Reaching Isreal-her Calcutta

My lovely little sis has felt a call to Isreal! She's been a world traveling missionary off and on now since her early teen years. Most recently her heart has been in the Homeland, where many of Jesus' first footprints lay beneath the dust and time. So many of His people are blinded to truth and her heart is to minister His love, hope and truth to His Homeland! She will be working closely with women and girls who are willingly (and lawfully since it is not against the law in Isreal)  prostituting themselves and/or are being trafficked. 
I don't share a lot about her personal story because I know it's hers and not mine. However, as her older sister there are many memories I have of a time in her own life when her pain was deep and her wounds could not be reasoned--see her husband chose to verbally abuse and treat her so harshly she literally collapsed on my living room floor in sobs. She fought for her marriage until he made it clear he would not. She knows the bitterness of betrayal and she knows the heartache of verbal abuse and neglect. Her arms are such a strong place for the women of Isreal to find strength, comfort and hope! And THIS is what she longs to be, what she longs to do! 

So, would you be so amazing as to consider donating to support the Homeland of Christ Jesus ministry she longs to do! Would you consider partnering in changing lives for Christ in Isreal alongside my sister Rebekah?! Even a small partnership financially will be another step closer to her reaching her goal to be able to serve God and others in this capacity! She has said of Isreal and this ministry that it is HER Calcutta.

I want to thank you all so SO much for considering helping financially and I would like to URGE you to consider PRAYERFULLY partnering with her, as she commits herself to serving! 

Friends, family, thank you SO MUCH! If you'd like more information please feel free to contact myself or my sister, Rebekah!  

With the hope of reaching Isreal for Christ Jesus, 
Abi

A Little Old... 11/09/2012

Testament;)

Lately as I read through the Old Testament God has been revealing to me His great power, His faithfulness in fulfulling His covenants, and His plan.

Did you ever wonder why God does certain things the way He does?

I do.

I wonder particularly when He does things, or allows things that hurt, things that take time, things that are confusing...

Like why would God harden pharaoh's heart? It would seem it was hard enough as it was.

As I spend time studying God's Word, though, I find that His Spirit speaks to my heart individually and personally on questions I have. I also find that many of the answers I am seeking are right there in front of me if i will simply take the time to immerse myself, to dive in, to develop positive habits, to press in to His truths, and into Him.

Do you think you've been waiting a long time to see God answer your prayers? They are NOT prayed in vain! Did you know that the Isrealites were in bondage, chains, slavery for 430 YEARS, FOUR HUNDRED AND THIRTY YEARS? Wow, and I felt likeMY prayers take a long time to answer...

Prayer has got to be done with the heart and attitude of Christ Jesus. This is a daily, sometimes moment to moment, surrender for me, and probably for most of us. I ask God for big BIG things. And I believe He can do them! Yet, I surrender MY time-frame, MY hopes, MY desires, MY will, MY very life if He ask it of me, to take up and walk out HIS PLAN and HIS PURPOSE.

When have I seen this most in my own life? When I was faced with the uncertainty of what was happening in our second pregnancy. As the Doctors told us they could not find a heartbeat at five months pregnant, neither my husband nor I wanted to believe this could be true. I sat in that cold dark delivery room, even after they confirmed to us the reality that our baby had died and I cried out in loud prayer and I begged God for a miracle. I told Him I KNEW His hand could resurrect her if He so chose. I told Him I knew she would be raised to love and serve Him. I told Him I would praise His name and tell others of His resurrection power. But God had different plans.

God had different plans!

His plan was not that.

I also finished my prayer by submitting myself to His plan, and I tried my best, through my humanity and mothers heart, to trust that He had a plan and would indeed bless us and give us a hope for our future still. And I trusted in HIS resurrection of Christ and His power over life and death and ULTIMATELY, I trusted His plan and purpose for the life, no matter how short, of our daughter.

He has not shown me His exact plans, yet He has revealed to me in glimpses His great purpose for our beautiful little Joeli Grace's life. He continues to bless my heart through opportunities to minister, to encourage and to walk alongside other families suffering this great tragic loss. And He continues to use the testimony of His great love and resurrection power through the life and what I truly believe was part of Joeli's purpose to embolden me to have grace and strength to share about the great love of Christ. I know I am by far not a worthy "example" of His gospel of love and faithfulness because i am utterly failed and flawed as an individual and still make mistakes I wish I did not to this day in my thought-life in my daily life and in my heart...but may I be an example of His deep and abiding grace, I pray so!

God, give us each a boldness, a faith and a hope that is unwavering as we learn to pray in faith and believe in faith and walk in faith! 

Give us an insatiable desire for more of your Words! Help our hearts to long for spending individual and personal time hearing Your voice!

