so this is long.....but stay with me....
Last week I started a Bible study on the life of Jonah. Jonah: Navigating a Life Interrupted by Priscilla Shirer. It's awesome! And what I have learned in one week is that my life is SO much like Jonah's. And while this is a story about Jonah, it is more a story about our great big God, His faithfulness, His righteousness, His grace and so much more.
This study also shows how when you view God as significant then whatever task He asks you to do is significant and you realize it is not an interruption, but a divine intervention...an invitation to join His purposes.
Amazing Grace!
Ok, so I thought it would be appropriate to share my own personal Jonah moment that happened back in March. This and several other factors encouraged me that I should do this study.
In March of this year Steve and I took a trip to Romania to actually see where we believed God was leading us to serve Him. We had felt the push that it was time since the February of 2009....God was leading us in a different direction and it was towards missions, but we had NO idea where, when, how, what....so many questions...so many unknowns. In May of 2009 we realized that it was Romania to work with Belief in Motion....but why?
We had never been there?? Sure I knew the people who worked there, but Steve didn't know them from Adam. Nonetheless, after much prayer, fasting, asking questions from others who knew us well... it was confirmed for us by God and His Word that this was indeed where we were to go!
So almost a year later (March of this year) Steve and I left our children for 8 days and went to Romania to see the area, see the in's and out's of the ministry, meet the people, see where we may live, etc. It was an overwhelming experience. It had been eight years since I had seen poverty like that and I don't think it is a sight you ever get used to.
I didn't feel like myself for a couple of reasons.
1. I was separated from my kids. I felt naked...lost....worried...sad. I cried myself to sleep every night for the first four nights. It was just weird. I missed them horribly.
2. On day six I still felt like I had jet lag and was just exhausted! I couldn't shake the tired feeling.
3. I had a sick feeling in my gut the whole time....seeing the poverty, the darkness, the hopelessness....broke...my...heart!
here my jonah moment begins....
It is the day before we are heading back to the States. Steve is out doing construction and I head to government housing. This is a dark place....literally....there is not much light in the building. And spiritually dark...oppression, shame, abuse, just dark! I met a lady and within seconds of meeting me she shares that she is about to have an abortion....again! She had just had one 6 months previously. I tell her I have two small children and she tells me she already has three....and she plans to sell them!
My heart sank. My eyes well up with tears. Trying to hold it all in. My heart fills with anger and hatred towards this woman. How can she do this?? Who does she think she is sleeping around and then just selling and murdering innocent children??
I get back to the missionaries house and Steve and I go up to our room to talk. I have had made new plans in my mind. I burst into tears, bawling my eyes out and I tell Steve, "we are not moving here. I can't. I hate this place. I hate these people." I share with him what this woman told me at government housing. "This people don't watch to change. They don't care about life....they have no regard for life. The do not deserve God and His forgiveness."
EEwwww.....even writing it out....i can't believe those words came out of my mouth. I asked who this woman thought she was, but who do I think I am?? I am the least deserving of His forgiveness, His Spirit, His grace.
But, you get to see my honest nasty heart. For a moment there I thought my sin wasn't so bad as hers. I thought I could cast a stone or two. The very reason God was telling us to go is why I was wanting to turn around and run to Tarshish!
Sweet Steve--he said just the right words in that moment. He said, "you don't need to make any decisions right now. You are really emotional. And honestly....I think you are having a Jonah moment."
Me: silent!
I knew it was true. We knew what God was telling us to do and I was rebelling in my heart out of selfishness...out of my own sin.
Just as the Lord wouldn't let Jonah run away too long and too far, He did the same for me. Thankfully, I didn't get swallowed by a big fish.
But His Spirit calmed me and reminded me of what the LORD had done in our lives and that Steve and I and Noah and Paige were involved, but ultimately...this is not about us. It's about HIM!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
in 40 seconds or less...
This week my sweet little Paige has sent me over the edge on more than one occasion. Maybe not completely sent me over the edge, but has just made me realize that she can't be left alone for more than 40 seconds. She is into everything! No exaggeration. Here is what she has done this week. Some of it looking back on is funny, but tonight it was scary. Please note that in all situations I am in the room with her or have turned my back for literally 30 seconds or walked out of the room for a few seconds. It's not like she is unsupervised. Paige is a wanderer.....
1. I'll start small...we have a craft table in the living room. Early in the week her and Noah were working with laminated workbooks and dry erase markers. While they seem to be doing well and entertaining themselves I decide now is a great time to start making their lunches. So I start preparing lunch and less than a minute later I peak my head over to check on them. Great! Paige has tattoed both arms completely in orange and black dry erase markers....not to mention the table. Easy clean up, but still a mess and she just couldn't use the markers in the appropriate place.
