LOVE So AMAZING... A Christmas Message

I am a “word” person.

·        Don’t give me numbers…you will lose me quickly

·        I thank Mrs. Wheeler my fifth grade math teacher for that flaw

On the other hand,

·        I can spell Albuquerque backwards!

And I make lists…

·        lists of words that, when spoken, hurt my ears

·        lists of words I love…with Jesus being at the top followed closely by “cherish”

The Words of Christmas

In the back of my Bible I have a small list of words we only hear at Christmas time like…

·        “Noel” (French word for “Christmas”)

·        "Gloria in excelsis Deo" (Latin for "Glory to God in the highest")

·        Baruch ha ba b’shem (Blessed is He who comes!)
Advent (the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event)

·        Immanuel (God with Us)

“Behold”

One of my favorite “Christmas words” is…Behold

·        The original Greek word “ idou” would be used in the context of …

    Shock, amazement, wonder

·        Kind of like “Can you believe I just said I Do?”

In English the word only means:

·        to hold in view

·        look at or to see

·        to regard

Kind of like: “Well, now, would ya look at that?”

Interestingly, the word BEHOLD is used only 6 times in the NIV

·        Once in Numbers

·        Once in Isaiah

·        and 4 times in Revelation.

In the NIV it’s not even used in the story of Christ’s birth.

However in the Kings James it is used 1,326 times.

In the King James Version to say “Behold!” is like saying, 

·         “Oh my goodness! Did you see that?”

·        “WOW, would you look at that!”

WOW Moments

Do you know what a “WOW” moment is in Biblical terms?                            

A WOW moment might be or should be anything that merits....

·        our undivided attention

·        The miraculous and amazing

·        Anything that should not be missed

·        The incredible

·        The divine

·        The God things!

·        Moments that should take our breath away!

Anything that is…

·        Worthy of Worship.                           

·        Worthy of Watching                            

·        Worthy of Wonder or…

·        Wonderful Words of Wisdom

·        Words of Warning

“Behold” is a word that should get your attention like in…

·        “BEHOLD, isn’t this amazing!”

·        “BEHOLD, this is the most exciting thing we’ll ever witness.”

·        “BEHOLD, this is incredibly awesome!”

The word was used in Matthew 27 and 28^th at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion.

Matthew 27:50-52

·        And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;”

Matthew 28:1-5

And, behold, there was a great earthquake…

Please read the Christmas story from Luke 2, with ears that can hear and hearts that are prepared to receive and embrace the wonder of Jesus’ birth.

This is the story of God’s Amazing love that came down.

The greatest gift of all…

Amazing Love how can it be that God would love a sinner such as me…

·        Enough to send Jesus… Immanuel God with Us

And, of course, we are reading from the King James Version!

So, BEHOLD, Wonderful Words of Great Joy and Good News….

Inviting you to hear it afresh this morning…
Luke 2:1-20                                                                               

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.                                                             
2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)                                                                      

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.   

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee,

·        out of the city of Nazareth,

·        into Judaea,

·        unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem;

(because he was of the house and lineage of David:)                                                                          

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.                            

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes,

and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.                            

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.                  

9 And, lo,

·        the angel of the Lord came upon them,

·        and the glory of the Lord shone round about them:

·        and they were sore afraid.                                                                        

10 And the angel said unto them,

Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.                                                                                              

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.                                                        

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.          

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,                        

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.                                                                        

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven,

the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.                                 

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.          

18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.                                               

19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.                            
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

LOVE SO AMAZING, SO DIVINE!

If we’re not careful the Christmas story can become…

·        old

·        lifeless

·        ineffective

·        It can get lost in all of the hoopla of the season

If we fail to see...

·        the absolute splendor

·        and unbelievable grandeur

…of a God who would put on the skin of a baby boy and choose to come among us…because of  LOVE SO AMAZING, So Divine!

What are the WOW moments Worthy of Wonder in the story of Jesus birth?

First of all, we need to remember that it happened just like it had been foretold by the Prophets in the Old Testament.

Although everyone seemed to be surprised by something…there really were no surprises.

Remember the Word Amos spoke in chapter 3:7

“Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan

to his servants the prophets.”

