A Dramatic Heart-Change Testimony About Children

This was posted on January 10, 2014 by Sarah Maxwell.

I hope you’ve had a blessed week! Recently, our friends, Dave and Liz, came to visit. But, this time, it wasn’t just Dave and Liz. We were delighted to meet Anna, their new little girl, for whom we’ve prayed. Liz’s testimony is one of God’s faithfulness, mercy, and overwhelming goodness. Read below. — Sarah

From Liz:

My husband and I were married in 2000 at the age of twenty-two and twenty-three. We loved the Lord, and we were excited to begin the journey of our lives together with Him.
I’m not sure how it happened, but one year turned to three, three years turned to five, and before long I really believed that I didn’t want to have children. One day I actually said out loud to the Lord, “Lord, I’m sorry, but I don’t think I want to have children.”
It’s heartbreaking to think that those words came from my lips and that I could be so selfish, all the while thinking we were doing so much good for God. My heart was in bondage to fear and distrust, and I didn’t even realize it!
Then, one morning in 2007, we were praying with a group of friends. We were asking God to bring back the value of life in our nation and praying for the ending of abortion. Suddenly, I felt the strong, yet kind, conviction of the Lord on my heart. How could I pray this prayer and yet keep my heart closed to the Lord about having our own family? Once again I spoke out loud. “Lord, I’m so sorry for saying that I didn’t want to have children. Please forgive me!”
Now, although I fully believed that God forgave me, I didn’t feel any different. I mean, I didn’t all of the sudden have strong feelings when I was around babies or get emotional when I thought about being pregnant. It was more dry road obedience. If God wanted me to have children, I’d do it out of obedience, but I didn’t feel excited about it.
Then, in 2009, I was introduced to the Duggar family who have a large number of children. It was the joy of the Lord that I saw in their family that drew me in. There was so much love and joy! Then, like an arrow of truth to my heart, I got it. Children are a BLESSING from God. A BLESSING! A GIFT! A JOY!
It was like in one moment, clarity came. All those years, I had not believed the truth of God’s Word that children are a blessing. I believed that children were hard work, a testing and trying part of life. I believed that God gave children to teach parents about sacrifice and self-denial. There may be some truth in those thoughts, but God is a good God, and He gives good gifts. Children are good gifts from God! It’s a way that He desires to bless us, and there I was saying, “No, thanks God, I don’t want your blessings.” Oh how thankful I am for forgiveness and restoration!
In 2011 we found out we were expecting our first baby! However, our excitement turned to sorrow only seven weeks later as we lost the baby in a miscarriage. I really didn’t know if that would be the end of the story. I didn’t know if God would give us that blessing that I had held at arm’s length for so long. Thankfully, He did.
On October 29, 2013 we welcomed our sweet Anna Victoria into the world, and every time I look at her, I’m thankful that God changed my heart and gave me this precious gift! May the Lord’s name be praised, and may He continue to turn the hearts of the fathers and mothers back to the children.

“But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 19:14

End of Year Inventory

This was posted on January 9, 2014 by Sarah Maxwell.

For those of you who have small businesses, you know what the end of year means: inventory, making any necessary year-end purchases, holding a corporate meeting, going over financials–among other things. Inventory was never my favorite part of the task, but it was something that had to be done. As our product lineup has increased, so has the time it takes to do inventory. In 2012, however, and again in 2013, Dad and Mom successfully tackled inventory, along with entering discrepancies into our financial software. They make an awesome team!

Serving Jesus,
Sarah

“The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance
and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.”
Psalms 16:5

Christopher & Banks Denim Skirts

This was posted on January 8, 2014 by Sarah Maxwell.

–Update: The regular size skirt has sold out.–

Sometimes we’re asked where we purchase our skirts. We buy them a variety of places, but we do enjoy Christopher & Banks. We saw this sale come on for denim skirts, and we wanted to let you know about them. It’s a great quality skirt for only $13.99 or $10.49, depending on which one you get. The skirts come in different colors. They don’t have many sizes left, so jump on it if you want one. If you’re interested in the petite version, see this link. Those skirts are $17.49 and have a few more options in sizes. We don’t receive any compensation for telling you about this sale ;).

