15 “I am the Lord, your Holy One, The Creator of Israel, your King.” 16 Thus says the Lord, Who makes a way through the sea And a path through the mighty waters, 17 Who brings forth the chariot and the horse, The army and the mighty man (They will lie down together and not rise again; They have been quenched and extinguished like a wick): 18 “Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past. 19 Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert." Isaiah 43:15-19, (NASB) I found it unexpectedly one morning...a parenthesis around a particular verse in the Bible...as if it were God giving us a specific "e.g." (an abbreviation for the Latin words exempli gratia, which means "for the sake of example) to further illustrate what he meant in the previous verse. I don't think I've ever seen a parenthesis in the Bible before and it therefore piqued my interest. I often use parentheses while writing, for added emphasis.
I think Isaiah did the same thing but more specifically the emphasis acted as a transition from past to future. He, in essence, reminded the Israelites that, despite their exile into Babylon, He still had a plan for them. When backed up against the Red Sea with no place to go, He led them through the impossible. Isaiah emphasizes here that the enemy was drowned, quenched, extinguished like a candle wick. He then admonishes them to look for the future and NOT to think of the past. I continue to hope for those roadways God will make for us in the wilderness and how He will provide rivers in our deserts! I look forward to Spring, for those bulbs that have been hidden in the darkness but will rise from the earth to flower into glorious colors.
The other day as I was reading in Ephesians, the thought
struck me that this small letter was the only written information the burgeoning
church in Ephesus had. One little scroll of truth was to be passed among the believers
directing their journey in their new life with Christ. It wasn’t that I had never
been told this, but the “ah-hah” caused me to stop and ponder.
One small letter, containing small prayers, tiny phrases and
praises of truth, written by an imprisoned individual, guided by a still small Voice.
And with that scant information individuals and families, as well as the church
itself, flourished and grew. In fact, one source credits the Ephesians church
with playing “a significant role in the spread of early Christianity.”
But to complicate, during that time, the city of Ephesus was
one of the largest cities in the world; a huge metropolitan civilization in western
Asia Minor teeming with multiple religions, politics and commerce. And to
better appreciate the power in all “the small”, Ephesus was also the site of
one of the Seven Wonders of the World: the Artemision – the worship temple of
the Greek goddess Artemis.
Interesting. One small Holy Spirit inspired scroll, written
from a prison cell, sent to a remnant of new believers enveloped in an imposing
pagan metropolis. And by allowing a snippet of truth to permeate them, this tiny band of believers greatly assisted in the increase of the gospel Jesus Christ.
I wonder what would happen if a remnant of believers in a not-so-big-mountain-town
in southwestern Colorado allowed the same small letter, with the same small
prayers, tiny phrases and praises of truth to infiltrate their lives. Would
that be enough for the eternal Holy Spirit to affect great change in and
through them?
you have two choices: Regret or Redemption" ~ The Hospital Mom
On January 27, 1999 the unthinkable became our reality. Our pink and precious daughter of 6 months suffered a massive mid-cerebral arterial stroke. The main artery between her spine and her brain had become blocked from a blood clot at the juncture where it splits into the left and right hemispheres. Worldwide, 1 in 25,000 live births will suffer a stroke each year.
The years that have followed have been tumultuous. Doctors, therapies, drug studies, seizures, and surgeries. There are times where I felt I have earned doctoral degrees in Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacology, Neurology, Developmental Pediatrics and Child Psychology from the Mother's Medical Institute.
At any moment I can walk into an emergency room and speak in medical terms with any nurse, doctor or specialist. Pity the poor nurse who argued with me that my child could not possibly have suffered a stroke. "Children do not have strokes," she said with condescending authority.
Ashley was having seizures and I walked into the emergency room in Tulsa, Oklahoma telling the medical team what she needed. I had been on the phone with her neurologist and we agreed I could transport her to the hospital quicker than an ambulance could find me - plus I was already in the car and on my way - and he would meet me there.
