No worries. Matthew Monday will be back next Monday.
Today, I wanted to take a break and share with you guys something that I was overwhlemed by this weekend.
If you live in the great Pacific Northwest you knew that this weekend was Seafair. As all us Seattleites prayed for sun this weekend, the Blue Angels, boaters, hydro planes and sailors got ready for yet again, another amazing Seafair. This year I officially became a Seattleite! I have never been to Seafair....EVER! But this Saturday AA and I went to tour the battleships that were in town and raced over the Lake Washington to see the air show and Blue Angels....which were amazing! AA and I laughed and gawked at the planes as they flew over at death defying speeds. It was such a sweet blessing to be by the water, with my hubby and experiencing something so "Seattle."
And although our times on Saturday was great, I couldn't get over a feeling of sadness and at times failure. Let me explain...
We started the day wanting to see these battle ships that had sailed in over the last week and stared at us everyday as we went to work. So we made our way over there, got in line and were assigned "tour guide" aka members of the Navy to take us throughout the boat. As I started to look around at all of the sailors and members of the armed forces that were everywhere I started to really look AT them, not past them, like I embarrassingly do most times. And when I really started looking I started noticing how young these men and women are. I kept saying to AA, "they are just babies, just young young people!" He called me old and that yes, some of these men and women were 7 years younger then us. I started to think about who these men and women were. What's your name, where do you call home, do you have a husband/wife/kids, do you know Jesus, why did you join the Navy, ect? I wanted to just take one of them by the hand and start asking questions, but I didn't want to come off creepy. So I kept to myself, listening to all the facts they had about the boat.
This boat was huge. I MEAN HUGE! 3000 sailors can be housed on it at any given time. 3000? These people don't even know each other. What if you were the new kid? Who are your friends? Who helps show you around?
We went up on the main deck where they had helicopters and air crafts. And while everyone climbed in to take a picture, I was fighting back tears, thinking about how people's children and husbands and wives climb into these air crafts to go to war. War, where people die. These were not make believe things, these have been used to fight for our freedom.
We then went back down to underneath where they had military vehicles, tractors and other moving things. There was a young man who was sitting on top of one of the vehicles and was talking with a vet from Vietnam. I stood close enough to hear what they were talking about. As the vet asked this young man question after question, I couldn't help but be astonished by the answers he was giving. "Yes I have been to Afghanistan and Iraq, yes we just lost a vehicle last time we were there to an IED, yes I am proud I get to serve a country I believe in, yes I miss my family, no I have no plans of getting out of the service anytime soon." As I bit my tongue really hard to stop from crying the vet shook the young man's hand to thank him for his service and if I had any guts what-so-ever I would have done the same thing. But I didn't. And I wish I would have.
As we left the ship, the captain was there to thank US for coming. Are you kidding me? Why are you thanking me? I should be on my knees thanking you! As I looked down to his left hand, there was a medal band, just like my husbands. He was the same age as my dad and I couldn't help but think, "who are you away from your uniform?"
And as I left, I felt like a failure. I have never prayed for the military and their families. Oh sure, when we hear something bad on the news or radio, I will lift those families up to God to protect them and help them know they are loved and I pray those soldiers knew Jesus. But never have I constantly prayed for them. Well that all changed Saturday. I am making a commitment to add "military" to my quiet time. These men and women fight for this country so that I can worship Jesus, in the open, I can pray at restaurants, I can go to church and not be afraid. I can run, work, be a wife, friend, sister and anything else God calls me to do, because of the freedom I so often forget I have.
And although freedom in the American sense of the word is amazing and I take it for granted way too much, real freedom is in Jesus. Having Him write the story of my life has freed me from sin, anxiety and oppression. So that is what I will start praying for. That these men and women who serve our country come to know the freedom that is found in Jesus, that they have community within each other, that they find time to worship Christ, and that they are inhaling and exhaling the love of God.
Thank you troops, I am so sorry I have forgotten about you.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Matthew Monday (aka Tuesday)
Hi everyone! Sorry this is a day late. Last night was cut short due to a long, long day at work for both AA and I. We both got home about 30 minutes apart from each other and pretty much collapsed on the couch. We both tried to read, but that was just too much for our brains. We hit the hay pretty early last night.
Side note: AA got up WAY TO EARLY this morning to get to work. He has a special meeting today at 2pm (I will chat about this later, in the coming weeks), so he needed to get there super early so he could leave early. And as most of you know I am pretty much dead to the world until about 6:45-7:00ish when my alarm blares and the daily struggle of "go to the gym" "no don't go to the gym" "no GET OUT OF BED AND GO TO THE GYM!" "but ohhh I feel so fabulous wrapped up in here." ANYWAY, he always comes over says goodbye and gives me a kiss. This morning was not pretty. I woke up to him giving me a kiss goodbye and my mouth was WIDE OPEN AND I WAS DROOLING! OH MY GOSH! How that man loves me I have no idea, but I am sure thankful he does. :)
Here we go....MATTHEW MONDAY (TUESDAY...whatever)
Matthew 9: 18-26
What:
-A synagogue leader told Jesus that his daughter had just died, but if He came and touched her, she would be alive.