Enjoy!

Sarah

“She looketh well to the ways of her household,
and eateth not the bread of idleness.”
Proverbs 31:27

Family Times at Christmas

This was posted on January 8, 2014 by Sarah Maxwell.

We had some special family times around Christmas. I particularly enjoy watching the little ones and seeing their enthusiasm for life.

Sarah

I did something different this year. I made my to/from tags with pictures. I found Joshua looking at them. Pretty cute.

Bethany bought gifts for us with her own money. It was so sweet.

Abigail gave each of the SAM aunts a solar-driven flower. It waves its “arms” when it’s in the sunlight. She also bought them with her own money.

A gift we all enjoy each year is a calendar of pictures Melanie puts together.

Mary made GiGi handmade cards she can use throughout the year. It was a delightful gift.

Another great gift: something for Grandad to hold.

One of the picture to/from tags. Joseph and I were a team, thus, we’re the from ;).

The guys made Christmas breakfast: sausage gravy and biscuits.

We made cookies for the police force on Christmas Day.

The girls had dipped pretzels the week before, and Joseph helped to wrap them.

Joshua is holding a very special item, which he calls his shed key. He was fascinated with his daddy’s shed key, always wanting to carry it around. Grandpa made a similar shed key (but a key to nothing ;)), and it was Joshua’s favorite gift.

“And he hath put a new song in my mouth,
even praise unto our God:
many shall see it, and fear,
and shall trust in the LORD.”
Psalms 40:3

Cabinet Polishing, Cleaning, and Other Projects

This was posted on January 3, 2014 by Sarah Maxwell.

To begin our Christmas celebrations, we decided to do family projects on Monday, the 23rd. Our first project was to polish the cabinets at our house. Not very exciting, you might think? Well, we had a blast talking and laughing as we worked. I thought it would take us awhile, but we did the entire kitchen, which has a lot of cabinet surface area, in about thirty-five minutes. Fast progress!

After that, we girls dropped in at Melanie’s to clean their house. Each of the aunts got a helper (three aunties and three nieces!). Bethany was mine for awhile, and I enjoyed her enthusiasm. At one point, she was squirting the side of the bath tub and wiping it off. In her sweet voice, she asked me, “Do you like to clean with little children?” (Of course I told her I did.) So precious.

The afternoon’s project was to work at Joseph’s house. We cleaned, polished cabinets, installed shelving, painted, and hung temporary blinds. When we were through with that, we girls got busy with Christmas baking for the next day.

Many hands equal the Maxwell team!

Serving Jesus,
Sarah

One must begin with the necessary tools.

Anna and John — Some cabinets require more than being on a chair.

On to Nathan and Melanie’s:

Bethany “cleaning” (no chemicals in her bottle).

Abigail wanted to write a note for her daddy. She figured out what she wanted to write and did so. Very sweet.

Last, we went to Joseph’s house:

“Trust in the LORD, and do good;
so shalt thou dwell in the land,
and verily thou shalt be fed.”
Psalms 37:3

Happy New Year from the Maxwell Family!

This was posted on January 1, 2014 by Sarah Maxwell.

Often as the old year ends and the new year begins, people remark, “Where did the time go?” Yes. Where did it go?

365 days will tick by this year. What will those 365 days hold: joy, surprises, sorrow, challenges? Yes, they may, but: “… I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

We are grateful for you, and we pray God’s richest blessing on your life in this upcoming year. We look forward to sharing what the Lord is doing in Titus2 and the Maxwell family through this blog!

Serving Jesus,
Sarah

“Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard,
that the everlasting God, the LORD,
the Creator of the ends of the earth,
fainteth not, neither is weary?
there is no searching of his understanding.

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint.”
(Isaiah 40:28&31)

Titus2.com

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Monthly Archives: January 2014

A Dramatic Heart-Change Testimony About Children

From Liz:

End of Year Inventory

Christopher & Banks Denim Skirts

Family Times at Christmas

Cabinet Polishing, Cleaning, and Other Projects

On to Nathan and Melanie’s:

Last, we went to Joseph’s house:

Happy New Year from the Maxwell Family!

The Maxwell family and ministry blog of Titus2.com.