Update/Prayer Request

The sun’s finally out, but don’t be mislead it’s 43-miserable-degrees. I’m so far-over winter it’s not even funny, and I never thought I would say that. I forgot what winter does to your skin, and have yet to find the right lotion to remedy the dryness.

It’s officially been 10 months since I moved… Weird! The last four months have gone so fast. Here’s a recap, hold on tight it’s been a doozy.

In August I landed a job at a cafe wine bar here in town, 2 days later flew home for two weeks to take care of my Mom after her mastectomy.

At the end of September found out that, although Mom was clear of breast cancer, her doctors had found cancer on her spine. She began bone cancer treatments almost immediately.

At the end of October I called the Hope Center’s insurance agent, a local downtown building owner, to inquire about upstairs apartments I had heard about. He gave me a brief rundown of what they had to offer, and then asked how I would be able to afford an apartment, assuming I didn’t make much at the Hope Center. When I told him I was a full time volunteer, he asked me about my work experience and asked for my resume. After considering it over the weekend I emailed it to him, and started working in his office a week later.

I moved into my apartment the 1st of December.

And a little over a month and a half ago decided to get my license to sell insurance, and hope to be licensed within a month.

So, the Lord has definitely blessed me in this season. I work for two incredible Men of God at the office and at the bar. And in what little free time I have, I’m still volunteering for the youth center at the Hope Center, and doing what I can to fill in the gaps and help Pastor Jeff and Jess build a team at church, primarily with youth and worship. The Lord is doing great things here in M-ville.

So, with all that said, here’s my prayer request! On Monday the 25th my Mother goes back in for her first bone scan since they started treating her for bone cancer. We’re praying that it’s gone. We’re praying that doctor who first diagnosed her, and did so prematurely, witnesses a miracle. We’re praying for yet another Great testimony of God’s power to heal. And we’re asking you to join us in this prayer! I can’t thank you enough for your prayers thus far. Our God is Great!     

Update: Breast Cancer Round Two

I hear it all the time, and I’ve experienced it a time or two. The idea that when you step out in faith, or you are doing the work of God, Satan attacks. I think C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letter’s does this whole phenomenon justice in narrative form. All that to say, his timing has been pretty crafty.

Not more than two weeks after I arrived, reality struck. In a way that made me wonder how God was going to maneuver this situation. What he had up his sleeves to combat it, and why now? I mean really?! I just moved clear across the country, this timing really, really sucks! I’m not ready to go into detail just yet, we need more details ourselves. But if I could ask you to be praying for my family and specifically if you could pray for healing, I would be forever grateful. My family knows our God to be the God of healing, the Great Physician, and ultimately the Creator. We’re believing for positive results and are encouraged thus far. I’ll be sure to keep you posted.

I’m relaxing with my feet up in a surprisingly comfortable chair at St. Luke’s Hospital in Twin Falls, Idaho. It’s almost 10:30 and my amazing mother is sound asleep in the hospital bed next to me. There are a series of ridiculous stories that lead up to this very moment. Allow me to explain.

A month and a half ago…

I’m sitting in the red-love-seat-chair-thing at Jeff and Jess’s (where I currently live in Ohio) we’re discussing how crazy my first week has been, as we prepare to watch a movie. My mom calls and we chat for a bit about the small stuff and as our conversation comes to a close she says, “Missy, I have something to tell you…” I brace myself because of the seriousness in her tone and say, “Okay?” She back pedals a bit and says, “Well, never mind, I’ll tell you when I find out more.” I interrupt her and tell her that she’s not allowed to use a serious tone like she had and then back out. So she continues to tell me that she’d found a lump in her breast during a self-examination and that she’s going in for a mammogram and an ultra sound.

Sidenote…

About 13 years ago she was diagnosed with breast cancer. When my dad had pulled me aside and told me I thought the very worst. I saw my life flash before my eyes, except my mother was missing in it. I made promises to God that day and requests I can’t repeat. She made it through a lumpectomy and several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation. In the midst of all that she was pretty severely burned by the radiation, which caused her to not be able to consume anything even slightly acidic. On top of that she also maintained the life style of a mother with 12 year old twins and an 8 year old. One night while taking my brother to tie-kwon-do she slipped on a patch of ice and broke her tibia and fibula. Get this: cancer patient, enduring chemo and radiation, mother of 3, leg busted in 2 places and she still went to work every. day. as. a… COSMETOLOGIST. If you don’t get the significance of that… they sand on their feet all day for a living! Chuck-freaking-Norris has nothing on my mom!

