The Marriage Prayer

I know lately my blog post have been more like blog quotes. I really do intend to start doing some of my own writing. I have thought of this blog of something like a journal of thoughts, memories, and stories that I would like to pass on to my children. I would like them to know what is important to me and near and dear to my heart.

I do love to post quotes here, because they are written by people who are more eloquent. So here again I am quoting a prayer that someone forwarded to me by e-mail.

The Marriage Prayer: 68 words that could change the direction of your marriage

For Him
Father, I said, “Til death do us part.” I want to mean it. Help me love You more than her
and her more than anyone or anything else. Help me bring her into Your presence today. Make us one, like You are three in one. I want to hear her, cherish her, and serve her--
So she would love You more and we can bring You glory. Amen.

For Her
Father, I said, “Til death do us part.” I want to mean it. Help me love You more than him
and him more than anyone or anything else. Help me bring him into Your presence today. Make us one, like You are three in one. I want to hear him, support him, and serve him--
So he would love You more and we can bring You glory. Amen.

As heard on FamilyLife Today from the book, The Marriage Prayer: 68 words that could change the direction of your marriage by Patrick Morley and David Delk. © 2008 Moody Publishers

On my birthday

I know this is a late post, but I actually have a lot of late post I hope to get caught up on here in the near future. I just wanted to to a little something on turning thirty. To start off, I am putting some pictures and a poem that I find appropriate for this birthday.

On this day I am thankful for a very special person in my life, my hubby, Timothy Carpenter. He is my best friend and best companion to share life with. I know neither of us are perfect and actually have a looong way to go before God's handy work is completed in us. But Tim is still the one I want to grow old with as we pray for the best that is yet to be.

Grow old along with me!

The best is yet to be,

The last of life, for which the first was made:

Our times are in His hand

Who saith "A whole I planned,

Youth shows but half; trust God: see all, nor be afraid!"

Look not thou down but up!

To uses of a cup,

The festal board, lamp's flash and trumpet's peal,

The new wine's foaming flow,

The Master's lips a-glow!

Thou, heaven's consummate cup, what need'st thou with earth's wheel?

But I need, now as then,

Thee, God, who mouldest men;

And since, not even while the whirl was worst,

Did I,--to the wheel of life

With shapes and colours rife,

Bound dizzily,--mistake my end, to slake Thy thirst:

So, take and use Thy work:

Amend what flaws may lurk,

What strain o' the stuff, what warpings past the aim!

My times be in Thy hand!

Perfect the cup as planned!

Let age approve of youth, and death complete the same!

Robert Browning (1812-1889)

photo credit: Seth Taylor Carpenter

Happy News

We are happy to share the news of the new life that has begun in my womb. With many prayers we are expectantly awaiting the birth of a new baby sometime around July 8th, 2011. Please join us in prayer for we know that every baby is a miracle. -Rebeca

Due Date	7/8/2011		Conception	10/15/2010
Pregnancy Test	10/28/2010		1st Heartbeat	11/11/2010
Quickening	2/3/2011		Viability	3/17/2011
Week 1	10/8/2010		Week 22	3/3/2011
Week 2	10/15/2010		Week 23	3/10/2011
Week 3	10/22/2010		Week 24	3/17/2011
Week 4	10/28/2010		Week 25	3/24/2011
Week 5	11/4/2010		Week 26	3/31/2011
Week 6	11/11/2010		Week 27	4/7/2011
Week 7	11/18/2010		Week 28	4/14/2011
Week 8	11/25/2010		Week 29	4/21/2011
Week 9	12/2/2010		Week 30	4/29/2011
Week 10	12/9/2010		Week 31	5/6/2011
Week 11	12/16/2010		Week 32	5/13/2011
Week 12	12/23/2010		Week 33	5/20/2011
Week 13	12/30/2010		Week 34	5/27/2011
Week 14	1/6/2011		Week 35	6/3/2011
Week 15	1/13/2011		Week 36	6/10/2011
Week 16	1/20/2011		Week 37	6/17/2011
Week 17	1/27/2011		Week 38	6/24/2011
Week 18	2/3/2011		Week 39	7/1/2011
Week 19	2/10/2011		Week 40	7/8/2011
Week 20	2/17/2011		Week 41	7/15/2011
Week 21	2/24/2011		Week 42	7/22/2011

14 Marks of a wise woman

Got this from one of the blogs I follow. I am working on planning our first girls leadership retreat at Hidden Acres. This is good stuff to share with the girls.

