The Brave Little Tailor

When our daughter auditioned for the play, "The Brave Little Tailor" little did I know it would change me.

A play, a childrens play, little kids reciting words learned, changed me. Through the plot, the courage and bravery of the Little Tailor, but mostly through a little boy. A little boy named Mark Kelly.

Mark Kelly has cancer. I have watched for weeks as he comes into play practice so eager to perform. His body is enduring chemotherapy, he has lost his hair, his skin is peeling, and he has blisters on his body. Lily tells me, "Mom if Mark Kelly has to vomit during the play we act it out like he always disappears."

I have watched this little boy run the race with endurance. No complaints, no negative words, just a little boy excited to play a part.

Mark Kelly has unknowingly taught me how to continue my race on this earth with joy, peace, and contentment.

It is no coincidence that he plays the part of the Brave Little Tailor. The story is one of bravery and courage. The Tailor is commissioned to save the princess from the EVIL giants.

I am currently fighting my own giants. I too am trying to save a little princess from the EVIL giants.

Mark Kelly has given me an example. Through this little boy God has shown me how good will triumph evil. How although he is physically suffering, his body hurting, his spirit is still soaring. He is battling out his faith on this earth. To us, to our human mind his suffering seems like a curse from God. We ask why? Why would God allow a little boy to suffer? I am one of the reasons. Through his suffering I am encouraged. There is a prize for our faith. As we run this race with Christ, He is faithful to help us finish it, and at the end He will crown us.

To you Mark Kelly....Thank you! Thank you for your bravery.....it is unmatched.......

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET REBEKAH

It has been 15 long months since we slipped these shoes on our princess Rebekah. 

Got all of this paperwork to Haiti to start the process to make her our.......

We are have been devoted to prayer and diligent to pray her home. 

Today she is turning 4.

Without her FAMILY, cake, ice cream, the happy birthday songs, and presents galore. 

This beautiful girl, full of life, personality, giggles, and smiles. 

Is in a faraway land waiting for us to bring her home.

Longing for the Lord to perform the miraculous. Holding tight to the hem of my saviours garment as I rest in His plan for our lives. Longing to hold a girl that when ask in Kreole this Febuary who I was replied, "This is my mama!" The little girl that begged to go with me when I had to leave her behind. Listening as Lily and Sam pray EVERYDAY without fail, "Dear Jesus, Please bring Rebekah home soon."

Decorating a room for her. Picking bedding with a dollhouse and making sure it had a brown girl on it. Bunk Beds, a closet full of clothes, thoughts, and dreams of the added laughter in our house. Another little helper in the kitchen, snuggles, kissing ochies, and making everything ALL better. 

Please help me pray for our birthday girl today! Pray for her safety, pray for a quick homecoming, pray a special birthday blessing for her, and pray for her to know how VERY much she is 

LOVED! 

The Pearl Of GREAT price.

I am currently walking through a vast field of HARD. I can't go into everything my family and I are facing, but you all know about my dad. There is so much more, so complex, so deep, so difficult. I have news though, good news the Lord is with me. He is leading me and He is teaching me what true peace that passes understanding really is. I can say I now know how Paul counted it ALL joy.

God has been speaking to me throughout the day today. He has been bringing His perfect word to my mind. That is why it is so important to hide it in our hearts. He says to me, "I will go before you! I will fight for you! I love you with an everlasting love! I make your paths straight! I will NEVER leave or forsake you!" His word is a healing balm to my soul.

I ask my family to come together in the floor to cry out to the Lord. What I found in my prayer was only praise. Praise for the pearl of GREAT price. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it." Matthew 13:45 My name is written in the Lamb's book of life! I have a treasure hidden that some men can't even understand. This world will always be hard. Bad things will happen to good people. Evil looks as if it will prevail. The kids and I were just studying that fact this morning. I know a secret though found in the word of God. He wins! It is won! It is finished!

Jesus is looking for those who will worship Him in spirit and truth. Truth is light and light is truth. Light dispels the darkness and the darkness can't hide. The truth is He died, rose, and is seated at the right hand of my All Mighty Father making intercession for me. I may struggle, I may hurt, I may feel like my heart is breaking, but God is working in me and through me to accomplish His will.

Standing for truth, standing in belief that I have a pearl that was purchased by the blood of my Saviour. He is worth losing everything for. He says if I'm not willing to leave it all I'm not worthy of Him.

What are you holding on to? What has you bound to this world? What keeps you from looking toward your heavenly inheritance?

I say to you seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and ALL these things will be added to you. What things? Peace, joy, comfort, peace, joy, comfort, rest, and more peace.

I praise you Jesus for loving me, for sending the Holy Spirit to comfort me, for preparing a kingdom for me, a place of complete rest.

I want to shout HALLELUJAH! Praise you LORD!

Wrestling.....

Wrestling, continuing to wrestle, wrestling with God, with sin, with confusion, with the enemy, with fear, with doubt, wrestling with a world of hurt.

