Prayer for a Friend (a really cute friend, I might add)

So one of my friends is having surgery on Thursday morning.  It would be really swell if you all could pray for him.  His name is Jude and he is super sweet.  I love him a lot.  See how cute he is:

Mr. Jude is showing off that he has learned how to stand

It's a relatively minor procedure, but he will still have to go under anesthesia, which is never fun.  He was born without the bones in his thumb being properly formed, so on Thursday, if he is healthy enough, the doctor is going to remove his thumb.
Please pray that the surgery goes well and that he is not in too much pain.  Pray for his mom and dad and siblings too.  It's a big deal for your little son or little brother to have surgery. Please pray also for good weather for travelling. The hospital is about 2 hours away from where he lives and it is winter in Canada....
Here's a picture of me with Jude and his sister and brothers:

Such a sweet, squirrelly bunch.  I love them lots and lots.

Come, For All Things Are Now Ready

Last Sunday I was at a new church.  Well, it wasn't really new, just new to me.   Anyhow, since it was my first time at this particular church, and you can only attend a church for the first time once, I was really paying attention to how the church appeared to visitors (accessibility, warmth, etc).  There will probably be another post about all that soon.  This one though is about a specific part of the service - communion.
This particular church was celebrating communion on this particular Sunday.  Since I was new to this church I was paying very close attention to what was happening during this part of the service.  I wanted to know who was invited to the table and how the elements were served.  Additionally, I was curious as to how they were framing communion, since it was being done at the beginning of the service, instead of after the sermon like I was accustomed to. (I had some other issues with how the service was ordered and what was/wasn't included, but that's not important now).
So I listened close.  The pastor went through the standard liturgy (okay, standard to me...not necessarily standard for all church backgrounds).  He welcomed all to the table who had made profession of faith in a Christian church.  This answered my question as to whether I was welcome (I was).  It also answered my curiosity as to whether or not baptized children were welcome (they were not).  However, I still didn't know how communion would be served.
I could see the (to me) familiar trays on the table, so I assumed the bread was pre-cut and the wine/juice pre-poured, but I wasn't sure if it was going to be brought to us in the pews and passed, or if we were to come forward to receive.  I listened intently. Finally he came to the end of the liturgy and said "Come for all things are now ready".
I stood up.  He had said "come".  At WTS, when the worship leader says "come for all things are now ready" it means it's time to to come forward and receive the elements.  This Sunday however, I quickly realized that "come" didn't actually mean "come".  It actually meant "sit and wait for the table to come to you".  It cause me to spend some time thinking about it (hence why you are getting a blog post).
How many times have I sat in church during a communion service and heard the words "Come for all things are now ready" and let them simply wash over me?
What message does it send when the Preacher says "come" and we all sit?  If the Preacher is speaking for G-d, then it could be said that G-d himself is saying "come" and our response is to sit and wait for it to come to us...
What does it say to visitors or people unfamiliar with our church tradition?  If they, like me, were listening to the words of the Preacher to try and figure out what to expect, how does this dissonance sound to them? It seems to me that we might be sending a message, that we as Christians, don't actually mean what we say. If we don't mean what we say when we talk about simple actions such as coming to the table, how can we be trusted to mean what we say when we talk about more complex and, in some ways abstract, things such as salvation?

I don't say this just in criticism of the church that I attended, but in questioning of many church traditions.  I realize that it might not be practical in all church settings for congregants to actually come forward to receive the elements.  I just wonder if in those situations we would be wise to change our worship words to better reflect the reality of what is actually happening in our churches.

Prayer for a Sister

So my sister is going on a mission trip to Mexico with her school.  I love my sister a lot (even though we sometimes fight and get on each other's nerves).  It would be really great if you all could be lifting her and the team she is going with up in your prayers. If you want to follow along with their adventures, here is a link to their team blog.
http://redeemermexicostmissions.blogspot.com/

Maybe Mono

So I went to the doctor yesterday...I'd been sick for awhile and just wasn't really getting better. I also needed a prescription refill, which is why I'd made the appointment in the first place (and in general, I just needed a doctor other than urgent care, so this appointment was taking care of lots of things).  I talked to the doctor about the prescription I needed refilled and then talked to her about being sick.
Her answer:  I either have mono or I am dealing with the aftermath of influenza.  We're waiting on blood work to confirm or deny that it is mono.
In either case, I'm supposed to be resting as much as possible.  Which is absolutely not wonderful.  Seminary and resting don't exactly go hand in hand.
If you are a praying person, please pray for me. Pray that I am healed quickly.  Pray that I have the patience to deal with having mono.  Pray that I find ways to rest.  Pray that I figure out how to keep up with school while being sick.
Thank you.

