Birthday reflections/This Is Our Time Trailer

Welcome Back Readers~

Approximately two weeks ago I turned 33.. Unlike most birthdays, this one was quieter than most-with a simple family gathering at Outback Steakhouse with a few balloons.

The older I get, the more I realize that birthdays offer us a unique opportunity to take stock of our lives and make changes. Questions like Am I doing all I can to portray God's Love to those around me or Have I done enough in using my God given talents to further His kingdom always seem to be at the top of the list.

I'll be honest these are hard questions to answer, especially when you feel like you don't measure of to those around you. But that's the beauty of God, we each matter to him and are uniquely created for the task set before us as Christians. After all, doesn't it say in Corinthians 12:12-21 :

    " Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by^[c] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. Now if the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body, it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, 'Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,' it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?  But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be?  As it is, there are many parts, but one body"

 

That being said, we shouldn't doubt our purpose or standing in terms of God's grand design! We have each been put on this earth for a reason... Though we might not see His Calling in our lives yet, it's there; whether it be to simply act as a light in the darkness of your workplace or testify to those in other countries. It's all important because it points the way to the cross..

This is the main message I got from Pureflix's This Is Our Time. And even more than that it reminded me of the amazing Christian friendships I have maintained from college. I love you guys..

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGVWWsxvh_Y

America The Beautiful

Dear Readers

It's been a tough week for all of us. My heart goes out to all of those affected by the Boston tragedy; I'm praying they you find peace through this difficult time! Remember that you are not alone and that we are grieving with you as a nation as well..

With that, I come to the topic of today's post-America The Beautiful. In this time of difficulty, I think it's easy to get bogged down by the negativity in the news. I get it, I really do. But it's in these times that we're presented with a unique opportunity. We can either take this opportunity and waste it by focusing on ourselves or we can help our fellow citizens-those that are hurting or in need of help.

 So in the midst of life's daily struggles, I will always remember how blessed I am to live in America. Freely able to express myself, I am allowed to talk on topics of faith without fear of prosecution.

Each day is a new day. Let's not waste them.

God bless you all,
Debbie 

More Than Meets the Eye: the Story of Joan Brock

Welcome Back Readers ~

When people ask me "What's it like not being able to walk?", I really don't know what to say. Hwas born this way, so I don't know any different..

On the other hand, Joan Brock could give you a different answer. Not only did she work with the blind; but one day she woke up blind herself! Doctors then diagnosed her with a extremely rare case of accelerated muscular degeneration. Determined to maintain as normal life as possible, she returns to work. But then life deals another blow as her husband is diagnosed with cancer and dies shortly after. She is forced to adjust to life as a single mother until a high school friend enters her life.

For more information on the Joan Brock story and the Lifetime made-for-TV movie, you can go to:

http://www.allyourtv.com/pressreleases/lifetime/2003/april/04102003morethanmeets.html

 

 

Or you can view the movie online at:

http://www.mylifetime.com/movies/more-than-meets-the-eye-the-joan-brock-story/video/more-than-meets-the-eye-the-joan-brock-story

 

Encouragement: Your Love Will Always be enough!

Welcome Back Readers ~
The following lyrics from Hillsong's "Forever Reign" came to me as I went to sleep on Monday night. Like many people, I had spent the night watching the season finale of the Bachelor and got caught up in seeing Sean's fairytale unfold...
Every girl wants to find Mr. Right and live happily ever after. It's perfectly natural, but we must not forget God in the process. His love will always be enough to sustain us through the highest of highs and lowest of lows.

This is something I had to remind myself of today!

 

"Forever Reign"

You are good You are good
When there's nothing good in me
You are love You are love
On display for all to see
You are light You are light
When the darkness closes in
You are hope You are hope
You have covered all my sin

You are peace You are peace
When my fear is crippling
You are true You are true
Even in my wandering
You are joy You are joy
You're the reason that I sing
You are life You are life
In You death has lost its sting

(Oh) I'm running to Your arms
I'm running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign

You are more You are more
Than my words will ever say
You are Lord You are Lord
All creation will proclaim
You are here You are here
In Your presence I'm made whole
You are God You are God
Of all else I'm letting go

Bridge
My heart will sing no other Name
Jesus Jesus

 

Encouragement:Purple Shoes and Pink Shoelaces

Dear Readers,

Many of you may recognize my next guest contributor -my father- as he has written for me here before. He has a very unique perspective being the parent of a disabled person. I would ask that you pay careful attention to his story; it not only applies to  coping with news of a unexpected disability, but how  powerful words can be! 

Without further ado...

Purple Shoes and Pink Shoelaces

 “I’d get purple shoes with pink shoelaces,” the doctor said with a dry tone of indifference. He continued, “Your daughter won’t walk anyhow”.    My wife was shaken. 

