I pray that everything we have been through and have been told from the doctors in the last month would just be a testimony to our unbelieving friends here in China that We do serve a LIVING God and his promises always prevail. He has the final say on our health, and our future. Not ANY doctor.
For weeks we feared our child's health, and families future. Tonight I am so grateful for all that Jon and I have learned and how our hearts have changed through it all.
I am grateful for the deeper compassion I have for some of my students who have special needs. I am reminded why it is important to have community and how we need ALL need each other. I am inspired by the way God is shaping our family to love deeper and to embrace those who are not the same as everyone else for whatever reason that may be. I am motivated to see people for who they are inside--for what they have to offer rather than what they are lacking or how they are different. I am thankful for our family and friends around the world who have carried us with prayer, encouragement and LOVE.
Most of all I have learned that a relationship with Christ requires radical faith, hope and trust... I am not there yet but I have come a long way in the past 4 weeks.
Today one of my mentors/trainers named Hannah who is associated with our kindergarten emailed me this verse:
Romans 4:18-22 "Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be."
I was reminded that Abraham, WITHOUT weakening in his faith, faced the fact that his body was as good as dead- since he was about 100 years old- and that Sarah's womb was also dead. He NEVER wavered with unbelief regarding the promise from God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave GLORY to God. He fully believed that ONLY God had the power to do what he had promised. And This is why he was called RIGHTEOUS. He trusted God to do what he knew he could not do on his own, and he was set right before God. The same can be said about us when we fully trust the one who raised Jesus back to life when the conditions were HOPELESS.
It is a beautiful thing when you open up your aching heart and say, "I trust you, I believe you, I have faith that you are who you say you are..."
If you are reading this and going through a valley Know that Jesus is looking at you saying, "Let me LOVE you...let me HEAL you...allow me to CHANGE your life" ... Because at the end of the day and every moment in between the only thing we need is Jesus.
The title of this blog comes from a new song I love from Mercy Me called "The Hurt and the Healer"...
My Favorite part of this song and video below =)
It's the moment when humanity
Is overcome by majesty
When grace is ushered in for good
And all the scars are understood
When mercy takes its rightful place
And all these questions fade away
When out of weakness we must bow
And hear You say "It's over now"
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
Love whoever is around to be loved. -Kurt Vonnegut
Read this today and wanted to share!
88 ways to make a stranger smile....
(Post from http://www.marcandangel.com/2011/05/08/88-ways-to-make-a-stranger-smile/)
Let your guard down. Talk to someone you don’t know straight from your heart. Compliment them. Don’t anticipate awkwardness. Just be you in that beautiful way only you know and give them the chance to smile and connect with you.
Remember, your best friend was once a stranger too.
Smile often.
Hold a door open for someone.
Pay for the person in line behind you.
Send a hand-written thank you card to someone who assisted you with something.
Clean out all your old clothes and donate them to someone in need.
Give a compliment about a waiter, waitress, sales clerk, etc. to his or her manager.
Compliment a stranger’s appearance. Flatter them.
Leave encouraging post-it notes in a library books and other random places. (Read Operation Beautiful.)
Help an elderly person carry something.
Send flowers to someone anonymously.
Be a courteous driver. Let people merge in front of you.
Volunteer at a children’s hospital or nursing home.
Donate blood.
Buy house warming gifts for new neighbors.
Introduce yourself. Make new colleagues, classmates, etc. feel welcome.
Inspire others online. (Check out Makes Me Think.)
Send letters of appreciation to business owners/managers and other people who support you.
Treat everyone with the same level of respect you’d give to your grandfather.
Give everyone the same level of patience you’d have with your baby sister.
Appreciate people the way they are.
Share your lunch or a snack with someone who doesn’t have one.
Put some change in an expired parking meter.
Check up on someone who looks lonely.
Tell your boss, teacher or professor that he or she is doing a great job and that you appreciate what they’ve taught you.
Create places and things for others to enjoy. Like decorating your house for the holidays or creating a piece of art.
If you overhear that it’s someone’s birthday, go out of your way to wish them a happy one.
Ask someone for their opinion or advice.
Bring cookies or bagels to work for everyone.
Tip waiters and waitresses well when they deserve it.
Be a part of something you believe in. Those around you will notice your enthusiasm. (Read The Alchemist.)
Leave a thank-you note for the office janitors.
Help bag your own groceries at the checkout counter.
Offer your seat to someone when there aren’t any left.
