This morning I started reading 2 Chronicles in my quiet time. For the past 20 or so years, I have read thru the Bible every year. I don't start in Genesis and end with Revelation. I usually start with the Psalms or maybe Genesis and then just go from there.
Its also the time of the year when I spend a LONG time (long because I am still doing it) looking for verses to pray for each family member for a year. There are years when I won't stop looking for the verses until I have all of us covered. Or there are years like this one, when I have so many books of the Bible left to read by December, that I keep reading and keep looking for the verses as the days wear on.
Then, I sometimes hurry thru the books of the Bible because either : 1) there are alot of names that mean nothing to me (altho I know they mean something to God or they wouldn't be there!) or 2) I still have alot of books to read.
Today was one of those days. And after reading 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 Kings and 2 Kings and 1 Chronicles, I feel like I know the story to some degree.
This morning I encountered a King of Judah named Asa.
In 2 Chronicles 14 it says: " Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God"
And in chapter 15 it adds: "Asa's heart was fully committed to the LORD all his life".
Isn't that what we would like to be said of us? That we were fully committed to the LORD all our lives? That we did what was right and good in the eyes of God?? That is my heart's desire, it really is. I know I blow it -probably alot, but my desire doesn't waiver-just my stubborn selfish self waivers.
Asa throughout most of his reign as king, continually sought the LORD and relied on God's direction and obeyed His leading. And then comes chapter 16 and Asa starts to falter. He becomes scared for some reason of the King of Aram. And Asa forms an alliance with him so that they will not war with each other. He has never done this before and its as if he has a brain freeze. Asa seems to have forgotten how the LORD has fought his battles (and his wars) and provided him with victory. Asa always went to the LORD first, up until now. And then as his life nears its end and he becomes sick with a severe disease, he first consults physicians, and never sought help from the LORD.
I know you may be questioning my logic here. Aren't we supposed to go to physicians when we are sick? Yes of course. But if you have spent your life going to the LORD first, why would you change it when you probably need Him most??
This caused me to really wonder and ponder this morning.
WHY do we not go to God first?
WHY does this happen? Especially to people who have followed Christ so closely throughout their lives? Why would we go to others before Jesus??
Yes they are "physically" there, but can they uphold us, strengthen us, encourage us like the ONE who created us? I think not.
HOW does this happen?
Albeit very slowly. Little by little we become "too busy".
Too busy to take the time to spend with the LORD.
Too busy because work is so busy.
Too busy to go to the bible study we have been going to.
Too busy to hang out with fellow followers of Christ because we have too much to do.
Too busy to go to church. Because we were out too late the night before or we don't feel well or we can't find a church that we like. We have alot of reasons.
HOW it happens is that we let "life" get in the way of us seeking OUR LORD.
Busyness is really a tool of God's enemy.
Satan would do anything to get us to slip gradually away from God.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't let the lies and schemes and offers of better things from the enemy get you off track with Jesus.
MAKE THE TIME to be with Jesus.
GO to church-even if its not the "perfect" church-none of them are.
GO to your bible study or small group.
GO be with other believers.
And if you don't have friends that follow Jesus, ask HIM to bring you them.
Check out bible studies at your church or small groups.
If you don't have a church body to fellowship and worship at, ask God to help you find one and THEN GO.
NOTHING is more important than your relationship with Christ. NOTHING.
2 Chronicles 16:9 says:
"For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him".
Don't let life and whatever is going on with you keep you from being committed to the LORD. This verse above promises us that He will strengthen us for whatever we are going thru.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Those kind of days
Its a day like most every other. You get up and get on with whatever you know you are to do-whether it be going to school or work, watching the kids, doing housework and errands, looking for jobs, following up on your "to do" list.
And then without a moment's notice, your life is turned upside down.
The doctor called and told you to come in, and discovered its cancer.
You get a phone call and find out that someone you love has just died.
You get called into the boss' office and find out your job has been eliminated, you are laid off immediately.
One of you children has been bullied so much and the principal calls and tells you they have been hurt.
You show up to class and your prof passes out an unexpected exam and you haven't studied or been to class in 2 weeks.
Your spouse tells you that they are out...never really loved you.
Or perhaps its a breakup with someone you thought was "the One".
A suicide attempt turns your world upside down.
You can't bear another day without work, or in chronic pain, or children complaining and demanding of you.
You or your spouse is being immediately transferred and all of a sudden you have to leave friends and family.
YOUR WORLD COMES CRASHING DOWN AND YOU ARE LIFE HAS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN.
WHAT DO YOU DO??
There's a story in the Old Testament about a very good King named Hezekiah. He truly was one of the few kings over hundreds and hundreds of years that wanted to follow and obey God. The story comes from the book of 2 Kings chapters 18-19. Hezekiah has done exactly what God has commanded, everything . He seeks God continually and others begin to follow his example.
Then one day he gets word that the King of Assyria is going to come and destroy Jerusalem and offers Hezekiah a way out if he will pay him and basically bow down to him.
