Friday, June 24, 2011

Eleven Year Anniversary

First Year of Dating
On October 8th 1997  I went on my very first date. On November 28th 1997 I received my first kiss, and on June 24th 2000 I married the man who captured my heart on that very first date. Happy Anniversary to us! I fell in love with him for many reasons, but the words on our wedding invitations still after eleven years say it best.

For hearing my thoughts,
understanding my dreams,
and being my best friend
For filling my life with music
and loving me without end.

engagement picture

Wedding Day Snap Shot
Today we celebrate our love and the day that the foundation of our family was built, and what a beautiful family we have. I still smile when I think about all the joy and love that was celebrated on our wedding day, but you know my heart dances with joy when I think about how much we have grown in our love. I am amazed at the way my husband loves me. Our marriage is special, and our love keeps growing. I do not love my husband the same amount I did on my wedding day I love him much more than that. That's the thing about true love it continues to grow and mature. I praise God for giving me such a wonderful husband who serves the Lord, and the people around him with a colossal amount of love!!!  I am truly blessed beyond measure. I am looking forward to walking hand in hand into whatever our future brings our way!

Our Big Old Love Today


 

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Black and White Wedding Cake

My Mother-in-law Lounetta and her Mom Granny Sadie as we call her came out of retirement to make this beautiful black and white wedding cake for a family members wedding. These ladies have made many beautiful cakes over the years, but I have to say I think this one is my favorite. I just had to show it off.


Friday, June 10, 2011

Prayer For Max(Guest Writer)

This article was written by Mrs.Dusti Brook who's young son Max was born with a severe form of sleep apnea called hypoventilation. This is a section of Dusti's testimony showing what the Lord is doing in her life, and how she is allowing the Holy Spirit to take control of her fears concerning her son.

Being a mother with a child who has health concerns myself I felt the Holy Spirit use Dusti's testimony to give me awake up call on my own faith, and prayers for my child.  There is no doubt that having children with health concerns minor or major is a scary thing for a parent. It is what we do with that fear and worry that matters. Do we allow the enemy to control us with worry and fear or do we turn it all over to God, and have faith and believe in His all powerful healing. Do we allow the Lord to restore joy in our lives even during our trails.

Prayer For Max by: His Mother (Dusti Brooks)

“It is not wrong to feel fear. It is wrong to let that fear have the last word in your life. But instead of letting that fear disable your dreams, you start increasing your capacity for faith. You act on the part of God’s direction you do understand and leave the rest up to God.”

I went into this prayer and worship time (Awaken my House) with a heavy heart. I wasn’t sure why I felt this way, however I didn’t want it to hinder my time of worship. I began to pray. I kept feeling like I was hitting a brick wall. I just felt numb. I began to ask God why I was feeling so distant. I heard the Holy Spirit ask “ Why are you scared?” I knew exactly what he was talking about, I just wasn’t ready to address it yet. He asked again “ Why are you so scared?” I began to weep. I was so embarrassed to tell him the true reason why. I felt so selfish even thinking it, but I began to talk about what I had been keeping in for the past year.

I didn’t want to acknowledge my fear of why I was not trusting God for Max’s healing. I was condemning myself because our situation was not as bad off as others and telling myself I just needed to be thankful Max was not worst off. I was scared to ask God for an impossible thing out of fear of how foolish I would look if God didn’t come through.

I was scared that if I was too public with my believing for Max’s healing, that if he were never healed, I would be the one that looked dumb. Here I put myself out there trusting God to do something impossible and never see it happen, people were going to think, “Bless her heart. She really thought God still healed.” I felt like the sun was going down after two years of believing God for a sun stand still prayer. I felt like Jairus who had begged Jesus to come heal his daughter and on their way to her he gets the news that she had died and was told there was no need to bother Jesus anymore. I felt like because I haven’t seen the evidence of Max’s healing that he had been overlooked.

I repented for being prideful. I was so sorry for living in fear and doubting the power of God. I felt a wave of healing as I confessed this hidden fear in my heart that night.

