It’s In The Waiting

Mick Jagger from the Rolling Stones sings a song about waiting for a friend. Brad Paisley recorded a song; Waiting on a Woman where Andy Griffith is sitting on a bench with Brad giving him advice about waiting on a woman. Everyday it seems that most of us  are waiting in some sort of line, in traffic, waiting for an appointment, anticipated phone call or waiting for a prayer answered.

Today, we live in what I call a microwave world. We don’t want to wait for anything! Instead, we want our answers right now, we want to hurry up and get to where we are going and NOT sit in traffic. We arrive at our scheduled time for an appointment where we may not actually be seen for an hour passed the appointed time and we grow inpatient and grumble that our precious time is being taken away.

It’s in the waiting where while I stood in line waiting my turn that I have met the neatest people and had the most interesting and sometimes entertaining conversations.  There have been times when sitting in traffic where I look over at a sign that says something I needed to hear or it’s something that makes me chuckle that gets me  through the rest of the day.  It’s in the waiting on an appointment, I have listened to someone share their concerns about a loved one or of something they were going through. It’s in the waiting for that phone call that I was able to think things through and pray a little more before responding to the call that would be coming in.

Waiting is a season in life. All of us go through this season at some point and time. There are those of us who go through this season of waiting many times throughout our lifetime. In this season of waiting, we sometimes feel as though God is not there but in all reality he is there.

From my experience, I sincerely believe God makes us wait so we can experience him all the more. Remember the saying;  great things come to those who wait”?  This quote is true but it is in the waiting where God is showing great things all around us.

But those who wait on the LORD

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

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Your Cheating Heart

In the last week, I have seen Facebook posts and comments from college students who are either gearing up for final exams or have just completed them. When I read these posts, I am taken back to my college days of one last look of notes before the professor enters the classroom and hands out the exams.

Before handing out the exams, the professors/teachers would make sure items were cleared from the desks.  Next, the professor would go over some pointers for the exam and/or explain some of the format. There were times when the exam was handed out that a professor would have an oath to sign on the first page of the test. This oath acknowledged that each student knew the consequences of cheating and that the work on that exam was indeed their own.

In the Christian life, exam time is never over. Our Professor has given us clear instructions of what is expected during this exam. Yet, sometimes a little review is needed.  One clear instruction He gives us in the beginning of instructing us in how to live our exam is in Exodus 20: 1-4; “ I am the Eternal your God, I lead you out of Egypt and liberated you from lives of slavery and oppression. You are NOT to serve any other gods before Me. You are NOT to make an image of anything in the heavens above, the earth below or the waters beneath.”

“No other gods before Me.”  In today’s society, it seems that there are many gods being worshiped and honored outside of our Creator. One that seems to be the most worshiped is money. People can’t have enough of it and/or they covet for things they cannot have because of lack of money. The mentality is; “Life will be complete if I have this or this amount in my bank account.” Yet, as the days go by, more and more people seem less and less content.

I heard a speaker the other day highlighting the world and the shape of the current economy. He gently reminded us that we are a nation that was founded UNDER GOD. But, it seems as we go through the exam, we forget that key answer to passing the exam. The speaker also reminded us that when we quit living Under God whether it be as a nation or as individuals, it will not be long before we fall. Gee, it looks like we are not doing so well. It looks like we have had cheating hearts. When we put other things before God, we are cheating on our relationship with Him.

Remember earlier when I mentioned the professor would have the student sign a statement before taking an exam saying you promised not to cheat and what the consequences were if a student did? Well, as children of God, and as Christians we have an oath we have signed with God with our heart. We are to promise we will not put ‘any other gods before Him.’ 

How are you doing with the exam? Is your heart cheating with the materialism of the world? Are you forgetting to review each morning the instruction book (The Bible)on how to live?

