The Difference of a Year

Picture to come~

I have spent some time reflecting this week on the events of the last year. I am glad to be alive! It is amazing to see how far God has brought us as a family. I know for many people they tend to do things like this in December or January, but in our family September is so significant. A year ago today, I was in ICU at the University of Tennessee Medical Center; I was experiencing more pain than I had ever had in my life, and wondering whether or not I would ever be "normal" again. September 24, marked a year from my car accident. I am blessed by what God has done in and through me since that day, from healing my body to adapting to a new culture to beginning in this ministry to military families, and raising a TWO year old. This event has caused our family to take no day for granted-even the hard ones. I want this to serve as a testimony to God's faithfulness and power.

Renewal. Within the last year, God has renewed my body, helped me face my weaknesses and given me vision. I cannot begin to tell you the countless things we have experienced along this journey this year; that would take a book. Through physical therapy and lots of love and help from my family, I have become "somewhat"(ha ha) normal. When I think about where I was and where I am now, being able to swim and chase Hunter and serve our community and so on, it makes the accident seem so long ago. I am happy to say that God is bigger than anything that comes our way. In this renewal process, God has obviously changed my body, but also renewed my mind and the emotional baggage from going through such trauma.

Weakness. I believe I had gotten to a place in my walk, where I was overly confident of my abilities to accomplish tasks, for the sake of Christ. But, the scripture "in my weakness, HE is made strong" became a reality for me. I could be the mom or wife I wanted to be. I had a hard time just taking care of myself, much less doing outreach to other or helping them with their problems. I had to rely on His grace and strength to give into others lives, when my own was feeling so depleted. I have learned how effective God is in accomplishing His tasks when we are not able. In this weakness, God began showing me how to be completely dependent on Him. "I must become less, so that He can become greater still."

Vision. That is why we are ministering overseas, because of the vision God gave us for the families of our Armed Forces. Being in full-time ministry was the farthest thing from my mind...how could I do that, when I was just trying to figure out how to make it through the day. Walking through the trials of this last year, was possible only by God's grace, and the vision He gave us for His plans. We still have a lot to learn, but in the midst God is faithful and constantly fills our hearts with vision for those in need of Him. I find, by giving out of what little I have, has been the best healing for my mind and emotions. This experience has allowed me to recognize the pain others; and how, while my experience was temporary, those without Jesus feel this on a daily basis.

Life is about joy. "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live--this is a gift from God." Ecclesiastes 3:11-12 So we pray for you, that you and your family may know this joy that is complete...that God may show you through this testimony that life is not as complicated as we sometimes try to make it, but rather it is about facing our weaknesses and experiencing this gift from God, JOY.