Letter from our lives...Part Two...known, painful, trusting still!

Hi Friends-

For all of you who have prayed for us over the last week, thank you.  I can honestly tell you that God has faithfully walked us through this time and kept us focused on Him.  Praying for one another is such a privilege, and I am genuinely humbled for those that have lifted us up during our uncertain times this last week. 

Anyway, this morning we heard that the head coaching job at LU had gone to someone else.  It came as quite a surprise, as many things had seemed to line up in Brad's favor.  We clearly have disappointment for what looked like a wonderful opportunity and possible "God" thing.  However, we are resting in the One who has it all in His hands, all the details, the unknown, the hard and the good.

Isaiah 33:6 says,   

He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.  

Here's the good news for those of us who believe....our foundation doesn't change.  It is sure, it is firm.  He is steadfast and trustworthy, and faithful and sovereign. 

And, our lives are not tossed about in boats made by mankind, but float securely in the hands of the One who holds the ocean!!!  ( this thought occurred to me at Sam's today! )  

A rich store house means that His goods don't run out!  You won't go to His store and see a sign, "Sold Out of peace, or joy, or hope... come back tomorrow." His blessings are always available for us, for every moment, every need, every time we ask.   Rich, full, beautiful supply. 

This verse also caught my eye today...

2 Cor. 2:14

But thanks be to God who always LEADS us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. 

So, even in the apparent "loss" of this job we had prayed may be His will....we can trust that He will lead us in triumph, through Christ!  He will!!  

And, just maybe in the midst of where He leads us, by His grace, we will be a beautiful fragrance to those we come across and spread to them the knowledge of Him.  What could be a more wonderful privilege than to "smell" like Him to others,...His goodness, love, kindness, grace, peace.  In the midst of the turmoil of the very world we live in, we desperately need some sweet smelling fragrance.  Pray that for me, I'll pray that for you! :)

As far as the details, we don't know a lot.  Brad and I are still blessed and grateful that God has provided an open door to continue serving along side of Ritchie and Julie in a position at Univ. of VA.  So today we walk forward by faith in Him and not necessarily by sight, watching for the plan to unfold. :)

Blessings and love to all,

Kendra

Letter from our lives...Part One...unknown, hopeful, trusting!

Hi friends-

Well, as I woke up this morning, I felt led to share a few things about where we are in our lives.  I have thought maybe I should wait until we actually know more about what we are actually doing, but decided to share even in the midst of our great unknown.  Of course, many of you know what's going on here at LU,  but some who live away may not have a clue, so to start I will give the brief version of the story.  Listen, get over it now if this turns into my next book, just read and be happy about it!!! :)

To begin with, Ritchie and Julie are leaving Liberty to go up to Charlottesville to serve the new head coach there at UVA.  Many do not understand his decision, as it is leaving a head job to be an assistant.  We understand because we know their hearts after 14 years of serving with them along this path and know that their deepest desire is to bring glory to their Savior. We have together sought Him for peace, direction and what He might be up to in all of this.  We have watched the Lord answer them, and as difficult and painful as it is for them to say good bye to a place they truly love, they are willing to answer and step out in faith.  Please lift them up in this new opportunity that God has put before them.  

In the process of the call He has for them, God has also provided for us a position at UVA.  We are so grateful for that opportunity, esp. in the midst of a job crisis and the craziness of coaching!  Needless to say, the last 4 days have been filled with the ups and downs of big change, emotional moments and the feelings that come with the unknown. Either way for us, our lives we know now and have known for 14 years will change. There is much heartache in that, mixed in with the hope of what is to come. 

So, we are asking the Lord, what do you have for us in this??  Is UVA the open door you have for us?  Wanting to yield, to be willing, to be open and have a listening heart.  Not wanting to be a toe print outside of His good will for us!  I can honestly tell you from the depths of my heart, that is the most important thing to me, to Brad...Lord, what is Your purpose and will in this?   Our greatest joy will come from following His plan for us.  

So, 2 mornings ago, after a night of too many questions, fear, wrestling with the "details" of how our lives were about to change..I woke up to have my time with the One who knows it all and says, "Come into my Presence to be reminded of my goodness and faithfulness to you"!  

