Asking "Why?" when you already know the answer

It's so unfair to ask God 'Why?' because in Romans 8:28 we are promised "in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose". So we know that the answer to the question "Why?" is just that. God is doing it for our own good.

Remember when your parents told you that? "It's for your own good." Usually when my parents said that to me, it was because they were doing something, or making me do something that I did not particularly like, or agree with or even understand.

I draw that parallel to make myself understand the sudden death of a friend. An attempt to make some sense out of what seems senseless. In Isaiah 55:9 God tells us that His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. So I never will understand his dying. Not this side of Heaven, anyway.

But my heart is broken. It's heavy and it hurts. Our friend leaves behind a wife and 5 children. Four girls and a boy. The youngest two, the boy and the girl are exactly my children's age. So his sudden death really hits home. I cannot imagine that kind of grief. I pray that I never have to know it. As a mother and wife, I can't imagine the desperation she feels as she longs for her husband who will never hold her again. Who will never again call her just to say "I love you". But she can't just grieve for him alone. She has to attempt to console 5 children, two of which are too young to understand. I can believe that she is greiving for her children as well. Knowing that their dad will never again coach their ball team or tuck them in at night. I can imagine that they continue to hope that this is all a bad dream, and any minute he will walk through the front door and hug them all. But he won't.

It's so hard to understand how this is for anyone's good. But I KNOW it is. It is just hard to see it through the pain. This man loved his GOD. He loved to worship. While most Baptist men quietly say AMEN throughout the sermon he shouted "Praise the Lord!" and "That's right!" along with his AMENs! He was a joy to know. People will come to know the Lord as their personal saviour because of this death. He impacted so many people. He taught Cam's Sunday school class. A few years ago he helped coach his baseball team too. He had a heart for children and teens. They will never forget him.

Neither will we. Britt and I talked to him at lenth just this past Sunday. He talked about how my kids were going to outgrow me soon and how Cam is just as thin as his son. How they keep getting taller, but no wider. We never thought that was the last we would hear his infectious laugh.

Our family, our church and our community are all devastated. It makes you take a long look at yourself. You become acutely aware of your own mortality. You hug your children and spouse, and tell them how much you love them before leaving the house. You read that second bedtime story. You stop what you are doing and answer the phone when your mom calls instead of waiting and calling her later.

And you always always always buckle your seatbelt! Everyone would much rather be at the hospital today instead of planning a funeral.

God bless,

Helping Haiti and Compassion

My heart just breaks for the people of Haiti. The people who have lost everything. Their spouse, their children, parents, homes. Today our pastor spoke about a woman on Fox News who was lying in the street being comforted by other women. The woman had lost her husband, and all five of her children. The poor woman was going out of her mind with grief!

I think sometimes we don't feel the hurt that we probably should feel for our neighbor. Or atleast I know I don't feel their hurt the way I should. Maybe because they are so far away. Since we don't have to see it firsthand, we turn a blind eye. Perhaps it's because they speak a different language and look different from ourselves. Lately God has really been working on me about having compassion for my neighbor. God wants us to care for all his people. Not just the English speaking world. Not just the United States or North America. But the entire population of the world was created in my God's image. The world in its entirety belongs to Him. We, as Christians are called to serve all God's people. ALL. OF. THEM.
I added Compassion's buttons to my blog. One where you can donate to Haiti's disaster relief. The other is about sponsoring a child. If you've never heard of Compassion you need to check them out. They are the real deal. MckMama is going to Kenya with them soon. Kelly from Kelly's Korner just got back from El Salvador. Pioneer Woman's husband Marlboro Man has been on mission with them. So has Big Mama and Boo Mama and Angie from Bring the Rain. You can also check up on Compassion at CharityWatch.Org . That should be enough sources for everyone to be satisfied! It definitely was for us. Here is a snippet about Compassion's integrity, taken from Compassion.com.

Charity Navigator, an independent charity review group, has given Compassion its best rating eight years in a row. That places Compassion among the top 1 percent of the thousands of nonprofit charitable organizations it reviews. Compassion is also a good-standing member of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance.

See? The real deal.

