Gift

How would I define the perfect gift? I

It would have to be something that was, well, perfect… for me.

An example would be a dress that fits just right, feels wonderful, hides the places you don’t want to draw attention to and exploits the places that are admirable.  The style, color and cut would parallel my personality in a way that I had to know I was truly loved because I was given this dress.  Not that it was better than dresses that other girls wore; but that it was absolutely perfect… for me.

The other day I came the epiphany that the children God has given me are gifts from Him.  It’s not that they are better than other children, though you may have an argument there if you said that to Gramma.  But they are perfect… for me.

When I began to evaluate each of my girls this way I was really overwhelmed with the love of my Father. 

He gave me little people as gifts that would suit my likes.  He knew I grew up wishing I lived in musical.  He knew Katie Jo would just start singing while walking together on the path and while sitting at the dinner table. 

Gifts that would be able to make me laugh.  He knew that Anna Mae’s little voice would speak more words than a kid her age ought to and we would feel we never needed a tv again with the entertainment of a one-year-old in the house. 

Gifts that would comfort me.  He knew that Adri Ann would play with my hair whenever we were still and near each other and that her touch would soothe me.

Gifts that would affirm me.  He knew that Cora Lee would praise my mothering and cooking.

Gifts that would test and refine me.  He knew that they would become the most effective tool in my life to make me more like His son. 

Not only did God make them unique individuals with an eternal destiny to live out, but He tailored each of them as a gift that is perfect… for me.
-Becky Jo

adjusting

We are now officially "adjusting" to the new normal of having FIVE girls.  It's always shocking how much of life is affected by such a little person!  Here are some pics that are pretty typical of life these days!

Baby Cumming's Birth Story... and Name

In Exodus the children of Israel are attacked by the Amalekites.  Moses stands above them, with the support of Aaron and Hur, to raise the rod of the Lord.  As long as his arms were lifted up the Israelites won the battle.  Moses set up an alter called Jehovahnissi, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner, after their victory.  When He was raised up, God literally changed things and delivered His people.  That is what I experience delivering this baby.

We headed to the hospital trying to decide if we should call 911, go to the closer hospital, or risk the 45 minute drive out to the hospital my doctor was expecting me at.  Cory because quite the aggressive driver.  And as we neared the freeway I told Jenna, my doula and best friend in the seat beside me, and Cory that I was at the threshold of the need to push.  After the next contraction I texted a handful of friends to please pray and got back immediate responses to pray.  One of the replies was: Becky Jo, get in the glory. He’s there.  So I started to expect God to use this time.  I could either freak out, get scared, and have the baby in the car OR I could trust Him and expect Him to show up supernaturally.  The next contraction came and stopped before it should have.  I started to cry.  I felt an overwhelming awareness of His pleasure in this child in me and His presence in the present situation.  I knew that He was hearing and honoring the prayers of His people.  It was like I could feel the atmosphere changing. 

Cory and Jenna have been with me in labor before.  They knew I was at the end.  Cory started going faster and faster hoping to get noticed by a policeman and wave him forward to get an escort.  As we neared the hospital I came up against the last contraction in the car.  The Lord had shortened everyone up to this point, but I now had no more to fight with.  The baby was ready to come out.  I was more aware of what was happening in my body than I possibly have ever been before.  The contraction began and I told them, “Call out to the LORD!” Jenna and Cory both broke out in authoritative prayer.  Only a couple of seconds into the contraction I started praising Jesus.  He literally stopped it.  If I had seen a blind man see, I would have marveled at seeing a miracle; if I’d heard or a lame man getting healed, I would have marveled at hearing of a miracle; this the I did not see or hear, but I FELT the hand of God miraculously and physically intervene in the reality of my body in labor and stop it.  We rounded the corner and made it to the hospital!!

