Best Gifts November 28, 2009

There’s a common saying that is worth quoting: “The best things in life aren’t things.”  How true that is!  With the Christmas spirit ever so alive, especially since we had SNOW on Black Friday (Yay!), I have been thinking of gifts.

The “perfect” gift is always on my mind for my family and friends.  I have received gifts from others and thought, “How am I going to top that?”  Not that it has to be topped but for the fact that it holds such meaning to me, I want to do the same for others.

Last Christmas, I received one of the most amazing gifts which I practically take every place I go.  It just has such meaning and had so much thought and time put into it.  It truly is one of the best gifts.  That gift left me thinking, “What am I going to do for this person that would hold as much meaning?”

Of course, I got something that I knew this person wouldn’t have … and couldn’t wait until Christmas.  Matter of fact, I was so excited to give it that I almost told what it was on numerous occasions.  I just couldn’t wait.

Best Gift

Again, I am left with the question, “How am I going to top that?” with the gift just received today from a special friend.  It was a perfect match.  It was my favorite color.  Time went into monogramming and wrapping.  There was love attached.  (Insert teary eyes here)  But, the best gift wasn’t the gifts given, however loved they are, nor was it the meal with the tab being picked up by the friend (and that’s the reason for being early!!!!).  The best gift wasn’t the physical gift (although I will brag about them endlessly).  The incredible gift of time spent with a beautiful, dear friend just leaves the heart warm.  The gift of a friendship that is like no other; where it’s been a little over a year since meeting, but an instant kinship that seems to have always been and forever will be.  That friendship has already shown that no matter what trials take place, that friendship will be there with arms open wide … answering the heart’s cry of Just let someone pray for me … and judgement set aside, but concern and wisdom and love there for the taking.

Yes, truly the Christmas spirit is bubbling over like an opened pop bottle that has been shaken … just can’t contain it!  The best gift was the time set aside to be with a friend that displays what a true woman of God is, and is the “Friend [who] loves at all times Prov. 17:17″. 

So, what am I going to do for this friend next year???  So loved!  So loved!  Just have to find that “perfect” gift!

All I Need November 26, 2009

Psalm 100

A psalm for giving thanks.

 ¹ Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

 ² Worship the LORD with gladness;
       come before him with joyful songs.

 ³ Know that the LORD is God.
       It is he who made us, and we are his;
       we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

 ⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving
       and his courts with praise;
       give thanks to him and praise his name.

 ⁵ For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
       his faithfulness continues through all generations.

 

     I love Thanksgiving.  I think I like it even more than Christmas. It is a beautiful time of year.  It is a holiday that is based on family and tradition, when loved ones gather to show their gratefulness.  It is a time when nothing is expected in return for giving a few hours or days spent with those held dear to the heart.  No gifts to be given but the precious memories of days of old and the excitement of making new memories. 

     The tradition of hunting was established when I was eleven.  Throughout the years, the time spent hunting became a time of worship, contemplation, meditation.  I have become rusty in my approach to the sport.  This also applies to the “thanks” given to God.

     Sitting in the field hiding from the game provided much needed introspection.  The leaves rustled beneath their hooves.  The sounds were moving closer.  The heartbeat quickens.  I hear you.  I know you’re there, but I can’t see you.  Show yourselves.  The sounds draw nearer.  Do not dare to breathe.  Sit still.  Wait.

     The thoughts of I know You’re there, but I can’t see You and Show Yourself to me began the meditation, contemplation, thankful worship.  I am so rusty.  I need You more!  I could only think I have no wants.  He is all I need.  Yet, all else is cause for such gratefulness.  Truly, He is all I need, and I have so much more.

     This Thanksgiving season has sent unwanted lessons.  We stand in the process saying, “I know You’re here, but I can’t see You.  Reveal Yourself to me.”  Many times the direction we must travel is not what we want or what we plan.  We stop and say, “Help me, God!  You’re all I’ve got.”  In that moment we find He is all we need.  

