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Archive for the ‘Growing Faith’ Category

The Restitution

Posted in Book Reviews, Growing Faith, Promoting Friends on September 23, 2007| 8 Comments »

 

A scorned woman longing for wealth, position, and the return of her son…

 

An obsessed pirate craving the love of the lady he once ravished…

 

A twisted nobleman seeking to capture a spurned woman’s heart…

 

And the intricate plot of vengeance that weaves their lives together…

Sound like a good movie? How about a good book? I just finished reading The Restitution by M.L. Tyndall. It is the third book in her Legacy of the King’s Pirates series, and my first pirate romance novel. I was a little leery of joining this blog tour. Not because I don’t yet have the pleasure of knowing Mary Lu personally, but because I hadn’t read the first two novels. There’s also the little tidbit about my previous stance on the romance genre in general. After reading it, I was glad I booked passage on Mary Lu’s adventurous and tumultuous journey in the Caribbean.  I was quickly caught up in her world of pirates, society, and life on the high seas.  Before I present my case in convincing you to read this book, watch this short video about it:

Are you convinced yet? Yes? Fabulous! My work is done here. What’s that? You want to know more about the story and why I liked it? O.K. Since you stuck around I’ll share…

The story begins with Isabel struggling to understand a God she doesn’t really know and why he would allow tragedy to befall her. She’s used to titles and position, but currently she is living a life she didn’t ask for due to another’s actions. If only this theme were exclusively bound into the pages of a book, but you and I know all too well that happens to us in real life too, doesn’t it? She struggles with many of the same issues we’ve all struggled with. Who am I when you strip away family, prestige, promise of a prosperous life, and all of the other outward signs of success in the pursuit of happiness? Can God really uproot the bitterness in my heart? How can I forgive acts of violence against me? Where are you God when I am suffering?

Like a ship on the waves of the sea, the tale shifts and we meet Captain Kent Carlton. He sounds like your everyday hero, but he’s not. He’s been the bad guy since the tale began in Book 1.  What work is God doing underneath his fierce exterior? Can he overcome his father wounds to trust the one Father who sees him for who he could and should be ? Can he win the forgiveness and the heart of the woman he loves? He has many choices to make and the wrong ones could cost him his child and possibly his future as a pirate captain.  After a life of taking what he wants and proudly wearing the badge of a fierce reputation, Captain Carlton faces an agonizing voyage of self-discovery and renewed purpose while trying to stave off a mutiny aboard his ship.

The wonderful characters in this book deal with some hard issues: Rape, disfigurement caused while performing a heroic act of service, racism, loyalty, doubt, dishonesty, revenge, fear, and my favorite one…forgiveness. No matter what you read, you tend to find the things you’re looking for in a book. I found heart pounding adventure, a fierce love story both between a mother and her child, and the woman and the man she must forgive, and a chest full of golden spiritual truths.

God is in the business of changing people from the inside out and offering a freedom and peace that nothing else in the world can offer. I saw some of my own transformation and growth while I was reading this novel.  I ached with Isabel as she searched for her child.  I watched from the deck of the ship as a battle ensued and Captain Carlton destroyed a Spanish vessel to rescue several slaves from it’s berth.  I got caught up in the awkwardness of a few characters praying without “knowing how”.  I marveled at the greatness of God as he reveals his glory and magnificence when He answers a prayer in a visual way so big He couldn’t be denied.  I love it when He does that!

M.L. Tyndall is an excellent writer and her works are well worth your time.  You can read more about her and her novels on her website.  Go check her out and leave a comment or question for her there or here.  I’d love to share her work, so I’m holding a drawing for a free copy of The Restitution. If you’d like to put your name in the hat, please email me, or leave me a comment on this post. I’ll hold the drawing on Friday morning and announce the lucky winner.  You can also purchase the book by clicking here or checking out your local Christian bookstore.  We’ll be seeing ye next time then mateys!

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Mom’s Miracle

Posted in Big Announcements, Family, Growing Faith, Prayer Requests on August 28, 2007| 4 Comments »

We interrupt this book week for another miracle story. My mom called today to share an amazing story which I now have the privilege to share with you here.

