Our Ebenezer Stone

For the last 7 months…

jdodson08 — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 03:09:48 +0000

…I have been learning more and more each month that God is the one to open and close a woman’s womb. It’s been challenging, very emotional, but so good for me to learn dependence upon God. I have more of an understanding of this in my heart now rather than just my head. A few weeks ago, as I was studying the first few chapters of 1 Samuel I was reading of Hannah and her desire for a child. She cried out to God asking for him to bless with her with child; She promised God that she would give her son back to God in service to him. God answered her prayers and she did just that; she gave Samuel to serve God alongside Elijah the priest. God heard Hannah’s cry. She gave back to him in worship. –I sat there wondering, as I pondered the story, if I would ever have the opportunity to have God answer my prayers like he did for Hannah. I want a child to share Christ’s love with; a child to walk through life with and share with them God’s story of Salvation (whom I pray they will be apart of).
If Justin and I weren’t to have a baby, then maybe we would adopt. We have seriously considered adoption in future family plans. I did look a few times on the internet to see the process of adoption in the united states when we first moved here to Ohio…

All this to say, God has chosen to bless us with a child. =o) We are so excited! We are early in the process, but the hCG levels are increasing; a very good thing. As of today, I am 7 weeks and 5 days. A few weeks behind a good friend and a few months behind my sister-in-law. ;o) We’re praying for God’s hand on this baby growing within me (size compares to a blueberry at this time) We’ll keep walking in faith each day of this exciting journey.

Thank you God for such a precious gift this Christmas season!

(this is an email I sent to my close girlfriends from University to share with them, we are pregnant)

It’s been a while…

jdodson08 — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 03:20:53 +0000

Since the last time…yes, in March, many things have happened. I finished training for the half marathon, and ran it with my friend Jess on May 1st. We finished and it was a fun experience (for me 2hrs and 5 min)!! In July, Justin and I moved to Ohio. We were and continue to be sad that we left such a good Church family, but we’re settling in here slowly (slow for me at least). What awesome friendships we made in IL, that will be precious for this lifetime. We miss you small group!!

From the beginning of July much has happened. We moved here to Ohio and Justin started his new job, and I started mine. A new place, new jobs, and a new Church….many transitions and it’s been a process for me. I have been so challenged with my new job; at times wanting to quit because I was so nervous to go to work. Oh how the Lord has given me strength and peace beyond what my human heart and mind can fathom. A week before going on my own, the anxiety of all the new things I was learning was released. The burden of not knowing anything about trauma nursing was lifted from my shoulders. Nothing that can be explained… I just praise God that it has been taken away! Looking back, I am not sure what it was. Maybe a time where Satan was trying to distract me and make me think I was not fit for this job. Maybe a time where God was allowing me to be challenged so that I would be more dependent upon him than I was being. Maybe a time where God wanted me to persevere. I am still working on the perseverance. =o) Hospital nursing is challenging….very busy on the trauma unit, but interesting.

Justin and I are doing great. We have found it more of a challenge being here at university with schedules than when Justin was in seminary only. With much communication we’re working through it. Justin is so awesome at helping me talk through my expectations. I love him!!

Well, this is what’s happening in our lives right now. More to come…maybe in a few months. =)

Training…

jdodson08 — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:08:20 +0000

Justin and I continue to train for the half marathon that I will be running May 1st of this year. He has been a trooper, pushing himself to run miles he never thought was possible. I never thought running this many miles was possible either. =o) Yesterday was a long run day; Justin ran 7 mi. and I ran 11 mi. A few days before I tried a new workout on this stairstepping machine, and oh did my legs feel it yesterday. I could barely get them to move forward. I finished though, and Justin and I were both feeling the effects that night. It’s amazing how a body know’s when it’s been under stress…it aches all over. =o) I had to take Tylenol to help with the pain…I rarely ever take medication. We have two more months to train for this 1/2 marathon and I’m trying to decide how to do my long runs up to that point. Should I keep doing a mile more each week, or drop back every other week? We’ll see… I’m just so thankful that my husband (Justin) is joining me in the endeavor and being such an encouragement. I don’t think I could have gotten this far on my own. He has been a great motivator.