As each one of us goes through our day, let us remember that there is only ONE true GOD. He is our creator and our provider. May we remember money, material things and other ways of the world will not bring true contentment. The only way to have true contentment is to live the life of Christ.  So, begin each day with a review of the Good News, signing our pledge that we will allow God to lead us and that we promise not to cheat with the ways of the world. Let’s commit to walking with God to the very end.

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Hide and Seek

“Suddenly their eyes were open to a reality previously unknown. For the first time, they sensed their vulnerability and rushed to hide their naked bodies, stitching fig leave into crude loincloths.” Genesis 3:7 (From The Voice Bible)

Do you know when the first Hide and Seek game took place? It took place in Genesis 3:7. Remember? God told Adam and Eve NOT to eat from the Tree of Knowledge but they instantly showed they were human and listened to the voice of the serpent. Once they ate from the Tree of Knowledge, we learn that their eyes were opened and they begin to cover themselves and hide from God. But, did they really hide from God? No. God knew immediately what they had done and where they were. Hence, this Hide and Seek game became known as the moment man became separated from God.

When we were children, we have all played the Hide and Seek game. One person is chosen as the seeker and the others are to go hide. Then, the seeker counts to a number and then begins to seek the rest of the group.  I remember times when playing this game where the group would try to trick the one who was the seeker.

As adults, we still play the Hide and Seek game. In this game, we are more like Adam and Eve. We do, say, or think things that we know do not meet the approval of God and His Word. When we sin, we tend to want to go run and hide from God and place the blame on someone or something else. Just as original sin separated man from God, our sin separates us from God.

Yet, when we attempt to hide due to sin, we must realize that God is seeking us. We cannot trick God while we are in hiding thinking he will never find us.He doesn’t want rationale of why we sinned. He doesn’t buy into the blame game or scapegoats because he created us and knows our hearts.  It is in these moments where God  is seeking us the most. God longs for us to come to him through His Son, Jesus Christ, to confess our sin and accept his forgiveness. God sent his Son so that we could be forgiven, not feel ashamed, and have life eternal. Once we seek God’s forgiveness, we must face the realities of our consequences, learn from the mistake, and ask Christ to be our strength to help us when those moments of weakness come again.

How do you want to live your life? A life of hiding or a life of seeking?

Investment Opportunity….the Kingdom

Picture shared by Facebook Friend whom received it from her Facebook Friend. Thank you to the original person who took this and posted. Puts the moment all into perspective.

This past week along with many other communities we faced danger. This danger was an outbreak of tornadoes. For us, the first round was early Wednesday morning. The next round was Friday afternoon. Thankfully, our community was spared with little damage though a tornado was  in our area.  Though I along with others in my community are counting blessings and giving thanksgivings, there are so many people who have suffered loss. Loss of property, loss of loved ones, loss of neighborhoods, communities, and possessions that were dear to them.

This is a scene from the tornado that hit Owensboro in 2000. My husband, Jim was in these very apartments seeing a home health patient when the storm struck. Fortunately, they made it out alive!

When we heard the timing of these outbreaks of storms and when they would reach our area, Jim decided to come home to pick up our youngest baby, Smokey and me to take us back to his office. We have a black lab, Tori which was impossible for us to take with us since Jim works in a healthcare facility. Also, there was not a very good place we could have placed her at his office without interference. Yet, before leaving the house, Jim and I made sure she as secure as she could possible be in our bathroom. Once we secured her, we took a look around our home one more time. Neither one of us really said anything  but I know we were both thinking if we would be coming back to our home or to a pile of sticks. But, at that moment, all that was important was that we were together as a family, to pray and just take a deep breath and hold tight to each other and God’s hand.

As I watch the scenes of devastation, and hear reports from family and friends that were affected by these storms, my heart aches for them. One minute, a family has home and in a matter of seconds it is shattered by force to be reckoned with. The homes are not only shattered to splinters and debris but you can see the hearts and nerves of the victims shattered as well. But, despite this brokenness, they hold tight that they have their family. It is at that moment in time when you look around your home, look across the room at your spouse and/or other family members and realize all that is around you is all material. The true treasures are your loved ones including friends and that no matter what happens to the earthly home there is an eternal home that will never be shattered.

