Oct - Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Hey all,

this is a different kind of post for me but I just wanted to remind everyone that this month is breast cancer awareness month. I have two friends whose mom's have passed away due to this horrible disease... I just want to remind everyone to be praying for those not only who have been touched by it in the past but those who might currently be facing this obstacle in their lives.

"Through His stripes, we are healed" and this can be physically or emotionally - lets claim this for those who are struggling during this month dedicated to this horrible disease.

wonderful life

vivian here - so it is 11:17 on monday morning. we are sitting here eating homemade banana muffins that i just pulled out of the oven. xander man is asleep in his bed (woo hoo - we’re getting there). jesse already has part of the bathroom sink pulled out and we’re both still in sweats. it’s cold here, there’s a fall chill in the air and the dishwasher is running from last night’s chili and apple crisp meal. the ups man just stopped by and is probably wondering what we do for a living seeing as how we both look like we just got out of bed, but that’s okay because we kind of just did. laying around being lazy, getting little projects done. the bathroom should be complete by the end of the week - even painted. i’m so happy. we just looked through xander’s 3-6 months clothes and we are so blessed. he has plenty. we’re going to two really nice children’s consignment shops this week to look for a mobile for his bed and some new pj’s - he’s already outgrowing his little footie ones… as sad as that makes me, we have one healthy little boy who is happy. his smile means everything to us - who knew that the world’s best entertainment was free…i’ve been journaling a letter to xander starting from how badly we wanted him, all through the pregnancy and now the little moments in the day that make life so great. did you know that he had hiccups at his first ultrasound - 9 weeks after being conceived this little guy had the hiccups, isn’t that funny, he still gets them all of the time. i had forgotten about that until i started his letter. yesterday’s message at church was on the prodigal son, my group discussed the older son and how his thoughts/actions are/compare to the kingdom of God. he was steady…. he had always done what was right and didn’t even realize the blessings he was living with on a daily basis. he got bitter over something that he already had - the blessing of his father. we live with that on a daily basis and have for years… i’m only just now beginning to see it. what a wonderful life we live - even through the times of crying babies and late nights, even through the financially slim times, even through the stresses of work, what a wonderful life. what a wonderful god.

The Little Things Matter

Vivian here again... this morning before 8:00 even rolled around I was reminded of how God cares about the little details in our lives that might not seem like much.
My sister-in-law was also pregnant and due the same day as we are... this weekend. However, she was progressing through things but not in active labor - she was progressing so much the doctors wanted to induce her today (Thursday). Being that she was induced with their first and that there are some potential kidney issues with this baby she didn't like the idea of being induced and wanted to go naturally. This morning she had little Jeremiah... how cool is that! While I'm sure she would have been fine to be induced, her desire was to do things naturally and that is what she got... I am going to start praying for a pain free delivery - hahahahaha! Until next time...

Miracles or Luck?

This is Vivian again... more ramblings from a now 9 months pregnant woman at home waiting for the arrival of our little boy. Through this pregnancy I can't help but think of what a miracle the development of a child is. We recently watched National Geographics "In the Womb" which I highly advise (not for small children) and sat back in complete awe of the details Jesus creates us in. How can someone say we are here by chance? This theory I'll never understand... although I'd love to chat with someone about it to here their side. It is just amazing and beautiful the design of the human body.
This was made even more real to me this past week. I found out that a wonderful friend of mine from TN delivered their son. No big deal right, happens every day... Jakob wasn't due until October though. Born at just 28 weeks, one pound and one ounce, he's hanging on. He is now three days old and breathing 80% on his own. Again... are they just "lucky?" I like to think it is about more than just luck. Where is the peace in that? Although times like these are scary and very unpredictable, I like to believe that we have an amazing Father looking out for us and watching over us - and our little born or unborn babies. I think I'd go crazy in this life without my assurance of Jesus... even though I have a ton of questions... He's a constant when nothing else in this life is. And a constant that doesn't mind our questions.
I like miracles, luck gives me nothing...

