Just thankful...

So much in life goes by at such a blur and seems to trivial to post about. In reality... it's probably more important than we realize. Not so much the stuff itself, but how we live/walk it. Know what I mean?? I was reminded of this once again yesterday (I'll get to that in a minute... first the update).

Daniel is studying his head off for the State exam. I've been house shopping online (amazing what you can do these days!) and taking my course. The kids have been completing all their "end of the school year" activities. A million little things happening all simultaniously it seems.

However, knowing that there is an impending move, I think I'm hugging people a little longer when I say goodbye. Making things a little bigger deal than normal knowing it may be "the last time" we do this living here in Georgia. Trying to make all those little group/family gatherings because "who knows when we will make it again". It may seem silly.... but it's a reality right now.

Yesterday, the kids had a rehearsal for their piano and drums recital tonight. I had to leave for class, so Daniel was there with the kids. Then at around 5:30 p.m. the teacher looked at her watch and sighed. Since Daniel was there and it was a calm moment, she said, "I have to tell someone this. Seventeen years ago at this very moment on this date, my son was hit by and car and died...." The story went on. It was all a tragic accident.... the wrong place at the wrong time.... no malicious act. Her precious first grader was struck by a car driven by an eighteen year old coming home for his birthday. A large tree in a curve prevented the driver from seeing the young child until it was too late. That was the beginning of many sad subsequent events in their lives. A day of play and rejoicing turned to tragedy.

So, I'm reminded once again.... go hug the kids once more (hey! go hug your spouse! it might shock them!)... make doing dishes fun, go ahead put up the streamers for my husband's birthday (even if it seems silly).... it's not about the money or the event.... it's about the walk/talk/attitude. What would I do differently if I knew this was the last time we would... [fill in the blank here].

Well, so as not to leave you on a sad note, our piano teacher and her family has been such a blessing in our lives these last five years. God has walked her through some tough stuff and I'm sure there are days she feels it. But she is such a blessing and "shining star" to us. An example of patience and resilliance and faithfulness. (And an example of someone who truly makes learning fun!)

Ephesians 5:15-17 (Amplified Bible)
15Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people),
16Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil.
17Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is.

Philippians 2:14-16 (New International Version)
14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16as you hold out[a] the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

Happy Mother's Day!

Sometimes someone says it so well.... well... no need fixing something that isn't broken.....

Happy Mother's Day!
The Familyman
Todd Wilson, Familyman Ministries

Question: Of the following successful women, who has impacted your life the most--Martha Stewart, Oprah Winfrey, Mother Teresa, Hillary Clinton, Michele Obama, Eleanor Roosevelt, Margaret Thatcher, Julia Childs, Julie Andrews, Susan B. Anthony, Vera Wang, Estee Lauder, Rosa Parks, or . . . your mother?

The answer is obvious, but sometimes when you're up to your armpits in dirty diapers and bad attitudes (they both stink), you're tempted to forget and think . . . "I'm wasting my life. I could have been something. So-and-So leads such a significant, glamorous . . . appreciated life."

Let me tell you, Mom, those lines you're being fed smell like smoke and come from the pit of Hell.

Your life as a mom is significant. All of the sacrifices you have made, are making, and will make are worth it. What you do as a mom is way more important than being a doctor, business woman, author, humanitarian, and world leader. You are impacting future generations who will never meet you or know your name and will only refer to you as great, great, great grandma.

Your sons and daughters will answer the above question the same as you did. The greatest impact on their lives will not be by a president, an inventor, or a business person. Without a second's thought, they will answer, "Oh yeah, my mom was the greatest influence in my life."

So quit looking on the other side of the fence and wishing these days away so that you can get on with the important stuff in your life.

You are already doing the important stuff in your life.

Happy Mother's Day,
Todd

[I think I shall frame this and put on the bathroom mirror! Hugs and blessings! T]

Collossians 3:23-24
23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Daniel's Philippine Report

Well, last Thursday Daniel came back from the Philippines after traveling for almost 24 hours straight to get home. There was the traditional unpacking of the little gifts for the kiddies, the mounds of laundry, the uploading of pictures from the camera, the catching up on family life issues and the missionary stories...

