A week or two ago I asked you all to pray for a friend, Kim Tisdale, and her family as she recently discovered she has brain cancer. Next Tuesday she and her husband will travel to Duke for another surgery, unless of course the Lord has already removed them by His power and the power of prayer of the saints. She will be there for two weeks if she does need a second surgery. After this there will be chemo and numerous consecutive days of radiation. Here are some prayer requests:
-pray for their son who will not be with them, that he will be joyful, be able to sleep and have a great time with his grandparents
-pray for Kim as she will be awake during this second brain surgery; that she would remain calm
-for the doctor's to have the utmost wisdom and to know when to say they can do no more and need to stop; pray for God to give them VERY STEADY hands as dealing with the brain, one slightly wrong move can do a lot of damage
-pray for Kim and Michael that they will be joyful and not lonely as none of their friends and family will be there to visit them
-pray for her head to not swell as much as it did last time and for her to be able to get much needed rest
Those are a lot of specifics. Please pray as they will travel on Tuesday. Keep them in your mind and pray!
Kim's outlook on life and her relationship with Christ has changed over the last 6 weeks because she knows she has brain cancer. Small things are now sweet big things to rejoice in. Just because we don't know that we have cancer doesn't mean we will live for another day, another year or another decade. Her life has made me so mindful of how our life is a vapor. Rejoice in today! I want to live like I don't have many more earthly days. It makes you live so differently!
In every season He is still God and we have a reason to sing!
Thursday, May 24, 2012
North Knox Blog is up and running!!!
Just wanted to share the site for the North Knoxville Campus blog. Check it out! Join us! You can also see Michael Thomas' sermon that he preached at Fellowship this past Sunday! Makes me excited about the future! :)
northknoxville.fefc.com
One of these days I will learn how to embed it so you can see the picture of it. If only my husband were here.....sorry I am inept!
northknoxville.fefc.com
One of these days I will learn how to embed it so you can see the picture of it. If only my husband were here.....sorry I am inept!
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Happy Mother's Day 2012
This morning my sweet little Noah asks, "Mommy, what would be the best gift for you today?"
I reply, "I would just love some time to snuggle with you and be with you. Can we do that?"
Noah, "sure. How about we learn about tigers together?!"
Paige, "How about you watch a movie with me? How about Barney?! Yes, Barney!" (not really a question, more of a statement)
Steve and I laughed as we realized how sly they were. They wanted to give me the best gift I could possibly want, but it turned out to be what they wanted!
How many times do we do this with God?
God I want to help the poor and needy, but how about I only give 1%?
God I want to reach out to my neighbor, but how about I wait until they pursue me?
God I need to apologize to my husband for ____, but he is so stubborn, I think he should apologize first?!
We tell Him things we want to do or recognize we should do, but how about my way? Or in my timing?
Now, I know my kids weren't intentionally doing this specific thing. It just made me laugh, first of all, and then it made me think how this is so true of myself and possibly you.
It made me more aware of the importance of listening to His voice clearly or waiting to hear from Him on how to go about certain situations and not pushing my own agenda and believing that is what God wants.
What does God want of me? What does He require? What does it look like for me to desire what God desires of me?
Just a few questions to ponder this afternoon.
Back to Mother's Day....
All I want to do today is snuggle and learn about tigers with Noah and then watch Barney with Paige. I want to soak up as much time with my kids as possible.
Being a mother is such a gracious gift that so many I know are not able to experience today. Many women are heartbroken over infertility and miscarriages and today I pray that God would strengthen you and comfort you and that you would find someone to walk with you through this time! I do not take it lightly that I have been entrusted with two beautiful, healthy and hilarious children!
Life really is a vapor and we are not promised tomorrow. Find joy today in time with family and rest in Him!
Happy Mother's Day!
I reply, "I would just love some time to snuggle with you and be with you. Can we do that?"
Noah, "sure. How about we learn about tigers together?!"
Paige, "How about you watch a movie with me? How about Barney?! Yes, Barney!" (not really a question, more of a statement)
Steve and I laughed as we realized how sly they were. They wanted to give me the best gift I could possibly want, but it turned out to be what they wanted!
How many times do we do this with God?
God I want to help the poor and needy, but how about I only give 1%?
God I want to reach out to my neighbor, but how about I wait until they pursue me?
God I need to apologize to my husband for ____, but he is so stubborn, I think he should apologize first?!
