Month: April 2018

For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. Habakkuk 2:3

My boys have grown! We were going through their closets and drawers the other day which led us to the conclusion that some shopping needed to be done whether they wanted to or not. A few piles of clothing sat unwearable due to growth spurts. At least we could pass them on!

I also needed some shorts, and for some crazy reason I thought that I’d order them online. What was I thinking? When I received them, only two of the shorts fit. Two was better than nothing, right? It wasn’t a big deal because I had checked their return policy and it said I could take them back to a local store.

Yesterday was to be the day of some shopping. My boys were so excited…ha! I’d return my shorts and get the last items on the shopping list for the boys. Guess what I got in my email that morning? There was going to be a huge sale in the very store we were going! How about that? They were even going to have music! Maybe my boys could break out some of their new dance moves they learned. Oops…that’s another story.

It was a rainy day in the middle of the week, and I thought it kind of odd they’d have such a large event when more people would be coming in on the weekend compared to a Tuesday. The front doors were propped open welcoming us in, but there wasn’t a DJ. I just figured maybe he was taking a break or had to cancel. There were sale signs up!

We gathered the clothes the boys needed and headed to the dreaded dressing rooms for them to do the awful chore of trying on clothes. I mentioned the big sale to the lady working back there, but she promptly burst my bubble by telling me I must have the wrong store.

Almost all the clothes on the list were being checked off. We did good! We usually don’t have so much luck in getting things to fit. Since I don’t know how to look at my email while out and about (even though I got one of those big, fancy phones now), I made my youngest son pull it up to find out what kind of mistake I made. It was the store I was in! It just was for Saturday. Right place, wrong time.

This led me to the debate of whether I should leave and go back Saturday or just buy the clothes. The answer had to be to buy the clothes because we already have plans for then. Also, I could picture all the clothes that fit being gone. My boys wouldn’t be happy to go through the process again.

I was left with needing to return those shorts that I ordered. I went in proud of myself that I was on top of things and taking care of this in such a timely matter. The lady at the counter wanted to know why I was returning so many. With a dejected sigh, I explained they didn’t fit.

She went through them and informed me that I could either get store credit or I’d have to return them through mail. I was confused. I checked the return policy before I bought them. It said I could return to a store for full credit. Apparently, I missed the fine print that said, “Oops, not if you paid through Paypal.”

Well, big surprise for me that I had another strike-out with the computer. Grrr. The sales clerk was helpful and gave me a bag to return them in while telling me that I had to pay for shipping. Wrong place, right time.

What did I learn yesterday? I need to pay more attention to the details. I could be in the right place at the wrong time or I could be at the wrong place at the right time. Think on that for a while. Not too long though because it could give you a headache like me.

Don’t we do this sometimes with God? Our thoughts are so strong in our head that we don’t wait for all the facts before pushing forward. It leads us into the right place at the wrong time or even the wrong place at the right time because we stop walking in God’s footsteps and go blazing our own path.

Do you ever say, “I must not have heard right!” Maybe you’re hearing fine, but you just don’t have all the details yet. Maybe you got out of God’s pace and started blazing your own trail. You don’t want to end up sitting unwearable like the piles of clothes on my boys’ floor simply because you don’t allow God to use you in his time.

Take a deep breath, don’t stay stagnant, but don’t get ahead of God. You don’t want to have to go through the process again.  When you listen, you’ll find yourself at the right place at the right time!

“Who are these that fly along like clouds, like doves to their nests? Isaiah 60:8

I’m so excited! Warmer weather and sunshine have started to appear between the snow showers we’ve been seeing. You better believe that I’ve been taking advantage of every opportunity to sit with the light flowing over me and the warmth on my face.

My “businessman” oldest wanted to have a meeting on one of the most beautiful days we’ve seen in a long time. If it gets us outside, I’m all for it! He met up with a friend to grab some lunch, and my youngest and I were going to meet them later at a park nearby after training the pup.

We bought a pizza after giving the pup a good mental workout and headed over to the pavilion where they set up shop. After eating, the meeting was still going on because they were consumed with designing shirts. It looked like that might last for a while. My youngest pulled out his homework and got to work. My boys are so responsible. Me? Not so much. The swings were calling my name!

I rested there on that swing and was still for a few minutes just letting the warm air wash over me when I realized I couldn’t just sit there; I needed to fly! The next thing I knew, my youngest was announcing that he had his homework done. Although I knew he was “too old” to swing, he couldn’t resist after watching me with my legs practically straight up in the air and my head almost touching the ground.

When an odd look was directed my way as he expressed interest in my technique, I just grinned. My youngest decided he wasn’t quite willing to let go and tip himself that far back! The difference between us was that I trusted my grip on the chains to keep me from falling, but he wasn’t so sure about that.

