“I am a pilgrim in the world, but at home in my God. In the earth I wander, but in God I dwell in a quiet habitation.” Charles Spurgeon
In 1621, in Plymouth colony, Massachusetts, two separate cultures came together to share in the bounty of the harvest. Many folks today would like to forget about this event, because of the greed of the early settlers and their eventual stealing the land belonging to those they first met after landing from a perilous journey across dangerous seas. We can try to cover up our history – especially the dark parts of it – but it remains part of who we are as a nation. We’re made up of many races – religions – ethnicities and cultures. To do away with the truth of how we came to be, is to cheat future generations from our earliest beginnings.
When you think about the melting pot we’ve become over the past few hundred years as a nation, there is a progression of humanity that continues to invite all to enter her ports and harbors for refuge. This is part of why we celebrate Thanksgiving. It’s not about the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. It really should not be about the food and the extra calories and overindulgence. Thanksgiving is a time to thank God for all He does to provide for our needs and beyond. We may travel many years, through the perilous storms of life, but God remains unchanging. He continues to be with us through each one of them.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL OF MY BLOGGING COMMUNITY AND ALL THE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE BLESSED MY LIFE.
On that dreary November morning, I sat in my office chair, daydreaming about my recent engagement and upcoming wedding. As I pondered the most important event to happen in my life, a customer entered the office. “Have you heard,” she said, “they’ve shot the president.” I felt like a character from the past – an insignificant piece of a massive puzzle – knowing that I was part of one of the most historical events of my lifetime. President John F. Kennedy had fallen victim to an assassin’s bullet and lay dead on an operating table. The story began to unfold as we watched the scenes repeated over and over on our television screens.
As the events of this current tale of terror exploded rapidly, we watched the victim’s wife reach for the secret service man behind the convertible. We saw her covered with her husband’s blood – her pink suit forever stained with crimson. We witnessed the pursuit of the assassin and his eventual arrest and confinement. We were glued to the screen as he was moved to a different area only to be confronted by a night club owner with a gun. We saw the assassin shot to death in an instant. It was like a bad nightmare coming true.
We looked on as a new president was sworn into office, while the dead president’s wife stood stoically alongside him – a look of dismay and shock on her face. We suffered with the young children who were now fatherless – the many brothers and sisters who would mourn their sibling’s demise – the parents who had to endure losing a child again and a country that would go through the process of grieving along with them. A parade of dignitaries from many nations wept. The youngest president to ever govern in the United States was dead.
Conspiracy theories were a dime a dozen. Everyone had an opinion on who this man was. Was there a mob connection – was the assassin a communist – did he act alone or was he part of a greater plan? A special commission was assigned to investigate. We were on-the-spot witnesses, watching the rendezvous with death unfold. The president was as vulnerable to death as we all are.Â
Alan Seeger was an American poet who fought as a French Foreign Legion soldier during World War One.  This poem was favored by John F. Kennedy who shared it with his wife on the return from their honeymoon. His new wife, Jackie would later memorize it and say it to her husband. The poem proved to be prophetic in a way, but we all have a rendezvous with that final stage of life. Like all stories forged in fantasy, their relationship could be described as a great love story. It continued even after death.
Death is imminent. We can’t escape that fact. When we’re convinced that death isn’t final, we’ve achieved true communion with God.
Webster defines abundance as “the state or condition of having a copious quantity of something; plentifulness.” In other words it means a huge amount of material things or talents. From a Biblical standpoint, abundance may refer to having joy and contentment in life, no matter what the circumstances. As we approach a day of giving thanks for all our blessings, it may be a good time to make a list of all of those blessings that make your life full and abundant.
A closet full of clothes that either don’t fit or are out of style. More than necessary to get a person through one week of not wearing the same thing every day.
Enough food to suffice and often more than necessary. Even when the budget is stretched to the limit, there is abundance.
Friends and family you can count on in any situation.
The talents God has given you and how you can use them to spread His good news to others.
The love and companionship of a faithful spouse.
