Relax

Relax and let Me lead you through this day.  I have everything under control:  My control.  You tend to peer anxiously into the day that is before you, trying to figure out what to do, and when.  Meanwhile, the phone or the doorbell rings, and you have to reshuffle your plans.  All that planning ties you up in knots and distracts you from Me.  Attentiveness to Me is not only for your quiet time, but for all your time.  As you look to Me, I show you what to do now and next.

Vast quantities of time and energy are wasted in obsessive planning.  When you let Me direct your steps, you are set free to enjoy Me and to find what I have prepared for you this day.

From Sarah Young's devotional, Jesus Calling. 

It sounds amazingly simple, doesn't it.  This realizing God is in control and letting Him direct our day.  When the phone or doorbell rings, what if we said "okay God, I guess You have other plans for today" instead of muttering "I hope it is a wrong number" or "I really can't be interrupted now by guests". 

I am a big list maker.  Especially on weekends I have the list of things I'd like to accomplish.  Rarely am I able to cross everything off.   And usually I'm okay with that but there are times I feel anxious over getting side tracked or interrupted. 

Oh to have such a closeness with God that the now and the next activities of my day would be a dance with Him.  That I would allow Him to lead me in the next moves and be fulfilled with that. 

Amazing Father, let's start with this weekend.  You lead.  I'll follow. Let's see what plays out!

Cancer and Chemo Suck

Suck is like a swear word for me.  When I use that word in a sentence that doesn't have anything to do with Popsicles or Tootsie Pops, I fully intend it to have an impact and intensity.  Tonight I feel great intensity when I say:  cancer and chemo suck.

 

This picture of my dad was taken last weekend.  He is holding his great granddaughter, Baby C (the world's cutest baby).  Dad looks great despite the fact he's had four cycles of chemo.   The first weeks of chemo were uneventful except his gallbladder went on a rampage and he had to have a quick surgery to have it removed.  The past month he has had to skip a chemo cycle because his blood counts were too low.  Now a sense of being cold all the time, extreme fatigue and a loss of appetite are side effects daily.  Today a permanent tooth fell out and a dentist won't see him because of his low immune system.  That tooth held his dentures in place.  It is hard for him to eat now!

Dad has such a great positive outlook.  He really is trying to keep up with his garden and projects in between naps.  Over the weekend he and I fished together and it was a special time for the both of us (I kept him busy taking my fish off the line).

Tonight my emotions have caught up with me and I find myself crying because his tooth fell out.  It sounds silly but it is another sign of that terrible disease and the treatment that have invaded our lives.  After I cry a bit then I get angry that Dad has to go through this.  My mom is such an encourager and helpmate for my Dad and all of this takes a toll on her, too.  Then I feel bad for my mom.  And I cry again. 

Cancer and chemo suck.

But that isn't what I want you to remember from this post.  There is a sure foundation that isn't moving or crumbling through all of this.  Our relationship with God is our sure foundation.  God has been very faithful to my parents over their entire lives and He has been so present for them these past three months.  God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow so the promise of His faithfulness for tomorrow is a sure thing.  Praise God. 

Should you feel The Nudge to pray for my dad, thank you!  Please also thank God for His hand of healing and wisdom for my dad. 

And please forgive me if I've offended you with my I-Really-Want-To-Swear-When-I-Say Cancer and Chemo Suck. 

In all this, I do remain, So Amazed at what God is doing in and through our lives.

Chemo Begins

Tomorrow my Dad begins his chemo.  Last week he had surgery to have a PowerPort catheter placed in his chest so the IV chemo can go in there.   Our family has this funny habit of naming things like Happy Honda for the family car.  So when I asked Dad what he wanted to call this port he threw me off when he promptly said "Power Port".  I told him that sounded like a Super Man term so I've decided to call it the Super Man Power Port.  My Dad is a Super Man so the name fits!

We are all trying to keep a happy, positive attitude as this new adventure or as my Mom calls it, The Journey, begins.  Cancer and chemo are big words that cause new journeys.

Over and over the past few weeks I've had the following Bible verse almost thrown at me.  A friend sent me a greeting card with the verse written out.  Another friend prayed for my Dad with me and prayed the exact verse.  On Monday, The Verse kept coming to my mind.  Over and over it ran through my thoughts. 

My amazing God wanted my attention and He used multiple sources to finally get it.

Once I read The Verse in different Bible versions, it became very clear that this is a key verse to proclaim as The Journey of Chemo Begins.

No matter where you are in life and what is going on around you, I bet this verse will touch your heart, mind and soul as it did with me.

Joshua 1:9 in the New International Version
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

In the New Life Version, the verse is written like this:
Have I not told you? Be strong and have strength of heart! Do not be afraid or lose faith. For the Lord your God is with you anywhere you go.

