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an awesome testimony

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:54:29 GMT

This is a true story from my friend Lynn. You see these sort of things in inspirational movies but this happened in our town because of the faith and perseverance of a real person. Enjoy!

                                                A typical day in the life of Mrs. Hare, substitute teacher

     Last Thursday, I subbed for a second/third grade class that was tough.  They talked out. Rowdy, they shook one another by the collar, gave piggy-back rides during math class, and made faces. I got tuckered out fighting fires all day.

     The teacher had been out sick several days. The other second grade teachers assured me that there'd been a series of subs, but none had returned [alive]. Given no sub plans, I was winging it as best as I could.

     "What's up?" I asked God. "What am I doing here?"   I prayed all morning. I asked for God's presence to show up in that room. I put on the armor of God. I quietly spoke to the evil spirits and told them that they could not speak or operate while I was there. I asked God to send angels. I prayed the blood of Christ over that class. And then I asked for a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit.

     I gave constant feedback to the class. Determined, they continued to be rude and disruptive. In spite of everything, it was clear I was losing the battle.  Relentless, I continued to pray.

     And then a funny thing happened. After lunch, I read the final two chapters of the novel Because of Winn-Dixie to the class. In the story at that point, we stumble upon a scene where 10-year-old Opal is reunited with her big, ugly, happy dog, Winn-Dixie. It is a dramatic scene, which I read with great emotion.

     Now comes the good part. A character was humming a hymn in the story. So I asked, "Does anyone know what a hymn is?"   No one knew. (One girl suggested that it's another word for "he.") I told the class that a hymn is a song that people sing; it's about God. It's a form of worship, and we can get into God's presence as we sing.

     On the last page of the story, the characters sang a hymn together. I read that aloud, and began to sing "Amazing Grace." To my surprise, the whole class joined in! We sang every verse. I mean, I was praying in my heart, "Lord, show me more!" And He did. We sang, "When we've been there 10,000 years...we've no less days to sing God's praise." And yes, we even sang, "Praise God, praise God, praise God, praise God!"

     After we finished, I looked up. You could hear a pin drop. You can't fool this crowd. It seemed like they were saying, "That was the real thing."   I felt the Holy Spirit in that room. I am not even kidding you.

     Later that afternoon, the counselor came down and did some problem-solving with the kids. We discussed options that kids had when things didn't go their way.   Soon, one at a time, the spirit of repentance came over that class.   Several kids turned to me and apologized to me for being rude & disrespectful. I surprised myself by beginning to cry. The kids saw the tears. I think that the tears were God showing up. Normally I would be embarassed by that, by somehow this time was different.

     It is amazing to me how open kids' spirits are when you give them the chance.
     No wonder God says you must be like a kid to enter the kingdom of heaven.
     Don't ask me what I wanna be when I grow up. I'm just gonna stay a kid, later get to heaven, and skate right through.

I'm gonna write a sequel. "Because of Winn-Dixie.... a bunch of 7- and 8-year-olds experienced Christ one crisp October afternoon."

Love,

Lynn

Your Thoughts?

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 20:44:02 GMT

Question: When you do not get your way, do your thoughts & actions resemble that of "more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus" or do you play the victim and throw a pity party?

I am blessed. That is the bottom line. I have petitioned God for blessings (a husband, flourishing business, a baby, a home, a community for friends and family, etc). And He has said, "yes". And yet, when someone speaks a word, gives a glance or (more likely than not) the baby starts erupting at an inopportune time...I generally cease to be optimistic and loving and turn into the Hulk, growling, "you won't like me when I'm angry".

I can hold it together and fum when we're out and about, but take me to the car and someone is going to be blamed for my discontentment....after all, it's all because they didn't do ________. And I become the victim once again and take no responsibility over my words, actions and thoughts. Well, not until I think about what I've said or look at my husband's tired face. Then I apologized profusely, confess all my guilt and start over....just to do it all over the next time I don't get my way.

But is this really the life Jesus died for me to have? I was listening to Joyce Meyer's "Battle field of the Mind" and she said something to the effect of, 'if you can't take authority over the dish washer, how are you going to take authority over demons?' Sadly I can relate as the full dish washer waiting, waiting and waiting for me to unload it becomes a sense of dread, doom and bondage.

Life is hard and sometimes it feels like life out and out sucks. Well, feelings lie (regularly), move on and get over your selfish self. We sponsor a Compassion Int kid. Recently, a cyclone ripped through her village killing many, filling their farm lands with dead fish and salt water and leaving them without food. What right do I have to say, "it was a bad day" just because my job was extra demanding for a whole three hours that day?

