A New Dawn: March 2012

But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God.
I will always trust in God’s unfailing love.

I will praise you forever, O God,
for what you have done.
I will trust in your good name
in the presence of your faithful people.

(Psalm 52:8-9)

I got hit with the sick stick this week.

WHAAAAAAAAAAM!

Just like that. Took me off my feet for most week/weekend.

Everyday (minus Saturday) was spent on the couch.

Saturday I felt like I was getting better (haha what a joke) so I took my little nieces out for the day then went to see Valor High School's play. If you're not busy this weekend, you should go see their play - it will be the best high school production you'll ever see. Get details here: ValorArts.com.

I took some cute little pictures of my day at the park with my nieces! Check them out here: brookemartinfoto.blogspot.com!

Dad Update:

- Last week he got another chemo treatment.

- He felt really sick after this treatment. Feeling flu-like symptoms. He said he's never felt so sick in his life. :( Poor papa

- This week they didn't do another treatment because he wasn't feeling up to it. So, they postponed it til next week.

Found an art gallery at school! haha who knew?!

Out to lunch with these two gorgeous girls

haha I think I wore them out...

OFFICIAL first day of flip-flop wearing and sun bathing of the year! :)

Midterms have been in full swing last week and this week. Projects, tests, studying...

However, I was able to sprinkle my week with a little bliss by doing a photoshoot! You can check it on the Photography Blog!

In other news, I went to a college group on Friday night that was just...incredible. The guy who spoke talked about this scripture:

¹ It was in the year King Uzziah died^[a] that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. ² Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. ³ They were calling out to each other,

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies!
The whole earth is filled with his glory!”

⁴ Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.

⁵ Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.”

⁶ Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. ⁷ He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.”

⁸ Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”

I said, “Here I am. Send me.”

(Isaiah 6:1-8)

On Friday, the speaker talked about how the word "train" refers to God's holiness. So, just imagine a huge throne room and the train of God's robe (His pureness) filling the whole place.

In this moment, Isaiah realized how sinful he was. In the presence of God, when he was so close to God's purity, he was able to see how sinful he was. He said, "I'm doomed."

He confessed that he was a man of "filthy lips." Right after he said this, a seraphim got a coal from the altar and touched his lips. He was then purified, by God, in the area he was most sinful: his mouth.

After all this happened, he was then able to respond to God and accept his calling to be a messenger for the people.

I had never heard this scripture taught like that. I love how it is so descriptive of how God works in our lives.

When we draw near to Him - when we know Him intimately - we are able to see how screwed up we are. It's that moment of, "Dang it...I'm so messed up." However, when we are raw and honest with God, He is able to take a coal from His altar and heal us from it.

So, let's strive for rawness with God. Yeah?

DAD update:

-He's back home! Yippeee!

-They did not have to do the surgery on him because his lung remained inflated.

-He is going back to the oncologist today to check his numbers and possibly do a chemo treatment.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers!