Overcomers

Isaiah 61

 To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion, give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, Messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit. Rename them “Oaks of Righteousness” planted by GOD to display his glory. They’ll rebuild the old ruins, raise a new city out of the wreckage. They’ll start over on the ruined cities, take the rubble left behind and make it new.

 It's been a difficult year for the Obert-Thornes in so many ways --the death of a precious grandmother--health issues .We celebrated the 4th of July together (Lora's birthday) -- and here we are back at the same table on New Year's Day sharing a meal -- under very different circumstances. We're a lively household of 9 for the present time.

the front wall was the only complete wall standing everything behind this is charred ruins

Terry and I have witnessed their faith and rock solid trust in God to make something wonderful of this disaster and for Him to bring beauty from the ashes of their house on McKinley Ave.  Every morning and evening they circle their family together back in one of our bedrooms for Bible study and praise.  They hear from their parents how they're going to meet the challenge that day with a grateful heart and hope in Jesus.

They've seen "God-winks" in every situation ---significant items being replaced that no one could have possibly known how important those were to them, as  teachers, church family and friends have been so very generous!   Mom and Dad are taking care of  their kids first -- helping them process this whole ordeal  -- It was great to see the kids start to play again on Friday.
Meantime they're all back at doing what they do best -- taking care of others --- as they look for baby items for a young mom they met at Church on Sunday.

2 Timothy 1:7 (NCV) "God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid but a spirit of power and love and self-control.

 

My favorite definition of love by children is one that I have used in my high school relationship units for years.  A little girl said :"love is what's in the room at Christmas -- you have to just be quiet and listen".  We had a wonderful holiday and though it was just a few days -- we packed in a lot of loving and laughing.

Campbell loved having both sets of grandparents and her Uncle Marshall and Aunt Katie in the same room. She was in high gear the whole time- telling Marshall that Aunt Katie was her favorite.

Sydney in her Christmas jammies wasn't too sure what was going on

Christmas Eve reading "Twas the Night. . . "with Mommy and Daddy

 In keeping with family tradition, Bethany and her daddy made their chocolate pecan pie together.
Campbell got to join in for her first time while Grammy supervised.

I can't bear the stories of the children at Sandy Hook -- I can't even look at their pictures -- In no way can I imagine what it is to know that your child faced such a horrible massacre and then have to wait hours to identify their tiny bodies. 
As this week that tiny town holds one funeral after another, pray for the mommies and daddies and sisters and brothers and grandparents and aunts and uncles. Please Lord, as you are holding these precious babies in your arms - help their mommies and daddies make it through the next long days and weeks and years.
Comfort  them as only you, the God of all Compassion, can. May they be blessed by a strong community of faith. 

Sunday as usual . . . we were standing with Campbell during Praise and Worship -- she loves to be up close --to us --and the music -- There she was looking all cutsie --in her cowboy boots and leggins swaying and "dancing" to the music.  She loves coins instead of paper to give to Jesus and I had tucked a few in a little zipper pouch -- I gave them to her as she joined us and she promptly scattered them on the floor.  Closer to communion and time for our giving - I told her to pick them up so she could give them to Jesus -- You can always tell when C is thinking something through -- She'd been living the story of His birth all week -- this seemed like a pretty good option to give him a gift --but -- she didn't see Him anywhere.  She looked up puzzled and asked "Where IS Jesus?" 
My Nana theological response was -- in Heaven with God-- and in your Heart-- how much more confusing could I make it????  
Of course her next question was "Where's GOD?" -- "Is He with Mary?"  

She's got all the principals in the birth story -- she didn't ask about Joseph whom for some reason she calls "Baby Jaguar".  
As her thoughts develop into stories, Papa and I are fascinated with the way her mind is developing . 
She always asks the most insightful questions  . . . She gets us back to what is really important and involves us in her creative world of play.
..
"Except you become as a little child"----

The house is ready -- our KU Intern party was lots of fun -- enjoying reading everyone's Christmas letters that come in the mail.
Can't wait to love on our Colorado kids --and celebrate this special time together.  --

Oh LORD, you are so good!