We were praising God as we pulled up to the valet.  Cory and Jenna jumped out yelling, “we need a wheelchair.” They grabbed some of our stuff, the valet guy ran for a chair, but we didn’t have that much time so with one of them under each of my arms we attempted to walk me into the hospital. The pressure of gravity alone sent me into what felt like another contraction.  I saw seats in the foyer and knew I needed to sit again or else… I started squatting in the hope of sitting down, and just then some one showed up with the chair and sitting stopped the progress of labor.  We made it upstairs to triage and Jenna told the nurses our situation, but they must hear that sort of thing a lot from people who don’t really know what they are talking about, because they obviously did not believe us.  The nurse calmly asked me to take put a gown on and wanted to check me.  Well we almost accomplished that, but then came the next contraction and my water broke as I got on the table.  She went to check and see if I was dilated, but as she looked, she knew what we meant.  The nurse grabbed hold of the bed and started wheeling me down the hall.   Another nurse was telling here there were no rooms available and she barked back that she was taking me to a room. 

We got there and I told everyone that I would need to push when the next contraction came.  One of the nurses said, “oh don’t do that, we don’t have the table ready yet.” I told her I would have to.  And as they got me in the bed I was sent into the next contraction and had to start pushing.  The bed was not broken down, there were no stirrups the nurses had their backs toward me getting ready and the baby’s head was out before the doctor even got a chance to turn around and catch.   Everything was perfect.  She started crying and breathing right away, there were no complications; she was perfectly pink. 

We named her Kalee Nissi.  Kalee is a feminine version of Caleb (to honor what the Lord spoke to Cora Lee).  It begins with “Ka” like Katie Jo’s name (who prayed her in).  It means keeper of the keys.  Look at Matthew 16 for that one…or ask Cory.  I believe that is a prophetic word for what the Lord is birthing in this season.  Nissi means banner.  The Lord was lifted up and was a banner over us. 

Quote of the day:
"Biblical Community is sometimes hard and sometimes messy,
but it's always Biblical."

We want to "be the church" right?

This past Sunday gathering was, yet again, very different than any of us had expected.  Which, by now, maybe we should be expecting... 
It's been a few weeks since we had met at our house, and we're all excited to be together for some fellowship and seeking the Lord time together!  So, as everyone is showing up for dinner and starting to hang out a bit, the Lord gives us an unexpected opportunity. 
The Buskirk family arrives, and as 3 of their children jump out of the van and begin to play, they begin to get Nathan ready for the party.  Nathan is the miracle child who wasn't supposed to live -but did, who wasn't supposed to walk -but does, who all the odds are against -but keeps on overcoming.  Nathan wears braces on his ankles, and as they were putting them on something in the little guys foot pops... loud.  And all of a sudden, it seems like Nathan has yet another thing to overcome -a broken ankle!

Now the opportunity comes into the picture... what do we do now?  Well, we get the opportunity to "be the church"!   As the parents leave with their son to the ER, the rest of us get to take responsibility for their other 3 children.  We got to adjust our gathering to the needs that were present.  

No program or agenda should ever be more important than people!  We see Jesus often "moved with compassion" adjusting plans, and meeting the needs of the people.  This is what we're called to as a church "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ".

dinner time!

Our gathering was definitely different than any of us had expected, 8 kids (8yrs and younger)  around the dinner table (minus two parents) is crazy, Bible story time with everyone taking responsibility for the kids is awesome, but stretching, and "bedtime" story with one dad and 7 kids is wild.  But there was a love present in a night like that that we seldom get to experience, that some of us seldom take the opportunity to be "moved with compassion" toward.

Community isn't always easy, but it's what we're called to. 

-But that's not the end of the story!  Turns out that Nathan story of overcoming continues... His ankle didn't break, but that "pop" we heard was actually his tight little muscle lengthening.  It still hurts to use it, but he is starting to again already.  So, although, he didn't enjoy the experience, it is a good thing in the end!  Praise God, sounds like Romans 8:28 to me... our community got to "be the church" and Nathan's foot will end up being better than before! 

"But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good"

is this the baby name we've been waiting for?

