Here is something I can be joyful about right now...

                                             Cameron made the choice to Follow Jesus!!!

Joyful in all circumstances...How?

I have been sitting here trying to write a blog about what to do with the anger and pain that we experience when something bad happens...I can't!

I am not yet to the place where I can be joyful in this circumstance-my mom's cancer returning! I am not okay with it and I am angry.  Yesterday I was reminded by a couple of my friends that it is okay to be angry and to share that with God-being honest with him.  So, here it go: I am angry that this is happening AGAIN, I am angry that I am so far away, I am angry that this is happening to the most amazing woman I know...I am angry.

And yet...I TRUST God! I trust what he wants! I trust Him to be in control because He loves her more than I do...which is more than I can imagine because I love her as much as humanly possible! I trust Him to take care of her!  I trust Him to heal her (in HIS timing and plan).  I HATE that all this is happening more than I can express in words BUT I do TRUST in our amazing God who LOVES us more than we can comprehend. 

So, when does the joy come?  I honestly don't know yet.  I can be thankful that mom was able to catch this in the early stages. I can be thankful that she has a great doctor. I can be thankful that the rest of my family is there for her.  But, JOY?  Maybe those things I am thankful for - if I can choose to concentrate on them will help bring me the joy that James says I should have.  Maybe if I continue to focus on the Strength that Jesus gives us in our weakness I could have that joy that shows up no matter what.

I am still learning how to be joyful in all circumstances...THAT isn't an easy one!  I will just try, moment by moment, to lean on God's strength. I will try, moment by moment, to remember that His way is perfect. I will try, moment by moment, to remember that He loves us enough to give his son's life for us. I will try, moment by moment, to remember that our God is GOOD!

Psalm 30:5 says that our weeping my last through the night but joy comes in the morning.  I am not sure how long that "night" lasts but I am sure looking forward to the morning!

Studying God's Word

God has shown us pretty clearly the message he wants us to have.  Now you might balk at that…when I say God has shown us pretty clearly.  One remarkable thing about the Bible is that God used human authors.  So the writers used Greek or Hebrew or Aramaic depending on their geography and culture.  What challenges us (and causes some of you to question whether the Bible is truly clear) is that for us to have a good understanding of God’s message, it’s necessary for us to understand something of Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and the cultures where the writers lived, not to mention our own culture.

I teach in a Bible College.  We have four classes in Greek language and two in Hebrew language.  We also have a class called Hermeneutics, which is new term to many people.  Even the sophomores in the college often have no idea what the class is actually about until day one when I explain what hermeneutics is.  Oftentimes we use the word interpretation.  It is the study of how we interpret texts, especially the text of the Bible.  These classes are necessary specifically because God used human authors to write this message and these writers wrote in their language, from the perspective of their cultures, and obviously in times long ago.

God did not write this message and drop it from heaven.  There are linguistic, cultural and chronological elements of understanding God’s message that require some hard work on our parts.  Now, not to question God, but let me question God.  Why didn’t He?  Why didn’t he just send a message directly from heaven that didn’t need to be translated, culturally adapted, and chronologically understood with such great effort?  Wouldn’t that have made more sense?  We could argue that understanding and living God’s message has enough difficulty without having to wade through the “interpretation” that can vary so widely from language to language, person to person, and century to century. 

Well, in fact, He did.  He did “drop his message from heaven.”  About this time of year, every year, we begin a seasonal celebration.  Christmas.  We celebrate the coming of God’s Word.  The message that was sent in human form, to demonstrate in the physical world, with living words, real relationships and within the framework of a calendar, the life God wants us to know and live. 

John 1 verse 1 tells us that Jesus is not created, but is Creator.  He was there when all of heaven and earth was created.  It was after time began that Jesus agreed to show up in human form in this world and not just tell, but live the message live and in person.  So God has not left us without clarity.  Regardless of the language, the culture, the time we live, it’s not difficult to understand what God wants us to know and live when we see God himself leave heaven, live in poverty, reject position and power, and give his entire being (no exaggeration) for the benefit of others.  Seeing One who personifies compassion and love shows us everything we need to know about who God is and how he calls us to live.  Study him. 

 

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets many times and in many different ways. But now in these last days God has spoken to us through his Son.   Hebrew 1:1-2 (New Century Version)

 

• This one was written by Scott

Who am I?