Facebook, M.D.?

A short time ago I was involved in a disagreement between two parties on Facebook (FB).  I did not get caught unawares in this disagreement, but rather inserted myself into it, in defense of one party, against the other.  Here's the situation:  A friend of mine, a mother of two children, had recently found out that one of her children has Celiac Disease, lactose intolerance and a few other food allergies.  She has been feeling a little bit overwhelmed by this (which is natural and completely expected) and has been asking her FB friends and for advice and support.  In this particular instance, her child had accidentally ingested some lactose and was dealing with the unpleasant consequences. She was seeking advice from her friends, many of who were living with lactose intolerance and/or Celiac Disease, on how to help alleviate her son's symptoms.  She got a plethora of advices, mostly on how to help with the stomach upset...everything from mint and ginger to Benadryl and activated charcoal. Then, after a time, another friend jumped in and chastised her for seeking medical advice on FB.
This is where I chose to insert myself into the discussion, no holds barred, in full support of my friend. And that is what prompted all the thinking that has fed this post.

When I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease just over 6 years ago, my doctor didn't have a whole lot to tell me, other than to not eat gluten.  I found out how to cook without gluten, how to deal with "mistakes", where gluten likes to hide, and a myriad of other things from a support group, located in a town an hour way.  Since I couldn't drive yet, I only visited the support group once, but it would have been immensely helpful in those first few months to be able to visit it more.
When my parents found out that their children (at that time there were two of us) had food allergies, doctors were less than helpful in giving them advice on how to deal with them.  One doctor even told them that I couldn't live on wind and water, so just to let me eat whatever I wanted.  This by the way, was horrible advice, and had it been followed, I probably wouldn't be here to write this today.

In days and years gone by, support groups, whether formal or informal, have been the the "go-to's" when trying to deal with changes in life.  It is, I think, an instinctive behavior. When faced with a change, with something new or unfamiliar, we seek out others who have gone before us, others who know the path.  Before embarking on a wilderness adventure we want to talk to someone who has been there before, someone who knows the terrain - the dangers and joys of that location.  Before going on vacation, you talk to friends who have vacationed in your chosen location before you - seeking out the best restaurants and which sections of town you are best to avoid.  When a mother is expecting her first baby, she talks to her mother and her other friends who are already mothers - finding out what to expect, what worked for them and what didn't work them.  Same with potty training, separation anxiety, making pickles, beginning to drive, shopping for a car, making a quilt....we seek out others who have gone before us and ask their advice.

In days and years gone by, our support groups were very physical things, our neighbors down the street, the people we sat with at church, our families.  Today, with the Internet and the use of social networking sites, such as Facebook, our support groups have changed slightly.  Now, if I have a question about a new food, or how to deal with a reaction or need a new recipe, I have the experience of over 12,000 people to draw from.  That's a crazy huge support group.

Now, as much good as there is in these support groups, there is also, I think, some danger in these crazy huge support groups. They are great for support, but I think if one is not careful, they can be dangerous.  Support groups are not for diagnosing things.  That is the job of your doctor.  Support groups are not for treating life-threatening situations while they are happening.  That is the job of the emergency room.  Support groups don't always have good, correct, or complete answers.  That's the job of G-d.
Support groups do not replace your doctor, but when used with a good dose of common sense, they can be very useful.  They can help us learn to manage conditions.  They can help us generate questions to ask our doctors.  They can help us determine, in some cases, if we need to seek further medical attention.
I am in support of online support groups, when used with common sense.  I enjoy giving advice out of my lived experiences and asking for advice from others who have gone before.  The Internet, especially social networking sites, like Facebook, have erased borders and time zones, for better and for worse.

