Trust

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Do you haves worries, fears, anxious moments, stress, frustration and doubt? This life we live can be tough at any time. But the reason we feel out of control is just saying, “ I do not trust the one who is in control.”  God, the one who made everything just the way he designed it. All heaven and earth. He knows all. He knows all before it ever comes into existence.

That God loves you. He wants only for you to love him in return. But even still, when we are at our worst, he loves us more than we could ever imagine. He knows us better than ourselves. When we have doubts and fears He knows just what we are capable of. And what he wants for us.

He wants us to enjoy this life and wants us to be successful in our eyes. To be fulfilled and happy. He wants to lavish us with all good things. But he will also discipline us just as any lovin’ father would when we stray from what is good for us. Discipline is not done out of anger or hate but out of pure love.

A love that does not want to see us run out in front of a fast moving car or swallow a dangerous substance, something harmful for us.

In my life as I grew up my father expected certain behaviors from me. He wanted to see me have fun and enjoy myself but he also raised me to be responsible, respectful and to be of good character. I had limits. He loved to reward me for trying harder. Doing things that were good for me and helped me grow.

As I was busy living life and raising a family I never worried, “Oh God I don’t want to have a stroke.” It never even occurred to me. But as I was busy enjoying my life I had a massive stroke. It nearly took my life. Leaving me totally unable to speak or move at all.

I lay in the hospital totally helpless and unable to do anything for myself. Over the next few years I had lost everything that seemed to matter in my life. My husband, my home, my job, my favorite car and my airplane. All the things I had acquired in this life I thought I needed.

It was a very tough time and it tore me apart. I wanted them back. I know I had done things wrong in my life. Things that I was not proud of. Things  that I would do very differently if given the chance. But I had a new life I had to get adjusted to.

Thirteen years later I can say with zero doubt in my mind that it was the best thing that ever happened to me. God knew what he was doing. I love my life now. The people in my life now are wonderful. I love who I have become and enjoy the great relationship I have with Jesus. Each day is sweeter and sweeter.

I know people who worry about things everyday that could change their lives. What if this happens or that? Who is to say what really is good or what really is bad in my life.

Only he who knows the beginning from the end Knows what is best for me.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more valuable than they.”   Matthew 6:25-26. NIV

Have you ever seen a worried crow? No, they don’t worry about their day. It just happens.

Can we really say something is bad in our lives? I love to see bad things happen just to see how God can turn it around. I get so blessed by his unusual answers to our prayers.

Over the last thirteen years I have read my Bible thru many times and seen God’s faithfulness time and time again in his word and in life. So many people I know have gone through so much but God has proved to be trustworthy. I now can pray your will be done good or bad. I can really mean it.

I do not know what tomorrow holds, but I know who holds tomorrow in the palm of his hand.

Praise

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“Give praise to the Lord, praise his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.”  1 Chronicles 16:8-10. NIV

David knew one thing was very important. Praise! He set up certain people to just be praisers. Leading the armies of David, singing in the temples and in the streets. Wherever they went the name of the Lord was to be praised. They were to tell of his excellent greatness to everyone.

We were created to praise. We are at are best and life is at its best when we are praising our creator. He is so worthy of all our praise. Sunday mornings I have a front row seat for the worship service. I sit up front next to the stage during church. I absolutely love worship time.

The worship leader and the backup singers have so much love and passion in their eyes when they sing. The songs are full of his wonderful love for us. I can’t help but get excited over all he is to me. I hear all of his greatness being proclaimed and it does so much to lift my spirit.

Our times of worship are so fulfilling . It is the best part of my week. Have you been in church lately? It is important to be among other Christians. The time we spend together is so uplifting. I never was one to complain about going to church. I will admit that I didn’t get a lot out of it in my youth, but now that I have a good relationship with God I can’t get enough.

He is my best friend so when I sing praises I am feeling such love and honor for all he does in my life. Bringing praise before the Lord should be a big deal. He has told us to do it . He also blesses us when we are doing his will. I like to be blessed by God.

I love doing something that feels good and getting blessed by doing it.

The Cross of Christ

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This week I watched a movie that was so good. I strongly recommend Pure Flix as a provider of great faith based movies and family programming. I have seen so many good movies with a message. The one I watched this week was about how different lives are just threads in the beautiful tapestry God is designing.

