I'm going to serve God......what about You?

Selah had another GREAT night!  Thanks for the prayers:)  We only got up with her once:)   Tonight she is already asleep and her heart rate is in the 60's & 70's which is completely normal for a 8 year old girl!!! I don't think I've ever seen her heart rate so low!!!!!   She had PT today.  I am so thankful for Chris who comes into our home and works with our kids.  It makes things easier and so much more relaxing for the kids, especially Selah.  We had her up most of the day in the new wheelchair and even tho I HATE the chair, she seems to like it and she looked wonderful. 

Steve is now on antibiotics so this is a first for me to have FOUR kids on antibiotics at a time.....Shad and me are the only ones still standing:)  Jon has been sick for a week.  I said Shad lived through too much in China to let a little bug get him in America and I'm too mean for it LOL! 

After a full morning of therapy for the little ones, we all went and ate pizza, and Sarah and mom got our hair cut.  Everything is so stinking emotional for me.  The last time we'd gone to the shop we all get our hair cut at, it was right before we left for NY and the girls were finally growing enough hair, they had to have it trimmed.  So the girls in the shop hadn't heard what had happened, and had wondered where we all were at...so I had to go through the story again....it was hard on my heart.  Literally, I felt a weight in my chest, just wishing I could go back to the last time I was in there.....

During my day, I have time to think about things as I am busy with chores.  Today I just kept thinking of eternity.  I'm not one to listen to much christian tv or radio but my husband is....and he listens to it loud.  He had driven my van last night so this morning on my way to walk, I heard a bit of a sermon from the book of Daniel.  One thing that really stuck out to me was the character of Daniel.  He was a Jew, taken from his country as basically a slave.  He became a trusted advisor in various administrations in Babylon.  One thing the minister said was during the various reigns of different leaders, Daniel remained constant.  He was known as a man of God.  He was known as a man of God during good times when he was loved & appreciated and also in times when he was thrown into the lion's den.....  I want to be known as a woman of God who stays consistent through the good times and through the bad times. 

I'm not perfect by any means but if you take anything from this blog, take this....trust God and live for God through all the seasons of your life.  God will give you the grace to do it, if you will ask Him.  He has given me that grace....because I asked him.  On the days when I get really down, I ask Him to give me the grace so I won't bring reproach on His name.  Believe me, there are days when I worry about that!  I am not known for meek & mild spirit LOL.....so I worry....

We are living in eternity now.....often we think of eternity starting when our life here is over, but actually eternity had no beginning and has no end.  You will exist forever, according to the Bible.  It is up to you where you chose to exist at.  You can chose to serve God, or you can chose not to serve Him.  If you chose to serve God, you will go to heaven when this life is over.  If you do not chose to serve God, you will go to Hell when this life is over.....according to the Bible.  It's up to you, God gives us free will. 

Life sucks....bad things happen...God is not a genie....but He is a God who walks with us through the valley of the shadow of death.  We are all going to die one day.  Whether you are a great woman like Margret Thatcher, or a unknown on the street, death comes to us all.  We will all stand before God.  Hearing of various famous people who have died this week, knowing that a country is making threats against our country...it all makes me think of eternity. 

Through everything that has happened to me, I can sit here tonight and tell you that I still believe firmly in God and in His goodness.  He doesn't always deliver us from our trials.  In the book of Daniel, Daniel was thrown into the lion's den...but God shut the mouths of the lions.  In that same book, Shadrach Meschach  and Abendego were thrown into the fiery furnace.  They replied to the king "Our God is able to deliver us but even if He doesn't deliver us, we will not worship or serve your false gods."  They were still thrown into the fire, but God delivered them out of the fire and  then the King acknowledged God. 

I love the statement they made that God was able to deliver but even if He didn't they were not going to serve a false God.

So I say that to you tonight....even if God doesn't deliver Selah and us FROM this trial, even if my heart breaks...I'm going to serve God and not turn to a false god of my own making.  I will not turn the God of this universe into some feel good god.  I'm not going to turn to sin.  I'm not going to blame God foolishly,  I'm not going to turn my back on God.  I'm not going to let bitterness be in my heart. 

So I encourage you, whatever you are going through, turn to God.  He will light your path. 

When I was a kid growing up in church, I'd hear all these great testimonies of folks delivered from sin.  Man they could tell their testimonies so well!  I thought many times "well I have no testimony, I'm just a church kid"  LOL  I was too afraid to sin too much because I was afraid of going to hell.  (btw, that is not a bad thing to be afraid of)   Well I certainly WISH I didn't have a testimony now...but I do.  Not quite the same but I can true testify to you that God is a very faithful God.  

Daily about 3000 - 4000 people take the time to read my blog.  That blows my mind that people care enough to read this.  I get hits from all kinds of different countries including a few I've had to look up to see where the heck it was (the Isle of Man -an island off the coast of Ireland)  I'm sure there are folks of various faiths and I know some folks who have no faith.   I'm sure that everyone is at a different place in their lives.  But I can promise you, even if you've never experienced it, hard times will come to you.  Find your Anchor NOW, so you are prepared for the storms of life.  I was prepared that day when I ran down the street to the emergency vehicles.  I knew the God I cried out to as I was running....and He was there. 

Be prepared for eternity, we don't know what the future holds.  We live in uncertain times.  No one is promised tomorrow whether you are a wealthy famous person or just an average Joe.  I feel strongly tonight that I should encourage you to turn to God and if you do know God, to hold to Him tightly. 

You guys know I don't usually get too preachy, I let Jon do that....but this is just stirring in my heart tonight. 

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Here are some pictures from today!

 

 

Home schooling at its best.....

Steve & Shadrach (love the story and the name)

 

Selah in her chair

Look at her nice legs and feet!  The surgery was such a success!  No more "ballerina toes!"  And we have knees:)

 

my garden

Okra and lettuce

 

 

collards (on steroids- I can grow them!)

 

potatoes....

 

 

 

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So please keep praying for Selah.  I don't know what the future will hold but my prayer is that our family can glorify God through whatever happens.  If Selah isn't healed, I pray our family's trust in God will encourage others to trust Him.  If she is healed I pray God and ONLY God gets the glory!  (you can be sure it won't be because we are some spiritual giants!  and all my friends said a BIG AMEN! :)

 

 

This is a video of Selah and Sarah a year ago today..... I took videos that day...tried to load some more but couldn't...hope you can view this!

 

 

 

this video shows how weak Sarah was and the sores on her little head.

And it shows Selah being a bit put out by us for some reason.  there was a lot of noise and she hated noises....