Over 100 and finding out your wife is pregnant

It’s easy to have faith when everything goes your way. When you score the game winning touchdown, do well on a test or get that raise at work, it’s easy to say, “Thank you God!” What about when the opposite happens?

When things are bad can you still worship God? When a relative dies, you can’t play a sport due to bad grades or you find out you are sicker then you thought? Can you still praise and have faith in God?

I have friends that have struggled through fertility issues. It’s always rough to see people who would be great parents not get that chance. When you have been blessed not to have issues and people close to you have issues, it’s tough. I have friends that have stayed strong in faith and I have seen friends turn their back on their faith. For those you know with fertility issues look at the story of Abraham and Sarah.

These were two people that were outcast because they couldn’t have kids. Kids are looked at as a blessing of God and it was ten times true back in the Old Testament times. You had God’s favor when you were able to have kids. If you didn’t have kids, God must be mad at you. So people looked down on Abraham and Sarah. It drove them crazy to see everyone around them pregnant and they were not. God did promise a kid, but it was on his timing not theirs. They could turn their backs on their faith or grow stronger in it.

During the bad times, you can get down or stay faithful. Abraham chose to stay faithful during this tough time, Romans 4:20-22…

“Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Abraham knew God was going to come through for him and even while he was around 100, he still trusted God. God did eventually bless what today would be great grandparents with their first child. Sarah was pregnant.

Faith in God allowed Abraham to receive his blessing. If everything happened the way you wanted it to and in your timing, would you learn anything or need to have faith? It’s easy to praise God when life is going your way, its tough when things aren’t going smooth. Have faith during the tough times. There is a God who loves you and wants the best for you. Grow through the tough times. No athlete gets anything handed to them, they have to work hard at it. There are times faith will be easy and hard. You go through the hard times and that will make you appreciate the good times even more.

Stay strong, have faith in Jesus to come through. Grow and learn through the tough times and just like Abraham you can have a great blessing in the end. Trust in Jesus.

Have a great day.

Does a pregnant women going into labor show there is pleasure in pain?

Pleasure in pain.

Not exactly something I think about all the time.

Can you experience pain and pleasure at the same time?

I think about knee surgeries I have went through, the pain they have caused.

I did not think there was any pleasure in that.

Those who know me during that time, know that my surgery was not supposed to affect me that much.

My first knee surgery was supposed to be a scope and a lateral release, I would be out from playing hockey 4-6 weeks.

It ended up being a more extensive procedure and I was out 3 months from walking without a brace and six months before I touched the ice.

There was not pleasure in that pain.

Not often I think about this happening, pain in pleasure.

Jesus tells us this in John 16:21…

“A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.”

I think about the joys of each of our kids.

Nevaeh – such a sweet girl and is so compassionate for other people.  She told me today that she wanted to use her birthday money to buy Connor a pillow pet because he wanted one.  Yesterday her teacher told Hailee that she had Nevaeh do an assignment first because she was a lock to do great on it and it made the teacher feel good about teaching.

Connor – Is such a funny kid.  He makes me laugh every single day.  He picks up on my saying and says them at the most random times.  The other day we were having a conversation and I told him he needed to clean up his room before he could have a snack.  He told me something like, “Chill out chill out, it will be done.”  So much laughter and love in that boy.

Ty – That is my buddy.  If I am laying on the ground with a pillow, he will come right up to be and do exactly what I am doing.  If I am unloading the dishwasher he comes right up beside me to help me out, such an awesome kid.

God has blessed Hailee and I with some great kids, better kids then we deserve.

I would love to have one more kid if that was in the cards, but there is one thing that is huge, I am not giving birth.

Through all this, all the joys my kids give me would be nothing without the sacrifice Hailee made by going through 10 months of pregnancy and giving birth.

Jesus mentions about this in the scripture above.

There is pain in having kids for women, but that joy when you can see your baby can be worth it.

Jeuss gives this analogy to tell his disciple that there is time of grief in the world but there will be a time of joy.

Jesus soon after this speech, will be arrested and taken to be put to death.

He did this for them.

He did this for you.

Jesus went through on of the most painful deaths humans could endure for you.

To die for your sins.

That no matter how big of an idiot and messed up you feel, Jesus did this for you.

He finishes this section of scripture in verse 33…

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

People will tear you down, make fun of you, think less of you as a person.

Jesus does not.

He values you.

He loves you in a way nobody could.

Even when you feel like your whole world is coming down, take heart knowing he is still there for you and what you are going through.

There can be pleasure in pain.

I thank Hailee for all the pain and difficulty of going through pregnancy for some amazing kids.

Without her sacrifice, we wouldn’t have three amazing children.

Without the sacrifice of Jesus, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.

I am still a sinner but I am accepted.

Because as a sinner I believe Jesus is the Christ, son of the living God and accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and savior I will be in heaven.  I have eternal life.

The pain and the suffering Jesus did on the cross was for me (Even if I don’t feel worthy of it).

It was done for you too.

Jesus loves you and wants you to accept him to have eternal life.

Now’s a great time to make that decision.

There is pleasure in pain, pregnant women going the labor process show us this and so does Jesus.

Have a great day.