And from a version of the Bible I've never heard of, The Voice version, it is written:
This is My command: be strong and courageous. Never be afraid or discouraged because I am your God, the Eternal One, and I will remain with you wherever you go.
Praise God, the One that keeps me amazed!

I Am Okay

My last post caused quite a stir from many of you.  I received texts, emails and phone calls from concerned readers making sure I was okay. 

I am okay.

Many of my posts are written from a God Nudge.  This Nudge is a thought or knowing from God that I am to write.  When I create the post, it may not be entirely about my own personal situations or life.  As was the last post.

That last post was to be one of hope for the many people I know that are going through difficult times.  I was following The Nudge to write about the God of Hope and our need to keep focused on Him and not the situations.

I feel really loved that so many of you checked in with me to make sure I was okay. 

I am not only okay...I am So Amazed at the outpouring of concern!

What You Do...Does Matter!

Do not despise...small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.  Zechariah 4:10

Against a towering giant, a brook pebble seems futile.  But God used it to topple Goliath.  Compared to the tithes of the wealthy, a widow's coins seem puny.  But Jesus used them to inspire us...

Moses had a staff.  David had a sling.  Samson had a jawbone.  Rahab had a string.  Mary had some ointment.  Dorcas had a needle.  All were used by God.

What do you have?  God inhabits the tiny seed, empowers the tiny deed....  Don't discount the smallness of your deeds.

Max Lucado in Cure For the Common Life

The above was my devotional for today.  It made me think of several of my friends that feel their current "calling" in life doesn't mean much. 

Whether it is wiping noses and butts, cleaning an office after hours, picking up trash and so on, if God asked you to do those tasks....don't discount the smallness of your deeds.

I think all of us that have a personal relationship with God, wonder from time to time what in the world our purpose on this world is.  As in how could He use little old me to change His world?

But David didn't question his purpose when he went after Goliath.  I truly believe the widow didn't move the coins between her fingers trying to decide if she should give her final monies...she just did it because she knew God.

Friends, EVERYTHING you do is important.  Every sock you wash (you know who you are when you read this....), every trash can that gets emptied, every coffee cup you fill as a server, all of it is important.

You are being used by God.

This is a good word and full of truth.

So Amazed that once again....God speaks words of love and encouragement!

Black Cloud

A black cloud came rolling in last night.  Tears, frustration, and hopelessness came in that cloud.  It has been three weeks since my surgery and I've been attached to a walking device every single day.  I am unable to bend my knee without tension nor can I completely straighten it.

For some reason sleep evades me.  In the past, I'm the one that can fall asleep anywhere and at anytime.  Not now.  When you have a leg that doesn't move when your brain asks it to, getting comfortable is hard.  I think fatigue is a huge factor as to why that black cloud came rolling in.

Thankfully I am not one that normally has black clouds roll in.  In fact, this is probably the lowest my mental attitude has ever been.  So it is unnerving to me and I decided to fight it.

I've downloaded the Bible to my iPod and as I go to sleep, I play the audio Bible.  So far I've listened to the entire book of Psalms.  Last night I started listening to Proverbs.

This morning as I realized the black cloud was still with me, I decided to make a thankful list.  With tears streaming down my face, I made a list that started with this:

• I'm thankful I have legs that will walk normally in the future
• I'm thankful I am not paralyzed
• I'm thankful that I have made progress since the day of surgery
• I'm thankful this dependency on a walker or crutches is temporary
• and so on...

Once I got started on the list it was easy to keep going and list several dozen things I am thankful for.

Here is the really good part.  And I promise this is the truth.  As I was working on that Thankful List, the doorbell rang.  I was in my pajamas (yes, even at 11 am) and my hair was sticking up all over.  Grabbing my crutch I hobbled to the front window to look out and a flower-delivery-truck was sitting in the driveway.  Now the person at the door started pounding on the door.  See, there was a blizzard today and this poor delivery person was freezing outside my house.  There are nine stairs that I have to go down to get to the front door so as I started hobbling, I yelled as loud as I could "I am coming!!!"

Opening the door I could see icicles on the man's eyebrows!  I apologized for taking so long with my crutches, he handed me the package and quickly ran back to his van.  Somehow I got that package up the stairs with my crutch! 

Inside the package was a beautiful Christmasy flower arrangement with a card from a friend.  This woman knows I had surgery three weeks ago but she sent the flowers today.  The card read

I hope your recovery is going well.  Take your time.  Merry Christmas!

Oh friends, I believe God gave that friend a little nudge this morning to send me flowers.  On the day that I needed HOPE and ENCOURAGEMENT the most.  God has done this for me in the past and I just know He was involved in this today, too. 