This past week’s devastation gave us all a quick wake up call of how precious life is and I know ALL of us began to assess what is truly important. Matthew 6: 19-21 kept running through my mind and heart; “Do not lay up yourselves treasures on earth, where  moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be.”   We have witnessed not only this past week but through similar tornado outbreaks from the past that our earthly treasures are not permanent. This is why it is so important for us to invest in our relationship with Christ, family, and friends. We must also reach out beyond our walls to those we don’t even know who need to experience the wonderful grace and love of God.

At this moment I have an investment opportunity. This investment is one that will last a lifetime and into eternity. The opportunity I speak of is sharing the kingdom of God during this very emotional time in people’s lives who have lost everything. We can share the kingdom of God through the following ways:

1. Volunteer with helping in cleaning up.

2. Hold the victims’ hands and console them as they work through their emotions.

3. Prepare food for the victims and volunteer workers.

4. Donate what you can in the way of clothing and needs for setting up housekeeping.

5. Pray for all who are involved.

6. Donate funds to organizations like  Red Cross and  UMCOR ( I have a link to UMCOR on the right sidebar).

7. Most of all just love on not only the victims but love on your family and neighbors. 

Let’s not wait for the next horrible natural disaster to happen to invest into people. But, plunge into this investment opportunity right now. Invest by showing the kingdom of God through our actions towards others and simply loving on everyone. As we have witnessed, things can happen in a second and we better have already invested ourselves in the kingdom.  I encourage you to take me up on this offer and join me in investing in the kingdom of God by being a living example of God’s kingdom.

My thoughts, love and prayers are with ALL who suffered through this past week’s events. May these folks feel God’s loving arms holding them  ever so tight during this time. It is my prayer that they are seeing God’s kingdom at work as they pick up the pieces and start anew.

I also would like to say thank-you to the wonderful staff at my husband’s facility for not only allowing him to bring me and my pup up to be with him and to be safe. But for opening their doors to the community for all who needed a safe haven. It was their smiles as they asked for your name for their rooster and their calmness that help small children stay calm and to insure that we were all safe. These people definitely demonstrated the kingdom of God during a time of facing a few minutes of an unknown.

Blessings and Peace-

Smokey...just came back into Dad's office after waiting the storm out with others in our safe place downstairs.

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He IS One of Us

"The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork." Psalm 19:1

One of my passions is music. I love to listen to all genres of music. When I listen to music, I listen closely to the lyrics. The lyrics  can tell you about the artist who is performing the piece, and there’s a message in the midst of the song.

How close do you listen to the lyrics of a song?

There is one song that has been over the airways for quite a while that I continue to struggle with the lyrics. The song is One of Us sung by Joan Osbourne. Some of the lyrics are:

If God had a name what would you call him?

If he had a face what would it look like?

What if God was one of us?

If you could ask him one question what would it be?

When I hear these lyrics, I cringe. I cringe because these lyrics tell me that there are many people out there who are lost. They question God’s true existence. It is evident that they don’t recognize that God is in every fiber of existing in this world.

Do you always agree with the lyrics you hear?

For me, I have answers to these questions. You may or may not agree with my thinking.

 If God had a name what would you call him?  God does not have only one name but he has many names. He is  known as Yahweh, El Shaddi, Father and Adonai to name a few. As I began doing some research prior to writing this post, I came across the site, smilegodlovesyou.org . On this site, there is a long list of names for God along with reference to the scriptures of where you will find that particular name. I encourage you to travel over to this site and check out the many beautiful names for God. For me personally, God’s sweet name is Yahweh,  Heavenly Father, and  Adonai.

