Goodbye

by Kate Hasson

Since I’ve started contributing to this blog in May of last year, my family has gone through much. We moved to our first owned home, failed with our adoption plans, got pregnant, smoked out our house, have lived in several different homes over the past 4 ½ months, had my parents live in a foreign land, and as of yesterday have birthed our 3^rd daughter. Life is full of unexpected blessings and we have been blessed to be the recipients of such a Good Gift Giver.

Our world view has changed much since we haven’t been able to live in our own home; a blessing. Our hearts have been opened even more greatly to loving the fatherless through our failed attempts at adoption; a blessing. Our passion for making Christ’s name known in foreign lands has exploded; a blessing indeed!

Our family has grown with the addition of our new baby Elizabeth Love, another blessing.

Though each experience has had it’s struggles I can only come away labeling each as such from our great God. Through them we have come to know Him more sweetly and He is oh, so good and watchful of His children; I am comforted to be in the palm of His hand.

Now it is time for me to drop some commitments and take care of my family, so this is my last post. Thank you for letting me share my wrestling's and thoughts with you over the year, it has been an encouragement to me. Please be in prayer for me, I covet your prayers quite intensely, as I endeavor to walk through the new stage of life being a mother of three.

Last night, through a particularly rough stage of labor I was compelled to cry out to my Savior. Nothing could provide as much security and comfort at that time than calling on Him and focusing my mind on the joy of who He is. The only thing I could think of at the moment was singing (and at times whispering) the song How Great Thou Art. Travis belted it out with me and helped me get through my pain with the sweetness of his voice beside me ringing in my ear. I’d like to leave you with those words that brought oh so much comfort in hopes that they will in turn provide the proper focus for your heart and mind if and when difficulty arises. Oh How Great He Is!

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,

Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,

Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

 Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art, How great Thou art.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

 And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;

Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;

That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,

He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art, How great Thou art.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

 When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,

And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.

Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,

And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

 Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art, How great Thou art.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

Safely Home

by Kate Hasson

For the past few years Travis and I have been enjoying reading to each other in the evenings. Well, really, Travis reads to me while I do my crafts. Somehow it makes my sewing seem much more profitable. Since we got rid of our TV our times together have been much more interactive and sweet and we’ve been able to read some great books together, including the Narnia series and The Heavenly Man, our two favorites so far. Just today, we finished another good one while Travis came home on his lunch break: Safely Home, by Randy Alcorn.

The story is about two men and how their lives cross paths. It reveals much about the Chinese Christian house church and although this story is not entirely true, Alcorn says that it is mostly a collaboration of all that he has seen, heard, and learned of the Christian’s life in China. It’s a story that made us look at our own faith and see how bold and trusting we really want to be.

I come away from this book desiring to have less, so that I can have more of Christ. The Christians written about in this story are incredibly impoverished and literally have nothing. Yet their heart’s passion and faith in Christ are greater than I have ever seen in America. It was even addressed in a few chapters that the wealth of Westerners has become a stumbling block for many Christians and has gotten in the way of their trust, dependence, and reliance upon Christ alone.

I haven’t figured out yet what steps I need to make to change my way of living in this wealth that surrounds me, but I do know that I need to do something. Something that will make “Christ reliance” so essential that I truly won’t be able to survive without Him. I want to want Him as a deer pants for water, as a babe cries for milk, and as a starving man craves food.

So, anyway, all this to say, I love books that get me thinking. Not just frivolous ones that spark a fun and romantic chord in me, (although those are good from time to time), but ones that reach deeply into my soul and cause me to yearn for Christ even more than if I hadn’t read it at all. Do you know what I mean? What good books have you enjoyed lately?

Triumphal Entry

by Kate Hasson

“Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” Mark 11:9

This was Suzannah’s Cubbies verse last week so we’ve been chanting it around the house for quite a while trying to ingrain it into our memories. It's been wonderful retelling this story in childlike terms. Showing what so intricately unfolded in the Scriptures as simple, sweet, and awesomely marvelous.

