A Second

“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”  James 4:14-15

A series of events, Lord, has caused me to remember once again that life is fleeting.  A football game lost in the last one second of the game… the death of a 40-year old actor in a car accident… and the death of a friend’s close friend.  James says it so clearly.  Our lives are but a mist that is here for a while, then gone.  What a sobering and humbling Truth.  

Yet, Lord, what I glean from this reminder is the deeper understanding that all our days are numbered and ordained by You before one of them ever comes to be.  (Psalm 139:16)  Even more sobering and humbling.

So now it grows more imperative to me that I follow You with all my heart and go wherever You lead me.  I do not want to get to the end of my life and realize that my disobedience has robbed You of any glory You would have received if I had followed You obediently.  I am forgiven, I know, but my heart’s desire is to be all you would have me to be, do whatever You have for me to do and go wherever You take me.  The thought of doing anything else grieves my soul. 

Up and away with You again, Lord, so that I may be Your instrument of peace and grace as You live and work through me.  What a privilege… a sobering and humbling privilege.  Praise You.

The Wisdom Of Waiting

You and Your Word, Lord, are my only true comfort as we continue to wait for those things You have promised to do.  While the wisdom of waiting shines through, it is still a challenge to wait for those things.  Of late, though, You have shown me that the gift in my health will not resolve my health problems but will intensify them.  Waiting becomes easier since You gave me that understanding from Your Word, as does a deeper dependence on You, You Word and Your grace.  Yes, there is wisdom in waiting on You.  You always know best.    

“Moses answered them, “Wait until I find out what the LORD commands concerning you.”  Numbers 9:8

“Then Naomi said, “Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled…”  Ruth 3:18 

“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”  Psalm 27:14

“We wait in hope for the LORD; He is our help and our shield.”  Psalm 33:20 

“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”  Psalm 37:7

“I wait for your salvation, O LORD, and I follow your commands.”  Psalm 119:166 

“I will wait for the LORD, Who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob.  I will put my trust in him.”  Isaiah 8:17 

“It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.”  Lamentations 3:26

“For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false.  Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”  Habakkuk 2:3 

“On one occasion, while He was eating with them, He gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift My Father promised, which You have heard me speak about.”  Acts 1:4

“But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”  Romans 8:25

“The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ.”  Luke 3:15 

“And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.”  Hebrews 6:15

One More Time

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us.  And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.”  1 John 3:16

My Savior’s Love

My Savior’s love is never-ending,

Steadfast, faithful, true.

He gave His life so I could live

Forever in His tending.  

Upon the cross He bled and died

For all my sins and failings. 

Forgiveness, healing all for me,

His sacrifice unending.

Forever will I serve Him now

To share His love and light. 

His mercy, grace, peace and hope,

Offered without price.

He beckons all who will come, 

The fullness of His love.

A humbled heart is His desire,

Surrendered to Him above.

Poetry

“For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our Guide even to the end.”  Psalm 48:14

I never dreamed, Lord, that You would write a poem through me.  Yet You did that very thing this afternoon.  It surely describes the times in which I walk these days.  May You be greatly and mightily glorified through it.  

Amidst It All

Amidst it all the Lord has blessed

My every step and way. 

Alone He leads and daily guides

This journey that I take. 

At His side I am secure.

His loving hands uphold me.

As I surrender to His all, 

I follow where He leads me. 

’Tis to His glory as we go.

His gentle hands sustain me.

Every twist and every turn

I bow to His command. 

So, by His grace, I carry on 

To follow where He leads.

He daily fills my heart’s desire 

To seek and love Him more. 

All praise and honor, thanksgiving and rejoicing

To Him I will earnestly give. 

He is my Lord, my Savior, my All, 

My every reason to live. 

Absence

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 8:37-39

I didn’t mean to stay away from the blog for this long, Lord.  I really didn’t.  But things have been so chaotic for so long around here that it was easy to simply ignore it.  I’m back and desire to write as You lead and guide me.  Thank You for showing me the way you want me to go concerning the blog You have given me.  

The challenges of our lives continue to grow in number and intensity.  There is little or no way that we can do anything to change these challenges.  A very humbling place to be.  Sometimes frustrating, sometimes numbing.  Always a place where You must be our Refuge, Fortress and Deliverer.  We must wait on You to show Yourself strong to bring resolution to the many complications and challenges in our lives right now.  You are more than able to lead us to Your higher rock and You will do this, but You will do all these things in Your perfect way and in Your perfect timing.  In the mean time You are changing and conforming us more into the image of Your Son…. all to Your greatest glory.  You are working in great and mighty ways.  We eagerly await Your resolution… by Your all-sufficient grace.  Praise You from Whom all blessings flow.