2. Play-doh is off limits now. I have given her chance after chance and she still just eats it! I am convinced she will be a food critique when she's older. She loves to try anything and everything. Seriously, play-doh, shaving cream, poop....she's tried it all.
3. Mid-week....Paige has her chef hat on and she is helping me cook dinner. She is standing in a chair at the counter. There is a drawer beside her that I have told her several times, "please close that and do not open it again." I turn around for like 20 seconds (literally) to put something on the stove. I turn back around and she has opened the drawer, pulled out a sharpie and transformed her stuffed puppy (which was on the counter...not sure why??) into a tiger. Seriously, I was pretty impressed with her art skills. It had whiskers and black stripes. BUT, she continuously wanders away from what I have asked her to do!
4. One other day this week I was trying to get dishes done, so I set her and Noah at the kitchen table with some shaving cream. Just a little....but Paige cannot just draw in it and squish it between her fingers. She has to do this....
Funny and cute! She was having a blast....I couldn't get upset. But, you see what I mean....just something in her has to take everything to the next level. Push the envelope.
5. Then tonight happened. ....
Steve and I felt like the worst parents ever! We just finished dinner and I am cleaning dishes. Steve and Noah are clearing off the table and Paige is in our spice cabinet..it's right at her level. She brought Steve some spices to which he told her to go put it back and to shut the door. I am standing right beside her doing dishes and I think she is putting spices back in. All of a sudden I look over and her face is blood red, gasping for air, pointing to her mouth. And I smell it....pure mint extract! I pick her up in complete panic mode. Then pick the bottle up....almost empty now and it was just about full before. She can't catch her breath....so we pour water in her mouth. All I could think was that her mouth was burning. Then the vomit comes....again and again and again and again. We call nurse triage and poison control. Dumb me did not even think about the alcohol content....89%!! AAAHHHH!! All four of us were in tears! Her and I get cleaned up and we had to keep her drinking juice and awake for 2 more hours and make sure she doesn't show signs of drunkenness! We felt terrible! You better believe the spice cabinet is moving!
My point is this....Paige continues to not do what we ask of her. She wanders away from the command given. I see so much of my spiritual self in her!
I too am a wanderer at heart.
All I can think of is "prone to wander, Lord I feel it.....prone to leave the God I love...."
If He did not keep me in His grasp....if He had not sealed me in Him with the Holy Spirit I am convinced I would leave.
Thanks be to God for regenerating my heart, casting my sins as far as the east is from the west and demonstrating unconditionally love and justice through His Son's death on a cross! (not in that order :) ) I still tend to wander from what He has told me to do. Though I know He knows what is best....at times I think that maybe my way is best for now. Just like Paige thinks that her idea is a lot better than ours. I am grateful that GOD never lets go of me and He keeps me in the fold even when I want to go another way.
And when I say go another way...I mean in the day to day grind....I am not always slow to anger with my children, I do not always love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength, I am not always an encouragement to my husband and family. Oh, I am over joyed that my salvation isn't based on my performance, but rather on my faith in the Lord and by grace!
1. I'll start small...we have a craft table in the living room. Early in the week her and Noah were working with laminated workbooks and dry erase markers. While they seem to be doing well and entertaining themselves I decide now is a great time to start making their lunches. So I start preparing lunch and less than a minute later I peak my head over to check on them. Great! Paige has tattoed both arms completely in orange and black dry erase markers....not to mention the table. Easy clean up, but still a mess and she just couldn't use the markers in the appropriate place.
2. Play-doh is off limits now. I have given her chance after chance and she still just eats it! I am convinced she will be a food critique when she's older. She loves to try anything and everything. Seriously, play-doh, shaving cream, poop....she's tried it all.
3. Mid-week....Paige has her chef hat on and she is helping me cook dinner. She is standing in a chair at the counter. There is a drawer beside her that I have told her several times, "please close that and do not open it again." I turn around for like 20 seconds (literally) to put something on the stove. I turn back around and she has opened the drawer, pulled out a sharpie and transformed her stuffed puppy (which was on the counter...not sure why??) into a tiger. Seriously, I was pretty impressed with her art skills. It had whiskers and black stripes. BUT, she continuously wanders away from what I have asked her to do!
Funny and cute! She was having a blast....I couldn't get upset. But, you see what I mean....just something in her has to take everything to the next level. Push the envelope.