Sometimes we can receive some wonderful revelations when we just pay attention to the simple things in life. Have you ever seen a toddler get excited to fly high on swings? They rely on another person to push them or they start wiggling. You know what I mean! They shake themselves back and forth that produces quite a bit of movement but no forward momentum.

How often in life do we do a lot of wiggling but not a lot of letting go? When we’re too stiff to be willing to fall backwards, we tend to stay in one place. There’s a rhythm that needs to be happening as we move. To go forward and climb high, we must loosen up and allow ourselves to let go like when you allow your feet to touch the clouds when swinging. At the top of that movement is when we can allow the momentum to pull us back up and our knees to bend so that we can refocus on what’s ahead. However; we only stay like that for a moment until we are letting go again to climb even higher.

In life, it isn’t so much about depending on our own strength so we don’t fall, it’s about depending on God’s strength. When we truly want to fly, we must put your whole self into it. We’re never too old to fly!

Are you wiggling or moving with purpose? Are you relying on another person to push you? Are you relying on the grip you have on situations…or the grip that God has on you?  I challenge you to think about that today so that you don’t stop short of your destination.

A prayer of David. Hear me, LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long. Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you. Psalm 86:1-4

Have you ever had a time in your life when it feels like a war is raging? There’s battle after battle coming like waves upon the shore. One has barely left when another is coming in.

Have you recently said, “Are you kidding me? Now what? Not again! I can’t handle one more thing. Why is every area in my life going wrong? Everything is out of control. There’s so much darkness; where’s the light?” Oh my…those are rough thoughts. They’re scary thoughts. Those are the thoughts that the devil wants to hear out loud. I know I’ve said a few of those myself.

It’s been over three years now that the war began in earnest. I’ve seen some great victories (amazing victories); however, I’ve also faced several major challenges. After my oldest got out of the hospital, we were dealt another crisis. It brought me to my knees as I was just feeling the full impact of having a child in the hospital.

In the dark moment of another problem, I was reminded of a night in the hospital.  A nurse couldn’t get the medicine my son needed into his body, so I was waiting to see what would happen. We were both exhausted, but I couldn’t go to sleep until everything was resolved.

My oldest was dozing off, and in a world of computers, I still grabbed my pencil and pad of paper. I just started writing. Was it really coming from me? I barely lifted my pencil because the words were just flowing from one sentence to another. I was so tired that I didn’t know what was being written as page after page was filled up.

After we got home, I didn’t read what was written and didn’t remember what was there. After a few days, I told my hubby about it. He read through some of it and said that I shouldn’t throw it away. I tucked it away but felt uneasy reading it. Don’t ask…I don’t know why!

I needed a whole lot of motivation, hope, and inspiration by the end of last week. I was prompted to read what was written in the hospital. How surprised I was to see how much I could learn from it! It was able to snatch me out of that depressing place I was being pulled into.

As things were getting better, I decided to take on one more thing. Maybe I should’ve rode the calm for a few days! This was just a little thing…no big deal. I was going to attempt clipping my pup instead of taking him to the groomers. He’s a poodle. It’s more than a “get the clippers out” process, but I could do this. I had a couple people (including my hubby) cheering me on.

I started but panicked. I had mentioned that I was going to try this new endeavor to someone who looked a bit horrified because I was going to ruin my pup’s beautiful cut. It got into my head! There was an “Oops!” involved. It was this small thing after all the big things that we’d just gone through that pushed me over the edge. Why was nothing going right in my life? Total lie…I for sure knew that but couldn’t seem to comprehend it.

Did I make mistakes on the pup? Yes, sure did! Was it the end of the world? Not at all. It’s just what made me go a little loca. I had to pull out those papers again. When I was trying to wrap my mind around the words I’d written, while not even sure that I understood it all, I was told that I needed to share it with others that might need some hope and encouragement.

No way. Uh-uh! That was way out of my comfort zone. I’d really be putting myself out there. Not many people even know that I’m attempting to understand Gullah. Why? Because if I fail, it won’t make a difference would it? That was totally untrue since I’d know. Someone also reminded me that Coleman Hawking said, “If you don’t make mistakes, you aren’t really trying.”  It was time to do more trying even if a mistake was made.

Well, making mistakes is a part of life. We must put ourselves out there and be willing to make mistakes to grow. I learned with my pup that my mistakes aren’t the end of the world but the beginning of growth and adventure. I’m sure hoping that sharing with you what I had written in the hospital can help even one person; that would make it all worth the possibility of a mistake by putting it out there.

The more I read it, the more I recognized (besides the Gullah talk) that this may not have been written just for me. Maybe it was meant to be shared. Just maybe I’d been holding it hostage when it could’ve been helping another person. I’m giving it to you just as it was written. There’s no paragraphs or any fancy editing…not that you see that in my posts anyway!