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”  2 Corinthians 4:17-18

“And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:19

Changes

“My times are in Your hand.”  Psalm 31:15

My e-mail today to those who need to know, Lord....

“For some time I have been having a lot more trouble when I drive our car/van.  I kept telling myself that it was okay and that it was still safe for me to do so.  Well, yesterday changed all of that.  I almost had a very, very bad car accident that could have ended tragically.  Thankfully the accident did not even take place, but it was a miracle that it did not.  The accident would definitely have been caused by me.  Since then I have had to pray and think hard about whether or not I could safely continue driving.  As I prayed and thought things through, it became very evident that it is no longer safe for me to drive a vehicle... not for me and not for others on the road.  As of today I am hanging up my car keys and will no longer be driving for my own safety as well as the safety of others.  It is time.  While I would love to be able to drive again one day, the bottom line is this.  Unless a doctor finds the real reason for these neurological problems that continue to adversely keep progressing and find a treatment that would heal or reverse things, I will not drive again for the remainder of my life.  It simply is not safe.  

Also I am going to start using a walking stick (think hikers) whenever I have to walk by myself.  Anytime we are away from home, Mike and I hold hands to stabilize me, however, lately, that is not helping nearly as much as in the recent past.  I have stumbled and fallen twice.  It is no longer safe anymore to try to walk by myself without assistance of some kind. 

My many cognitive impairments have also worsened as have my vision (not fixable by glasses, etc.) and the use of my hands.  I have had to completely give up my sewing and have donated my machines, fabrics, accessories and notions to a church sewing ministry that will use them to help children and others.  I believe I can still crochet (and knit dishrags) for now since they don't require fine motor coordination, but I have not tried them lately.  I am hoping to try them again very soon.  

Life has changed for me in dramatic ways recently, but I am absolutely certain that the Lord will carry me through these and other changes when they occur.  The way will be challenging and sometimes frustrating, but He will never leave nor forsake me.  He will see that I have all that I need in the midst of all these things.  Of that I have no doubt.  God is good.    

Just had to let you know what is going on in my health, especially since the changes are becoming severe.  Life changes but not my love for you.  It will last forever.  If you have any questions, let me know and I'll do the best I can to answer them.”  

Abba Father, You have a plan.  Hold me in the shadow of Your wings as we walk forward in light of these new changes.  You know what You are doing.  I’m so thankful that You do.  Praise You from Whom all blessings flow.  

“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

Two Things

“Have you not heard?  Long ago I ordained it.  In the days of old I planned it; now I have brought it to pass...”  Isaiah 37:26a

Thing One-

In Your great mercy, Lord, You have sold our home.  It is time, time for our move to Arkansas.  After 4 years, 3 months and 4 days You sold our home.  Thank You!  Such inadequate words but the only words I seem to be able to muster for such a long awaited deliverance.  You have taught me much during those years.  I pray that I have learned all that You have taught this piece of dust.  Of course, all the glory goes to You because, once again, these people had come to see our home 1-2 years ago.  Who but You could have piqued their interest and sustained it for so long?  No one.  Absolutely no one else.  There is no question that YOU have done this.  May Your glory always rest upon this home and may the new owners learn to love You more and more each day.  Shower Your blessings upon them as they rest in the home of Your choosing for them.  

Thing Two-

You never cease to amaze me, Lord, in the things that You do.  The sewing that You restored to me many months ago You have taken from me again.  However this time, it is for always.  By Your grace I was enabled to give all three of my sewing machines, accessories, fabric and notions to a wonderful sewing ministry that You are blessing and using in a great and mighty way.  It was a true honor to be able to give all those things to them, because I know that this ministry is anointed by You and that You will use all the things that I gave them so that Your glory can shine brightly and bring many people to Christ.  An incredibly mind-boggling thought.  Very humbling.  

So... now that I no longer sew, what do You have for me next, Lord?  For a while I will help care for my Daddy.  Forever I will pray for the lost, lonely, wayward, blessed and needy.  Forever may I be drawn closer and closer to You.  As my health issues are named correctly, we will go from there.  I know that You will use me for Your greatest glory and as an instrument of peace and grace, for You have told me just that in Your Word.  Again... incredibly mind-boggling and very humbling.  

So, off we go, Lord.  Forward together in the plan You have for my life.  Keep my eyes on You.  Let people see You, not me.  May there be less of me and more of You as time progresses.  By Your grace alone I am ready.  I’ll follow wherever You lead me.  Praise You from Whom all blessings flow!