Blessings that Outweigh Tragedy

 This morning, as I spoke to Angi Witvoet on the phone, I was struck again by the attitude of the family through this very difficult time. After losing their home and everything in it to a fire on Monday morning, Angi sincerely assured me that "the blessings far outweigh the tragedy."

It's true that they watched their home go up in smoke. Many precious items were incinerated. But they escaped with their lives and they are SO thankful.

Since the fire, they have been blessed in many ways by family, friends, and strangers. Many of my readers have sent cards and gifts, some still on the way. And the prayers of the saints have lifted and encouraged this family in their time of need.

Currently, my mom and little sisters are in Murfreesboro with the Witvoets and were able to bless them today with some much needed items. The church that I contacted on Wednesday has also given assistance, even paying for them to have an extra night in the hotel while they're looking for a place to rent. And one of the firemen who came to the site noticed that he and Gerrit wore the same size shoe and so he blessed him with a pair boots. (When you're size 14, boots aren't that easy to come by.) Other locals have helped also, and the calls they have received from friends and strangers have blessed them immensely.

From Pensacola, I am trying to do what I can to help, but it's hard being this far away. However, just the increased traffic on my blog has been such an encouragement to me; for I realize that if everyone who comes to this site will just pray for the Witvoets, they will be blessed beyond measure!

On Thursday I was able to send 4 packages to the Witvoets. In just a short amount of time, we were able to put together two boxes of clothes; one box of books, including brand new Bibles which Mount Zion donated for all the children; and a manilla envelope stuffed with cards, letters, and pictures. Lord willing, we will be sending another box this Thursday, so if you're local and would like to donate some items, please let me know!

When asked by relatives what he would have rescued, had he been given the chance to save one thing, young Benjamin replied, "I would have saved Papa's briefcase and his keys." After it was explained that he was to pick something special that he wanted to save, Benjamin persisted, "I would still save Papa's briefcase and keys, because they were important to Papa and so they are important to me."
 
Even in the midst of tragedy, there are wonderful blessings, special moments, and extraordinary grace...

 Isaac, Gerrit, Grady, and Benjamin before the fire

Related Articles:
Fiery Trials
Witvoet Update 2/8/12
Witvoet Update 2/6/12
Prayer for the Witvoets

Fiery Trials

"Affliction hardens those it does not soften." ~ Charles Spurgeon

How true this is! Sometimes affliction makes us humble, pliable, trusting; other times it angers, confuses, and hardens us. Why? Is it the nature of the affliction? Or the state of our hearts? Can trusting God make that much of a difference?

Yes, I believe it does. Knowing that God is sovereign over all takes fear and doubt out of the equation. The pain is no less real, the trial no less strong. But trusting the hand of a Loving Father gives strength, courage, and confidence-- even through unbelievable human tragedy.

When we realize that not one molecule has, is, or ever will be outside of God's control, then we can trust and not be afraid...

Last night I spoke to Desire Witvoet on the phone. She is a lovely young lady with a birthday coming up next week (I think she'll be 23) After going through so much in just a few days, she was still able to smile, laugh, and consider others above herself. As I spoke to her, I thought of my favorite quote by John Newton:

"Notwithstanding any present dark appearances, it shall certainly be well with the righteous... God can and will make crooked things straight; and He often produces the greatest good from those events which we are apt to look upon as evil." (John Newton, More than a Calvinist)

Even after losing everything in a fire on Monday morning, the Witvoet family is so thankful that all are alive and well. The Red Cross gave them 3 nights in a hotel there in Murfreesboro, but they have to find other arrangements today. Also be praying for them as they meet with the owner of the house today. (They were under a rent-to-own contract)

The Lord was gracious and allowed me to find a good church in that area from the NCFIC website. Gladly taking my call, the Pastor of Eagleville Baptist went out and met the family, praying with them and giving them some much needed assistance. What a wonderful thing is the family of God!

I cannot express how grateful I am to all of you who prayed, shared this on facebook, sent cards and gifts, collected clothes, etc... There are still many needs; but the outpouring of love from the saints in just a few short days is such a blessing! Thank you!

Rose and Desire Witvoet, just before the fire

 I now have a phone number for the Witvoets, but would rather not share it here. Please send me an email or facebook message if you would like to call. They have truly enjoyed all of the encouragement they have received already.

