"Trey Tuesday" - February 28, 2017

Comfort Extraordinaire!

Visiting Trey's gravesite has been on my heart, but I hadn't made it there....yet.  I hadn't reallllly wanted to go see where my precious little nephew's body was laid to rest. Who would want to intentionally inflict that pain?

Well, my dad's funeral was today.  Enduring a tsunami of emotions, and surrounded by many family (and family/friends), we approached Poppi's gravesite....which was.....right next to Trey's!  And right then, not alone, but together, many of us saw Trey's headstone for the very first time. 

God took what could have been an emotionally devastating encounter and transformed it into the most amazing bond of comfort......experienced together. ❤️Tears for Poppi mixed with tears for Trey across the expanse of generations present. Even those who tried to endure it alone were swept in to loving arms. 

Thank you, God, for living these verses out loud in our lives for us this week!

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." 2 Corinthians 1:3,4

"Trey Tuesday" - February 21, 2017

Bold!

Digging in to a bag of Doritos, you are fully committed.  You know you are willing to assume the cost of the relationship.  Orange fingers....Orange lips....Unquenchable thirst.  Mere inconveniences compared to the overwhelming bold flavor!

Trey lived like that...strawberry containers....spray butter....loud TV shows....squatter's rights on the couch...and love out loud!  :)  A wake of minor messes compared to the spunk and joy our Young Warrior shared!

What's your story?  Where is God calling you to be bold?  No regrets?  Living out loud?  What conversation do you need to have with someone?  What opportunity do you need to embrace?  What truth do you need to obey from God?  He can do ANYTHING!  In His strength, be bold!

"Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."  Ephesians 6:19-20

"Trey Tuesday" - February 14, 2017

Four-Letter Words

You know, it's easy to think of some bad 4-letter words.  Ask any young child who has big ears around some undisciplined talkers!  But how many good 4-letter words quickly come to mind?

It's Valentine's Day....L-O-V-E quickly comes to mind.  And L-I-K-E.  H-U-G-S.

K-I-S-S.  We miss out on c-a-n-d-y and f-l-o-w-e-r-s, though.

You know, we have a choice about the things we think, say, and do.  Dwell on the bad?  Or search out the good?  "Trey Tuesday" was created to refocus our attention each week as Trey went through a lot of really bad stuff.  Through prayer we have turned our focus to God - and that is someOne very, very good!  :)

So.....try it!  How many good 4-letter words can you name?  (without the help of Google or Scrabble sites!) :)

"Let us choose what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good."

Job 34:4

"Trey Tuesday" - February 7, 2017

Oh, look!  A butterfly!  :)

We could all use a distraction about now.  Politics, Super Bowl, taxes....the hum drum of winter is taking its toll.  Our (eastern) side of the state is bracing for its first snowstorm this winter!  The predictions on the news, Facebook, and over the coffeepots (at yes, Wawa) are refreshing!  :)

But when the snow melts and life returns to "normal", how/where can we find relief?  What can keep us reminded of which end is up?  God speaks absolute, unchanging Truth to each one of us every second of every day through His Words, the Bible.

You don't need to be a preacher like Jay to understand the Bible.  Find an app that delivers a verse a day.  Memorize one line this year.  Sing a little tune from Psalms.  Read a familiar chapter or book.  Or, as Rachel so beautifully does, artistically illustrate a verse on a chalkboard!  :)  Young children like Trey can recite complicated verses.  Adults can learn, too!  :)

"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is My Word that goes out from my mouth.
It will not return to Me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."  Isaiah 55:10-11