Heavenly Father.

Here is a poem I wrote and had the opportunity to share with my Seven community last night before communion. 

"How great the Father’s love for us,

His mercy and grace cover us.

Hallelujah we sing, to our father the King,

His love fills us 

and heals us, 

our praises to him, in the songs that we sing.

How great the Father’s love for us, 

this everlasting love,

this real love,

 this love we cannot escape.

His body the bread and his blood the wine,

heal us oh heavenly Father and let your light shine.

We are your children, 

children who need a holy Father, a mentor and a savior.

Hear us now as we remember you,

let us remember all you went through.

Our souls thirst for you 

and burn for you,

Let us remember you, as we live as the ones you have called.

O how you love us, in a way that is so deep and so wide,

hear our worship and accept our praise.

Lord you are the father, who gives us joy, and breath, and life,

thank you for hearing your children,

as we sing of your holy sacrifice."

Written by Melinda Clark

Bye-bye books... Hello baby!

As I approach my college graduation, this time is very bittersweet to me. I can't believe that after the summer, I will not be returning to school. I've been waiting so long for this moment... and now it is actually happening. My journey through college was a crazy, tough, fun, long, rewarding roller coaster. It has taken seven years, but I've now reached the end.... and it feels good to have accomplished one of my biggest dreams.

I began junior college down in Riverside in 2002. I can still remember my first day. I was a lost little small town, 18-year-old leaving Barstow to try out the real world. I remember sitting in rush hour traffic and being late to my first day of college. There was nowhere to park, and the Riverside Community College seemed so huge to me. 

I just remember crying and calling my mom. I know she wanted to just tell me to come home but she stayed strong and encouraged me that everything would be okay.I felt so small in this big new world and I didn't know anyone. Luckily, my dad was working in Riverside at the time and he came to my rescue =) He helped me find parking, then walked the campus with me so that I knew where all my classes were. He took me to lunch and I felt so much better. It was a silly story... but I will never forget it.

Many years have past since that first day of college and many life changes have happened during that time. I went through adjusting to a new place, to break-ups with boyfriends, finding my relationship with Christ, finding the love of my life, becoming his wife, and now.... becoming a mommy. I can't wait to tell my baby boy that he walked with me across that stage when I get my diploma.

Without this sounding like an academy award acceptance, I want to give credit where credit is due. There have been so many people who have helped me get where I am today. I know that it is my precious Jesus who carried me through all those tough times when I wanted to give up and run away from college altogether. Satan had such a hold on me and my confidence when it came to college. He was winning, then my Jesus stepped in and told me that with HIM, I can do anything.

My parents are so amazing. Their love and belief in me is such a big part of why I am where I'm at today. My dad always pushed me when I needed it, bought my books even when I failed classes repeatedly, and even provided me with a car so that I didn't have to worry about a car payment during school. He never gave up on me. My mom was there when I had a bad day, needed to cry over a failed test or an ex-boyfriend. She always encouraged me and told me to keep my head up. She is the glue that held our family together and would do anything to see her children happy. I hope I will be as good of a mom as she is. I am blessed to have been raised by two incredible individuals. Their love for the Lord and for each other has paid of greatly when I look at our family. 

My husband has been my anchor for the past two years. He has worked hard and provided for me so that I can continue my dream of education. He is my best friend, my love, my support, and now, my baby's daddy =) His love for Christ, and his passion to see others succeed has helped me to believe in myself and always work hard. He is my hero, and it is a honor that I get to graduate from the same school as him and wear his graduation robe at my graduation. I know that his grandpa Clark who is not longer with us on Earth is looking down from Heaven and thinking what an amazing man Marcos has become. I am so blessed to be his wife. 

There are so many others who have encouraged me, prayed for me, and made my college years unforgettable. My brothers, my family, my Clark family, my best friends, my small group, college buddies, church pastors... this accomplishment is not just mine... it belongs to everyone around me and I am convinced that it takes a community to raise a college grad =)

It's now time to say bye-bye to the books and hello to our beautiful baby boy. I am so humbled by the fact that God has chosen Marcos and I to take on the role of parents and raise one of his beautiful creations. I am so excited about this new chapter in our lives, and there is no one I would rather share it with than Marcos. I won't be working right away, and we often wonder how we are going to afford to raise a family, but that is when our faith comes in. We are trusting that Jesus will provide just has he has since the day we got married. God has truly blessed our lives and I know that every single thing that is good comes from my Jesus. Thanks for being a part of our journey!

"The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The Lord protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me. Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you." - Psalm 116: 5-7

L-O-V-E

"Since you have heard all about him and have learned the truth that is in Jesus, throw off your old evil nature and you former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception. Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God's likeness-righteous, holy and true". Ephesians 4:21-24

When we become Christians, we become a new creation. We all have a filthy past that has at some point brought us and the people we love shame. We are sinners, but before we ever sinned, Christ died for us. He knew our nature was to be selfish, but he gave in to an excruciating death on our behalf anyway. 

Because of this death that Christ took on our behalf, we are able to flee from that life of selfishness, lust, bitterness and greed. 

Because of Christ's death for me, "I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me". Galatians 2:20

As Christians, we are called to be set apart. We are called to love the unloveable and to forgive the unforgivable. For it is not in our own power that we are able to do this, but in the power of Christ Jesus. Instead of wasting our days mocking others, or trying to make their days miserable, we are called to lift them up and encourage them. 

Our years on this Earth are so short. And we are unaware of the day God will call each of us home. So I ask myself-- what will I do with my short years to make a difference in eternity? How will I play my part in extending the Kingdom of God?