Britt and I have decided to sponsor a child. We've prayed about it for some time. But like I said, God has really been working on me about feeling the suffering of all His children. For instance, almost every morning I wake up thinking about Luke 12:48 "....to whom much is given, much will be required...." And our pastor is doing a sermon series on being a Selfless Servant. So......Britt and I are trying harder to be the hands and feet of God. We are praying about a child to sponsor. By looking at the Compassion site of children who need sponsors it seems that older boys are the ones who need a sponsor the most. You can choose to see the ones who have been waiting the longest. I did. There are 22 boys who have been waiting for 6 months or more!!! How sad is that?! These sweet faces from all over the world have been waiting for SIX MONTHS for someone to choose to take care of them! I wish I could sponsor them ALL!! We are praying that God will show us which one of these boys he wants us to support.
I know the economy is bad. Heaven knows we know how bad it is! We are in foodservice! You know what the first thing people stop doing in a rough economy?? They stop eating out and start cooking! But to sponsor one of those precious boys is well worth my $38 a month! Think about that $38 dollars. What do we waste $38 on? Going to the movies. For a family of 4, $38 is about what it costs just for movie tickets!!!! $38 is how much we spend on 1 breakfast and 1 lunch at McDonalds. (yes, we eat at McDonalds too!) **actually we go to church with the family that owns our local McDs, and we love them!**
What I'm saying is, for most families, you can find a way to cut $38 out of your budget. And if you go look at some of the blogs I mentioned earlier who have gone on these Compassion blogger trips, you will see your $38 at work!! Children without sponsors have NO chance of making it in this world. No education. No food. No clothing. Nothing. With our sponsorship these sweet children, God's children, can go to school, eat 3 healthy meals a day, and have clothing and shelter and most importantly hear about JESUS!! Matthew 25:40 says "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
Go look at the Compassion site. And click through the links of the bloggers I mentioned. Ask yourself if you would help them if they lived next door to you, if they spoke your same language, and looked the same as you. Pray that God will open your hearts to these sweet babies that need our help.
I can't wait to share with you the child that Britt and I are sponsoring!

Three things all parents should teach their children--Blog Hop

My interest was piqued with this blog hop. What three things do I wish all children knew? What three things do I teach my children that perhaps most parents do not? Aside from the obvious things that I teach mine; to love and build a relationship with Jesus Christ, to say please and thank you, pick up the toys they drag out....

With that said, I wish more parents would teach children these three things:

1. Cough into your shoulder or the bend of your arm, not your hands.
This one really gets me. So many times I've been in a public place when a child coughed into the air. The well meaning parent says "Cover your mouth when you cough." So the child coughs again....into his hands. Then that child proceeds to touch everything around him.

2. Acceptance.
So many times I see small children who are intolerant of others who are different; whether it be someone who is multi-racial, or with Down's Syndrome, or a person of a lower socioeconomic status, or even an overweight, or taller person. I know that children are curious by nature. Sometimes they stare or point. But far too often I hear children being cruel to, or avoiding all together, people who are different from themselves. I think it's important to teach our children to accept people who are different. Lots of times I think people confuse acceptance with agreement. My being tolerant of someone who is homosexual, or Catholic doesn't make me either one. Nor does it mean I agree with either. How can you share the Word with someone you hate? I know too many people who call themselves Christians, yet have all this anger and hatred toward minority groups, because what those people do is against the Bible. I agree that certain lifestyles are not of the Lord. But I believe that God loves those people regardless. And we should too.
I talk to my children about all differences mentioned above. We make sure our children know our beliefs, but I also make sure they are tolerant of those who believe differently. And I make sure they know God wants us to share His Word with all people. Our world would be a much better place if we could raise a generation who accepted others.

3. Civility
In this day and age we adults tend to be rude ourselves. We cut others off in traffic because we are in such a hurry. We talk on our cell phones while picking up the dry cleaning, or going through a drive-thru....which is not only rude to the merchants, but it's rude to whom you're talking! And we text one another while we are waiting in line, or even while having dinner with someone else! We totally engross ourselves with someone via text or email, and completely alienate the people sitting right beside us! By doing these things we are teaching our children that it's acceptable behavior. Technology has made our lives so convenient. But we need to be cautious of the incivility it creates!

Have a great day!

UPDATE:
Just because I just thought of it. Because I just said it....AGAIN.

4. Life isn't fair.
And it's never going to be.

Special thanks to Shoplet.com-Purell Hand Sanitizers for sponsoring this blog hop.

