HEALING IN THE NIGHT

HEALING IN THE NIGHT

Joben and I had watched the healing conference at Bethel right before we went to bed.  Actually Joben had been attending it during the day as part of his schooling for BSSM, and we were watching the evening sessions together via ibethel tv.  We are continually filled with faith from the action we see the Lord doing in so many people’s lives.  In the middle of the night, Hudson comes to us with pain in his stomach.  He crawls in bed and continually asks us to pray for him because the pain is intense.   It is a sharp pain in his lower abdomen and it is not going away.  He cannot straighten out his legs, but is all curled up, moaning.  We pray and speak peace through Christ over his body.   An hour or so passes and we are in and out of sleep and prayer cycles.  Our level of concern is rising as this intense pain still remains. 

 Hudson and I go to his bed upon his request and Joben starts texting his sister, Karissa, whom is a nurse to get advice.  We settle in his bed and he is telling me to pray again because it still hurts.  The thought process of “Plan B” comes into my mind if Hudson doesn’t start getting better.  “Is this appendicitis?  Is something really, seriously wrong here?  Do we need to plan to go to the hospital.  Which parent would go and which would stay with the other sleeping children?  How about urgent care.  Where is that… we are new to the area. Our health insurance just dropped since we resigned from our position in Young Life last week.  Of course, now.  How much will this cost… and I would rather be sleeping!”  I say a conscience: “No!” to all of that thinking.  I tell myself that Jesus is the great physician.  He can handle this.  So we start praising the Lord.  Thanking him for what we know is good.  Thanking him that he can whip this and will.  We sang to the Lord for a while and Hudson drifted off to sleep.   When he awoke this time the pain was bad.  I didn’t know what else to do, so I said, Hudson, cry out to God.  Tell him what you need from your own heart.  He did.  He simply said,” Jesus, it hurts.  Please take it away.”  He drifted off to sleep and later I found out that he went into this memorable dream sequence.  When he awoke just a short moment later, he said it was all gone.  He was fine. 

 After thanking the Lord together, of course, I tucked him in and he was already peacefully sleeping.  I came back in to Joben awake and communicating with his sister.  I said, “it is all done.  He is fine now.”  We rejoiced and eagerly went back to bed.  We all had a good rest and I decided we could have a late start for school that day.  All of us enjoyed a couple hours extra that day.  We joyfully reported to the school secretaries and to both Josiah and Hudson’s teacher the reason for the tardiness.    They too were very glad.  Jesus had averted a disaster.  We were spared and felt the Lord’s love greatly.  Hudson seems even more mature as he recounts the story.  The Lord builds character in his beloved children.  Each step of the way is coated in his amazing love.  I thank Jesus for personally revealing himself to my children that they are able to build their own collection of stories to stand on in faith.

Remember This Jingle?

Burney Falls

Beautiful "Burney Falls" is East of Redding by an hour.  We made the journey last weekend on a cold, clear Saturday.  We went with two other families and did the whole pick-nic lunch and day hike package.  The "hike" is a one loop down and around the falls, crossing two foot bridges.  It was a great family outing and I give the "Five Star Rating" for must see destinations in Northern Califronia.

Do It Again!

Both Hudson and Josiah are attending an amazing, private, Christian school where each week they have a chapel service.  If you are want to worship with spiritual giants show up at 10:25am on Tuesday morning and get rocked by these amazing kids!  Every week students from each class get up and share testimonies about what the Lord is doing in their lives.  After each kid shares a testimony all the kids shout “do it again God, do it again!”  I’ve recently learned that the Hebrew word for “Testimony” literally means “do again!

This week a second grade boy got up front to share his testimony.  “Next month, I get to get a new dad!  I haven’t had a dad in a long time and I’m so happy.” 

We live in a fatherless generation and there are so, so many young men without a father.  So Lord, we just declare the testimony of this boy for those without fathers.  We also pray that the fatherless would enter into relationship with their true Father by the work of Jesus Christ on the cross and the power of His resurrection. 

Do it again God, do it again!

This is what's it's like for me sometimes going into class... little kiddos lined up blessing us and praying for us as we enter!  Is that awesome or what?!

Amazing Gift Givers

Do you know who is absolutely amazing at giving? We have a large and growing list of the Lord's amazing provision that he has given to us through all of you. Gearing up for the Thanksgiving holiday, I turn my heart to express the gratitude that has been welling up in me for quite some time.
We have been here in Cali for three months now and it has been such a blessing to hear from so many of you on a regular basis. Some of you have sent a timely text or card saying that you are praying for us or just thinking of us. Many have encouraged us in support of this adventure the Lord given. Some days trusting him feels like slipping on ice. Other days I am soaring on his unbelievable tangible presence.

A big part of living as the body of Christ is really a dance of tying hearts, a unity, a togetherness that I guess leaving has made me feel even more aware of. So thank you to so many that have made it possible for us to make the transition. For Joben to be even more equipped in the calling God has placed on his life.  For Hudson and Josiah to go to an amazing school that teaches them to dream with God, thank Jesus daily and to recognize what the Holy Spirit is up to.  We have all benefitted from this time devoted to knowing our Lord in a deeper way.
Thanks to our parents: Mike & Susan and Jack & Desie for your amazing support of us practically, financially, and with your love and prayers daily.

Thanks to the following for your support.  Your reward is eternal as you sow into the Kingdom of Heaven.  Your support has been made all the difference to us!

Changing Seasons

The temperature here finally dropped enough to feel like the season has changed. It's been mid-seventies up til a few days ago. Until today the California fall feels more like and Oregon summer. We woke up to an overcast sky, very strange not to see the sun filtering through the trees on the horizon. I worked outside trimming some trees and stringing up a rope swing until lunch time when we took the kids to the $1.50 movies.  When we emerge from the theater the rains had come and fall was here. 


The cool temperature, the moisture in the air and the fragrance of the neighbor chimneys made us all miss home today.  I’ve never been away from Oregon, or Springfield for that matter, for this long ever. 


Everyone has their favorite season, but for me I truly love the changing of the seasons.  Each new transition holds anticipation for the coming holidays, hunting trips, camping trips, yard projects, bundled next to the fire with your favorite hot drink... you get the idea.  The changes are marked with the signposts of budded sticks, bright-green leaves, vibrant color displays and piles of debris piled into to compost for the season ahead. 

 Life, growth and death come naturally and sometimes expectedly amidst these changing seasons.  The perpetual summer weather up to November would spoil any Oregonian as it has us.  Our family has experienced so much life and growth in our short season here, but the familiar feel of the cold, wet weather makes us miss home in a way we haven’t experienced until now.

Helmet Cam Zipline

Nothing's ever boring in our backyard.