YWAM DNA Conference (by Joel)

Nobody ever told me Missouri was beautiful.  

All I knew about the state is that I should be able to get some good BBQ ribs.  For my 37^th birthday I did just that – along with an apple pie made by some lady named Barbie.  But did you know Missouri is also a beautiful place?   I didn’t! 

We found out Missouri was beautiful while spending two weeks at a YWAM conference held at the Windemere Baptist Conference center on the Lake of the Ozarks. 

Back in February we’d felt God prompting us to attend this conference, a ‘DNA Infusion’ for the Americas, held April 10-22.  The founders, Loren and Darlene Cunningham, as well as David Hamilton and other long-term YWAM leaders would be spending two weeks passing on the values and calling of the mission to the next generation of leaders.  I’d like to share a little about this conference so that you can get a better feel for this tribe called YWAM.

{At the time we registered for this conference, the cost for the children’s food, housing and program had not been worked out.  When we heard the total cost for our whole family we really had to go back to what God had told us to do, even if it meant emptying the savings account and still not having enough!  So we did, and just before the fees were due some good friends, without knowing our need, made a donation that covered the rest!}  

Early on in the conference we found that even the Cunningham’s had been unsure of how they would pay for their flights to come to the conference!  These are the leaders of an organization with 20,000+ staff, plus 30,000+ students/year with a presence in every country in the whole world!  But that is the way they live, and the lifestyle they model for YWAM because that is specifically how God called YWAM to live.

YWAM Value #16 says: “YWAM is called to practice a life of dependence on God for financial provision. For individuals and YWAM corporately this comes primarily through His people.  As God has been generous toward us, so we desire to be generous. YWAMers give themselves, their time and talents to God through the Mission with no expectation of remuneration.”  

The conference was attended by roughly 300 people from 45 different bases representing 32 nations.  YWAM Minneapolis showed up with 27 staff and students.  We spent roughly 8 hours a day in worship, intercession, teachings, workshops and simply hearing the stories that have defined who YWAM is.  

              
I sometimes forget that YWAM teaches most often not by lecture and instruction but by story-telling and modeling.  We were more ‘infused’ than taught the nature of the mission.  Essentially it’s the way a family stays together – being together doing things they love and telling stories. It's easy in YWAM to feel you are in a family when international leaders who’ve been so influential in the world, happily give you a hug, pray for you, then help you stack chairs and vacuum the floor when it’s time to clean up! 

Speaking of family, the kids had their very own DNA conference learning about and praying for the nations, learning to hear the voice of God, writing their own worship song, doing lots and lots of crafts and playing outside in the Missouri spring-time.  The staff at YWAM Madison did an incredible job and we are grateful for the way they served the families.    

Here are a few highlights of the conference: 

>>>Workshops on Families in Mission, conversations with long-term missionary moms, and families just starting new bases. 

>>>Fellowship, processing, praying, hanging out at the Funky Buffalo coffee shop, hiking and eating apple pie with our MN staff friends. 

>>> Hearing about the YWAM method of decision making at every level:  Hear God.  Obey God.  Don’t Give Up. 

>>>Truly seeing that YWAM is not all about YWAM.  It’s all about King Jesus, His church, His mission.  We’ll partner with anybody who wants to see Jesus worshiped by every nation, tribe and tongue:   

One night we prayed for the President of CRU (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) and he was healed of a heart condition. 

On the same day, YWAM made a historic intellectual property agreement with Tyndale Publishing so that the SphereView Bible App can be released for free.  Learn more here: http://beta.scripturesys.com/

>>>On that note, Ending Bible Poverty is not only one of YWAM’s goals for 2020, it’s been a core part of the mission since the 1970’s.  Here's Loren speaking to the Azuza Now Gathering earlier this month:     

>>>YWAM’s calling:  Young people from everywhere, going everywhere, taking the Gospel to the ‘Alls’ and the ‘Everys’ through Evangelism, Mercy and Training.  Time and time again we heard stories of crazy, new, innovative ways YWAMers are doing this, or being the “boots on the ground” for other Christian agencies.  The scope is getting the whole Gospel to the whole world.  Kinda ambitious!  But it fits the verse God gave us as a motto when we first came into YWAM:  Matt 24:14 “And this Gospel of the Kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” 