The black cloud has been replaced with a new desire to do my exercises and pursue complete use of the new knee I've been given.  I have hope and a vision for the future.

If you have a black cloud, I'm praying for you.  Praying that you will have an experience with the Loving God that I know.  He loves you like crazy!

Today, I again was...So Amazed!

Receive His Grace

For we are God's handiwork, recreated in Christ Jesus, that we may do those good works which God predestined for us, that we should walk in them.  Ephesians 2:10

The Bible doesn't say that you have to have self-control in order to go to heaven.  You are free to be out of control if you want to; it is entirely up to you.  The Word does say that you have to believe that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior (see Romans 10:9-10).

But if you want to live the good life that God has prearranged and laid out for you before the foundation of the world, you will need to discipline yourself to do whatever His Word says to do or whatever the Holy Spirit speaks to your heart to do.  God offers you the grace to live a holy life that will reap many blessings in the days to come.

**********
The above is from my Joyce Meyer daily devotional, Starting Your Day Right.

I love that our heavenly Papa, God, says we have choice in our lives.  The only thing He asks of us is to take the free gift of Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  That last sentence stumped me for a few minutes because I wasn't sure what to type next.  Let me repeat that important sentence:

The only thing He asks of us is to take the free gift of Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

Yup, there is a whole lot in that sentence and I'm feeling The Nudge to dig into those words but not today.

Today is about choice.  He doesn't ask a whole lot of us.  But He gives us a whole lot of choices.  Some choices we make won't have any affect on our lives or on future generations.  That kind of choice would be like...should I have a vanilla or chocolate ice cream on my cone.

In the world today, many of our choices will have a lasting affect.  We may be affected by the choices and for sure our children and our children's children will be affected.  It is really important that we know and think about the choices we have in front of us (individually, as families and as a nation).

The last paragraph in the devotion has these words:  discipline yourself to do whatever His Word says to do or whatever the Holy Spirit speaks to your heart to do.

We have a great guidebook in The Bible.  I am guilty of not using it as I should.  I am going to make the choice to change that and begin reading His Word.  I need to know His Word.

There is grace for us in our self-control or lack of self control.  However, to be lazy or to be so full of pride as to think I don't need to know what is in God's Word, that is wrong.  That is a bad choice.

Would you consider making a good choice with me today?  Let's make the choice to read from God's Word and ask the Holy Spirit to make it something we desire to do every day.

That...would be a good decision!

You are amazing and I know that God is crazy about you!

Wind & A Good Papa

I have a great, loving, and kind earthly Dad. 

Tonight I want to talk about my heavenly Papa.

Over and over again He reminds me of His Love

and of His Presence in my life.

The night I was so sad about the house

we were trying to buy, there was a

huge wind storm.

Around 1 a.m. the wind awoke us all and

then the power went out.

Standing in the kitchen looking out to

the backyard, with the lightening, I could

see the trees doing a frenzied dance.

The sky was remarkably bright for a

middle of the night storm.

The trees were being whipped to the left

and then to the right.  

It was almost like they were conflicted

as to which direction to bend and stretch.

Never had I seen such wind and never had

I seen our trees move in such a crazy fashion.

In fact, I realized one of those trees could come

crashing down on our house.

Our house.

The day I was so sad that we couldn't buy a

different house, I realized how thankful I am

for my current house.

In the midst of the storm, My Papa spoke

to me in His God Nudge way...

"A house is sticks and concrete 

with windows and doors, it is people

and relationships that are important"

Yes, I agree with that Nudge.

Never would I want a house to be the

most important thing in my life.

The joy and peace that I went to bed

praying for came in the midst of a storm.

Losing out on the purchase of a

house is NOT the most important thing

in my life.

My Papa used the wind to get my attention.

Once He had my attention He spoke to me.

He flooded me with His joy and peace

He is so cool and faithful.

In the morning, we did have clutter on the deck... 

 The neighbor's tree...

If you don't know God as a loving Papa, 

I'm going to be praying for you.  

He is wildly, passionately, crazy for you.

Papa, thank you for the wind storm.  Thank you

for reminding me of what is important 

in my life.  I love you, Lord!

Amen

Dancing With God

The following is a word of encouragement that I've saved because it is a 'good word'.  I wish I could remember where I first read it as I would like to give credit to whoever wrote it.  May this be a blessing to you today:

Dancing With God

When I meditated on the word Guidance, I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word. I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky. When one person realizes that and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the Music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another. It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other. My eyes drew back to the word Guidance.

When I saw "G" I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i." "God," "u" and "i" dance." God, you and I dance. As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God lead.

My prayer for you today is that God's blessings and mercies will be upon you on this day and every day. May you abide in God as God abides in you. Dance together with God, trusting God to lead and to guide you through each season of your life.

