What I Learned from The Word Today

Learning to Love Through One You CAN NOT STAND!

2012-01-13T00:19:00.000-05:00

I know that I can't be the only person in the world who has someone in their life that they truly
CAN NOT STAND.

Nice way to start a blog post, eh?...especially when I have refrained from writing for so long.

I thought I'd just come out of the gate fast and hard, since this will likely be my return to blogging.

There is someone in my life who is SO HARD for me to deal with!

Their words, the snide little faces they make, the backstabbing things that they do...all make me want to schedule a sit-down with them and let them HAVE IT!

My mother used to tell me (usually when we were in a fight) that I would have made a great lawyer.
I'm able think on my feet very clearly, and when powered by my flesh I can tear someone to shreds with my words in mere moments, and convince myself that I'm brilliant all the while.

Don't miss those key words though..."when powered by my flesh."

Oooh! My flesh has a FIELD DAY every SINGLE time I think about this person!

That is, if I'm walking by it, instead of by the Spirit of God which dwells within me.

However, I don't live like that today. That's not the woman that I am, or desire to be. If I blow it, it's usually only seconds before I go back to the person and tell them I was wrong and ask for forgiveness.
My days of truly ripping someone to pieces with my words just don't occur anymore, but I'm fully aware of the fact that I could all too easily slip right back into that behavior.

I've heard and read over and over that I'm supposed to die to myself, but it wasn't until I listened to this song by Lecrae that I really understood what that means.

(When you click on the link, reallyl listen to what he says at about 4:25-4:45 minutes into the song.
I love many of Lecrae's songs, because they are so chocked full of doctrine.)

So, how does Jesus instruct me to deal with this person who incites anger within me, more than just about anyone else I know?

He bids me to come and die.

He instructs me to die to myself daily, to walk in the truth that my flesh has already been crucified with Him, and to humbly admit that it is impossible for me to walk by His Spirit and spew hateful words upon this person at the same time.

The truth is, regardless of the fact that they claim to be a Christian, their life defies their cultural church talk.

Thus, I pray for their salvation, and for God to heal their heart.

I take many a Salvation Shot for this person...and I keep thinking that the more I pray for them, God will truly put a love for them in my heart.

That hasn't happened yet.

God doesn't tell me I need to feel something toward them in order to live as Christ before them.

He tells me to obey Him, and by doing that I'm able to allow His Spirit to lead and direct my words and my actions.

How about you? Do you have the same struggle?

I am clear on the fact that the Lord has shown me that it's through having this very person in my life that I will learn to love as He did...sacrificially...toward even my enemies.

I pray that this post encourages you to die to yourself and to allow His Spirit to control your words and actions toward those in your own life whom you can't stand.

Much love to you tonight,
Jes

Wow, Who Knew LISTENING to the Bible Would Be So Great

2011-09-09T00:58:00.000-04:00

If you've read much of my blog at all, you know that the love of my life is studying God's Word.

There's just nothing more special to me than a morning curled up in my big red chair, with a cup of iced coffee and almond milk with the Word spread open on my lap!

However, I've been in a season lately where it's been hard to get that face down time in the Word.

When MS is raging as it has been the past 4-5 weeks, the time that I so long for..the time that my soul craves, is elusive at best and close to impossible at worst.

But God.

Don't you love those two words? I think they're my favorite words in the Bible!

But God saw fit to give some wonderful Believers the ability to create the YouVersion app, available on iPhones and Droids as well.

(Goodness, now that I just looked for a hyperlink for YouVersion I see that they also have a pretty wonderful website! Click the link above to see it and learn more about their apps.)

While I've been down, and unable to study at the level I so enjoy, I have been blessed beyond measure by this app!

There is an area in it where you can choose a reading plan, and currently I'm going through the one by Professor Horner. It allows me the option of listening to the Word being read.

I never thought that I was much of an auditory learner, but I'm finding that I was wrong!

As much as I love the dramatized versions of the Bible, they sometimes make it hard for me to really drill down deeply in my thinking about the Word, but just listening to it as a straight read allows me to "see" the words on the pages of Scripture.

This particular reading plan takes me through several chapters a day, spreading wide across the Old and New Testaments.

My friend Pam Gillaspie is big on us realizing the need to go Deep and Wide as we study the Word, and Professor Horner's Reading Plan guides me just that way.

It even allows me to read along while I listen, which I love because although I'm not always looking at my phone, when I hear a verse that I want to remember I can grab it and use the highlighting feature to earmark that verse for me.

Get it, earmark? I know...I know....

But seriously...isn't that cool?

When highlighting verses, it even gives me the option to use different colors. Thus I have chosen pink for verses that I hear that I want to share with Brennan, blue for Caedmon, and yellow for verses that apply for all of us.

In one sitting, which equates to a day of the reading plan, I am currently hearing 1 chapter from each of these books:

Matthew

Genesis

Romans

1 Timothy

Job

Psalm

Proverbs

Joshua

Isaiah

Acts

A few days ago as I listened to Matthew chapter 12, I found that I finally "got" it! Who knew that I'd be able to understand a passage that has been hard for me, by hearing it?!

Can you tell I'm not a natural auditory learner? That's why I'm so surprised at the success and the fact that I am really loving learning the Word this way!

Initially I was so resistant to this plan because it skips from book to book and I don't get to hear one book in context all the way through, but I have found that what I'm missing in cohesiveness, I'm gaining in breadth.

I'm going to sign off with these two verses that really jumped out at me from the book of Job:

This is Job speaking to his "friends" about the LORD God...

Job 12:16

"With Him are strength and sound wisdom,

The misled and the misleader belong to Him."

(italicized emphasis mine)

Wow!

What if we remembered this truth when we're dealing with people that aren't walking the Godly path?

How might it impact the way that we interact with them?

Say it with me, "God is in control!"

And I love this verse...

Job 13:5

"O that you would be completely silent,

And that it would become your wisdom!"

I found this one to be quite profound, especially with regard to one of my children!

OK.....and with regard to me, too.

Much love to you tonight,

Jes

Their Prayers Made Me Weep Today

2011-08-24T03:42:00.000-04:00

It may not be so for you, but for me it's just downright hard being a mom some days!

When I was a girl my mother used to talk about how stressed she was when her house was a mess, and I never understood it. There were times that I'd long for her to sit down and play with me and she'd tell me that she would as soon as, as, as....

Yet, after clothes were washed and dishes scrubbed, she'd make time to sit and play a game with me, or she'd include me in baking with her.

I now know what a labor of love that was because I understand that she likely had 15 things she put on hold at those times, just so that she could pour into me.

Now that I'm a mother, I understand that stress that comes when my house is a wreck. Unfortunately, keeping my home like I'd like it to be has been a struggle this past several month, as I've been in a tough MS season.

This week I'm finally feeling better, and so I'm on a tear to get my house in order. Yet today, the reality of just how much needs to be done really set in for me.

And I started to get stressed...

As I sat down to eat breakfast with the children I was all bent out of shape. Things weren't off to the start that I had planned in my head, and I saw before me a day full of struggles.

So before we ate I said,
"Today I want our prayer time to be different. I want us to go around the table and each thank the Lord for something that He has done for us. I want us to die to ourselves in prayer to Him, and then I want us to pray for someone else."

It seemed a simple enough foray into new prayer territory, albeit a tall order in respect to the request to die to self.
I wasn't expecting much, I only wanted them to stretch. My aim was for us to take "saying grace" seriously.

The words that dripped so easily from their lips made the walls of stress in my heart, and the unrealistic schedule in my head crumble like stones made of graham crackers.

Caedmon started us off and it went something like this...

"Lord, thank you that Mom is feeling better.
Thank you for our family, and for the way that we all love each other so much.
Thank you for YOUR love for us!
Dear God, would you please bring "K..." to you? Would you please save him, Lord? He needs to know how much you love him!
And Father, would you please grow "A" and "T" in their walks with you? Help their faith really grow strong."

"K" is a boy that we knew when we lived in Arizona. He was such a tough kid for Caedmon. Truth be known, he was a tough kid for me too.

But my sweet son has never quit praying for him. Caedmon thinks of him often, and it's almost always in regard to his salvation.

"A" and "T" are some young men that Caedmon felt led to share the plan of salvation with. He says that they both prayed to receive Jesus with him, and he is invested from his heart in seeing them grow strong in their faith.

Amazing. He's 11.

My tears began during his tender prayer. I'm not kidding when I tell you that when I sat down to eat with them, and I was all up in a fit about things that were important to me.

God spoke through my kiddos to show me that what's important to HIM is truly at work in them, and that I was the one that needed to die to myself so that the day could go the way HE had planned for it to!

Next it was Brennan's turn to pray. She is often a reluctant pray-er, and so I expected it to be short and sweet.

I was so wrong!

She opened her mouth, and out poured the most humble words to her King.

"Dear God, would you please bring "S" to know you? I really don't want to get to heaven and him not be there.
He's really special to me Lord, and I love him a so much.
Please surround him with Christians who really love you and can show him about you.
Reach out to his family too, Lord. Show them how much you love them, and that you're really real.

Thank you for our tree house, and for our dogs, and for each other.
Thank you for my Daddy and Mommy, and my brother.
I love them so much!"

Yeah, she's 9.

Until today, I had no idea that her heart was so burdened for "S" and his family.

Mind blowing what our kids will share with us when we give them the time and focus to do so.

It's that time of year again. Homeschooling is kicking off, and all the wonderful moms around me are talking about their curriculum plans and schedules and classes they're taking their kids to, and, and, and....

And it all sound so great to me, and my flesh wants to be just like them. I want my kiddos to know all of the things that theirs do.

And so I get myself all up in a dither thinking I'm failing my kids because they aren't fluent in Spanish, or they can't recite all the states in alphabetical order, or neither one of them can play the violin, or, or, or...

BUT GOD...my two favorite words found in Scripture.

BUT GOD showed me today that my children are learning. They aren't involved in a program to teach them about God, they are rooted in His Word.

He, by His Spirit, is developing in them a love for the lost.

He, by His Spirit, is teaching them His precepts as we spend dedicated and focused time in the Scriptures.

And by having a Mommy with Multiple Sclerosis, they are learning compassion, and responsibility, and how to help out around the house, and dare I say it...reality.