>>>YWAM’s leadership comes through influence, not authority.  The international and national leaders have laid down their titles.  Direction comes not from the next level of seniority, but through circles of relationship convening to seek God together.   Relationships built around geographic proximity, or target people groups, or target spheres (such as the Cities conference held in San Francisco last week for YWAM bases wanting to saturate the different spheres of culture within a metropolis.)    

>>>Praying for the nations:  This is Rachel standing on China and India where she rushed as soon as she found out we'd be praying on a big map. 

I'll finish up with a few more pictures.  Caving!   Family time! Missouri State Park with castle ruins!  New friends!  And Beautiful Missouri!  

loveminneapolis247.com

Our comfort zone is gaining new territory.

Love Minneapolis 24/7 is an evangelistic push going on in the city all this week, from 6/21-6/28. There are 28 outreaches planned for the 8 days, one every six hours, all week long, with the final outreach being concurrent with the Gay Pride Parade on Sunday. At this outreach last year on the same Sunday 80 people with sexual brokenness received Jesus. 80 from the LGBTQ community! LoveMPLS is backed by mandatory training and 24/7 worship and intercession. And we went.
 
Actually, it was mandatory for Renée as part of her School of Ministry Development. (Which ends tomorrow!!! Tonight (6/25) is her Commissioning Night. 7 pm right here at YWAM Minneapolis. All are welcome to attend!) So yes, Renée didn't have much choice in the matter, but we thought it would be good for the whole family to join her class. Street evangelism, why not? We are being trained as missionaries, right? Renée's spent a few Friday afternoons in this school out in the parks and malls looking for people to pray for or share the Gospel with. She wouldn't say it's gone all that well or that she's even enjoyed it. Just being honest.

So, 9 am we arrived at an Alliance Church, which they calling the Firebase for LOVEMPLS. There was a 45 minute briefing held with Hans L. who would be our outreach leader and the 40 other 'messengers' we were to go out on the streets with. Hans asked if there were any worship leaders among us. I raised my hand. He asked if I had an instrument along. I'd felt led to bring my guitar, so yes I was now to lead a 'flash mob' worship time once we got to the streets. (Which is cool because I'm planning on taking my Worship Focus students in this Fall's DTS out for some worship evangelism, and I need practice!)

Following the briefing was 2 hours of worship and 'consecration' time to prepare our hearts to go out. Knowing that would be too long for the kids we brought UNO and some snacks. Our friend Christine, Renée's mentor, offered to hang out with the kids so she could stay in the worship time. Does two hours seem a little long? Not to me anymore.  The real work of evangelism belongs to the Holy Spirit. Prayer and worship is how we come into alignment with Him, allowing Him to remove anything that would hinder us from hearing His voice as we go out to talk to people. We'd be on the streets for 2 hours. So 2 hours of heart preparation seems reasonable to me. (The worship leading is going on night and day ALL WEEK, with new leaders setting up as the previous one finishes every two hours, night and day.)

After the worship time we loaded into our vans and drove downtown, paid $20 for parking because there was a Twins game last night, and walked 4 blocks to Nicolett Ave just at the noon hour. I pulled out my guitar and led all 40 of us in It Is Well right on the busy street corner. Someone suggested I Love You Lord, then another Bless the Lord and we finished up with Set A Fire (gotta have something for this younger generation too!) People walking mostly skirted us, rather than taking the lane we'd made through the middle of our group. After the singing we dispersed in groups of 2, with the exception of our family of 6.

