Sweet Tea, Advocacy and Me

'For You have made me rejoice, Lord, by what You have done; I will shout for joy because of the works of Your hands, How magnificent are Your works, Lord, how profound Your thoughts!' Psalm 92:4-5 Sept 4, 2012.   Today was suppose to be a day of significance wrapped up in anxiety and distress. It was a day the enemy worked so hard to pour salt into our wounds and to get us to just give up.  Sept 4, 2012 was suppose to be our appeal date in the State of Maryland.  The state's case was that my husband's Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder was not job-related as a Maryland State Trooper.  Today was our fight against the system, it was our opportunity to bring our witnesses, put a face to our name as well as our case.  It was beyond reasoning us (as well as everyone else who knew our story) that they could make such a claim and that they were able to stretch it out over three very painful years.  Pain, frustration, anger, depression, oppression, financial...

I know this post is long but if you read it, it's a story of God's goodness and provision and worth the read all the way through.  He is good! (The writing in gray are some small but very important details I forgot to add last night). If you know Neal, you'll hear him say every once and a while, "I'm pulling the crazy card." That's what I love about my husband, he can make light of his PTSD. Neal's first car had the license plate that read, "JRM 813." So the joke was it meant, 'Jessica Really Makes Haines Absolutely Crazy', each number corresponding to it's place in the alphabet.  Well I think it's official.....this Haines family unit is crazy or seems crazy ;)  And for once I can honestly say I'm fine with how ever we look! (Gal. 1:10). With the help of the Lord I've been able to get a hold of the idol of pleasing people instead of God. Let me rewind to explain why we are writing this post tonight :)  Thin...

The second Greek word for patience in the Bible is makrothumia.   This word is a quality found in the fruit of the Spirit and  means "long-suffering in respect to persons."  Just as the key to hupomone  (capacity to bear up under things or circumstances) is inspired by hope,  makrothumia is fueled by mercy. I've learned of myself that I have much  more patience with God then with people.  Beth Moore states though, "God's priority will always be how we treat people over circumstances."  I stand guilty of a lack of patience with people.  But you know what, God has gently rebuked me and taught me a few things. 1)  It's His patience with me (and all of mankind) that is salvation (2 Peter 3:9).  He also commands me to His form of patience. 2)  I have not possessed mercy as God has and I am called to do this. Recently God placed someone in my life for me to disciple.  I took this role very seriously and was hon...

I highly recommend Beth Moore's "Living Beyond Yourself: Exploring The Fruit Of The Spirit."  I will be eventually blog the lessons He has taught me through this study which leads me to my #1 lesson..... Patience.  If you really know me well you know I am a very  impatient gal.  Like most people who live in today's culture, I want something when I want it. In fact, it makes me mad or unsettled when I do have to wait.  Our culture is soaked with impatience, every where you look and go.  The first word in the Bible for patience is the Greek word hupomone which means 'to persevere, remain under...bearing up under....refers to that quality of character which does not allow one to surrender to or succumb under trial.' It's endurance in relation to "things or circumstances."  This patience is inspired by hope in Jesus Christ. This word for hope  is elpis  which means, 'the desire of some good with expectation of obtaining it." It's a po...

I asked Emery if she wanted a girl or a boy for a sibling and her response right away was, "A boy!"  I thought for sure she'd say a girl but just when you think you can read their thoughts they surprise you :)   I asked her why and her response was, "Boys have hair that go to the side and is clear, you know like my friend Sam?  Girls hair can be messy and they have that little pony tail up top their head (I believe she is referring to the pebbles pony tail) and I don't like that." So we went to the doctor Friday, July 13th 2012 and for sure, it's a boy!  Neal's response was a huge smile, along with Emery.  In the car Neal said, "I made a man!'  It was so precious to see them glowing the rest of the day.   Me, I'm excited to have one of each. So blessed but at the same time nervous b/c all that goes through my head is stated perfectly from this cartoon I read in a book: "Wow, I'm pregnant again! *Gasp* What if it's a boy?? I...

The people who share your physical blood. The people who share the common bond of being chosen, covered, forgiven, made righteous for eternal life all by the blood of one Man.   Which is stronger?   Many people will say your family (genetic family) is the strongest and most important thing you'll ever have.  I do agree that your family should be important, held in high regard and sacred.  What happens when your own flesh and blood is the thorn in your side as Paul speaks about in 2 Corinthians?  This is when things get so heart-wrenching and gray, a fertile ground for the enemy to play his games.   I believe that if we are true disciples of Christ then we need to love one another (John 13:35) and 'If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone' (Romans 12:18).  To add to that, we are commanded in Matthew 5 to 'love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.'  This has got to be the hardest command. ...

Wealth, health, love, friendships will all fade away and when it does what would I have left if I didn't have my faith and trust in God? In my life, I've lost a lot and I'm so thankful.  I've lost the man I loved for years, a child, I've lost a house, financial peace, friendships I thought were true, family that has shown me only conditional love and turned their backs when things get tough and more but Christ and His love and faithfulness is the only truth thing in life that has sustained me.   Whether we admit it or not, we all desire to be loved and accepted unconditionally.  Where can you find this love in today's 'riches'? In money? A degree or career? Marriage? Best friend? Being a giver of life, a mother? In a purse or boat or house?  Our flesh pursues all of these avenues for fulfillment.  It's important to enjoy marriages, Biblical friendships, to be thankful for the income God has provided, etc but how will we reac...