(written by becky jo)
Cora Lee was washing her hands during quiet hour yesterday and came down the hall to ask me, "Did somebody just say Caleb?" 
She didn't recognize the voice.  She thought maybe I was greeting someone who had come over.

We talked about whether or not it was the Lord.  I sent her back to bed and told her to think about and keep listening and that I would come in to talk to her soon.

I told Cora Lee that I'd been asking God to speak to us about this baby.  And I asked her again if she thought it was the Lord.
"That would be interesting," she said, "because I know I did not hear it with my heart, I heard it in my ears."
We talked about Samuel and Eli.  In the past we've prayed that the Lord would speak to Cora Lee like He did to Samuel.
Cora Lee suggested, "Maybe God's telling us something.  Like Moses.. no, no... I mean... Abraham.  God told him he was going to have a son."  She remembered that was really important and I watched her ponder  it there in front of me.  
Finally she decided not to tell Katie Jo yet.  Because that would ruin the surprise. (This baby is a gift from God to Katie Jo.  It is a direct answer to her prayer. 




---Quick background story: Katie Jo for months was the first one in the house to get up in the mornings.  She'd come to our room to coax Cory out of bed.  She'd try different strategies and say things like, "Daddy, wouldn't you love to have a cup of coffee and read your Bible? And... you can get me some milk!"  The two of them would come in the quiet living room with her cups and she'd play at his feet, she really treasured that time. 
So one morning, about 7 months ago she came to my side of the bed and declared, "It's taking SOOO long!"
I would not consider myself a morning person.  I managed to mumble, "for what, Katie?"
"To have another baby." She answered.  "My sisters got to help with Anna Mae when she was a baby, and I was too little, but I want to help with the next baby."
"Katie Jo," I grumbled, "You'd better take that up with the Lord."
Immediately she hoped into the rocking chair by our bed, folded her little chubby hands, and prayed, "Dear God..."  The prayer was a the desire of her heart to have another child so that she could help.  She even had 3 specific ideas already thought up of things she could do for the baby.
That morning I took a pregnancy test.  It was positive.  When we told the girls about the baby our family was expecting, we all looked at Katie Jo.  She was beaming.  We knew the Lord was answering her prayer.  AND the baby is coming right around her birthday.---  




  The girls have discussed how it is still a birthday surprise still because we do not know if the baby is a boy or girl; or the eye or hair color... so there are 3 surprises).
Cora Lee remained in the room for a few more minutes alone to ask God to "help her understand," but heard nothing else and came out to resume a normal day.
I texted Cory what she said when she came out of the bathroom.  Cory's response was, "Wow... was it the Lord?  Is that the baby name we've been waiting for?"

Buskirks Birthday in Oak Glen (from last Saturday... forgot to post it earlier)

Q: What do you get when you take 8 kids (8 years old or less) to pick apples?

A: I'm not all the way sure either, but I think they all made it home with us ;)

Seriously we had a great time celebrating the miracle of Nathan and Logan (4) and Breanna's (5) birthdays! 

Pet goats, held chickens, flew planes, gave random homemade gifts, ate sandwiches, sat on the grass, ate cupcakes with yummy frosting, ate yummy frosting, picked apples, got sunburned, played in the stream, got muddy in the stream, went home, went to bed early!

Had a great day with the Buskirks!

Solo Day.

I (cory) got the opportunity to get away for the day to spend some much needed time receiving from the Lord.  I went up to my spot in Idyllwild... a certain rock on a certain hill where I've spent times with the Lord before. 

We've chosen to put a priority on having daddy go seek the Lord on behalf of the family about once a year.  Usually this would involve a couple of nights camping alone, but with only one car working, a day trip will have to suffice... for now. 

The Lord really seems to honor this time, as we set it aside to hear from Him and receive direction, He always speaks to us where we're at.  Guys, let me encourage you to set some time aside to seek the Lord, as an individual and as the head/priest of your home.  It could be the thing the Lord uses to change the direction you family is headed, it has for mine!