I read daily from a book by Ruth Meyers called the 31 Days of Praise.  If you don't have it, seriously it will change your heart towards Him.  Anyway, I sluggishly opened up the book, just hoping that I would be released from the yuck that followed me down the stairs to my chair.  

Day 17 was the day I was on, so I opened and read.  I will type out some excerpts from it....

 Thank you that you have me in the place You want me just now... You've worked all things into Your plan to draw me to Yourself, to mold and bless me, and to bless others through me. THank you that even if I'm here through the ill will or poor judgement of other people, (not the case for us)    All is well, for in Your Sovereign wisdom, You are at work to bring about good results from all those past decisions, past events beyond my control, good results both for me and for others. I'm glad Lord that You are the same today, well able to work things out for us, to turn evil into good.  I stand amazed at the complexity and mystery of Your wisdom. How safe it is for me to trust Your reasons for acting ( or not acting) and Your methods of working!  

Thank you that I can safely commit my location and situation to You!! ( I promise it said location!! :))  I can be "willing for You to shift me anywhere on life's checkerboard, or bury me anywhere in life's garden, gladly yielding myself for You to please Yourself with, anywhere and anyway You choose."  Thank You that I can trust You with my future places...ready to go, ready to stay!!

Is God so good or what?  Ready to go, ready to stay??  Seriously.  Such a timely and specific word for my weary and worrisome heart.  I called Julie right away and we both praised Him for His goodness.

So for today, we are asking the Lord if staying at LU is a possibility.  If Brad could be hired here and take over as a head coach?  He has said that he would love to serve in that role, to be able to continue what the Lord as begun here with these players.  However, in the natural realm it would be quite unlikely!  There will be many other head coaches now who will call to be interviewed.  

Brad has served as an assistant for 14 years, so doesn't have the "head" coach experience, although I have no doubt that God has equipped my husband with amazing gifts of serving others, great leadership, integrity, passion for players and their growth, and a heart that is sold out to please the Lord and bring Him glory.  The players want  him to stay and he has been blessed with the calls of support from others. 

I say all of this to say....with my God, nothing is impossible and He is the Sovereign One who's plans cannot be thwarted. What a peace we have in knowing that.  IF that is His plan for our lives, He will open the door, whether or not it's "likely". He's got it.  He is in control.  When I woke up this morning, He was just as faithful as He has been to us all along.  He has heard our cry for an answer, and we will rejoice whatever that answer is because He is trustworthy.   I can rest in the fact that He is on duty, alert to every detail, working even now!!  Praise the Lord!

Please pray for us during this time of uncertainty.  Please pray His will be done. Please ask the Lord to keep our eyes and hearts on Him.  Our ears open to His still, small voice...He is so good. 

We are hoping to leave for MI this afternoon, and will be gone until next Wed.   

Love to you,

Kendra

(phew...take a break...you deserve it if you read all the way to the end of this thing!!)

Got paint??

Last weekend we had a few very sunny days and it just got me so excited for springtime. To get outside and do yard work, spruce things up a bit you know.   It also got me excited to do something in my house.  Do you ever get that feeling when you  just want to do SOME thing? Clean, or move furniture, or paint or decorate???  

Of course with a "limited with a capital L" budget,...I am always excited to find something to do for cheap. 

So, I found this cute idea to make a plaque for my front door.  It was pretty easy to do, and this link will tell you the step by step directions that I followed.    http://pinkandpolkadot.blogspot.com/2008/10/eat-crow.html

My house is black and white with a red door, so this plaque is just perfect.    I also have wanted to re paint a small kid's rocker that I had sitting on my porch.  So, I used the red from the door and it looks so cute.  The plaque and the rocking chair have just spruced up my front porch a little bit!  A few cheap and fresh touch ups...love that!!

Love is....or is not

So here is something I am learning this week, something tumbling around in my mind, leading me to learn and yield.  And, you know when I'm learning something I have to share it in hopes that someone else will be encouraged as well.   It's just a weakness I have.  :)  
Right now the verse I am learning with my kids is I Cor. 13:4-8a....oh, the so familiar love chapter.  Isn't that only for Valentine's day??