5. Then tonight happened. ....
Steve and I felt like the worst parents ever! We just finished dinner and I am cleaning dishes. Steve and Noah are clearing off the table and Paige is in our spice cabinet..it's right at her level. She brought Steve some spices to which he told her to go put it back and to shut the door. I am standing right beside her doing dishes and I think she is putting spices back in. All of a sudden I look over and her face is blood red, gasping for air, pointing to her mouth. And I smell it....pure mint extract! I pick her up in complete panic mode. Then pick the bottle up....almost empty now and it was just about full before. She can't catch her breath....so we pour water in her mouth. All I could think was that her mouth was burning. Then the vomit comes....again and again and again and again. We call nurse triage and poison control. Dumb me did not even think about the alcohol content....89%!! AAAHHHH!! All four of us were in tears! Her and I get cleaned up and we had to keep her drinking juice and awake for 2 more hours and make sure she doesn't show signs of drunkenness! We felt terrible! You better believe the spice cabinet is moving!
My point is this....Paige continues to not do what we ask of her. She wanders away from the command given. I see so much of my spiritual self in her!
I too am a wanderer at heart.
All I can think of is "prone to wander, Lord I feel it.....prone to leave the God I love...."
If He did not keep me in His grasp....if He had not sealed me in Him with the Holy Spirit I am convinced I would leave.
Thanks be to God for regenerating my heart, casting my sins as far as the east is from the west and demonstrating unconditionally love and justice through His Son's death on a cross! (not in that order :) ) I still tend to wander from what He has told me to do. Though I know He knows what is best....at times I think that maybe my way is best for now. Just like Paige thinks that her idea is a lot better than ours. I am grateful that GOD never lets go of me and He keeps me in the fold even when I want to go another way.
And when I say go another way...I mean in the day to day grind....I am not always slow to anger with my children, I do not always love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength, I am not always an encouragement to my husband and family. Oh, I am over joyed that my salvation isn't based on my performance, but rather on my faith in the Lord and by grace!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
a lesson in canning
Last week I canned a bunch of grape jelly from grapes my parents grew. I had already packed away all my "real" canning stuff that most people use, so I had to kinda wing it. After you fill your jars up and put the tops on you have to put them back in boiling water and let them set for a few min. They should be covered in 1-2 inches of hot water. Well, I did not have a boiler that large so my jars needed about 5 more inches of water to be 2 inches under water! I stood over them and constantly scooped hot water out of the pot and poured it over them....for like 5-10 minutes a batch. I did this because this is what makes your cans seal so they won't spoil. I was so hoping my cans would seal. Sure enough about 30 minutes after being out of the pot I could hear little pops going off in the kitchen. And I let out a great big, "woo hoo...they sealed!" I was so worried they jars wouldn't seal and I would have a bunch of nasty spoiled jelly. Thankfully they sealed....they are protected...
The Lord gave me a word of encouragement right there in my kitchen as I waited for my jelly to seal.
The Greek word for Seal is sphragizo (verb): indicates security, permanency, ownership, authentication by God in sealing the Son as the Giver of eternal life.
He reminded me that I am sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit!
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory. -Eph. 1:13,14
I love that....what a beautiful reminder....I am sealed in Him! He owns me! My present life and my eternal life and secure in my Savior! His Son received a horrific, humiliating death so that He could authenticate me as His very own! No one or nothing can snatch me from His hand!
I'm sealed in Him!
Thank you Lord!
The Lord gave me a word of encouragement right there in my kitchen as I waited for my jelly to seal.
The Greek word for Seal is sphragizo (verb): indicates security, permanency, ownership, authentication by God in sealing the Son as the Giver of eternal life.
He reminded me that I am sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit!
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory. -Eph. 1:13,14
I love that....what a beautiful reminder....I am sealed in Him! He owns me! My present life and my eternal life and secure in my Savior! His Son received a horrific, humiliating death so that He could authenticate me as His very own! No one or nothing can snatch me from His hand!
I'm sealed in Him!
Thank you Lord!
Friday, August 20, 2010
Exciting RO updates
This past Monday we met with Robin and Aaron. They are the missionaries we will work with in Romania. We got some details figured out. So here is the latest....
1. WE HAVE PLANE TICKETS!!! We are leaving from Atlanta on Jan. 5th. Steve's last day of working at the church is on Dec. 9th and our last Sunday is Dec. 5th...sad day! Tickets were bought 2 days ago!
2. We know where we are going to live!!! We are going to live in a little house in a village called Meirleu (sp?). There will be no addition on the house before we get there. So when we move in it will just be a kitchen, bathroom and living room. We will all sleep in the living room and to say I am a little nervous about my kids sleeping habits would be a giant understatement. However, it makes the most sense to do this b/c we really want to live in the village as opposed to the city in an apt. In the village our kids have a yard to play in, we could have pets, lots of wonderful ministry opportunities, great neighbors, country living...very rustic. We will chop our own wood for heat and have our chickens to raise and eat for dinner. It costs nothing for us to live in it as is. So we can move in and try it out. If we love it there then when it gets warmer we will add a room onto the house. If it isn't working out we will move to an apt. in the village.
