WOW, 10 months!

Ok...wow...lets try this again, its been almost a year since I've posted last and well...its been a busy year at that. Quick fill in:
In January, there was this:

Because on March 17, 2013 at 12:40 a.m. we welcomed him:

All 6 pounds 14 ounces 21 1/2 inches of him and couldn't have been happier!
Life took off like a speeding bullet! After some sad moments in early April (Shane's mom passed away) and joyful moments of my mom, sister and the twins coming up to visit things started to settle into a "normal" pattern for us. We'd been waiting on what the Army calls a "med board" for Shane. He has lost a significant amount of hearing during his deployment and they felt that he was no longer fit for duty and that they wanted him out of the Army. (I won't go into my bitter rant about this here because I'm actually finally coming to grips with the fact that God has bigger and better plans for us outside of the Army.)
After many months of waiting and not knowing and back and forth with the Army, we finally got word in late October about Shane's disability ratings. Shortly after, his orders were cut and he will be able to sign out of the Army on December 7, 2013 and is officially medically retired from the U.S. Army as of January 28, 2014. At the beginning of this I was upset that we (he) didn't have a longer career in the Army, some do 20 + years and though that was not our goal or intent, we had planned on another 6 or so years, making it to the 10 yr mark and reevaluating things then, but that is not what happened. God has bigger plans for us. So, as of right now, I can't think straight about what I want to post but I will be posting about our experience and the process that our family has gone through with this situation in the future. I want to be a help and someone that other families going through what we are going through can reach out to with questions and uncertainties that the process comes with. For now, I leave you with 100% cuteness

New year New commitment...I hope

Well with the new year and so many new adventures awaiting the "Elliott Family" I wanted a way for more people to keep up with us! I will make every attempt to keep up to date on this blog! For those who don't know, we will be welcoming our first child, a boy to the world sometime in March. His name is Braxton Shane Elliott and we couldn't be more excited! We hope that all are well and have enjoyed the holidays and are settling back into the normal routine.

America's Priorities.

So Whitney Houston died today at age 48 most likely because of a drug use problem. Everyone makes a big deal about  a famous person who loses their life because they have been involved in drug use, but yet no one takes the time to recognize that everyday soldiers are losing their lives and if not lives, their limbs and sense of normalcy?  It is sad that we have become such a shallow country, only recognizing those in the spotlight. We forget about those, such as this young family: http://www.afterblastwarriorwife.com/2011_10_01_archive.html a young soldier who had his legs blown off while serving our country in Afghanistan...HE actually did something for you...yes this famous person may have given you great music or awesome movies but have they helped to contribute to the freedom you enjoy as an American? Or take this young couple for example...http://www.walkingwithmywoundedwarrior.blogspot.com/ these young men will always serve as a reminder as to what a real hero is to me.

Jesus first, yourself last and others in between

So, for many of us who attended Sunday School this was a common song sung. I believe it has some good values to teach children that it is important to help others in their lives, but as they grow up they need to learn that it is just important to take care of themselves as it is to take care of others. I've been learning this the hard way during deployment. Stretching myself further then I can and should be stretched and just not paying attention to my body when it tells me I need some "me time". Recently I've realized I've become emotionally drained, spending all of my energy on others and making sure they are well and they are happy and not paying attention to mine...it is important to learn to balance these lyrics...not the Jesus first aspect, I mean...there really isn't a point you can give too much to God, not after all he has given to us!

The Great Commission

Today at our Church, Parkside Bible Church in Watertown, NY we had a wonderful sermon entitled "The Great Commission". I already love listening to Pastor Bruce Guckelberg, he has an amazing way of catching your attention and drawing you into the sermon to a point where it feels like its just you and him sitting there having a conversation, its great! Anyway he had some wonderful points that I'd like to share.Our sermon was from Matthew 28:16-20

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Pastor Bruce stated how the Great Commission and the Great Commandment go hand in hand. Remember the Great Commandment:

28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
   29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[b] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[c] There is no commandment greater than these.”
 32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
 34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.