Reason #178 Why I Love Living in a Small Town

Mass emailing is completely unnecessary.

I'll admit. Even I find it hilarious.
And genius.

You see, Ben is a young man who grew up here. He is serving our country in Afghanistan. There was a mortar explosion on the roadside just the other day. Ben was there. He caught shrapnel in his face and arm. Everyone in town has been lifting Ben and his family up in prayer. We all have been waiting to hear how Ben was doing after the surgery.

We got the message today.

Ben's fine.

Indeed, God is good!

Prayer Request

I would like to ask you all to remember my [soon to be] sister-in-law, D and my brother, A in your prayers. They recently found out she was expecting. They think she is about 7 weeks.
She had a doctors appointment yesterday. It appears that the baby is not developing beyond an embryonic sac. Her doctor explained that he did not think that there were enough chromosomes present for a baby to develop.
She will go back to the doctor this Wednesday. The doctor told them if a baby has not developed further at that point then he will perform a "suction abortion".
Just typing that makes me sick.
So prayer warriors, please be on your knees for them. My selfish prayer is for that little baby to grow into my healthy niece or nephew. But I know that God is in control. If it is His perfect will for this pregnancy not to continue then, I pray His will be mercifully done.
Please just pray for a sense of peace for the two of them. They are 26 and 25 years old. They've been together 8 years and this was their first attempt at conception. Obviously, they are devastated.
Neither of them have a relationship with Jesus Christ. I pray that through this they find Him.

Much love,

I have something to say.

There has been a lot said this week in the blog world to discredit a popular blogger. I do not know her in real life. I do follow her blog. I pray for her son. But I do not pretend to know, or have any desire to know, the intimate details of her life.
What I do know is that lots of people are talking about the allegation that police were called to her house for a domestic disturbance. People are also saying negative things about her as a Christian woman, referencing Ephesians 5:22 "Wives submit to your husbands, as to the Lord." I have read things such as "If being submissive and letting your husband beat you is what it means to be a Christian woman, then 'No Thanks'."

Let me make this abundantly clear.

Listening?

GOD DOES NOT INTEND FOR A WOMAN TO SUBMIT TO HER HUSBAND'S ABUSE!

Got that?

I did a Beth Moore study at my church a few years ago. Beth talked about this subject and how it was taken out of context. For example lots of times people forget...or just don't know that Paul continues on in Ephesians 5:25 to say "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church."

Now, I'm no pastor. Far from it. I'm a female Southern Baptist, so believe me when I say FAR from it.

But even I can realize that this isn't a solo deal. If a husband loves his wife as Christ does the church, then he will not abuse her.

I searched online for Beth's study. Instead I found an excerpt from her book To Live is Christ: Embracing the Passion of Paul. Beth is one of those women I aspire to be like. She and I are going to be friends in Heaven. Beth Moore makes my Top 10 People to Meet in Heaven List!! She and I are in the same boat all the way down the river when it comes to theology too! So I feel comfortable in sharing that excerpt with y'all on here. Besides Beth says it waaaay better than I can anyway! Now if y'all know anything about Beth Moore you know she's gon' get real deep. But hang in there. It'll well worth it!

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Part 1: The Role of Christian Wives
First, notice verse 21: "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." The attitude of all Christians is to be submissive to one another. No discussion of this topic can stay on track apart from that spirit.

How does the principle of mutual submission play itself out in marriage? The way I see it, my husband, Keith, has to worry about things I don't. He sometimes has to come up with answers when I can't. He's responsible for things I'm not. Many times, I'm very happy to pass the proverbial buck.

Keith would say the same about me. He really doesn't want to drive a carload of teenagers all over the city or sit for hours on the end of our daughters' beds discussing matters of the heart.

Usually we defer to each other on our "turf issues." When I'm not in agreement with Keith, I usually speak up, and we pray and work it out – at times less easily than others! This spirit of praying things through until we can come to consensus on important issues is the essence of mutual respect and the opposite of "lording it over one another."

Paul's primary directive to women dealt with submission, while his primary directive to men dealt with love. Could it be that he was targeting the areas most likely to be our weaknesses? Before we learn what submission means for Christian wives, let's learn what it does not mean:

1. Submission does not mean women are under the authority of men in general.
I love the King James Version's rendition of Ephesians 5:22 "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands." Guess what? Wives aren't asked to submit to anyone else's husband! Just their own!

