Beth Moore and the Hairbrush

This is the most amazing story ever!! It is long, but WELL worth the read!! Please share it with everyone you know!!

HAIRBRUSH EXPERIENCE OF BETH MOORE AT THE AIRPORT For those of you who do not know Beth Moore, she is an outstanding Bible teacher, writer of Bible studies, and is a married mother of two daughters. This is one of her experiences: April 20, 2005, at the Airport in Knoxville , waiting to board the plane, I had the Bible on my lap and was very intent upon what I was doing. I'd had a marvelous morning with the Lord. I say this because I want to tell you it is a scary thing to have the Spirit of God really working in you. You could end up doing some things you never would have done otherwise. Life in the Spirit can be dangerous for a thousand reasons, not the least of which is your ego. I tried to keep from staring, but he was such a strange sight. Humped over in a wheelchair, he was skin and bones, dressed in clothes that obviously fit when he was at least twenty pounds heavier. His knees protruded from his trousers, and his shoulders looked like the coat hanger was still in his shirt. His hands looked like tangled masses of veins and bones. The strangest part of him was his hair and nails. Stringy, gray hair hung well over his shoulders and down part of his back. His fingernails were long, clean but strangely out of place on an old man. I looked down at my Bible as fast as I could, discomfort burning my face. As I tried to imagine what his story might have been, I found myself wondering if I'd just had a Howard Hughes sighting. Then, I remembered that he was dead. So this man in the airport... an impersonator maybe? Was a camera on us somewhere? There I sat; trying to concentrate on the Word to keep from being concerned about a thin slice of humanity served up on a wheelchair only a few seats from me. All the while, my heart was growing more and more overwhelmed with a feeling for him. Let's admit it. Curiosity is a heap more comfortable than true concern, and suddenly I was awash with aching emotion for this bizarre-looking old man. I had walked with God long enough to see the handwriting on the wall. I've learned that when I begin to feel what God feels, something so contrary to my natural feelings, something dramatic is bound to happen. And it may be embarrassing. I immediately began to resist because I could feel God working on my spirit and I started arguing with God in my mind. 'Oh, no, God, please, no.' I looked up at the ceiling as if I could stare straight through it into heaven and said, 'Don't make me witness to this man. Not right here and now. Please. I'll do anything. Put me on the same plane, but don't make me get up here and witness to this man in front of this gawking audience. Please, Lord!' There I sat in the blue vinyl chair begging His Highness, 'Please don't make me witness to this man. Not now. I'll do it on the plane.' Then I heard it....'I don't want you to witness to him. I want you to brush his hair.' The words were so clear, my heart leapt into my throat, and my thoughts spun like a top. Do I witness to the man or brush his hair? No-brainer. I looked straight back up at the ceiling and said, 'God, as I live and breathe, I want you to know I am ready to witness to this man. I'm on this Lord. I'm your girl! You've never seen a woman witness to a man faster in your life. What difference does it make if his hair is a mess if he is not redeemed? I am going to witness to this man.' Again, as clearly as I've ever heard an audible word, God seemed to write this statement across the wall of my mind. 'That is not what I said, Beth. I don't want you to witness to him. I want you to go brush his hair.' I looked up at God and quipped, 'I don't have a hairbrush. It's in my suitcase on the plane. How am I supposed to brush his hair without a hairbrush?' God was so insistent that I almost involuntarily began to walk toward him as these thoughts came to me from God's word: 'I will thoroughly furnish you unto all good works.' (2 Timothy 3:17) I stumbled over to the wheelchair thinking I could use one myself. Even as I retell this story, my pulse quickens and I feel those same butterflies. I knelt down in front of the man and asked as demurely as possible, 'Sir, may I have the pleasure of brushing your hair?' He looked back at me and said, 'What did you say?' 'May I have the pleasure of brushing your hair?' To which he responded in volume ten, 'Little lady, if you expect me to hear you, you're going to have to talk louder than that.' At this point, I took a deep breath and blurted out, 'SIR, MAY I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF BRUSHING YOUR HAIR?' At which point every eye in the place darted right at me. I was the only thing in the room looking more peculiar than old Mr. Long Locks. Face crimson and forehead breaking out in a sweat, I watched him look up at me with absolute shock on his face, and say, 'If you really want to.' Are you kidding? Of course I didn't want to. But God didn't seem interested in my personal preference right about then. He pressed on my heart until I could utter the words, 'Yes, sir, I would be pleased. But I have one little problem. I don't have a hairbrush.' 'I have one in my bag,' he responded. I went around to the back of that wheelchair, and I got on my hands and knees and unzipped the stranger's old carry-on, hardly believing what I was doing. I stood up and started brushing the old man's hair. It was perfectly clean, but it was tangled and matted. I don't do many things well, but must admit I've had notable experience untangling knotted hair mothering two little girls. Like I'd done with either Amanda or Melissa in such a condition, I began brushing at the very bottom of the strands, remembering to take my time not to pull. A miraculous thing happened to me as I started brushing that old man's hair. Everybody else in the room disappeared. There was no one alive for those moments except that old man and me. I brushed and I brushed and I brushed until every tangle was out of that hair. I know this sounds so strange, but I've never felt that kind of love for another soul in my entire life. I believe with all my heart, I - for that few minutes - felt a portion of the very love of God. That He had overtaken my heart for a little while like someone renting a room and making Himself at home for a short while. The emotions were so strong and so pure that I knew they had to be God's. His hair was finally as soft and smooth as an infant's. I slipped the brush back in the bag and went around the chair to face him. I got back down on my knees, put my hands on his knee and said, 'Sir, do you know my Jesus?' He said, 'Yes, I do' Well, that figures, I thought. He explained, 'I've known Him since I married my bride. She wouldn't marry me until I got to know the Savior.' He said, 'You see, the problem is, I haven't seen my bride in months. I've had open-heart surgery, and she's been too ill to come see me. I was sitting here thinking to myself, what a mess I must be for my bride.' Only God knows how often He allows us to be part of a divine moment when we're completely unaware of the significance. This, on the other hand, was one of those rare encounters when I knew God had intervened in details only He could have known. It was a God moment, and I'll never forget it. Our time came to board, and we were not on the same plane. I was deeply ashamed of how I'd acted earlier and would have been so proud to have accompanied him on that aircraft. I still had a few minutes, and as I gathered my things to board, the airline hostess returned from the corridor, tears streaming down her cheeks. She said, 'That old man's sitting on the plane, sobbing. Why did you do that? What made you do that?' I said, 'Do you know Jesus? He can be the bossiest thing!' And we got to share. I learned something about God that day. He knows if you're exhausted, you're hungry, you're serving in the wrong place or it is time to move on but you feel too responsible to budge. He knows if you're hurting or feeling rejected. He knows if you're sick or drowning under a wave of temptation. Or He knows if you just need your hair brushed. He sees you as an individual. Tell Him your need! I got on my own flight, sobs choking my throat, wondering how many opportunities just like that one had I missed along the way .. all because I didn't want people to think I was strange. God didn't send me to that old man. He sent that old man to me. Please share this wonderful story. 'Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain!'

