Jubilee

Benji and Jen have a new little addition to their family. Their baby girl Jubilee was born at the end of June and we are filled with joy and wonderment at this precious little gift from God. What a miracle! We thank all who prayed for Jennifer and baby as she experienced some complications at the end of her pregnancy. Both mommy and baby are healthy and happy!

Her name is Jubilee Lania and she is a beautiful girl just like her happy, full-of-life, big sister Zoe.

Jubilee means joy, celebration, restoration and redemption. Jubilee comes from their family word of the year--Joy! Joy, not having joy but learning joy in their circumstances. Right after finding out Jen was pregnant, many of the really tough things she was dealing with went away (difficulty sleeping and terrible dreams). This is a year of Jubilee for the family.

Her middle name Lania (pronounced Lon-nie'-a) means noble and sacred to God. The inspiration for Lania comes from Jen's Daddy Lonnie which means "heavenly warrior."

We celebrate our Jubilee!

The Journey--

While in Washington state, I was driving from the dentist's office and saw a sign at an auto repair shop that went something like this: "It's not just the destination, the journey is important too." I contemplated turning around to get the exact words but I didn't so this is a paraphrase. I wrote these words on a piece of paper and have been mulling over the idea ever since.

As I drove down to Southern California, I knew it was very important for me to know my destination and to have a plan. Our journey in life can go in many different ways and take unplanned turns and curves as well, but the destination has to always be before us.

When my sister and I drove through Oregon on our trip to Washington in February, I didn't plan on having a flat tire but I did. It didn't halt our progress completely, just slowed it down a bit. The destination was ahead and we continued on. I saw a gorgeous mountain to the east of me on my way through California last week, pulled over to witness its beauty and thanked God for His creation and then moved on. 

Sometimes things happen along our journey and it is with God's help that we continue on to our destination. It helps to know that ultimately there is no place I would rather be at the end of my life here on earth than in heaven with my Lord Jesus Christ. He has made the way for me (for us) to get there and His Holy Spirit is here to help us along our way.

When I arrived here in California, Jen and I were talking about where I would eventually live and find a home. In the conversation, she said these words, "It's not only about the destination, it's about the journey!" I laughed, went to my room and brought out the piece of paper with those similar words written on it and showed it to her. I think the Lord is trying to tell me something!

Then Jen read the following verse to me. Ecclesiastes 3:11 "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart, yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end."

She pointed out that eternity has already begun for us and our destination is intertwined with our journey. Wise words, little one! Wise words!


Now my little update (April 17, 2012):  Later on in the fall of last year on a journey with my friend Terri, our car was hit by a flying piece of cement siding. It came right at us and shattered our windshield.  Sometimes life can have setbacks like the flat tire and other times we feel like we have been hit so hard that we may not recover. The truth of Psalm 23 rings out..."Even though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff they comfort me." We are not alone on this journey that can have pitfalls and bumps along the way. We are comforted and guided by our Savior.  


Back in June 2011 we had no idea that my journey would bring me back to California where I would have a home, get a wonderful job and be planted here. I actually was thinking that I might end up somewhere else.  I thank the Lord that He has been with me on this unexpected journey and my confidence and my security is in Him.  I thank the Lord for my family and friends who have joined me and encouraged me on my journey.  


Tonight I was reading from the book "A Grace Disguised" written by Jerry Sittser who lost his mother, his wife and his young daughter in a car accident.  (Thank you Lola for this book). Professor Sittser said, "My confidence in God is somehow quieter but stronger.  I feel little pressure to impress God or prove myself to Him; yet I want to serve Him with all my heart and strength.  My life is full of bounty, even as I continue to feel the pain of loss. Grace is transforming me and it is wonderful.  I have slowly learned where God belongs and have allowed Him to assume that place--at the center of life rather than at the periphery."  


I liked what he had to say. I pray that grace is transforming me. Lord, as I journey through this life, I also want you at the center of my life. Thank you for my husband who wanted that same thing while we walked this life together and thank you for reminding that I am not alone. You are with me every step of the way.  Help me to keep my eyes on You.  

