A Legacy...a Valuable Life

Yesterday was one of those days that will be etched in my memory forever.  We celebrated the "home-going" of a dear man of God ... Dr. Bob, as we lovingly called him, who is now...this very moment, not only is in the very presence of God, but once again see's firsthand what Heaven is in reality, as well as all those that went before him.  His father, mother, and many more ... but, especially the sweet & gracious love of his life, Barbara, who graduated to heaven 30+ years ago. It must have something to do with my age, but I now think of heaven as my destination, and not a "somewhere, out there" place.  God has been gracious to open my eyes just a little more about this place that He is preparing for me. I have often wondered what I will look like, if I will recognize others, if I would have any kind of a "body" at all, or perhaps look like a puff of smoke or cloud....I don't know ... what would a spirit look like?  My Pastor elaborated a couple of weeks ago and the scriptures gave me what I call, "a light-bulb" moment.  I love these! They almost feel like the one gift that we were allowed to open as children before Christmas morning. Maybe best said as the pre-cursor of things to come? I believe that God shows us that we will be seen just as Jesus was seen after he rose from the dead...How come I didn't connect these dots before? He was seen, touched and touched others. He spoke and was heard. He ate and drank, and enjoyed his friends afterward.  He walked and talked with some of his closest compadres', showing them the wounds left in his hands and feet from the Cross three days before.  Then when the time came, he went up ("ascended") into heaven, to sit at the right hand of the Father.  Let me elaborate just a bit more...the Bible tells us that "to be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord". This journey (Life) is different for each of us. It (Life) is our preparation for HEAVEN. All ROADS do NOT lead to heaven, sorry ... however, those that LOVE God,  and have accepted the sacrificial GIFT of His Son, Jesus, as the PAYMENT IN FULL for our inabilities and short-falls(SIN) are promised a home there FOREVER AND EVER. I could keep on going, but will bring this to a close by saying that this is GOD's PLAN for each of us if we chose it.  He is a good, wise and loving God who tells us that "He is not wanting that any of us would leave this life and not go to be with Him".  

I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that when it's my time to go I will see my Dad & Mom, relatives and friends who are there.  They will know me and greet me, and we will be together forever. Dr. Bob knew this and made sure that every person at his "graduation" service understood exactly where he was.  You see, he had not only packed for his journey, but he had his "ticket".  We all have plenty of baggage, and many have it packed full, but do we have the ticket to our destination?...JESUS. 

All this to say dear sisters, that after this soul-searching weekend you've just spent away from your daily-days, my prayer is that you would know by experience, the unconditional love and acceptance of a God who has paved the way and paid the price for us.  I hope you leave with a new desire to be absolutely CAPTIVATED by Him. You will never be disappointed. 

“Much of our difficulty

stems from our unwillingness

to take God as He is and

adjust our lives accordingly” -AW Tozer

I ran into Mr. Tozer today while working on my blog ...

I think I muttered a quiet "OUCH?"  Walked into that one without my shoes on for sure.

Not a time to sink back ... 

We all need to check ourselves and make the necessary adjustments .... Remember, "the work has already been done!"

Lifehouse - Storm (Live)

GOD is not as concerned about me being HAPPY,
as He is about me becoming HOLY...

God's Chisel

Sooo worth the listen....what more can I say. Have a refreshing day!

I Then Shall Live As One Who's Been Forgiven ...

What a statement this is for those of us that know Jesus as our Lord, our God, our Saviour and our friend. I've spent this evening wondering if I could ever grasp this any more than I grasp God's true grace in my life, His undying and unconditional love for someone like me who fails in every aspect of my humanness as well as any goodness I might attempt to express on His behalf.

One word picture I've often used is the white sheet, dingy sheet analogy. Often I find myself fitting God to my circumstances. If I hang myself on the line alone, or with those that agree with me, I look pretty clean, however, my comparison to others or things is not the "bar" I should be rising to. It's only when He is on the line hanging next to me that I see His brightness and purity...His holiness causes me to hang my head in His presence. Being reminded of all He is and all He has done is meant to bring us to our knees ... to realize that the lives we live, any pain we endure, and the happiness and joy we enjoy are all hand fashioned for each of us individually. Stop and think here ... God created each hair on our heads, each one of us is different in every way, why would He just send us to earth as humans and then let us wander trying to find our own way? He wouldn't and He hasn't. Our lives are divinely ordered step by step. Sometimes we try taking a detour, but God is faithful "to perform His work in us" till the day He returns for us. Some of you work out or run Marathons...you push yourselves to get to your day of competition ready to meet your competitors, or your race. So then, this is life, or a great example of it. It hurts to train, even the final race is sometimes treacherous...but finishing is the reward.