A family that you have equipped with the Word of God.
A job that helps to provide for those you love. That same job, which gives you satisfaction and you love doing every day.
Spiritual leaders who inspire and guide you through life.
Even in your old age, you have an abundance of help getting through each day, physically, mentally and spiritually. You also have accumulated years of experience and wisdom through those things. Through them you become a blessing to others.
Whether good or bad, your health can determine how you look at life.
Your aches and pains – Even when your body is crying out in despair or discomfort, you can rejoice in the fact that it won’t last forever.
Your financial, relational, emotional problems can be considered stepping stones for the future.
In times of war and violence, you have the peace that you are living in a country that has not yet been devoured by them.
Knowing that we are merely visitors here on earth. Our true home awaits in heaven.
You can be confident and assured that you are not alone in your walk on this planet. God is always with you. He will never give up on you. He loves you unconditionally. He gave His life for you. He created you and He knows all about your thoughts and concerns.
You are a child of God and an heir of eternal life.
I could go on and on with this list, but I think you can understand what I’m talking about. We’ve been blessed beyond measure with an abundance of gifts. So many that we can’t even list them all. Unfortunately, we often forget all about those blessings for the rest of the days of the year.
” May the Lord, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times as many as you are and bless you, as he has promised you!” Deuteronomy 1:11 ESV
This week started with a Thanksgiving dinner at our church. It had been a tradition for some time to enjoy a potluck feast the Sunday before the actual holiday – that is until the pandemic. Three years of isolation, with concern for spreading the disease caused that practice to cease. The best part about an event like this is the fellowship. My church is comprised of caring, thoughtful people who share our faith. We sometimes meet for breakfast during the week if we can. This wonderful group has become a support group, a special collection of believers, friends, lifter-uppers and a family of sorts.
This week will be filled with family, friends and an assembly of those we love. There may be some differences within those groups, but for one day a year, we tend to set those issues aside and gather together to give thanks. Unfortunately, it has also become a time of discord for many. Those who have parted ways from the family – those who have changed their political views from yours – those who have drifted from the beliefs of their youth – those who have health or mental issues. So, in those cases, the thanksgiving part of the holiday might get lost in translation. When you think about all the people who have touched your life in the past year, you will probably come up with many. For example – it may be someone who did something against you. It could be a nurse or doctor who intervened in a specific illness. It could be the family member that is struggling with a financial crisis. It might be one you haven’t heard from in a long time. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to set those issues aside and concentrate on the positive affect these same people had on you during this time.
We give thanks for God’s bounty. We give thanks for His mercy, grace and love. We give thanks for His guidance. We give thanks for the positive things in our lives. Do we give thanks for the negatives that may have happened? Do we thank God for those who would hurt us? Do we thank God for our problems – financial, emotional, relational or physical? The things we hold dear are not hard to give thanks for. The others, not so much.
As we get closer to Thanksgiving Day, let’s try to remember how each of those negatives brought a positive result. Maybe it’s the lessons learned. It could be a complete change of opinion. It might even lead to a deeper relationship with the person that caused you harm. God uses all of our experiences to teach us – to grow our wisdom – to prepare us for the final banquet that waits for us in eternity.
Give thanks for your enemies, because God has a plan for both you and them!
Well, it’s only 36 days until Christmas. Have you started your gift shopping? Most shopping today is done online, but there is something enchanting about going to the mall or a local store to “feel” the excitement of this amazing season. The stores are magnificently arrayed in red velvet, gold, silver trimmings and sparkles are everywhere. It’s like a fairy tale filled with one beautiful sight after another. I grew up in the 1940s and 1950s, so we were also treated to the Thanksgiving Day Parade in downtown Milwaukee. My grandmother lived in an apartment on National Avenue, which is where the festive floats made their way down the street, accompanied by several high school marching bands. We had the best seats in the house when it came to the beating of the drums and the roar of a chorus of trumpets.