When I look around me, to the left and to the right, I see all the things that I'm not able to do for my kids. But when I look only to the Lord, He shows me that what they are learning is of eternal value, and that in my weakness He is proving Himself to be my strength!

It's easy to forget that the only thing that will remain in my children when they go before the Bema seat of Christ (1), will be what they have done by the power of His Spirit.

All else will burn like chaff.

So unless there is a way that their knowing the states in alphabetical order is going to serve them in their lives in the long run, as a tool for living out the Gospel to a lost world, I think I'll capitalize on developing their skills of memorization by using the Word of God instead.

Yes, they'll learn what's required of them by the state, because that's my responsibility before God.

But I think that after today I'm going to ask Jesus to help me stress less over the little things and focus more on seeing His Spirit already at work in their precious hearts.

He designed good works for them to walk in before the foundation of the Earth. That's what Ephesians tells me. (2)

The way I see it, I need to be diligently seeking God's face to know how to point each one of them to the life's work that their Father has preordained for them.

Today put tomorrow into perspective for me.

"Thank You, Lord."

Much love to you today,
Jes

(1)

2 Corinthians 5:9	Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.
2 Corinthians 5:10	For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for [fn4]his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

(2)

Ephesians 2:10

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Life Lessons from Legos

2011-08-19T01:28:00.001-04:00

Caedmon with his homemade "Transformer."

A few days ago a friend of mine graced me with a ton of homeschooling material that she was no longer using. She invited me to come to her home and dig through all of it, and take whatever I pleased.

In the mix of wonderful books and science experiment materials, was a bag of Legos.

I was pretty excited to have found this bag, because Caedmon LOVES building with them. He will request specific sets for his birthday or Christmas and will build the entire thing within hours. He enjoys that part well enough, but his favorite part is creating his own designs with them.

He will spend hours designing aircraft carriers, or WW2 bi-planes, or houses. The list really goes on and on.

His grasp on the abilities that these little pieces of plastic have is absolutely unbelievable to me!

Once a project has been completed, he wants me to sit down so that he can show me each and every minute detail of what it does. We review colors and why they were chosen, which men do what job, what secret compartments are present and how those areas transform to look like simple sections of the overall design...all in an attempt to fool the poor Lego man who will inevitably end up in that secret jail or dungeon.

I have had to train myself to listen to all of the details, because it can take a looooong time for him to explain each part.

For me it's easy to say, "Wow Caedmon, that's a really cool boat," all the while missing the hidden mystery that he has so carefully placed within each design.

So when I came home from my friend's house with a bag of Lego's, I knew that he'd be beside himself with excitement.

And I was right.

Score one for Mom!

He said, "Man Mom, these are great! I've never seen this set before. These are going to be cool!"

The Legos were in ziploc baggies, separated out in some methodical way unknown to me. There were no directions, no box to explain what the set was.

Caedmon took a few of the pieces out of the bags and handled them. He looked intently at them, fingering each of the smaller more delicate pieces in an attempt to figure out what they were supposed to form as a whole.

He said a few times, "I've never seen Lego pieces like this before, Mom. These must be really old...like from when Dad was a kid!"

Ahem. "Little brat!"...thought I, his doting mother. OK, not really.

Just a few seconds later I heard him say, "MOM! These aren't Legos. They're Megablocks. They look like Legos, and they are compatible with them, but they aren't Legos. That's why I didn't recognize any of the pieces."

And I couldn't help myself. I had to grab the moment because it was just so teachable.
So applicable to life!

It was the perfect time to explain to the kids why we study the Word of God inductively.

I want my children to handle the Word like Caedmon handles Legos.

I want them to know it so well that when the counterfeit comes at them, looking good and talking a good talk, they'll be able to say, "That may look like Christianity. It may seem like Bible teaching, but when we get up close to it we see that it's not the real deal because it's not founded in a precept upon precept, contextual understanding of God's Word."

Caedmon knew those blocks weren't Legos, because he has spent countless hours of his life with the real deal.

Oh that we'll all be able to say the same thing about the handling of God's Word!

Are we in it enough to detect false teaching when it comes at us?
Do we depend on others to tell us what it means, or do we open it and spend time in it asking the Spirit of God to teach us...to take us deep into the mysteries of His Word?

Good life lessons from Legos, aren't they?

With love to you tonight,
Jes

I'm Praying About Whether or Not to Start Writing Again...

2011-07-26T01:51:00.000-04:00

Would you please be in prayer for me too?

I'm back to the point where I seem to be writing blog entries in my head almost every single day.

I'll be honest with you, the reason I quit is because I couldn't handle the stress and emotional heartache that came with having to deal with a certain person who was sending me unkind comments anonymously.

However, because of tools like StatCounter, the person wasn't anonymous at all.

The words were just so hateful, and stirred up so much pain, that I felt I should walk away.

Yet I can't help but wonder if she was just being used as a tool of the evil one?

Really, there's no wondering to it. I know that she was.

I miss writing. I truly do.

I miss sharing all that the Lord is teaching me through His Word.

I miss you all.

Perhaps you're not even "there" anymore, anyway.

I'm learning so much these days. It's awesome!

If you are "there," will you pray for me to know God's will for me regarding writing here?

Much love,

Jes

My Blogging Days Are Over

2011-04-14T14:41:00.000-04:00

I'd like to thank you for the time you've spent here. I've loved getting to know some of you via this blog. A few precious, lifelong friendships have been formed as a result of your visits here, and for that I praise Jesus.

So you are likely wondering why I'm not going to blog anymore.

Simply put, God has made it clear to me that I'm to stop.

So, I'm obeying Him.

I am feeling better, and think that the CCSVI procedure really did work after all. I know it did. I think that perhaps the months of January and February were just so riddled with colds and bad weather, that my body was thrown by them.

With this new lease on life, I'm ready to dig deeper.
Deeper into my children's lives. Deeper into being an attentive wife with a heart that
anticipates the needs of my beloved, and serves him before he makes his needs known to me.

Hmmm...sorta reminds me of God. He knows our needs before we even ask them of Him....think of how many times He has provided for you before you even KNEW you had a specific need.

I want to be that kind of wife. That kind of mother.

That kind of friend!

The Lord is placing me in new roles, and I want to be 100% free to walk strong in Him and fulfill these ministries.

I'm back to teaching kids how to study inductively, through our homeschool co-op. That will begin next Fall, but preparation begins now. :)

This summer I will be leading the Precept study on the book of Esther, and I am SUPER excited about it!!! There will be many ladies coming who are brand new to inductive study, so I truly would cherish your prayers that I'll be faithful, and that they will fall in love with studying God's Word!

I will miss you all!

I'll be leaving the blog live, but won't be writing anymore.

Much love to all of you in Christ Jesus.
Keep diggin in for yourselves!

Jes

MS and CCSVI

2011-03-06T00:04:00.000-05:00

MS has been a constant battle as of late.

I'm guessing it's due to all of the weather changes.

I can tell that I am going through restenosis, and am quite bummed about it.

I had dropped much of my medication, but have had to re-up some of it due to major nerve pain. I've felt like my left arm was literally on fire.

We knew that restenosis was a strong possibility, but had hoped that it wouldn't happen so soon.

I have no doubt that MS and CCSVI are connected, and no questions as to whether or not there is a vascular link to MS. I am certain that there is.

I'd do it all over again. God did some amazing things during my time in New York! In addition, having gone through the initial surgeries, I hope to be on the list of patients that will be able to undergo new and more advanced procedures for CCSVI as they are made available.

As far as my blog goes...

Yes, I'm reading the Word and am loving what I'm learning...just haven't been in much of a mood to write as of late.

In addition to my family having been sick for 6-8 weeks, I think I'm going through a bit of a mourning period over my short lived successes.

Would cherish your prayers.

I haven't really told the kiddos yet. I'm thinking that it might just be best to let them figure it out as we go along.

God still remains on His throne.

What joy and peace I derive from knowing that!

Much love to you tonight,
Jes

This Man is Set To Be Executed Within 3 Days - Church, Please Pray!

2011-02-21T00:14:00.000-05:00

His crime?

Confessing with his mouth Jesus as Lord

and believing in his heart that God raised Him from the dead. (Romans 10:9)

Said Musa is a married father of 6 who converted to Christianity from Islam 8 years ago.

He is imprisoned in Kabul, Afghanistan.

He is set to be executed within 3 days!

If you go to persecution.com or prisoneralert.com or dennyburk.com, you can read the details of his story.

Per Pastor John Piper's example, Dr. Burk suggests sending a tweet to President Obama on behalf of Said.

Please, PLEASE pray tonight for Said, for his wife, and for his precious children.

I read the testimony recently, of a believer who had been released from an imprisonment based upon their faith in Jesus, and they wrote that they could actually feel the prayers being sent up from across the world, on their behalf!

Remember the story of Peter's imprisonment?

God is still a miracle making God! He may not set Said free, but I'm asking you to pray fervently, asking that He would, if it be His perfect will...

Much love,

Jes

Planned Parenthood Exposed - Again, This Time Exposing Sex Traffickers

2011-02-09T05:29:00.000-05:00

What is it that we call it in this country... a women's health issue?

Did you know that abortions are tax deductible? I kid you not...look on the irs.gov site.

Just Because I Thought You Might Need Some Love Today...

2011-02-08T16:54:00.000-05:00

For that reason, I'm sharing one of my FAVORITE songs of all time with you.

If only all Christian music today could be this good.

What would life be without brass?

I had a blast doing ZUMBA to this song in my basement a few weeks ago!

Enjoy!

YouTube Video of 2 Months Post Surgery!

2011-01-29T01:02:00.000-05:00

Abortion Outrage - a blog entry from Dr. Denny Burk

2011-01-21T00:24:00.000-05:00

Please go to the below link and read about the Philadelphia "women's health issue doctor" (isn't that what we've been trained to call abortion...a women's health issue?) who will at best be spending the rest of his life in federal prison, and who at worst will be given the death penalty if found guilty of the charges against him.

The wisdom with which Dr. Denny Burk speaks about this tragedy and the issue of abortion truly defines the insanity surrounding the sinful act.