The Prophets told us…

Born in Bethlehem

·        Micah 5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from ancient times...

     To be born of a Virgin

·        Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel

     Time of His birth

·        Daniel 9:25 Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven "sevens" and sixty two "sevens." It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble.

     Slaughter of the Innocent children that took place because of Herod’s fear.

·    Jeremiah 31:15 This is what the Lord says: "A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because her children are no more."  

The Prophets gave further evidence in…

Flight to Egypt

·        Hosea 11:1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son

He shall be called a Nazarene

·        Judges13:5 “…for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God…”

The Second WOW Moment…

·        Immanuel: God becoming flesh to dwell among us.

I don’t ever want to cease to be amazed and filled with wonder and awe to imagine God as a helpless infant…                                                            

·        But we can’t afford to forget that the baby grew up to fulfill God’s plan for us!

I had an incredible WOW moment when I realized something that I found to be truly amazing… 

I believe that ALL of Creation was represented in the Christmas Story!

First we have God Himself wrapped up in a helpless little baby

Then there was the human family

• Jesus was born into a family.
• He had a mom and a dad, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and brothers and sisters.
•  He did not come into an institution or an organization
• He was not born into a club of some kind
• He was born to Mary and Joseph who represent the human family

Then there were the Shepherds

·        They represent many of the people in the world

•  The “less-thans”
• The “have-nots”
• The lowly, poor, uneducated
•  Outcasts, unnoticed, uncared for, neglected

Author Randy Alcorn gives an in depth look at how the status of shepherds change from the time of Genesis through 400 years of slavery in Egypt.

• They were no longer wealthy and highly thought of or regarded
• They were reduced to the “lowest on the totem pole” status
• They were often considered thieve

In Jerusalem in the time of Jesus, Jeremias noted: “The rabbis ask with amazement how, in view of the despicable nature of shepherds, one can explain why God was called ‘my shepherd’ in Psalm 23.”

He continued, “To buy wool, milk or a kid from a shepherd was forbidden on the assumption that it would be stolen property.”

And yet the Shepherds …

·        Were greeted by the angels

·        They were the first to hear the news

·        They had the honor of being the first to visit the baby Jesus

·        They were given the enviable task of sharing the Good News of Jesus’ birth!

That’s the AMAZING LOVE God showed to the lowly Shepherds!

I want to mention as well that, in some ways, the shepherds represent the range of emotions that we humans can experience!

Remember how, in the fields at night, they must have been almost scared to death!

·    They experienced what it means to be “sore afraid!” (I think that means they were so fearful that it hurt!)

They must have also known…

• ·        Wonder
• ·        Joy
• ·        Excitement
• ·        Worship
• ·        Simple shepherds transformed into worshippers!

A wide range of emotions would have been expressed on their faces and in their hearts that night. 
And I hope that they also felt the love of God as He so honored them.

Matthew tells us more of the story in chapter 2

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

² Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

³ When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

⁴ And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

⁵ And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

⁶ And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

⁷ Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

⁸ And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

⁹ When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

¹¹ And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

The Wise Men

They on the other-hand, unlike the shepherds, probably represent…

• ·        The elite and the wealthy
•          The educated
•          The upper class
•          The highly respected

World leaders…

• · Kings and princes and governors and presidents.

But I think they also represent the Gentiles…those not of Jewish birth

• Aliens
• Foreigners

They remind me, that even from the beginning, Jesus would be…

• For all times
•  For all peoples

AMAZING LOVE…

•  For Families
• For Shepherds
• For the wise and even the foolish

I love the slogan… “Wise men still seek Him!”

Then God, within the realm of His Devine love, invited the Angels to take part in the Christmas story…

·        The angels, of course, represent the heavenly beings

·        The heavenly beings created by God to serve Him and us

How could He leave them out of the story of Jesus’ birth?

·        An angel appears to Zacharias

·        The Angel Gabriel given the privilege of telling Mary that she would be the Mother of the Messiah

·        The angel assures Joseph of the truth of Mary’s conception

·        The angel of the LORD shows up in the fields at night to share the news with the shepherds and he brings a host of angelic friends with him!