Rest

The way God gets my attention is by repeating things. For the past several months the word REST seemed to pop up here and there, over and over again. As I turned the radio on, it may be the word just being sung. Or REST may be the point of a daily devotion. One night I awakened around 2 am and the first word that came to my conscience thoughts was REST.

You know, after the word is repeated so many times, I do actually get the point.

The point being, God wants me to know about REST.

My search for the meaning of REST started with asking God what it was He wanted me to learn. He was pretty quiet in giving an answer. Using the computer, I then turned to searching the Bible using biblegateway.com. On that website after typing in the word REST, I found there were over 350 references to REST, RESTORATION, and RESTORING. Since I seemed to be hearing just the word REST, I narrowed my search to verses containing that word and no variations of it.

The first 10 verses in the Bible that have the word REST all pertain to working and then taking time to REST. This day should be considered holy, was referred to as the Day of Atonement, and had certain conditions assigned to it. My God Nudge to pursue REST didn’t seem to be answered from these verses.  I quickly scanned the next set of verses and they didn't seem to be the answer I was looking for either.  So I quit reading.

And then one Sunday morning in church during worship, I had my God Nudge answered. God totally talked to me and I quickly grabbed my journal and I wrote this down:

REST=being able to get to a point of focus and peace with God despite the noise, distractions and problems at that very moment. Even when surrounded by evil, being able to find God and focus on Him.

It was like a breath of fresh air receiving that definition. And then I was led to Matthew 11:28 from The Message. How about this!

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me, get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real REST. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

The key words that jumped out at me from the definition I got and the Matthew verse would be: focus, find, get away, walk, watch, and keep company.

All verbs.

All action words.

All are choices.

This seemed to be the answer. 

By pursuing God, choosing to focus on Him, making a choice to get away with Him, walking and watching Him will bring me REST.

Once I have REST…none of the noises of this life will distract me.

I love that! And I love how He pursued me by repeatedly putting that word in my life. He wants me to have REST.

Amazing!

All the Power You Need

Over the past couple of weeks there has been a song that keeps playing over and over in my head.  Over and over I hear the song to the point of it was getting obnoxious!  I've learned that this is a God Nudge and I should respond to it. 

The name of the song is All the Power You Need and it was first released in 1996.  It took a few emails but I was able to track down the CD the song was on.  And now I'm listening to it over and over again because I want to! 

This song makes me sing at the top of my lungs because it says exactly what I believe and how I live.  In fact, not only do I sing loud but I find myself stomping my feet in a proclaiming type of way as I'm singing.  Every word in this song is truth and I'm stomping the truth when I sing.  You know, there is a power in the words we say and speak.  When I'm singing these words, I bet the gates of hell shake! 

After I'd been given the CD to listen to, another friend found the song on youtube.  So, for your listening pleasure, here is the song All The Power You Need by Darlene Zschech of Hillsong Australia.

If you have any questions about the song, please send me an email.  Otherwise, let me know if you find yourself hearing it over and over in your head, too!

J O Y

Everywhere I turn, I see or hear the word JOY.

It has been going on for several weeks now.

It seems God is talking to me through these

subtle and Not-So-Subtle Nudges.

Perhaps I could miss these Nudges...

but it is bordering on obnoxious how many times

JOY is right there in my face again.

So I went to His Word and started looking up JOY .

In the New International version, there are

...242 verses with JOY in them.

I can see where this is going to be a process.

It is going to take some time for me to really read through

242 verses!

Want to read some with me?

For seven days celebrate the festival to the Lord your God at the place the Lord will choose.  For the Lord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the works of your hands, and your joy will be complete.  Deuteronomy 16:15 

Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place.  1 Chronicles 16:27

Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies.  2 Chronicles 20:27

Read the verses again.  Slowly. 

What stands out to you as you read? 

May you (and I) really learn what JOY is. 

Or maybe we will learn WHO joy is...

I don't want to do that...

Have you had opportunities or events, even invitations directed to you

that you just plain don't want to be involved with?

Last weekend I did.

But the little nudge came for me to participate on Sunday morning

and with the little nudge came the choice of what seemed like "giving in"

but in reality was an overwhelming blessing.

I went with the nudge and attended an event.  Had my socks blessed off me!

Many others were sockless, too!  They were blessed beyond measure.

If you don't know this...God IS good.  All the time.

He was so good on Sunday that my socks were blessed off me...not literally.

It was another opportunity for me to be amazed and to stand, with cold toes, in wonder

of His love for little old me!  Okay, not so little...and not SO old!  ha! ha!

Sometimes those I don't want to do that's are for our benefit. 

Oh how HE loves me and oh, oh, oh...how He loves YOU!

Go ahead....let Him amaze you!