I am going to play a song that absolutely stirred my heart today ... have I accomplished this myself ... absolutely NOT! But is there hope in knowing that this is His intent ... YES! I know one thing for sure, that God has not only a plan, but a plan custom made for each of us. I want to know Him more. I want my life to honor Him each moment, in every action and word. There is not one single thing that crosses our paths that is out of His sight. He gives us a "long leash" at times, but always brings us back again. "No one will snatch you from the Father's hand" are His own words ... my heart's desire then is "to live as one who's been forgiven". Will I ever be good enough, no never. Our job is to press on ... and He will forever be all we need and all He is.

What is on your mind today? What's happening in your life, your heart? Tell me what part God has in your life today? How is it different than yesterday? Has He made His presence clear to you in your life differently than ever before?

I hate Catfish!

You know that Catfish are not only ugly, they actually bite, are slimmy, and that's not enough against them in my book...they are also what's known as "bottom feeders". They eat pretty much all the garbage that is on the bottom of the lakes and swamps they live and proliferate in. Go ahead, look at them in the eye and I dare anyone to tell me they are cute.

I have wondered why it is that they don't know they're "distasteful" in every way...I've come to the conclusion that it's because they pretty much hang out with others who are just like them. So the only thing they have to guage their looks, habits, or features with are other catfish. Now if they were to try to become friends with the rainbow trout they certainly wouldn't start to change color or shape, but it would broaden their world for sure.

Is this what we do? I can't help but think of the old adage..."misery loves company". It seems that I at times allow myself to sink into my own pity party when things (and people) are more challenging than is comfortable. Talking to a very wise person the other evening I tried my best to justify my actions....again. Isaiah says it best when he sighs out loud "Woe is me, for I am undone", and to that I reply...Yes, totally! No matter how complicated life gets, or how it is sometimes easier to just keep digging our heels in, God reminds me that it's really simple, because He already has provided a way for us to walk through anything and everything. "Give me Jesus, give me Jesus ... You can have all this world, give me Jesus.

Maybe this finds you out of sorts, confused, or trying to make sense of "things". I do know that there isn't one thing this world can offer that will give the security or peace we all crave ... only God's strong arms are strong enough to still whatever storm that's within us. Hanging on the the Rock that is higher than I...grab on when you need to.

Iron sharpens Iron...!!!

Iron sharpens Iron...!!!

Well here we are again, racing already thru January 2011. I forgot how long it has been since my last posting, so I am kind of cheating by repeating something that I've posted before. I think its appropriate again/still, so will copy and paste and as you read it hopefully it will make sense for today, or your tomorrow....

I've been looking at alot of old family/friend pictures...turning somewhat melancholy in the process and was reminded of the incredible lives we have led, and the legacy that we constantly are forming for our children. I can only speak for myself, but there are some things that I would like to see "ended" with me, and not carried on with my kids. Then again it always gives me warm fuzzies when I look at pictures of the people who have left their fingerprint on my heart and life. Life is a journey, as Wayne always reminds me. Even the tough times are so valuable to everything that makes us who we are. For those of you in my physical family or amongst my family of friends that read this, I want to say thank you for your touch on my life. I have come to realize that it takes all of us to give balance, patience, and any bit of wisdom to the other. Scripture says that we are like iron sharpening iron...lots of intense heat, some banging, and much shaping and stretching ... all at the mighty hand of our loving heavenly Father, and many times through those that we hold close. Happy New Year... may it bring us just a little closer to seeing life as He does.

Just wondering how Mary must have felt this day..knowing her time was close to give birth. A young teenage girl of probably 14-15 years of age who had already met an Angel telling her that she was going to not only have a baby, but that this child would be the Son of God. Now she finds herself traveling on the back of a donkey, far from her parents, her home, all that represented safety and security for her...with a young man who knew only that their lives would be different from anyone else's. What fear she must have felt not knowing what it meant to give birth..without her family, her mother, no friends...only Joseph. The things she would feel and see these next few days are all unknown to her now. BUT...God had His perfect plan. One that would take the next thirty-three years for them to see what would be accomplished thru their willingness to be used by Him. Would I have been so willing, so in tuned to God's voice that I would live such a life of faith? "Love so amazing, so divine...demands my life, my soul, my all..." God's Blessings on each of you...every one.

