Born to Die

It's 1:40am on Christmas Eve and the sisters are tucked into bed and I am lying here thinking about the One who was born to die so I could ask Him to change my life.

Happy birthday, Jesus!! (even though You were most likely born in April)

And Merry Christmas everyone else! I hope you are as surrounded by love and affection as I have been this past week. I pray you know the Savior's love and sense the depth of it this coming year.

Good Ole Rich

Rich Mullins was one of the most talented songwriters that ever walked this planet. He was able to capture the majesty of God in his lyrics unlike anyone else I have heard before or since. His melodies capture your heart. His anthems stir your soul.

His songs have often accompanied major life moments - or "jumps" as David Wenzel call them. Those defining moments wherein your life is forever changed. This evening, as we stand, sit and sleep our way into tomorrow I feel we are on the verge. We are facing a jump. We don't know what tomorrow holds. But we are on the precipice.

My song for this week is "Verge of a Miracle." We are standing here waiting to see what tomorrow will bring. I am trusting in the One who holds the future. He is fully able and willing to act on our behalf and bring a miracle.

CHORUS: 

You're on the verge of a miracle 

Standing there 

Oh you're on the verge of a miracle 

Just waiting to be believed in 

Open your eyes and see 

You're on the verge of a miracle

Here in your room 

Where nobody can see 

Voices are loud 

But seldom clear 

But beneath the confusion 

That's running so deep 

There is a promise you must hear 

The love that seems so far away 

Is standing very near

CHORUS

When you've played out 
Your last chance 
And your directions 
Have all been lost 
When the roads that you look down
Are all dead ends
Look up
You could see if you'd just look up

Joel 2:18-32

18Then the LORD will be zealous for His land

And will have pity on His people.

19The LORD will answer and say to His people,

"Behold, I am going to send you grain, new wine and oil,

And you will be satisfied in full with them;

And I will never again make you a reproach among the nations.

20"But I will remove the northern army far from you,

And I will drive it into a parched and desolate land,

And its vanguard into the eastern sea,

And its rear guard into the western sea

And its stench will arise and its foul smell will come up,

For it has done great things."

21Do not fear, O land, rejoice and be glad,

For the LORD has done great things.

22Do not fear, beasts of the field,

For the pastures of the wilderness have turned green,

For the tree has borne its fruit,

The fig tree and the vine have yielded in full.

23So rejoice, O sons of Zion,

And be glad in the LORD your God;

For He has given you the early rain for your vindication

And He has poured down for you the rain,

The early and latter rain as before.

24The threshing floors will be full of grain,

And the vats will overflow with the new wine and oil.

25"Then I will make up to you for the years

That the swarming locust has eaten,

The creeping locust, the stripping locust and the gnawing locust,

My great army which I sent among you.

26"You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied

And praise the name of the LORD your God,

Who has dealt wondrously with you;

Then My people will never be put to shame.

27"Thus you will know that I am in the midst of Israel,

And that I am the LORD your God,

And there is no other;

And My people will never be put to shame.

The Promise of the Spirit

28"It will come about after this

That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind;

And your sons and daughters will prophesy,

Your old men will dream dreams,

Your young men will see visions.

29"Even on the male and female servants

I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

The Day of the LORD

30"I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth,

Blood, fire and columns of smoke.

31"The sun will be turned into darkness

And the moon into blood

Before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.

32"And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the LORD

Will be delivered;

For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem

There will be those who escape,

As the LORD has said,

Even among the survivors whom the LORD calls.

Our Favorite Things

Today is my Mommy's birthday. Yes, in light of all that has been going on for the last 5 or 6 weeks, I feel this one should be a monumental post, but instead, I just want to share some of our favorite things.

We both love Christmas lights in the house. We like watching movies together - especially with Christmas lights on in the house! She and I share a love of reading murder mysteries and just reading period!

One of my most favorite memories is of us driving through the back roads of Homestead & Redlands looking at homes we loved as the rain came down. I felt so safe in the car and I was so excited to see what the future held. It was cozy as we drove along admiring homes and singing songs.

