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How beautiful it was! John's studying and praying over how to lead us in this most special time was a true gift to our family. He managed to escape early from the office and came home to finish off preparations I'd made earlier in the day.
We discussed the first passover and ate a quick bite with unleavened bread, lamb and bitter herbs dipped in salt water. After prayer, we moved into our main meal: Roasted lamb chops with onions, oregano and potatoes, green bean casserole, apples and nuts.
Once we finished dinner, we enjoyed Communion together as a family. Very special time for us. Then we played Jenga on the living room floor. Afterward the children raced outside to swing as darkness came on. We finished our evening together with ice cream on the deck and considering the events of so many years ago, that night of the First Passover.
Things I need help with for next year: A better lamb recipe. I've discovered that I truly don't like lamb. Any suggestions on how to do that would be appreciated. We also need to find a Kosher butcher. Anyone know of one here in No.Va?
Oh, and I get a kick out of how Satan tried to ruin it all. The boys were horribly sick with allergies all through dinner, sneezing, coughing, dripping, running eyes etc. And a pan burnt right through the pad we had under it onto my Ethan Allen breakfast table and in effect, ruined the top. We've used the same method hundreds of times before. Never a problem. I just shake my head and say "Seriously, do you think you are going to sway us and our Walk with allergies and scorched table tops?"
Here are a couple of pictures from last night. Looking forward to enjoying this High Sabbath with my kids and friends from our Co-op this afternoon. I making Matza Crunch!
Well, I can't figure out how to take pics off my iPad and put them on....so pics will be forthcoming when I get that handled.....
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
Overcoming Resentment
" We need to make some decisions here before the resentment is too great to overcome," the judge said.
It's one of the last statements I remember being said in the Court room at the end of March. A lightbulb went off in my heart and mind as it was being said. I was already pretty full of resentment. I'd never expected to have to suffer for Christ. I most certainly never even dreamed that I would suffer as a mother.
I believe that until that moment in court, I was like the crowd standing outside in the court yard of Pilate's home shouting for Barabas. I'd certainly expected from my Salvation a ruling King would come in Victory and make my life easier, more fulfilling, more fun.
Many people were praying for us as we went into court and asked how to pray afterwards. My reply was to pray AGAINST resentment. My thoughts that said, none of this is fair, LORD! How could You allow the destruction and subsequent sorrows and is it ever going to end? I am so mad at the world for this horrible set of circumstances. Why can't my Dad be here to help me? Why did you have to take him so soon after this all happened? The list goes on and on at the anger and resentment that now seems so evident in my life just 3 short weeks ago.
In my morning quiet time, I've been reading albeit slowly, a book called A Cry of the Soul. It's a book about our emotions and how they point to our wrestling with God. The Psalms are used to point our thoughts to those in Scripture, namely David who wrestled with God so much. One minute ontop of the world, the next in a pit of despair. It made me feel normal and like I wasn't loosing my mind or sinning against the Lord who so graciously bought my life with His own blood! I've been learning about unrighteous anger that says "How DARE YOU do this to me!" compared to "How You must hurt Father, to see your children suffer so!!" As I've taken the last 3 weeks to prepare my heart and mind for Passover, which occurs tonight, I've been praying against resentment and healing in my own life that only comes through identifying with Messiah and His sufferings. Now, it's been quiet the ugly road Spiritually getting to this place. Somehow I've always believed that for transformation to really occur it should look like a beautiful light that was shown to Paul on the Damascus road.
Not so in my case and the more I ponder it, it wasn't always a beautiful situation for many in Scripture, either. Great anguish often came before great transformation. Jonah, John the Baptist, Samson they all suffered greatly as they wrestled out their Walk with YHWH.
As the sun is rising this morning I'm thinking of the Passover Lamb, Messiah, without spot or defect, everything was and is Perfect in Him. He was examined and proven worthy to be killed and His most Precious Blood shed so we might identify with Him and His sufferings. This is the true meaning of His Resurrection. Just a short while ago, as mature as I believe I was in Him, through my own soulful examination I found myself but a babe. Prayer and Petition has allowed me to overcome the resentment that so grieved my soul and I now find myself joyfully identifying with Messiah and His sufferings for us. I've never felt closer to Him, more humbled to be considered worthy by the Blood of the Lamb!
Lay aside the garments that are stained with Sin and be washed in the Blood of the Lamb.