Let someone with only a few items cut you in line at the grocery store.
Wave to a kid in the car next to you.
Spread good news.
Repeat something nice you heard about someone else.
Remember people’s names and address them accordingly.
When you make eye contact with someone, smile.
Replace what you’ve used. For example, fill up the copier or printer with paper after you’re done using it.
Share your umbrella on a rainy day.
Listen intently to people’s stories without trying to fix everything.
Dance with someone who hasn’t been asked.
Call a stranger’s attention to a beautiful sunset or full moon. (Check out What Money Cannot Buy.)
Give words of encouragement toward someone’s dream, no matter how big or small it is.
Ask someone who enjoys cooking for a recipe.
Let someone else eat the last slice of pizza or cake.
Stop and buy a drink from a kid’s lemonade stand.
Help someone get your parking space in a crowded parking lot when you’re leaving.
Ask someone you see every now and then if they’ve lost weight.
Do a little something extra to make someone else’s life easier.
Use all the manners you learned in Kindergarten.
Listen to someone’s pain and help them find a path through it.
Give without expecting to get back.
Encourage others to do one unanticipated kind or helpful act at least once a week.
Observe everyone without judging.
Say “Please” and “Thank you.”
Forgive and let go of anger. For instance, if somebody accidentally cuts you off in traffic, just let it go.
Believe in yourself with all of your heart. People will notice.
Don’t be so serious all the time. (Read The Happiness Project.)
Treat every small interaction with another person as an opportunity to make a positive impact in both your lives.
Greed, anger and ignorance. Avoid all three.
Speak the truth.
Teach others how to make a difference by setting an example.
Help others be independent.
Give people the space they need.
Lend your shoulder to cry on.
Offer encouragement after a failure.
Acknowledge people for a job well done.
Tell a good joke.
Clean up after yourself.
Excel at what you do. People appreciate professionals.
Create a care package and send it to an active duty military unit.
Redirect gifts. Instead of having people give you birthday and holiday gifts, ask them to donate gifts or money to a good cause.
Stop to help. The next time you see someone pulled over with a flat tire, or in need of assistance, stop and ask how you can help.
Put a small personal touch on everything you do. People notice and appreciate individuality.
Take the time to teach someone a skill you know.
Help someone get active. There’s a coworker or acquaintance in your life who wants to get healthy, but needs a helping hand. Offer to go walking or running together, to join a gym together.
Send a nice email to a tech support representative who has assisted you.
Donate food to a charity.
Stand up for someone. Lend your voice. Often the powerless, the homeless, the neglected in our world need someone to speak up for them.
If you see a couple taking a self-pic, offer to take the picture for them.
Help the weary shopper in front of you who needs that extra two or three cents to avoid breaking a 20-dollar bill.
Come to the rescue. If you realize someone is sick, bring them some hot tea, etc.
Stand up for your beliefs without flaunting them.
Make yourself available and approachable.
Over-deliver on all of your promises and obligations.
Be positive and focus on what’s right.
And above all, live proudly. Inspire people with who you are and how you live your life.
88 ways to make a stranger smile....
(Post from http://www.marcandangel.com/2011/05/08/88-ways-to-make-a-stranger-smile/)
Let your guard down. Talk to someone you don’t know straight from your heart. Compliment them. Don’t anticipate awkwardness. Just be you in that beautiful way only you know and give them the chance to smile and connect with you.
Remember, your best friend was once a stranger too.
Smile often.
Hold a door open for someone.
Pay for the person in line behind you.
Send a hand-written thank you card to someone who assisted you with something.
Clean out all your old clothes and donate them to someone in need.
Give a compliment about a waiter, waitress, sales clerk, etc. to his or her manager.
Compliment a stranger’s appearance. Flatter them.
Leave encouraging post-it notes in a library books and other random places. (Read Operation Beautiful.)
Help an elderly person carry something.
Send flowers to someone anonymously.
Be a courteous driver. Let people merge in front of you.
Volunteer at a children’s hospital or nursing home.
Donate blood.
Buy house warming gifts for new neighbors.
Introduce yourself. Make new colleagues, classmates, etc. feel welcome.
Inspire others online. (Check out Makes Me Think.)
Send letters of appreciation to business owners/managers and other people who support you.
Treat everyone with the same level of respect you’d give to your grandfather.
Give everyone the same level of patience you’d have with your baby sister.
Appreciate people the way they are.
Share your lunch or a snack with someone who doesn’t have one.