Back to what I was saying…

All that to say, I had a feeling I knew what my mother was going to say when she said she had something to tell me. It’s one of those things you hope you never hear but as the child of a cancer survivor you prepare yourself for the day that you might get the call that tells you, “it’s back.”

I kept my cool and asked all the right questions, but inside was another story. That night I had so many words for God, like “Really?! Seriously?! You couldn’t have uncovered this sooner! You had to wait until right after I move across the country and basically start a new life!!!? Great timing! What the heck God!” There may have been more words that will stay between him and I but needless to say I was way less then alright with what had developed and that night my God took quiet a bit of verbal abuse. Thankfully, I know he loves me and I am, despite the tantrum, crazy about my God.

She had her mammogram and ultra-sound while I was at youth camp and the doctors thought that the images looked hopeful and not cancerous. But they wanted to do a biopsy to be safe. Last Monday, July 16^th she got the results and called me with the report that the lump she found was indeed cancer. It was my day off and the house was full, so I took off for a run to be alone, to process, and blow off some steam. I was fine until the end of my run and I slowly began to unravel, once I got home Jess called to go over some plans for the evening, and over the phone I spilled the beans and lost my composure (Not one of my finer moments! I’m not great at vulnerability).

The next day my mom met with a surgeon and they scheduled a mastectomy for the following Monday. I began frantically looking and praying for a way to get home. But nothing seemed to be panning out. Until Friday morning when I got a call from a woman that I work with, her and her husband wanted to take care of a round-trip ticket to get me home for two weeks to care for my mom after this procedure. I’m forever indebted to this amazing couple.

So here’s where the crazy begins. Sunday morning I flew from Columbus to Denver, Denver to Boise. On the first stretch of the trip my ticket was bumped to first class! I thought, “Wow, awesome! This is something that is not likely to happen again!” As we were descending to the Denver airport an elderly gentleman sitting diagonally behind me lost consciousness. By the time we got to the terminal the man had stopped breathing and his pulse was extremely weak. Once we land a gentlemen next to me, an EMT and myself helped to get this man and his wife off the plane and into an area where he could be resuscitated. I felt so helpless, all I could think to do was pray like crazy, stand with this man’s wife and remain calm. They took him by ambulance to the hospital and from there I have no idea what else took place.

Monday morning my Mom, Dad and I headed to the hospital for the big day. I was stoked to find out that the new hospital houses the smallest Starbucks I’ve ever had the pleasure of finding. I was even more excited due to the fact that I had a lack-of-caffeine head ache, or so I thought. However after downing three-forth’s a venti Americano the pain had not subsided. My Dad found me some pain meds and I took them with the remainder of my coffee. Fifteen minutes later the pain had dulled by I was now dizzy, light-headed, and sensitive to light. An hour and a half after that the symptoms had only intensified, and the doctor came out to tell us that my mom was now resting in the recovery room and that all had gone well. As he walked away I placed my head in my hands and thanked God that all had gone well, and threw in, that relief from my headache would be wonderful. I noticed that a family waiting for their grandmother to get out of surgery were leaving when someone grabbed my shoulder. It was the woman’s grand-daughter. She asked me if I was alright. Concerned that I was grieving, I assured her that I was fine and that I was just suffering from a really bad migraine. She then asked if she could touch me and began massaging my neck. Turns out that she’s a massage therapist. She worked on me and stretched out my neck for 15 minutes while her family waited for her outside. I thanked her, we exchanged hugs, she told me to drink lots of water and sternly advised me that I should see a massage therapist because I am covered in knots. And she was gone.

