How We Decide When to Do What

An email from a friend this week got me thinking about timing. While this post could be quite detailed and lengthy, I am going to have to give a condensed version with a lot less Scripture.

*Note: This is not a right or wrong way of doing things topic. How God leads people is always different; this is just how we do ;)

Should we take this job? Is this the church for us? When do we try for a child?

Big questions.

Simply, we make our own plans (within a Biblical worldview, of course), while we ardently question, seek, and pursue the LORD in prayer about the situation at hand (which could be days or years).

Here is where it is dire (to us) to wait on Him, be sensitive to His Spirit, and know His voice.

If He chooses to do so, then this is the part of the process where He intervenes and leads (dreams, visions, a spoken word, others, a verse... there are oh-so-many ways He uses). However, your spirit will always know when He is giving you direction, even if your "sign" sounds silly to others. Deep in your heart, you know when the I AM has come. (If you don't know, keep seeking and asking; He won't scorn you and laugh because "you missed it!")

Let's say there is no "sign." How long do I wait? Well, what we typically do is wait until we have to make a decision or until we feel like we have to make a decision.

He knows our finite deadlines. In our lives thus far, He either speaks before we must decide or He doesn't. And when He doesn't? We fall back on and implement our own plans. This is not bad or wrong! God has, can, and does frequently use and work through our plans. [Our plans being godly and conforming to the Word.] Our plans often seem to be His plans; we just seek His direction in case they are not His plans this particular time, and He has a different direction for us to go (Prov. 16:25).

We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. ~ Prov. 16:9

Swirls and Whirls

• Because I'm behind (and I broke my keyboard and this one is hard for me to use), I must resort to facts here -- met with my new doula, enjoyed a visit from Ricky's parents and grandparents (from Seattle), my mom took care of us last week, my brother and his family came for their annual visit (and the four kids lived it up playing together), and had the pleasure of having a college roommate visit for one night.
• Micaiah recently measured 25.6 lbs and 32" tall (I think; my memory is iffy).
• I think my sickness is easing! I haven't vomited in five days. I feel more queasy than nauseous, and I am starting to think more clearly ;) However, the insomnia has yet to ease.
• I had three goals for myself during the first trimester:

1. stay on top of laundry (check!)
2. nurse Micaiah (mostly good; I may have skipped a few nap sessions and shortened his time when I couldn't take it)
3. read to Aolani at least one book a day (more times than not)

• Aolani has her A, B, C, & D verses down pat but not the correct references (i.e., every verse is verse ten). Not sure if I should stress the references and wait or just move on...
• As my brain fog is lifting, I am going to spend one more week getting my Scripture memory up to par, and next week I'll start a new chapter for this baby! {Aolani's chapter was Philippians 4 and Micaiah's chapter was Romans 8.}

Though You Slay Me {video}

Ann Voskamp just posted this, and I so needed it! Great for communing with the All-Powerful One (and plus, Shane & Shane's music is always a hit) --

A Plus Sign

We are upping the DiMartino ranks by one :)

I am 11 weeks today. {Due date: March 3, 2014}

We do not intend to find out the gender of this little one. So, we'll all be surprised.

Yes, I have the first trimester joys -- nauseous all day, vomiting, gag all the time (can't brush my teeth), exhausted, always eating, unable to read (makes me sick), headaches, insomnia (it takes 11-12 hours in bed to average six hours of actual sleep -- not fun)... I really feel like I am on self-prescribed bed-rest ;) Yet, I hope to only have another couple weeks of this yucky six-week sickness. However, I was sicker with Aolani but not quite as sick with Micaiah; this one is in-between (each pregnancy and baby is different!). And, most importantly, He is giving me the strength (and help from others) to just make it through each day at hand!

[And, of course, the unspoken questions people always wonder: Was this planned? Sure was! Had you been trying long? Nope, first try again (for all three now; NFP is super-grand).]

What Is Love?

Besides the obvious --

• a man caring for his disabled wife
• a man so sacrificially, selflessly pouring his life out for his wife (yeah, what woman watches this and doesn't long to be loved and adored so by her own husband?)

But after the obvious responses, I kept hearing this one thing he said --

"God has loved us so unconditionally, and I understand that God has put His love in my heart. And, because I realize how much God has loved me, that's how I too can love my lovely wife."

And, conviction crept in. This couple isn't just for me to watch and want, but they are a challenge to me. Am I loving like this? "Because I too realize how much God has loved me, that's how I too can love" others!