-Jesus went with the leaders and the disciples followed.
-On the way, a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years came up and touched Jesus' cloak and said to herself, "if only I can touch a part of Him, I will be healed."
-Jesus saw her and told her that her faith had healed her and the woman was healed at that very moment.
-When Jesus entered the house of the leader he saw all the commotion.
-He told them to go away, that the girl was not dead, but asleep.
-Jesus put his hand on her and she got up.
-News spread throughout the region.
So what:
-Jesus comforted the bleeding woman. She was a faithful woman and it took courage for her to even touch Jesus and have the faith that He would heal her. Jesus acknowledged this and healed her.
-When Jesus arrived at the house, there was gossiping and people there just to get the news, about what was happening in their "neighborhood."
-Miracles are real and only through Jesus.
-Jesus has ultimate authority over death. We can see this here with the girl and with Hi conquering death on the cross.
-Jesus has the authority to restore life in all of us.
-By touching the woman who was bleeding, was a clear illustration that Jesus cleans the uncleanness and messiness of this world.
-She was made whole by His touch.
Now what:
Jesus,
I need you. Lord Jesus I am a broken, an unclean person who can only be filled by You. I can only be made clean and whole by Your touch in my life. Lord Jesus, the only person that can make me whole is YOU! Lord I pray that as I struggle with wanting to feel worth from people, that you are reminding me and comforting me that it is only You who can fill that space in my heart. Lord that I am reminded that it is not people who saved me from eternal death, but it was You upon that cross. It is You who makes me clean and mends my heart. It is You Lord who I serve and that You have given me the opportunity to live in Your story that You are writing for my life.
I love you Jesus. Amen.
Side note: AA got up WAY TO EARLY this morning to get to work. He has a special meeting today at 2pm (I will chat about this later, in the coming weeks), so he needed to get there super early so he could leave early. And as most of you know I am pretty much dead to the world until about 6:45-7:00ish when my alarm blares and the daily struggle of "go to the gym" "no don't go to the gym" "no GET OUT OF BED AND GO TO THE GYM!" "but ohhh I feel so fabulous wrapped up in here." ANYWAY, he always comes over says goodbye and gives me a kiss. This morning was not pretty. I woke up to him giving me a kiss goodbye and my mouth was WIDE OPEN AND I WAS DROOLING! OH MY GOSH! How that man loves me I have no idea, but I am sure thankful he does. :)
Here we go....MATTHEW MONDAY (TUESDAY...whatever)
Matthew 9: 18-26
What:
-A synagogue leader told Jesus that his daughter had just died, but if He came and touched her, she would be alive.
-Jesus went with the leaders and the disciples followed.
-On the way, a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years came up and touched Jesus' cloak and said to herself, "if only I can touch a part of Him, I will be healed."
-Jesus saw her and told her that her faith had healed her and the woman was healed at that very moment.
-When Jesus entered the house of the leader he saw all the commotion.
-He told them to go away, that the girl was not dead, but asleep.
-Jesus put his hand on her and she got up.
-News spread throughout the region.
So what:
-Jesus comforted the bleeding woman. She was a faithful woman and it took courage for her to even touch Jesus and have the faith that He would heal her. Jesus acknowledged this and healed her.
-When Jesus arrived at the house, there was gossiping and people there just to get the news, about what was happening in their "neighborhood."
-Miracles are real and only through Jesus.
-Jesus has ultimate authority over death. We can see this here with the girl and with Hi conquering death on the cross.
-Jesus has the authority to restore life in all of us.
-By touching the woman who was bleeding, was a clear illustration that Jesus cleans the uncleanness and messiness of this world.
-She was made whole by His touch.
Now what:
Jesus,
I need you. Lord Jesus I am a broken, an unclean person who can only be filled by You. I can only be made clean and whole by Your touch in my life. Lord Jesus, the only person that can make me whole is YOU! Lord I pray that as I struggle with wanting to feel worth from people, that you are reminding me and comforting me that it is only You who can fill that space in my heart. Lord that I am reminded that it is not people who saved me from eternal death, but it was You upon that cross. It is You who makes me clean and mends my heart. It is You Lord who I serve and that You have given me the opportunity to live in Your story that You are writing for my life.
I love you Jesus. Amen.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Thursday Latelies!
Hi everyone!
Click here for my Thursday Latelies video!
Can someone help me figure out how to embed this into this post instead of having everyone click over? Thanks!
Click here for my Thursday Latelies video!
