Fear...

Tonight I have a child who is full of fear...fear of the unknown...fear of sickness...fear of dying...fear of just about everything.  We have dealt with this fear for several years.  We have spent nights up talking, reading, praying...trying to get to the bottom of these fears.  We have come a long way but tonight they have resurfaced a little and I shared with him what I am fixing to share with you.

One thing that I have struggled with in the last few years is fear/worry.  I would have to say this fear or worry increased after losing David's father to cancer in 2007.  The fear that another loved one would encounter this horrible disease or that I would lose a loved one I most cherished.  This has been an ongoing struggle of "what would happen if I got sick" or "what would happen if one of my kids or husband got sick".  I have worked hard at turning this fear over to God.  It is hard sometimes when all around you someone is dying or just found out they have cancer.  If you have ever seen someone die from this horrible disease you know what it looks like.  It isn't pretty, it isn't nice, it isn't peaceful! The funny thing is that I know that any number of my loved ones would be in a much better place if something happened to them ,or if something happened to me I know that I will spend eternity with my Creator.  So, why do we worry about things.  Why do we put ourselves in this turmoil and work ourselves up for the unknown or for things that haven't even happened.  How many times have we imagined things and made ourselves nearly sick thinking about them coming true...when it hasn't even happened.  I doubt I am alone!  I have been reading a Beth Moore book that hit this fear subject on the head!  "I need to stop praying "Lord, I trust You to..." and start praying "Lord I trust You. Period!".  I am going to share passages from what I have been reading.

From Beth Moore..."Of course, I realize God would prefer for me to refrain from rehearsing those kinds of fears altogether, but He also knows my weaknesses and how deeply and subconsciously I associate love with risk.  As long as I insist on torturing myself with these terrifying possibilities, He seems to suggest that I think them all the way through to the other side.  The prospect of losing a loved one is horrifying.  I cannot imaging enduring it, but because I know God is faithful, I must trust that somehow I would.  Can you bring yourself to believe that you would as well?"

"Romans 8:18 promises that the future we have coming is so glorious that nothing we've suffered will compare to the magnitude and splendor of it.  We must not let the enemy of our souls get away with convincing us that anything can utterly destroy us.  If we do, we will hand him an engraved invitation to attend our constant torment.  Over and over Jesus implores his followers, "Take courage!" as if His hand is outstretched and His palm opened with offered treasure.  It's time we took Him up on it.  Do we really want to spend our time rehearsing deaths of all kinds rather than engaging in the effervescence of life?"

"He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.  His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes." Psalm 112:7-8

"I don't think the psalmist meant that the person described had a lifetime guarantee from God that he would never get any bad news.  Hard things happen to all of us, and they often come in the form of "news." It's part of pumping blood on this fretful planet.  The psalmist meant just what he said.  She doesn't live in fear of bad news.  Why is she free from such self-torment?  Stay with me here, because this connection is crucial: she is fee because she knows that "in the end [she] will look in triumph on [her] foes." Translation? God will work all things - no matter how difficult or devastating - out to her advantage.  Her enemy will not triumph over her.  It may hurt in the beginning, but it's going to be beautiful "in the end."

God knows my weaknesses...and so does Satan.  Sometimes no matter what I do I still have a set back and fear will get the best of me.  I have to remember that I am not in control.  I cannot let Satan win the battle over me and let fear win.  If something does happen to me, my husband or my kids...as long as we are a child of God we are in a  "win win" situation.  No doubt there will be heartbreak here on this earth but the glory and splendor of what is to come is unimaginable.

From Beth Moore...

"I, the Maker of heaven and earth, will:"

perfect everything that concerns you (Psalm 138:8)
work all things together for your good (Romans 8:28)
contend with those who contend with you (Isaiah 49:25)
fight this battle for you (2 Chronicles 20:15)
equip you with divine power (2 Corinthians 10:4)
delight to show you mercy (Micah 7:18)
meet all your needs according to My glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19)
give you grace that is perfectly sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9)
be your power in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9)
do immeasurably more than all you could ask or imagine, according to the power that is at work within you (Ephesians 3:20)"

That is some good stuff!  So, there are all of the "what ifs" and things that I am uncertain of...the unknowns. But I am certain that if I turn this over to God and give him the authority and put my trust in him...HE WILL SUSTAIN ME!  "Take courage!" I don't want any of my children to have this fear of sickness or death. Although we all know death is fearful because it is the unknown and there is no way of knowing when or how it is going to happen.  We do know our Eternal Father has our back.  He loves us and will take care of us on this earth and in Eternity.  All we have to do is give our weaknesses to him and let him give us the strength we need!

