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Friday, February 27, 2015

Family Friday: Branten's Story



(Used with permission, written by Jennifer Durham)




I'm finally sitting down tonight after a very full day, and I have a very full heart.  Today is our Branten's 3rd birthday. We started the day with special birthday pancakes and presents and then celebrated with close friends this afternoon at his train themed party. He was SO excited, happy, and full of life....a truly wonderful day! Three years ago this morning, I gave birth to a healthy, beautiful boy. It was one of the best days of my life. Two years ago today, on Branten's first birthday, I had the worst day of my life when, after many, many tests, bloodwork, and trips to Dr.'s and hospitals, Branten was admitted to Laurie's Children's Hospital in Chicago. He was admitted after being examined by the GI team there. He weighed only 12lbs and 10 oz. that day.......his first birthday. He was literally starving to death and his organs had started to shut down. He couldn't walk, crawl, or even sit up for more than a few minutes without exhaustion, and the very worst part was that we had no idea why. I spent every day from the time my eyes were open until they closed at night, worrying, praying, doing everything I could do, and everything the Dr.'s told me to do, to try and help him. I nursed him from birth until that day at the hospital, when I nursed him the very last time several hours before they took him to surgery.....the very worst night I have ever had. He lay in the hospital crib, crying all night off and on, and I was not allowed to nurse him. After doing exploratory surgery, we learned that Branten had/has a disease in his esophagus known as Eosinophilic Esophagitis. He also has extreme food allergies, which include, dairy, eggs, wheat, gluten, peanuts and tree nuts. His esophageal disease is triggered by the food that he's allergic to and causes him extreme pain along with a slew of other issues. They placed an NG feeding tube that night and that was Branten's sole source of nourishment for an entire year. Brad and I had to learn to put the tube in ourselves before he was allowed to leave the hospital. So for a year I had to put a thin tube up his nose and down his throat, getting it in at just the right angle to hit all of the right openings to get it down into his tummy, and then listen with a stethoscope while pushing air thru the line to make sure I had the tube in the right place in his tummy before beginning the feeding, which was done by an automatic pump. I still remember watching the first tube of milk (a very special, expensive formula) being pumped into his little body and feeling such enormous relief. There were still several other tests to rule out other horrible diseases that were possibilities with his symptoms. I remember really wrestling with God those nights.....Him pulling and me pushing back. I wasn't ready to let go.... Not just of my son's precious life, but of so much more than that. The pride that I was not a perfect mother with all of the answers. There was nothing I could do to fix my child. The need to control. Everything in the situation was out of my control.... His living, or dying was not something I had power over. I remember distinctly where I was sitting, in the hospital, looking out the window at the great city of Chicago, all of the lights, all of the buildings, the lake.......... Sitting there and finally letting go, surrendering to God all of it, Branten's life, whether God chose to take him or let me keep him longer, his health, his future. I told God, "He's yours". I gave up the pride, the need to control the outcome, the need to have my son more than my need to have God's will. Such an amazing, sweet peace came after that. The Holy Spirit whispered to me that He was for me......no matter what would happen, it would be the best thing for myself, my beautiful boy, and for our whole family. I could trust. I could let go. I did. Things did not get easier in regards to Branten's health right then, in fact, they got much, much harder and more complex as the days went on. My at times, borderline crazy, need to control my day and schedule self was thrown into having very little control over any of those things. Hours spent on feedings, tubes, physical therapy, speech therapy, nutrition therapy, and endless dr.'s visits. Every day was, and continues to be a new test. I didn't always pass. Some days were miserable failures. God has used all of this to teach me lessons that I could never have learned otherwise, and for that, I can say I'm so very, very thankful, and blessed be the name of the Lord. So today, on this day set aside to celebrate Branten's birth, filled with sweet toddler giggles and happy memories made, I also celebrate a death. A dying to self, of my need to control, my need to hoard my children and declare them as mine when they are really just gifts on loan from the Heavenly Father who loves, and cares more for them than I could ever fathom. 
If you made it to the end of this, congratulations!! It has been a long time since I have publicly written anything about this part of our journey in life and today I just had to. I am so thankful for where Branten is now. Even on the very hard days of being a mommy, I can't help but be grateful for every minute, even the really trying and difficult ones. I am so thankful that I get to experience life with him....messy, wonderful, crazy, beautiful life.   
~~~ Jennifer

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Thoughtful Thursday: Grow Your Heart




Lastly in this series of the heart, we will discuss the idea of growing your heart.

I Thessalonians 3:12 says “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men,…”