There will be tests and trials, but you’re never alone. There will always be help to hold you up and carry you through. Questions will be made about your worth and sincerity. That’s ok. Turn the other cheek. Treat your children as you want me to treat you. Guide them with the love and patience I show you. When the voices of life get ready to overwhelm you, hope, pray, show your faith that I’ve given you. This is a faith that I’ve given few in order to lead others to me. A lighthouse shines in the dark just as I expect your light to shine during the tough times. Bring hope to the hopeless. Guide people to their full potential as I show you yours. Have faith in my love and examples. Read often, learn Gullah, and never hide or be ashamed with the gifts I’ve given you. When you’re tired, I’ll carry you. When you’re angry, I’ll calm you. When fear threatens to take over, I’ll protect you. It is better to give than to receive, but when you accept, do it in gratitude and in thanksgiving. Look to the cross to find true sacrifice. Don’t let the wolves in sheep’s clothing fool you. You see the real people, the true intentions, the energy generated from the heart. There may be stories behind ever person, but there are also walls to break down and barriers to crumble. You’ll find yourself in the most unexpected places doing work you don’t even know you’re doing. You’ll continue to grow, but you’ll help grow others. People are put in your life as a set up to your future. You’ll understand after the facts have emerged of renewal and desperation. It is up to the few to save the many. Jesus died on the cross for the individual love, and the guidance he wants to give is given whole heartedly without worry of payment. In the same way, love the unlovely, help the poor, listen to the heartbeat of the lost, help the difficult heal in mind and body. There will be a time when it seems that hurt is destroying, but in every hurt is healing. A time to rejoice in the angels here on earth. There is hope in every situation. The time has come to help and not hinder. To be the example is the greatest gift to a person in need. Have a faith so strong that the lines of communication will break down the greatest of barriers. Welcome new thoughts and many great blessings. Keep aware of the bad, but don’t let it push out the good. Guide the children of the world to new heights and victory over all things. There’s been a time of testing. Love is patient, love is kind, love does not envy. Help is always available to lead you into victory. Praise at all times, see the good around you, be a helper in times of need. Be strong amongst the weak. Don’t fight battles that aren’t yours to fight. Move forward to a new horizon with the past in the rearview and the future glowing brightly ahead. Many will stumble, but you will not fall. The hands are ready to catch you before you hit the ground. Hands as soft and gentle as a cloud high above the earth. There is one who is so fiercely loyal that you will run to in times of trouble. My thoughts have not changed. Plans made by humans come and go, but plans made from above will bear good fruit. The work from above is being done here on earth. Wealth doesn’t mean anything when coupled with bitterness. The way to the right path is through the hope and love of Christ. One step in front of another will make you strong and able. It is the weak who will not see the prizes that were planned for them from the beginning. Guidance and wisdom are waiting beyond every challenge. There is nothing that comes into your life that isn’t first vetted through the One of high. Welcome visitors as if they are the most important people on earth. Hold them to high standards, not because of the result of a higher status, but of a mark of respect for who they could be. Who are you? Answer that question every day with honest and healing. Do not let anyone make you hold your head down and harm you with small thinking. Remember that God did not give them your works, your thoughts, your heart, your wisdom. It is as individual as a pea in a pod. There will be naysayers. Celebrate. That means you’re closer and drawing nearer to me. Love shines through in the most unusual ways. What may seem like a disaster is really a set up. You may not be like others, but you can relate to others. Some will stop growing as they get older, but wisdom should outweigh complacency. Arrange your life to let your light shine. Relax your hold on the future and be ready to see where you’ll be taken. See the beauty among you, hear my creatures surrounding you, grow in knowledge tempered with wisdom. When all seems right, be careful with what is going on deep in the inmost dwelling places. Listen not to the words spoken but to the love shown. Action is a matter of movement and momentum. You can’t have one without the other. Forward progress is not delayed as long as love is there. Hope guides when trust fails. Fly in the middle of the pouring rain. Rise above circumstances to become nearer to me. I’m drawing you closer as the spirit of fear and anger are fighting to win even the simplest of people. The weak minded is tempted, but the strong in spirit holds firm. How can one see the necessary letters of mankind but through rest and the love of one another?

I challenge you to realize you’re never alone in your tests and trials. Do something when you feel life is about to overwhelm you. Pray, then seek encouragement. If this letter will help you, I’m thrilled. If not, don’t give up.

I think most people have been where you are sometime in their life…maybe even right now…maybe over and over again. Have hope, fly in the middle of the pouring rain, and rise above circumstances!  I know that the sun is getting ready to shine again.

