On my heart...

This week I discovered the story of Kate McRae. It's a heart breaking story but one of hope and much needed prayer. It is her parents wish that as many people as possible are praying for their little girl. Please click on the link below and read her story....then join me on your knees in prayer.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mcraekate/journal/1

Children are a gift from God. Psalms 127

We had a great weekend celebrating the 4th of July, kinda busy with regular things to do and then lots of things with family. Family is one of the most important things to my husband and I. We both grew up in close families, that would be with brothers, sisters, parents, and grandparents then aunts, uncles and cousins, too. Both of our families even came to Epworth Forest for a week in the summer for many years. You'd think maybe we would have met then, for some reason we didn't but I'm not sure why because I know we were there one time the same week. Funnie, isn't it!!

As most of you know, we have four children. They are all in their twenties now which I can't believe. It seems like just yesterday they were little but sadly they grow up way too fast. Altho, when they grow up and get married, you have the privilege of watching your children have their own children. I got to be a granma alot this last week which is such a pleasure except that little Ava was not feeling well part of the time. And as most of you can imagine, I could go on and on about all the cute things she did! Even about how much fun it was to do her laundry and get to fold even her little sockies! I won't... save that for another day!!

As I shared in the day to day of living with a little one around, I got to see her mommy and daddy in their new roles, ones they have adapted to very well. It gives you such a good feeling that maybe you did something right as a parent. But mostly, it made me think about my son learning to be a dad from watching his dad. ( I need to add that Sara is a very good mommy, too!) I watch the other men in that role around me and am so pleased at the importance they all place on the job that is set before them. We read in Psalms 127, 'Children are a gift from God; they are his reward'.

Then I think if we humans are thrilled with things our own children and grandchildren do. If we are quick to forgive and continue to love them, how much more is our Father in heaven happy for us and with us. It amazes me to think that God loves us even more than we could love our husband, our children or our grandchildren. But He does, so much more!! God loves us so much that He sent His only Son to die on the cross for our sins. He will continue to forgive, and come looking for us when we are lost. He wants us close to Him. We are all His children. He loves us no matter what we've done or where we've been. Isn't that the coolest thing?!! Then He challenges us to do that same thing for others with His help. We can love all others with God loving thru us.


Dear God, How AMAZING is your love! We thank you for our families and friends to love and enjoy. We praise you that you would also love us even more, even more than we can imagine. I pray that we can love others this same way. In your precious name we pray, AMEN

Tell me more...

This is a follow up from last week's heavy post.... my post about disease and poverty in our world... It got me thinking after I wrote that. If you read it and were upset, that's an ok feeling to have. It takes people getting riled up about things to make a change... remember the quote?

So here is what I wanted to say this week- there are SO many kids, so many people dying each day. And unfortunately many of them are in other countries, third world countries... we are so blessed to live here in a land where we have insurance, doctors, clean water, even an abundance of food! While I would LOVE to have a plan to go to a country like Haiti set in place to start making a difference, I don't. It's not in the life plan for my family right now. But that doesn't mean I can't do anything! Just because you can't go to Africa, Haiti, or India, or any country we see on t.v. with hungry sick babies doesn't mean that we can't make a difference.

I used to have a little banana leaf wall hanging that hung in my apartment in Haiti for years. It said Bloom Where You are Planted. Think about that for a second... bloom where you are planted. Not where you wish you were planted. Not where you used to be planted. where you ARE planted. I love that.

I bought some plants this past week. I am loving my garden. I am slowly building it up and make it beautiful. Part of this beauty comes from the flowers I am planting. White with yellow insides, orange petals, small delicate pink flowers, they all are so beautiful. I want them to bloom exactly where I plant them. That's my plan. That's what's going to make my garden perfect.

That's what our Father wants from us. He has orchestrated this magnificent beautiful garden of this world and he wants you/me to bloom where he puts us. And by bloom I mean- flourish, be active, involved, live. When we try to do this, it makes his garden so much more they way He intended it to be.

So, if you are blooming right where He has you, what are you doing? What are you doing to make a difference in your neighborhood? city? church? family? I'm not asking from a condemning attitude, but from one of encouragement. I'm working on this- I am working on being intentional about getting to know neighbors. My family has taken on some church commitments this next year. I am sharing at camp this summer. I know there is so much more to think about too... How exciting! We don't have to travel far to make a difference. It's all about being intentional, diligent, and willing to bloom.

