First things first...

You ever felt like a chicken runnin around with your head cut off? Ok read that again and imagine me saying that with a real twangy kuntry voice. Someone somewhere told me that they are really able to do that. Anyways, sorry for the graphic poultry descriptor, but i thought it was a perfect example for our lives sometimes. This morning as i was running around the house trying to take care of Tina and Katie and meet all of their needs i found myself getting really irritable and grouchy. i then had this amazing ah ha moment...Although i love serving my beautiful wife and daughter, i had not taken the time to spend some alone time with God yet. i know from past experiences that when i don't take at least 5 minutes (minimum) early in the morning to sit, relax and fellowship with my God that the rest of my day will pay for it. So, i made myself stop, sit down and i opened up my bible and i started reading. i then listened to some praise and worship music by Bethel Live (amazing stuff!). Literally within a minute or two i physically felt all the stress, tension and irritability leaving me. Ahhhhhh. In Proverbs 3:6 it says "In everything you do, put God first, and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success." My prayer is that both you and i would always remember to put God first in our life through our time, energy, thoughts, finances etc...

Update: We came home from the hospital this week and overall we are doing well. Tina still has her up's and down's but there are definitely more up's lately. She is receiving home based physical, occupational and speech therapy and i told her that i would offer her some free psychological services but she passed :) For now we rest in the Powerful, Unwavering, Almighty hands of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

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- A messenger of God

A Different View...

When i am flying i love sitting in the window seat so i can look out in wonder at God's awesome creation. Have you noticed how different the view is from up above as opposed to being on the ground? i recently had this experience at the hospital. Tina and i have traveled back and forth through the medical center dozens and dozens of times over the past several years and fought many battles on these grounds. After seeing the same scenery over and over it tends to become routine...until you get a different view of things. The other day Tina and i stood on the 24th floor of MD Anderson looking out over the Houston horizon. As i looked down on the medical center i noticed how different things looked from that view (e.g. i could see things i had never seen before and i could see more clearly how things interconnected). It was in that moment that i felt God speaking to my heart and saying "Aaron, this is how I see things...from up above, not how you see them...you only see things from your level but I AM able to see ALL things and how they work together for My purpose." This experience reminds me of the verse in Isaiah 55: 8-9 that says "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts."

When you see me please encourage me (and i will encourage you) to daily seek to see things from a different view...God's view. We can do this by daily reading His word, talking to Him and pursuing our Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus with our whole heart.

Update: Tina has had a week full of up's (walking, eating well, laughter and smiles, dressing herself, sharing a romantic dinner with me on the 24th floor overlooking a sparkling lit up downtown panorama) and down's (more nausea, throwing up, pain, GI problems and a seizure) and to be honest this "roller coaster" is making my head dizzy...BUT God continues to hold our hands during these times and reminds us to look to Him so that we may see all of this through His eyes :)

In the name of Jesus Christ.

- A messenger of God

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Jars of Clay...

When I was much younger I made a ceramic mug at my school. When I started it was just a lump of clay, but when I was done shaping and molding the clay it was a new creation. I then learned that in order for it to be "useful" the teacher had to place it in a kiln to fire it. This reminds me of the verse in 2 Corinthians 4:7 that states "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." Just like that lump of clay, when we give our life to Christ he will shape us and mold us into a new creation...and just like that mug in order to be "useful" for Christ we as His followers will often go through many fiery trials in our lifetime. Check out this verse in 1 Peter 4:12-13 "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed." I am also reminded of the concept that in order for a sword to be made sound it has to be placed into a refining fire to make it strong. During this season in our life, Tina and I know full well the pain that a fiery trial can bring....BUT we also know full well that our God is making us stronger through this and we feel so honored that He is using us as we share in His sufferings.

Reflection for you and me: Are we allowing God to use us for His glory and for His purpose? Are we just "pretty" jars sitting on a shelf (expecting only health, wealth and a lifetime free of any "inconvenience") or are we willing to go through fiery trials so that we can be vessels of His mercy and love used to bring refreshment to a thirsty world?

Update: Tina is doing much better today. Her pain and nausea are under control and she has been sleeping well too. She has also been doing well in her physical, occupational and speech therapy. Despite the continued trials we are doing well. We really are. In fact, just a few moments ago Tina and I were laughing hysterically about an inside joke that only she and I will ever know about :)

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p.s. This blog was inspired by Tina's blog entitled Broken Jar dated 8-4-2011. Go check it out and many of the other amazing blogs that she and God wrote together.

- A messenger of God

Like no one else can....

Have you ever had to sit and watch someone you love go through pain? Watching someone you love go through pain (physical, emotional, etc) is a terribly difficult experience especially if you feel like there is little you can do to relieve their pain. It makes me wonder what God was thinking/feeling as He watched His own Son go through the Passion or suffering from the garden to the cross. Can you even imagine?? I have a beautiful 3 year old princess and I cringe when she scrapes her little knee. But...God loved us SO much that he choose to let His Son suffer for you and I. That is amazing love!

