Brad and Julie Keller's Blog

Thank Me

2011-08-24T09:58:00.000-07:00

Geezaloo. It seriously took me, like 10 minutes to figure out how to get to this spot to actually write a blog--and I had to google it to get here...

I've been a bit disgruntled lately. I can't put my finger on the cause, exactly, but I *know* selfishness, discontentment, and plain ol' sin play a HUGE staring role. After getting sick and tired of griping to the Lord, I stopped griping to Him and just let it suck my brain power. Not a pretty picture. Well, this morning, my heart was feeling less ugly (not sure if it really is), and I was thoroughly disgusted by my attitude of the last few days. I was reminded that I always feel better when I make a list of things I'm thankful for--which I did, and felt much better. I was also reminded of a story I heard or read somewhere, the details of which are pretty cloudy, but the main idea is as clear as day:

A woman whose loved one was dying from a terminal disease was awakened in the middle of the night overcome with grief and heartache. She laid herself prostrate on the floor and pleaded with God, begging Him to spare the life of her loved one, asking the questions of "Why? Why him? Why me? What are You doing? How can I handle this? Can I really trust that You know best?" etc.

In the midst of the tears and anguish she heard God answer: "Thank Me."

"For what? My loved one needs prayer and intercession."

"Thank Me."

"How can I? I have nothing to be thankful for right now, only heaviness and need."

"Thank Me."

"But..."

"Thank Me."

With one faltering word after another, she did. She thanked the Lord for anything and everything she could think of, especially the life of her loved one, however long or short, the Lord's sovereignty over that life, and the perfect plan He had, whether life or death. And this heartbroken, hurting woman fell asleep in sweet, perfect peace, prostrate on the floor of the Throne Room before her King, words of thankful praise on her lips, knowing that He had heard her prayers.

I don't know if the loved one lived or died, but the message has always stuck with me. There's just something about praising and thanking the Lord that can transform the foul, broken, or troubled heart.

I just wish I remembered this more often.

6 months later...

2010-01-23T19:37:00.000-08:00

So, I hardly ever email or facebook, which fits perfectly with my lack of blogging. Oh sure, I have grand aspirations of becoming an avid blogger...right. Maybe when I have nothing else to do. Kudos to all those who are able to juggle it into their busy lives (Sarah...). I don't know how you do it! It just so happens that it's Saturday night and I'm trying really hard to avoid preparing my science lesson (physics...exactly...), and I stumbled across my blog!

Life is pleasant but busy. Veritas is going well: we've moved for the 3rd time into a great little sanctuary near downtown, and Brad has his hands full (in a good way) with sermon prep and discipleship. I've been done at Starbucks for almost 2 months (thank You Jesus!). I'm teaching at a small Christian school in Campbell, which takes much more time an energy than I thought it would. I enjoy the kids, but once again, teaching in a classroom is not my thing.

We have a kitten named Milo, who's not much of a kitten anymore, and doesn't know his name is Milo (we call him "Kitten"). The fams are doing well; Brad's brother and sister and families join us at Veritas every week, and we try to get down to Morgan Hill once a week or so to visit my family.

Um, guess that's it for now.

Ciao!

Can't Help Lovin that Man of Mine

2009-06-01T22:09:00.001-07:00

(Ever heard that song--I think it's from the old movie "Show Boat"?)

Well, my husband totally cleaned up the house while I was at work...*sigh* how did I get so lucky?

Funny, I made a change...on purpose

2009-05-25T17:33:00.000-07:00

So, although one of my favorite colors is pink, I grew a little weary of the bold pink of our blog (and I'm sure Brad loved it as well!). But I haven't been able to change it (my computer is old and outdated, so my ability to do things is rather limited). So I'm on Brad's computer, and viola! A whole new world of blogging possibilities opened up to me!

Changes, yet again

2009-05-19T14:40:00.000-07:00

So, in the last six months I've become a pastor's wife, moved from Morgan Hill to San Jose, quit the pill (this is on the internet!?), *maybe* worked my last shift at Starbucks in Morgan Hill, and begun covering shifts at a store in Campbell (and watched the first 3 seasons of 24, but that has nothing to do with this). In the next month or so I will probably be working at a different store in the San Jose area, I'm going back to school, beginning with a summer Spanish class and accounting in the fall (oh yeah, and scuba diving!)...and I hate change! Who's life am I living!? Good thing I have an amazingly sovereign, in-control God and an incredible husband!

Auntie Again!

2009-03-04T19:55:00.000-08:00

No this is not a repeat. McKenna Dianne Keller was born Monday, March 2, 7 pounds 14 ounces, 19 inches. Her big sister is glow in the dark blond and blue--McKenna brings out the Keller colors of Mexico :o).

2009-01-26T12:11:00.000-08:00

Ho boy! Life has happened fast since August!

Brad started (and finished) his last semester of his masters program

Brad got a motorcycle

Brad turned 30

We planted a church in Campbell, Veritas Community Church (www.veritascommunitychurch.org)

We spent way too many hours awake on New Year's Eve at the youth group all nighter

We moved from Morgan Hill to San Jose (watch out city slickers, here we come!)

