Love is Here

Yesterday...just a normal Monday, full of laundry and floor scrubbing, the continuing Harry Potter marathon playing in the background, and a big pot of chicken and dumplings on the stove.  Just an ordinary day around the Pierson house, but my God showed up, making it extraordinary. I love it when He does that.

I received a text from a sweet friend, asking for prayer.  An amazing woman, this beautiful friend of mine--full of love, life, compassion and laughter.  I've known her only a short time, but she is a permanent fixture in my heart.  As I was lifting her needs up to the Father, I kept getting a picture of Elisha and his servant. (If you've never read it--2Kings6.)  It bugged me for the next couple of hours, this picture in my mind's eye of the battles fought over us in the spirit world, and so I prayed. I knew in my heart that what my friend was going through was from the enemy of her soul. You see, my friend is one of the bravest people I know--stepping out in faith against oppression and reaching out to share Jesus' love with those who believe He could never love them. The enemy hates people like her, those who embody the heart of Christ, those who don't just speak it--they truly live it. 

A few hours later, a message from her brought me joy.  Not only was she delivered from this attack, another woman, without knowing that there was a struggle going on, spoke the same words to her that I had earlier in the day. So my friend was able to move on last night and speak love, mercy, and grace to a group of people who so needed to hear it.  Amazing love.  

If today is a struggle, the Father knows.  The victory is already won, you only need to claim it.  

To my friend...you just keep on being love.  Keep walking on this path He has put you on, with His hand in yours and His angels encamped around you. 

Love is here.

Love is now.

Love is pouring from His hands, His brow.

Love is near, it satisfies.

Streams of mercy flowing from His side.

tenth avenue north

My Answer to the Worry

As lovely on the inside as she is outwardly, my precious girl leaves in a few short weeks for her second international trip. From the time she was a tiny little thing, we've known her heart was on another continent--that God had called her to a place miles and miles from her home. I know, have always known, that when the Father formed her heart, He made a big space there for Africa.  The stories I could tell you of this girl...of tears running down her sweet 5 year old face as she learned of other little far away girls who've never known the love of a mommy or daddy, who've never had a dolly to play with, who've lain awake nights trying to ignore the pain of an empty belly.  I could tell you of a day when she came into my bedroom, her most-loved doll in her bitty hand--an offering, a gift for one of those far away girls, a precious sacrifice carried by one of our dear friends to the hands of a sweet little Namibian girl.  So many stories, so many memories, countless times when God has given my own heart confirmation of His call on her life...and He continues to do so.

My girl, having barely turned 18, will  leave in November for the country of Rwanda, a place mostly known for violence and horror.  Our Father has given her an opportunity to combine her love for photography with her love for children--a photography trip with Visiting Orphans. Many have asked me, some reproachfully, how we could possibly let her go.  Aren't we afraid for her safety? What if something terrible happens?  This is my answer to you...

How can I not let her go?  Who am I to keep her from following this burning in her heart? Who am I to say No to God when His word continually reminds me that we aren't given a spirit of fear, but of love?  My God faithfully keeps His promises.
 "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear or be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the one who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you."
Every decision, every trip possibility, every worry we could possibly have has been prayed over and let go.   In those moments when worry starts to creep in, the evil one is rebuked in Jesus' name. Truly let go...standing on the promises, rebuking the lies.

The Father has a beautiful plan for my beautiful girl. He doesn't promise an easy path, but He does promise to be with her every step of the way. The God of the Universe is traveling with her...what more could I ask than this?

Sweet girl, this is only the beginning.

http://agreatmanymiracles.wordpress.com/2013/10/28/to-travel-is-to-live/

Magnolias of Mine

Before beginning the Herculean task of awakening the teenagers this morning, I took a few moments to be still.  Just still. My heart hurt as I lifted up my friends to the Father--my precious friends trudging through the shock and grief of a lost loved one. It occurred to me then how incredibly blessed my life has been to be full of  loving, strong women such as these. So very blessed.

