These scars are a story you'll use.

 Tonight, I had a conversation with my husband about this blog.

Tonight, I realized that timing is truly everything.

Tonight, I realized that my purpose doesn't change just because my circumstances do.

Tonight, I'm reminded that God's goodness never changes.

    I am a firm believer in that everything happens for a reason. I may not know the reason yet, I may not ever know the reason in my time here on this earth. But I don't believe in coincidences. Every season has its reason. You cannot enjoy the brightness summer brings, without the darkness that winter is.

My testimony will be played out bit by bit in this blog. I plan to share what all I've been through and how God played a part in every piece.  I can look back on all I've been through and see God's hand in it all. He is still a good God through all the darkness and through the light. Even now, Our NICU journey hasn't been easy, but God has had it all under control and our baby Nate is progressing wonderfully. I don't think I would be as 'strong' as I've been about it all if I had not been to this point in my faith and my trust in God. Sharing my story, the valleys, the mountains, it's all a part of what I believe God has planned for me. Sometimes I think God lets us hit rock bottom so our testimony of his goodness is that much greater. 

Worship & Praise

    Some people tend to forget about God in the good moments because things are good. I used to be one of those people so trust me when I say I know how that is. When things are good we tend to forget how much we still need God. How things are actually good because of him. Yet when things are bad, it's "Why God", "Why me" etc. We, myself included, use God as a 911 call sometimes. We've hit a rough patch or an emergency and we expect God to come through. But what about praising him in the good, not just the storms? What about worshiping him through it all? His goodness isn't changed by our pain. His goodness isn't changed by our circumstances. His goodness never changes despite the good, the bad, or the ugly. 

    How do you continue to worship through the pain? You remember his goodness, his faithfulness, his unfailing mercies. Let your pain bring you closer to God, not farther away. There's so much we can learn about ourselves through the pain. We have to continually remember who God is. God would not allow us to go through the bad times in life if we weren't going to gain something from it. The pain, the shame, the guilt, the sorrows, put it all in his hands.

    How do you continue to worship during the good moments? My answer is routine. I make space for God in my daily routine. While I may not have always worshiped him through every season of life, I do my best now to worship him through it all. No matter what the day brings, I will know I've started it off right. Whether it's a good season, a bad season, or a bad circumstance that falls into our day, I will have started out my day with the word of God at my side to guide me, or a worship song in the car to get my heart on the right track. Let him give you the hope, strength, courage, and bravery to get through whatever each day may bring. I try to see God in every single day. He is and will always be a good God.

"And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose". Romans 8:28