~ Jehovah-Rapha ~

Today was an incredible day at Caleb’s doctor appointment! We have been so blessed to have wonderful doctors taking care of our precious boy at UNC Children’s Hospital. Today was a big appointment as both his specialists joined us together.  They coordinated their schedules so they could meet with us together and they were in awe of where he is today compared to his test results just 2 years ago. Caleb has battled a medical issue since birth and we have seen our Great Physician do such a healing work in his little body. We have seen one doctor since Caleb came home from China and the other specialist joined the “party” last year because Caleb’s case was so unusual. They wanted to put two heads together and they have done an awesome job. They have put lots of teamwork into this and have been a huge blessing to our family.

As we sat there cramped in this tiny exam room, I listened to the doctors explain all the technical terms and how unlikely this was and I just smiled. When they finished, I shared with them that this is the result of lots of prayer. What an amazing God we serve! I shared again how we have prayed since day 1 that God would provide healing in Caleb and guide us through the treatment options even when they, the doctors, seemed skeptical and unsure of the correct route.  One of his doctors began tearing up! He has walked this battle with us for 6 years and to see these results got us all emotional. That’s right! Our Great Physician receives ALL the glory for this!

We praise God for His guiding hand, His healing touch, and His amazing love! Caleb is such a special boy and his sweet smile touches every life he encounters. He is our little miracle and we praise God for him! 

~ A Mom's High Honor ~

I get asked this question by moms all the time...

"How do I get my children to love the Word of God?"

Well, your children need to see their mom reading the Word, studying the Word, praying the Word, talking about the Word, but most importantly...living the Word! Be a living testimony of the power in that precious Book and pray over your children!

I am living proof! Growing up I witnessed my mom immersed in God's Word daily. She lived it in front of me and taught it to me! Because of her deep love for the Word and prayer over her children, I am forever hooked! I saw the magnificence of God's love lived out through my mom and now I cannot get enough my God and His amazing Word! My desire is to know my God more, to love Him more, and to serve Him more! I now have that same opportunity to share that deep love with my own children and pray that they grow to love it and live it as well! Such big responsibility but such great honor!

Don't lose heart dear, sweet mamas. Hold tight to His Word and keep on praying! Live it out loud and continue being a shining light to your children!

"Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that’s in you, love him with all you’ve got! Write these commandments that I’ve given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates."

Deuteronomy 6:5-9 (MSG)

~ Standing on the Word of God ~

"I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you."

2 Timothy 4:1-5 (NLT)

It's time for the children of God to make a stand on His Word! My heart is grieved over the continual hardness of heart in our nation but to see Christians cower back and ignore the evilness in front of us is even more disturbing.

Decide today whom you will serve!

“Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me."

Matthew 12:30 (NLT)

~ Read With a Passion ~

I sat in my quiet little spot at the bookstore/coffee house last week just so excited that I had about two hours of uninterrupted time in the Word. It was one of those days when I had several things to keep me in town but there was a nice long break in between appointments where I had a couple of hours of “free” time. Yes, “free” time! What is that you ask?

Well, I had to look up the definition as well because “free” time doesn’t come by my way very often. Haha! Anyway, two hours to do what I wanted to do!

Even though the store was quite busy, I nestled myself at a quiet table, opened my Bible, and bowed my head to thank my sweet Lord for that precious time.  As I lifted my head and glanced around the room, my heart was drawn to the people sitting all around me. After all, it was a bookstore so everyone had chosen their reading material as they sat and sipped their iced beverages. Most people were catching up on the gossip magazines. You know the magazines that are laced with who is cheating on who? who has the best celebrity beach body?, what fashion do you need to wear to be “hip”?...you know the reading material that really feeds your mind. Lol!

But a short moment later, my focus was drawn to a little lady in the corner with a stack of books on her table. She had a book in her hand and she was reading so intently that she was even making strong facial expressions and hand gestures with her free hand. She would laugh, she would speak aloud when she agreed with what she had just read, and she, at one time, even began to cry.  Wow! What in the world was she reading? It must have been powerful to get that kind of reaction out of her in a public place. Well, I couldn’t tell because it was in Spanish so that remains a mystery to me but she was so engrossed in that book and passionate about its message.

That spoke volumes to me!  Reading evokes so many emotions in us. Have you ever read a book that you just couldn’t put down, a book that you kept talking about for days? I have! The written word can be such a powerful thing. But today, my heart was stirred about that amazing Book I had in my very hands!

I quickly bowed my head again and asked God to prepare my heart as I opened His Word. No other book can ever be as powerful or life altering as God’s Holy Word.  After all, no other book was written under the direct inspiration of God’s mighty hand and I was about to dig my heart and soul in!  I prayed that God would give me the passion and excitement as I read the beautiful promises He wrote for me. I prayed that my heart would be stirred in such a way that I would leave that bookstore with a renewed passion to tell others about Him.

Oh, the precious Word of God! Life altering, divinely inspired, full of grace and truth! 

Read the Word today!  Pick up those beautiful pages of scripture and read what God has for YOU!

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” II Timothy 3:16-17

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1

“Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105

“Open my eyes that I may see
wonderful things in your law.” Psalm 119:18

~ It's a New Day ~

"Because of the Lord ’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! I say: The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him."

Lamentations 3:22-24 (HCSB)

Hallelujah! I serve a God of new beginnings and He is my portion!

What is holding you back from living the abundant life God has for you? Throw off the sin, guilt, and shame and let God be your portion! Put your hope in Him alone for His mercies are new every day! He is faithful! He is just! He is LOVE! 

~ The Journey ~

A sign of true growth in Christ is NOT worrying about what others think about the decisions you make because they have not walked your journey. 

True growth in Christ IS realizing that God understands your heart and delights in your obedience to Him because He walked the journey with you! 

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze."

Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)

~ All For Him ~

Today I'm thankful that my life doesn't revolve around the vast amount of troubled news stories or what other people say or do. My life is surrendered to the One and only Savior of the universe and it is through HIM I place my trust. It is through HIM I have strength. It is through HIM I have peace and it is through HIM I will live this life He has blessed me with! 

Where He sends...I will go, what He says...I will do, and where He leads...I will follow!

This life = ALL for HIM!

"But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken. We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone."

Psalms 33:11, 20-22 (NLT)