Put some change in an expired parking meter.
Check up on someone who looks lonely.
Tell your boss, teacher or professor that he or she is doing a great job and that you appreciate what they’ve taught you.
Create places and things for others to enjoy. Like decorating your house for the holidays or creating a piece of art.
If you overhear that it’s someone’s birthday, go out of your way to wish them a happy one.
Ask someone for their opinion or advice.
Bring cookies or bagels to work for everyone.
Tip waiters and waitresses well when they deserve it.
Be a part of something you believe in. Those around you will notice your enthusiasm. (Read The Alchemist.)
Leave a thank-you note for the office janitors.
Help bag your own groceries at the checkout counter.
Offer your seat to someone when there aren’t any left.
Let someone with only a few items cut you in line at the grocery store.
Wave to a kid in the car next to you.
Spread good news.
Repeat something nice you heard about someone else.
Remember people’s names and address them accordingly.
When you make eye contact with someone, smile.
Replace what you’ve used. For example, fill up the copier or printer with paper after you’re done using it.
Share your umbrella on a rainy day.
Listen intently to people’s stories without trying to fix everything.
Dance with someone who hasn’t been asked.
Call a stranger’s attention to a beautiful sunset or full moon. (Check out What Money Cannot Buy.)
Give words of encouragement toward someone’s dream, no matter how big or small it is.
Ask someone who enjoys cooking for a recipe.
Let someone else eat the last slice of pizza or cake.
Stop and buy a drink from a kid’s lemonade stand.
Help someone get your parking space in a crowded parking lot when you’re leaving.
Ask someone you see every now and then if they’ve lost weight.
Do a little something extra to make someone else’s life easier.
Use all the manners you learned in Kindergarten.
Listen to someone’s pain and help them find a path through it.
Give without expecting to get back.
Encourage others to do one unanticipated kind or helpful act at least once a week.
Observe everyone without judging.
Say “Please” and “Thank you.”
Forgive and let go of anger. For instance, if somebody accidentally cuts you off in traffic, just let it go.
Believe in yourself with all of your heart. People will notice.
Don’t be so serious all the time. (Read The Happiness Project.)
Treat every small interaction with another person as an opportunity to make a positive impact in both your lives.
Greed, anger and ignorance. Avoid all three.
Speak the truth.
Teach others how to make a difference by setting an example.
Help others be independent.
Give people the space they need.
Lend your shoulder to cry on.
Offer encouragement after a failure.
Acknowledge people for a job well done.
Tell a good joke.
Clean up after yourself.
Excel at what you do. People appreciate professionals.
Create a care package and send it to an active duty military unit.
Redirect gifts. Instead of having people give you birthday and holiday gifts, ask them to donate gifts or money to a good cause.
Stop to help. The next time you see someone pulled over with a flat tire, or in need of assistance, stop and ask how you can help.
Put a small personal touch on everything you do. People notice and appreciate individuality.
Take the time to teach someone a skill you know.
Help someone get active. There’s a coworker or acquaintance in your life who wants to get healthy, but needs a helping hand. Offer to go walking or running together, to join a gym together.
Send a nice email to a tech support representative who has assisted you.
Donate food to a charity.
Stand up for someone. Lend your voice. Often the powerless, the homeless, the neglected in our world need someone to speak up for them.
If you see a couple taking a self-pic, offer to take the picture for them.
Help the weary shopper in front of you who needs that extra two or three cents to avoid breaking a 20-dollar bill.
Come to the rescue. If you realize someone is sick, bring them some hot tea, etc.
Stand up for your beliefs without flaunting them.
Make yourself available and approachable.
Over-deliver on all of your promises and obligations.
Be positive and focus on what’s right.
And above all, live proudly. Inspire people with who you are and how you live your life.
Friday, April 20, 2012
God is Able...
Woke up this morning ready to receive and embrace whatever the next GIFT God had in store for our family... Praising God tonight for his peace and provision over our family...and for a great report from the Dr!! -- "Greater than all we seek, Greater than all we ask, He has done great things"
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Dinner and Fellowship - Wednesday nights at our apartment
Love these girls.. Emily, Joyce (one of Grace's teachers) and Chelsea. They LOVED our Jambalaya and corn bread this past week! Love having them in our home. Joyce and Chelsea are both Christians. They all three work at our school. Next week is spaghetti night! Their choice :) 
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Our Easter Service
We had the most wonderful Easter service celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus with hundreds of other believers, representing over 20 different nations. Our church is so unique in the fact that there are SO many different cultures coming together, all to serve the same ONE and ONLY LIVING GOD. After the service many of the leaders and families came together to lay hands on our family, claiming healing for this precious baby, and peace for our family no matter the outcome. God is good, and we are So blessed to have a support system like this here in China. Here a few pictures from our Easter Service and from our service a few weeks ago.