While I make this point somewhat tongue-in cheek, many women assume the Bible teaches their general inferiority and subjection to men. Untrue. Paul is talking about marriage as a matter between each husband and wife.

2. Submission does not mean inequality.
Paul, the same man who taught submission, made a statement in Galatians 3:28 pertinent to our subject: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Spiros Zodhiates' definition of the Greek word hupotasso explains that submission "is not due to her being inferior to her husband, for they are both equal before God."

3. Submission does not mean wives are to treat their husbands like God.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary explains: "'As to the Lord' does not mean that a wife is to submit to her husband in the same way she submits to the Lord, but rather that her submission to her husband is her service rendered ‘to the Lord.'" I think most husbands are relieved they are not called on to be God to their wives!

4. Submission does not mean slavery.
Let's release a few old notions and fears! Paul uses an entirely different word in Ephesians 6:5 when he instructs slaves to obey their masters. This Greek word for "obey," huakouo embraces more of the meaning people often mistakenly associate with marital submission. Hupaaakouo means "to obey, to yield to a superior command or force (without necessarily being willing)." The term draws a picture of a soldier saluting his commander, not a wife submitting to her husband!

Now that we've learned a few things submission does not mean, just exactly what does it mean?

The Greek word for "submit" is hupotasso. Hupo means "under" and tasso means "to place in order." The compound word hupotasso means "to place under or in an orderly fashion." Paul didn't dislike women, he liked order! He advocated order in the church, order in government, order in business, and, yes, order in the home.

I'm convinced he even kept his prison cell in order! Galatians 3:28 and Ephesians 5:22 could spill from the same man's pen because Paul regarded husbands and wives as spiritual equals but with functional differences.

The concept of a submissive wife really used to go against my grain until I began to learn more about God. Two realizations have changed my entire attitude:

1. God is good and loving.
He would never give approval to meanness or abuse. Any misuse of submission by either the husband or wife is sin.

2. God granted women a measure of freedom in submission that we can learn to enjoy.
It is a relief to know that as a wife and mother I am not totally responsible for my family. I have a husband to look to for counsel and direction. I can rely on his toughness when I am too soft and his logic when I am too emotional.

Certainly, I haven't just delivered the definitive dissertation on submission, but I believe I'm offering you sound doctrine. I hope it helps. Now, let's take a brief look at the role of husbands, according to Ephesians 5:25-31.

Part 2: The Role of Christian Husbands
Thus far Paul probably had the Ephesian Christians nodding their heads in agreement. Submission of the wife to the husband was codified Hebraic law. Nothing new here.

Now Paul raised eyebrows in a hurry. He told husbands to love their wives. The Greek word for "love" is agapao, meaning "to esteem, love, indicating a direction of the will and finding one's joy in something or someone."

Notice the phrase "indicating a direction of the will." A husband is called by God to exercise his will to love his wife. Love is not simply an emotion or a feeling. Love is a willingness to continue in devotion and goodness toward the spouse.

For a society where women were little more than property, passed from father to husband, the command to love their wives was a radical idea. Paul knew few role models existed for the men to follow. He gave them the best role model possible: Jesus Christ.

1. Husbands should love their wives sacrificially "as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her" (v. 25).
Just as a husband must be careful not to abuse his wife's exhortation to submission, a wife must not abuse her husband's exhortation to sacrifice. Some men work several jobs sacrificing time at home in a continual effort to raise the standard of living for their families.

2. Husbands should love their wives in ways that encourage purity.
Christ encourages purity in His bride, the church, desiring for her to be holy and without stain. God calls upon husbands to treat their wives as pure vessels even in physical intimacy.

3. Husbands should love their wives as their own bodies" (v. 28).
I have to snicker when I think about verses 28 and 29. I wonder if Paul might have been thinking, "If you love yourself at all, Mister, then love your wife – because life will be far more pleasant under the same roof with a well-loved woman!"

I also have to wonder if Paul's reference to a man treating his wife as he does his own body, such as feeding and caring for it, implies that husbands are supposed to cook for their wives. I'm not certain about that interpretation, but I would submit to my husband's cooking any day!

