Thursday, August 11, 2011

When life comes crashing down.....

 When she kneels at the bed to pray

    
the monitors that beep the life that's over........the IV drips that try to sustain..........the life that simply slips away.

I murmur it quiet.............is there anything that I can get you?

 the tears keep falling................and the woman-child who tries to bear it all whispers to me, "I just don't understand."

 I saw her from the hospital door..........she was kneeling at the bed............the tears that fell like rain from a torn face.........the face that looked like the life had been broken...........the hard kind of broken

     Hospitals with the noise..............the monitors that make it hard to hear......................she who can't speak breaths...............breaths in the pain..............her lungs expand..........and she sighs.......and this is the circle of life..............he is the young...........but the brain has stopped and their is the nothingness of  the activity................and where do we go from the now?..............and I murmur again the soft words of "his ways are not our ways..........and his thoughts are not are thoughts."
She nods............and tells me that he is a good man.............the kind that knows his God.
     Heaven's knocking............and after all isn't all of our days the numbered?
His glory is everywhere.........if only we could open our eyes to see..........she wipes the sadness from her eyes............wipes the hurt from her face..............the weariness shows on her face more than just today's..................maybe a lifetime of weariness...................I take my hand and place it in hers.................and whisper the silent words...........please God give her peace.........let her feel your grace
     The breathing in of the pain..........the pain of seeing a loved one suffer...............we wait and we breath......feeling the boxed in and full................... full of the sadness......full of the emptiness.........knowing that the stench of death is near...................Why does the death seem so final? Maybe it's the me the one who craves the easy that doesn't really believe in Christ?
       Who am I to stand here living life like death is the end?.............who am I that screams for more grace........when the world keeps turning and the people keep aching......don't I believe? that Christ is alive???
Can I truly believe in a world where people do suffer?
Christ knows suffering..............the kind of suffering we will never understand....
the woman-child looks back at me and smiles.............at the waiting place............where the two of us just sat.............sitting.......just the being...........without a word..............sometimes the best words are the words unsaid.........the kind where the Holy Spirit can do it's thing.............the kind of thing that is where we know that Christ lives!
She's the knowing...............knowing that she is walking...........walking away from the past and the pain...........and I watch her as her feet glide across the floor..........she looks back one last time at me with her weathered face wearing the pain like armor..........and whispers thank you..............thank you for all you have done.............and I ask myself what is it that I have really done?
all of grace,
Robbie


(a quiet repost; while I worked the last few days and making room for another teen who's moving in)

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

" Jesus come into my heart"

"Jesus come into my heart"- a simple prayer, my 12 year old prayed last week at camp. It was the last full night- after a week long of "preparing" them for this alter call. My son started talking about camp- all the fun he had- and by the way mom- I asked Jesus into my heart. He went on to explain that he had asked Jesus into his heart one year ago, but he "had a feeling" that night, that he needed to reaffirm his commitment. I sat there speechless- and truly listened to him.  What was "the feeling" like?- explain it, if you can. He went on to explain to  me, that it was something inside of him, that made him feel like he had to go to the altar. A friend went with him, along with "half the camp" he said. The boy that went with him- cried- mainly because this was the first time that he had asked Jesus into his heart. Seeing this emotion- softened my son's heart, and he said that he wanted to cry, but held it back. But he expressed his excitement for his friend. The "feeling inside"- I knew immediately was the Holy Spirit working in my son. Oh, how easy it is asking Jesus into your heart- the true challenge comes later....  
I pray daily that I don't miss it. I pray that I help my boys " not miss it " either. I begin to "google" how to help a child after they ask Jesus into their life. As I searched and searched for the answers, he came up to the computer- to see what I was looking at. I read him the title of my search- " Is that for me" Are you looking this up because of me? He was so excited. I was speechless! " Yes, this is for you! I want you to know God- to know his mercy and grace!
So... What I found- Teach them about God- He is faithful- He is Almighty- He is all Knowing- He is Peace- He is Our Provider- He is our Healer- He is our Deliver.
Read the Bible
Have Devotions
Children need to know that they are a child of God. They are born sinners- but God is Holy- and those who are sinful cannot enter into his presence. God loves the sinner, though- Since he does love us- the sinner- he has made a way to bring us back into his presence.
Sometimes it is hard to think that my boys have a relationship with God. I know that I talk to him all day long, but they do too. Before they swing a bat- Before they take a test- Before they go to bed at night. Jesus is their everything too. But I also need to realize, that as I have trials and hardships- they will too. I need to be there for them- be strong- be an example. Let them see the Holy Spirit working through me.
I pray that God will minimize me- so that He will be glorified. I pray for others to see Jesus in me- especially my kids.
In His Service;
Amy

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

memories to share

"'For I know the plans I have for you', declares the Lord,  'plans to prosper you and not to harm you,  plans to give you hope and a future.'" Jeremiah 29:11
thankful for...
verses that stick in your head to encourage you through your walk...
time alone to just sit and ponder on God's plans...
friends you can help move from one place into another...
husbands that are hearing from God and you see transforming in front of your eyes...
softening of the heart so we can receive...
sitting on the bed while Kylie plays guitar and we all sing praise songs...
jobs that keep us thankful for mercy, grace, and forgiveness...
weekends away with the mother-in-law for some relaxation...
final exams almost done...
worship practice at church...
opportunities to share your testimony...
kids making cinnamon rolls in the kitchen...
freshly mopped floors...
technology that keeps you in touch with the ones you love in another country...
the love of the Father...
the forgiveness of the Father...
the peace that I feel at this moment in my walk...
the idea of a new bible study with my BFF's...
just enough grace to start the next morning afresh and new and know that because of it you will make it through...
Let us look to the future with the knowing that God will guide us through it...


Let the river open up and flow down on our lives with fresh water...