Video Below is the Children singing He Is Alive on Easter Sunday... (sorry not a very clear video)
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Saturday, April 7, 2012
The message is good.... Incredibly good
This weekend is Easter and it couldn't be better timing for us. As I read through the story of the crucifixion and the resurrection in Matthew 26-28 I am reminded of something that gives me complete and total peace... The message of Easter is good; INCREDIBLY good... God is here and he is on our side.
As we wait for these next two weeks to pass we are excited yet peaceful. God has a way of softening our hearts to things we never thought would happen to "us".. or to things we thought we would never do or have to deal with. I am learning that there will always be nights of sorrow, but when we call out to Jesus and cling to his word there will always be JOY in the morning... That is an amazing feeling. He is a God who makes NO MISTAKES and Knowing that sets me free.
Today I am thankful for a God who is passionate to save us from ourselves...
Psalm 139: 13-18
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. My frame was not hidden from you…Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
As we wait for these next two weeks to pass we are excited yet peaceful. God has a way of softening our hearts to things we never thought would happen to "us".. or to things we thought we would never do or have to deal with. I am learning that there will always be nights of sorrow, but when we call out to Jesus and cling to his word there will always be JOY in the morning... That is an amazing feeling. He is a God who makes NO MISTAKES and Knowing that sets me free.
Today I am thankful for a God who is passionate to save us from ourselves...
Psalm 139: 13-18
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. My frame was not hidden from you…Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
How quickly I forget I am yours.....
Love the healing that comes from this song by Addison Road...
If everything comes down to love
Then just what am I afraid of
When I call out Your name
Something inside awakes in my soul
How quickly I forget I'm Yours
I'm not my own
I've been carried by You
All my life
(CHORUS)
Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
Your love sets me free
When my life is like a storm
Rising waters all I want is the shore
You say I'll be ok and
Make it through the rain
You are my shelter from the storm
(CHORUS)
Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
Your love sets me free
I am not my own
I've been carried by you my whole life
(CHORUS)
Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
Your love sets me free
You've become my hearts desire
I will sing Your praises higher
Cause Your love sets me free
Your love sets me free
If everything comes down to love
Then just what am I afraid of
When I call out Your name
Something inside awakes in my soul
How quickly I forget I'm Yours
I'm not my own
I've been carried by You
All my life
(CHORUS)
Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
Your love sets me free
When my life is like a storm
Rising waters all I want is the shore
You say I'll be ok and
Make it through the rain
You are my shelter from the storm
(CHORUS)
Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
Your love sets me free
I am not my own
I've been carried by you my whole life
(CHORUS)
Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
Your love sets me free
You've become my hearts desire
I will sing Your praises higher
Cause Your love sets me free
Your love sets me free
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Jon saw Grace setting up what looked like a picnic in our living room... He asked her "are you having a picnic? She said "nope it's a prayer picnic"... So he said awe that's cool you want some of your friends to come? She replied, nope we just need Jesus... Wow. If that doesn't melt your heart I don't know what will!
and yes she is praying in her underwear! Come as you are right?
and yes she is praying in her underwear! Come as you are right?
Friday, March 30, 2012
And even when his face is hard to see, I'll choose to believe
It's easy to believe when everything goes our way isn't?
Depending on the hour right now I am mess of many emotions... I am sad, broken, hopeful, Peaceful, drained...
But my feelings don't really matter at this point.
The promises of God do.
The truth is, I serve a God who remains the same even when the storms are raging. I feel like he has let this storm rage for the last six months in his attempt to draw me closer to him.
Today I received an encouraging message from a friend that I wanted to share and also got me thinking.....
One of my favorite things she said to me was this... "I have finally come to understand that the secret is Christ in me... Not me in a new set of circumstances....."
The last thing she said was .. Jessica, Remember to be still and know HE is God. Sometimes he calms the raging storm... But sometimes he lets the storm rage and he calms the child.
Beautiful.....
As i write this I write this I am reminded of when Jesus was walking toward Jericho, He passed a blind man who was begging at the side of the road. The man was persistent and kept calling out to Jesus, even after many told him to be quiet. But Jesus stopped and asked the man “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man replied “I want to see!”