Church, it's time. It's time to be different, time to do things God's way instead of blending with the world.

Revelation 3:16
"So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth."

It's time to stop letting what so-in-so thinks determine your actions. I haven't found an easy button to hit that turns me from warm to hot. But God is faithful to reveal, renew and restore when I draw near to Him......when I draw near to Him.

To Visit or to Dwell

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:23:14 GMT

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I read this a couple times today before noticing the word dwell. Ah crap. That word makes all the difference. Boastful, I though to myself on the first read through, "Yea, I 'qualify'...." Humility gave pride a swift quick the second round. See, more than dwell in the shelter of the Most High, I visit. I dwell in my home, I visit the grocery store. I dwell in my home because it is mine, it keeps me safe and holds all that I possess. I live there. I go the grocery store when I need something. Now, I don't expect on this side of heaven to ever say, "yes, I constantly dwell in the presence of God," because even Paul (who through the Holy Spirit wrote a good portion of the New Testament) said "not that I have already obtained it (perfection) but I forget what is behind me and press on to lies ahead of me. Even Paul had to repent, forgive himself, dust himself off and move forward."

But I raise this "dwelling vs visiting" point because the rest of the psalm which speaks of God's awesome covering and protection is based on dwelling in Him. If I dwell in His presence, then the promises that follow apply. Or better put WHEN I dwell, then the promises that follow apply.

So the objective set forth is to be interactive with Jesus all day....not just when I am brimming over with frustration and self-pity. What's that look like? Probably a bit different for each of us, but giving thanks and lifting up praise as we go along the day and praying with and for those around us as needs and opportunities present themselves.

Enough for now, there are babies to tend to.

Psalm 91

Security of the One Who Trusts in the LORD.

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
          Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
          My God, in whom I trust!”

3 For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper
          And from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with His pinions,
          And under His wings you may seek refuge;
          His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.

5 You will not be afraid of the terror by night,
          Or of the arrow that flies by day;

6 Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
          Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.

7 A thousand may fall at your side
          And ten thousand at your right hand,
          But it shall not approach you.

8 You will only look on with your eyes
          And see the recompense of the wicked.

9 For you have made the LORD, my refuge,
          Even the Most High, your dwelling place.

10 No evil will befall you,
          Nor will any plague come near your tent.

11 For He will give His angels charge concerning you,
          To guard you in all your ways.

12 They will bear you up in their hands,
          That you do not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread upon the lion and cobra,
          The young lion and the serpent you will trample down.

14 “Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him;
          I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.

15 “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;
          I will be with him in trouble;
          I will rescue him and honor him.

16 “With a long life I will satisfy him
          And let him see My salvation.”

The Battles of Life

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:22:25 GMT

This week, it dawned on me: we've made it to the Promised Land. What I mean is that many of the hopes and desires my husband and I have prayed for have become a reality. For example we are living in the home we were not sure we'd get, our baby has been healthily born (though some didn't think he'd make it through the rough patch), our business is now certified instead of just registered even though the process was horrible, we have renters in on condo after fearing we'd get sucked into a financial downward spiral, my health has greatly improved since the crap hit the fan back in February and so on.

This is a place where we felt God calling us and though we often wanted to wave the white flag and retreat, when we pressed into Him, He carried us through. For each victory, there was a battle that had to be fought. And for each fight, there was endurance and faith to be chosen. It is safe to say that without the Holy Spirit depositing words of hope and covering us in His strength that we wouldn't have made it. And in the same breath I have to confess there are countless promises that we still contend for: a complete healing in my body, Will branching out in his area of expertise, family relations, ministry callings, overcoming fears that still loom.....

When the children of Israel crossed the Jordan and set foot on the land, they took hold of their Promised Land. And yet, there was battle after battle that had to be fought and won to remove the previous inhabitants before they had the fullness of the promise. When we declare Jesus as Lord and confess our sins, we have crossed our Jordan River. But there is so much more to be had than just to stand on the other side of the river.

