So you think you can juggle

The beauty of God is that he will always love you by Vanessa

I was happy to see that my job of raising Vanessa to be a child of God has been accomplished. When I looked at her myspace yesterday she wrote "Going to San Diego" status: In God's hands. My goal was to raise my children to be able to trust in the Lord at all costs, no matter what the trial, no matter what the outcome. I have seen by reading her space that this is where she is at. Right where I want her to be. So I am putting up one of her favorite songs, sung live, by Barlowgirl.

Update on Vanessa

We got to see a comparison of her MRI's 4 years ago and the one on Monday. The pinneal cyst went from the size of a pea to the size of a grape. The fluid has leaked onto the brain causing hydrocephalus. The doctor told us it is at the life threatening point as we could see how swollen the veins were. They looked like threads 4 years ago and now look like the size of little not dogs. She is being medivaced to Balboa Navy Medical Center with a private nurse as soon as the trip is coordinated. Balboa is expecting her and they will admit her immediately and get the surgery done and within days she will travel back to Oahu. My good friends are stationed in Oahu and I will be calling them so they can offer her support. All your prayers would be appreciated. Vanessa was actually relieved because she said she knew something serious was going on by the symptoms she was having.

Another prayer request

My daughter, Vanessa, who is 18 has had a cyst on her pituitary gland for years. They discovered that the cyst has refilled on her MRI last night and she now has hydrocephali, water on the brain. She needs to see the neurosurgeon tomorrow so please pray that the right desicions are made for her next step.

prayers

Please say a prayer for my sister Stephanie who is having her surgery this week. She is almost all done with her cancer treatment and nearing the end of her surgeries. If you want you can see her over at her blog The Written Word.

Then Sings My Soul Saturdays

I am posting this song for my son Josh.

Friday Funnies

Where's God

Two little boys were best friends at church, but they both had a reputation for getting into trouble.
One Sunday, one of the boys was home sick, but the other boy, not wanting to let his friend down,
was twice as bad as normal.


As he was running through the sanctuary after church, the pastor grabbed him and angrily said,
"Where's God?!"


The little boy was frightened and didn't know what to say.


The pastor continued, "I want you to go home and think about it and I don't want you to come back
until you can tell me where God is."


The boy went home and called his sick friend on the telephone.
"Guess what," he said. "They've lost God, and they're trying to blame that one on us, too."
Author is Unknown
For more Friday Funnies go to Homesteader's heart.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to my niece Leah who is 7 years old today. Also congratulations to Jenny of Addison Road on the birth of her daughter Anniston Cate Simmons.

Just a little Hillsong

We sung this in church on Sunday and it stuck with me so I thought I would post it. Besides who doesn't love Hillsong.

A little study on Baptism in preperation for my 9 year old

We have been studying baptism and have come across some interesting points.
Baptism is a burial in water (immersion).
The Greek word "baptizo" means immersion. It cannot be translated in any other way and give the meaning of the original language. baptizo {bap-tid'-zo} - Translated in the KJV - baptize (76),wash 2, baptist 1, baptized + 2258 1; 80

1) to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of vessels sunk)
2) to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one's self, bathe
3) to overwhelm

Not to be confused with "bapto." The clearest example that shows the meaning of baptizo is a text from the Greek poet and physician Nicander, who lived about 200 B.C. It is a recipe for making pickles and is helpful because it uses both words. Nicander says that in order to make a pickle, the vegetable should first be 'dipped' (bapto) into boiling water and then 'baptized' (baptizo) in the vinegar solution. Both verbs concern the immersing of vegetables in a solution. But the first is temporary. The second, the act of baptizing the vegetable, produces a permanent change. When used in the New Testament, this word more often refers to our union and identification with Christ than to our water baptism. e.g. Mark 16:16. 'He that believes and is baptized shall be saved'. Christ is saying that mere intellectual assent is not enough. There must be a union with him, a real change, like the vegetable to the pickle!

All of the examples in the New Testament indicate immersion. Consider for example the baptism of Jesus:

Joh 3:23 "John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people were coming and were being baptized--"

John would not need "much water" to baptize any other way.

source

Happy Easter

Book winner and great song video

Congratulations to Jennifer over at dustbunnyhostage, she won my book. I'm sorry I did not have more to give away. My son picked her name out of a bowl I shook up real good. I know not real scientific, but I think fair.