Yesterday, I spent most of the day curled up next to my mom with my hands over my face attempting to rest. I was miserable. The migraine went from bad to worst, I couldn’t eat, or rest and I was afraid that I wouldn’t make it down stairs to the car without passing out. I’ve never had a migraine compared to that, and all the while all I can think is “Really, after all that my mom’s gone through today, I’m whining about a headache?!” Once I was finally home, my poor brother watched after me, and I finally got some sleep.

Tonight, I’m spending the night with my mom, she took 3 walks and accomplished all her goals for the day. She’s scheduled to be released tomorrow morning. Besides the expected aches and pains she’s doing great. She’s a freaking trooper. She actually asked her doctor today if she could go back to work in a week and a half! Tough as nails and stubborn as a mule, that’s my mom. You would never guess that she just had cancer removed from her body for the second time or an entire appendage removed.

Pray that she continues healing quickly, that the aches and pains subside. Pray against infection. We haven’t dealt with the emotional consequences of all that has taken place, so prayer for that as we travel down this road. Pray that the doctors successfully removed all the cancer and that chemo won’t be necessary.

I want to say a big Thank You to a list of people: the folks at Heritage and Woodstone (My mom loves you all!), The family of Church on a Mission, Pastor Paul and Chris Jordan, Papa Vern and Betty Thieman, Caitlyn and Dan McCoy, Devry Neild, the families of Downtown Chapel and New Life Family Center, Pastor’s Mike and Laurie and Pastor’s Jeff and Jess. To my personal prayer warriors Jessica L., Justine and Cyndi, Rachael, and Sharolin, the Hope Center Staff and countless others. For all those who have called and sent messages. Biggest of all thank you’s Dr. David McClusky and supporting hospital staff, and Robert and Melissa Fuson. We love you all so much.

“Meltdown in 3…2…1″

“I don’t want my life to be explainable without the Holy Spirit. I want people to look at my life and know that I couldn’t be doing this by my own power. I want to live in such a way that I am desperate for Him to come through. That if He doesn’t come through, I am screwed.”  ~Francis Chan

So track with me… Today’s topic: Urgency! An explanation of the craziness of my current state with a story of the recent past. Really, this is my attempt to smash two blog posts into one.

This last spring my sister came to stay with me in California for a long weekend. You can read her side of the story here. It was an incredible time of simple bonding between two long-lost sisters (for more on the long-lost part check out this one). We started the weekend with a long drive home from the airport (cough, cough. I might have gotten lost), and an extremely late night talk covering how each of us were processing finding each other. Piecing together a puzzle that’s missing a lot of pieces still. Within a couple of days I made dinner for her an my friends, we spent time in Malibu taking in the surf, a day at Huntington Gardens/Library, and walked the streets of Downtown Pasadena, stopping for the most sinful dessert I’ve ever had the pleasure of having twice!:) There were more late nights in there and so many sweet little moments.

Our last evening together we hesitated as we headed to bed, both of us knowing what the morning would bring. I didn’t expect the emotions that followed. My heart pounded, my head spun, and I couldn’t catch my breath. I felt like I was in a dream chasing something that wasn’t real and not tangible, but I had to catch it or at least try. I paced my room quietly crying trying to figure out what it was that I was feeling. Why, did I feel so desperate, like there wasn’t enough time? Unless you’ve experience a story like ours, you might never understand.

We had just spent 4 days attempting to capture over 25 years worth of time apart. For her, 25 years of life and memories that materialized out of no-where. For me, 25 years of time lost, memories never given the chance to be made, and countless dreams without ends. I was angry, that people would be so selfish as to allow this to happen. I felt guilty for being angry with my father, who would, given the choice at a do over, give everything. My heart was broken that he and my brothers and even my mom, couldn’t be there. But mostly I was grieved that no matter how hard we might try, we’ll never have enough time to collect all that we’ve lost.

Heavy and depressing? No. Pessimism doesn’t come naturally to me. I came to a conclusion that evening in prayer, that encouraged me. While studying throughout my time in school I would have these moments, where my heart would palpitate, at the thought that there just wasn’t enough time, people, resources, or energy to reach people with the gospel. Part of me would want to just quit, cause what’s the use trying the impossible. But the rest of me put my nose to the grindstone and muscled through the rest of my homework.

