Hello all! Reminder that our Brazil mission team (Denise , Adrian, and Karen) are flying out tonight for a week+ in Brazil!
Please pray for safety, clarify, strength!
Friday, March 12, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Notes from God
Today, when I picked up Gray from school, his school note said "Grayson had a very hard time listening and following directions today."
Pause.
WHAT??? My perfect Grayson? Has she not ever noticed how perfect his smile is? Or his perfect blue/gray eyes? Even the way he smells is perfect....
As I was preparing to march myself into that room and inform the teacher of his perfection, Grayson ran from me toward the door, and when I told him to "come here" he simply grinned and kept running. And that's when it occurred to me. The truth hurts. Fortunately for my ego (and for the teacher), I didn't make it into the room to give anyone a piece of my mind. I ran after Grayson! Poor Gray got grounded from the TV for the rest of the day for not minding at school. Poor sweet baby. Don't you know how that hurt Mom?
Isn't disciplining difficult? Doesn't it require work on our part, as parents? I might have actually cooked supper tonight if Gray had watched a 30 minute Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (or some other chore I should have done but didn't get to.) Plus he asks for TV like 732 times and 732 times I explained he did not get to watch TV tonight because he disobeyed at school and 732 time he whined about it. Frankly, it would have been easier to give in. But I disciplined Gray because ultimately, I want him to know that it is right to obey his teacher at school. And I love him SO much, I want him to grow to be a good, self-disciplined, godly man.
As I was rocking my sweet baby Gray to sleep tonight, my mind thought of what the notes would look like if God wrote us notes everyday on our behavior. Mine would probably say something like, "Jamie continues to worry about the same things over and over today" "Jamie has delusioned herself into thinking the world revolves around her today" "Jamie was moody and tempermental today, and took it out on her friends and family."
What would your notes say?
But aren't we blessed that our Heavenly Father disciplines us - otherwise, wouldn't we be a mess? An embarrassment? Unhappy? Chaotic? Selfish?
Hebrews 12:5-11 says: (New International Version) - parens my own,
"5And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons (daughters):
"My son (daughter), do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son (daughter)."[a]
7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons (children). For what son (child) is not disciplined by his father? 8If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons (daughters). 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
It is encouraging to know that when I experience God's discipline, it's validation of his love for me as His child - that there's something in my behavior that, if not fixed, will cause me grief down the road, and He doesn't want that for me. Aren't we blessed?
Pause.
WHAT??? My perfect Grayson? Has she not ever noticed how perfect his smile is? Or his perfect blue/gray eyes? Even the way he smells is perfect....
As I was preparing to march myself into that room and inform the teacher of his perfection, Grayson ran from me toward the door, and when I told him to "come here" he simply grinned and kept running. And that's when it occurred to me. The truth hurts. Fortunately for my ego (and for the teacher), I didn't make it into the room to give anyone a piece of my mind. I ran after Grayson! Poor Gray got grounded from the TV for the rest of the day for not minding at school. Poor sweet baby. Don't you know how that hurt Mom?
Isn't disciplining difficult? Doesn't it require work on our part, as parents? I might have actually cooked supper tonight if Gray had watched a 30 minute Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (or some other chore I should have done but didn't get to.) Plus he asks for TV like 732 times and 732 times I explained he did not get to watch TV tonight because he disobeyed at school and 732 time he whined about it. Frankly, it would have been easier to give in. But I disciplined Gray because ultimately, I want him to know that it is right to obey his teacher at school. And I love him SO much, I want him to grow to be a good, self-disciplined, godly man.
As I was rocking my sweet baby Gray to sleep tonight, my mind thought of what the notes would look like if God wrote us notes everyday on our behavior. Mine would probably say something like, "Jamie continues to worry about the same things over and over today" "Jamie has delusioned herself into thinking the world revolves around her today" "Jamie was moody and tempermental today, and took it out on her friends and family."
What would your notes say?
But aren't we blessed that our Heavenly Father disciplines us - otherwise, wouldn't we be a mess? An embarrassment? Unhappy? Chaotic? Selfish?
Hebrews 12:5-11 says: (New International Version) - parens my own,
"5And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons (daughters):
"My son (daughter), do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son (daughter)."[a]
7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons (children). For what son (child) is not disciplined by his father? 8If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons (daughters). 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
It is encouraging to know that when I experience God's discipline, it's validation of his love for me as His child - that there's something in my behavior that, if not fixed, will cause me grief down the road, and He doesn't want that for me. Aren't we blessed?
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Bad Day Creates Opportunities
Like the title? Sounds like a newspaper headline? :)
Well, yesterday was just, well, rough for me. I don't know. Old anxieties and fears crept in to steal my joy. I was really in a bad place, when I remembered the new testament in my purse....it's Grayson's baby one. So I closed my office door and pulled it out and opened it up, desperate to hear a calming word from the Lord. I randomly opened the Bible up, and when I opened it I sensed that what God was going to share with me was what I needed to hear.
As opposed to what I thought I needed ( calming word).
John Chapter 21:
15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah,[b] do you love Me more than these?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah,[c] do you love Me?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah,[d] do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
Let us deeply and sincerely pray for each other as we work together to care for and love those that need it most.