I leave you all with this song today. It is one that I love and we sang it last Sunday at church so it has been on my mind all week. No one does it better then this guy.

Darrian home from school field trip to Sea Life Park

Frittles and give-a-way

My 5 year old was describing a girl at school to me and he said she had frittles. I said "what are frittles?" He said "you know girls have them." My first thought was "that's what there calling them now." I said to Darrian "where are frittles?" He said "on their face all over." I said "Oh you mean freckles." He said "Ya freckles." Who knew.

Tomorrow I am picking the winner for my friend Nadine's book. I posted about it 8 posts down but if you want to get in on it you can leave a comment here too. It was an awesome Christian read and whoever gets it will really enjoy it. Click on the link and you can read about it and see the reviews over at Amazon.

Easter at school

Tripler

I did not know that the Tripler chemo corner received this award in 2007. It is an amazing place that allows you to combine all kinds of care, physical, mental, natural, etc. My friend was cured of advanced colon cancer and leukemia here, now I can see why. I remember her journey not being all that bad although it lasted a few years. She has been cancer free for at least 3. Here is a clip from awhile back this link takes about 20 seconds to load :LINK

God is in the Small stuff by Bruce & Stan

If you don't have a Bible, get one.
If you've got a Bible, read it.
If you read the Bible, believe it.
If you believe the Bible, live it.

Books, books, books

My sister who has a really cool book blog is having a give a way. 2 books. Go on over to her blog and leave a comment if you are interested, just click here.

For this week I am posting a song that I have always loved for more then 20 years. A girl I once worked introduced me to this guy and all the awesome songs he does. It is an awesome song for Easter.

Friday Funnies

Lesson in Lying

A minister told his congregation, "Next week I plan to preach about the sin of lying. To help you understand my sermon, I want you all to read Mark 17."

The following Sunday, as he prepared to deliver his sermon, the minister asked for a show of hands. He wanted to know how many had read Mark 17. Every hand went up. The minister smiled and said, "Mark has only sixteen chapters. I will now proceed with my sermon on the sin of lying."
For more Friday Funnies go on over to Homesteader's Heart.
For a great Christian book give-a-way go down two posts and see the Review I wrote on Nadine's book. She is a blogger over at Just Being Me and the book was so good. I will keep the give-a-way open until Friday and then pick a name. Leave a comment and I am sure the winner will really enjoy this book.

Darrian riding his bike

Worry

Worry is a strange thing. I was telling my dad that my daughter was needing another brain MRI (many of which she has had over the last 6 years) and he said "aren't you worried?" Truthfully I am not. I new many years ago when I raised her to depend on Jesus, and when she grew up to have a heart for God, and when I knew she was in the palm of his hand, that I no longer had to worry about her. It was just like when my mom was sick with MDS and she told me she had a vision of Jesus, I knew right away she was His. No I didn't want her to die, but I was not worried because I believed that Jesus came to her to give her the gift of not having to worry so that she could pass it along to us. Knowing she passed away into my saviors arms was enough for me. Knowing that Vanessa has a heart for her savior and knows him is enough for me. Along time ago I gave Vanessa to my savior and I have not a moments fear that he has kept His promise and she is His. I trust that whatever happens to her that she is His, I keep the versus below close by. Yes I read them and yes I trust them completely. No I do not let the evil one cause me to doubt. He can't have me and he can't have her for we belong to someone else.

Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest. (Luke 12:25-26)

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. (Deuteronomy 31:8)

I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (Psalm 16:8)

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident. (Psalm 27: 1, 3)

I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. (Psalm 34:4)

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. (Psalm 46:1-3)

Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. (Psalm 61:1-4)

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. (Psalm 62:1-2)

You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress; my God in whom I trust." (Psalm 91:1-2)

Praise the Lord! Happy are those who fear the Lord. They are not afraid of evil tidings; their hearts are firm, secure in the Lord. Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid. (Psalm 112: 1a, 7-8a)

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. (Isaiah 12:2)

Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace—because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord God you have an everlasting rock. (Isaiah 26: 3-4)

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord you God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (Isaiah 43:1b-3a)

Your father knows what you need before you ask him. So do not worry, saying 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today's trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:8b, 31-34)

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:6-8)

Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, 'I will never leave you or forsake you.' So we can say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?' (Hebrews 13: 5-6)