Weak Knees or the Everlasting Arms

All I can think of today is the song that says, "Oh, how He loves you and me...He gave His life, what more could He give...Oh how He loves you, Oh how He loves me, Oh how He loves you and me."

I have to admit to you all that this dry and barren place I've been for way too long now has nearly gotten the best of me. This morning as I looked to ck my email and facebook, all seemed the same in my world. NOT GOOD! Then as I looked a little more I saw Susie Larson's "encouraging words for the day"...about being thankful...where ever I am, for disappointments & fears, for what ever I have or don't have...simple concept, hard task at times. Satan is so sly, sooo smooth...but not always his fault. When we slip (or even walk) away from what we know is the right thing to do there is always self-justification and pride to fall back on after all. This is where I've been..."Pity Party Extraordinaire" Someone have a rope to throw?

The first thing I have to be thankful for is that I don't have to backtrack...only go forward. This life is not a ferris wheel or even a roller coaster. We DON'T end up where we started ever. The result of my decisions carry with them either the potential to become rotten or sprout and grow. God's desire is that I learn from my mistakes (and even my intentional but poor choices) and see that they get me absolutely no where. Sista's ... I am talking to me, albeit out loud. I am where I have chosen to be, just not where God wants me to be, and for that I am repentant.

It's time for me to get back into the game, off the sidelines, and learn to recognize those hits of life that crush my spirit are also capable of being used by my mighty and loving Father as tools to remind me to lean into His everlasting arms. My choice.

Just wanted to share this song "Broken into Beautiful" with my blogging friends. I have had little to no time to write here, but ran across this beautiful song that has been one of my favorites for the past several years. The lyrics are relatable...we all come across times in our lives that we feel shattered and broken either because of something we've done or the pain comes from seeing another we love struggling to get back on their feet (so to speak). Either way none of us are immune. I am so thankful that our God is a restoring God...a Father who can "put us back together again if we let HIm". Over the past 6 years I have seen almost insurmountable circumstances come about in the lives of people we love. We have asked God to "remove the mountain" in their lives, yet He didn't...instead he healed spiritually and miraculously in the ways He saw as best. I learned that I have to trust more than the essence of God....I have had to believe that He does know what is best in each and every turn of the road....if I didn't then everything I have based my life upon is a lie, and that for me would be the end all. Why do I believe Him....simply because I have seen Him work miracles in the lives of others and in my own heart and life. Like I said ... He is God the Restorer! "He is able more than able To accomplish what concerns me today He is able more than able To handle anything that comes my way. He is able, more than able to do much more than I could ever dream, He is able more than able, to make me what He wants me to be.' Oh...and don't forget to turn my music box off so you can hear Gwen sing.

Broken Into Beautiful

Storm those gates ...

I have a dear friend that is undergoing her first regimen of chemo this morning. She is a young woman in her late 40's, with four daughters....youngest is in high school. Bonnie (go figure), has a sweet spirit and is one of those women who always has a smile on her face, is full of life, a wonderful husband and loving family. I first met her when she was in college and heard her testimony about how God so lovingly showed himself to her and won her heart. She came from a Mormon background and saw her need to really know the Saviour. Well, here it is 25 or so years later and she continues to be up for the challenge. This diagnosis came out of nowhere, and has been a shock to all who know this family. I don't know how far this blog reaches, but I do know that many of you know Jesus personally and believe in the power of prayer...so I would ask you to keep Bonnie and her family in your prayers. She has ovarian cancer and also is dealing with something questionable in her neck...possibly thyroid cancer. She underwent surgery in San Francisco on June 17th to remove both ovaries, etc. All went well and now to go forward with making sure that nothing remains that might be cancerous. 1st chemo, then radiation. Pray for wisdom for her physician's and thank you for taking this on. We will be diligent in "storming the gates of heaven" on this family's behalf.

Life is..... Infinitesimal Change

Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely.

How many times, say I, has someone tried to tell me ... albeit warn me, or even try to threaten me that if I keep going the direction I'm going it may very well produce the very opposite result that I'm looking for. I have come to the conclusion late in life, that maintaining the thought in many of my searches for "what to do now" that I have chosen to do it "my way", without asking the one who knows what is best for me. The reality here is that my God is never pushy. He gives us a very long leash at times and waits patiently for us to ask Him to lead...and because He does not speak in an audible voice we just go about our way making the choices on our own. We often (choose to) forget that God has provided His Word, which is pretty exhaustive, black and white, structured...whatever you'd like to call it, that makes it clear as to what pleases Him and in the end is in our best interest. Why would we think any different of Him. Today I am including one of the most poignant of videos that I've ever watched(below). The author uses great pictures, true to the Word scripting, but most of all the "loudest voice". It reminds me that even tho I am given a heart that can respond to His still, small voice...sometimes I need to be wakened from my worldly stupor and again take note of who I am in comparison to who He is... He is either my King or He is not! I am "eternally" thankful that my oft times justifiable thinking does not, will not, can not change WHO HE IS!!!

