Just a few short days ago my life has been changed. In that, I mean to say that my view on my life and those around me. My heart has been shaken in a very intensive way that I am finding words to be far, few, and between, to explain all that is taking place. Hopefully I can, in days, weeks, months, and years to come explain many things. For now, in this small space for typing up thoughts and such let me say... "How deep can we really go, with God that is? Are we asking the deeper questions? Are we seeking the depths of God's word, His heart, His creation, His plan?"
In the midst of loss, pain, and unexpected tragedy, I am finding HIM. Joy has sought me out and is bringing something new to my heart... healing.However, not just in the sense of just healing my brokeness, my mourning, but also bringing in a strength of being able to see and know pain without it deeply wounding me that I half way recover. No, in fact that I can cope with pain and brokeness head on with the cloak of JOY...unspeakable. Is that not amazing or what? In loss, am I not supposed to sulk, depress back, regress, be a bit angry, sad(er)? I think it's deservedly mine as a human right? But what if the plans of trials, tribulation, and loss are deeper for the purposes of driving out of us those things which hold us back, and ushering into us those things that catapult us into an eternal bliss and plethora of depth never known? Could this be possible? Everyone around you is asking how you are doing, feeling, and if there's anything they can do to let them know. Half expecting, I think, for you to completely fall apart and for their loving arms to catch you. This is not wrong, but is it a possibility that out of the ashes our beauty arises from the strength of our Father's love and joy. Not just over us, but being blown in us, like a wind blowing a river strongly to it's destiny, or through trees and shaking off the dead leaves. So that when your loved ones are asking these things, pondering these things, and wanting to be there for you, what they witness is a pure miracle of utter and complete transformation and a change only explainable by His Royal Providence and Majesty Jehovah Jireh God Almighty. When their arms are floating in the air to hopefully catch you, they see you are not falling, but are coming down on the winds of grace with your hands held up, yes with tears in your eyes and your heart still aching, but with JOY, I SAY JOY. You look down in their loving eyes and say, "I've encountered the living God in a new way and it's changing me, yet again HE is changing me!" Halelujah!
Let me share a few testimonies (my story of what has happened will come later as I am still gathering my thoughts and praying through the many things happening in my heart) of what I have experienced.
Sunday night when we came home from the E.R. and had the grave news of a miscarriage happening right there before our eyes, we prayed. As we did, Jesus came to me in a short and quick vision. He was standing there and said, "Look, I have your baby and he is okay. It's okay. He's safe." I saw a full term baby in His arms. That brought so much comfort to my heart, even though we were hoping that God would turn everything backwards and fix the issues at hand and heal up my womb and the baby. No such thing happened. But as I look back, Jesus brought me instant comfort by first appearing to me in the brightest of lights and showing a FULL TERM baby in His loving arms. Secondly, He spoke to me tenderly and made sure I knew where my baby boy was and that he was safe. He also said, "You will see your children, and rejoice!" I already rejoice at knowing they are growing up in such a wonderful and beautiful place, knowing Jesus, and growing up under His leadership and love.
During my D&C surgery, Monday evening, something very special happened. At first it was all just white and blurry, then... I heard singing, and I was singing. Groups of people and angels were there! We were worshipping the Lord. BRIGHTNESS everywhere. Their faces blurred to me now, but there I knew them. I don't know how I knew them, but I did. Then this guy, who reminded me a lot of Brad, but was not him, stepped out and said, "Alright everyone, ready to PRAISE the Lord?" We all cheered and were so excited. He had a stool and set it out to sit on it. He also had a guitar with him and he sat and began to play songs that I don't remember at this moment. But there I knew the words! There I was very joyful! There I was sooooooooooooooo HAPPY! When the anesthesiologist woke me, I thought, "Nooooo not yet, don't wake me, let me stay and PRAISE the Lord!" But I did awaken, and I couldn't stop smiling. I knew I had just had surgery due to having a miscarriage, but yet I was rejoicing! How is that? My very nature of being human changed! I should have been sobbing my eyes out. The nurses should have been rubbing my back and bringing me loads of tissues! BUT all I could do was rejoice! I don't know if I was dreaming, if it was a vision, or out of body, I really don't care! IT WAS WONDERFUL! God is so good, that He took me to a secret place, the most happiest place to rejoice and do what I LOVE TO DO THE MOST! WORSHIP HIM with OTHERS! Now there is much more to say on this... but I don't have the words.
Develop what you want on this and may your trials, your tribulations, your misfortunes bring you into a place where depression, sadness, anger, and bitterness can not touch you. But the very human nature you have to have all these aforementioned things does not exist! That what you have is CHRIST, and the living hope that He is. May you find that JOY knocked at your door and you gladly opened it and and said, "YES, please do come in." Fully trusting your heart to JESUS!