Hezekiah has done everything the LORD asked of him. Way more so than any other King in all of Israel's history.
And this is what he gets?? You are going to be routed, destroyed and possibly killed.
Have you ever felt like that? I have.
I've tried to pursue God passionately. I really do try to obey Him in all things-altho I do slip up and have the occasional "I want what I want when i want it" attitude.
And yet, there have been multiple multiple times when life has come crashing down on me. Just doesn't seem FAIR.
What did Hezekiah do?? He tore off his robes, put on a sack cloth and ashes ( I know a bit drastic for us, but the custom of his day) and goes into the temple of the Lord and spreads out the papers with all of the Assyrian king's threats and promises and cries out to God for help.
This is a fundamental life lesson for me; and I have to admit it has taken me years to learn to do this.
When life throws you the ultimate curve ball: GO IMMEDIATELY TO THE LORD.
Don't go to your spouse, or your parents or your siblings or your best friends. Altho you will need them during this tumultuous time, our first inclination should be TO GO TO GOD.
After all, GOD is not surprised by ANY of WHAT HAPPENS to us. HE KNOWS. HE KNEW.
And HE wants to be there for us. He wants us to come to Him first.
He may not give us the answers of why or when this will stop or how can we possibly endure. BUT HE WILL BE THERE.
His Word promises us that " I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU . I WILL NEVER FORSAKE YOU."
That may not seem like an immediate comfort. But really it is. Because He also promises to provide us with strength to endure and cope. That may come from our friends or family. It may come from just reading/ skimming thru the Bible-but IT DOES COME.
Oh that we would be like Hezekiah. So that when life tends to blindside us, we run to the LORD and let Him know we need Him...need Him desperately.
That outcome to Hezekiah''s plea? The Assyrians heard that they were being attacked elsewhere and fled from Jerusalem. I don't think that was a coincidence. I truly believe it was a GOD INCIDENT.
I pray that we see and become more aware of those God incidences in our lives.
And then without a moment's notice, your life is turned upside down.
The doctor called and told you to come in, and discovered its cancer.
You get a phone call and find out that someone you love has just died.
You get called into the boss' office and find out your job has been eliminated, you are laid off immediately.
One of you children has been bullied so much and the principal calls and tells you they have been hurt.
You show up to class and your prof passes out an unexpected exam and you haven't studied or been to class in 2 weeks.
Your spouse tells you that they are out...never really loved you.
Or perhaps its a breakup with someone you thought was "the One".
A suicide attempt turns your world upside down.
You can't bear another day without work, or in chronic pain, or children complaining and demanding of you.
You or your spouse is being immediately transferred and all of a sudden you have to leave friends and family.
YOUR WORLD COMES CRASHING DOWN AND YOU ARE LIFE HAS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN.
WHAT DO YOU DO??
There's a story in the Old Testament about a very good King named Hezekiah. He truly was one of the few kings over hundreds and hundreds of years that wanted to follow and obey God. The story comes from the book of 2 Kings chapters 18-19. Hezekiah has done exactly what God has commanded, everything . He seeks God continually and others begin to follow his example.
Then one day he gets word that the King of Assyria is going to come and destroy Jerusalem and offers Hezekiah a way out if he will pay him and basically bow down to him.
Hezekiah has done everything the LORD asked of him. Way more so than any other King in all of Israel's history.
And this is what he gets?? You are going to be routed, destroyed and possibly killed.
Have you ever felt like that? I have.
I've tried to pursue God passionately. I really do try to obey Him in all things-altho I do slip up and have the occasional "I want what I want when i want it" attitude.
And yet, there have been multiple multiple times when life has come crashing down on me. Just doesn't seem FAIR.
What did Hezekiah do?? He tore off his robes, put on a sack cloth and ashes ( I know a bit drastic for us, but the custom of his day) and goes into the temple of the Lord and spreads out the papers with all of the Assyrian king's threats and promises and cries out to God for help.
This is a fundamental life lesson for me; and I have to admit it has taken me years to learn to do this.
When life throws you the ultimate curve ball: GO IMMEDIATELY TO THE LORD.
Don't go to your spouse, or your parents or your siblings or your best friends. Altho you will need them during this tumultuous time, our first inclination should be TO GO TO GOD.
After all, GOD is not surprised by ANY of WHAT HAPPENS to us. HE KNOWS. HE KNEW.
And HE wants to be there for us. He wants us to come to Him first.
He may not give us the answers of why or when this will stop or how can we possibly endure. BUT HE WILL BE THERE.
His Word promises us that " I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU . I WILL NEVER FORSAKE YOU."
That may not seem like an immediate comfort. But really it is. Because He also promises to provide us with strength to endure and cope. That may come from our friends or family. It may come from just reading/ skimming thru the Bible-but IT DOES COME.
Oh that we would be like Hezekiah. So that when life tends to blindside us, we run to the LORD and let Him know we need Him...need Him desperately.