Pastor Bruce pointed out that in order to spread the Word of Christ, we need to first remember to LOVE people and then tell them about Jesus. We need to have personal contact. So many churches are trying to reach people via the internet or TV but we need to actually go out and talk to people. Every church, no matter the denomination has to embrace the Great Commission, no church can be higher then the other nor should they believe that they are in a position of power. Another aspect he spoke about was that, although it is good to have fellowship with believers it is imperative that we also have fellowship with non believers as that is the only way we will reach those who do not know Christ.  Pastor Bruce, read some statistics that various religious organizations have researched. He stated that there is near 6800 communities in the world that live in darkness...meaning that they have never heard the Word of Christ, they don't have access to a Bible in their own language and they have no one to teach them.
Back up to him speaking about every believer spreading the word, Luke 22:27 states this:

For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

Pastor Bruce had this idea about Luke 22:27; "But I am among you as one who serves." This is Jesus talking to his disciples at the Last Supper, when they where bickering about who was greater at teaching. He wanted to point out that just because they where at the table that they where the greatest because He was sitting at the table serving them (remember Jesus washed their feet) so that we should not concern ourselves with how "great" we think we are but be concerned with serving others.
Here are the points from the Sermon outline:

1. The Great Commission begins with WORSHIP (Matt 20:17). We need to prepare our hearts by worshiping Him in order to reach others. (this is where fellowship with BELIEVERS is important)
2. The Great Commission Requires intentional strategies for EVANGELISM (it The Great Commission is in Jesus' authority and we need an outward perspective)."
3. The Great Commission requires intentional stratigies for DISCIPLESHIP

• disciple is mathetes which means learner
• if disciple means learner, then we could easily say that "Therefor go and make students of Jesus of all the nations"
• requires ongoing teaching, which for those who have been reached by the gospel but do not have churches begin to lose sight of Christ since they are not continually taught

4.The Great Commission is carried out with Jesus' PRESENCE
5.The Great Commission must be fulfilled in the SPIRIT of the Great Commandment.

• Great Commission and Great Commandment go hand in hand.

• Pastor Bruce also brought this idea up about the "End Times". And I'm going to say what I always say when approached about this subject. 1.) Jesus did not even know when He would return and so therefor we can not rely on a calendar made by others in the past to determine when the end will be. 2.) (this is Pastor Bruce's idea) that Matthew 24:14 Says this:

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Pastor Bruce's idea was that in order for end times to come the world will need to hear the gospel, even reaching those communities, Nations, Tribes and Tongues who have yet to be reached...that's about 6800 people groups...we've got a bit to go.

In closing, the main point was that in order to fulfill the Great Commission we first need to follow the Great Commandment! Then go and be DOERS in the world!

I will be putting the link the the actual sermon on here as soon as it is added to the website.

I have to admit

I have to admit, life has been brought into reality for me in the last few weeks. A good friend's husband had been injured while serving in Afghanistan (actually the guy is one of the NCO's in Shane's unit). It has been so eye opening how things can change in an instant. Thank the Lord that he is on the road to recovery, which will be a long one but is moving forward. Since he has returned to Afghanistan, communication has been very little, I'm praying that he will move areas again soon and it will get better. I try to stay strong and positive, but it is hard sometimes and seeing other soldiers come home makes it harder to see that I'm over halfway over this.
Well, I'm going to waste more brain cells on TV.
Heather

the catch up...the short version

Well, its been almost six months since I have last posted, but I am going to try and do better now. In March, Shane deployed for a 12 month tour in Afghanistan, it was one of the hardest things that I had to do in my life. Kiss him good bye and leave it in the Lords hands to protect him while he is in such danger. Shortly after he left, I took off to stay in PA for the summer. I worked at Camp Allegheny to help pass the time, minister to the children and be surrounded by Christians to help the time pass easily. After the summer, Shane was able to come home for two weeks of R&R (vacation) from his tour of duty. We enjoyed a week at the beach and then time spent with each other and our families. I then dropped him off at the airport to return to Afghanistan and began my trip back up to New York. We have about six more months left of our deployment and I thought it was about time to start getting things in order as well as take care of some appointments. The day I left PA, I got to New York and was not even home for 8 hours when our dear, sweet eleven year old cat, Bailee passed away in my arms at the vets office. She had been suffering from liver disease ( we where unaware of) and would not have even responded to treatment. It has been a hard week, after Bailee's passing I found out a dear friend's husband was shot in the stomach and had to have a kidney removed. Please continue to pray for her as her husband as well as the rest of the military families as we prepare for another six months of having our loved once away.
blessings
Heather