My dad met us at the hospital and while he entertained my 25 month old daughter, I politely asked the nurse to step outside the room. "Never tell a parent in front of a child that they are making up a diagnosis, especially one this horrid," I said with the indignation of a mom who was living the unimaginable. The nurse continued to argue with me as the doctor approached and I told her to go pull up the MRI and CT scans from the past 2 years. "I will," she assured me and stomped off, hands on her hips. And she did. The neurologist arrived, treatment began and later, he brought a very apologetic nurse into the room and assured her that infants do indeed have strokes.
That night I realized that parents must be advocates for their children. As the years passed, I learned most parents are so intimated by the medical process, hospital personnel and are simply overwhelmed by their situation that they are afraid to speak up. They will accept whatever is told them and not ask questions, advocate for help or seek solutions for their children.
I have worked with families in numerous settings - adult education centers, as a parent advocate in schools, at church and as a chaplain. The redemption of Ashley's story is in sharing the wisdom, education and experiences we have gained in this struggle. Parents of chronically medically challenged children are more likely to divorce, have extra-marital affairs and battle addictions. As their world centers around their children, hospitals and the medical world, they withdraw into themselves and face depression while living in a constant state of regret - the "would of, could of, should of" state of mind.
Our purpose is simple:
To provide Hope and Humor to Families of Chronically Medically Challenged Children.
Answering Emails of Hurting Families at Kim@hospitalmom.net
H.O.P.E. Delivery Bags for Caregivers at Hospitals
Currently, I am writing a book to bring Hope to Families. The following is an excerpt from "Beautifully Complicated," the story of redeeming the hurt in our lives in order "to Know HIM and Make HIM Known."
from BEAUTIFULLY COMPLICATED
“This is my Father’s World
and to my listening ears
All nature sings and ‘round me rings
The beauty of the sphere.”
Eighteen years ago I first sang this song to my infant baby girl. Born early - eager to change our world. Born tiny - proving size does not matter. Born the baby sister - her brother in love with her before she was before. Born a surprise - her daddy named her the moment he saw the positive pregnancy test.
“This is my Father’s World
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees; of skies and seas
His hand the wonders wrought.”
Fifteen times I have laid her on an operating table and sang those words in her ear as she drifted to sleep. Sometimes easily. Sometimes fearfully, gripping my hand. Sometimes I have had tears in own voice and many times, I have sang to a room full of surgeons and technicians who came to the operating theater because they had heard of this family who sang before surgery and wanted to experience the peace that is in the room.
Three times I have sang this hymn in the surgery waiting room because that facility did not allow me to accompany her into the operating room.
Eighteen surgeries.
Thousands of miles driven in rain, snow, sunshine and shadow.
Months our family has lived apart - separated by 8 hours and the Rocky Mountains.
Dozens of professionals. Hundreds of medications. Thousands of phone calls to doctors. Ten Thousands of hours in research by specialists and parents.
Millions of prayers raised by family, friends and even strangers.
This indeed is My Father's World. The Unthinkable will happen because this world is in a fallen state where the sin of mankind has brought heartache. Yet God redeems the pain of our fallen state to help each other. When we help each other that pain becomes bearable, even manageable as we allow Him to reveal His glory as we live other lives for others.
“This is my Father's world.
O let me ne'er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father's world:
why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad!”
Are you living the Unthinkable?
Where you never dreamed you would be?
Are you living in Regret - depressed, lonely, self-pity - or in Redemption?
As you listen to the song below, go to God in Prayer and
The other day, I had a hard and messy conversation with an
individual regarding their dissatisfaction with the church, and what they felt
was wrong with it. The truth is I was hurt and very frustrated, as this wasn’t
the first time I’d been approached with the same thing. However, after I allowed myself the shabby process of
sorting out my raw emotions with God and my husband, the Lord reminded of II
Corinthians 5:17-21:
“Therefore,
if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away;
behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has
reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of
reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to
Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the
word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God
were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to
God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the
righteousness of God in Him.”