Here comes Jesus, King above all kings, riding into town on a baby donkey, having a path of palm branches and coats laid like the red carpet before Him. Here He chose to ride, knowing full well what He was going into… hatred, beatings, cruelty, and death. Yet also knowing that it was here He was meant to be, to bring salvation to all these people who cried both “Hosanna, blessed is He”, and also “Crucify Him”!

Oh what love! That the King and Creator of the universe would willingly give His life for me! “…He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

“Hosanna in the Highest!”

Take My Voice

by Kate Hasson

A song that has been running through my mind the past couple of weeks is one that I’m sure most of us are familiar with, “Take My Life and Let It Be”. Here are the lyrics:

Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.

Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee;
Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.

Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee;
Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.

Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store;
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.

But oddly enough, this time a different part of the hymn has captured my heart and mind. Verse 2, second half: “Take my voice and let me sing, always, only for my King”. Now I had always pictured this in my minds eye as me saying that I want to always be singing songs of His praise and His glory. But this time a new picture came to my mind. I want my voice to constantly sound like a beautiful song to my King; with my regular voice; with everyday talking with my children and husband.

You see I like to express myself when I speak - doesn’t everyone? I use different tones when I feel different feelings. I don’t sound monotone when I’m excited, I express it with my face, my gestures and especially my voice. The opposite is true as well, though. When I’m upset or disappointed or concerned I don’t mask that feeling with cheer and peace. I again, express it! My face shows it, my gestures show it, and again, most of all, my voice shows it. Honestly, I don’t believe I yell often. I do at times, and its then I clearly know I’ve let my anger get a hold of me and I’m in sin. But more often than not, I will express my disbelief and disappointment with vocal passion, and even though it’s not loud and mean, it’s demeaning and mean.

Somehow the Lord has brought this to my attention through this song and I have come to realize over the past few weeks how unkind my voice can sound to my girls, and most ashamedly to my husband. Even when I’m aggravated I truly want my heart to change and remember that my voice is to always and only be used as a beautiful song to the ears of my King.

To Him be the glory and honor, in my life and voice, forever and ever. Amen.

Psalm 103

by Kate Hasson

I was reminded of this chapter this past week in Women’s Bible Study at church and was refreshed by it. There are so many different things I could say, but nothing is as powerful as God’s word standing by itself. I know you will be as blessed by this worshipful passage as I was. God is good! Bless His name! (The italics are the parts that have moved me most greatly; though it is all good.)

Psalm 103

Bless the LORD, O My Soul

Of David.

¹Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
²Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
³who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
⁴who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
⁵who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

⁶The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all who are oppressed.
⁷He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
⁸The LORD is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
⁹ He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
¹⁰He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
¹¹For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
¹²as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
¹³As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
¹⁴For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust.

¹⁵As for man, his days are like grass;
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
¹⁶for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
¹⁷But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children’s children,
¹⁸to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.
¹⁹The LORD has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.

²⁰Bless the LORD, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his word,
obeying the voice of his word!
²¹Bless the LORD, all his hosts,
his ministers, who do his will!
²² Bless the LORD, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!

Unreached

by Kate Hasson

I cannot tell the name of the place my parents will be living for the next three months but I can tell you it is far away, within the 10/40 window, and is a land of NO Christian freedom, a land of people who are unreached with the Gospel of Jesus the Messiah. They will be leaving on this Sunday, and returning May 31^st. They will be missing the birth of my third daughter, their fourth grandchild.

My heart is aching to think of how long they will be gone for. They have always, ALWAYS been there for me, and now, in a very real way, they won’t be. I’ll miss being with my mom every week, the comfort of her love and support. I’ll miss my dad’s counsel and wisdom and the joy and security of his presence. I’ll be nervous for their safety and health.

