Category: his presence

Cinderella

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I have always been drawn to the Cinderella story, but what girl hasn’t. The movies where the unlikeliest girl finds her Prince Charming and lives happily ever after. To bad fairy tales are just dreams. Well we all have a Prince Charming that wants to give us everything we can imagine. A full and an exciting life. People just can’t fathom that Christianity could be anything but hard work and giving so much up. They don’t want to give up the crumbs they have right now for the unknown. I want what I want. But what if you could have so very much more? Most stroke victims have memory issues and brain fog. When I first came to after my stroke I had nothing. I could not move, speak, or even open my mouth. I was locked in. But I did still have my mind. I prayed that I would not lose that. Anything else I could live without. I slowly did get a lot back but accepted the losses. But living in a nursing home forever? That took a lot of time to accept. But it is now my home and my safe place with people who love me. But I have gotten to know my Prince Charming and he has overwhelmed me. Just when I start thinking things are good. They get so much better. He likes to do that. He has promised to do more than I could ever imagine, so he does. My life gets more fulfilling every day. I wake up excited. Ok what’s today, Lord? I do keep my part done, but you couldn’t keep me from spending time with him because it’s the best part of my day. Just talking about anything and everything. When you really know someone you can just spend a lot of time with them. He knows the things that are important to me and it might not be much. But it’s always more than I expect. So I do have my happily ever after.

What about you?

Family

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“They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brothers.” Acts 1:14 NIV

“All the believers were together and had everything in common.” Acts 2:44 NIV

Once you become a Christian it is important to feed your soul. Read the Bible and pray. But one thing is very important. Now you are a member of a very elite and important family. You are a member of the family of God. Continually be around others who are part of this family. People who believe as you believe. Don’t try to do life on your own. You will only feel empty and alone. The world is a tough place and we need all the help we can get. There are others just like you who are lost, lonely, scared, confused, and struggling. Together you will be complete and fulfilled. When we come together as family we can lift each other up. Where two or three of you (Gods family) come together, I am there with you. Although the Lord is always with us, having other family members around us is like armor against the enemy. We are stronger together and harder for the enemy to tear down. A three strand cord of us and our father is strong and will deter our enemies. When you are alone you are weaker and the enemy can come against you easier. When you are around others you learn to love and support them. Be open and transparent, others have the same struggles you do. This is a form of bonding that draws you together. It is very hard to betray someone you have grown to love and respect, and can relate to. Someone with similar struggles and fears. With a common goal of furthering the kingdom (the family). You are on the same team fighting for the same things. You lean on each other, family takes care of their own. You grow more when you are around others who are seeking God’s will for their lives. It is important to sing praises and enjoy each other. The presence of God is so empowering. Never take it for granted.

Do you seek out other Christians to bond with?

The Present

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“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3 NIV

I have felt such complete peace lately. I always start my days by thanking God for another day, the air in my lungs, and the love of Jesus in my heart. He is already ahead of me. He has already planned this day perfectly for me in advance. Everything whether good or bad is all planned for my good. I have agreed to rejoice and be glad in it. It is an attitude we get to choose. This day is a present just for me from God. That is why it is called the present. I lay in bed thinking of who might be taking care of me today. I wonder what’s for breakfast. I feel like a child on Christmas morning. I’m excited because I am spending the day with my very best friend, God. I thank him for breakfast even before it gets here and ask him to bless it. The food has been good lately. If I don’t prefer something i just don’t eat it. I know for lunch and dinner I get bean burritos and chicken strips a lot but hey I like them. When I do have other meals I really enjoy them. Last night was pasta with sausage and peppers and it was really good. Throughout the day my mind stays on him. I love to listen to praise and worship music. It drowns out so much noise. I play word games to help strengthen my brain. Alzheimer’s runs in my family so it keeps me sharp. I will catch myself singing along to the songs and my focus returns to him. I love reading books and Christian books are best. It’s homework for my writing but it helps a lot. Some are just for pleasure. Whenever someone comes in my room I’ll catch them singing along with my music. It’s funny how many Christians work here. But their job is serving and it is not for everyone. I can’t do a lot of things but I sure enjoy doing all I can. I’ve gotten involved in the prayer ministry and love praying for needs. Lately there have been so many needs but God answers so many. I shouldn’t be surprised because my God can do anything. I’m excited and it just makes me bolder.