Me, Me, and more Me

Hi girlfriends!! I just sat down to write this blog... it's 10 p.m., which is way past my usual blogging window. My brain just doesn't work after 9. But here I am-- I did dig out a small ice cream drumstick from the back of our freezer. I definitely need sweets!! It tastes okay... who knows how long it's been in there.
Anyway, I came really close to rationalizing why I couldn't write my post this week. We just got back from vacation. Most of you can relate to the state of your household when you return from being gone......no food, so you have to go grocery shopping, laundry to unpack, sort, wash, dry, fold and put away, a car to clean out, kids fighting like cats and dogs because they are tired from the trip..... plus your regular schedule for the day. Mine included piano lessons, karate, and an actual cat (not a kid) that needs knee surgery.... yes, I said my cat needs knee surgery... AGAIN!! (on the other knee... he had knee surgery a year ago on the right hind leg. Can you believe that? Yeah, Jason couldn't either!)
So by the end of the day, my mind was working something like this......

My day has been horrible.
These kids are driving me crazy!
Why did my husband leave the lunch I packed for him at home?
Why can't I get anything done?
I have done nothing for me all day!!

You all can see the common denominator in those statements, right??? ME!

And you all can see now why I feel convicted to write this post??? I needed to get rid of the ME today. I needed to crucify the "self" and let the Holy Spirit fill me with his love, peace, joy, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The idea of living a crucified life was a hard concept to wrap my head around when I first began studying the Bible. Actually, it still is difficult to execute. I don't think I actually understood what it meant to be crucified with Christ until my pal Beth Moore explained it to me in her Bible Study "Living Beyond Yourself." She gave a great example of a practical way to start your day empty of "Me" and full of Christ. Every morning she begins with prayer that does these things:

*Acknowledges His lordship and confesses to Him sins (This empties you.)
*Asks Him to give you a spirit that desires to be full of Him. (inviting in the Holy Spirit)
*Asks to see His glory and power throughout your day.

Now that is a prayer that I need to do every day!!! (No doubt that I didn't start my day with it this morning.)

I know that if I prayed this prayer in earnest, that I would undoubtedly go about my tasks of the day differently. I would do them out of love, instead of out of obligation. And those of you who know me well know that I am a list maker. I pray that my list includes this prayer at the top every day.
How do you all live a crucified life? I would love to hear how you all take the "ME" out and put the "Jesus" in.

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

Psalm 91

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
If you make the Most High your dwelling — even the LORD, who is my refuge-
then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
"Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."

Thank you Lord for the promises you make to us all throughout your Word, especially for those in Psalm 91. I love you for being my constant fortress and refuge. Bless this holiday weekend! Ahmen

Make A Joyful Noise

I listen to a couple Christian radio stations mostly when I'm driving in my car. I usually don't remember the title of a song or hardly even know the artist's name, and my kidds have forever complained that I shouldn't sing - partly because most of the time I don't remember alot of the words but I like to try to 'sing' along. I think I do so much better when no one else is in the car with me. Wouldn't you know it, then they aren't there to hear how well I'm doing!!! Anyways, I don't really care what my kidds say about my singing. Sometimes, the words are just what I need to hear!!



My dad used to always say about my mom's singing that she was making a joyful noise. I guess I get my singing ability from my mom! Oh well?!! It talks in many of the Psalms about singing with joy to the Lord. Psalm 100 says 'Make a joyful noise to the Lord all thee earth.' So I guess that's what my mom and I do. As my girls were growing up, they were always singing in church. I would listen for songs they could sing. Many times they would surprise me with a song that they knew was a favorite and believe it or not, it would make me cry. I can remember when Monica was getting ready to go to college. Her and Lex sang in church toward the end of the summer and Pastor Scott toward me not to worry that that would not be the last time they would sing in church. He was right. What a blessing it has been to myself and I hope, to many!

What I wanted to do was include words that really speak to me from some of the songs I enjoy listening to, some of which my girls might have sung.



* As the deer panteth for the water, So my soul longeth after thee,
You alone are my heart's desire and I long to worship you.
You alone are my strength and shield, to You alone may my spirit yield.

---As The Deer by Martin Nystrom



* Not because of who I am, but because of what You've done,
Not because of what I've done, but because of who You are.
And you've told me who I am, I am Your's...


--- Who Am I? by Casting Crowns





* In the silence of all that you face, God will give you His mercy and grace.
Jesus never said it was an easy road to travel,
He only said that you would never be alone,
So when your last thread of hope begins to come unraveled,
Don't give up, He walks beside you on this journey home,
And he knows, life is hard, the world is cold,
We're barely young and then we're old,
But every falling tear is always understood,
Life is hard but God is good. Yes, Life is hard but God is good!


