Prayer For Beth, Please?

I sent his out to the prayer team for Beth. Please pray for her? Thank you!

Hello,

We went to the eye doctor today to make sure Beth's eyes are not affected by the arthritis. We were expecting a good report because only 1 in 5 children with her type of arthritis have eye problems. 

She is the 1 in 5. There is inflammation in her eyes associated with chronic iridocyclitis. She has to have two different eye drops administered, one of which is a steroid given every two hours during the day and at night if she is awake already. After one month, he will see her again and evaluate the inflammation. He said we take it one step at a time, but the prognosis is good because we caught it early.

I am learning that the statement: "The prognosis is good" is just something they say to keep parents from crying in their offices.

Please pray that she will take well to the drops and that this part of the disease goes away quickly. If not handled properly this can lead to glaucoma, scars, cataracts and even blindness. The doctor assured me he would do everything he has to do to keep this from affecting her vision.

My husband and I feel like we're in a boxing ring with God and we just go knocked out. (The disease in her knees is still not responding to the naproxen.)

2 Corinthians 12:9

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

I know that His grace is sufficient and I am happy to have his power rest on our family. We just need a break in the bad news.

Thank you!

Coming Before His Presence With Thanksgiving

Psalm 95:1-6
"O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker."

I am thankful for...

...this passage I highlighted in Ephesians (2:6-7): "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show us the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus."  When things seem heavy it's time to read these Scriptural reminders. Our time on earth is so short compared to eternity. Heaven is forever. Perfection is forever; the brokenness of earth is fleeting.  Dwelling on hardship and pain only weakens us as workers for Christ Jesus. "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesian 2:10)  We must reset our gaze on heaven and get to work for God. 


When everything is going well it's harder to comprehend the concept that things are fleeting here. We want to hold on to our success and our personal empire, for we've deceived ourselves into thinking we're a self-made wonder. I have one child for whom everything comes easily. He struggles with pride and it's understandably hard for him to remember that even the inner workings of his brain are a gift from God, and not of himself. I've seen his ego puff up when his brother struggles with something. Of course boys are competitive, but pride is dangerous. Self-esteem is the world's buzzword. God's buzzword is self-denial. We are most foolish when we fail to bow down before Our King and say "Thank you; I am your servant." (Every child presents unique parenting challenges!)

...watching my children perform puppet shows at the library on Sunday afternoons.

...that Sunday afternoons at the library led to Sunday night Family Movie-Popcorn Night, which allows us to relax together in one room. As parents of four we rarely rest and I love just sitting down and holding one of my children on my lap, or having my husband hold me, while we enjoy some wholesome entertainment together. Simple family traditions bond us together, but when wiggly babies and toddlers are around, it's harder to set up relaxing family time. We've arrived at a time when everyone can sit still for a 30-minute kid movie.

Dinner and devotions are the most valuable tradition, but there are many others that bind us. What are some of your weekly family traditions?

...the postman bringing some new clothes for the girls' birthdays--gifts from Grandma. Beth was born Dec. 8 and Mary was born Dec. 14. The girls (and the boys) have tiny waists and rarely does anything fit unless I pick it myself, unfortunately, but grandmas love to send clothes.

Shortly after we lost our first baby a friend told us about a dream he had, in which we had a Christmas baby. He believed it was a message from the Lord. He was almost right; Mary was given a December 25th due date. According to the ovulation schedule this was correct, but she came 11 days early. (I had them all early.) Just a neat fact that will delight Mary some day.

...my boys, who never run out of things to do on rainy days.

...first-time library cards for Peter and Paul, who left the library feeling like proud young men, with their very own computer receipts tucked into their pockets.

...this gingerbread pancake recipe Jess shared.

...the Bible, which never stops speaking truth into us, via the Holy Spirit. Without regular readings it's easy to struggle and fall in this life. The Word is the wisdom that keeps us on track. Why forgo this wisdom and blessing? Remember the hardest part? Opening your Bible. Just go right now and do it. Open your Bible and be freshly blessed. Mark and date what blesses you.

...children who love and appreciate their Daddy for his hard work and hard play.

...a note from Peter. On the outside it says, "Open this note." And on the inside it says, "Dear Mom, This is a gift to you from Peter, Mary, and Paul. Thank you for your hard work." 

I hate to say it, but I think the timing of this note has to do with my unattractive complaining on Saturday that the kids don't appreciate all the laundry work I do. They throw barely-worn clothes around, leaving piles here and there.

...the children's Christmas book Silent Night: The Song and Its Story, by Margaret Hodges, with beautiful paintings by Tim Ladwig. What a lovely story about the writing and first singing of this classic Christmas carol.

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...the cute Christmas book Fletcher and the Snowflake Christmas, by Julia Rawlinson. Throughout the reading, I raved to the children about the painted illustrations. I found the artist's depiction of a frost over the land quite beautiful.