At that time, the best gift for little girls, was a Nancy Ann Abbott Story Book doll. Nancy started her doll making operation in 1936 with $125, working from her apartment. From that came a company that swept the nation. Her dolls were based on story book characters from nursery rhymes and fairy tales. To receive one of these dolls, was on every girl’s Christmas list. The fact that my grandmother was a seamstress, I could look forward to lots of extra doll ensembles for my doll to wear. The dolls came in a pink polka dot box. As soon as the wrapping was removed, it was apparent that the recipient knew exactly what was inside before opening the box.
Time has passed. Dolls have gone through a history of their own. From the Story Book Dolls to Barbie, Cabbage Patch, Chatty Kathys and currently the American Girl Doll. I recall one Christmas, taking my granddaughter to the American Girl Doll store in the Mall of America. I was almost as excited as she was to purchase her first one. Like the Story Book Doll, the face was pretty much the same on each one, and they weren’t especially pretty, but a child could choose from a variety of styles. Most of the time, they would choose one that resembled themselves. The trip to the mall was to be the start of a new tradition for us, but when we arrived, the American Girl Doll Store was closed for a private party. Both of us were highly disappointed. In order to soothe our broken hearts, we went to have dinner, which would be followed by a visit to see Santa. By the time we got to see him, his little village was ready to close! Being the fierce grandma that I am, I confronted one of the elves and I insisted that my grandchild get her turn to tell Santa what she wanted for Christmas. I think they saw the fire in my eyes and agreed to let her in.
In spite of that, she did get her American Girl Doll as well. I felt vindicated and pretty good about standing up to the man in the red velvet suit.
In just one week our South Carolina family will arrive to celebrate Thanksgiving with us. One of their sons is now living in Illinois, so he will drive to get here in time for the festivities as well. The Thanksgiving feast will happen on Friday. Instead of going shopping we will be on a different schedule than most of the country. Our youngest daughter will host the party and she and her family will prepare the feast. We will be missing our son and his lady since it is hunting season in Wisconsin and tradition has always placed him there for the holiday. There’s really nothing better than a shot in the arm filled with family. As I think of all that’s happened within just the last year, there is so much to be thankful for. Each morning brings this simple prayer to our lips – “Thank you, Jesus, for another day.”
Somehow the holidays exemplify almost every emotion on the spectrum. We’re happy, sad, grateful, excited, touched, deeply moved and so much more. Many who suffer from depression, find the holidays a time of remorse, grief or self-pity. Being grateful for a life filled with sorrow would seem not to be an option. Many suicides occur during this time of supposed joy and gratitude. There is pressure to put on a great spread – to serve amazing food – to extend the budget to the max buying special food and drink. There are the gifts to purchase and wondering how much more our credit cards will stretch. It is a formula for depression when you become overwhelmed by it all.
God wants us to be grateful for His gifts. He showers us with so many every day. Taking time to thank Him should not be a chore or a special day. It’s something we do because we truly are thankful for our blessings. God doesn’t need our gratitude. He’s God! But think of all that He has given you today and every day. I’m not talking about material things, but things that truly matter. For us, that simple prayer says it all. “Thank you, Jesus, for another day.”
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
My post this morning referenced a walking stick my husband, Paul uses. It is finely crafted with the addition of a horse’s hane at the top. It fits nicely into his hand and always causes a comment. It has also used this stick from time to time as a weapon. Some of you wanted to see what it looked like.
“but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
Within the last week, we’ve found ourselves sitting in waiting rooms again. I wrote about this a couple of months ago while sitting in the above waiting room for Paul to have his shot in the eye for macular degeneration. I can’t begin to imagine this procedure and fortunately God has left me with one remaining sense which happens to be my eyesight. The rest of me could be considered senseless. As we are in the final stretch of a lifetime, these waiting rooms have become like a second home of sorts. Last week, Paul had a CT scan and blood work to see what was going on with his cancer. The next few days later, we met with the oncologist. The results were remarkable. Paul’s tumor is shrinking. His blood work was all in the normal range and his vitals were right where they should be. Praise God! The oncologist found these results unexplainable, but we know that God is the reason for this good news. Still, cancer remains in his body and we will meet again in January to see if anything has changed. (without explanation.)