Eye of God Nebula

If God had a face what would it look like?  Did you get up this morning and look into the mirror, sat at the table with your loved ones for a meal, or encountered many people throughout your day? Guess what, that image in the mirror, the loved ones at your table and those many people you encountered throughout the day, are what God looks like. ”So God created man in His own image; in the image of God he created him; male and female He created them.”( Genesis 1: 27) No one has ever seen the actual face of God but every day we see his image in every person we look at including ourselves.

What if God was one of us? Guess what? He IS one of us! God sent his Son (John 3:16), Jesus to walk among the human race. Jesus was God’s gift to the world to let the world know that they are loved.  He came to show the world a better way of living.  God lives today. He lives in the hearts of those who have accepted his Son, Jesus Christ, as their Lord and Savior (ah-hh another name for God).  God is the creator and ruler over all the earth.  For me, that is evidence enough that he is one of us.

If you had one question what would you ask him?  We all laugh and say we are going to add certain questions to our list to ask God upon our arrival in heaven. However, when we arrive in heaven, we will have all the answers we need and the list will be wadded up and thrown away. I have a feeling that the very moment we cross that veil from earthly life to eternity, all questions and doubts will be taken away.  Yes, we like to question God and we do question God during life’s events but the end result to our questions is that we must trust God. We must place our hand in his and allow him to take the lead in our lives without question. All that is important for us to know is that God is the Almighty. “I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord, who IS and was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8)

Mark Lowry shares in one of his comedy routines of how his mom calls in at a radio talk show where Madolyn Murray Ohare (“the woman who had God kicked out of school”) was being interviewed and she took Ms. O’Hare “from Genesis all the way through to the maps” in her witness. Today, I have taken you from Genesis to Revelation in my thoughts on this particular song.  But, I leave you with my personal lyrics of testimony.

Yes, God has a name. He is my Adonai, my heavenly Father and the list goes on.

Yes, I know what God looks like. I see the beauty of his image in my family, friends and those I encounter each and every day.

Yes, I know God is one of us. He is the homeless person I have served at the homeless shelter. He is the child who needs a little help with his confidence. God is my neighbor next door. He lives in my heart and the hearts of fellow Christians. It is his Son, Jesus, who is one of us and always among us.-

Yes, life happens. When life happens I want to  question God and sometimes I  doubt. But, it is not the answers to the questions that matter, it is the willingness to trust and walk one step at a time with my God, Father and Adonai. All I need to know is that he IS the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and the Omega. 

YES! God IS one of us! He is our Creator!

Blessings

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Blessings in the Storm

Image via Wikipedia

Life can be difficult at times. Many times we are all faced with unknowns. There are some days when we wish we could look into a crystal ball and get our answers.

But, God did not create us to know everything and especially know our future.  He places the unknowns into our lives so that we will learn to trust him more. It is through the unknowns where we learn to  see the smallest of blessings.

Growing up in a Methodist minister’s home, my family faced an unknown every four to five years. The unknown was would we still be at the same church next year or would we move. Then, if we were going to move, there were days of the unknown of  location of the new assignment my dad would receive.

All of us face unknowns at some point in our lives. Fellow blog writer,  Linda Kruschke posted the other day about how she was facing unknowns with health related issues. She shares how she was reluctant about even writing because of the frustrations she was facing of not getting answers. Yet, she knew that she had to look up, keep on sharing her faith through her writing and just hold on tight to God’s hand.

After reading Linda’s blog, I read comments that were posted sending her well wishes, lifting her up in prayers and simply encouraging her. I also left a comment telling her that I would be praying that she received answers soon and reminding her that God is there walking with her.  I also  shared with her one of the things that got me through my valley of unknowns. It was Psalm 121,. “I lift my eyes unto the hills, from whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.” A scripture of reassurance  that God is always walking with me.