It sure seems like the long journeys through the valleys far outnumber the moments when we stand on the mountaintops. Why is this? Graham Cooke speaks of the passage when Jesus was baptized by John. The heavens opened up, a dove landed on Him and Father God spoke, "this is My Son in whom I am well pleased". That's dandy, but have you ever noticed what happens immediately after that? Jesus hops out of the river and leaves to be tempted by Satan in the desert for 40 days on an absolute fast (no food, no water). Graham's conclusion is that the desert is a place where God brings you when He is well pleased with you. Do you know what that means? If you are walking through a rough time with the odds faced against you, it's likely because God is pleased with you and desires to reveal Himself to you in new ways. That sounds like a load of crap when I'm in the tough times because it feels like God is out the lunch and doesn't intend on returning my call: He is no where to be found. But think about it, if He and His plans were found then we wouldn't need to seek Him. It is in seeking Him in desperate hours that we press and receive the most precious discoveries.

[Though I must note that like David with Bathsheba, we sometimes land ourselves in hot water as a natural consequence of sin].

The bottom line is that victory is up to us. (Suck it up). It's true, we don't need pity (we give ourselves more than enough). Jesus has paid the price for our sins and has set us down on the other side of the river. He has paved the way in every regard. What is left up to us is to put on the whole armor or God and step out with our shield of faith and sword of the Spirit and go kick some butt. He tells us how it is and He tells us how it ends. How it is: "in the world you will have tribulations, but take courage I (Jesus) have overcome the world". How it ends: "you are more than a conqueror in Christ". Notice that how it is and how it ends both center on Christ as the source of victory not our ability, experience, wisdom or plans. Thus, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all you ways and He will make your path straight."

Peter walked on water. The strong winds blew and that brother started to sink. He reached out to Jesus and Jesus pulled Peter up and Peter walked on water a second time. It's one thing to say you are in the Promised Land, but will you take hold of it again and again and again and again.....?

Ta-Da: Here's baby!

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 02:21:35 GMT

Here's the quick version of labor:
My water broke 7/27 sometime before 5am, but labor didn't pick up. Was induced. 39 hours later, baby's heart rate dropped twice and if it happened again they'd do an emergency C-section. Since I was only half way dilated making little to no progress the chances he'd continue to have problems were high, we opted to do the C-section while he wasn't in distress. He was out and about 10:14am 7/28/09. Everyone is healthy and happy.

His name is Aaron Samuel Jones.
At birth he was 7.4lbs and 19.5 inches long. At an appointment on Monday (5-6 days old), he weighed in at 7.11. Aaron likes to eat. :)

Baby's Top 10 Reasons for Waiting

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 23:33:43 GMT

So, baby is now two days "overdue". I was feeling quite frustrated until I realized that baby has reasons for waiting. Below are baby's top ten reasons for waiting to be born. If you know of any other reasons baby has chosen to wait, feel free to let me know--we need a comprehensive list after all.

BABY'S TOP 10 REASONS FOR WAITING

1. He has heard about local and foreign policies and has no desire to witness them firsthand.

2. He is quite content with the current arrangement: napping on feeding without any delay.

3. He heard Uncle Rob's comment about being a Tax Credit and feels miffed that he would be degraded to that level.

4. As landlords, Mom and Dad failed to serve him with the proper eviction papers 30 days in advance.

5. He has been planning on being fashionably late all along.

6. He knows that Great Aunt Susie aspires to "pinch his little cheekies" and he is hoping to wait until she has left town...permanently.

7. He knows he is naked but has yet to find any fig leaves.

8. He is trying to break it to us gently that he will not be abiding by our desired schedule...apparently we have not gotten the clue yet as we keep telling him when to come.

9. Even if he wanted to abide by our schedule, no one has supplied him with a calendar and he thinks it unreasonable that he would be expected to know "when to come" without this simple courtesy given.

10. Being kin, he feels mooching off mom's calories and energy is his right. Just wait, he has a whole lifetime of mooching planned out.

Mourning into Dancing

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 14:47:16 GMT

Though I have greatly slacked on journaling in this season, I have been reading: Isaiah, John and just finished Esther.

As I read Esther, I was impressed as I reflected on Mordecai's journey. From my recollection, the book of Esther occurs over at least two to three years....as my rough guess. I observed how Mordecai went through a time of interceding, mourning, interceding some more, and then there was a break through as God's power and grace began to appear on the scene. God knew what He was doing all along, but from Mordecai's stance, it looked life life as he knew it was unraveling at the seams.

Now, what I am not saying is that when we presevre that God will promote us to a position of power with a big house...as happened in this case. But when we endure, God will indeed turn our mourning into a holiday, and our sorrow into dancing.

