Thursday, January 19, 2017
Matthew 28:18
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Friday, January 13, 2017
Thursday, January 12, 2017
The Eye of the Storm
"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith..." —Ephesians 3:16
Today there is a peace felt like no other I may have ever experienced. An external peace, if you will.
Today, Jimmy (my father with dementia) is content moving papers around upstairs while my 5 month old is sleeping like a 'baby' and my husband just went down for a morning nap as well.
Peace is covering this house.
Interestingly enough, however, a storm of strong winds rage just outside these four walls. We are in a windchill advisory... and the shutters are literally rattling.
If this is the eye of the storm that my family is currently in... then this gives me great encouragement, great hope and possibly a great revelation.
Our storm began about 6 weeks ago when my husband drove himself to the Emergency room while on his way to work, early one morning.
They released him a few hours later and he came home early to tell me that he had gone in.
I won't get into the details of his diagnosis, only that it surely has been a whirlwind of doctor appointments, drugs and detailed lists of what to do and not to do, what to eat and not to eat... etc.
If today is in fact, the eye of this storm then mathematically speaking... one could suggest that we've got about 6 weeks to go! Okay... I know this sounds a bit wild to attempt to deduce... but if it's a revelation from God, than Glory to Him for that. If it's not, than I continue to Wait with Joy and Hope, trusting in Him through it all. Amen.
Today there is a peace felt like no other I may have ever experienced. An external peace, if you will.
Today, Jimmy (my father with dementia) is content moving papers around upstairs while my 5 month old is sleeping like a 'baby' and my husband just went down for a morning nap as well.
Peace is covering this house.
Interestingly enough, however, a storm of strong winds rage just outside these four walls. We are in a windchill advisory... and the shutters are literally rattling.
If this is the eye of the storm that my family is currently in... then this gives me great encouragement, great hope and possibly a great revelation.
Our storm began about 6 weeks ago when my husband drove himself to the Emergency room while on his way to work, early one morning.
They released him a few hours later and he came home early to tell me that he had gone in.
I won't get into the details of his diagnosis, only that it surely has been a whirlwind of doctor appointments, drugs and detailed lists of what to do and not to do, what to eat and not to eat... etc.
If today is in fact, the eye of this storm then mathematically speaking... one could suggest that we've got about 6 weeks to go! Okay... I know this sounds a bit wild to attempt to deduce... but if it's a revelation from God, than Glory to Him for that. If it's not, than I continue to Wait with Joy and Hope, trusting in Him through it all. Amen.
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
James 1:1-18New International Version (NIV)
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:
Greetings.
Trials and Temptations
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position.10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
Monday, January 2, 2017
Through the Fire
1Peter 1:6-9 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith – the salvation of your souls.
Thursday, March 24, 2016
it's not about the bunny: Part 2
Almost 3 years ago today, I had such an amazing and vivid dream about a "bunny" that I had to capture it in writing. This week, Holy Week 2016 has been a trying one for me. By the Grace of God we sailed through the cold winter months, keeping warm inside by the fireplace, playing board games and our share of sequence. It is officially spring now, but the cold is still lingering, as typical March MN weather does. While the sunshine lately has been Glorious, the cold has me still feeling like doing nothing but bundling up and staying warm inside... which is beginning to cause some serious cabin fever.
In November of 2015, I made the sole decision to quit my job, take my 3rd grader out of the only school she ever knew and walk by faith to be with my parents through a heavy trial they have been going through for quite a while. I have no regrets, in fact, I Thank God that he's showered us with so many daily blessings since then.
I had a breaking point yesterday though.
It turns out, as God would have it, we have inherited a bunny... not just any bunny but a Netherlands Dwarf bunny... small, frail and fragile. The story goes... my aunt (my dad's sister) fell in love and bought this bunny, full well knowing she isn't allowed to have it where she lives and figured it would be a good thing for her brother, my dad (who has dementia)
Since day one, that has not been the case and the bunny has been deemed mine and my daughter's. She's thrilled and to be honest, I of course have a soft spot for him too. He's very soft and sweet, a cuddle bunny for sure and gives the best kisses with the tiniest tongue!
We are currently still living with my parents and my dad has really shown little to no interest in the bunny since it got here. Yesterday, however, he felt the need to open it's cage and try to fill it's water bowl. He spilt it (not a big deal) but all I heard were some under his breath cussing so I thought I better go look to see what the matter was.
When I saw the newspapers saturated in water and my dad standing there confused, i said, no worries and began to clean it up. For some reason my dad wanted to begin to try to help by grabbing, rather forcefully, the bunny from the cage. It of course made me nervous for the bunny, I told him that wasn't necessary so he threw the bunny into the cage. This wrecked me and i tried calmly at first to tell my dad that I could handle the situation, he then picked up the entire smaller box that the bunny was in. I said all too aggressively "PUT the BOX down". He stood there for a while with the box in his hands, set it down and then walked out of the bathroom.