Changes to the BLOG!!

Ok--for those of you who know me well, this will need little explanation. Actually, anyone living in today's society should completely understand why I have made these changes. I have a dear sweet friend who has a precious blog. Well, scarily enough, she began to get comments from someone she didn't know. Now--I realize this happens all the time as we women compliment each other's home decor, rennovations, and projects, but that is not what I am talking about. She ended up making her blog private. I let this creep me out a little bit! I am just trying to post things about my life and kids so that my friends and family can keep up with us, and so my sweet children will have this to look back at. (I know I am rambling, but stay with me--there is a point to all of this, and I will get there eventually). As I was talking to this friend of mine, she brought to my attention that in the title of my blog I had my family's full names. This would allow some cyber freak to be inappropriate and that just makes my skin crawl!! But the truth is--that is the world in which we live--a world which--by the way--needs JESUS!! I have removed my last name from our blog. I do know that several of the blogs I link to and follow have last names listed. I am not suggesting that you have to change it, I am simply asking you to really think about whether that is something that seems like a good idea. I love each of you and don't want anyone to have any problems with someone using this in an inappropriate way!! Just be careful that you don't put enough info or pictures that could allow some sick-o to find you! I know--some of you have already quit reading and are looking up the number to the looney bin. I know it may seem overly paranoid, but when it comes to my family and friends--better safe than sorry! I hope you all understand and will consider measures to keep your family safe in our blogland!! Feel free to leave comments and let me know what you think!!
On another note--things are CRAZY busy here! I will post with pics early next week when things slow down. (Wait a minute--maybe that is why I can't keep up with this blog thing is because I am always waiting for things to calm down!!)

Now My Sweet Little Girl is Sick!!!!!

Well, I guess I spoke too soon. Just last week I made the comment that my kids have been so well this year--especially compared to last year. Then Jake got sick Thursday and was sick through the weekend. He got better and things were back to normal. Happy day!! Well--this morning when I went in to check on Jenna, I became a little concerned. I could see her, but all I could here was a barking seal. Bless her heart, when she breathed or coughed, she literally sounded like a seal. When she woke up I asked her how she was feeling and she cried and told me that her chest and throat hurt when she coughed. I took her temp and she had 101.1. After talking to a friend, who talked to a friend, we diagnosed her with Croup!! I called the Dr. and when I described the symptoms she said, "Sounds like croup. How soon can you get here?" So I loaded up the kids and off we went. Praise the LORD she doesn't have Croup, but she does have Bronchitis. The doctor said he would not be surprised to see her fever get up over 102. What? Really? So he gives us a prescription for a Z-pack and a prescription for cough medicine and we are on our way. Instead of being able to come home, we have to hang out in Bryan because I have a doctor's appointment at 1:30. I got her to eat some lunch and then gave her the first power packed dose of her antibiotic. Then it was off to my appointment. Did I mention it was a dermatologist appointment? For those of you who do not know my history, I have battled skin cancer for several years now. Thankfully it is only basal cell carcinomas, but after my first experience having them removed, I have SERIOUS issues with going. One might even call it a phobia!! Seriously--sweaty palms, rapid breathing and nausea. On the way there I could actually feel knots forming in the back of my neck. Can you say TENSION?? Did I mention I had 3 kids with me too? So we get there and when the dr. sees the spot she says --"Oh that is too big to do a scrape biopsy, I will have to cut out some of it and then stitch it." NICE!! Here I am with an audience of 3 all under the age of 5. This meant that I had to fight the reaction to cry and say "I want my mama!!" or the urge to run out the door and never look back. After all, I must address these issues (despite all anxieties involved) so I can stay as healthy as possible for my kids. The kids were GREAT! I will spare you all of the gory details of the procedure. But, I will get the results from the biopsy sometime the middle of next week. I will then be referred to a surgeon in Houston to have it removed. (like the place on my nose they removed this time last year). Oh to think that this is all because I was a lifeguard in college and I knew so much more than my mother who did her dead-level best to make me wear my sunscreen! I hate it when she is right. On a side note--that is happening more all the time!! (Love ya Mom)