How do we walk through a world filled with sin? A world with broken babies, babies dead at the hand of their own mother, the hungry, the destitute, sin excused.

Jacob wrestled until God blessed him. He wouldn't let go of the ONE who holds the stars. He held on until daybreak, until his answer came, until he was BLESSED.

I wrestle with the will of God. The why? Is that a lack of faith on my part? Maybe. Faith is a gift of God and I need to wrestle in the closet, my prayer closet until I am blessed with faith. Faith to believe that a Holy God is on the throne ruling and reigning now. That no matter what darkness I walk through, how much deception I experience, how much pain that resides in my heart, I will trust HIM.

Wrestle until my soul is content no matter what comes my way. A little girl in a faraway place that needs a FAMILY. A little girl abandoned. Wrestle as the kids here at home pray for her. Wondering why does it take so LONG to rescue a ORPHAN. Wrestle with governments, powers of darkness, the enemy of my soul that doesn't want to see FAMILIES serving the ONE TRUE GOD.

Wrestle as I behold my dad. My strong daddy that is wasting away. Losing 20 pounds since April. Sad that he can't do what he's used to doing. Wrestle that he will one day leave me and go to heaven. Wrestling knowing that my Father in heaven says He will never leave or forsake me.

Wrestling with apathy and complacency. How can I be so dead when my God is living? He died so that I might live! Have an abundant life.

Wrestle with my sin. How can sin so easily beset us? Struggle with this flesh. The slimy pit of sin keeps my feet from walking the path of righteousness. The inside sins of pride, doubt, apathy, selfish ambition.

Fighting the fight of faith. Encouraged by these words this morning as I wrestle, "Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God." Psalms 42:11

Seeking the face of God this morning as I wrestle......

The Swirling Winds Of Change

What do you do as the winds rip and tear, sucking the life, sucking your faith. When you hear, read, and feel the force of words spoken on public sites from people that claim the name Christ in their title of "Christian." Fighting a word war over orphaned children. What happens when you see your dad suffer daily, his body racked with pain from a disease that breaks the bones. When you hear of babies drowning under rubble. My faith shakes, swirls, it breaks, and bends. I cry out this morning, "God forgive me! Forgive me when I doubt, when I allow the enemy to sift me and rattle my soul when the winds rage."

I turn to His word, His infallible truth, the letter He left as a balm to my soul, all the answers are found there. To the weather and destruction I say, "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells." 2 Peter 3:10-13 Heaven is my eternal dwelling place. This material that surrounds me today will be destroyed now or at His coming. I have the promise in His word that after His patience with humanity is played out He will come for me and take me HOME.

To the Christian that is fighting with their brother, picking up and hurling swords over babies orphaned, I say, "Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them." 1 John 2:9-11 Hate should never transcend truth. I believe truth should be spoken and children should be spoken for, but our hearts must remain pure in the process.

To the pain and anguish that attacks and kills our physical bodies I say, "Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, 'Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our LORD JESUS CHRIST. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:51-58


The promises of God are my strength and my shield in the time of trouble. When the storms rage, the winds blow, the rain pours, I know and I'm persuaded that this trouble is meant to change me. I wrote a blog yesterday titled, "The Calloused Christian." I don't think I will ever post it, it was only meant to show me the condition of my own soul. I was becoming calloused (hardened) to this world. Steeped in self-pity and condemnation I was wallowing in the mire of my own sinfulness. The sin of doubt had taken me captive. As I watched the news and saw the crumpled buildings destroyed by the winds fury, I was changed. When my dad called to tell me his neighbor across the street that we had just seen on Friday being resuscitated died, I was changed. As I sat with my children today and taught them the importance of LOVE over the need for things, I was changed. Winds change us!

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:16-18

Are you willing to be changed? Will you let the HARD winds rip through your pride, envy, and selfish ambition? Tearing apart your flesh and ripping out your sin. Can we forgive today as if it were our last chance? Repair and restore broken relationships, apply love to open wounds, seek the kingdom and it's riches of mercy. He says if we seek we will find, if we ask it will be given. Will you ask today for the winds of change to rock your world for the sake of HIS kingdom and glory?

I praise the MAKER OF THE STORM for walking with me through it.

This Little Light Of Mine

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5: 14-16

The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. Psalm 119:130

I have been pondering for months now, pondering Christianity. Thinking on things that are high and looking to obtain wisdom from above. I have been walking with Christ for fourteen years now, trudging along on this narrow path. I have been burdened for months now, burdened for the Christian. You see, it seems to me that it has become so mainstream to call yourself a Christian. There are post all over facebook and in the social realm of "Christians." I keep thinking about my children. I want them to have an organic and real relationship with the person of Jesus Christ. I don't just want little "Christians." 

Unfortunately we are living in a time where people are calling evil good and good evil. If you follow the scripture and walk out your faith in complete abandon and obedience you are labeled misguided, legalistic, or strange. If you call sin, sin you are judgemental. As Christians we have a clear revelation from God in His holy word. We don't have to walk blindly wondering how we should live our lives. We walk by faith. 

