We subscribe to this magazine, "Voice of the Martyrs". Its about persecuted Christians around the world, and what we can do to help. So Neal sees this lying on the Kitchen table tonight, and the headline is "Illegal Christians in China". This was the conversation that followed.
NEAL: Why are there illegal Christians in China?
MOM: Because the government in that country does not allow people to become Christians, so it is illegal. They put you in jail if they find out that you serve Christ.
NEAL: Well, that's not right, we should do something about that.
The conversation carried on about how people are in fact doing something about that, and how the God of Heaven's Armies (I love that phrase in Scripture) is on our side to stand and fight on our behalf for his kingdom.
But the part of the conversation I loved the most was what I wrote down above. I think that must be what Christ meant when he said, "we must have the faith like that of a child". Neal didn't look at the problem and say, its too big, or how will we do it. He just said, "its not right, lets change it".....I love that.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
A funny story!
Just thought I'd share this so everyone could laugh with me (not at me). I am so tired these days. I mean really tired. My best friend works third shift and has three kids, I don't see how she does it. My hats off to you, girlfriend! Me on the other hand, can't manage to think very clearly these days. Most nights I get to bed sometime between 1 and 3 am, then the kids are up at 7ish...Baylee and Neal can fix a bowl of cereal themselves, but Brennan bear can't really get his own breakfast at this point. So this morning we are getting up, I stumble to the kitchen to try and start the day (hey, I think that is a line in a sad country song...). Neal tells me he wants cereal so I get out a bowl, and get the cereal...he gets his spoon and sits down. If Mom is up already, why get it yourself! I also get out a coffee cup to fix myself some hot chocolate. (I gave up coffee a few months back, but I'm thinking a relapse is in order)....so I have the coffee cup, hot cocoa mix, milk, a bowl, cereal........I pour the cereal in the cup, and then start to add the milk. I stop because something just doesn't look right, but I can't figure out what it is. I shake my head and move on. I start to pour the milk in the bowl, and then add the cocoa mix, and it dawns to me as I'm trying to figure out how to drink my hot cocoa out of a bowl, that something has gone horribly wrong....
It was a sad start to the day, I just sat down and laughed at myself and fixed the mess I'd made so Neal wouldn't have to eat his cereal from a coffee cup. Somehow, its much funnier telling the story then it was living it out at 7am.....I'm laughing so hard tears are running down my cheeks.....laugh with me so I don't feel so silly!
It was a sad start to the day, I just sat down and laughed at myself and fixed the mess I'd made so Neal wouldn't have to eat his cereal from a coffee cup. Somehow, its much funnier telling the story then it was living it out at 7am.....I'm laughing so hard tears are running down my cheeks.....laugh with me so I don't feel so silly!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Love shown
Today Chelle came over, and brought us a meal. She also informed me that she has organized meals for us over the next week or so. This is such a huge help to our family right now. The kindness from our church family is so appreciated. Not only did Chelle do all this, but before she left she offered to take my trash to the dump for us (no automatic trash service in the county, we take ours to the dump ourselves, and like the chicken that I am, I'm afraid to drive Brad's truck, its a 5 speed...yikes). Taking my trash was above and beyond the call of friendship. Its not often you'll find a person that says, "hey, just dump your trash in my truck, I'll take it for you".....thanks Chelle for everything. It was an enormus blessing.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Carrie was right, get the Kleenex before you watch
I stole this from my friend, Carrie, over at threegirlcircus. I don't think she'd mind. This was the most amazing testimony sharing event I've ever seen. I think every church should do "alter call" this way. Like an AA event, Hello, my name is Brandi, and I'm a sinner saved by grace, welcome to our church. LOL
My message could read a ton of things....
church pretender.....being real with others
childhood abuse.....by his stripes, I've been healed
addicted to alcohol......set free by grace
separated from husband.....marriage restored
I could go on and on. This was just a beautiful testiment to his goodness and his grace. I love it. Thanks Carrie for sharing.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Update on Brad
Well, surgery is over and now the healing process begins. Brad had a rough time in recovery, and a rough time getting home. All is better now, well as better as it can be. He is in a lot of pain, understandably so. His pain meds work great, but you can only take so many of those. We found a recliner on craigslist really cheap, and bought it yesterday. He slept much better last night! The kids have been great. They were a little concerned when he came home and wasn't feeling well. I don't really think they knew what to expect. Brennan was afraid of him for the first day or so, which absolutly broke Brad's heart. Brad has a really big sling on and a electric ice pack as well, it was a little intimidating for Brennan. We have turned off our home phone (bracing for the tightest budget ever), so if anyone needs to call, call the cell phones.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
New things
God has been revealing himself to us this week in a lot of ways. I wanted to take a minute a share them here.
