HOOAH

Good Evening everyone from Fort Sam Houston, Texas. This month I will be completing my basic officer training for the Army. If you didn't know I joined the Army National Guard two years ago to help pay for school. This month I decided to deviate a little bit from the topic of Stout women and blog about my experiences in BOLC.

Yesterday myself and Thalia Douglas from school drove down from Tulsa. I was excited to drive through Dallas by myself for the first time ever. We didn't get lost either. It was a little confusing trying to figure out how to get around post but I think we've figured it out.

DAY 0 as today was called started off at 0900 with check in. Our first set of briefings/classes was this evening. We start tomorrow morning at 0415 in formation outside of the AMEDD center and school. Tomorrow we will have a full day of classes learning about the Army. Today we also wore our uniforms for the first time. We will definitely have to get used to being saluted and saluting others. Well this is a somewhat dry post, but I hope to add much more too it over the month and I need to get to bed for my 3:00 wake up.  I'm sure I'll have some stories. Please pray that they get our orders corrected...long story...but if they don't we will have to go home and come back and do this all over again. Good Night.

A Family of Stout Women

So I took a hiatus from writing on my blog due to finals and boards studying. well finals are over and boards are on Tuesday.  So I decided I could take a study break to write an update to my blog. I was talking with my cousin Beth recently and she shared some interesting information she found on ancestry.com. As many of you know that have been following my blog I decided to write about stout women. Beth discovered that our great-grandfather Troy had some Stout's in his ancestry. I found this rather amusing. She also discovered that this Stout family had 1 daughter and several sons. The daughter's name was Sarah and that is our family's direct descendent. I told Beth that this deserved a blog update.

I think that it is no coincident that my family has descended from a family known as Stout. As I have written in the past about my grandmother, my great-grandmother, and my mother these women are Stout. They are strong, courageous, bold, and determined. These women have set an example for my cousin Beth and I. We have learned from their example how to be strong and determined. The past month's of studying have been difficult and at times discouraging as I prepare to take my first set of boards. When I have become discouraged and exhausted in my studies I remember how hard my grandmother worked. Grandma Mary worked hard until her last days. The last summer I spent with her she wanted to spend her time around the kitchen table cutting vegetables and doing what ever she could to prepare a meal for us. As I have mentioned before she had her elbow replaced twice and endured tough physical therapy. She inspires me to never give up and always do my best and to never give up.

My desire today is not to write about myself, but about my cousin Beth. She too has learned many lessons from our grandma. Beth is an Army wife. I admire her for her willingness to serve our country in this special way. Beth has spent countless months over the past several years not only serving as mom, but as dad to her two children Mitchell and Darci. She has stood by her husband as he serves our country overseas. Currently her husband Dave is on his second deployment to Iraq. Beth does her best to maintain a sense of normalcy for her children when he is gone. When I look at Beth I see much of my grandmother in her. She is a bold and determined woman. She doesn't give up and always seeks the best for her family. I'm proud to say that Beth is not just my cousin, but has become like a big sister and is my best friend. Beth has supported me in numerous ways and I always know that I can count on her.

So I'm not surprised to learn about the Stout's in our family tree. The women I have known in my family have always been strong, bold, determined, and uncompromising. They are like glue that holds the family together in times of need. The women in my family inspire me to accomplish greatness.

Please join me in praying for Dave as he is deployed as well as Beth, Mitchell and Darci. Also please keep all of our troops overseas in your prayers.

Joy

" No in all these things we are more than conquers through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death no life, neither angels, no demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord"

So it's been a long time since I posted last. School has been busy with exams and getting ready for boards, and I've also had the opportunity to make a trip to our nation's capital. Today I write with a heavy heart. My last post was about a mentor and friend of mine Jackie Wilks. Jackie went to be with Jesus at 8:05 this morning. This afternoon while I grief the loss of Jackie in this earthly life I also rejoice in her entrance to the heavenly life.  She is no longer in pain and has been fully healed.

A few weeks ago I had the wonderful honor of visiting with and ministering to Jackie along side another mentor of mine Rhonda Brister. Together these two women lead a freshmen women's bible study I was in at OBU. I greatly admire and appreciate the role that these women have played in my life. They have been instrumental in shaping my faith and helping me become the woman I am. I spent about 2.5 hours with Jackie and Ms. Rhonda. Jackie was in a lot of pain and it was a privilege to join hands with my fellow sisters in Christ and pray for the pain to go way. It was inspiring to see Jackie call on the Lord for her healing. She knew it is only through Christ that she is healed. Although we selfishly wanted a healing in this life God had better plans and has brought ultimate healing to Jackie's body today.