Interestingly enough as we have reviewed that verse together, and I have used it to "remind" them of behavior issues, the Lord has so used it to "remind" me of areas where I have so failed the test of His love in my life.

Two things have waved a huge red flag at me as we have studied these verses!  The first thing that has stuck out to me is "love is not self seeking."  I have said several times to my kids this week, "That is really being self- seeking, isn't it?  Thinking of yourself, selfish gain, self focus, self worry, self thought.....and as I recognize that in my kids, I realize that so much of what I do could be self seeking, and not seeking of other's best interests.  The interest of my Savior, my husband, my kids, my friends....Ouch. 

When I start serving myself, or just plain think about myself too much, my plans, my hurts, my feelings, my wants...that is my first warning sign that I am off track with the Holy Spirit! 

Another part of that section of scripture says, "Love is not easily angered."  How often do I get impatient and frustrated with my children's behavior during the day?  Giving them a poor example of kindness, patience and true love, instead of allowing His love to flow out of my heart. Then, I see the same words and frustrations coming out of them and wonder why? 

Paul says it so wonderfully in Romans....the things I want to do, I don't do!  The things I don't want to do, I do!!  Oh, who can save me from this body of death, thanks be to Jesus Christ!!!  We can be transformed and renewed in our minds.  We can be led by the Spirit and say no to the flesh that rises up.  We can allow His power to flow through us which gives us the courage and ability to obey Him and follow hard after His heart.  We can, because His Word says we can!   

So, for today, another Monday morning already scheduled with much to do....may I yield to the Lord and ask Him to fill me up this morning with His love.  To lay aside selfish gain, or selfish focus, and choose to focus on others. To check my heart throughout the day and say, What is my attitude towards others?  Filled with love and grace, and His heart for them?  Or, just watching for how my needs can be met or my wants fulfilled?    Am I allowing His words to speak life to those around me, or are my words tearing down and causing discouragement with my own frustration?

Thanks be to God, as we ask Him and seek Him first today, He will provide what we need to walk in His kind of love...perfect in every way!  
Let's pray for one another on this journey of wanting to look more like our Saviour everyday!  Encouraging and spurring one another on to love and good works! 

New Year...fresh start!

A friend asked me what my resolutions were, you know things I want to do better or different in this new year.

Well, this is what I want in 2009....more of Him, less of me!!  More of His Spirit, daily empowering me to live His way. 

Less of the self centered and fearful and prideful me, more depth of Trusting in His ways and words.  Believing Him more, being renewed and transformed in my mind, being washed in the water of His word. 

in the daily....I want to know how to pray. Reading a book right now by Andrew Murray (1800's)....sooooooo powerful...about learning how to pray. Being a true intercessor, of power and of expecting results through faith.  Teach me to pray this year, Lord!  Your kingdom come, through my prayer, on earth as it is in heaven.  

in the daily...eat less food, better food. not think about food so much.  You know, just careless eating and sometimes purposeful eating to feel better.  Being filled up with Him.  Putting into practice that which I know in my head, but have long since walked out. eating better, feeling better.

in the daily....being home more to be a homemaker.  I am so easily distracted and caught up in doing.  running to target.  busy.  and then my house explodes...and I am stressed.  I want to manage my life better in the daily.  laundry, good meals for family, being available for my kids, time to sit and chat.  not distracted.  I have to choose to be home more (saying no to things i WANT to do!!)... in order to do these things. Fighting the flesh of wanting to go, be somewhere else...and choose to be home.   Seeking Him for what I am supposed to be involved in...can't do it all, Lord, what do you want me to do??

in the daily....exercise.  so i have a stress release in my life.  so i feel better. and maybe squeeze into my jeans that lately have been looking at me funny when i pull them out of the drawer, shaking their head and saying, "nice try"!!! To take better care of my temple.

in the daily....more consistent discipline with homeschool.  It's hard to not feel like I am not doing all that I could/should be doing.  Most home school moms struggle with this feeling.  

Like other things, the things that are temporary distract me from that which is eternal and most important!!  

in the daily...loving my husband with the love of the Father.  Seeing my role in his life as a true help mate.  and sacrificing to make that happen.  And, watching God raise him up to all that He has for him to be!

in the daily....the Lord gave me a specific phrase a few months back that I want to live out better this year.  

"Invest deeply in the lives of others, with a grateful heart and without fear, expectations, or control"    These last 3 things can quickly steal the joy and true love of loving others well. By God's grace. 

just a few things that come to mind....how about you??

'Cuz I know I'm not the only one....

It's not unusual on those busy, rush around to get it all done, piles of laundry waiting to be folded...piles more waiting to be washed kind of weeks....that I end up wearing a pair of socks like this. Mis-matched. But matching with my week.  So, I took a picture of my feet this morning, wearing the socks that I found in my drawer last night.  

'Cuz I know I'm not the only one who has ever done that.  :)

Drooling and a dabbing!

Okay, so it happens to every child in their life time.  No way out of it or around it.  It is a guaranteed sure thing that will occur at some point.  Losing their first tooth! 

So, my youngest has had one just a wiggling for quite some time.  I knew what was coming, I've seen it in my other 2.  Losing a first tooth can be traumatic and scary.  I remember the hesitancy of my others to have it touched, wiggled or even looked at.  Uncertainty about the unknown.

Well, last night it happened. Got so loose that she would not close her mouth, and slobber was just drooling as she dabbed it up with her little cloth. Drooling and a dabbing.. she was afraid with a capital A!  We attempted at one point to "help" her get it out with a little parental power, knowing what a long night it could be if we didn't....but then we felt traumatized, so decided to wait.

I gave her every pep talk and reassurance I could think of.  "Mariah, think of all the people who have lost their teeth, and lived through it!" "This is making room for your big girl teeth!" Her brother and sister also assured her that "nope, it doesn't hurt!"  I continued to remind her that she could trust mom's wisdom and that it would be okay.  To know that as soon as it popped out, it would feel great, she could eat and maybe even earn a buck or two!! (You know the whole tooth fairy thing...)

Well, she didn't budge.  She continued to stay in her miserable position, drooling, dabbing and just crying that she wanted it out, but wouldn't allow us to help! 

Finally, her tongue bumped against it by accident and it was literally laying right on her lip, she could tell it was out.  A few more tears for the shock of it all and then sweet joy!  Smiles were back, food could be eaten, talk without drool....an amazing transformation.  And, she said with a grin, "Mom, now the next one won't be hard at all!"

So, you know I was just thinking to myself about myself.  And, God.  And, how there are so many times when God asks me to trust Him in something, and I am petrified!   And just like I knew as her mama that losing it would benefit her, help her to get to the next stage of big girl teeth...God knows that the things He allows or asks me to release will not harm me, send me over the edge or anything else I fear...but rather cause me to benefit, to grow, to learn from Him.

Phew, I just wonder at the times I have sat there just a crying, drooling, dabbing, and agonizing over something, wanting to do His will, but fearing the unknown.  Causing myself undue pain and misery.  When all along in a whisper voice God was reassuring me that it would be okay. He'd seen it before, I could trust the outcome to Him, I wasn't the first.   How many times have I "protected" something...don't touch, don't wiggle, don't MESS with this!!!  And, the Lord knew that in order for me to go forward, something had to go... be "let" go of to the One in charge.

  

 I know, I know, unlike losing a first tooth...sometimes the "losing" of things in life can be very painful.  Very real.  The loss of our dreams or expectations.  The loss of "self" when He asks us to lay something down.  The list of loss in this world is a long one indeed.

Oh, but I want to get better with every situation the Lord allows in my life...better at trusting Him first. To understand deeper that He is trustworthy, He is faithful, He is unchanging.   To recognize when He is doing a new work, and when something old has got to go.  To be able to say, "This time won't be as hard Lord, because I trust you with the outcome, I've seen you come through before, I know your track record!"

So enough drooling and a dabbing, drooling and a dabbing...help me trust you more, Lord!! Have your way in me!!