Heal me, LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise. Jeremiah 17:14

After a week of being in the hospital, we were able to come home! My son was healed without surgery. He had a perforation in his intestine and it would have been a major, difficult surgery if it needed to be repaired. God is good! We found out on Good Friday that the hole had sealed off. Not only were we thankful for all Jesus did for us many years ago, we were extremely grateful for answered prayers.

I have one more story from the hospital. We’d been receiving visitors of the furry kind around there. These dogs had been certified as therapy dogs. Their owners brought them into the hospital with the hope of putting a smile on a child’s face. There was a great range in type of dog, size of dog, and personality of dog.

All the pets were calm and quiet in the hospital, but they each related to the patients very differently. If you knew what clues to look for, you were able to see how comfortable the dog was in his position. The connection, or lack thereof, between patient and therapy dog is also an interesting sight.

It was fascinating to be standing on the side of a patient instead of seeing things as a handler. I’ve taken classes with my pup that would prepare for therapy dog testing. I was using those classes more for obedience and exposure to many different situations rather than training for a therapy program; however, I was able to learn quite a bit about therapy work along the way.

We had a couple dogs that were a bit disengaged but did the basics of what they were supposed to do. Let’s say…they tolerated the attention, but just didn’t seem thrilled to be there. The others were all nice, could do some tricks, and did their jobs well.

There was one outstanding dog that I believe had the instinct, that innate ability to connect to a patient and recognize the importance of her job. She wasn’t the most experienced and didn’t have all the tricks, but she simply was the most focused on her patient.

She put her front paws on the bed, looked adoringly with soft eyes at my son, and promptly lifted one paw up for a belly rub. She stood like that with a focused attention that impressed me tremendously. The happiness radiated off her and there was a connection made.

I asked her owner about her behavior because her breed is known for their high energy and the need to keep their minds occupied. Since she was so young and calm, I thought she went against the normal breed standards. All I saw was her instincts to give of herself in the gentlest way possible.

Her owner was very young too, but seemed to have a natural, relaxed control. She told me that the dog I was seeing and the dog she was at home are totally different. She had the typical border collie energy at home, but as soon as she walked in those hospital doors, she knew she was working. I was amazed at the professional she became.

I found out those instincts kicked in for the first time when her owner’s grandfather was around. The granddaughter was worried about her pup’s exuberance and was concerned about her being too rambunctious; however, that pup took one look at Grandpa and let her energy seep out of her to slowly approach him with an amazing gentleness that went against her normal actions. That’s special!

There was one more dog that stood out from the rest. He was a smaller dog that got right up onto the bed with my son. He was hilarious without meaning to be! He was doing his job but found himself getting a little sleepy.

On one hand, my oldest can be crazy with his littermate (our pup) at home. On the other hand, he can make our pup drop off to sleep with a little massage between the eyes. He put his hands to work and that little dog couldn’t help himself. He started going in circles to find the perfect spot to curl up in the covers.

Figuring it was his turn to be taken care of, that dog looked at my son and seemed to be relieved to not have to work for a few minutes. He received that massage in bliss and promptly fell asleep. His owner was a little horrified that he was sleeping on the job! My son loved that special time with a relaxed dog that allowed him to give a little instead of just taking all the love that he had been receiving from others.

When it was time to go, the owner tried to get him up. The look he gave her made me chuckle out loud. It was as if he was saying, “You go ahead and finish the visits. I’m just fine right here; you don’t have to worry about me.” Finally, his training kicked in, and he decided he didn’t have a choice other than to leave the comfy bed he found.

I had two things that really stood out to me with these very different dogs. First, I want to be like the dog that brings happiness and peace by simply connecting with a human being. I want to be present and focused on God so that He can give me the instincts and gentleness to help another person. I don’t want to be disengaged where I’m just going through the motions.

Second, I like to be the one to help others. It feels unnatural to be the one who accepts help from those that I’m not closest to. That week in the hospital taught me to be on the receiving end of the kindness being handed out. Just like that little dog allowed my son to simply be there for him, I needed to let others be there for us. I saw how much joy it gave to my son to be the giving end.  It was special for him to be the one to relax that dog and make it feel comfortable.

What my son gave was just a tiny fraction of what he got out of it. If I wouldn’t have accepted from others because of pride, I realized how they would lose the blessings from giving. I had to graciously accept the kindness and not let it stop with me. I could pass it on when I see a need I can fill. I didn’t feel guilt like I would’ve in the past because I recognize that no one can outgive God! I fully believe that those who were so wonderful to us will be paid back in interest for their kindness.

I challenge you to be God’s hands, voice, joy, gentleness, and peace for someone today. On the flip side, I challenge you to receive with just as much excitement as you do when giving to others. Praise God for all givings and blessings. When healing is received, remember to go back and thank the Lord. Check out Luke 17:11-19… We thank the Lord for my son’s healing!