That outcome to Hezekiah''s plea? The Assyrians heard that they were being attacked elsewhere and fled from Jerusalem. I don't think that was a coincidence. I truly believe it was a GOD INCIDENT.
I pray that we see and become more aware of those God incidences in our lives.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Gifts come in so many different ways.
We returned home yesterday after being gone for two weeks.
It was one of those vacations that I will always remember.
Our entire family went to Kauai for celebrating my 60th birthday.
60 was the age I never wanted to be. You know when you are little and someone asks you what old is...I always said 60. So I dreaded this birthday more than any other. I didn't want to be old. I thought I would become old right away.
Fortunately for me, I have been blessed by four children who love me and know me.
They got together and decided that going to Kauai as a family would be one present and surprise they could give me.
It was truly truly wonderful.
Scud and I got to spend 10 days on my favorite place on earth.
Its the place that everytime I go, I see so much of the beauty and diversity of God's creation.
The ocean seems endless-which I am pretty sure it is, and the colors that come out in the sun: from aquamarine to crystal blue make my heart swell.
I am a beach girl. I have loved being at the beach since I was a little girl. I was so blessed to spend every summer at the beach at my grandmother's beach house in Ventura. I learned how to dive thru waves, being taught by my mom. I learned how to body surf, I learned how to surf. I even learned how to become friends with a seal.
The beach is where I always would choose to vacation. Its the place I want to go whenever I want to mull things over, contemplate life or just be with God. Getting to spend 10 days in Kauai is my idea of a vacation.
And to be able to experience this with the ten members of our family and a girlfriend was just what I needed to ease into the 60's.
I really did learn that age is a state of mind. Walking the beach with my grandsons, looking for shells, laughing at the huge sandcrabs, picking up sticks that turned into alligators, and playing in the water -well nothing beats that.
I got to play with these little love bugs on the exact same beach that i played with their mom when she was three.
It made me realize how extremely privileged I am to be able to see the ocean because there are millions of people who never had. To gaze continually on the magnificence of God's creation brought shivers to me morning after morning as I watched the sun rise thru the clouds. I am so thankful for the thoughtfulness of my children to give me such an extraordinary gift.
We came home a day early to attend the memorial service of a friend of ours. This special man knew for 34 months that his time was limited and he was real and honest with his thoughts and emotions. But he faced his mortality fully trusting in the goodness of God, that God knew the perfect timing of his life on earth. I loved how Kevin did everything he possibly could to take care of his family while he was living and for after he was gone. I loved how he encouraged me in my faith and provided me with more opportunities to believe in a loving , grace giving God.
Then when we finally arrived home, there was a call telling me that one of my dear college friends, who also was one of my bridesmaids, had 3-4 months to live. My friend Sharon and I have lost touch over the years, but she's one of those friends, the type who will always have a special place in your heart. So my heart hurts once again.
I'm staring my own mortality in the face having friends my age end life on this earth.
So right now I am making plans to go to southern California to visit my friend, who will always be known to me as "Garb". I want to tell her i love her, that I appreciated how she made me laugh like no one else. I want to remind her of what a phenomenal friend she is to her friends and what a fantastic daughter and sister she is.
Garb always cared deeply for the people in her life and now I have the chance to tell her how graterful I am that she impacted my life.
We don't always get the opportunity to say good bye to people who we know are not going to be with us much longer. So for me, this is another gift that I have been given. A chance to tell someone how much they have meant to me. Which got me to thinking how many opportunities do I miss in telling those I love how much they mean to me. Of encouraging and cheering on people who I care about. Its a gift we can give to someone everyday-if we choose to.
And everyone loves gifts!
They don't have to be a fantastic trip to Kauai. They can be saying goodbye to a dear friend. They can be thanking someone for their thoughtfulness, Going to someone's game. Encouraging someone in their work, their crafts, their sports abilities, their gardening skills, their musical ability. We all have needs to be encouraged, to be thanked.
Why don't you think of who you could give a gift to today?? That's what I'm doing and really going to try and do this daily.
How about you?? Gift giving is so rewarding.
It was one of those vacations that I will always remember.
Our entire family went to Kauai for celebrating my 60th birthday.
60 was the age I never wanted to be. You know when you are little and someone asks you what old is...I always said 60. So I dreaded this birthday more than any other. I didn't want to be old. I thought I would become old right away.
Fortunately for me, I have been blessed by four children who love me and know me.
They got together and decided that going to Kauai as a family would be one present and surprise they could give me.
It was truly truly wonderful.
Scud and I got to spend 10 days on my favorite place on earth.
Its the place that everytime I go, I see so much of the beauty and diversity of God's creation.
The ocean seems endless-which I am pretty sure it is, and the colors that come out in the sun: from aquamarine to crystal blue make my heart swell.
I am a beach girl. I have loved being at the beach since I was a little girl. I was so blessed to spend every summer at the beach at my grandmother's beach house in Ventura. I learned how to dive thru waves, being taught by my mom. I learned how to body surf, I learned how to surf. I even learned how to become friends with a seal.