Recently, I’m in capital of Podunksville, volunteering full-time for a non-profit faith-based community center that serves those in need in this area. We deal with the “Need-a-miracle-or-else” several times a day on an everyday basis. And I’ve only been here for a month! I have found myself on the brink of being utterly overwhelmed by the not enough thought several times, and think it nothing short of a miracle that I have yet to have a major meltdown. I was reminded last night, as our household talked about tithing, that we are to be good stewards. This goes for all things. Our finances, our time, our relationships, words, actions, and ultimately our lives.

This morning I sat at a table with a small handful of community pastors, and we touched on lost moments and the not enough. I’m an internal processor and a crier, so I kept my mouth shut for fear of releasing the “final meltdown.” I was encouraged that I’m not alone in having the not enough moments, and I’m not the only one that grieves the missed opportunities. We’re leaning hard on God to deliver the chances for us to share our finances, time, relationships, words, actions, and lives. And depending on the Holy Spirit to come through in such a way that leaves us astounded, maybe even bewildered.

How are you trusting God? Are you seeking him desperately, and what does that look like? And in what ways are you depending on the Holy Spirit

Jeremiah 29:13

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Update: “You can’t make this stuff up!”

“You can’t make this stuff up!” Pastor Jess warned me over and over and over again, during our long-distance phone conversations. Part of me took her serious, the other part of me considered her Boston swagger to be slightly exaggerated. But from the “get go” this adventure has been nothing short of “cray-cray.”

Just yesterday I spent some time sitting on the porch alone as the sun was setting. Alone time is not something I’ve gotten a lot of in a house with four young children, and part of me feels guilty when I steal it away. But as I was sitting there I thought, “Boy! Was I wrong about thinking that I would be returning back to a slow pace of life.” There’s nothing slow about what’s going on here.

I have received such a warm welcome, which has been such a blessing. I’m a total introvert, but after living on a college campus for the last 5 or so years, I was nervous that I would drift into some lonely stupor. Literally, only hours after landing I was being given loving embraces from complete strangers.

My first day at the Hope Center introduced me to witnessing real life miracles and seeing God provide in only ways he does. Today marks a month since the start of this adventure, and I can’t even begin to describe to you all the things I’ve seen and experienced.

I hear it all the time, and I’ve experienced it a time or two. The idea that when you step out in faith, or you are doing the work of God, Satan attacks. I think C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letter’s does this whole phenomenon justice in narrative form. All that to say, his timing has been pretty crafty.

Not more than two weeks after I arrived, reality struck. In a way that made me wonder how God was going to maneuver this situation. What he had up his sleeves to combat it, and why now? I mean really?! I just moved clear across the country, this timing really, really sucks! I’m not ready to go into detail just yet, we need more details ourselves. But if I could ask you to be praying for my family and specifically if you could pray for healing, I would be forever grateful. My family knows our God to be the God of healing, the Great Physician, and ultimately the Creator. We’re believing for positive results and are encouraged thus far. I’ll be sure to keep you posted.

Mel

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up.” James 5:14-15

Dear Dad, Happy Father’s Day

If you had asked me 10 year ago what I thought about my father, the answer would be drastically different from the answer I would give you today.

Some would contribute the difference to the motions of the “teenage” years. Those closest to our family might understand the in’s and out’s of how things used to be. Family therapists would look at our life back then and analyze the stressful situations, the difficult personalities, maybe even the unhealthy patterns and so on. But we lived and learned and life went on.

Life definitely got better, it has never stopped being hard or less painful. But as a family we learned to navigate the icebergs, speak our peace, and we now know when to say the “I’m sorry’s” and “I was wrong’s.” We also freely say “I love you’s.”

But this would have never happened if it weren’t for a certain letter that my Dad gave me the night I graduated from high school. I don’t remember what it said, I vaguely remember it being a couple of pages long. But I certainly remember the reaction that it evoked. I don’t know that I’ll ever experience a moment of emotion like that again. I read the letter as I was getting ready to head over to a friends house for the night. I left the house without saying goodbye to him. I sobbed all the way through reading it, composed myself enough to make it out to the car, and sobbed all the way to my friends house. I couldn’t bear to see him, after reading those words.