     Many this holiday season are on roads unfamiliar.  The traditions have been altered unwelcomed.  The memories held so dear are bittersweet.  Standing is not an action, it is a laborious task which becomes a necessity for survival.  The distant look in the eyes say, “I’m only existing.”  Dear beloved, that is when He is God.  Psalm 100:3 “Know that the LORD is God.  It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.”  He is good and His love endures forever.  

     As this Thanksgiving day comes to a close, it is a chance to say what is so often thought but seldom said.  I would like to extend my gratitude for the important role you and you alone have in my life, assure you of how incredibly blessed I am to have your friendship nestled in my heart.  May you know that you are HIS. That alone is cause for a grateful heart.

Amazed November 12, 2009

Why is it that we pray specifically for something? Why do we give every detail as to “how” we want our prayer answered?

I have learned that I will never cease to be amazed by God. In that, why am I amazed when He answers those specifically detailed prayers? I know He can. I belive He will. So, how is it that He still leaves me standing amazed?

I did Teen Bible Quiz many years back and learned the book of John. These verses are forever in my memory and are the reason for this finite mind’s complete confusion as to why I still stand amazed: John 14:13 “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

I know it. I believe it. And as I said to a dear friend … it’s the trusting of it that is most difficult. That is where the amazement comes in to play. When we believe and trust … He will do it!

Thank God that I still stand amazed!!!

Baloney October 31, 2009

I know that I have messed up, done things that I’m not proud of, things that have hurt God.  I know I have, because I have done them to my friends and my family, especially my parents.  I have seen the disappointment on their faces and think, “How God must be even more so disappointed!”  Some of those mess-ups are remembered like they were yesterday … some were!  Often they just can’t seem to get out of my head.

In one mess that requires a road traveled alone, the knowledge that God is there just seems like plain baloney!  No, not Oscar Mayer b-o-l-o-g-n-a either!  Just plain baloney, nothing but tumultuousness.

Amidst the hubbub and chaos, all that can be heard is silence.  The knowledge that “God is for me, so who can be against me,”  “I know the plans I have for you; plans to prosper you, not to harm,” “You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest.  Every moment You know where I am,” etc. etc. etc., all seem to fall on deaf ears and a numb heart.  The practice of repetition, continual “convincing” just feels like baloney.

In the promises of standing on the Rock, there is the knowledge that I don’t have to “feel” it for it to be true.  The silence always brings the Voice of God.  It is usually that still, small voice that requires a specially tuned ear.  The road traveled alone has the steps of the Father all along the way.  As I told a dear, special friend just today … I have to have a magnifying glass in order to “see” those steps beside me.  They are there just the same.

So, even though it seems like such baloney … the peace comes in “knowing” the Truth even in the uncertainties.

I’ve had my fill of bologna! 

Help me, God (Kathy Troccoli)

Help me, God I’m scared
And I’m unprepared to face the night alone
Hear me, hear my prayer
My soul it aches and I’ve nowhere to go
Help me, God

In this dark hour
I know only the power that made the stars
Can mend my heart
Oh I’ve tried on my own but I’m not that strong
You’re all I’ve got
You’re all I’ve got
Help me, God

Sometimes, people leave
And I can grieve cause life’s not always fair
help me to hold on
though I can’t see you, I believe you’re there
I know you’re there

In this dark hour
I know only the power that made the stars
Can mend my heart
Oh I’ve tried on my own but I’m not that strong
You’re all I’ve got
You’re all I’ve got
Help me, God

No Words October 9, 2009

I’m finding myself at a loss for words, and the funny thing is ….

THAT NEVER HAPPENS! 

You thought I was going to quote a song.  You are right.  There will be a song, just not the one you think.

I find my heart changed due to circumstances that have caused me to fall facedown.  As my face is flat on the floor, I have come to find there are great lessons to discover.  One thing I have found, God lives close to the floor.

In lying prostrate on the floor, pride comes tumbling after.  The prayers sent heavenward are not answered in the manner that is preferred.  The secret burden that weighs so heavy is exposed.  A dear friend said, “Don’t try to do it on your own! YOU NEED TO RELY ON THE LORD! I am praying for you!” 