The beach is where I always would choose to vacation. Its the place I want to go whenever I want to mull things over, contemplate life or just be with God. Getting to spend 10 days in Kauai is my idea of a vacation.
And to be able to experience this with the ten members of our family and a girlfriend was just what I needed to ease into the 60's.
I really did learn that age is a state of mind. Walking the beach with my grandsons, looking for shells, laughing at the huge sandcrabs, picking up sticks that turned into alligators, and playing in the water -well nothing beats that.
I got to play with these little love bugs on the exact same beach that i played with their mom when she was three.
It made me realize how extremely privileged I am to be able to see the ocean because there are millions of people who never had. To gaze continually on the magnificence of God's creation brought shivers to me morning after morning as I watched the sun rise thru the clouds. I am so thankful for the thoughtfulness of my children to give me such an extraordinary gift.
We came home a day early to attend the memorial service of a friend of ours. This special man knew for 34 months that his time was limited and he was real and honest with his thoughts and emotions. But he faced his mortality fully trusting in the goodness of God, that God knew the perfect timing of his life on earth. I loved how Kevin did everything he possibly could to take care of his family while he was living and for after he was gone. I loved how he encouraged me in my faith and provided me with more opportunities to believe in a loving , grace giving God.
Then when we finally arrived home, there was a call telling me that one of my dear college friends, who also was one of my bridesmaids, had 3-4 months to live. My friend Sharon and I have lost touch over the years, but she's one of those friends, the type who will always have a special place in your heart. So my heart hurts once again.
I'm staring my own mortality in the face having friends my age end life on this earth.
So right now I am making plans to go to southern California to visit my friend, who will always be known to me as "Garb". I want to tell her i love her, that I appreciated how she made me laugh like no one else. I want to remind her of what a phenomenal friend she is to her friends and what a fantastic daughter and sister she is.
Garb always cared deeply for the people in her life and now I have the chance to tell her how graterful I am that she impacted my life.
We don't always get the opportunity to say good bye to people who we know are not going to be with us much longer. So for me, this is another gift that I have been given. A chance to tell someone how much they have meant to me. Which got me to thinking how many opportunities do I miss in telling those I love how much they mean to me. Of encouraging and cheering on people who I care about. Its a gift we can give to someone everyday-if we choose to.
And everyone loves gifts!
They don't have to be a fantastic trip to Kauai. They can be saying goodbye to a dear friend. They can be thanking someone for their thoughtfulness, Going to someone's game. Encouraging someone in their work, their crafts, their sports abilities, their gardening skills, their musical ability. We all have needs to be encouraged, to be thanked.
Why don't you think of who you could give a gift to today?? That's what I'm doing and really going to try and do this daily.
How about you?? Gift giving is so rewarding.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
GO AHEAD....MARK IT UP!!
This is the place I sit for 1-2 hours everyday from sometime in mid May to hopefully sometime in October.
It truly is my most favorite spot in our yard. I am offered this spectacular view every single day. What you can't see is beyond, which has countless pine trees that scatter the horizon and the sky everyday is so so blue.
I come out in the morning, with my coffee , bible and journal, followed by both my labs, who everyday try and get me to throw their toys, and I tell them "NO, not now".
So off they go exploring our yard-which is about 1 1/2 acres that is fenced in. Then they chase each other for awhile and eventually come and lay by me ( I swear their biggest job in life is to find the best place in that moment to lay down...are all labs this lazy?).
Each day depending on my schedule for the day, I am allowed to enjoy this beauty for quite some time.
It is where God meets with me . Its where I spend time reading His Word, praying, meditating and interceding for dear loved ones and friends.
One day in the summer of 2009, absent-mindly, I left my bible on the table and went down to camp.
Hours later I returned, and I knew something was up. Our son Todd was visiting and he had a sheepish grin on his face.
"I don't know how to tell you this Mom, but Cody (the yellow very mischevious lab) got hold of your bible."
This dog did not just get ahold of my Bible, she ate it. She literally ate the entire leather cover and then managed to strew about700 pages all across our front lawn. Todd had picked up the pieces and put them all in a paper bag.
There was no way this bible could be repaired.
Needless to say, I was upset. LIVID is more like it. I went to our front gate , opened it and told Cody to run away.
I really think this was the most mad I can ever recall being. It wasn't just a bible. It was MY BIBLE- the one I had used for 23 years. The Bible with all my underlining, all my highlighting, all my notes. Oh yeah, I was upset.
The following May, Kristi, Adam and Kellen (Jax wasn't born yet) gave me a new bible for Mother's Day.
This morning I was reminded of this while I sat outside again having time with Jesus. September is the month every year that I spend listening to the LORD as I try and pick verses to pray for each of my family.
Seventeen years ago, the pastor at the church we were then attending, said that he did this for his family and I decided to give it a try. He must have told us about it in September because ever since , this is the month I take to find these verses.
