Thank You for the days

When I don’t understand.

You give us Your comfort:

Your nail-pierced hands.

Mercy and grace, salvation so dear,

fills me with faith, replacing my fear.

Carrie

Renae is a guest writer for today, her words and her gift from God have ministered great comfort to our family over the years.   She is a humble servant, a beautiful woman, and a dear friend.  She wrote this after visiting Kevin in the hospital while recovering from surgery at UCLA.  As a massage therapist, her prayers and insights as she ministers over the body are truly a gift from the Lord.

Renae’s Words for Kevin from God

June 4, 2007

I’m always amazed after a session like the one with Kevin. Mixed in with a little guilt. I feel like I get more out of these sessions than the patient. I understand the benefits the patient receives, but what I take away brings me closer to God each time and how can you put a price on that?

Today was one of those days.

I’ve always been in awe of Kevin’s disposition. As I worked on him today, my impression didn’t change. He’s a gentle deer – there isn’t aggression in a bone of his body. Before today, I perceived his body as being attacked after 15 surgeries. I was prepared for some justified anger, pent up frustration, a slow boil. But yet he laid there, polite, to keep me comfortable, and open to receive. I sat still and decided to receive too.

After I left Kevin I prayed for Jesus to tell me what was wrong with Kevin. What should the next step be? Is he in danger? What should we tell the doctor’s? As usual, I was asking the wrong questions. But He answered me anyhow. Here’s what He had to say.

Going back to Genesis, we were intended to be naked accepting not only our own bodies, but that of others. Regardless of how we looked. Regardless of how we functioned. Jesus looks at all of us the same. He doesn’t rank us as privileged, better looking, superior to one another, etc.

The woman who thinks she’s too fat. The man who hates his balding. The boy who has kidney failure. We are all the same in His eyes. We were all born with challenges and problems albeit emotional, physical or even spiritual. And the identification of each one of these is the result of our own sin. I got a little peak of what Eden was like today. We would have seen Kevin without pity. We would have adored what he was going through as a special path with Christ. Unique between Kevin and his Father. Not as a torture, an injustice, or suffering.

Christ cured people while here on earth because he was asked by the faithful. But the illness still remained here when He left. He died for our sins so that we could learn exactly what I saw today. But it isn’t that Kevin is being crucified or a martyr. What was pointed out to me is that we have something great to learn from what Kevin is going through. Jesus wants us to see Kevin through His eyes. Not through our sinful eyes of despair.

I saw Kevin through Jesus’ eyes today. (Yet, my emotional & sinful heart still wavers as I shove a fist to heaven asking, WHY?) But today I saw a man in a bed who has a relationship with Christ that we cannot understand. It is one that does not practice the sin of disappointment in what his Father gave him. And it is beautiful.

A Beautiful Shape

October 20, 2009

Transplant #3 and now it includes me….I’m privileged to be the next donor for my son’s upcoming 3rd kidney transplant.   After an entire summer of testing, I have been given the green light and we are now waiting for two more diagnostic procedures on Kevin.   This process has been quite the roller coaster and has tried my peace, but not my faith.   More to follow about this when we are given a date for surgery.

During my quiet time with the Lord several days ago, He showed me a picture of what He is teaching me through our circumstances by using the visual aid of a kaleidoscope. It has helped me so much that I wanted to share it in case it ministers to one of you.

Begin journal entry:

“It dawned on me that all the elements inside the canister represent the details of my life.  Each piece (even the bright-colored painful ones) was uniquely chosen by Him to execute His plan through me. These elements were given by grace with love, to show me the beauty of His plan. It was up to me to keep turning the tube -until I saw the beautiful pattern of His design at work in me.

I wept as I saw them drop into form, it was so precious and rare, I couldn’t help but praise Him for all that He’s done, and all that He has in store. It empowered my faith, releasing greater measures of His grace. I will face whatever storm that comes with courage, I can walk (not crawl) through this valley, and feel His Peace assisting me along the journey.

