Mission Monday-Operation Worship

Operation Worship

Our Mission Statement:To further God’s touch by enriching the spiritual lives of military personnel and their families with opportunities for worship, discipleship, and spiritual growth in Jesus Christ through contemporary Christian music concerts featuring Christian artists and speakers. To spread the word of Christ through the distribution of God's Holy Word to soldiers and their families, with a special personally written message of encouragement to each one.

The Open Window Foundation was formed by Jeff and Patti Hilliard, as a tax exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit Foundation to provide Christian Music & Bibles to military personnel and their families on military bases. http://www.operationworship.com/Home/tabid/38/Default.aspx

	Contact Us:
	Open Window Foundation, Inc. Operation Worship Tour ™ P.O. Box 967 - Rocklin, CA USA 95677-0967 (916) 624-6500 info@operationworship.com Operation Worship Bible Distribution Center NEW - 4480 Yankee Hill Road, Suite 150 Rocklin, CA 95677 www.operationworship.com

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Freedom Friday-Jesse Kelly

Jesse Kelly

Honoring a patriot is so exciting and rewarding. This is probably one of my favorite days of the week. It is with great enthusiasm that I introduce you to Jesse Nolan Kelly, born of Steubenville, OH on July 20, 1981. The name in itself rings strong and noble. He lived in Toronto, Ohio until he was about ten years old, then moving on to Bozeman, Montana. Kelly had the All-American childhood of a boy, playing with G.I. Joes, toy guns, and pretending to be cowboys and Indians. Like many American boys Jesse also enjoyed hunting and fishing. When times were bad, or slow, fire works on the fourth of July provided for entertainment. When times were good they were able to make it to the amusement parks for extra fun. He played baseball and basketball in junior high and high school, but according to Jesse, he was awful. Jesse said, “I was skinny, slow, uncoordinated, had big feet, and was terrible.” He did have fun playing however. He had an older sister, Mickey, that he rivaled with, who is now an attorney in Oregon. His Dad was in the construction business and worked very hard. His mother stayed at home holding the fort down. Jesse recalls living the good life as a child, the American dream. He was a Christian and went to church early on in life and was baptized around the age of six or seven. He remembers his parents teaching them about personal responsibility and being the best that you can be. He says he remembers his parents telling him that, “Character is what you do when no one is watching”. Jesse began to backslide a little in his faith during his high school years and while he was in the Marine Core. Though he cannot remember the exact moment or date, he vividly remembers in 2003, about a week before the war was declared and before they crossed the enemy lines, his faith would be reestablished. Speaking with a chaplain, Jesse realized his separation from God and recommitted his life to Christ. Like most boys his hero growing up was his father. To Jesse, his father was the biggest and most powerful person in the world. Love, admiration, and respect resounded in his voice as he spoke of his father. I could sense a respect that he carried for him, both then and now. While his father was his hero, his mother probably had the greatest influence on who he is today. In Jesse's own words, “My mother was really special. She had the biggest heart of anyone I know. She taught me what kindness really is”. Jesse does not recall a strong desire for any specific career while growing up. He was always interested in business. He went to Montana State University for one year after high school. Feeling as though his life needed some straightening out and getting put back on the right track he was pulled to the Marine Corps. He had always had a natural boyish draw to the military as this was evident in his G.I. Joe and toy gun collection days. His parents supported him but were naturally afraid for his safety, as any parent would be. One of the hardest lessons Jesse has learned is that you never have truer friends than the ones you fight with in battle. Unfortunately he also experienced the devastating loss of some of those true friends. This is a great example of John 15:13, “Greater love has no man than this, that one lay down his life for his brother”. Going to war is difficult enough in itself as it presents many opportunities for fear and the unknown. For Jesse one of the most difficult missions he went on was on the first or second day into the war. His team was seizing an oil field and they came across some Iraqi Republican Guard troops who had taken a five year old girl. In front of Jesse and his team, the Iraqi Republican Guard shot the little five year old girl in the chest and left her lying there in the road, knowing the Marines would reach out to her and assist her. It was at that pivotal moment that Jesse came to the realization that these men were horrible animals. His team of course picked her up and brought her to medical assistance. To this day he does not know the status of the precious girl's life. Jesse did not get to experience many desirable tours around the world during his service, but his favorite place is the beaches of Okinawa. He enjoyed the beautiful water and scenery. Everywhere else, according to him, was a dump. Kelly served and completed for years in the Marine Corps with an honorable discharge. After proudly serving his country Jesse moved on to work in the family construction business in Tucson, AZ. Managing multimillion dollar infrastructure projects for state and local governments, his duties included: estimating, scheduling, budget analysis, and human resource management. Jesse began leaning in a different direction other than the construction business when the current administration started passing reckless legislation and radical bills, such as the $787 billion Spending Bill, with his son's money and that of his future grandchildren. Jesse, quite differently than most, went to prayer as he seriously considered running for office. He went to his wife, Aubrey, who is also his best friend and confidant. They prayed together and discussed the possibility of him running for office in great detail before making the final decision. He recalls sitting on the couch and watching the news in astonishment as the Spending Bill passed. It was then that the final decision was made. It was time to stop these people. Although George Washington is Kelly's favorite all-time president, Ronald Reagan provides a model example for Jesse as he enters the political arena. Jesse always loved America and thought it was a great country. Now, he knows it is the greatest nation. He says that a government who is taking care of you ends up controlling you and that is not American. I asked Jesse if he will allow God to lead him in his decision making as a politician. His response, “Absolutely, it is who I am, how can I deny that? It is in line with what I believe”. Kelly promises to listen to the voice of the people when voting on and passing legislation. In his own words, “We're fighting for you. We're gonna take our country back, take heart”. He is not certain if he will make a career out of politics or not. His main goal is to defend his country and to get it back on the path it needs to be on. He has no idea where God will lead him next. Jesse Kelly is involved with his church and enjoys every moment he can get with his family. He greatly enjoys the time he gets to spend with his wife and best friend, Aubrey. They met in college and he proposed to her ten months later. She was there on a gymnastics scholarship. Aubrey is his best friend and he brings everything to her in confidence. Jesse says that their marriage and life get better every day. Without Aubrey, who is willing to stay at home and manage the household and the family, he would never be able to do what he is doing. I don't know about you, but this sounds like a very wise man. One that recognizes that behind every strong and good man, there is a stronger woman. I think he is going to do a fantastic job, based on his previous performances. He seems to realize when he is getting off track and understands what it takes to get back on. He is not ashamed to seek guidance from our Heavenly Father or from those wiser than him. He is not too proud to find strength and support through his wife. Jesse has served and protected our nation with heroic efforts and true honor and patriotism. He seems to have a sense of foresight and knowledge of the effects of reckless government and legislation. Learning from history and standing firm to the Constitution, Jesse Kelly is a true patriot and all-American. God bless you Jesse Kelly and good-luck. May God bless you and may God bless America.