A Date Night with My Husband

jdodson08 — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:09:33 +0000

Last night my husband had a wonderful idea for a date!! We did a progressive dinner. We started at Applebee’s and got a appetizer platter of different things (a good variety). Next we went to Jameson’s Charhouse and shared a plate of Chicken Fettechini Alfredo; along with a complementary soup and salad. By this time, I was so full that the thought of dessert made me feel sick. Although, we headed over to Cheesecake factory and picked up a few pieces of cheesecake to go, which we had a little of later in the night (as we watched the movie “Changeling”). What a thoughtful night eh?! That’s my husband. =o)

Renovation Continues

jdodson08 — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:47:09 +0000

Before Christmas, I was asked by a friend if I wanted to run a half marathon in May. I have often considered training for a long run like this, but never thought I could find a friend crazy enough to do it with me. It seems that friend found me. =o)

After considering her question for about a week, I decided to say “yes.” In thinking about this physical renovation, I also began to realize that I needed to have some spiritual renovations done as well. My husband is often saying, “The church doesn’t want to learn. They don’t want to use their brains. They don’t want to think.” I don’t want to be that Christian who stops learning. I want to continue to grow in the knowledge of God. So I made the goal for myself to read a book a month (I’m trying to get a desire to read more. Reading a book a month is foreign to me. ), while I trained for the half marathon. The books I chose are as follows:

1. “How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth” -Gordon D. Fee & Douglas Stuart 2. “Let the Nations Be Glad” – John Piper 3. William Carey: Obliged to Go” -Janet & Geoff Benge 4. A Call to Spiritual Reformation-D.A. Carson

I’ve finished the first and I’m on to the second. I want to share a quote I read today from Piper. In the third chapter of his book, “Let the Nations Be Glad,” Piper is speaking on the suffering amongst believers (It’s implications on self, the supremacy of Christ, missions, etc.). At the end, Piper puts out a challenge to the Mid-Western Christian thought of retirement (as if it’s something we deserve). He says on pg. 105, “How many Christians set their sights on the “Sabbath evening” of life-resting, playing, traveling, and so on- the world’s substitute for heaven, because they do no believe that there will be one beyond the grave. The mindset is that we must reward ourselves in this life for our long years of labor. Eternal rest and joy after death is an irrelevant consideration. What a strange reward for a Christian to set his sights on! Twenty years of leisure while living in the midset of the last days of inifinite consequence for millions of unreached people. What a tragic way to finish the last lap before entering the presence of the King who finished his so differently!“

Why are we so prone to want the comforts of this life and the American dream or think we deserve them? Why are we not sharing his name with the lost, rather than worying about the next house, the next car, the next thing that will bring joy for a time?

Our home is not of the world so start living like it. Share his name. Do His Ministry. Stop loving the things of this world. Proclaim the Gospel! Seek out the lost! Live for the GLORY OF GOD!

I am preaching this to myself as well.

I’ve learned much in the past 6 weeks of training both physically and spiritually. My husband has even joined me. It’s been an awesome time of dedication and I’m excited to see what the next few months bring.

Winter Wonderland

jdodson08 — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:47:20 +0000

Justin and I decorated our appartment about a week ago. We used garland from our wedding to place over the bookshelves. The Christmas tree is from a local nursery that we brought home on our Chevy Malibu. It was so fun picking the tree out, even though they were already pre-cut. Last, but not least, the small tree in the bottom right corner was a wedding gift; one of Mom’s co-workers made it.

We had a fun time decorating. We used popcorn and red beads (to look like cranberries) to make the garland for our tree. We had many tree ornaments from our wedding and we found some more at craft shops. Our home is quite cozy with all the decorations. We love using the Christmas lights to light up the house when it get’s dark. There is just something about the lights that makes it so calming.

Amongst all the beauty of lights, Christmas tree’s, and Christmas music, I’m trying to keep myself focused on what this time of celebration is really about. Jesus Christ came down to this earth to reconcile sinners to Himself/God! I deserved nothing, yet He chose to pursue me and grant me GRACE. Praise be to God, not only at this time of year but every day.

Just Starting

jdodson08 — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:53:40 +0000

Hello Blog World! I’m new to this but I’m excited to make posts; to update family and friends, encourage believers and invoke thought of those passing by. We’ll see what comes of it….