Thanksgiving Eve

Our Thanksgiving started off with an amazing concert at our church. The boys could not be any happier than to have front row seats with a clear view of the drums. What a blessing to be part of a church that embraces music as our family does. I love the video of Emily singing and then catching Ethan watching on. Ethan is our little drummer boy. We are past the stage of cringing when he would practice. He will watch Brook or Ryan, the drummers at church, and then go home to his own set to practice. During the service Ethan asked me if I could record the guys drumming so he could learn how to play like that. So this is what we have...amazing drumming that Ethan watches and gets to learn from. I know I have said this hundreds of times, Ethan is deaf with Cochlear Implants. Having lived his first three years of no hearing and then another two years of learning to hear,speak, and make sense of a hearing world I stand in awe of Ethan's modern day miracle of cochlear implants. Thankful that God brought the right people in my path to introduce our family to this option for Ethan. So enjoy this next clip.

Happy Birthday to Elliot

Can someone please pinch me. Really this kid is 22 years old today. I am not old enough. I was a young mom, in my early 20's but with a three year old napping in the next room it's very hard to believe that Elliot is now 22.

I have the joy, the blessing, and the fun of growing up one of my five children. Today he called to plan his trip home for Christmas, so much a young man that I have to laugh. Laugh because he is an adult who is so responsible. I was told a few weeks back by one of our pastors something like this..."Elizabeth you have some amazing kids"...I said..."well it's really all God I can give credit to" and his response was ..."yes but there was a mom in that house"...and I smiled. A mom that God chose to raise up this one. I may have been chosen to be in that house, but in God's pursuit of this young man's heart, he chose God back. Mom's don't have much say in that response except to pray for our children.

In my prayers I prayed that Elliot, my first child would love God first, love people right where they were at, and love music. All three prayers answered. Mother's pray specifically for your children. Pray every day. The days may seem long when they are young, but the weeks go by fast and next thing you know you are blogging that you can't possibly have a twenty two year old son.

Elliot if you read this, you know I have said hundreds of times how much your life has blessed me. You were the training ground for my first time mommy experience and now your brothers and sister reap what you taught me first. How to be patient, how to listen, and how to never forget to sing three songs before bed, and pray with you. Those were important to you, and now are as important to each of the other kids.

Happy Birthday Elliot!!!!

Blog Vacation

Hello to those who faithfully come by to visit. I am taking a little break. I have been putting my free time into building music.passion.hope. My time on the computer typically comes when a child is napping or the late night hours. Now that I am working on music.passion.hope those quieter hours are being spent there. I will miss the day to day visits, comments, and soon will start back up.

Please keep this new business in your prayers as we seek to serve God in all we say and do. Take a moment to visit emilyotteson.blogspot.com and missionpassionhope.blogspot.com. It's there you will find my time and energy.

More than just a Glimpse of Him

It's the end of the week and the typical stuff around here. Messy house, dishwasher running, kids watching a late afternoon movie and truly life is good. It's that kind of week when each day provided huge God moments. I often hear the words..."I got a glimpse of Jesus today". A glimplse? Just a glimpse? I ask myself every single day why He even shows up into my life, and everyday His love shines through the events that unfold in my life.

I was going to just talk about the week, but remember I am one of those Jesus freakish types. I don't stand on the street corners passing out tracks, or run along bike riders with signs. I just love seeing my life embraced by Him and not just seeing the glimpse's but seeing Him move in my life and those around me.

Our book club ended this week. Something the last chapter highlighed was "boastful moments" about God. Why do we hold back? Do we see Him in the small stuff or do we see Him in the big stuff too? And do we boast whole heartedly when He amazes your socks off.

So this week ending and the relaxing Friday ends with God's hand on a new business venture. I have been working on launching a benefit concert organization. It has a name music.passion.hope. I have a blog on this, so take a moment to visit and find out more of what we are doing. Today a call came out of the blue for my company to come alongside another mission. It's not me people, it's the amazing blessing of God saying "okay Elizabeth you don't like to be idle, so lets get you doing something for My Kingdom".

So as this week comes to end I want to publically give God a big hug and smile for healthy kids, a warm home, an amazing husband who smiles at my new business idea, and supports me, and then to friends who allow me to attempt back flips of joy over the silly things in life.

Influences of the Shepherd

As each Tuesday rolls around, I sit in my comfy yellow chair, review my book, my notes, and begin to pray that God would give me wisdom and direction with book club this evening.