An Indescribable Faith

An Indescribable Faith

Faith is believing in the things that you cannot see, trusting in something that is not tangible. Peace is freedom from disquieting or oppressive emotions or thoughts. We are taught in God's word to have faith. We should pray for the faith even the size of a mustard seed. How are we to believe in and have faith in something that we cannot see or touch? How do we know if our faith is real? Do you have faith? Faith in what? Faith in God is what I am speaking of here. Faith that carries you through the toughest and rawest of times packing a strength that allows you to have peace in the midst of a category five hurricane. If you have been following my stories at all you will know by now that my life has not been without excitement. My faith is in God, my Lord Jesus Christ. People have asked me if I have this same faith during bad times. They have asked me how I know that it is faith that is carrying me through these times. I will share with you how I know.

It was the year 2002 and my husband and I had been married a little over a year. Nichole was eight years old. I was told I would never be able to have children. I already had one, God is amazing. We were not planning on adding to the family just yet, however, I was pregnant. Nichole was born when I was nineteen years old on December 19, 1994, before I had married. Nichole is a responsible, funny, and independent young lady. She has a love and respect for God and she shares her faith openly with her friends. I had prayed for my husband before I even knew him. I prayed that the Lord would prepare me for him also. This is another story in itself. This took an amount of faith that I cannot describe. All I can tell you is that I knew God had someone in mind for me. My husband and I met when my daughter was five years old. When he proposed to me on Valentine's Day, he also “proposed” to Nichole. He asked her if he could be her dad. He legally adopted her and is the only true father she has ever known. This has been another great testimony in my life and Nichole's. So, back to this pregnancy that was not supposed to be. Even though we had not planned to have a child at the time, nothing but excitement and joy filled our hearts when we found out. I still did not “feel” pregnant by the sixth week as I was not showing. I assumed I was just lucky in not being affected by the morning sickness. At this, I was absolutely ecstatic. By week nine I had gained a couple of pounds. I was very tired. This was a good sign, and thank goodness still no morning sickness. Things were beginning to change a little bit, my tummy was growing slightly as well as my chest. This happens when you get pregnant for those of you who do not know. I made it passed week twelve, yea! I was scheduled for an ultra sound at sixteen weeks. We were anxiously waiting to see the child that God had created and find out if we were having a boy or a girl. We brought Nichole to the appointment. The technician began the ultrasound along with copying it to our video tape. Back then it was a VHS tape. Not very long into it she had a cold, blank look on her face. She kept looking at the screen, at me, then at the screen. She stopped the tape I noticed. I was looking at the screen. I saw it on her face. I felt it deep in my throat. Threatening tears began swelling over my lids. My heart began racing and my throat began to close. I couldn't breathe. My husband looked nervous. The technician told us the news. The “fetus” had stopped growing at six weeks. For some reason however, my body was still reacting as if the pregnancy was still going well. There was no heart beat. Nichole began sobbing. I went into an asthma attack. We were brought into another room and waited to speak with the doctor. We had two options. I could wait for the “fetus” to “abort” itself, or I could have a D&C, which is where they remove the “fetal matter”. I put the word fetal in quotes because that is how the staff referred to our baby. Our child had a heart beat and a soul. How do I know that? I know that because our child made it to six weeks gestation. A babies heart starts beating by five weeks. How do I know this for sure? I know this for sure because for one, I heard Nichole's heart beat at five weeks, and two, I heard this baby's heart beat at four and a half weeks. That was not a fetus or fetal matter. That was our child. We went forth with the D&C. I wept for about a day or so. I mourned. My husband mourned. Nichole mourned. I still remember that day like it was yesterday. Two days later I felt God speaking to my heart. I felt God's calming spirit letting me know that our child was safe in heaven with Him. I had come across Psalm 30:5 “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning”.

