My First-Born Is Engaged

My first-born daughter Katherine recently got engaged to her sweetheart, Blake. I guess I will be joining a new club, the IN-LAWS. I'm not sure yet how I feel about the whole thing. I've heard the comments: "You are not losing a daughter. You are gaining a son. Grandkids could be just around the corner and grandparenting is glorious." Wait a minute. We haven't even selected a venue for the wedding yet! I'm definitely not ready to think about grandparenting. I'm having trouble believing I'm old enough to have a daughter who is old enough to marry. And who wants to be a mother-in-law? They always get such bad wraps. I still remember one of my seminary professors using a mother-in-law joke to illustrate the meaning of "ambivalence." He said, "Ambivalence is watching your mother-in-law go over a cliff in your new Cadillac." Hmmm. I don't think my future son-in-law, Blake, would feel that way. Well, maybe if it was a Mercedes or BMW. I don't think he's crazy about Cadillacs. At least I know he wouldn't be the one sending me over the edge.

Maybe we will be back in New Orleans in time to help with the wedding. Rick and I think the Lord may be leading us to return to the seminary. Yes, our true citizenship is in heaven, but since Hurricane Katrina we have felt like wanderers and returning to New Orleans would feel like coming home in many ways. A couple of years ago we prayed about moving back but the Lord brought us to Texas instead. Looking back, we can see why. We have experienced many miracles in Texas. One major miracle is sparing my life through the cancer.

Please pray for Katherine and Blake as they plan their ceremony and prepare to spend the rest of their lives together. May their marriage bring honor and glory to the Lord! And pray for Rick and me as we continue to seek the Lord about our future. May we know His will and trust Him in all things.

I love the quote from Corrie Tenboom: "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."

Happy New Year

So much has happened since the last time I blogged. I am still helping with Shawn. He finished his radiation treatments in November. The treatments, as well as the effects continue to work for 4-6 weeks. He is still tired and on a lot of seizure meds. We are praying that the tumor goes away completely and that he has no more seizures. In addition, we pray that he is restored fully from the effects of the stroke and brain bleed. Shawn has suffered so much and the whole family is grieved and saddened since first discovering the brain tumor 18 months ago.

As far as our family goes - I had my one-year scan done and I remain cancer free. Praise the Lord. The doctor said I got the award for the month for having such good blood work. The girls came home for Thanksgiving and they are here for Christmas. We are enjoying our time together and we won't take it for granted. We know each moment is a gift from the Lord. Rick and I are still without active careers. Rick is applying for teaching positions. In the mean time he is selling insurance. Things have been tough but God is faithful. He continues to provide for us.

This morning I was talking to a friend who is walking through a major crisis. in fact, I know a lot of people facing tough if not seemingly impossible situations right now. After I got off the phone I read this passage and was totally encouraged by the Lord:

“Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights" (Habbakuk 3:17-19).

WHAT I HEARD:
“Even though I have no savings and my retirement is gone; even though cancer made me barren, and my husband and I lost our jobs; even though my bank account is empty, and i don't know how we will pay our bills, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He helps me live each day and He enables me to trample the enemy.”

I love God's Word! So many times when we are going through crises we lose hope. We insist that it is impossible to have joy in our grief and loss and there seems to be no "happy ending" in sight. But God is here and can have hope and joy in Him. No trial or fear can overtake us when our love for God is unconditional - when we trust Him even (especially) when things look bleakest.

I have not mastered this wonderful secret Habbakuk knew about to tap into the perpetual spring of joy. There are so many days I allow the devil to rob me of hope. But I am grateful for the constant availability of unlimited joy and freedom in Christ when I trust Him unconditionally. I am thankful that nothing can separate us from God's love.

May you experience great joy in the Lord today, and every day in 2009.
I love you, my friend.

Mom's 75th Birthday Celebration

I know, I know, it's been way too long since my last entry. I've been spending a lot of time with my little friend, Shawn, the boy for whom we are praying. He is recovering from two more surgeries. The family still does not know the course of treatment. They will see the doctor again in a few weeks and hopefully Shawn can start treatment after he is stronger. Please continue to pray for complete healing from all tumors and disease and for full restoration.

In addition to spending time with Shawn, I had the opportunity to go out of town to celebrate my mom's 75th birthday. My sisters and I took mom to Las Vegas. We stayed at the Bellagio (our room overlooked the famous fountains). We saw the Cirque Du Soleil "O" courtesy of my sis Dawn! It was fabulous! We ate at Emeril's Fish City Grill and took in a Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre among other fun things. We rented a car and toured the Hoover Dam and drove through the Valley of Fire State Park.