We tell Him things we want to do or recognize we should do, but how about my way? Or in my timing?
Now, I know my kids weren't intentionally doing this specific thing. It just made me laugh, first of all, and then it made me think how this is so true of myself and possibly you.
It made me more aware of the importance of listening to His voice clearly or waiting to hear from Him on how to go about certain situations and not pushing my own agenda and believing that is what God wants.
What does God want of me? What does He require? What does it look like for me to desire what God desires of me?
Just a few questions to ponder this afternoon.
Back to Mother's Day....
All I want to do today is snuggle and learn about tigers with Noah and then watch Barney with Paige. I want to soak up as much time with my kids as possible.
Being a mother is such a gracious gift that so many I know are not able to experience today. Many women are heartbroken over infertility and miscarriages and today I pray that God would strengthen you and comfort you and that you would find someone to walk with you through this time! I do not take it lightly that I have been entrusted with two beautiful, healthy and hilarious children!
Life really is a vapor and we are not promised tomorrow. Find joy today in time with family and rest in Him!
Happy Mother's Day!
Beach Teachings
Can anyone help me find April?? I seemed to have misplaced it!
Does anyone feel this way? We are halfway through May! What happened to April! I am trying to play catch up here as I haven't blogged in a while and a lot of LIFE has happened!
I want to back up to around April 18th. Our family set out for the beach for a few days. My cousin was getting married on the beach and we decided to make a little vacation out of it.
{Sidenote: can more of my friends and family get married on the beach please?! It is just too fun and I do love me some ocean! Thank you.}
A couple of weeks before we left I found out that, thanks to my Mom (my grandmother) and my cousin our little family got to stay at a condo on the beach...FOR FREE! I just love it when loved ones have connections.
I was giddy!
This is how the VanHorn's feel about staying at the beach....
I love the ocean and to get to stay on it for four nights for free....I'm all in!
It was rough people. {said with much sarcasm} As I scrambled eggs and toasted bagels with sliding doors wide open I got to watch and listen to this--
We got to eat every meal here--
When it was time for bed this is what we watched--
We arrived at 5:30pm and as soon as we got in the condo Paige put on her swimsuit, grabbed a cookie and headed outside. I like the way she thinks! However, upon arriving at the edge of the ocean she wasn't so sure.
It was giant. She couldn't see the end of the other side of the ocean anywhere. It just went on and on.
And it was loud! The crashing of the waves. It might just swallow her up and take her out to the deep.
But, she was curious. She wanted to go in, but not alone.
She ran to daddy and asked him to carry her in. She wanted to feel the water and step into it, but didn't feel safe to go alone. She needed daddy to carry her because she knew he could withstand the waves. He was tall enough to not get swallowed up in the ocean. He wasn't afraid of the loud crashing waves or the fact that the ocean looked larger than life.
As I watched all of this happening and snapping photos of them in the ocean the Holy Spirit said, "This is what faith looks like. This is what trust looks like."
There may be times when we want to do things for the Lord or times when GOD tells us to do something. Oh, we want to be obedient. We want to be faithful, but we are scared silly.
We can't see an end in sight.
The task seems huge and daunting.
There are lots of voices saying different things and our own flesh gets in the way and it's loud!
We must know that our Father is the only One we are to run to. We must ask Him to hold on to us tight and walk us in the deep. Because, really, we do want to drink deep of HIM! We want to go to deep places with Him and for Him! But, we can't go without Him!
He is strong enough to withstand the deep crashing waters.
He created those very waters that may seem to be crashing around you!
Remember that He is constant and stable. The sustainer of our souls. He can be trusted. He is faithful and true!
Does anyone feel this way? We are halfway through May! What happened to April! I am trying to play catch up here as I haven't blogged in a while and a lot of LIFE has happened!
I want to back up to around April 18th. Our family set out for the beach for a few days. My cousin was getting married on the beach and we decided to make a little vacation out of it.
{Sidenote: can more of my friends and family get married on the beach please?! It is just too fun and I do love me some ocean! Thank you.}
A couple of weeks before we left I found out that, thanks to my Mom (my grandmother) and my cousin our little family got to stay at a condo on the beach...FOR FREE! I just love it when loved ones have connections.
I was giddy!
This is how the VanHorn's feel about staying at the beach....
