The Book of James

As I sat in church holding my sleeping six month old I was able to hear a sermon for the first time in quite a long time. . .probably about six months! I found it truly refreshing to be able to sit and listen to a sermon (well most of it). We have a good preacher. He studies God's Word and is honest when God speaks to him through what he is delivering to us. Last night there was one thing he said that didn't necessarily have a huge part to do with the main context of the sermon, but it was something I needed. Basically he said that if you have your (spiritual) nose out of joint the book of James will put it back in to place by showing you the places in your life where you need to confess sin. Shortly after he said this the baby woke up, and I had to leave the service--but I got what God intended for me to have from last night's sermon, and I'm thankful I was able to be in the service. Today I took up the challenge. For my devotional time I will now begin to read a chapter of James each day along with reading through the Bible. I know how easily I forget and become carnal. It's a daily battle. Today when I started in chapter 1 I had an immediate challenge. Lately I've been particularly overwhelmed by certain trials in my life and have been looking for a way out. God used James 1:2-4 to help me to refocus on the fact that He is working in my life to teach me patience. "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." The Lord has helped me to see that I need to allow him to do a "perfect" or "complete" work of patience in my life. Instead of looking for a way out I need to be asking the Lord to help me trust Him and learn what He has me to learn from this particular situation. When I think of trials, a vivid example comes to my mind. When we were in the Philippines last May, the country was having the hottest weather they have had in 70 years. We were blessed to have air-conditioning most every night we were there. When we were in the mountain province the weather was bearable and we did not need air-conditioning, but when we were in San Manuel the heat was simply unbearable. Without air-con, as the Filipinos call it, sleeping was an impossibility. One night I woke up to what felt like a wall sitting on me. The heat was so intense I felt like I couldn't breathe. In a few seconds I gained my senses and realised that we were experiencing a "brown out" which meant there was no power. My husband's uncle was sleeping by the front door of the house so that only the screen door had to be closed. All the windows were open in the house, but there really was no difference; there was no breeze. Two of our children woke up and were crying because they were so hot. (I felt like crying! I was due with a baby in less than 2 months!) As my husband and I sat there, each fanning one of the crying children I kept praying in my head, "Please Lord, help the A/C to come back on! Please, help the A/C to come back on." After a while of fanning and trying to console the children, I realised I was praying the wrong way. My new prayer was, "Lord, please help us to endure this heat. Please help the children to be able to fall asleep in spite of this heat." Soon the children were able to fall asleep. We all fell asleep again and in a while we were awakened by the pleasant noise of the A/C coming back on. The next day my husband told me that the same thing had happened in his mind that night. This reminded us both of when we face trials in our lives. So often we beg God to take the trials away. Today, I needed to give the trial to God and ask Him to help me through, to learn patience. . .and whatever else He has for me to learn! Thank you God for your patience with me!

A New Start

Since we have a new computer I will be able to update this blog much more easily. I will be making a new start to this blog, and, Lord willing, share the things God has showed to me. I have a dear friend, Susan Baduria, who has challenged me, simply through her life, to take a step forward in godliness. This blog will, again Lord willing, simply be an outpouring of what God is doing in my life through His Word.

We're Home. . .but. . .

I just wanted to let everyone know that I haven't forgotten about updating our blog with the details of our trip to the Philippines. Since we returned, our heads have been swimming with jet lag, finishing school, and home renovations! I can't wait until Friday. "The boys" are putting our new (free!)floor in on Wednesday (Ugh! I cannot believe how disgusting it was under our living room carpet!). Our homeschool assessment is on Thursday and on Friday, I'm going to put my house in some sort of order! Baby coming in less than 5 weeks! I think I must be insane! Lord willing on Friday I will start telling you all about our trip. So until then. . .pray for me!!

"I did it, Mom!"

This is what Micah said when he called me from the hospital last Thursday. When he went for his MRI, the technician was concerned whether he would be able to be still enough to get good images. As I waited at home I just kept praying. If he couldn't be still, the test would have to be rescheduled; and he would have to be put under anesthetics. About 50 minutes after the test was scheduled to start the phone rang, and it was Micah. He said, "I did it, Mom!" He was so excited that he had done such a good job. Jun said the technician was very impressed with how well he did. Thank you to those of you who prayed for him. This Friday is his EEG. Pray that he will do just as well, and please pray that I will not feel sick on that day. It's already been a long week and it's only Tuesday. Thank you again for all of your prayers!

Micah's MRI

I just received a call from the MRI office. Micah's MRI is scheduled for 3:40 pm tomorrow, Thursday. Micah's head will be put into a brace to make sure that he will not move his head. The concern is that he will be claustrophobic. Also, his asthma is acting up right now. When he is having trouble with his asthma he has a hard time laying on his back because it makes breathing difficult and causes him to cough. Please pray that he will be able to do exactly what he needs to for the tests to be successful. Thank you!

My Micah

I would like to ask friends and family to pray for Micah. On Friday night around 10:00, he had a seizure. Since this was the first time we've ever seen this, it was very scary. He was unconscious for a short time during the convulsing and then he still very disoriented until the first responders hooked him up to oxygen. It was amazing how quickly the oxygen cleared his brain. Micah was taken by ambulance and then assessed by doctors at the hospital. The possibility of Benign Rolandic Epilepsy is being investigated. Micah will be having an MRI and an EEG. His EEG will be on December 4th at 10 am. His MRI is yet to be scheduled. Please pray that Micah will be able to be still. Being very still is very important for both tests, but it is paramount for the MRI. If he cannot be still for the MRI, the test will have to be rescheduled at the children's hospital and he will have to be put under anesthetics. We would much prefer that the procedure be done without him being medicated. If Micah's asthma is acting up he will not be able to lay still on his back because this makes him cough. Please pray that he will not get another cold before these tests. Thank you to those who will pray. Thanks be to God who loves us and has everything in control.

A Call to Action

With missions ever present in my mind and heavy in my heart, I see the dire need of Christ for our world. I wish I could say I've always done everything I could to see folks find our Saviour--but I have not. We Christians of North America need to realise that we are not far from losing our freedoms to openly worship and tell others about the One True God. You Tube is not something I whole-heartedly endorse. Much filth is posted on this site. I am still compelled to pass you this link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-3X5hIFXYU We cannot argue with facts, but we can pray and work. Also, we young parents must ask God to give us wisdom to prepare our children for the world they will live in. (Just click on the link and it will take you right to the documentary.)