This time, the Lord revealed some deep down issues of my heart that needed to be healed, and gave some very practical insight into life right now... thank you Lord!

It was an awesome day.

Where do we go!

We felt like we needed to get away on a saturday road trip... if i haven't filled up my coffee thermos in a while, it's time.

So, it was time! 

We talked together at the dinner table, and decided to pray and see if the Lord would show us anything.  So we did.

Very Important Side Note: we had just read about how God spoke to Abraham and asked him leave his home town and go... somewhere. 

So we prayed and waited on the Lord for a couple minutes.  During that time i (cory) saw a river flowing over some rocks... so as we talked about what what the Lord could be saying, BJ suggested Whitewater River (about 45 mins away)... although that dive hardly justifies a thermos, i couldn't deny that it seemed that the Lord was in it.

Fast Forward... We're now in Whitewater, looking for a place to have lunch, instead of just using a picnic table like normal people, we decide to follow a path through some trees... all 6 of us, with the dog, and armfuls of stuff.  But after a few minutes things start to change. Trees shrink into bushes, cool shade turns into desert sun, and our expectant attitudes vanish, leaving six sweaty people and one thirsty dog!  We send out a couple of scouts, the report: more rocks, no shade!

Then all of a sudden i realize what's going on.  We had been wondering what Abraham felt when he was asked to go without knowing where he would end up and then asked the Lord to plan our Saturday trip.  The Lord took us on a field trip!  We were Abraham... told to go somewhere, the promise of a refreshing river, now that journey has brought us out in the desert sun looking for shade.  What a lesson for the kids (and the grown ups), trusting and following the Lord is right, but not always easy! 

We retreated to the shady picnic tables, and regrouped.  Then on our way out, we found the spot the Lord had shown us...the river flowing over the rocks!  We all played in the water for the rest of our afternoon.  It was so awesome... except when Adri went over the rapids on her backside... chasing a frog.  But even that couldn't spoil such a God given Adventure!  

teaching our kids to pray

So, i got home the other day, thinking, my kids... my family... we need to seek the Lord TOGETHER!  If we don't practice praying and hearing from the Lord as a family, how will our children learn what we mean when we say things like, "the Lord is put this on my heart for you...", "we need to pray against this..." or "i think the Lord would have us..." which are phrases we're using more these days.
I gathered everyone on the living room floor and read the Good Shepherd out of their kids Bible.  We talked about how His sheep hear His voice, and they follow Him.  And with that, we thanked the Lord Jesus for being our Good Shepherd and asked Him to speak to us!  Cora Lee(6) buried her face in a couch pillow, Adri Ann(5) pretended to not be interested (which we later found out was discouragement because... she said, "she only hears her own mind"- i know the feeling well!), Katie Jo(3.5) flopped around on the floor like a three and a half year old, and Anna Mae(1.5) ran around like a one and a half year old.  
Seriously, in less than a minute, Katie Jo jumps up and runs over to Anna Mae (who usually just barley tolerates her)  and gives her a huge hug, and runs back and sits down and says, "God told me to hug Anna Mae!"  Then for maybe the first time ever, Anna Mae jumps up and gives Katie Jo one hug after another until all the girls are in one big pile on the floor, laughing as Katie Jo says excitedly, "I guess that WAS God's answer!"  Seems like the Lord wanted to establish/restore their little relationship... with a very contagious hug.
The Lord also gave some insight to me (Cory) regarding some spiritual attack going on in my life, so i talked through that with the kids and prayed against it with them! 

They are so ready and eager to be given permission to have this sort of relationship with the Lord... instead of all of our stuffy formality let's give them something real!

Sunday 9/5

So, I can't help but feel like every Sunday night now is like walking into the forest!  It's seemed like for a while we've been standing there at the edge, looking in and wondering.  Wondering if its safe, wondering if we're really allowed to go in.  When really its where we belong, its the way we were meant to  live! 

