Last Saturday I took a long nap and slowly came back awake around 3pm. By 3:30, I let hubby know I was heading into town (45 mins away). I was still tired, but just felt to pull to go. Noone went with me so it was just 'me' time to enjoy. I headed off to one book store and then another. And there stood a friend from our previous church (before we moved).
We had the one of the best talks we've ever had and I had no doubt God constructed a divine meeting. She encouraged me so much and just simply refreshed me.
I then searched for a nail salon. One was in the shopping center and open! I decided to treat myself to a mani/pedi and sat down in a wonderful chair that beat the heck out of my back. I loved it! While relaxing and feeling like God was taking care of me, I met a lady that is on the financial board of a home for girls in Guatemala. She and her husband recently sold their home on one acre and kept the other 10. Since they are traveling to Guatemala so much in the next months (he is on the exec board), they are living in the barn. Yes, the barn. They have a climate controlled room and a tiled bathroom in it. They've sold almost everything they own and are living light. They will look for a home when they get a chance.
When the world would say that they are crazy, I was truly inspired. They are handing it over to God and giving all of themselves for others. Are they without problems? No. But they are walking with God, following his lead.
I needed a pick-me-up that day and God put two godly women in my path to encourage and inspire me. Who is he putting in your path? Whose path is he putting you in? Don't pass up the opportunites he puts before you, rather grab each one and look for every blessing he wants to give you.
Lord, I thank you for the women you have put in my life. You know just when I need a touch from them and provide it in your perfect timing. You are a wonderful Father! Amen.
Friday, August 17, 2012
Modern day miracles
Have you ever prayed over a long period of time for family members? Hoping they will find or rekindle their joy in the Lord?
God works in such mysterious ways.
A few years ago, a man was with his two teenage sons and homeless. He called his parents and they drove several states to come get them. The man was sick and had been to the hospital several times and was unable to work due to abdominal pain. With no insurance and mounting medical bills, it was difficult to get any help.
As time went on, he got more and more sick, with 150+ trips to emergency rooms. With no insurance, he never could get a steady doctor to determine what all was going on and what to do to get him well. He'd try to work when he was feeling better, but it never lasted long. The pain was too great. And attempts at working, cut off Medicaid.
Finally, he filed for disability. Records were put together and they headed off to court. The attorney was friends with the judge, but at the last minute, the judge was switched. Going back into her chambers, they didn't know what to expect. The mother was waiting in the court room hoping for enough aid to get him back on his feet and with a steady doctor so he could get well and work.
After 20 minutes or so, they came out and the hearing had been cancelled. The judge said they didn't have all the right medical records but she knew they were earnest in getting real help. She set the new hearing for 60 days, told him to get all the records....and she court-ordered a gastroenterologist to do a full workup so they knew exactly what they were dealing with. Amazing!
The mother, who had been asking for prayer, said the judge was no doubt an answer to prayer. If the judge hadn't been switched, the attorney said they would have lost.
This man and his mother are relatives of mine whom I've been praying for for a long time. He has had a hard road and not always made the best decisions which in turn has made it difficult on his mother. But God is in control and letting them both know he loves them.
Thank you, Lord, for letting us know you are in control in every situation. And thank you for your mysterious ways in giving hope and strengthening faith. Amen.
God works in such mysterious ways.
A few years ago, a man was with his two teenage sons and homeless. He called his parents and they drove several states to come get them. The man was sick and had been to the hospital several times and was unable to work due to abdominal pain. With no insurance and mounting medical bills, it was difficult to get any help.
As time went on, he got more and more sick, with 150+ trips to emergency rooms. With no insurance, he never could get a steady doctor to determine what all was going on and what to do to get him well. He'd try to work when he was feeling better, but it never lasted long. The pain was too great. And attempts at working, cut off Medicaid.
Finally, he filed for disability. Records were put together and they headed off to court. The attorney was friends with the judge, but at the last minute, the judge was switched. Going back into her chambers, they didn't know what to expect. The mother was waiting in the court room hoping for enough aid to get him back on his feet and with a steady doctor so he could get well and work.
After 20 minutes or so, they came out and the hearing had been cancelled. The judge said they didn't have all the right medical records but she knew they were earnest in getting real help. She set the new hearing for 60 days, told him to get all the records....and she court-ordered a gastroenterologist to do a full workup so they knew exactly what they were dealing with. Amazing!
