Nicolo Immanuel's First Month

 From an anxious new mom

Our son celebrated his one month two days ago. It has been a month of sleepless nights and sleepy days, of patience being tested, emotions all over the place from postpartum blues, and how a single smile from my little one can alleviate all those bad moments of parenthood. The first month of motherhood has radically transformed the three of us. My husband learned to increase his patience, I learned to not be as selfish as I am, all of that as our little Nicolo is also bombarded with learnings in this new environment outside the womb. In all of that, I learned just how inadequate we are as parents, but God couldn't have mistaken to entrust us to be Nicolo's parents. He simply can't be wrong. This is all part of his great and unfathomable wisdom.

To quote and paraphrase a devotional I read:

The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.  (Psalm 121:8)

More Testings, More Grace

Dear Lord,

Father God, you have been so faithful to me, all these years of my life. Lord, I rejoice in your sovereignty, in your faithfulness, in your grace and mercies that follows me every waking day. Though I am a sinner through and through, yet this presses me on to know more about Christ and my deep need for him.

Now Lord, the year is almost over. And yet I rejoice in the truth that a day with you is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day. I can rest upon thy sovereignty and goodness all the days of my life. Like the Shepherd’s Psalm, you will protect me and sustain me until you call me home.

In the midst of the waiting, Lord I have grown so much in grace. You have sanctified me with your hand; you have drawn me nearer to you. The greatest thing I’ve gained isn’t gaining what I was praying for, but in the lessons I gleaned while going through it. You have revealed yourself more to me through your word and that is more than I thought I ever needed.

Thank you Lord for everything. Keep sanctifying me Lord, for your glory. Thank you for everything that I have in Christ.

Though you have chastised us Lord, you are merciful.

“He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever.” –Psalm 103:9

“Then you will say on that day, "I will give thanks to You, O LORD; For although You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, And You comfort me.” – Isaiah 12:1

“I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. I will not accuse forever, nor will I always be angry, for then the spirit of man would grow faint before me – the breath of man that I have created…” -Isaiah 57:15-16

“I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him, creating praise on the lips of the mourners in Israel. Peace, peace, to those far and near,” says the Lord. “And I will heal them.” – Isaiah 57:18