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

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! :)

Be Still ...

There are days when all seems overwhelming and unrelenting and seriously, I'm not convinced I can manage it all. Then peace that passes all understanding, that feels so surreal at times, takes over and I remember that I don't have to manage it all. All I have to do is trust God. He is in charge, not me. He has the perfect plans and He absolutely will bring them to fruition if I will just will myself to sit back, get out of His way, and trust Him.

All He Says I Am ...

This picture absolutely took my breath away. The sweet children these hands belong to are living in Africa at Touch A Life. They have been rescued from slavery and child trafficking and all manners of evil and are now living in freedom and learning how much their Heavenly Daddy loves them. Seriously, God is A-MA-ZING! What He is doing to change the lives of these kiddo's is simply ... no words for how great it is. And, we have been priveleged to help through my sweet friend, Kimberli Brackett. It is no small thing to be a conduit for God in loving on His people. And, when one chooses to be a part of His plan, there is no question Who all the glory goes to, God! Why? Because He rocks!

 

The great truth of this photo are the words that are written on these precious hands ... set apart, chosen, beloved, blessed, loved, no flaws, beautiful, rescued, masterpiece ... and the list goes on and all those words God writes on my hand and on yours and what's more, He has my name and your name written on the palm of His hands.

 

"See I have written your name on my hand." Isaiah 49:16a (NCV)

 

"Behold, I have indelibly imprinted (tattooed a picture of) you on the palm of each of My hands ..." Isaiah 49:16a (AMP)

 

That is my identity. That is your identity in Christ. That is who we are and Whose we are and when we believe in and love and follow Jesus, nothing and no one can take that away.

And God ...

There is much going on here. There is a spiritual battle going on all.the.time and how can we ignore it and name it by earthly names. And, in the midst of waiting, there is anger and truth and wanting to quit and feeling like throwing my hands up and Abraham's faith and waiting on God and the noise. The chatter. The constant speaking and static and ick that goes on in my head and it's a battle. And, there is truth. God's truth. God's promises. God's Word. It never changes. He never lies. He does what He says He will. And ... He STILL speaks. Absolutely. And, the more crazy I feel saying it, the more truthful it is. I have stood in complete earthly crazy before. And, God ... He NEVER fails. So, I get just quiet enough to hear Him whisper. And, that is where peace, truth, love, joy and rest lie. Yes, friends, He still speaks ... And, I love Him all the more.

*Picture borrowed from Marissa.

2013

This Year ...

I will be fiercely true to the me that God created.
I WILL NOT LAY DOWN in the unrelenting war against my heart.
I will walk in my own story more than any other person's story.
I will attack with ferocity the execution of the vision for my life.
I will do all I know to remain unguarded, while still guarding my heart.
I will love with courage, and not shrink in passivity.
I will learn to be truly vulnerable in my relationships.
I will laugh more and I will sabbath my soul. - Bob Hamp

I'm not sure I could've said it any better. I want to be closer than I've ever been to the Lover of my Soul. I want to be a better wife, mother, daughter, daughter-in-law, friend, sister, aunt, and servant than I was last year or have ever been. I want to stand in God's amazing grace and love and have it splash off of me and onto others who don't know Him or who need to know Him in ways they never have before. And, to continue to experience the joy of walking forward as a family into what God has planned for us. And, I know, with God's help, that is exactly what we will do! Here's to 2013!