Saturday, July 30, 2005
WOW!
Wow! We are getting ready to do our second Vacation Bible School at Grace and yesterday was preparation day. We were encouraged to see over 40 people, men, women, and children, show up to help decorate and do final preparations. Everyone- Americans, Japanese, and Latin Americans were all working together for a common goal... reaching the children of Ome with the love of Christ. It was very cool!
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
What a month!
Things that have been happening...
Vanessa our dear friend from the states arrived to spend the summer with us.
We went to Saipan as a family, but also to celebreate our 15th wedding anniversary.
We have been feverishly preparing for Vacation Bible School at our church.
What I have been thinking about...
Love bears all things, hopes all things, believes all things, endures all things (1 Cor 13)
What does this kind of love look like in action? My love has been tested to the limit lately, and I have discovered how quickly I come to the end of my own ability to love. Oh, I want to be loving alright, the problem is, I want to feel loving first! But I think real love, is loving regardless of feeling, or maybe even in spite of it. NOT EASY!
Vanessa our dear friend from the states arrived to spend the summer with us.
We went to Saipan as a family, but also to celebreate our 15th wedding anniversary.
We have been feverishly preparing for Vacation Bible School at our church.
What I have been thinking about...
Love bears all things, hopes all things, believes all things, endures all things (1 Cor 13)
What does this kind of love look like in action? My love has been tested to the limit lately, and I have discovered how quickly I come to the end of my own ability to love. Oh, I want to be loving alright, the problem is, I want to feel loving first! But I think real love, is loving regardless of feeling, or maybe even in spite of it. NOT EASY!
Friday, June 24, 2005
Sad news
It has been a sad week. For reasons that we might never know, God has chosen to take our second little one home to be with Him. On Father's Day we were getting ready to eat with some friends at a restaurant and I noticed that I was spotting some. I left immediately and went to the hospital to be checked out. It turned out that our baby had actually stopped growing at around 6-7 weeks. On Wednesday I had another D&C. We are going to Saipan next week, and I did not want to chance having a natural miscarriage when I was away from home.
Although I am so far from "understanding God", I know that He uses everything in our lives for our good. Even if I never understand the "why's", I do know one very important thing- God's plan is to prosper us and not harm us, to give us a hope and a future. What is in the future for us? Blessing after blesiing from our Heavenly Father...
Although I am so far from "understanding God", I know that He uses everything in our lives for our good. Even if I never understand the "why's", I do know one very important thing- God's plan is to prosper us and not harm us, to give us a hope and a future. What is in the future for us? Blessing after blesiing from our Heavenly Father...
Sunday, June 12, 2005
What a blessing!
We had the pleasure of hosting the Kane family from Indiana for the last two weeks. They stayed at Grace, and were a huge blessing to all of us. By helping with the Latin American Fiesta, organizing the storage room, filling in for teachers at the school, and best of all just sharing their lives and hearts with us- they were a huge blessing! Thanks so much Kane Family- you are precious!!
Mother's Day gift
Last month was Mother's day and I got the best Mother's Day gift I could have ever asked for. A positive pregnancy test! We are going to have a baby! There is a really good story to tell about all of this, but I will warn you up front...it might get long....
When Luke (my youngest, now 10) was a baby, Mark underwent surgery for "permanent birth control" if you know what I mean . Anyway it wasn't too long before I began to regret it but Mark was happy as a clam. Mark told me that God would have to write in lipstick on the wall before he would go under the knife again. In 1998, when Luke was 3 I began to pray that God would change Mark's heart. After a few months Mark actually decided to get the reversal! YEAH GOD.
After one year when we did not get pregnant, I began to ask God why He went to all the trouble of changing Mark's heart if He wasn't going to give us a baby. I prayed and asked some good friends to pray for God to give us a name if He was going to give us a baby. I was reading the book of Isaiah, and kept getting the name Jacob. When we went to visit our friends they told us that the Lord had given them the name James. I kind of filed it away, and thought well, we will see. I was suprised to learn that James is the Greek form of Jacob and they have the same meaning. But I did not particularly care for the meaning which was "supplanter" or "one who takes the place of another".