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The Power of Story

On the verge of hormonal tears and desperate for some uninterrupted slumber, I didn't start the day well. Hours of baking the previous day stole our straightening-up time. I awoke to runaway clutter. The nail in the coffin came when my ADHD child awoke mouthy, impulsive, and ungrateful.


He never repented.


Continued defiance resulted in a park trip--which he'd looked forward to all day--being stripped from him. Exercise of any form is only taken away as a last resort.


Hell hath no fury like an ADHD child who just lost a privilege. The anger is ugly and scary and the whole family suffers the fight or flight response. With each occurrence I'm certain prison awaits my son--a place many ADHD people end up, due to their deadly anger.


The last thing I wanted today was alone time with Peter--especially a furious Peter.


Months have gone by with no break for me (as I define a break). Thrift store trips every six weeks or so used to be my alone-time treat. There's been no money for that so on the weekends I catch up on chores while the family goes to the park for a few hours--weather permitting. This arrangement is as close to a break as I can do right now. (A family outing, perhaps to the library, occurs on another weekend day.)


This may not seem like the best choice for my time--remaining at home instead of getting out--but battling clutter and crumbs and dirt is necessary for my sanity. The family claims they don't care about the house, but studies show runaway clutter affects all of us.


I live this truth. Frequent straightening by Momma and the crew helps defeat the clutter blues, but any special project throws things awry.


After I convinced my husband that Momma and son were not going to battle 'til death, the family left for the park, leaving Peter and me alone.


I stayed near the door for a bit to keep him from running down the street, shouting and chasing the van. Yes, his adrenalin can get that bad, but less often now that he's approaching ten.


After a time, he stopped shouting and collapsed in a post-adrenalin slump, exhausted.


But ready to talk.


Why doesn't Paul struggle with anger? How does he always controls himself? It's not fair! I hate ADHD! I'm worthless. And Paul hates me because I bully him. He only plays with me because I bug him, not because he loves me. I hate my life! I don't want to do these things, but I can't calm down!


First let me say, these two brothers compete furiously and have jealousies, but they love each other and need each other and in the end, they know they're blessed by brotherhood. They're best friends.


The real tragedy for an ADHD sufferer is the effect they have on others. Unfortunately, they annoy in a way that leaves family members living with a fingernail screeching down a chalkboard for hours a day. They can sense their effect on people, sometimes, but they can't stop. The slightest thing makes their emotions go awry and everyone is held captive. When they have a bad day on top of your bad day, you must refuse to engage, early on. You have to be perfect to handle it perfectly, and none of us fit that description. So life is messy.


Grace abounds, but sometimes we still hate that life is this messy.


When someone doesn't like their afflictions--and we all have afflictions--only one thing works. The power of story.


Every significant thing that happens to us from the time we leave the womb, makes up telling pieces of our story. The riveting plot always revolves around one thing.....sin.


Our parents sin in some way that scars us. We carry that scar--becoming a Christian doesn't always erase the effects of sin--to our own marriages, hoping to heal the wounds from our childhood, through each other.


It never works.


God can redeem the marriage and bless it, as he did my own, but deep hurts still bring hardship and pain through tragic turns in our story. They weaken and deplete us, making it harder to reach our ideals, even if we understand the hurts and forgive them.


The dysfunction continues in another generation to some extent, and coupled with that, illness and disease, both mental and physical, weave their way into our stories.


Who sinned the first sin to cause a particular family line to suffer?


Adam and Eve. No generation escapes.


Sound depressing?


It would be, except for God. God uses story. He redeems our stories for His glory.


How did I comfort my son? By telling someone else's story, including the part where God brings people to himself through someone's incredible suffering and faith. I told him the story of ten-year-old Eva who suffered cruelly at the hands of her father, who selfishly abandoned her. She nearly died a frightening AIDS death, alone.


Eva was rescued by Compassion workers from her child development center. Having learned her whereabouts, they hired an ambulance and took her to the hospital, where she spent three months slowly improving. The doctors agreed to let her go home.


Not long after, she died, professing Jesus as her Lord.


Eva contracted AIDS from her late birth mother. She didn't ask for that tragic beginning, and she didn't ask for all the illnesses she constantly battled. She didn't ask to be taken away from the Compassion workers, who showed her the only love she'd ever known. She didn't ask for a horrible father, or for horrible pain and poverty. She could have died cursing God.


But no, she rejoiced in Jesus. And at her grave, her father and others accepted Christ.


Suffering coupled with faith is God's greatest tool. For always, the two produce a good story. A heart-changing story.


2 Corinthians 12:9

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.


God narrates the story for others at just the right time--when they can't stand their afflictions another day.


Peter sat in silence as I relayed Eva's story. He didn't move a muscle as I rocked with him and weaved the tale. He just listened. To everything. 