Now we get to start exploring the forest.  It's hard to imagine ever being satisfied again with being on the edge looking in.  We're starting to see how the Body of Christ functions, where every part does its share.  And how the Lord really does want to take His place as the Head. 

We met again for dinner this past Sunday, at our house, and fellowshiped for a while.  It seems like Biblical fellowship is being rediscovered totally by accident, as the Lord is working in our lives, it's just natural to open the Word and share what He's been doing or showing us.  Then after the kids went to bed, we spent time again worshiping, praying, and seeking the Lord.  This time has been so sweet the last few weeks, for many of us this is a new experience... freedom to enter in to intimacy with the Lord!  The Lord has been faithful to meet us each time, and do what only He can do...

So far this is what the Lord has been leading us to do as we gather together, and we're confident that He will continue to direct us into His will as we're seeking Him together. 

Exciting stuff!  Can't wait until next time.

P.s. we're probably going to have a time of worship with the kids this week too, we are excited to see what the Lord does with that.  

Last Sunday @ Home

We are so blessed. In trying to discern what the Lord would have us do as we enter this next season of our lives, we knew that He would direct us as we worshiped Him. So that's what we did this past Sunday! Sometimes we as people complicate even the most simple of things, things that are so obvious that there should really no question about, become bound up in all sorts of confusion! Let it not be so in the Body of Christ!... Please.
So that's how we approached our first "gathering". Simple, do what's obvious (Biblically speaking) for followers/disciples of Christ to do when they meet together (i.e. Share a meal, share our lives, encourage one another, pray and worship together, seek the Lord together) and as we worship He will direct us... He will show us what it means to be the "church"!
Funny, as obvious as that sounds, I don't think I've let that simplicity, or that purity, ever be enough... But it so is!... I'm learning.
Can't wait till this sunday evening!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

last sunday at the Garden

Well, it finally happened... after all the talking and wondering and praying and asking, we were released this Sunday into the Lord's will.  Call it a step of faith, call it obedience, we call it exciting!
The Lord has been preparing our hearts for over a year for this, and now the time has come.  It has really been strong on or hearts to be the church, instead of go there; to do what we do because the Bible says to, not because its what someone says we're supposed to; and to actually believe what Jesus said enough to try and live that way.  
So, we'll see what happens! 

growing desire

To this day, I can't say when or where it started, but there was a desire/yearning planted in us that started to grow.  Not the kind of growth that is tame and manageable, but the kind that is semi-invasive, like the kind that has its own ideas about what areas are appropriate and/or sacred... oh yeah, and does not ask permission first! 
This inconvenient and, frankly, impolite growing desire/yearning started to wreak havoc on the relative comfort we enjoyed.  This desire and yearning for an authentic life lived before God introduced us to a new lifestyle that we are still learning/struggling to embrace: no compromise.
Our ideas of family size (what does God say about children?), possessions/wealth (what does Jesus say about money?), church (why do we do what we do?), the kingdom of God (what kingdom are we living in/for?)... the answers these and many other inconvenient but profoundly life altering questions have proceeded to transform us from being conformed to the world to being very different.  Yes, and to a lot of people, quite strange in fact. 
But we are beginning to feel like, life shouldn’t look “normal” in the normal sense of the word, in fact, there is something inherently “abnormal” about a life lived as a sacrifice.

Hey, I'm testing out my mobile phone posting! Cross my fingers

What’s Different

The Lord has been doing so much in our hearts over the last few years! It seems like almost systematically… no, more like infectiously, every area of our life has been called into question by our Lord, and after much reflection, deliberation and eventual conviction we’ve been further submitting our lives to the Lord one area at a time. What at one time we would have considered to be radical, unnecessary, or just plain weird; we now embrace as an act of obedience to the Lord as followers of Christ.



You see, not too long ago, we were a couple who loved the Lord, loved each other, and were happy er, blessed to be starting our family and on top of all that we got to be involved in ministry, leading worship and being on staff at our church. What could be better than that? While we were content living such a (I hesitate to say) comfortable life, the Lord was not! He had and still has so much more for our family.