Five more years passed and we never became pregnant. We were at peace with the fact that it would never happen, but every once in a while I would ask God why? Not in a bitter way, just curious as to why. Then last year in March we got the shock of our lives. I was pregnant! We were so excited. The kids were fighting over who would get the baby in their room and would it be a boy or a girl? Finally they just decided to pray for twins! But God had other plans and at 12 weeks we lost our baby to miscarriage. The doctors words that we could get pregnant again, were no comfort to me. He did not know that this baby took five years, and truly was a miracle baby.
Three days after the miscarriage I was praying in my bed, asking God if He was going to ever give us another baby, and I remembered about the name James. And I remembered the meaning "one who takes the place of another". I asked the Lord, does this mean you are going to give us another baby Lord? How do I know if I am hearing a word from You or if it is just the desire of my own heart? Then a card that I had received from a friend a few days earlier came to my mind. I had put it up on the fridge. I jumped out of bed and ran downstairs to grab it, and on the front it said "...for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23" Wow I thought, maybe this really is from the Lord. However, I did not really have enough faith to believe 100% that God had promised us another child. But I did tell about 5 of my friends, just so if could be a testimony, when and if God brought it to pass.
Which brings me to Mother's day morning, more than a year after the miscarriage. My God gives the greatest gifts to His Children!
I will confess that I am more than a little worried that this pregancy could also miscarry. Every twinge and symptom, has me thinking of the possibility. I am especially concerned of how Lukie might take it, because he is so excited and so sensitive to being hurt. But I know, that the God of the UNIVERSE holds us in the palm of HIS hand and He will only do the absolute best for me and my family!
When Luke (my youngest, now 10) was a baby, Mark underwent surgery for "permanent birth control" if you know what I mean . Anyway it wasn't too long before I began to regret it but Mark was happy as a clam. Mark told me that God would have to write in lipstick on the wall before he would go under the knife again. In 1998, when Luke was 3 I began to pray that God would change Mark's heart. After a few months Mark actually decided to get the reversal! YEAH GOD.
After one year when we did not get pregnant, I began to ask God why He went to all the trouble of changing Mark's heart if He wasn't going to give us a baby. I prayed and asked some good friends to pray for God to give us a name if He was going to give us a baby. I was reading the book of Isaiah, and kept getting the name Jacob. When we went to visit our friends they told us that the Lord had given them the name James. I kind of filed it away, and thought well, we will see. I was suprised to learn that James is the Greek form of Jacob and they have the same meaning. But I did not particularly care for the meaning which was "supplanter" or "one who takes the place of another".
Five more years passed and we never became pregnant. We were at peace with the fact that it would never happen, but every once in a while I would ask God why? Not in a bitter way, just curious as to why. Then last year in March we got the shock of our lives. I was pregnant! We were so excited. The kids were fighting over who would get the baby in their room and would it be a boy or a girl? Finally they just decided to pray for twins! But God had other plans and at 12 weeks we lost our baby to miscarriage. The doctors words that we could get pregnant again, were no comfort to me. He did not know that this baby took five years, and truly was a miracle baby.
Three days after the miscarriage I was praying in my bed, asking God if He was going to ever give us another baby, and I remembered about the name James. And I remembered the meaning "one who takes the place of another". I asked the Lord, does this mean you are going to give us another baby Lord? How do I know if I am hearing a word from You or if it is just the desire of my own heart? Then a card that I had received from a friend a few days earlier came to my mind. I had put it up on the fridge. I jumped out of bed and ran downstairs to grab it, and on the front it said "...for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23" Wow I thought, maybe this really is from the Lord. However, I did not really have enough faith to believe 100% that God had promised us another child. But I did tell about 5 of my friends, just so if could be a testimony, when and if God brought it to pass.
Which brings me to Mother's day morning, more than a year after the miscarriage. My God gives the greatest gifts to His Children!
I will confess that I am more than a little worried that this pregancy could also miscarry. Every twinge and symptom, has me thinking of the possibility. I am especially concerned of how Lukie might take it, because he is so excited and so sensitive to being hurt. But I know, that the God of the UNIVERSE holds us in the palm of HIS hand and He will only do the absolute best for me and my family!