Please, come quickly Lord Jesus.

http://www.dennyburk.com/abortion-outrage/#more-11322

I'm Sorry.

2011-01-06T22:00:00.000-05:00

Hi Friends,

To those of you who wanted to work through the Bible study together, I'm so sorry.

December was such a tough month. It was one of those times where it felt like every time I turned around I was fighting with yet another health issue. I'm downplaying it, but between doctor and hospital visits, I was there 7 or 8 times!

I know that a few of you wrote to say that the month was turning out too crazy for you to be able to focus anyway, but I'm wondering about now. Are you at the point where you'd like to get started now?

Chaundra, would you be willing to send me an email at whatilearnedfromthewordtoday@gmail.com with your phone number? I really want to call and talk with you.

Again, I'm really sorry that I dropped the ball so bad.

I have finally figured out how to post videos to YouTube, so if we do go forward I'll most likely do several of the posts via video.

There are other superb options, though.

Precept Ministries is doing some wonderful online studies that I could tell you about. They'll be much more polished than mine, and will be guaranteed to be on time. (wince)

Much love to you tonight,
Jes

Fourty and Still Figuring It Out...and Christmas This Year

2010-12-26T00:39:00.000-05:00

Do you ever wonder when the day will come that you finally have life figured out?

You'll wake up early in the morning and have a super workout, after which time you'll eat your wonderfully healthy breakfast and trot right into your day.

You sit down to feast at the Lord's Table as you dig into His Word. It's rich and delicious, but you NEVER have all of it that you want!

By 8am, you'll have all the laundry going, your bed made, the kids fed, devotions done, the dogs brushed, floors swept, and all of your special handmade birthday and thank you cards will be written and in the mailbox.

Then you'll start your homeschooling day, changing subjects exactly every 30 minutes, teaching the trivium, taking your daily nature walk, teaching your kids to journal, and making sure that they're at least 2 grade levels ahead of their public schooled peers so that YOU can prove to all that homeschooling is the end all be all.

Oops! I forgot...your homemade wheat bread is ready to take out of the oven, and you've baked enough loaves to have some leftover to sell at the farmer's market, where of COURSE you spend at least one day a week because your family has to eat everything in it's most raw state.

By noon, your children have been around the world in their geography lessons, aced their math lessons on the first tries, learned 20 new words out of the dictionary, and polished their latin and spanish.

Time to grab a quick lunch and get ready for all of your afternoon fun!

Piano lessons are first.

Then soccer practice.

Play practice.

Scout popcorn sales.

Exercise time at the YMCA.

Chores...of course you're teaching your child to do EVERYTHING around the house that you do..you want them to be prepared for life, after all. (No mention of the fact that this apprenticing program makes your chores take 2/3 longer than they ever did before.)

Time to make dinner...Daddy will be home soon!

Rush, rush, rush....little Susie needs to do a lot of the work...she's being trained to be a homemaker...gotta teach her everything! (Nevermind that she's 4.)

In comes Daddy, time for family hour around the table.
Talk. Chew. Talk. Chew. Argue. Chew. Talk. Chew.

All during dinner, you're thinking about your beloved blog...it's been so long! You've got comments to attend to, and dangling conversations that you have simply abandoned because you've been so busy.

Now it's time to wash dishes, get little Johnnie ready for his shower (prepare for throwdown over the "to shower or not to shower" for that really is the question), and talk Susie Q into taking a shower instead of a tub bath so that both she and Johnnie can get ready for bed at the same time. (Otherwise Susie will dawdle until at least her 13th birthday!)

Two showers running at the same time will work. One tub bath would drain all of the water from your hot water heater.

Susie is ticked about missing out on a bath, so look forward to 2 hours of complaining over this!

Looking ahead at your week you have:
Scouting
Homeschooling Full
Homeschool Co-Op (all day event)
Church - Midweek service, you haven't made ONE yet...
Horseback riding lessons
Bible study class
Errands day
Sabbath Saturday (if you're lucky!)
Church on Sunday - morning and evening

You look over your schedule, thrilled that there are SO MANY great opportunities for you and your children!

But, truth be known, you are wiped out!

And, as you review your week, your heart is pierced when you hear your child tell another adult...well, what we do during the week is....* rattle, rattle, rattle*
and then Mom reads the Bible to us about twice a week.

YIKES!

TWO days a week?!

What?!

How did that happen?

How did the daily time in the Word together turn into 2 days?

And then you stop and realize...life is upside down.

It's all good. So very many of the opportunities are GOOD ones.

BUT....

Oh, how I love that word.

BUT...

A term of contrast. It might as well read, "STOP RIGHT HERE! Something REALLY important is coming up and you DO NOT want to miss it!"

But, if Susie and Johnnie and Mommy and Daddy are so busy with all the opportunities that they are missing time together in the Word of God, then something HAS to change.

The Word of God...

Living.

Active.

Sharper than any two edged sword.

Used to divide...even to the joints and the marrow; the thoughts and intentions of the heart; the soul and the spirit.

Really.

As a mother, if I allow opportunities to cloud discipleship, I will stand before Jesus and find that I have failed.

My job isn't to rear a wonderful soccer player.

My job is to train and disciple world changers for God's Kingdom.

Period.

How much of Jesus do my children know?

How much of God's Word do they know?

Simplify.

Simplify.

Quit striving.

Simplify.

These will be my reminders to myself as we embark upon another homeschooling semester.

I was so stressed these past few days, worrying about trying to make our Christmas look the way I thought it was supposed to, and then I realized...no one here cared if we ate on the good china or not.

No one cared if I had a Christmas table cloth and a pretty center piece.

What mattered this Christmas was that we were together.

Who mattered this Christmas was a dear friend of mine who needed someone by her side.

What my children will remember is the great Mexican food we had at a restaurant on Christmas Eve, the cookies we baked together, the time they spent playing in the snow with their Daddy, and the sharing of all we have to be thankful for...each of us thanked God for something important to us before the opening of each present.

Then we told of something we'd learned from the Word this year...with every single gift.

It was a precious time of sharing.

When it came time to eat dinner tonight, we realized that all we had to choose from was bean soup (which had been paying it's dividends around here for 2 days...p-you!) and corn dogs.

So I decided to whip up some potato soup instead.

And guess what?

From that soup, a new family tradition was born.

Brennan loved it so much that she said she wanted to have it EVERY Christmas night!

It was a sweet, low-key Christmas, and for us...it was perfect!

Here's my recipe. I write these to myself, so you can disregard the personal notes. :)

Merry Christmas!

Homemade Christmas Night Potato Soup

I made this tonight on our very first White Christmas in our own home.

Brennan loved it so much that she said she wants us to have it EVERY Christmas night!

So this is how traditions are born! Thank You, Lord!

8 Medium Sized Russet Potatoes, diced

2-3 Cloves fresh garlic

2-3 Leeks, root ends cut off

1 large carrot

Approx. 6 cups Organic Chicken Broth

Coarse Sea Salt

Coarse Ground Black Peppercorns

¼ c. salted butter

In All Clad sauce pan (or in a quality soup pot if I have one by the next time I make this) sauté chopped garlic and the ends of the leeks, which have been very thinly sliced and halved, in the butter.

Peel carrot and then shred with vegetable peeler, into thin strips and mix into the above.

Allow to cook over med-high heat until well done (though not browned).

Pour all the chicken broth into a large soup pot and add the sautéed vegetables, along with all of the potatoes.

Add approx 1 tsp. of salt and ground black pepper to taste. (8 churns or so.)

Bring to a boil.

Immediately reduce to simmer and allow to cook on low for approx. 25 minutes, or until the potatoes are very soft.

Remove approx. 5 cups of the soup and put into Vitamix and puree until smooth.

Pour this pureed soup back into the rest of the batch and blend the two soups together.

(If one prefers more of a clear broth with potato chunks, skip the Vitamix. If one prefers more of a smooth soup, everything can be blended in Vitamix, but be aware that you’ll still want to put the pureed soup back into the pot on the stove and cook on low for a few minutes in order to get the air bubbles out.)

Give your praise to the Lord.

Thank Him for His provision and for coming to earth to die for your sins, and rise that you might have newness of life in Him.

Commit to walk in obedience to Him as your Christmas gift to your Lord.

Then…

Serve and enjoy!

:0)

Why It's Important to Me to Be in Church on Christmas Eve

2010-12-24T00:17:00.000-05:00

I want to be there for the lost and for the hurting.

I want to go to serve those who only walk though the church doors twice a year. What a ministry opportunity!

I want to shower others with the joy of the LORD, which is my strength.

I will pray before we go, asking the LORD to direct my footsteps to someone who truly needs to be loved on by Him.

I will ask the LORD to give me a fresh filling of His Spirit, that His very Spirit might be the One ministering to others.

I will pray for those who will be in our church tomorrow, that they might hear through our Pastor's words the very Word of Life...and that some might receive Christ as their Lord and Savior.

I want to share the true wonder of Christmas with my precious family...the fact that the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us...

Because He was willing to obey the Father, Who so loved the world, including all 4 of us.

I love you tonight,
Jes

CCSVI Video #1 is Up

2010-12-22T15:02:00.000-05:00

Hi Friends,

For those of you who are interested in the CCSVI Liberation treatment that I had in November, I've finally figured out how to post the before and after videos.

Video #1 is up and you can find it by clicking the tab ^^^^ up there.

I'm uploading the others, but it takes a loooooong time, so please bear with me.

Merry Christmas!

In the love of the Babe Who came to sacrifice Himself for my sin, your sin, and the sin of all the world,
Jes

A Long Overdue Update

2010-12-15T06:54:00.000-05:00

Hi Friends,

Have you gone away?

I wouldn't blame you if you had at this point.

I'm going to give you a brief update of the past 11 days.

Perhaps I should go back a little further.

Why it takes me falling flat on my face to realize that the grace I preach should also be the grace I walk in, I'm not sure.

When I arrived home from New York, I just didn't give myself the time I needed for my body to heal. I think that because there wasn't a warning label stuck to my forehead when I was shipped home, I just assumed that I'd be good as new and ready to hit life head on.

Stupid.

Although I was fighting hard, my body was revolting. I had two trips to the doctor because of leg swelling and two sonograms within a week of each other (this is boring already, isn't it?).