It's always interesting to see where my heart is led and what events in my life I can pin point as being profoundly related to the topic at hand. The Shepherd's Look at Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller has been very interesting. Relating the task of raising sheep to our role as His sheep.

Where my heart landed today was that as "...He prepares a table for me..." And the author went on to dissect what "preparing a table" means for a shepherd. It's going ahead to the best and highest pastures. The lush of summer, the vibrant color of green, the grazing place on high. And it is high up there. The Shepherd will make many trips to this "table". Looking for poisonous weeds. One flower was described as being so beautiful, yet deadly to a sheep. Even with the Shepherd preparing that "table", pulling the poisonous flowers, preparing the soil with salt, there is still danger in the influences that linger.

My heart was heavy after reading this particular chapter. Influences. Even at what is considered to be the finest offering our Shepherd could provide there are still the dangers of influence. As we wander to far from our Shepherd the distractions of danger linger, often unknown to the dumb little sheep. I speak of myself in that way right now.

I was living my life on what I thought was the path up to that "table". Things appeared okay, but it was the influences that distracted me. Sometimes we choose to get out of reach of His staff and He has to come after us. Even after coming for us, we turn right back into danger. Several years back I got into a crowd that did a lot of social drinking. I was never much for drinking in that I was a young mom, running a business and had to be bright eyed the next morning. After 1-2 drinks I was done. This was a fun crowd of very good people. Long before David and I, I dated someone who consumed much alcohol on a regular basis. I was dumb. DUMB!!! I had never been around anyone who abused alcohol so I did not really know what abuse looked like. So I asked an alcoholic what to much alcohol was. I did not know this person was an alcoholic. Some might thing well you should have known, but I did not.

It was a couple of years later, after dating David and discussing the issues I had with myself and others and the amount of alcohol that he clearly defined these people as alcoholics. His back round for over 15 years was an Alcohol and Chemical Addiction Therapist, so he was clear on the signs and indications.

Influence? Yes, I am convinced God has more work for me as I look back almost ten years ago realizing I was driving a large vehicle on some nights when I had more than two drinks. My life and the lives of others spared I am certain. I was reminded of this story today. A time in my life I had not thought of for years as I pondered my walk into not so good influences in my life. You know the grass just might be greener on the other side, but only for a while, because being out of reach of our Shepherd is dangerous to our hearts.

What influences have been masked in your life as good, but really hinder your relationship with our Shepherd. What influences have moved you away from that table He has prepared only for a while appearing to be greener pastures?

I pray today that I would be stay close to Him daily as not to misunderstand the influences in my own life.

Benefit Concert Series

Mid week blues. I just ordered 1,000 blue gift bags. I am working on a project that God has been working on for many months. I just did not know about it until a few weeks ago.

There is this family that God has put on my heart to actively pray for. When they moved to Oregon I thought in the middle of the move they should at least be able to take a break and be fed, so we invited these strangers to dinner. Little did I know that their children were the ages of mine. My three year old had found his wife. The mommy is a sweetheart, and God would soon have me coming alongside the mission organization in which her husband is an Evangelist. By the way I had to look up how to even spell evangelist.

For years my heart has been troubled over why God would never call me to missions. I am tough. I can handle heat, unknowns, different food, and love people. I do not fear strange places and strange things that fly or crawl in those places. Yet my heart has never been prompted to get on a plane and serve on a mission. Why God? Perhaps my mission is right here at home. As the months have unfolded with this family I have sat under the teaching of this man. Our children have played and our mommy hearts have shared. Okay God, we can right a small check each month to support this mission. Is that really all I am called to do?

My daughter has been blessed musically. She has been blessed not just with opportunities and venues in our area, but has even had others come along and want to support her, in the ways they can, if she were to pursue music. Yet she has not jumped at these opportunities, nor has she known how. I can't fault her given her age. Her heart and passions with music have always been to bring people into worship with our Maker. I sat down with her several weeks ago and asked what hinders her from moving forward. She shared her heart and said that if she were to perform in a concert that was to feature her, she wanted all proceeds to benefit a mission. She did not want to perform with the purpose of drawing attention to herself, but more to God, His Kingdom, and what other can do to come alongside and learn what they themselves can do as well. I asked her who she would want to support.
Without any hesitation she said Jose Zayas.