Thursday, September 09, 2004
Why Me?
Hebrews 2:17 "Therefore in all things He had to be made like His brethren that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God..."
Before the Father sent the Son, He had never experienced the trials, the pain, or the suffering of the human race. After Jesus came, suffered and died for all of us, He could more perfectly empathize with us and He was not ashamed to call us brothers.
Sometimes (Usually!) when I am going through a trial or difficult time, I often ask the question "WHY?" ("Why ME?!") Recently I realized that many times God wants me to experience certain things first hand, so that I will be more understanding and merciful toward my brothers and sisters in Christ who struggle with those same things.
Before the Father sent the Son, He had never experienced the trials, the pain, or the suffering of the human race. After Jesus came, suffered and died for all of us, He could more perfectly empathize with us and He was not ashamed to call us brothers.
Sometimes (Usually!) when I am going through a trial or difficult time, I often ask the question "WHY?" ("Why ME?!") Recently I realized that many times God wants me to experience certain things first hand, so that I will be more understanding and merciful toward my brothers and sisters in Christ who struggle with those same things.
Friday, June 25, 2004
AMAZING... think about it...
If you win a thousand people to the Lord every day for 35 years, you will have won 12,000,000 people.
If you win one person to the Lord every year and disciple them to win one person to the Lord every year, in 35 years you will have won 9,000,000,000 people, or the entire population of the world.
If you win a thousand people to the Lord every day for 35 years, you will have won 12,000,000 people.
If you win one person to the Lord every year and disciple them to win one person to the Lord every year, in 35 years you will have won 9,000,000,000 people, or the entire population of the world.
Sunday, June 06, 2004
Wednesday, June 02, 2004
Two times in two days I came across the following quote...
"Love without truth is hypocrisy. Truth without love is brutality."
And I think about this verse:
"Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." Proverbs 27:5-6
Matthew Henry's commentary says...
"It is good for us to be reproved, and told of our faults, by our friends. If true love in the heart has but zeal and courage enough to show itself in dealing plainly with our friends, and reproving them for what they say and do amiss, this is really better, not only than secret hatred (as Lev. 19:17), but than secret love, that love to our neighbours which does not show itself in this good fruit, which compliments them in their sins, to the prejudice of their souls. Faithful are the reproofs of a friend, though for the present they are painful as wounds. It is a sign that our friends are faithful indeed if, in love to our souls, they will not suffer sin upon us, nor let us alone in it. "
Loving honesty leads to healthy relationships. I want my friends to tell me the truth... what I need to hear, not just what they think I want to hear. Honesty involves risk. But true friends are willing to take that risk.
"Love without truth is hypocrisy. Truth without love is brutality."
And I think about this verse:
"Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." Proverbs 27:5-6
Matthew Henry's commentary says...
"It is good for us to be reproved, and told of our faults, by our friends. If true love in the heart has but zeal and courage enough to show itself in dealing plainly with our friends, and reproving them for what they say and do amiss, this is really better, not only than secret hatred (as Lev. 19:17), but than secret love, that love to our neighbours which does not show itself in this good fruit, which compliments them in their sins, to the prejudice of their souls. Faithful are the reproofs of a friend, though for the present they are painful as wounds. It is a sign that our friends are faithful indeed if, in love to our souls, they will not suffer sin upon us, nor let us alone in it. "
Loving honesty leads to healthy relationships. I want my friends to tell me the truth... what I need to hear, not just what they think I want to hear. Honesty involves risk. But true friends are willing to take that risk.
Sunday, April 18, 2004
Trust His Heart
I love this song, because it is so true. I don't understand, all I have is questions, and I may never have answers. But one thing I know, one thing that will never change, is how very much God loves me, and when I can't see His plan, I can trust His heart. And so can you.
All things work for the good
Though sometimes we can't see how they could
Struggles that break our hearts in two
Sometimes blind us to the truth
Our Father knows what's best for us
His ways are not our own
So when your pathway grows dim
And you just can't see Him,
Remember He's still on the throne
Chorus:
God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't understand
When don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His Heart
He sees the master plan
He holds the future in His hand,
Don't live as those who have no hope,
While our hope is found in Him.
