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After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed………..

 

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.  For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.  Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.  I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.  And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. John 17:1-5

I wish you grace and peace on this Palm Sunday……

Help me Lord, to fix my eyes on you always, and not myself…..Help me to remember that I can never clean up my messes with filthy rags, but with Your righteousness only can I be washed clean once again, and thank you that always, your window of Grace stands open……

Redeeming the years

No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. Romans 8:37

We had the privilege to attend a miracle last evening…..the remarriage of Elaine’s nephew Kaleb to his wife, Angela. For many years they were lost to the blackness of drugs and addiction.  Then they were lost to each other and everyone else. Possessed by something beyond their control…..and the kids caught in the middle, seeing things and hearing things they never should have.

And when you think of these two……on the streets, and then going their separate ways. All those days and nights spend praying and hoping against hope that they would make it out…..So many years lost, so many sleepless nights of worry and grief…….And not to mention all the anger, betrayal and broken trust.

When the story is bigger than everything, and there are no words left to say, the Grace of God fills in the spaces. That is where they are now…..and we are right there with them. There was love around them last night. From family old and new. It was important to tell them with our presence…..we are here to support you, and we aren’t going away.

They landed in a mission…….they got clean……and sober…..she came back…..and now, they not only have their own family back, they are part of a bigger family now. God’s family. The scars, while still visible inside and out, are healing. And they’re all together. The biggest miracle of all.

In a story like this, with so much unbelievable heartache behind it, with words not being adequate to explain it all, the only thing you can say is that God is enough. God’s grace pulled them and everyone else through. All the times when we held our breath and prayed. And yes, we did pray that the salvation would “stick.”

And it has.

By God’s Great and Wonderful Grace, He is redeeming the lost years.

Our prayers were heard. And they still need them so much.

Living miracles, each and every one…….and really, when it comes right down to it.
Aren’t we all?

It’s Still Good…..

“Life Isn’t fair, but it’s still good.” Regina Brett, The Plain Dealer
 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12
For some wonderful rules to live by, please click on the link under the photo. Regina Brett says it was one of her most requested and popular columns, and I can see why. I had heard some of these quotes before, but I had no idea who to attribute them to, I am glad I do now. There is wonderful wisdom here…..
Well, it is the end of a difficult week. For those who may not have read some of my posts from last year, my roommate, (and best friend in the world) Elaine, is navigating the tumultuous waters of Alzheimer’s with her Mom, who moved in with us last year. It was a big adjustment for everyone. First of all we had to figure out how to expand two bedrooms into three. Luckily we had walled in the patio when we moved in, due to a cat that came along with us when we moved. That was a God thing. He was looking ahead even when we weren’t.
And there were the little things we had to learn along the way. Signs on the microwave, TV remote and refrigerator. (which had to be replaced recently because the door was repeatedly left open) Reminders to that effect were met with an indifferent shrug of the shoulders……God has been serving us some humble pie. You see, Elaine and I were used to a tidy house, and when it was clean, it stayed clean for awhile. Even the cats are that way. Things left out of place are looked at with suspicion and given a wide berth. Now we follow the trail of potato chip grease everywhere she’s walked. And no showers for weeks leads to smells this house has never held. And every suggestion of a bath or shower is met with hostility. Sometimes you have to pick your battles.
Living with Alzheimer’s is like living on an emotional roller coaster. You never really know what each day will bring, so you have to be ready for anything. One day she seems almost normal and cognizant. Other days, she sits and cries but won’t talk about why. And then there is the irrational anger that comes from nowhere. It is a tough job. And Elaine has had to let her career go, for now anyway. As she says, “Her Mom is her full time job now.” And what a job she is……and not only does she have her Mom, her Dad is in a resthome with dementia.
And so many times the one who is care taking gets the brunt of all the hostility. It’s a strange phenomenon I have seen again and again. Her Mom is a marvelous actress when other people are around, the picture of politeness, she is enough “with it” to not say much…..But alone with her daughter she becomes downright nasty and contentious. I have seen this change when she thinks I am not watching.
Night before last it got really ugly…….She has been coming out at night asking where her checkbook is, where her debit card is. She hasn’t been capable of doing her own finances for 3 years. And then the other night she awakened Elaine out of a sound sleep…..yelling for her to wake up. This brought back memories from when they were kids. Their Mom never woke them up gently, always with yelling or shoving. I must have awakened after the 5th or 6th yell.
The anger was palpable. It echoed off the walls. Elaine was blindsided by it. Her Mom was literally shrieking, irrational, her face contorted, daggers flashing out of her eyes. And when she said, “I would be better off in the street”? That hurt most of all. At that moment, the knife plunged deep. Say all you want that it is the disease talking…..you doubt.
When every kind and good thing you have done is thrown back in your face, it smarts. Takes days to recover.
And the next morning she didn’t remember a thing. Total amnesia.
Later, as we talked about it though, a light dawned. Elaine remembered the reason her Mom was taken off the (unnamed Alzheimer’s drug) the last time. It was due to the terrible mood swings. Recently the Dr.had suggested that her Mom go back on it. It usually takes about 30 days for it to take effect, and it had been just about that long.
Hallelujah, thanks be to God. I am happy to say, her Mom is back off the drugs and so far, no more terrible outbursts. I say, what good is a medication that clarifies the mind, when it causes something worse. In my opinion, it prolongs the inevitable. A disclaimer here, I am not in the medical profession, but I think this was a very wise decision. Only time will tell.
In the meantime. We are heading to the coast for a week for a much needed break. I will see my family and she will see her brother and nephews and their families…….It will be very good.