I have blogged a few times about his teaching and the anointing on his life. I started to cry when she said that because I could see her heart's desire and I shared in the same. We brainstormed how we could come alongside Jose Zayas Evangelism International (J.Z.E. I.) (http://www.josezayas.org/) God put on both our hearts the idea of a three part concert series over the next six months. We met with Jose and he was very accepting of our offer to come alongside.

In that time God has busted the doors open with His blessings in this project/event. My back round has been events all over the US for companies promoting products and ideas. Did I spend the last 15 years in training for God's kingdom kind of work? Did God truly know the desires of my heart and when that time would come using my gifts right here at home? Of course. As I look back over the last year and a half I see God's hand in so many ways and His workings to bring this together. J.Z.E.I just received a generous matching donation, dollar for dollar up to 50K. Timing? God? Perfect? Always.

I sit here completely humbled to be part of His mission plan. My prayer has been "humility in my ability" because at the end of the day it does not matter what my abilities are. What matters is that I am seeking His guidance and direction with each decision being made on behalf of His Kingdom.

Please, if you are reading this pray for the upcoming events. The first concert is scheduled for Dec. 2ND. If you are in the area and want more information you can email me or post on here. If you have resources you think we might need let me know.

Oh, by the way, the blue bags are gift bags for those attending the concert. I am blessed to have a number of people coming along to help out using their skills, resources and gifts. I had a dear friend ask if her Bible Study group could be our prayer warriors. It all begins with a prayer and God is always there, listening, and working His wonders into our hearts. Thanks Lord Jesus, thanks!!!!

Shepherd of Love

Last spring I spoke at a women's event at our church. It was a struggle for my heart to expose so much of the intimacies of my life there, but it was through that sharing that I could show God's grace, mercy, and care on my life. Not to mention love.

I have just finished up a few days of studying the next two chapters of "A Shepherd's Look at Psalm 23". Our book club is meeting this evening and my heart is heavy with these thoughts and words. I was wondering if I should open my laptop or get the table set for dinner with the ladies. Here I am, so you know what won out.

Chapter Five goes into great details of the "casting off" of a sheep. It is basically a predicament the sheep get into. Stuck on their back, unable to get up, limbs going numb, gases filling a belly, and the entire science of a cast off sheep is deadly. The Shepherd has to do a head count every single day. The Shepherd will look to the sky for circling buzzards, and that is typically a sign of a casted sheep. Putting the shepherd into a full sprint to find that one sheep. The chapter speaks about God finding us and putting us back on our feet. Sometimes over and over, but He does step in to help always.

The weeks and months that follow the times when I have shared my story are met with the tears of many broken and casted women. I hear over and over that the understanding of God is that once I have fallen over I am not worthy of being rescued and put back on my feet.

I will never forget the face of a young woman. Makeup running down her cheeks, and her quivering voice said this..."I knew I was not suppose to be here tonight because of the things I have done. Why would God ever want me, and then you share your story and I now know that God truly does still want me." My heart is heavy for those who know Jesus, have fallen over, can't get back up and stay in that place. Where does this idea come from that our Lord Jesus is done with us and we are to be stuck in that place that leads to death?

He truly is the Good Shepherd. He truly does come after you, looking for you in all the areas of the land, high and low. And it is there he takes your limbs, massages your heart and says now go let Me "restore your soul" and "lead you to the paths of righteousness".

Do we get that? There is restoration waiting to happen in that part of us that has fallen over. What is your falling over moment? I can name a few, and the book outlines a few. In that falling over moment, are you bleating out for help, or just so comfortable in that uncomfortable state you are just best left there. Does it give you peace to know that He is just right there ready to put you back on your feet? The world, oh this world, would like for us to think that we are stuck and can't get up. Get use to it and know that He can never save you. But the world is well just that the world. Our Lord Jesus took my miserable life, those moments of falling over, when Elizabeth was stuck. You know the kind of stuck I am talking about. Stuck, and guess what several times in my life I have needed Him to put me back on my feet. And the joy of being restored and the even greater joy of looking at the path of righteousness and walking along following my Keeper, my Shepherd.

Dear Father, Shepherd, Keeper,

I am sure with my life alone you have had to replace your staff for overuse. Thank you that you looked for me, pursued me, and saw that I was down. That you did not need to stand over me and ask yourself if you should help me to my feet, but without any questions asked you put me back on my feet and restored my soul. You are the Good Shepherd.