Calm In The Storm

Mark 4:35~41
35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" 41 They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"

Have you ever had fear just totally consume you? Had a 'moment' when you were weak, and let it just totally take over? I have. This one time a few years ago when it had iced over really bad, Todd, the boys, and his best friend, Bob, drove to someone's house. They had been gone probably two hours, when I started trying to call them. I couldn't reach either Todd or Bob, and this awful feeling just completely overtook me. I was terrified that they had been in a wreck, and I was about to have a full blown panic attack. Todd finally called me ten minutes after that (thank goodness it was ten minutes for me to calm down!), and told me that they'd gotten out of the truck to let the boys play, and they'd left their phones inside the cab.

No matter if we fear something like that, or an illness (again in my case when Todd was sick with the tumor), I can hear God saying to me, "Why don't you have faith in Me yet? Haven't you learned by now that I work on My own time?" That's why this scripture spoke to me this morning. So many times, all it takes is a deep breath, and a hearfelt plea to God. He will restore the peace within you, no matter what it is.

In my morning devotion, the subject was calm in the storm. In the book of James, God's word tells us to embrace trials. If we change our thinking and start looking at trials as an opportunity to grow closer to God, what peace it would bring to us! In 2 Corinthians 4:17, the Apostle Paul says that "our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory." How beautiful is that? An absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. Beyond our wildest dreams. No matter how big our trial is at the time we're going through it, in the end, it is only momentary and not as big as it seems at the time. Once we look back, we'll probably have what I like to call an "ah ha moment". Oh, so that's why I went through that. I have had many of those in my life so far, and many more will follow, I'm sure.

That book that Oprah endorsed, The Power of Positive Thinking, just makes me cringe. In the book, from what I understand, the author tells readers that if you think positively you can accomplish whatever you desire. Well, God is the power of positive for us as Christians. It says in His word, that if we think on it, and ask Him for it, and believe that we will receive it, we will. It may not be exactly when we want, or even exactly what we ask for, but God will work everything out in a way that will glorify Him. That may require us to change our thinking, or to change the way that we pray. For instance, when Todd was going to take that CPAT test last Sunday, I did not once EVER ask for him to pass it. I prayed that if it was in God's will, that he would pass it, and that if it wasn't, then he wouldn't. Well, I feel like (we both do, actually) that God has something else in store for him.

I love how God works...I love to stand back after something has passed and see why we were allowed to go through something. It is so cool to be able to witness God's glory. I have a situation that I'm praying about right now, and that is what inspired me to write this today. I pray that this will be read by someone who needs encouragement. I also pray that God will speak to the hearts of all who are going through a storm right now. May their spiritual eyes be wide open.

Kung Fu Panda, Anyone?

Since Todd, Graham and Drew are at camp, and lonely old us are stuck at home, I decided to make today a day all about Jonah and Noah. I did whatever they wanted. I even let them talk me into them having something weird (or nothing at all, in Jonah's case) for breakfast. Noah's wasn't too weird, though, he wanted cheese toast. Anyway, I promised them last night that I would take them to buy a toy today. This was after Noah told me last night at Baskin Robbins' that he wanted to go to the store and buy something with his nickel. What day and age are we living in?!?!?! Since WHEN does a nickel buy anything??? I was prepared to lay down the bucks, but all the picked were 2 farm animals each. I was pleasantly surprised.

Anyway, we did what they wanted today. They wanted toys out of the attic, so I let them get the ones they wanted. They wanted to play farm starring Todd and Bob (imagine that), so they occupied themselves for 2 hours. Then, much to my astonishment, they MADE THEIR OWN LUNCH!!!! No I did not ask them to do this, they just surprised me. Even if it was only cheese and crackers, still! They even cleaned up and everything!

After lunch, they wanted to swim, so we did. Even if only for one hour...that's almost not worth slathering sunscreen all over them. But, this was their day, so I went with the flow. We got a surprise visit from Mimi after we came home, so they had fun with her...and Papa, since he came right behind her. They had dinner with us...and I let my 5 year old twins crack open the eggs we had with our breakfast. Am I brave, or what?!?! They did great, though! Graham won't usually let them get in the kitchen, since that's his domain. Thank you, Big Daddy. He'll get over it. Graham, not Big Daddy.

I decided to take them to see Kung Fu Panda after dinner...who can resist when your dad in love can get you tickets for $2? Even if Jonah DID sleep through the majority of the movie. I sure hope he sleeps tonight!!! The movie was great if you have kids (or even if ya don't!) that haven't seen it yet. It was funny...Jack Black played the voiced of Po, the panda. While Jonah was blissfully sleeping, Noah and I watched the dragon warrior defeat the evil one. I could not help but laugh at the panda as he tried to get in shape for his upcoming fight. I was strangely reminded of my husband nearly killing himself last week, in preparation for the physical test he took on Sunday. It was funny, and very ironic. At the end of the movie, Noah was yelling, "Yeah! The panda won!! Mommy, Po won! I knew he could do it!!!" Talk about the gift of encouragement. Everyone laughed at him...there were 3 teenage boys, and another mom with a little girl. Noah really gets into his movies, ya know? Kind of like DrewBear. Speaking of him, he's going to be SO MAD at me that I went to see that without him. That's 2 movies he's missed out on now, Kung Fu Panda, and IronMan. No, we're not mean parents, Graham got to see IronMan at a sleepover. Todd is going to have to take him to see that one next week.