Thanksgiving that Precedes the Miracle: More ways He loves me! 113-155
Neiman Marcus bars, Pottery bright, running 1st thing, smell of fresh dry cleaning, "Okay, Mom.", funfetti cake, unexpected flowers, bday lunch with kids, falling asleep in John's lap, springtime sun, a rented house, loving John, texting girlfriends, Jman enjoying calamari, girl dates at Starbucks, garage sales, Pastors and friends who are there, "Isn't that exhausting?", I prayed that for you!, hymns that fit, Jeopardy boards at CC, bluegrass radio, small group, flowers, tulips yellow, flowering trees, deep green grass, children nestling in bed, a girlfriend taking my hand, Spring sunny days, music, painting nails, new living room valances, wall art, walkie-talkies, sitting on deck with John, Em's pancakes, Jman's eggs, decluttering a room, fresh salads with spicy chicken, Sunday sun, Sabbath rest, purple stormy sky.
Victory in Jesus, My Savior forever, He sought me and bought me with His Redeeming Blood.
Because of that precious Blood, it's time to get ready for Passover! Come quickly Lord Jesus!!
It's one of the last statements I remember being said in the Court room at the end of March. A lightbulb went off in my heart and mind as it was being said. I was already pretty full of resentment. I'd never expected to have to suffer for Christ. I most certainly never even dreamed that I would suffer as a mother.
I believe that until that moment in court, I was like the crowd standing outside in the court yard of Pilate's home shouting for Barabas. I'd certainly expected from my Salvation a ruling King would come in Victory and make my life easier, more fulfilling, more fun.
Many people were praying for us as we went into court and asked how to pray afterwards. My reply was to pray AGAINST resentment. My thoughts that said, none of this is fair, LORD! How could You allow the destruction and subsequent sorrows and is it ever going to end? I am so mad at the world for this horrible set of circumstances. Why can't my Dad be here to help me? Why did you have to take him so soon after this all happened? The list goes on and on at the anger and resentment that now seems so evident in my life just 3 short weeks ago.
In my morning quiet time, I've been reading albeit slowly, a book called A Cry of the Soul. It's a book about our emotions and how they point to our wrestling with God. The Psalms are used to point our thoughts to those in Scripture, namely David who wrestled with God so much. One minute ontop of the world, the next in a pit of despair. It made me feel normal and like I wasn't loosing my mind or sinning against the Lord who so graciously bought my life with His own blood! I've been learning about unrighteous anger that says "How DARE YOU do this to me!" compared to "How You must hurt Father, to see your children suffer so!!" As I've taken the last 3 weeks to prepare my heart and mind for Passover, which occurs tonight, I've been praying against resentment and healing in my own life that only comes through identifying with Messiah and His sufferings. Now, it's been quiet the ugly road Spiritually getting to this place. Somehow I've always believed that for transformation to really occur it should look like a beautiful light that was shown to Paul on the Damascus road.
Not so in my case and the more I ponder it, it wasn't always a beautiful situation for many in Scripture, either. Great anguish often came before great transformation. Jonah, John the Baptist, Samson they all suffered greatly as they wrestled out their Walk with YHWH.
As the sun is rising this morning I'm thinking of the Passover Lamb, Messiah, without spot or defect, everything was and is Perfect in Him. He was examined and proven worthy to be killed and His most Precious Blood shed so we might identify with Him and His sufferings. This is the true meaning of His Resurrection. Just a short while ago, as mature as I believe I was in Him, through my own soulful examination I found myself but a babe. Prayer and Petition has allowed me to overcome the resentment that so grieved my soul and I now find myself joyfully identifying with Messiah and His sufferings for us. I've never felt closer to Him, more humbled to be considered worthy by the Blood of the Lamb!
Lay aside the garments that are stained with Sin and be washed in the Blood of the Lamb.
Thanksgiving that Precedes the Miracle: More ways He loves me! 113-155
Neiman Marcus bars, Pottery bright, running 1st thing, smell of fresh dry cleaning, "Okay, Mom.", funfetti cake, unexpected flowers, bday lunch with kids, falling asleep in John's lap, springtime sun, a rented house, loving John, texting girlfriends, Jman enjoying calamari, girl dates at Starbucks, garage sales, Pastors and friends who are there, "Isn't that exhausting?", I prayed that for you!, hymns that fit, Jeopardy boards at CC, bluegrass radio, small group, flowers, tulips yellow, flowering trees, deep green grass, children nestling in bed, a girlfriend taking my hand, Spring sunny days, music, painting nails, new living room valances, wall art, walkie-talkies, sitting on deck with John, Em's pancakes, Jman's eggs, decluttering a room, fresh salads with spicy chicken, Sunday sun, Sabbath rest, purple stormy sky.
Victory in Jesus, My Savior forever, He sought me and bought me with His Redeeming Blood.