I would like to suggest one last responsibility for both husbands and wives based on the final phrase in Ephesians 5:31: "And the two will become one flesh."

The Greek word for "flesh" in this passage is arx, which means "flesh of a living creature in distinction from that of a dead one." Our marriages were meant to be alive, not dead. Is your marriage more like a romance or roadkill?

Think of marriage as a three-legged stool. The legs are a submissive wife, a loving husband, and Christ. All three legs must be in place for marriage to work as God intended. A wife submitting to an unloving husband is as lopsided as a loving husband sacrificing for a domineering wife.

When Christ is not the head of the marriage relationship, the stool falls indeed. Paul pictures for us God's ideal marriage relationship. Sadly, many Christian women are trying to keep their stools balanced with only one leg in place – their submission.

Over the course of the last twenty years, my marriage has been at both extremes and everywhere in between, but Keith and I have never been the types who could tolerate dull for very long. God has always been faithful to restore the life, passion, and active care to our marriage, and we have worked very hard to cooperate.

You may need help from a real marriage expert like we have needed at times. I'd like to recommend the one who saved our marriage. His name is Wonderful Counselor, and His office is open twenty-four hours a day. He also uses human Christian counselors to help with His caseload!

Part 3: The Role of Christ in Marriage
Not only has Christ set the standard for a good marriage and the example of a loving husband, he offers sound counsel. Then He supplies every ounce of power necessary to make a marriage work.

"For by him all things were created" (Col. 1:16). Beloved, God created marriage (Gen. 2:21-24).

Figuratively speaking, before Adam and Eve said, "I do," God did. No one helped Him. Only God created marriage, and only He can hold it together.

Many people live in the same home and share a joint checking account under the same name, but they don't have a clue about the true covenant of marriage. Marriage as the institution and wonderful mystery God created cannot exist or hold together without Him.

Still with me????? See, I told y'all Beth could say all that better than I could.

Now, maybe God will let me go to sleep (it's 1:30 AM). He's been on me pretty hard about this subject for 2 days. What's that? You can't believe I wouldn't listen to God telling me what to do for 2 days? You thought I was this upstanding role model for Christian women? Oh. Well, I hate that I just blew that idea out of the water! I try to be. I always fail. But God forgives.

Goodnight.

God Bless.

Encouragement Blog Hop....

When I need a little encouragement, this scripture often comes to mind.....

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. " 2 Corinthians 4:17

Between the Scriptures and these two.........

They really are precious. (Sometimes. Ok, most of the time.)

How could I not be encouraged?

Go smile at someone. Hug someone. Tell someone you love them.

Everyone could use a little encouragement!!!



Much love,

My VBS classroom

Today I went to church to start working on my VBS room. This "Boomerang Express" theme is the hardest one I think we've ever had! Even as I walked into the church, I had only a vague idea of how I was going to decorate. Usually, I have been designing my room in my head since the summer before, when Lifeway announces next years theme! (Yes, I'm a bit of a nut about VBS).
I bought random "outback" looking things yesterday. Tall grasses, twigs, tumbleweeds. And a few things from Lifeway. I had no design for any of it!!! The only thing I knew for sure was that I wanted to use a 10x10 pop up canopy to create an "Outback cabin" for the Bible study. Last year I turned one into a "tiki hut" for the Bible study, and it was FABULOUS! I've always heard "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!". It was with that spirit I began constructing my "cabin" today.
I am NOT finished. I still have to cut out and apply my train cut-outs to the wall. And create my "suitcases" to sit on the "porch" of my "cabin". But....I don't even have the "porch" yet! Any ideas on how to construct a lightweight roof? Or columns to hold it? That's what I'll be working on Sunday afternoon.
But I took a few pictures today to share with you all!

I covered the canopy with brown bulletin board paper, then drew the "wooden planks" freehand with a huge sharpie! I used black duct tape to hold the paper together and reinforce the entrance. I also used the duct tape to create the railroad tracks. I ran out. But I'm going to make a "switch" and have railroad tracks running to the "Outback" too. The two "bags of wool" are pillowcases filled with batting. Inside the "cabin" is shelf paper that looks like burlap. I have actual burlap, and that is what I covered the bulletin boards with, but it gets EVERYWHERE! So I opted for the rubber version!