·        Then later the angel of the LORD will warn Joseph in a dream of the plot to kill Jesus!

Angels! They’re everywhere in the Christmas story

·        Sometimes God’s love has wings!

And we can’t forget the Animals

·        Representing the Animal Kingdom, of course!

We don’t know how many or what kind, but I don’t think anyone doubts that animals witnessed the birth of the Christ child.

·        God included animals in the story of Creation

·        God provided for the animals in Noah’s day

·        Then He gave them a place in the story of Christ’s birth

So the children sing…

"I," said the donkey, shaggy and brown,
"I carried His mother up hill and down;
I carried her safely to Bethlehem town."

"I," said the donkey, shaggy and brown.

"I," said the cow all white and red
"I gave Him my manger for His bed;
I gave him my hay to pillow his head."

"I," said the cow all white and red.

"I," said the sheep with curly horn,
"I gave Him my wool for His blanket warm;
He wore my coat on Christmas morn."

"I," said the sheep with curly horn.

"I," said the dove from the rafters high,
"I cooed Him to sleep so He would not cry;
We cooed him to sleep, my mate and I."
"I," said the dove from the rafters high.

The Star

·        The Star represented the heavens and the earth

·        The Star was the GPS of biblical times

·        It lit the sky

·        It showed the way

In the story of Christ’s birth, I believe Herod represents the Kingdom of Darkness

·        hell bent on destroying the Messiah                   

Paul in Ephesians 6 calls the kingdom of darkness: “The rulers, the authorities, the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

·     Herod was simply, yet profoundly a tool in the hand of satan...

• An instrument of unrighteousness

But, doesn’t it also stand to reason that Herod also represents…

• Those who just don’t get it?
• Those who have been blinded by the enemy and cannot see, hear or understand the Good News of Jesus Christ….
• The anti-Christs” of past, present and future.
• Those who refuse to believe and to be saved.
• Herod represents those who are destined for destruction.

And yet we cannot forget Peter’s admonition… (2 Peter 3:9)

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Then there were the gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh

Although they were gifts given to the child Jesus I think, in a lot of ways, is it possible that the gifts represent the things of this world.

So we need to remember this…

    The things of this world only have true meaning and eternal value when they are presented to 
the KING of kings!

Gold, frankincense and myrrh

Remind us that…

• All good gifts come from the Father
• All gifts are His to give and to take away
•  It all belongs to Him, we are just His stewards
• Use what you have for Jesus!

It wasn’t until yesterday, as I talked to a friend who uses essential oils, that I really began to take a closer look at these gifts and there may be far more significance than I have yet to ponder.

They must represent the things of the earth….

Gold

• A precious metal dug from the depths of the earth itself
•  A gift worthy of a King

Frankincense and Myrrh

·        Both tree sap or gum resin extracted from trees found in Africa and parts of the Middle East

Frankincense

• With healing properties
• A sweet aroma

Frankincense reminds me of Jesus Himself…our healer!

Myrrh

• An anointing oil used to prepare a body for burial
• And much more!
• I believe these three gifts call for a deeper study for another time!

Last, but certainly not least, let’s consider Simeon and Anna and Zacharias and Elizabeth

·        I think these four godly and righteous individuals represent believers

• They represent the faithful

The Remnant who always remain

Faithfully waiting…

• For redemption from the LORD
• For His promises to be fulfilled
• For eternal life

They remind us…

·        That all things are possible with God!

That regardless of our age…

•  God still has plans for us
•  He still uses His faithful children to accomplish His purposes
•  He will never leave us nor forsake us

So, for me, they represent the older generation of every generation.

·        All four of them would have been considered “old” by our standards and yet they were used mightily of God…for His purposes.

·        They were faithful and willing to be of service to God, regardless of their age.

All of Creation was represented in the Christmas Story!

What are the WOW moments to you?

Questions I’m asking today….

• When did you last BEHOLD the Son of God with awe and amazement?
• When were you last consumed with Holy Reverence?
• When did you last experience an excitement that you could not contain about something wondrous?
• When was the last time you were rocked to the core of your being by the magnificence of the Creator?

May the LORD graciously restore your sense of wonder and awe and you contemplate His Amazing and Devine love.

