Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Sometimes life is like a discarded melon rind!

Ever feel as if your life is full of holes? Something has gouged out pieces, chunks – leaving craters, empty places – the losses, the grief – so hard to experience, so difficult to face.

I read Jesus Calling this morning and was FILLED with hope, courage and thanksgiving!

Listen to these words, say them out loud and let the God of all comfort fill all the holes, each of the empty craters and jagged tears of your heart . . . 

MY GOD answers me

MY GOD delivers me from all my fears

MY GOD fills me with His radiance

MY GOD never puts me to shame

MY GOD hears me

MY GOD saves me from all my troubles

MY GOD fills me with His strength

MY GOD welcomes me to seek His face

MY GOD is the Father of compassion

MY GOD is the God of ALL comfort

MY GOD comforts me

MY GOD spills over from my heart to show His comfort to others

MY GOD uses me to draw others to Himself!

Psalm 34:4-6, Psalm 105:4, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

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Friday, October 11, 2013

What You Are!


YOU are my salvation and my honor!
YOU will never leave me!
YOUR Presence is my shield!
YOU surround me with the light of your Presence!
YOU call me:
chosen one
a Royal priest
holy
belonging to YOU!
YOU never change -
You are the ALMIGHTY!
YOU are my life and peace!

I read something the other day that opened my eyes . . .

“When we begin to understand His love we trust” . . .

as our understanding increases so does our trust . . .When we see Him as our BELOVED we only have eyes for Him and dance in His light!!!!!

Romans 8:6, Revelation 1;8, Psalm 62,1 John 4:16

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Wednesday, September 25, 2013

60–Wow, can I do this again!!!!!

In a recent blog I bemoaned the fact that 60 was fast approaching and I hesitated to embrace it. Silly me!

September has been a “celebration month”! I did this to ease the blow of the 24th, but seriously, I am “gobsmacked”! Not only has the Lord showered me with His incredible spiritual blessings in  working at Involved for Life, but my loved ones have rained love and surprises on me till I sit with my mouth open and shaking my head in amazement digging into a bowl of raspberries, cream and honey at 11:00 in the morning! (Celebrating, ha!)

Sunday, a wonderful sermon then lunch with Andrew, John and Marsha. Sunday supper with Dan and Donna! Then . . .

My precious husband stepped out of his comfort zone to surprise me. Now this a feat in itself. I am not easily surprised! He cannot easily keep a secret! 

Monday -  a day of not knowing where I was going or what I was doing only “we are going to peel the onion of surprises today!” WHAT FUN!!!! Driving to Allen in the morning to take Jack and Peyton to preschool. Hugs and kisses – what a special but quick time! Hugs and Kisses from my big boy, Kevin, as well! then the  “onion peeled again” and Bruce, as he was driving north stated “you are going to have a SPA DAY”! Now, that is a DREAM come true!!! When he picked me up 5 hours later I was a bowl of Jell-O and oh, so soft! At home, he led me to the stairs, and looking up I saw a progression of 6 BIG bags with SOMA written on each. “One for each DECADE”, he stated! And then said “open them and enjoy but we have to leave in an hour for supper!” Tears and smiles – you can imagine!!!!! Supper was at a wonderful restaurant in Plano – The Capitol Grill. Oh, did we enjoy it all!

Tuesday, Pappy playing the traditional “Happy Birthday” music box on the phone then a surprise breakfast at work! I have to tell you, my co-workers are amazing women and I feel honored and humbled to work side by side with these precious sisters, loving hurting women and seeing souls born into the Kingdom of God! After work, we hurried home for dinner with my dear friend, Christie. Upon opening the back door I was greeted with Wendy’s welcome and a living room full of balloons and banners! (thank you, Christie!) and then on to a delicious supper!  Upon coming home the phone rang. Sweet voices – Shannon, Kevin, Kate, Campbell, Peyton and Jack singing  “Happy Birthday”! Another call – Andrew, Cory, Lily, and Finnlay wishing me a “Happy Birthday!” Another call, Dan and Donna, and messages from friends and family near and far! Facebook is filled with well wishers, and we are not done yet!!!! The family celebration is coming next month! I am excited about this new journey of the SIXTY’S!!!!! 

Pardon me for sharing so much about this birthday! It is to encourage each of you in this:  The Lord knew of my true feelings about this small thing and has done nothing but pour out His love, His blessings, His affirmation through my precious family and friends to me. He is ever ready to surround us with His love. He wants nothing more than to show His ‘DADDY-side” and bring us joy. Join me in seeing Him clapping at the gates of Heaven as our thanks and love for all His "gifts" fill His courts with praise! 

James 1:17
Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father,
who created all the lights in the heavens.
He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Don’t Wallow in the Pain!


Have you ever felt you have been abandoned, are alone, face in the dirt and hit in the gut with a pain that won’t let you catch your breath. Someone special has betrayed you and even shattered your heart into pieces by words you never thought you would hear? Or perhaps you feel there is no one at all who understands what you are going through? The walls of the room you are in has no windows and there is no door, you feel trapped with not way to get out.

We all feel like this at one time or another! Others will fail us, our loved ones will disappoint us, some more than others and some more painfully than others. If we dwell in this mire it will suck us down deep till we can't move or think. Grief takes time and healing takes time but as the healing happens we have to remind ourselves we can't wallow in the pain . . . it becomes a pity party and we need God's wisdom and guidance to see the difference between facing the pain and being comfortable in it.

Before our salvation, we were in darkness, alone, left, and then the Light came into our lives and embraced us in His circle of light, not just around us but in us. Satan wants us to cover that Light with our sorrows, our disappointments, our doubts, our pity parties. BUT CHRIST is not in that!