Usually I try and sit down and post some sort of "report" here after a few days of Daniel walking around the house telling me, "Oh yea.... and this happened too.... and you wouldn't believe.... and did I mention..." Well, yesterday I walk downstairs to see "Mr. Missionary" typing wildly on the computer to "save me some time" on writing about the trip. I smile and say "Oh...[big pause]... thanks, hon." [for those who know, laugh now.... for those who don't, my dear husband is anything but short on words]

Yep... it's a small book... but instead of re-writing it, I thought I'd cut and paste a little and give some words from "the man, himself"...
[comments in brackets are just my sarcasim and can be completely ignored!]

"Corregidor Island is located in the mouth of Manila Harbor giving it strategic military benefit. In fact it was during the Spanish era of the Philippines that bonfires were lit to alert Manila of incoming ships. Still recognized as having military benefit, years later, American forces placed gun batteries all over the island as part of a harbor defense system of Manila bay. Big guns were placed to repel sea invasion and smaller mortars were placed to prevent land invasion during the 1920’s, but guns were never upgraded to newer weapons by WWII. It was on this island that Gen MacArthur fled the Philippines, after promising his eventual return. After Bataan fell on April 9th, 1942, American and Philippine forces held Corregidor for 27 days and surrendered to Japan May 6th 1942.

What does this history lesson have to do with a medical trip to the Philippines? Well, we like so many Christians have built our churches “forts” if you will. Trusting in our “forts” and our church services we can ignore the gathering forces around us. We are already seeing this as churches have less and less services during the week. Church attendance is down and membership is declining. The state is granting less favor to benevolent giving to the church and is making inroads into the basic liberty of Christians. We are not upgrading the “guns” just like on the Island of Coregidor. Just what are our “guns” you ask, souls, adding as many Christians to Lambs Book of Life as we can possibly see.

In any mission work we are preparing “forces” or more Christians for the Lords army. Reaching souls that will be accepted into God’s kingdom. Rather than be just on the defensive (although often necessary) we need to be on the offense – being part of a church outreach or plant. In the Philippines just that occurred. The local missionaries were Dave and Debbie Johnson. They partnered with two local churches in the Bicol Region."

[told you he was wordy...good stuff though]

"There are active volcanos in the Philippines. One volcano that we worked right at the base of is called Mayon. As one counsoler said “ we have to see these people saved they live in the shadow of death from the volcano”.

Mayon did erupt 3 years ago and the gov’t doesn’t know how many people died est, are 1000 individuals. Roughly 70,000 people were displaced during that time."

[and you thought your neighborhood was rough..]

"Supporting the out reach was the Pilipino equivalent of our Health Care Ministries the Philippine Health Care Ministry, PHCM. This team supplied a full dental team including 3 dentists, support personnel and two different local doctors that traveled with us for the clinics."

[these people give up their time away from their jobs/families too]

"During the clinics we saw a total of 1,835 people and 1,069 people accepted Christ as their Savior. Never have I seen a response like this. Even Dave Johnson, the missionary made a comment that not all those professing Christ as Savior were true conversions. But he did make one important point – with all those “conversions” we definitely have two churches planted! In addition all the people will have a follow-up with pastors, relationships will be started and if not before then hopefully soon true salvation will occur."

[can you just say "Wow!"]

"Gen MacArthur eventually returned to the Philippines and Corrigedor was recaptured – history tells us what happened. The cost was tremendous in men, women, and resources.

We as Christians, however, know the spiritual war for this world is already won, but the “battles” between now and then have lasting effects on us as well as those around us. Lets make haste than to save as many souls for Christ and keep the casualties to a minimum."

[see why I married this man?!]

There is so much more... but you just may have to give us a call to hear some of those good stories.

James 1 (NIV)
27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Praying for the Philippines

It's that time again. The UPS man rang the doorbell yesterday and delivered the "big suitcase" with medical supplies in it. Must be time to start packing.

Daniel and a pretty large medical team will be heading to the Philippines this month. It will be a long trip with some inter-country flying. There are a lot of logistical issues that need to be prayed for. And it will be HOT! I may be wrong, but I think I read something about 110 degrees in some communication we got. Hmmm...

Well, time to pray! He will be gone almost two weeks and I shall be taking my first 2 exams during the time he is away. (Yes, the timing... seems things always happen like that... something to do with wrestling against spiritual stuff... look it up! ;o)

Have a blessed Easter season and I will try and post some pictures when he gets back!

Hugs and prayers...

Oh, be careful little ears what you hear....