In the Hope that does not disappoint,
Leslie
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Saturday, June 9, 2012
So Much To Share
There is so much I want to share so I'll start with; we're having a baby number 3! Due December 2012! As of this post I am 14 weeks along! My next doctors appointment is on Monday! I am excited for 20 weeks to be here in 6 weeks... why you ask... because then we'll find out if it's a girl or a boy!
"But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. 9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?" Galatians 4:8 You know how we do this? Galatians 5:16 says: "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law." When we walk in the flesh these things are evident... "adultery,[c] fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders,[d] drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5:19 Now remember in Matthew 5-7 Jesus does talk about how what a man thinks in his heart is just as worse as if he had already done it physically. So if your thoughts and actions are proved to be fleshly, then we're not walking in the Spirit but the work of the flesh is what we're walking in. Do not cease to pray and seek Jesus. Let these be evident in your life..."love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." Galatians 5:22-26
Our Love, our Joy, our Peace, our Integrity, our Patience, our Servanthood attitude can only grow if we're seeking Jesus and seeking to do His will; which is plainly laid out for us in His Word.
"Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises , that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:2-11
If your like me and your talents that you've been given are small in quantity do not be dismayed and seek to steward what you've been given through the Spirit of love and grace. He will multiply what you've been given, but we must trust Him and invest our time, energy, life, love, passion, etc. into our talents so that when He sees our faith, our works, He can say well done good and faithful servant. Do not seek to see what else you can do outside the elements in which you've been placed unless the Spirit is calling you to do so. Seek to do good where you are and wait for the Lord to call you out. Do it on your own and you will fall on your face, wait on Him and you'll find it easier to walk up that hill or mountain. What I've witnessed is that the Lord gives us what we can handle and builds in us what needs to be established and fortified. He also takes out what does not need to be there and hinders His love and will. He is also a God of process, progress, and perseverance. Remember the vision you've been given, write it down, it won't tarry long, though it may seem like it, His promises never fall to the ground and He's always faithful 100%. Seek to honor Him in the skills and talents given to you now, and earnestly desire the gifts of the Spirit and pray and ask Him. Stay patient, trust the Lord. Keep doing what He's set your hands and feet to do and don't give up.
In His Grace, Love, Mercy, and Hope Unfailing,
The Jerdon Clan
Scripture to end with:
"Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”[c]
17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God." 1Peter 1:13-21
THE WORD OF GOD IS AN OVERWHELMING GIFT OF LOVE, KNOWLEDGE, AND REVELATION. YOU CAN NEVER GET ENOUGH.
New Baby's First Picture!
Brad and I are in the process of purchasing a house. We put our first bid down and were very disappointed for our bid to be rejected! That's okay because that's the worse that could happen, right? So we're going to keep looking for houses and hit hard this next week until we find or are lead to the one for us!
Recently Brad and I went to New Buffalo, MI for our 5th wedding anniversary. We ate at Brewster's Italian Resturaunt, and let me tell you it was so amazing, so delicious, so mouthwatering good. Never have I had such great Italian food, seriously, and I've I had my fair share of Italian food all around the country! We stayed at this really cute Inn in the middle of town, and had an amazing sunset night together. We just walked and talked all over the place. It was so nice and allowed us, I believe, to come closer together. Never skip out on a date night or a weekend get-a-way with your spouse, it does some really good TLC for your marriage! Viola! Instant romance and time to talk, and enjoy each other!
The Amazing Spa-Like-Shower! (I want tile like that!)
Sunset at the harbor.
Hungry, Almost Friendly Geese (Look closely and you'll see a farm goose mixed in the muddle.)
Us on the beach.
Another view of a beautiful Lake Michigan Sunset.
Today I went to the Zoo with some friends and thought it would make you smile to see some of our adventure from Potowanami Zoo. It's a small zoo, and we love it!
The kid clan. Yes 7 of those belong to my friend. :-)
Our Little Farm Family!
Such a pretty bird!
Snap! Just in time before this lil' dragonfly flew away!
The Zoo's newest exhibit! CHIMPANZEE! (This was his better side.)
Elisha has been playing T-Ball this year. She gets better and better each time! She's a great hitter! The best parts are that Daddy helps coach and after each game they get to go pick out a treat from the consession stand. Her favorite is a blueberry snowcone. ;-) That's my girl.
She looks pretty cute in blue, eh?
Yeah Elisha! (Kinda cute how Brad and J. are 'fiving' at the same time.)
