Author: Kristi Leckband

Collect: April 16, 2012

It is our privilege to pray with and for you.  If you would like to submit a personal petition to be included in our prayers, please send your request via the “Submit a Question” page on this site.  

Collect of the Week: 

Let us pray…

Lord God, You teach us to pray in all circumstances.  Thank You for Your Holy Word and Holy Sacraments, which bring true consolation.  We ask You this day to preserve our lives from sin.  Give us strength to withstand the temptations of the devil to pity ourselves and help us to see that You provide for all our needs of body and soul.  Help us to turn to You for comfort, for true peace comes from You, not from ourselves. Give us courage to stand firmly on Your Word and to share Your love with our neighbors; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Roll the Credits

As our adoption draws closer to fruition, we are becoming more serious about the need to choose a name for our little girl.  After six years of waiting, it’s hard to find a name upon which we can all agree.  Also, my husband and I were teachers.  There are some specific children associated with certain names, and we could never give that name to our baby.

We’ve been online and looked at the list of 1000 top girl names.  We’ve scanned baby name books.  We’ve had some fun dinner conversations, calling out names and vetoing others.  So what to do?

Watch a movie.  That’s right; we’ve resorted to watching the end credits.  There are lots of names listed there.

Please don’t text-bomb me with name suggestions.

Who Are You?
Who do I see when I look in the mirror?  I know the person that I WANT to see.  I want to see a mom to multiple children.  I want to be part of the “moms group” that talks about their children together.  I can sit and think about all the things that I want to be, but that doesn’t change the fact that I am somebody right now.  True, I want to be a mom in a house filled with children.  That hasn’t happened, and moping about it won’t help.  Rather than dwell on who I am not, perhaps it’s time to ponder who I am now… already.
  • I am a baptized child of God.
  • I am a forgiven member of the family of Christ.
  • I am the daughter of Roger and Laurie.
  • I am a sister to Troy and Kirk.
  • I am the wife of Jerome.
  • I am the mother of Joanna.
  • I am an auntie.
  • I am a godmother.
  • I am a neighbor.
  • I am a piano teacher.
  • I am a choir director.
  • I am a friend.
Dear sisters, we are already precious in the eyes of God.  When He looks at us, He sees a dearly loved child.  We rejoice in the privilege and honor of sharing that love with those God has given to us.  Now it’s your turn – “Who are you?”

Collect: April 9, 2012

It is our privilege to pray with and for you.  If you would like to submit a personal petition to be included in our prayers, please send your request via the “Submit a Question” page on this site.  

Collect of the Week: 

Let us pray…

O God, by the death and resurrection of Your Son Jesus, we have inherited eternal life.  Your Son has won for us forgiveness from all sins.  We are made whole, cleansed of every impurity to live anew for You.  Grant us to live each day with joy in the knowledge of Your love for us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Collect: April 3, 2012

It is our privilege to pray with and for you.  If you would like to submit a personal petition to be included in our prayers, please send your request via the “Submit a Question” page on this site.  

Collect of the Week: 

Let us pray…

Almighty and everlasting God, You sent Your only Son Jesus to bear the punishment for our sins.  You experienced the pain of seeing Your Son beaten, spat upon, and mocked.  Forgive us for our lack of faith.  Comfort those who mourn.  Give us strength to endure our daily crosses.  Grant us joy to live and trust in You; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

A Baby, A Bath, and Dinner

Lots of gifts are given at church.  Yesterday a baby was bathed in the waters of Holy Baptism.  I witnessed the sponsors confess the Lutheran faith into which this child was to be baptized.  I silently confessed my own sins and was given the comfort of the cleansing of my sins as the baby was given that same forgiveness.  The baptized child is now a member of the body of Christ.  I am joined to this child in the Christian faith.  I will pray for this child and encourage the parents as they teach their child the Christian faith.

Later in the service dinner was served.  The crucified and arisen Lord’s Body and Blood were eaten for the forgiveness of my sins.  This precious gift was given to me and my fellow believers at the table.  I shared in the wondrous blessings that are given freely by our loving God.  He is the Giver, and I am the receiver.

No need for dessert.  I’m cleansed, fed, and full.

Spring Fever

Spring fever has hit me, and here’s why.  Twice in the past several days, I’ve held a little one.  The first was a newborn.  His proud parents brought him to church, and they stayed for Bible Class.  His dear mama asked if I’d like to hold him.  There was, of course, no hesitancy on my part.  I was blessed to cradle him throughout the entire Bible class.  (Well, until he became hungry.  I got him back again, though.)  It was pure bliss for me.  I may never get to experience the newborn stage ever again.