I'm going to give you some medical education today. O.K. so not exactly, but I will tell you an interesting fact about medical education. Do you know how they teach doctors-to-be to tell if an inner ear is infected or normal? They do something very interesting. They have them look at "normal" [inner]ears.... lot's of them... for quite a while actually.... over and over... until they know what "normal" looks like. So when they finally look at an abnormal (or infected) ear, they may not know what is wrong with it... but they certainly know that something isn't "right".

Many times I have thought about this fact when contemplating discussions with others on various topics. How do we "know" that something is "wrong"? or "not good for us"? or goes against a biblical principle? Sometimes things we do or say or experience seem, well, "harmless". I can't tell you how many times I have heard some person say "Oh, it won't hurt anything." or "What's wrong with that?" or... "[fill in your blank here]. The problem is, deep down... we wonder....

I tell you today's media [tv, ipods, computer, movies, websites, books, cds, radio... we are just overwhelmed with media aren't we?] is perfectly willing to share what they think is "normal". Many times they insert in just enough truth/facts in there and then mix it with emotionalism and opinions and even false doctrines. Daniel and I are becoming more aware everyday that the "teaching" that is given to us each day in just our regular daily routines is just inundating us with anti-biblical messages (some subtle; some very blatant).

So, how do we "know" what is right and good in the mist of being blasted by so many messages continually? Well, just like the teaching of what a "normal" inner ear looks like; we need to be so well versed in what is "right" [insert time with God and Bible reading daily here]... that when "wrong" comes along... we may not know why it is wrong (or even exactly what about it bothers us)... but we certainly know that it isn't "right". We have to be so exposed to the truth of God's Word every day in our lives that it becomes our standard for living. [I tell you... in this day and age... that is not an easy task.]

Anybody remember that little song from preschool days?

"Oh, be careful little ears what you hear.....
........for the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh, be careful little ears what you hear."

Last night Daniel and I were discussing this little song after renting a movie (PG and very mild by today's standards) that we fast forwarded through parts and were very disappointed in where the makers of that series had taken it. Then we talked about good movies that we had seen that were worth the time and how far and few they were produced now. [Hmm... think we'll just cancel our membership to the local movie rental place and join a club that mails only wholesome Christian movies.]

Deuteronomy 4:5-7 (New International Version)

5 See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the LORD my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it. 6 Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people." 7 What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him?

Christ the Wisdom and Power of God
I Corinthians 1

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."[c] 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.

26 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."[d]


James 1:5 (New International Version)
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Spring Updates

So many things in the works....

Daniel is set for three upcoming trips. Lots-o-logistics going on right now. Details coming in the near future.

You can start praying for the medical student team heading to Asia. Also, for the works going on in Africa. [so many events happening there that affect so many aspects of life]

We will be keeping you posted as news can "officially" be released.

We are slowly working on cleaning out the house and "de-junking" for the impending move. Continue to pray for timing and the right living quarters.

Hugs and prayers to all!

P.S. Pray for Teri as she starts taking some classes to work towards a possible nursing or PA license.

Races and Rain Dancing

(I've had this on my mind for a while, but taking the time to stop and put it down seems to allude me lately. I hope it blesses you as much as it blessed me.)

RACES:
I have a friend who is the same age as I [we shall not disclose that one]. She and I both had this crazy desire to run in a marathon of some sort. (Well I'd be happy to crawl across the finish line of a 5K... she is so much more focused and ambitious.) She told me she had signed up for a half-marathon a few months back! I thought that she must have been in a lot better shape than myself! She just said, "You had better pray!"

A couple of weeks ago she called to remind me that she was running/walking the half-marathon that weekend "do or die trying." She also told me she was calling friends to get their favorite number and scripture to pray for them on that specific mile. [can you say "wow!" I'd be thinking about praying for breathing... and she wants to pray for me!] I, of course, told her that whatever number was that last mile... 'cuz I wanted to be with her crossing that finished line! Then I asked her if she was ready. She said, "No, but my goal is just to finish... and do it in 3 hours."

That Saturday after enough time had passed that I was sure the race was over [and I couldn't stand waiting any longer], I phoned her to see how it went. What she told me had me in tears....