God is so good, His gifts are so precious, His care so loving. I looked up the word kaleidoscope today and perhaps the Holy Spirit will speak to your heart about whatever it is you face in this hour. I love you all.  Carrie

Kaleidoscope:  1817, lit. “observer of beautiful forms,” coined by its inventor, Sir David Brewster (1781-1868), from Gk. kalos “beautiful” + eidos “shape” (see -oid) + -scope, on model of telescope, etc. Figurative meaning “constantly changing pattern” is first attested 1819 in Lord Byron, whose publisher had sent him one.

A tube-shaped optical instrument that is rotated to produce a succession of symmetrical designs by means of mirrors reflecting the constantly changing patterns made by bits of colored glass at one end of the tube.

A constantly changing set of colors.

A series of changing phases or events: a kaleidoscope of illusions.

1.  an optical instrument in which bits of glass, held loosely at the end of a rotating tube, are shown in continually changing symmetrical forms by reflection in two or more mirrors set at angles to each other.

2.  a continually changing pattern of shapes and colors.

Do What You Love To Do

NOVEMBER 8TH, 2009 (E)

I love the simplicity of this statement:  ”Do what you love to do.”   I love to sing, write, walk, dance, encourage others, pray, paint, etc.   What you love to do will energize you to do the things you don’t love to do.

What I don’t love to do is:  face hard things with grace.   Dig deeper than my character offers me at the moment.  Receive truth when it injures my pride.   Treat someone with kindness when all they do is hurt me.  Keep trusting when there is no understanding.

As I said before, when I do what I love to do first, it enables me to walk by the power of the Holy Spirit to do what I don’t love to do best.

God’s Hands- Make No Mistake!

Elohim – The Creator

November 9, 2009

Inspired by Kay Arthur’s book: “Lord I Want to Know You”  Chp. 2

My son is about to receive his third kidney transplant, and thankfully, I will be the donor this time.  This has caused me to go back to studying the Names of God again, which has strengthened my faith and solidified my hope.  The first five paragraphs are from Kay’s book.  They set up the foundation from God’s Word as to why I believe God’s hands formed my child and there was no mistake.

Colossians 1:16 In Jesus Christ, the Son of God, “all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth.”

Psalm 139:13-14 “He didst form my inward parts.  He didst weave me in my mother’s womb…I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”

Kay makes reference to Moses saying to the LORD: “Please Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since Thou hast spoken to Thy servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”  Exodus 4:10

And the LORD replied:  “Who has made man’s mouth?    Or, who makes him dumb or deaf, or seeing or blind?  Is it not I, the LORD?”  Exodus 4:11

“But why would God create people who are different from His normal pattern of creation?   Why would He ever permit a sperm to penetrate an egg when it would produce what seems to be a genetic disaster?”

The disciples asked Jesus about the blind man from birth:  “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?”  John 9:2.  Jesus replied:  “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was in order that the works of God might be displayed in him.”  John 9:3

Kay writes:  “Oh, Beloved, if you are unhappy with yourself, with your child, or with a loved one, run into the strong tower of the name of your Elohim (Proverbs 18:10).   You may not understand how your situation could ever bring Him glory, but you can trust in the name of your Lord.”

Now this brings me to the reason I feel led to share from our own situation.   When my son Kevin was born, his beautifully shaped little body took my breath away.  Nothing could take away the power of God’s Presence and Love in that moment.   Psalm 25:10  “All the ways of the Lord are loving.”  What I did not know in that moment was that this love would require Kevin to face many surgeries in his life. Could this be God’s loving ways?

As the years went by and the number of surgeries climbed, He led me to His Word in Jeremiah 29:11.   I had never read that verse before, so these came to me as though they were meant specifically for our family.  “His plans are for good and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope.”

One special day, a Healer/Evangelist traveling through our city at the time felt led to come and pray for our son.   Laying his hands upon his little head, this minister paused, then said:  “There is nothing of this child that is not of God.   This is God’s hand upon him, the way He created and formed him.   There is no darkness, no warfare, this is God.”  He then began a beautiful prayer of blessing- asking God to provide the grace for all his days and to fulfill the purposes of God in his life.