"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (John 13:35)

Related Article:
Witvoet Update 2/8/12
Update on Witvoets 2/6/12
Prayers for Witvoet family

WITVOET UPDATE: 2/8/12

WITVOET UPDATE: 2/8/12

I will be sending a box to the Witvoet family on 2/9 and 2/16 if you would like to include something. Here are just a few ideas:

Clothes
Jackets
Sweaters
Shoes
Socks
Games (their favorites are Dutch Blitz, Uno, and Monopoly)
Books (wholesome family stories age 10-adult)

Here are their clothing sizes, for those that asked:
Boy pants- 12, 16, 30/34, 34/36
Boy shirts- 12, 16, Men's Small, Medium, and Large
Boy Shoes- 6, 10, 13, 14, 11
Girls Dress- 4, 6, 10/12
Girls Shoes- All three of them wear size 8-1/2 or 9


The Witvoets are home-educators, but I don't know what they need in regards to schooling. I'm sure crayons, markers, pencils, etc... would be really helpful. Hopefully, I can get a list of curriculum needs later, when things have settled a bit. I do know that they love Spunky Math, as well as Rod and Staff. Grade levels probably 5th-10th. Since the kids love to learn through reading, Children's Encyclopedia's or other reference type books would be ideal.

Witvoet Family (a few days before the fire)

If you would like to send a card and /or gift, please send it to the address below:

Gerrit and Angi Witvoet

PO Box 57

Auburntown, TN 37016

THANK YOU!!!

Related links:

Update on the Witvoets 2/6/12

Prayers for Witvoet family

Update on the Witvoets

UPDATE: Red Cross is putting the family up at a hotel in Murfreesboro, TN for a few days, while they try to get things sorted. The family is still in shock, but they are praising God for His mercy in sparing their lives.

Here are the before and after photos that Gerrit's sister just sent me:

BEFORE

 

AFTER

If you would like to send a card and /or gift, please send it to the address below:

Gerrit and Angi Witvoet

PO Box 57

Auburntown, TN 37016

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE AND PRAYERS!!!

Here are their clothing sizes, for those that asked:
Boy pants- 12, 16, 30/34, 34/36
Boy shirts- 12, 16, Men's Small, Medium, and Large
Boy Shoes- 6, 10, 13, 14, 11
Girls Dress- 4, 6, 10/12
Girls Shoes- All three of them wear size 8-1/2 or 9

Prayers for the Witvoet family

This morning we were grieved to hear that our very dear friends, the Witvoet family in Murfreesboro TN, lost their house to a fire last night. As devastated as they must be right now, they are praising God for His mercy in sparing their lives and their 6 children. Angie had the presence of mind to grab her purse on the way out the door, and the children rescued their dogs and parrots, but they lost everything else-- including the keys to their truck.

Although no official report has been released, the Witvoets believe the fire to have started in their newly-purchased wood stove.

Some of my friends have requested that I set up a Pay Pal account to donate money to these precious friends, as they try to re-build their lives after this great loss. If you would like to contribute, you may do so here, on my blog. Or if you would rather send them a card/gift, I will update this post tomorrow with mailing info.

But most of all, we would appreciate your prayers.Our God is a very present help in trouble.

The Witvoets with our Joanna (6 years ago)

Lie #10: The Duggars and Overpopulation

In a recent blog post, Cindy Dyer did a stellar job debunking 9 lies that fuel D.D.S. (Duggar Deranged Syndrome) Each lie was carefully examined, then tossed out the proverbial window, culminating in the biggest lie of all; hatred for Christ that results in hatred for those who love Him.

But, as wonderful as her post was, she forgot one of the biggest issues that surround Duggar hatred. So, I give you...

Lie # 10: Overpopulation! Despite the fact that the entire world populace could live inside the State of Virginia, we are constantly being fed the lie that we must avoid overpopulation at all cost. Vivid images of Hong Kong during rush hour will strike fear into the hearts of the gullible; but the information is intentionally misleading. There is much of rural China that could host an overflow of city folk, if they had the desire and/or freedom to leave.


But at the heart of this lie is a battle that we face everyday for the sanctity of human life. Whose job is it choose who should live, or who should die? When his beloved Rachel demanded children of the Patriarch Jacob, his anger was kindled against her as he replied, "Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?" (Genesis 30:1-3)

Throughout Scripture, we are plainly taught that God opens the womb; God closes the womb; and one of God's greatest blessings is the gift of children.

