January 31, 2018

As the years go by, I am amazed at how quickly I can go from being totally fired up and excited about what God is doing, to being discouraged and unsure of my next steps. I thought I would outgrow that at some point! And it can happen so quickly - no logical reason or explanation, but one encounter, one conversation can take us from flying high to a crash. Our feelings and emotions are not a reliable barometer of how to deal with life!!

And that’s why I don’t want to depend on myself. I want God to be at the center of my life, so I can go to Him when I am doubting, unsure or confused. It’s comforting to know that we are not alone in those up and down feelings. David, a “man after God’s own heart”, could go back and forth from writing psalms of despair to psalms of victory and rejoicing. And the disciples - the people who walked with Jesus - knew a lot about up and down emotions. 

People are constantly changing - but God is never changing. We are unstable - but God is the solid rock. We get tired and discouraged - but God is strong and sure. His mercies are new every morning, and He loves us in spite of our ups and downs. We have an anchor that we can hold onto, no matter what is happening around us and regardless of what we feel or see. 

I am thankful!

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."  Psalms 51:10

January 28, 2018

“There is a depth of God’s love that we get to experience only on a ‘need to know’ basis.”  - Unknown

January 28, 2018

"God is looking for people through whom He can do the impossible.  What a pity we plan to do only the things that we can do by ourselves."  A.W. Tozer 

January 24, 2018

“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” 1 Peter‬ ‭4:10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“To experience significance in life, you must serve with others in ministry. Ministry just means doing good to other people... The talents you were given are not for your benefit. God gave them to you for the benefit of the people around you. You are shaped for significance, and you find that significance by using your gifts and talents and abilities to serve other people.

You’re not meant to serve God by yourself. You’re meant to serve God on a team. You’re meant to serve God in a family, in a small group, in a church. You’re meant to serve God in relationship.

We’re better together!” - Rick Warren

January 21, 2018

1. You have a gift only you can give.
2. Someone has a need only you can meet.
3. Joy is the journey where the gift and the need collide.
4. Your journey to give your gift will break you … but it will also make you. - You Version devo

“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap...” Luke‬ ‭6:38‬ ‭NLT‬‬

January 10, 2018

This is a great song. “Masterpiece” by Danny Gokey. I’m sure so many of us can relate. Going through situations or pain that we don’t understand or can’t see an end to. I am so thankful that God is, in fact, using each piece of our story to create Masterpieces of our lives! We can trust Him. 

Masterpiece - Danny Gokey

“Heartbreak's a bittersweet sound
Know it well
It's ringing in my ears
And I can't understand
Why I'm not fixed by now
Begged and I pleaded
Take this pain but I'm still bleeding

Heart trusts you for certain
Head says it's not working
I'm stuck here still hurting
But you tell me

You're making a masterpiece
You shaping the soul in me
You're moving where I can't see
And all I am is in your hands
You're taking me all apart
Like it was your plan from the start
To finish your work of art for all to see you're making a masterpiece”

January 10, 2018

This is a crazy week, medically. Nothing new - just everything at once. Oncologist on Monday, dental appointment on Tuesday, eye injection on Thursday, and in-office procedure at the plastic surgeon on Friday. Needles/incisions, etc., on four out of five days. That’s a lot of office sitting and waiting and recovering. 😀

I tolerate medical stuff pretty well. I don’t tolerate down time as well - I always feel like I’m missing out on my life! But without the down time - the time we need to let our bodies and minds rest - we will not heal. Instead of being frustrated, I am learning to be still and to listen for God’s voice. It is always there, offering comfort and guidance as I get away from the noise of life. 

I am so thankful for a season of rest in the middle of all the medical things, and that we are surrounded by an army of friends and family who are praying and cheering us on! Thankful for a God who is fighting my battles and covering me with His wings of protection. 

"But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!” (‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭20‬:‭17‬ NLT)

Guest Post - 19 by Kelli Williford

Kathy Note:  Someday I'll figure out how to add the pictures that went with this amazing post!

See this girl? She’s 19 years old. She is so full of hope!

She loves this man, but she doesn’t yet know that the man she’s standing beside is the most amazing husband and father she could have dreamed of. She doesn’t realize yet that God knew EVERY weird quirk of hers, and He has given her a man who loves her in spite of, even because of, those quirks. She hasn’t figured that he really IS perfect for her, in every way.