This week I have had the opportunity to read several stories of people who have been touched by Jackie. She gave of herself to anyone she came in contact with. This week when Jackie's family told us on the blog that it appeared the Lord would be calling her home soon they asked us to think about how she had touched our life and share that with others. The biggest thing that I can draw from Jackie is the power of prayer. I know this is something that we talk about a lot as Christians, but I have witnessed it in ways I have never seen. Walking with the Wilks over the past 16 months through prayer has shown me  the Lord listens to our prayers. I think that as Christians we tend to overlook this aspect of our Christian life. We tend to minimize its importance until we need it. God has used Jackie to show me that He is more powerful than any medication, any surgery, and any doctor. He can work through anything and anyone. God answers prayers in powerful ways. God has allowed miracles during Jackie's battle with cancer. God even answered prayers of the last few days for Jackie to have peace. She never hesitated to share her faith with who ever she came in contact. In many visits I had with her she would ask me how she could pray for me. She wanted everyone to know that prayer is a powerful thing, but most of all that there is a God that loves you and me more than we could ever imagine.

Jackie also taught me how to live life. Jackie always had a smile on her face. She truly had joy in her life. This reminds me that as Christians we all have a reason to be joyful. The bible says that the joy of the Lord is our strength. Jackie lived her life like that everyday. I hope and pray that I will live my life with the joy that the Lord has given me. Hard times will come our way and the road my be difficult but we have something different. We have something that makes us want to fight for another day. It is my prayer that the Joy of Jesus will be over flowing in my life. So that all may see Christ in me.

Today as I  rejoice, I also grief. Grief is a natural thing, we are human and God is okay with that. I think about when Lazarous died. We see the human side of Christ grieving His death. Sometimes in death we want to throw up our hands and say to the Lord why, if you had only been here. But the bible tells us that the Lord knows the number of our days. He knows when He will call us home and today he called Jackie home. I truly believe as Jackie smiled goodbye to her family today she was ushered in to heaven and greeted by the Lord who said "Well done my good and faithful servant". I look forward to the day that I will once again be reunited with Jackie. I look forward to meeting the people that will be in heaven because of her. Last night while texting Rhonda Brister we both said that we looked forward to hearing the stories of the people that are in heaven because of Jackie. She has touched thousands upon thousands of lives. There is no way that we can tell how many lives she has impacted.

So today. I choose to live a life of joy. A life that impacts the people that I come in contact with. To smile everyday, to believe in the power of prayer for anything. To recognize the Lord in the small things and to share his love with those who don't know Him.

"Live life, Don't take life for granted" ~~Jackie Wilks 1950-2011

Blessed Assurance

Franny Crosby

1. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
   Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
   Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
   Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
   • Refrain:
     This is my story, this is my song,
     Praising my Savior all the day long;
     This is my story, this is my song,
     Praising my Savior all the day long.
2. Perfect submission, perfect delight,
   Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
   Angels, descending, bring from above
   Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
3. Perfect submission, all is at rest,
   I in my Savior am happy and blest,
   Watching and waiting, looking above,
   Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

Blessings

"The ability to find joy in the world of sorrow and hope at the edge of despair is a woman’s witness to the courage and her gift of new life to all”

~ Miriam Theresa Winter

This quote was included in my bible study time this morning. Today I read the first chapter in Ruth. The story of Ruth is by far my favorite book in the bible. I love to read about Ruth’s devotion and commitment to her mother in law Namoi. Ruth is a stout woman. She left the only home she ever knew, her friends, family and her own religion. She followed God’s will and she is now in Jesus’ genealogy.

Today’s devotion was just what I needed to hear from God. Although I shouldn’t I find it funny how God works that way. He seems to provide for us what we need to hear when we need Him the most or are struggling. Sometimes we don’t always realize that it was we need the most, but today was one of those days.