She instilled in me a heart for hospitality and entertaining. She created a love of crafting and decorating in me. There is no event too small for a party and no amount of people too large that we can't invite them to join us in celebrating.

We love fun things and getting people presents just because, like my middle of December gift I just got from her yesterday. And that just reminds me that I'm her favorite :)

Most of all, we share a love of our most favorite thing - Jesus. May the Lord's grace and peace strengthen and comfort you today. May He pour out His love in every way today.

I love you Mommy! Happy birthday!!!

The Best Big Sister

Twenty-six and a half years ago I was born and I inherited the best big sister.

Jenni is turning TWENTY-NINE today.

Jenni, thank you for loving me. You are the best. You bring a smile to both my face and Earl's face. You shine and you sparkle. You are beautiful, kind, loving, and generous. You are gracious. You are an example of Christ's love to all you come in contact with.

We love you and wish we could be with you today, but know that we are so excited to see you next week!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Operation Christmas Child

A little while ago Mommy said that cancer wasn't going to define her, so in honor of that statement, I am going to post some non-cancer things.

Today at work we did something so cool. I have participated in Operation Christmas Child for about 12 years. Whether at school or through church, every November/December we gathered our shoeboxes and stuffed them full of goodies and then sent them off to be distributed. Today, we arrived at one of six distribution centers in the US and helped sort through the boxes and prepared them for shipment via plane, boat, train, canoe, bike, and camel.

They have scheduled 400 volunteers each hour from the morning until 10pm at night. Since Monday of last week this distribution center boxed and shipped over 400,000 boxes. They are expecting 8,000,000 boxes to go out worldwide this year! We were put through an orientation and got to see how the boxes are brought in, sorted and filled to the brim and then packaged for shipment. It was truly incredible.

We were put in charge filling the candy baggies to be put in each box. We also filled boxes with shoes, socks, pouches and toys. I have included a few pictures (we weren't allowed to bring in purses or use our phones on the distribution lines) I managed to sneak during the candy bagging time.

One of the coolest things was that we stopped every hour and laid hands on the boxes, candy, etc and prayed over who was going to receive the boxes and the gifts the boxes would bring. One thing a pastor prayed was that while they would find gifts inside, he prayed for the children also to find hope, encouragement, strength, love, joy, peace in the boxes. That these boxes would provide those words in reality to the children.

One great story was of a kid who received a box and told them he didn't want it. They asked him what he wanted for Christmas and he said a family. Then told him they couldn't give him that, but would he please take the box. In the box was a picture of a couple and their address on the back. They began corresponding with him and have since adopted him. He did indeed get what he wanted that Christmas.

Just What the Doctor Ordered

Tonight when I got home from work I was feeling funny.

I tried to get it out and explain it to Earl.

"See, I think about it all the time. I just think about the exact same things. I have nothing new to think about. No new ideas. I think through the options, statistics, promises of God - over and over in my brain. I just need a good laugh."

Not even twenty minutes later there was a knock at the door and Earl said, "It looks like Ali."  Sure enough, my sweet, wonderful friend came by on her way home from work to say hi.

Now, if there is anyone who can make me smile and laugh, Ali can. She is bubbly, caring, fun, full of faith. She listened and asked questions and when she could see I needed a break, she changed the subject to something else. She left me a card that was full of concern, love and sweetness.

The Lord heard my cry - my desire - and brought it to me tonight. He has been confirming to me that He hears me, knows my heart - the aches, the desires - and He is moved with compassion to act.

Christmas Lists

Didn't I already mention Christmas lists???

Last one, I promise!

This thing is just too cool!!! The Flip Camera

Our Help, Our Hope, Our Refuge

God is our Refuge and Strength. A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains carried into the midst of the sea; Though it's waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The Holy Place of the tabernacle of the Most High. GOD IS IN THE MIDST OF HER, SHE SHALL NOT BE MOVED; GOD SHALL HELP HER, just at the break of dawn ... The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our Refuge.
Psalm 46