My son, if you could sail through life not having any challenges--and your brother Paul will have his in time, you can be sure--how would you convince people to follow God? What power would you have to change their hearts? Can you think of one thing you could say or do to change them at their core?


Ask for help and mercy and healing, but don't hate your story. It's the most valuable thing you have, as you seek to be your Lord's servant. Embrace it and say, "Yes, God, let it be for me as you say."


Luke 1:38
"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.


At the end Peter understood the power of story, because Eva's story was worse than his. He repented immediately, telling me how sorry he was for yelling and arguing and having fits. He appreciated his life again and knew he was blessed. Perspective worked its God miracle in his heart.


Someday, someone will listen to his story and it will be worse than theirs. And his faith will speak volumes.


Consider my servant Peter who struggled mightily. One thing after another worked against him and his life took heartbreaking turns which he couldn't change or predict.


But through it all, he loved Me. He professed me his King. His Redeemer. His Comforter. He sang me songs of praise. Consider my servant Peter, with whom I'm well pleased. 


If Peter could endure all that and still profess me as Lord and Savior, don't you want that same power in your life? Don't you need it?

Suffering coupled with faith. There's only one word for it. 


Beautiful.




photo credit

Amazing Grace For A Depraved Father

Have you ever contemplated your own depravity of heart....that is, the heart you had before Jesus redeemed you? Did you consider yourself a pretty decent person?

I read a story about a father who did the unthinkable. He left his daughter to die, alone.

We were any better, as unsaved people? As you read about his daughter, Eva, below, you'll most assuredly feel you were better than this depraved father.

Earlier, when our child development center conducted HIV testing for all the children in the sponsorship program, Eva had tested HIV-positive. Her father received the information but refused to take the test himself.

When Eva’s condition worsened into full-blown AIDS that was visible to onlookers, he no longer wanted to be associated with her. He was afraid his friends and colleagues would think that since his daughter was HIV-positive, then he, too, was HIV-positive.

Eva’s father decided to bundle up the little angel and take her to Kawolo village to “save his face.” When we finally were able to approach him, he showed remorse for his actions.

We hired an ambulance and paramedics and drove to Kawolo village in Lugazi district. We arrived in the heat of the noonday African sun. Beautiful Eva lay shivering, as though it were winter, on a bare mat in a derelict thatched hut.

She had thinned so much that her skeleton protruded beneath her skin. Her lovely hair had fallen out. Eva’s lips had transformed into a wound so big that she was unable to eat. I could not tell how long it had been since she had last eaten.

Eva could not move any part of her body except for her frightened eyes. She saw me and tried to say something but was unable to form words.
Courtesy of Compassion International: http://blog.compassion.com/hiv-in-children-the-last-days-of-an-hiv-positive-child/#ixzz1fL9q7Z25


Click here to read the incredible story in its entirety. God uses everything. His capacity to forgive, to redeem, to make beauty out of stench, amazes me. I often read something on the Compassion blog and think, "That's the most incredible movement of God I've ever seen." 

But every week, the miracles just keep on coming. Praise God! 

What a reminder of the grace we've been given. We were no better than this father. We can't ever forget that. 

Romans 3:10
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:


Romans 3:11
there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.


1 John 1:8
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

James 2:10

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

Blessings on Thursday

Some months I feel nary a hormone effect. Three months running, in fact, found me sitting pretty.

Then, crash! I'm a mess. So forgive me if I have to count blessings for another week in an effort to avoid the exceedingly-ugly uglies, as opposed to just the serious uglies.



I'm thankful for...

...giggles in the bath.

...toast and hot cocoa.

...a cupboard full of baking supplies.

...a washer, dryer, dishwasher, a working furnace and water heater.

...free and fabulous Family Advent Devotions by Billy Graham, courtesy of the AWANA program--kid friendly with interactives.

...boxes of candy canes, only a $1, delighting my children.

...a Christmas tree.

...the large, round, pinkish mark on my cheekbone that needs to be checked by a dermatologist (I'll go in February). I have no insurance and no doctor and this whole matter reminds me of my total dependence on the Lord for everything. Total dependence on God? Not a bad thing.


...the rapidly-uglying aging process that, again, reminds me of my total dependence on God. When the mirror scares, what can one do? Nothing. That's precisely the point. You look to God for any form of beauty left in you. Some have good aging genes and sail right through this, but I deal with some unfortunate genes.

...a curious and sweet son.

...a cuddly and responsible son.

...a loving and giving daughter.

...a giggly and fun daughter.

...school days at home.

...pumpkin pie for breakfast.

...a depleting laundry pile.

...a depleting folding pile.

...clean socks and underwear.

...acknowledging and typing my blessings. It uplifts my spirit.

...praying for others. It leads me away from myself.

...chili for lunch.

...the beautiful sunset last night. The sun came out, finally, right before sunset time.

...the cross-country ski exerciser, which brings sanity to my children on cold and rainy days.

Have a blessed day!