I have a feeling I am going to be stretched in many ways...my faith, my security, my comforts. Well, I already am being stretched more than I would like. But, I know God is working out this salvation in me and He isn't finished with me yet....praise the Lord! It is so weird and exciting all at the same time. We can't believe this is all fleshing out before our eyes. We are a bundle of a thousand emotions right now.
But we give ALL GLORY TO GOD! HE has done this! This is HIS work for HIS glory! We hope everyone we know sees that!
1. WE HAVE PLANE TICKETS!!! We are leaving from Atlanta on Jan. 5th. Steve's last day of working at the church is on Dec. 9th and our last Sunday is Dec. 5th...sad day! Tickets were bought 2 days ago!
2. We know where we are going to live!!! We are going to live in a little house in a village called Meirleu (sp?). There will be no addition on the house before we get there. So when we move in it will just be a kitchen, bathroom and living room. We will all sleep in the living room and to say I am a little nervous about my kids sleeping habits would be a giant understatement. However, it makes the most sense to do this b/c we really want to live in the village as opposed to the city in an apt. In the village our kids have a yard to play in, we could have pets, lots of wonderful ministry opportunities, great neighbors, country living...very rustic. We will chop our own wood for heat and have our chickens to raise and eat for dinner. It costs nothing for us to live in it as is. So we can move in and try it out. If we love it there then when it gets warmer we will add a room onto the house. If it isn't working out we will move to an apt. in the village.
I have a feeling I am going to be stretched in many ways...my faith, my security, my comforts. Well, I already am being stretched more than I would like. But, I know God is working out this salvation in me and He isn't finished with me yet....praise the Lord! It is so weird and exciting all at the same time. We can't believe this is all fleshing out before our eyes. We are a bundle of a thousand emotions right now.
But we give ALL GLORY TO GOD! HE has done this! This is HIS work for HIS glory! We hope everyone we know sees that!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
summer 2010 thru pictures
We have had a fun summer! We are truly so blessed!! Here is a glance at our summer through some pics. Enjoy.
LOTS of sliding into the pool
Paige with a cute little pony tail.
Noah running bases @ his 1st baseball game!
major sprinkler fun at Nana's
The VanHorn Family
Noah needed specs!
Paige swinging like a big girl!
on the beaches of Rhode Island
Noah learning to swim at Gramma K's
Steve & I @ Red Sox game in Boston
Paige having a religious experience w/ her favorite fruit...cherries!
resting after swimming @ a hotel....our kids LOVE staying at hotels!
slip n slide fun!
puddle fun @ the church
sweet!
Noah in the fountains @ World's Fair Park
Paige loving her big girl bed!
Noah showing off his "art gallery" in his new bed @ our temporary house
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
"I am not called." I am not called?
Last night I went to post this, but then realized that what I wanted to post was in a book in our kids room. So, I am posting a lengthy section from a book I am currently reading. I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Sorry, it is a long read....but good stuff! Enjoy.
"I wonder if we have in some ways intentionally and in other ways unknowingly erected lines of defense against the global purpose God has for our lives. It's not uncommon to hear Christians say, 'Well, not everyone is called to foreign missions' or more specifically, 'I am not called to foreign missions.'
When we say this we are usually referring to foreign missions as an optional program in the church for a faithful few who apparently are called to that. In this mind set, missions is a compartmentalized program of the church, and select folks are good at missions and passionate about missions. Meanwhile ,the rest of us are willing to watch the missions slide shows when the missionary comes home, but in the end God has just not called most of us to do this missions thing.
But where in the Bible is missions ever identified as an optional program in the church? We have just seen that we were all created by God, saved from our sins, and blessed by God to make His glory known in all the world. Indeed, Jesus himself has not merely called us to go to all nations; he has created us and commanded us to go to all nations. We have taken this command and reduced it to a calling--something that only a few people receive.
I find it interesting that we don't do this with other words from Jesus. We take Jesus' command in Matthew 28 to make disciples of all nations and we say, 'that means other people.' But we look at Jesus command in Matt. 11:28 "come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest." and we say,'Now that means me.' (same with Acts 1:8 and John 10:10)
In the process we have unnecessarily and unbiblically drawn a line of distinction, assigning the obligations of Christianity to a few while keeping the privileges of Christianity for us all. In this way we choose to send off other people to carry out the global purpose of Christianity while the rest of us sit back because we're "just not called."
Now, we know that each of us has different gifts, different skills, different passions, different callings from God. God has gifted you and me in different ways. This was undoubtedly the case with the disciples. However, each follower of Christ in NT, regardless of his or her calling, was intended to take up the mantle of proclaiming the gospel to the end of the earth. That's the reason why He gave each of them His Spirit and why He gave them all the same plan: make disciples of all nations.