Then I was reminded of Jairus’s story again. That even the sun went down on him with the death of his daughter however “Jesus paid no attention to what they had said. He told Jairus, “Don’t be afraid, just believe” (Mark 5:36)

That same night I kept hearing 9-5-08 roll around in my spirit. That is Max’s birthday. I asked the Holy Spirit what it meant and He said, I want you to pray from 9:05 to 9:08 everyday for Max’s healing. Am and Pm.

I just recently finished a book called “Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick. I’ve pulled some passages that challenged me in this journey with Max’s healing.

“Before we dare to ask God to do the impossible in our lives, we have to consider the cost that Christ has already paid. Then, in the light of that ultimate sacrifice, we embrace the same mind-set. No sacrifice is too great for the sake of God’s calling. And before God can do an impossible work in your world, you need to let Him to a deep work in your heart.”

This is where I was at that night. I needed God to do an impossible thing in my own heart to realize I was the very one holding back the move of God in my life. I was refreshed in a moment for what my spirit had been craving for a year. I was ready to get back in the game. I was ready to start running not just for Max’s healing but for the Glory of the Lord. To pursue the Healer not Max’s healing.

“That’s why audacious faith is so vital. It brings your unseen future possibilities into focus right now. It redirects your attention from what is right now to what you believe will be one day. And it ensures that you don’t give up in the meantime-before you ever get to see you dream become a reality.”

What do I believe will be one day? I believe that Max will breath on his own. I believe that he will not need a ventilator to breath for him. I stand firm that his brain stem will tell him that when his body goes to sleep that it will continue breathing. I see what doctors say will never be, a reality. I am so very thankful for the great doctors in Max’s life that take great care of him but THANK the LORD this is too big for them. This is an impossible situation in their eyes. "And he said, the things which are impossible with men are possible with God" (Luke 18:27). Yes I understand their reasons why Max will need a trach and be ventilated for the rest of his life, but it doesn’t out weigh the word of God. God said himself in Isaiah 45:23 “So turn to me and be helped—saved!— everyone, whoever and wherever you are. I am God, the only God there is, the one and only.I promise in my own name: Every word out of my mouth does what it says. I never take back what I say.” Later in Isaiah 53:5 He says “ And by His stripes we are healed.” I have no reason to doubt. It was my pride that made me forget these promises.

“But perhaps God is calling you to lead the way so that others can see a different example of the true nature of faith- an example that will fill them with a longing to experience his power. And someone has to make the first move. It might as well be you.”

So after I read that I felt an urging to invite you to join me in this journey. That if you would like to join me in praying at either 9:05-9:08 am or pm or both, you can hook up with us for God’s glory to be seen in Max’s life. That in believing for Max’s healing it would challenge you to begin to pray audacious prayers for your own life, marriage, children, health, etc. “The measure of God’s abilities will always surpass the measures of our audacity. No prayer is to big for our God. No vision to sweeping. No risk too great.

God has never been nervous about His ability to live up to our faith in Him.”

“Faith is contagious. You will be empowered when you surround yourself with people who will help to bear the burden of your prayer. They’ll help you keep the vision in sight when there’s nothing to see. They’ll remind you of God’s faithfulness when your own faith is faltering. They’ll increase the effectiveness of your prayer exponentially by joining their faith with yours.”

So I’m ready to surround myself with people who will bear this burden in prayer. I’ve been very reluctant to be vocal about this area in my life because of my pride but since I have decided to crucify that daily, there is no reason to be embarrassed in God’s truth that is available for Max, and because I do not know when his healing will be complete, I’m going to run after God during this process. I am ready to covert this time of crisis into an opportunity.

“The story behind the glory . That’s called the process. But the process in invaluable. The process is a time of strengthening. The process in the place where you lay down your pride and learn to rely totally on God. Most importantly, the process is the way we grow to know God. And that’s really the whole point.”

“We’re asking God for something that only He can accomplish- and that only He can take credit for. When you begin to activate your faith and pray Sun Stand Still prayers, you’re doing more than just changing your life. Your placing yourself in the middle of a move of God.”


Max with Older Brother Clay

Dusti has shared once before here on the blog if you would like to read even more click Life with Miracles.