These waiting room experiences are becoming a sort of refuge for the time waiting. I’m beginning to become an extrovert as I talk to those waiting along with me. Yesterday, I almost felt like I was becoming a clone of my husband. Before he was called in for his appointment, he’d struck up a conversation with a fellow who was waiting for his wife. It began with reference to the walking stick Paul carries to brace himself these days. It’s a homemade stick which has some intricate patterns whittled into it by Paul. The top part of the cane was formerly attached to a horse’s hane. It is quite interesting and almost always begs a comment or two.
This time it was my turn to talk. Once Paul was called into the Dr.’s office, I picked up where he’d left off. The fellow seemed to be in need of someone to talk to and most everyone else in the place was glued to their phones. He talked about his time in the Marines in Viet Nam. He spoke about his retirement home in the north woods. We shared the many ailments that we go through as we get older. After 45 minutes of waiting, I felt as if I knew the guy’s full life story. His life, like ours, has been filled with ups and downs. Many of his friends have passed away – he has suffered several heart attacks – and has had to change his lifestyle over the past few years. I could totally relate. I told him about the challenges we’re facing right now and the peace we have with our decision not to opt for any treatment for Paul’s cancer, knowing that life doesn’t end when we die. It was an opening for discussion about God. I discovered that the man was a churchgoer, but he had doubts if there would be a place for him in heaven.
I don’t consider myself an evangelist and I often have doubts if I will make it through the pearly gates, but the door was open. ‘So we talked about faith and the free gift of heaven. As we talked about all this, I could see a younger woman taking interest in our conversation. She joined in. It was like an instant connection all around. You never know where God is going to use you each day. For me, yesterday it was a waiting room. When Paul returned from his visit with his doctor, he was stunned to find me engaged in conversation and laughter with a new set of friends. So was I. It was a good day.
We all go through times of distress in this life. Whether it be a financial issue, a relationship problem, a life shattering illness or a test of our faith, each individual will at some point in their life find trouble coping. How do you cope with the difficulties of every day? For me, it often involves tears. Lately, my emotions have been on an emotional roller coaster. Tears dry out eventually, but the ups and downs persist, and each day seems to present more difficult decisions.
One of my favorite Psalms is 139. Read it slowly to yourself and put yourself in the Psalmist’s place as you do. The first few verses talk about yours and my value to God. He knows us inside and out. He was in our existence before ever came to be. How powerful is that? God lives in us every day. He is in our thoughts, our prayers, our living, our dying, our goals and dreams, our sadness and joy. He never leaves us. I would call that an amazing piece of comfort when we have difficulty coping with anything. The King of Creation, the maker of all things, the one and only God loves us. He loves us more than we can possibly love each other. His is an unconditional love = no strings attached – free and clear,
As the Psalm goes on, it refers to that tight relationship between us and our maker. We can’t hide from Him, no matter how we try. He knows our mind, our heart, our emotions, our losses and sadness. He even knows how we struggle to live in faith when difficulties come our way. In the next few verses. we read that God was there at our conception. He was responsible for the great mysteries within our bodies – the impeccable design – the intricate patterns created by His touch alone. He created the genetics, the DNA, the workings of each part of us. Yes, you and I were made by God. His love for His creation is impossible for us to comprehend.
So, we ask Him to search our hearts. To give us understanding and wisdom. To continue to be with us in all the challenges we face each day and to show us, through His Holy Word, that He will never leave us. We are not alone in our fears. We are always surrounded by His perfect love. We are cuddled tightly within His protection. We have the assurance of perfection after death and into eternity. In this life, we will experience heartache. We will hurt emotionally. We will be faced with troubling decisions. We will cry out for comfort, but we can live with confidence, knowing that we are not alone in our struggles.
