...Update 1/3...

I cannot believe it has been so long since I have updated my blog! So much has been going on, it seems I havent really had a full minute to myself in ages.

Well.... Now that the pity party is over, let me catch everyone up on the goings-on of the Kents:

April 8th was marked the final Preschool Parent/Teacher Confrences for Justice. We learned that she is "averagely above average".. Perfect. April 9th was the kids' Pirate Party, celebrating their birthdays. It was stressful, up the the minute everyone arrived. Getting decorations hung and treasure buried was a pain, but we had a fantastic time once the "party" started. Here are a couple pictures from the day:

(special thanks to Grandpa Pat for handling the camera business! You rock! xoxo)

...My Hands...

My hands may be rough, but they comfort my children.

My hands may be small, but they serve a big God.

My hands are not your hands, but my hands can love, serve, comfort, praise, and work.

My hands were given to me by God, who drew my fingerprints Himself.

When I love my hands, I am loving their Creator.



Julie Kent.. April 2011

...LOVE...

Well, I have to tell you: I am in love. Not the fleeting lust-type of "love" that one imagines after seeing someone through physical eyes (ie - "love at first sight"). I am talking about the love that grows from periods of talking, silence, breathing, and doing life with another. Intimate, not-withholding, pure, passionate L-O-V-E.

I am in love with God.

My heart's desire is to be in His presence. I need Him. I look to steal moments away from my responsibilities, to seek Him.

I have loved God for quite some time, and have professed Jesus as my very own personal Savior for years, but recently I found that my devotion was lacking. Sure, I go to church. Sure, I am involved in many Bible studies. Yes, I serve. Oh, boy, do I serve! But I was struck by conviction that I was only self-serving. My motives were impure. My heart wasn't in it.

I have the opportunity to be in a class at the church on Wednesday mornings. Four Keys To Hearing God's Voice by Mark Verkler is the subject matter. Last night, after employing those keys to my devotional time, God spoke to me, through my journaling. While what He said was largely personal, I was brave enough to read it to a trusted spiritual counsel. The affirmation spoke volumes to me about how deep my "love" for God was, if He was this close to me my whole life, and I just now decided to ask Him to speak to me. I have spent hours upon hours on my knees in prayer. But all I did was confess, repent, and petition God. I asked Him to use His Word to speak to me, and in subtle ways, He did. But that was nothing at all like this experience.

It has taken our relationship to the next level. It has opened my eyes to Who I am speaking to, and Who is answering me.

I do not love a God who is far away, a figureless presence in the clouds somewhere beyond reach. I serve a personal God. A God who loves. A God who speaks, Who answers, Who gives.

A God who gave His only Son for me to even be able to speak to Him!

Hallelujah!

Precious Lord,

You are God of All. You are the Alpha and the Omega. Your ways are perfect. You are the very definition of love.

Thank-You, Lord, for showing me just how accessible You are. Thank-You for showing me how much You love me. Thank-You for the wise counsel You have blessed me with, and friends that share the same love for You.

Thank-You, O Lord that You speak to me. That You sought me out, that You chose me.

I praise Your Name, Heavenly Father. You are good.

Continue to speak to me, as I earnestly seek to hear from You. Show me Your ways, that I may testify to Your great love and mercy.

I love You, Lord. I want to be more than just a Jesus-girl on Sundays. I want to be in a place where I live out Your grace daily.

You are the Potter. I am Your clay. Shape me, Lord.

In Jesus' gracious, mighty and saving Name I pray. Amen.

...5 years...

Today I celebrate 5 years of wedded adventure. Not "bliss" in any sense of the word. Adventure seems to sum up what this half-decade has been about. God has blessed us as we choose to honor Him every day, in so many ways. None so obvious as our two beautiful children, Justice Nicole and Kayden Noah.

I don't think that there is anything more meaningful I could give to Kevin, than time spent in prayer. So I offer this prayer, may it be sweet incense in the Throne Room of the Almighty Father.

Gracious Heavenly Father, Creator of Life, I thank you for this day. I will rejoice in it, and praise You for Your infinite wisdom. You are the Orchestrator of time. I thank You, Lord, for being the Captain of our ship. I am so glad that Your ways are higher than our ways!

Today, Lord, I thank you for the gift of love. You are Love, and every person that we are capable of loving is because of Your love for us. I thank You that You brought Kevin into my life, and have set a path before us to honor You in this covenant called marriage. My prayer today, merciful Father, is that You would continue to mold me into the servant You want me to be. I believe Your promises, and Your Word tells me that when I serve my husband, and when I honor him, I am serving and honoring You. I never want to lose sight of You in this marriage, Lord. I pray that You would continue to bless us as we serve You. May we never lose sight of how far You have brought us. 

I lay Kevin on Your altar, God. I pray a fortress of protection around him while he is at work and at home, and every where in between. I pray that You would protect his mind, his eyes and his heart. May his gun never fail him, and may his equipment continue to work in perfect order, as it pleases You. I know that You have plans to prosper us, Lord. And I pray that You would prosper Kevin at his workplace. May every person that Kevin comes into contact with see the Light in him. Let Kevin be a beacon for You in the desolate places he is while on duty. God, raise him up a leader at that department, that those around him would recognize Your mighty hand. Bless him, Lord, that he will magnify Your name! In Jesus merciful, saving name I pray, Amen.

Kevin, I love you. You truly are my best friend. Thanks for loving my despite myself, and for showing me what the love of Jesus is all about. In case I don't say it enough, I am proud of you. In so many ways, you have chosen to honor God and dethrone the world's standards. You are a good man, a great friend, an awesome partner/husband, and the best dad. I am honored to bear your last name. I treasure all the memories we have made, and I pray God will continue to bless us with opportunities to make new ones. It seems hard to believe that it has only been 5 years ago we said "I do". So much has happened - having two kids, health issues, family drama (enough for twelve families!), work drama, and all the little ins-and-outs of daily living that have knit our hearts together so tightly, I don't remember life without you!

I appreciate you.

143, Jewels.

Here are some pictures from our official wedding on April 1, 2006