Yet here is what my Savior says,

“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And Whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose is, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 10:37-39

Again, He says,

“So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33

Mom and Dad are eager and excited to go because the whole reason of this adventure isn’t for their own physical pleasure, it isn’t what they’ve earned now that they are empty-nesters, it isn’t retirement (should there even be such a thing?). They are thrilled to go to a land of want because they are bringing the Good News. As difficult and scary as it may be, bringing Jesus to a land that thirsts for His living water is what will bring them ultimate pleasure. They are giving up routine and physical comfort for the forever salvation of others whom they don’t even know, yet whom God has already called and has loved with an everlasting love.

They have come to see that the American dream of family, health, home, academics, church, security, and religious safety does NOT save. Life doesn’t exist for us to accomplish these good things. Life exists for us to enjoy God and bring others to enjoy Him too!

I cannot shrink back in fear for my kids wellbeing, or my living situation, or even the safety of my own life and let time pass by until I have everything in order or until I feel ready or until my kids are grown, or until I finish... I must, we all must, everyone who professes Christ as Savior must set aside the good, for the greater Good.

He’s coming; He’s coming in the blink of an eye. Are there more unreached? Has everyone heard?

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for your obedience to go. For your transformed passion for the unreached, for expressing the joy Christ has given you for the salvation of His people, and for not hiding back in fear because you’re going against the flow of the American church. It’s frightening and encouraging to see you put your lives totally and completely into His hands and it causes me and I’m sure others to want to do the same. May He bless the labor of your hands. We’re praying for you. Please pray for us.

Home

by Kate Hasson

Our home is not able to be lived in right now due to a fire we had in the dining room last month. Unfortunately, although its been almost a month since it happened, we still haven’t heard of what will be covered by our insurance, so nothing has been cleaned yet and its looking like we may not even be moved into our house again until late February / early March.

So God has been stretching me and challenging me. I’ve enjoyed the time I’ve been able to spend just thinking about my life and how I view my relationship with the Lord. I’ve always said and really believed that nothing came close to my desire for Christ. I’ve always said that my security comes from Christ alone and that I would throw everything away easily for the sake of knowing Him better. But that was the “me who had never lost anything” talking. I’ve been feeling a bit lost since I’ve lived in three different houses in the past 4 weeks and I’ve come to realize that much of my “subconscious” security comes from having my own home, my own routine, and basically my own life.

I was quite surprised when I realized I have been the very person that I’ve never wanted to be. How ashamed I am, and how dependant on the Lord to change me! I came across this verse today while reading the book of Job (which I thought would be an appropriate one to go through at the moment):

22:23-25 – “If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored; If you remove unrighteousness far from your tent, And place your gold in the dust, And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks, Then the Almighty will be your gold, And choice silver to you.”

I want to place my gold: my home, my comforting and routine securities, in the dirt and dust, leave them behind, and I want the Almighty to be my True Gold.

Its amazing how a trial that is difficult can be so wonderful at the same time. God is good and all that He does is GOOD. “Blessed be the name of the Lord” Job 1:21.

Joy in Trial

by Kate Hasson

This week we had a fire in our home that has left so much smoke and soot damage that we are no longer able to live there. We need to have professional help to clean the mess, our ceiling replaced, our walls cleaned and repainted, and perhaps the carpets redone. Not to mention all the clothes and linens and furniture that will need to be professionally cleaned also. We have been living at my Mom and Dad’s home since Sunday night and by the mercy of some church friends we will be moving into their Mom’s house sometime this weekend and living there for the next 3 weeks. Our insurance adjuster said that the clean-up will probably take about a month.

The first and second day of this whole ordeal were overwhelming and emotional for me. But since then the Lord has been working in me. Its hard to be so needy, and to be taking time, money, home, food and other things from my parents, not to mention adding much noise and chaos to their once peaceful and clean home. I know many are praying for us because God has given me great peace where my heart was once worried. Instead of worrying about our insurance policies and what will be paid for or not, miraculously I feel peaceful and joyous knowing that God is taking care of everything and that my only job is to live one moment at a time thanking and praising His name.