The mother, who had been asking for prayer, said the judge was no doubt an answer to prayer. If the judge hadn't been switched, the attorney said they would have lost.
This man and his mother are relatives of mine whom I've been praying for for a long time. He has had a hard road and not always made the best decisions which in turn has made it difficult on his mother. But God is in control and letting them both know he loves them.
Thank you, Lord, for letting us know you are in control in every situation. And thank you for your mysterious ways in giving hope and strengthening faith. Amen.
Choose Life!
I've been meaning to write this post and got a little busy. Then a friend was wondering where I'd been. God reminded me where my focus needed to be...
I was once again reading one of my christian fiction books by Karen Kingsbury. The woman lost her husband, a firefighter, on 9/11 in NYC. You see, she was not a christian but he was devoted to God. She had always been terrified a fire would take him away. But God brought about crazy circumstances to help her through it.
Her husband left behind a legacy. He had notes and highlights all through his bible and even messages to his wife. He also kept a daily journal of his time with God.
One day she was flipping through Deuteronomy and the verse he marked for her was about choosing life:
"This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live"
--Deuteronomy 30:19 NIV
She was living in her husband's memory for too long and through this verse, she knew God was telling her to choose life, not death.
Well, the next day, I received Lifeway's ad and in it was Beth Moore's "The Law of Love, Lessons from the Pages of Deuteronomy" bible study. Hmmm....mere coincidence? Then I received Klove's daily verse - Deuteronomy 30:20 (yes, the next verse).
NLT - "You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life."
NIV - " and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."
Yes, God, I will go and I will get that bible study on your command! I will choose the life you have for me, the abundant life that is your plan, and not mine.
I am now in the process of setting up a schedule for our church women to go through this study. I do not know what he has in store for us, but I believe it's his plan we do it.
In the time since this happened, I've needed the reminder to choose life. I tend to lose focus and get bogged down with parenting issues. But God is faithful to keep reminding me to focus on him and his path. Thank you, Lord. Today I choose life!
I was once again reading one of my christian fiction books by Karen Kingsbury. The woman lost her husband, a firefighter, on 9/11 in NYC. You see, she was not a christian but he was devoted to God. She had always been terrified a fire would take him away. But God brought about crazy circumstances to help her through it.
Her husband left behind a legacy. He had notes and highlights all through his bible and even messages to his wife. He also kept a daily journal of his time with God.
One day she was flipping through Deuteronomy and the verse he marked for her was about choosing life:
"This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live"
--Deuteronomy 30:19 NIV
She was living in her husband's memory for too long and through this verse, she knew God was telling her to choose life, not death.
Well, the next day, I received Lifeway's ad and in it was Beth Moore's "The Law of Love, Lessons from the Pages of Deuteronomy" bible study. Hmmm....mere coincidence? Then I received Klove's daily verse - Deuteronomy 30:20 (yes, the next verse).
NLT - "You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life."
NIV - " and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."
Yes, God, I will go and I will get that bible study on your command! I will choose the life you have for me, the abundant life that is your plan, and not mine.
I am now in the process of setting up a schedule for our church women to go through this study. I do not know what he has in store for us, but I believe it's his plan we do it.
In the time since this happened, I've needed the reminder to choose life. I tend to lose focus and get bogged down with parenting issues. But God is faithful to keep reminding me to focus on him and his path. Thank you, Lord. Today I choose life!
Thursday, August 2, 2012
His way
Have you ever been going along and God does something totally unexpected? I pray you have.
I was on my way to church last night and I was debating staying - my stomach was not feeling too good. But I ended up staying and was so glad I did. We had one of the missionaries fill in for our pastor and he spoke on abundant life/fulfillment. Just a few weeks before I had told some family members about the abundant life God was showing me. But the last day didn't feel so abundant. My husband was mad at me and I just didn't feel the urge to run and apologize. I knew it was wrong, but wanted to truly be sorry before I apologized.
My daughter and I headed home and on the way, I saw the same dog on the side of the road I'd seen on the way there. I was hoping he was sleeping, but I knew he wasn't. From the house and car where he lived, I figured the owner(s) was older. A car came up behind me so I kept going. But something was tugging at me. The dog was across the road and down a little ways from the house. There was a large possibility the owners wouldn't see him and would wonder where he was. I recently wondered for a couple of weeks before deciding a coyote or fox got my young cat. I didn't want someone else to go through the same wait and see.