14 marks of a wise woman. She...

• Fears God, Proverbs 31:30.
• “Openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness ,” Proverbs 31:26.
• Is content to be a “keeper at home,” Titus 2:5. (This doesn’t mean she never leaves her house, but her focus and the bulk of her attention is on her home and family.)
• Loves her husband and children, Titus 2:4.
• Is focused more on inward character than outward adornment, I Peter 3:3-4.
• Is modestly attired, I Timothy 2:9.
• Is trustworthy, Proverbs 31:11.
• Has a meek and quiet spirit, I Peter 3:4.
• Is industrious, Proverbs 31:13-27.
• Is giving, Proverbs 31:20, Luke 8:3.
• Is discreet, Titus 2:5. (“of a sound mind, sane, in one’s senses, curbing one’s desires and impulses, self-controlled, temperate,”)
• Is chaste, Titus 2:5.(“exciting reverence, venerable, sacred, pure; pure from carnality, chaste, modest; pure from every fault, immaculate; clean”).
• Builds up instead of tearing down, Proverbs 14:1, Ephesians 4:29.
• Is praiseworthy, Proverbs 31:28-31.

from A Wise Woman Builds Her Home

Homeschooling quote

"Many folks support our decision to homeschool. Others think we're crazy. I happen to agree with both camps." -Ree Drummond

Thankful for missionaries

"Every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving." - Albert Einstein

While I was in Africa in September having breakfast with my hosts Ben & Candi. Ben was talking about a time he was really encouraged during a missions week at Baylor. He said one of the college professors who invited him to speak at her class said she was very thankful to missionaries because her parents became Christians through the work of missionaries in China.

I told them that I could easily relate to that college professor.

You see my mother's immediate family became believers through close contact to missionaries. My mother's paternal uncle who lived in the rural parts of central Mexico was the first to become a believer because of the witness and outreach of missionaries. My mom's uncle then came back to his family to share the good news of how Jesus Christ had changed his life and then my grandfather and grandmother became believers. Through their lives, teaching, and example my mother also became a believer as a young girl.

My father was the first believer in his family. He happened to walk past a church on a certain really bad day and heard people singing. He stopped and went inside to listen to the singing and then ended up hearing a missionary preaching. This missionary would end up being my dad's spiritual father, a great friend, and role model.

My family has been blessed by the labors and sacrifices of men who feel the call to leave their homes to reach others in the name of Jesus.

I would not be here if it were not for the work of missionaries.



North Africa Trip Issue 3

North Africa Trip Issue 3

by Rebeca E. Carpenter on Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 1:00pm

Went up a mountain by the town we are staying at overlooking the city to pray for the people group our M friends are serving. May these precious people come to know Him. May God reveal Himself to them.

We enjoyed a meal prepared by a national which was a typical meal she would make at home for her family. It was quite good and reminded me a little of Mexican beans and rice though it was mashed peas and an oat type grain.

After lunch we watched "Faith like Potatoes" a movie I brought as a gift for the Ms. I cried during the sad parts. I have been very emotional this week and I think have cried every day. I have just been moved by many happenings.

I enjoyed sitting outside of the home and watching people walking down the dirt road. A lady tried to talk to me but I have no idea what she said. She kept going on and on and I just had to smile and tell her I did not understand. She was carrying a baby on her back and I touched and prayed a blessing for him that he may know our Savior. A little girl just stood there watching me and being very curious I gave her some jelly beans.

It is raining again. It is definitely raining season. Pray that our M family across the street will get their electricity back. Oh and we just lost ours so pray for both M families to get their electricity back

Gotta go before the Internet connection goes too.