19 Years and Counting

On October 16, 1993 my parents said, "I do". 

 

 

In February 1993, my dad was 23 and mom was 19. They met at my aunt's house, arranged by my aunt and my grandmother. Two weeks later they were engaged. My dad's proposal to my mom was romantically unique. He showed up at her job at the University of Kentucky Medical Center, where she was in charge of the General Surgery Clinic's medical records. He was cleverly dressed up as Prince Charming and was "delivered" by his brother in a washing machine box, which was wrapped up like a present.

 

With family, friends, co-workers, and the local news filming, my mom opened her abnormally large present and out came my dad. He recited a exquisitely written poem, and then dropped down on one knee and asked my mom, "Jennifer Dawn James, will you marry me?" Eight months later, at 24 and 20 respectively, they were married.

 

19 years and three children later, love is still in the air. :-) God brought them through many trials, and they have not only grown closer to each other over the years, but closer to Jesus.

 

I couldn't ask for better parents. They're not perfect, but are constantly striving towards becoming a mirrored image of Christ; and for this I am eternally grateful. From them I've learned that God can take a difficult and rough past, and bring you to a place of restoration and healing, if we are willing to study and respond to His Word.  

 

Happy Anniversary Dad and Mom. I love you both with all my heart. <3

 

 

With gratitude and thankfulness to God to be your daughter,

 

Morgan

 

 

 

The Sibling I Have Yet To Gain

This is a poem I wrote earlier this year. My parents found out a year or two ago that they are unable to medically have any more children. But we are believing by faith, that if it's God's will for us to have more children in our family, He will work a miracle. This poem was written to "the sibling I have yet to gain".

The Sibling I Have Yet To Gain

                 I think about you often, even though we’ve never met.

 

I don’t know your name, what you look like, not even your gender, shape, or size.

I think about all fun things we could do playing dolls, trucks and games. 

I think about the tears and the laughter we would share.

I would teach you what is right and correct you lovingly when you are wrong.

I would teach you how to braid your hair or how to throw a ball.

It’s weird, I’ve never met you, yet I already feel I have.

I long to look into your curious eyes, to tell you how precious you are in His eyes.

But God’s plan is very different than mine. And although I want to meet you and hold you in my arms, I will wait for His perfect timing, to deliver you into our care.

So as I continue dreaming of meeting you face to face, you will, until that day, remain the sibling I have yet to gain.

 

Fish and Anticipation

The art of anticipating: to look forward to as certain: expect (Merriam Webster Dictionary)

My family and I went camping this past weekend. Upon arriving on Friday evening, we were delighted to discover that on our campsite (which was right next to the bay and connected to the ocean) was a miniature dock. It was refreshing to be able to sit and dip our feet in the cool water.

My grandfather, whom we call "Poppy," provided the lot for us as well as the camper.  It was heavenly compared to the tent camping we did when I was younger.  My dad says that you have never been a true camper until you have slept in a hot nylon tent on a plastic air mattress several nights in a row.  My dad is too funny. :-)

Anyway, back to my story. Poppy brought his fishing gear with him and my younger sister, Makaya, was more than enthusiastic to make good use of it. She planned to wake up bright and early the next morning to start her fishing adventure. Around 7:15am (since mom had her go back to sleep around 5:15am), she woke up ready to start fishing. There was one problem: it was raining outside. As the day progressed, the rain fell harder. Amazingly, being the wonderfully persistent girl my little sister is, fished all morning and periodically throughout the day, searching for her first fish.

Sunday morning came, the rain clouds dissipated and the beautiful sun shone brightly in the morning sky.  Upon finishing morning devotions together as a family, Makaya closed us in prayer saying, "Thank you God for this day and this devotion. Please help us have a great day, and please let me catch at least one fish, in Jesus' Name, Amen." We all smiled at her and thought (or at least I did) how cute and innocent her prayer was. Simple, honest, and to the point.

Everyone went about their business while mom and I sat on the couch in the camper (again, it's so nice to have air conditioning while camping). :-) and watched Makaya through the camper window. How cute she looked, standing on the dock, the hot dog-baited fishing pole in one hand and a fishing net in the other.

This picture of my sister made me think, "How many times do I want or "need" something from God?  How impatient do I become, complaining about how He's 'taking too long' to answer my questions and pleas?"  In reality, all I need to do is be persistent and anticipate, waiting for Him to show up and trust that He will answer me in His perfect timing. Just because I have my "line" or prayer "in", doesn't mean He's going to immediately answer.  It takes time, effort, and patience on my end. Even though fish weren't biting my sister's line, it doesn't mean there weren't any fish to catch.  Similarly, God may not be answering right away, but that does not mean He's not there.  On the contrary, He is!

So, approximately five minutes after contemplating these thoughts my mom and I hear Makaya gleefully screaming, "Daddy! Daddy! Come quickly!"  A nice-size fish was dangling from my sister's pole. Her face was priceless as she proudly showed off her first catch. After all of that waiting, her prayers were answered and her desire was fulfilled. It was an incredible moment, not just for her, but surprisingly to me as well--one that I will not easily forget.