Along with Psalm 121 being the scripture that reminds me that God is there in the valley’s of life, I began counting blessings. Each evening, I would write down at least five blessings that happened during the day. Some of the blessings were just thanksgiving that God woke me up that morning, acknowledging that God had provided me a home, food, and a loving family. As each day passed, despite how bad I felt physically, my blessings list became longer.

Even in the storms of life, God continues to bless us. It is in the valley’s where we experience God’s greatness all the more. Yet, we get so caught up in the circumstances of the unknown that we miss out on the blessings that God has planned for us.

Linda, wrote a follow-up post on Psalm 121. In that post, she added the Casting Crowns song, “Praise You In the Storm.” I smiled as clicked play on the Casting Crowns video. For, it was that song that I played repeatedly day after day as I walked through that valley of the unknown. To Linda, I thank God for nudging her to post the song. For it was a wonderful reminder to me that God is there all the time.   I know that there are more unknowns yet to come to me. And, as these unknowns happen,  I will count my blessings and praise God in the storms.

Are you facing an unknown? Whatever your unknown may be, know that you have a loving God who is walking right beside you. I encourage you to pay  close attention because he has placed blessings along the way. As the old hymn tells each one of us;  ”count your many blessings and see what God has done.”

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Messengers

Telegram Messenger....how delivering a message has changed!

God’s messengers played an important role announcing Christ’s birth. Gabriel appeared before Mary to tell her that she was the chosen one to carry and give birth to the Christ child. Then on the night of Christ’s birth, the angel stood before the shepherds and  announced  the wonderful birth of Christ.

A few days ago, I received the following video in my News Feed on Facebook. It is a video describing what the announcement and birth of Christ may have been liked if shared on Facebook.

Yes, Social Media is a big and booming thing in the world today.  Through Twitter, Facebook, Email, Google, and countless others means of Social Media, word about anything good or bad can be seen by many all over the world. Through Social Media, God is using earthly messages to continue to get the word out about his only Son.  It has been through Twitter, Blog Sites and Email that I have received countless stories of witnessing of Christ at work in people’s lives, and in the world. Social Media has enabled us to share and spread the Good News all the more.

Today, I challenge you to be a messenger of hope, peace, love and in sharing the Good News of Christ’s birth. As you post statuses on Facebook, share what Christ has done for you through the year.  Through your emails remind those receiving the email of Christ and His love for them. Tweet  a message of hope letting your followers know that the one true person to follow is Jesus Christ.

Our world has changed in regards of the way we get information out to the world. God  has his heavenly messengers but he also has his earthly messengers. Won’t you be one of his earthly messengers?  The means of getting the Good News out may be more advanced but the message of Jesus Christ remains the same.

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

‘Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’

    Matthew 2:13-14

Christmas Blessings

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SPAM and SLIPPERY SLOPES

"A man cannot be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted." Proverbs 12:3

Spam. When we hear this word we no longer think of the distasteful luncheon meat but we think of it as junk that comes into our email, blog sites and Facebook. In recent days, I have been hit by SPAM. In my comment section, I received some nicely worded comments which at first when reading thought  these comments sounded okay. Being on a tight schedule this week, I hastily let these comments through. This evening, I  screened some of these comments. Needless to say,  they needed to be SPAMMED and trashed! I was even appalled that some of these had slipped past me and got posted on my comments. The readers that were making what sounded like nice thoughts and said that they appreciated my encouraging words,  were deceiving me into allowing their links to be seen on my site.  Needless to say, some of these links are questionable and go against the very purpose of my website. Delete/Trash is a wonderful option when screening postings, comments and email.

Some of my Facebook friends have been SPAMMED at times. I know when a post hits the News Feed. These posts usually say that my friend liked a link. Then, I see the caption and picture to the link. There is not a doubt in my mind that  the particular post is nothing that my friend would like, read or enjoy. When I have seen this happen, I have tried to let my Friend know that they may want to double-check their account and privacy settings.