Choices

No matter where a person moves or lives, there is always one constant. It doesn't matter where you are, you are still there with your attitudes and heart!

As we moved around from place to place in the Air Force, we would find ourselves getting settled in a new home, meeting new friends, facing challenges for the children as they enrolled in their new schools or we chose to homeschool. We moved very often. Our youngest daughter moved 11 times by the age of 17.

I imagine we think we'll be happy when we leave a certain place, move to a new desired location, or when our circumstances have changed, but in reality we can be happy or unhappy in Hawaii, North Dakota, Arkansas, New York, California, Guam, Korea, etc... We can choose to set the tone for our home by our attitudes. Will we realize the joy of the Lord is our strength, or will we wallow in self-pity or unrealized wishes and wants? Believe me, there were (and are) times I failed miserably for which I thank God for His forgiveness.

So much of what our children and (now for me) grandchildren learn is not necessarily taught verbally but oftentimes caught when we are unaware. They are watching us, how do we act and react when we're cut off in traffic, the neighbor's trash is in our yard, our day is disrupted by a flat tire, we're in a new home with none of our belongings and trying to make it work, or a lost shoe. A lost shoe! Now there's a story!

I was not perfect, we were not perfect, but we tried to be honest with our children, told them when we were wrong, and taught them about our God who is!

The attitude of my heart is what was and is important. "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" Psalm 139:23,24.

One more thought that recently spoke to my heart by Francis Chan (Crazy Love):

"There's that perplexing command: 'Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, Rejoice!' (Phil 4:4).....and it follows with a charge, 'Do not be anxious about anything' (v. 6). That came as a pretty staggering realization. But what I realized next was even more staggering. When I am consumed by my problems--stressed out about my life, my family and my job--I actually convey the belief that I think my circumstances are more important than God's command to always rejoice. In other words, that I have a 'right' to disobey God because of the magnitude of my responsibilities."

So...I'm learning (I haven't arrived at the end of this education), that no matter what, we can and have the privilege to "rejoice in the Lord." He provided all we really need when Jesus died on the cross for us and rose from the dead. My hope is that I will learn to "rejoice in the Lord" no matter what! I may have sorrow, but I have God's provision and presence with me every day and for that, I choose to rejoice! I also have an awesome family and amazing friends who are helping me on this journey as well. Thank you for your love and prayers!

Worship as a Child

Do you know how little children are so excited when their daddy walks through the door? Or how they run to him when they are hurt? The daddy does everything he can to reach his children and bring them in his arms and give them hugs and kisses, rejoices with their exultation and comforts them in their need.

The message last night by Pastor Steve Wexler was on worship and he said that when we worship God is blessed, we are blessed and we are changed. One point in particular stood out to me: "He renews your youth -- you're always young in His presence."

I had a picture in my mind of a girl, playing on the mountainside picking flowers, running through the green grasses, rejoicing in the beauty around her and most of all in Her Creator (almost like Maria at the beginning of The Sound of Music). I sensed that our Father in heaven delights in our praise, desires for us to remain in the posture of wonderment and adoration!

As we worship, He is blessed! Psalm 103:1-5 (The Message) "O my soul, bless GOD, from head to toe, I'll bless His holy name, O my soul, bless GOD, don't forget a single blessing!"

We sang the song "Here in Your Presence" and one of the lines is "here in Your presence heaven and earth become one." That overwhelms me...."heaven and earth become one." I picture myself worshiping our God here on earth and Lonnie worshiping Him in heaven with my mom and dad, his father and so many more precious loved ones. Yes, that definitely can bring a childlike dance to my step!

Wow, that's awesome!

Wooden's 7-Point Creed

I was at the bookstore one day and saw this book by John Wooden, the famous basketball coach and one of Lonnie's favorites. He gave this 7-point creed to his son when he graduated from elementary school:

Be true to yourself

Make each day your masterpiece

Help others

Drink deeply from good books including the Good Book

Make friendships a fine art

Build a shelter against a rainy day

Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day.

(This is found on page 290 of "Wooden on Leadership" by John Wooden and Steve Jamison)

He also said: "Nobody cares how much you know (until they know how much you care)."