The second opportunity came the following day.  The little sweetie’s parents took a date night, and we got to babysit their six-month-old daughter.  She smiled and grinned and even ventured a few little giggles.  Her parents returned, and you knew she was loved.  They hugged and kissed her and took her home.  A longing for a baby crept into my heart.

Spring is filled with new growth and new life. The hyacinths are blooming; the tulips and daffodils are stretching up through the ground.  New grass grows in the yard.  Calves are being born daily.  Chicks arrive at the local stores.  The photo studios are preparing for the bunnies and chicks portrait sessions.  There are lots of new things happening.

I’d like a baby.  New life brings joy and laughter.  Babies are reminders of God’s love for His people.  Babies are God’s children.  I want that.

The Lord, in His divine wisdom, has other plans for me.  He knows what  I need, and He will provide it in the proper time.  He has bestowed countless blessings already.

So, for now, I’ll enjoy the babies around me.  May God bless the springtime of their lives, too.

The Way of Women and Laughter

In my morning devotions, I am reading about Abraham and Sarah.  Genesis 18:11 (ESV) says: “Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years.  The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah.”  I chuckled when I read the phrase, “the way of women.”  I have longed to be in “the way of women” for several years. Upon reading further in Scripture, I learned that Sarah did not give birth to her son Isaac for another 25 years!  I guess my elephant wait isn’t so long after all.

25 years! A quarter of a century.  No wonder his parents named him Isaac, whose name means “he laughs.”  I’m sure that Abraham and Sarah shared a good many laughs before and after Isaac’s birth.  God really does have a sense of humor.  I’m going to do more laughing.

A Proper Perspective

It’s happened twice now in the past two months. I’m on the phone with a family member, talking about our upcoming international adoption. As we talk, I lament the fact that referrals were not given as far into the month as I’d hoped. The reaction on the other end of the phone line: Oh, I was thinking it’s good that referrals were given at least that far.

Then it dawns on me. I’ve been looking at this from the wrong perspective. Again. I’ve been grieving over the child that is not yet in my arms. I’ve been coveting what has not been given to me. I’ve been accusing God of not getting His timeline to match up correctly with mine. I’ve started another pity-party.

Thanks be to God that He forgives my pessimism, my self-idolatry, my lack of perspective.

Barrenness through Mom’s Eyes

My mom Laurie Schepmann is a caring soul, and it is my fervent prayer that my life might emulate her grace and love.  She has never wavered in her love for me as I have journeyed from a little girl into a grown woman and am now dealing with the cross of barrenness.  Below is a letter that Mom wrote.  I share it with you as a reminder that you are loved as a daughter, whether or not you are a parent.

Dear Kristi,

I do want to say once again that your value or worth or whatever you want to call it has never diminished in our eyes because of your barrenness.  The same goes for our love for you.  Such a thing would never enter our minds.  You are our daughter, and nothing can change our love for you or the bonds that tie us to each other.

I do appreciate how difficult a thing it must be to share something like barrenness when one views it as a humiliation or degradation of oneself.  I, however, have never felt that it lessened a person, or more specifically YOU…but, then again, I have not “walked in your shoes.”  I understand that there are people who can make you feel that way, though, and the only thing I know is to forgive them for their lack of understanding, pray for them, and move on.

Those who are barren are not lessened in my mind one iota.  It is just another one of those things over which one has no control.  As always, we support each other whenever we can and whenever we finally REALIZE that there is a need.  So often, we are not there for others because we have no idea what goes on in their hearts and minds.  Thanks be to God that there is forgiveness for us and that He promises to be with us and help us in all of our needs, though!

It has always been my belief that you handled it very well.  Little did I know, though, of the turmoil and pain you endured in private.  Because of our desire not to snoop, but rather to wait for you to share any news, if and when you chose to, we said very little.  If you interpreted that as not caring, I apologize and feel sorry about it.

We are looking forward to the time when you can bring your adopted child home!  Whoever he, or she, may be, we know this child will find welcoming hearts and laps and hugs in our family.  My prayers for that child, as you know, have continued from the first time you told us that you were applying for a child!  (In anticipation of his/her joining us soon, we’ve already bought him/her a Christmas stocking.)  May our loving Heavenly Father, Who knows all of our needs, bring that child to us soon and in accord with His divine wisdom and will; for, He surely knows and loves us more than anyone else.  We know that special love through His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ!

Thank you for opening up and sharing with us and with others, who are traveling that same, painful road.  May God bless you for your courage and help many others through you.  God works all things for good to those who love Him.

Love,
Mom