First and foremost is my mama-- moving to South Texas to care for aging parents, keeping the faith through seven long years of alzheimers, surgeries, hospitals, nursing homes, and so many trials. She, along with her sisters, are true Steel Magnolias. I come from a long line of strong women--big shoes for me and my cousins to fill.   (Beebs, you are my hero and I pray that God gives me the grace to take care of you so well as you deserve when your time on earth draws to a close. Don't worry...we'll pick out a nice nursing home for you...:-) )

To all of the rest of you, my very own Steel Magnolias ( I know some of you are Yankees, but that's ok--we'll just ignore that for now)  I want to say thank you. You have enriched my life more than you could possibly imagine,  encouraging me to push through the discouragement of the mundane on to the joy. You've shown me that life goes on despite heartbreak and loss. I've watched as some of you fought for your marriages when everyone told you it was hopeless, and others of you, with grace and prayer, worked through the grief of a marriage ending.  Because of you, I know that there is grace enough to survive the loss of a child or a spouse--that there is hope for peace.   Many things you do seem simple...preparing meals or cleaning house for a sick or grieving friend, bringing groceries to a family going through hard times, or babysitting for a tired, worn out young mother.  Some of you have opened your hearts and homes to precious children who had no one, while others of you would, at a moment's notice, drop everything to be there for someone who needed you.  True servant hearts.

Prayers, tears, laughter, joy, worship, strength, grace, and love unconditional. You are all so amazing. My heart overflows.  

"I find it amusing. Men are supposed to be made out of steel or something. I just sat there. I just held Shelby's hand. There was no noise, no tremble, just peace. Oh god. I realize as a woman how lucky I am. I was there when that wonderful creature drifted into my life and I was there when she drifted out. It was the most precious moment of my life."

Lessons from Tucker

This is Tucker. He's smelly and hairy. He loves to drop a drool covered tennis ball in your lap so you'll throw it for him--at least 100 times or so. If he so much as walks across the floor, he leaves black hair behind. Did I mention that he's stinky????  Anyhoo...Tucker is our 4 year old, much adored black lab. My family loves this dog.  Really.

A couple of days ago, I bought Tucker a new bed. This thing is nice, people..comfy, not hot and fleecy, big enough for him to stretch out.  Last night we put him in the laundry room, on his nice, new, comfy bed. Due to the whole hair thing, he's not allowed to roam around and spends the majority of his life outside, but we like to let him in at night. This morning Jay informed me that Tucker had spent the night near the base of the stairs--not on his nice, comfy doggie bed in the laundry room. I have to laugh.  He never could've gotten away with it, you can see the black hair on the tile. Oh, Tucker.

You see, Tucker cannot stand it if he isn't near his people.  His love and devotion for his family is so complete, his joy at being in our presence overflowing--his entire body wagging, not merely his tail. This dog personifies joy, devotion, and love. It may sound a tad cheesy, but it is entirely true.  Tucker left the laundry room to lie down by the stairs as we slept upstairs. He knows he isn't allowed up there so he chose the very closest spot to us.

My thoughts this morning?  Well, as I was reading in James about my Father of Lights, I looked down at the black dog hair spotting my floor and realized that I want to be that devoted to my Jesus, to find my joy in His Presence, to love and trust him so completely that nothing of this world's troubles matters as I draw into His grace and  find my rest in Him. Wholeheartedly devoted. Loving with everything in me. Real joy.

 Life lessons from Tucker...who knew?! :)

(Had to add a puppy picture because, well, what's cuter than a black lab puppy???)

Unity

After the last post poking a little fun at some of the churches we've visited, I thought it might be a good idea to share something that I've found to be most wonderful. Houston area churches are so full of diversity...people of every possible skin color, ethnicity, culture, language. It does the heart a world of good to enter a place of worship with all of these peoples of the world together in one place.  Unity in Christ. So incredibly beautiful. 

A Different World

Moving from the Northwest to South Texas is quite the experience. I love the scene in Sweet Home Alabama where Reese Witherspoon's character says, "People need a passport to come down here!"  My family is navigating this sea of change fairly well, though sometimes they just shake their heads in wonder and confusion. It's truly a different world.

Part of the whole moving gig for us has been visiting area churches to see if perhaps one might be a fit for our family. This alone has been interesting, including one Sunday when, after the service, we all got in the car and started laughing.  Kyra and I both began to sing different songs, but both described well what we'd just experienced. We are probably bad people, but it hit us all as pretty darn funny. I'll share the songs with you...

Conviction

A couple of years ago, as I was practically jogging through Target to get to the toilet paper aisle--feeling overwhelmed, tired and too busy--I was stopped by a book.  Transfixed from page one, I stood in the aisle at Target and read this book from cover to cover...Night by Elie Wiesel.  Beautiful, haunting, convicting, powerful, so very very sad.

This morning I once again find myself convicted by Elie's words...

"I swore to never be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation.  We must always take sides.  Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented."

There are passions in my heart for the oppressed. Those passions may be for different causes than yours, but they all matter. I am convicted today to get out of my little world, to look beyond the difficulties in my own life as of late, to do my best to see. Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. Help me to see, to be unafraid, and then, to do.