I first met Jackie Wilks when I was a freshmen at OBU in the fall of 2004. Along with Rhonda Brister, she lead our freshmen women’s bible study. I looked forward to this time each week. God continued to use these women to influence my life during college. They shared their faith stories, their triumphs and joys. Jackie loved horses. She used her horses to help children with disabilities. Each week students from OBU would come to her house to help run this ministry. They would tell the children bible stories, do crafts and then they would get to ride a horse. Jackie is always finding ways to minister to other people

In December 2009, Jackie was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Jackie and her husband Tom immediately left for South Korea where Tom had previously received treatment for Parkinson’s disease. Jackie was determined to fight. While in Korea not only did Jackie fight but she shared the gospel with those she came in contact with. One hotel employee even asked for a bible. One night Jackie passed out. She had a massive internal bleed. Jackie tells the story of how two women came in and saved her life. But these women were not alone they both saw another person in the room with them. They believe that the Lord sent an angel to watch over Jackie that night. Jackie was finally able to come home early this past summer. She began treatment at the Cancer Treatment Center here in Tulsa. As summer progressed her tumor makers dropped below normal and the scans showed that there was no tumor. It was determined that Jackie was now cancer free. Doctors stated that they had no explanation for Jackie’s healing except that it was a miracle from God. Jackie told her story to everyone. She gives glory to God for healing and wants to spread the gospel with everyone.

Tonight Jackie is in Cancer Treatment Center. This week they found numerous tumors in her lungs and abdomen. We pray for healing. We pray for miracles. God has already worked miracles in Jackie’s life and we pray that He will continue to work one in her tonight. We also pray knowing that God knows best. Jackie praises God no matter what her situation is. She fully trusts the Lord in every circumstance. When I read the quote above I immediately thought of Jackie. Jackie is one of the most joyful people that I know. The joy of her salvation overflows from her life and it challenges me to let the joy of the Lord overflow in my life. Jackie is a courageous woman. She has been through so much in the past 15 months. Jackie defines a stout woman. Strong, Courageous, Determined, and Brave. She continues to fight this battle as she has for the past 15 months and refuses to give up. She recognizes that her healing comes from the Lord.

Please join me tonight in praying for Jackie. She is fighting for her life and in tremendous pain. Pray that the Lord’s will is done in Jackie’s life. I know that true healing in this life or the next comes only from our Lord. In conclusion I would like to leave you with the lyrics from a song that I heard last night on the radio. It’s called Blessings and it is by Laura Story. The Lord has used this song as a comfort to me. It reminds me that many times we pray asking God for blessings, for healing and removal of pain. We get upset when the Lord doesn’t answer our prayers the way we would want Him to. I reminded through this song that sometimes God says no to our prayers because He knows what’s best for us because He loves us. I'm blessed to call Jackie not only mentor but friend. Tonight I praise God for the blessings He has given me. Even the ones that I didn't recognize were blessings at the time.

Father,

Be with my friend Jackie tonight. Watch over her. Keep her in your perfect peace. Heal her. Take her pain away. May your will be done. May you be praised in this situation. May people come to know you through Jackie.

Blessings

Laura Story

We pray for blessings

We pray for peace

Comfort for family, protection while we sleep

We pray for healing, for prosperity

We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while, You hear each spoken need

Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You’re near

What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom

Your voice to hear

And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near

We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love

As if every promise from Your Word is not enough

All the while, You hear each desperate plea

But long that we'd have the faith to believe

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You’re near

And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us

When darkness seems to win

We know the pain reminds this heart

That this is not, this is not our home,

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

And what if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You’re near

What if my greatest disappointments

Or the aching of this life

Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy

And what if trials of this life

The rain, the storms, the hardest nights

Are your mercies in disguise

This week I have decided to write about my grandmother Mary. This Wednesday my grandmother would have been 85. She was the oldest daughter in her family and helped her mother take care of the family. My grandmother would wake up early start the fire and cook breakfast for the family. Cooking was my grandmother's act of service and I believe I get my love of cooking from her. She spent several years of her life making delicious meals that were made with love. My grandmother would also spend countless hours each summer putting away vegetables and canning jellies and jams. She would work in her flower beds and in her garden. She enjoyed taking time to go fish in the pond and then making a southern fish fry dinner with the fish that were caught.

Many of the memories that I have of my grandmother are in the kitchen. I remember one time I was sitting in the living room and I heard a scream coming from the kitchen. Grandma had been boiling eggs for lunch and one didn't get done so she put it in the microwave. When she went to crack it it exploded. I ran into the kitchen to find egg everywhere. For those fish fry dinners on summer evenings she would make coleslaw I remember watching her cut the cabbage. It had to be done just perfectly. One day my uncle decided to help cut the cabbage and she took over because it wasn't cut right. She wanted everything to be perfect for us. When I would come to visit she would have roast beef, potatoes, onions and carrots, along with a chocolate cake for dessert. This was my favorite meal. She would call and ask me what I wanted and I would always tell her to cook what was easiest. It didn't matter what I said she would have it made.  If I were to look up the word hospitality in Webster's it would probably have my grandmother's name listed there. She taught us what it means to be the hostess. She taught me the value of serving others.