Behold Him in whom we live and breathe and have our being!

LITTLE GIRL INTERRUPTED By Lolly Bentch Myers

LITTLE GIRL INTERRUPTED

Someday I’ll be done asking how this happened. Someday I’ll be done asking, “why Anna?”. Someday I’ll finally warm up to the idea that bad things happen to good people. Not today though. Today I’m just pissed off. I’m pissed off that there is absolutely no explanation as to why my daughter’s left temporal lobe has atrophied... why does she have cavernomas in her brain? why is she autistic? I just want to know why my perfectly perfect little girl forgot everything she knew as a toddler.

Anna was the funniest little girl i’d ever met. i know everyone thinks their kid is the funniest kid they’ve ever met but I’m telling you, this kid was a comic genius. She was really bright. One day she brought me a photo album and said, “Hey mom, I got a face book”. So sweet, so imaginative, so ridiculously cute I could have just watched her all day. But then on the day of her second birthday, something took that delightful little girl away from me. In exchange, I got an angry, sad little 2 year old. Still cute, but damn miserable.

Even more devastating than the fact that her emotions were completely out of control, was the fact that she couldn’t remember some of her favorite songs. She no longer seemed to be comfortable with family members. It was sort of like she didn’t know them anymore. She stopped counting. She stopped saying her abc’s. She forgot who she was. She was interrupted.

In place of her usual hobbies, she became obsessed with puzzles. She was suddenly fiercely independent and would spend hours assembling the pieces, taking them apart, and reassembling. She would insist on only wearing pajamas with buttons. She would throw a massive temper tantrum if she got so much as a drop of water on her clothing. As if the tantrum weren’t irritating enough, she’d then strip naked and insist on different clothes. She no longer went to sleep at night. She’d stay up until 3 or 4 crying, screaming really. Some nights the only thing that would calm her was to give her a comb and lie down with her so she could run it through my hair over, and over, and over.

Somewhere after that, I began to notice strange “muscle spasms”. At least that’s what I thought they were. When I’d mention them to doctors and family members, no one seemed terribly concerned. She was diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified. along with pdd-nos, she was also diagnosed with anxiety disorder. Anna didn’t really talk much anymore so it wasn’t until She began being vocal again that I noticed these spasms were interfering with her thought process. something more was going on. She’d come into the room where I was and say, “Mommy, I need you to...” (head goes down, arms go up, a small stumble backwards, head back up, arms go down, a smile in my direction). Then she’d walk away. I’d say, “need me to what, anna? Anna, what do you need?” nothing. She didn’t remember. She was interrupted.

I still didn’t realize she was having seizures. i thought when someone had a seizure, they would drop to the floor and convulse violently for a few minutes. when her psychiatrist caught one of these episodes out of the corner of his eye, he knew immediately what was happening. He set up an appointment for her at Hershey medical center. we were there the next day. she had an mri and eeg which showed atrophy, cavernomas, and seizures with a slow spike wave between.

Since then, Anna has had more eeg’s, more mri’s, 2nd opinions, 3rd opinions, 4th opinions. She’s been on 6 anticonvulsants, 2 extreme epilepsy diets, and several other prescription drugs that are intended to lessen her anxiety and help her fall asleep. Since stopping the Ketogenic diet 4 months ago, she has gained 9lb’s. if you don’t know what 9 lb’s looks like on a 5 year old, imagine a very small person with breasts and cellulite who wears size 8 pants that have to be rolled at the bottom to make them about 10 inches shorter. This is what happens when you put small people on metabolism-altering diets. I suppose i wouldn’t be so irritated about the effects of this had the diet helped even a little. but hey, these are the treatments that we have to pick from in pennsylvania. Tough break, Anna. you were born in the wrong state.

Or maybe, just maybe, she was born in just the right place. And god allowed her to become sick knowing that i’m a strong enough woman to fight this good fight. just strong enough to continuously be told not to bother trying, but to continue to try anyway. hmmm... maybe that’s the answer to all my “why’s”. maybe it’s time to take the anger i feel about all the unanswered questions, and redirect it to the unsympathetic people who are denying my little girl the cannabis medicine she needs to continue in life without being interrupted.