We see the present clearly
But He sees the first and last
And like a tapestry He's weaving you and me,
To someday be just like Him
He alone is faithful and true
He alone knows what is best for you
When you can't trace His hand
When you don't see His plan
When you don't understand
Trust His Heart
Written by Eddie Carswell & Babbie Mason copyright ©1989 Word Music, Inc.
All things work for the good
Though sometimes we can't see how they could
Struggles that break our hearts in two
Sometimes blind us to the truth
Our Father knows what's best for us
His ways are not our own
So when your pathway grows dim
And you just can't see Him,
Remember He's still on the throne
Chorus:
God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't understand
When don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His Heart
He sees the master plan
He holds the future in His hand,
Don't live as those who have no hope,
While our hope is found in Him.
We see the present clearly
But He sees the first and last
And like a tapestry He's weaving you and me,
To someday be just like Him
He alone is faithful and true
He alone knows what is best for you
When you can't trace His hand
When you don't see His plan
When you don't understand
Trust His Heart
Written by Eddie Carswell & Babbie Mason copyright ©1989 Word Music, Inc.
Saturday, April 17, 2004
Jesus is in the Fire
It is with much sadness that I have to share that Thursday night, I started spotting and it continued through the night with some light cramping. Friday morning we went to the Dr. and had 3 ultrasounds which all confirmed that our baby died at about 9 weeks (2 weeks ago). The baby had classic signs of chromosomal defects that would have never allowed it to grow to term. A D&C was scheduled immediately, and I am now at home being taken care of, by our wonderful church family.
Thursday night, when I was praying, I opened my daily devotional book to read that day's message, here is what it said...
April 15
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. Acts 14:22
How do we enter into the Kingdom?- through much tribulation.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew this. They were in a fiery trial indeed, yet they did not come out until they were ordered out (Daniel 3:26) because they preferred walking in the fire with the Lord to sitting in the shade without Him.
What happened to the fourth Man in the furnace? -He remained in the fire (Daniel 3:25)
Where is Jesus- the fourth Man- today?
In the fire.
We have a tendency to try to avoid the fire whenever possible- and it's a great mistake. I'm not saying we should be masochists. I am, however, saying:
It's in the fire, When times are tough, When your heart is breaking.... that Jesus is most visible, Most real, Most precious. *Taken from "A Day's Journey" by Jon Courson.
Even though it wasn't what I was hoping to hear at the time, I knew that God was telling me that He was going through it with me, and that He would prove it true, when our hearts are breaking that is when He is most visible, most real, most precious.
Of course we are devastated, and sad... but as Paul said... "We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed-- 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
And Jesus' own words... "Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted." Matthew 5:4
This is from Mark: We've had many friends go through this and wow, what an eye-opener this has been to me, in order to empathize with them. I think what is hitting me the worse tonight is how Lukie was soooo looking forward to being a big brother, and being like his dad, he wears his emotions on his sleeve. And when Renee mentioned tonight about he would have made such a good big brother, it just about broke his heart again, and mine also...Please pray especially for the kids, as we don't know exactly how this will affect them; especially Katie as she is not quite so emotional so not sure what all she's thinking and feeling.
We love you all, and thank you so much for your prayers and support.
Thursday night, when I was praying, I opened my daily devotional book to read that day's message, here is what it said...
April 15
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. Acts 14:22
How do we enter into the Kingdom?- through much tribulation.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew this. They were in a fiery trial indeed, yet they did not come out until they were ordered out (Daniel 3:26) because they preferred walking in the fire with the Lord to sitting in the shade without Him.
What happened to the fourth Man in the furnace? -He remained in the fire (Daniel 3:25)
Where is Jesus- the fourth Man- today?
In the fire.
We have a tendency to try to avoid the fire whenever possible- and it's a great mistake. I'm not saying we should be masochists. I am, however, saying:
It's in the fire, When times are tough, When your heart is breaking.... that Jesus is most visible, Most real, Most precious. *Taken from "A Day's Journey" by Jon Courson.