Last Tuesday my Mom went in for her yearly mammogram. Having a vice grip on your breasts is no fun. Add to that the fear of the tech finding something, having to do further invasive testing, and everything else that a woman feels during that time. She was nervous, to say the least. Last year’s test had revealed a small ½ inch mass, so she was curious to see what had happened with that and what was going to show up this time. On Wednesday morning she got a call saying she needed to come back in right away for another one because her test had shown the mass had grown to 1 ½ inches. She was unable to do so because she had my niece and nephew at her house for the week. So she was rescheduled for today.

When she arrived they did a mammogram, then the tech came in and said she needed to have an ultrasound. My mom was getting more and more nervous and she began to pray for healing. She asked God to forgive the selfish prayer – we’ll have to talk about that one – but she wanted the mass to be gone. She asked God to take away the mass, and when the doctor and tech walked back in the room, she told them not to worry, that she had prayed it away, and they both chuckled. Meanwhile Virgil (my step-dad) was in the waiting room getting worried because things were taking so long. He started praying hard as well.

The ultrasound usually takes five minutes or so, but this one lasted almost a half hour. The doctor looked puzzled and ordered that a 3 view mammogram be done. Ouch! When all was said and done, the doctor showed Mom the results of all the tests. The test she had done last year showing the ½ in. mass. The test from last week showing the 1 ½ in. mass. The 1st test from today showing the 1 ½ in. mass, and the last test showing NOTHING. The mass disappeared sometime between the two tests today. The doctor said he didn’t understand it and that it must have just been breast tissue. Yeah…uh huh…I choose to believe in the power of prayer. There isn’t always proof for others to see, but this time there was and I thank God that Mom got to see it with her own eyes. I’m thankful for the doctor and tech seeing it as well. And I thank God for bringing healing to my Mom’s body.

Now about this “selfish prayer” business. God loves us and wants us to bring our requests to Him in prayer. He says we do not receive because we do not ask in faith. He says what parent would give their child a stone when they ask for bread? Does all of this sound familiar? Friends, we need to remember that because of the work of Christ we can come boldly before the throne. God is our Father and He wants to give us good things. He wants to heal and He wants us to have faith. I know this poses lots of questions. One of my uncles doesn’t believe in prayer. He thinks that every time someone prays for my aunt (who has had multiple health issues), something bad happens. That sounds spiritual in nature to me. Sometimes healing happens instantly, and sometimes it happens over time. We are told time and again in scripture to be persistent in our prayers. When we ask for healing for ourselves, it is not selfish. We need to ask in faith, hoping (which means confident expectation) to hear or see His response. This is not a lecture, it is a reminder. Come to the Father and present your requests. Thank Him for all that He has done and focus on that, not on what you see He hasn’t done yet. He’s waiting for you…

And by all means SHARE YOUR STORIES OF FAITH with others. What a wonderful way to grow, challenge, and encourage each other.

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Fool For You

Posted in Growing Faith, Music, Promoting Friends on August 26, 2007| 5 Comments »

I’m so thankful for all who have emailed me and left comments here about Pete’s healing. It continues to amaze me how God uses these things to point to His glory. I’ve had many challenging and uplifting discussions this week with friends who are struggling to understand the details of last week and what it all means. The awakening of desires for more of God is exhilarating and yet can be a scary thing and let me tell you, it’s been stretching me in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I am God’s woman and the whispers He has been sending my heart only strengthen me and give me courage to be bold for Him. Miracles are only miracles to us. To God it’s everyday stuff. I think He is waiting to reveal himself to believers who are willing to believe – even when it’s hard and it costs us something in return. Friends and family may think we’re crazy or exaggerating, but I want Him more than I want approval from men. There’s a deep longing in me to be used by God in mighty and powerful ways. I’m willing and waiting. And I’m listening.

Nichole Nordeman is one of the many people who inspire me. God has used her on many occasions to speak truth and healing into me through her music. She has a gift, and she IS a gift. Here are two of the songs that keep playing over and over again in my head. I’ve also included a link to her new video for the song Finally Free.