Amongst so many things going on with us in this season of life, Brad and I are making sure we take the time to spend with Jesus at the first of our day. It's very easy to say, "I'll get to my bible reading at some point today, but first I need to..." "You shall have no other gods before Me." Commandment #1
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind." Matthew 22:37 Here lately the importance of maintaining a healthy and steady relationship with Jesus is the first thing on our minds and hearts. If you expect to live your life without the gospel everyday and think it'll be okay, that's soooo wrong. I know because for a while I wasn't really reading my bible. I'd listen to the radio, c.d.'s and such but nothing fills that vaccum God-shaped-hole except God Himself! Do not let a day or a moment go by without spending time in the Word. Eat it. Walk in the Spirit! "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16
"But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. 9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?" Galatians 4:8 You know how we do this? Galatians 5:16 says: "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law." When we walk in the flesh these things are evident... "adultery,[c] fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders,[d] drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5:19 Now remember in Matthew 5-7 Jesus does talk about how what a man thinks in his heart is just as worse as if he had already done it physically. So if your thoughts and actions are proved to be fleshly, then we're not walking in the Spirit but the work of the flesh is what we're walking in. Do not cease to pray and seek Jesus. Let these be evident in your life..."love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." Galatians 5:22-26
Our Love, our Joy, our Peace, our Integrity, our Patience, our Servanthood attitude can only grow if we're seeking Jesus and seeking to do His will; which is plainly laid out for us in His Word.
"Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises , that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:2-11
If your like me and your talents that you've been given are small in quantity do not be dismayed and seek to steward what you've been given through the Spirit of love and grace. He will multiply what you've been given, but we must trust Him and invest our time, energy, life, love, passion, etc. into our talents so that when He sees our faith, our works, He can say well done good and faithful servant. Do not seek to see what else you can do outside the elements in which you've been placed unless the Spirit is calling you to do so. Seek to do good where you are and wait for the Lord to call you out. Do it on your own and you will fall on your face, wait on Him and you'll find it easier to walk up that hill or mountain. What I've witnessed is that the Lord gives us what we can handle and builds in us what needs to be established and fortified. He also takes out what does not need to be there and hinders His love and will. He is also a God of process, progress, and perseverance. Remember the vision you've been given, write it down, it won't tarry long, though it may seem like it, His promises never fall to the ground and He's always faithful 100%. Seek to honor Him in the skills and talents given to you now, and earnestly desire the gifts of the Spirit and pray and ask Him. Stay patient, trust the Lord. Keep doing what He's set your hands and feet to do and don't give up.
In His Grace, Love, Mercy, and Hope Unfailing,
The Jerdon Clan
Scripture to end with:
"Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”[c]
17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God." 1Peter 1:13-21
THE WORD OF GOD IS AN OVERWHELMING GIFT OF LOVE, KNOWLEDGE, AND REVELATION. YOU CAN NEVER GET ENOUGH.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Seriously, Let's Go!
Hey friends. I wrote this out on my facebook. It's etched in my heart. What brought it about was a strong urgency from the Lord to take seriously the Word and take steps of faith to truly LIVE it out and DIE trying to get it out!
This is what I typed up:
How committed are you to the Gospel, really? I'm being challenged and I'm going to take it up. If I and you too really believe what the Word says is true then get ready Christ's return is sooner than we think. Meaning...
We take seriously surrendering ourselves and our lives and do what we are commanded and comissioned to do. Get on your faces friends and trust the Creator of Heaven and Earth to design and direct your everyday and see souls rescued out of Hell!
DON'T get caught up in 'your' everyday plans, be DIRECTED by God's Holy Spirit and lift up eyes, ears, mouth, body, soul, and spirit. Say I'm yours, here's everything, what next? "Church" we are really an ekklesia! (In classic greek "ekklesia" meant "an assembly of citizens summoned by the crier, the legislative assembly.") I don't know how, and I don't know when, I just know that we as a "governing" body as Christ called us out to be; need to get the 1.something billion people of this world to know the Saviour Jesus Christ!
I'm guilty for being careless and giving into the cares of this world to fulfill my fleshly desires. Jesus has tapped me on my shoulder so many times when I'm dozing off and this time He smacked His ruler on my desk! I'm alert! I'm awake! WHAT NEXT?
Vision this: 10,000 believers from here and abroad come together in agreement that they will put all their time, effort, money, family, energy, prayer, blood, sweat, and tears into preaching the Gospel and furthering the Kingdom in the most unreached areas of the world. They committ to die trying. Imagine the impact? When TEN THOUSAND people show up somewhere in the 1040 window?
Hey Pastor, Hey Preacher, Hey Teacher, Hey Prophet, Hey Apostle, Hey Mommy, Hey Daddy, Hey Businessman, HEY "CHURCH-EKKLESIA"! ARE you getting the bigger picture? WE HAVE ALL THE RESOURCES to do this! WE want our King to come back and we need Him desperately! He's furthering His Kingdom with or without you. Are you gonna do it with Him? YOUR title in the grand scheme of things is only allotted to you for a short period so that for the equipping of the saints until the full fruition of unity of the Faith in CHRIST JESUS comes that all those titles go away. Because there won't be a need if the Bride is a go and is going altogether... get it?