Look at Naomi in the book of Ruth. She was bereaved of her husband and her only sons and returned to her former home with a whole lot of nothing. In fact, she told people, "don't call me Naomi (joy) but call me Mara (bitterness) for the Lord has dealt bitterly with me." Yikes. But God worked over time in her life and restored her family like she never could have imaged.

Look at Jesus. From day one, he was considered a bastard, an illegitimate child by most everyone. As He ministered and heal folks, they continually tried to stone (kill) him. And then He suffered an excruciating death. But the victory came when death could not hold Him and He paved the way for each of us to be sons and daughters of the Most High God.

And the disciples that were with Jesus walked the same road as Him for three years, expecting Him to be a literal king who would end all their problems. His death through them for the loop of a lifetime. But His resurrection changed them forever. For the rest of their lives, the testimony of who Jesus was for them and wants to be for everyone became their life mission. That everyone might know Christ. Most of these men were beat up somewhat regularly and eventually killed. But what is Paul writes? "For me to live is to rejoice in your growth, and for me to die is to be with Jesus." The way he saw it, he couldn't lose regardless if he lived of died because he understood that as we humble ourselves before God and men, that the fears, hurts, and pains of this world have no hold on us and the joy of our salvation takes root like never before.

Jesus invited us to "lay our heavy burdens down" because His load for us to carry is light. How will you respond? Personally, I'm tired of being afraid, worried and discouraged. Jesus meant every word He said, what if we trusted Him and really lived life on earth to the fullest and best of our ability without feeling sorry for ourselves for the trials we experience? God tells us what would occur and it's beautiful. We would become the people He meant for us to be: more than a conqueror, overcomers in Christ, the salt of the earth, light in the darkness.

I could go on for hours journaling my thoughts on this, but ultimately I will just end up repeating one great truth:

To be the overcomer that we are meant to be, we must actively overcome and endure. God has already told us that He "goes before us and makes smooth the rough places", that "no weapon formed against us shall prosper" and that He'll work everything to our good when we love Him and seek His will in our lives".

The moral of this story is the time has come to remove our gravecloths and to put on a garmet of praise. It is a new day, a day of victory and of overcoming.

Healing: A Renewed Perspective

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:40:12 GMT

I have been epileptic since childhood. I cannot count how many times I have prayed for deliverance from this affliction or the number of folks I have had pray for me in this way. Over the last twenty years, I have had periods of frustration, confusion, and anger towards God. "If You love me so much, why won't You heal me?!?"

The long in the short of it is that often the healing we envision is pretty far from the healing God has in store for us. I may still have to walk out the diagnoses of epilepsy in my daily life and keep a good attitude about it. But the emotional, mental and spiritual healing God has been working in me over the last four months is far greater than any physical healing ever could be. Why? Because I am learning what it means to walk through the tribulations of this life and yet overcome as Jesus promised us.

While I wanted the easy street, God saw that it was far more profitable from me to be stretched and tried that I might move closer to being "immovable". Because of Christ's redemptive work, we can be free of all worry, fear, and depression to name a few. But the choice is ours: will we be victims or will be trust Him at His word?

What Satan meant for harm, God is using for great things

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 18:30:26 GMT

I have heard it said that it is in the darkest hours that one learns and knows God best. While walking through the "valley of the shadow of death" is not where I ever hope to be, it's not up to me and it is where I have been. To give you some context of where I am coming from, over the last month I have had a sensation of anxiety that has grown in frequency. I talked to many doctors about this and they performed tests and came up with nothing. Last Thursday it came to a climax and became apparent that it was not anxiety or heart palpitations but rather seizure auras. I have been diagnosed epileptic since I was a child but my seizures had been very few over the last five years. That night I woke about 2am and began having seizures every 5-10 minutes and by 6am had a seizure that lasted over 10 minutes. Thus my husband took me to the emergency room and I ended up admitted to OHSU for a 72 hour video EEG. Things got worse over the weekend as my stress increased and rest decreased. By Sunday night by seizures were still coming every 15-20 minutes and it felt like I couldn't breath during them. I wrote a letter to Will on the premise of "if I die" because I thought I might. And at this point, we had no idea how our baby (in the womb) was holding up, though I could still feel him moving. That was the ultimate low point. After several talks with various doctors and my mom (who is the expert in my seizure history), I came to the realization that I had indeed had seizures like those previously but blocked them out of memory morealess. Monday evening my mom made a six hour drive from Spokane to come be hands on help. I was given an ultra sound while having seizures every 20 minutes or so, and we learned that baby doesn't mind my seizures and keeps about his activity as normal. Praise God for keeping our son safe! Things began to improve as I slept more and limited stress. By Tuesday morning I was given the option of going home, but I wasn't sure I wanted to leave my safety bubble in the hospital room. I left that evening and began to ease myself back into life's "normal" routine.