I finished cleaning up the cage and ran up to my old room (where I lived my jr. and sr. year of high school) and hid. I hid. For the first time since I've been here, I needed a serious break. I needed to compose myself because I was so devastated by the possibility of this bunnies little leg being fractured or broken or just being so shaken with fear from the whole experience... even if his little bunny body WAS ok.
I hid for what had to be no longer than 5-7 minutes. As I did, my dad repeatedly worked his way from the basement, to the main floor, to the upstairs (where I was) calling out "hello", "who's here", "Josie?" "Mary?"... "hello" At first, THAT killed me, but I needed this short break and I also was feeling a tug to see HOW he would continue to handle the situation. As he made the flights up and down the stairs, his anxiety rose for sure. This, of course, broke my heart. He was just as scared as that bunny. He knew enough to know that SOMEONE was with him, he felt he lost them and it scared him. I think it scared him to be alone.
Jesus wants us to love all creatures but that incident made me believe He wants me to remember how scared my own father is right now, going through something he has no control over and only half understands any of it. He knows enough to know he needs the people around him for their memories.
The "abuse" of the bunny also reminded me of Jesus and the pain and suffering, the torture that men subjected him to. Jesus was fragile, gentle-hearted like the bunny yet was treated so poorly and all for our sake. it is surely not about the bunny.
In November of 2015, I made the sole decision to quit my job, take my 3rd grader out of the only school she ever knew and walk by faith to be with my parents through a heavy trial they have been going through for quite a while. I have no regrets, in fact, I Thank God that he's showered us with so many daily blessings since then.
I had a breaking point yesterday though.
It turns out, as God would have it, we have inherited a bunny... not just any bunny but a Netherlands Dwarf bunny... small, frail and fragile. The story goes... my aunt (my dad's sister) fell in love and bought this bunny, full well knowing she isn't allowed to have it where she lives and figured it would be a good thing for her brother, my dad (who has dementia)
Since day one, that has not been the case and the bunny has been deemed mine and my daughter's. She's thrilled and to be honest, I of course have a soft spot for him too. He's very soft and sweet, a cuddle bunny for sure and gives the best kisses with the tiniest tongue!
We are currently still living with my parents and my dad has really shown little to no interest in the bunny since it got here. Yesterday, however, he felt the need to open it's cage and try to fill it's water bowl. He spilt it (not a big deal) but all I heard were some under his breath cussing so I thought I better go look to see what the matter was.
When I saw the newspapers saturated in water and my dad standing there confused, i said, no worries and began to clean it up. For some reason my dad wanted to begin to try to help by grabbing, rather forcefully, the bunny from the cage. It of course made me nervous for the bunny, I told him that wasn't necessary so he threw the bunny into the cage. This wrecked me and i tried calmly at first to tell my dad that I could handle the situation, he then picked up the entire smaller box that the bunny was in. I said all too aggressively "PUT the BOX down". He stood there for a while with the box in his hands, set it down and then walked out of the bathroom.
I finished cleaning up the cage and ran up to my old room (where I lived my jr. and sr. year of high school) and hid. I hid. For the first time since I've been here, I needed a serious break. I needed to compose myself because I was so devastated by the possibility of this bunnies little leg being fractured or broken or just being so shaken with fear from the whole experience... even if his little bunny body WAS ok.
I hid for what had to be no longer than 5-7 minutes. As I did, my dad repeatedly worked his way from the basement, to the main floor, to the upstairs (where I was) calling out "hello", "who's here", "Josie?" "Mary?"... "hello" At first, THAT killed me, but I needed this short break and I also was feeling a tug to see HOW he would continue to handle the situation. As he made the flights up and down the stairs, his anxiety rose for sure. This, of course, broke my heart. He was just as scared as that bunny. He knew enough to know that SOMEONE was with him, he felt he lost them and it scared him. I think it scared him to be alone.
Jesus wants us to love all creatures but that incident made me believe He wants me to remember how scared my own father is right now, going through something he has no control over and only half understands any of it. He knows enough to know he needs the people around him for their memories.
The "abuse" of the bunny also reminded me of Jesus and the pain and suffering, the torture that men subjected him to. Jesus was fragile, gentle-hearted like the bunny yet was treated so poorly and all for our sake. it is surely not about the bunny.
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Even Still
Turmoil and
Blood boil.
Heartache with Smiles fake.
Launching me into Overdrive
Barely making it Out alive.
Seek ye first, the kingdom of God
And His Righteousness
He held me then, he holds me now
Waiting to see when I’m going to Take that final bow.
The curtain call
The act is through
I’m wiser now
Pray that much is true.
Love forever?
Forever I will
Uprooted but not over
Not then or even still.
Heartache with Smiles fake.
Launching me into Overdrive
Barely making it Out alive.
Seek ye first, the kingdom of God
And His Righteousness
He held me then, he holds me now
Waiting to see when I’m going to Take that final bow.
The curtain call
The act is through
I’m wiser now
Pray that much is true.
Love forever?
Forever I will
Uprooted but not over
Not then or even still.
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