God is so so so AMAZINGLY GOOD

My efforts to keep my faith have been rewarded today! Two weeks ago we prepared and hand delivered Brandy's application to the Shriner's to a Shriner in Muskogee. Today, in the mail we received the letter approving her application! Her first appointment will be November 10th. I struggled with this GREATLY! I even put a call out to my facebook friends asking for scriptures to use ~ repeat to myself ~ when thoughts of doubt would creep in. When those thoughts came, and did they come!!!, I would read one of those scriptures or I would just pray and thank God that He was at work on this one. I refused to NOT believe this was going to happen. To many indicators pointed to the fact that God was opening doors for us to even get as far as actually preparing the application. But still, I fought thoughts of, "what if I want this so much I am just making it seem like God is opening a door"....oh Satan...you lose again! Victory belongs to Jesus!

At church Sunday our youth pastor spoke about FACTS v. TRUTH. I had pretty much always lumped them together. But as I sat there listening a little thought popped ( I believe God put it there) into my mind. "FACTS say there is not a cure for Brandy's disorder, TRUTH says GOD HEALS!" Praise God! Praise God! Praise God! Believing for healing and doing all I can and should do as this precious childs mom to make her as strong and healthy as she can be from a human perspective. Putting her in Gods hands to do all that I can not do.

I am ashamed at how much I struggle to pray and believe for answers. Humbled when God does answer them despite my lack of full faith. God loves Me. That is so hard for me to accept sometimes. Though I know beyond a shadow of a doubt he loves everyone so much. To allow my self to focus on the fact that HE LOVE ME is enough to bring tears to my eyes and to bring me to my knees.

Lots of love to all!

D. J.

On our knees

So, one of Brandy's exercises is to walk on her knees. So we play games and have her walk on her knees. As I watch her I think about all the strength she is building in her thigh muscles, the muscles that surround the knee, the hip muscles, and her little tummy muscles and lower back. Those muscles are building to provide better support, to make her balance more solid so that when she stands - she can stand safely and strongly. If she gets off balance she is better able to recover and hopefully not fall completely down.

Do you know where I am going with this?

I got to work one morning this week and was kinda being attacked by doom and gloom. So I decided I would spend the day "on my knees" in prayer and praise. That caused me to start thinking about Brandy walking on her knees. I may not be on my physical knees. But I humbled myself before God and worked out my spiritual muscles while on my knees before God. As Satan tried to knock me off balance I stood firm - on my knees. As the day continued I felt spiritually stronger, I felt better able to stand. That was the strength and solid balance I got from spending time on my knees.

Much like Brandy - the more time she spends on her knees, the stronger she becomes so will we become stronger the more time we spend on our knees in prayer and praise.

It's beautiful to watch. Now understand she doesn't like doing this knee walking all the time ( neither do we if we are totally honest) but she does it because we have told her it is building her muscles, making her stronger so she won't break as easily. I praise God as I watch her now, because I KNOW what is happening as she walks on her knees AND it prompts me to get on my knees because God told us what will happen when we submit ourselves to prayer and praising him.

I encourage you today - get on your knees and stay there for a while.

Lots of love,

D. J.

Missing God and Humbled by His Attention

I just have time for a quick note. I am overwhelmingly aware of how out of whack my personal relationship with God is right now. I am further overwhelmed by the fact that I can't seem to figure out how to get my time in His Word and time with Him in prayer back to the top of my priority list. I am failing miserably. Yet, My God, full of compassion and unconditional love is still opening doors of hope and opportunity for me and my family. I am humbled. Please make time for God everyday! He misses you. I know for me personally, the less time I spend with Him, the further I get from Him. With the insanity of this world we all need to draw close to the One who can keep things in control and protect us.

Lots of love to all,

D. J.