This week was full of my momma. She visited from last Friday until this Sunday, and what fun we had... Opening Ceremonies.Pairs Figure Skating. Men's Figure Skating. Snow Boarding. Veggie Soup. Museum of Natural History. Chicken Casserole. Walks to the grocery. Milk. Cupcakes.(which turned my hands red!) Shopping trip. The 2nd longest escalator in the world. (mom did that one by herself, you should ask her about it) Georgetown. Georgetown Cupcake. Church(twice). A spattering of more Olympic events and lots of laughing! We also got to see the "most beautiful room in Washington"...The main reading room of the Library of Congress! It was too beautiful for words...
"God is love."
Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. And that that is, according to my twin, simply a holiday created by greeting card companies and Wal-mart to sell things! And she has lived by that for a while-never celebrating Valentine's Day, but quietly tolerating anyone who did. But this year is different. You see for the first time since I've known her Dena is celebrating Valentine's Day. Today she was out searching for the prefect shoes to wear with her perfect dress on her perfect Valentine's Day date tomorrow night. So why you ask is this year different? Because, I think, Dena finally understands that God IS Love. Truly. And because she chose to believe that Jesus loves us no matter what, and that He always wants what's best for us. She now has a great guy who loves her back. They both understand that God is love...
This year I'm 12 hours from the guy I normally spend Valentine's Day with. And I'm gonna be alright. Except for a little bit tonight when I left the movies. For 6 years when the movies are finished I hear, "There's no reason to get in a hurry." Tonight I didn't hear that. And for the first time in 6 years I was one of the first people out of the theater. And I missed him. And I cried. It's the simple things that I miss the most. But I do know that he understands as do I that God is love; and that if we truly love God as He loved us, everything will be alright. When I found out that what God has called us both to do would probably separate us for a while. I struggled to understand why. And then I came across this, " Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." The true love that God gives us, never gives up. It waits for the perfect time that God has planned for us...
So this Valentine's Day. The love that God gives is perfection. It restores our faith in others. It shows us that even the simplest things have meaning. And even if Valentine's Day was created by Hershey's to sell more "kisses"...if we truly understand the meaning behind God's love. He will always show us that perfect person to restore our faith...
~~Happy Valentine's Day~~
1 John 4:8
1 Corinthians 13:7
This is Noah. He's is 3. Noah is Jeffrey's newest nephew, but not for long. You see Noah's mommy has a dream, to have lots of little children. But kind of like Hannah in the Bible, she couldn't. She had Noah, and we all love him. Well...he's warming up to me-we made Jesus a birthday cake at Christmas and now we're good friends. For a little while Noah's mommy was sad. And we are were too. She told me today that her sadness consumed her. We all noticed that she was sad, but we didn't know what to do. One night at church God told me to go pray for her. But I didn't. I wasn't very close to her at the time. I felt like she didn't need me. But finally after hearing it every time I saw her I finally did. I prayed that God would bring Noah's mommy a baby, even if it wasn't her's biologically and I told God that the whole family would love this new baby.
Well, we've been waiting and just the other day we heard some good news. There was a girl who loved a baby so much that even though she didn't want to raise it, she decided to let it grow inside her and then give it away for some one else to love. Well God had given Noah's mommy some really good Dr. friends, and they talked to that girl and Noah's mommy. Noah's mommy wrote a letter to the girl and told her all about how everyone of us love that baby that's growing inside of her. But that girl wasn't sure she wanted to know who was going to love that baby.
So Noah's mommy was kind-of sad, but she just kept Delighting herself in Jesus. Then this morning, I got a text message. Jesus had spoken to that girls heart, she might not know it yet-but I do, and she decided that she wanted that baby inside of her to be loved by Noah's mommy and daddy. Noah's mommy had to tell some one, and I was the first to know!! The funny thing is, that this morning I felt like I was suppose to call Noah's mommy and remind her to Delight herself in Jesus. But she didn't need me, because she had already realized that Jesus had everything in control. And that's what Jesus did. Because Noah's mommy was delighted in Jesus-even when she could have been sad- she is going to be a mommy again in April!!
All of us are very excited, but not just because Noah is getting a new brother or sister, but because Jesus loves us so much that when we are truly delighted with Him-He gives us good gifts. I hope that one day I can meet that girl who chose to let Noah's new sibling grow inside her and I can tell her how much she helped this family even though she doesn't know it. Because you see, this baby has taught me that if we believe and act on what God speaks to our heart-eventually He will use it. I'd like to think that my prayer for Noah's mommy was the turning point in this story,but it probably isn't. Either way this baby, even though we haven't met, has helped bring me and Noah's mommy closer together!! Now we are like sisters, where before we weren't. I can't contain my happiness-so I wanted to share it with you!
Jesus delights in us when we Delight in Him!
-Psalms 139:14 "I will Praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;Marvelous are Thy works, that my soul knoweth right well."
So. Apparently this area of the country where I live now-DC :) I just love saying that! Doesn't understand the concept of pre-salting the roads. Where I come from the minute there is snow in the forecast, and by that I mean 5hours later, the big snow plows are going up and down the roads dumping salt all over creation. Not here. Apparently they don't even budget for it! Imagine my surprise when I learned this on the Metro this morning! Then after I get home from work I see one lonely little snow truck. And I'm thinking...why are you out you don't have any salt!?Poor snow truck man, you can't take any preventative measures-you just have to wait for the bad stuff to come. So, if we are the salt of the earth does this mean we can take preventative measures to save people from becoming stuck in the snow? Today I met a new interpreter and in the course of our 30 minute discussion she was using some what I'll call "common curse words". Not that they're common for me, but you usually hear them in casual conversation. All of a sudden she stops and says "Oh, I'm sorry, I should probably stop saying that". I hadn't said anything to her. Not one word. But was the preventative salt that I have in my life rubbing off on her? I'd like to think so. I'd like to think that people like me, but can't quite figure out why I'm so different. I like those moments in life where I can say, here's some salt...you might need it. And if you decided that you do, I'm here to talk. Jesus shines through us everyday if we'd only let Him. So tomorrow while you're thinking of that lonely snow truck with no salt, let your life be salty enough to rub off on someone else.
