing  Bible things in Bible ways!   You  will be different form the world and will be hated by the world, but that is ok, your reward will be great in heaven!  Even your own children will more and likely be upset at you from time to time for some of the choices and rules you make in your home, but as they come to love the Lord and desire to live for Him with all their hearts they will understand and be thankful for what you have done.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
      Keep doing that great and awesome job your doing! 
In Him, Mae

P.S.There is nothing that means more to me than to know I have been a blessing and encouragement some how and some way  to a fellow mom, even if it is in a small way. That is my passion! If you are reading this an have been encouraged or inspired, I would love to hear from you!