In Romans 1:14-15, Paul talks about being a debtor to the nations. He literally says, 'I am in debt to Jews and Gentiles.' The language is profound. Paul is saying that he owed a debt to every lost person on the face of the planet. Because he is owned by Christ, he owes Christ to the world.
Encompassed with this debt, though, in our contemporary approach to missions, we have subtly taken ourselves out from under the weight of a lost and dying world, wrung our hands in pious concern and said, 'I'm sorry. I'm just not called to that."
The result is tragic. A majority of individuals supposedly saved from eternal damnation by the gospel are now sitting back and making excuses for not sharing that gospel with the rest of the world. But what if we don't sit back and wait for a call to foreign missions? What if the very reason we have breath is because we have been saved for a global mission?
And what if anything less than passionate involvement in global mission is actually selling God short by frustrating the very purpose for which he created us?"
Radical by David Platt
I was one of those people who always thought only some were called to missions. But when I read this I realized that I was not having a biblical mindset. We all should be involved in spreading the gospel globally in some way. This section spoke volumes to my heart. What are your thoughts?
Ask yourself this, "How can I lead my life, my family and my job, etc for God's glory in my home town and around the world?"
"I wonder if we have in some ways intentionally and in other ways unknowingly erected lines of defense against the global purpose God has for our lives. It's not uncommon to hear Christians say, 'Well, not everyone is called to foreign missions' or more specifically, 'I am not called to foreign missions.'
When we say this we are usually referring to foreign missions as an optional program in the church for a faithful few who apparently are called to that. In this mind set, missions is a compartmentalized program of the church, and select folks are good at missions and passionate about missions. Meanwhile ,the rest of us are willing to watch the missions slide shows when the missionary comes home, but in the end God has just not called most of us to do this missions thing.
But where in the Bible is missions ever identified as an optional program in the church? We have just seen that we were all created by God, saved from our sins, and blessed by God to make His glory known in all the world. Indeed, Jesus himself has not merely called us to go to all nations; he has created us and commanded us to go to all nations. We have taken this command and reduced it to a calling--something that only a few people receive.
I find it interesting that we don't do this with other words from Jesus. We take Jesus' command in Matthew 28 to make disciples of all nations and we say, 'that means other people.' But we look at Jesus command in Matt. 11:28 "come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest." and we say,'Now that means me.' (same with Acts 1:8 and John 10:10)
In the process we have unnecessarily and unbiblically drawn a line of distinction, assigning the obligations of Christianity to a few while keeping the privileges of Christianity for us all. In this way we choose to send off other people to carry out the global purpose of Christianity while the rest of us sit back because we're "just not called."
Now, we know that each of us has different gifts, different skills, different passions, different callings from God. God has gifted you and me in different ways. This was undoubtedly the case with the disciples. However, each follower of Christ in NT, regardless of his or her calling, was intended to take up the mantle of proclaiming the gospel to the end of the earth. That's the reason why He gave each of them His Spirit and why He gave them all the same plan: make disciples of all nations.
In Romans 1:14-15, Paul talks about being a debtor to the nations. He literally says, 'I am in debt to Jews and Gentiles.' The language is profound. Paul is saying that he owed a debt to every lost person on the face of the planet. Because he is owned by Christ, he owes Christ to the world.
Encompassed with this debt, though, in our contemporary approach to missions, we have subtly taken ourselves out from under the weight of a lost and dying world, wrung our hands in pious concern and said, 'I'm sorry. I'm just not called to that."
The result is tragic. A majority of individuals supposedly saved from eternal damnation by the gospel are now sitting back and making excuses for not sharing that gospel with the rest of the world. But what if we don't sit back and wait for a call to foreign missions? What if the very reason we have breath is because we have been saved for a global mission?
And what if anything less than passionate involvement in global mission is actually selling God short by frustrating the very purpose for which he created us?"
Radical by David Platt
I was one of those people who always thought only some were called to missions. But when I read this I realized that I was not having a biblical mindset. We all should be involved in spreading the gospel globally in some way. This section spoke volumes to my heart. What are your thoughts?
Ask yourself this, "How can I lead my life, my family and my job, etc for God's glory in my home town and around the world?"
Thursday, August 12, 2010
reality is good
Two days ago Steve went to the chiropractor to get his hip fixed. He is 26 going on 66! :)
This was the second visit with the doctor and so they don't really know each other. Steve has no idea if this man is a Christian or not. Well, he quickly found out. The doc starts talking religion, because he definitely has no concept of a relationship with Christ.
These were some of his words.....
"I believe we are all children of God. And since we are all a child of God we are therefore also god!"
Whoa! Hold the phone!
When Steve told me this I asked if he got struck by lightning right then and there! Not really, but it definitely stopped me in my tracks..jaw dropping.
He thinks he is god? And that I am god? Oh, i am so glad he is wrong!