This is when it got awkward. Now what? We sang a song that I wrote for the kids at Cornerstone and the kids and Renée did the actions. Really awkward. The kids were armed with Revive Twin Cities Bibles and bracelets. Rachel was very eager to tell someone about Jesus, but we didn't really know what to do. Renée doesn't like being in the city, especially with the kids. We were hungry and getting testy. We walked back to the van and put my guitar away, crossed the street to a pharmacy to find they didn't have public restrooms.  Well, lets find a place to eat. Qdoba? What's this Lunch Cube down the block, or hey, the Dancing Ganeesha, maybe we'll meet some people from India to talk to. Nope. The server was from Ecuador and our hostess was Persian, from Iran. Tried to make conversation with them but it didn't go very far. The food was amazing though. Then we wandered down the street to Loring Park where they were setting up tents and booths for the Pride celebration. Tried to talk to an older couple on a park bench. No, they didn't want prayer for anything. Couldn't find a playground for the kids and there wasn't enough time to cross over to the Sculpture Garden so we prayed for the Pride Parade outreach and started back toward the van taking a different route. As we were walking Rachel told me she'd seen a lady give her life to Jesus while we were singing back at the beginning.  "That's cool," I said. Rachel has a tendency to see more than is really there. Crossing through the courtyard of University of St. Thomas School of Law we found ourselves just down the street from the Dancing Geneesha, and our hostess was outside taking a smoke break with a friend. "Rachel," I said, "Do you want to give our hostess from the restaurant a bracelet?" She did, but I had to help her. "Hi again!" I said, "Rachel here would like to give you something."  "Aww..." was the response. That's the great thing about kids. I don't get "Aww" when I try to give people something. We gave the hostess and her friend Bibles and asked them if we could pray for them. They said yes, so Renée and I prayed for each of them. I guess we could've tried to talk further with them, but, well, we're still kinda new at this and I suppose we made our get-away while we were still in good standing. "That was easy!" Rachel said as we got back to the car. We were hot and sticky, somewhat deflated, trying to teach the kids that evangelism was a lifestyle, not just a one-time event.

Back to the Alliance Church for a 45 debrief. We filled out Encounter Cards (they do a really good job of making sure there is follow-up with people who were engaged with the Gospel) and people told stories. 4 people saved! A lady came up and introduced herself to me. She thanked me for leading worship on Nicolett and said it was really anointed. As we were singing a little boy on a scooter had rode right through our midst. His mother had walked around us. This lady talking to me had stopped the mother and engaged her in conversation. By the time those few songs were over she'd gone from not having anything to do with that 'Jesus stuff' to saying, 'This is for real!', surrendering her life to him and being filled with His Spirit! Whoa! The lady who led her to the Lord insisted we record it on our Encounter Card and not hers because she felt strongly that it was the worship that opened her heart to Jesus.

Notice the little guy on the scooter on the left whose mother gave her life to Jesus.  

So, that was our day. Then we had to run down to Savage to the chiropractor. Got home exhausted. Spent a couple hours on the mower to deflate and went to bed.

Thoughts on the day:

We have great kids. They can put up with a lot. And other people don't mind hanging out with them. They are "outreach worthy".

We're thankful the Great Commission is not, "Go and make converts, " but, "Go and make disciples," because Renée is finding herself loving to disciple while evangelism is not her strength. I don't mind talking to strangers, but I've never actually led someone to accept Jesus.

God uses us when we don't even know it. When we're faithful to what He calls us, moment by moment, He will use our lives to move people closer to Jesus.  THAT is what we've seen Him do over and over, and THAT is why we are at YWAM Minneapolis, because THAT is what we want most in life: That through our lives the kingdom of the Jesus we love will flourish.  Amen?

June Newsletter

   Renée’s pre-school “apprehension” about this role reversal was not unfounded, on many levels.  But within the first week of school she was coming home with Divine and life-changing revelations, and I was gaining a deep, experiential respect for all that she does as a homemaker!

What the SOMD has done for Renée is to make ample space for God to speak truth into the areas in which she’s believed lies for many years. Often this process is very painful.  It has not been a pleasant time emotionally for us.  But the fruit is worth it, in being better prepared for future ministry. In the last few weeks I’ve seen Renée step out with boldness, speaking the word of God into other’s lives. I’ve seen her catch a vision for what her ministry could look like overseas. I’ve seen her heal emotionally. And although I’m not good at letting my face show it, I’ve been repeatedly astonished at the work of the Holy Spirit in her life. 

