Two years old ~

Two years ago, a word entered into our life

that one can never be prepared for:

Cancer.

We were then introduced to more (equally scary) words:

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia.

My husband was diagnosed after 

discovering his white blood cell levels were way too high

for his 'routine' appendicitis.

What we know now is how blessed we were for

the appendicitis, and the doctors we were

surrounded by then and now.

The Lord has his plans, and they seem to be

different enough from ours that we are

constantly surprised by how He uses the broken for His glory.

These past two years have been an adventure for our family.

Nothing has come close to the low one feels

after hearing their dear one has been hit with the cancer stick,

but since we have relied on the Lord through this

process, we have been able to see His hand

at work at all times.

We know that over these last two years, He has been grooming us.

We have really solidified our little family unit,

we have learned to lean on Him in ALL,

and we have found that our frequency to His calling(s)

resonates clearly for us when we are prayerful.

We have been able to give up on our small dreams

in exchange for His big plans.

We have been able to take news of friends and family

in difficult situations in a very peaceful and prayerful way.

We are able to see how He uses the 

ugly, sin, disease, and brokenness

for HIS glory and how we get to play a role in that.

It is a privilege to be called a child of God,

the Heavenly Father whom cares about the details in our lives.

We can now praise the Lord for this cancer diagnosis.

Thank you for the medicine that is working so well,

we pray that it continues to work as well.

Thank you for the doctors that we are able to interact with,

blessed with such brains and bedside manner only

an Intelligent Creator could create.

Thank you for the perspective that we are able to

have and rest in the comfort of His plan and control of our lives.

Thank you, God for my husband.

I cherish his passion for providing for our family

in a very difficult business with high pressure and high expectations.

I adore his deep love for our family and big arms to wrap around us.

I honor his commitment to being a man of God

with integrity, honor and chivalry that is not often praised in this society.

I love him so much, Lord.

Those words seem so shallow compared to the depth of the reality.

I thank you for introducing him to me when I was 14.

I thank you that our relationship was built on a solid foundation

of friendship and growth.

I pray that we continue grow very old together blessed

with watching our grand babies have babies

leaving a legacy of Your love behind

for generations to come.

Amen.

Bumps, bruises & badges

I was in a heartfelt conversation with my cousin

the other day and we were discussing

how hard life is sometimes.

(typical)

Looking at another person's life

through our own vantage point is Satan's way of trying our faith.

And it works, nearly every time.

Except this one.

Our conversation took its typical route

but where it ended was different...

The Lord used this conversation we frequently have

(fueled by the evil one)

for His good.

We all have people in our life that always seem to land on their feet.

Receive their innermost prayer.

Have it all together.

And while the Lord may be the One to only know differently,

there are some whose life really isn't a struggle.

It *actually* is an easy life.

And while He doesn't want us to be jealous of these people,

He wants us to learn from them.

Through my quiet time, He pressed upon my heart

what a blessing struggles can be.

Certainly not while you're struggling,

but for who you become BECAUSE of the struggle.

Struggles are like a blister on the skin,

painful, raw and oozing.

But once that temporary pain 

and discomfort go away, what is left is a callus.

A toughened part of the skin that will serve as a shield 

from the elements in the future.

People who are callus-free

will not have a defense against another struggle.

He also impressed upon my heart about

how these calluses bear testimony.

I have this great vision of Heaven:

we are all huddled around each other comparing

our scars, wounds and calluses.

The Lord and His angels are right there with us 

explaining how each trial/bump/bruise/struggle worked for His glory!

They are no longer signs of pain, struggle and trials...

but badges worthy of rejoicing.

We will see how His plan was perfectly woven,

who came to know Jesus because of each trial

of our hearts and lives.

And we will meet them and praise the Lord beside them for all eternity.

What a party it will be!

People who are callus-free

will not have much of a party in Heaven.

Sure!  They'll be there, happy and in perfect peace.

Their party will just look different.

So, while it is Satan's lie to be envious

of those whose life is 'picture perfect' on the outside,

its time we wear our bumps and bruises

like badges of eternal glory.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And if you think you have struggles,

check out the book of Job in the Bible and see what trials

a *blessed man goes through - 

and what blessings come because he remained faithful.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for my struggles. 

I know that a life with trials, bumps and bruises 

are a part of living.

Thank you for this Christmas season

that we stop and celebrate 

the birth of your one and only son, 

sending Him to Earth as a living sacrifice

so that WE may live with you.

I will be in Heaven 

because of the struggle Jesus went through.

What a joy it will be to celebrate with Him: 

face to face for all eternity.

Amen.