REVIVAL OF THE BLOG...

Well...as you can see, it has been years since we have used the blog.  Rachel and I decided to look it up again, wow, check out some of the old pictures!  It all started because I was thinking of the last time we took a picture around the fire, it's on one of the posts, and went from there.  I am now searching my memory to remember who all those strange names are in the comments section!  Some of you were pretty creative. 
I was also reading through some of the prayer requests and answered prayers.  It is amazing what God has done.  One was about Mary having a poem published for the first time-now she is going to New Zealand to meet her book publisher!  One was about Jessica getting her RN degree-now she is in Cameroon using her medical skills for those in desperate situations.  It should encourage you to read through some of those posts and see the hand of God through the past few years.
If you would like to post something on the blog, or leave a comment-Please DO.  (Everything is filtered through my e-mail, so I will receive it first and then send it to the blog.)
Hopefully we can encourage one another between the H2Os.
Praying for all of you,
Mrs. H2O

PARTAKERS OF HIS SUFFERINGS

"Rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings." 1 Peter 4:13

If you are going to be used by God, He will take you through a multitude of experiences that are not meant for you at all, they are meant to make you useful in His hands, and to enable you to understand what transpires in other souls so that you will never be surprised at what you come across. Oh, I can't deal with that person. Why not? God gave you ample opportunity to soak before Him on that line, and you barged off because it seemed stupid to spend time in that way.

The sufferings of Christ are not those of ordinary men. He suffered "according to the will of God," not from the point of view we suffer from as individuals. It is only when we are related to Jesus Christ that we can understand what God is after in His dealings with us. It is part of Christian culture to know what God's aim is. In the history of the Christian Church the tendency has been to evade being identified with the sufferings of Jesus Christ; men have sought to procure the carrying out of God's order by a short cut of their own. God's way is always the way of suffering, the way of the "long, long trail."

Are we partakers of Christ's sufferings? Are we prepared for God to stamp our personal ambitions right out? Are we prepared for God to destroy by transfiguration our individual determinations? It will not mean that we know exactly why God is taking us that way, that would make us spiritual prigs. We never realize at the time what God is putting us through; we go through it more or less misunderstandingly; then we come to a luminous place, and say - ' 'Why, God has girded me, though I did not know it!"

THE AUTHORITY OF REALITY

"Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you." James 4:8

It is essential to give people a chance of acting on the truth of God. The responsibility must be left with the individual, you cannot act for him, it must be his own deliberate act, but the evangelical message ought always to lead a man to act. The paralysis of refusing to act leaves a man exactly where he was before; when once he acts, he is never the same. It is the foolishness of it that stands in the way of hundreds who have been convicted by the Spirit of God. Immediately I precipitate myself over into an act, that second I live; all the rest is existence. The moments when I truly live are the moments when I act with my whole will.

Never allow a truth of God that is brought home to your soul to pass without acting on it, not necessarily physically, but in will. Record it, with ink or with blood. The feeblest saint who transacts business with Jesus Christ is emancipated the second he acts; all the almighty power of God is on his behalf. We come up to the truth of God, we confess we are wrong, but go back again; then we come up to it again, and go back; until we learn that we have no business to go back. We have to go clean over on some word of our redeeming Lord and transact business with Him. His word "come" means "transact." "Come unto Me." The last thing we do is to come; but everyone who does come knows that that second the supernatural rush of the life of God invades him instantly. The dominating power of the world, the flesh and the devil is paralysed, not by your act, but because your act has linked you on to God and His redemptive power.