In one way we are moving forward as a family is by looking back.  Who has God shaped us to be?  What has God planted in us that we can cultivate?  Renée has, through the years of dealing with disease and diet restriction in our children, developed a passion for healthy living (she hosted a seminar on that topic last Thursday!) By September Renée will begin pursuing a 4-year degree in naturopathic medicine by correspondence through Trinity School of Natural Health. 

For myself, years of interest in missiology, music, recording and a passion for calling out creative worship in others is leading me to the field of ethnodoxology (the theological and anthropological study, and practical application, of how every cultural group might use its unique and diverse artistic expressions appropriately to worship the God of the Bible.)  In November I’ll fly to western India for a 20-day Cross-Cultural Worship Ministry Seminar for credit with YWAM’s University of the Nations. 

We see these passions, naturopathic medicine and ethnodoxology, as a way for us to be serving among the unreached within 5-10 years.   Thank-you for your friendship along this journey!

Upcoming Dates:

June 25: SOMD Graduation

July 9-18: Joel leads a Mission Adventures trip to Pine Ridge,  SD

Sept-Nov: Joel leads Worship Focus in the Fall DTS.

Sept 8: Renée begins course work at TSNH.

Nov 2-20: CCWMS in India

Jan-Mar ‘16: Renée & Joel teach ECCO Bible Class

Finances:

Renée: 1^st year tuition & books, Certified Health Specialist:    $893.39

Joel: CCWMS fees and flights: ≈$1500

We will need your help with these expenses as we are about 10% or $300/month short of being fully supported.  Thank-you!

"April Update" or "Renée writes another newsletter one beautiful Easter afternoon"

Hello there! I (Renée) am sitting here enjoying a peaceful Easter Sunday afternoon. I hope that your Easter holiday is filled with reflection on what Christ has done for us, both on the cross and beyond the tomb. 

This morning was definitely a highlight of the weekend for me. Easter Sunday is the happy day after the solemnity of Good Friday and the reflection of grief on Silent Saturday. I look forward to the Resurrection Day when we can reflect on the joy of the disciples and of the Marys. So this morning we initiated a little sunrise service here at the base. The sun rises quite early but our kids were good sports and were excited to watch the sunrise, so at 6:30 we were rumbling along on the trailer behind the tractor out to the field where we could watch the beautiful sun. The morning was beautiful, mostly clear and quite cool (33F). I could hear the call of the ruffed grouse followed with the beat of his wings. (Which I remember the first time I ever heard that sound I thought I was being attacked by wild horses!!) The geese and the ducks saying their good mornings and I loved the fact that there were no bugs!

Four YWAM staff joined our little family to welcome in the Resurrection Sunday! Hallelujah!

Coffee, cinnamon buns, hymns and the refreshing early morning light: His mercies are new every morning!
Happy Easter!

So let me back up a bit. I'm assuming you have read our February Newsletter and are familiar with our English Cross Cultural Orientation (ECCO) School. Well, these beautiful souls have graduated and most of them have left. They will be missed by all of us.

It was a joy to work with them, though I (Renée) had minimal involvement in the school (only two hours a week helping Joel teach the Bible class) but I got to know a few of them, and it was easy to see Christ shine through them as they worked, studied, and played each day as the school progressed. Graduation night (Thursday April 2) was a night to remember. All of them were dressed to the 9's and they all looked so proud of themselves! And they have reason to be! They all worked so hard and have come so far in their English skills and also their faith in God. The glow around each of them was contagious. 

ECCO 2015! Give them a round of applause!

Joel and the other YWAM staff worked more closely with the students. Here I have a few pictures to share from the last few months:

Joel teaching some students how to make homemade pizza.

Joel leads worship regularly at the base here. It was a joy to see him involving the students each week.

One of our weekly local outreaches: Hudson (right) assists in Bingo at an elderly care center with a student from Columbia.

