Hi Friends,
I really wasn’t sure where to start tonight but as I typed the date I realized it’s our anniversary. The 13th of any month will never be the same. The 13th is when we became a member of the DIPG family. Five months now, that’s how long our sweet girl has been at war. She is such a fighter and I am so proud to be her mother. Her attitude is bright and her heart is filled with joy. I fear there may be a day that her decreasing abilities may steal her joy, but for today that is not the case so I will choose to be thankful.
Kayleigh had a day about the same as yesterday. The stomach did fairly well but the headaches still broke through. I have seen no improvement in any other areas but as I told my 7th grade Sunday School class this week, any day I get to tuck Kayleigh in at night is a good day. So, thank you Jesus for a good day!
Thank you for lifting us all up in prayer these past 24 hours. I wish I could say I had bounced back to my self but I’m still battling. I sent this text to my brother Calloway tonight – it pretty much sums up where I am right now.
“I’ve been struggling a little bit. Not with praying but with hearing what God is saying back. The fear that keeps slipping in as I watch Kayleigh just keeps sidetracking me. All I hear in my head is sad things. Even when I work to push it away I can still hear it. I just don’t know how to make it go away. It doesn’t change that I believe God has a plan. And it doesn’t change my trusting God. Even if He doesn’t answer my prayers as I want I still know His plan is perfect. So why can’t I get rid of this crappy white noise in my head that is just feeding fear?
I don’t expect you to have the answer. I just don’t have anyone to ask”
One of the most wonderful things about my brother is that he just listens. He doesn’t try to make up an answer. He doesn’t try to “fix” me. He just helps me carry the load. So I post this tonight, not for anyone to answer the question, but so that our prayer warriors will know how to pray. And, so that each of you can see that God uses broken people. That you don’t have to have everything together in order to be used by God. You just have to set down your pride. Stop being stubborn. Stop trying to be good enough to make a difference. Stop trying to get yourself cleaned up before turning to Jesus. Just turn to Jesus, he will take care of the rest.
But then it was brought to my attention this week that some of you that follow us may want this peace that we have but not know how to get there. So, below my signature are the basics of the 4 Spiritual Laws – principles that have made all the difference in my life. Please know, following Jesus is not an easy endeavor – but it is by far the most meaningful thing in my life. Without our faith, this journey would be so bleak, dark, and impossible. Our hope and peace come from our relationship with Christ. It is my prayer that if you do not know Him that you would choose to find Him.
Until tomorrow,
‘Carrow💜
The 4 Spiritual Laws
Principle 1:
God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life.
John 3:16
“God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
John 10:10
[Christ speaking] “I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly” [that it might be full and meaningful].
Principle 2:
All of us sin and our sin has separated us from God.
Romans 3:23
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
We were created to have fellowship with God; but, because of our stubborn self-will, we chose to go our own independent way, and fellowship with God was broken. This self-will, characterized by an attitude of active rebellion or passive indifference, is evidence of what the Bible calls sin.
Romans 6:23
“The wages of sin is death” [spiritual separation from God].
Principle 3:
Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for our sin. Through Him we can know and experience God’s love and plan for our life.
He Died in Our Place – Romans 5:8
“God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
He Rose From the Dead – 1 Cor 15:3-6
“Christ died for our sins…He was buried…He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures…He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred…”
Principle 4:
We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God’s love and plan for our lives.
We Must Receive Christ – John 1:12
“As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.”
We Receive Christ Through Faith – Ephesians 2:8-9
“By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast”
We Receive Christ by Personal Invitation – Revelation 3:20
[Christ speaking] “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him.”
Receiving Christ involves turning to God from self (repentance) and trusting Christ to come into our lives to forgive our sins and to make us what He wants us to be. Just to agree intellectually that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for your sins is not enough. Nor is it enough to have an emotional experience. You receive Jesus Christ by faith, as an act of the will.
Brother love
Quiet moments – times to treasure