The email is no different. Every other day, I go through my Spam box and begin deleting. Most of these unwanted emails are wanting me to join some sort of organization, buy something, or they are  trying to get me to click to win instant money. In other words, they are emails of trying to tempt me into sliding down a slippery slope. However, there are occasions where an email from a friend ends up in the Spam box or a business transaction may land in the Spam box by accident.  When screening through the Spam, it takes discretion, and wisdom to know who is actually legit in order to move the message to the appropriate box.

As I wrote in my post “What Is Your Heart Condition?,”  I share how written words are just as poisonous as speaking them.  People are watching what we say and what we do. Our actions, the materials we read, the comments and links  we share and/or approve or not approve of speak loudly of the real person within.  As children of God, we carry a big responsibility of being accountable for ALL of our actions. We  need to  walk in step with God in EVERYTHING  we do, and to seek His guidance, discretion and wisdom in every moment of our day.

Just like these Spammers, Satan would love to do nothing but to capture one of God’s children and begin them down that slippery slope.  He is an expert in knowing where our weaknesses are, what is most tempting for us, and he knows just how to put that carrot in front of us. Satan would like nothing better for us to believe what he has to offer is a wonderful deal and he attempts to make his words read sweet like honey.  He makes his offers look legit and positive to the point we hit that “Approve” button without a second thought. Only later to find out, it was his cover to lure us to the “dark side” and we needed to hit that “Trash/Delete Permanently” button.

Spam. Just like the luncheon meat there are those who go for it and those who can’t tolerate it. When that carrot of Spam is dangled in front of us to take a chance to win something, to buy something, take a survey, or simply approve a comment or link, it is then we need to pray for wisdom, discernment and ask God to guide us. It is through this careful discernment that we will either hit the “Approve” button or simply “Trash/Delete” button. Believe it or not, there are people out there watching to see which we will do. Thus, what we approve of or disapprove of is a non-verbal witness to those who are placed in our path.  We show our heart condition.

Yes, just like yours truly, there are days when we are not on our A game and we allow comments, links and things of the like get past us.  When this happens, if possible, correct the situation. But, most of all, we need to ask God for forgiveness, learn our lesson and move on. How we handle those slips and stumbles also shows others our true heart condition. 

As I share in my About April and my Greetings, the purpose of my web site is to share the love and light of Christ. My goal is to encourage people in their daily walk with God. If they are not in relationship with God, it is my prayer that something I share may sow a seed and lead them to Christ. Most of all, I want links that are attached to my site to be links that offer the same type of smiles, love and encouragement. In other words, I want you to see my true heart condition.

As you journey in the days ahead carry this Proverb with you:

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

In ALL your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

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God’s Transfusion

"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith." 1John 5:4

The book of Esther in the Old Testament is a book of how God works in what can be the worse of situations. If you are familiar with Esther, you know that there is no mention of God’s name throughout the story. Yet, it is a beautiful example of how God intervenes and can use even the worse of situations to His glory.

When I attended the Walk to Emmaus in 1994, I sat at the table of Esther. Looking back, I now realize the significance of being placed at that particular table for the weekend. My Emmaus experience was a time learning how God can use experiences in my life for His glory. It was a weekend of letting go and letting God so that I could be a better servant for God and see God at work in every aspect and experience life brought me. I learned how every experience in my life good or bad could be used for the Glory of God.

In recent days, it seems like each time the news comes on that there is devastation, hurt and tragedy. As one watches these events unfold, one could easily ask ‘where is God in all fo this?” But, as stories unfold and people step up to share, you can see God is at work even in the midst of such devastation. He is at work through the volunteers who come to help those in trouble, He is at work through those who are sending supplies, and He is at work through those people who simply pray for those affected by the devastation. Then, as time goes on, testimonies of faith and a witness of God’s provisions, protection and His grace come out and are shared. These testimonies demonstrate that God is ever so present. Lives are changed not just from what they may have lost or gone through but they are changed from what they have gained through their faith and walk with God. Just like the Jews during the time of Esther felt that God had abandoned them. Yet, as  the story unfolds they experience God’s great love and see His hand at work. By the end of the story, God’s children once again have the victory!