Once that burden was revealed, help came.  Pride had to be swallowed.  Help was given without having to ask.  Prayers were answered in God’s own way.  NOT the way of first choice!  However, it brings these verses to life: Matthew 11:28  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Once the mess is cleaned up … once it is given to God, and left in His hands … rest.  It is a mess that only few, very few, know or will ever know.  But, this event is what has changed my heart.  My heart is changed, because my angel said, “I guess you never really know someone.”  This not knowing is what made my heart change, a new passion.

My passion now is to pray even more.  As a patient sits in my chair for their dental cleaning, I may know parts of their stories.  The change in me is that I pray over them as I work.  I see the patient and think, “What if I really knew?  What trials are they facing that they cannot share with even their dearest, closest friend … or won’t share with their dearest, closest friend?”  Then, my heart has no words, but I pray.  I pray that the Christian CDs that I play will penetrate through their hearts and plant a seed … a seed of hope.  I pray that God ministers to their every need … known or secret.  I have had this change of heart because my heart has needed those prayers.  I have had the moments of needing someone to say as my friend did, “I am praying for you!”  Oh, how God lives close to the floor!

La La La (Point of Grace)

Words and music by Brent Wilson

If a picture’s worth a thousand words
What are they?
And since you’re spirit intercedes for me
What do you hear when I pray?
’cause I’m finding it hard to find the word
To let you know how my heart can hurt
So I’ll sing the tune
And let you fill in the words

La la la
La la la
La la la…

It’s comforting to know
My words aren’t all you hear
I can talk to you with laughter
And I can talk to you in tears
And I don’t have to know just what to say
For you to hear me when I pray
So I’ll sing a part and let you read my heart

La la la
La la la
La la la…

Just One September 30, 2009

Just one.

Just one mistake can change a life.

Just one decision can change a world.

Just one.

Just one is worth celebrating as that one gives their heart to Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. 

Tears streamed down my face as our last night of revival with Evangelists Greg and Robyn Hubbard with team evangelists Tim and Katie Bennett resulted with about 15 souls accepting salvation!  Folks got saved tonight.  They got SAVED!  Just one is worth it all.  But oh, how heaven must be rejoicing over the many souls, young and old alike, who realized they need a Savior.

My heart has become more tender to the hurting that are looking for their savior in the wrong places.  My prayer is that I will listen with a loving heart and attentive ears … living by example … leading them to their Hope in Jesus Christ our Lord.

It takes but …

JUST ONE!

DOORMAT September 25, 2009

   Do you ever do things out of obligation?

   Do you really have an obligation to do it?

   Is it really just because of a fear … the fear “They won’t like me if I don’t do this for them”?

How do you say, “No,” and mean it, instead of asking, “Is that okay with you”?

When do you know that enough is enough?

Why is it that some have no trouble telling you no?

Does the quote of ~Flavia~ “Some people come into our lives and quickly go.  Some stay for a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same” mean that they walked all over you?

Where is the line of being a good Christian servant and being a slave to others?

So many are good schmoozers!  They preface their requests with compliments of:  I thought of you;  God answers prayers;  I know you do well;  I know your work, etc. etc. etc.  They know if they use these lines before asking a favor that it is nearly impossible for the people-pleaser, co-dependent person to say “NO”.

I have no answers to any of these questions.  The only thing I do know is that when you do the tasks with a servant-of-God’s heart, mind, attitude … there are blessings awaiting!  A friend said, “I guess it is best to be busy with the things of God than to be busy in the things of this world.”

So, my doormat reads “Welcome” …

What does yours?

Hands September 2, 2009

Sleepless nights.  I don’t like much when God wakes me up in the middle of the night with a dear friend’s name on my heart.  It doesn’t happen often that I know for whom I am praying, let alone two specific friends.   Never has the reason for my prayers been revealed to me.  I’m just sending up random prayers on their behalf … left wondering in the dark (literally, because I usually don’t get out of bed and turn on the lights … ha!).  It just freaks me out a little!

So, as I usually do, I contacted the two friends to see how they were.  “I’m doing really good,” and “I am good,” were the responses.  Hm.  What on Earth was the reason I was praying?  And, not that they can’t be okay, but I usually don’t hear of miracles after my praying!  No, I don’t have to know … I just want to know!  So, I questioned the one friend again, “You are?  Hm.  Then why did God wake me to pray for you?”

