Friday night I was on my usual run to the nearest 'city' to get groceries, take daughter to karate, etc.  We were in Wal-Mart to get more paint for the house.  The Friday before Memorial Day and noone was working in the paint department.  In my mind, I complained that Wal-Mart understaffs to make more money.  And yet again, I'll be getting home at 10 on Friday after an hour's drive.  I tried to keep a patient attitude and went to another dept to have someone paged.  After another 5 - 10 minutes, I asked a different worker to page someone.  Another 5 minutes and I asked a third worker to page a manager, surely they could mix paint.  The lady was older and gave a funny look saying she wasn't so sure.  She spotted the lady that knew how to do it, giving someone else a break in another dept.

Martha came over and you could tell she was tired but still getting her duties done.  Her phone rang - her husband was just out of ICU.  I was floored.  Not wanting to be nosey, but wanting to make up for my earlier impatience, I asked if he was feeling better.  No.

She went on to tell me about the last 2 years of their life, since his motorcycle accident in which he was thrown 60 feet.  He'd broken 57 bones, his spine and pelvis breaking in 2.  There's now a very long screw holding the pelvis together and a metal cage around his spine.  She lost count of the procedures and surgeries the doctors said he wouldn't live through.  He already had heart problems and diabetes.  Now liver and kidney issues are added.  The doctors said he would never walk again, but the two of them worked together and he is walking and driving short distances. 

I asked if his spirits were up.  Honestly, I expected her to say he was depressed from the daily shots, 19 medicines, and continual hospital stays.  But she said his spirits are up.  He told her there are 2 things that keep him going - 1 - the good Lord wasn't done with him yet, 2 - he wasn't done loving her yet. 

She works as much as she can because they need the money and through Christmas Wal-Mart needed her, so she had to let someone else take care of him.  I felt so small for every time I've been upset there aren't enough cashiers or floor workers.  Instead, I should be praying for those not able to get to work.

God blessed me with Martha and her husband.  They are working through a very difficult time, but still loving each other and leaning on each other. 

Thank you, Lord, for those you put in our paths to show us your love and hope in action.  Please bless Martha and her husband this week, giving them laughter and a break from the turmoil.  Amen.

What is God's destination for you? 

The message last night cut to the heart of life.  You are on a road, is it the right one?  Will God change your direction? 

4 years ago, my husband and I were trying to figure out if we were supposed to remain in our state or move somewhere else.  I was searching for a job change and told God I was willing to go anywhere, absolutely anywhere but where I was.  Hmmmm....putting limits on God because of what I wanted.  Before long, I realized I had to learn to be content in my job and wait on God.  Then a new job came up when I was content so I could make a rational decision and not just jump at it.  God was preparing me for the next adventures in life - bringing a child into our home and moving even further into the country to a small town. 

This small town has been an amazing blessing in less than 2 months.  When others could not understand our move, I knew the Holy Spirit was telling me to go.  I didn't entirely know why, but knew we needed to go and it would be just what we needed.  And God is blessing that over and over.

Pray and ask God about your destination.  Much more than your job or your hobbies, what is the destination of your heart?

Thank you, Lord, for your purpose for each person's life.  Please reveal a piece of it to those I love today.  Amen.

Come and see!

"Come and see the works of God, Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men."  - Psalm 66:5 (NASV)

"Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people!"
~ Psalm 66:5, NLT


Look for God's miracles today and be in awe.
Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness and your awesomeness!  Amen.

Sisters/Brothers in Christ

Have you thanked God this week for your sisters/brothers in Christ?  I most certainly have! 

This month has been especially stressful with the move, a close on our old farm that went haywire and should finally happen next week, rain almost non-stop, blah blah blah.  Nothing new in the grand scheme of things.  However, my daughter is having an especially hard time adjusting to her new school where there is more accountability and consequences. 

Last night, I contacted a sister to share an incident with my daughter.  Just knowing she was there and her automatic offer to pray lifted me up and I knew I could handle the rest of the evening.  This comforted me as another bomb dropped this morning.

Driving along today I mentioned my sisters in Christ to my daughter.  I told her how sometimes it's hard to be friends with someone who seems not to have a blemish in their life and yours seems not to have a clean spot anywhere.  But God gives us those friends because He knows they will be there for us through thick and thin when we need them.  Today was no exception.

I reached out over email to sisters/brothers at work and sisters at church.  I got the support and prayer I needed to keep me strong.  What a blessing they are to me.

"...a new life that is sure to bring changes.  Some of those changes will be good, while others will be less beneficial.  but msot important, we'll face them all together.  There is nothing worse than to be in this world without a friend.  There's nothing harder than to live without love.  And there's nothing more devastating than to live life without hope.  The hope of Jesus - the hope within."  ----The Hope Within

Thank you, Lord, for continually conveying your hope to me through my christian friends.  You make yourself known to me time and time again without fail.  Please bless them with your presence.  Please bless them with hope.  Amen.