God Is In Control

God Is In Control

Blessed morning sweetheart.
God is good. Devotion's today was amazing.
God's presence took over from the beginning with praise and worship.
I don't remember the rest. I just opened my mouth.
Even the devotional ended right on the dot!
God is in control, sweetheart!
I read parts of Daniel chapter 2 and Mathew 1.
"Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine
Oh what a foretaste of glory divine..."
The author of that beautiful hymn was a blind women ministering from the chapel of the old rescue mission in the bowery neighborhood of New York City a hundred years ago. I am amazed by God's grace, finding myself in the chapel of a hundred year old ministry in the heart of Washington.
God is in control. Is it any accident my wife finds herself in Nebuchadnezzar's capital walking the streets where Daniel preached in Babylon? Nope!
Be encouraged my dove!
God has His Hand mightily upon you. Upon our children. Upon our family. Upon our friends.
Even Mark and Basi must declare, 'God is in control' in the midst of heart wrenching surgery of their little girl.
It still hurts. Bad. But we find God in the middle or our turmoil and marvel as He speaks to the storms of our heart.
'Peace, be still!'
Today I am at peace because the Prince of Peace reigns.
He is in control of my life.
I did not want to come to Maryland, but God.
I did not want my wife to go to Iraq, but God.
We serve Him, not ourselves.
The mission field begins where are feet are.
Let's step forward by faith and watch God's goodness take over.
It's His battle! He promised. We believe.
It's just that simple.
My love and passion for you, my dear, grows with every passing prayer.
The more I pour my heart out to God, the closer I sense your own love.
I am truly thankful for your prayer support.
We are in His Hands together.
What a glorious privilege to serve Him there, together.
What does God have in store for us, together?
With God in control, I can only imagine!
I love you passionately,
Your adoring husband,
Brad

You Are Precious To Me

You Are Precious To Me

Blessed morning my dove!
This morning’s devotion touched me to the core.
I wept soft and deep. His Hand of love was on me with a power and tenderness I have never sensed before.
God's word bathed my tears:
Isaiah 43: 1 - 7 1
But now, O Israel, the LORD who created you says: "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. 2 When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. 3 For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt, Ethiopia, and Seba as a ransom for your freedom. 4 Others died that you might live. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you. 5 "Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you and your children from east and west 6 and from north and south. I will bring my sons and daughters back to Israel from the distant corners of the earth. 7 All who claim me as their God will come, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them."
My beloved wife,
You are precious in His sight.
Why I fail to act like His own mystifies me. Why I lose sight of His priceless gift alarms me.
His arm is always outstretched toward our hearts, beloved.
"You are precious to me." God says.
And yet I wonder at the value of the things I hold onto.
Nothing can compare to the yearning love of God.
I feel His love in your own voice, Sonia.
I can not imagine anything greater
Than to be loved by one so unconditionally.
In those priceless moments before God,
I sense cost of God's passion for us
And the cause of His commission compels me
To stay on task.
Matthew 9:35-38
35 Jesus traveled through all the cities and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And wherever he went, he healed people of every sort of disease and illness. 36 He felt great pity for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they didn't know where to go for help. They were like sheep without a shepherd. 37 He said to his disciples, "The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send out more workers for his fields."
I yearn for the moment I can touch your cheeks,
My beloved.
With compassion and commission
I desire to serve God with you for the rest of my life.
His arm is strong to not only keep us,
But to bring us through with much harvest!
I thank God for you, my dearest.
Be strong in the Lord
And the power of His might.
Love,
Your adoring husband,
Brad

You are a true joy to ponder, my dove!

You are a true joy to ponder, my dove!
This morning’s walk was brisk.
The air was still and frozen.
Still the sun was enjoying
The waves of Fall leaves
That I stirred up with me feet.
It was a wonderful time
To ponder God's goodness to us.
I spied two green chairs on a front lawn
of a brown brick row town home.
They were empty but huddled close together.
I imagined us sitting there
Holding hands and listening to God's voice.
I do enjoy just being in your presence, Sonia.
The peace God has given you
Feeds my soul.
It won't be long
Before we can touch.
Can you imagine the intensity!
We had better warn the fire department!
The fire and heat coming from our room is not a blaze!
Just the burning passion of two lovers
Celebrating the joy of the Lord together.
Hallelujah!
Soon and very soon my dear.
You passionate husband,
Brad
November 18, 2005

Good morning sunshine of my life

Good morning sunshine of my life!
I can feel the heat of your love, my dear Sonia.
Even a noisy phone connection
Could not interfere with the spirit of your love.
I am so blessed by the awesome gift of your passion.
I am humbled to sense God's favor.
There were times during our conversation across the ocean
That I could feel the connection with your spirit.
I know God has joined us.
I trust God will grow us together everyday.
Distance is no obstacle for Him.
Last night I could still hear your voice in my heart.
It stirred a deep passion and a yearning for your touch.
I am learning to focus that longing upon Christ
And His soon coming Kingdom
What a joy it will be To see His glorious face!
Full of majesty and grace!
Your prayers are making a difference, my dove.
My prayer for you,
Is that God continues to use you in a powerful way.
That your hand would be His hand extended
That you would continue to discover the richness
Of an awesome relationship that declares you
To be a daughter of the Most High God!
I was thrilled to hear your delight in God's Word.
That is fuel for my heart and energy for your walk.
Your steps are anointed my dear!
Your life is in His caring Hands.
And our lives are being forged together
To become a mighty instrument
For His glory.
Amen!