Back to Kay’s book:  “Why were we created?  Why were we born?”  Isaiah 43:1, 3-4, 7 sums it up best:  “Thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob and He who formed you, O Israel….I am the LORD your God (Elohim) …you are precious in My sight…everyone who is called by My name, and whom I have created for My glory, whom I have formed, even whom I have made.”  Man was created for God’s glory.

“Can you see how awesome it is to know that you have been created for God’s glory?   That you are to live in such a way as to give all of creation a correct opinion or estimate of who God is?

Your life is to be lived in such a way as to reflect Him, to show the world the character of God – His love, His peace, His mercy ,His gentleness.  You are to live for Him, to accomplish His will.   To miss this purpose is to miss fulfillment. “

And so, the journey continues that leads to a path of life.  We face all things with Christ who strengthens us.   We thank Him for His ways and the faith and grace He’s blessed us with to give glory to His Name.

Psalm 139:13-4  “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

Embracing the Waiting Room

May 4, 2009

Taken from the book: “The Waiting Room” by Carrie George

At one time or another, we are all in this place – the waiting room. Over the years, I have learned that waiting is not so much about where it will take me, but rather how I would respond to it.  When I embraced the vision of the waiting room as a special place to grow, designed uniquely for my needs, it became a special retreat, a secret place where my thoughts would be tested and tried by His Word and through prayer.

As I accepted our course, and surrendered to the journey, beautiful things began to spring forth from my soul.

Our destiny had been charted, our course was set.  This would be a journey across unchartered territory for our family….one which required faith, perseverance, hope, and prayer    NEVER GIVE UP!.  

Life is a looking glass

which no one dares to see

for fear it will burden them

and shatter in their hands

(Excerpt from my high school poetry book)

Stars that shinneth down from there, 

cast a thought, into the minds so bare.

Let all rejoice one day to dare….

recognize the nightly air.

Walking alone

out in the fields

Thinking aloud

amongst all of nature.

Crying in pain

for someone to hear!

But only echoes….

through the ears

of Loneliness ~

Carrie

Walking along the soft, sandy beach, I am warmed by the exquisite sensation of tiny grains of sand squishing between my toes.  Relishing the delicate caress of the ocean breeze on my face and the sound of the pounding surf, I feel my body relax.  Tension fades as each wave washes away a cluster of concerns, releasing the captivity of my worried soul to soar high above my cares.

Climbing the empty lifeguard tower, I enjoy the entertainment my feathery friends are providing.  The dispute is finally settled, the entire mound of chips is devoured, and the only sound remaining is the rhythmic cadence of the ocean waves crashing upon the shore.

After several moments of quiet contemplation, I notice a coin lying next to me on the wooden platform of this weathered tower.  I pick up the piece, turning it over to examine its inscription.  It reads: “Republica Slovenia”  and then I smile as I remember.   A few months before, I had asked the Lord what country He wanted me to pray for, one whose name may not be one I’ve thought of before.  Gazing at the coin, I realize His answer has come.   So I take out my pen and notebook from my backpack and write what is flowing my heart to say……

Beyond your street lies a world out there…broken, shattered, scarred.  Deepest longings stir their faith, though every breath is hard.

I challenge you to join me now; I urge you all to pray…

For this country, for their lost, for hope to pave their way.

Dare to be one chosen: for a time such as this.  Alone in your prayer closet, travail for another’s man’s wish.

A wish for freedom, a dream of hope, longing for better days.  For hungry children, broken homes, ashes in their grave.

Asking God in heaven, what on earth should we then say?

God Bless Republica Slovenia!  I will carry your burden each day.  As I reach and feel  this coin I’ve found;  I will remember you and pray! 

“Father, keep them from harm, protect them, and hide them in the shadow of your wings.  Feed them, comfort them, warm them Lord, with the blanket of Your Peace!”

Shalom….

Carrie George