Minding Our Own Reproductive Business

Recently, Rebecca VanDoodewaard, wife of professor Bill VanDoodewaard (at PRTS), blogged here about the questions women are faced throughout their married life. 

Such questions like:  

• Are you pregnant? 
• Do you guys have a hard time getting pregnant?
•  How many kids do you want? 
• Is this one a surprise? 
• Why don’t you guys have (more) kids? 

Now I know that the person asking the question(s) could be asking because they see you are worried about something, or that you don't feel good, or simply because something in their mind seems to 'push' them into asking such questions. I understand that motive. Recently when I was going through my miscarriage I was asked if I was pregnant. No one knew about my being pregnant let alone the miscarriage and I felt maybe it was the Lord putting that thought into their mind to ask me. I ended up sharing with this dear friend the trial Ian and I were going through. The next day, she called me up and encouraged me in the Lord. Because of her asking me, I was able to share my struggle with someone who went through one herself and even had mentored someone who struggled with miscarriages. It became a blessing to me. 

These questions asked can ultimately hurt people especially since it is done unintentionally. Many don't realize the struggle some may have with even becoming pregnant. I asked the question to a friend a while back who (without my knowledge) was struggling with getting pregnant. Now I know the pain I could have caused if I had asked her right out loud instead of whispering it in her ear. I feel this issue should be addressed even if the motive is right. Yes, sometimes GOD puts into our path questions we need to face that hurt. Sometimes we need to face those questions to help us handle our pain and grief by sharing it with others. 

I hope and pray that if you are faced with one of these questions you will be able to find the positive side to them and are encouraged with the prayers of others going through the same struggles.

Waiting Room

Poem by Jonny Diez

Here in this waiting room  
Yearning for You to say go  
And though I'm convinced 
that a yes would be best
This time You're telling me no

It's not that I don't have an answer  
It's just not the one that I'd like  
But through this time Lord 
I must keep in mind
You're always wiser than I

The things that I seek are from You
Like the strong healing touch of Your hand
But when You say no 
help me trust even though  
There's a reason I can't understand

Then that miracle comes
'cause Your answer is yes
I will praise You for all of my days  
But when Your wisdom declares 
that a no is what's best  
I will praise You just the same

You have a much better purpose  
And You have a far greater plan  
And You have a bigger perspective
Because You hold this world in Your hands

I thought this poem fit what we have been through this past week. 

What a statement the last 4 lines are. Puts us in our place and shows us we are not big and mighty as we like to think, but we really are this small speck in God's universe and He does have every thing under control.

Be Still and Know that I Am GOD

A lot has happened since my last post. The Lord felt it necessary to take away a joy out of our lives. I was 6 weeks pregnant and miscarried last weekend. We have both felt the love and support from our families and friends and want to thank all of you who have expressed your sympathy towards us. We also want to say that while we are still saddened by the loss of this dear precious gift, we also feel a sense of comfort knowing this child is now in the arms of the Almighty. Because we both are children of the covenant, we believe this baby is also a child of the covenant and therefore we are comforted to know the baby is now in the land of the living. We both are doing well otherwise and are thankful that I am not experiencing more symptoms than I am. We know that if it wasn't in the Lord's will for us to experience such a trial then it would not have happened. 

"And all the inhabitants of the earth [are] reputed as nothing: and He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and [among] the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?" (Daniel 4:35)

Thank you for your constant prayers for us, we feel them everyday. 

We need grace

We need grace to focus on his word,

“all things possible to him that believeth.” 

Even the salvation of your soul!

There is nothing in the decree of God, 

there is nothing in the aggravations of your sin, 

there is nothing in all the twistedness involved in your coming to the Saviour that takes away from the truth that 

“whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” 

(Hugh Cartwright)

SNOW!!!!

Our official snow fall of the year 2013!!

Here are some pictures of the snow fall in the past three days. You cannot see the bottom of the fence and gate. Yesterday, Ian had shoveled a path from the back door through the gate to the vehicles, but now there is no visible sign of an attempt of a path. 

The cars were lightly covered yesterday evening, but now are completely burried under the snow!

The fence has a layer of snow on it, the shed has a thick blanket on its roof. 

The steps to the porch... and the railing.. all covered in snow.

The front yard again, the red car by the side of the road has its wheels half covered.

This next picture is of my neighbor and cousin Mark's house.. look at the railing of his steps (he was gone a couple days and the snow has not been cleared off yet) 

This last picture is in the back yard, trying to focus on the flower pot. 

I think in total there are about 8"-10" and more still coming down!

Snow is a beauty when you don't have to go out into it. We all are happy for the snow.. we hope and pray this means a good year of crop for the farmers and a minimum of bugs and mosquitos in the summer.

Good Reminder

The text we chose for Dr Bilkes to preach on in our wedding ceremony has now made it to our livingroom wall. Last May I asked a friend of ours to paint a picture for us (partly for Ian's birthday). Now that the painting is done and the bible verse is up, I decided to show you all what it looks like. 