Well, the other night I had one of those "moments" when you question who you really are.  I woke up to find Cameron in the bathroom in pain.  His stomach was hurting him horribly.  The first thing I did was ask him some questions about where the pain was and try to figure out what might be causing it.  Then, I asked him if he wanted a TUMS.  Tums are our go to medicine when we have tummy issues (which is almost daily).  Normally Cameron says, "No!"  He never wants to take medicine...I think he gets that from his mama!  Anyway, he said, "YES!" So, I gave him some medicine and then sat down beside him in the bathroom and wished I could take away his pain.

NOW...

That seems very normal and caring...doesn't it?

However, why were my first actions to trust in medicine and then go straight to wishful thinking????
WHY did I not talk to God first?

I realized as I was sitting on the bathroom wishing I could take away Cameron's pain that I had the most amazing healing power accessible to me through God and I hadn't yet asked for it.  Why?  I sat for a few minutes feeling frustrated and confused! 
There are a few things I am certain of...

• God is REAL
• God is THERE
• God is LISTENING
• God LOVES me and my children
• God wants me to COME to Him
• God is our ever constant help in times of trouble

So, why wasn't that my first reaction...to ask God to heal my son? 
As soon as I realized my focus was on the wrong things I prayed with Cameron. I prayed the normal, "God, help Cameron to feel better!  Take away his pain...etc"  THEN, I prayed silently. "God, take away this pain from Cameron so quickly that he will know that YOU are the one who healed him.  Help this be a moment for him to see your power and how you answer our prayers!" I continued to pray this way for a couple minutes until I noticed Cameron relax.  He had been unable to get comfortable because of the pain and then immediately his body stopped wrestling around and became calm.  I asked him how he felt and he said, "better".  So we prayed out loud, thanking God for helping Cameron and we talked about what had just happened...what an amazing experience.

Who am I? I am Loved! I am Accepted! I am Blessed! I am Thankful!  God loves me no matter what I do...no matter how long it takes me to REMEMBER to turn to HIM!  For that I am so THANKFUL!  I know who I am...I'm HIS! 

You are HIS too!!

Fall Fun!

It's FALL in Haiti!  The last few days have been rainy, cloudy and chilly! 
As a family we have celebrated this change in season by carving pumpkins.  The boys still remember some things that we used to do in the states during this time and thanks to the West Ridge team who came to visit us a couple weeks ago we were able to enjoy pumpkin carving here in Haiti.  The boys had a blast...got all messy and gooey.  Then we roasted the seeds and had a great snack too.  It was so much fun! Thanks again to the West Ridge team!

Laughter

My boys are sooo funny! They LOVE to laugh.  Ethan will tell Cameron to say something funny just so he can laugh.  And Cameron will literally tickle himself in order to laugh.  They remind me everyday to laugh.
It is hard to admit but sometimes I don't want to laugh!  I put on my "that's not funny" face and I try to stop their laughter because I am in not in the mood to laugh.  Something has happened in my day to frustrate or get me down.  However, after a few minutes I can't keep it back and I allow myself the freedom of laughing.  What freedom!  Allowing God to fill you with joy in the midst of struggles is an amazing feeling!  Praying that someone makes you laugh today and that you allow yourself the freedom to indulge!

Fun in Computer Class

Wow, yesterday was an Fun day in the new Computer English class.  I walked 25 students through the process of turning on the computer, logging into the computer, logging off the computer, and shutting down the computer...twice. It was quite the process and we all cheered at the end of class. We all clapped and had huge smiles on our faces.  We had accomplished something amazing!
It may sound funny to say that actually turning on a computer and walking through those processes could be something "amazing" but it was!
Some of these students are JUST learning English, some of them have NEVER turned on a laptop or computer...so, to all of us it was amazing! 
Watching some of them after class was probably my favorite moments of yesterday...they were GLOWING!  I am so thankful that I get to be used by God in this way everyday!

Please continue to pray for these students.  Even though I am teaching computers, I want them to first and foremost see Jesus in this classroom.  See him in ME.  I want them to feel His love in this classroom filled with computers and desire to go after Him.  Please pray that with me!

Have a great day and go find your own "amazing" moment today!