I love the ocean and to get to stay on it for four nights for free....I'm all in!
It was rough people. {said with much sarcasm} As I scrambled eggs and toasted bagels with sliding doors wide open I got to watch and listen to this--
We got to eat every meal here--
When it was time for bed this is what we watched--
I could get used to that!
We arrived at 5:30pm and as soon as we got in the condo Paige put on her swimsuit, grabbed a cookie and headed outside. I like the way she thinks! However, upon arriving at the edge of the ocean she wasn't so sure.
It was giant. She couldn't see the end of the other side of the ocean anywhere. It just went on and on.
And it was loud! The crashing of the waves. It might just swallow her up and take her out to the deep.
But, she was curious. She wanted to go in, but not alone.
She ran to daddy and asked him to carry her in. She wanted to feel the water and step into it, but didn't feel safe to go alone. She needed daddy to carry her because she knew he could withstand the waves. He was tall enough to not get swallowed up in the ocean. He wasn't afraid of the loud crashing waves or the fact that the ocean looked larger than life.
As I watched all of this happening and snapping photos of them in the ocean the Holy Spirit said, "This is what faith looks like. This is what trust looks like."
There may be times when we want to do things for the Lord or times when GOD tells us to do something. Oh, we want to be obedient. We want to be faithful, but we are scared silly.
We can't see an end in sight.
The task seems huge and daunting.
There are lots of voices saying different things and our own flesh gets in the way and it's loud!
We must know that our Father is the only One we are to run to. We must ask Him to hold on to us tight and walk us in the deep. Because, really, we do want to drink deep of HIM! We want to go to deep places with Him and for Him! But, we can't go without Him!
He is strong enough to withstand the deep crashing waters.
He created those very waters that may seem to be crashing around you!
Remember that He is constant and stable. The sustainer of our souls. He can be trusted. He is faithful and true!
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Urgent Prayer Request
Please be in prayer for the Tisdale family, a member of our Fountain City group. Kim was just diagnosed with brain cancer and will start chemo and radiation in the next couple of weeks.
Please pray for:
*High Blood Count
*Supernatural strength so she can continue to homeschool Hunter (8) and be wife to Michael
*Michael to be steadfast and loving during a very trying time
*Hunter to trust God and know he can go to God in any time of need
*Spiritual strength for their entire family (parents included)
Kim is a fighter and last night as she shared with our "congregation" in the Ellis' home, I was in awe of her strength! She told the entire journey over the last month without a tear, but I think everyone else was crying or wanted to. I know this has been an emotional time for them and there will be more of those days, but as Kim said, "the Lord is my Banner."
Satan can sift them, but he can't take their faith away from them. No one can pluck them out of HIS right hand!
Christ is our ONLY HOPE! For all of us! Christ is our ONLY HOPE! No matter how much despair we feel, no matter how far away from the Lord we have travelled, no matter how strong or good we are on our own....our only hope is found in Jesus!
Please pray for this sweet family! They are giving every ounce of glory to God throughout this process and it is a giant faith builder for me!
*Side note: last night was the first night where we had all of the community groups come together. Two of the four were there and it was neat to get a small glimpse of what our "church" may look like in the very near future! :)
Now go pray! :)
Please pray for:
*High Blood Count
*Supernatural strength so she can continue to homeschool Hunter (8) and be wife to Michael
*Michael to be steadfast and loving during a very trying time
*Hunter to trust God and know he can go to God in any time of need
*Spiritual strength for their entire family (parents included)
Kim is a fighter and last night as she shared with our "congregation" in the Ellis' home, I was in awe of her strength! She told the entire journey over the last month without a tear, but I think everyone else was crying or wanted to. I know this has been an emotional time for them and there will be more of those days, but as Kim said, "the Lord is my Banner."
Satan can sift them, but he can't take their faith away from them. No one can pluck them out of HIS right hand!
Christ is our ONLY HOPE! For all of us! Christ is our ONLY HOPE! No matter how much despair we feel, no matter how far away from the Lord we have travelled, no matter how strong or good we are on our own....our only hope is found in Jesus!
Please pray for this sweet family! They are giving every ounce of glory to God throughout this process and it is a giant faith builder for me!
*Side note: last night was the first night where we had all of the community groups come together. Two of the four were there and it was neat to get a small glimpse of what our "church" may look like in the very near future! :)
Now go pray! :)
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