Your husband, Brad
November 17, 2005

Your Smile Is a Friend of Mine

Your Smile Is a Friend of Mine

Your smile is a friend of mine.
It warms my cheeks
When the morning chill
Attempts to nip my strolling face.
 
Every morning walk to work
I think of the your smile
When the sun begins to peak
Through the veil of dawn.
 
Your smile is a light and a hope
For now I can not see your smile
But I have confidence God is more
Than able to bring us into the same room again.
 
Then we can dance and bask
In glory of His light as He
Joins our smiles once more
In the joy of our vows.
 
I yearn for those days with hope.
I know I will see you soon
And return the grace you have given me
With all the passion God can give.
 
I love you with every step I make.
I pray for you with every breath I take.
I long to be with you
And rejoice again in the love we make.
 
For my dearest dove, Sonia
Your loving husband,
Brad
November 14, 2005

Looking forward to Seeing Sonia in the Spring!

Brown leaves of Fall
Dance in the breezy morning shadows
that chills my cheeks.
Peaking under the covers of night
An early autumn sun shimmers
From the edge of a blue and bronze rim of dawn.

My heart is yearning for spring already
Though the yellow fingers of fall
Barely fringe the canopy of the streets
Of the city.

Spring will be singing soon enough.
I can hear echoes of the meadow lark
And a breath of hope
Blow across hills of greening grass.

For God has given me a longing faith
To endure the aches of a winter freeze.
I long to see my lover smile again
In the blue and bronze of dawn.

He breathes on my dearest
With distant desert winds.
I can not feel the warmth of her
Spring-time touch or see the
Brilliance of her summer smile.

But in each morning shadow
I sense the reach of her love and prayers.
God has gifted my love
With the passion of noon-day sun.

She shares her heart and tears
And morning fears with mine
And together we pray away
In the power of God’s presence.

Her gift is far this approaching fall
But the promise of spring that God
Brings every season
Embraces my soul with hope.

God is near
And so is Sonia.
Her touch is far.
Her voice is near.
I am confident
God’s unfailing grace
Will keep her safe
And warm my heart
Throughout the winter of our apart.

For my wife Sonia
On her Baghdad trek
October 26, 2005

Three Farewell Nights With Sonia

These three precious nights Sonia and I had together was an awesome gift. She came home. Home to my heart and arms. It was brief but intense. We both realized that time was too precious to waste on trivia. It was all about our God and our passion for people and our dedication to each other. It is hard to sit here without tears of yearning. Sonia has left. She's gone to prepare for her flight to Iraq. Yet nothing can separate us from the Presence of God. Now I lay in an empty bed . . . for now. I have supreme confidence that I will see her safe soon again. We know the Army allows leave after six months in the field. So our hearts prepare for a two week respite this coming Easter tide. Regardless of the timing, God will get His say in our lives. I pray that the love that Sonia and I share will continue to reflect the power of God's mercy and love. We wish to honor Him with our lives and to thank Him for every opportunity to share the wealth of His wisdom. There may be one less sleeping in my bed tonight, but Sonia’s heart is still beating strong inside of me. I thank God for this wonderful gift.

Comfort and joy

What a comfort it is to be able to pray with Sonia tonight. All is well. Eariler today, as I left mother's home the night was fresh and the stars were smiling. As I walked to the car, I headed right for the passenger door to open it. In a flash I realized Sonia was not there. I stopped for a moment and looked at the waxing moon through the trees. God is so good. Sonia is not here but so near to me because God is so dear to both of us. Our prayers can span the thousand miles in a heart beat. Her voice can soothe with the peace of God. What a comfort is is to pray.

Deployment

My wife left for Fort Carson today. She may be gone a year or more to Iraq. Sonia's smile still glows in me like a warm image after a brilliant flash. She is miles high and miles away just now, yet her warmth embraces my neck. She's all I can think about, "right about now." God is so good to us. How can I every thank Him enough to bring so many warm days into my life. It was Sonia's sunshine that did it. Her love for God touched me to the core. May she touch our troops with the same love for God and passion for people. - Brad

Charge the hill - change the mountain

Now more than ever, military families are confronted with an ever-changing environment. What challenges are you facing as a military spouse and how have you or how do you plan on overcoming them?

We are over-comers. We thank God for second chances. We both escaped the ravages of failed marriages. We both navigated financial and emotional tempests. We both found strength and resolve in the furnace of faith. We both dedicated our lives to serving our neighbor.