Peaceful assurance overflowed within me. Unexplainable peace reverberated throughout my inner being. I cannot explain fully the weight that was lifted as God spoke to me through that verse. I immediately felt that it was okay for me to have wept and felt sorrow and pain. It was also understood that peace and joy would take the place of the pain and sorrow. I began to understand that my God was such a loving God and He had a reason for our child going home to Heaven earlier than we had expected. I was at total peace with that. I had faith that my Father was and is watching over our child. He has carried me through that very difficult time and has allowed me to use that experience to share my relationship and faith in Him with others. The peace I felt was an indescribable faith in God and His love for my child and me.

I had to go through a physical recovery period as well. That lasted about six weeks. I had gotten pregnant again about six months later. Again, we were excited, yet on guard. Somehow, I felt that there was an underlying issue that may be keeping me from holding the pregnancies. Mind you, the doctors told me I would never be able to have children due to endometriosis. What do they know? I had Nichole. I got pregnant after Nichole. This time, I was conscientiously distancing myself until I saw the ultrasound. I had a horrible doctor at the time and went in for my first appointment. I had told him about the miscarriage. He did not seem very concerned. He did not take any steps of urgency or precaution. We heard the baby's heart beat at the six week appointment. I was not scheduled again until twelve weeks. I did not need that appointment. Around eight weeks I had a miscarriage. This would happen a third time. I ended up doing some research and found that Lupus and various other auto-immune diseases could cause multiple miscarriages. I pressed my doctor, a new one, to test me for this. I actually had some similar symptoms as well, so I brought in my list. When I met with the doctor the first thing he told me was I was depressed. He told me that anybody who brings in a list most often is depressed. I did not care. “Fine”, I told him. “But I still want you to test me for Lupus and these other possible diseases”, I told him. He reluctantly and adamantly he did so with an arrogant tone. Three days later his office called me back in. I did not test positive for Lupus, but I did test positive for auto-nuclear antibodies. I was referred to a Rheumatologist. I have been with one ever since. I also changed doctors. He never did apologize. I got pregnant again. This time I was assigned to a Perinatologist who would oversee my pregnancy. I remember driving on my way to my first appointment and praying out loud in the car. I was listening to Hill Song Hymns singing There's Power in the Blood. I was singing it, praying it, and believing it. I had an overwhelming feeling that I was going to hear this child's heart beat. I also had an overwhelming peace and faith that this child was going to be born, and born healthy. I had sonograms every month and they monitored me and the pregnancy very closely. Along with taking a baby aspirin daily I was put on restrictions, not allowed to work out or lift more than five pounds, etc. Early on, they found several hot spots on the baby's heart and excessive fluid in the placenta. As the end of the pregnancy neared I was having sonograms weekly. The fluid levels got so high and oxygen levels in the placenta so low, they admitted me for delivery at 36 weeks. Instinctively I knew this and had brought my bags with me. My husband was in basic training at the time and could not be there for the birth of his first son. My sister-n-law, Beth Saladino was my labor coach for the second time. My mother and mother-n-law were also there. Robert Anthony was born on February 25. 2005. He is a healthy young boy with a contagious love for God. God provided me with an indescribable faith throughout this entire pregnancy. Somehow He let me know that everything was going to be okay.

