Wednesday and Tyson

Happy Wednesday! Today has been an interesting and hard day. But somehow God managed to get my attention even though I am being extremely whiny and selfish today and He showed me that I am exactly where I am supposed to be right now. That the job is hard because he is trying to make me into the person he wants me to be. And yes, he is shutting all other options right now because this is where I'm supposed to be. And thank God I haven't given up yet.

"And this is what I learned: the hard does not minimize His goodness but allows us to experience His goodness in a whole new way."

Prayers for Levi today!! He is being SO BLESSED by friends and family referring him to different people they know in the medical sales device field and has some "interviews" today. Woohoo! I know he'll do great. We're excited to see where God moves us! So many options :)

On another note, Tyson has decided to be a social farter in our house. We had 10 guests in and out of our house this weekend and Monday and Tyson strategically did room-clearing farts ONLY when we had guests over. That dog is sneaky. We've tried switching his food up but Levi thinks it's only making them more toxic. SO...come visit us in Abilene!! :)

AFRICA

SO SO SO excited to go to Africa with Levi! I am not nervous about disease or AIDS, or parasites (mostly), but I am nervous about what we will see over there and how we will never be the same again. Wondering and so excited to see what God will do with us while we're over there and how he will change our hearts!!

Proverbs 24:12  Once you have seen, you cannot pretend that you do not know. For the Father that knows your every thought, KNOWS that you KNOW!

Woohoo can't wait!!!!

haircut for Darla?

GO GO GO

Lots of thoughts bouncing around in my head today. We considered getting rid of our precious miniature aussiedoodle to one of my friends today because she's been desperately looking for a dog...and Levi doesn't love little Darla. But, after many long conversations Levi decided that he doesn't mind her as long as I am the one taking care of her. So, we'll see how that goes! It's been interesting though having to prioritize things in my life. I love Darla, but I love Levi more so if he says so, the dog has to go. And I love my Lord, but sometimes I love my life more. So if the Holy Spirit shows me someone I need to help and it doesn't fit my day or it could be really really awkward, sometimes I choose myself.

Lots of random thoughts, but it makes me think about what I really care about passionately and if I am living a PURPOSE driven life. Am I looking for the opportunities and not letting them happen to me. I read this the other day and it terrified me:

One of the clearest passages of Scripture that sheds light into what Jesus was passionate about is Matthew 25 verse 31-40. Jesus is speaking about the final judgment of mankind and the manner in which man will be judged. He talks about separating the goats from the sheep according to how they had lived their lives. Verses 34-40 read:

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing, I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.”

“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?”

“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’”

⁴⁶ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Want to say this at the end of my life:

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now, the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of His return. And the prize is not just for me, but all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.”

Happy Valentines Day!

The hard does not minimize God's goodness but allows us to experience His goodness in a whole new way. Thank you Lord for giving us the most amazing example of love, a GREAT example on this day of love today.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!! I've been having a lovely day here in Abilene. Work hasn't been too crazy and it's warmed up to where I don't have to wear a jacket. (I hate covering cute clothes up in jackets...haha)

Very random blog post today, but I am thankful and I hope you are too as you're surrounded by loved ones on Valentines today!

Loving

I sent this to my mom last week and it's really hitting home with me today. It is written by Matt Chandler's wife, whose husband was diagnosed with brain cancer.

The gardener's sharp-edged knife promotes the fruitfulness of the tree, by thinning the clusters, and by cutting off superfluous shoots. So is it, Christian, with that pruning which the Lord gives to thee. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit." John 15:1 - 2

As Matt's fourth (? I've lost count!) post-surgery MRI is only hours away, I've been hit with a curve-ball of anxiety. Until now, I've gone into each scan, appointment, or meeting with little fear. I'm not sure what's different this time aside from two things:

 1. With the exception of the first MRI (in the ER after his seizure) and diagnosis, we've gotten nothing but good, hopeful news. I am so grateful for this and am asking and wanting to believe Matt's complete healing. However, it's as if there is a part of me that is waiting for the other shoe to drop. There's a little whisper saying, it really is too good to be true.

 2. The Lord is wanting to expose the lie, however small, that I am believing. Let me tell you what the lie is NOT first. The lie is*not*: God will not heal Matt. I believe the Lord can and will heal Matt but even if He doesn't heal him on earth, he will be perfectly healed in heaven.

 *The lie is this: God is not good and He does not want my good.*

This is the lie that tripped up Eve in the garden. This is the lie that has plagued humankind ever since. This is the lie the Father exposed through His Son on the cross. "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay his life down for his friends." How can we not see through this lie? "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will he not also with Him graciously give us all things?" So, the Lord reveals the lie that a small part of me still believes. He uses the anxiety to remind me to be rooted in Him and His truth: if He is for me, what can be against me? He prunes the branches. He gets rid of the "superfluous shoot."

Childlike joy

"Yes, Lord, walking in the way of Your truth, we wait eagerly for You; Your name and renown are the desire of our souls." Isaiah 26:8

 

It is a beautiful, gorgeous day in Abilene, Texas and I feel SO blessed to be alive and get to share my life here with Levi.

 

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!