Catching UP!

PRAISE!!!  -- Sydney Kate will be 7 weeks old Tuesday -- Thank you Jesus for our healthy, happy girls!

 It's been a busy six weeks of loving on little girls ---these are my favorite pics from Sydney's birth, newborn shots by Carissa, Thanksgiving and some of our "firsts" with Sydney

Sydney's first trip to Church

Wake up Mommy -- it's time to play!

We love our Nanna Pappa time on the weekends!

Christmas Card Photo shoot - Thanksgiving Day!

Thanksgiving Day at the Pond with Papa

Cooking T'Giving together is a sweet tradition!

Looking for Jesus

We have a nativity set that was given to us when we were on a trip to Israel in 1998 – it is hand-carved and made of olive wood – very special to us indeed – 

This set is a favorite with all the little ones who come to visit and I even use it teaching Sunday school classes.  Kids who visit always love taking Baby Jesus out of the manger –

Campbell Hope dearly loves this nativity set and  Baby Jesus  is her favorite piece.  Every time she comes over she takes  him for “walks around the house” and so we find Jesus everywhere.  After she leaves,I get a little obsessed about looking for Him – because what’s a crèche without Jesus????

Last Sunday  morning Campbell and I were retelling the story before church services and she decided that he needed to meet the mommy and daddy sheep and their lambs – when I told her that Jesus was placed in the animal feeding trough – she wanted Him out and lined up all the animals so they could eat from their food bin since she was certain they were hungry.

Aren't we glad Jesus wasn't meant to stay in the manger?  

                     . . . and don't we find ourselves looking for Jesus in all our circumstances? 

This verse in my morning quiet time this week says it best . . .

So dear brothers and sisters who belong to God and are bound for Heaven, think about this -JESUS!

Heb.3:1

It has been a wonderful weekend of family, faith and fellowship.

No, it's not  fireworks~

Getting to celebrate Terry's birthday with Bethany and Mat was really special.  Terry had both grandgirls to help him celebrate.             

Party Hearty!!!

 

Checking in at registration  Sat.Nov. 3

We wished Marshall and Katie could have been here, too  - but he is cramming for one of the biggest set of Board Exams he's had yet after returning from Los Angeles where he was presenting his research as one of the five selected nominees for the Vivien Thomas Research Award.

  

We have been in the new Church building a year on Saturday – we celebrated with a Mexican fiesta and lots of testimonies.  A month ago we launched a capitol gifts campaign to raise adequate funds to complete the remainder of the building.  The church is in a poorer section of town – we have a lot of people  with distressed incomes, no incomes or living on social security.  We set three goals a faith goal--80K, a hope goal-100K  and a love goal -120 K.    In reality no way did we think we would accomplish any of those goals – by yesterday morning we had surpassed our faith goal!!!!

My thoughts went to all that had transpired to bring us to this place . . .  

This week a verse from a tough time in ministry resurfaced in my morning study time – “Those who sow in tears with reap with joy and shouting.  Psa. 126  Yes!!!  That was us on Saturday night -- reaping in JOY to lots of funny stories and good food.    I remembered the picture one of our gifted artists at church, Jimi Pryor, had given us years ago during another difficult season – she named it “Good Harvest”.  

I love art with a meaning from people who are dear to us -- It took root in me and spoke to where we were at that time .... it put hope in my heart that the difficulties would pass and there would be a new season.   It did and now we're living it -- a Good- Harvest . . . 

the song, “For all that you’ve done, I will thank you –

For all that you’re going to do—

truly applies here.

Welcome to the family, Sydney Kate!

We've been waiting to meet you for a long time --we've all been praying for your safe arrival-- your big sis has been prepped for months about your coming--I think she really had no clue but we can already tell how very much in love with you she is!