I really enjoyed spending time with my sisters. This was the first time we have been together in more than ten years. I also enjoyed site seeing. We toured the Hoover Dam and it was an incredible reminder of what people can accomplish with vision and team work. In addition, we saw the Valley of Fire. Wow! God is so creative! His hand prints are all over the place. I don’t know if they named it the Valley of Fire because of the heat or because of the red rocks and cliffs - probably both. The awe-inspiring landscape reminded me of another kind of beauty – our lives after we’ve been through the fire. Being in the fire is no picnic but if we allow God to work in our lives we can’t beat the results! I only pray that my life reflects God’s glory like His work in nature. I pray that I am refined by the fire and not scorched – that when people look at me they see Jesus and remark, "God is so good!"

Celebration Church Women's Tea

The tea was a huge success! A big thanks to all who made it possible for over 200 women to gather, fellowship together, share good food and tea, and hear the Word of God. The amount of time that went in to the preparations was extensive. You should have seen the tables. Different teams decorated the tables and they all were awesome. It reminded me of the Body of Christ - every person so different yet so beautiful! I know that God showed up because several shared with me how the Lord changed their hearts. I’d love to hear how the Lord spoke to you or touched you in a special way. You can share your story with me by e-mailing info@debisharkey.com. I'm working on getting copies of the message for those who have been asking!

Here are a few pics from the event courtesy of Nancy Werner.

Please continue to pray for the supernatural healing of Shawn Michael McGinnity (little guy in the baseball uniform).

Back from India

We're back from India. I would have written sooner but I've been a little distracted with some out-patient surgeries. It's all good!

I love the people of India - especially the children. As you can see they are so beautiful. Children are the future and hope of every nation. I'm so glad I went on the trip. At first, I didn't think it was such a great idea to leave the country so soon after beating cancer. But I sensed God leading me and He made it all possible. It's always a blessing to obey!

I don't know how to explain some of the things we saw and experienced. They are so different from the States. I'm not just talking about the poor living conditions of many - or the elaborate temples or random 40-foot statues built by human hands and worshipped as gods. I'm talking about the people.

When someone comes to know Christ in India it costs - many times it costs them everything because even their family members disown them. And the pastors and missionaries! What words can be used to describe the kind of commitment and sacrificial love they have? How do you explain young men - extremely intelligent, educated and gifted who give up the opportunity to make good money and live in the States because they would rather live in humble means in India in order that others might come to know Jesus. Now that is the power of God’s love! Apart from the Lord it doesn’t make sense!

The people I met thanked me so much for coming and told me how encouraged they were by the testimony of how God has worked in my life. But I was the one who was encouraged – encouraged, humbled and challenged. I guess you can say my comfortable Christianity was challenged

Yes, I’ve been to India and my life will never be the same.

1) I'm speaking at one of the meetings. 2) They mow using 2 oxen pulling a grass cutter. 3) Me and my new friend, Sweety at an out-door market.

India Update

After what seemed to be the "flight that never ends" we arrived in India and the pace is drastically different from the States. If you think New York taxi drivers are crazy on the road you would really freak out here. Our taxi driver hit a guy on a bike and glanced to see if he was O.K. and then kept going like nothing ever happened. Whether there are lines dividing the highway or not there are always 5 to 6 lanes of traffic weaving in and out - sort of controlled chaos. It's amazing that there are very few accidents.

We stayed in Delhi the first two nights and ministered at two different churches. We are in Chandigarh tonight and will be ministering at another church. We have prayed for many people and seen several healed and touched by Jesus. I got to sing and share my testimony, and pray for many people. God is opening the windows of Heaven and showering us with His love.

The people here are indeed beautiful! The first day we were here the team gathered for prayer. Pastor Luke (the team leader) shared how we are here not only to minister to the people but also to encourage pastors and leaders who labor here. As we were praying I glanced down and saw a diamond on the floor. I picked it up and heard the Lord say that these young pastors and leaders are like diamonds in His hands and He is causing them to shine for Him in a land of darkness and He would use us to invest in them. My prayer is that the people of India will indeed be as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside.

So many people here live in poverty - conditions that are unknown in the States. I swear - we are such a spoiled nation. It rips my heart to see the children - and especially the children that are exploited in order for others to make money. I've prayed that God would break my heart for what breaks His and to give me opportunities to make a difference but it is overwhelming. Who can stand the burden? Yet, this is my work - to do His will - and I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. It is His love that flows through me. Pray that I will be His vessel and that He can flow through me like rivers of living water. It is not enough to stop at John 4 and drink from the well and never thirst again. I must go to John 7 and allow rivers of living water to flow through me.

Thank you for your prayers. It is a miracle that I am here. Just a few months ago I was at death's door but today I am in India sharing the love of Jesus. It is because of your love and prayers.

India Trip

I'm going to India March 31 - April 11 with a team from Celebration Church, Texas. I'm so excited! I've heard the people of India are beautiful! I know the Lord is up to something great!

Please pray for our safety, and that we will be used by God to encourage the disciples and church leaders, to comfort and heal the sick, and to share the love of Jesus in such a way that thousands of lives are changed and transformed forever!