Wide Awake

Yesterday I had the chance to really start to recharge after last week's adventures! All of my 4 kiddos were either busy at a camp or grandmas or in Georgia, so I had the whole morning by myself! Ahhh! Just what I needed! I found the closest bookstore, and spent 3 and a half glorious hours studying, praying, reading, and feeding my weary soul!!

One of the books I picked up while I was at the bookstore was "Wide Awake" by Erwin McManus. Whereas I don't always totally agree with everything Erwin teaches, I recently heard him talk about his new book and wanted to look at it more closely. Once I started reading "Wide Awake", I had a hard time putting it down. It got me all fired up and even more excited about living "wide awake"!

In his book, Erwin challenges us to put an end to all the "sleepwalking and settling", and reminds us that each one of us was created by God for a reason. That God has called us to live as Jesus did-a heroic life, void of monotony, teeming with danger, adventure, and the unknown. Living "wide awake" is about realizing that the world desperately needs us to live up to our God-given potential. Erwin shares...

"We need to live wide awake because there are
diseases killing millions and we need to find a cure,
famines leaving multitudes starving and we need to provide food,
economies leaving families homeless and we need to create opportunities for work and wealth,
genocide that must be stopped,
slavery that must be ended,
water wells that must be dug,
children who need to be loved,
relationships that need to be healed,
elderly who need to be cared for,
beauty that needs to be created,
futures that need to be saved, and
dreams that we must not let die or go unfulfilled.."

Sign me up! I WANT TO LIVE "WIDE AWAKE"! I don't want my life to be so focused on me or my comfort or what's for dinner or what's on sale at CVS or whether I'm a size 8 or a 10 or, for crying out loud, what size Jessica Simpson is this week. How easily I can get distracted from what really matters. What matters to God. What is important to Him and to His heart.

Let's live our lives Wide Awake! Let's ask God to use us to make a difference in this lost and hurting world. To reflect His goodness and His grace wherever He might have us...whether it's at Taco Bell, or in an office, or on a missions trip, or in our own neighborhood. Let's live our lives Wide Awake and look for those divine opportunities to be His hands and His feet. Let's live our lives looking for a child that needs love, a friend that needs a hug or an encouraging word, a co-worker that could use a listening ear. Let's live our lives Wide Awake ~ and allow Him to do immeasurably more in and through us than we could even ask or imagine. There is a future that needs to be created, and it is waiting for us all to wake up and get out of bed. The alarm has sounded, and it is time to shake off the slumber. It's time to live, to create, to imagine, to dream . . . Wide Awake. Anyone with me???

What'd you say, God??

A few years ago (when Amanda was not quite 3), she and I were at the local grocery store together. I was focused, carefully following our grocery list, while my little Amanda sat in the front of the cart, legs dangling out, soaking in all of the sights, smells, and sounds of the large store. As we turned down the cereal aisle, an employee began talking over the loud speaker (although to us it sounded more like mumble mumble). Amanda tipped her head back, nose straight up to the ceiling, and responded, "What'd ya say, God??" :)

What about you?? Have you heard from God lately?? :) Do you recognize Him when He is speaking to you? Would you like to learn how to discern the voice of God more clearly in your life??? I know I sure would!! :)

Starting next Monday, April 13th, my dear friend Julie and I will start a new 5 week teaching series at Sunshine Church. We'll be going through Priscilla Shirer's Bible study, "Discerning the Voice of God". We'd love to have you join us! We meet from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM ~ and during that time I'll do some large group teaching, plus there will be small group time, interactive activities, and more! You won't want to miss it!! All women are welcome ~ whether you are young, old, a Sunshine attendee or never been to Sunshine...whether you are a brand new Christian, have been serving God your whole life, or still trying to figure this "Jesus" thing out ~ you are welcome!!

Here is your official inviation :) ~

Who: You! And a friend too!

When: Monday, April 13th - Monday, May 11th
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Where: Sunshine Church ~ 3300 East Beltline NE, Grand Rapids, 49525
(in the Sunshine Room ~ through the front main doors and to the right)

RSVP: Please! :) Please leave me a comment or send me an e-mail at cindy.bultema@comcast.net


We will have the study guides available on Monday evening ($14).

We would love to have you join us!!! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me! See you on Monday night!!! This will be fun! :)

Let's pray: Dear God, we are excited to see what You are up to as we begin a new series on Monday nights. Lord, please hand pick the women You would like to come. Please remove any distractions or obstacles or anything that might get in the way of your precious ones attending. Lord, teach us more about Who you are and how to hear Your voice more clearly. We want to know You more!!! In the Strong Name of Jesus I pray.....Amen!!

Our God is a God of Miracles :)

First, true confession time...in case you're wondering how many Starbucks decaf skinny vanilla lattes I had during my crisis week, the correct answer would be.....three. (If you're wondering why I'm not drinking lattes, read here http://cindybultema.blogspot.com/2009/03/where-do-you-run.html) I'm sorry to disappoint you if you thought I'd stay strong and keep away from Starbucks. I did fine until Friday, and on my last trip of the day to the hospital, I made a Starbucks run. It's not like I was trying to hide it ~ my good friend Jen noticed my latte right away, but it just felt like a nice treat at the end of a very long and emotionally challenging week. Saturday, my Amanda and I were out shopping and a latte just sounded so good after being outside for hours freezing cold at an awesome Easter egg hunt my good friend coordinated for 200 of her closest friends :) (Thanks, Natasha!). Unfortunately, John and Jake were very disappointed when I showed up with a latte in my hand. Guess Jake should learn now that his mom is very human (and there are worse choices I could make!) And then today my brother showed up with a nice hot vanilla latte for me. How could I resist?? Tomorrow is a new day, and I do want to begin afresh with my personal ban of Starbucks decaf skinny vanilla lattes. I'm so grateful for God's grace, aren't you??? What a week it has been! It's hard to believe that tomorrow will be one week since I received the phone call from Jen that changed everything. Has it only been 6 days??? John and I stopped by the hospital with our gang after church this afternoon. Tom Torresson was sitting up in his chair getting ready to eat lunch. I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT!! It's hard to put into words what the past 6 days have been like~ shocking...heartwrenching...exhausting...amazing...sacred..prayer-ful....unbelivable... Our God is such a God of miracles!!! The cardiologist shared with Tom today that he has been given a second chance at life. Wow!! To see a picture and/or read more about the miracle, visit Tom's care page at http://www.carepages.com/carepages/TomTorresson. (This is shared with permission from Tom's family) I'll end with one of my favorite quotes from author Max Lucado... When men work, men work... but when men pray, God works!!!! Amen!!! We have seen God at work in POWERFUL ways this week!! To God be ALL of the GLORY!!! :)

Blessed to be a Blessing

Can I start off with some personal history that I think is helpful for you to know about me?? Forgive me, but I'm going to jump right in....

10 years ago, on December 10th 1998, I received a call while I was at my parent's home ~ my fiance David had been tragically killed in a freak workplace. The night is a huge blur (as I'm sure you can imagine) ~ but what I do remember is my dear friends and my pastor rushing right over. I remember my mom's friends making coffee and bringing meals and helping with Jake (he was 4 at the time) and praying like crazy for us and just sitting and being available and handing me Kleenexes and telling me what to say and listening and just being there.

Six years ago, in December 2003, while I was 8 1/2 months pregnant with Sarah (Jake was 9, Benj was 2, Manda was 10 months) ~ John and I hit a wall physically, spiritually, and emotionally. We decided we needed some space in our marriage. That month is a blur ~ but what I do remember is a friend coordinating a schedule with meals and child care and my friends grocery shopping for me and my dad taking Jake to hockey and my mom sleeping over. I remember friends going to buy stamps for me and decorating my house for Christmas and just sitting and being available and handing me Kleenexes and bringing me Qdoba and listening and just being there.

Back to 2009...Monday afternoon I received a call from my dear friend Jen Torresson. Her husband Tom wasn't feeling well and Jen was wondering if I could come watch her kids while she followed Tom in an ambulance. I didn't think I could make it work with my kids' schedule ~ but when I hung up the phone the Spirit of God said, "GO!!!!!". My girls and I ran out of the door without shoes or coats and went as quickly as we could to the Torresson house. We watched as Tom was led out of the house on a stretcher and into an ambulance. What we now know is that Tom had a massive heart attack on the way to the hospital. He was without oxygen for at least 30 minutes. He received 30-50 shocks to his heart. Jen called me from a private waiting room (they wisked Jen into a private room once she arrived at the ER and had her wait there with a chaplain). The doctors told Jen they were trying to resusitate Tom but it wasn't working, and that she should prepare for the worst. (At this point I called my dear husband John who works near the hospital and said, "Honey, get there now ! Please!" ~ thanks honey!). Jen started calling family members (all who live out of state) and sat at the hospital in shock and disbelief.

The rest of Monday is kind of a big blur. I remember calling friends frantically to start praying, running to Jen's neighbors, nervously walking my mom through directions to Jen's home so I could rush to the hospital to be with Jen, crying out to the Lord and begging Him to breathe life into Tom quickly. Tom's men's group and other friends also quickly rushed to the hospital and we were all there to hear the cardiologist tell Jen "he wasn't sure which way it would go". Jen and I went back to see Tom in his hospital room, and I just held her as she stood over his weary, exhuasted body with a very sick heart. As the tears poured out, in my heart I begged and begged God to not take Tom from Jen, from the kids, from his family, from his friends. We needed a miracle!!

The rest of the week has gone by quickly. As friends and family, we've worked together to coordinate meals and transportation and play dates and prayer chains and care pages. We've loved on Jen, sat quietly with her, brought notes to show her a glimpse of all of the love and support she has behind her. We've read scriptures to her when she has asked, prayed over Tom, made sure she is eating and sleeping, handed her water and Kleenexes and just been there.

What have I learned this week?? So, so much, but a couple of things include....that God is in control of ALL things, that prayer works powerfully, and that the body of Christ is a beautiful thing. I've learned that there's nothing more heartwarming than watching a mom stroke her 39 year old son's hair, and that I don't ever want to be without a Bible in my purse. I've learned that friendship and community is so extremly powerful (I already knew that ~ but I witnessed it again first hand). I've learned that it is a blessing to live in Grand Rapids (home of an amazing Heart Center) and that being a part of the Kingdom of God is absolutely amazing!!

Most importantly, my faith has been strengthened 100% this week. The power of prayer is so amazing!!! I just got off of the phone with Jen. When I asked her how she was, she responded, "Fabulous!". Tom (get ready for this) heard his kids' voice and turned his head and tried to smile!! He has passed all of his neurological tests so far, and they are thinking he will go home by Wednesday. WE HAVE WITNESSED A MIRACLE!!! To God be the Glory!!!

Isn't it awesome how God can redeem pain in our own lives as we pour ourselves out for others? How God can use things that helped us in our time of pain, to now bring comfort to others? Isn't it amazing how we can all work together to be the hands and feet of Jesus ~ and watch the power of God at work! Our God is so HUGE ~ I'm almost speechless by what has taken place over the past 5 days!!

So that's what I've been up to this week! Please keep praying for the Torresson family! I can't wait to see how God will continue to use this experience for His Kingdom purposes and Glory!!!