Help Me Believe

Take me back to the time
When I was maybe eight or nine
And I believed
When Jesus walked on waters blue
And if He helped me, I could too
If I believed

Before rationale, analysis and systematic thinking
Robbed me of a sweet simplicity
When wonders and when mysteries
Were far less often silly dreams
And childhood fantasies

*Chorus*
Help me believe
‘Cause I don’t want to miss any miracles
Maybe I’d see much better by closing my eyes
And I would shed this grownup skin I’m in
To touch an angel’s wing
And I would be free
Help me believe

When mustard seeds made mountains move
A burning bush that spoke for You was good enough
When manna fell from heavens high
Just because You told the sky to open up

Am I too wise to recognize that everything uncertain
Is certainly a possibility?
When logic fails my reasoning
And science crushes underneath
The weight of all that is unseen

*Chorus*

When someone Else’s education
Plays upon my reservations
I’m the first to cave, I’m the first to bleed

If I abandon all that seeks
To make my faith informed and chic
Could You, would You show Yourself to me?

(Help me believe ’cause I don’t want to miss any miracles)
Maybe I’d see much better by closing my eyes
And I would shed this grownup skin I’m in
To touch one of their wings
And I would be free
I would be free
I would be free
Help me believe
help me believe
Could You, would You show Yourself to me?
Could You, would You show Yourself to me?
Help me believe.

 

 

 

Fool For You

There are times when faith and common sense do not align.
When hard core evidence of you is hard to find.
I am silenced in the face of argumentative debate and
It’s a long hill, it’s a lonely climb

Cause they want proof
They want proof of all these mysteries I claim
Cause only fools would want to shout a dead man’s name.
Maybe it’s true, yeah, but

I’ll be a fool for you
Oh, because you asked me to
A simpleton whose seemingly naive, I do believe
You came and made yourself a fool for me.

I admit that in my darkest hour I’ve asked “What if?”
What if we created some kind of mimic thing like this
Out of good intentions or emotional inventions
But after life is through, there would be no you

Cause they want proof
They want proof of all these miracles I claim
Cause only fools believe that men can walk on waves
Maybe it’s true, yeah, but

*Chorus*

Unaware of popularity
Unconcerned with dignity, you made me free
That’s proof enough for me

I’ll be a fool for you
Oh, because you asked me to
A simpleton who’s seemingly naive, I do believe

I will speak Jesus’ name
If that makes me crazy, they can call me crazed
I’m happy to be seemingly naive
I do believe you came and made yourself a fool for me.

 

Here’s the link to the Finally Free video:

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=10740214

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Our Family Miracle

Posted in Big Announcements, Family, Growing Faith, Joy in the Journey, Miracles, Parenting on August 21, 2007| 24 Comments »

I was raised in a church that taught me that miracles died with the Apostles. It was said that those who practiced these things were out of God’s will and they were frauds. Then last week my son was healed of a life altering allergy. Now I’m standing in my faith taking baby steps towards whatever God has planned for my family through all of this. (Click on the pictures to enlarge them)

Last week Benny went to a healing conference with our friend Zack. He learned some amazing things and we are now pursuing God in new and powerful ways. Among them, believing in God’s power and what He’s doing in the world, and discarding what we were taught by people who decided what God can and can’t do. Or is it what God does and doesn’t do? Do we really think we can tell God what He can and can’t do? How arrogant is that??

A little history:

Almost since birth, Pete has suffered from food allergies – dairy being the most severe. Nursing him resulted in projectile vomiting and we didn’t know why. When solid foods were introduced, certain foods (like eggs, wheat, soy, and many more) made him break out all over.  As a mom, I felt sorry for him and myself that I could do nothing to help him. His little body was covered in raw patches that he couldn’t stop scratching – causing him to bleed. I prayed all the time that God would take away his eczema. We tried everything and our doctor was stumped too. He recommended a dermatologist and the guy we saw was a cocky jerk. His expensive creams didn’t help at all. He was almost 1 when it was finally diagnosed as food allergies. While in the middle of trying an elimination diet, we moved to Colorado and began looking for a church. I got a small glimpse of what leprosy must be like as we were kicked out of nurseries when the workers saw his skin and feared for the safety and health of the other children. My explanation of his eczema went unheard. Then we visited the church Heather (my good friend now) goes to and she was the one in the nursery. Instead of shunning me, she told me she thought she could help us. Pete was 2. Between Heather and our friend Dr. Brian, they were able to heal most of Pete’s allergies through allergy desensitization, but dairy still remained a serious problem. Fast forward a year and a half to the healing conference…

On Friday night the kids and I drove to Castle Rock to attend the evening worship service. Hundreds of people had been healed the night before and Benny and I wanted healing for Pete. I was skeptical, but extremely hopeful. Throwing off theological baggage is hard work and I wasn’t there yet. I was the parent in the Mark 9:24 statement, “I do believe, help me in my unbelief”.

