A Bit More Info Concerning Mr. Peanut

Thanks ya'll for your congrats. We're very excited about the upcoming addition to our family. We've actually know for about 1 month now, (we're 2 months along) but wanted to get the sonogram done yesterday to make sure all things were still going according to plan. Right now the fetus is 2 1/2 cm long and has a heart beat of 180 bpm. The sonogram showed us what looked to be a miniature Mr. Peanut (without legs or arms) inside Melissa's tummy. Evidently that means things are progressing as planned.

Many of you probably weren't aware that we had been trying to conceive for about 8 months prior to the positive test. We prayed often and some of you prayed as well. God continues to work in our lives through this answer to prayer. Thanks to all of you who have persistently lifted us up in your prayers over the past few months.

Both grandparents are pleased as punch. This is the first grandbaby for the in-laws and the second within a year for my folks. I'll continue to update you as to how things are going and will try and post a picture of the sonogram if I can keep from burning out the image.

BTW, Melissa is not feeling great. Her stomach is giving her fits along with the constant sinus pressure from the daily rains we seem to be getting lately. Please pray for her and our new child as the next 7 months roll around.

Informal Prayer

Tony Jones's thoughts on informal prayer...
(did I use the apostrophe correctly Luke?)

http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2007/001/12.75.html

Not That I Need A Reason

Yes, it's true that spending time with God through prayer, devotional time, Scripture reading, or whatever other spiritual discipline you select is of great importance because it gives us an opportunity to know God. But I've also discovered that there are some earthly reasons to spend time feeding our spiritual lives.

• Helps me to grow into a spiritual leader in my home for my wife and future children
• Gives me insight to who God is and the relationship that He has with his children (good for helping steer teens in the right direction)
• Develops me into a better Christian in order that I might display this to others and serve them as Jesus would
• Keeps my focus and priorities in the right place

Funny how most of these benefit others, not myself. So maybe that is why I don't spend as much time with God as I should. Maybe I don't see enough benefit for my own self. As a selfish person I'm motivated by things that will help me and if doing these things is actually benefiting others, than I may not see value in them. But I admit that helping others does give me a sense of worth and value that can't be purchased or achieved.

I can remember back to the time I was going through my divorce and I was in prayer and Scripture a lot. Was that because I wanted something to happen for me or was it because I was depending upon God to get me through? Honestly, I think I can say it was a combination of both.