Free indeed

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. Revelation 12:2

Hey everyone! Some changes were made to my blog. I removed the word verification (I think) If it is still there please let me know. I am also using a different font style that should make reading easier! Though I liked the look of the font, I admit it was hard for me to read my own thoughts sometimes. Then I got a comment that spurred me into action. I really appreciated that, so let me know what you think. It’s all about getting the Word out there and if this makes it any easier, then all the better. I am a procrastinator by nature so this was good for me…..otherwise I would have kept squinting at my own posts for awhile longer……So thank you Beth for the timely suggestion.

This morning was my Monday and I had a hard time getting up. I had one of those tossing and turning nights. Satan was working overtime reminding me of everything I have ever done wrong in life, everything I needed to do better, and every way that I failed God, and everyone else under the sun.

Why does everything get so out of proportion at night? Worries get bigger, fears threaten to jump out from dark corners, failures are bigger than life.

There is a reason Satan goes by “the accuser.” It’s one of the things he does best. It’s one of his oldest tricks. But sometimes we have to remind him, that he simply has no more power over us.

As I dragged myself out to my car at 5:10 this morning, I put on my Bible CD and this is what I heard:

“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. Colossians 1: 21-23

Hallelujah, Amen……I have nothing more to add today.

Prayer for lost lambs

There was a certain man with two sons……
Oh, the agony of that first line……because we know the story.

I have always said I can’t imagine how someone deals with having a child who is missing. It’s the not knowing that kills you. Though I don’t have children, I do know how it feels to love someone and have them lost to you. I can only imagine that it is like having your whole heart missing. A piece of you….gone. Not to rest until that missing piece is back in place. Safe. Even if they were there, miserable, head phones permanently attached, slumped over and scowling at the table, that would be better.

 
 
Some dear friends are on my heart today, and in my prayers. They have a son that has been missing for over a week. They don’t know whether he is hurting himself or maybe someone else. It’s the not knowing that is torture. But I do know this, God knows where he is. He has you, and he has your lost lamb too. The hardest part of the story of the Prodigal son is the missing part. The heartache part. A father sitting in the window day after day, having to go about his work with a piece of himself out there somewhere.
 
 
And it must have been hard for the other son too, the faithful son. He was on the same heartache journey as the father, just in a different way. And all the time, as a parent you ask yourself the hard questions, how much is too much to give? And when does giving become enabling?  And possibly the worst one of all, what’s it going to take for them to come to their senses? Just how deep do they have to sink before they hit bottom? 

“He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. Luke 15:16-19

 
 
God had to live that hard lesson when Jesus was on the cross. That day when the clouds darkened the sun, the sin of the whole world removed the Son from the Father. In that terrible moment, God knew what it was like to have a missing child. He understands your heartache and He is with you in it. He has your lost one in the palm of His hand.
 