Can someone help me figure out how to embed this into this post instead of having everyone click over? Thanks!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
A call to prayer
Hi friends!
I could go on and on today about whatever I usually talk about on here on a Tuesday, my love handles, something about running, how I was rocking out to Beyonce and got caught (true story), but I won't. Because today there is a need to pray.
Some of you know my friend Megan, I call her Yenster. Not to be confused with my other dear friend Meagruuuuu. Anywho, I talked about Yenster here and what she means to me. That love that I have for her and now her family grows everyday. She is teaching me things daily, even when we havn't talked in weeks.
Yenster and her husband, "Safety Steve," are expecting their second little one. Baby Yen #2 will hopefully be born Thursday sometime. Megan is being induced tomorrow night and labor and delivery will hopefully take place Thursday but no longer then Friday.
Why is Yenster being induced you ask? It is a long story, with lot's of medical words I am not sure how to even pronounce, but the basic term is that Baby Yen #2 has cysts in his lungs and need to be removed. The doctors found these at the 20 week check up and to say it deeply saddened the Yen's would be correct. It also saddened and confused all of us? The questions of "why God" flew through everyone who knows them. The cysts are dangerous and serious and need to be dealt with in that way.
But what was the most amazing, was that Yenster and Safety Steve never once doubted the plan that God had for their lives. They knew this would glorify God and that this baby would be a testimate to the goodness and grace that God gives. As all of us are still trying to deal with our emotions in this situation, Yenster has been the one with the supporting words and encouraging prayers. When we should be there for them, they were here for us. Not surprising if you know them. To say we are blessed by their friendship would be an understatement.
So that is why I am calling all of you to prayer. Below is a list of prayer requests that can be lifted up for the next 72 hours or so. Please, I beg of you, if you think of it pray for the Yen family. As much faith as they have in Jesus and his plan, the anxiety and fear are still there. Some of these prayer requests are ones that the Yenster has asked for. Others are just ones I thought of. Please pass this along to anyone you can think of so they can pray too.
I love you and know what the power of prayer can do. God does hear and answer our prayers.
14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
1 John 5:14-15 (NKJV)
Psalm 6:9
"The Lord has heard my supplication, The Lord receives my prayer."
Prayer Requests:
1. Pray that Yenster's body responds 'well' to the induction process.
2. Baby will be strong, healthy, have no breathing complications or issues upon his birth.
3. He will undergo a series of tests/x-rays after he is born to see how everything is going internally, pray those go well.
4. Pray that Steve and Yenster will be Spirit filled and led as they wait for results, talk with doctors/nurses, and walk through this time.
5. Pray for Grandma and Grandpa who will be there with Oli and that they will know how to best help.
6. Pray for the doctors and nurses to see a miracle this week and that nothing will explain it except for God!
7. Pray that their hospital stay will be quick because Baby Yen will be ready to go home because he is strong and healthy!
8. Pray for Oli, that you will give him a sense of calm and understanding
9. Pray for all of the Yen's family and friends to know how to best care for them.
10. Pray that God's glory will be revealed.
I could go on and on today about whatever I usually talk about on here on a Tuesday, my love handles, something about running, how I was rocking out to Beyonce and got caught (true story), but I won't. Because today there is a need to pray.
Some of you know my friend Megan, I call her Yenster. Not to be confused with my other dear friend Meagruuuuu. Anywho, I talked about Yenster here and what she means to me. That love that I have for her and now her family grows everyday. She is teaching me things daily, even when we havn't talked in weeks.
Yenster and her husband, "Safety Steve," are expecting their second little one. Baby Yen #2 will hopefully be born Thursday sometime. Megan is being induced tomorrow night and labor and delivery will hopefully take place Thursday but no longer then Friday.
Why is Yenster being induced you ask? It is a long story, with lot's of medical words I am not sure how to even pronounce, but the basic term is that Baby Yen #2 has cysts in his lungs and need to be removed. The doctors found these at the 20 week check up and to say it deeply saddened the Yen's would be correct. It also saddened and confused all of us? The questions of "why God" flew through everyone who knows them. The cysts are dangerous and serious and need to be dealt with in that way.
But what was the most amazing, was that Yenster and Safety Steve never once doubted the plan that God had for their lives. They knew this would glorify God and that this baby would be a testimate to the goodness and grace that God gives. As all of us are still trying to deal with our emotions in this situation, Yenster has been the one with the supporting words and encouraging prayers. When we should be there for them, they were here for us. Not surprising if you know them. To say we are blessed by their friendship would be an understatement.
So that is why I am calling all of you to prayer. Below is a list of prayer requests that can be lifted up for the next 72 hours or so. Please, I beg of you, if you think of it pray for the Yen family. As much faith as they have in Jesus and his plan, the anxiety and fear are still there. Some of these prayer requests are ones that the Yenster has asked for. Others are just ones I thought of. Please pass this along to anyone you can think of so they can pray too.