Working on pronunciation was a big thing for our ECCO students. This specific picture is showing J. D. giving his testimony of how God has worked in his life over the last three months. All the students had this assignment: These testimonies were  powerful, encouraging and worth all the hard work our staff put into these students' lives!

ECCO 2015 was a blast to be a part of. I thoroughly enjoyed each week and am already excited about next year!

* * *

 In our personal lives: 

The kids are doing great. Joshua (10) and Rachel (8) are doing well in public school. They are making friends, which has been an answer to prayer. We have had a few of these fun friends over to our house and I enjoy getting to know them.

Madelynn (5) and Hudson (4) are still enjoying homeschool. Their favorite activity is the science experiment for each week.

First some fun pictures and then following that I will update you on some important news:

Early Spring: My fun puddle flowers!

Sisters

Joshua turned 10 in March!

No this isn't Grampa, it's Joel out for an early morning hike.

Hudson surrendering to nap time.

Aren't those pictures fun? That was the second time Hudson has fallen asleep under the laundry basket. The first time I wasn't sure where he was because he was completely enclosed curled up like a little bug.

Ok, onto News-ey stuff:
In our last newsletter we mentioned a possibility of going to a large Asian country this summer as a family missions trip. This opportunity has closed due to the danger of radical religious groups in that country, both to us and to the mission there. So we thank God for His direction and continue to wait patiently for whatever God has for us next. Meanwhile we will bloom where we are planted and embrace YWAM Minneapolis with all that we have and are.

  Our second bit of News-ey stuff involves myself. Our God has strongly directed me to apply and be involved in the upcoming School of Ministry Development (SOMD). This school begins Sunday April 12 and will be for three months ending in June. Please click on the link and read about this school on YWAM Minneapolis' website. I will be learning much about ministry and what it means to start one, be involved in one, the finance part of it, world religions and world views, how to evangelize, and etc. This will provide education and time for me as Joel and I seek God together as to where He wants us and to be better ministers of the faith. Whether here at YWAM Mpls or ministering overseas.
  Joel will be part time staff- working 10 hours a week heading up the worship department, and the rest of his time will be fulfilling his role as stay-at-home Dad, which also involves homeschooling M and H.

Thank you for reading and for your prayers and support!

With much love, Joel and Renée (and Joshua, Rachel, Madelynn and Hudson)

I will close with a poem that seems fitting in our season of Easter celebration, which to me is also like a gateway into Spring, the season of Hope.

Song

The winds, as at their hour of birth,

Leaning upon the ridged sea,

Breathed low around the rolling earth

With mellow preludes, "We are free."

The streams through many a lilied row

Down-carolling to the crisped sea,

Low-tinkled with a bell-like flow

Atween the blossoms, "We are free."

-Tennyson, Lord Alfred

A long totally uninteresting post about the past year in YWAM

   As I look over the last year of our being in YWAM, I am amazed that we are still here. Does that surprise you? The last year was an incredible adjustment for me, for Joel, for the kids. The previous nine years was spent in a small town in a big county. Next to a beautiful, humongous puddle.

Joel with 9 mo old Rachel Summer 2007

This community was really the first for Joel and I in our marriage adventure. Sure we moved about every 1, 2 or 3 years to a different house, but it was always in the same community, same sweet town, same church family, same friends. Same wonderful grocery stores, bank and Post office.

So when God swung open the wide door of MISSIONARY and YWAM and FIVE HOURS AWAY FROM EVERYTHING FAMILIAR the adjustment was not a shock, but more like an ache. A dull, panging ache. Don't get me wrong, I love it here...now. The people are great- I love the staff. I love the students. We live out in the country. The kids are making friends. But as I look back on the last year, it's been hard. Lonely, in fact. Wondering "why" God put us here. What is our role here?

It's amazing what answers come in just a year. I don't ask God "why am I here?" quite so often as I used to. I see this time here at YWAM as a time of training. Of preparation for Something Else down the road. God is training us to be leaders. But as every leader should know- it's about servant hood. Joel is serving in the maintenance department. I am serving our children. Both of us help out where needed at the YWAM base, whether it's in the kitchen, in the accounting office or just cleaning.