She has no clue what motherhood will be like, but she’s already thinking about it. She doesn’t know that God will be blessing her with FOUR beautiful babies, and that there will be moments when they cry too much or make huge messes. (Maybe it’s better that she doesn’t know all of that yet!) She can’t begin to imagine what it’s really like to be a mom, the awesome responsibility and joy of caring for her kids. She’s not even aware of how they will change her life forever, how each child adds to their family something that no one knew was missing.

She loves her parents, but doesn’t understand yet how much they have sacrificed for her, how they have given her an immeasurable gift throughout her childhood. They taught her the Word of God, to be honest, to be kind to people. They were always there to listen and to give advice, and yes, to correct when she needed it. But she doesn’t yet see how wise and generous they are, how lucky she is to have been raised by them. She hasn’t seen how they’ve bravely walked through a battle with cancer, inspiring so many people with their joy.

She knows she has a fun, caring big sister. But she hasn’t yet discovered how strong her sister’s faith is. She hasn’t seen her sister quietly watch and pray while her newborn baby undergoes two open-heart surgeries and spends a week on ECMO. She doesn’t know that her sister has the courage to smile and live every day with grace, even when facing the challenge of raising a child with autism.

She doesn’t have ANY plans to visit the Philippines, much less live there, in a tiny house in the middle of nowhere! She has a heart for missions, but doesn’t see herself as a missionary, especially with a family to care for. She thinks missionary families are a little…“different”. 

She has heard rumors about the sex trafficking industry, but has no idea that it’s real, that it’s an epidemic, and that it’s happening to small children. She is naive about the cruelty of the world, how someone could ever treat a child in such a horrific way.

She believes in God and loves Jesus. But she doesn’t yet realize how faithful He is, how He truly is the Provider, the Healer, the Protector. She hasn’t yet placed ALL of her dreams, fears, and weaknesses into His hands.

January 7/8, 2018

January 7, 2015 - Three years ago today.  First day of chemo - it was a little scary but God was with us. Thankful for all the lessons learned on this journey. 

Praying for a clear report at West Clinic tomorrow and that I graduate to annual West Clinic visits!!

January 8, 2018 - All done at West Clinic! A good visit - some numbers were a little off but it’s more likely related to my continuing ear issues than anything else. Have to come back in six months - that is protocol until I pass the five-year mark. I can handle that!! 

Thank you for praying for us.  :)

Looking back....Little did we know that those "a little off" tumor markers were the beginning of not just a trend but a change - cancer had started to brew.

January 5, 2018 - Emmie Gaines wisdom

Best quote I’ve read all week!! I couldn’t agree more!! 😁

“Just be nice. To everyone. And unicorns if they are alive.” - Emmie Gaines (Chip and Joanna Gaines’ daughter)

January 5, 2018

Something has been on my mind and I wanted to share it. 

satan (using a small “s” because he is small) is crafty. The tools that he uses to discourage and dissuade people from a strong relationship with God, from leaning into each other, and from allowing God to truly use them for His (God’s) purposes are pretty smooth. 

satan tells us that our past is TOO bad for us to be loved by God or other people, or to be used by God. That if God or the people in our lives REALLY knew us, they would turn away from us. So we keep secrets. We can do that for awhile with people - but come on, keeping secrets from God? Guess what? That favorite phrase of mine that Tony shares with me - “This isn’t a surprise to God” - applies to this situation too. 

NOTHING we have done is a surprise to God. And WE may think we have disqualified ourselves - but have you ever checked out the Bible? I’m thinking Moses (murderer), Paul (murderer), David (adulterer, murderer), just to name a few. A whole bunch of people that we may have considered disqualified, but they are the very people that God used to further His Kingdom! 

Who puts a limit on our relationship with God, our growth in Him, and our ability to be used by Him? The person in the mirror.

It’s my prayer that none of us allows any of satan’s schemes to limit what God may have planned for us!

“But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” Genesis 50:20 NKJV

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV

January 4, 2018

"When I feel sad and despairing, I remind myself that WHAT I KNOW is more important than HOW I FEEL. I call on the Scriptures that I have hidden in my heart. My emotions are totally unpredictable: changing without warning. But what I know is God is immutable— never changing-the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. In Him alone can I trust."  - Sue Sewell, "In the Shadow of Your Wings”