Friday night December the 3rd we had a wonderful women's event at our church, but it took every single ounce of pounce that I had in me to make it.

With Lisa escorting me home, all I could think about was how ready I was to pile into bed. Yet when I got in the door, I saw on the the caller i.d. that one of my oldest and dearest friends from High School had called. When I listened to the message that she left, I could tell in her voice that something wasn't right.

"Red" and I have been friends since we were 17, and there's one thing I know about her...she doesn't call at night. Girlfriend works long, hard hours and loves curling up with her man in the evenings.

And in a word, she cherishes her weekends.

I had no doubt that I was the last thing on her mind on a Friday night. So, although I would have normally waited to call her back the following day, I knew in my heart that whatever she needed to talk with me about couldn't wait that long.

Yet what she had to tell me when I called her back was something that I wasn't prepared to hear.

My heart certainly wasn't prepared.

I guess the truth is that we're never prepared for these calls.

She told me that her little sister's husband had died suddenly of a massive heart attack just a few hours before. They and their son had gone to Gatlinburg to enjoy the Christmas parade together as a family, and it was there that it happened.

"Red" and her husband, son and other sister were on the way to Gatlinburg at that very moment.

Man, here come the tears again. It's still very fresh, and my heart still aches.

As you can imagine, the next several days were littered with bouts of weeping and a broken heart for my friend and for her sweet sister ...and for her precious little boy.

Her little boy who said in his innocence,
"Today was the best day I've ever had with my Daddy!
We had so much fun together!"

I just kept thinking, "We're all preparing to celebrate Christmas, and she and her 4 year old son are burying Daddy."

When I'm hurting like that, I just shut down. I wanted so to pop on here and write, but I was crippled.

The visitation was Monday night.
My favorite part about that time was that they let her little boy wear whatever he wanted to, and he chose a Superman t-shirt.

You know, the one that has a big "S" in the middle of it?

It was perfect...he brought smiles to so many of us who were in anguish. Seeing his little head pop around the corner with that big red "S" on his chest sent a message to many of us that he truly is in the hands of our Superhero and that despite how grim things looked, he was going to be lovingly protected and cared for.

I can't help but think that in a few years he may well be a superhero to his Mommy as well.

My children sure have been ones to me these past few years. Kids rise to the challenges presented in their lives. I'm learning that as I watch my own grow through having a Mommy who has had health problems.

Tuesday was the funeral.
What an amazingly beautiful, God glorifying funeral it was!

Then that night, my body went into rebellion.

I was hit with the worst cold that I've had in years and I think that due to the physical stress my body had already been in, combined with the emotional heartache, things were just compounded.

Then Shane got sick.

Then Brennan got sick.

I'm hoping not, but it seems that now Caedmon may be getting sick. (Please Lord, keep him well.)

In the midst of all of that, 2 days ago I started having some pretty concerning gastro type things that landed me back at my ~~new BFF's~~ friendly doctor's office. I was doubled over in pain for 24 hours before I finally broke down and went, and when I did he gave me the happy news that I get to have a colonoscopy.

I was so elated! I really couldn't believe it. A colonoscopy was on my Christmas list, but never in a million years did I think I'd really get one!

I know, I know. Lucky me.

So, what to do with our study right now?

I'm going to do what I can, as I'm able to, and apologize profusely that I haven't been able to do what I wanted to, when I wanted to.

How about if we just agree that the main goal is for us to stay in the Word... to keep Him the focus of our hearts and minds this month?
(And always.)

Now...

How are you, my friends?

How can I be praying for you right now?

Are you still working in the book?

If so, where are you in it?

Have you put it on hold until you could hear from me?

Will you update me?

Am I forgiven?

I'm going back to bed. I woke up at 4 am after just 4 hours of sleep, so it's time to get some more shut eye. If I can. My belly sounds like a pot of boiling soup...kinda hard to sleep through that.

Sending much love your way this morning,
Jes

A Desperate Cry for Help!

2010-12-03T14:44:00.000-05:00

I really, really need help with uploading videos into YouTube!

I've shot some from my phone and from Lisa's webcam, and the only one I've been able to post is that little short of Lisa on the train. (She loved being the star of the blog, didn't you girl?!)

:-)

I have several training style videos that I've recorded, but try as I may I cannot get them to post.

If you're a techno-whiz, or know someone who is would you please, please help me?

Many thanks!
Jes

New "Rules" for Our Online Blog Bible Study

2010-12-02T16:01:00.000-05:00

1. No guilt.

2. Forget the previously listed timeline. Here's the coolest thing ~~that I'm realizing~~ that Leta Lou made me see about this study...if we all just work through it as we can during this busy season, we'll remain in the Word during the rush of Christmas! Yay!

And, if we will just faithfully post as we learn, then we'll continue the "discussion."

I'm rethinking how to make the comment posting as easy as possible...both on you and on me, and I think maybe the most seamless way to do this is for me to write a little bit about each day of the study...and then post application questions by the day of the study, according to the book.

That way those who haven't started yet won't feel behind, and if you or I miss a day in the craziness of all that we as wives and mothers are doing during our celebrations of our Lord this month, it will be easy just to jump in where we left off.

Also, it will allow Dawn and me to start fresh with our kiddos and keep on task. :-) (I got your back, girlfriend!)

Today is Dec. 2nd. This is a 28 day study. If I end up not posting on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, we'll should still be able to complete our study by the end of the month, Lord willing.

But if not....there will be grace.

Aaaah. Don't you just want to thank God afresh for grace every time you hear the word?!

Thank You, Lord...for grace!

Here's the other cool thing ~~I realized~~ Leta made me see...this blog study will be timeless!

A year from now someone could pop on here and go day by day through it "with us." How wonderful is that?!

I'm so thankful to have such ~~a bright mind~~ brilliant
(and long-suffering) friends! I love you, Leta Lou!

OKAY...so I'm off now to get prettied up for my beloved before he gets home, and to do day one with my kiddos!

I love you all,
Jes

Copied Comments for Our First Week of Study & Our Discussion

2010-12-02T03:43:00.000-05:00

Hi Ladies,

I'm copying the comments that have been left for our study group thus far, as I'm not sure if you all are reading the comments or not. From this point forward, please do. I won't be posting them like this every time, as it takes a loooooooooooooooooong time to do so.

There is one question below that is underlined. It's from Leta. This is a question I'd like you all to weigh in on. What do you see from the Word? Please support your answers with Scripture references.

Chaundra...thank you so much for being so transparent. I'm praying for you, sweetie! I think you should come to Chattanooga this weekend and go to our ladies Christmas event with me, and spend Friday night here.

Whaddya think? Also...are any of your other friends, other than Rachel, joining us?

Leta Lou...I love you! Thanks for loving me like only a true friend can.

Dawn, Rachel, Deb...where are you all in the study?

Love y'all!
Jes

chaundra Anderson said...

I am so enjoying the first few days. Today i am seeing how the Word MUST concern us. We need to have a tender heart towards His Word. But first we need to HEAR His Word. Love it Jes! So interesting to me that the Word was lost in the House of the Lord. Moving around I've seen some churches that were in the same boat! I'm so grateful to be a part of a body that is feeding me right now. I pray that our love for His Word would deepen through this study. And by the power of His Holy Spirit

Jes: Amen, sister!

chaundra Anderson said...

I love the study so far. I was deeply moved when she asked what made us want to do the study. I just want to KNOW God. I want intimacy and authenticity. I want His Word to cleanse, renew, and heal me. Thanks so much for facilitating this Jes.

Jes: Chaundra, it's my joy to do this! Learning what my spiritual gift is was such an awesome treat from the Lord! Now I just want to employ it to His glory, for the women of the body of Christ. :)

YOU encourage me and make me want to do the best job possible! Thank you for that!

Leta lou said...

I finally have my computer and Bible study together to make a comment or two but first I must thank you sweet friend for encouraging us all to embark on this study – it’s a different way of doing it but I like the fact that I’m a little more independent – not relying on someone else to tell me the answer in a group setting. Thank you for following God’s leading in this new approach.

Jes: When I finally realized that it's not my job as a leader to tell students the answers, but rather to teach them how to dig them out for themselves, it was a defining moment for me.

There will no doubt be times where I'll break out into some teaching during this study, but my deepest heart desire is that you all will learn to become independent...just as you said. :)

And as far as leading the study...I just wanted to finally be in one with you,
Leta Lou! ;) I love you so!

So here’s the comments I have after the first week – I was trucking along – digging into knowing Josiah. I like how Kay took us straight to the scripture before teaching us the “how to” – it just came so easily! At one point I wrote a “thank you God for those un-named heroes that guided this child! In His way – and then I turned the page and read about Zephaniah! God you are always amazing!

Jes: How cool that you had that thought! I love that!

But then I hit a bump! – page 36 – she asks when was this wrath, this evil going to come – and then frustrates me more by saying this is important! All I could glean was that the responses God gave were present tense – “My wrath burns against this place” Is that what she’s asking – if so what exactly makes that particularly important?

Jes: Before I weigh in, please see Chaundra's answer below. Do any of the rest of you have a thought on Leta's question?

And then I have another comment re the first week’s study – verse 19 – because Josiah did all these things – God says He “truly” heard Josiah. He truly heard him??? - - - vs sorta hearing him??? Does that mean there are degrees of Him hearing us – I know in my heart that is not true – but it bothers me – that little word “truly”. Why is it there?? How does the word “truly”, truly translate?

Jes: Aha! Good question. Did you look at it in the King James? That's the first place I always go. I love having the King James Version either on my phone or in my lap when I'm studying. Seeing it in the KJV often brings such clarity.

If I find that the words are the same, I know it's time to do a word study.

Have you done that yet?

If so, would you please share with us what you found?

And lastly – re our timing - It doesn't matter at all to me re extending the time line - whatever works best for you. I don’t want you to overburden yourself – you couldn’t possibly have anticipated all that’s going on for you right now, when you chose these dates.
I’m sure I speak for all that grace abounds for you as you recover from this Major Major life changing procedure! Thank you for keeping us in the loop – it helps us all to know how to specifically pray for you.

Jes: Thank you so much sweetie! I think it's going to work out for everyone now.

Just waiting to hear from Dawn, Deb and Rachel to see if they have their books and are ready to roll now.