So, I ask: Of the 19 gifts under the Duggar tree; which ones are not fit to live? Which ones should they send back? Line up the whole tribe and tell them which ones they should not have! Could you do it? Are you God?

"But," you protest, "there are millions of orphans in the world. Why don't the Duggars just adopt, if they love kids so much?"

As noble as this question sounds, and as much as I love families who adopt, at the heart of this objection is a denial of the sanctity of human life. As Cindy pointed out so well in the comment section of her post, "You are saying that the existence of millions of orphans denies my children the right to life!" That mindset is completely wrong! Who draws the line at how many children we can "rightfully" have? You? The government? Or God?

If your answer was "You," then leave the Duggars alone and let them decide for themselves! If your answer was "The Government," then leave the Duggars alone, because you've got BIGGER problems looming! If your answer was "God," then I'm preaching to the choir and you already love the Duggars to death for their commitment to Him.
 
Define Irony:

“The Bible calls debt a curse and children a blessing. But our culture applies for curses and rejects blessings.” ~Doug Phillips

Related Posts:
"Why the World Hates the Duggars" at Get Along Home
"It Takes a Family" (December 09, 2011)
"The Fruit of the Womb is His Reward" (February 4, 2010)

It Takes a... FAMILY

In our town, not far from where we worship, there is a church which proudly displays the quote best known as the title of Hillary Clinton's book, "It Takes a Village to raise a child."

As noble as this quote sounds; taking each of us back in time to the days when life was simpler, work was harder, and families were more intimately connected to each other-- the modern use of this slogan has nothing to do with "the good old days."

I've been contemplating this quote for several weeks, so I was pleasantly surprised when Cindy Dyer used it as Lie #2 in her recent blog post, "Why the World hates the Duggars."

Lie 2: It takes a village. We have been trained by our own experiences with socialized education to believe that children are impossible to handle without the help of professionals. No one family can do it all or pay for it all. In fact, having children in the care of their own parents twenty-four hours a day is the weirdest thing imaginable in our brave new world. And yet, here are the Duggars daring to leave that system we’ve so carefully arranged “for the children” to fend for themselves. Worse, it’s working!

 Whoa! Pause; Stop; And Rewind! Is that what it means to be a village? Removing kids from parental responsibility and handing them over for "professionals" to raise? Enabling parents to live their own lives while their children fend for themselves? Somehow, that doesn't fit the cozy scenario of village life that I always got from watching "Little House on the Prairie." So I had to consult dictionary.com

vil*lage (noun)

a small community or group of houses in a rural area, larger than a hamlet and usually smaller than a town

So that makes me wonder: what did Senator Clinton mean when she used this quote as her title? 

"I chose that old African proverb to title my book because it offers a timeless reminder that children will thrive only if their families thrive and if the whole of society cares enough to provide for them..." (Clinton's Speech; DNC, 1996)

Anyone else confused? Well, I'll explain. The word village now means the "whole of society." Right. And the word miniscule must mean monstrous; and tiny means enormous! *sarcastic tone* Who needs that stuffy village anyway? We have big brother government!

As noble as her title sounds, it is completely misleading. She is not referring to an intimate group of people that actually care about a child's well-being. Rather, her village is extensive, and cold, and callous. It doesn't care about individuals-- but the mass collective. Does that sound like a village to you?

But this is what confuses me most: people bash the Duggar family all the time, with unbelievable venom, accusing them of not being able to give enough one-on-one attention to each child. But many of the same people have no qualms about dropping their defenseless child off at a daycare where they are placed in a room with 35 other kids the same age. Does that sound like one-on-one attention? Ah, but the teachers are "professionals" so they don't bat an eye! (Maybe someone should inform Mrs. Clinton that in a few years the Duggars may be able to qualify for their very own village! Will that stop the hate-speech? I doubt it.)

From the beginning of time, God has ordained that parents be responsible for their own children.

It does not take a village to raise a child... It takes a family.

"And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." Deu 6:6-7

Related posts:

"Why the World Hates the Duggars" at Get Along Home.
The Fruit of the Womb is His Reward  (Feb 2012)

In a few years, the Duggars could have their own village!