Well, yesterday was just, well, rough for me. I don't know. Old anxieties and fears crept in to steal my joy. I was really in a bad place, when I remembered the new testament in my purse....it's Grayson's baby one. So I closed my office door and pulled it out and opened it up, desperate to hear a calming word from the Lord. I randomly opened the Bible up, and when I opened it I sensed that what God was going to share with me was what I needed to hear.
As opposed to what I thought I needed ( calming word).
John Chapter 21:
15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah,[b] do you love Me more than these?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah,[c] do you love Me?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah,[d] do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
Let us deeply and sincerely pray for each other as we work together to care for and love those that need it most.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Active Prayer Requests
...I know I have forgotten some....so please send your updates via email and I'll update the blog.... and any other things you'd like posted.
Kacey - dr. appt this week
Tina - staph infection on finger
Tommy - in hospital
Auston - has leukemia, pray for God's healing
Kristi's Mom - pray for comfort during her grieving process
Amanda - baby bump doing well, keep praying!
Katie - heart surgery this summer
Kacey - dr. appt this week
Tina - staph infection on finger
Tommy - in hospital
Auston - has leukemia, pray for God's healing
Kristi's Mom - pray for comfort during her grieving process
Amanda - baby bump doing well, keep praying!
Katie - heart surgery this summer
Thank you, Patsy!
It's so wonderful to have someone smack you upside the head with good news, isn't it? Last night, I asked Patsy Mc to be my Brazil "prayer partner." Actually, I want everyone on to be my Brazil prayer partner. :) I know Patsy has been to Brazil and she could be very specific with prayer needs (ask God to not get mosquito bit...little things). So I shared with her the struggles I have been having with going. I KNOW God wants me to go, if he were any clearer, He'd be writing on the wall. He has spoken to me over and over again when I've needed it, which is so comforting to me. So I asked her to pray that my kids would be OK while I'm gone, and that I would have the strength to focus on the job at hand. Then she said something just WONDERFUL. I realize I should have thought about this myself, but I've been so focused on "ME" that it just had not occurred to me. She said, (paraphrase), you know Jamie, how exciting it must be to have such a strong calling even thought it's so difficult, God must have something amazing in store to call you away from your kids for over a week.
WOW.
I know, I'm slow, but when she said that, it was like whoa nelly. God must have something big in store for it to be this painful.
Don't get me wrong. I am so blessed and my kids are healthy and I'm healthy and leaving my kids for a few days is not a sacrifice. He has made that clear to me also. But for me, it's a big deal, and He knows that. Also, I know this mission is no more important or difficult that the other many missions of our church (I'll take going to Brazil over staying in the nursery with more than two babies at a time for more than a few hours any day of the week.)But now, the excitement of depending on Him and seeing His work resonated in me afresh.
Maybe you're in that spot. Something is difficult and painful, and you think, what could be the point of this? Pain often gives fruit to many blessings, and we often see HIS hand in painful times. Seeing Him work is a shot of adrenaline to our faith.
Praise God for his loving faithfulness and merciful grace!
Have a blessed week.
WOW.
I know, I'm slow, but when she said that, it was like whoa nelly. God must have something big in store for it to be this painful.
Don't get me wrong. I am so blessed and my kids are healthy and I'm healthy and leaving my kids for a few days is not a sacrifice. He has made that clear to me also. But for me, it's a big deal, and He knows that. Also, I know this mission is no more important or difficult that the other many missions of our church (I'll take going to Brazil over staying in the nursery with more than two babies at a time for more than a few hours any day of the week.)But now, the excitement of depending on Him and seeing His work resonated in me afresh.
Maybe you're in that spot. Something is difficult and painful, and you think, what could be the point of this? Pain often gives fruit to many blessings, and we often see HIS hand in painful times. Seeing Him work is a shot of adrenaline to our faith.
Praise God for his loving faithfulness and merciful grace!
Have a blessed week.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Prayer Request
Prayer Request from Amanda Abernathy:
Her sister's husband's family (the Fords) HIS sister died yesterday unexpectedly. They have many issues to work out since she lives in Washington and they need to get the body back to here. The money has fortunately been provided (praise), but still need to talk to the children in the family (nieces, nephews). Please pray for God's comfort and strength!
Thank you!
Her sister's husband's family (the Fords) HIS sister died yesterday unexpectedly. They have many issues to work out since she lives in Washington and they need to get the body back to here. The money has fortunately been provided (praise), but still need to talk to the children in the family (nieces, nephews). Please pray for God's comfort and strength!
Thank you!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
2010 Video
I'm curious about your thoughts on the 2010 video to Leeland's Tears of the Saints? Also, don't forget about the new ACT class on Sunday night. This class will focus on micromissions opportunties (think bits and pieces of bigger projects).
Have a blessed Monday!
J
PS: The Abernathy's are going to have a BOY!!!! Coming soon (May 24thish). Keep Amanda in your prayers.
Have a blessed Monday!
J
PS: The Abernathy's are going to have a BOY!!!! Coming soon (May 24thish). Keep Amanda in your prayers.
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