Love you sweet friend!

Jes: Love you more! :)

chaundra Anderson said...

Hi Leta Lou, I'm Chaundra! I wanted to share with you what i thought about the question of when the wrath would happen, and I thought it was, not in Josiah's lifetime. Maybe the timing was important to notice, because the Lord kept Josiah from experiencing it??

I love the study for bringing to my attention the importance of God's Word. I love breaking the scripture down. Not to fill my brain with facts, but to know God better. I love how she uses God's Word to interpret and explain God's Word. I'm glad there isn't a lot of "fluff" like you find in other women's bible studies. This is my first Kay Arthur study ever.

Jes: I'm so glad that you pointed that out! That's what you can always expect from a Precept study...all of the authors will point you to the truth that Scripture interprets Scripture.

It's so, so fun when you really get a grasp on how this works because when you're stumped by something you read in the Word, you can just go before the Lord and tell Him you know that His Word will interpret Itself, but that you need His Spirit to give you understanding.

He is so faithful, and I think He must rejoice in watching us when He answers those prayers and we have our "ah-ha" moments! :)
I am hoping my book gets here soon. I ordered some other curriculum and got it two days ago. :(

Love you!

Jes: I love you too, you sweet thing! And I'm SO loving seeing you so excited about the Word!

chaundra Anderson said...

hi everyone, i am so excited about these questions, as they are SO applicable to a journey that i have recently taken, in finding a church to attend. actually we had to do that twice in the last year, because we moved to two different states. in my search i have been SHoCKED by the "seeker friendliness" and the "flashy hooks to keep 'em coming" of some churches. i have been saddened to be unable to hear a pastor actally feeding and nourishing the body. i have been confused by labels, doctrine, and denominations. but in all of this God was so faithful.

Jes: We lived the same journey in AZ. I know what you mean...and then to move to the South where one can so easily be categorized by their denomination! When I went to the hospital a few days ago for my first sonogram of my legs, I had to fill in an area about where I go to church. I guess I didn't have to, but I chose to after they explained that by filling that out, my friends from church could find me if I was in the hospital and they wanted to visit me.

However, the blank above had asked for my religion, and I had written, "Sold out follower of Jesus Christ."

When I went back to the hospital for sonogram #2 a few days later and had to proof my information sheet, where it said "religion" they had typed in "Baptist."

I explained to them that I'm not a Baptist, although I do go to a Baptist church. I said I am a Christ follower, and no matter what church I go to I will always be a Christ follower.

The lady was super sweet and said, "Well, we don't have that as an option. Should I just put Christian?"

"Yes," I said. "That will be fine."

Although inside I was thinking that the word Christian has lost it's meaning in our society, which is why I wanted Christ follower in the first place.

i am now absolutely in love with the church we are at. an hour of sunday school with verse by verse teaching, shared prayer requests, sharing of meals (once a month), and in depth discussion. the children experiencing much the same thing in their classes.

Jes: What an awesome blessing! I'm so happy for you!

an hour and a half of worship, sweet worship... but nothing really flashy. our children starting at age five sit with us in church. and they are learning and growing in ways that i would have NEVER given them credit for. i was terrified of this, because i was raised mormon, and i hated church because it was long and boring. i would actually hide in the bathroom for as long as i could. but they aren't bored... well, not the whole time! lol.

Jes: I didn't know you were raised Mormon. I'd really like to talk with you about that some time. Isn't is wonderful to see our kids growing in Christ through His Word?! I love having my kids in service with me...I wouldn't change it for the world!

the Word is anything but watered down, and the grace of God is always the last word of every sermon. The good news of Jesus.

For the first time in my life i am ready and willing to commit myself wholly to this body. to stop "dating the church" as they say, and become a "member". it's all been amazing.

at home we are doing a study together called "Big Truths for Young Hearts" and i love love love it! even shade, (my second oldest daughter) is getting a ton out of it. and she has a tendency to daydream. and what is even more exciting is she says stuff like "oh yeah, we talked about that in church, it's callled the trinity." oh... i am feeling so blessed.

but now for the not so great news. lol. the ways that i could respond to God's word like Josiah did... tearing down my false idols, and desiring to obey every word... would be to completely change in my marriage. i am the chiefest of all sinners friends. i sin in my pride, my need for control, my fears of trust. i feel literally physically bound by my sins. i feel a prisoner. i feel tormented. i am not passing on the responsibilty... but boy... am i feeliing helpless and sometimes even hopeless. yesterday was a bad one. i even forgot to or purposely neglected to cry out to God. to turn my thoughts toward Jesus. friends, please pray for me.

i look so forward to hearing your responses. i am glade we are "behind" my book didn't arrive until a few days ago, and i was scrambling to catch up, and i felt like i wasn't getting to really absorb the information.

i am lifting you up in prayer jes. i am so grateful for you facilitating this. thank you! and now that i have all your names, i will be lifting you all up as well. i am excited to take this journey with you! Soli Deo Gloria

Jes: Dearest Father, how we need You Lord...more and more and more of You. I know that we have all of You the moment that we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, yet our hearts yearn to know you more Lord.

We are seeing that this comes from knowing Your Word, and being taught by Your Spirit.

Father, won't you bind anything that keeps us from You? Our pride, our sin, our fears, our selfishness. Anything and everything, Lord.

Jesus we know that our roles as women are to be wives and mothers who are walking by Your Spirit...who are keeping our homes...who are honoring to our husbands.

It's tough, Lord. So tough sometimes. Our flesh fights...it wages war, Lord.

I hear Chaundra, loud and clear Lord Jesus.

You know that even tonight I was in a deep struggle. I battle Lord, with this deeply ingrained fear that I will either stick my nose in where it's not needed when it comes to how my husband parents our children, or that I'll keep quiet when I should speak up.

This struggle between dishonoring one or making the other feel that I don't care.

Thank you God that You made self control part of the fruit of the Spirit! Thank You that I can trust You...I can cry out to You...even when I want to lose it completely, I can take You at Your word and can value my husband and my marriage as the gifts from You that they are!

I lift my sister and her marriage up to You Lord. Please give her the courage to trust You, and to allow You to be glorified in her relationship with her beloved.

Glorify...in the Greek it means to give a right estimate of...Lord, help us to give a correct estimation, a correct representation of Who You are..through our lives and through our marriages.

We love You Lord!

In Jesus' Name,

By the power of Your Indwelling Holy Spirit,

and to Your Glory we pray...

Amen

Question for week One...and a Test Video

2010-11-29T20:52:00.000-05:00

Hi Ladies,

Remember when I told you to expect opposition?

Yeah...well, that's what I feel like I've been dealing with this week.

Yet, at this very moment a friend of mine is sitting in the airport with a 5 hour delay, and on this end I'm thinking, "Oh Cool! God must have someone that He wants to use her and her husband to speak with! Can't wait to hear that story!"

So I'm left to ask myself what He's up to with our study getting a late start. I don't like delays.

Yet today, was another day of them for me. Another doctor's visit, as my left leg was swelling and has been hurting for several days.

Another sonogram.

Another report that everything is ok.

While I am thankful for the good news, I can't see the WHY in any of this.

I mean, I didn't share the Gospel with anyone in the waiting room...in fact, I spent most of my time there trying to die to my flesh; I spent more money on medical stuff; and my sweet friend Lisa came to my rescue yet again...sacrificing her day for me.

She wouldn't even listen to me when I told her I was fine going by myself.

And you.

You have been on my heart all day long! Remember, videos and questions were supposed to go up today?

You were my #2 today!

(Guess Who #1 was?)

Here's what I have for you tonight...it's not at all what I had planned, but it's definitely what I believe God has laid on my heart for you.

Has the Word of the Lord been hidden in your house as it was in the House of the Lord?

How important is the Word of the Lord in the church that you attend?

With regard to the children's ministry in your church, how much focus is placed upon them truly learning to dig into God's Word?

Is it all pizza, parties, Bible stories (apart from the actual Scripture), and babysitting?

Do you see your children growing in the Lord as a result of what they're learning?

Are YOU teaching your children the Word at home, or are you dependent upon the church to do that for you?

I know I'm not going in order here...I'm just pouring forth from my heart...so roll with me, ok?

Are you seeking a popular pastor; a t.v. evangelist; or someone else at the cost of spending one on one time with the LORD through His Word?

If you have been doing this, has this week's study shown you how much God has for you through your own diligent study of His Word?

What did you learn from Josiah's life that impacted your own?

What changes are you compelled to make as you witnessed the life of a young boy who was changed by the Word of God?

If you're a mother or a grandmother, how can you be encouraging the children in your own life to seek the Lord and obey Him?

How might you edify them by sharing Josiah's story with them...you may have a Josiah (or and Esther) right there under your wings...waiting to be nurtured to greatness for God.

Ahem. I don't think there's really a "may" in this equation, for believing parents and grandparents.

What did you learn about God that just left you in awe?

What is God calling you to change or improve upon in your walk with Him, through what you've learned thus far?

Oh ladies...I love you!

I thank God for you!

I can't wait to see your answers...and to feel well enough to lead this study as my heart so desires to.

I'm testing my first uploaded video.

Thanks Lisa. You're the best.

Grace and Peace to you tonight, in Jesus Christ and God our Father,
Jes

Study Update - CCSVI Update

2010-11-28T21:37:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm going to start off by saying that I am fighting feeling like I've failed you all.

That's such a terrible way to feel, isn't it?!

This past week was a tough one...not every day, but several.

I had a sonogram of both of the injection sites and everything looked ok....but it took 1 day going to the doctor's office, and another 1/2 day at the hospital. Plus, a fair bit of pain.

There was a small hematoma on one side which the doctor is sure will be reabsorbed with no problems.

What made this week tough is that I have been utterly exhausted! When people with MS talk about fatigue, it's more like trying to explain how it feels to have been run over by a Mack Truck several times in a week.

We had our family Thanksgiving time together, and it was so sweet...but I pushed too hard. I knew I would because I didn't want to miss anything, but it was foolish of me.

That sounds so lame to me as I write it, because I really didn't even do all of the hard work...I think it was just standing for so many hours that did me in.

As a result, I paid for it the whole next day and am still dragging even as I write this.