“Do not be anxious for anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6

So here is my “thankful list”:
I’m thankful:
1. that my house didn’t burn down.
2. that my family is safe.
3. that we can live at my parents house.
4. that this happened at this time of year when all my brothers and sisters are coming home. We all get to live together again!
5. that I get to live in SLO once again.
6. that I’m a stay at home mom and get to take care of my kids during a difficult time.
7. that the Lord is my strength.
8. that there are professionals who can fix things up.
9. that God is teaching me something new through all this.
10. that I get to see Him working in my life.
11. that I get to be with my little niece, and my girls get to be with their little cousin, every day!
12. that now we are so close to Travis’s work we can visit him at lunch time!
And etc. etc. etc…

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4

Thank You, Lord, for the fire You allowed in our home. It has given me such a fresh and beautiful view of Your amazing provision. You are good!

Family

by Kate Hasson

As I sit in my paternal grandmother’s computer room typing away I hear the familiar sounds and smell the familiar scents I have known all my life. Nana is laughing to Aunt Barbara’s stories. Aunt Janet is playing with the girls. Aunt Betty went to go get Starbucks for all. I awoke a few times last night and breathed in the wonderful scent of Nana…my mind was flooded with memories. Pictures of all our family as we’ve grown through the years grace the walls of her home. Honestly, this place, with these people, could probably be the most comforting and enjoyable place in the world to me.

And what makes it most special of all is that every single one of us knows Christ as our Savior. We’ll have family worship in the morning together with Nana’s beautiful piano playing accompanying our voices. Dad will probably do some devotional and then we’ll pray together. Thanksgiving brings a time of praise to the Lord around the table, not just common talk. My heart is fed here, my belly is fed here, and my soul is fed here. God is so good to give us family. People who, even if we’ve not seen in a year or more, will know us inside and out, and love us unconditionally.

The verse that came to my mind when thinking of family is Deuteronomy 6: 4-9

“4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

As family we get to love each other intimately and oh, how it makes the relationship that much more sweet. We get to love each other deeply by the power of Christ. I will always treasure talking of the commandments of the Lord with this family “as we sit at home, walk along the road, lie down and get up. Thank you, Jesus.

Lead by Example

by Kate Hasson

Recently Suzannah has taken to “reading” her bible. She has been taking it everywhere she goes, grocery stores, car rides, park, church, to the mailbox and back, at bedtime, and story time... everywhere. She cuddled up onto her seat the other day and started to “read” her bible and then asked, “Hey Mom, do I look like a mommy?” She likes to read it aloud to Charlotte by using all the Christian dialogue she’s picked up and also by reciting a few bible verses.

She and Charlotte love to pray when they playfully imagine being mother and daughter. Suzannah enjoys teaching her baby dolls why they are to love God, be obedient to parents, be kind and helpful, etc.

As I have been watching this pattern emerge from my children my heart has begun to ache. I feel so inadequate and undisciplined. I am constantly amazed to see how much the girls pick up from me. I’ll even see things repeated from times that I thought they didn’t really care, or weren’t really watching or listening. I have become quite more conscientious about my actions and how they will point to the Savior as of late. But what about all the times when they see me in a foul mood, or whiney, or being lazy, or saying something I shouldn’t? Yes, unfortunately they imitate those actions as well. But here is where I get to have a second chance. By God’s grace, I want my heart to be so soft and humble that when I mess up, I will be sure to apologize to God and my girls. Unfortunately I am a sinful mother surrounded by eager minds and it is inevitable that they will see my hypocrisy. I just pray that God will wisen their hearts unto salvation, that the example I lead in Bible reading and prayer time would speak louder than my selfish attitudes, and that through me they would see a perfect and merciful God who loves and has redeemed a helpless sinner.