Even though it wasn't what I was hoping to hear at the time, I knew that God was telling me that He was going through it with me, and that He would prove it true, when our hearts are breaking that is when He is most visible, most real, most precious.
Of course we are devastated, and sad... but as Paul said... "We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed-- 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
And Jesus' own words... "Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted." Matthew 5:4
This is from Mark: We've had many friends go through this and wow, what an eye-opener this has been to me, in order to empathize with them. I think what is hitting me the worse tonight is how Lukie was soooo looking forward to being a big brother, and being like his dad, he wears his emotions on his sleeve. And when Renee mentioned tonight about he would have made such a good big brother, it just about broke his heart again, and mine also...Please pray especially for the kids, as we don't know exactly how this will affect them; especially Katie as she is not quite so emotional so not sure what all she's thinking and feeling.
We love you all, and thank you so much for your prayers and support.
Thursday, March 11, 2004
SURPRISE!!! The Van Clan is going to have a new addition in November. Yep. We're pregnant. (mostly me!) I thought Mark might need CPR when I first told him, but thankfully, he has recovered quite nicely. Needless to say we are shocked, since Katie and Luke are almost 12 and 10. It will be like starting over completely, buying maternity clothes, baby gear, baby toys, etc. etc. What an adventure!
Thursday, February 26, 2004
Saturday, January 24, 2004
Wow, I just realized I haven't been here for a while. Tonight I was surfing the net (which I also haven't done in a while) and I came across a really good article by Ravi Zacharias.... http://www.gospelcom.net/rzim/publications/jttran.php?jtcode=JT04WRZ
Thursday, December 11, 2003
Another test... Mark and I both did it. He hated it, I think it's fun! Anyway I am an...
free enneagram test
Mark is a
free enneagram test
free enneagram test
Mark is a
free enneagram testTuesday, December 09, 2003
God has been teaching me about weakness. I hate to admit mine! I don't like feeling vulnerable or out of control. But the Word says God's strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor. 12:9) In our Tuesday night bible study we are studying in the book of Joshua. In chapter 5, just after the Israelites crossed the Jordan and just before they go into Jericho, God commands all the men to be circumcised. They are to cut away the flesh, making them weak and vulnerable. But after they do, God gives them a great victory! God doesn't want our victory to come from our flesh (our own strength or ability). Instead when we admit we are weak, vulnerable and helpless, then He can and will be our strength, and He will also get the glory in the victory.
Thursday, November 20, 2003
A YWAM (Youth With A Mission) team from Switzerland has been staying at our church for the last week. Some are Japanese, some Korean, and some American... not a Swiss in the bunch! We have been having a great time cleaning, painting, and cleaning some more, getting the church ready for our Thanksgving Outreach this Sunday. One of the reasons these teams do outreaches is to learn to serve. So I started thinking about the best way I could help this team learn to serve. I was reminded of Jesus on the night before His betrayel as He washed the feet of His disciples. (John 13) In verse 15 Jesus said "For I have given you an example that you should do as I have done to you." I realized Jesus taught his disciples about service, by serving them. I also realized I cannot just say to the YWAM team, "You are here to serve, so serve". Instead, I need to follow the example that Jesus set, and teach them about serving, by being a servant.
Sunday, November 09, 2003
One of the mom's who came to our Children's Festival with her children, also came to church this morning. She just happened to be playing in a nearby park when one of the YWAM (Youth With A Mission) kids gave her a flyer inviting her to the festival. She was excited because she is a Christian and she was looking for a church closer to her home. I was chatting with her this morning and I asked her how she became a Christian. It turns out she became a Christian 3 years ago, when she attended a drama that we were doing at our old church. Sometimes we do an outreach and we don't get to immediately see fruit from it, but there is always fruit. I was so blessed and encouraged that God brought Naoko into my life 3 years later and gave me the opportunity to see fruit from that ministry.
Saturday, November 08, 2003
Today we went to a fall festival at a preschool (Japanese word is yochien) at a church near the base. Katie's dance group performed 2 songs. On the occasions that I have met Japanese people with any Christian knowledge at all, it is usually because they had a connection to one of these "Christian based" preschools, or some other Christian private school.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)