A BOND-SLAVE OF JESUS

"I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me." Galatians 2:20

These words mean the breaking of my independence with my own hand and surrendering to the supremacy of the Lord Jesus. No one can do this for me, I must do it myself. God may bring me up to the point three hundred and sixty-five times a year, but He cannot put me through it. It means breaking the husk of my individual independence of God, and the emancipating of my personality into oneness with Himself, not for my own ideas, but for absolute loyalty to Jesus. There is no possibility of dispute when once I am there. Very few of us know anything about loyalty to Christ - "For My sake." It is that which makes the iron saint.
Has that break come? All the rest is pious fraud. The one point to decide is - Will I give up, will I surrender to Jesus Christ, and make no conditions whatever as to how the break comes? I must be broken from my self-realization, and immediately that point is reached, the reality of the supernatural identification takes place at once, and the witness of the Spirit of God is unmistakable - "I have been crucified with Christ."
The passion of Christianity is that I deliberately sign away my own rights and become a bond-slave of Jesus Christ. Until I do that, I do not begin to be a saint.
One student a year who hears God's call would be sufficient for God to have called this College into existence. This College as an organization is not worth anything, it is not academic; it is for nothing else but for God to help Himself to lives. Is He going to help Himself to us, or are we taken up with our conception of what we are going to be?

I am sure that most of you will remember that at the last H2O there was a prayer request given for a man the went to Mexico to hire some people and then disappeared. His family, after not hearing form him, believed him to be kidnapped or killed and was doing everything they could to find him. After 5 or 6 days of this, the man called his brother, and told him to sell his part of the farm and give the money to his wife because he wasn't coming home, he found someone he liked better in Mexico.
Please continue to pray for this man's family. After the trauma of searching for him and thinking of all the horrible things that could have happened to him, to have this be the reason that he "disappeared", is heartbreaking. Pray for their comfort in the Lord, and the strength to not become embittered.
Also pray for the man, that he might repent of his sin, and walk with the Lord again.

Prayer request for pastor's family, church, and friends

I'm sure most of you have heard about the Illinois pastor who was shot and killed yesterday. Well, a young lady in my Sunday school class is originally from that church. Her father died when she was five, and the pastor took her under his wing and became her role model and father figure. Needless to say, his death has been very hard on her. She is traveling home for the funeral today or tomorrow. Please pray for Sarah as she goes through this difficult time.The pastor also left behind a wife and two daughters, so they could certainly use our prayers as well.
~Mary

DEFINITION #4

I think that a friend, and I mean a true friend not just an acquaintance, is someone who is patient, kind and unselfish.

PATIENT - A true friend will have patience when tough situations arise. Patience means being slow to anger and quick to try to resolve any issues that may arise in the friendship. A friend will not “dump” his/her friend when there are problems in their relationship.

KIND – A true friend will extend kindness toward their friend. Being kind to a friend is an important part of a relationship. Patience will try to resolve problems; kindness is a way of letting a friend know that you care about them. In a way kindness is a preemptive measure against problems between friends by showing that you care about your friend.

UNSELFISH – A true friend in not selfish. You can be a patient and kind friend but if you are patient and kind just to brag about how good of a friend you are, it is not being done with the right attitude of the heart. A true friend will put the needs of their friend above their own. “A true friend wants the best for you. A true friend is forbearing and forgiving constantly” (Sunshine).

This is my quick and incomplete definition of a true friend, I obviously have double standards.

~The Boundary Layer

DEFINITION # 3

I think the best way to describe a true friend is that they are there for you when the rest of the crowd lets you down. A true friend doesn't do good things so that other people see their good deeds, they do good things so that the person they are trying to bless sees that they are truly a friend. A true friends wants the best for you. A true friend is forbearing and forgiving constantly. Well, that's my definition!
Sunshine

Definition #2

A friend loveth at all times. Proverbs 17:17

What is your definition of a friend?


As I pondered that question and tried to come up with an answer my thoughts kept getting all mixed up due to the fact that I have different "kinds" of friends, and a different definition for each kind. Also that I keep wanting to define friendship, instead of friend, something that will have to wait for another time. So, on the issue of friend, rather than try to condense the different definitions into one very broad and general definition, I thought it would be better to separate them out like they are in my mind. Besides, I have tried the other way for several days now and gotten no where. So here goes;

1) A "casual" friend: Someone I know, like, and get along with, but don’t know well enough to have a deeper relationship with. These are the "How are you?" and "What do you think of the weather?" "friends". - People in this category would better be called acquaintances but are generally referred to as "friends".


