A Trip To The Court House

Well..it happened. Standing next to a very tall handsome man on a cool winter day, I raised my right hand and repeated words after the county clerk employee. We answered many questions and signed on the dotted line. The result..we have our marriage license and can now legally and officially get married! This picture is us at the Henry County court house just after we received that piece of paper.

We are closing in on the one month mark away from the wedding. Time has really flown by. We have received wonderful words of advice from many friends and family. Here are a few that a co-worker printed off for me that I thought were funny.

“Spend all of your time loving instead of going to work.” --Tom, Age 7
“Don’t forget your wife’s name..That will mess up the love.” - -Erin, Age 6
“Be a good kisser. It might make your wife forget that you never take out the trash.” - -Randy, Age 8

Here are more words of wisdom we have received:

“Never go to bed angry”
“Hold hands as much as possible”
“Kiss for at least 20 seconds each day”
“Compromise is key in marriage”
“Always be a forgiver”
“Make a choice to love each other each and every day.”
“Make God your number one priority.”


We look forward to putting those suggestions to good use. If you have any positive words of advice to add, please do. I’ll put them in our wedding book.

Faith That Moves Mountains

This week, I opened my Bible and stumbled upon a verse in Matthew (17:20). We are told that if we have faith the size of a mustard seed, we can move mountains. That is pretty remarkable…moving mountains. Let’s face it; I have trouble scooting my couch away from the wall to sweep underneath it occasionally. Moving a mountain..on my own? Does this require those space mover plastic discs that are “As Seen on TV” early in the morning? If so, I might be able to act now and get a second set free for only the cost of shipping!

(Fact: The average mustard seed is about one sixteenth of an inch in diameter.)

After hearing him speak, I read a book by a well known pastor (and ex-pro football player). In Dr. Ken Hutcherson’s book, “Enough Faith” he explains the concept of the mustard seed verse well. "It’s not how much faith you possess, or how big your faith might be that matters. And it’s not your credentials that matter, either. What matters is knowing about the authority you have in Jesus Christ and then putting that authority into action. Go forward with confidence, my brother, my sister, because you have all the faith you need."

This makes me think our dear friend, David. Remember him? He stood before a giant with only a sling shot and a handful of stones. Goliath might as well have been a mountain. Compared to David, he was practically impossible to go up against. He towered over him. Did his voice rattle the ear drums of the small harp playing boy we know as David? I wonder if the ground shook with each step Goliath took towards him. Did Goliath’s breath feel like gusts of wind on David’s face? Maybe. It doesn’t really matter though. David didn’t let anything bother or intimidate him. David was armed with the authority of Christ..and he knew it. That giant crumbled before him. All because he moved forward with courage to go for it. All because he had the faith to move that mountain.

Have you ever had one of those moments? One where you feel you are standing before a mountain, a giant, a monster, or what seems to be the impossible? I have. Maybe you are going through that right now.

I was recently talking with someone about a situation that seemed impossible to be worked out. I found myself saying the words, “You know, if He can raise people from the dead, He can definitely work something like this out. Nothing is impossible with God.” I was reminded with the authority of Christ, the impossible is possible. My faith continues to go on. It is a work in progress just like every other part of me but is at very least the size of that mustard seed. And with that…I know I can move mountains. I believe it and am thankful for it. I thought I would share my thoughts on it this week. If you are going through a trial, challenge, or having feelings of hopelessness in some area of life, hear His promise to us. We can move mountains. Claim that, and go forward!

Behind the Scenes

This past Sunday, I was given the opportunity to speak at a church in my area about the needs of orphan children in our world. Getting to the point where I displayed the first slide on the screen was not as easy as I had thought it would be. The week prior, I felt a flu bug coming on. My computer even had to make a stop to the Geek Squad on the Friday before. As I stood in front of the church and saw the children’s faces up on the big screen, I realized the battle against the enemy had been won. The attempts to keep me from speaking had failed. God was at work behind the scene, and my prayers had been answered.

I met some really wonderful people at the church that invited me to speak. One man in particular came up to me with a story that left me with chills.

I have a friend who was once a missionary doctor in Africa. He lived and worked far out in the middle of a distant village. Every so often he would ride his bike to the nearest town to buy needed supplies. The bicycle ride to town took two days, and he would make a tent to sleep in with a box that he carried on this bike. One day he took off towards town to get the supplies. He bought the supplies and made a camp site in a remote place on his way back home. The next morning, he got up and started on his way home.

While riding, he saw something on the side of the road. It was a man…a very injured man. He stopped and attended to this suffering person. The injured man looked up, and said, “Please don’t help me.” The man explained to the doctor that he didn’t deserve to be helped by him. When the doctor asked him why, the man explained. “My friends and I had seen you in town and had followed you yesterday. We waited until you had time to set up your camp and would be asleep. We were going to rob you. When we got to your camp, there were 14 armed men standing around you. We got sacred and ran away. I was going to rob you, I don’t deserve for you to help me.”