And a side note: Want to say that I am so proud of our little four-year-old grandson, Elijah, who is just growing up so fast and had his birthday recently. He is a delightful little boy, is playing T-ball now, learning his Bible verses at AWANA, loves his family and is loved by us all!

Your granmommy loves you, Elijah! Happy Birthday!

Remind Me Every Day

I wanted to share just a few verses that have blessed and helped me through the years. I remember Lonnie saying that different books of the Bible were his favorites as he was reading and studying them. I understand what he was saying. May His Word always be fresh in our hearts, so that we are continually adding to our favorites!

“The joy of the Lord is my strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). I remember riding my bike down Main Street in Miles City, Montana, with a high school friend and singing this song with all my might, feeling the wind blow through my hair and celebrating the presence of the Lord in my life. How carefree I felt at that moment! I believe the Lord would want us to sense His joy every day!

“My soul wait thou only upon God, for my expectation is from Him” (Psalm 62:5). When I was in college, I was praying in the basement of the dorm and crying out to God for His leading and direction. This verse ministered to me to look to Him for everything. I made up a little song that went, “My confidence is in Jesus, my security is in Jesus, my identity is in Jesus. Jesus, You are my all.” While in college, my family went through a very difficult time and these words helped me to walk through those days....and they help me to walk through these days too.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5,6). Lonnie and I sought to do this in our life together. It is my desire to trust in Him today and every day forward. Some things I will not be able to understand but that’s just it…I don’t have to lean on my own understanding. Trusting in the Lord is my responsibility. As I trust, I find refuge and solace and peace in Him. I need to do it every day. I have to do it every day. I get to do it every day. Trust!

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning, great is Thy faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22,23). These words were whispered in my ear on the morning Lonnie passed away and have been whispered in my heart ever since. I want to be reminded of them every day. "His mercies are new every morning, great is Thy faithfulness."

“Be strong and of good courage, be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee” (Joshua 1:9). Jason and I were talking about our awareness of the Lord's presence with us in times of sorrow and suffering. He is Emmanuel, God with us....every day! Amazing!

“For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, Fear not, I am the one who helps you” (Isaiah 41:13). Jeremy found this verse written in the front of one of Lonnie's Bibles. It has been a source of encouragement and comfort to me and our family.

"My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth" (Psalm 121:2).

Thank you, Lord, for Your help every day! Every day!

Easter Sunday

I have so many memories of Easter: new outfits, homemade little white jackets to wear over our dresses when we were small, sunrise services in the hills of Montana, on the shores of Oahu, on a foggy morning in Texas, and Lonnie's and my last one in Germany where my Lonnie preached about our risen Savior on that cold but beautiful Easter morning! Such sweet memories with precious family and friends!

There is one Easter that changed my life in the most amazing way. I was 11 years old (about the age of Jennifer in this picture) and I was sitting in church with my family. I had heard many sermons about becoming a Christian and had listened to and responded to altar calls. I would go home and do something that I knew to be sin and I would have doubts. I had consistently been taught about Jesus throughout my young life, but how could I be a Christian, "saved," and be disobedient to my parents or fight with my siblings or do the mischievous things that I was prone to do?

On this particular Easter Sunday, Pastor Smith spoke again about Jesus Christ dying on the cross and said that Jesus paid the price for my sins. He probably said "our" sins but it became so personal to me as I listened. "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." My heart leapt within me to think that there was nothing that I could do or had to do to earn my salvation. I knew I couldn't be good enough. It was a gift and it was my choice to believe and receive what Jesus did for me on the cross. God's gift....His Son.....my heart rejoiced as I understood that my sins were gone as I put my faith and trust in Jesus....He died for me and rose again! He conquered sin for me!

He is risen! He is my Rock and my Salvation! He is my Savior and my Redeemer!

Oh, how that young 11-year-old girl rejoiced...and many years later, she still is rejoicing in her risen Savior!

Psalm 28:7 "The Lord is my strength and my shield, in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults and with my song I give thanks to Him." I am safe in His arms.