I love you and know what the power of prayer can do. God does hear and answer our prayers.
14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
1 John 5:14-15 (NKJV)
Psalm 6:9
"The Lord has heard my supplication, The Lord receives my prayer."
Prayer Requests:
1. Pray that Yenster's body responds 'well' to the induction process.
2. Baby will be strong, healthy, have no breathing complications or issues upon his birth.
3. He will undergo a series of tests/x-rays after he is born to see how everything is going internally, pray those go well.
4. Pray that Steve and Yenster will be Spirit filled and led as they wait for results, talk with doctors/nurses, and walk through this time.
5. Pray for Grandma and Grandpa who will be there with Oli and that they will know how to best help.
6. Pray for the doctors and nurses to see a miracle this week and that nothing will explain it except for God!
7. Pray that their hospital stay will be quick because Baby Yen will be ready to go home because he is strong and healthy!
8. Pray for Oli, that you will give him a sense of calm and understanding
9. Pray for all of the Yen's family and friends to know how to best care for them.
10. Pray that God's glory will be revealed.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Matthew Monday!
It is already Monday again? I guess time flies when you are having fun right? This one is a shorter one but JUST as powerful!
Hereeeeeeee weeeeee gooooooo......!
Matthew 8: 18-22
What:
-There was a crowd around Jesus
-When he saw this he gave commands to cross to the other side of the lake
-A teacher of the law told Jesus that he would follow him wherever he goes
-Jesus told the man:
-Foxes have holes
-Birds have nests
-But the Son of Man has no where to lay his head
-A disciple came to Jesus and told him he needed to first bury his father
-Then Jesus said "Follow me and let the dead bury their own dead."
So what:
-The passage before this one there Jesus performs miracles.
-A teacher of the law was someone who was well versed in the OT and who were looked upon for scriptural traditions.
-"The Son of Man" was used 81 times in the Gospels and was considered Jesus' "favorite" term for himself. No one used the term but Jesus himself.
-"dead bury the dead" meant let the spiritually dead bury the physically dead. The time of Jesus ministry was short and because of that demanded full commitment. Jesus asking him to follow him now and not after the burial of his father stressed the importance of his ministry over the Jewish significance of children burring their parents.
Now what:
-What am I putting in first place in my life that I need to give to the Lord, so that not only He can take control of it, but so that he will be number one in my life?
-There are things in my life, Some idols that I have struggled with ever since becoming a Christian and some that I never knew I had an issue with, that sneak into that first place in my life. Things that can be good, and things that can be destructive. But isn't everything destructive when it is taking the number one spot in your life? I think so. I am a Jesus follower FIRST, then everything else comes after that. EVERYTHING!
-There are certain seasons in my life when I don't struggle with this as much as I do in other seasons. The seasons that I do struggle with this, are dark and at times scary. I try to reach for Jesus but there is a spiritual war going on. It is only because of the hope that Christ brings me, he is able to pull me out of that pit.
Do you struggle with this? How can I pray for you?
Hereeeeeeee weeeeee gooooooo......!
Matthew 8: 18-22
What:
-There was a crowd around Jesus
-When he saw this he gave commands to cross to the other side of the lake
-A teacher of the law told Jesus that he would follow him wherever he goes
-Jesus told the man:
-Foxes have holes
-Birds have nests
-But the Son of Man has no where to lay his head
-A disciple came to Jesus and told him he needed to first bury his father
-Then Jesus said "Follow me and let the dead bury their own dead."
So what:
-The passage before this one there Jesus performs miracles.
-A teacher of the law was someone who was well versed in the OT and who were looked upon for scriptural traditions.
-"The Son of Man" was used 81 times in the Gospels and was considered Jesus' "favorite" term for himself. No one used the term but Jesus himself.
-"dead bury the dead" meant let the spiritually dead bury the physically dead. The time of Jesus ministry was short and because of that demanded full commitment. Jesus asking him to follow him now and not after the burial of his father stressed the importance of his ministry over the Jewish significance of children burring their parents.
Now what:
-What am I putting in first place in my life that I need to give to the Lord, so that not only He can take control of it, but so that he will be number one in my life?
-There are things in my life, Some idols that I have struggled with ever since becoming a Christian and some that I never knew I had an issue with, that sneak into that first place in my life. Things that can be good, and things that can be destructive. But isn't everything destructive when it is taking the number one spot in your life? I think so. I am a Jesus follower FIRST, then everything else comes after that. EVERYTHING!
-There are certain seasons in my life when I don't struggle with this as much as I do in other seasons. The seasons that I do struggle with this, are dark and at times scary. I try to reach for Jesus but there is a spiritual war going on. It is only because of the hope that Christ brings me, he is able to pull me out of that pit.
Do you struggle with this? How can I pray for you?
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