There are times when old mistakes come back to haunt me. Even though I know that Jesus has paid for every one of them, they still live in my mind like a smoldering ember. I think that even believers in Christ’s loving forgiveness can struggle with this problem at times. We forget about God’s unconditional love for us and think we have to fix things ourselves. The devil is very cunning. He knows our weaknesses and he uses them to his advantage. God gave up everything so that we could have it all. We can be assured that even those past sins have been paid for.
Even though ALL of our sins have been forgiven, does not give us a free pass. That gift from God should remind us of the debt we owed and the price He paid for our release from the darkness of Satan. Because of our gratitude, help us to be as forgiving, loving, sympathetic, kind and compassionate towards those who hang on to darkness. Jesus gave His life for us. We owe it to others to share God’s grace with them.
Thank you, dear Father, for caring so much for me that you paid the ultimate price. May I in gratitude begin to look forward rather than back, and let others know that their ransom has also been paid. Amen!
To be confused is a state of mind when things don’t always add up. You might be facing an illness – a relationship breakdown – a financial issue – a family struggle where all the facts point to a solution and suddenly you are faced with another option. What do you do? Like the quote above, “if confusion is the first step to knowledge, I must be a genius,” I have been on this path all my life. By now I should be more brilliant than Einstein – have a higher IQ than Leonardo da Vinci – be as innovative as Edison and as rich as John D. Rockefeller. Instead, I’m an average 81-year-old woman who has accomplished very little in this life but continues to learn every day.
As King Solomon expressed his opinion of life being meaningless, there are days when I wonder why am I here? I struggle with the opinions of others. I become confused when people can’t take “no” for an answer. I am totally bewildered by the health care system. I wonder about our country – our morality – our sin. I’m at a loss concerning the violence that continues to escalate in our world. Question marks fly above my head when I have to fill out a health care form that asks what I identify as.
Still, in all this confusion – the roller coaster rides of life – the fear of death and loss – the trust in other human beings which has been challenged, all leads to more confusion. There is only one thing that allows me to carry on. I know that God, my Creator, my Father, my Brother, my Savior, my everything, is in complete control of every perplexing thing that tugs at my heart. His Word always draws me to the right passage. He never changes and He is always available to counsel me.
“Let my cry come before you, O” Lord;     give me understanding according to your word!” Psalm 119:169 ESV
The word, “quiescence,” is one we don’t use very often. Its meaning refers to a state of dormancy, inactivity, idleness or suspended animation. Going to sleep has never been a problem for me. I can hit the pillow and find myself in dreamland in no time at all. As I grow older, I’m spending more and more time in that suspended animation state. The intensity of my days seems to have come to a waning afterthought, but still in my quiet time, I’m learning to categorize the important things – eliminate the unnecessary – prioritize the meaningful – resist the desire to return to the same mega-ferociousness of my once extremely exhausting lifestyle.
Up until the past few years my time has been dedicated to others and the thought of turning inward doesn’t fit my vocabulary. The idea of taking a nap in the middle of the day is new to me. The thought of not having something to keep busy is frustrating. I know the time has come for me to enjoy my life without obligation, but that concept has a hard time butting its way into my little pea brain. I guess that’s why God has built sleep into our being. Even though He doesn’t need rest, He took the last day of the week off to rest.
I think about the animals of His creation and how they inwardly know when it’s time to hibernate. I am amazed at how humanity can stretch out time to the limit without rest. Now that our clocks have been set back, I wonder if I’ll ever adjust to the change. It seems to be a conundrum for me. Maybe it’s because I don’t like change.
So how does one go from an extremely busy schedule to a non-existent one? Most people would be delighted to simply let go of all responsibility, restraints or burdens. I secretly have thought how delicious that concept would be. Something inside me is still beckoning me to do all things at the pace of Martha as she prepared a meal for her Savior.  I dream of becoming more like Mary in my approach to this new way of life. Still there are times when I become burdened with guilt for sitting around and doing nothing. This Bible passage is very comforting.