 Close up- the picture I took is a little crooked.. but I think you get the idea!!

It is a good reminder to us every day to "Be still and know that I am GOD". I heard recently of a pastor say if we are always anxious about the big storm coming or why things are not going our way, then we are actually showing our unbelief in the Lord. Not truusting that He has everything in control and will pull us through what ever trials He brings in our path. He has ordained everything to happen, He knows the struggles we will go through. He puts in our path only what He knows we can handle, and that doesn't mean what we can handle by ourselves either. Sometimes the struggles we face are what bring us on our knees to the Lord asking for His guiding hand in our lives and through the trial. So many times we think we can handle it on our own, but the Lord has other plans for us. Take what happened to Mike Maartense last week (I posted about it here). What a tragic accident to occur in a young family with 4 kids who are having a hard time understanding the seriousness of their dad's injury and wonder when he will wake up. 

His wife, Pam, updated his care page the other day, and it is a reminder to us all of what God has done already and what He can do. She understands the Lord is in control even in this situation.

"While following our BSF sister Ellen VanOss on her Care Pages for years I commented to Michael more than once that if we were ever in a position to have a Care Page it was my hope that God would enable us to glorify Him in like manner. Ellen is at home with her Jesus now. God in His infinite wisdom has allowed life's events to place Michael in critical condition and I have the song, "May All Who Come Behind Us Find Us Faithful" in my head. It's an old song, I think it was my brother Steve's class song way back in 1992. But it's the desire of Michael's heart and mine. May all who come behind us find us faithful in relying on God, trusting Him when it hurts so badly and seems so overwhelming from our earthly perspective. Pray with us that God grants healing to Michael and that He continues to be glorified.As of this afternoon, Michael is demonstrating some reflexive movement and making breathing effort on his own with the support of the ventilator. The next bit of time will present the decision about the placement of a trach but we aren't quite there yet today.He had a feeding tube put in place today allowing them to give him formula nutrition and enabling them to crush pills and give them to him that way if needed.The neurosurgeon has told us that in cases like Michael's 1/3 of patients make no recovery, 1/3 make a poor recovery and 1/3 made a reasonable recovery.We ask that you pray that Michael makes a miraculous recovery. Pray for emotional and spiritual protection for our four children who are wondering if Dad is going to be okay and when he will wake up. Pray for peaceful sleep for me tonight. I got about three hours of rest last night at the hospital. Pray for others to be brought to see and believe in Christ's power and presence.Thank you so much for the outpouring of prayers. So many loved ones and friends have their church prayer lines going. Our church had a time of prayer for Michael in the hospital chapel last night. A group of Holland/Zeeland BSF men prayed together at the hospital today and are having a special time of prayer tomorrow as well. A friend let me know the hospital chapel is reserved for prayer for Michael from 10:30-11:30 tomorrow. Please join us in prayer at that time wherever you are.I was so humbled to hear from a BSF lovely that one of her friends who I had prayed for a year ago when she lost her husband in an accident is now interceding for me and our family.I feel that God was preparing me a tiny bit through the devotional I read to my second graders Thursday morning, right about the time Michael was en route to the hospital. It was a reminder that God promises to be our strength in our weaknesses. I'm certainly feeling so very weak and overwhelmed now. But I'm reminding myself that God's strength will be sufficient. Please continue to pray for that strength.Thank you and love to so many of you dear ones.Note: We do ask for no visitors except immediate family for Michael. We need to avoid much stimulation and allow his brain to heal. You may gladly show your support for the family members in the waiting room if you wish." 

Here is the link to his care page. You may need to sign in to see it but it only takes a couple minutes and it is worth it. 

Need Urgent Prayer!

Just a quick note to who reads this blog. Yesterday there was a serious car accident in Grand Rapids involving a 41 year old man from one of our congregations and a towtruck. He was airlifted from the accident site to the hospital due to intensive brain injury. This is what Pastor VanderZwaag has to stay on behalf of the family.

"Dear Friends, I'm just back from a visit with Pam Maartense & her family. She asked me to update everyone on Mike's condition. He has multiple and extensive skull fractures and bleeding in the brain. Though he did come through brain surgery the surgeon said that Mike is not doing well, and that there is no way to predict if and how he will come out. On a scale of 1-5 he said Mike is a 4, one above being brain dead. Please continue to pray for Mike and Pam and the entire family." ~Pastor VanderZwaag "Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth" (Psalm 124:8). 

Here is a link to the TV broadcast of the crash if you would like more details about it. Please pray for the his wife and four kids.

Here is a note from Pam (wife of Mike): 

"God is good all the time. I'm reminded of our BSF(Bible study fellowship) lesson years ago where the spies focused on how big the giants in the land of Canaan were instead of on how big their God is. Praying for eyes focused on our big God. Nothing new to report and don't expect that there will be for some time. Thank you for all the prayers! Please pray specifically that God makes all the decisions for me and that He is glorified."

The Lord is in control of this man's life and we pray for His constant care and comfort to the family during this time as well as much needed healing for Mike. 

All if it is the Lord's will.