You never know when our life will interact with another life that may have a divine purpose with far reaching ramifications. It showed the lives of several individuals going about their everyday lives but how they all were intermeshing to bring His will and ultimately salvation to lost and hurting lives far from him.

The main thing I took from the movie is something a man walking the streets with a large wooden cross asked to a local minister. “Do you believe in the cross of Christ?”

He said well of course, I’m a preacher. But it didn’t end there. It got him thinking and it did me to.

Growing up as a Christian in a Christian home I knew all about Christ. We went to church Sundays and Wednesdays, had Bible studies at my parents house one night a week. My parents worked with the college class so we were always getting together with them to do fun things.

I enjoyed being around my church friends. That was a big part of my life and who I was. But at other times it was business as usual. God didn’t affect much of my life. Oh I always tried to be good and knew God was important but it didn’t really change the way I lived.

As many of you know a severe stroke got my attention when I was only 45. Up till then I did what I wanted and when I wanted in regards to my life. That stroke was a wake up call from God. I almost died. Was I ready to meet God?

It was all different for me and tragedy often brings questions into our lives. What is life all about? What lies ahead? Our we ready? How have we run the race? I had to do a lot of seeking and I came up lacking greatly. I was not who I should be but God who is faithful, knows us, loves us, and gives us a do over.

The question that preacher heard hit him so hard that he asked it to his congregation.

“ Do you believe in the cross of Christ?”

Jesus, God’s son who had been with him since time began made a plan with his father. Thousands of years ago before we were ever born, although God for knew each one of us and loved us. They had to make a way for us to be together apart from sin. Yet we are all sinners, everyone.

Jesus would give up his right to be equal to God and come to earth as a helpless new born baby. He would be 100% man with all the failings we have, yet not sin, not even once. He would live a perfect life, with God’s help. Submitting to all authorities even to being hung on that cross to die as a hated criminal.

His perfect sacrifice, pure and blameless, would be just what we would need to be redeemed. By faith, only, we have been bought with a very high price. We don’t deserve it. We could never earn it. Still he did it for everyone who will believe.

How do I thank him for that gift properly? Everything I have ever done wrong in my life is washed away as if it never happened. I am far from perfect even though I try to do good. Do I really try to do his will for my life? Do I serve him and those around me?

Everyone I come in contact with is loved greatly by God. Who knows if I may divinely impact their lives, whether good or bad. Might I be the last Christian to leave an example of my fathers love in their lives. We are all the hands, feet, finances, and love of God in this world.

Do we draw others to him with our lives? He has promised to help us. To make our lives extra impactful for him. Not just an ordinary life, but one that truly matters to others. I always try to do his will. But do I pay that much attention to my every interaction with others.

I will now. It makes so much difference to those around me. I talk with difficulty, and my words may be few, but they need to be intentional. “God help me to always stay in control with my emotions by trusting that you are in control of what happens to me, good or bad.”

Creation.

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I had the opportunity to go to the Odysea Aquarium in Scottsdale Friday. My daughter and her son took me for the day. I greatly recommend it for those who haven’t been. I was so in awe of all the creatures living in oceans and streams. I can not look at the great diversity and see how it just happened.

Everything in that place just cried out God is awesome. So very many fish and water animals of all colors and shapes. I saw tiny little seahorses about 2-3 inches long swimming among the plants in their tanks. They would hold on to the plants with their tails while they slept or ate. So perfect in detail.

I watched otters frolicking around and found out that they are very excited by anything with wheels. They would get so excited at a stroller or even my wheelchair. The are so cute. They drew a large crowd. There behavior is so fun to watch.

So many different size and shapes of fish and such funny names. It looked as if they were making odd faces at me. Most very grumpy looking. I really enjoyed just watching them. One tank had sea turtles and my grandson spoke up. “Hey these are special needs turtles.” Most of the turtles were missing limbs.

Later in the day we heard that many turtles are hurt by boaters and debris in the water. They can no longer survive in the wild so this kind of home is perfect for their rehabilitation. Being in a wheelchair myself I can relate to what it takes to adapt. But God helps all creatures whether man or beast relearn the way they do things.

The way they learn to survive in their environment by coloring and the way they were designed. It is all so well thought out. How could something that perfect just happen. My mind just can not see anything about evolution as being plausible. I just got a magazine from the NCI. National Creation Institute in Dallas Texas.