My grandmother was defiantly a stout woman. She was a hard worker who never gave up. She had her elbow replaced twice and worked hard through physical therapy each time. The last summer we had with her she instead on helping my mom and I in the kitchen. She wasn't happy when she couldn't sit around that table and work. It was what gave her joy. Her joy was found in her service to others. This is one of the greatest lessons that I learned from her. It is in service to others that you truly find joy. Stout women live selfless lives. They also persevere. This is the other lesson that I learned from my grandmother. I remember the summer that she passed. I was studying for my MCAT for entrance to medical school. I didn't know how I would do it and I felt like I should just cancel the exam because her death was so close my exam date. But I knew that I would not honor my grandmother's memory by doing that. So I choose to persevere. I choose to move own although times were tough. My grandma continues to inspire me to persevere even when times are difficult.

Most of all my grandma was a beautiful woman both inside and outside. Her smile is one of the most beautiful smiles I've ever seen. I enjoy looking at old pictures of her and my grandfather. Her smile lights up the room. I could go on about how she was beautiful on the inside but I think that I detailed that above.. I hope that I can be like her.  A determined woman, who serves others and is beautiful on the outside but more importantly on the inside.

Faith to Be Strong

Now that my tests are over with for a while, I decided to update the blog. I’m also going to deviate slightly from my Stout Women discussion. Today I’m going to write about my brother. I’m dedicating this blog post to him.

This coming Saturday March 12, marks the first anniversary of my brother’s accident. Many of you know that my brother Stephen was in a serious car accident on March 12, 2010. While he was driving to workout after work on that Friday afternoon, he ran into the back of a semi. The driver’s side of his car was underneath the backend of the semi.  When crews arrived on scene they told us that they were preparing for a fatality but when they go to his car they found that Stephen was still alive. The fire fighter’s had to use the jaws of life to cut him out of his car. Stephen was rushed to the emergency room. Upon his arrival, they found that Stephen only had a LaForte fracture of his face. He had no internal injuries and he had no brain damage.

I arrived at the hospital with some family friends. I couldn’t recognize my brother, they had placed a tube down his throat to help control his airway. I was overwhelmed and brought to tears. We immediately began activating our support system and praying. After they got Stephen a room in the neurotrauma ICU we meet Stephen’s doctors. They told us that in order for them to do the facial reconstruction surgery the swelling would have to go down. Because it was the weekend of spring break they could either do the surgery Sunday or Thursday. We began asking our friends and family to pray that the swelling would go down so they could do the surgery on Sunday. The Lord answered our prayers and Stephen had surgery on Sunday. This was the first of many answers to prayers that came in the coming weeks.

During this time the Lord showed my family the power of prayer and his providence and protection. We firmly believe that he Lord was with Stephen that Friday afternoon in his car. We found out this fall that he was inches away from the back the semi. The Lord sent an angel to stop his car. We realized that we could have lost my brother that day. I learned to appreciate how valuable our lives are.

Stephen was released from the hospital 1 week to the day of his accident. His jaw was wired shut and he was on a liquid diet for 8 weeks. We were so happy that we were able to bring Stephen home.  Stephen began a long recovery. I can’t imagine how hard these initial weeks were for Stephen.  But I saw my brother persevere and finding a new strength in the Lord. He has not allowed himself to be held back by his accident but has chosen to use it to witness to the power of God in our lives. I admire my big brother. He has been through a lot in the past year and hasn’t given up. He still is recovering from his accident. He is currently wearing braces. In the accident he lost five teeth. After the braces have correct the area he will then have implants to replace the teeth that he lost. He refuses to give up and continues to persevere. My big brother is an extra special person to me. He came to live with me when I needed a roommate. He is the best roommate I have ever had. I have enjoyed the past six months living with my brother and getting to know him better.

This week I think God for my brother. I think the Lord for his providence and protection. I think God for answered prayers. I realize that times in our lives we get frustrated because we think that God doesn’t answer our prayers. I firmly believe that our prayers don’t go under heard, but sometimes the Lord says wait. There is power in prayer and my family is living proof of that. The Lord promises to never give us more than we can handle. All though it seemed like it at the time the Lord made us a stronger family through that week we spent at St. John’s last March. I recently heard a song by Andrew Peterson on the radio. It’s called Faith to Be Strong. I feel that this song is a theme for my family of the past year whether we knew it or not, God knew it. God knew that only faith could bring us through this difficult time.