I'm gonna do my part in my humble part of the world... I will die trying, I will die persevering, I will die p.u.s.hing. I will LIVE in Him and He in me. What LOVE has been lavished upon you and I my friend... let's share it. A movement of the Holy Spirit is upon the Bride of Christ that she may make herself ready for Him... and friend that includes the 1040 window Bride. Let's go get the rest of our brothers and sisters in the utter parts of the world who have no access to Christ. Like I said I don't know how, and I don't know when... but let's GO!
This is what I typed up:
How committed are you to the Gospel, really? I'm being challenged and I'm going to take it up. If I and you too really believe what the Word says is true then get ready Christ's return is sooner than we think. Meaning...
We take seriously surrendering ourselves and our lives and do what we are commanded and comissioned to do. Get on your faces friends and trust the Creator of Heaven and Earth to design and direct your everyday and see souls rescued out of Hell!
DON'T get caught up in 'your' everyday plans, be DIRECTED by God's Holy Spirit and lift up eyes, ears, mouth, body, soul, and spirit. Say I'm yours, here's everything, what next? "Church" we are really an ekklesia! (In classic greek "ekklesia" meant "an assembly of citizens summoned by the crier, the legislative assembly.") I don't know how, and I don't know when, I just know that we as a "governing" body as Christ called us out to be; need to get the 1.something billion people of this world to know the Saviour Jesus Christ!
I'm guilty for being careless and giving into the cares of this world to fulfill my fleshly desires. Jesus has tapped me on my shoulder so many times when I'm dozing off and this time He smacked His ruler on my desk! I'm alert! I'm awake! WHAT NEXT?
Vision this: 10,000 believers from here and abroad come together in agreement that they will put all their time, effort, money, family, energy, prayer, blood, sweat, and tears into preaching the Gospel and furthering the Kingdom in the most unreached areas of the world. They committ to die trying. Imagine the impact? When TEN THOUSAND people show up somewhere in the 1040 window?
Hey Pastor, Hey Preacher, Hey Teacher, Hey Prophet, Hey Apostle, Hey Mommy, Hey Daddy, Hey Businessman, HEY "CHURCH-EKKLESIA"! ARE you getting the bigger picture? WE HAVE ALL THE RESOURCES to do this! WE want our King to come back and we need Him desperately! He's furthering His Kingdom with or without you. Are you gonna do it with Him? YOUR title in the grand scheme of things is only allotted to you for a short period so that for the equipping of the saints until the full fruition of unity of the Faith in CHRIST JESUS comes that all those titles go away. Because there won't be a need if the Bride is a go and is going altogether... get it?
I'm gonna do my part in my humble part of the world... I will die trying, I will die persevering, I will die p.u.s.hing. I will LIVE in Him and He in me. What LOVE has been lavished upon you and I my friend... let's share it. A movement of the Holy Spirit is upon the Bride of Christ that she may make herself ready for Him... and friend that includes the 1040 window Bride. Let's go get the rest of our brothers and sisters in the utter parts of the world who have no access to Christ. Like I said I don't know how, and I don't know when... but let's GO!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Elisha Accepts Jesus as her Savior!
On Feburary 7, 2011 Elisha Kimberly Jerdon accepted Christ Jesus as her Savior! This is what happened...
Our Sunshine
Yay, Jesus!
Like every morning Elisha, Elijah, and I sat down to do their daily devotional, from: the One Year Devotions for Preschoolers. That day the devotion was titled: A Special Book and this is what it read: "Kaitlyn is looking at a special book full of pictures. The pictures are of Kaitlyn's family and friends. Kaitlyn's special book makes her feel happy. Did you know that G-d has a special book too? His book has names in it. When people believe in Jesus, G-d writes their names in the special book. G-d is happy when He can write someone's name in His special book."
The scripture was: "I will never erase their names from the Book of Life." Revelation 3:5, NLT
The prayer was: Dear Jesus, I believe in You. I want my name in your book too.
What love she brings to her family!To her brother.
From this I began to explain that her name can be in that book today! There was a bit of a resistance to say the prayer from her devotional at first. I began to pray over her and after I prayed there was no more resistance. Yay Jesus! (Sometimes when something big is about to happen to us the enemy likes to come in and cause distractions in our thoughts and that's what was going on before the Wonderful happened to Elisha!)
To her grandma.
So I sat her next to me and discerned that a thought had been planted in her mind that I didn't want her to sit next to me. I asked Elisha if she thought I didn't want her next to me she said yes, I said oh honey please come sit next to me okay? She happily did and snuggled next to me. I said Elisha I love you and the reason why I had you stand up is because I wanted you to pay attention to what I was saying. She understood and was just happy to be next to me again. (I notice when I explain things to Elisha she understands so much better and appreciates it.)