The good news in all of it?

Hannah, Lisa's daughter who helps me once a week, is coming tomorrow...thus I will finally be able to get my thoughts posted here for you. And hopefully, the videos up. Shane's cousin is some I.T. whiz guy and told me how to make my way too long video split into two, upload to YouTube, and then link together.

Sounds really easy for someone with my uploading success rate, doesn't it?

Have I even told you how many times I've tried to upload videos in the past 2 weeks?

If not, I don't want to talk about it.

WOULD YOU PLEASE, PLEASE pray that nothing will keep me from being able to get this done tomorrow?

My friend Dawn shared that she is going to do the study with her elementary aged children and that got me super excited and challenged, so I plan to do the same with mine! We'll just take a little break from Abraham and do this study together.

This will make it "fresh" for me, since I just did the first 3 weeks with our class at church about a month or so ago.

Here's who I show as in our study right now. If I'm missing someone, or if you aren't going to be in it after all, please let me know.

1. Deb
2. Leta Lou
3. Chaundra
4. Rachel
5. Dawn & kiddos
(Dawn...please let the kids comment under your name. I know this will be a great encouragement to all of us! I won't post their names without your permission.)
6. Me
7. Caedmon
8. Brennan

When you leave your comments, Dawn and I will filter out anything that you say that isn't appropriate to share with our kiddos, so don't feel the need to hold anything back.

You're safe with us. :-)

Please forgive me for dropping the ball this week. I should have at least popped on here to tell you something....oh wait, I did start that post...but then got called in for the sonogram.

Did I say it's been a nutso week?

Prayer request: I have one more possible complication from the surgery that I need to have checked out this week. I'm sure it's nothing, but since you all have walked this journey thus far with me I feel sure that you won't mind praying me through the rest of it.

Much love to you tonight in the Lord Jesus,
Jes

Update for Online Bible Study - #2

2010-11-22T14:19:00.000-05:00

Hi Friends,

Well, I'm having to go to a clinic and have something checked from my surgery last week. I'm sure it's nothing, but because it could be a complication my doctor's office from NY has requested that I get it examined.

I'll spare you the details. You'll be so glad I did. :)

Thus, it will be either later today or early tomorrow that I get questions & video posted. If you've already finished week one, please go ahead and start on week two.

I have a few questions for each of you though...have you had the time to complete your work?

Is doing this over Thanksgiving week going to make things too tough on you, the keepers of the home?

Please do let me know...there is no guilt here. I was simply trying to make sure that we finished before Christmas. Do we need to take an extra week?

Love you today,
Jes

One Day Delay for Our Bible Study

2010-11-21T20:36:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone,

My apologies, I won't be posting questions tonight as planned but will post them sometime tomorrow instead.

Hopefully at that time I'll also be able to get the videos uploaded. (I'm having some technical difficulties.)

I really thought that with a 22 hour train ride I'd get much accomplished, but I hadn't thought about how exhausted I was going to be and how tough sitting that long would be with my sore legs.

I slept from 8pm - around 1pm today!

And on that note, I'm going back to bed. :)

Much love to you, and I'll look very forward to touching base with you tomorrow,
Jes

Wanna Begin the Online Bible Study but Don't Yet Have a Book?

2010-11-19T18:46:00.000-05:00

No worries!

Thanks to Chaundra, I now know that the first week of the study is available as a free download.

So, you can go right now to Precept.org, look for the Store tab, enter in "LORD, Teach Me to Study the Bible in 28 Days," and purchase your book.

Then, on that same page you can click to look inside the book and there you will be able to download THE WHOLE FIRST WEEK!

Yippie!

So let's get started! There's no better time than RIGHT NOW to learn how to dig in, how to mine the riches of God's Word for yourself!

Seriously, can you think of 3 good reasons NOT to learn how to study His Word?

If you have spent your lifetime being TOLD what God's Word says and means, but you've never learned how to study for yourself...how much longer do you WANT your Bible to seem so foreign to you?

And God forbid....what if those you've been taught by have been as wrong as the man was by whom I was indoctrinated for so many years?

I so hope you'll join us today!

God's Word is sweeter than honey, and honey is yummy!

Love you today,
Jes

What Makes Jesus Such A Big Deal?

2010-11-19T02:26:00.000-05:00

This is what God revealed to me from His Word recently:

John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

What happened in this verse that is of such great significance?

Do you know what the purpose of the tabernacle was in the Old Testament?

Who resided within the tabernacle?

Once there was a permanent temple (the first one) Whom did God promise the Israelites that He would cause to dwell with them forever, if they would keep His covenant?

Wow! Think about it! Think about why it was (and is) such a big deal that once the Spirit of God had left the temple due to the Israelites breaking their part of their covenant with God, we see His provision through Jesus as a new tabernacle.

And with Jesus present, who else would be there...filling the new tabernacle?

Do you see it?

Will you comment?

Also...what was the Word full of?

Now, check this out:

John 1:17
For the Law was given through Moses, grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

What key repeated phrase do you see between the two verses?

What is huge here friends?

HUGE?

What did Jesus bring that no one else had? (Hint: there are several answers here.)

I know that I'm asking you to think...but I truly want you to see it...to dig it out.

It's beautiful!

We leave in a few hours. Still praying for an upgrade. :-)

Chugga chugga choo-choo.

Chaundra, I'm THRILLED that you're inviting other women to join our blog study!!!!

SO exciting!!!!!!!!!!!

Love you today,
Jes

The Day After Angioplasty #2

2010-11-18T00:24:00.000-05:00

Hi Friends,

I'm writing from my phone again, so this post will be short.

Yesterday I had my 2nd angioplasty. There were problems entering through my veins so Doctor Mehta had to go in through an artery in my left leg. I think I must have bled quite a bit, but have nothing to compare it to in order to say whether it was considered a lot.

I've been very tired today, which I expected.

Other than being tired, I'm really doing well.

I have chosen to start weaning myself off of some of the medications I've been taking for MS. I know my body well enough by now that I will be able to tell if I need to get back on them. If so, I will.

But if not.....what a blessing!

Lisa and I are going home on Friday. We will travel by train instead of by plane because neither Shane nor I have a peace about me flying this soon after having had an artery opened. (Opened may not be the correct medical term.) Whatever the correct word, we have all (Sweet Lisa included) just lived enough years that we know when we aren't at peace about something we'd better heed the warning.

So...a traveling we will go. The train trip will take almost 19 hours all total.

Would it be too selfish to ask you to pray for free upgrades to business class, or to a sleeper car?

At the least, having handicapped seating really would be a blessing!

How are you coming on the study? Any questions yet?

Snowflakes to Hotcakes...would you please tell me your real name again, so I can add you to our class list? :-)

Chaundra...it's not at all too late for you to join us! We'd love it if you could! May I add your name?

Chandy, are you going to be with us? I remember that you had commented that a study like this could work well for you. So hoping you will join too!

Love to all of you. Thank you for your countless prayers for Lisa and I!

Much love in Jesus,
Jes

LORD, Teach Me To Study The Bible in 28 Days...Week 1 Kickoff!

2010-11-14T18:30:00.000-05:00

Hi, hi, hi Sweet Friends,

Today has been such a great day! I'm up and about and Lisa and I have hit the town. This is the cutest little place!

We're in Lee, MA and right now I'm writing to you from a table where Dickens and President Lincoln once ate.

Isn't that just too cool for school?!

I'm writing a blog post from a table where Dickens ate!
Wonder if he was writing in his head as he enjoyed his fare, like I so often do.

Wonder what President Lincoln (who read the Bible all the way through 6 times by the time he was 12) was pondering.

We're eating dinner at the Red Lion Inn, with a crackling fire behind us and a lovely pianist playing the most delicious music!

We've snacked on candied walnuts, cranberries, and some wonderful chive cheese spread...just a preview of great things to come for our tummies.

I'll be starting with Autumn Squash & Cider Bisque. Mmmm!

Please, don't hate me because I'm dining like a queen.

I mastered the messy bun today...lovin' it!

Lisa got a lovely pair of sterling silver earrings for herself, and I found the ring of my dreams! Since MS came to roost, I haven't been able to wear my ring that Shane bought for my middle finger of my right hand, and I've felt naked without it.

Today however, ~~all my problems are solved~~ I found a ring that I'm really diggin', it's 7 thin little sterling silver bands. 7...just discovered that as I wrote this, God's number of perfection and completion.

$34 later, I'm feeling quite spoiled and happy. :)

OKAY...now, for those of you who are starting the Bible study with me this week...aren't you SO ready to get going?! I know that I am!

Over the next 7 days, I want you to work through week one. The book is laid out so that it will feel as though Kay is sitting right beside you, walking you step by step through each assignment.

HOWEVER, if you have ANY questions I really want you to email them to me. I'm going to be here to walk with you too.

My deepest desire is that you will fall in love with studying God's Word for yourself, and I will help you in any way that I can.

I won't give you the answers, but I will help you learn how to dig them out.

After you've done your week's work, come back here to the blog and I'll have a list of questions for you...most will be application questions for you to pray over and ask of yourself.

I'll post those on November 21st.
That will also be the post where I'd like for you to write your comments about how the Lord impacted your heart from what you learned.

In the schedule below, please note the other dates where I'd like you to leave your comments for that week.

If I can finally figure out how to do it, I will also be uploading videos each Monday.

So again...here's the boiled down version of the schedule:

Nov. 15-21: Work through week 1.
Nov. 21: Come here and review application ?s and comment.
Nov. 22: Watch the wrap up video and begin the next week.

Nov. 22-28: Work through week 2.
Nov. 28: Come here and review application ?s and comment.
Nov. 29: Watch the wrap up video and begin the next week.

Nov. 29-Dec. 5: Work though week 3.
Dec. 5: Come here and review application ?s and comment.
Dec. 6: Watch the wrap up video and begin the next week.

Dec. 6-12: Work through week 4.
Dec. 12: Come here and review application ?s and comment.
Dec. 13: Watch the wrap up video and let's have a party!

One note: PLEASE comment!

Please, I beg you to do this.

As of tonight, there aren't many of us signed up for the study, and we will need each others' comments in order to grow. It's through discussion that this happens, as we sharpen one another.