This indescribable faith carried through to my next pregnancy with Lena Mary. This one also required an aspirin a day, frequent visits to specialized doctors, and many sonograms. Hot spots showed up on her heart as well, fluid levels were low, however, I did not get induced on an emergency basis. I went to labor on my own the day I was scheduled to be induced. During delivery, her heart rate dramatically dropped as did mine. About ten doctors and nurses ran in and talked of an emergency C-section. The nurses injected a needle in my stomach to stop the labor allowing our heart rates to recover and if they did not, we would go in for the C-section. God stepped in and Lena's heart rate recovered. Lena Mary joined our family on May 16, 2005. She suffered a kidney infection and multiple febrile seizures at ten months of age that hospitalized her for four days. She underwent a spinal tap and various other harsh tests, all while my husband was on mission. but God is faithful. God carried me through and allowed me to have an indescribable faith while treading through treacherous territory. Lena also has a fervent love for Jesus.

Caroline Rose brought on eight months of non-stop morning sickness and nausea that I gladly accepted as proof that the pregnancy was going well. Same scenario for the doctors, visits, and aspirin Caroline Rose joined us on March 20, 2007. We were in the hospital for four days, they had found a heart murmur. Apparently a pretty common thing. She has now been diagnosed with a pulmonary stenosis that is monitored annually. She is as vibrant, strong, happy, and healthy as can be. She tries very hard to keep up with her three siblings. To this day Caroline Rose has suffered a fractured skull from pulling a Christmas tree down on top of herself and a spiral fracture to her tibia from jumping, or being pushed, off of her brothers bed. She is not even three yet. Being a mother of this child requires an indescribable faith.

Saying good-bye to my husband on a daily basis, I do not know for sure if he is going to work around the corner, or around the world. When we say good-bye I do not know if it is the last time he will wrap his arms around me or if we will hold each other again. When he calls me from overseas and I hear his lovely voice, I do not know if I will get to hear his comforting words or if they will be a forced memory. When my husband goes on mission, whether he returns the same man or physically transformed from combat wounds are beyond my knowledge. My God carries me. He provides an indescribable faith that allows me to push on with confidence. Every night that I kiss my children good-night, put them on a bus, or drop them off at school under another person's care I do not know if that is the last time I will kiss them. Every time I have a medical procedure and am put under anesthetic, I am not certain I will wake up and see my family. Trusting that my children will be well taken care of and provided for rests in my peace and faith in God. Every detail of my life is uncertain. Clinging to the promises that I have in spending eternity with my heavenly Father when I leave this world provide me with an indescribable faith that I wish I could put into words. The only way I know to put it is the peace I have is an indescribable faith. A faith that can only be found in the Lord Jesus Christ. May God bless you and may God bless America.