God is teaching me to be content as a mother. At home. Cleaning. Cooking. Homeschooling. Raising children. This has been a hard lesson for me over the last year. I want to be over at the base Doing something. Anything. Because then, I'm doing something Important. Yes, this has been a hard lesson to learn.

Over the last year, I have experienced some emotional healing through a ministry called Theophostic Prayer Ministry (TPM). I have experienced freedom from different lies I believed about myself and God has brought His Truth into my life to set me free from those lies- permanently. This has been wonderful for me and I know it's another reason why I am here.

There are many other reasons why God has put us here, but those are the two I'm going to share with you tonight.

On a lighter note: I was praying and struggling about learning Spanish. Since ninth grade I have tried to learn this language off and on. But to no avail. I would try and try to learn it and then I would keep hitting a wall, and then I would quit trying. Then six months later I would pick it up again, only to fail again. So finally I asked God, "why? Why is it so hard for me to learn this language?" And do you know what He said to me? You'll never guess. When He told me His answer I didn't believe it. Until He told me again two days later: "I want you to learn German." ??? Why in the world would I want to learn German? Nothing against German, except that it sounds harsh, like Russian. I guess in one way I was relieved He didn't ask me to learn French. Whew.
So there you have it. For 2.5 weeks, I have been learning German, thanks to Duolingo. And you know? It's coming along a lot easier than Spanish ever did. Amazing.

I have a little praise report: Rachel had a severe stomach ache one night. She was doubled over and moaning in bed. I gave her peppermint. But that didn't seem to help like it usually does. I could only think of one thing- Appendix. No, not at the end of this long rambling post. I was thinking of a ruptured appendix. I closed my eyes and tried not to think about rushing off to the ER ten minutes away in the cold and snow and it was 11:30 pm and I would really like to go to sleep..please? I tried to give it over to Jesus. We prayed over Rachel. We tucked her in. Then we went to bed and waited. We prayed. And prayed. Rachel didn't get up. Not once during that night after 11:30. She woke up happy and ready to go to school. She was fine. I could hardly believe it. No surgery. She still had her appendix and I even got some sleep. God is good. Aren't you glad?

Having ECCO students and staff over for dinner and coffee

So a quick update on two things here at YWAM: One is that Joel and I are co-leading (yes) a Bible Class for our current school (English Cross Cultural Orientation aka: ECCO). We teach one hour twice a week. Monday and Thursday mornings. Hudson and Madelynn come with us and they do fabulous. I think it's because the students are so fun. Joel and I are writing and inventing the curriculum for this Bible Class and it has been such a blast. We sing songs, we play games, the students share (in English) what God is teaching them. This morning the students demonstrated their hard work and put on two performances: Original children's songs written, sung and performed (in English) by all the students in Noah's Ark theme. Oh they did such a great job!

ECCO Bible Class

And the second thing is that once a week in the afternoon we take four ECCO students and volunteer at the local thrift store. This has been fun getting to know these specific students a little better. Last week they came over for supper afterwards and we had a great time together.

At the Thrift Store

Joshua and Rachel are both in Scouts this year. This has been a good decision so far as it is helping them to form friendships and do something fun outside of school and YWAM. Joshua made his first Pinewood Derby car and Rachel will soon be selling Girl Scout cookies.

The L.S. Rock-It!

Two things you can be praying for us about:

1. We are still looking for a church. We were going to one since June 2014 but it has gotten very difficult with the timing (it's an evening service) and being a school night and all....The worship is great, the teaching is solid, the people are nice, and it's not a very big church. We've really enjoyed going there. But being on staff at YWAM, early mornings at public school, and trying to eat healthy have become large obstacles. So the hunt continues...

2. Please continue to pray for Joshua and the disease that haunts his body- Type 1 Diabetes. He is currently on a liver cleanse diet and it has been helping him. We continue to seek God and His Righteousness and we know that all things will be added to us as well-whether it's healing or just an improvement in blood sugar numbers.