I felt a little out-of-place as we stood in the back, but I could not deny the energy in the room. The Holy Spirit was poured out on this place! Sometime I’ll share some of the other healings that took place that weekend, but this is Pete’s story. The kids were getting antsy so we took them out in the lobby for a bit. A woman saw our energetic 3-year-old running around and asked Benny if her family could pray for him. They went to a quiet room away from the crowd and began praying healing over Pete. Suddenly Pete said, “Popa! What’s that singing?” Benny told him that no one was singing, but Pete insisted that someone was singing even though no one else in the room could hear it. Angels singing over my little boy? Wow. Were they praising God for His wonders? Were they ministering to Pete’s spirit? I don’t have an answer for that.

Later when our family surrounded Pete in prayer again, Max put his hand on Pete and looked like he was concentrating hard. Then he said, “Popa, I think God just gave me a message in my heart…He said Pete is going to be healed by midnight.” Was this my 7-year old prophesying??? I was stunned. He is a baptized believer, but this was new to me and strange. Throughout the night we received confirmation in so many ways that we chose to believe what the Holy Spirit was doing and embraced the promise that Pete was healed. I was so incredibly tired as we drove back to Denver that night that I prayed the whole way home. “Please God, keep me awake and get us home safely. Please God, heal my little boy! Please God, help me believe in healing. Please God, show me what to do. Please God, let this be real.”

We all woke up on Saturday morning and it was time to test the healing out. The kids had cereal for breakfast and I put regular milk in Pete’s bowl instead of the rice milk he usually drinks. His only reaction was “Mommy, rice milk tastes better than this.” Nothing physical happened. His reactions usually occur within seconds of coming into physical contact with dairy products. I immediately thanked God for the healing and continued to wrestle with this new-found step of faith. For lunch, Pete had a cheeseburger. He picked the cheese slice off and asked me, “Can I eat this?” “Yes Pete, God healed you.” So he ate the cheese first. Still no reaction. Well, being the giant of faith that I am, we had cheese pizza for supper. 😉 No reaction. Sure, we ate unhealthy food all day, but I was testing God’s promise. I wanted to believe so badly and yet there was still a small part of me that was bracing myself for a let down. But here’s the truth of our situation:

My son, who has never been able to touch let alone ingest dairy products,

is now completely healed of his dairy allergy.

I wish I could say that I’m not stunned, that I knew it would happen all along, but I can’t. Here’s what I know now – I’m believing the promise and proclaiming God’s power! I’m so incredibly grateful for what God has done and is continuing to do in my heart and head. I can’t wait to see what He’s going to do next…

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My Rock Thing…

Posted in Free to be me, Growing Faith, Joy in the Journey, Uncategorized on August 6, 2007| 11 Comments »

Today’s post will make more sense if you read this one first. Also, Tawnya’s post titled “God’s little gifts” is related as well.

Three weeks ago today I sat on this very rock. I was hurting and broken-overwhelmed by the unfair hand life had been dealing me lately. An upcoming trip had me nervous and on edge. I had been awakened that morning by a horrible dream that left me feeling dirty, exposed, and shamed. I had asked God to purify me before my feet could hit the floor and to help me release and get rid of the images seared into my mind. Our worship service that morning had left me wanting to escape, and I shared an awkward moment with a friend whom I’d never felt that tense with before. It was hard. I was feeling lost and not like myself.

God had given me a song that morning, as He often does. “My Rest in Faith” played over and over in my head. It was a comfort, but I needed something more. I needed to get away and I needed to give some struggles and fears to God. My friend Heather had posted on her blog about a healing exercise she did on July 4th. I found it inspirational and decided I would do it too. Paula and Heather picked me up and we drove an hour into the mountains. We had lunch in a cozy little cafe in Georgetown, and then drove further up the mountain. There was a road that wound down and around leading us to a stream. We parked and Paula pulled a big blanket from the trunk which we laid on the ground and then we dropped to our knees. My friends held my hands and prayed over me, and in the middle of her prayer, Paula began to sing one of my favorite worship songs.