Well, that was our fun and exciting day. It really was. Tomorrow, we're off to work at the church, then we're going to see Jonah and Noah's new love interest, Carly.

Psalm 30

Psalm 30:1 I will exalt you, o LORD, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. 2 O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. 3 O LORD, you brought me up from the grave, you spared me from going down into the pit. 4 Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name. 5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. 6 When I felt secure, I said, "I will never be shaken." 7 O LORD, when you favored me, you made my mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed. 8 To you, O LORD, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy; 9 "What gain is there in my destruction, in my going down into the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness: 10 Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me; O LORD, be my help." 11 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, 12 that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.

Notice the boldness and italics in part of this scripture...I praise God that my brother in law is alive and well and able to still live. Jim was in a very bad motorcycle accident on Saturday afternoon, and by all means should not be alive. But God has a purpose for him, and spared his life. He took a turn a little too fast, apparently, and went into the grass. Then he jerked the bike back onto the road, and the bike just started flipping. Once he stopped rolling, he could not breathe. There was a man on the ride with him that just so happened to have medical training, which is totally not coincidence, but GOD!!! Jim couldn't breathe because one of his broken ribs had punctured his lung. The man put his arm under Jim's head and just held his head in his arms, saying, "You gotta breathe man, try to take some slow breaths." He continued to talk to Jim until the ambulance got to the scene. They decided to airlift him to a trauma hospital in Florence, Alabama, due to the extent of his injuries. Originally they told my sis, Lisa, that he had a shattered shoulder bone, three broken ribs, a punctured lung, and fluid in his other lung. They also thought he had internal bleeding. BUT GOD is good, and faithful, and turns out there was no bleeding, no more fluid in his lungs, he is NOT getting pneumonia (which they also thought he was developing), and he does NOT have to have surgery on his shoulder. Praise God! I am totally claiming this Scripture for Jim's life.

I am sure this has changed him...near death experiences tend to do that. All day Sunday, he couldn't stop crying and just thanking God for sparing his life. They transported Jim by ambulance last night to Methodist Germantown, and he is feeling much relief knowing that he is in his own hometown, so his kids and family can see him. I cannot imagine the experience he has been through, but God obviously has HUGE plans for this man and his family.

Twin Brothers

Proverbs 18:24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Last night we went next door to swim and eat with Travis and Katie. Travis was throwing the kids in the pool, and then he started jumping in while holding them. He did that with Jonah, and his floatie came off. Now they both swim, but the floaties are just what I make them use while in the deep end. Anyway, Jonah started to panic, and in the meantime, started going underwater. (We were all right there and there was no chance that anything was going to happen.) Before any of us could do anything, Noah takes off running, saying, "I got him, I got him!" and jumped into the pool. He swam straight to Jonah and proceeded to pull him to safety. How's that for "closer than a brother?" I think that scripture is meant for twins, by the way. Todd and I just looked at each other and shook our heads, thinking how awesome twins are.

I had to share that story, it's one I'll always remember! Love to all!

To Be Continued

The cute blog was having technical difficulties, and was impossible to read. I will change it back to the cute one once it's back up and running.

Oh, and an update on Todd...he did not pass the test today (Sunday). He's o.k. with it for several reasons, but mainly because in not even two weeks time, he has lost weight, and gotten on track with getting in shape. He went today and gave it his all, but God has something else in store for him, something even better, I'm sure. What happens now, you ask? Well, he leaves to go to camp with the boys tomorrow, and won't be back until Friday. He will be giving his hard~worked body a rest during the next five days. Well, as much rest as he can, since camp is nothing but tons of land on tons of hills. Once back to his normal schedule, he will continue training. Just not as much in such a short time.

Thank you to all of you prayed for him today, he felt it. We had people EVERYWHERE praying for him...people in Tennessee, Missouri, Texas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Alabama, you name it, if we knew someone there, they were praying! It was cool...we both sat and cried this morning over all the support and love he's gotten from his friends and family. We love you all, and thank God that we have you in our lives.

Like Father, Like Son

I thought you would enjoy seeing how much Jonah loves his daddy. These pictures were taken last night...it was one of those really nice nights, and we were all hanging around outside, talking to the neighbors, and Todd decided to give his car a bath. Jonah came up to me and asked, "Mom, can I wash my car, too? It's really dirty." To which I could not refuse him. After all, he does EVERYTHING his daddy does. See the proof below.

These other pictures are from yesterday at our neighbor's pool. I think I finally have the delay figured out on my digital camera! Finally, after how many years?!?! This first one is Graham.
This next one is little Jonah being his sweet little carefree self.


This one is of all the boys...I could never get the timing right on my camera with Noah and Drew jumping in...so I just took one of all of them.

AND this last one is what I did while they swam! I actually laid out and read a book. And this book is wonderful, I highly recommend it!
Have I mentioned that I absolutely LOVE summer?? If not, I LOVE SUMMER!!!!! The pool we swim in is in my neighbor's backyard. Travis and Katie Katie (as the boys call her) live right next door and have become wonderful friends to us. Katie is the one who invited me to her church's ladies Bible study, the one I will probably make my new lifelong habit. I hope you enjoy the pics. Love and blessings to all!

A Song You Have To Hear!

Happy Independence Day! My blood does not flow only red...it flows red, white and blue. This is the boys' current favorite movie, so this in honor of them. And it's pretty stinkin' cute. Go grab the kiddos and tell them to come and watch. Love to all, and GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!