A year later I headed off to Bible college, where I of course, developed more of a fondness for God (translation: There’s this God, that I’m seriously passionate about). And believe it or not there was a time or two that I learned a little something about family dynamics. I contribute the restoration of my relationship with my father to my relationship with God, and his ability to open my eyes and smack some sense into me. He helped me to see the blessing I had in my life, my Father, and made me grateful for the journey we’ve taken.

Dear Dad,

Thank you for not being perfect. For making mistakes for me to learn from, and being willing to admit to them, and learn from them yourself, and ultimately move on, and forward.

Thank you for not giving up and for knowing when to give in. I look back at our fights, those knock-out-drag-on yelling matches. And I’m thankful, that you let me learn how to communicate (however “unhealthy” it might have appeared), how to question authority (again, “unhealthy?”), and you seemed to always bite the bullet and allowed me to be the one with the last blow, and you never once said or did anything that ever broke my spirit. I know I frequently said (or yelled) things that “hit below the belt,” and for that I apologize. Thank you for being man enough not to defeat me in those moments. I give you credit for a large amount of my strength, because of those ugly moments in our bittersweet past.

Thank you for pursuing our relationship, for recognizing those moments when I’ve needed you the most and being there, even when you couldn’t be there physically. I wish you knew how often, I need your hugs. How they are the only remedy for a multitude of ailments. And how I frequently call you just to hear you ramble, cause for some reason it’s comforting… I’ve become a glutton for misery .

Papa, thank you for stepping up to the plate. I poured out a bucket of praise over the phone with you last fall. But just so you have something tangible to read and reflect on, I love you, I’m proud of you, I’m honored to call you “Father.” Thank you for being a major pillar in our family, and the foundation for our futures. I’m most thankful to watch and listen to you as you pursue God. Showing me and others that it’s never too late, and you can never have it all figured out when it comes to our faith. I love you and Thank You. Happy Father’s day.

Happy Mother’s Day

In the midst of all my packing, I found a notebook that I began writing meaningful stuff in my sophomore year of high school, after one of my friends had passed away. She was the inspiration behind it. It’s one of those super cheesy, emotional things you do as a teenager. My notebook starts with her obituary and articles written to the editor, that depict a community uniting around the lost of one of their own. It was truly astounding.

The life of creating this notebook was pretty brief, there’s a promise to God, a note about the passing of another inspiration. Something about making the cheerleading squad, a letter to my future husband (don’t ask, it would be really cute if I hadn’t written it.) A list of people who I had considered inspirations… interesting side-note: there’s only a handful of them that I would keep on that list.  But most importantly within the first couple of pages, you come to this cheesy little note titled “My Best Friend!” and a poem that I copied to go with it. It’s for my mom and I dedicate this post to her, especially because she loves cheesy and sentimental.

Here’s what I wrote:

My Best Friend!

I’ve always thought that the people who say that their best friends are their moms, were liars. That was until the beginning of this year, when I realized that my best friend was in fact, my mom. She’s always been there for me, and it’s unimaginable to think of her not being here for me. I look at the girls around me, and hear how they drag on their mothers, and I thank God for the one I have. She’s amazing in and out, and if I ever had the chance to pick my mom, I’d definitely pick her again.

~I was looking through my “Chicken soup for the Teenage Soul III” when I found this poem. It says everything that exemplifies how I feel about my mom.~

“Never Enough”

Sometimes I know the words to say, Give thanks for all you’ve done. But then they fly up and  away, As quickly as they come.

How could I possibly thank you enough, The one who makes me whole, The one whom I owe my life, the forming of my soul.

The one who tucked me in at night the one who stopped my crying, the one who was the expert at picking up when I was lying.

The one who saw me off to school, and spent sad days alone, Yet magically produced a smile as soon as I came home.

The one who makes such sacrifices, To always put me first, Who lets me test my broken wings, In spite of how it hurts.

Who paints the world a rainbow, When it’s filled with broken dreams, Who explains it all so clearly, when nothing’s what it seems.

Are there really any words for this? I find this question tough… Anything I want to say, Just doesn’t seem enough.