Sorry for the long post, but it has been quite a day! Again as I write about a sick child, I am ever so thankful that this is a temporary illness--unlike so many sweet precious children who are fighting for their lives while their parents helplessly watch and pray. Won't you join me in praying for them?

Things that start with the Letter R

I noticed on some of my friends' blogs that they were playing some cool game thing where they were assigned a letter and they had to think of things they like that start with that letter. I am not very clear on the rules. I don't know if I am supposed to do a certain number, but here are mine. Lacy gave me the letter "R".

1. my Redeemer--who paid the ultimate price for my sin and yours
2. romantic evenings with my hot hubby
3. random things my precious children do or say
4. retail therapy--aka--shopping!! (tricky--I know)
5. reading blogs
6. running around with friends
7. re-arranging furniture
8. rifle hunting (for deer or hogs)
9. Reese's Peanut butter anything
10. rainbows--that remind me of our Awesome God!!

Hope you have a great day!!!

I've Been Tagged

I must admit before I even start that I have to cheat. What are the odds that I would be tagged the very day AFTER I clean all of the pics off my computer?? So--I went to my very large memory card and chose the 4th picture from there!! Here it is:

This is picture of Jake at Sonshine School. They were in their buggy and heading out to hunt Easter eggs!! Can you believe how little he was??

Here are the rules

1. Go to the fourth picture in your computer

2. Post the fourth picture

3. Explain the picture

4. Tag 4 more people

I tag: Connie, Michelle Ramirez, Rishanne, and Stephanie!!

Baking Cookies

I will try this post again. When I did it before it wouldn't post because the "Tag wasn't closed". Gimme a break!! Who in the world knows what that means!!?? Maybe I am showing my computer ignorance by admitting that, but oh well!! Tomorrow night the kids have their Valentine's Party in Children's Choir at Church. We baked cookies today and in the morning they will decorate them. They had so much fun. Each of them took turns sprinkling the flour, rolling the dough and using the heart shaped cutters to cut them out. Here are some pics. I will post pics tomorrow of the decorating!!

My Sick Little Boy

Poor little guy. He hasn't been sick very much. He has had ear infections, but after the tubes, those got better. He has just felt rotten. I think he is feeling better now. I am a bit leery of saying that though because last night I thought that and the next thing I knew he was throwing up all over the bed! Anyway--here is a picture of him sleeping. SO SWEET!!


As I was waiting for my picture to upload I became sad. You see, my son is sick with a common virus. But I know there are parents out there who have kids who have really bad sickness. There is a link on the side of my blog called Praying for Abby. That is just one example. She is a 3 year old who is fighting a horrendous battle against leukemia. Will you join me in praying for her? I give thanks to My God that my son only has a temporary virus!

I Know--I am a terrible blogger

Ok--I just need to vent for a minute. I am a stay-at-home-mom and I cannot keep up. So many of you update your blogs at least daily and some of you even more than that!! I have to decide if I am going to be a good blogger or if I am going to keep up with the house work!! Trust me--I would much rather blog!! Anyway, I am going to try to be better about this. Please bear with me. My other problem is that I am also on Facebook! It is addicting because I have been able to find people I haven't seen or talked to in years. The terrible thing is so many of them have all of these cute pictures on their page, and, well--I haven't had time for that either!! Pathetic--I Know!!

So here is what is going on in my life. Jason came home from work on Wednesday of last week and got to be home for the remainder of the week. The terrible thing about this is that he has a fractured rib so he was in a great deal of pain and couldn't do much. I did, however, get to go to Canton! It was so much fun! I got lots of stuff (mainly jewelry) but some other goodies too! Here is a picture of my favorite purchase this trip!

The other thing I am realizing as I wait FOREVER for my picture to upload, is that my computer is so SLOW!! Apparently I am just negative today huh? Oh Happy Day!!
Now I am off to do some housework and figure out where to hang my new treasure!!