So, then we did the prayer together and I looked at her and said, "Elisha do you believe Jesus died for your sins?" She said, "Yes I do." Then I asked her, "Do you believe that He rose again to life?" Elisha, "He died?" I explained, "Yes, remember He died for our sins so you can live forever?" Elisha, "Yes I do." Me, "Do you believe He sits at the Father's right hand?" Elisha, "Yes. Mary, Mommy, and Mary!" Me, "Oh yes, do you believe that Jesus was born from Mary the virgin?" Elisha, "Yes." Me, "Elisha do you want Jesus to be your Savior?" Elisha, "Yes!"
To her Grandpa.I asked her to pray with me. (side note: Generally if Elisha doesn't understand something she won't cooperate to pray/say with you the words you're about to speak/say. She'll question you until you're blue in the face, until she gets it.) The prayer, "Dear Jesus I believe in you, I believe you died for me. Jesus please forgive me of all my sins. Come into my heart, cleanse me, and make me new. Jesus I want you to be my Savior forever. Jesus I want to be yours forever."
To her Daddy.We both got excited faces and cheered and squealed in delight as the reality of what just happned settled in. We called Daddy and Grandma to let them know what'd just happened! Her face was glowing!
To her Mommy.Elisha has been given the true Gospel of Jesus Christ and been given the revelation, understanding, wisdom, and knowledge of Jesus Christ through her Father in Heaven. She has been preaching this Gospel since she turned 2yrs old. (Ex: We were at a Hardee's eating breakfast (Betty, Brad, Elisha, and I) and a lady who worked there was cleaning off tables right next to us. Elisha looks over there and says, "Jesus died. 'Nd rose again. He washed away our sins, like a ocean!" (Matter-of-fact) When she first understood what happened to Jesus she was preaching it everywhere. Now a days she likes to tell people how much God loves them. She also likes to get people's attention so she can lead them in prayer. She likes to dance and praise Him too. So I know that without any doubt she really did accept Jesus as her Savior and really gave her heart to Him this day. Next is to explain water baptism to her. I know with patience and a thorough explaination she will understand... but we are not the one's who give her the revelation, only G-d the Father will!
She has caught the eyes of our Heavenly Father. He has caught hers. Her name is now in His special book! (The book of Life!)
CELEBRATE WITH US and PRAISE OUR HEAVENLY FATHER THAT SHE HAS ACCEPTED JESUS AS HER SAVIOR!
Friday, August 6, 2010
WELCOME ELIJAH NATHANAEL JERDON!
Elijah Nathanael Jerdon Born: August 4, 2010 @ 7:39a.m. Wt: 7lbs 13oz Ht: 20.5in Birthed in a water birth setting at Lakeland Hospital in Niles, Michigan
Elijah's Story
I came in the world gently into the water my mommy was sitting in and at the last push out I came into her loving arms with my daddy close by. What joy my mommy had as she praised the L-rd and and kept kissing me and rubbing my back to help me breathe on my own. When the nurses took me to check me out I let them know something wasn't right with my breathing. I was having a very hard time to get the oxygen I needed. They took some tests and found out that I had a case of pnuemothorax. They say it's quite common in infants at birth and don't know when or why it happens. One of my lungs collapsed and the air released and pushed everything over towards my heart. It was quite a case so the doctor had me transferred to Memorial Hospital in S. Bend, MI. A medical team came and picked me up and begin to take care of me in the NICU. Mommy and Daddy were told that while I was in the oxygen bubble/bowl I was recovering quickly and my x-rays show that by day two my lung was fully inflated and my heart was back in the position it needed to be in. Yay! My first hurdle I leapt over with great bounds! On my x-rays the radiologist said there was a white shadow above my heart. They took an ultra sound of my heart and it sounded perfect! So they took another view from x-ray and found the shadow was round and ruled out it being any kind of solid mass. Yesterday the shadow begin to go away so in one week Mommy and Daddy will take me back to the radiologist for an out patient visit to see my progress and hopefully to see the shadow gone. Yay! Now I'm at home with my Daddy, Mommy, Big Sister, Grandpa, and Grandma. I'm getting lots of love, diapers changed, feeding time, kisses from big sis (she's so happy I'm here and I love her! Sometimes I like to look her way and figure out where that silly laugh is coming from and nose kisses xx!) Mommy says lots of family and friends have been praying for me... so thank you so much for your love and prayers that have changed things for me. Bless my Father in Heaven for He is great and greatly to be praised. Mommy posted more pictures and a video of my arrival home. I love you, Elijah. xo
Neat thing that happened the day of my birth: the Aurora Borialis (Northern Lights) shown it's brightest between the third and fourth of August and it was so bright it could be seen to the southern most part of Michigan... that's where I live!