So I turned around and pulled into the driveway. My daughter stayed in the car while I went to the side door. The front porch had a latch to get to the front door and I didn't want to intrude anymore than I already felt I was. Gladys came to the front door and I went around. She smiled, happy to see someone come by. Then I apologized for the reason I stopped and told her. Immediately tears welled up and she said that was her husband's dog. I offered to bring the dog back over to the house and at first she refused, afraid she was inconveniencing me. But I convinced her to get a trash bag and she also brought out gloves.
I went and retrieved Snowball, placing him in the side yard. She then asked me to come wash my hands inside. As I did, I commented on the southern gospel group she was watching on the t.v. This lady knew the Lord. I came out of the bathroom and we started talking. She was still teary and explained her husband was no longer living, she was a home health nurse and her recent patient had passed, and her niece just had both legs amputated. She was depressed. I hugged her and we both agreed God sent me there - to brighten her day with a visit, and to show me I do have time to get to know more people and spend time with them.
As we discussed her husband, I told her about mine. She told me to live each day to the fullest. Her husband died 5 weeks after his cancer diagnosis. God was nudging me to go home and apologize. As I left, I told Gladys I would bring my daughter back in the next week when we had more time and visit with her. She was thrilled.
At home, I went in and apologized and my husband's demeanor completely changed. Then I told him about Gladys. As I did, I remembered the preacher mentioning the 28-29 widows that live right around the church this past Sunday morning. And I remembered telling a friend that afternoon I was going to church and maybe God will make me feel guilty enough to apologize.
I guess God decided we would start ministering now. And he would put a desire in my heart to apologize. All in His way.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ~ Jeremiah 29:11
Lord, thank you for getting my attention to do what I needed to do. Thank you for bringing Gladys into my life. And thank you for doing things your way and not mine. Amen.
I was on my way to church last night and I was debating staying - my stomach was not feeling too good. But I ended up staying and was so glad I did. We had one of the missionaries fill in for our pastor and he spoke on abundant life/fulfillment. Just a few weeks before I had told some family members about the abundant life God was showing me. But the last day didn't feel so abundant. My husband was mad at me and I just didn't feel the urge to run and apologize. I knew it was wrong, but wanted to truly be sorry before I apologized.
My daughter and I headed home and on the way, I saw the same dog on the side of the road I'd seen on the way there. I was hoping he was sleeping, but I knew he wasn't. From the house and car where he lived, I figured the owner(s) was older. A car came up behind me so I kept going. But something was tugging at me. The dog was across the road and down a little ways from the house. There was a large possibility the owners wouldn't see him and would wonder where he was. I recently wondered for a couple of weeks before deciding a coyote or fox got my young cat. I didn't want someone else to go through the same wait and see.
So I turned around and pulled into the driveway. My daughter stayed in the car while I went to the side door. The front porch had a latch to get to the front door and I didn't want to intrude anymore than I already felt I was. Gladys came to the front door and I went around. She smiled, happy to see someone come by. Then I apologized for the reason I stopped and told her. Immediately tears welled up and she said that was her husband's dog. I offered to bring the dog back over to the house and at first she refused, afraid she was inconveniencing me. But I convinced her to get a trash bag and she also brought out gloves.
I went and retrieved Snowball, placing him in the side yard. She then asked me to come wash my hands inside. As I did, I commented on the southern gospel group she was watching on the t.v. This lady knew the Lord. I came out of the bathroom and we started talking. She was still teary and explained her husband was no longer living, she was a home health nurse and her recent patient had passed, and her niece just had both legs amputated. She was depressed. I hugged her and we both agreed God sent me there - to brighten her day with a visit, and to show me I do have time to get to know more people and spend time with them.
As we discussed her husband, I told her about mine. She told me to live each day to the fullest. Her husband died 5 weeks after his cancer diagnosis. God was nudging me to go home and apologize. As I left, I told Gladys I would bring my daughter back in the next week when we had more time and visit with her. She was thrilled.
At home, I went in and apologized and my husband's demeanor completely changed. Then I told him about Gladys. As I did, I remembered the preacher mentioning the 28-29 widows that live right around the church this past Sunday morning. And I remembered telling a friend that afternoon I was going to church and maybe God will make me feel guilty enough to apologize.
I guess God decided we would start ministering now. And he would put a desire in my heart to apologize. All in His way.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ~ Jeremiah 29:11
Lord, thank you for getting my attention to do what I needed to do. Thank you for bringing Gladys into my life. And thank you for doing things your way and not mine. Amen.
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