8 Months and Counting!

I am now 32 weeks or 8 months pregnant!  Only two more months to go (all of month 8 and month 9).  Things are going great so far with no complications.  I have had a little bit of swelling in my feet and an increase in fatigue but I guess that comes with the territory.  Also, the weather is finally getting hot around here, so that might have a role as well.  The last two weekends, we had a family baby shower and a shower that my girlfriends from church threw for me.  Tim and I (and little Josh) have been blessed beyond belief by the love and generosity of all our friends and family.  We have begun getting the nursery together now that we have some furniture from the showers.  There are photos below of our progress.  Also, Tim started working from home this week.  There have been some small glitches so far but they are getting worked out and I'm sure it will be smooth sailing in no time.  We are looking forward to this time that Tim can be at home with Joshua on the way.  It is such a blessing to us.

 31 weeks!

Family baby shower at 31 weeks

Tim and I at family shower (31 weeks)

so much stuff!

It's hard to tell, but there is some progress

32 weeks!

Problems with Priorities or Relationships?

If you have problems in your life, the most common result is a wrong order of priorities in your life. From time to time if you're at all like me, you can begin to feel guilty for not sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, or even worse begin to be so zealous you begin to compare yourself and tell others they are lukewarm and need to be witnessing. I've done both and both cases I had to be reminded of my God given priorities. Yes we are called to proclaim the gospel but that doesn't mean we don't with our family, our friends and then with strangers.

(The Adventures of Roman and Jorge)

"Most of us desire to live a well-balanced life. To this end it is important to realize that a man's life exists on two planes - horizontal and vertical. On the horizontal plane we relate to one another. On the vertical plane we relate to God. These two planes are on a fixed, center axis...The answer lies in correcting the vertical plane of our lives. A right relationship with God will affect every other relationship we have and, thus, bring the horizontal plane into balance." Pastor Chuck Smith

My Pastor Sam Allen often says "At the heart of every problem is a problem of the heart". How true he is, and when we have problems in this life they are most likely due to the priorities of our heart. As a Christian you must be sure you grow in your personal relationship with Christ. One of the best things I have found to help keep me on track is to have daily devotions and Bible scripture reading. As a Christian you need time alone with God daily.  Once you have a consuming love for God you will then begin to have a consuming love for others. We want to be an example, so we must back up our spoken witness with our life.

Not that I have it down perfect, but here's how I try to prioritize:
First I'm a Christian (Allow the Lord to lead in all areas of your life not just in sharing the gospel),
then a Husband (My wife needs to be encouraged and renewed with the gospel just as much as me),
a soon to be Father (The next generation needs the gospel just as much as ours does),
and lastly a Servant/Minister of God (Everyone needs Jesus, and to know the gospel).


1) Christian, a follower of Christ (Christianos)

The first duty of a Christian is to know God (1Jo 4:8).
The second duty of a Christian is to love God (Deu 6:5).
The third duty of a Christian is to serve God (Mat 6:24).

Matthew 22:36-40
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

 

2) Husband, of one wife (anēr)

The first duty of a Husband is to know God, and then dwell with his wife (1Pe 3:7).
The second duty of a Husband is to love God, and then to love his wife (Col 3:19).
The third duty of a Husband is to serve God, and then to provide for his wife (1Ti 5:8).

Ephesians 5:25-29
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.

3) Father, one advanced in years, progenitor of a people (patēr)

The first duty of a Father is to know God, his wife, and then train his children (Eph 6:4).
The second duty of a Father is to love God, his wife, and then love his children (Col 3:21).
The third duty of a Father is to serve God, his wife, and then to teach his children (Deu 6:7).

Psalm 127 

1 Unless the LORD builds the house, ​​They labor in vain who build it; ​​Unless the LORD guards the city, ​​The watchman stays awake in vain .2 ​​It is vain for you to rise up early, ​​To sit up late, ​​To eat the bread of sorrows; ​​For so He gives His beloved sleep. 3 ​​Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, ​​The fruit of the womb is a reward .4 ​​Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, ​​So are the children of one’s youth. ​​Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; ​​They shall not be ashamed, ​​But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

4) Servant, an underrower, subordinate assistant (hypēretēs) / Minister, the servant of a king (diakonos)

The first duty of a Servant is to know God, his family, and then minister to others (Mat 20:25-26).
The second duty of a Servant is to love God, his family, and then love others (Mar 9:35).
The third duty of a Servant is to serve God, his family, and then serve others (Eph 6:5-8).

Colossians 3:22
22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.

Read the post about being a servant from our November 2010 newsletter by clicking here.

May the following eBook encourage you in the further study of God's Word where the commands of God and the promises of His many blessings are found.  Click here to read: Christian Family Relationships an eBook by Pastor Chuck Smith.

Seek and save that which is lost and press on in Love,
Tim Molter, bondservant of Jesus

Photo Updates and More!

Hello friends and family. It has recently come to our attention that there needs to be more Baby Bump photo updates. We have been taking pictures all along, I just didn't realize they weren't making it all the way to the blog! We're so sorry. So here they are in current progressive order...

23 weeks

26 weeks

27 weeks

I did find some previous pictures back in an earlier March post as well.  Depending on the source, either this week or next week, I enter the third trimester!  Wahoo.  Tim and I agree, the time has gone by so fast.  We are so excited to meet our sweet little baby Joshua.  So far, there have been no real complications.  I took the glucose tolerance test last week and my numbers were literally right at the cut-off.  But since there is such a strong family history of diabetes, I'm going with it.  All my blood sugar levels have been just fine anyway.  And I figure, if this is the worst of my pregnancy problems, then we're doing alright.

In other news, the company Tim works for has been making a push for their employees to work from home within the next few years.  So, with Joshua on the way, Tim and I prayerfully decided to be "early adopters" and Tim will make the transition to a home office toward the end of June.  It will be an adjustment period that will need much prayer but all in all we think it will be a great move. 

Things continue to go well with the High School students we are working with.  We have been seeing great things in their lives as they learn and grow in the Lord.  Just last week our church announced that the previous Jr. High pastor will now become the High School pastor.  He is a great Bible teacher, the students love him and his wife and we are so excited to work with them as the High School has been without it's own pastor for a few years now.  It will be a great time of learning and growing, not only for the students but also for Tim and I as we prepare for whatever ministry leadership position the Lord has for us in coming years.  This truly is an answer to MUCH prayer.

Andrew left for Boot Camp on May 1st.  Just last week, my parents received their first letter from him and he sounds like he is doing great.  I could hear the excitement in his voice as I read the letter he sent to them.  He mentioned that he had the opportunity to go to chapel on Sunday and really enjoyed it.  I am so glad.  I wasn't sure if it would be a true Christian worship service or just a generic, cover-all-the-bases service.  He said he can't wait to go to AIT and begin his training as a Chaplain's Assistant.  We continue to pray that the Lord gives Andrew a great Christian mentor to work with during that time and that even now he can be a witness to his fellow soldiers.  I really miss him.  I can't wait to see him again in August.  And he can meet Joshua too!  Okay, now I'm crying.

Last year Tim and I decided that it was a year of travel.  This year's theme seems to be the year of change.  We are trying to keep all things in perspective, being lead by the Lord and remembering that in most cases, change is a good thing and always God is in control.  "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.   For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts."  Isaiah 55:8-9