You see this had been a journey for her. I can't share here what has been going on in her life... but let's just say that I admire more every day her courage and trust in God and hope I could be so steadfast facing some of what she has faced. She described to me that she had picked this race because it was "coming home" for her. It was where she had grown up and lived through many great memories in her life. But it was also bittersweet for her... she was coming home, but running a race with not a soul or friend she knew there to run with her and cheer her on. [well except one... that comes later in the story] It was a race she had to run one step at a time... one foot right in front of the other... one breath after another... sometimes running, sometimes barely walking up the hills.... but completely by herself. She said every turn and mile marker was a reminder of some part of her life; and another opportunity for the satan to "mess with her mind".

She said that so many thoughts went through her head: quitting, how silly it was to be there, all of her friends were elsewhere, she was tired, she was too weak and out of shape to do this... She pulled out her MP3 player to listen to songs of overcoming and victory that some friends had put there for her. She listened to sermons. She pulled out her little scraps of paper each mile to pray for friends and read the scripture they had given to her. [almost in tears at how appropriate the scriptures were at each part of the race]

Somewhere around the middle of the race she text messaged her Dad to tell him that it was just too hard and she really wanted to quit and go home. Her dad texted her back to encourage her to keep going. He told her he knew she could do it and to look how far she had come. She kept going. She even had to slowly walk up a "very curvy up-hill path" past a chapel on the trail. By then, she knew that she would be a part of the last group of folks to finish the race. [Winners had certainly finished an hour plus before.] She was just ready to get to the end. The funny thing was that myself and one of her other friends had requested she pray for us on "mile 13" because we both wanted to "be there" crossing the finish line with her. I had given her a scripture about God directing ours paths, but her other friend had jokingly given her the scripture John 11:35.

And then there it was... she could see the finish line ahead... not much cheering going on for the end of the pack of runners. She actually was feeling quite down that there she was and no one she knew was even there to see it.... well, that was until she saw him....

...her Dad. He doesn't walk too fast these days, but somehow he had managed to hike the distance from the parking area way across the campus and and work his way through a packed crowd to stand at the finish line and cheer his daughter home. He yelled out for her, "You've done it!!! You made it!!! Come on and finish it!!!" She cried.... nope, more like....she bawled her eye-balls out [you know, those honkin'- snotty-nosed-from-the-heart cries]. She said all she could think of is, "That's my Daddy and he's waving me home!"

[O.K. So at this point of the phone conversation I'm crying with her. How precious can you get.] She went on to tell me that after she got over bawling her eyes out at the finish line she asked him how in the world he was able to find her in the humongous crowd of people. He said that he had done "recon" in the military and certainly knew he could find her. Then she asked him about the walk. His response... "I was one determined man!" [yea... smile all you daddies and daughters out there... I know you're sniffling too.] Then he went on to tell her that not only had she made the finish line but she had finished in exactly 3 hours!

All I could say to her at this point was.... do you know what a picture you have painted??? It is like the whole race was one big "object lesson" of your life! I can just see Christ standing at the finish line screaming at the top of his lungs in sheer joy at his children [worn out and wondering if we would ever make it... fighting all the negative lies from satan that the race wasn't worth it] ... "You did it!!! You made it!!! Come on home!!!"

Yes, she got it. On so many levels.

God is so into the little details of our lives. Sometimes it is hard to remember that. Sometimes we just want to think that everything we do is not important or worth the effort or "why try?". God has a funny way of reminding us that everything is important.

Oh... the scripture verse from her other friend for "mile 13"/the finish line.... the one that was supposed to be a "funny".... John 11:35 "Jesus wept." [yea and God has a sense of humor too!]

RAIN DANCING:
From the email of yet another friend...

*Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...
It's about learning to dance in the rain.*

My addition: just put on your goulashes when it gets deep...


Addendum:
Of course, I sit down to type this blog entry and the classic Phillips, Craig and Dean song on the CD playing blared away....

"Sometimes I still feel so lost
So far from where I should be
He gently calls to my heart
Just to remind me....
Mercy came running
Like a prisoner set free
Passed all my failures to the point of my need
The sin that I carried was all I could see
And when I could not reach mercy
Mercy came a runnin' to me."

O.K. so maybe God is not just standing at the finish line... maybe He has already ran out there [doing "recon"] and is pushing you across that line.... whatever works! I'm o.k. with that!

Galations 5: 6-8
6b The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
7You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? 8That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.

2 Timothy 4:6-8
7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Romans 8: 26-28
26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.