I absolutely love doing this. And yes, it actually does take me about a month to find a verse for each ten family members. And I love that my new bible-about 2 1/2 yrs old now, is marked up ...that it helps me look for verses.
I absolutely treasure the time I have to look over -skim thru, the entire word of God , looking for that specific verse for that specific person in my family. How fun it is to see verses that I have picked in the past for them.
In my old bible, I would write their name or their initials and the year by the verse. It seemed like an arduous task to do that once again; so I now just started from the year 2010.
Fortunately, I had written down each years verses at the back of the bible in my Cody eaten bible and because of Todd's foresight to see I might want whatever could be salvaged, I still have that paper and its now in the back of my bible!!
Another phenomenal thing about picking verses fro my family is that I pray them a couple of times a week for them and eventually I now have 10 memorized Scriptures that I probably wouldn't otherwise have done. Unfortunately, with age, I don't remember all of them word for word, but I do remember the gist of each verse.
So my advise to you is mark up your bible...highlight away, scribble notes....It makes it alot easier to find things later on, and you will be glad you did.
Monday, July 16, 2012
GRATEFUL YET AGAIN.
Both yesterday and today, my first thoughts in the morning were of her.
And how much she impacted my life and really countless others.
She was taken way too soon-as far as I'm concerned; but in His perfect timing.
One year ago today, God decided to bring His sweet angel, Katie Noel Parsons May home. (http://missyscud.blogspot.com/2011/07/life-is-unfairlearning-to-deal-with.html)
I made a vow that day to pray for her sweet man, Johnny, and her precious family, Gary, Jeanne , Hannah and Tots , everyday for a year.
Today the year ends, but I won't stop praying for them.
Tonight I get the immense privilege of guiding our 17 interns thru Romans 8.
I told them last week this is my favorite chapter in all of Scripture-and truly it is.
As I have studied this week, and read great teaching by Ray Stedman and Chuck Swindoll, I have been again so grateful for this chapter.
I mean , aside from Matt 28:5-7 where we are told that Jesus had risen from the dead (and in other gospel accounts as well) and know now that He conquered sin and death, Romans 8:1 is the BEST news ever:
"Therefore, there is now NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus."
NEVER NEVER NEVER any condemnation for my sins. They have been taken and nailed to the Cross.
This doesn't mean that I will never make mistakes, never fail or never sin again. It means that I won't be condemned for them.
There is NEVER anything God's enemy can do , or make me think, to change the fact that I am no longer condemned.
That's the answer to all my perplexities and wonderings if I can fall from God's grace. NO I can't and either can you if you know Jesus Christ as your Savior.
I could probably spend weeks studying this chapter because there's so much TRUTH and encouragement here for me.
But today as I was preparing my thoughts and how I want to lead the discussion tonight, I kept thinking of Katie and all that she endured in her struggle against pulmonary hypertension.
Romans 8:28 is probably one of the most often quoted verses in the Bible:
"and we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."
Was Katie's death good?? Not according to me. But for Katie? Well she is now in eternity with the LORD she loved and served so well. It is hard to imagine she would want to leave heaven.
The section in Romans that verse 28 falls in is from verses 16-30. In this section it talks about our suffering and how it doesn't compare to the glory that will be revealed in us.
My sweet friend Katie went thru alot of physical suffering waiting for her lung transplant. But she also went thru alot of emotional suffering a few years prior to her death.
Our family prayed alot for Katie and her family thru the years. The Parsons are a family that make you feel that you are their best friends whenever you are with them. We love them and count them so very dear to us.
As parents, Scud and I could only begin to fathom the pain Gary and Jeanne went through as they watched Katie struggle. So it was not only easy, but an extreme privilege to pray for them.
Katie suffered alot but wasn't a complainer at all. In fact, she gave us all hope to cling to. Katie wanted all of us to enjoy life to the fullest , just as she had. She pointed us to JESUS by the way she lived and by the way she died.
YES, God did use Katie's death for good, because there are so many of us who considered her our friend, who want to live our lives as she did. Giving hope, extending grace and forgiveness, loving completely.
There are 2 verses in Romans that bring me comfort:
v27 says: And He who searches our hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit , because the Spirit interecedes for the saints in accordance with God's will"
So as we prayed for a miracle for Katie, the Holy Spirit prayed according to the Father's will.
I don't understand that. We all wanted her to live. But the Father wanted her with Him and now her suffering is nothing; she is reveling in the Father's glory.
When we don't know how to pray, there is the Beloved Holy Spirit praying for us according to God's perfect will.
I love that. So often I find myself praying for someone or something and I really don't know how to pray. Isn't it wonderful that the Holy Spirit never is at a loss how to pray??
And then there's Romans 8:34 that says : Christ Jesus who died, who more than that was raised to life-is at the right hand of God, and is also interceding for us"
Jesus is at the Father's right hand- He has His Dad's ear and He is whispering to Him, prayer requests for us!! How GREAT is that?? Both the Son of God and the Spirit of God are praying for us!!
No wonder there is no condemnation for those of us who are in Christ Jesus!!