So please...share the insights that the Holy Spirit shows you. By your willingness to do so, others will be strengthened in their understanding of what they've studied.

Okay sweet friends...the bisque is calling my name, and I think Lisa is about to starve to death, so I will close for now.

Remember to email me at whatilearnedfromthewordtoday@gmail.com, as questions arise.

I'm so excited for you that I could just POP!

I'm praying for you, and I want you to remember to pray before you study every. single. time.

It's The Holy Spirit who is your teacher, so make sure that you ask Him to do just that...teach you.

And, I want to give you one word of warning:
The evil one DOES NOT want you in the Word of God!

He will do anything he can to keep you from the truth, for he knows that by it your life will be changed forever...and not only yours, but the lives of your family members, your church body, and the lost whom God will send you to.

So know that you will face opposition, and begin praying right now that the Lord will give you courage and focus to keep your head down and do the study.

I love you so much, and I'm beside myself with excitement!
I can't wait to see how our God will move in our lives in just 4 short weeks!

In Jesus,
Jes

The Day After Angioplasty

2010-11-14T00:03:00.000-05:00

Hi Friends,

Again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your many prayers! I am humbled by the fact that so many of you have commented or emailed to let us know that you are lifting us up before the Lord.

Thank you.

Tonight and tomorrow would you please pray for Lisa? I know she is missing her man and her family, yet has so lovingly chosen to care for me.

We are both tired, our clothes are stinky (we only packed for ONE week!), and we're longing for hugs and kisses from our beloveds.

Please pray that we'll have as much fun and as many laughs this week as we did last. :-)

As for how I'm feeling....this is for my MS friends...
1. I was in a lot of pain last night, and sleeping was tough. It was my neck that hurt, and then I ate something that made me need to cough...which made it worse.
2. It still hurts to the touch, too.
3. I've been pretty tired today, and have just rested.
4. My walk is great.
5. I can do the finger to the nose test with my eyes closed just super.
6. I can stand with my eyes closed, arms outstretched and palms up and not fall backwards.
7. When I woke up this morning I could speak clearly. Before, my speech was sluggish for quite a while in the mornings.
8. My left eye is tender again today, and I've had some numbness on the left side of my face, but it's much better than it was pre-procedure.
8. My short term memory seems better....but I'll know more on that as time goes on.

For those who are joining the blog study, I am hoping to have a video up tomorrow. However, we don't have Wi-Fi here, so I can't promise a video.
Either way, I'm going to try to find a spot where I can post some questions to ponder together, and lay out a study schedule for us.

I really don't want this surgery stuff to stop us...so let's work together to push on, OK?

Are any of you studying with a friend or a group? If you bought a book but aren't listed under the tab above, will you please comment so I may add you?

I'm typing from my phone (Yay for the 3g network!) so again I won't be able to format this post. I hope to be back to a pretty one tomorrow when we find a hot spot.

Much, much love to you tonight in Christ Jesus,
Jes

A Very Quick Update

2010-11-12T22:56:00.001-05:00

I am well and the surgery went great.

What I was certain of going into this procedure turned out to be spot on! (Thanks to Dr. Mehta for his amazing philosophy that the patient KNOWS how their body is feeling, and that the doctor's role is to discover the problem.)

Wow! The paridgm that makes a good salesperson also makes a good doctor! Who knew?!

It turned out that ALL 3 of my veins were either twisted or grossly occluded.

The azygous vein was 50% shut off. That's the one close to the heart. Painful!

The right jugular was 60% shut down and twisted.

And.....

Drumroll please. ....

The left jugular was NINETY percent shut down! If that weren't enough, a much smaller exterior vein was taking the load, so to speak, for the larger one that wasn't working.

Ummmm....that could really explain a LOT about these insane headaches I've had for the past 2 years!

I go back on Tuesday for the right jugular to be angioplastied.

Thank you so much for praying over my requests! God certainly has been answering!

I am totally exhausted and my neck hurts from the blowing up of the balloon. Thank you again for praying!

Thank you, and goodnight. :-)

Much Love,
Jes

The Morning of the Procedure

2010-11-12T08:48:00.001-05:00

Hi Sweeties,

Thanks for reading my blog!

Today is the morning of the procedure. I'm at peace, I want you to know that.

So is my beloved. And speaking of him, I'm sure missing my man!
I'm guessing that some of you are wondering why he isn't here with me.

He is! For the Bible says that the two have become one. :)

The other reason is that he has a HUGE meeting that he's been working on for months an months, and I'm a big girl. I'm also not alone. My friend Lisa is with me, and she's one who has the same servant's heart that Shane has.

We're having so much fun together that it should be illegal! Yet, she's also taking tender care of me.

You know, with this procedure, I have put it into the Lord's hands and have left it there. I know that at any minute He could show me that I need to stop, and I would.

Last night I stopped.

I became deeply concerned that I wasn't being fair to Lisa. She isn't having the procedure, but that's because she's not ready to do so yet. However, I hadn't given any thought at all to what it would mean to her if there were complications.

The risk of death for this procedure is so slim that I don't even recall what the percentage was. Yet, that's a risk with any surgery.

Last night I paused long enough to give deep consideration to how Lisa would feel if the Lord calls me home on that table, and she's left here all alone.

I shared my heart with her, and we both had a much needed bawling session.

It's been a lot to process this week!

I told her that I would gladly call this off and do it at another time, and that I was so sorry for not having thought of her feelings before.

She was so sweet, y'all! She assured me that she wanted me to do it, and to do it now.

We've both seen the hand of God this week in such miraculous ways...it's hard to explain them all to you, but I plan on trying to do exactly that this weekend.

So, I'm going forth in the Holy Spirit power of the LORD!

Here's the easiest way I know to explain what is going to happen to me today. It's definitely not going to be the most scientific explanation.

The doctor, who is a Vascular Surgeon, will go in through my groin area and will thread some thingamagilie up through my veins. He will look at my azygous vein, and then will look at both of my jugular veins. (We have these are either side of our necks.)

The azygous vein is located somewhere near the heart, if I'm understanding this correctly...but if you're reading this because you're considering having this procedure, you really need to look into the details for yourself, because I know I'm not writing a very sound medical description here...this is meant to be an overview.

They have found that in approximately 97% of patients with MS, there is a blockage in one of these 3 veins which is impeding the blood flow to and from the brain.

Some doctors even believe (as do I) that because the blood is not flowing as it should, and because due to the veins being twisted there is often blood reflux into the brain, that there could possibly be other answers as to what the lesions (plaques) are that are seen on our MRIs.

The theory is that the blood that is refluxing (going up instead of going down, my easy definition) is leaving iron deposits on the brain. Thus, it's possible that what is showing up on our MRIs is actually the visual of these iron deposits.

I did not know until the night of the symposium, that the lesions which are seen on MRIs actually come and go. Sometimes they are there, and sometimes not.

OH MY GOSH!

THAT ALONE SHOULD MAKE US ALL STEP BACK AND LOOK AFRESH AT THIS DISEASE!

What if. Just what if, the fluctuations in our MRIs are due to this blood flow issue? What if the fact that we see a lesion on one MRI and not on the next one, could be explained as a result of changes in blood flow patterns and iron deposits that are here today and gone tomorrow?

This is exciting to me, and I thank God that I'm alive at a time when medical advancements are just that...advanced!

So the doctor with whom I'm working, Dr. Manish Mehta, will determine today how many of my veins are blocked off, and if I have blockages (narrowed veins) on both sides of my neck, he will angioplasty one side today.

Lisa and I will then go and hang out here for the weekend, due to the graciousness of my friend Dawn and her super kind husband. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

If Dr. Mehta finds that there is a blockage on both sides, I will then return to his office early next week for a second procedure.

One of the things that Shane and I appreciate the most about

Dr. Mehta is his desire to do only one side at a time. Shane loved this, because he sees the reasoning behind it as being quite sound.

Shane is a civil engineer and his job is to measure risks in everything he does, with the goal being to insure the highest levels of safety in all design work.

Thus, he realizes that Dr. Mehta is taking the more cautious approach. Were there to be complications over the weekend...

(i.e. bleeding or clotting), by doing only one side at a time, Dr. Mehta would be much more able to quickly determine where the problem is originating from.

Shane likes this. I like this.

Once Dr. Mehta finds a narrowing (I've no doubt he will), then he will angioplasty that vein. This basically means that he will put a balloon into the vein and blow it up (expand it), with the goal being that once the vein is opened up the blood will be able to flow as it should.

Once the blood is pulsing through as God designed it to, the veins will hopefully stay opened up.

And, with the blood flowing properly, the hope is that the body will then work as it is supposed to.

You can go to YouTube and search CCSVI or CCSVI Liberation and see the before and after videos of many people who have had this procedure done.

One of the reasons that I believe this theory has validity is based in what happened for me after I had sinus surgery a few years ago. Prior to that surgery, I had never been able to breath out of my nose well at all.

I always, always had my mouth open at all times because I couldn't breath otherwise.

I had never been able to sleep on my back, because I always felt like I was choking to death.

After the surgery, and the healing that took time...a looooooong time, I was finally able to breath. Yay!

BUT...I also started losing weight without trying.

I believe that God used that surgery to honor my prayer (in which I had confessed to being a glutton, and told Him I knew He had died to set me free from sin...yet I had chosen to walk in it...and asked Him to forgive me and help me).

I believe that after the surgery, the blood was able to flow better, and that my blood was being oxygenated as it was designed to be.

Thus, the weight started falling off. Approximately 40 pounds of it!

C'mon church: can I get an AMEN for that?! Thank You Lord!

So, I believe that blood flow is of utmost importance, and that when it's impeded there are many negative effects upon one's body.

Here are today's prayer requests:

1. For Dr. and Mrs. Mehta.

What lovely people these two are! Church, would you please join me in lifting them up before the LORD?

I just can't tell you how much I like them and how blessed I feel to have met Dr. Mehta's wife!

It's my opinion that you can tell a LOT about a man by meeting the woman who loves and supports him. :)

2. For Lisa

That she'll have the peace that surpasses all understanding.

3. For My Kiddos and Shane:

That they'll have fun and productive (Shane) days. That they'll be so busy with what they're doing, they won't even think much about me.

