Asked of God, Heard by God

Lesh and I have been keeping baby #2's name under wraps!  We have decided that we want to share his name now!  Before I do, I wanted to share why we chose his name.  I've shared before in other blog posts about my struggle with food and the addiction I had to it. 

For years growing up I begged God to take away my struggle with food.  I hated myself for overeating and eating when I wasn't hungry and I was so sick of being sick about food.  Then last year a woman named Gari Meachum came to our church.  She is a speaker, writer, and Bible study teacher and she wrote the book Truly Fed.  This book was the beginning of my walking in freedom from food.  The book has such a different perspective of food- the Bible's perspective on food and the relationship we should have with it.  If you have ever struggled with food or know someone who does,  this book is just for you!  I'm so thankful for God bringing Gari into my life and her ministry of helping women walk in freedom from bondage.  Not only has it helped me walk into freedom, but has also ushered my wonderful husband into that same freedom.  After almost 30 years of bondage, I can praise God and thank him for hearing my prayers all these years and leading me into freedom.

 Isaiah 43 18-19 says, "Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past.  Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it?  I will even make a roadway in the wilderness. Rivers in the desert."  I rejoice over the "something new that God is springing forth in our lives.

Many of you are familiar with the story of Hannah in the Bible found in 1Samuel 1, and how she was barren for many years and she prayed and begged God for a child.  He heard her prayers and because she asked of God he blessed her with a child.  I look at this scripture through the eyes of praying/asking of God something for years and longing to have that prayer answered.  Because God has broken my bondage during a time that I have also been pregnant, Lesh and I thought it perfect to name our second son Samuel.  Samuel Brennan Richardson is due to arrive on or before January 17th, 2012.  Lesh and I can not wait to meet this sweet son who will always be a reminder of God ushering us into freedom.  And as a testimony to God, not to brag, I can share with you all that I have only gained 1 lb in my 28 weeks of pregnancy.  That is a miracle from my God who is showing me and helping me learn what it looks like to walk in freedom.

If you have struggled with something that has kept you in bondage for years, please know that you can be absolutely FREE from what that thing is in your life!!

Here is a picture of Samuel from my last ultrasound.  We have asked of God, and have been heard by God.