It’s easy to love those that love you back and are thankful for what is given them.  But what about loving those that don’t reciprocate, those that don’t appreciate?
As Christians we should try to grow our hearts to love not just our family, fellow Christians, those that are easy to love, but also those that we may deem unlovable.

John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world…”   The world.  All men.  Not everyone believes in God, many curse His name, yet He loves them.   The obstacles that we may have to try to overcome to love all men are not near as great as this.

So, how do we grow our hearts to love all?

We can take from Christ’s example in John 13.  He was serving His disciples by washing their feet.  In this group of men, was one who would betray Him, one that would deny Him, yet He proved His love to them by serving them.  I bet this was an act of love that they never forgot, even if it was not appreciated at the moment.

Matthew 5:44 says “…Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you,….”
We can also grow our hearts by praying for others.  And no I don’t mean pray that they get a flat tire or something like that.  Pray for blessings for them, pray that they come to know Christ and/or grow in their relationship with Him.  This is a deed that may never receive recognition, but how can you not learn to care for someone that you lift up in prayer to the Father.  He can allow you to see them as He sees them….loveable!

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

We Pray Wednesday: Prayer Testimony - Crystal




In the past, I had given to missions, but always based on my budget. Three years ago, I heard a message about Faith Promise Giving during an evening service . The concept of asking the Lord what He would have you give and then trusting him to provide it seemed scary. I began praying and almost immediately, the Lord laid a number on my heart.  I thought this amount was impossible, so I continued to pray just to be sure. On the final night, I went to the altar and told the Lord I did not understand how this was going to work, but I was going to trust Him to provide. The next morning I went to work and my boss gave me a raise that allowed me to meet my commitment. Each year, The Lord has worked in a similar way, and I have been able to faithfully give to the missions program.

(Testimony written by Crystal Roberson, member of Grace Baptist Church)

Monday, February 23, 2015

Monday's Message: By Fire




By Fire
1 Corinthians 3:10-15

Are you searching for stability?  Has the thought, “What would I do if everything I have were destroyed by a fire?” crossed your mind lately?  CRAZY! I know, but let’s talk about it.  Our lives are jam-packed with uncertainty.  The economy, the government, the weather, our families are all completely unpredictable and pretty much uncontrollable!  Where are we to find a stable, unshakable, indestructible foundation?  I am so glad you asked; because, the Bible says, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”  Jesus is the foundation, the solid bedrock on which we can construct a life that will last for eternity!

There are over 3,000 religions in the world today.  That tells me that there are a lot of well-meaning people with the best of intentions attempting to help people have hope and certainty in a hopeless, uncertain world, but there is one little problem.  There is only one Jesus, and He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  He alone can build a house that will stand through the test of fire.  Let me ask you this question.  Is Jesus your foundation?  My friend, He wants to be, and you can make Him the foundation of your life today!
Psalms 127:1a Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it:

Dear Friend, one day you are going to die, and your body will be buried. But you have a never dying soul that will spend eternity in heaven or hell.
The word of God teaches us that we must realize some certain things in order to go to heaven.

First: You must realize that all of us have sinned.
For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

Second: There is punishment for sin.
For the wages of sin is death... (Romans 6:23a)
the Bible is specific: Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12)
That one man was Adam. The moment he sinned against God, he died spiritually. That same death has passed upon us when we first sinned. The Bible tells us in John 3:3 ...except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
If we die physically in this condition, having never been born again; (Revelation 20:14-15) And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Third: Jesus paid the penalty for our sins.
God loves us very much and sent His Son Jesus to die in our place.
But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
When Jesus died on the cross He paid your debt for sin by taking your punishment upon Himself.
...but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23b) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8 - 9)
Salvation in heaven is a gift to be received by faith in Jesus, trusting Him completely. We cannot earn a gift, we do not deserve a gift; we must accept a gift.

Fourth: Trust Christ to save you today.
If you realize that your sins have condemned you, and that Jesus is the only One who can save you, call on Him right now trusting Him with all your heart to save your soul. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:10, 13)
To call on the Lord right now, pray something like this from your heart:
Dear Jesus, I know I am a sinner; I know I deserve hell for my sins. I believe You died for me, and I am trusting You to save my soul and give me the gift of eternal life. Thank you Jesus for saving my soul. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, please contact us. We would love to know that you made this decision today, and rejoice with you!