What Is Your Whale?

July 8, 2014July 8, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres2 Comments

Thank you, Jesus, indeed, as always!!

And this time, thanks to all of YOU! Your letters, e-mails, texts and phone calls have been so sweet!! It’s comforting to know that our being M.I.A. from the blogosphere this past week didn’t go unnoticed! 🙂

We are happy to report that nothing is awry, we are just busy and were a little under the weather from the end of last week through the weekend. And when I say busy, I mean BUSY! Busy as in I have been at my desk since 7:45AM and have only gotten up once, to fill my coffee cup. Busy as in as I was making my page-long to-do list, three more e-mails arrived to add to that list.

And it isn’t just work, we are involved in so much, and very thankfully & happily so. There just aren’t enough hours in the DAY, let alone WEEK to accomplish everything needing to be done! And while we are blessed with my ‘job’ and the income it provides for our family, that’s really all it is. A job. Not a career. It’s a means to an end until we meet Jonah Elizabeth face-to-face. Or at least, it was…

Things are beginning to change at the Lefebvre household, folks, and we will have a teeny-tiny snippet of just what that means tomorrow! But for today…

…let’s focus on our infertility journey and remembering to thank Him for His ever fertile faithfulness.

Two Sundays ago, Pastor Alan spoke about Jonah. Now, we at The Newlywed Lefebvres certainly know the story of Jonah and the whale – right? Or do we…actually?

Read Jonah 1 – 4.

The story of Jonah shows a prophet of God running from His Will. Now, certainly, this is something none of us have ever done. Right? 🙂 Nope. Not relatable in the least… Ha.

Jonah ran from what God asked him to do, and then he got caught up in a very horrible storm. Again…not familiar at all, right? 🙂

He was thrown overboard by the sailors on the boat with him, sure he was about to die.

But God sent a big fish – a marlin, a tuna, a WHALE…

…not to EAT Jonah…not to harm Jonah…not to hurt Jonah…

God sent the whale to Jonah to SAVE him and to redirect him on God’s chosen course for his life!

Wow, huh? That’s a different way of looking at things… and it made me and Craig take a step back and think.

Our infertility has been our whale.

God used this season in our lives to bring us back to Him, and to work for His Kingdom. To truly discover Him and who we are in Him, as His children. He is using our story to bring others to Him. It is truly a miracle…and how apropos that our little miracle will be named Jonah. 🙂

What is something that might be (or might have been) the whale God placed or saved you with in your life?

Thinking of our trials in a whole new light may bring God’s Will for your life into the light, as well. 🙂

Until Tomorrow,

My Choice Monday

#loveonpurpose

May 5, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed LefebvresLeave a comment

Happy Monday Everyone!! I hope everyone’s weekend was as gorgeous as ours! The weather just couldn’t have been any more perfect!

This week marks the beginning of Love On Purpose Week and “my choice” for you today is to get involved in your community by loving on purpose!

Monday: Today is all about saying THANK YOU to our first responders – police, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, armed forces.

If you can’t think of anything else to do, pray for our troops, police, firefighters and EMTs’ safety and well-being! Let them know they are loved and appreciated with baked goods!

Tuesday: This is Intentional Act of Kindness Day. Do something intentionally kind, for no reason at all – other than sharing the love of Christ. Pay for the person behind you in line at Starbucks. Buy lunch for your co-worker. Bake brownies for your neighbor. Wash that dirty car in your cul-de-sac.

Wednesday: Make an INTENTIONAL effort to spend time with the Lord today. Learn about His Love by worshipping Him and spending time in the presence of His Holy Spirit.

Thursday: Thursday is the day to show your appreciation for teachers! We don’t have children, but we do have a very good friend who is a teacher and she is getting dinner out tomorrow on me. 😉 If you do have children in school, here is an awesome idea I saw this morning on Facebook:

Friday: Friday is the day of the Paulding County Meth Walk – Click here for more information. If you live in the area, you can walk or run to support the fight against this horrible addiction, or, if you live in another area you can make a donation by clicking the same link!

Saturday: Saturday is the day I am most excited about! We are collecting women’s (gently worn) clothing and shoes, and new, full-size containers of women’s hygiene products to create Princess Packages in support of a ministry called “Out of Darkness” which rescues women from the world of sex trafficking and prostitution. By clicking the link, you can find out how you can help! If you live in the Atlanta area, you can drop items off to me at my office or our home (e-mail me), or to FullTurn Church. I’ve begun a collection at my office for items, as well as raided our local Dollar General and my closet! Help us help these women turn their lives around!

And on a lighter note, this little “app”/game I found on Google Chrome this morning has me entertained…

I’m stuck at “59” elements…Help. 🙂

That’s all for today folks! Let’s show Christ’s love all over the world this week (and always!)! And take pictures to post, using the hashtag #loveonepurpose all week long!

My Choice Monday

Congratulations & Recommendations!

March 17, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres1 Comment

Happy Monday!!

I don’t know about your particular neck of the woods, but here in Georgia, it’s dark and stormy outside – DEFINITELY THE KIND OF MONDAY THAT MAKES GOING TO WORK MORE DIFFICULT THAN USUAL!

So let’s cheer things up around here a little bit! First, we have a winner!

Congratulations, Peggy O’Flaherty (an appropriate name for St. Patrick’s Day!!) of Creating Space In Your Life on winning our giveaway for a One-Year Free Subscription to iParent.tv! Please contact us to claim your prize!!

And now for the recommendations! This week, we have two:

Son Of God (2014) You must go see this movie, and if you’ve already seen it, invite others. We saw this film last night and were both physically moved by it – tears pouring down in the theatre and all. It is POWERFUL, folks.

“On Purpose” by Alan Mushegan, Jr. We have been doing a bit of weekly moonlighting with a non-denominational church in our area the past couple weeks. Two of our very best friends attend the services weekly at Full Turn Church, and two weeks ago, I begin accompanying on Wednesday evenings for praise and worship. Craig came with me last week, and it was an amazing experience. It’s where I discovered this song:

(I thought it might be beneficial for y’all to see/hear a version with lyrics…I hope it gets stuck in your head! Just sing along and praise the Lord!)

Anyways…. The pastor at Full Turn Church wrote the book above, and gave Craig and I free copies when we visited… I have just delved in…but I urge you… READ THIS BOOK. It is so full of God’s Word and hope….Here is a quote:

With the right perspective, every error or mistake will give us a deeper sense of purpose – an opportunity to learn and grow. Why? Because in God’s eyes we are never failures.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve made some big mistakes along the way and reading this gives me peace. He backs this logic up with Romans 8:28:

And we know all that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.

Whatever has happened in your past; whatever you’ve done; wherever you came from; no matter the trial you’re going through right this second… God is ALMIGHTY and He can use ANYTHING and ANY SITUATION for His purpose. How awesome!?!?

So there ya have it, people. Read this book and Watch that movie. It’s an order.

We hope to see you back here soon – Especially next Monday…We have an amazing deal for y’all!!! Keep in touch and stay tuned!

We love you!