Proverbs 3:24 “If you lie down, you will not be afraid; Â Â Â Â when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
Dear, Lord, thank you for blessing my life with peaceful rest. Help me to accept this new way of living and renewing me so that I can further serve you – in your way – not mine. Amen!
Recently, we were shocked to learn that funny man, Matthew Perry, took his own life. The man that spent most of his energy making others laugh finally succumbed to his own sadness and depression. Death by suicide is never the answer to our fears, our depression or anxiety. In the process of taking one’s own life, it is not only ending one life. It also is a crushing blow to those left behind. We often become aware of the mental trials a person has endured when it becomes too late to do anything about it.
There are a number of reasons why people take their own lives. For example, extreme depression, brought on by feelings of low self-worth – money issues – the fact that your life isn’t going the way you want. It can be the result of impulsive behavior – a cry for help – an actual psychotic disorder, like schizophrenia or PTSD. The increase in the number of suicide deaths is on the rise. We see it touching the lives of the young, middle aged as well as our senior community. I was surprised to read that 85% of those committing suicide are 85+, yet as I get closer to that age bracket, I suppose one might feel the world would be better without them. I also can understand why, when life becomes so overwhelming – so hopeless – so dark – that we forget who has the final say about our lives and our deaths. He has a plan for each life that exists on this planet. He has even given us the faith to trust in Him for direction in our lives.
Jeremiah 29:11-12 – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.”
There is hope for everyone. When we realize that God’s plan is so much better than ours, we can lessen the pain of depression and anxiety. We can guide anyone who is thinking about ending their lives in this way by giving them the counseling they need through the resources available at the Suicide Intervention Hotline at 988. This number will allow you to text or chat.
There is so much confusion today in our world. There are senseless wars – relationship problems – questions about our own identity – fear of disease – countless other things that gnaw away at our existence. Still there is hope. God is available all the time. He is with each one of us in our misery. He knows how to calm, comfort, treat our illnesses and He’s given us the hope of life here and in eternity. lIFE
Well, it’s already November 4, 2023, and four days into “Nanwrimo.” I’ve procrastinated once again. I have a couple novel ideas. In fact, I wrote one about five years ago and it’s still somewhere on a flash drive, yet unpublished. One of the comments on a submission I made, suggested that I take some writing classes and maybe try again. I’m not good at taking rejection. I’ve written almost a hundred plays in my lifetime. I wrote a screenplay once. I write a daily blog. I write poetry that seems to be enjoyed. I don’t write letters much anymore, because no one can read my handwriting. I’ve written commercials. I’ve written several children’s stories. I seem to be able to write a lot. Writing has been much a part of my existence for several decades, but I can’t seem to get past this fear of rejection.
So, can I write a novel in a month? The requirements for this event are simple enough. Am I too late to begin? Can I use an existing, unsolicited, unpublished piece? The aim of this event is to get us to write at least 1700 words a day. By the end of November, you should have accumulated 50,000 words and the completed first draft. No editing is necessary. Sounds pretty easy. Maybe I’ll get started after Thanksgiving. Talk about procrastination.
I’m not a fan of Surrealistic art, but in 1931, Salvador Dali painted the above image, called. “The Persistence of Memory. The painting created quite a stir and tested the intelligence of everyone who viewed it. What was the deeper meaning of this painting? As the wife of an artist, I can tell you that the mind of an artist is always active. Even when they sleep, vivid dreams are being created for future art. There isn’t always a motivation for painting. Sometimes an artist will simply try to recreate the beauty of nature. “Why don’t you just take a photograph?” some might ask. However, the painting artist has a slightly different eye for the depth of his art. So much of that person is enveloped in the final result. It no longer becomes another image, like everyone else might visualize, but an actual piece of the artist is imbedded into the work. I can imagine what Dali was thinking while creating this masterpiece, but to actually get inside his head is impossible.