And then there's the end of Romans 8. Verses 31-19 that tell us NOTHING will ever come between God and His love for us. Nothing can separate from His love. Not the death of a loved one. Not a spouse betraying us. Not a child who goes the wrong way. Not a boss who mistreats us. Not a friend who gossips about us .
NOTHING. NOTHING at all.
We aren't ever condemend and we will always be LOVED and cherished by the Father.
I hope you will be like me and thank and praise Him today for this.
And how much she impacted my life and really countless others.
She was taken way too soon-as far as I'm concerned; but in His perfect timing.
One year ago today, God decided to bring His sweet angel, Katie Noel Parsons May home. (http://missyscud.blogspot.com/2011/07/life-is-unfairlearning-to-deal-with.html)
I made a vow that day to pray for her sweet man, Johnny, and her precious family, Gary, Jeanne , Hannah and Tots , everyday for a year.
Today the year ends, but I won't stop praying for them.
Tonight I get the immense privilege of guiding our 17 interns thru Romans 8.
I told them last week this is my favorite chapter in all of Scripture-and truly it is.
As I have studied this week, and read great teaching by Ray Stedman and Chuck Swindoll, I have been again so grateful for this chapter.
I mean , aside from Matt 28:5-7 where we are told that Jesus had risen from the dead (and in other gospel accounts as well) and know now that He conquered sin and death, Romans 8:1 is the BEST news ever:
"Therefore, there is now NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus."
NEVER NEVER NEVER any condemnation for my sins. They have been taken and nailed to the Cross.
This doesn't mean that I will never make mistakes, never fail or never sin again. It means that I won't be condemned for them.
There is NEVER anything God's enemy can do , or make me think, to change the fact that I am no longer condemned.
That's the answer to all my perplexities and wonderings if I can fall from God's grace. NO I can't and either can you if you know Jesus Christ as your Savior.
I could probably spend weeks studying this chapter because there's so much TRUTH and encouragement here for me.
But today as I was preparing my thoughts and how I want to lead the discussion tonight, I kept thinking of Katie and all that she endured in her struggle against pulmonary hypertension.
Romans 8:28 is probably one of the most often quoted verses in the Bible:
"and we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."
Was Katie's death good?? Not according to me. But for Katie? Well she is now in eternity with the LORD she loved and served so well. It is hard to imagine she would want to leave heaven.
The section in Romans that verse 28 falls in is from verses 16-30. In this section it talks about our suffering and how it doesn't compare to the glory that will be revealed in us.
My sweet friend Katie went thru alot of physical suffering waiting for her lung transplant. But she also went thru alot of emotional suffering a few years prior to her death.
Our family prayed alot for Katie and her family thru the years. The Parsons are a family that make you feel that you are their best friends whenever you are with them. We love them and count them so very dear to us.
As parents, Scud and I could only begin to fathom the pain Gary and Jeanne went through as they watched Katie struggle. So it was not only easy, but an extreme privilege to pray for them.
Katie suffered alot but wasn't a complainer at all. In fact, she gave us all hope to cling to. Katie wanted all of us to enjoy life to the fullest , just as she had. She pointed us to JESUS by the way she lived and by the way she died.
YES, God did use Katie's death for good, because there are so many of us who considered her our friend, who want to live our lives as she did. Giving hope, extending grace and forgiveness, loving completely.
There are 2 verses in Romans that bring me comfort:
v27 says: And He who searches our hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit , because the Spirit interecedes for the saints in accordance with God's will"
So as we prayed for a miracle for Katie, the Holy Spirit prayed according to the Father's will.
I don't understand that. We all wanted her to live. But the Father wanted her with Him and now her suffering is nothing; she is reveling in the Father's glory.
When we don't know how to pray, there is the Beloved Holy Spirit praying for us according to God's perfect will.
I love that. So often I find myself praying for someone or something and I really don't know how to pray. Isn't it wonderful that the Holy Spirit never is at a loss how to pray??
And then there's Romans 8:34 that says : Christ Jesus who died, who more than that was raised to life-is at the right hand of God, and is also interceding for us"
Jesus is at the Father's right hand- He has His Dad's ear and He is whispering to Him, prayer requests for us!! How GREAT is that?? Both the Son of God and the Spirit of God are praying for us!!
No wonder there is no condemnation for those of us who are in Christ Jesus!!
And then there's the end of Romans 8. Verses 31-19 that tell us NOTHING will ever come between God and His love for us. Nothing can separate from His love. Not the death of a loved one. Not a spouse betraying us. Not a child who goes the wrong way. Not a boss who mistreats us. Not a friend who gossips about us .
NOTHING. NOTHING at all.
We aren't ever condemend and we will always be LOVED and cherished by the Father.
I hope you will be like me and thank and praise Him today for this.
Monday, June 18, 2012
S.T.O.P.