What a Mighty God We Serve

by Kate Hasson

In bible study at church this week there was a passage of scripture to read that I really liked. It was Deuteronomy 4:32-40. ( Italics are mine ).

32 “For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether such a great thing as this has ever happened or was ever hear of.

33 Did any people ever hear the voice of a god speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and still live?

34 Or has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, and by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great deeds of terror, all of which the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?

35 To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD is God; there is no other besides him.

36 Out of heaven he let you hear his voice, that he might discipline you. And on earth he let you see his great fire, and you heard his words out of the midst of the fire.

37 And because he loved your fathers and chose their offspring after them and brought you out of Egypt with his own presence, by his great power

38 driving out before you nations greater and mightier than yourselves, to bring you in, to give you their land for an inheritance, as it is this day,

39 know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.

40 Therefore you shall keep his statutes and his commandments, which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for all time.”

Wow! I was reminded of HIS GREATNESS afresh this week because of this verse. There is no other god as good, kind, wise, powerful, mighty, and amazing as our God.

And then to top it off, Beth Moore, the author of our bible study, made this conclusion:

“Remember this foundational truth...: everything God did with Israel in the realm of the seen, He does with us in the realm of the unseen. God has not ceased actively parenting His children. The same God who made His presence known to the Israelites in their wilderness is just as fully Jehovah-Shamma, “the Lord is present,” in ours.”

He is still working the same miracles in our lives now even though we can’t tangibly see them! What a wonder!

The song lyrics that are playing in my mind right now are so appropriate that I need to share them with you:

“What a mighty God we serve!

What a mighty God we serve!

Angels bow before Him,

Heaven and Earth adore Him.

What a mighty God we serve!”

Awana....

by Kate Hasson

Suzannah has started AWANA Cubbies and she loves it. I am absolutely amazed at how quickly she can memorize her bible verses! Sometimes I will catch her repeating them to herself to a special rhythm or tune she has made up. I am so glad that those are the words going over and over in her head as opposed to the many others that are out there.

So here is a big shout out to all those teachers and leaders who are helping to saturate our children’s minds with Christ. Thank you!

Proverbs 22:6 “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

Ephesians 6:4 “...do not exasperate your children; instead bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”

Time With Him

by Kate Hasson

When in high school and college, I had to study. It didn’t just come to me. I had to go to the lectures, take copious notes, go to after class help sessions, read my textbooks, and study for exams. When working on my culinary skills in college I needed to practice and practice to get my pastries close to perfection. All of these things took time. While I was in college, I got married, carried various jobs, and was involved in church. Yes I was busy, but to attain my scholared degree I still had to study hard. Just because I had other things on my plate didn’t mean I tossed off study time, or going to class. I made it to class almost 100% of the time, and I stayed up late if I had to study, even pulled all-nighters. That’s how much I wanted my certificate of achievement.

Just the other day a thought came to me as I was driving down the highway.

Recently, well actually for a while, I’ve been told that even just 10 minutes in the Word is good enough. That phrase has always struck a chord in me; a wrong chord. What!? How can this be?

“Well, as long as you just get some time in ...”.

“You’re a wife and mother and you just don’t have the kind of time or energy to spend hours in the Word. Ten minutes will get you through the day with a heart that pleases the Lord.”

And while I do see some wisdom in this, for at least some time is surely better than none, I don’t really like to hear it. My futile mind will all to easily grasp on to this little thought and run with it... “I only need 10 minutes with God a day to grow?! Great. I can find a time for that...maybe...”