4. For all the people who will read this blog post simply because they landed here looking into Dr. Mehta or CCSVI.

Pray that they will find here the truth about who Jesus Christ is, and that through this blog (and the many other seeds that have been planted in their lives) they will come to know True Love, by repenting of their sins, receiving grace and mercy through Jesus,

and choosing to serve the Risen Savior.

5. You can pray for me if you want to. That would be very kind of you. I'm at peace...just know that. I'm all good.

And if something unplanned happens on the table today and I pass into the arms of my awaiting Jesus, I have but one request...

Church: be the church! Pick up the baton and run into this world, proclaiming to the lost the goodness of our God. Tell them the truth. Give them the Gospel. Live as the Temples of the Holy Spirit that you are!

This life is no longer about us. Once we're in Christ, it's only about Him.

Oh, one more request...make sure my babies and my beloved know that they were the very best parts of my life, save Jesus.

Caedmon: Son, I'm so deeply proud of you! You know that we agreed that MS was going to be our standing stone to God. That the world was going to be able to look at MS in our lives and when they asked how we could live with joy in the midst, we would say, "Look at all that the hand of our God has done for us here. and here. and here."

Don't ever forget that, son. No matter what happens to me today, that truth has not changed. This is our standing stone. You keep on believing, and teaching others about Jesus.

You keep standing for truth in the midst of a generation that has lost an understanding of what is evil and what is good.

You write those Scripture songs to God, and sing and live them out.

Remember what we learned about Israel? They were to be set apart, that all the pagan nations around them would be able to see the glory of God, the truth, shining forth from them.

That's what it means to be a city on a hill, son. We are to let the light of Christ shine forth from us so that when the lost are looking for what is true, they will be able to look to God's people and there see His Spirit and cry out for Him.

Nothing that may happen today is to change God's call on your life son. If Mommy passes today, I'll see you again sooner than either of us will be able to imagine....for eternity holds no time.

Bouncy Baby Brennan -

Oh my darling, how you light up my life!

You make me see the beauty in this world. You make me smile and laugh more than anyone in my life ever has.

I love the way that you trust Jesus. The way that you love Him and sing to Him every day.

You artwork...oh baby, your artwork...it's so beautiful, and such a gift from God. Use it to His glory, baby. Always do that.

Last week at the Brooklyn Tabernacle, Pastor Cymbala's message was on mercy, and I thought of you through the whole thing.

You are the first to remind me of grace and mercy. You always, always go there first and I love it, for in your example I am reminded that the New Testament tells us that mercy triumphs over judgment.

What a gift to have a visual remind of God's heart, in my very own child! God's plan throughout the ages has been mercy first, and judgment as a last resort.

So it is with you my precious girl.

Thank you for that. Thank you for making me soft. Thank you for loving animals and people like you do.

I'm sorry I said I was never taking in another stray. I take that back.

Baby girl, you keep pursuing that passion to be a mommy and a wife...for truly, there is no higher calling.

Don't listen to the world which will tell you that you have to go to college or that you can do it all...no woman can do it ALL, and do it all well.

Something always falls through the cracks. Always.

Do the thing that God has called you to do, and do it will all of your heart as unto Him.

And then rest in the knowledge that obedience to Him is all you need to pursue in order to HAVE. IT. ALL!

The book of James tells us, baby, that all good and perfect things are from above, coming down from the Father of Lights, in Whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah. What peace. What freedom!

You don't need to pursue having it all, baby girl.
You only need to pursue having all of Him!

If something happens to Mommy today, you rest in knowing that I love you with all of my heart, and that I'll just be waiting for you.

You know where I'll be too....laying on my face before my Jesus, spending time with my sister, and with your brother Stephen, and seeing if Paul and Peter have some time to talk.

And, I'll tell Esther how much her life impacted both yours and mine.

I love you precious. I know everything is going to be o.k. today, and I hope that o.k. means that you'll be getting a new Mommy when I come home.

I pray it means that we'll be able to ride our bikes together at the greenway every day if we want to.

And I hope it means lots and lots of trips to the Children's Museum!

I love you all the way to God's Mighty Right Arm!

My Beloved Shane:

Oh baby, we sure have been through it haven't we?

Brought together as two people living a cultural Christianity, and radically changed by the Almighty into two new vessels for His glory!

I never knew that someone could love me like you do. I was so beaten down by the time God brought us together, yet so hardened on the inside.

I didn't feel worthy of love, yet first Jesus and then you showed me what a lie that was from the pit of hell.

You are the most amazing man I've ever known, and almost 12 years later, I still can't believe that you are mine!

I like you a whole, whole lot since you got your new heart! :)

You can say the same of me...and together we sing,
"Holy is the Lord God Almighty! The Earth is filled with His Glory!"

Baby, you are all that and a bag of chips...and I will always want fries with that shake-shake booty!

Shane, when I studied the book of Ruth and the cross references to Deuteronomy, I was awestruck at the beauty of receiving a new name. I made plenty of notes about it in my Bible...but one that stands out to me is where I wrote, "Lord, thank you for giving me a new name here on earth...thank you for giving me Shane's family name. Thank you for making me one of them...a family with a heritage of loving You throughout the generations."
(I'm paraphrasing, but you can look in my Bible and see my exact words.)

Thanks for making me part of you, baby. I love you and I love your family. They are mine, as they are yours.

Thank you for making me laugh like no one else can. Nobody you work with has any idea what a riot you are, but I do!

You are the best friend I've ever had, and I cherish you.

Should something happen today, don't cry for me Argentina. You know as well as I do, where I'll be and what I'll be doing!

And if you marry again, and this is just a suggestion, I'd pick someone who really loves things clean and orderly...I'm just sayin'.

Love the unlovable, baby. Make sure our kids keep studying inductively...just do that for me, ok?

Nan, Ed, Blain, Patty...I love you so much!

I love you too...my family who are estranged. This is not an invitation for comments or communication...I simply want you to know that I do love you, and that I pray for you constantly.

Now to Him be all glory and honor and praise!

Jesus...I adore you!

No time to proof.

Here we go....

Much love to you today in Christ Jesus...who loved YOU so that He gave His life to pay for the debt of every sin you've ever committed.

Sin has a price, and the price is death.
Obedience to Righteousness (Jesus) has a gift, and it's free...eternal life.
Don't take my word for it. Read Romans 5,6,&7
Read the Gospel of John.
Read Isaiah and see just some of the hundreds of prophesies of Who the Messiah...Who the Christ would be, and is.

Love to you today,
Jes

The Hazards of Blogging

2010-11-11T03:26:00.001-05:00

****Update****

See the comments section below...it actually is called
Times Square! Yippie!

So definitely you must admit that there are some, right?

Hazards to blogging.

The most apparent being that you look all a fool when you don't know how to spell things correctly.

In this wretched head of mine, I judge too quickly those who write "your" when it should be "you're," as in "Your the best!"

Ugh! Like a dagger through the heart, that is!

Thus, you'd think a fairly smart gal like me would know not to post without proofing. I mean, who do I think I am?! Smells a bit of literary arrogance, doesn't it?

Posting without proofing. Pishaw!

Yet twice I chose that slippery slope this week.

Guffaw #1 - when I accidentally wrote "sheaths" instead of sheaves. I'm not going to tell you what sheaths are, you'll just have to Google it.

Guffaw #2 - Calling Time Square, Times Square. I think I was just missing my nanny/servant girl Hannah. She's studying remedial math in college and I was simply remembering the homework that I help her with when she's having a really tough math day.

She's really a brilliant girl in all things literary, but math is tough for her. Currently we're working on times tables and square roots.

So, forgive me for my mix up. I've fixed it.

I know you're all dying to know details re: surgery, and I will write about that tomorrow.

I'm about out, save for the moment by moment wakeups from huge trucks that are barreling by RIGHT OUTSIDE of our window.

Much love to you all...
Jes

New York Trip and God's Mighty Right Arm

2010-11-10T15:41:00.000-05:00

This post won't be too pretty. Sorry.

Whew! When God lays out His plans for us He sure makes it clear!

My insurance company has approved the procedure in record time!

I am scheduled to have angioplasty on Friday.

I'm writing from the train, so no telling what this formatting will look like.

Walking in the truth and steadfastness found in Psalm 4 today!

Prayer requests :

Brennan's tender heart. She and I really miss each other.
Childcare worked out.
Cost effective lodging for the extension of our stay - possibly another week.
A wildly successful surgery.
Continued opportunities to share Christ without fear...to live as the dwelling places of His Spirit that we are...to be hidden in Christ so that all we meet see Him and not us.

Of course, I'd like this to bring healing.

I love you all so much. I cannot thank you enough for your prayers!

What peace I have. There is no better place to be than resting in the hands of The Almighty.

Love, love, love...
Jes

I've Set Up A Twitter Account

2010-11-10T03:28:00.000-05:00

I went for it.

My Twitter account is officially set up, and if you'd like to become a follower of it, just head over to Twitter.com and hunt for me under this name: FromTheWord2Day.

You will be asked to set up an account, but if you never desire to do anything with it but follow me and some of the amazing ministries that I'll be following, that is just great.

Just thought I'd let ya'll know. I wish I had thought of it early on in our trip. There's much I would have tweeted to you!

Bed beckons me.

We're back to Albany tomorrow, to take part in a round-table presentation that Dr. Mehta is hosting. He'll be speaking, but so will a host of other doctors. One or two of them are even neurologists.

We'll also get to speak with a few of his patients and question them about the risk/benefit ratio in their minds.

I have such an AMAZING, BLOW YOUR MIND kind of story to tell you, but I'm fading now...I'll try to write it on the train tomorrow.

I love trains. Trains. Trains. Trains...they make me dreamy!

Dearest Tiki...thank you so much for fasting and praying for me! You are precious beyond words. I cherish and am humbled by your tenderness and willingness to intercede for me at that level.

Thank you, my dear friend!

I know that many of you are praying. Thank you so very much! I love you much!

Because I know that ya'll like pictures, (even though only 2 people seem to be commenting) I'll post my new favorite for you.

I love having curly hair now!

See how important ya'll are to me?

I'm on my phone checking to see if you've left any comments!

Communicate with me, please!

I'll love you all the more for it!

Jes