-We found out that our insurance will cover almost all of Brad's surgery. We will be left with very little out of pocket expense.
-Our pool is still working. I know that may sound minor, but to us its huge!
-I have been praying for a job that would allow me to be around for the kids (so that the adjustment would go smoother for them). God has given me two. Be careful what you wish for! The first one is at the middle school next to the kids elementary school from 8-2 M-F.....so I'll drop the kids off at school, go to work, pick them up, come home. The schedule couldn't be any better for us. I will not need to worry about childcare for Bren as of yet. Brad will be home for a while, and when the time comes he'll only need childcare a few days a week. The other is working as an MT with the company my aunt works for, RC Transcription Services. Its all from home. She'll send me my work, I do it and send it back to her. I can do this a few hours a night after the kids are in bed.
-Pooh was on her way to Nashville to stay with the kids while Brad is in surgery. She is staying the rest of the week I think to help out. Anyway, her tire blew out on the interstate, next to a semi.....and she and her car are both fine.
-Neal has made new friends this week. He went to their house to play today and had a great time.
-Brad and I went to Tom's house this evening to work on some songs I had written. It was great to hear my words put to music. Tom and Katie are both very talented. We had a great time, lots of fun. Katie's songs were great and they even sent us home with zucchini bread. It doesn't get much better than that.
So........we are full of praises to our God for hearing our prayers and blessing our week. We'd be full of praises anyway. In fact, some of the best times of worship in my life have come from the valley, not the mountain. But its so good to celebrate the victories he has given us this week. As Chris, our pastor, would say...."God's just showin' off"......I'm grateful to be a recipient.
Brad goes in for surgery at 7am......please continue to pray for us and for our family during all this. I so appreciate all the love and encouragement from everyone. Love to all.........
-We found out that our insurance will cover almost all of Brad's surgery. We will be left with very little out of pocket expense.
-Our pool is still working. I know that may sound minor, but to us its huge!
-I have been praying for a job that would allow me to be around for the kids (so that the adjustment would go smoother for them). God has given me two. Be careful what you wish for! The first one is at the middle school next to the kids elementary school from 8-2 M-F.....so I'll drop the kids off at school, go to work, pick them up, come home. The schedule couldn't be any better for us. I will not need to worry about childcare for Bren as of yet. Brad will be home for a while, and when the time comes he'll only need childcare a few days a week. The other is working as an MT with the company my aunt works for, RC Transcription Services. Its all from home. She'll send me my work, I do it and send it back to her. I can do this a few hours a night after the kids are in bed.
-Pooh was on her way to Nashville to stay with the kids while Brad is in surgery. She is staying the rest of the week I think to help out. Anyway, her tire blew out on the interstate, next to a semi.....and she and her car are both fine.
-Neal has made new friends this week. He went to their house to play today and had a great time.
-Brad and I went to Tom's house this evening to work on some songs I had written. It was great to hear my words put to music. Tom and Katie are both very talented. We had a great time, lots of fun. Katie's songs were great and they even sent us home with zucchini bread. It doesn't get much better than that.
So........we are full of praises to our God for hearing our prayers and blessing our week. We'd be full of praises anyway. In fact, some of the best times of worship in my life have come from the valley, not the mountain. But its so good to celebrate the victories he has given us this week. As Chris, our pastor, would say...."God's just showin' off"......I'm grateful to be a recipient.
Brad goes in for surgery at 7am......please continue to pray for us and for our family during all this. I so appreciate all the love and encouragement from everyone. Love to all.........
Friday, July 11, 2008
Life right now
Its good to have all of us back together. We have been swimming in our pool all week. FINALLY! After many battles it seems we have won!