The direction sign I traced from the overhead. Then stuck the tall grasses in foam and covered with Spanish moss. The "animal crossing" signs came from Lifeway. I constructed the "vine-like" thing from rubber twigs and stuck the inflatable koala, also from Lifeway, in it. Cam picked out the wicker balls. He said they looked like "tumbleweeds". I really wanted to find some grapevine, but saw these and just went with it!

This wall is where the train will go. The bulletin board is covered in clip art from Lifeway's website. They are logos for Sydney Harbor, The Outback, a wildlife reserve, and one looks like a postcard that says "See Australia". To keep from having a blank, whiteboard, I wrote Train Arrivals/Departures with made-up train #s, destinations, and times. I even wrote one in red, because it was "Delayed"! ha ha!
I think it is going well. I can't wait to finish it and let the kids see it!
We are going to have SOOO much fun this week! I'll be exhausted, much like I am today, but it is always worth it! VBS is my absolute favorite outreach!
Bring your kids. We will have a blast!

First Baptist Church of Jacksonville
Sun-Thu
Sunday night from 5:00PM-7:00PM
Mon-Thu8:30AM-11:30AM

See you there!!!

Frazzled and LOVING it!

Why is it that when you have SO much to do, you do nothing? It's like you don't even know where to start? Ever had that feeling? That's very much the way I feel right now.
Next week is VBS at my church. And I am BEYOND excited! Vacation Bible School is just one of those things I know God called me to do. I love it! I love the whole week. The planning. The decorating. The teaching. The outreach to our community. And seeing so many children come to know Jesus as their Savior!!!
Also, summer has really just started around here. So, I want to spend as much time as possible with my kids! They have wanted to do nothing but swim for the last two days, so we have. Six hours yesterday. Seven hours today. Britt just asked me if I wanted to spend tomorrow night at the lake house. *Sigh*
This Sunday, Cam's baseball team is celebrating their season by going to Six Flags. Britt and Carlie are going to. Of course they wanted me to go. But I'd have to get someone to teach my Sunday School class, and my VBS classes on Sunday night. Not going to happen.
Add to that the typical, day-to-day errands. Running kids to the library for the summer reading program. Going for allergy shots. Housework. Laundry. Cooking. Plus my Sonic paperwork. Yes, I'll be going back to work a few days a week after VBS ends.
So I'm just frazzled. I've got so much to do for my VBS decorations. I haven't even traced the pictures off the overhead projector to hang on my classroom walls!! Much less built an Outback Cabin facade, or a lighthouse, or Ayers Rock, or the Great Barrier Reef! Maybe if I didn't go a little overboard I wouldn't be so stressed. Fortunately, I'm studied up and prayed up on the Bible study part. That's what counts!! If I were just a little more organized on the rest of it I'd be fine!
I'm going to the church tomorrow to see if I can't get started. Before I have to take Cam for allergy shots, of course!
Say a prayer for me, for my family. It's going to be a crazy 10 days around here! But if one child comes to know the Lord because of my craziness then it will be worth the stress! I just pray that my frantic and unworthy attempts to share the Gospel of Christ with the children of Jacksonville brings glory to His kingdom!

Praise Report!!!

We got the report back on my father in law, Ronnie's, PET and CAT scans. He is..........

CANCER FREE!!!!!!!!

The doctor he sees at St. Vincent's East was as excited as we are! He told our family that in his career he has only been able to say those two words, "cancer free", to about 6 patients with Ronnie's type of cancer.
To think that Ronnie was determined not to undergo ANY treatments. Praise the LORD for giving us a doctor that was willing to say "Either you do the chemo, or you'll be dead in 3 weeks!". That sobering comment was enough to change Ronnie's mind!
We are so excited! And we know Who is responsible for healing Ronnie! We serve a mighty GOD! Our family is so thankful that we are going to have our dad, father-in-law, brother, uncle, and "Paw", with us a little longer. We have no idea how long the LORD will allow Ronnie to be cancer-free. But we do know that regardless of how long, a month, 6 months, 6 years, or 20 years, we know that a mighty work has been done in Ronnie's life. In the life of our entire family!
We ask you to continue lifting Ronnie up in prayer. He will undergo a precautionary 15 treatments of radiation to his brain. The doctors had told us this in the beginning. It is standard procedure. They've told us that the radiation will have some short term effects such as forgetfulness, and dizziness. But those side effects should dissipate within 4-6 months. He should not experience any long term effects from these treatments.
Thank you all for your emails, and kind words. Our family is truly blessed to have such good friends, and church family. We love you all!