Race and Religion or God?

I recently listened to a song that my sister sent me and to be completely honest I don't know who sings it or what the name of the song is. The one thing that I do know is it is profound. The author of the song is talking about God ( I know, I know, not so different yet) however, she starts singing about how people have a "race and religion" and she guesses she does too, but what about God? She also mentions walking underneath a star filled sky and how can we do such a thing and not think about God... it has just got me thinking. What about God?

I have been on a journey here recently to truly get to know God... not my beliefs, not my religions, but God. Who is this lover that Misty Edwards sings about? Who is this radical revolutionary that Shane Claiborne writes about? Who is this God that loves me for just who I am and not what I do, just me being me? Being 7 months pregnant with our first son (and child for that matter) has made me think even more. I don't want to just teach my child about God - we all sang the songs but do we really think about Jesus loving us and not just singing the lyrics to our children at night? I want my son to know God and I want to know Him too. Not just for religion's sake, but knowing an amazing lover, creator, and friend.
- Vivian

If God is so good......

"If God is real, if God is so good, why is there so much evil in the world?" This age-old question seems to follow those who love God around. How do we answer this question?

I know that God is good because of my experience with him. Yes, of course, the many blessings he has so lavishly given me-my husband, my 4 phenomenal children, my extended family, my friends, even my possessions shows his goodness. But what about those rough times-the tension at work, the financial strain, broken friendships, death, sickness-is He really in that as well? Have I experienced His goodness in those too? Of course these things seem small compared to the poverty, sickness, starvation and wars in the world. So how can God be good with all of that going on right in front of him?

I recently attended a conference where a speaker pointed out that it's because of God's love and goodness that things aren't magnificently worse! What if we each acted upon everything that might be in our hearts and our minds? Can you imagine what the world would be like then?

It's often because people DO act upon what is in their hearts and minds that there is poverty, disease and war. Corruption often stops the flow of food and medicine to those that need it most. But that's not God's fault. He allows us to choose--or not-- his goodness. "Choose life....", He says.

But even when life for me is hard, when I'm tempted to ask that age-old question, I remember how he has brought me through each challenge--and has taught me something I needed to learn that I could not have learned unless I experienced it myself--often empathy for others. A "classroom lecture" would not have done the trick.

So yes, God is good. Even when we are surrounded by "all the bad things in the world", we can rest assured that there is no evil in Him.

-Delisa

What is a vivid Easter memory for you?

Stephen here:

About 8 years ago I was wanting to create a visual to help teach my young kids, 5 and under, about the sufferings of Christ. His sufferings were not deserved, but were necessary for Him to relate with me and to die for me. Anyway, we lived in KY at the time and I had passed an un-mowed field with thorns and briers growing in it. I cut some down and took them home. These were the nastiest thorns I had seen in the area. They were hard as wood and razor point sharp.

I was going to take a little time one Saturday afternoon to connect the strands of thorns together and make a crown of thorns for display and a physical touch for the kids. It became a frustrating process. The thorns were so sharp I had to wear thick leather work gloves. I used pliers to grasp and intertwine the thorns, but it just was not working well. It was taking longer than I thought and I kept getting painfully stuck with the thorns.

Finally, my temper went off and I went in an anger burst. I yanked and jerked the strands together forcing them with all my strength not caring how badly I would be stuck by the thorns. It seemed to work- the crown was complete. I hadn't gotten that mad at anything in a long time.

My rage bothered me. I had a flashback to what the soldiers must have been like putting the crown of thorns together- getting frustrated, cursing, and slamming the thorns on the head of Jesus. Their rage and hatred for Jesus was released through flogging, beating, and torturing him. I felt their rage that afternoon and I realized that my sins and evil ways weren't any worse than the Roman torturers that day. I need someone to cleanse me of my evil ways and sins as much as anyone else. And He has - thank you Jesus.

What is a vivid Easter memory for you? This memory serves me well each year during Easter time.

Hebrews 10:22, "Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water."