We had just moved to Baltimore in 1982 from Ann Arbor, Michigan and immediately began locating new doctors to care for our 2-year-old daughter, Debbie, who had just been diagnosed with cerebral palsy.  My wife, Barbara, and I were just beginning to realize the potential impact of raising a daughter with serious disabilities.  High on the list of medical concerns was the need for a good orthopedist to advise us of the affects our daughter’s disability would have on her motor development and muscle tone.   My wife took our daughter to a highly recommended orthopedic surgeon who examined our daughter. After his examination, my wife asked with concern,  “Should we see about getting special shoes?”   The doctor had blurted out his careless reply and his words cut deeply. The thoughtlessness in his response had revealed to her the prospect of a disability no one had yet predicted for our daughter. No one had ever told us Debbie might never walk.
After recovering from the incident, we began looking for an orthopedist that could help us deal with our daughter’s physical needs but in a more compassionate manner.  We both took Debbie to a second orthopedist.  After the doctor completed examining her, we again asked about a need for special shoes. The doctor answered, “Because she won’t be bearing weight on her feet right now, you don’t have to worry about special shoes. I think you should buy the prettiest little pair of shoes that you can find.” His compassion and concern for our pain was evident, and we left the doctor’s office encouraged.
Barb and I later discussed how both doctors had said essentially the same thing, but the critical difference was in the way it was said, and the compassion and sensitivity in it’s delivery.
The Scriptures indicate that the way we say things, as well as the content of our words can have a significant impact on others.  “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing  (Proverbs 12:18).  Our words can be pleasant and bring healing to others (Proverbs 16:24). Carefully spoken, they can be a work of beauty (Proverbs 25:11).  Not only our spoken words, but also our silence can speak much compassion, rather than a rash remark. This silence of self-control and compassion is a sign of wisdom (Proverbs 10:19).
Because our sinful nature is not inclined toward compassion and interest in others, we must rely on the Spirit of God to control our mind and tongue – if our speech is to bring healing and beauty. Untamed by the Spirit, our speech can be like a spark that starts a destructive fire, or a toxic poison that destroys a life.  Rather than spreading healing and beauty, untamed conversation can bring hurt and pain (James 3:1-10). In fact, James indicated that the control of our conversation is one outward measure of our inward spirituality (James 1:26). Paul encouraged Timothy to display his faith in this sequence:  “in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12, emphasis added).  Paul recognized that Timothy’s conversation was the first visible evidence of his inward spiritual condition.
Let us today commit our tongue and the conversation of our lives to bringing healing and beauty to others  – revealing to them the love of God expressed by our lives.  This will bring blessing to others, and it will bring joy to us!
     “A man finds joy in giving an apt reply-- and how good is a timely word!” (Proverbs 15:23).

My Take on Missions

  Hey Everyone~

This week our focus is Missions back at CBC (my church). Until my teens, I didn't quite grasp the idea of being a "missionary" in my everyday life. I'd always thought of the job being for a select few-those willing to leave everything behind and follow God's Calling for their lives. I now realize how wrong I was..

 As Christians, we tend to shift the responsibility of ministering to others; thinking that we are not qualified or capable of completing the task. But that's simply not true. While God has elected missionaries to go to foreign countries to preach the Gospel, He has given us the talents and tools necessary to reach people right where we are today. Sharing my faith through my blog is my gift- being able to show His Love and Presence in my life through my trials and tribulations of having CP. It is my hope and prayer that through each post people can not only see my heart but that it makes God even more real!

   I know you may asking, "But what if I'm not good at it?" My answer is quite simple: no one is.. That's when His Power shows its brightest as it says in 2 Corinthians 12:9, " But he said to me, ' My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." Still it's hard to rest in that fact knowing how inadequate I sometimes feel-but that's what it's funny.. Jesus does not ask us to do it alone! That's why he sent His Holy Spirit to dwell within his disciples (that includes all Christians) after His Ascension and until he comes again.

While Jesus mostly talked in parables during his time on earth, the commission in Matthew 28:19-20 is more desperate. He says to "go and make disciples of all nations"; going even farther, it says they should baptize them and teach others the ways past down to them by the Lord himself. No longer is it a request, but a command. Now that doesn't mean it should be done of obligation, God would rather it be done out of a thankful heart-grateful for the things God has done in my life and that he will continue to do.
Take that to heart as you conclude this week. Open your heart to the opportunities the next week will bring. You might be surprised!

Happy Monday!

Welcome Back Everyone~

I just happened to come across this story while flipping through my television channels today.. 21-year-old  Dee Dee Sullivan strives to live   her life to the fullest, despite having a very w rare disease called ostegensis imperfecta (a.k.a. brittle bone disease). Approximately 1 in 20,000 birth have this disease; to put this in perspective, in the US alone there are 20 to 50,000 people that suffer from this

To hear more of Dee Dee's amazing story, please go to

http: //www.jeffprobst.com/posts/episode/2866_The_Girl_With_Brittle_Bones/index.html