Please Try on These Shoes...Our Families' Shoes

How Would You Feel?

For me, it all started in July of 2011 following a family vacation to the beach. On our return home my daughter Lolly told me that she was going to begin having my not quite 4 year-old granddaughter Anna tested for Autism.

My first reaction was shock and disbelief. After all, this child was beautiful, charming, funny and adorable-strange as the day is long, but amazing none-the-less. It did start to make a little more sense once I climbed out of my "grandma box." (After all, how many 18 month old children methodically peel wall paper for hours at a time, but she soothed herself with the most delightful little songs as she worked!  We jokingly referred to her obsession as "Anna's day job.")

PDDNOS (Pervasive Development Disorder Not Otherwise Specified) was the first clinical diagnosis...that put her somewhere on the mystical "Autism Spectrum." But, the testing hadn't been going on long before other symptoms, far more disturbing symptoms, began to rear their ugly heads! Soon after her first diagnosis, her "tics" (odd little movements) were actually witnessed by a neurologist who assured us that the tics were, in fact, seizures (So we added Epilepsy to the growing list of diagnoses). 

After a MRI and EEG we were informed that Anna's left temporal lobe was atrophied or not fully developed (I'm still not quite sure which neurologist’s opinion is correct!) As you can imagine every diagnosis got a little more frightening. Then the words "mild mental retardation" stunned this grandma.

But we are a family with a strong faith and we are determined to trust the LORD.

Over the next several months Anna was seen at three hospitals (Johns Hopkins, Hershey Medical Center and Pittsburgh Children's Hospital). She has had different diagnosis and opinions from three neurologists and she has been subjected to at least 10 different medications with a wide range of ominous side effects. At one point, when I was in tears and barely holding it together, I told  Lolly, "Please don't tell me any more side effects.”

Anna has also suffered through two diet regimes; Modified Adkins and the Ketogenic diet, both aimed at stopping her seizures. With MA she was allowed no more than 10 grams of carbohydrates a day and KD was very high fat with even less carbs.  I don't know how Lolly and Anna got through that one, but I will never forget the day we cheated and gave her 4 strawberries and a hand full of French fries and caught a glimpse of our Anna once again! Energy and spunk can be utterly delightful in a 5 year old who has become withdrawn and moody. (At one point my daughter, The Trooper, was told by Anna's dietitian not to leave bowls of dog or cat food anywhere that Anna could find it. And who could blame Anna for hiding behind the couch when her 3 year old sister delivered a clandestine Starburst? And we can’t forget having to hold both of her hands in the hospital when she must have thought she was starving to death and tried to eat the purple sparkly nail polish off her nails...No wonder she called it “DOCTOR JAIL!”)

However, despite the plethora of medications, Anna continues to have between 60-80 seizures a day and has to have a caregiver in her kindergarten class to keep her safe. I have seen her crack her head against marble table tops, the dinner table, shopping cart bars and the Ipad. She also has to have medication just to sleep through the night.

What Would You Think...   

• If Anna was YOUR daughter or YOUR Granddaughter and NOTHING seems to be working?
• And if there were actually discussions about removing her left temporal lobe...and then maybe even removing her frontal lobe while they're at it? (One quarter of her brain!)
• What would you be thinking and feeling? 

What Would You Do?

Then imagine, watching a CNN broadcast by a doctor telling about a family of six brothers living in Colorado who have developed a strain of a medicinal plant that is extremely low in a chemical called THC and extremely high in a chemical called CBD. As well, a process has  been developed to cook or steam the plant in a way which results in an oil based CBD compound or extract that can be given to children in a dropper or added to food.

The CBD has been successfully used to treat children with autism, epilepsy, Crohns Disease, PTSD, cancer, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, asthma, migraines, Tourette's Syndrome, Diabetes, OCD, stuttering, Bell's palsy and much more. 

Upon further investigation you discover that there is a wealth of information available on all the tests and research and treatments being done in the United States and Israel with astounding results. There are any number of videos online that show children before and after CBD has been administered and HOPE begins to rise in your spirit. Imagine!

BUT, there is a problem. A serious problem. 