In JESUS Name,

Amen

Get in that little Old Testament today :)

Imagine And Speak Words That Bring Life, Beginning and Hope To Your Challenges 11/23/1012

Imagine everything you feel is impossible suddenly being possible... Imagine that instead of speaking words that bring death, end, or hopelessness like these, "that will never change", "that's impossible", "it's hopeless", "I can't", "that's just too difficult" INSTEAD you began speaking words that bring LIFE, BEGINNING and HOPE like, "With the help of God ALL things are possible in Jesus' Name", "There is HOPE in the Name of Christ", "I can do ALL things through CHRIST who gives me strength", "Nothing is impossible with God". Imagine that you continued trying even after each "failure". Imagine that you exhausted all the options before "giving up and giving in". Imagine that for every "lost cause" you gave them another chance and another chance and yet another. Imagine that for every circumstance that feels like an insurmountable cliff to overcome that you kept walking in the direction that FACES the challenge rather than RETREATS from it. Imagine.

Now, imagine you also asked even just two or three of your closest friends to uplift you during the climb...to walk alongside you, or to help carry you through, or to pray you to the summit. Imagine and begin speaking words in your heart and mind that powerfully bring hope, beginning and life! YOU can overcome that obstacle that feels too heavy to bear with the help, support, prayer and love of others. YOU CAN walk this good path that seems lonely and difficult, especially with the love, encouragement and truth others can bring to you through it.

Speak LIFE words to yourself and SEEK others who will do likewise as they walk alongside you through this challenge!

Friend, YOU can! Friend, God can, when you feel you can't. Friend, together, WE can! :)

Matthew 17:20He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will beimpossible for you.”

A Mothers Dream Morning 3/10/2010

So I woke up this morning to Seana coming in the room around 7 (nice little break from 6:30) with smiles and giggles. She had, in hand, her little magna doodle with voice recorder. And she said, "I have something to tell you"! And she proceeded to press the button and in the sweetest little voice (on the recorder) I hear, "Mommy, I love you"! I will tell you, my heart melted in such an unbelievable way. She then told me that she was too "em borr essed" lol, not embarresed, but emborressed, to tell me that without the recorder. She also told us that she had said the same thing about Daddy too but it didnt work with both:) LOL again. So she said hold on, and she re-recorded it saying, "I love you Mommy, I love you Daddy" and then she pressed the button and played it and said, "there now it works" :) WOW...what a sweet way to wake up:) Thank God for mornings like that b/c they don't happen everyday that's for sure:) 

I am unbelievably blessed:)she goes, "Look mommy we look SOOO cute in our hats" hahaha...

Analogies To Life In A Jog 11/30/2009

1. When we focus too much on the large goal or the whole task at hand or the big picture of our situation rather than just focusing on reaching a small attainable goal we can easily get overwhelmed, frustrated, downhearted, fearful, and feel like a failure or like giving up which then makes us a failure. For example, I hadn't jogged in over a month and my legs were tired, my lungs were burning, and my body was fatigued within the first half mile. I felt like giving up, or at the least just taking a "rest". I thought to myself, "I'll never make it three laps around and get home and be able to jog the whole time". But, as these thoughts came to mind I quickly changed my PERSPECTIVE and began focusing on small attainable goals, like simply making it to the next road sign. AMAZINGLY, before you knew it I had reached it and was able to then set my sights on the next sign, and the next, until I was making my last lap and home! unbelievable:) 

2. When I was jogging I was getting easily distracted from the "path". Whenever I took my eyes off the path for even just a moment to glance to the left or right I found myself swirving and hitting potholes. As Christians we need to make it our goal to please Him whether His eyes are on us or not! We need to keep our eyes straight ahead, not getting distracted. The only way to keep from hitting potholes is to keep looking ahead and be consistently in HIS Word! 

3. Sometimes we get overwhelmed, frustrated or this life gets tough if we let the trials of llife become too much and we believe the lies that if we just "take a break" or that its ok to just slip up on little issues and in that sense "take a break from following His path" for even just a moment...but just like in jogging, once you "slow down" or "take a break" its all the harder to get back up to speed and or "catch up" with those on the path or also to make it to the finish on a good time. So-don't let up in your Walk with God...keep going-even when it hurts! 

4. You're not always perfect, but you should get better as you keep on practicing and don't give up when the going gets tough:)

5. Sometimes you get blisters when you wear new shoes, but eventually you build calluses. Just like when you begin peeling back the layers of sin in your life sometimes it hurts at first and it's difficult, but as you keep going through the pain, eventually you are stronger and you are better for it! 