I want to learn to love people the way that Christ loves me.

Love is such a simple word, used over and over in this life-- but do we really show love when it truly matters? It is easy to love those who love us first. It is easy to love those who make life easier on us. It is easy to love precious, innocent children. But do we love the people who have hurt us and showed nothing but disrespect to us? Do we love those who make our lives miserable and who spit in our face? 

All people love the lovable, but it takes the power of Christ in our lives to love the unloveable. 

Remember, Christ died for those men and women who spat upon him, mocked him, slashed his back, and nailed him to a cross. That is what real love looks like. 

The Bible teaches what is important in this life. "There are three things that will endure-- faith, hope, and love- and the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13

 Jesus showed love to the people who were most undeserving. There is no time and no room in our lives to hold grudges and not forgive others. It doesn't matter what someone has done to us, if we claim the name of Christ, we are commanded to forgive them. Bitterness does nothing to the other person, but it will eat us alive inside and keep us from living a life to the full that Christ called each one of us to live.

Who do you need to forgive or encourage today? Their time on Earth as well as ours is too short. Don't wait until it is too late. 

"Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you". Ephesians 4:31-32

Just a thought.

Awhile back, my friend Heidi shared a website with me that has been very encouraging and helpful as a wife. The website is http://www.the-generous-wife.com and if you sign up for it, it will send you daily reminders on little things you can do to be a generous wife. This is something I read today that I thought I would share:

     I encourage you to make listening a priority.  I know that may sound a bit simplistic, but listening is an important skill.  It helps you understand those around you (hubby included) and will give you many opportunities to bless.  If you know what your husband is feeling, you can encourage him.  If you know what he likes you, can bless him.  If you know what your husband dreams of, you can inspire.

     "The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood.  The best way to understand people is to listen to them."  Ralph Nichols

Be blessed!

The love of the Father.

"Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you" - Psalm 116:7

How grateful my heart is today to know that God has given us a little miracle. When I gave my life to the LORD there was a love inside of me that I could not explain. When I married Marcos, I felt another special kind of love that I know comes only from the Lord. Now that I have a baby growing inside of me, it is yet another kind of love that I can't even fully fathom yet. The LORD has blessed me and filled my heart with a joy that is beyond myself. I am so grateful for this new chapter that is emerging, and even more grateful for the love from my Heavenly Father that surrounds me in every phase of my life. 

I am thankful to feel Jesus in my own Spiritual Walk, in our Marriage, and in our Growing Family; for these things all belong to Him.

How I told him.

Well, my friend @MrsPRD wrote a blog awhile back about how she told her husband the good news about being pregnant, and said she loved hearing other women's stories about how they told their husbands, so this is what I did.

Well, Marcos and I had been trying to get pregnant for about 6 months, so pregnancy tests were not a stranger in our house. I was driving home from school one day, feeling exhausted and I had been very emotional that whole week (I just didn't feel like myself). So I decided to stop at Super Target for a pregnancy test (The cheap, Target brand of course.) I got home, took the test, and saw a VERY faint line... but anytime I had taken this kind of test, there was never any kind of line. So right away I was like, "Oh my gosh, is this real? I don't believe it." 

So I went to Wal Mart right after that to purchase the more expensive brand. Got home, took the test, and there was another line. Marcos was still not home yet but I didn't want to just tell him, I wanted to do something special, so I went that whole night knowing, without even telling my husband. It was torture!

The next morning after Marcos left for work, I took the other test (#3) and when that one also read positive, I went to Target to buy a little bib that said "I love Daddy" and a Clear Blue test that Marcos could easily understand if I showed him. I got the bib in Blue because I figured that's a little more neutral than pink. Okay, so I ended up taking like 5 tests before I even told my husband... but I just still couldn't believe it!

So when Marcos got home, I gave him a little bag and said,"Here honey, I got you something today because it was on sale". He began opening the bag and I kept giggling and he kept looking at me and saying "What is wrong with you?" 

Then he pulled out the bib and the test that clearly said, "Pregnant" and looked at me in disbelief and said, "You're pregnant?!" (He had no idea what was coming since I had already told him a little white lie and said that I started my period already.) Of course he was just as excited as me but we still could not believe that we had made a baby!

So that's the story! We also bought bibs that said, "I love Grandma & Grandpa" to surprise both our parents with. Of course, both of your moms cried! But we are all so very excited.

I am currently 12 weeks and just now starting to feel morning sickness. I went almost the whole first trimester without it, but it's hitting me now. But I am so blessed to have this baby growing inside of me and I wouldn't change the experience for the world! 

Two weeks ago we got to see our baby swimming around on the sonogram screen and got to hear the little heart beat. Our next appointment is in two weeks.

Real Strength.

It's amazing how much we can learn about Jesus through other people. Yes, I read my bible and study God's word, but I'm also a very visual person; so when I see someone actually walking the walk instead of just talking the talk, I can actually see Jesus in person. 

It's funny that I have been married to Marcos for almost two years now, and I still have yet to see an ounce of arrogance in him. This is not to say that he is perfect, but in the ways that I am lacking... he seems to balance me and remind me of the things that Jesus would do. 

Marcos is a very humble man, and let me tell you... in the world we live in today, it takes a strong man to be a humble person. 

I admire my husband and I know God is real, not just by my faith and because of what I read, but because I see him living through my husband and our marriage. 

For that, I am so thankful and I am so excited for our future children to have a Dad like Marcos to look up to-- someone who treats people with respect and kindness, and who can overlook the bad to find the good in anyone. I couldn't have asked for a better man.

"Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." - Proverbs 11:2