We never imagined a relationship would develop out of such clamor. We were too busy attending to the needs of wounded single adults in church. But God is good and a God of second chances. We both discovered we had a passion for people. That was the glue that stuck us together.

That was just the beginning of our journey together as husband and wife. Last year we faced a new challenge. Should we commit to serve in the Army Nursing Corps or continue to live in the comfort of our Florida home? We both had excellent jobs: One an ICU Registered Nurse, the other executive director of a homeless assistance agency.

The Army road looked fraught with danger. One would have to give up an executive position. The other surrendered a civilian life to accept a commission in the US Army Nursing Corps. But we decided money didn’t matter as much as people did. We took a deep breath and plunged into Army life. It was a leap of faith that challenged every sense.

We immediately discovered job-search around the WRAMC metro area was intense and tedious. Educational requirements were steep and unforgiving. We needed more patience and persistence in addition to a degree.

Nursing maimed OIF troops to health was full of mixed emotions. Treating accident victims and gang injuries in civilian intensive care unit was one thing. Caring for young soldiers with missing limbs the same age as your own son was tumultuous. It took weeks before we could grip our faith and look into the eyes of those brave soldiers and speak encouragement to their ears. We could not replace their limb, but we could restore their sense of worth. We prayed a lot.

We were a military odd couple unprepared for the twists of Army life. Not only were we mixed racial marriage, but traditional genders were reversed. We looked in vain for a T-shirt that stated: “Army Husband!” at the PX. We also found nearly all the support groups and their websites were gender-centric. Age was another hurtle we continuously cross. We find ourselves at least 10 years older than our peers.

We intend to challenge these stereotypes with energy and enthusiasm. We have been given priceless gifts: love and passion. We will focus our energy on plugging in this Army blender, adding these precious ingredients. We have faith the outcome will taste delicious.

Instructive

Brad:
How extraordinary! I visited the site and found it very touching -- and instructive. I'll forward your e-mail to Andras. He's still traveling, but he'll doubtlessly get in touch when he's back at his computer.
Many thanks, Andrei

Comets and Ashes

AC: Thanks for the helpful reply.

Guns saluted and brass mourned my father’s death in 84.
They slid his ashes into a marble niche in Arlington.
Then I remembered dad’s dusty books by Lafcadio .
“These are family legacy. They’re yours when I leave.” He said with reverent hands.
I was afraid to open them for years. Who knows me?
Someone did. Japan’s cultural center called me in 1997.
They wished for my attendance in April in Washington DC.
Why should I leave my Florida for cold memories?
“Because, it’s been a hundred years!” they breathed with dignity.
I had no idea.
Bon Koizumi was there.
There were TV cameras and reporters too.
Then I saw dad in a flash. He was there too.
Somewhere in the lights I saw him smile. As I gazed into my Japanese cousin’s eyes I saw the “…dark and beautiful face, with large brown eyes like a wild deer's…“ It was our mother Rosa’s eyes; my dad’s eyes.
I stood stunned in the din. I felt our handshake heal generations of pain. A hundred years and 10,000 miles had separated brothers Lafcadio and James Daniel Hearn. Lafcadio had written: “It pains me that I could not see you. I am, however, and must be, for several years more, a slave of contracts and opportunities.”
Now we were free! The power of life broke us free.
I am so grateful to a circle of passionate fans that helped reunite the offspring of these estranged brothers. Neither “contracts” nor “opportunities” can claim our separation again. As Bon and I stepped into a crisp April night a comet blazed above. “Look!” I whispered. “It’s mother Rosa’s eyes!”

Thanks again AC! I hope I didn’t get too carried away. I too am a fan of NPR poets. New Orleans people were at that reunion too. I posted a few more photos at www.lafcadiohearn.net I would appreciate your candid review.
Regards,
Brad

Brad:
Thanks for writing. The film-maker's name is Andras Vagvolgyi -- he's well-known there and he has lived in Jappan where he first conceived a passion for Hearn. I imagine that you're related to the famous Lafcadio. How? I;m a big fan, too -- I read his "Two years in the west Indies" when I was in Martinique a couple of years ago. Andras is traveling and I don't have an address for him, but you can reach him care of Juli, the Hungarian consul in New Orleans, at: bikajuli@cox.net

Best, ac

Ladybugs and Lazarus

Dear Mr. Codrescu,
In the article above was wrote:
"A Hungarian film director named Andras was in town
because he expects to live here one day
and write a book about Lafcadio Hearn.."
I am interested in hearing from Hungarian bugs
that love the big easy to bits.
Not termites.
But Ladybugs.
Please send details of Mr. Andras.
I wish to share some worthy fodder for his purpose.

A mere peddle in the middle of Spring.
Nothing exquisite.
Maybe Lazarus.
Thanks for your help.

Most regards,
Brad

Blessed new year note

What a joy it is to partner with your best friend and lover and make a difference in this world. We know our calling. Our vision will overcome every barrier. Our passion will make it happen. With Gods help, we will.