              ”Well, I shouldn’t say good.  My hands are hurting me.  They hurt me so bad last night I could hardly sleep.”  Ah ha!

And the other friend wrote … “Other than a bit of skin cancer on my hand.” WHAT?!  Okay, that one floored me to the point I didn’t even respond to that statement.  It took until this evening for me to address it, and I still didn’t have any words to say (and I have to have the right words!).

Ah, but then the words came to me.  These two dear angel friends of mine were both on my heart … and both have needs with their hands.  This rings in my ears:

Job 4:3 “Think how you have instructed many, how you have strengthened feeble hands.  ⁴ Your words have supported those who stumbled; you have strengthened faltering knees.”

Okay.  So I really don’t like the reasons God had me praying now!  These two have used their hands to serve others and God.  Their hands have instructed many (including me) with love and firmness and gentleness.   They have led others in the ways of righteousness.  These hands have been the strength in times of need.  These have been the hands of Aaron and Hur (Her)!

Even as I kick my feet at the thought of being awakened early in the morning, I know God hears those prayers.  He will strengthen those hands of His servants, for He is continually working through them.  I may not know what will come of those prayers.  I may never see the results that my “knowing” of a reason to pray will bring.  And the answers to those prayers may not be those of my choice.  But I do know, my God is mighty to save.  May He save them from the pain (physical and emotional) and heal them today! 

Isaiah 35:2b “…They will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.  ³ Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; ⁴ say to those with fearful hearts, ’Be strong, do not fear…’ “

Tears September 1, 2009

One day.  One day … those tears that were shed … they will be no more.

Revelation 21:4 “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

I have this ache.  A longing.  A void.  I cry Psalm 56:8 “Record my lament; list my tears on your scroll— are they not in your record?”

God knows the tears I have cried.  Most have been in the quiet of the night, when He and I are alone.  No one else knows the tears I have cried, but God alone!

When the ache of memories seem to overwhelm, the knowledge of NO MORE tears, NO MORE pain … that knowledge alone is enough.  HE is enough. 

One day …

Trust and Obey August 29, 2009

Trust and Obey

for there’s no other way

to be happy in Jesus

but to trust and obey

 

This beloved hymn is resounding in my mind and heart.  I have been, and have had others praying for the knowledge as to whether or not I should go on a mission trip to India in February.  The song is my answer.

 

Trust and obey.  I do not have trouble with the obeying.  No, I have not always obeyed.  However, it is not the most difficult of the two tasks.  Trusting, yes, that is my stumbling block.

 

Numerous obstacles lie in the road to going to India February 8-18.  I will not begin to list the pros and cons.  You would tire of reading if I did.  The list is lengthy.  However, in the silence I have been forced to listen for His voice.

 

Now I am not going to say this is God speaking, it was just a way to help confirm what I should do.  The question had been asked several times as to whether or not I would be going on this mission trip.  To each question I answered, “I don’t know.”  As my heart was heavy for India one day, I had a text message come through my cell phone.  When I read it, I had to laugh.  AT & T sent a text with the message: your phone is capable of sending and receiving international texts.  HA!  Well, well!  There we go.

 

No, I did not base my going on this trip on receiving this text message.  However, as I have been waiting on my God-moment to come, I have known in my heart that I have to trust God.  Not a big revelation, because that is known as a given!  However, as I chose in myself to list the pros and cons, my heart forgot to trust.  The cons are just common sense.  Oh, but “The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.  Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:9-10″

 

The will of God will be done.  This I choose to trust.  Because as it says in Psalm 13:5, His love is unfailing.  That I have seen throughout my life.

 

So, as you walk the road that you are traveling, trust and obey.  There truly is no better way!

 

Psalm 13:5-6 “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.  I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.”

 

 

Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey. 

But we never can prove
the delights of his love
until all on the altar we lay;
for the favor he shows,
for the joy he bestows,
are for them who will trust and obey. {John Henry Sammis}