This woman walked for miles to attend church in Haiti. The little girl below rode her bicycle with her bible on the handlebars.I sat in that church service. There were no lights, no power, complete darkness...except....except for a tiny light at the front of the church. I stood there recognizing the tune of the songs they were singing in creole. We Americans singing in English the Haitians in Creole. I was overwhelmed in the worship. I focused on that tiny light and how it dispelled the darkness. One small light reflecting on the faces, some brown, some black, and some white. All these faces around me lifting up the name of Jesus. Singing in one accord to the ONE true God, the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE. Our voices melded together in praise. That night changed me. 

My mind is so consumed with the thought of the church and the Christian walk. What are we supposed to look like? Our deeds are to reflect our faith, but our deeds do not mean we are faithful. Let me explain. If we are truly in a love relationship with Jesus Christ our lives will look different. Our love for Him will compel us to do....faith in action. There is self imposed religion that is rampant in our society today that equates works with salvation, that is not what the bible says. There is nothing we can do to earn salvation, it is a gift straight from God. But the bible also says that faith without works is dead. We as Christians should know the word, know the giver of the word, and know what we are supposed to be doing. We are all called, we are all gifted, we are all equipped at salvation. I believe it is high time we stopped drinking the milk of the word of God and desired a great big steak. Be learners of the word so you know what is acceptable to the Lord. 

This cathedral was destroyed by the earthquake that shook Haiti in 2010. Beautiful, whitewashed stone,  an architectural masterpiece, shaken, fallen, broken, collapsed. Churches built with bricks and mortar, high ceilings, stained glass windows, carpet, and soft pews, that's not what God desires. He desires to take our hearts of stone, this temple of flesh, and make the church. We as a body of believers should be coming together, knitted together, serving, edifying, and discipling one another. We shouldn't be tearing one another down. "If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other." Galatians 5:15 

The world IS watching, they are watching to see if what you say lines up with what you do. Are you loving like Christ? Look at the little naked boy. Are you feeding him? He's very hungry. That's his mommy holding his hand. Are you willing to help her? Those little boys holding hands, one white, one black. Are you racist? Do you think because someone has a different pigment in their skin they are less than you? Are you helping them? 

LOVE......it is what compelled God to send His only son Jesus. Jesus left glory, perfection, and came, lived, walked this earth, He showed us great compassion and mercy. He took up your sin and LOVED you! Love is an action, love is a Christian, love is the Church. Let's love like him today. Be a true reflection of His grace and mercy. Don't just call yourself a Christian act like one! Be a light of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Shine God's perfect love into this dying world. People are getting so calloused to sin, we see it everyday. Abortion is right, having a large family is wrong, seeking worldly wisdom is good, seeking the wisdom of God is evil, homosexuality is okay, saying it's not isn't. Wake up oh man and woman of God! Light your candle and shine..........

Breath Of Heaven

I sat there at my daddy's bedside, I sat and I watched the heaving in his chest. Up and down, up and down, struggling for air. The doctor's baffled not knowing what was happening in his body. Rushing, spinning, the room, my heart. After surgery we were called in to visit. There lay my strong daddy, the man that used to lift me over his head, with a tube breathing for him. I had to stay strong for those around me, but after I found a room and I collapsed. I cried, I cried out to the Lord, I ask Him to please let me have my daddy a little longer. Selfish, I know. I want my kids to know how blessed they are to have such a wonderful Papaw, I want Rebekah to meet him, I want to have more time with him. We went to a hotel close by since he was so critical and again I found a place. I sank down in the bathtub on my face before God, begging.

My daddy is coming home today, not going home to his eternal home, but home. This situation has drained me physically, spiritually, and emotionally, but it has me thinking too. I have been pondering heaven. A place of complete peace and rest. To be absent from this body is to be present with the Lord. It's so hard to find Him here sometimes. There are principalities and powers of darkness waging a war for our souls, for our affections, for our trust. I couldn't feel His presence even though I knew He was there. There was no emotional experience. Having His word in my heart is what held me. Knowing what He says and knowing it is true. This is not our home. We are pilgrims here. There is a place that awaits those of us that belong to Yahweh. He says in His word that He is preparing that place just for us. When we remain earthly minded we forget the heavenly realm. Ministering spirits sent to aid us in this world, perfect light, perfect love, perfect peace. Jesus Christ forever!

This life is so hard, babies dying every day, sick loved ones, pain, poverty, orphans, bombings, hate, death. We have hope in the eternal, a new body, consuming beauty, loved ones that have died in Christ, the cloud of witnesses that have watched our story unfold. I can't imagine not having hope in heaven through Jesus, struggling through this time here, this vapor of a life with no hope. How do those of you without Christ cope?

Lord, what is man, that you take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him? Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow. Psalms 144:4-5