Give us faith to be strong

Father, we are so weak

Our bodies are fragile and weary

As we stagger and stumble to walk where you lead

Give us faith to be strong

Give us faith to be strong

Give us strength to be faithful

This life is not long, but it's hard

Give us grace to go on

Make us willing and able

Lord, give us faith to be strong

Give us peace when we're torn

Mend us up when we break

This flesh can be wounded and shaking

When there's much too much trouble for one heart to take

Give us peace when we're torn

Give us faith to be strong

Give us strength to be faithful

This life is not long, but it's hard

Give us grace to go on

Make us willing and able

Lord, give us faith to be strong

Give us hearts to find hope

Father, we cannot see

How the sorrow we feel can bring freedom

And as hard as we try, Lord, it's hard to believe

So, give us hearts to find hope

Give us faith to be strong

Give us strength to be faithful

This life is not long, but it's hard

Give us grace to go on

Make us willing and able

Lord, give us faith to be strong

Give us peace when we're torn

Give us faith, faith to be strong

Stout Woman #2

Charlotte was born on December 12, 1840 in Charlottesville, Virginia. She was raised on a plantation that had over 50 slaves. Her mother believed that al girls should have as good of an education as boys. So Charlotte received a good education. She attended a Girl’s boarding school in Virginia. There she was known as a practical joker. One day she wrapped sheets around the bell in the bell tower, classes started late that day. She then attended Albemarle Female Institute in Charlottesville that was run by the Virginia Baptists. Charlotte wasn’t a Christian at the time. Many students became burdened for her soul. They began praying that Charlotte would come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. She would scoff at these classmates, but one night she decided she would examine the Christian faith intellectually. That night he couldn’t sleep and spent the night in prayer. The next morning she decided to give her life to Christ. She immediately took a stand for Christ. Many of you know Charlotte, as Lottie Moon, one of the greatest Southern Baptist Missionaries of all time.

Many of you may know all about Lottie’s journey to China and her missionary work there. After all it is for that work and her example that we name our Christmas offering after her. What you may not know that long before she reached the mission fields of China she was a stout woman.

Immediately following her conversion Lottie felt called to the mission field. But before she could go, the Civil War broke out and Lottie was called home to help with the plantation. She tutored her sister “Eddie”. Her mother had converted all her money into confederate money, which was no longer useful once the war ended. After the war her mother had family troubles so Lottie took a job teaching in Kentucky.

Lottie lived among the Chinese people off and on from 1973 until her death in 1912. She made some return trips back to the state to raise funds. While in China she taught school and would make cookies for the Chinese people.  During famines Lottie and her fellow missionaries frequently gave up their food so that the Chinese people could eat. Lottie worked hard to raise awareness and money for missions. In 1912 war broke out in China. Famine and plague once again ravaged the land. Once again Lottie and other missionaries gave all they had to relief groups. In December of 1912 Lottie was sent back to America in an attempt to save her life. She never made it back to America. She died off the shores of Japan on Christmas Eve.

Lottie’s story is too long for me to share here. Lottie Moon was a strong woman. She lived a life of love. She was strong willed and determined. She was bold. She was brave. She traveled to an unknown land to serve an unknown people. She poured her life into them. She gave her all to serve the Lord.  Lottie stood up in a male dominated society. It wasn’t acceptable for woman to serve in the mission field if they were not married. Lottie pushed to allow single woman to serve in this capacity. She believed that the Lord called woman to spread the gospel just as he called men.

“Our Lord does not call on women to preach, or to pray in public, but no less does He say to them than to men, ‘Go, work in my vineyard.’” Lottie Moon

In 1918 the Foreign Mission Board (now the International Mission Board) of the Southern Baptist Convention named a Christmas offering after Lottie. The funds from this offering every year go to support international missions. Lottie has inspired many to serve the Lord with boldness and with all their heart. She has also inspired many to give whole-heartedly to missions.

This week my challenge is that we may become women who follow our passions. Who stand up from what is right. May we give of ourselves to those in need. May we have Lottie’s passion for those that do not Christ. May we reach this world from Christ from  one corner to the next.

"How many there are ... who imagine that because Jesus paid it all, they need pay nothing, forgetting that the prime object of their salvation was that they should follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ in bringing back a lost world to God."

- Lottie Moon

Tungchow, China

Sept. 15, 1887

"Why should we not ... instead of the paltry offerings we make, do something that will prove that we are really in earnest in claiming to be followers of him who, though he was rich, for our sake became poor?"

- Lottie Moon

Tungchow, China

Sept. 15, 1887