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Forever Beloved

Faith, Love & Truth

January 19, 2014

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday {Choose Life}

Today is the Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. It’s been 40 years since Roe v. Wade, 40 years too long. In those 40 years, over 50 million babies have been slaughtered in the womb.  That absolutely breaks my heart.  As a Christian, I believe God is the author of life.  He says He knew us even in the womb.

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.
Jeremiah 1:5

Let me tell you a story.

38 years ago, a young teenage girl found out she was pregnant.
She was afraid.
She was ashamed.
She was embarrassed.
She was judged.
She was confused.
The road ahead was filled with tough decisions.
Running away from them was not an option.
In front of her sat a “quick fix”.
It meant no one would know.
The shame would end.
She would no longer have to be afraid.
Though her baby was just starting to develop, she already loved it.
She couldn’t take the quick fix.
Her faith was strong.
She knew what was right.
She chose life.
The most selfless decision she could make.
God brought a wonderful woman into her life.
A woman who heard her story, but never judged.
She reminded her of God’s love and grace.
She told her of a dear friend who struggled with infertility.
And with that, a decision was made.
A decision she knew would leave her heartbroken.
For 9 months, the life grew inside her.
She felt every bump and every kick.
She watched her belly grow twice it’s size.
Every passing day her heart broke a little more.
She knew the hardest day of her life was right around the corner.
Eventually the day came.
She gave birth to a beautiful baby girl.
The reality fell heavy on her heart.
Tears rolled down her face.
She had so many fears.
And felt a void already.
But she knew it was God’s will.
She handed her baby over to the wonderful woman.
And watched her walk away.
In her young mind, she had no idea what an impact that single moment would make.
That one day, she would be that baby girls hero.
For choosing to give her to an amazing family.
For choosing to have a selfless heart.
For choosing life.

Abortion and adoption are so very close to my heart.  You see, I’m the baby from the story above.  I’m the life that was spared by choosing adoption over abortion.  

We must stand for life. We must be a voice to the nations. If not us, then who? Who will speak out for these little ones?  Please join me in prayer for these scared mama’s that don’t know where to turn, for the unborn babies that won’t be given a chance and for the doctors that administer the abortions. Let’s pray for the pain so many of them carry in their hearts.

Filed in: Uncategorized • by Amy • 1 Comment

January 16, 2014

Losing Joy

I’m going to be honest with y’all, I’ve been walking through a season in my life that has been sad. It has felt as if the joy has been drained out of my life. I can’t narrow it down to one specific reason but rather lots of little reasons combined…losing a friend, loneliness, finances, missing my Grandma, body image issues, etc. 

 
I’ve had days when tears flowed easily and I’ve felt like throwing my hands in the air and just being done. I’ve had days where I just don’t even feel like talking about it. Okay, I’ve had lots of those days. And days where I wish I could hang the “unhappy” in my closet and pick out “joy” to put on. Don’t we all wish it was that easy?

I’ve felt myself becoming withdrawn, building walls around myself and just wanting to stay inside my safe little home. That’s when I knew something had to change. When I knew I had to change.

I have decided to have joy.  To actively pursue it.  To fight and battle for it.
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Do y’all remember my word for the year?  Prayer.  At the time I couldn’t figure out why God wanted my word of the year to be prayer.  It wasn’t until I read this verse that I understood.  This verse commands us to be joyful.  And what comes right after rejoice always?  PRAY continually.  And what was my verse for the year?  1 Thessalonians 5:17.  Smack dab in the middle of having joy and being thankful.  Oh, our God is such an awesome God.  While I was busy complaining because I didn’t get a “cool kid” word for the year, God knew exactly what He was doing and what I would need  †
I found joy explained online as “Joy is an inward delight in God and an outward emotion that flows from His presence and His promises. It’s a state of heart and mind, based upon one’s relationship with God; not based upon circumstances, and very often this joy is shared with others.”

I was basing my joy on my circumstances.  I was pushing my joy to the side so I could make room for a big ole’ pity party.  Don’t get me wrong, some of these aspects still make me sad and break my heart.  But joy is my choice.  Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, second only to love, it flows from God, not circumstances.  We have a fundamental need for joy in our lives. Life without joy is overwhelming, depressing and just plain sad.

In the short book of Philippians {only four chapters long} Paul uses the word “joy” 16 times.  I find this absolutely amazing.  Do you know why?  Paul didn’t write this book when he was on vacation at the beach.  He didn’t write it overlooking a sunset.  He was in prison in Rome, waiting to be executed. In the darkest days of his life, he wrote the most positive book in the Bible.

So today, I choose joy.  Will you choose it with me?
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
Philippians 4:4

Filed in: Uncategorized • by Amy • Leave a Comment

January 16, 2014

One Light Still Shines {Book Review}

One Light Still Shines
By Marie Monville
About the book:

“My story is not about my past, but about your future,” says Marie Roberts Monville. 

In the startling tragedy of the Amish schoolhouse shooting at Nickel Mines, one story has never been told; Marie Roberts Monville, the wife of the man who created such horror, tells her story for the very first time. It is a story of sorrow and destruction, but also one of majestic deliverance, unending compassion, breathtaking forgiveness, and grace-filled redemption. 

Within a solitary moment, Marie Monville realized that life, as she knew it, was over. What she never anticipated was a tangible encounter with God reaching into her circumstances, through them rewriting all she believed about herself, her faith, and the God she thought she knew. One Light Still Shines reveals three love stories: the innocent love of a devoted wife for a husband in pain, the incomprehensible love of God in the aftermath of massacre and destruction, and the redemptive love of Christ, waiting to unfold in the life of every person who reads this book. 

Marie’s journey since that darkest of days has been invaded with light which shines through these pages into the darkest questions we all face–questions about our past, our value, our identity, and own powerlessness in this fallen world. Come face to face with the Power behind every answer—a love that begs to be received.

If I could sum up this book in one word it would be AMAZ-WOW-RIFFIC!  Y’all, I could not put this book down once I started it.  And when I wasn’t reading it, I couldn’t wait until I finished my chores so I could get straight back to reading it.

This beautifully written and heart-wrenching memoir will leave no reader untouched. What an amazing testimony Marie has. Marie was the wife of Charlie Roberts, the man who committed a brutal massacre at an Amish schoolhouse. With one phone call, in a matter of minutes, Marie’s life changed forever. Charlie was dead and so were at least three little Amish girls, and the others gravely wounded.

Marie revealed her heart through her book and shared her struggles as she began to pick up the pieces and move on after the tragedy. She reflected on God’s love surrounding her and the support of her family and friends as each day passed.

This story will absolutely touch your heart and will be one you won’t soon forget. This is an amazing read, I highly recommend it!

This book was provided to me free of charge by booksneeze.com in return for my honest review. The opinions i have expressed are my own.

Filed in: book review, Uncategorized • by Amy • Leave a Comment

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Wife & Mama • Iced coffee seeker & curator of chaos • Collector of words & magic • Obsessed with laughter & bright lipstick • Dreaming & homesteading in the hills of PA

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