I realized if things
were the way He intended in the beginning, there would be no need for our
administrating reconciliation. For when things are reconciled, they are
back to the way they were created to be.
When Christ was here He waded through enormous dysfunction
with people’s perceptions of what He needed to do to make things right – in the
synagogues; with the Pharisees and crowds; with the twelve men He hand-picked
to journey with Him; even with his mother and siblings. And though
Scripture doesn’t give much detail about His childhood, I can’t help but think
there was a lot of muddling He had to endure just being a kid and teenager.
We want things to be neat and tidy; to be okay. And more times
than not, I think that means, the way I
want them to be. We hate the groaning our spirits, bodies and souls experience
when we perceive things are not the way they’re supposed to be. And the last
thing we want to do is stick around and engage in the hard work of restoration.
Several years ago, a wise young man said to me, “Relationships are messy, and no one wants
to get involved in them.” He was right. It’s obvious. When things don’t go
the way we want, our first reaction is to bail…. don’t stick around and muddle
through the mess and confusing in-betweens. It hurts. It’s hard. We have no
promise that we’re going to see resolution. And what’s worse, we have no control
over the outcome, let alone another’s choice.
I completely understand. I’ve bailed more times than I care
to admit. I’ve thrown my hands up in frustration umpteen times, “knowing” for certain
things are never going to change. But if that is true, then this passage of
Scripture isn’t. So today, I am actually thankful for the individual
approaching me. For although the issue was not resolved, I now see I was presented with another opportunity to
use my “ambassador muscles.” God, and this person, trusted me with part of the messy process
of bringing a piece of reconciliation to this beautiful, broken and messy
world. And I am glad I chose to engage in it.
Well, evidently I don't. I've been the recipient of two surprise parties in my lifetime and both times I was so determined to stay home that I almost missed my own celebrations.
Recently some of my dear girlfriends dressed as Pirates - in honor of my favorite movies - and threw me a Surprise Birthday / Encouragement Party. There was sushi and pirate booty, pirate punch, cannonball meatballs and even a Pirate Ship chocolate cake! The wackiness was great, the laughter healing and I'm so glad they were able to get me to my own party!
Their gifts to me that evening were simple & yet extravagant. Their time. Their attention. Their love.
Then each person took time to share with me either a scripture or word that God had shown them I needed to hear; they shared what I had meant to them in their lives.
It was awesome and humbling.
This season of our life has been long and hard and weary. There are days that getting dressed is a major victory. These ladies have stood with me, prayed for me and stood in the gap when I could no longer pray at all. As they shared words like Determined and Listen and scriptures from Psalm 20, a balm was poured over my soul and freshness awakened within me.
New Strength ~ New Peace ~ New Energy!
Everyone needs Encouragement now and then. It doesn't have to be a Pirate Party - a card to your neighbor, an email to a friend, a text to your spouse - those words mean so much.
Your words of love and truth can bring life and hope to a hurting heart.
Who needs to your Words of Encouragement?
Ask the Lord to show you - in the grocery store, in your workplace, at school,
Ever just get tired of being here? In this life? In this time and place, filling this space on earth?
Sometimes I look around at the pain and heartache of this world and I just want to hide. Runaway. Flee.
Senseless death claims a friend's son and another friend's brother. Cancer. A family struggles to find a home. War. Broken relationships. Disease wrecks bodies. Marriages in crisis.
Young people grapple for identity. Fallen Heroes. People use their hurts as weapons. Slavery claims more captives than ever in human history. Abortion. Children are pawns in a game of "love". They are disposable. Suicide. Loss.
It just hurts too much.
Hopelessness begins to surround me like a cloud. It wraps around me like a heavy woolen blanket, hot and inescapable. Struggle seems futile as it pulls me into despair.
"Where are you God ?!"
Silence.
"Do you see this mess ?!?"
Darkness
"Do you care?"
Then I hear Him whisper...
And a song fills my heart . . .
His promise is true. . .
"He is near to the brokenhearted and those whose spirits are crushed," Psalm 34:18
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