It has been WAY TOO LONG since I have written anything. I went from ending the year in Young Life College at Chico to sprinting and trying to catch up with our Woodleaf summer. Our 17 amazing interns-that I have the immense privilege and blessing of being involved with-arrived before the school year ended in Chico. No time to catch my breath. No time to relax and take it easy. TIME to GET GOING. Time to get Woodleaf ready for the thousands of campers who will be here. Hundreds of kids each week visiting and hearing the powerful words of how Jesus Christ loves them and desires to be in a relationship with each one of them.
I made countless trips to the airport to pick up people. My latest trip was Saturday and I got to pick up our daughter Katie, who will be with us for 12 days while her Nate is in Israel for business. Its my habit to pray while I drive; whether its to Chico or the airport. It gives me time to really think and pray for what is on my heart. This last trip I was praying and began to realize that I have been so busy that I have forgotten to stop and thank God for the prayers and blessings and people that He has brought into my life. So as i drove , I began to compose this list of what I had forgotten to give thanks for:
. The wonderful girls I had the privilege to meet with weekly this year and the tremendous blessings I was allowed to have watching them pursue after their Savior and Lord.
. The wonderful celebrations I was able to attend as three of my college friends graduated and I have had the privilege of walking with them all 4 or 5 years of their college career!! CONGRATS TO ROBBY, ROBIN AND CARLIE!!
. YLC in Chico is growing and its all because of GOD.
. I love my job.
. I love watching who my adult kids have become. Scud and I treasure any time we get with them.
. I love Kellen and Jax and the joy of being their Grammy. . The sweet lifelong friends I have been given. I can't imagine my life without them.
. Woodleaf...that this property belongs to God, and we are just His tools.
. The Gresham family and how much we will miss them and their faithfulness in serving Christ.
. Our bosses; Scud and I are blessed by these men who love and long to serve and lead as Christ did.
. For our interns this summer!! What a lively group of exuberant, fun-loving, thoughtful , Christ serving kids!!
. For Scud...always thankful for how this man loves Christ, me and others and for his life of integrity.
. For God's continual GRACE, MERCY and FORGIVENESS to me. Everyday I am reminded of what an amazing, awesome GOD HE is.
These were just a few of my WOW moments that I was reminded of. I need to stop and be mindful everyday of how much GOD has done. For how much He has blessed my life. Challenging and encouraging all of us to take the time. To STOP AND GIVE THANKS!!
Give THANKS to THE LORD, His LOVE endures forever!!
I made countless trips to the airport to pick up people. My latest trip was Saturday and I got to pick up our daughter Katie, who will be with us for 12 days while her Nate is in Israel for business. Its my habit to pray while I drive; whether its to Chico or the airport. It gives me time to really think and pray for what is on my heart. This last trip I was praying and began to realize that I have been so busy that I have forgotten to stop and thank God for the prayers and blessings and people that He has brought into my life. So as i drove , I began to compose this list of what I had forgotten to give thanks for:
. The wonderful girls I had the privilege to meet with weekly this year and the tremendous blessings I was allowed to have watching them pursue after their Savior and Lord.
. The wonderful celebrations I was able to attend as three of my college friends graduated and I have had the privilege of walking with them all 4 or 5 years of their college career!! CONGRATS TO ROBBY, ROBIN AND CARLIE!!
. YLC in Chico is growing and its all because of GOD.
. I love my job.
. I love watching who my adult kids have become. Scud and I treasure any time we get with them.
. I love Kellen and Jax and the joy of being their Grammy. . The sweet lifelong friends I have been given. I can't imagine my life without them.
. Woodleaf...that this property belongs to God, and we are just His tools.
. The Gresham family and how much we will miss them and their faithfulness in serving Christ.
. Our bosses; Scud and I are blessed by these men who love and long to serve and lead as Christ did.
. For our interns this summer!! What a lively group of exuberant, fun-loving, thoughtful , Christ serving kids!!
. For Scud...always thankful for how this man loves Christ, me and others and for his life of integrity.
. For God's continual GRACE, MERCY and FORGIVENESS to me. Everyday I am reminded of what an amazing, awesome GOD HE is.
These were just a few of my WOW moments that I was reminded of. I need to stop and be mindful everyday of how much GOD has done. For how much He has blessed my life. Challenging and encouraging all of us to take the time. To STOP AND GIVE THANKS!!
Give THANKS to THE LORD, His LOVE endures forever!!
Sunday, May 13, 2012
MOTHERS DAY
Undoubtably, the most terrifying job one can imagine is being a mother.
Mind you, it is also the one job that brings indescribable joys. It also can bring tears and fears.
But being a mom is hands down the most challenging, yet rewarding job any woman can have.
For almost 34 years now, I have had the etremely immense privilege of being the mom to Kristi, Todd, Katie and Ryan.
They have brought me to a place of humility like no other.
They have brought me laughter upon laughter.
They are the memories that will never leave my heart.
Those four lives are the ones I would do absolutely anything for, and often have.
I have sacrificed so they could have.
I have been blessed abundantly beyond measure because of them.
I have laughted until I cried, and wept till I couldn't cry anymore.