Steve quoted John 14:6, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through me." He asked the dr. what he does with that? Does he believe that to be true?
He would say that means if you follow God's example you will get to the Father. Not believe that He is God's own Son. Not confess with your mouth that He is Lord. Not acknowledge the virgin birth, all of his ministry, his horrific humiliating death on a cross for our sin. Not remember God raising His Son up from the dead and His ascension into Heaven. Just follow his example....and do good ....and be good.....and do good...and be good. Do, do, do. This is NOT the Gospel I know; that I love; that I read about in the Bible.
Steve said, "I do not agree with you. There is no way we can do enough good things or be good enough on our own to get to Heaven. Jesus is the only good thing us...if we are His."
To which doc says, "Steve, if you believe that then you are putting blinders on yourself. You can do it on your own." He also went on to say how he doesn't believe we only get one shot at life...that after this life we will have another chance to do better. (Reincarnation)
As Steve is telling me what took place I got that sickly, gut-wrenching feeling in my belly. It made me so sad for him. I wanted to get in my car, drive to his office, run in there and shake him and say what are you thinking. Shove my Bible in his face and show him all the verses where we are saved by grace....by faith....it's a gift.....we don't and we can't do enough good things....it's not even about that.
Something in my gut told me this would not be very beneficial so I didn't do it. ;)
Instead I will pray for Dr. K and hope that Steve gets to talk with him more about Jesus in the morning.
After I thought about it for a bit, I got really excited....encouraged.
My chiropractor is way off. We do only have this ONE life to live for Him. If we believe in Jesus Christ then we get to spend eternity in a new world...in a new body..with HIM FOREVER! If not, it is eternal separation from Him. I am SO SO SO excited that I don't have to go through this life again after I die to try and get it right! I am so glad I will not be reincarnated into something else to see if I will do a better job at that.
I am so thankful that Christ paid the price once and for ALL!
"He has no need like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself."- Heb. 7:27
I am so thankful that He is the only good thing in me. That apart from Him I can do nothing! That I am covered by grace when I don't quite measure up.
"I am the vince; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." -John 15:5
I am so thankful that God has removed the blinders from my eyes and revealed Himself to me and regenerated my heart. That He has filled me with the Holy Spirit to guide, teach, admonish, convict and correct me in life. Thankful that I am no longer dependent on myself, but on Him.
"But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed." -2 Cor. 3:16
This is reality and it is good!
I am so thankful for God's grace on my life. I pray that Dr. K will one day experience this too.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love of the with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved....For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. " -Ephesians 2:4-5, 8-10
This was the second visit with the doctor and so they don't really know each other. Steve has no idea if this man is a Christian or not. Well, he quickly found out. The doc starts talking religion, because he definitely has no concept of a relationship with Christ.
These were some of his words.....
"I believe we are all children of God. And since we are all a child of God we are therefore also god!"
Whoa! Hold the phone!
When Steve told me this I asked if he got struck by lightning right then and there! Not really, but it definitely stopped me in my tracks..jaw dropping.
He thinks he is god? And that I am god? Oh, i am so glad he is wrong!
Steve quoted John 14:6, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through me." He asked the dr. what he does with that? Does he believe that to be true?
He would say that means if you follow God's example you will get to the Father. Not believe that He is God's own Son. Not confess with your mouth that He is Lord. Not acknowledge the virgin birth, all of his ministry, his horrific humiliating death on a cross for our sin. Not remember God raising His Son up from the dead and His ascension into Heaven. Just follow his example....and do good ....and be good.....and do good...and be good. Do, do, do. This is NOT the Gospel I know; that I love; that I read about in the Bible.
Steve said, "I do not agree with you. There is no way we can do enough good things or be good enough on our own to get to Heaven. Jesus is the only good thing us...if we are His."
To which doc says, "Steve, if you believe that then you are putting blinders on yourself. You can do it on your own." He also went on to say how he doesn't believe we only get one shot at life...that after this life we will have another chance to do better. (Reincarnation)
As Steve is telling me what took place I got that sickly, gut-wrenching feeling in my belly. It made me so sad for him. I wanted to get in my car, drive to his office, run in there and shake him and say what are you thinking. Shove my Bible in his face and show him all the verses where we are saved by grace....by faith....it's a gift.....we don't and we can't do enough good things....it's not even about that.
Something in my gut told me this would not be very beneficial so I didn't do it. ;)
Instead I will pray for Dr. K and hope that Steve gets to talk with him more about Jesus in the morning.
After I thought about it for a bit, I got really excited....encouraged.
My chiropractor is way off. We do only have this ONE life to live for Him. If we believe in Jesus Christ then we get to spend eternity in a new world...in a new body..with HIM FOREVER! If not, it is eternal separation from Him. I am SO SO SO excited that I don't have to go through this life again after I die to try and get it right! I am so glad I will not be reincarnated into something else to see if I will do a better job at that.