 
God cares about lost coins, and lost lambs……and lost sons and daughters. But like this hide and seek moon, though they are veiled from your sight for awhile, they are not lost, God has them…..and you.

My prayers are with you today, my dear friends.



Teachable Moments

Peace in my heart, peace in my home, peace in my world.

Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:14

We gathered yesterday for lunch with two friends, believers, and ended up sitting around that table until late afternoon. We talked of earthly problems and heavenly things. We all agreed that life was tough and a struggle. I think the consensus was that if it weren’t for the purpose we all have here, our loved ones, we would be ready to leave this world for good…..no looking back.
When we gather with believers, we bring a bit of Heaven down to earth, if only for a moment. We were saying how every now and then there is a peace we feel. Thoughts settle like floating manna and for just a moment all is right, all will be right, and all is well, at least in our world.
We talked of teachable moments……one of which was explaining death to children. David had had a close call last year and it had to be addressed, unexpectedly to the Grand kids. One of them, the little girl was very excited that her Grandpa would be with Jesus. How many teachable moments are there is a parent’s life, and they miss it because too much life is pressing in? But that one moment may make the difference for all eternity.
Might save much heartache down the road.
That led me to start thinking about my own “teachable moments.” I wondered just how many times in my life has God probably been trying to teach me something and I missed the opportunity. I don’t even want to go there.
But now that He has opened my eyes to it, maybe I can be soft enough to get that lesson He has for me. I am thankful today, as I begin to list again my blessings.
I am reminded of my WORD for 2012, which is peace. I am like that stop sign, I “ain’t gonna stop” until I get it. I want to be a peacemaker in my own world this year. Instead of nursing hurt feelings I want to release them to the Lord. Instead of worrying my days away, I want to cultivate trust in my Savior.

Peace in my heart, Peace in my home, Peace in my world……

#835-845
Lying awake at the tide of thoughts rushing in this morning, I was thankful that I didn’t have to get up in the dark and go to work.
Squeaky floors that say I am home, and so are you
Fellowship with friends around a table once again
Cooing doves that accompany my prayers
The silly woodpecker that insists the satelite dish is a tree
Geese flying overhead
Thankful, so thankful for the sounds I hear
A new Easter flag, flying purple and yellow and pink against the sky
Bones that ache and remind me that I can walk and move
Knowing the King of Peace has me
 

One flower at a time….


“Just as a whole world of beauty can be discovered in one flower, so the great grace of God can be tasted in one small moment. Just as no great travels are necessary to see the beauty of creation, so no great ecstasies are needed to discover the love of God. But you have to be still and wait so that you can realize that God is not in the earthquake, the storm, or the lighting, but in the gentle breeze with which He touches your back.” Henri Nouwen, The Genesee Diary

I tried to fit you into my agenda today, God.
Forgive me. I should have known You would not fit neatly into the little space of time I had designed for You this morning.
You see, I had a day planner going in my head and I knew I needed to fit you in so here I am.
What?
Okay, Lord. I got the lesson.
Now that I am here in the quiet, I can hear you enough to see how foolish I was.
Thank you for allowing me to start over.
Forgive me for trying to make you small again.
Thank you for Your grace and mercy, it washes over me anew.
Make every task Holy today Lord, In Jesus name, Amen.

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39

Every day is Earth Day


God loves the earth…..
He created it, He died for it, and
He is coming back to re-create it!
Yes, we need to love it, and be good stewards of it, because He loves it.

“You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it. You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops. You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance. The grasslands of the desert overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness. The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing.” (Psalm 65:9-13)

We will not destroy it, we don’t have the power! How can He create a new earth if we have already destroyed the old one? The Earth still belongs to Him, it is only on loan to us.

The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? Psalm 24:1-3

The earth is not over-crowded, we just have too many in certain areas. We are not running out of open land, just come to Arizona, or Montana, Utah, or the California desert for that matter, and see for yourself!

“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:17)

Jesus is at the center stage of everything, including our earth! So to me, every day is earth day because every day belongs to Him!