We thank God for your safe arrival and Pappa and I look forward to watching you grow.

MERCY

I have read this statement several times of late . . .

Grace is God giving us what we don't deserve
             Mercy is God NOT giving us what we DO deserve.

MERCY -- that's been my word of choice these past few days and I have researched it in Scriptures --
            
    I have decided that Grace is a term we sometimes feel is too big for us --- We say Grace - we are thankful for HIS grace in sending Jesus -- Soaking up HIS grace -- Knowing we're redeemed because HIS grace-- but what about the times when we feel we're not GOOD enough for it?  What about the times our failures and disappointments -- low self esteem --creep up on us and we feel we're not ALL that we need to be?  What about the times when we wonder if even God could love us since we haven't done more for HIM??? 

I believe the concept of MERCY is the word that breaks down everyone of those false barriers and draws us into relationship with HIM.   If GRACE is too big an idea -- then hang on to MERCY tight as you can.
If you feel your sins are too huge and no way could HE save you -- cling to his MERCY -- it opens the door to understanding GRACE.
Not accepting this idea of MERCY I believe is what keeps many who've left a relationship with Jesus from running back to HIM.

I grew up in the 50's in a denomination that was big on calling out sin and didn't teach much GRACE b/c of trying to keep us all out of Hell.  I would have to say that my "default" button has always been guilt.  I remember when I first came to embrace Grace my freshman year of college -- it was like a whole new dimension had opened up to me.

A few years later, I was in a group of young seminary student wives -- all having learned the concept of Grace in our late teens ---we were talking about those early years of coming to accept the idea of salvation and how we had doubted we could really be saved.  One young wife said, "I knew there was no way I would get to go to heaven -- so as a child growing up -- I used to take hotter and hotter baths to try to get accustomed to the heat."  We knew Jesus died for our sins -- but believed we still had to DO something about it. It's was like the offer that was just too good to be true or the Publisher's Clearinghouse win that was always for somebody far away.

It's the "buzz" word in the book of Psalms -- the psalmist always crying out for mercy --
The book of Micah says that God delights to show mercy. 

A newer translation of Lamentations 3 calls mercies - compassions -- I like that it shows HE understands us -- HE "gets" us.

It's early morning as I blog -- I know that once again today  HIS mercy is new -- it's fresh.   

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions (mercies) never fail.
²³ They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.

-- the overwhelming rush of renewal that mercy brings, we receive it each and EVERY day -- cleansing us -- making us new!

Waiting for Sydney Kate

Napping with Momma waiting on Baby Sydney

  Well I have revised my sub plans three times -- thinking for certain Sydney would come the next day.  We're all living in the "now and not yet" as we wait for the phone call from Bethany and Mat that we're on Nana/Papa duty with Campbell -- We thought sure it would be last Sunday morning early -- then thought for sure it would be Thursday evening -- and now we're thinking her arrival COULD be this weekend.

Nursery sewing done, Campbell found it a great place to read

Teaching a pregnancy and childbirth unit in my Single Survival (life skills class) and showing two videos of tiny babies, hasn't helped the wait to be any shorter. It has just heightened my eagerness to meet Sydney.
 I do have to recommend one of those-- the DVD "The Happiest Baby on the Block".  It's "Campbell Hope Good-proven" to really work!

Truth is-- God alone knows -- The Word says HE knows all our days -- but we're getting pretty anxious to meet this precious little lady.

Campbell practices with her baby doll.  She nurtures all her toys with, "Are you OK?"  and coos over them, then follows up with "Baby- Get in the cage!" She's practicing big sister bossing.

Campbell even got on all fours beside her momma exercising this morning to speed up the process -- she's ready to be a big sis~ 

Bethany and C go for long walks once or twice a day -- I joined her today and after two miles I begged off -- (She had one more to go -I was FINISHED).

What a fun day we had sharing this sense of anticipation with our Good girls!