I am so thankful that Christ paid the price once and for ALL!
"He has no need like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself."- Heb. 7:27
I am so thankful that He is the only good thing in me. That apart from Him I can do nothing! That I am covered by grace when I don't quite measure up.
"I am the vince; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." -John 15:5
I am so thankful that God has removed the blinders from my eyes and revealed Himself to me and regenerated my heart. That He has filled me with the Holy Spirit to guide, teach, admonish, convict and correct me in life. Thankful that I am no longer dependent on myself, but on Him.
"But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed." -2 Cor. 3:16
This is reality and it is good!
I am so thankful for God's grace on my life. I pray that Dr. K will one day experience this too.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love of the with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved....For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. " -Ephesians 2:4-5, 8-10
Monday, August 9, 2010
Missions Minded Monday
About two months ago we sold our imac b/c we knew we were moving out and there was no way we could take that thing to Romania. We also sold my old laptop. I have randomly been using Steve's work computer every now and then. Well, my heart sure is happy because two days ago Steve came home and brought me a brand spankin' new macbook! We waited two months so we could get it tax free. Needless to say, I am excited...not only about a new laptop, but that now I can blog more regularly and share more of what the Lord is doing in my heart and in our lives! I am a yucky mess inside, but He never lets go and He just keeps cleaning me out and filling me back up with His Spirit!
One thing that is near and dear to my heart is missions. I thought it would fun and interesting if I had a missions minded Monday and on each Monday I would blog about missions. This could look very different. Some Monday's I may just share Scripture, some Monday's I may share about a current or former missionary or I may just share some of our own journey, though we know so little. I do believe missions can be right in your very own town and also global. So if I write about missions, it really does apply to everyone, no matter your location.
Yesterday was celebration Sunday at our church. It was incredible to see all that the Lord is doing in Mexico, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe and in Africa. My heart was excited and broke all at the same time. Our church has been in relationship with churches/ministries in these areas for about 7 years (some more, some less) and now they are beginning to see the fruit of that! Which makes everyone elated! Seeing children who would have spent their entire lives on the street with a dark future now in a Christian home where they are loved and getting an education or just now about to start college.....what a gift that the church is actually getting to see the fruit of their labor! What grace!!
So yesterday at church, it really did seem like a celebration because all GOOD things were being said. I loved what Rick shared towards the end. He was sharing that all of this looks and sounds so good, but that this life style of a missionary and for the natives of these countries is SO hard. We have no idea the costly sacrifice that is being made by so many and the hurt that is going on in the hearts of so many.
I do not remember all that Rick had written down and shared yesterday. I really don't want to botch it. But he did share that we are going in to spiritual war! That is what we are preparing for. We are coming up against darkness, poverty, abuse, oppression. So much of this is what I saw in Romania and it is all over the world! It is all over our nation, but it is masked so well in some places and goes unnoticed by so many.
So we can go out into the world and cloth people and feed them, help them find jobs and a home. All of that needs to be done and is great, but they need the LORD. Sharing Christ in a dark, destitute oppressed land has spiritual war written all over it.
For my birthday Steve got me a book by David Platt titled Radical. So far, good read. It is about "taking back your faith from the American Dream." Early in the book he compares what today's American churches look like and then what we read about in the book of Acts. I love this....
"I see a small band of timid disciples huddled together in an upper room. They know they need God's power. They are Galileans, disrespected by the higher classes in Jerusalem as lower class, rural, uneducated commoners. This is the group that the spread of Christianity depends on. So what are they doing? They are not plotting strategies. They are joined together constantly in prayer. They are not busy putting their faith in themselves or relying on themselves. They are pleading for the power of God, and they are confident that they are not going to accomplish anything without HIS provision."
If you have read any of my blog then you know that the last sentence is highlighted for a reason. This is something GOD has been hammering into my brain for the last 7 months. I am very confident that I can accomplish NOTHING without HIM! He is my faithful Provider and I need Him and His power moment by moment. I need Him to have victory over any spiritual war!
One thing that is near and dear to my heart is missions. I thought it would fun and interesting if I had a missions minded Monday and on each Monday I would blog about missions. This could look very different. Some Monday's I may just share Scripture, some Monday's I may share about a current or former missionary or I may just share some of our own journey, though we know so little. I do believe missions can be right in your very own town and also global. So if I write about missions, it really does apply to everyone, no matter your location.
Yesterday was celebration Sunday at our church. It was incredible to see all that the Lord is doing in Mexico, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe and in Africa. My heart was excited and broke all at the same time. Our church has been in relationship with churches/ministries in these areas for about 7 years (some more, some less) and now they are beginning to see the fruit of that! Which makes everyone elated! Seeing children who would have spent their entire lives on the street with a dark future now in a Christian home where they are loved and getting an education or just now about to start college.....what a gift that the church is actually getting to see the fruit of their labor! What grace!!