Here’s the thought I had:

If I had to spend hours upon hours, days upon days, weeks upon weeks, months upon months, and years upon years to gain the worldly knowledge I have now, how can I possibly think I’ll grow significantly in my walk with God in just 10 minutes a day? My teachers in school never, never, never told me to just spend 10 minutes on homework or studying; that would be foolish! In order to succeed in anything one must work hard at getting to know his subject. School is not always fun, at least not for me, but what is fun, is now being able to make beautiful cakes and pies and pastries from scratch because of my hard earned knowledge. I had to work hard in my mind and in my time to get there. To know God, in all His grandeur, logically must take just as much time and mindfulness, or maybe even more! It may not always be fun; I may be sick, tired, busy, emotional, etc... but, really, nothing compares to the greatness of knowing the LORD. That’s were I want to be. I want to fully know Him.

Honestly, it really isn’t about 10 minutes, 15 minutes or any specific amount of time. It is up to God Himself to, in his unconditional kindness, open our scaled eyes and reveal Himself to us in new and amazing ways. However, it seems extremely difficult to allow Him to reveal Himself to us if we don’t come to Him for very long. It will be hard to be filled with Him if we just take sips here and there and don’t honestly drink from Him and His Word deeply.

Just as with anything we do, whether school, sports, music, business, etc, knowing and loving and savoring and worshipping and being with God will, I think, only come from our minds being saturated with His Word. That is where He has primarily chosen to reveal Himself to us and that is where He will be found. 10 minutes just won’t cut it, I believe. But intense, rich time studying, not just reading and forgetting, but taking it apart, chewing it, questioning it, cross-referencing it, memorizing it, repeating it kind of studying will allow our hearts to be more open, moldable and teachable. We will know Him more because our minds will have been stayed on Him.

When I read/listen to great pastors/teachers, Martin Luther, Jonathan Edwards, C.S. Lewis, John Piper, John MacArthur (to name a small few), and hear what comes from their mouths, I think about how much time they spend with Him. They don’t just give 10 minutes here and 10 minutes there. No! They give hours and hours and days of studying. I hear their messages and read their books and yearn to have their faith. Although this is their calling, to pastor and to teach, the principle is the same. The more time I spend with God, the better I know Him and the more I love Him. This is my conviction, this is my goal.

Psalm 1:2 “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.”

Joshua 1:8 “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make you way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.”

1 Peter 2:2 “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.

by Kate Hasson

Proverbs 31

I memorized this chapter with a friend a while ago. The underlining is mine...those sections that really moved me and made me question my own womanhood.

“...10An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.

11The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.

12She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.

13She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.

14She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.

15She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens.

16She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

17She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.

18She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.

19She puts her hands to the distaff and her hands hold the spindle.

20She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.

21She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.

22She makes be coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.

23Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.

24She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.

25Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.

26She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

27She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her;

29“Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”

30Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

31Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.”

Isn’t it wonderful?! I so want to be like this, don’t you? I want to be a blessing to those around me, to my children, above all to my husband, and most of all to the LORD. I try to be like this, but I can’t. Not out of my own trying. But if He sees fit, I pray that he will break and mold me into this person. A person who is a fragrant offering to her King; mind, heart, soul, and body.

His Timing

by Kate Hasson

This has been an emotional month for me.

At the beginning of this month our third baby was due to be born. She’s not here.

We started our adoption process over a year ago and still nothing has happened. Yes, I know this hasn’t been as long as other’s, but the waiting is still hard. And getting a baby soon, just doesn’t look hopeful at the moment.Travis and I have a burning desire for more children. Yet none seem on the horizon. I miss the infant I would’ve been holding now, and yearn for a baby who needs me as his mother.

When?

Today Psalm 148:6 gave me a blessing. In chapter 148 the psalmist is telling everything ever created to give praise to the Lord. He is our creator and in verse 6:

“He set them in place from all time to eternity; He gave His orders and that’s it!” (The Message)

Basically what came to my mind was, “God set our family in place since the beginning of creation. He ordered us together, and that’s it!” Praise Him!

Next I get to...trust.

Psalm 34:8 (NKJV) – “O taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”

Psalm 36:7 (NKJV) – “How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow or Your wings.”

Psalm 62:8 (NIV) – “Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah.”