What way is there to thank you for your heart, your sweat, your tears, For ten thousand little things you’ve done. For oh-so-many years.

For changing with me as I changed, Accepting all my flaws, Not loving ’cause you had to, But loving “just because.”

For never giving up on me, When your wits had reached their end, For always being proud of me, For being my best friend.

And so I come to realize, The only way to say, The only thank you that’s enough, Is clear in just one way.

Look at me before you, See what I’ve become. Do you see yourself in me? The job that you have done?

All your hopes and all your dreams, the strength that no one sees, A transfer over many years, Your best was passed to me.

Thank you for the gifts you give, For everything you do, But thank you, Mother, most of all, For making dreams come true.

Love,

Your Daughter

-Laurie Kalb (Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul III)

Happy Mother’s Day, to all you Wonderful Moms!

Guest Post: For Me… By Shawna Sekerak

So…Here’s a little of what’s been going on in my life the last…few years!

2 years ago…April 22, 2010 I did something…I’m not sure what possessed me to do it, but I did. I decided to look my birth father ~ John ~ up on Facebook. (And NO I wasn’t adopted!) Now mind you, I REALLY wasn’t expecting to find anything. I had over the years Googled him, and tried to find him over the Internet. Little did I know that on that day when I typed his name in…I was not only going to find him, but…I was also going to discover that I had a sister ~ Melissa, who has a twin brother ~ Brandon, and another, younger brother ~ John III.

It was…However, on May 7th, 2010…that my life would willingly change forever…that day I wrote my first message to John. It was very short and brief…I mean really how would youintroduce yourself to your birth father…if you’d never met him?

My small family…of 2 siblings…had now in a matter of days changed to 5…HOLY SH**!

Sister’s Getaway Weekend
Malibu, California March, 2012

To say I was (and at times I am still am) suddenly overwhelmed is an UNDERSTATEMENT! I couldn’t believe it…I should have figured that he’d one day have more children, but for me…to not know that I had more siblings made me sad…and a little angry. It brought up emotions and hurt feelings that I’d thought I’d overcame…it took two years before I’d get to actually know Melissa, this past March…and hopefully…if all goes well…this summer I can make a trip to meet and spend time with my birth father, my step mother, two brothers, and Melissa. We’ll see…with Madilyn and school and such a short vacation schedule it will be hard to plan it.

So you may wonder, or not, how I’ve coped…WELL…let me tell you…it hasn’t been easy. But over the past two years I’ve come to discover that as hurt as I am, and was growing up…I can’t go back and change it. I can only go forward from here and try to get to know, and embrace, this new family of mine. My dad ~ Joe (who raised me, and passed away in 98′) ~ had always told me I should find him one day, and up until that faithful day in April when I did, I really wasn’t sure if I’d want to. But…I can honestly say that I am so glad, and blessed that I did. I guess I never realized how big of an impact me finding him would have…surprisingly completing a void in me that I’ve felt since I was 6 and told the truth.

Meeting for the first time!
Puyallup, Washington Oct. 2010

Melissa and I connected right away…well a few months after the initial shock wore off…and bonded, almost, instantly. We started small…sending E-mails back and forth…usually writing at least once a month to each other. I even met her for the first time in October…the year I’d found ~ John ~ We met at a restaurant in Puyallup ~ Red Robin. It was very brief…and perfect! She finally got to meet her older (big) sister that she’d known about since she was around 7, and I got to meet a part of my family that I never, until 2 years ago, knew existed. Surreal and Perfect is the only way to describe that night!

So…I honestly don’t know where this new road in my life is going to take me…but I am on it, and so far…it’s been good! I look forward to the future and all it holds.

I Can’t Wait #3: A word of encouragement goes a LONG way!

This last Sunday an evangelist that grew up in our church came to share with our congregation. Part of how he shares, is by encouraging specific people with specific verses of scripture that he has committed to memory.

That morning he shared from Hebrews 6:13-20 just briefly. But it resonated with me very deeply… I’ll have to share why in another post soon. But here’s the verse… I’ve highlighted my favorite parts.