2) A friend: Someone I know better, spend time with, invite over, and have a good relationship with. Someone that I can talk with about the weightier issues of life, have minor "animated discussions" with, end agreeing to disagree, and still be friends. - This group contains both Guys and Gals, and is where most of the people that I call friends would fall.

3) A "best" friend: Someone who I can really open my heart up to. Someone that I can talk with about dreams and wishes, personal struggles and hopes, and other deep issues. Someone that I know will support me and be there for me when I need it most. Someone with whom my relationship goes to a deeper level than in the other categories. - This definition is strictly reserved for members of the same gender.


These are very short, I know, but the other alternative was already at three pages long and still going strong. I decided that in keeping it down, maybe more people would read it, and I could get my thoughts posted before I am 30 :)

A few final notes on what the thought of a "true friend" brings to mind.


A true friend prays for you. A true friend is trustworthy. A true friend gives, not takes. A true friend loves and listens. A true friend will tell you things you may not want to hear, when they believe that it is for your good, even at risk to themselves. A true friend wants what is best for you. A true friend is sent by God to lift up and encourage, an undeserved blessing, but one that we gladly receive!

There are more that could be added to the list, but these were topmost in the order. They are not only what I look for in a friend, but also ( as I realized when I was making the list), what I as a friend should be.

I look forward to hearing what you all think.


May God bless,

Nyiad

DEFINITION #1

My definition of a friend is someone who cares about you, not just because you enjoy the same things, enjoy each other's company, etc., but someone who has DECIDED to care about you. Someone who understands that God has brought the paths of your separate lives close enough together that you can impact each other. Someone who knows that God has brought you together for a specific purpose, and who is committed to finding and fulfilling that purpose. Someone who loves you for who you are, not for what you do - because that is how Christ loves us. Christ loves us, not because of what we do, but because we are joint heirs with him and are covered by his blood. A true friend understands that neither of you is perfect, and they don't hold you to a standard of perfection. they understand that we are all sinners, so they won't just walk away when you mess up. Instead, a godly friend will gently and lovingly show you where you were wrong, and help you avoid those same pitfalls in the future.Actually, this is just one facet of my definition of a friend. I have spent an insane number of hours contemplating this very question over the past year, so I could write a whole paper on it. But I won't - for now.
~The Fictioneer (It's Mary, if you didn't guess)

I HAVE A QUESTION...DO YOU HAVE AN ANSWER?

What is your definition of a friend?

Send me your answers-I will post them and we will see what we come up with. Feel free to write a paragraph or two if you want-I really want your thougths on this, not just a quick answer. (If you don't send it until next week it may take awhile to post as Chip is having his surgery on Wed and things may be a little crazy with us for awhile-but I really hope this turns into a great discussion and I can't wait to see what you come up with.) Anyone can answer.
Mrs. H2O

Mary's decision

Forwarded from Mary:


First, I want to thank all of you for your thoughts and prayers over the past few days. There were times during the decision-making process when I got really tense and nervous, but God would always remind me that you guys were praying for me. That means a lot.Yes, I have made my final decision. I will not be accepting the invitation to Russia. There are a lot of important things happening in my family this summer, beside the fact that my grandparent's are in poor health and I want to spend as much time as possible with them. Plus, the general conclusion in my family was that moving to Russia was probably just a little drastic for my first trip out of the country. Basically, my parents and pastor (as well as I) were just very uncomfortable with the idea of me traveling alone in a communist country.So I want to thank you all again for your prayers while I made this very difficult decision, but you don't have to worry any more - God willing, I won't be missing any H2Os this summer!
By His grace and for His glory,
Mary

EXCITING POSSIBILITIES

If you haven't heard...here's the latest from Mary...