By the end of the day, with some help from dad and Poppy, Makaya caught about 17 more fish. God blessed her efforts of wating patiently, and in the same way, does the same for us.

The Bible says in Matthew 18:3, "And he said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

God is always listening and ready to move in our life. We need to anticipate Him, faithfully praying, persistently waiting, and always trusting and having faith in Him. Blessings are always sure to follow if we will just wait and anticipate our Heavenly Father.


"Wait for the Lord; Be strong,and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord." -Psalm 27:14


Be Blessed!


-Morgan

Forgiveness and Healing

What do you think when you hear the word forgiveness? Well, actually forgiveness (or to forgive) is an action, not a feeling. The Merriam-Webster dictionary describes forgiving as: "willing or able to forgive". So many of us only forgive when it's convenient for us, or it didn't hurt us enough to hold bitterness against that person.

If you would have asked me over a year ago (or even as recently as a month ago) what forgiveness meant to me I would have probably said, "Forgiveness? Oh, yeah, I forgive people. When they say 'I'm sorry' I forgive". But do I really? I mean honestly and truly? We say we "forgive" the offender, but why do we still harbor stuff against them?  It eventually comes back to the surface. Unforgiveness gives lead way for bitterness to enter into our lives, and from there retaliation, and so forth.

Here's an example: Your brother/sister does something that hurts or offends you. He/she apologizes and you say "I forgive you". Later that day (after dwelling on the fact that you still can't believe he/she had the nerve to do that certain thing), that same person accidentally bumps into you and you drop your books on the floor. Instead of saying, "No problem" or "That's okay", you say (because you've been thinking about the other offense) "What's your deal?!" or "Watch where you're going!" or simply shout their name in an angry tone. Too many times I have been guilty of these very things. It's much easier to push things under the rug, than to deal with them quickly. Life gets busy and you never get the chance to mend the relationship.  Before you know it, what was a "little" thing, festers into a major break out, all because you weren't willing to let go and forgive.

On many occasions forgiveness, whether you're on the giving or receiving end, won't be easy. Remember, it's not a feeling, it's a choice. Matthew says, "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

So, therein lies the challenge for all of us. Who might you be holding unforgiveness and bitterness toward? Don't just say, "Oh, yes, I've forgiven everyone," rather, check your heart and ask God to show you who and what you may be harboring against someone (e.g., a parent, teacher, sibling, or maybe even a friend). Once you are walking in agreement with the spirit of unforgiveness, you are walking in agreement with the principality of bitterness as well.  And his goal is to ruin your life and as many of your relationships as possible.  Know your enemy!

Remember, mending broken relationships is not going to happen overnight--it takes time and effort on your part. Stay alert, though.  After you clean all the dirt from under your life's rug, the enemy will stop at nothing to try and get you back into your life. "...'I [the enemy] will return to the house I left'..." (Matt. 12:43-45; James 4:7-8).

Be encouraged... "For what is impossible (or seems impossible) with men is possible with God" (Luke 18:27).

May you be blessed and know that God will never leave you nor forsake you (Heb. 13:5). Search for Him, and you will find him (Deu. 4:29; Jer. 29:13).  You won't have to look far, and most likely you'll discover that He's been by your side the whole time, waiting for you to choose.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Morgan


"...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it out onto completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Phil. 1:6)

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This is another one of my life songs right now. It's called "Forgiveness" and is written and sung by Matthew West. When I feel the unforgivness trying to creep back up in my thoughts, I pray, renew my mind, and listen to this song (surprisingly enough, I'll go up in my room on many occasions and this song is playing on the radio...thank you Jesus! His timing is so perfect.). Listen to the words and allow them to speak into your life.

The Theme Song for this blog

I want to start out this blog by saying, God is so awesome! Despite our sins and failings, He is merciful and His grace is sufficient for all. "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." -Psalm 19:14

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it" (Matthew 7:13-14).

             Whenever I read this verse, I can't help but yearn to be one that walks the road that leads to life, and enter through the narrow gate. As Christians, this walk can be difficult; even treacherous at at times. But then the Holy Spirit  is quick to remind us of the end result: eternal fellowship with Him. If we will press on, and continue to run this race; God is faithful and will see us through. If we are diligent in following His commands and are constantly growing in our relationship with Him, we will one day get to hear those glorious words spoken to us from Jesus, "Well done, good and faithful servant". :-)              

This song by Moriah Peters is one of my life songs right now. I want to be a risk taker; leaving the things of this world behind me and only following after the One who really matters. When everything is said and done, it's not going to matter if I had the latest fashions in my closet, if I had the newest Apple product, had lots of friends, was "popular", well liked, or even if I did "good things".... God wants a heart that's willing to give up all of that stuff up (of which has no eternal value anyway); actively pursuing and growing in a relationship with Him...no matter what trials may come, no matter the persecutions you may encounter for being "different"(Matt. 5:10; James 1:2-3).

Stand firm, endure to the end...Jesus is waiting for you. Great will be your reward in Heaven.

Be encouraged!

-Morgan