It's the most wonderful time of the year....

One of my favorite times of year!  CHRISTMAS! For several years I have helped organize a project at church known as "The Mitten Tree".  For the most part it is an angel tree where we help needy families during the holiday season. We start helping at Thanksgiving by delivering baskets full of food for each family.  We then get information from the families on what the kids need and want for Christmas.  This is an exciting time!  I look forward to it every year.  It is A LOT of work but it is good work.  You see, that is what it is all about!  We can get and buy so much!  How much can we give?  How much did Christ GIVE for us?  It is often said to me that people abuse this and know how to work the system!  I am sure they are right but that is not for me to judge!  I know from talking to some of these families that they are truly hurting!  Some are fighting cancer, some have lost family members, some have lost their jobs and can't make ends meet.  It is encouraging for them to know that their is someone out there who cares.  So, it is not just about buying these people gifts.  We bring them in and feed them supper and share the gospel with them.  It is a chance for us to talk one on one with these families and listen to what is going on in their lives!  Please pray for us as tomorrow night will be our "Mitten Tree Dinner" with these families.  Pray that we can touch the lives of someone who does not know Christ as their Saviour.  Pray that we can show Christ's love as Christ has shown His love to us!  Help us to show love, patience, kindness, gentleness, and Chistlikeness to these families!  Pray that they will see peace in our lives and long to find that same peace! 

One thing that I have often noticed when we are doing a big outreach like this...satan always seems to creep his head in.  There always seems to be something that happens to cause dissension or a disturbance in the plans you have made. I pray right now that we can overpower satan and not let him step in and claim what is not his to have. 

I guess our Christmas festivities officially begin this weekend.  We have had family get togethers the past two weekends but we have been unable to attend because of prior obligations.  This weekend we will have David's family up for Christmas and then attend an extended family Christmas get together on Saturday evening.  I love having family together.  Unfortunately, we do not get together with David's family as often as we would like because of the miles between us and kids going in all directions.  Looking forward to spending time with them all. 

Christmas in my house growing up was always a big ordeal.  We always started the morning by reading the Christmas Story...the one in the Bible!!  It was always a special time at our house and definitely a fun time.  We have always done the same thing with our kids.  When we get up on Christmas morning we read about Jesus birth and talk about the real reason we celebrate Christmas!  No doubt the presents are fun and watching the kids is more fun than anything for me!  I fix breakfast and my mom and dad come down and eat with us and play with the kiddos for a while.  It is a day to rest and enjoy our family!  We celebrate Christmas with my mom and dad, sister and her family the day after Christmas!  We spend the day at mom and dad's!  They always make is special for us all!  Mom always has a huge spread for breakfast...with her infamous stuffed french toast with raspberry syrup...it is the BEST!  Too bad we only get it once a year...but it is well worth the wait and always something to look forward to! 

Celebrating the season of our Saviour's birth and giving him the glory and praise for all that we have and all that we are.  This Christmas will not come without a few heartaches...thinking of the family that has passed on and are not here to spend this Glorious holiday with us.  We do have the comfort in knowing that Poppy and my father-in-law are celebrating this Christmas Birthday with our Saviour in person! 

Praying that you and your family have a very Merry Christmas and truly remember the reason we celebrate!  It is all about Him...not so much about us!

Love you mom, dad & sis!  Thanks for being such a wonderful, loving family!  I couldn't ask for a better one!

The whole crew!

Aren't they cuties!

The LOVE of my life! My soulmate!

Love these pictures we had made a few weeks ago...hope you enjoy! 

Wishing you a very

Merry Christmas

from our house to yours!