Congratulations, Kristine! We are so happy for you! Here is Kristine's birth story:
After a very long pregnancy (into my 43 week!) and being dilated to 6 with no contraction whatsoever - Sunday night, Nick and I had a homemade communion with corn flakes and grape juice. He anointed me with oil, and we prayed that God would bring labor soon. At about 4, I got up to go to the bathroom and noticed some spotting. I woke up Nick, and he made a bath for me. Because there was only one doctor who would work "under the wire" to help us birth naturally (the rule is "once a c-section, always a c-section), Nick called the hospital and learned that that doctor would be in, but only at 7 am. I still had no real contractions, just a lot of pressure down low. We packed the vehicle and got to the hospital by 6:15. Signing papers at 6:30, I was trembling and realizing transtion had hit. The midwife nurse, doula and doctor I wanted were all in there at 7! By 9:30ish, I was ready to push. The water was broken, and two pushes - or rather, 2 minutes later, Benjamin Luke was here! He was my biggest! 22 3/4 inches long...and 8 lbs. 13 oz.
It was one birth I wasn't sure I had the energy for....I keep humming the song, "You are my strength when I am weak, you are the treasure that I seek...you are my all in all". The Lord was definitely with us. The music throughout the birth was worshipful. Everyone commented on the peace and said that the natural v-bac rule at the hospital would not be a problem if births were as peaceful. I was so thankful to the Lord. As for me, not even a tear or anything.
One of the best pieces of advice I got from my mom was to analyze the things that bother me and ask myself this simple question: What is it that is really bothering you? So often, it’s easy to lay the blame at the feet of those who are not the culprit at all. “These kids are really getting to me!” “If that husband of mine were more aware!” “My in-laws are driving me crazy!” If we build our emotions on generalities, we’re sure to get a bonfire roaring out of control in our souls that even the nicest gestures, the kindest mercies, the greatest blessings can hardly soothe. My husband was telling me about a woman who had a dream that her husband was acting horribly. It was simply a dream, but the woman woke up livid. The husband was at his wit’s end trying to cajole her. Nick and I both chuckled. But isn’t that how it is sometimes in real life with our imaginations and emotions? It’s something all of us know, but do this. Next time something bothers you – really bothers you – before doing anything else – will you write it out on paper in one sentence what that thing is? If you don’t have a paper, can you pretend to dictate in one sentence what that one thing is? And then, can you do this: Can you take that one thing and go to the Lord first before going to anyone else? Don’t even tell your husband. Just tell Jesus. Then here’s the main thing - WAIT for a while in His presence until He “comforts your soul”? (Ps. 23) So many times I have been blessed by the Holy Spirit in moments when I have been so upset. You would think that He would say, “Now, now. That’s not the way to respond. Get your act together, then we’ll talk.” But the truth is we have an Advocate with the Father in Jesus. A human heart beats for us in Heaven. He’s fully aware of us – in fact, so MUCH, He provided provision for our comfort in the Holy Spirit before we were aware of Him. When He comforts you or gives direction, whatever you do, don’t discount it! He may say, “Go take a shower”, “Take a nap”, “Get outside”, “It will be O.K.” – whatever it is, it will be the perfect remedy for the moment. When the next moment comes, He’ll be there for comfort too. You have such a wise and wonderful Savior! Doing these things makes up the art of putting your emotions under the control of the Holy Spirit. And what a wonderful, calming place to have them! Many women can’t do it, but it’s not for lack of knowledge, it’s for lack of practice. I’ve seen many women exceptionally skilled at directing problems to their husbands. A salesman will knock on the door selling Kirby vacuums. These women are careful to open the door only a crack and direct them away from their houses by rehearsing something their husband has said. “Oh, I usually leave decisions like this to my husband, and I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t be interested.” Yet, over and over, we open the door of our souls WIDE open to lies and speculation. We invite them in, visit with them a while, and rehearse nothing about what our Husband in Christ has said.
What is bothering you? In one sentence. What has the Lord told you as comfort to your soul. Find out and find peace that passes all understanding. Nothing shakes God. Nothing shakes His rhema word to you. Arm yourself your both, you’ll be unshakeable too!