Jennifer

Monday, August 8, 2011

Sisters

Sisters making memories that entail laughter.........and telling each other their secrets....a sister is a born friend with a bond that can never be broken.
  I always wanted a sister.  I never dreamed that it would be me with 3 girls.

It was the middle daughter's (gracie's) 8th grade social. A dance where the dress needed to be hemed.

It was the oldest the 16 year who rushed in hard after school one afternoon to take an old dress and make it new for her younger sister.

I ran fast to get my camera wanting to capture this moment of wild grace.

They sewed together with giddy grace until that dress was the perfect!
In my heart I couldn't help but wonder would they have the friendship that grows from love?.....Will they hold each other up when their hurt is more than they can bare?
The two that stand together....a bond.........with their double grins. And me too. Thoughts dance through my head how me with my messy life was given the priviledge of birthing not one but three who will one-day be women......women whom I pray will serve the most high God!
They took an old dress and made it new again.......just like God does for us....he takes the old and makes us the new in Him.


2 Corinthians 5:17;
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!


all of grace,
Robbie


thankful for:
coffee grains in my coffee
teens fighting over who sits where in the car
husband who plays the radio loud
clogged toilets at the beach
card games
family time
sharing
teens laying across you bed wanting you to scratch their back
sunscreen
homemade clam chowder
rain
breeze from the ocean
anniversaries


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Friday, August 5, 2011

Living Waters







John 4:13-14 (NIV)



13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

     For the whole world cannot meet our needs....it can't solve our problems.....it cannot give us our dreams.......but the Lord says HE can if only we will drink from the living waters.

May all your weekend wanderings be one of being open to tasting..................the waters that spring up into everlasting life.

all of grace,
Yahweh Sisters

    

Thursday, August 4, 2011

"Guilty"

"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"- even the 8 month 75lb golden retriever-"Dodger Grand-Slam". In the picture above, you see him in the background-looking away. Knowing that taking a "nibble" out of my shoe was wrong! Sin feels good for a minute- then you pay the consequences- sometimes they are very costly! Well- I provided "mercy" and did not beat him with the chewed up shoe- (just kidding.) Actually- I'll probably just give him the shoes- to finish off what he started.
I was talking with a "mom" yesterday at the football field. Our boys played together when they were 2 years old. Thinking back to that time- I remember- asking Noah what he did in preschool that day. " I pusha Kelley" Well Kelley is the teacher, and I wondered was my two year old "pushing" the teacher? But actually  "pusha Kelley" was her pushing him on the swing.
Our conversation yesterday was brief, we made small talk:   " How's your summer" Boys this and boys that........ We said our goodbyes and walked away.
 Later talking with another mom I was told something that troubled me...."hurt me."
     How easily we are ensnared by the enemy..........we fall hard.......right into the trap of the hissing one.....and then there is pain.
 . Sometimes I wish I didn't "listen," or had the boldness to walk away.  I hate gossip-  How can I "truly walk" with God - if I am constantly being ensnared by Satan's traps- whether I'm doing the sin- or getting caught up in other people's sin. Sin will keep popping up....... like weeds that you can't kill...it is up to us to resolve. We can't keep eating from the world's intoxicating table. It draws us in........then we are the full..........full to the brim with the things of this world....and there is the no room for the real food.
 Now knowing this.....how am I supposed to act?  Do I ignore that person?  Do I feed my flesh?
They need God too. We all sin- but do we recognize it- do we truly repent for it?  Prayer is the way....."relationship."  Casting all our cares on him. It makes the weak "STRONG." We must pray everyday because even something as simple as football season starting again can make us fall!
Prayer is the only thing that can send the enemy running. And asking for forgiveness for our sins is a MUST! ?
"Jesus Son of David, Have Mercy upon me!"
Amy

Matthew 7:3-5

New International Version (NIV)

3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

 

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

What is it that you are living for?


This was the question that was posed to us in church on Sunday..."What are we living for?  What is it that we are working towards?" (Dr. Michael Brown).
For some, it may be a bigger house, an increase in pay, a promotion at work, a healthy family, a loving spouse,....the list could go on...But that is not what I want us to look at today.  If you were standing before God at this very moment and He asked you, "what are you here for?"....what would your answer be?
What are we bringing to this earth that we have been placed on to live?  Are we just floating through each day from week to week, living for the moment and not knowing what is around the corner?
Are we striving for satisfaction in our relationships or in our jobs?  Are we doing things that will change the world and leave it a better place than before?
What is it that we are set out to do?  And, are we working towards that goal?  What are we doing to achieve the fullness of what it is that we are striving for?
In I Corinthians 9:24-27, it says "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.  They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.  Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.  No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." (TNIV)
Are we running the race with everything we have been trained with?  Are we training for the race of  a lifetime?  And in the race, guess what...you don't have to compete with your neighbor.   It is just you running the race for the ultimate crown of a lifetime.  You will win if you just run!!!!
Think on what it is you are running for.  The things I mentioned at the top are not necessarily bad things to hope for...we all want a healthy marriage and healthy children and a good job to support our family...but is it all that we are working towards?  Are these things at the top of your list?  If it is, then something in our life needs to change.  Where is God in the running of the race?  Where does He fit in the picture?  Are we moving in life in the direction of heaven? 
If we are placed in a company that we started and we feel that God put us there, then make a difference there...running the race.  If we in a job that we feel that God put us in....then find out what we are there for and...run the race.  If we are stay-at-home moms raising our children through homeschooling, then do it with all that you have and...run the race.  BUT KEEP GOD IN THE CENTER OF THE RACE....Keep Him as your focus for running.  He is the best trainer in the world and the best reward we could achieve.
Run with all that you have within you.  You are not competing with the guy running beside you...it is a solo race...Run it!

Jennifer