All who are thirsty, all who are weak

Come to the fountain, dip your heart in the stream of Life.

Let the pain and the sorrow be washed away in the waves of His mercy

As deep cries out to deep, we sing:

Come, Lord Jesus, Come.

As tears formed mini rivers down my cheeks and my nose began to drip, I thanked God for meeting me there and comforting me through my friends. It was a good thing we had remembered to bring Kleenex. After a long, beautiful prayer, I took the plastic bag I brought with me from the car and began to gather rocks. Heather settled in with her journal while Paula went for a walk. All of us were lost in our own thoughts, yet somehow together. I set out looking for stones smooth enough to write on. I came across a small round one and picked it up, letting the coldness of it sink into my hand as I thought of King David. He too had gathered stones once. Five of them, though he only needed one.

“I need a rock, Lord” I told Him. “Can you please just give me one heart-shaped rock today? Please Lord?”

I dropped more rocks into my bag, and then sat down on a big boulder away from the road. I talked with God for a few minutes and even sang a song to Him. I thanked him for my friends and the blessings in my life. I told Him my plan for the sack of stones I was carrying. When I stood up to start back up the path to the stream, there right in front of me in the middle of the path was my answered prayer. A sob escaped my throat and the tears came quickly as I cried out loudly, “Thank You Lord!” I wept as I picked up my granite gift. Almost immediately I asked the Lord for another one. Isn’t that just like me…asking God for what I want, Him giving it to me, then me asking for more. Later as I retold this story to Benny he pointed out that maybe I had not asked for enough in the first place. Interesting point he’s got there.

As I settled in on this rock hanging out over the stream, I pulled my hot pink sharpie from my pocket and grabbed the first stone. One by one I wrote a word on a rock, explained to God what it meant to me and why I wanted to give it to Him, then threw it into the rushing waters to symbolize me giving it up. FEAR was the first one to go. Then Lust. Then self-hatred. That was followed by pride and anger. I tattooed rocks as fast as the thoughts came to me. Some I threw as hard and far as I could, and some I carefully positioned to drop into certain parts of the rapids. Some made me cry, and some just brought flooding feelings of relief. The words of Forrest Gump came back to me then, “Sometimes I guess there’s just not enough rocks”. And I cried some more.

When I couldn’t think of anything else to write, I asked God if He had anything in mind. The words He gave me came in waves as I acknowledged each thing He reminded me of. When it was finished, I had seven rocks left. I smiled…my favorite number…the name of our ministry…God is funny like that. Twenty-one rocks sank to the bottom of the stream that day. Seven came home with us. Not the ones I had left over. I took those and named family and friends, prayed over them, and released them to God as well.

By the time I was finished, a soft rain was falling. It was cool and healing, and I took it as a sign. He was washing away the residue from the things I had just given to Him. As I went to find my friends, I found two more heart-shaped rocks. We met back on the blanket, and I showed them what I had found and we laughed and delighted in God’s abundance. Then I walked back down to the stream to wash the marker off of me and found two more in the clear flowing water– which I presented to each of my friends. We packed up to leave and talked about how good it felt to get away like that and to meet God in His beautiful creation. We also talked about how glad we were that we had brought jackets. 😉

We decided to take the long, scenic route back to Denver, and as we drove over Guanella Pass, we came to a waterfall on the side of the road. I had to get out of the car to get a better look, raining or not. There in the gravel that lined the road, I found the last two rocks of the day. Seven in all. Though I saw several more, they were too big to carry home. I was surprised that they just kept coming, so Benny’s comment made sense to me. While I was more concerned about being selfish in my asking, God had more for me than what I was asking for! Why do I do that? How do I get over that?

Today Heather and I returned to that spot and I spent some time on that same rock that had been my platform of freedom three weeks ago. I journaled a bit and began writing this post. And guess what? A soft rain began to fall and I was reminded once again that God is renewing me and restoring my soul. I also found two heart-shaped rocks. I remembered not to sell God short this time. After all, He loves to show me how much He loves me, and Forrest was right…sometimes I guess there’s just not enough rocks!

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