I came in the world gently into the water my mommy was sitting in and at the last push out I came into her loving arms with my daddy close by. What joy my mommy had as she praised the L-rd and and kept kissing me and rubbing my back to help me breathe on my own. When the nurses took me to check me out I let them know something wasn't right with my breathing. I was having a very hard time to get the oxygen I needed. They took some tests and found out that I had a case of pnuemothorax. They say it's quite common in infants at birth and don't know when or why it happens. One of my lungs collapsed and the air released and pushed everything over towards my heart. It was quite a case so the doctor had me transferred to Memorial Hospital in S. Bend, MI. A medical team came and picked me up and begin to take care of me in the NICU. Mommy and Daddy were told that while I was in the oxygen bubble/bowl I was recovering quickly and my x-rays show that by day two my lung was fully inflated and my heart was back in the position it needed to be in. Yay! My first hurdle I leapt over with great bounds! On my x-rays the radiologist said there was a white shadow above my heart. They took an ultra sound of my heart and it sounded perfect! So they took another view from x-ray and found the shadow was round and ruled out it being any kind of solid mass. Yesterday the shadow begin to go away so in one week Mommy and Daddy will take me back to the radiologist for an out patient visit to see my progress and hopefully to see the shadow gone. Yay! Now I'm at home with my Daddy, Mommy, Big Sister, Grandpa, and Grandma. I'm getting lots of love, diapers changed, feeding time, kisses from big sis (she's so happy I'm here and I love her! Sometimes I like to look her way and figure out where that silly laugh is coming from and nose kisses xx!) Mommy says lots of family and friends have been praying for me... so thank you so much for your love and prayers that have changed things for me. Bless my Father in Heaven for He is great and greatly to be praised. Mommy posted more pictures and a video of my arrival home. I love you, Elijah. xo
Neat thing that happened the day of my birth: the Aurora Borialis (Northern Lights) shown it's brightest between the third and fourth of August and it was so bright it could be seen to the southern most part of Michigan... that's where I live!
Day 1 at Lakeland Hospital in the oxygen bowl.
Elijah trying to lick his way out of the bowl. :-)
Day 1 - Leaving to Memorial Hospital and saying bye bye to family.
Day 3 - After car seat check and discharge.
Ready to take Elijah home!
Bye bye Memorial Thanks for everything!
Discharge nurse rolling Elijah to his get-away-car!
Big Sis - Elisha holding baby brother for the first time.
Elisha enjoying her new art station desk in her big girl room. (She was singing: chicken nuggets over and over again...funny girl.)
Peek - A
-Boo I see you!
video in progress of coming...check your facebooks. :-) <3 Leslie
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Michigan, It's a Boy... and more!
SUMMER IS HERE, IT'S A BOY!, and... Mommy look grass!
It's been quite awhile since our last post. Much has changed for our little nuclear family and much to be excited about! Brad, Elisha, and I; along with baby in the tum, have moved to Michigan officially as of June this summer! Brad and I both miss the kids and Nancy from the Bible Study, along with some of our other friends we made down there. We hope to see them all in the future. For now we're here for rest, reinforcement, our baby that's soon coming, and whatever else Jesus has planned for us.Since being here it's been rejuvenating and restful for all of us. We've caught up with family members and have really enjoyed watching Elisha play with all her little cousins. This past weekend Brad's cousin Kari was married to her boyfriend of 3 years! It was a beautiful reception, we missed the wedding part unfortunately. We know that it was a wonderful ceremony from everyone's comments who attended. It was so much fun watching all the little children run around, dance, and play at the reception. The Bride was gorgeous and the groom was beaming with the light of love in his eyes for his new bride! I enjoyed catching up with family, the food, and the cake, but I have to say the real party players were the children. It brought so much joy to everyone! :-)
We celebrated my birthday on July 13th and Beth Ann's on July 18th. We ate ice cream cakes in lieu of both occasions. We promised ice cream cake to Beth around Christmas time when she comes up for a visit this year! Yum!
It's so good to have Brad here with us, he arrived here at the last part of June and visited our very good friends in Wyoming along with our friend Steve. They had a wonderful time of fellowship and it made my heart glad to know it was if nothing ever changed and they picked up right where they left off. :-) He came home around the 9th or 10th of this month and we're so glad too. We had missed him a lot. He's doing great and has some side work he's doing that has definitely come in when we needed it! Praise the L-rd.
Our little beaming light of sunshine brings so much joy to everyone here. Elisha is starting to put bigger words she's learned into the right context. She's starting to play a lot better on her own and loves to dance and tell stories. She loves to paint and draw on big paper and make all kinds of things. She's so imaginative and humorous. One of her favorite things to say right now is: "SURPRISE, HAPPY BIRTHDAY..." I think she really enjoys the expression on our faces when she says it. She's ready for baby to come and often says, "Baby brother is coming!" She says it so joyfully, I'm excited because I know she'll be a great big sister!
