Jonathan's Birthday

June 2nd commemerates Jonathan's 30th birthday!
We had a great weekend celebrating with a volleyball birthday bash on Friday night, dinner (just the 2 of us) on Saturday and Sunday lunch with some friends! I hope he has enjoyed his birthday. I also made him lasagna for dinner! ;-)
Today we are both working and tonight I am teaching running class and he has a softball game but we will still enjoy his day. Once you get out of high-school birthdays are just another day but we do like to exchange cards and celebrate it together. This is a big one though as he is officially old. Or so his friends tell him!

Happy Birthday Jonathan!

9 Years Happier

Jonathan and I just celebrated our 9th anniversary this week.
We took some time to look back, reflect, laugh and remember some of the goofy things and experiences we have had in the last 9 years together.
On our anniversary night we watched our wedding video and laughed till our eyes watered. What a goofy and fun day. We were surrounded by such wonderful friends and family in our wedding party and our guests. I can happily say that we are almost in contact with everyone still and have been blessed with good relationships.
So much has changed for us and for those around us in the last 9 years but God has been continuously in charge and present, actively engaging us and calling us to a deeper relationship with him.
We are grateful to Him for everything and look forward to the next 9 years together. Who knows what will happen next!

Christ as my Intercessor

This week I have been studying about Christ ascended and what he is actively doing in heaven right now. One of his roles is as an intercessor for me. Funny that I have known this but have never meditated on this. As you read this you may think, "duh!" But it was a fresh revelation and blessing to me this week. Bear with my slow brain and growing faith! ;-)
In the old testament God was often prevailed upon by one of his fleshly servants interceding for the rest of poor, dumb, blind humanity. I think especially of Moses interceding for Israel when God wanted to obliterate them after they let their hearts follow adulterous ways. God repented from his desire to destroy them after Moses spoke on their behalf. God was so holy and pure he could not abide with their sinful ways yet in his love and compassion he listened to the intercession and forgave once again. God is magnificent, holy and completely pure. Not to be trifled with or held in minimal esteem. He is above all and we need to have more awe of him. Obviously Moses got that and intervened on others behalf for forgiveness when they did not.
In the new testament, Christ came and changed everything by fulfilling the law. It says in John 1:17 "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." He was the complete one time for all sins sacrifice that God accepted. When he ascended back to heaven after fulfilling his earthly high priest role of offering the only needed sacrifice, he took up the role of intercessor. Hebrews 7:24-26 says it perfectly "but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens." So I am covered with the blood that sets me free and Christ literally makes intercession for me daily with God the holy, pure, father. I am no different than the poor old Israelites whose hearts were constantly lead away but I have the complete intercessor who has 100% access and the right to appear before the Father on my behalf. He stands at his father's right hand and says "this one is mine and I am standing in the gap for her" to the holy, awesome, magnificent GOD of all creation! This blows my mind and knocks my socks off!!!!!! WOW.
Jesus is my eternal greatest gift and all I can do is bow in worship before the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I can't say it any more beautifully than Job.

Job 16:19-21 NIV
"Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend."

America the Beautiful

America, America, Land that I Love

After spending the weekend in Washington DC taking my husband's grandmother on a tour of the capital for her 80th birthday, I have been contemplating a few of the blessings that we have here in America.
Here are a few:

A beautiful land that God created, diverse and unique in each state. We come together to form a powerful and blessed place to live.
An environment of freedom. We saw many protestors and people with a cause out in the national mall and I was blessed by the fact that although we may not agree, we all have the right to speak out and participate in our country.
A place that honors our past and aims to inspire our future. As we visited the different monuments and memorials, I was in awe of the history that America shares and the future that it inspires. Lives have been lost, hearts broken and dreams shattered only for others to be created. I wish I could say thank you to all those who have sacrificed for America.
And lastly, while many may want to wipe God out of our history or stop acknowledging him now, He is everywhere in our nation's capital. In inscriptions, speeches, monuments and memorials, God's prescence can be felt. What a testament to the biblical worldview that our country was created upon and modeled to follow.
Take the time to visit and contemplate if you can.
God bless America,
Esther White

Conflict Resolution

I hate conflict and having to resolve situations with others. I have always tried to smooth over rather than ruffle feathers so there is calm. But this is not always good because I can fester over things rather than air them out and resolve them quickly. I have a hard time letting go and forgiving so that I can be free and so can the other individual.
I bring this up because I have been in a tough situation this month with some people and am working on resolving it rather than pushing it under the rug. My way doesn't work so I am trying to do it God's way even if it is hard.
Peace does not mean the absence of conflict but the ability to maintain calm in the midst of the storm. Situations happen and I can't control them but I can control my reaction to them and this is how I have an opportunity to trust God and remain in His peace.
The heart attitude is to clear up relationships in a loving and resolute manner as quickly as possible so anger, resentment and a door to the enemy does not open up. God brings to mind one of my favorite verses-

Isaiah 26:3
You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

So I am endeavoring to do that and I can't wait to see how God resolves all this.
Happy Monday and may you have peace this week!

My Heart of Stone

Wow,
It has been over 1 month since I have posted. Please forgive me for being distracted with all of life and missing out on keeping in touch!
It has been a busy time and God has been working hard on me but that is always a good thing!
I have been very busy with opening another hospital location- their nutrition department- and getting staff hired and ready to go. This has been an adventure and a little out of my league but a good challenge.
I have been working on the Hope River Run at church and doing some intense training in evangalism and Godly leadership. It has been really good to be challenged and not allowed to live in the comfortable christian life I settle into so easily. Sometimes it is ouchy though!
All things have been good but have required self sacrifice and this is where God has been hammering away at the stone of my heart. God has been bringing this verse to mind- Ezekiel 36:26 "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."
So as this heart is being changed out I will keep you posted.

Faithfulness in Service

It's time for an attitude adjustment!
I have been swamped with some extra work this week and at first I wanted to grumble and complain. I was a little overwhelmed and let my attitude reflect this poorly.
What hit me was that I was being ungrateful, unthankful and unfaithful in my service. Not just with work but with other commitments too. I tend to agree to things and then grumble about how much work they take. Instead of my eyes being fixed on Jesus with a grateful heart, I get bogged down with myself. It all boils down to selfishness!
So I have been praying about this and asking God to help me die to self. I realized something as the Holy Spirit brought it to my attention. I have been praying this but not seeing the opportunities He has been answering me with. God has given me specific work, volunteer and church activities to help me die to self and grow in Him. AND I HAVE BEEN GRUMBLING ABOUT THOSE!!!! Crazy human me ;-)
So starting today, I am asking for the right attitude and a grateful heart to serve Him in whatever area it is.
Colossians 3:23
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for me."