“For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” 

That evening when he shared again, he gave me a specific word and it was LOADED with encouragement! Here it is, with a bit of explanation.

When I graduated from high school, I custom made my announcements, and I used this verse from Jeremiah on them. Little did I know the context of the verse… but that aside it has haunted me ever since. I have continually had people write me notes of encouragement enclosed with this verse. So I might have laughed a little when this evangelist led with it.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope”. ~Jeremiah 29:11

As he continued he paraphrased Is. 41:17-20. I knew the verse, because at the beginning of every year my best friend’s church hands out promise verses for the year. For the past two years I’ve asked her to pick one for me. This year mine was… you guessed it! Isaiah 41:17-20. He likened me a spring in the midst of a dry land.

“When the poor and needy seek water,
    and there is none,
    and their tongue is parched with thirst,
I the Lord will answer them;
    I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
I will open rivers on the bare heights,
    and fountains in the midst of the valleys.
I will make the wilderness a pool of water,
    and the dry land springs of water.
I will put in the wilderness the cedar,
    the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive.
I will set in the desert the cypress,
    the plane and the pine together,
that they may see and know,
    may consider and understand together,
that the hand of the Lord has done this,
    the Holy One of Israel has created it.” 

I devour the parts of scripture that depict Yahweh as the God of Justice. Where He lavishes the poor and needy with provision and shows His might and sovereignty through it. It gives me chills every time!!!

The evangelist continued with reminding me to delight myself in the Lord. But these verses are so sweet yet so very crucial and strong in this next coming season.

“Delight yourself in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord;
     trust in him, and he will act.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
     fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
    over the man who carries out evil devices!” ~Psalms 37:4-5,7

He encouraged me to be confident in the following…

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” ~Philippians 1:6

Assured me that I would experience unspeakable joy…

“Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

Reminded me that He will be my shield and shelter…

“But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,
    my glory, and the lifter of my head”. ~Psalms 3:3

To continue praying, seeking, and asking…

“Before they call I will answer;
     while they are yet speaking I will hear.” ~Isaiah 65:24

Because He hears me when I call…

“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,
    or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;” ~Isaiah 59:1

And lastly this man told me that I think I’ve seen great things happen, I think I’ve seen God work in mighty ways… but he told me that I haven’t seen anything yet and ended with this verse.

“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” ~Jeremiah ~33:3

It’s crazy to me that he ended with this because just last week I was on the phone with my best friend telling her all about insane God’s provision has been in my life. How I’ve seen Him move in the most phenomenal ways. How He’s answered prayers so specifically. This year alone has been one of the most painful years ever. Because of a number of things. But through it all I’ve continually, and very clearly seen God’s fingerprint on every single piece of crud that has contributed to this mess of a year. Those fingerprints have made this year worth every minute, every tear, every prayer. I truly believe this last verse, I haven’t seen anything yet. To quote a very popular old school song… “When He rolls up His sleeves He ain’t just putting on the ritz.” He’s got work to do!

I Can’t Wait #2: Fireflies/Lighting bugs

While deciding to move, it never crossed my mind that I would be living somewhere where these little creatures existed. Growing up in Idaho I didn’t think that they were real. I thought they were like imaginary friends, except they were really cool bugs that glowed, and you can catch them in jars. It wasn’t until I came to college and someone was talking about them that I found out they were real.

When I started telling people about moving to Ohio, someone exclaimed, “You’ll get to see lighting bugs!” I’m sure the look on my face was priceless! It was like telling a kid they’re going to Disneyland!

I Can’t Wait #1: All Ohio Balloon Fest 5k

(Note: This list of things that I’m excited about, are not in any particular order.)

So, I’ve been off and on training myself to be a runner. I have never been a runner and have never liked it. In fact I may, or may not, have gotten away with frequently lying in high school about how many laps I ran. But I’m making the choice to not only like it, but love it. I’ve been looking for a 5k to sign up for that I would enjoy and be excited about training for. FOUND IT!

I think it will be a great way to get to know people in the community, not to mention it will be a great way to acclimate to the culture of Marysville! And really?! Who doesn’t love hot air balloons!

http://www.allohioballoonfest.com/