This past Friday I had my weekly check up and I was 1/2 a centimeter dilated! I've had some contractions but nothing consistent. I believe I'll know I'm in full swing labor when my water breaks. :-) Today I'm 38 weeks and 5 days. Only 9 more days to go! I can wait and then again I can't. I keep thinking about holding our newborn son in our arms and how different it will be for us. I am praying constantly that our hearts will be ready to receive him and the new change that he will bring to us. In just days from now we will be welcoming Elijah Nathanael Jerdon! We have the room we're in ready and are almost done with the children's room! I put the bassinet together with in the last two days and have my hospital bag packed and ready.
Elijah is moving quite a bit and often lets me know he's not sleepy and wants to play. I keep telling him soon you'll be out of my tummy and we can play with you!
I'm so thankful for all the family and friends who've helped us out with clothes, diapers, blankets, and the like. It was a wonderful gift to receive and we bless the L-rd for his provision through them.
Enjoy some pictures below. We love you all and will update you soon! Jesus bless you and yours!
Pool Time.
Aunt Mary blessed Elisha with a pink cowgirl hat.(Elisha now get's on her hobby horse and cowgirl hat on and says,
"Yee Haw, Yee Haw, horsey! Howdy Pardner.")
Jumping on trampoline at Caitie's grad party!
Safe in Grandma's arms
Siwwy in Grandpa's arms.
Celebrating my birthday with my little helper.
Cute and....
Silly.Tuesday, March 9, 2010
To Save A Life and more...
(pictures coming soon.)
Larry and Betty came down to Indiana to celebrate Elisha and Larry's birthdays! They got a hotel room and Brad, Elisha, and I stayed with them! It was nice to be with them and see Elisha have so much fun. She's so full of life. I enjoyed the big queen bed and so did Brad. It was quite a blessing to have breakfast prepared for you to eat in the morning! I made Elisha a birthday cake and we went to Mr. Gatti's to celebrate! It was a small intimate party with Brad, his parents, myself, the birthday girl, Nancy, Chris, & our dear friend Calli. Elisha dug her fingers into the cake before she could blow the candle out. LOL After eating and opening a few gifts we went back into Gatti Land and played some neat games. My favorite of course is; Skeet Ball. Elisha loves the basketball games and she liked sitting on Daddy's lap to play an arcade game of car racing.
The next day, Monday, we all got up and headed back to Nancy's house and decided to take a walk. It was an absolute perfect sunshiny day! Elisha played in the park as we talked plans of Elisha and I going up to Michigan to visit for a few weeks. Now here we are and I'm so glad we're here. Elisha is really enjoying her grandparents, and of course missing her daddy, and so am I... that is my husband.
Brad and I had a date night and saw To Save A Life. It's about this young white teenager who had a best friend growing up who was black and saved his life. They were playing "trick or treat" in the middle of July (as most boys do) and the one boy wasn't paying attention as his young black friend pushed him out of harms way from a vehicle. The young black man was injured to the point of being crippled. He cheered his friend on as he played in all kinds of sports. Later in Freshmen year of High School the young white teen was a basketball star and gained a lot of attention and decided to ditch his friend who saved his life for popularity and a girlfriend. The story goes on and one day the young black teen commits suicide. The young white teen's life, a senior then, is changed forever... and at that you'll have to see the movie for yourself to find out what happens and how many lives are changed.
Official movie website: http://tosavealifemovie.com/index.php
I will tell you during the movie I was weeping and being broken. I was being broken because the L-rd was showing me faces of people I knew as a single woman and married to Brad that had been touched and were changed b/c we chose Jesus instead of ourselves and it saved a life (lives). That's what it is all about. You can't have true revival until you take G-d to the people. I believe that the body of Christ is outside of four walls and that she will become united and more powerful to touch others when she reaches out to the hurting world around her. To the dirty, needy, poor, and most wretched, to the loners, the cutters, the ones left aside who feel so alone. G-d wants to use you and me, my family and yours through prayers and intercession, through the works of love and faith to change lives. If we don't love the convict, if we don't love the kid messed up on drugs or alcohol, the lonely girl who cuts herself, the girl who clings to any boy, the guy who walks alone crooked and mocked at who will?
Once I hugged a homeless woman and it was the greatest hug I have ever received and given. I wanted to keep holding her and pouring love in her that she beamed with it. Being on the streets and being empowered by the Holy Spirit in love and the authority of Christ in me is my greatest desire. I wait upon the L-rd as He is doing a mighty work in me and my family to bring us to the most humble place that we can be used in the highest places. Those places are where my future brothers and sisters await. Those places are where we'll see many receive their L-rd and King, be healed, delivered, set free, made whole. Right now that place is Bedford, Indiana. The youth in that town are being so affected by the Love of Christ we're seeing them so transformed they are looking more and more like love and living in it. Many of them have seen the movie and are being moved by the Holy Spirit to do more and to be there "brothers keeper" to love their neighbors as they love themselves.