I have watched them grow up.
I have watched them succeed and have watched them fail.
I have nursed them in sickness and held them in their dark times.
I have watched them fall in love and watched their hearts break over losing love,
I have watched both of my daughters fall in love and then marry the most wonderful delightful men.
I anticipate watching both of my sons marry the girl of their dreams.
I had absolutely no idea what I was getting into when I became a mother. There are no manuals. Often it is a trial by error method of learning how to parent.
I am confident that Kristi, Todd, Katie and Ryan would confirm that I have failed a few too many times.
I am also sure that they know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I love them fiercely and loyally.
I have made countless mistakes being a mom and have asked forgiveness of my kids more times than I would like to admit.
But I have tried to be the best mom that could be for them. I have given it my all. I have tried to become the mother I envisioned myself to be. And yet as I said, I know I have failed.
AS I look at my grown children, I know I have succeeded too.
I see them as adults who long to contribute to making the world better.
I am so incredibly proud of each of them. As adults they bring me incredible joy as I see how they pursue life and they pursue Christ.
I think the best thing I have done for my kids is to pray continually for them-since the moment I knew I was carrying them inside me. It has been the most awesome adventure watching my prayers answered; wasn't always what I prayed but what happened was the Best for them.
More than anything what Scud and I wanted was for them to know the LORD of the universe. To spend their lives seeking Him and obeying Him. And each one of them is doing that. We all know that we are on a journey with Jesus and I have been blessed beyond my wildest imagination seeing Kristi, Todd, Katie and Ryan seeking after the GOD who loves them more that I can begin to comprehend.
God blessed me even more by bringing Adam and Nate into my life as well. These two men, who love my daughters like no other, are now too, my sons. I love them deeply and am so grateful they are part of our family.
Four years ago I learned that the best thing about parenting is GRANDPARENTING.
Now I just get to love and love and love on my little favorite guys. I might make mistakes with them too; but what a privilege it is to get to see life again thru the eyes of a child.
So THANKYOU Kristi, Todd, Katie and Ryan.
I wouldn't trade being your mom for ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD.
NOTHING has brought me greater joy. I will keep on loving you, supporting you in any way I can, until the day I leave this earth.
Mind you, it is also the one job that brings indescribable joys. It also can bring tears and fears.
But being a mom is hands down the most challenging, yet rewarding job any woman can have.
For almost 34 years now, I have had the etremely immense privilege of being the mom to Kristi, Todd, Katie and Ryan.
They have brought me to a place of humility like no other.
They have brought me laughter upon laughter.
They are the memories that will never leave my heart.
Those four lives are the ones I would do absolutely anything for, and often have.
I have sacrificed so they could have.
I have been blessed abundantly beyond measure because of them.
I have laughted until I cried, and wept till I couldn't cry anymore.
I have watched them grow up.
I have watched them succeed and have watched them fail.
I have nursed them in sickness and held them in their dark times.
I have watched them fall in love and watched their hearts break over losing love,
I have watched both of my daughters fall in love and then marry the most wonderful delightful men.
I anticipate watching both of my sons marry the girl of their dreams.
I had absolutely no idea what I was getting into when I became a mother. There are no manuals. Often it is a trial by error method of learning how to parent.
I am confident that Kristi, Todd, Katie and Ryan would confirm that I have failed a few too many times.
I am also sure that they know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I love them fiercely and loyally.
I have made countless mistakes being a mom and have asked forgiveness of my kids more times than I would like to admit.
But I have tried to be the best mom that could be for them. I have given it my all. I have tried to become the mother I envisioned myself to be. And yet as I said, I know I have failed.
AS I look at my grown children, I know I have succeeded too.
I see them as adults who long to contribute to making the world better.
I am so incredibly proud of each of them. As adults they bring me incredible joy as I see how they pursue life and they pursue Christ.
I think the best thing I have done for my kids is to pray continually for them-since the moment I knew I was carrying them inside me. It has been the most awesome adventure watching my prayers answered; wasn't always what I prayed but what happened was the Best for them.
More than anything what Scud and I wanted was for them to know the LORD of the universe. To spend their lives seeking Him and obeying Him. And each one of them is doing that. We all know that we are on a journey with Jesus and I have been blessed beyond my wildest imagination seeing Kristi, Todd, Katie and Ryan seeking after the GOD who loves them more that I can begin to comprehend.
God blessed me even more by bringing Adam and Nate into my life as well. These two men, who love my daughters like no other, are now too, my sons. I love them deeply and am so grateful they are part of our family.
Four years ago I learned that the best thing about parenting is GRANDPARENTING.
Now I just get to love and love and love on my little favorite guys. I might make mistakes with them too; but what a privilege it is to get to see life again thru the eyes of a child.
So THANKYOU Kristi, Todd, Katie and Ryan.
I wouldn't trade being your mom for ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD.
NOTHING has brought me greater joy. I will keep on loving you, supporting you in any way I can, until the day I leave this earth.
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