Esther: God's Perfect Timing

Birth:

Our little girl was due on November 20th, a week before Thanksgiving, but quoting a friend who said "Little Esther must have a lot of work to do for The Lord and wanted to get an early start." She may have arrived nine weeks earlier than man's timing, but she was right on time for God's perfect plan for her. We had prayed for her birth, name and the entire event. This pregnancy was unique and I sensed that her birth would be special. 

I started having contractions at two this morning, by five o'clock it was 10 minutes apart, by the time we left for the hospital... I knew I was in active labor. When the nurse checked me, she discovered that I was already 6cm dilated. After a half hour, it went up to 8 cm. They realized that they wouldn't be able to stop her and sent me to the delivery room. 

My doctor, who hadn't delivered my other daughters, was able to deliver our little Esther. Before he broke the water, my husband prayed in front of him, the nurse, mom and myself. I delivered her at noon.

Esther was 4lbs, had a large umbilical cord, lived in a large sac, and even cried immediately after birth. I was able to hold her on me for a while, too. Huge blessings!

We discover God's reason for her early birth: The placenta had begun to abrupt. There was blood within her fluids indicting the importance of this early delivery. She was born prior to it reaching her.

As soon as Esther was born, I felt God's peace. God reassured me that everything was good. He had little Esther in His hands. I know God is watching over her and will take care of her. :)

Name: 

Esther is a heroine in the Bible. She was a Jew that trusts God and trusted her guardian. She demonstrated it by the life she lived and the choices she made. She was humble and dependent on her God. She became the queen and ended up saving her people the Israelities from being destroyed.

Hope is looking forward to something and trusting God with your future. We had chosen this name because We "hope" toward our eternal home in Heaven. It is where we are going and where We pray our children will be. :)

Prayer Requests:

Thank you everyone for your prayers. Here are some specific requests.

 A workable schedule

• Visit Esther daily
• Have other daughters babysat
• Provision for travel

For Esther

• Lungs to continue to develop so she can breathe on her own
• Next: to be able to breathe, suck and swallow for feeding

For Yuliya

• A Quick recovery
• Strength and wisdom

For Andrew

• Encouragement
• Discernment for family/work schedule

Front Row Baptist

"And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word." Luke 10:39

Recently, I was talking with two young ladies from our church and asked them a simple question. "Did you ever sit in the front row?" To my amazement, "No" was the reply I got. I was shocked! "Never?" I asked. They seemed confused as to why that was even important. Another incident caught my attention the other day as I was sitting next to some other young ladies.... none of them were taking notes. Why would not want to capture the truths that God gives our pastor?

I guess I thought was normal for an young child who had grown up in church, loved God and wanted to be closer to Him.... to have a desire to sit up front and write down what God had to say to them through the preaching of our pastor.

In today's youth, I wonder where is the heart.... that seeks the Saviour? That craves to know Him more? That desires to hear the wisdom of those older and wiser then us? I have two daughters and I care for them; but, unfortunately, MY faith and desires are not enough for them. So I pray that they have the same desires I had as a little girl to know the Savior. The God who created me and saved me from sin.

Maybe I can make a difference in the young ladies around me, and especially my own daughters, to help them to see the Saviour I love, and that loves them too! Maybe they too can have the same desire to know Him. I want to pray earnestly, that my children will seek our Saviour at a young age, and take hold of a faith that is personal.

Because of my relationship with Jesus Christ, I have experienced joys from my walk with Him that are beyond words. The pleasure of having a Friend to always talk to is not something I can describe. But you can know him like this too, if you seek Him. Pray for your families and your children. Will you join with me in praying for and raising a generation that actively and genuinely seeks God?

Next time you are in a church service, sit in the front row and pull out a piece of paper and a pen. Seek your Saviour at every opportunity. Draw closer to Him and you'll experience a life that is more blessed and more satisfying than any you could dream of. :D