This Institute is doing great things about building creation museums and educating people on true research that shows real facts of Creation. These aren’t just theories but actual researched facts that support the Bible’s history and timelines. Their magazine is called ‘Facts and Acts’. Great name.

There are so many scientists and researchers that are strong Christian authorities. They are striving to show truth. For so many years we have been programmed to think one way, evolution. But more and more wholes are being found in those theories.

I noticed this morning so much more than I normally do. So much beautiful landscaping. A beautiful golf course with so many different trees. Every shape and color. Man has done a great job of taming and designing around nature but give God the credit for all he has given us to work with.

I know of a new exhibit near my daughters home that has a life size recreated example of what Noah’s arc would have looked like. They got to go there this summer on their vacation . I guess it was massive. They really enjoyed it. I have no idea how all those animals got along for so many days. It must haves smelled too.

I am so glad there are places like that for my grandkids to explore. Things that finally give credit where credit is long overdue.

Chosen

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“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a special possession, that you may declare the praises of him that called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9 NIV

“You will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” Exodus 19:6 NIV

We have been chosen by God before time began. Before we were ever formed we were called out to be his chosen people. Not everyone is chosen. We are called to be the sons and daughters of Christ. We are called to serve our king.

We are to be the image of Christ. To be Jesus hands and feet to our communities.

We must accept this gift he has given us. It was given freely by Christ as he suffered and died on the cross to give us the chance to be made right with God. We have been given free will to choose for ourselves who we will serve.

Once we have chosen to serve the Lord we need to begin every day with that commitment. We live every day in this world but this is not our true home. It is with Christ in heaven. Each day we need to choose him. To follow his ways and serve him with our whole being.

As part of the special needs community it is very important to be chosen and accepted and loved. I had the privilege to go to camp all last week up in Williams, Arizona. Along with sixty or so other handicapped individuals we got to spend the week with Special Touch Ministries..

It is a wonderful environment for all ages. All different physical and emotional needs. We are loved on and accepted for who we are. We learn who we can be in Christ.

We are called to be priests. Jesus no longer lives on this earth. The only way people can see Jesus is through his children, his priests. We are very special to him. He is with us the whole way and will help us.

For me personally I learned that God has called me to be an encourager. The words I speak are not mine but God’s words spoken through me. This is one reason why I started this blog. I always had a desire to help people. I am a fixer. I like telling people how to fix themselves.

I had many opportunities to speak to people at camp and show his will for them. It was great but it was him not me talking. I am just willing to be used by God. He is not physically walking on earth but we are. The only way for others to see God is through us as we serve as his priests.

He has brought us out of our past of darkness and sin and given us light a future, eternal life with him. We have so much to be thankful for. His Glory and Mercy and his greatness is so manifest in our lives. The more we give the more he gives.

Peace wonderful peace.

Many people accept the gift of eternal life. And then go about life on their own doing whatever they want. Theirs is a wasted life and they don’t know all they are missing. I was one of those people for forty some years before I really got to know Jesus Christ and make him my personal friend and King.

My life has changed drastically and I never want to go back. Life is not about me but about Jesus Christ in me the hope of glory. He has made my life complete. Come join me.

Child of God

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“ Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12 NIV

“…so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life.” John 3:14 NIV

The great and mighty God. Creator of heaven and earth, everything that ever was or will be wants to be our father. The most perfect dad that ever was has given us the opportunity to be his child. He is a perfect father who will never let us down.

Some people may not have had an earthly father or one that was very dependable. But this father is not limited by Earth. Nothing is impossible for God. His will will be done in your life and you can take that to the bank.

All we have to do is believe that he is. The one who died to set us free and rose from the grave to ascend into heaven to prepare a place for us. Eternal life with him. This is ours and it is free. Nothing we will ever do will make him love us any less or any more.

We can do great things for him and bring others to him. Feed the sick and hungry. Be almost perfect or we can be bad doing all kinds of awful things. He still loves us.

With him he makes the impossible possible to us in our lives.

We need to come to him just like any father. Love him and respect him. Obey him. Share our lives with him. Get to know him personally. He is not just the ‘Man upstairs ‘, he is Daddy. He wants to be there for you, and with you always. Holding your hand.