To GOD be the glory, honor, and praise!

Courtney

In the Event of Rapture.....

somebody please hand Carlie her sunglasses!

I joke. But this is a really exciting post!

I'll start from the beginning. Lately Carlie (our 6 year old) has revolted about going to "big church". She doesn't want to go to KidStyle worship either. So we have left church after Sunday School the last 2 weeks. BUT this morning while we were getting ready Carlie came in and asked if we could go to "big church". I was curious as to where this was coming from, but agreed that we would go.
During worship this morning we sang "Days of Elijah". If you aren't familiar with the lyrics, here's the chorus, which is relative to the rest of the story, I promise.

Behold He comes riding on the clouds
Shining like the sun at the trumpet call
Lift your voice; it's the year of Jubilee
And out of Zion's hill salvation comes.

This morning I cried while singing this song. You know, that have-to-stop-singing-to keep-from-sobbing cry....yep that's the one. Little did I know that this song was going to play an important role in our lives.
So....this afternoon Carlie and I were getting ready to go grocery shopping while the boys were at baseball practice. Carlie came downstairs as I was singing the chorus of "Days of Elijah". This was our conversation:

Carlie: Does that mean we are going to get to see Jesus in person? He's going to be riding on the clouds? He's not going to be the cloud? (we talked about King Solomon finishing the temple for the arc of the covenant and the people worshiping and God revealing himself as a cloud in Sunday School today)

Me: The Bible says that Jesus will be "riding with the clouds" and that his face will be "like the sun shining in all it's brilliance".

Carlie: If Jesus is that bright we will probably need our sunglasses; and I only have Mickey ones. Can we buy me some new ones?

Seriously? This child is something else.

After assuring her that she wouldn't be worried about her sunglasses during the rapture, we continued....

Me: When Jesus comes back he is going to take everyone who has been saved back to heaven with Him.

Carlie: What about the other people?

Me: They have to stay here.

Silence......

Carlie: Mommy, I want to ask Jesus into my heart.

(We are in the car on our way to the grocery store)

Me: Ok. We will talk more about it when Daddy gets home tonight.

Carlie: (looking very serious) Mama, I need Jesus now!

Me: Are you sure? Do you understand what it means to be saved? (we've talked about it at length lately)

Carlie: Yes. I sin. That's why Jesus had to die on the cross. Now I have to ask him into my heart and he will save me and I will go to heaven.

(she gets it)

Me: (putting the car in park at a four way stop) (looking around. no cars) Carlie, do you believe that Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a perfect life, died on the cross to save us, was raised on the third day and now He is in heaven preparing a place for us?

Carlie: Yes mama. I know Jesus.

at this point, my tears started....

Then Carlie prayed and accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior today at 3:42 at the intersection of 12th St. and 3rd Avenue.

I've said it a thousand times.....only Carlie.

God had this wonderful day planned out long before we knew it would happen. Starting with Carlie asking to go to "big church" where we heard the song that I was singing, that prompted the conversation, that led her to pray for her salvation.

Now she couldn't be more excited! She is calling herself "New Carlie"! She can't wait to be baptized. She asked me to call our pastor tonight. I'll send him an email shortly. She will make her profession of faith next Sunday. Then she will be baptized soon after. We will have a party afterward at our house. Like Bro. Derek said today after someone was baptized. "What do you think the angels are doing right now?" He raised both arms and shouted "WooHoo!" Well we are all shouting too!!

When Cam got home from practice he hugged Carlie and said "Now I'll see you in heaven!" He's such a sweetie!
Cam was saved in September of 2006. Three months before he turned 7. Carlie will be 7 in three months. Isn't that something?

I just wanted you all to share in our joy! Hopefully, we'll see all y'all when the 4 of us get to heaven! If you aren't sure that you'll be there. All you gotta do is ask! And I didn't get into all this with Carlie, but trust me, you want to go to heaven on Jesus's first trip back!