Two Towers

• Well, our past weeks have been mostly uneventful (phew!). Although, we have had dinner with some friends a few times, we went to see a new chiropractor, and we visited with my paternal side of the family last weekend (which was pleasant and refreshing). Now, we are gearing up for two weeks of nonstop visitors!
• Aolani's antics: I do not have much to say except that she is constantly and loudly serenading us all. Oh, and she bit a friend this week and was caught choking her brother today :( Where is she learning this stuff?
• Micaiah's mishaps: now he is the real biter right now, bit me twice while nursing the other night and had to take mimi away from him (has not happened since...), says amen, my, milk, eye, thank you, please, cheese, poop, and every one is remarking how He is all boy or How do you keep up with him? (Ahh, yes, don't we know!).
• The other weekend, we watched an animated movie, and it had a brief sword-fighting scene between mice. Micaiah leaped up, let out his warrior-battle cry (?), and proceeded to pretend sword-fight and wield two swords (one in each hand)! I just stared at him and commented about how I do not remember Aolani doing this ;)
• And below is a shot of the new bookshelf in the main room. There are five shelves, and Micaiah can reach the first three. #1: a few of Micaiah's toys #2: board books #3: small board books and a few of Aolani's toys #4: Aolani's nice books (with paper pages that can easily be torn and ripped) #5: Aolani's games and preschool books (that I hope to start next month) [Ricky keeps the Kindle, his Bible, and other books on the top]. I must say both kids love this, but Aolani is now to be found on the couch looking at books all day long :)

• Just refining the verses I quote, since I find myself skipping a few when I go through them.
• We are still learning the 'D' verse; although, she knows all four verses so far, she gets the references and numbers all mixed up: Luke 6:31 ~ Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Tell the World

I think this might be my favorite Lecrae song (the lyrics get me every time) --



Now, I’mma tell the world, tell ‘em
I’mma tell it everywhere I go
Tell the world, tell ‘em
Yeah, I’m a billboard
Tell the world, tell ‘em
I’m broadcastin’ like a radio
Tell the world
You ought to know, I’m brand new

I know one thing’s true: I don't even really deserve to know You
But, I-I’m a witness that You did this, and I'm brand new
So, I-I'm ready to go, and I’mma tell the world what they need to know
A slave to myself, but You let me go, I tried getting high but it left me low
You did what they could never do
You cleaned up my soul and
Gave me new life - I'm so brand new
And that’s all that matters
I-I ain’t love You first, but You first loved me
In my heart I cursed You, but You set me free
I gave You no reason to give me new seasons, to give me new life, new breathing
But You hung there bleedin’, and Ya’ died for my lies and my cheatin’, my lust and my greed, (and Lord!)
What is a man that You mindful of him?
And what do I have to deserve this lovin’?

Tryin' to make the moments last
Holdin’ on to the past
But, like a hero in a dream
Christ came, and He rescued me

Now, I’mma tell the world,
Tell the world, tell ‘em
I’mma tell it everywhere I go
Tell the world, tell ‘em
Yeah, I’m a billboard
Tell the world, tell ‘em
I’m broadcastin’ like a radio
Tell the world
You ought to know, I’m brand new

I can't offer You nothin’, but Your care and kindness keep comin’
And Your love is so unconditional, I get butterflies in my stomach
I got the old me in the rear view, got a new me got a clear view
And I was so dead, I couldn't hear You, too deep in sin to come near You
But You drew me in, You cleaned me up, so take me home, beam me up
Before You do, just let me tell the truth, and let these folks know that I done seen Ya’ love
And it's everlasting, infinite, it goes on and on, you can’t measure it
Can’t quench Ya’ love, they can’t separate us from the love of God, there’s no estimate
My face look the same, my frame ain’t rearranged, but I’m changed; I promise I ain’t the same
Your love’s so deep You suffered and took pain, You died on the cross to give me a new name
Ain’t nothing like I've seen before, I got a beaming glow
I was low, down, and dirty, but You cleaned me, Lord
You adopted me, You keep rocking me
I'mma tell the world, and ain’t nobody stopping me!

Tryin' to make the moments last
Holdin’ on to the past
But, like a hero in a dream
Christ came, and he rescued me

Now, I’mma tell the world, tell ‘em
I’mma tell it everywhere I go
Tell the world, tell ‘em
Yeah, I’m a billboard
Tell the world, tell ‘em
I’m broadcastin’ like a radio
Tell the world
You ought to know, I’m brand new

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: The old has passed away, behold -- the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Now, I’mma tell the world, tell ‘em
I’mma tell it everywhere I go
Tell the world, tell ‘em
Yeah, I’m a billboard
Tell the world, tell ‘em
I’m broadcastin’ like a radio
Tell the world
You ought to know, I’m brand new