Life is very stressful these days. Brad's surgery is next Wednesday. He is dreading it (me too). The kids are concerned. About what I'm not sure, but anytime Mom and Dad are stressed I think they just pick it up. I am looking for a part time or full time job in the meantime to cover the expenses while Brad is off. That stresses me out in a million ways. Its not that I mind to work. Heck, most days a job would be a break from being with three kids all day. Seriously, going somewhere to do something constructive, and I hear they even give lunch breaks, coffee breaks, sounds good to me. I have worked off and on the entire time we have been married. When our circumstances have allowed it, (and I praise God that he has allowed me to be home, I understand some circumstances require us to not be) I have been home with the kids. We have had to go without some things, new cars, new clothes, and such, but its been worth every sacrifice we have made. I have put my own ambitions on hold (i.e. finishing college, a career, ect...) to be home with my kids. We have both always believed that they should be our first priority when it comes to decisions like that. Its honestly not been hard to give it up, or put it on hold. Children grow so fast and I'll never get this time back. I pray the transition goes well for them. It will definitely be an adjustment for all of us. God is good, and I have no doubt he will provide and care for our family. I pray that during this time our family would see more clearly that without his provisions for us, we would be lost completely without any hope. We are not without hope. We serve a God who owns "the cattle on a thousand hills".....or "a thousand cattle on the hills" (yea, scripture memorization not my strongest suit...LOL)....either way, I'm banking on the fact that he'll see fit to send us one soon, surely with a thousand he could spare one!
"he is good, all the time and all the time, he is good"
Life is very stressful these days. Brad's surgery is next Wednesday. He is dreading it (me too). The kids are concerned. About what I'm not sure, but anytime Mom and Dad are stressed I think they just pick it up. I am looking for a part time or full time job in the meantime to cover the expenses while Brad is off. That stresses me out in a million ways. Its not that I mind to work. Heck, most days a job would be a break from being with three kids all day. Seriously, going somewhere to do something constructive, and I hear they even give lunch breaks, coffee breaks, sounds good to me. I have worked off and on the entire time we have been married. When our circumstances have allowed it, (and I praise God that he has allowed me to be home, I understand some circumstances require us to not be) I have been home with the kids. We have had to go without some things, new cars, new clothes, and such, but its been worth every sacrifice we have made. I have put my own ambitions on hold (i.e. finishing college, a career, ect...) to be home with my kids. We have both always believed that they should be our first priority when it comes to decisions like that. Its honestly not been hard to give it up, or put it on hold. Children grow so fast and I'll never get this time back. I pray the transition goes well for them. It will definitely be an adjustment for all of us. God is good, and I have no doubt he will provide and care for our family. I pray that during this time our family would see more clearly that without his provisions for us, we would be lost completely without any hope. We are not without hope. We serve a God who owns "the cattle on a thousand hills".....or "a thousand cattle on the hills" (yea, scripture memorization not my strongest suit...LOL)....either way, I'm banking on the fact that he'll see fit to send us one soon, surely with a thousand he could spare one!
"he is good, all the time and all the time, he is good"
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Homecoming
So Neal comes home today. I have missed him so much. I realize he is at that age when he needs to spread his wings and fly a little. Its so hard to let go. I think your first born is even harder. As parents we love our children the same, and would lay down our life for any one of them. However, your first born just holds a special spot. When Neal asks me "why am I special to you", I of course have a million reasons why, but one of them is because he made me a Mommy. I walked into this whole trip of motherhood when the test said, positive almost ten years ago. What a trip its been, I wouldn't trade it for the world. Ok......off the computer and on to go pick up Neal.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
My best book list
Inspired by another blog I read today I decided to list some of my best books. Not just good books, but ones that have really changed me. Books that were instrumental in my growth as a Christian, a Mom, a wife and everything in between.
The top "book" would have to be the Bible (duh). That's a post for another day. It would take more writing than I'm in the mood for at the moment.
"Road to Reality" (can't remember the author now)........what I learned most from this book was that if churches really cared about spreading the gospel and loving people, would we spend 10,000 on a new piano (when the other worked fine) or would we send out missionaries or feed the hungry. It hit home to me about how out of balance my own priorities were.
"Waking the Dead" by John Eldridge.........This was one of the first books I read after becoming a Christian. Oddly enough, after I got saved I found myself hating church. Mind you, I had "played" church for a long time. But when I got saved (gave my life to Christ for real) I was so happy and free and I loved life. And when I'd go to church, I'd look around at all these people who looked bored to tears, lead sad lives, and never got excited about anything (in church at least).......this book helped me to see how Satan steals our joy and it opened my eyes to the way he tries to keep God's church captive and not effective in the world.