Things I Love About Fall 10/04/2009

Things I Love About Fall

drinking thick spicy apple cider
cozying up in an oversized warm wooly sweatshirt
snuggling under the blankets with my hubby and girls
fall fun fests, face painting, wicked hay rides
watching Seana play in the leaves and playing in them too
hugging to stay warm
pumpkin pie with whipped cream on top
baked sweet potatoes with cinnamon and sugar and lots of butter
turkey hold the sauce
freshly baked apple pie
apples of all colors, radical red, jolly green, and soft mellow yellow
sneaking in some early Christmas jingles
wearing jeans all day, every day
watching the leaves change colors and fall
listening to them crunch, snap and scratch under my slowly walking feet

As each season turns it brings with it new joys, new lessons learned and new appreciation! Praise God for this season, for this day, for this life, for His love! 

I'm Begging For Abundant Life 8/28/09

August 28, 2009 ~I'm Begging for Abundant Life~ 

Life is dull, life's a mess
Life is hectic, full of stress

I am sad, I'm depressed
I am worried, I'm perplexed

You look lovely, you look nice
You look crazy, you're not alright 

He is mean, She's so rude
They have such bad attitudes

This one, that one?
can I just have a little fun

Give me this, give me that
all I want is one new hat
You are ugly, you are fat
you are sweet, you're such a brat 

You're a mom, you're a dad
Its all good, its just a fad

Death, destruction, loss and pain
wealth, confusion, hurt, disdain 

if Seeking Him, is losing life
I think that may just be alright
With all the darkness, only He is the Light

So, Father teach me to obey
give me strength to stay
close by your side and in you hide
to run from evil cling to good
to do the things I know I should
to have the heart that seeks Your Name
heal me because I'm blind and lame
to always be above reproach
to live a life that most just won't 

clothe me, cleanse me, train me, teach me
heal me, love me, forgive me, feed me

I don't want half, I don't want part
I want it all so pour into my heart 
I'm simply tired of all the strife
I'm begging for abundant life

~Abigail Dougherty 8/28/09 

Matthew 16:25
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.
John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 

Remember what matters

Wise words from the hubby once again...

"Look out for your brother and for your love. Five years from now this game won't matter, but your relationship with your brother will."-Sean

Seana and Joeby were outside playing with a neighbor. Joeby came inside very angry and hurt. (cue slight sarcastic tone) Since this is such a rare occurrence (end overtones), it is truly a wonder Sean had anything in mind to say in leading their hearts.

Side rant about LEADing: It really takes serious effort and desire to LEAD hearts and not just boss or force or dictate. To truly LEAD is to recognize in our own hearts where we  may be a culprit in behaviour or speech or attitude. Where we ourselves have left the path to wander the highways. If we want to be able to LEAD them, then our own hearts, by way of introspective and self analyzing humility, grace and acceptance of truth must first be willing to go back to the narrow path toward love and life! It's funny to me sometimes people say following Jesus, my Lord and God or Biblical morality is so restrictive and imprisonating, yet to me, I find it liberating! The Bible says the truth will set us free and it is for freedom Christ set us free! He came that we might have life and life abundant! He did not come to abolish the law but to fulfil it! His law gives liberty because it teaches us a way of righteousness which brings deep and abiding peace and joy. He knows we are not perfect/faultless and that we would struggle to consistently walk in it--so Jesus covers my sins and leads me in grace back up when I fall down. So how can we expect our children to want to follow what we say if we aren't also living out our convictions too? So parents, we must press in and we must lead our hearts toward Him and toward accepting His truths! Whatever we have to do to get our hearts at a place of inviting truth in, we must keep doing so. MANY wise counselors, not only one.

Back to my point: "Look out for your brother and for your love. Five years from now this game won't matter, but your relationship with your brother will."-Sean

So I ask you, who is the "brother" in your life--friend, sister, uncle, grandparent, husband, wife, co worker, boss?? And what is the "game" you've let come between that relationship? Is it jealousy? Anger? Lies? Lust? Greed? Hatred? Bitterness? Strife? Or maybe more simply, an argument, a disagreement, a hurt left unattended, miscommunication, unforgiveness??

This season especially, may I admonish us, myself included, to remember what matters!

John 8:31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

33 “But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?” 34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

Muscle Relaxers (Holiday Recipe)

Butter Pecan Peppermint Schnapps delights
1 C butter (softened)
1 C very finely chopped pecan bits
2 C white whole wheat flour
1/2 C white sugar
1-2 Tbsp Peppermint Schnapps
Mix together thoroughly and roll into tablespoon size balls and refrigerate.

Pumpkin Liqueur Cream Cheese dipping sauce
2 heaping Tbsps Fultons Harvest  Pumpkin Pie Liqueur
1/2 stick (1/4 lb) of butter (softened)
1 C of powdered sugar or to taste/desired consistency
4 oz cream cheese package (softened)
Add sweetened condensed milk as desired/to taste
Cream together