Last Sunday night, my husband Nick handed an envelope to me from a lady in our church. “For Baby” it said. Opening it I found $100. Next morning I checked out the baby section on Craigslist where I found this: “Everything you need for baby - $100”. We are now fully equipped for our baby due in May with a vibrating, musical bassinet, a changing table full of tiny diapers, clothes and blankets, two bumbos, a johnny-jump-up, a foldable playpen, a baby exerciser, everything for bathing the baby, a rocker, and the list goes on!
Going to my doctor appointment Monday, I pulled out of the driveway, I could hear the Lord, “Well, there’s the girl highly favored of the Lord”. I smiled and thought that was sweet, but then came the next thing, “You say it now, ‘I am the girl highly favored of the Lord’”. I chuckled a little. It was too good to be true it seemed, but I said it. I kept saying it as I watched the green light from far away – the light that ALWAYS turns red right at the Wal-mart intersection. Amazingly, it stayed green for the longest time. Remaining green, this “highly favored girl” just drove right on through! I couldn’t believe it! I thought surely the 4 or 5 lights I had to go through downtown would turn red on me, but again it was the same thing! They all stayed green! I was shocked! Maybe I really was having favor from the Lord – maybe it was my imagination. I looked to see the license plate of the car in front of me: BEST 2 U.
My husband and I have been having a group meet in our home on Wednesday nights. We’ve been talking about God’s grace and favor. Never has there been a response like what we’ve had. Good, decent people are realizing that for so long they’ve had one foot in the law, becoming a law to themselves, and one foot in grace. They are finding very little victory as they try to pick themselves up by their own bootstraps by the law one moment and claim God's grace the next. They can’t help but judge themselves and others because the law is still operating in them. They can’t believe that Jesus has really and truly already fulfilled the law.....there’s nothing more.....that they ARE the favored of the Lord!
Jesus said, “I would rather that you were hot or cold”. I used to think that meant he would rather see you on fire for Him or cold toward Him. But that doesn’t make sense, does it? Wouldn’t lukewarm be better than nothing at all? And what determines if you’re hot? Your good works? The good works which are as filthy rags? Isn’t that still all about you? Listen! God is saying I would rather you be hot – totally depending on my grace – or cold, totally immersed in the law. But not both! If you were totally under the law, the law would work death in you and drive you to the mercy and grace of Jesus.
Your Savior bore everything in his body for you. There is no condemnation for there is no law for us. The new law is grace. The old law serves as only a black backdrop for the diamond that glistens now in the beauty of Jesus Christ. Jesus reaped in his death what we sowed. We now reap what Jesus sowed. Therein is where God’s favor to you and me lies. We are standing in the place of Jesus - the One whom God said, "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased." It's not because of us. It's every part because of Him. The favor of God toward Jesus is now His favor toward us! Praise the Lord! ~Kristine Lancette
I was in my early twenties, I think. For whatever reason, my periods were really messed up. Because I was bleeding so much, I was permitted to take my home school coordinating job ‘home’ to Georgia and was released from my year long position in Illinois. While home, I seemed to get worse. I was lethargic most of the time, weepy, and often incapable of thinking straight. It was at this time that I was asked to go on a mission’s trip of which I wanted so much to be a part. My health, however, stood in the way. I decided to go to the elders of my church. Wanting to do it “right”, I thought I’d better confess everything I could since the Scripture, as I interpreted them, said “confess your faults that ye may be healed”. And so I did. Three days after I was anointed with oil and prayed for by the elders, the bleeding stopped, and I was as regular as clockwork. Although I gave credit to the Lord for this healing, a little bit of my heart patted myself on the back for my faith and obedience in confessing and going to the elders. It made an impression on me when one day thereafter my dad asked, “Do you know why the Lord healed you? Do you know why the Lord even has you here?” I replied, “Because He wants me to be a good missionary and win souls?” “No”, he said, “it’s because He loves you – that’s all.” I asked my dad the other day if he remembered telling me that. He didn’t, but I certainly do! And those words still ring through my being today. There’s a verse – “that you