What will you do with this brand new day?

When You Need Prayer

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“…you do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” James 4:2-3 NIV

Whenever you need something come before God. Even though he knows our needs before we ask does not mean that we do not need to ask. The Lord loves to answer our prayers when we ask. If it is important to you it is important to God. Don’t think you are bothering God, or that it is too petty to take before God. Everything you tend to worry about, or get anxious about is important to give to God. It is important to be specific about what you need. Tell God what’s wrong but you don’t need to tell him how to fix it. He may not do things exactly how you see them as being done. He knows us because he designed us. He knows exactly what is best for us. Just because he does not answer immediately just the way you think he should does not mean he’s not listening. He will always answer. In his time, in his way, and always what is best for the person involved. If it’s not for my best, I don’t want it. I trust him. I don’t always understand why someone is not healed, or dies when I had been praying for them. Like when my grandson died just before his fourth birthday. I had prayed for him to be healed every day, but he died. Sure it would have been great if he had been healed. But was that the best thing for him? Or was that the best thing for me? Sure I miss him and my daughter misses him but so many things tell me he is better off. He is in heaven in a perfect body with No pain forever. All his Tay-Sachs friends are with him and they’re all perfect . His grandfather, who always wanted grandkids but died before any were born , and his great grandpa are with him. He’s with Jesus. There is something I have learned about prayer. I always ask God if I can be a part of what he is doing in the world. I want to make a positive impact on the world. He showed me I can do that by praying. Praying puts me in miracle territory. When ever you pray for needs you get to be apart of the miracle when those needs are met. In my prayer life I have seen so many prayers answered in such unique and special ways. Just recently a friend and minister from camp was on his death bed with covid19. On a ventilator and unconcious. Drs we’re giving up. But two weeks later he’s up and walking with a walker. This has brought boldness to my prayers. When I see great answers I get excited and pray for more. It is a privilege to come before God and see him answer.

Do you know someone who needs prayer today?

So Much More

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“But because of his great love for us, God, which is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions- it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,”. Ephesians 2: 4-6

Oh they love us! Jesus paid it all, just for us. He went into the pit of hell for every sin ever committed, his suffering we will never really realize. But he did it gladly for each and every one of his children. We may not acknowledge it but he hopes we will. When he raised his son back to life and seated him on the throne next to him to rule and reign forever we were included. You see the horrible debt was paid. Grace was extended to everyone who will accept it. It is not something we do but what he did for us. God looks at those who have accepted that grace with new eyes. He sees us as white as snow. We are heirs to his kingdom just like his son. We need to wrap ourselves around that thought. I can only imagine this throne room. As I say the Lord’s Prayer, as I like to say it each morning. I picture what it must be like. Oh, it would make an awesome scene from a movie. I can see the intense glow radiating in that room, all that glory must be overwhelming. I know when Jesus was transfigured here on earth it blew the disciples away. But also imagine everyone worshipping before them saints and angels all bowing down in humble adoration. This is my God. He wants me to come into his presence. Do you feel what an awesome privilege that is. We’re talking King of kings the one supreme God. Maker of everything. Oh I so want all he has for me. I love being in his presence. I can sit in my room with worship music drowning out all the nursing home noise and it’s just me and God. I listen to each song visualizing each word and I can’t help but cry tears of joy. This world we live in is not our home. We are destined for a much greater life. Oh we have 70-90 years here if we are lucky but what awaits us is just hard to imagine. This morning the pastor of our church tried to help us see how this short little visit to earth is. He described a fish being tugged out of the water. Flopping around on dry land and choking for air. It is not meant to be here, nor are we. We can do the best we can but sin comes and we keep flopping around. I kept hearing the song “This world is not my home”, my treasures are laid out somewhere beyond the blue. Someone else said it’s like taking a camping trip because we are roughing it. No mansions like heaven, and life gets messy at times. We go through different tests that cause us to grow. Now even though it’s camping I want s’mores, fishing, beautiful mountain grandeur and cool pine breezes. In other words I want a full and abundant life. Well I believe God does want that for me too. But I also believe you have to go after it. Go after his presence. It takes work but I’m in. The more time I give to him. The better it gets. I find my priorities really changing. It’s available and we are meant to have it.

Don’t you want it too.