So yesterday at church, it really did seem like a celebration because all GOOD things were being said. I loved what Rick shared towards the end. He was sharing that all of this looks and sounds so good, but that this life style of a missionary and for the natives of these countries is SO hard. We have no idea the costly sacrifice that is being made by so many and the hurt that is going on in the hearts of so many.
I do not remember all that Rick had written down and shared yesterday. I really don't want to botch it. But he did share that we are going in to spiritual war! That is what we are preparing for. We are coming up against darkness, poverty, abuse, oppression. So much of this is what I saw in Romania and it is all over the world! It is all over our nation, but it is masked so well in some places and goes unnoticed by so many.
So we can go out into the world and cloth people and feed them, help them find jobs and a home. All of that needs to be done and is great, but they need the LORD. Sharing Christ in a dark, destitute oppressed land has spiritual war written all over it.
For my birthday Steve got me a book by David Platt titled Radical. So far, good read. It is about "taking back your faith from the American Dream." Early in the book he compares what today's American churches look like and then what we read about in the book of Acts. I love this....
"I see a small band of timid disciples huddled together in an upper room. They know they need God's power. They are Galileans, disrespected by the higher classes in Jerusalem as lower class, rural, uneducated commoners. This is the group that the spread of Christianity depends on. So what are they doing? They are not plotting strategies. They are joined together constantly in prayer. They are not busy putting their faith in themselves or relying on themselves. They are pleading for the power of God, and they are confident that they are not going to accomplish anything without HIS provision."
If you have read any of my blog then you know that the last sentence is highlighted for a reason. This is something GOD has been hammering into my brain for the last 7 months. I am very confident that I can accomplish NOTHING without HIM! He is my faithful Provider and I need Him and His power moment by moment. I need Him to have victory over any spiritual war!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
27th birthday
Yesterday was my (Cali) birthday. I turned 27. It was an ordinary day; but when you have two toddlers who do hysterical and random things constantly, no day is ordinary! Here were the highlights of this special day:
*I went running
*We all had breakfast together
*After playing on the slip n slide, Noah (when I wasn't looking of course) jerked down his trunks and peed in the yard for everyone who was driving on Middlebrook Pike to see! Thanks for the honks! :)
*Paige let all the water out of her bath by dumping it all onto the bathroom floor
*date night with Stevo
*kidlets actually went to sleep for the babysitter and we came home to silence
*A new cousin was born on my birthday!! Welcome to the world sweet Charlee Jane!
I do not feel any different being a year older now, but this year does hold some significance to me.
10 years ago GOD put a dream in my heart of being a missionary. My life has panned out so differently than I ever imagine, thankfully!! I am over joyed to see a God-given dream being lived out in my very being and to see it being done with my best friend and my two children! This year will be full of many emotions, up and downs, new challenges, laughter, cries, new friendships, new ministry, new house, new country and so much more. But, it will be FULL! All Glory to GOD!
Steve asked me what some of my goals were for the next year. I thought I would share them. They are in no particular order.
1. Run a 5k
2. Stand firm in the faith
3. Write a devotional book for the single moms in the Maternity Center in Romania
4. Invest in one or two spiritual friendships.
5. Spend more one on one time with my children individually.
I am super thankful for my life....my eternal life....and from all that God has rescued me from!
*I went running
*We all had breakfast together
*After playing on the slip n slide, Noah (when I wasn't looking of course) jerked down his trunks and peed in the yard for everyone who was driving on Middlebrook Pike to see! Thanks for the honks! :)
*Paige let all the water out of her bath by dumping it all onto the bathroom floor
*date night with Stevo
*kidlets actually went to sleep for the babysitter and we came home to silence
*A new cousin was born on my birthday!! Welcome to the world sweet Charlee Jane!
I do not feel any different being a year older now, but this year does hold some significance to me.
10 years ago GOD put a dream in my heart of being a missionary. My life has panned out so differently than I ever imagine, thankfully!! I am over joyed to see a God-given dream being lived out in my very being and to see it being done with my best friend and my two children! This year will be full of many emotions, up and downs, new challenges, laughter, cries, new friendships, new ministry, new house, new country and so much more. But, it will be FULL! All Glory to GOD!
Steve asked me what some of my goals were for the next year. I thought I would share them. They are in no particular order.
1. Run a 5k
2. Stand firm in the faith
3. Write a devotional book for the single moms in the Maternity Center in Romania
4. Invest in one or two spiritual friendships.
5. Spend more one on one time with my children individually.
I am super thankful for my life....my eternal life....and from all that God has rescued me from!
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