3. (Ok there's actually three, not two) We are praying about taking a family missions trip this summer. Right now we are seeking God on a specific ministry that we have been made aware of in a large Asian country. We would like to travel there this summer and stay for a month and see how it goes. How we could fit in, how the kids do, how I do (with elephants, heat, snakes and oh yeah, spiders-really really big ones).


Going back to life at YWAM....
The kids are doing really well. This is home now. Though they talk about Grand Marais and want to go and visit. And oh yes, Madelynn wants to move back there, not just visit.

Rachel turns EIGHT on Saturday (can you believe it??), so our house will be pink for a few days.

Sledding Birthday Party!
Here's the train...watch out!
Love Rachel's face in this one.
(She's the one with a light green jacket, her mouth wide open-yelling of course.)

Joshua is doing a unit on Engineering in Science class so he's been constructing roller coasters and really enjoying himself.

Hudson is four now and is just as cute as ever. He's the baby of the family, so he probably gets cuddled way too much by Rachel and I. But he's becoming a handsome little man and knows how to count to 13 (skipping the 12) and recognizes the letters of the alphabet.

Hudson's Fourth!

Homeschooling Madelynn is easy peasy and I'm really enjoying this break from the usual chaos at home.

And that's about it! That wasn't too bad was it? At least there weren't any footnotes or a dozen appendices like the Lord of the Rings books. Hope you enjoy the rest of your day in the Presence of the One who is worth Everything.

At Minnehaha Falls visiting a friend in Minneapolis

Deep Thoughts (from my 7 year old)

Today on this beautiful Sunday morning, everyone in our little family had 20 minute span to sit quiet and read our Bibles. (We go to church in the evening- so there was time to do this...) 

Rachel jotted down some notes as she was reading her Bible. These notes were so precious I (Renée) had to share them with you, with her permission of course. I think my favorites are #1 and #9. 

Translation of some words are followed in [ ]. Also FYI: she was reading from MOPS Mom's Devotional Bible. 

1. mom's nede help.

2. lern thaingks.

3. God can hell us. [heal]

4. Go to India!

5. their are people in nend! [need]

6. tell people a\b God.

7. rest in him.

8. make joy.

9. God is the flower.

10. read the bible every Day!

11. you don't hav to be good for God to love.

12. Seay I love you to God.

13. love God.

14. be luet! [light]

15. Close to his heart-that's where God says he'll put us, We who have young ones. Is there a better plasce to be?

Amen Rachel! I have a lot to learn from you, my sweet daughter!!

Pressed but not Crushed

(Italics taken from a devotional entitled "Streams in the Desert" p. 391-393. This particular article resonated with me (Renée) and in this post alternates with my own thoughts).

"They were a people who were living to themselves. Their hopes, promises, and dreams still controlled them, but the Lord began to fulfill their prayers. They had asked for a repentant heart and had surrendered themselves with a willingness to pay any price for it, and He sent them sorrow. They had asked for purity, and He sent them sudden anguish. They had asked for meekness, and He had broken their hearts. They had asked to be dead to the world, and He killed all their living hopes. They had asked to be made like Him, so He placed them in the fire "as a refiner and purifier of silver" (Mal. 3:3), until they could reflect His image. They had asked to help carry His cross, yet when He held it out to them, it cut and tore their hands."

I (Renée) remember asking God for humility. I remember asking God to challenge my faith, to grow me, to not make my life so comfortable. Little did I know how much God was going to take me seriously in all these prayers over the last 10 years...

Our most recent challenge has been a cluster of smaller, related challenges. Each a little similar, each one health related: Joel's back is a constant heartache for me. Nerve pain down his leg and into toes, tight muscles along his spine like steel cords. And yet he copes well, smiling at me throughout the day and being the Daddy his children need. But there are days that are hard. Painfully hard. And he's only 35.