That's My King (Rock Mix)

...and Winnie the Pooh replied, "Oh bother!"

This getting "back into the saddle stuff" is harder that I thought. My days, weeks and months are whizzing by and I find I get a very small percentage of what needs doing done. Our family is in the thick of preparing for our oldest daughter's wedding in September, and "old Mom" is starting to feel just a bit anxious about all the details yet left to be attended to. Kind of like worrying about having a baby when in reality, it will come irregardless. I watched a wedding show on TLC this morning and it only complicated my emotions....enough of that! I am resolved to make sure that this be a "fun" event for Lindsay (& Ryan) and that we do all we can do ... and all we can do is enough.

I do love this stage of life with my children. Alas, the parenting part is secondary to the friendships we have developed. Getting beyond the birthing, nursing, newborn, toddler-hood, elementary up's and down's, teen angst, independence and now starting their own families gives in many ways a tremendous feeling of accomplishment and thankfulness that all we did wrong didn't "scar" their tender souls irreparably. I remember going to their beds at night as they slept, thinking back over the day and feeling that either my words or actions may have been too harsh to them .... what if they remembered those things the rest of their lives and grew up to not like me???!!! God is gracious in ALL his ways though, isn't He? He spares us as much as our children sometimes.

Well, my friends, not much for you to take home from here today, but thanks for letting me vent. I love you each and every one & pray that as you parent, or be it a friend, you will sense God's presence in your life as well as his forgiveness and graciousness. That we all could grow up to be just like Him.

The old hymn that plays as I write this morning..."I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus, the Nazarene. And wonder how HE could love ME, a sinner condemned, unclean. How marvelous, how wonderful, and my song shall ever be, how marvelous, how wonderful is my Savior's love for me".
It doesn't matter how far we go...but how much nearer we come because His love compels us. When someone loves us, and we believe and sense it in our minds and hearts, it is impossible to shut them out. A couple of weeks ago the thought came to me that God didn't have to go to such great lengths to show us His love....He didn't have to keep on trying to prove His love to us, but He did it anyway. He didn't have to create a world for us to enjoy, or the love of a family to be a picture of His love for us. He didn't have to give us children to love and nurture so we would understand the love He has for His only son, and how He in His mercy and grace for us, gave His son in our place. Picturing that, as a parent, is unfathomable for me. It makes me realize that I don't even come close to understanding how much He loves me. Scripture is clear when it says that God's love is "far beyond all we could ever ask or think". . . and how much more we so easily become immersed in all that this world offers and mistake it for God's best instead of being consumed by all He is and wants to be in our lives. Consider how much He loves you today...It's amazing!

Helloooooo again!

I have had lots of reader's ask where I've been. That would be the "question of the century"! Suffice to say "I'm back...well, somewhat." Some lessons take longer to learn than others, right? Be patient with me and I will try to get back into this saddle and sit up straight. Ever read Gulliver's Travels?

God's Recipe

The thought just came to me ... why don't we just follow God's recipe for everything ... wouldn't things always turn out right then? The other day my Whitney (daughter #2) was laughing about how her boyfriend doesn't do things in an "orderly fashion." Surprise, surprise! He had decided he wanted to bake a cake and instead of following the directions he just threw everything in the bowl all at once, then wondered how come it didn't turn out like he had imagined. Isn't that just like life. Either we get the "cart before the horse," or just "take over the reins." Then we wonder what in the world went wrong when we find ourselves disappointed in the results. Ahhh, just a thought. Thank-you, God, for giving me this crazy, "technicolor" mind of mine that only you "get"... these analogies go a long way with me ... for the friends that I treasure and most of all for the way you love us all.
Beauty of Our Friendship

Friendship is a Priceless Gift that cannot be bought or sold,
But its value is far greater than a mountain made of Gold.
For gold is cold and lifeless, it can neither see nor hear
And in the time of trouble it is powerless to cheer--
It has no ears to listen nor heart to understand,
It cannot bring you comfort or reach out a helping hand
So when you ask God for a gift
Be thankful if HE sends not diamonds, pearls or riches
But The Love of Real True Friends.