God knew exactly what is best for my family and has ordained it to be so since the beginning of time. I can most assuredly put my trust in Him! I’m sure I will always miss my little baby whom I miscarried last December 7^th, but I know He had a plan for that. I don’t need to fret about His timing in bringing our adopted baby to us. He has it under control.

Praise the Lamb who is worthy to be praised!

Be Prepared

by Kate Hasson

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."
1 Peter 3:15

Yesterday I had the opportunity of running into an old acquaintance/friend from high school.
He was walking and I offered him a ride to his destination so we could chat for a bit and catch up.
It turned out that since high school life had been pretty rough and at the moment he is now homeless and staying at the shelter in town. I asked him a few more questions and then proceeded to tell him a bit of what I’ve been doing. He remembered that I had gotten married quickly after high school and I told him that we now have two girls, are planning to adopt our third hopefully next month, and have just moved to our first home.

“Well, you just got the picture perfect life.” he said.

“Oh, no. My life is not picture perfect,” I told him, “but I do know Jesus. He makes life bearable.”

He smiled.

“Do you know Jesus?” I asked my friend.

We talked a bit about Him and Christianity, not as much as I would have liked, nor was I as fluent in my thoughts or speech as I would have liked, but we talked none the less, and for that I am thankful. As he was getting out of the car there was so much more I wanted to share with him but words weren’t coming quickly. I wanted to give him something to help him discover the true Jesus who does bear our burdens, and that’s when I spotted my bible. I always keep an extra bible in the car just in case I have some extra time and want to read. (I don’t know if that has ever happened unfortunately!)

I handed it quickly over to him as he was about to leave and said, “Here take this. Will you read it?” It had my maiden name printed on it so I said, “It’s got my name on it, sorry. But....um...I guess that way you’ll remember me.”

He was very thankful for it, said God bless you, closed the door and I drove off.

As I thought about our meeting over and over again I thought of two things.

1. 1 Peter 3:15...Always be prepared to give an answer. ...Always be prepared. ...Always.

2. At the John Piper conference earlier this year, Pipes told us about being prepared and having a bible or pamphlet or one of these neat books he wrote in you car at all times ready to pass out at any given moment. I had loved that idea and had always meant to do that, but I put it off too long.

I was grateful I happened to have my extra bible in the car. But, I want to always be prepared. Chances to share the reason for the Hope that is in us spring up even when we’re not expecting them. Are you prepared?

Hope

by Kate Hasson

God is still good.

God is always good.

God is good.

He is our Hope.

Psalm 25:3 – No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame.

Psalm 119:147 – I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word.

Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.

Matthew 12:21 – In His name the nation will put their hope.

Hebrews 10:23 – Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.

I found this video of Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife sharing about the loss of their daughter, Maria, and their strong Hope. Let’s continue to keep them in our prayers.

The Knowledge of the Holy

by Kate Hasson

I was given this book back in 2001 yet for some reason never read it. I just found it last week and started reading it and LOVE it! Here is what the back recap has to say:

“What is the nature of God? How can we recapture a real sense of God’s majesty and truly live in the Spirit? This beloved book, a modern classic of Christian testimony and devotion, addresses these and other vital questions, showing us how we can rejuvenate our prayer life, meditate more reverently, understand God more deeply, and experience God’s presence in our daily lives.”

“God Incomprehensible” is the title of the chapter I’m on and it has really got me thinking. The paragraph that I’ve quite enjoyed says this:

“When we try to imagine what God is like we must of necessity use that-which-is-not-God as the raw material for our minds to work on; hence whatever we visualize God to be, He is not, for we have constructed our image out of that which He has made and what He has made is not God. If we insist upon trying to imagine Him, we end with an idol, made not with hands but with thoughts; and an idol of the mind is as offensive to God as an idol of the hand.”

Then he goes on to quote from a Spanish saint, “Let the Christian soul love God as He is in Himself, and not as her imagination says He is, and pictures Him.”