Because of that precious Blood, it's time to get ready for Passover! Come quickly Lord Jesus!!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
An update on things
It seems a lifetime has occurred since my last post. There most certainly have been a lifetime worth of events happen! Let me catch you up.
As we prepared for our move to Kuwait, which was one of the hardest decisions we've made to date in our lives, we came upon a large obstacle. Our checklist was going great:
Passports: done
House: rented to a great family
John's Car: sold
New Car to comply with Army regulations: purchased
John's job here: filled with a great leader!
Adam's legal needs: Met! We prevailed in court to allow our family to move forward to heal. This was the hardest day of my life, but we had so much support, love and prayer, we got through it.
It seems that over the last 2 years that just when I think things can't get any harder, they do! And boy, did they 2 weeks ago on a Friday.
Dependent Restricted to Kuwait. That's what the email said we received. We were devastated to say the least. The gory details aren't important, but suffice to say that after a lot of tears and I mean a LOT, we've decided to decline command and start the retirement processes. It is our hope to leave the Army by 1 July 2012. The Army has given John such a wonderful education. We aren't the least bit concerned about job possibilities post military. We know that God will provide for that. John didn't blink, it hurt and it still hurts, but we need to be a family now more than ever. We need some breathing room, a time of healing from the hurts. So here's the bright side:
Selling John's car put more money on Baby Step 2
John's current position while waiting for a transfer within the office gives him and extra 30 minutes of sleep and puts him on an earlier train home!
The kids and I will stay in our Classical Conversations Campus here in Manassas for one more year!
I get so shop more!! That's a huge bright side! I'd let my stockpile from coupons greatly dwindle. Now, I'm back to clipping and stocking up.
Things we are looking forward to: Celebrating the Lord's Feasts! Passover is next week and we are in preparation for it. John spent last Sunday afternoon studying to make sure he leads us correctly in Worship during this Holy time.
I've put a few 'family play dates' on the calendar to enjoy the next couple of months. Stay tuned for pictures!!
Lyndsay comes home in 3 weeks and we look forward to another summer by the pool at Urbana Swim Club! Let's do more grilling this year, P!
Well, the laundry is buzzing and my fever filled child needs me, so I'm off to my day. I look forward to blogging more in the coming weeks. There are some ideals brewing deep within me that I'd like to get typed out.
Keep praying for us as we are for so many of you!
Kellie for the Coombs Clan
As we prepared for our move to Kuwait, which was one of the hardest decisions we've made to date in our lives, we came upon a large obstacle. Our checklist was going great:
Passports: done
House: rented to a great family
John's Car: sold
New Car to comply with Army regulations: purchased
John's job here: filled with a great leader!
Adam's legal needs: Met! We prevailed in court to allow our family to move forward to heal. This was the hardest day of my life, but we had so much support, love and prayer, we got through it.
It seems that over the last 2 years that just when I think things can't get any harder, they do! And boy, did they 2 weeks ago on a Friday.
Dependent Restricted to Kuwait. That's what the email said we received. We were devastated to say the least. The gory details aren't important, but suffice to say that after a lot of tears and I mean a LOT, we've decided to decline command and start the retirement processes. It is our hope to leave the Army by 1 July 2012. The Army has given John such a wonderful education. We aren't the least bit concerned about job possibilities post military. We know that God will provide for that. John didn't blink, it hurt and it still hurts, but we need to be a family now more than ever. We need some breathing room, a time of healing from the hurts. So here's the bright side:
Selling John's car put more money on Baby Step 2
John's current position while waiting for a transfer within the office gives him and extra 30 minutes of sleep and puts him on an earlier train home!
The kids and I will stay in our Classical Conversations Campus here in Manassas for one more year!
I get so shop more!! That's a huge bright side! I'd let my stockpile from coupons greatly dwindle. Now, I'm back to clipping and stocking up.
Things we are looking forward to: Celebrating the Lord's Feasts! Passover is next week and we are in preparation for it. John spent last Sunday afternoon studying to make sure he leads us correctly in Worship during this Holy time.
I've put a few 'family play dates' on the calendar to enjoy the next couple of months. Stay tuned for pictures!!
Lyndsay comes home in 3 weeks and we look forward to another summer by the pool at Urbana Swim Club! Let's do more grilling this year, P!
Well, the laundry is buzzing and my fever filled child needs me, so I'm off to my day. I look forward to blogging more in the coming weeks. There are some ideals brewing deep within me that I'd like to get typed out.
Keep praying for us as we are for so many of you!
Kellie for the Coombs Clan
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