It wasn’t till I was actually almost fifty that I realized that. I lived my whole life knowing of God. I knew he was there but was doing life pretty much on my own. My way and didn’t think much about him except Sunday’s. What a waste of time.

I can now say I know him intimately and it has made such a difference in my life. I have more joy, I rarely get mad or upset. I have eternal hope. I am full of peace. No fear.

I could not have said that years ago. I still have trials and hard things to deal with in my life but I have someone to always lean on. Someone to help me through them.

I didn’t have to do a thing to get him to love me. I do lots of things now for him just because I love him and love being close to my him, my dad.

In His Presence

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In Isaiah 55:6 “Seek the Lord while he may be found, call on him while he is near” and in Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be filled,” we are given very important wisdom for a full life. Throughout life we all strive for peace, joy and acceptance. We go to great lengths to get this. God tells us that in His presence is fullness of joy.

That sounds so simple. Can’t be that simple, right? What is the meaning of life and how can we be satisfied and fulfilled.

I was born into a wonderful Christian home. Before I was ever born God had a plan for me. He had a call on my life and knew just how it would play out.

When I was just five I came to know the Lord one day in kindergarten. When I was a teen I went to church camp and was filled with the Holy Spirit.

My life was blessed even though I thought it was normal. My dad always told me how important it was to be at church whenever the doors were open and i was from birth. I always tried to be good and do what I was told. I went to vacation Bible school each summer and won prizes for learning all the books of the Bible, memorizing scripture, and knowing different Bible characters.

I always did great because my dad had us read the children’s story Bible during dinner time. Heck I knew all the stories and all the characters. I still struggled with doing all I should. I always forgot to pray and after I got married I tried to read my Bible regularly but life was just so busy, husband, kids, job, and living life seemed enough.

It wasn’t till I was 45 and had a severe stroke that I finally had plenty of time on my hands. Laying flat on my back, unable to move or speak, God had my attention. What was going on. I was calm and not really worried because I knew God was in control but it was hard.

A friend came to see me and offered to read the Bible to me. That made a huge impact on me. When I could I vowed to start reading my Bible every day, I had the time. I haven’t missed many days since. Missed days tend to be bad days so I remember to do it first thing.

Struggling to live in a nursing home I learned so much about God and his ways. I had a Chaplain that was on fire for the Lord, telling us all about Jesus changing her life and always doing things, miracles, for her like he was her best friend. I wanted more.

I started reading every book about God I could get my hands on. We would take trips to Savers and I would bye books for $2.00 and many. I had so many trials in my life but I wanted more of Him. After a perfectly tuff time where I had been in the hospital for a while and was unable to read my Bible I committed to praying every day to get more of God.

The more I got, the happier I felt, and the more I wanted. I would sit and listen to praise music out on the back patio where I was alone. I also prayed a lot and sang hymns out there. It felt good. I had no trouble doing this I just loved doing it.

That’s when I started going to the church. Man it felt so good and I was hooked.

Just to be around people who believed like me and loved me. Singing in church was so alive with passion. They talked about going to camp for a whole week. So I tried it. That was the closest I think you could get to heaven here on earth.

I mean here I am with only Christian brothers and sisters, in the mountains, for a whole week, doing and being with God 24/7. Awesome.

These things have made me so happy. I truly am happier than ever before in my life. Jesus now is my very best friend and some day I’ll go to be with him forever. But right now I just want to be in his presence.

The happiest place I’ve ever known.

Forever

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“When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.” Mark 13:7. NIV

We have been hearing these things for years, but the end is sooner than we think. It may be twenty more years or tomorrow. It will come though so where will you be? Where will you spend eternity? This life we live in is really very short. It all depends on how we live this life as to where we will end up.

“By this everyone will know you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35. NIV

“If you love me, keep my commands”. John 14: 15. NIV

It is easy to love God but not always easy to love others. It is not a request though. God has commanded us to love him as well as those who hate us. If we love Him, we will keep his commands. Boy we are extremely lucky we live in this day and age because back when Moses was in charge there were so many more commands to keep. You could hardly breathe without screwing up.

Now that Jesus has redeemed us it is so much easier, but our actions are so important. Imagine with me for a minute that the doctor just told you that you only have 24 hours left to live. How will you spend that next 24 hours? Where you will end up for eternity is in the balance.