But even though my seizures had greatly decreased, there were still many decisions to be made. Such as, do I close my in-home daycare and we move back to our condo, how much can I handle, do I hire an assisant or have my Will come work with me a month or two eariler than intended, do I leave town with my mom and escape, etc. I'd like to say I prayed about it and the Lord made things perfectly clear. But I felt for days like I was being tossed back and forth on the waves of a raging sea. Thursday night Will and I sat down and talked things out and decided that he would give two weeks notice at his job and come and help me eailer than intended, which is what I had been hoping and praying for. So I began the search for willing folks who would help be a pair of extra hands over those two weeks and our awesome God has provided.

When I look over the last month, I am moved with gratitude. Yes, it has been hard and trying. But God has been so faithful to us. There were plenty of open doors for lesser choices that could have lead to the begining of our demise. But when we have called upon the name of Jesus, He has been mighty to save, provide and protect. If God is for us, it truley does not matter what our circumstances are because Jesus has overcome death, sorrow, confusion, and division. His is the name above all other names. Several months ago, I read "what God could prevent by His power, He allows by His wisdom". When life is pleasant and easy, God is there. When the enemy comes to sift us like wheat, God is there. Because He is with me, no weapon fprmed against me shall prosper. Because Jesus lives, there is victory even in life's toughest hour. Thanks and praise are our weapons of warfare, trust and rest in Him are our armor. I cannot say that through this trial that my attitude has always been right or my prespective true; but I have throughly witnessed that when I purpose to draw near to God and resist the devil that the devil will flee and God will hold me.

How rarely to we get to pick our circumstances? It's slim to none. But God has blessed us with freewill, to chose how we will respond. Where ever you are at now and where ever you'll be soon, I encourage you to allow God to reveal His goodness to you by first posturing yourself in humilty and thanksgiving. Tell me, what can seperate us from the love of God? He has already overcome death and hell for us, all that is left for us to do is to reach out and take His hand and He will lead us in victory. I'm not out the woods yet, I know there is still ebb and flow to come as we walk through transition but Satan has been vanquished and Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. If or more realistically, when, He allows hardship and trial to meet me again, I know He will prove Himself faithful and good. There is no one like my God.

Friday, February 06, 2009

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 21:50:34 GMT

Isaiah 45:1-3

"Thus says the Lord God to Cyrus His anointed, in whom I have taken by the right hand to subdue nations before him and to loose the loins of kings; to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut; I will go before you and make the rough places smooth; I will shatter the door of bronze and cut through their iron bars. I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden wealth of secret places, so that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by name."

Deut 31:8 also talks about the Lord going before us and being with us, it continues on to say He will not fail or forsake us and that we need not be dismayed. The last few nights as Will and I have prayed at bed time, while lifting up the issue of foster parenting, I have felt God leading me to declare that He has already gone before us on this path. And then when I read that He has gone before us to make rough places smooth, it hit the bull's eye. I believe that God has given us all scripture to stand on and that because of the righteousness and blood of Jesus, that every promise in His word is ours for the taking.

Abba Father,
I love You and I give You thanks and praise for Your abundance in my life. You are holy and awesome, all powerful and mighty. There is no one like You. We are safe in Your hands and no weapon formed against us shall prosper. I declare this passage and promise in my and my families' lives, that You will open doors that were shut, go before us making smooth rough places, breaking through impossible barriers and lavishing on us the treasures and wealth that was stolen from us by our enemy because it is You who have called us by name. You have chosen us to be grafted into Your family and I delight in Your choice and say, THANK YOU! Your will be done concerning Kelowna's home life, guide her steps straight into Your purposes and plans. Guard my baby from the toils of Satan and continue to breath Your life giving breath on them. Guard my heart and mind in Your peace, joy and presence and let me not grow weary of doing what is right. I give You all glory and honor and praise in Jesus' name. Bless Will and lead him as He leads our family, be a covering about him and increase his hunger and desire for You. Thank You for blessing LoRonda, may she continue to see Your kindness and love and draw near to You. Indeed, heavens rain down righteousness and let the earth spring forth with salvation, rain down in our community and let those we know and see incounter You in real tangible ways. You are the only God who is true. Holy Spirit, be glorified and lead us where You want us to be. I love You, Jesus, amen.