Ronnie Update

Yesterday we met with the doctor to get the results of Britt's dad's PET and CAT scans. Ronnie was so afraid the doctor was going to tell us that the cancer had spread. But...GOOD NEWS! The tumor in his lung had shrunk 20% and there are no signs of cancer anywhere else in his body! To God be the glory!!! We were all so relieved to hear that. The doctor said that his treatment is right on track and he expects that the tumor will shrink another 25-30% by his next scan! He goes back for his second round of chemo next week. So please continue to lift him up
Thank you all for your continued prayers. We pray that God will continue to heal Ronnie, as only He can. And that Ronnie continues to handle the chemo well, with only weakness, no sickness. We also pray that Ronnie will realize Who is in control and praise Him for the blessing of healing! And that God will continue to glorify Himself through Ronnie. For we know in our weakness He is made strong!

Love,
Courtney

God is so awesome!

Can I just say that I am awestruck!? God never ceases to amaze me. Once you commit to Him, there is nothing that He cannot do!
For the last few months I've been really upset with our lack of Sunday school attendance. It seemed like there was always something keeping us from getting up and getting there in time. We would go on to worship or "big church" as we call it, and Britt and I would take home something from the message, but the kids weren't. I've been praying that God would fix it. That He would make Britt be the spiritual leader who got us all up on Sunday and ushered us to church. Well that wasn't happening. So I was resigned to sitting at home and complaining.
Then this week during my quiet time on Monday, God said "Why don't you do something about it?" So I prayed that God would create a way for me to make sure we were there every Sunday. I began to feel that God was calling me to teach. I talked to Britt, and my friend, Jenifer about it. I told them that I was going to email our Children's minister and tell him that I wanted to teach. I realized that it may be August or September, when the church year began, before there was an opportunity. Needless to say, with the craziness that is my life, I never sent the email! Surprised? You shouldn't be!
THEN...this morning I saw Jerry, our Children's minister in the hallway. I told him that when he needed a teacher I wanted to be it. I didn't care what grade, age, etc. I just felt the Lord calling me to teach again. Let me tell you, the Lord moves quickly when He is ready to get about His business!! Before Sunday school had even started Jerry found me. Just so happens....what am I saying? Nothing "just so happens". God had allowed the teacher of Carlie's class to realize that her teaching the class was not what God had called her to do. She told Jerry, minutes after my volunteering to teach, that she just couldn't teach anymore. So Jerry asked me to take the class. Naturally my answer was a very tearful, but emphatic YES! Not only did God open the door for me to fulfill His purpose, but He even gave me my child's class!! God is so good!
There have been so many times that I accepted a position because I just didn't want to say no. Haven't we all? But when we do that we are taking away the opportunity for someone else. Someone who does feel called to serve in that capacity!
Thank you God for allowing Ginny to hear You telling her it was OK to step down. And thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve You in a capacity that will also make sure my children are hearing Your Word every week. I pray that You will use me according to Your purpose and in sharing Your Word with these first graders. Amen.

Update on Ronnie....

First, I want to thank everyone for all your thoughts and prayers the past few weeks. Yesterday I took the kids to visit their Paw in the hospital. We told them about the cancer and they handled it very well. They understand a little, I think.
Ronnie started his first round of chemo today. It's 10:00 and he hasn't had any sickness. Pray that continues!
Last night, the oncologist came in and talked with our family. He said that while Ronnie does have small cell lung cancer, and the tumor is inoperable, he feels really good about it. The type of tumor Ronnie has is supposedly very responsive to chemo. He has to take chemo three days a week every three weeks. He will take radiation 4 days a week every week. The doctor said that by the time Ronnie comes back for his third chemo treatment that the tumor should be half the size it is now. By the time he comes back for his check up after the fourth treatment the doctor expects the tumor to be gone. He said that this is the case in 40% of tumors like Ronnie's. And considering Ronnie's good health, the isolated tumor and still healthy weight and appetite he feels like Ronnie should be in that 40%. Lord willing he's right! Britt asked what were the chances that another tumor could develop during the treatment. The doctor said it was a possibility, but only about a 5% chance.

We ask that you continue praying for Ronnie's health and peace and strength for our family.Carlie loved hanging out with Paw at the hospital. Between the food (yuck!) and all those fascinating buttons on the bed, Carlie never wanted to leave!!! She begged us to let her spend the night with Paw!

Thank you again. We love you all.

Courtney