Along with the natural disasters that have taken place in recent weeks, our family received devastating news. Our son’s best friend from high school who was serving our country with great pride became missing. He was state side and  swimming with a friend in the ocean when he got caught in a rip tide and could not swim out. Being in the Navy, he was trained better than anyone of how to survive in such a situation.  Whew! The wind really got knocked out of  us on this bit of news.

As I questioned God “Why?”, things began to happen and unfold. The first thing to happen was a new friendship was formed. A friend of this gentleman messaged me and asked what had happened. She had seen things posted on Facebook but had not heard what had happened. She was to meet him over the weekend for coffee. She and I began to correspond and through this correspondence I see a beautiful young lady who has a love for life and others. Through tragedy, a new friendship was formed. Then, I received a beautiful note from this young man’s brother. He shared so beautifully the true meaning of brotherly love, what it meant to stay strong because that is what his brother would want. This brother even went on to say how it is hard to understand what has happened that we have to keep living, loving each other and know in God’s time we will see His answers to it all.  Along with the new friendship formed and these words so well written by this young man’s brother, I have seen comment after comment, thought after thought of how this missing brother/son has loved life and those placed in his path. I read how he saw potential in people and how he encouraged them to rise to that potential. Again, just as in Esther, God is at work though we may feel He is absent. Faith is being made even stronger and realization of the importance of loving others becomes even more clearer to the mind and heart.

Sometimes when things happen in life such as the things I have shared, it is hard to want to give God praise and glory. We just want to crawl in a hole and make the world go away. Or, we just keep telling ourselves that we will wake up from this bad dream sometime soon! But, the reality of the situation is still there and always will be. As Christians, we have to be conscious and seek His blessings in ALL that life brings. A while back, I participated in Beth Moore‘s study on Esther. In this study, she shares this thought “God can reverse every negative element in His child’s life and turn it into the positive. He just doesn’t just diffuse the circumstance. He transfuses it.”

In the days ahead, when something happens and you question God, remember God has not abandoned you. He is there and probably doing His best work in the midst of all that is taking place. In the end of it all, there is victory!! Furthermore, believe it or not, as the song goes, “In His Time; He makes ALL things beautiful”  and we become all the stronger on our faith journey with Him.

Blessings

 

He’s Going To Be Fine

 http://aprilhawk.wordpress.com/2011/05/06/he’s-going-to-be-fine/

Never Alone

http://aprilhawk.wordpress.com/2011/04/11/never-alone/

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He’s Going To Be Fine

“Mama I Will Be Fine”

On December 25, 2004, I opened a box from my son, Drew and husband, Jim. In this box was the figurine that you see in the picture. Along with the figurine came a card with this written by the artist; The day our children go off into the world, only one thing is certain, things forever change. It’s a time for letting go, a time to let them test their wings, for one day they will fly free. And with them go our hopes and  prayers for the futures, for God has a wonderful plan for their lives. One will find a cure, one will save a life, one will lead a congregation, and one will lead a nation, but none will go alone.”  Bill Stross (Artist of Prayers and Promises) What prompted Jim and Drew to give me this gift was that Drew would graduate from High School that following Spring and then in the Fall off to college he would go.  This was their way of re-assuring me that Drew was going to be okay as he stepped out into the big world of his own. Jim would always say to me “He’s going to be fine.”

 

Spring, 2005 came and Drew graduated and in August we moved Drew to Western Kentucky University. As we moved him into his dorm and helped him get settled in, I prayed that God would take care of my only baby, give me strength to let go, and give assurance that Drew would be okay.  Then, when all was moved in and Drew resisted anymore help from me, Jim and I said our good-byes and headed for home. Home was only an hour and fifteen minutes away but that was the quietest  hour and fifteen minutes that we had ever rode in our car.  The only words spoken were Jim saying again, “He is going to be fine.”