The greatest lesson Brad and I are learning is: to know nothing except Christ Crucified. A crucified life. I know I've received the revelation of Jesus Christ and who He is but Brad and I are receiving the deeper knowledge of bearing our cross and the true joy that comes out of loving and serving others and denying self and diving into the Glory of our King.
“Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him." (Matt. 28)
We love all of you and thank you all for your prayers over us and for us. We pray our lives will bless you because of Christ in us the Hope of Glory.
"And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimonya]">[a] of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of humanb]">[b] wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." (1Corinth. 2:1-5)
Larry and Betty came down to Indiana to celebrate Elisha and Larry's birthdays! They got a hotel room and Brad, Elisha, and I stayed with them! It was nice to be with them and see Elisha have so much fun. She's so full of life. I enjoyed the big queen bed and so did Brad. It was quite a blessing to have breakfast prepared for you to eat in the morning! I made Elisha a birthday cake and we went to Mr. Gatti's to celebrate! It was a small intimate party with Brad, his parents, myself, the birthday girl, Nancy, Chris, & our dear friend Calli. Elisha dug her fingers into the cake before she could blow the candle out. LOL After eating and opening a few gifts we went back into Gatti Land and played some neat games. My favorite of course is; Skeet Ball. Elisha loves the basketball games and she liked sitting on Daddy's lap to play an arcade game of car racing.
The next day, Monday, we all got up and headed back to Nancy's house and decided to take a walk. It was an absolute perfect sunshiny day! Elisha played in the park as we talked plans of Elisha and I going up to Michigan to visit for a few weeks. Now here we are and I'm so glad we're here. Elisha is really enjoying her grandparents, and of course missing her daddy, and so am I... that is my husband.
Brad and I had a date night and saw To Save A Life. It's about this young white teenager who had a best friend growing up who was black and saved his life. They were playing "trick or treat" in the middle of July (as most boys do) and the one boy wasn't paying attention as his young black friend pushed him out of harms way from a vehicle. The young black man was injured to the point of being crippled. He cheered his friend on as he played in all kinds of sports. Later in Freshmen year of High School the young white teen was a basketball star and gained a lot of attention and decided to ditch his friend who saved his life for popularity and a girlfriend. The story goes on and one day the young black teen commits suicide. The young white teen's life, a senior then, is changed forever... and at that you'll have to see the movie for yourself to find out what happens and how many lives are changed.
Official movie website: http://tosavealifemovie.com/index.php
I will tell you during the movie I was weeping and being broken. I was being broken because the L-rd was showing me faces of people I knew as a single woman and married to Brad that had been touched and were changed b/c we chose Jesus instead of ourselves and it saved a life (lives). That's what it is all about. You can't have true revival until you take G-d to the people. I believe that the body of Christ is outside of four walls and that she will become united and more powerful to touch others when she reaches out to the hurting world around her. To the dirty, needy, poor, and most wretched, to the loners, the cutters, the ones left aside who feel so alone. G-d wants to use you and me, my family and yours through prayers and intercession, through the works of love and faith to change lives. If we don't love the convict, if we don't love the kid messed up on drugs or alcohol, the lonely girl who cuts herself, the girl who clings to any boy, the guy who walks alone crooked and mocked at who will?
Once I hugged a homeless woman and it was the greatest hug I have ever received and given. I wanted to keep holding her and pouring love in her that she beamed with it. Being on the streets and being empowered by the Holy Spirit in love and the authority of Christ in me is my greatest desire. I wait upon the L-rd as He is doing a mighty work in me and my family to bring us to the most humble place that we can be used in the highest places. Those places are where my future brothers and sisters await. Those places are where we'll see many receive their L-rd and King, be healed, delivered, set free, made whole. Right now that place is Bedford, Indiana. The youth in that town are being so affected by the Love of Christ we're seeing them so transformed they are looking more and more like love and living in it. Many of them have seen the movie and are being moved by the Holy Spirit to do more and to be there "brothers keeper" to love their neighbors as they love themselves.
The greatest lesson Brad and I are learning is: to know nothing except Christ Crucified. A crucified life. I know I've received the revelation of Jesus Christ and who He is but Brad and I are receiving the deeper knowledge of bearing our cross and the true joy that comes out of loving and serving others and denying self and diving into the Glory of our King.
“Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him." (Matt. 28)
We love all of you and thank you all for your prayers over us and for us. We pray our lives will bless you because of Christ in us the Hope of Glory.
"And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimonya]">[a] of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of humanb]">[b] wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." (1Corinth. 2:1-5)
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