We've been married for almost a year (love it, love it!)

I'm trying to get a new job

And I'm sure there are millions of other details, but that's just an update for the moment.

Auntie again!

2008-08-24T16:50:00.000-07:00

Malachi Philip was born August 5th and looks a little like Barney Fife--wrinkled brow, puffy eyes, but super cute. This week Neil and Kristia spent way too much time in the ER: Malachi (nicknamed Mac :o) had a fever, and was tested for spinal meningitis, but was diagnosed with a virus--but only after 3 days of "hurry up and wait." The night they got home, Jesse, Neil and Krista's 3rd, swallowed Tiki torch oil, and Poison Control told them to go to the hospital. He's totally fine, but that night he threw up and had a fever, causing more concern, but he simply caught the same virus that seems to be floating around, taking its turn in all the youngins.
Not a great picture, but the only one with me holding him.

Figured out the picture thing!

2008-07-24T20:39:00.000-07:00

It took a bit, but I finally got a picture added! I'd add more but it took too long (slow internet?) Here's one of the favs of Katie's pictures.

I think I have a Love-Hate relationship with sanctification...

2008-07-22T15:32:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking a lot about sanctification lately. For most of my life I've prayed that the Lord would sanctify me, conform me more into Christ's image, etc. and felt like, "Man, as soon as the Lord answers my prayer, I'll finally have this Christianity thing down pat!" Funny. God's not done fully answering that prayer until Heaven. Shoot! Because I'll never be done being sanctified--in this life--I'll never have this Christianity figured out! But as the Lord likes to remind me, walking with Jesus is only partly about the destination (total sanctification); the other major part is the journey of becoming more like Christ.

This has been on my mind because marriage has totally opened my eyes to what sanctification actually looks like day in and day out. I think I've learned more about sanctification and seen more of it in my own life in the past 4 months of marriage than in 25 years of being single. No joke. Cuz now there's not only someone to be affected by sin and bad habits, but there's someone to point them out too... That's why I love and hate sanctification. It's really cool to see the Lord answering my prayer through marriage, but man alive it stinks to stare my crud in the face and have to deal with it. And I actually have to deal with it because if I don't my relationship with my husband suffers--especially if he confronted me on an issue!

Something I've been discussing with Gina (and God...) is the motive behind my desire to be sanctified. I don't want my sin to affect Brad. One of the big reasons I get my rear in gear is because if I don't he suffers for it, which means we both suffer, which means our communication suffers, etc. The question was posed, "Do we hate our sin because it affects those we love, or do we hate it because it displeases God?" *sigh* The question of the century. What if my answer is because it affects loved ones? I want the answer to be because it displeases God, but sometimes it's not... Maybe I need to change my prayer up a bit... Maybe my prayer needs to be that I would hate sin and therefore desire sanctification.

I love sanctification because it's a clear sign that the Lord is moving and working, and heaven knows I need some of that. I love it because I have listen closer, see clearer, and pay closer attention. I love it because it makes me a better woman, wife, friend, daughter, servant. Hmm. And on the not-so-sacred days, I think those are the exact reasons I hate it...

2nd Attempt

2008-07-02T11:14:00.000-07:00

So of course on the day when I'm going to sit down and figure this blogging thing out the internet is ridiculously slow. Brad says it's my computer... So instead of trying to figure it out I'll just post something.

Tuesday (yesterday) is Jr. High youth group, and I came away encouraged by a conversation I had with a high school staff member. We start our night joined with the high school, which is nice cuz then we get to see our 8th graders that have moved up to high school. This staff member was noticing how well all the high school girls seem to get along and have "clicked" really well. But, she had noticed that one of the new 9th grade girls seemed to have a bit of a harder time transitioning. Being one of my former students, I immediately felt sad for her. But then I remembered her early days as a jr. higher. Man alive was she different then! She was quiet, reserved, held back, never wanted to be a part of the group... It was like pulling teeth to try to talk to her, much less attempt to minister to her! But by the time she left us this summer, she was loud, boisterous, always contributing, and definitely a key member of our little youth group. I was excited to be able to share this with the staff member, if only to recount the faithfulness of God.

I just thought of this just now, but Brad had just talked about using the past as assurance for the future--based on how God has moved in the past, we can know how He will respond in the future, and in this we can trust Him and have hope. In the same way, I've seen God work in this student's life in dramatic ways--it's literally a night-and-day difference--and because of this, I know that God will continue the work that He started in her (Phil. 1:6), even in the new and scary setting of high school. I mean, seriously, how often do you get to see such obvious and dramatic fruit from jr. highers!? What a blessing!

Okay, so here goes the newby...

2008-06-28T18:08:00.000-07:00

I really don't know how to do this, so here goes nothing. This will be a trial run, and we'll see what happens next. It took me a while to figure this out, and all the options are not where I thought they would be, but hey, I found it, I chose my font and my color!