 

As we approached for home, I prayed to God again. Drew had grown up in a Christian home, had been influenced by many Christian leaders in church, school, and within the community.  I knew it was easy for one to stray and I didn’t want Drew to stray. In my prayer, I asked God to send someone to be a friend, mentor, and that would encourage him in his faith. Later, I found out that about the time I prayed that prayer, Drew had made his way over to the campus gym and locker room. He wanted to find out where he was to meet for running practice and become more acquainted with his surroundings.  When Drew arrived at the gym locker room a guy,Mike Duncan, came up and introduced himself. Mike was a runner for WKU as well and he began to show Drew the ropes. Not only did Mike show Drew the ropes but he invited Drew to attend worship with him on the following Sunday. Drew attended worship with Mike and along the way began a bible study group with the runners and began to share Jesus Christ with fellow teammates. This summer, Drew will marry and Mike will be his best man. 

 

College came and went. Drew comes home from college and announced he would be moving to Chicago. When I first heard the news, I began to worry. Thoughts of him getting mugged, robbed, and countless other things that mother’s are good at worrying about raced through my mind. Again, Jim assured me with the words; He’s going to be fine.”  As we moved Drew to Chicago and helped to get him settled in, I once again prayed for someone to come along to encourage him in his faith and I also prayed for his safety. Again, God showed me Drew was going to be fine, when I heard Drew had found a church, a small group and a Family Group that met weekly. Drew quickly learned how to bloom where he was planted and create a family of his own through these small groups.

 

Two years of Drew living in Chicago came and went. This past March, Drew moved to a new job in Atlanta.   Again, the fret and worry of Drew’s move going smooth went through my mind.  This move did not make me near as anxious since he was moving to the city  where I grew up and he would be close to family. As Drew moved to Atlanta, lived with my parents for a couple of weeks while apartment looking, questions would rise from various family members and at this point I would say; “He’s going to be fine!” 

 

In August, Drew will take the hand of a very lovely young lady, Megan and unite with her in marriage.  As Drew takes Megan’s hand, I will be reminded of how God has taken care of Drew since he left his home.  Then, as they say their vows to one another, I will say another prayer. Only this time, my prayer will be for Megan and Drew and their life together. My prayer will include a life of happiness, opportunities to grow in their faith together,  strength for the down times they will have and, most of all, for their protection as they journey in the days ahead. I know in that moment that God will whisper in my ear “they will be fine.”

 

As a mother, I am a true believer of placing your child into the hands of God. In my experience of motherhood, I have witnessed times with Drew where the only way out of a situation was God clearing the path and placing angels of protection around Drew.  God has re-affirmed to me that Drew is not out there alone nor has he ever been.  However, know that it is not all God’s doing. I have had to work with God in knowing the assurance that Drew was going to be okay. Through the years, I was the biggest cheerleader Drew could ever imagine and probably embarrassed him a time or two. I cheered him on in his school work, accomplishments outside of the academics, in his running and in sharing his love for Christ.  It was years of discipline, wiping tears but, most of all, it was making sure Drew was at church, reading the scriptures with him, praying with him and simply showing him to put his value and trust in his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

 

 For you moms out there whether you are new or experienced, pray for your child/children daily. Place your child in the hands of God. Ask God to feather them with HIS mighty protection. I encourage you to take your children to church, read the scriptures with them, pray with them and show by example what it means to put your trust in God. Along with instilling those values, be your child’s biggest fan and cheerleader!  Then, realize as a child of God that they are never nor never will be out in that big world alone. “He/She is going to be fine.” 

 

Happy Mother’s Day  to ALL mothers this Mother’s Day weekend. May many joys and blessings come your way!

 

“But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3:14-15

 

Blessings

 

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