"Captivating" by Staci Eldridge..........This book gave me freedom to be a women. The best chapter was when she talked about being at rest in Christ. She talked of a lady whom she knew that made her so comfortable just by being in her presence. She was a women who knew who she was and who she was not. She was comfortable in her own skin. She wasn't pretending to have it all together, she didn't wear the mask......ah....I wanted to be that women. I love this book.
"Mother Teresa" a biography............she is my hero to this day. Her life was amazing. To live a life with no possessions, free from the love of "stuff", taking care of the out casts of the world. Her faith and her courage inspires me still. My fav quote by her, "poverty is not being hungry, or homeless, true poverty is being unloved, unwanted, and lonely" its so true.
"Yesterday, I Cried" by Inyala Vanzant...........she is very "new age" and believes a little bit of everything. Her book is her own life account of the abuse she endured as a child. It was the first book I read that let me know I was not alone in my struggles to overcome my past. She writes a poem in the beginning of the book. The last line of the poem reads......."today I cried.....I cried a soulful cry today......today I cried with an agenda, because today, freedom has come"......sends goose bumps up my spine to this day.
"Ragamuffin Gospel" by Brennan Manning (yes that is where we got Brennan's name)..........Its an account of his journey out of alcohol addiction. Its a powerful story of sin and redemption, and the power of a grace filled life.
there are many, many more great books I've read, but these are at the top for sure. I'm currently reading "Age of Opportunity" by Paul David Tripp. His brother wrote, "Shepherding a Child's Heart" which honestly I didn't care for. Age of Opportunity is about parenting through the teen years, but can be applied to any age I think. Its a good book. The best parenting book I've read has been, "Parenting with Grace and Truth" by Cloud & Townsend. Not life changing for me, but some great parenting advice.
The top "book" would have to be the Bible (duh). That's a post for another day. It would take more writing than I'm in the mood for at the moment.
"Road to Reality" (can't remember the author now)........what I learned most from this book was that if churches really cared about spreading the gospel and loving people, would we spend 10,000 on a new piano (when the other worked fine) or would we send out missionaries or feed the hungry. It hit home to me about how out of balance my own priorities were.
"Waking the Dead" by John Eldridge.........This was one of the first books I read after becoming a Christian. Oddly enough, after I got saved I found myself hating church. Mind you, I had "played" church for a long time. But when I got saved (gave my life to Christ for real) I was so happy and free and I loved life. And when I'd go to church, I'd look around at all these people who looked bored to tears, lead sad lives, and never got excited about anything (in church at least).......this book helped me to see how Satan steals our joy and it opened my eyes to the way he tries to keep God's church captive and not effective in the world.
"Captivating" by Staci Eldridge..........This book gave me freedom to be a women. The best chapter was when she talked about being at rest in Christ. She talked of a lady whom she knew that made her so comfortable just by being in her presence. She was a women who knew who she was and who she was not. She was comfortable in her own skin. She wasn't pretending to have it all together, she didn't wear the mask......ah....I wanted to be that women. I love this book.
"Mother Teresa" a biography............she is my hero to this day. Her life was amazing. To live a life with no possessions, free from the love of "stuff", taking care of the out casts of the world. Her faith and her courage inspires me still. My fav quote by her, "poverty is not being hungry, or homeless, true poverty is being unloved, unwanted, and lonely" its so true.
"Yesterday, I Cried" by Inyala Vanzant...........she is very "new age" and believes a little bit of everything. Her book is her own life account of the abuse she endured as a child. It was the first book I read that let me know I was not alone in my struggles to overcome my past. She writes a poem in the beginning of the book. The last line of the poem reads......."today I cried.....I cried a soulful cry today......today I cried with an agenda, because today, freedom has come"......sends goose bumps up my spine to this day.
"Ragamuffin Gospel" by Brennan Manning (yes that is where we got Brennan's name)..........Its an account of his journey out of alcohol addiction. Its a powerful story of sin and redemption, and the power of a grace filled life.
there are many, many more great books I've read, but these are at the top for sure. I'm currently reading "Age of Opportunity" by Paul David Tripp. His brother wrote, "Shepherding a Child's Heart" which honestly I didn't care for. Age of Opportunity is about parenting through the teen years, but can be applied to any age I think. Its a good book. The best parenting book I've read has been, "Parenting with Grace and Truth" by Cloud & Townsend. Not life changing for me, but some great parenting advice.
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