Tozer continues to explain that “while the name of God is secret and His essential nature incomprehensible, He in condescending love has by revelation declared certain things to be true of Himself. These we call His attributes.”

The rest of the book goes through these attributes of God chapter by chapter: the Trinity, His Self-existence, His Self-sufficiency, His Eternity, Wisdom, Faithfulness, goodness, justice, mercy, grace love, holiness, sovereignty, etc.

I’m looking forward to reading more and grasping a better understanding of who my God is because I know that when I think rightly of God I will be able to more perfectly love and worship Him. If I don’t have a proper concept and view of God then I will fail to praise Him as He truly should be worshiped. I want to love Him and honor Him to the best of my ability and therefore I am excited to learn more about His greatness and His attributes to help me do so.

Tozer’s prayer at the beginning of the book puts this concept into perfect words:

“O Lord God Almighty, not the God of the philosophers and the wise but the God of the prophets and apostles; and better than all, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, may I express Thee unblamed?

They that know Thee not may call upon Thee as other than Thou art, and so worship not Thee but a creature of their own fancy; therefore enlighten our minds that we may know Thee as Thou art, so that we may perfectly love Thee and worthily praise Thee.

In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

Less Than Perfect

by Kate Hasson

Yesterday I spoke with my brother on the phone and we had a wonderful conversation. He told me about his life in Arizona and what the Lord had been teaching him recently. Then I got to share a bit of what has been on my mind.

I told him how I was feeling incapable of taking on other tasks that are available to me because I already feel filled with what I’m doing now; being a mommy, a wife, trying to get involved with neighbors, leading a Sunday School class for children, baking meals for others, etc.. And on top of all that I told him how I rarely read the bible, don’t pray as well or as often as I should, nor memorize scripture anymore. How can I take on other tasks when I can’t even keep my own personal life at perfection?

Andy had the wonderful answer that was just what my heart needed to hear. Even though I have heard and read this before, it was just what I needed at the moment. He gently reminded me that my life is not a performance; that God’s Son didn’t come to earth to save people who could “keep it together”, but came to love and redeem and use people who were weak, and faulty, and helpless. In fact, He wants to use the helpless for it just goes to show how great and good He truly is. Andy said that it’s refreshing to see someone who doesn’t have their life in order yet still leans on God; it gives encouragement, fellowship, understanding, and peace.

What joy this brought to my heart again. Praise Him for loving a miserable sinner such as myself. I am forever grateful to be His daughter no matter how badly I may mess up. What a kind and compassionate God. He is so good!

Mark 2:17 ‘On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."’

Andy – Thanks for the encouragement.

Don't Waste Your Vacation

by Kate Hasson

Don’t Waste Your Vacation

When I last heard John Piper speak in person his message dealt with how to not waste your life. He went through a whole slew of ways to not waste your life with specifics such as don’t waste your cancer, don’t waste your money, don’t waste your robbery, etc.

As you read this post I will be on vacation, a wonderful trip we take to the same place every year with my husband’s side of the family. It is a fabulous week of relaxation and enjoyment. But as I write this and the time approaches, my mind has been drifting back to the “Don’t waste your...” encouragement from Piper. So now I’m applying it to our vacation. Just because I’m away from home and out of the normal routine, doesn’t mean that I take a vacation from wholeheartedly following Christ. I want my vacation to be filled with extra time in the word and in prayer, time spent speaking of Christ with my family and even with others I may meet along the way, time spent praising and thanking the Lord, out loud and in song, for His glorious creation. Although it is wonderful to take long naps, and play all day in the sun, it is not as Christ exalting, nor fulfilling as being mindful and praise-filled toward my Lord. I don’t want this vacation to pass without my drawing nearer to Christ.

Yes, I do look forward to getting away from it all, but even more I look forward to meeting Him and sitting at His feet in worship. I Don’t Want to Waste My Vacation. Please pray for me.