may be able to comprehend the breadth, and length, and depth, and height of His love.” I’m not very good with geometry, but drawing out those dimensions gives me the Cross – a symbol of no greater love. Abraham was walking up the side of a mountain with his son, his only son, Isaac. I have a son. His eyes, his goodness, the memories we’ve made together - to lead the way to his death would break my heart more than anything - ANYthing- I could imagine. As if God was taunting Abraham he said, “I want you to take your son”…..and if that wasn’t enough….. “your ONLY son”…..”and offer him as a sacrifice”. God wasn’t taunting Abraham. He was seeing His only son, Jesus, in Isaac. Before the world began, God the Father and Jesus were One. Isaac, carrying the wood on his back? That was Jesus carrying the Cross. Finally the words were uttered (and you can only imagine with what emotion on God’s part) - “God will provide Himself a Lamb”. More than Jesus, God loved us. If you want to know just how much God loves you, look at how much He loved Jesus, then realize He gave him up for you. When the rays of that kind of love penetrate your heart here and there, you’re changed. You love now because you’ve been loved. If there is ever something unchanged, it’s just a part of you that hasn’t comprehended that love. That’s how it is for everyone. That love is relentless. It will seek to overtake you there too. It finds no rest until He has pursued and wrapped His arms around you there as well. My prayers. My days. My perspective. Instead of ‘me’ changing me, I’m finding myself becoming, as God said, an actual NEW creation. My faith, my responses, my goodness – it’s not dependent on me. Those are all me-focused. The love of God, the Cross – those are Jesus-focused. Nothing in life ever really and truly changes unless the focus is Jesus. The other day, feeling so caged in with the winter blahs, I asked my Father for sunshine. I did so just because I knew He loved me – and that’s all. That morning it was snowing. The clouds were a thick blanket of gray and white without the tiniest patch of blue. By afternoon, though, there was a little blue. By three, the clouds had burned away. By four, people were walking around in short sleeves here in Helena, Montana. The sun was burning bright. I walked out of Wal-mart to a sun blazing in front of me. Maybe a small thing to everyone else, but to me, “I love you” was blaring from the skies. I smiled with tears brimming. “Father, thank you for loving me – for no reason other than you just do. I love you.” Today. This week. This month. In fact, take the rest of your life. Don’t try to do things to love the Lord. Rather, let Him love you. The biggest mistake we ever make is trying to grasp and filter his unconditional love through conditional minds and hearts. We think we owe him. Love, especially His love, expects nothing in return – can you believe it? When you see that, Christ’s love springs up in us without any effort. We begin to love our husbands and kids without expectation like He loves us. There’s grace to cover much because we’ve known grace. Our homes became a haven of joy for everyone senses that the main thing is “God loves me – that’s all”.
I am thrilled to introduce another woman who is joining Those With Young as a writer and advisory panel member. I am thrilled for two reasons. First of all, I'm just thrilled to have partners. God has made us all so different, and I know that the experiences and hearts of the other women joining me here will be able to speak to some so much better than I can. They all have such valuable things to share. Secondly, I'm thrilled to have Kristine!
Kristine, and her husband Nick, are expecting baby #6. They live in Helena, Montana, where Nick serves as a bi-vocational associate pastor at their "cowboy church" and owns a bed store.
She joins me in the four boys club, but has a precious daughter in the middle there too.
Kristine teaches her kids at home; loves a good outing to the thrift store; and is known for keeping her home warm, clean, and candle-lit....often with Christmas music playing in the background (no matter what time of year it is).
I would have to say that Kristine is quite possibly the most genuinely sweet, soft spoken woman I have ever met. She has been known to evangelize in the grocery store or befriend the Goodwill employee, just because it is natural for her to care about those around her. At the same time, you may also be surprised to know, that she can be one of the biggest pranksters you have ever met.
Kristine's mom went to be with Jesus, when Kristine herself was just a young mom. This of course, left some holes in her heart when it came time for that mothering advice and encouragement in raising her own.
But in everything, Kristine turns to Jesus. You will love her wisdom, her humor, and her welcoming spirit.