The doctor was amazed. He was traveling alone. He knew the armed guards surrounding his tent must have been angels sent from above. He helped the man on the road and returned home. When he returned home, he called back to the US. He called his friend and told him what happened. The friend went silent and asked him what time of day this attempt at robbery happened. The friend here in the US explained that his own sleep was interrupted by a feeling of need to pray for protection for his missionary friend in Africa. The feeling was so strong that he called more friends to join him in praying. This all happened the exact time the doctor was about to be robbed.

Can you guess how many men that friend called to join him in praying for protection for the missionary? You got it…13! Remember..the robber said that fourteen armed men protected the missionary as he slept.

As the hair on my arm settled back into place, I was reminded of something so important. There are battles going on around us behind the scene each day that we don’t or sometimes cannot see. The Lord is so gracious to take care of us in ways we will never comprehend or know. He does it for the missionaries and soldiers on foreign soil, and He does it in each of our lives here while we go about our daily routine. He amazes me. He helps, heals, fights for, and loves us even when we don’t deserve it. God is good.

Ordinary to Extrordinary

I was recently reminded of a probable conversation that happened in the Bible. It went something like this:

God: “I need you do so some big things”
Moses: “Who Me? Not ME! Lord, I have nothing and am not equipped. You should pick someone else”
God: “I want to use YOU. What have you got there in your hand?”
Moses: “I have a stick. It is all that I have.”
God: “Okay. If you give me that stick, I will use it AND you.”

I imagined putting myself in that conversation today. I challenge you to do the same. Maybe you are thinking:
“What do you have in mind, Lord?”
“Well, that depends on what it will cost me, Lord.”
“Why me?”
“I have nothing. You should definitely pick someone else who is better equipped for the job.”

Sometimes we think of men and women in the Bible and hold them at a level higher than that of ourselves. I often forget about how many of the remarkable characters were not so extraordinary to start with. They were sinners just like us. Some were tax collectors, outcasts, misfits, and criminals. Some were the poorest of poor. The Lord used them and took them from ordinary to extraordinary.

I have been thinking a lot lately about how He calls us all to do his work. Maybe He calls us all at the level He called all those amazing characters in the Bible. Maybe their stories made it in the Bible only because they said yes when He called.

I imagined what my personal response would be. “Lord, I have nothing and am not equipped for your work. I only have these two hands. Take them. Use them. Use me.”

Please realize He is calling each and every one of us. Right now, in fact. He wants to use us for extraordinary things..bigger things than we can even imagine. We just have to be willing. If you want a sign, you reading this IS your sign. He is asking..and waiting for your answer. Are you willing to give Him the stick in your hand? Are you willing to give Him your hands? Today is the day. What will your answer be?

Dacian

I believe God intertwines the paths of people for a purpose. Sometimes we are blessed with the knowledge of it happening and what comes from it. Other times we are not. Three years ago my path crossed with someone a world away from the place I call home. I was born and raised in a small town in Illinois. He was born in a part of the world I hadn’t really known existed until a few years ago.

His name is Dacian. The first time our paved journeys made contact, I didn’t get to know him well. Thankfully, the Lord gave me another chance. Sometimes we are given opportunities in life that we would not normally get on our own, but because they are orchestrated by God, it happens and we are so very blessed. Only because of this, Daci soon became someone I now call, “friend.”

I have seen him in times of joy. I have seen him in times of trial. I have seen him persevere through unfair attacks in life. I have seen him shine through it all. He has taught me how to keep faith in times of not understanding the Lord’s plan and how through no matter what, to give thanks that God is in control. I have learned so much from him.

Daci doesn’t have an easy job. He is the country director for Buckner in Romania. He makes decisions everyday on how to best meet the needs of so many orphans and poor children in Romania. Each day he sees children living in conditions many here have only read about or seen on TV. Many of these children look up to him like a hero. He is blessed by living in a beautiful country, but in one that has challenges and limitations that we cannot imagine. This is a guy who wears many hats. Two of his most important roles are that of a husband and father. He has lots of pink in his future as they are expecting another daughter on the way this summer! I have never seen his face light up more than when he talks about his family.

In times of economic hardship, we all tend to get anxious about money and security. Things are no different in Romania. Imagine working with orphan children everyday and realizing if people don’t give out of their pockets and the kindness of their hearts even more than ever, the wonderful children you work with will have no place to go. They will receive no meal, no clothing, no education, no spiritual nourishment, and no warmth of a hug from a loving caregiver. These are desperate times for these precious children.