Wordless Wednesday

Words of Hope Western Uganda

Biblical Baking

Biblical Baking

Recently our children have been arguing over who completes what chore and which one is more desirable. I decided to take the quarrel to the Bible. Going to Nehemiah, I shared with the young ones how God called the Israelites to rebuild and gave each person very specific tasks. Some of them were not as exciting as others. For instance, guarding the dung gate would not necessarily thrill me to pieces. However, it does have its rewards. I imagine many people would avoid it, even enemies. You may be safer their.
We can find fantastic lessons in Nehemiah on the rolls of each member of a body. God made it very clear that we each have a significant part to play in carrying out His will. However, if we choose to not obey, that does not mean His will is not going to come to fruition. To the contrary, God's will is going to always be completed with or without us. If we choose to ignore His calling or commands then we will be left out of experiencing the added blessings He has to offer. What if you are not a grand, talented, powerful, or in the front of the scenes kind of person? God has not called everyone to be in the lime light. He has not called everyone to be missionaries in Africa, China, or across the world. God realizes the mechanics it takes to build a functional and working team that can reach the world. If everyone were missionaries there would be no one left to teach and minister to those left back home. If everyone were to teach, there would be no one to teach. As the parable goes about the body; if the body consisted just of hands it would not be functional, or just of eyes. Or, if every part of the body tried to perform the function of the foot, imagine how awkward and non-functional that would be. Obviously and eye cannot perform the tasks of a foot. The eye is for seeing, the foot is for walking. They both have very specific purposes, both are created differently to enable the functionality. Together, performing their individual job they can help us walk.
To get this point across to children can be a rather challenging task. I am a hands-on learner, therefore I think in that capacity when trying to teach. So, to the kitchen. We were going to bake cinnamon rolls. I prepared all of the ingredients and sat them out. They were so excited to make cinnamon rolls as they are so tasty. A child's mind does not realize that the individual ingredients do not taste like the finished product. They each immediately began shouting out which job they wanted to perform and as usual, it was the same job. Just as I had planned, on cue, a great opportunity for hands-on learning. I began to share the story of Nehemiah with them as well as the body having many parts but each having a single primary function. I explained how together, with team work, they perform beautifully and functionally. So, I asked them who would like to be the baking soda? Soda? (Our children rarely get soda). Mmmm. "Me, me, me!" I poured some baking soda into a spoon and asked them to close their eyes and stick out their tongue. They each got a taste. Now, who would like to be the baking soda? No one answered. I just received a few snarled looks. Fine, I will be the baking soda. This went on with each ingredient. I asked them how they liked each ingredient and which one was their favorite. Of course the sugar won the flavor award. As each child added their ingredients the dough began to come along nicely. I set aside a small amount of dough. Then I asked them who wanted to knead the the rest. Excitement rang out. I allowed the youngest to go first, it would be easier in the beginning. She did not last long. Then the next one. Lastly, I asked my son to knead the dough. I just smiled as each of them realized how hard it was and how quickly their little hands got so tired. They asked me why did we have to knead the dough and can we just skip that part. I explained the necessity of it and what would happen if we left it out. I took out the small amount that I had set aside and suggested we not knead that one and see what happens. They anxiously watched the dough to see it rise. After about thirty seconds boredom set in and they ran off to play. A little while later they remembered the dough and checked on it. Wide eyed, they came running to me. "Mommy, mommy, it worked. It grew. Are the cinnamon rolls ready to eat now?" I let them taste a smidgen of it. They agreed they were not quite ready, baking was still needed. I then pulled out the small amount that had not been kneaded. It had not risen very much at all. We proceeded with creating the rolls and placed them in the oven. We iced them with home made icing. I also let them perform the ingredient taste test for this. Amazingly enough, the individual ingredients did not do so well. The milk was probably the safest. The vanilla was too strong by itself. The powdered sugar was just awkward, but tasted fine. The end result, the iced cinnamon rolls were the winner. The unkneaded were flat and not as gdelectable, but tasted the same. We discussed how each ingredient alone may not have tasted great but was very important in creating such a tasty treat. If we had left just one ingredient out we would have ended up with something totally different and not nearly as good. Not all jobs were as glamorous as originally thought to be. Icing the rolls became the favorite. Kneading the dough was the toughest. I explained to my children that just like baking rolls a family has ingredients. We each must do our share or job. While it may not be the grandest job, it is necessary. If someone's job is to load the dishwasher, someone has the job of putting the detergent in, and then someone else must turn it on, all three jobs are vitally important. If one person fails to their job we will not have clean dishes to eat our tasty cinnamon rolls on the next morning. The whole family relies on each other. I then took it to the church and explained the church works in the same way. Not everyone gets to be on the stage. Not everyone wants to be on the stage. If there is no one willing to build the stage, then it does not really matter anyhow.
So, Biblical baking taught us each a very valuable lesson that we will probably never forget. I hope. Or, maybe we shall just keep baking. May God bless you and may God bless America.
(I did not have pictures of us baking cinnamon rolls)