We watched Scrooge for years turn from the Scrooge he was to the loving person he was meant to be. Yet we never really take it to heart. Every action we make has long lasting consequences. This life is but a blink of the eye compared to 10,000 years in eternity.

Back to my imagining. Would we not take seriously our actions for 24 hours? Do we obey his commandments or do we really need his forgiveness. All sin and all need forgiveness from those sins. One sin is not any worse or less than others. That little white lie is as bad as murder. Sin is sin.

Am I close enough to God. Is my relationship as good with him as I can make it. Many of these same questions would be going through your mind. We need to spend every day with him as if it will be our last, because it may. Nobody knows if they will wake up tomorrow or if we will be in a tragic accident.

We need to spend time with him every day. Get to know him just as a loving father and close friend. The more we know him, the author of love, the more we will be like him and be full of love. Love for him and all men. He will help us to love even the unlovely.

Then we can know for sure that we may close our eyes in this life, but when we open them again we will be in heaven. Spending forever in his presence. In that perfect place where no sorrow or pain exists. Only joy and peace forever.

His Family

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I have a beautiful Pandora bracelet that my daughters got me several years ago. I always have it on. Over the years I have added charms for all of my daughters, their husbands and their children. It means so very much to me.

Each charm is special. I have different color beads for some of my grandkids, each one represents someone very dear to me. I have a coffee cup from my youngest daughter because she knows how important my coffee is. The one for my middle son-in-law has turquoise. He is a native Arizonan like his parents and proud of it.

My daughter designs and makes jewelry. She made me a little replica of our towns courthouse. Each charm and each person has so much meaning to me when I look at them. I see family when I look at each charm.

God sees all his children in the same way. We are his pride and joy that he delights in. He sees us as very special and unique charms. No two alike. He can remember each one over thousands of years and all over the world.

Today he took one of his charms home to be with him as my roommate past from this life to the next and I had to smile for she waited so long for this day.

He smiles as he thinks about each. Some thoughts he has:

Angels rejoice over us, demons flee from us. James 4:7

God dances over us with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

We are the righteousness of Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21

We have an abundance for every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8

We were predestined by God for success. Romans 8:28-30

We are placed and seated with him, a king and priest, part of a chosen generation, a peculiar people. 1 Peter 2:9

We are blessed coming in and going out. Deuteronomy 28:13

We are equipped with the full armor of God. Ephesians 6:13

Just a few of the things he has said about his children. Rest in the confidence we have that he cares for us. We are all very greatly loved.

Fear Not

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“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. “. Isaiah 41:10. NIV

Fear Not. This is harder to do than it sounds. I have learned over my fifty-nine years that there really is nothing to fear when you know who you are in, Christ. All my life I struggled to read God’s word making excuses because life always seemed hectic. Being a good wife and raising three daughters to be Godly women always seemed more than enough.

When I had my stroke at the age of 45 I suddenly had all the time in the world. I knew only that God was in control and he was good. I had a friend come to visit me that offered to read the Bible to me. I remembered how much comfort it brought and decided to read every day.

That was in 2005 and I may have missed only a few days since. They were always rough days so I learned not to forget. I put it first. Through it I learned more of my fathers love and righteousness. He became so real to me.

I learned that there is no need to fear. My God is right there always holding my hand. I used to fear the pain of dying or being hurt badly but when I had my stroke I almost died but I felt great peace. I knew I had to be strong for my family. I also knew He was able to help me in my weakness.

One day at a time I got my life back and through many trials since I have seen his had on my life. I no longer worry, he’s got it. I don’t need to have the answers but I know who does. I know he loves me and is working everything out for my best. Not what I see is best but what he knows is best.

He created this whole universe and has kept it going for thousands of years. He knows what he’s doing far better than me. He knows everything happening before it happens. My God can do the impossible and has more times than I know.

I have a picture of my granddaughter that shows how I feel.

She is walking alone in the woods this summer on her vacation. Her dad said it first but it really resonated with me as I looked at it.

She is one lone little girl heading out against a dark and often scary forest but she walks without fear she is strong, headstrong, she can take on anything. I feel the same way now. I know I am not in control but I know who is and that makes me strong.

I have learned so much about the one in control and trust him with my life and when it’s through I’ll be with him forever and can’t wait so what should I fear.