His job is not easy. (Yes, this is the second time I said that.) He has had opportunities to take the easy way out, the less stressful careers, or the higher paying jobs, but he continues to serve the Lord where the Lord tells him to serve. He has remained faithful and is a good man. He has lot on his plate. So, I ask you for a favor. I ask you to pray for my brother and friend today. I introduced you to him so you know who he is and that the children he serves need our help. If you would be so kind, please lift this man, his family, his programs, and his many children up in prayer today. If you want to make a difference in the life of an orphan child, it can start right now with that prayer.

The Door

Phil and I recently had our engagement pictures taken. It was fun. We opted for an “urban” photo shoot as opposed to the traditional pictures in the park or in a studio. We were really pleased at how they turned out. I like this picture here. It isn’t my favorite of all we had taken, but I really like it. I couldn’t figure out why until today. Is it the colors? Maybe. Is it because it is different from the others we had taken? Maybe, but those explanations didn’t seem to stop my head from tilting to the side and my face making that puzzled look each time I gazed at it. What is it about this picture?

Finally, I flipped through and stopped on this picture, and it came to me. I think this picture is symbolic. Here we are hanging out by this door. No one really knows for sure what is on the other side…I certainly don’t. I could take an educated guess, and it might be close. However, I’m not certain what is on the other side.

The journey through that door could offer us many things. Obviously, there are things on the other side that cost money. There are indications of that on the door. There is also a sign that says, “No Smoking.” Think back to the cartoons you watched as a child. Remember when a character would take off running fast? Smoke would come off the character’s feet. Maybe this sign is a sign to say “Don't go running through this door so fast you start smoking..take your time!” Okay, I know it’s just a sign to inform everyone smoking cigarettes is not allowed, but that image of smoking feet keeps playing in my mind.

What IS on the other side of that door? My guess is that if we were to have gone through that door, the next action after this picture was taken would be for Phil to reach his long arm down to help me up. He would probably make sure I was steady on my feet before taking me by the hand and moving forward. No, not just because I am wearing heeled boots in the winter, there could be ice on the other side, or just because I generally tend to be clumsy and am known to trip...A LOT. He always makes sure my feet are steady before we move on.. in more ways than one in life.

When I looked at this picture today, a verse came to mind. “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Luke 11:9).

I think this picture is symbolic of our journey ahead. The door, scuffed much like our lives tend to get in our journey through this world, is just asking to be knocked on. Our Lord is on the other side waiting for us to answer. Phil and I will be married in just over a couple months. We don’t know what doors will be opened for us in the future. We don’t know what is on the other side of many of them. I pray we will do our best to not run so fast through them that our feet create a cloud of smoke. And I am guessing he may need to hold my hand and guide me through many. I think this picture is a cool reminder that the door is always there. He is always there waiting. Waiting for us to ask so He can give. Waiting for us to seek so He can show. Waiting for us to knock so He can open that door.

Who knows what’s behind that door? He does and has a great plan for any of us who ask to go through it. May you ask, seek, and knock on that door you are standing in front of today.

Soar Like An Eagle

I was driving the other day and saw something on the side of the road that caught my eye. It took me a second to realize what it was. It was a bald eagle. Never mind the fact it was scavenging on a dead animal, this bird was beautiful. As my car got closer, the bird perked up and flew away.

He was breathtaking. He stretched his wings and soared into the sky over the snow covered corn field. What a picture! I wondered what it would be like to fly so freely. Immediately, my mind went to Isaiah 40:31.

"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Recently, I have gotten back into the daily routine of devotion. Boy, have I missed it, and am glad I’m back to where I should be in those few minutes each day. It reminds me everyday of the areas I need His help in, His guidance in, His wisdom in, His Grace in, and the Hope we can all have through Him.

The timing of me getting back to this is good. During this time in my life, I am preparing for many changes. In just a few short months, I will be getting married, moving, starting a new career, and starting a new life as a married woman. Each day my apartment changes bit by bit. A piece of furniture is sold and moved out. A box of this and that gets packed and ready to go. Things are changing. In some ways, I am very curious about those changes. Since I am a control freak, I of course want to know exactly what all those changes in the future will look like and how things will go. Will all the wedding details be flawless? Will I be packed in time? Will I transition into the role of a wife AND Texan well? Will Godly people be put in my path there? Will I be working exactly where the Lord wants to work through me? I’m pretty confident to say I think the answer to all those questions is, “Yes.” Why? Because I am doing all I can to prepare for it, praying about it, and most importantly…I have hope in the Lord.

No matter what is on your mind, what you are planning for, what you are questioning, or what you are trying to figure out, remember one thing. Those who hope in the Lord will soar just like that Eagle flying high in the sky with beauty and grace. May we all remember His promise of this and take that flight.