I could really use a lot of prayer right now. Some of you might know the Ketel family - they're missionaries to Siberia. A couple of years ago while they were on furlow I traveled with them a little bit as a nanny for their baby, Kaleb. Well, they now have two babies, Kaleb and Ethan, they're now on the field, and they want me to move to Russia with them to be a nanny while they're in language school. (Yes, I'm freaked out completely) I have not made my final decision yet. My parents have told me that they're okay with whatever decision I make as long as I'm sure I'm doing the Lord's will. If I decide to accept Allen and Michelle's offer, here is some significant info:1.) They want me to come a soon as possible. They have a large 3-bedroom house until August, so I'll probably be staying until then. (the standard visa is 3 months)2.)The biggest obstacle will be getting my visa. Allen and Michelle are talking with their teacher about it, and will let me know as soon as they can. (needless to say, a 12-hour timezone difference makes communication somewhat slow)3.)The next major obstacle will be getting me to Russia. Flying over will cost me about $1500 (I'm not sure yet how much money the visa will cost). So I'll have to find a way to raise that money.4.) The scariest part of the whole thing will be the layover in Moscow - I'll be alone, the Russians will probably see the word "AMERICAN" stamped on my forehead, and I don't speak a word of Russian. (Although Michelle told me via email that all I need to do to fit in is wear tall high-heeled boots and a mini skirt and don't smile) Plus, I've never flown anywhere before, so I have no idea how to find my way around an airport. (The unsocialized homeschooler thing, I guess) I've got to be honest, guys, living in Russia with Allen and Michelle is no big deal - a layover in Moscow is terrifying.I'm going to discuss this with my parents some more, and hopefully arrive at a decision sometime this weekend. Really, the layover thing is scary, but I'm still really excited. I want to do whatever God's will is, and if He wants me to go to Russia I'm all for it! I hope He can use me to minister to the Ketel family.So, if you all could pray really, really hard for me, I will greatly appreciate it. If any of you have questions, you can email me at <singingcreekranch@peoplepc.com>

FYI

I have put a link to JP's "Christmas Dance" video on the blog side bar. Thank you JP for making us laugh, and JT for recording it so that we can enjoy it anytime! :)

Nyiad

TODAY IS THE DAY-PRAY FOR KATE

Dear friends,
Today is the day that Kate has her permanency hearing. This will decide who she will live with unless the judge decides to put it off and give the birth mother more time to prove herself. This has been a very painful time for our dear friends (Zack's family) and a continual giving up of their will to the will of the Father. Please pray for the judge (Bob Lawson) the attorney for Kate (Linda Thomas) and Kate's case worker (Angela Wead). Pray that truth will be revealed, that Kate's saftey will be foremost, and that this will not drag on and on over weeks of uncertainty. I believe the hearing is set for 2:30-I don't know if they "run on time" or not, but our friends need to feel the power of prayer sustaining them today, all day.


I wanted to mention a few other prayer requests,

Jake and Ashton's grandfather has been hospitalized since last week. He is in a more stable condition, but they have found cancer in his lymph system and have started chemo. This was very unexpected by the family. Please be praying for Mr Glenn to be healed and for the family as they are making medical decisions.

About Mr H2O-
Many of you have asked what we found out in Ohio. Well, the doctor there recommended that Chip have the surgery through the back of his neck that would open up the space for his spinal column. Basically this involves sawing through 7 or 8 vertabrae, inserting a piece of bone to hold them open and screwing that in place. It is a very invasive surgery with an extended recovery time. This should relieve him of some of his symptoms, although there is a possiblity that surgery through the front of his neck would be needed later to correct the bulging disks. The greater issue is the lack of space for his spinal cord. (One plus to doing the surgery through the back of his neck is that he would not lose movement like he would with the surgery through the front.) We are sending his medical records to a doctor in St Louis that the Ohio doctor strongly recommended do the surgery. Afer we find out if his prognosis is the same we will make an appointment with him. We would greatly appreciate your continued prayers for healing and peace. Thank you.