Are online support groups replacing something in our society?  I think so. Everything new replaces something old.  I think we just need to be careful what they are replacing and to ask ourselves if we really want replace that.

Keeper of Secrets

This is what happens when I'm beyond exhausted but can't sleep...I write.  And you get to read it.

Keeper of Secrets

They come to me

Whispers on the wind

Quick glances so that no one sees

A note with words, short and broken

They come to me

They come to me

Broken, hurting, afraid

Excited, joyous, hopeful

Anxious, pleading, begging

They come to me

They come to me

Hurts that are big

Joys that are shaky

Fears that are all too real

They come to me

They come to me

I don’t always look for them

I don’t always seek them out

I don’t always expect them

They come to me

They come to me

I hold them in my heart

I lift them in my prayers

I cherish this act of trust

They come to me

They come to me

These whispers on the wind

These secrets from the dark places

These precious burdens of faith

They come to me

They come to me

And for a time, I carry them

But they are more than I can carry

They are more than my heart can hold

But still, they come to me

They come to me

And I hold them for a time.

Then I give them to the One who is able

The One who holds what I cannot

I give them to Him

I give them to Him

The whispers on the wind

The broken, hurting and afraid

The worries, joys, and hopes

I give them to Him

I give them to Him

He holds them closer than I ever could

He lifts them higher than I ever could

He cherishes them more than I ever coul

I give them to Him

I give them to Him

He gives me peace

He gives me rest

He gives me comfort

I give them to Him, my Keeper of Secrets

jep 15.02.11

Valentine's Day

I have the best lover in the world.  Just saying.  And no, no matter what you say, none of you have lovers that even come close.  Sorry. Just take a peek at what He gave me for Valentine's Day.  Then you will know.

He had this delivered right to my back door. Can your Lover top that?

And He gave me this: 8 wonderful days without a seizure.

And He is giving me my voice back.  I can make noises with my mouth!!!

He also wrote me a love letter that is hundreds of pages long.  Here's just a piece of it:

My Child ~

You may not know me, but I know everything about you ~ Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up ~ Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways ~ Psalm 139:3 

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered ~ Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image ~ Genesis 1:27 

In me you live and move and have your being ~ Acts 17:28 

For you are my offspring ~ Acts 17:28 

I knew you even before you were conceived ~ Jeremiah 1:4-5 

I chose you when I planned creation ~ Ephesians 1:11-12 

You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book ~ Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live ~ Acts 17:26 

You are fearfully and wonderfully made ~ Psalm 139:14 

I knit you together in your mother's womb ~ Psalm 139:13 

And brought you forth on the day you were born ~ Psalm 71:6 

I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me ~ John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love ~ 1 John 4:16 

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you ~ 1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child and I am your father ~ 1 John 3:1 

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could ~ Matthew 7:11 

For I am the perfect father ~ Matthew 5:48 

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand ~ James 1:17 

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs ~ Matthew 6:31-33 

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope ~ Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love ~ Jeremiah 31:3 

My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore ~ Psalm 139:17-18 

And I rejoice over you with singing ~ Zephaniah 3:17 

I will never stop doing good to you ~ Jeremiah 32:40 

For you are my treasured possession ~ Exodus 19:5 

I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul ~ Jeremiah 32:41 

And I want to show you great and marvelous things ~ Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me ~ Deuteronomy 4:29 

Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart ~ Psalm 37:4 

For it is I who gave you those desires ~ Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine ~ Ephesians 3:20 

For I am your greatest encourager ~ 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you ~ Psalm 34:18 

As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart ~ Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes ~ Revelation 21:3-4 

And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth ~ Revelation 21:3-4 

I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus ~ John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed ~ John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being ~ Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you ~ Romans 8:31 

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins ~ 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled ~ 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 

His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you ~ 1 John 4:10 

I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love ~ Romans 8:31-32 

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me ~ 1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you from my love again ~ Romans 8:38-39 

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen ~ Luke 15:7 

I have always been Father, and will always be Father ~ Ephesians 3:14-15 

My question is ~ Will you be my child? ~ John 1:12-13 

I am waiting for you ~ Luke 15:11-32

                                                                                                   Love, Your Dad, Almighty G-d

Can your lover top any of that?  

Father's Love Letter used by permission Father Heart Communications 
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