He says " come! You are not abandoned in ME - I will never leave you or forsake you. You are never betrayed in ME! I love you with an everlasting, unfailing love that is unconditional! You are not left alone in ME! I am with you always, I am inside you, I am surrounding you and My hand is on you! You are not divorced from ME! I am your Beloved, you are my beloved and the wedding supper is being prepared as we speak! "

Yes, your heart has been ripped apart, but Jesus is giving you a new one. A tender heart that will see pain in others and a wise mind to help them in time. He has promised to be our strength when we are weak, it only takes faith as small as a grain of mustard to move mountains! Keep your eyes on Him, not on the negative things that hit you but on the evidence of GOD's hand in your life. Crawl up in the King of Kings lap and let Him just hold you and rock you and tell you He loves you and that love will never go away but only grow stronger and brighter as the days go by. Allow His love to heal your heart and make it new. Stay in His arms, He Will Carry You. At the right time, He will gently put you down and hold tightly to your hand as you walk your journey with Him.

Get angry, not at the circumstances but at Satan who is the destroyer! Then smile, because the battle has already been won and we are under the Victor's command! Our Warrior King is greater, He is there with you now with arms open wide to embrace you with love and peace!

Walk, with your head lifted up - He is your King of Glory, He is the Lord of the battle who is before you and your rear guard. He is your JOY and your PEACE - you are His beloved - precious, holy and righteous in His sight because of Christ. Don't give Satan the joy of seeing you wallowing! Submit to God, resist the Devil and HE WILL FLEE!!

Picture him high-tailing it out of your apartment, your home, your work! Scurrying off as fast as he can to get away from the LIGHT OF THE WORLD! Is that not a sight to bring a comfort to our heart and a praise to our King!

One day at a time, one hour at a time, one minute at a time - trust Him. Keep saying out loud, "Jesus, I trust you and I need you" He hears, His heart is tender and He RUNS TO YOU!!!!! He scoops you up in His arms and holds you tightly!

We all need to be reminded of this wonderful fact that our God is Sufficient for all life's problems and anything Satan throws at us. He is there in front of us to receive most of the blow  and only what brings us to Him He allows to slip through His fingers!

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Lessons learned . . .

Are the days flying by faster than normal????

September is here – the middle of September is here! 101 days till Christmas! School is in full swing, where did the summer go?

Last week is a blur. Yet God’s hand was strongly evident in the lessons He provided.

In all that we do, in all our plans, preparations, thinking . . .

Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, 
but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand
 
Lesson number one: God is in control . . .He has planned from the beginning this day . . .He will direct and establish our work! BE STILL!
 
Isaiah 29:16
You turn things upside down,
as if the potter were thought to be like the clay!
Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it,
“You did not make me”?
Can the pot say to the potter,
“You know nothing”?
Isaiah 64: 8
 Yet you, Lord, are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
Lesson number twoHe is the POTTER . . .His way is perfect. . . He knows what is best for His work, His ministry, His beloved children!  We wait on Him, His leading, His loving hand to mold us into His beautiful creation, fit for the Master’s use!




Wednesday, September 11, 2013

If you can’t see His hand, trust His heart!

These words remind me of a song I heard long ago and how true they are.

We can’t see beyond the circle of light. We are so limited in the very NOW and not beyond. We are blindsided, felled by strong winds and swept away by rip tides, YET . . .

Who is our God?

He has undisputed Supreme Power (Sovereign)
He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings
He is present everywhere and at all times (Omnipresent)
He has unlimited authority (Omnipotent)
He is mighty to save
He is Holy
His love is infinite, unconditional and unfailing
His gift of grace and mercy
He is Creator of all things and holds all things together
He is my Shepherd
He cannot lie
He cannot deny His own
He is my Father, my Abba (Daddy)
He is Prince of Peace
He loves me
I am His
He knows my name and listens to my voice
He sings over me with gladness
My name is written in the palm of His hand
He is my anchor 
He is my refuge
He is my strength
He is my Rock
He is my Fortress
He is my Deliverer
and my Protection
He is my Provider
He calls me "Precious, Daughter!" 
He is unchanging, the same yesterday, today and forever
He is the beginning and the end
 
I we can’t see His hand . . . .Trust His Heart!






























Monday, September 9, 2013

Walking in the light . . .

This morning . . .oh, brother!

Getting up early is not my thing! 

Wendy’s appointment for 7 am grooming means leaving the house at 6:30 to drive to Coppell from our home in Carrollton. And this time of year it is still dark outside . . . problem: NEW CAR!!!!!

Merrily, Wendy and I jumped into the car and off we drove to Coppell. Traffic was not too bad but still lots of activity on the road. Speaking of road! There was a little curve at an intersection and Whoa! the curb was there before I knew it . . . no, I did not hit the curb in the center of the road but it surprised me. Couldn’t help thinking how my eyes were not working.  Then dollar signs multiplied in my head as I thought of eye testing, new glasses , on and on and on!

Arriving  at the groomers, sqinting my eyes to see the turnoff, I shut the car off and reached for 
the  . . . LIGHTS!!!!  Yep, I did not have the lights on . . . the whole way! No wonder I couldn't see well. I laughed, the lights came on automatically in our other car.

This got me thinking about walking in the Light of our Lord. We can’t see well if we are outside His light  – just shadows and shapes, grey to blackness. It hurts our mind's eye and heart to squint and see what's around us. We have difficulty navigating, becoming frustrated and anxious . . .we loose our peace, the joy is gone and we struggle and we are afraid.

How wonderful it is that we just need to whisper, “Jesus, I trust You, I need You” and our world explodes with light and zooms into focus. We don’t need to squint and strain to see. The worries and fear fly away, trust is renewed, our hearts are bathed in His peace and we are secure in His Presence -  walking in His LIGHT!

Psalm 27:1
The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid? 

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