Conformed or Transformed?

The following is a post from my former Pastor and friend. It touched my heart and I wanted to share it with you and pray it speaks to you as well. I went to my cousin's memorial service this week. You would've loved Ed, he was a great pastor and a fun guy. I find myself sitting next to some of you in the stadium of questions. You know the place - it's the crowded arena that holds all of us who have had an experience that doesn't seem to fit in the game of life. I hugged Ed's wife, who now is without a husband, a father for their kids, a pastor, and even a church. I stood in the stadium next to her and felt a fraction of her pain. We cried. I walked and talked with my other cousin who is now without his younger brother and himself racked with pain from cancer - we talked about God, about questions, about hanging on. The stadium is often quite full. As I work my way out of the stadium I'm looking back making some observations. 1. The stadium of questions rarely h...

It's been a while since my last post. It seems life has been pretty crazy. Olivia was in the hospital for a few days with a kidney infection. Brian was out of town and some friends of ours were out of town and we were watching their 3 girls. I wasn't sure how I was going to take her in to the hospital at 9pm and manage to get kids off to school and such in the morning. I am so blessed to have good neighbors. Andrew was ok to spend the night here and "hold the fort down" and my neighbor took the girls and my brother was able to take the big kids to the highschool. A big hearty THANK YOU to all who helped make things easier. I couldn't have done it without you. Olivia has been on antibiotics since the visit and is doing well. It took us a week to get back in the groove of things, but praise God she is back on her feet! How quickly we can take our physical health for granted. I have a friend who has to go to the hospital all the time for her three children...

You say: "It's impossible" God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27) You say: "I'm too tired" God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30) You say: "Nobody really loves me" God says: I love you (John 3:1 6 & John3:34 ) You say: "I can't go on" God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15) You say: "I can't figure things out" God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5- 6) You say: "I can't do it" God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13) You say: "I'm not able" God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8) You say: "It's not worth it" God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28 ) You say: "I can't forgive myself" God says: I Forgive you (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1) You say: "I can't manage" God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19) You say: "I'm afra...

I run to You. When the waves around me are crashing from the storm.... When I'm in the stillness of the redwood forest and not a sound is heard... When I am in a crowd of people and feel all alone.... When I sit on the edge wondering where you are.... When I am filled with excitement that I cannot contain..... When I don't feel I can go on.... I run to You. Your love reaches. Your love touches. I run to You. Where it's always safe and I am held. I run to You. The One who never changes. I run to You. I run only to You. Jesus.

I can only take so much of the news and then I get depressed. There is so much that they report that is negative, but HERE is a story of great proportions. It lifts your spirits and makes you wish they reported MORE stuff like this.....and that more people acted like this. Note who carried this girl around the bases.......Check it out!