Wednesday, March 20, 2013

My Sweet Momma


 
These are two of the last pictures of my sweet Momma. She is just so beautiful. One she texted us from Ole' (their house in London) and made a funny comment about the wind doing her hair. The other photo my sister took in the hospital in February. She is dancing with Jesus today. She left us to be with Him on Saturday in the wee hours of the morning. A precious thing! There are so many things I want to say and to write and ... I'm just going to keep them tucked away in my heart for now. What I know is God is and was faithful to His Word to us and the way He showed us was nothing short of amazing.
 
Please keep our family in your prayers as we move forward knowing that God will fill the empty places. We walk in His peace that passes understanding. There really is no other explanation. We miss her terribly, at times overwhelmingly, but we trust the One who made her and made us and so, we'll walk in different and love each other more fiercely. Love each other fiercely, too.
 
In His love, Debra

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Trust


 
 
So this is my beautiful, crazy amazing Mother. I love her more than words can say. God loves her even more. I took this picture two days ago. You really wouldn't know just exactly how completely terrible she feels by looking at it. Because, she is completely awesome and fighting the biggest battle of her life. She was diagnosed about 7 years ago with Hepatitis C, and not because she is a tee-totaller, but because of a blood transfusion she received almost 49 years ago when she birthed me. The Lord has sustained her all these years. Now, satan is attacking her with cirrhosis and some very large cancerous liver tumors. None of these things are too big for God. Nothing is too big for God. We know that God will continue to sustain her. In fact, we are praying, that like Hezekiah, he will heal her and extend her life by 15 years. Feel free to pray this with us! :)
 
I titled this blogpost "Trust." I did that because really trusting in God, for us, is the only option. I could make you a laundry list of all that is going on in our lives besides my Mother. You might be shocked because it isn't pretty and it is not short. But God ... God has it all under control and I believe and trust in Him. We believe and trust in Him. Is there any other option? Absolutely. We can look with earthly eyes, act in fleshy ways, trust in flawed human beings and human knowledge and, in fact, we could throw up our hand and give up. Truth is, this is a situation satan loooooves. Why? Because earthly trials and yucky things are satan's playground, exactly what he's looking for to pull folks away from God, to get folks to disbelieve, to call God a liar, to get you to think He isn't in control and He doesn't care. Lie. Lie. Lie. Lie. Lie.
 
Here is the truth. God cares. God made us to love Him. God loves us. We live in a fallen world run by satan, but God, He doesn't abandon us in it. He is there. Working on our behalf. Working all the ugly for our good and His glory. Beauty from ashes. He is not a liar. He does not abandon those who have chosen Him. I am His daughter. My Mom is His daughter. My family are His children. He never abandons us. He might allow us to walk through things that look ugly by earthly standards, but we live by spiritual standards and we know God has this and all the other things on our list. He is faithful. He never fails. That is not "prosperity theology." That is truth. No matter the outcome. No matter what happens. God NEVER fails. He always loves and He is ever faithful.
 
If you want to keep up with how Mom is doing in this journey to recovery, feel free to follow the updates on her Caring Bridge. And, thank you for praying in faith with us! 


How Sweet It Is!


How sweet is this picture? I took this precious photo when the littlest was snoozing in her "kajamas" and the pearls, which she wears every day (not on her feet) were a.dor.a.ble. Love my babies, all three of them! :)