---God Is Good by Pam Thum




* Jesus paid much too high a price for us to pick and choose who should come,
And we are the body of Christ...


---If We Are The Body by Casting Crowns




* There's no such thing as perfect people, there's no such thing as a perfect life,
So come as you are, broken and scared, lift up your heart and be amazed,
And be changed by a perfect God,
Suddenly it's like a weight is lifted when you hear the words that you are loved...


---Perfect People by Natalie Grant




* O He died, He died to rectify my hopeless situation
And His blood commands my guilt to leave
Now on Calvary I stand, empty pockets, open hands,
Child, you're forgiven and loved,
Child, you're forgiven and Child you're loved,
Child, you're forgiven and loved.


---Not Without Love by Jimmy Needham




* Surrounded by your glory, What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus, or in awe of you be still?
Will I stand in your presence, or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine...


---I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me




Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that these words would speak to the hearts of those reading them as they have spoken to me. I praise you that you come to us in so many different ways to touch our lives. Help us to be watching for you in the words of a song or the voice of a friend, in a sunset or a rain storm, in a child's eyes or the hand of a stranger. Help us to be the body of Christ that you would have us to be. All for your Glory!!! Amen.

I had the great opportunity to share tonight at the high school camp at Epworth. They were doing different stations, talking about different kind of oppression. My area was preventable oppression, specifically medical and diseases. It was such an honor to share and I felt one of those moments where God was able to use me. When I was living in Haiti and going through some tough experiences, I remember thinking, "why do I have to go through this? I don't like it one bit and it hurts too much God". Well... He created me for such a time as this and I firmly believe that I was supposed to have those experiences in order to be able to share with the kids tonight. I'd like to share a bit with you on what I talked about

_______________

When you have a headache what do you do? take some medicine right? How about a fever? the same. Where do you get it? A medicine cabinet right? We all have those with every medicine under the sun that we MAY need some day. And if the meds don't work? You see a doctor. Friends, all of what I just mentioned is a complete luxury. We are a minority in this world that has such great access to medicine, medical assistance, even clean water to wash our pills down with! Do you know how many people are dying TODAY from diseases that are completely preventable?

When I lived in Haiti, one of the things I helped with was medical clinics. I would translate for the doctors and nurses who would come in for a few weeks. I did not enjoy this job. I do not do well around blood, sickness, and the hurt in general was just so hard to bear. But that was where the need was so I went.

On one specific clinic, we had traveled up to the mountains, way up there. It was a three hour walk up a steep mountain. People had waited in line for hours to see the doctor and get some medicine and a little love. One lady came in with her baby who was maybe 2 months old. This lady was probably more of a girl, she looked young. She said her baby had diarrhea and couldn't keep anything in. Oh.. when I looked down at this precious little thing... she was so so tiny, just skin and bones. Listless, almost lifeless. Friends, one of the hardest things I've ever had to do in my life was to pray/translate with this mother that Jesus would take that lovely little bundle in his arms and take her home. She probably didn't make it home that day.

It's been 9 years since this happened and my eyes still well up with tears when I talk or write about it. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. Babies should NOT die because they don't have clean water, or access to a doctor, or food to eat. NOT OK. But this is happening RIGHT NOW all over the world.

• in Africa- there are over 11 million orphans from AIDS
• 9 million people need immediate drugs for HIV/AIDS and only 30% of that number are receiving them
• Since last August in Zimbabwe 4,000 have died from cholera
• Over 500 million are affected by Malaria all over.
• 1 million die from it (I had malaria in Haiti.... awful sickness! but I was able to call in and get some medicine, just like that....)
• EVERY DAY 34,000 children under the age of 5 die from hunger

• EVERY DAY 50,000 people die from preventable diseases. Let me make it a bit more real for you. That's like the city of Elkhart- dying. EVERY DAY.

I'm not trying to share this with you, just to make you sad. Just to ruin your night. I want you, I want me, all of us, to be aware. THIS IS HAPPENING friends. We can pretend it isn't or we can know about it and learn how to make a difference. We've all heard the story of the little boy walking along the beach throwing starfish back in the water. There are hundreds and hundreds of them. Someone comes along and tells him he can't save them all. He just looks at that person, picks up a starfish throws it back in the water and says "I made a difference for that one"

Please, please spend a few minutes tonight thinking about this. Pray that the Lord will show you where you can make a difference. There are places everywhere, here in the U.S. and all over the world that you can join with in helping. If you need some ideas, let me know and I can give you some.

Thanks,

Shan

"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for a few good men to do nothing"

Edmund Burke