A certain chiropractor was recommended to us by a friend. I had noticed the results in this certain friend who went there and so we decided to try it. This chiropractor has a strong faith in Jesus, runs his business with Christian music blaring, and treats the problem not the symptoms. There is something else that's different with this doctor than other chiropractors. His practice is based on a neurological philosophy. The spinal cord sends messages throughout the body and to all the organs and is vital to the survival and health of the body. His technique then, is to "reset" the signals from the brain to the organs by simple techniques which I do not have time to explain here.

The chiropractor evaluated Joel and to make a long story short: six years ago Joel was diagnosed with a short leg resulting with a 1.5 cm lift on his left shoe. Well, it turns out his other leg is shorter- and not by that much. So because of this misdiagnosis, Joel is now experiencing degeneration in his left hip, his scoliosis is worse and his herniated disc is not healing.

Forgiveness for the doctor who misdiagnosed him...

The chiropractor recommended the whole family get checked out since scoliosis and other such problems can be passed down to the next generation. So we decided Joshua should go in since he has the most health problems at the moment.

Joshua's evaluation: He has an extra disc in his lumbar. He also has a six degree twist to his spine - the start of scoliosis. And because of this skeletal problem it is pinching a nerve in his spinal cord that is directly in tune with his respiratory system, possibly causing his asthma difficulties.

"They had not fully understood what they asked, but He had taken them at their word and granted them all their requests. They had been unsure whether to follow Him such a long distance or whether to come so close to Him. They found it easier to obey than to suffer, to work than to give up, and to carry the cross than to hang upon it. But now they could not turn back, for they had come too close to the unseen cross of the spiritual life, and its virtues had pierced them too deeply."

So what more can God inflict upon our nine year old son? Not only does he have asthma, super sensitive skin that breaks out in hives when a band aid touches it, had ITP (a blood (un)clotting autoimmune disease), has Type 1 Diabetes but now he has an extra vertebrae and possible scoliosis. He's NINE. There is no diet remedy for scoliosis. No herbal concoction can take care of this. This is skeletal.

The neurological chiropractor says he can treat Joshua. Correct the scoliosis and more than likely, eliminate the asthma.

Of course I have my doubts. I've heard all this "treatment" and doc's "plans" and read the books telling me about "cures". The only cure I've been able to find is the cure for Celiac Disease. Praise God for that.

This chiropractor seems our only hope. His philosophies on medicine line up with mine. His diet choices are whole grain, whole foods - pretty healthy. His methods really seem to work.

But it's an hour drive away. In good traffic.
It's also out-of-pocket.

Three days a week for the first four months of treatment. For both Joel and Joshua. That's at least six hours of driving a week.

So we keep giving it to God. Surrendering these earthly tents to Him.

"Now at last their opportunity had come. Earlier they had only heard of the mystery, but now they felt it. He had fastened His eyes of love on them, as He had on Mary and Peter, so they could only choose to follow Him. And little by little, from time to time, with quick glimmers of light, the mystery of His cross shone upon them. They saw Him "lifted up from the earth", and gazed on the glory that radiated from the wounds of His holy suffering."

Our son, Joshua, is a brave boy. He has looked at chronic disease in the face and shook it's hand. He has warmed nurses' hearts and made them smile. He has looked so sweetly at me countless times while I watched helplessly as tubes, needles and white sheets dominated his life. He has matured so much over the years as hives, asthma, and blood are just a part of our day.

Why him? Why does his body have to be wracked with shots, immune system problems, disease and now scoliosis?

"As they looked upon Him, they approached Him and were changed into His likeness. His name then shone out through them, for He lived within them. Their life from that moment on was one of inexpressible fellowship with Him above."

O Satan, beware of my son. Though you try to kill him with disease and fill his life with pain, it is through this pain he is being made new, he is being made like his Savior Jesus Christ. A suffering servant. "Jehovah saves" my son and his life will not be in vain.

"Yet God strengthened them and protected them, even from themselves. They knew it was good to suffer in this life so they would reign in the one to come; to bear the cross below, to wear a crown above; and to know that not their will but His was done in them and through them." ("Streams in the Desert" Devotional pgs. 391-393)