The plant is marijuana and in most states, including Pennsylvania, it is illegal...

• Even for medicinal purposes
• Even if it might be the difference between life and death
• Even if it might mean the difference between a whole brain and 3/4s of a brain
• Even if the side effects are nearly non-existent-especially when compared to the prescription drugs that are not working!
• Even though CBD does not make a child “high,” but instead it calms their brain.                           (It is the THC that causes people to be “stoned.”)

To What Lengths Would You Go?

Unfortunately...

• There are far too many people, like me, who in our ignorance have abhorred the thought of "legalizing pot" even for medicinal purposes.
• There are too many people who have never heard the truth and make false assumptions.
• There are too many politicians who just don't understand the process or the purpose!      
• Unfortunately, medicinal cannabis is probably a great threat to drug companies and those who profit from them.                                                                                                                                 

  But for my family and for Anna, "ignorance is not bliss" it is life threatening!

So I have been pondering this situation for weeks now... 

What does this mean for my family; for Anna's mom and dad, for her brother and sister, for me and the rest of my family? The nature of our dilemma puts us in a troubling spot on many levels.

I am asking myself serious and hard questions with these very real facts in mind...

• I am a pastor.
• I am a conservative pastor in a conservative denomination.
• I am a conservative pastor who is employed at a conservative retirement community.  

But first and foremost, I am a mother and a grandmother and I have gone to extreme lengths to protect, support and raise my five children and equally support them in their marriages and with their own children. 

What will it cost me to support a change in our laws, one with such steep opposition and a formidable battlefield? 

And I have discovered this, the bottom line for me...

What won't I do to make sure Anna has every possible chance for health and wellness? 

That is the question and the answer becomes clear and undeniable.

Will you Please Try On These Shoes and walk this road with us and not against us. 

For the Children's Sake? For Anna's Sake?

"We have always believed that God would heal Anna. We still do. 

At first we thought He would heal her through man-made medicine.

Then we thought maybe He would heal her through the hands of a surgeon.

Now we believe He will heal her through the seed-bearing plants He has provided us."

Pediatric Cannibis.

Will you help give us HOPE for ANNA?

     

RECIPROCITY

RECIPROCITY - a relation of mutual dependence or action or influence

For several years now, at some point during the year, a "theme" has taken shape in my life. For instance, one year the theme was, "Who Am I and What Do I Know?" (A good reminder that "it's not about me" and that, apart from Christ, I have nothing worth offering of any eternal significance.) And from that theme a new one was was easily born, "Apart from YOU, LORD, I can do nothing!" Another year my theme became, "If the LORD so wills it…" Each theme had a deep personal meaning and left a lasting impression.

Then, last year, I was given the word "RADICAL" (a whole year ahead of time) for the theme at Roxbury Holiness Camp, where I had been asked to give two morning messages. RADICAL became "the word of the year" as I was hyper-vigilent to anything and everything to do with RADICAL and as I quietly waited for the Holy Spirit to reveal the direction my two messages would take.

Well, once the two sermons had been delivered and I was on my way home, I considered the fact that I could now let "RADICAL" rest, but I quickly realized that might not ever again be possible. RADICAL is indelibly written on my heart and mind and I am determined to become, in every way, a RADICAL Woman of God. I'm not sure I can, or want to be, satisfied with anything less.

So, fast forward a month and I am asking the LORD to give me a new word just the same. Again, I wait patiently, knowing that it will be revealed in His time and not my own. And sure enough, this morning as I walked through the halls of Messiah Village I greeted a professional with my customary smile and super-sized "Good Morning! How are you?" And I was rewarded with nothing more than a cursory and almost curt, "Fine," as she went on about her business. Immediately a word came to mind... "RECIPROCITY." (How do I know it was from the LORD, you might wonder. Well, I knew it when my first question was, "LORD, couldn't You at least have given me a word I can pronounce?")

I have no idea where this journey will take me, but within the first couple of hours I was recognizing instances of genuine RECIPROCITY and I have certainly been reflecting on the significance of the word this evening with many questions. Surely I experienced some of the opposite, as well, and there will be just as much, if not more, to learn from that. I think I might just become RADICALLY excited about RECIPROCITY!