I want to see Him more visibly, to hear Him more clearly, and to know Him more deeply....
But to be able to do that we need to be still.
The bible says we have been chosen to KNOW God.
Even though my heart is broken I am trying to find time in my day to be still so I can know him better....
What do you hear when you read the words be still and know that I am god??
I hear this... Don't worry my child... I am here with you and I will see you through.. Stop trying to take matters into your own hands.. Trust in my love for you and that I am able to do more than you could ever imagine... But first you need to be still and know that. That is what I am hearing tonight loud and clear.
I believe there will come a day when this past six months of "storms" will be just a memory and a remembrance of how God was faithful to bring us through it. Somedays this is harder to stand on than other days, but I will continue to believe this and remember it when I am in my darkest hour.
After all he is the author and the finisher of life.... There is absolutely nothing out of his control.
Psalm 107:28-30
"Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven." - Psalm 107:28-30
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. – Romans 8:18
God Bless
Jessica
Depending on the hour right now I am mess of many emotions... I am sad, broken, hopeful, Peaceful, drained...
But my feelings don't really matter at this point.
The promises of God do.
The truth is, I serve a God who remains the same even when the storms are raging. I feel like he has let this storm rage for the last six months in his attempt to draw me closer to him.
Today I received an encouraging message from a friend that I wanted to share and also got me thinking.....
One of my favorite things she said to me was this... "I have finally come to understand that the secret is Christ in me... Not me in a new set of circumstances....."
The last thing she said was .. Jessica, Remember to be still and know HE is God. Sometimes he calms the raging storm... But sometimes he lets the storm rage and he calms the child.
Beautiful.....
As i write this I write this I am reminded of when Jesus was walking toward Jericho, He passed a blind man who was begging at the side of the road. The man was persistent and kept calling out to Jesus, even after many told him to be quiet. But Jesus stopped and asked the man “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man replied “I want to see!”
I want to see Him more visibly, to hear Him more clearly, and to know Him more deeply....
But to be able to do that we need to be still.
The bible says we have been chosen to KNOW God.
Even though my heart is broken I am trying to find time in my day to be still so I can know him better....
What do you hear when you read the words be still and know that I am god??
I hear this... Don't worry my child... I am here with you and I will see you through.. Stop trying to take matters into your own hands.. Trust in my love for you and that I am able to do more than you could ever imagine... But first you need to be still and know that. That is what I am hearing tonight loud and clear.
I believe there will come a day when this past six months of "storms" will be just a memory and a remembrance of how God was faithful to bring us through it. Somedays this is harder to stand on than other days, but I will continue to believe this and remember it when I am in my darkest hour.
After all he is the author and the finisher of life.... There is absolutely nothing out of his control.
Psalm 107:28-30
"Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven." - Psalm 107:28-30
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. – Romans 8:18
God Bless
Jessica
Friday, March 9, 2012
Time to get back in Touch!
Wow, it's been quite a while since we have posted. Lots of exciting things are going on in our world since our trip from the U.S. and we are excited about this next year in China. As most of you already know we are expecting our second child in August of 2012 and we are all three thrilled. God has been so faithful and always seems to give us more than we ask for. We also just moved into a much bigger and nicer apartment. Our school provided us with a new three bedroom 2 bathroom on the 17th floor. We absolutely love it. I will post pictures soon of our new home. It is so convenient to our classrooms and is such a safe and peaceful place to live. It is still inside the same community we were living in, but we are in a newer building and moved much closer to our school. Grace LOVES the fact that most of her classmates live either in our building or in a building next to us. Speaking of our sweet Grace.. She just turned 4 and is blowing our minds each day with the amazing things she learns at school (both in english and chinese) and LOVES to talk about Jesus. When our friends come over she is so proud to show them the cross on our wall and tell them what it is all about. There is nothing more precious than that.
This semester we will be busy with teaching, tutoring and volunteering with the Baoan Orphanage. We are beyond grateful for our new home which allows us a more comfortable place to have friends old and new over for fellowship.
Thank you for all your prayers this past year!
God Bless,
Jessica, Jon and Grace
This semester we will be busy with teaching, tutoring and volunteering with the Baoan Orphanage. We are beyond grateful for our new home which allows us a more comfortable place to have friends old and new over for fellowship.
Thank you for all your prayers this past year!
God Bless,
Jessica, Jon and Grace
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