Prayer updates

From Heather T an update on her uncle that we have been praying for:


Hey Everyone,

We got a call on Saturday that Uncle Jim had a stroke and probably wouldn’t make it until Christmas. But we got a call late yesterday evening that he passed away on Sunday. Please pray for the family that they would be comforted and also that they would be able to make plans around Christmas. At least some of us will probably be going for the funeral at the end of this week, but it’s a long round trip. We’ve been praying that Uncle Jim would have a speedy recovery or an easy death, and it appears that he had just that. He never seemed to have any pain (amazing for a cancer patient) and now the family is confident that he is in heaven.

In Christ,
~Heather


From Mr & Mrs H2O:

We will be going to Ohio this week. While there Chip will be seeing a spine reconstruction specialist to get a second opinion. Your continued prayers for healing would be a blessing to us.
Mrs H2O

PRAYER FOR HEALING

Dear Friends,
Many of you know that Chip has been having neck and back pain. After all the tests, MRI's , and visits with specialists the outlook is not good. Yesterday we saw a neck specialist who went over the MRI in detail with us. Basically his words were that there was not anything "normal" in Chip's neck and fixing it would be very major. Chip's spine is curved the wrong way in his neck region, he has 3 disks that have major problems and they are not all in a row in the spine. We were given two options by the Dr-the first was a very invasive surgery. They would basically rebuild/reshape the spine. They would open up the back and the front of Chip's neck and reconstruct the spine and fix the disks. The other option was to fix two of the disks with a surgery through the front of his neck. He was not encouraging or reassuring that either of these would be successful. Because of the unnatural curve in the spine the normal surgery for fixing disks in the neck is highly likely to fail. (This is the second option above.) We really do not feel that either option is a "good" option. We may try to get yet another opinion from Dr's at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, but to be quite frank, we are asking the Lord to heal and straighten Chip's spine. I will be honest with you, we are scared and fear is a constant battle. Please pray for us.
Mrs H2O

Justin the stormchaser needs our prayers

I recieved this from Mrs. T, if you haven't already talked with Justin, he was driving back to school after the Casting Crowns concert the other night, drinking a coke to stay awake, and choked! He coughed so hard he injured his back! Ever since he was little I have tried to instill in him not to drink and drive....(I shouldn't joke about this, however, if you know Justin, you know why I feel a liberty to razz him a bit.) Anyway, from Mrs. T:


Justin might have ruptured a disc in his back this week. He went to a University of Missouri Physician in Columbia today and they want to do a MRI on him next week. He has been placed on some medications to help with the pain. If the H2O group would please pray for him....please pray for his healing and that he would be able to concentrate for his finals. Thank you all so much. The T. Family

PRAYER FOR ZACH AND FAMILY
Hi everyone,
Zach's mom called this morning and asked for all of us to pray for them. Things are not going well with the future adoption of Kate. The social workers and lawyers are granting the birth mother extended visits and seem to be leaning towards the mother eventually taking Kate. Most of you know that she is mentally unstable and has already lost 3 other children to the adoption system. Please pray for Kate to remain safe through her visits and for the social system to choose what is best for Kate's welfare and saftey. One determining factor seems to be that the lawyer for the social system is against homeschoolers and thus is making decisions that are not based on the best interest of Kate. Pray for the family that they will have peace and wisdom as they make decisions regarding Kate's future.
Mrs. H2O

Prayer request from Monica

Hey all you praying friends-here is a need from Monica-

Hello all,

I just got a call from my grandmother. They have recently discovered that my mom’s Uncle Jim has cancer in his lungs. Part of it has migrated to his brain as well. He is having rapid weight loss as a side effect of that. The doctors have only just found it, and are running quite a few tests to find out what if anything can be done.

Please pray that God would give the doctors wisdom, Uncle Jim comfort and confidence, and ultimately, healing from this cancer. I do not know if he is a Christian, so please pray that the Lord would use this time to draw him close and show him the truth.

Thank you all!

In Him,
Monica