Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Jesus Sees Through It

I had the chance recently to write a devotional for a women's devotional book. I wanted to share it here too. It's on the woman at the well. And by the way, I'm having a great day today...

John 4:15-19 
The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” 
He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” 
“I have no husband,” she replied. 
Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” 
“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 


I’m having a bad day. Well, truth be told, I’m having a string of bad days. Some of the reasons for this run of bad days are legitimate. I’m battling cancer and having difficulty handling the side effects of the chemotherapy. My son is having a hard time learning some new concepts at school. I’m worn out from teaching my children how to share and get along. We are in the middle of a busy season of life. But some of what’s going on with me are not legitimate reasons for having a bad day. I’m refusing to see the blessings - of love and support and provision - and let them touch my heart. I know it’s wrong.

I sit on my Facebook page, knowing I need to send out an update about life because a lot of people are concerned and praying for me, but I’m unable to put any words in that little box. I feel like I need to “edit” some of what I want to say – glam it up a bit, make it a little more “Christian-y.” It’s not just on Facebook either. When I pray, I catch myself generalizing what my struggles are instead of honestly confessing my sin and conversing with the One who can intervene in the midst of my situation.

When I read today’s passage, I was glad to see that I am not the first woman Jesus had dealt with who had glossed over her sin. This woman came to the well in the middle of the day so she could avoid her “social network.” She had been offered living, eternal water, and she wanted to know how to get it. Then, Jesus cuts through all the stuff she’s hiding behind to preserve her damaged reputation and says, “Go call your husband, and come here.” Trying to hang onto her decency, she honestly replies, “I have no husband.” Then Jesus zones in like a laser beam, and He reveals her sins of infidelity and adultery. Her response? “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.”

This woman wanted an ice pack and a band-aid for her big problem, but Jesus went in like a skilled surgeon on the needs of her heart. And before we chuckle at her too much, we must recognize how much we can be like her. Instead of glossing over a sin or “fancying up” a struggle, allow Jesus to pierce your heart. He knows your burden better than you do. Allow the One who created you to finish the work He’s doing in you so that you can minister authentically.

Monday, February 6, 2012

Roundup - January 2012

This is an idea inspired by Katie the Scrapbook Lady as a way to collect your memories each month before they slip away.
 
1. What milestones did the kids have this month? What were they like? What were they into?
#2 had a big one! She rode her bike with no training wheels! She is still pretty hesitant and needs help starting (she prefers dad's help) but she is well on her way to being a pro.

IMG_9908

#1 had straight As on his report card, and he is working on learning cursive. It's not easy for him, but we got some tips from his teacher for different ways to practice. His class also did a special presentation in Chapel, and he had a main role.

IMG_0193 #3 continually makes us laugh. One day he decided he wanted to be called Zack.  He thought it sounded cooler than his own name. It didn't last very long. But now when he does something kinda dumb, we say, "come on zack!" and he growls!
He also asked Jesus in his heart this month. We were in a DNOW session, and at the end all of the kids were kneeling and praying. At the end of the invitation, #3 leaned over to Grammy and said, "I asked Jesus into my heart." She was happy for him, and said that he should tell someone about it. So he darted across the church to where my Main Squeeze was standing, and he said, "I asked Jesus in my heart." Well, MMS thought he said, "I want to ask Jesus into my heart." So he proceeded to go through the whole Gospel plan with #3, then he asked him, "Do you want to pray and ask Jesus into your heart?" #3 said, "Dad, I already DID that!" Now, as a mom, I'm a little freaked out. Nobody was there with him, nobody heard his prayer; nobody made sure he did it right. But it doesn't matter. I don't have to hear his prayers anyway. He's not praying to me. We are going to be observant, and see how God is working in his life and help him and answer his questions along the way.
(Image by Kelly Ann Jones - Augustine Grace Photography)

2. What events happened this month?
The big thing was DNOW! It was a new thing for our church and it was a big win. The students loved it and learns so much. Our speaker was Matt Lawson. Man, what a inspiring storyteller he was! He was a big encouragement to my Main Squeeze.
It was also so encouraging to see kids from our old church who helped us with this event. Most of these kids we have discipled and worked with for many years, and to see them teach, lead, and disciple others was very, very heart warming and inspiring :o)

IMG_0179

3. What did we do in our down time, just for fun?
It's been a busy month...not too much time for fun pursuits. Since its been so nice outside (70s and 80s) we've been doing a lot of bike riding and scootering.

We've also done some house hunting. Looking for a bigger place that will suit our needs better while not breaking the bank....yeah....not much luck yet. Praying for God to work this one out for us

4. What were we watching, listening to and reading?
Some movie watching and tv catch up too. We love American Idol, and my DVR is recording all the episodes for me. Whenever I need a rest, #2 and I cuddle up on the bed and watch an episode.
We rented Kung Fu Panda 2 and Breaking the Press to watch as a family. My Main Squeeze and I watched Moneyball - which for a movie about sports, was very entertaining.


My Main Squeeze is reading a couple books: The Resolution (from the movie Courageous) and The Uncommon Life Daily Challenge by Tony Dungy. He always has several books he reads from as he studies, and I don't always know what they are.

I started the James Bible study by Beth Moore called Mercy Triumphs. I'm also reading Generation iY.
I introduced #1 to the world of choose your own ending books! He really liked them.

5. What were my disappointments?
I'm having trouble with my port. It's just sore and tender all the time. My chemo appointment actually got backed up because they wanted to treat me for a port infection. I had to have 2 days of IV antibiotics and a 7 day course of oral antibiotics. It didn't really do anything, and now it's just as red and sore as it was before. The nurses said that sometimes it's just like that. I only have to keep it in another 5 weeks, and then it can come out. Chemo is doing its thing, but the side effects are cumulative and rough. I'm having a red blood cell issue (they're too low), so I'm having to have 3 weekly treatments to help build those back up. Because of feeling yukky and being at the doctor so much, I feel like I'm all off kilter with everyday life.

6. What were my accomplishments?
My car went over 100,000 miles. I wrote on my facebook.... "So thankful that God has provided us with a car that has taken us this far comfortably...on vacations, around town with 3 car seats and now with none, to church, to school, packed with youth group students on missions projects and sometimes just for fun. Thanks God for your provision."


I got to speak to a group of High Schoolers at our church's academy. The topic was how to be spiritually ready when life throws you a curveball. I was worried before the class I wouldn't be able to relate to most of the students, but they really seemed to be engaged.

I successfully took 3 kids with me to the oncologist for blood work. On the way home from getting the kids from school, the Doctor's office called because I had forgotten I had an appointment for bloodwork. She said they could still squeezing me in that afternoon...so I went with all 3 kids in tow. They were the hit of the afternoon! They scooted their 3 chairs in the hallway all right in front of the door where I was getting stuck. They wanted to see it all. If anything, this little journey with cancer may make all 3 of my kids want to be doctors.

I got a shout-out on the bullhorn in the school carline because I wore this wig to pick up my kids :o)


I completed my first online scrabooking class. It was called Round up Your Memories at Big Picture Classes. It was a great class! But I only made one scrapbook page this month.

5 chemo must haves

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