Update: Tina has really been suffering a lot the past 2 days with bouts of pain in her back/neck and head so intense that it causes nausea & vomiting, in addition to gastrointestinal issues, lack of sleep, fatigue, allergic reactions to medications and on and on... It has been very challenging for me to watch this knowing that despite all my efforts there is little I can do to relieve her pain, yet even now God is encouraging me and reminding me that He understands her pain and my pain perfectly. So I remind myself that the greatest thing that I can do is to pray for her knowing that her loving Heavenly Father is watching over her and caring for her like no one else can...and knowing that, my heart is filled with His hope and joy confident that she will be victorious in this battle :)

Verse which inspires me: "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:15-16)

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- A messenger of God

Wondering why...

Have you ever asked the question: "Why does God allow suffering?" or "Why me?" or "Why now God?" If you have, you are not alone. These questions have been asked innumerable times before. Consider the following passage in 2 Corinthians 2:3-4 that states "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." Did you get that? That's an answer to the "why" question. I realize it may not be the only answer to these difficult questions in every case, but nonetheless it definitely is an answer for many of us at times if we are open to the possibility. When we as Christians suffer, God comforts us and then when we see someone else who is suffering we can share God's comfort with them. Now that's really cool! What troubles are you facing right now? Have you ever stopped to think of your "troubles" as a blessing? Ok...don't stop reading..I am not crazy ;) The next time trouble comes knocking at your door...think "Ok God teach me to grow from this so I can encourage someone else" and then after you have gone thru it and hopefully grown from it, keep your eyes wide open for someone who is going thru the same trouble and reach out to them with God's love.

Update: Tina is doing much, much better today. She is eating, sitting for short periods of time and even walking to the restroom with assistance. Her pain levels are under control and she is tolerating more light and sound. Praise God! Thank you for all your powerful prayers. If you are facing a "trouble" right now that you could use some prayer for please let me know so we can keep you in our prayers as well.

Prayer needs: Pray that God continues to send people into our life who are hurting and who share similar stories to our own and that we would be a vessel of God's mercy, love and comfort to them in a very real way.


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- A messenger of God

Battle weary...

Have you ever been in a fight before? I am not proud to admit it but I have to confess that I was in a physical fight as a young boy. Long story short I was in elementary school and another boy kept saying nasty comments about my momma during recess even though I told him to stop....so I "settled it" with him at the park after school "once and for all". Looking back on it I know I should have handled it differently, but I also stop and reflect on how that fight was so momentary compared to the "battles" we face in life. Maybe the battle you are facing today is an ongoing relationship difficulty, a financial hardship or a health issue similar to Tina. Whatever the battle may be, if it is a noble and God honoring one, I want to encourage you to never, ever, ever give up and to let God fight the battle for you. I hope the following verses inspire you:

"...Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed...for the battle is not yours but God's." 2 Chronicles 20:15

"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ..." 2 Corinthians 2:14

Update: As I write these words I am still recovering from a very long and difficult night with Tina. I don't want to focus on all the details of it so I will just say that we are both "battle weary"...but God refreshes us and gives us His strength to carry on :)

Things to keep in prayer: Tina is still VERY hypersensitive to light and sounds which causes her brain to go "haywire" and she is also in a lot of pain frequently throughout the day. Finally, please keep next Monday in your prayers that we receive fantastic news on her lab work ups.

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- A messenger of God

Arise!

Some of the two most powerful words that have ever been spoken are..."Talitha cumi". Unless you are fluent in Aramaic you may not know what these two words mean. In Mark 5:41 Jesus spoke these two words to a little girl that had died but He declared emphatically that she was only sleeping. These two words mean "Little girl, Arise!". Well...although I can't prove it I would like to think that Jesus whispered these same words to Tina as she just awoke from surgery. "Tina, Arise"! She is now awake and doing great! Praise God :)

More updates to come tomorrow...

If there is anyone reading this who may be "sleeping" spiritually I believe that Jesus would speak those same two words to you. "Arise ___________"!

If you do not know the amazing love of Christ give your heart to Him today and awake to your new life in Him! :)

If you haven't seen the video Tina did recently you can check it out @
http://vimeo.com/35237369

Check out our blog @ christslegacy.blogspot.com

- A messenger of God

Puzzle Pieces...

The big day is finally here and I know it may sound strange but Tina and I are very excited about it. If you are asking yourself "Why would anyone be excited about brain surgery?"...well it's because from the beginning we placed our lives and desires in the Hands of God and told Him that no matter what, we would follow His will...so as we are preparing for neurosurgery we simply see this as just another step forward in His awesome plan for our lives. Tina put it perfectly many years ago when she described our lives as a puzzle. It you put your face too close to it then all you can see is just the individual "pieces", but as you back away and get God's perspective on it you can see the "puzzle of perfection".

Details: Check-in time is 10:30am. Surgery is scheduled for around noon. Miracle is already in progress :)

I will try to post more updates later today or tomorrow.

Follow our blog @ christslegacy.blogspot.com

- A messenger of God