This weekend, as we once again change time to save the hour that we lost last spring, I can’t help but think of this particular image. The melting clocks are so much like memories that are slowly slipping away. They no longer maintain their original shape. Some have been added to over time. They become larger than life. As years pass, that memory no longer resembles the truth of the original event. So it is with time. As we grow older, the years seem to melt into one another. We often forget the truth of the past. We may even try to forget it altogether. Age can cause us to dwell on the past, as we forget about things that happened five minutes ago.
When we’re young we have all the time in the world. As we grow into adulthood, the years are filled to the brim with obligations and responsibilities. Time flies during those years. As we come to the end of life, time should slow down, but it seems to step on the gas at the last moment. Each day runs into the next. Our pace slows down, but the hours pass quickly as we approach the end of them. At times, we can’t imagine how we will ever make it through this life, but there is more time waiting for us beyond the grave. God saw to it that time would never end for those who believe in Him and His unconditional love. He gave His life for us. That’s truth that far exceeds time.
When you’re a blogger, there are so many people to interact with. I’ve never met any of them. I know only what I see of them in their postings. Their writings are often thought provoking. They become friends through those words. I’ve been blogging for more than twelve years. Many of those I follow come from various parts of the United States, Canada and other countries. There are a few that I’ve followed for a long time. Some of them leave the world of blogging and I never hear from them again, but when that happens, I miss them.
One of the first people I met was a cattle rancher from the south. He inspired me to write about my faith. I enjoyed reading his stories about working with a group of Jewish Christians. Another fellow from the south worked as a cable guy and went into nursing a few years later. A Jewish convert to Christianity, a wife, a mother, a lawyer and captivating writer was one that a met a few years into this history. Each of these remained friends for quite a while and then they were gone. It was like losing a good friend.
Recently, I became friends with a young woman who is fighting for her life. She is about the same age as my oldest daughter. This faithful young Christian has worked with children with special needs, has a family of her own and has endured a long struggle with Cancer. There is the woman whose son lost his life in an automobile accident. The fellow that writes amazing commentaries on the teachings of Christ. His creative side comes out in his characters including eggs, apples and other foodstuffs. He has a whole series of stories meant to amuse as well as teach. He recently lost his lovely wife, but his faith allows him to grieve with the assurance that he will see her again someday in heaven. There’s a woman who grew up in a family accompanied by addiction. She knows the pain of losing someone she loves to that very malady. She is humorous, steadfast in her faith and always has a great lesson to teach us about this crazy world we live in. There is another woman who has been trying for many years to write a memoir about growing up with a narcissistic, abusive mother. I’m sure that story will help many people going through a similar experience.
There are countless others that I follow each day. My point is, I don’t know these people personally, but I feel like I know some of their inmost thoughts, fears, hopes, dreams and goals. This venue is often a place for us to vent. We may share things that we would never otherwise share with another human being. We become vulnerable to attack for some of our words. We are placing our lives on the line in a way.
I wonder how God feels when each of His creatures come to Him with their inmost, deepest thoughts and prayers. Of course, He’s God, so I will never be able to comprehend His power. I do know that His love is also beyond my comprehension and that when we pray, He hears each word. He listens with attentive ears. He knows the solution before we even utter the words. It must be like a great cacophony of voices though. All asking for something. All pleading for answers. All praying for wisdom. Yet, He hears every individual prayer and has already planned for the outcome.
When we tell our stories, we’re laying it all out there, sort of like what we do when we pray. I pray for each of those people who share their blogs with us. We can add them to our prayer lists. We can reach out to them with possible solutions or wisdom, but only God can give complete and perfect answers.
Dear, Heavenly Father. You know our every need. You can relate to our struggles. You know the things that bother us and eat away at our very core. Help us to trust in you completely. Your wisdom is all that matters. This world will continue to decay, but you will always be there for us. In the name of your Son, Jesus, who took on human flesh and became one of us, I pray. Amen!
As I reach the end of my years, I find I have a lot of good information stored up in this old decrepit mind of mine. If I don't write it all down, it may vanish and no one will have the advantage of my thoughts. This is why this blog exists. I love the Lord, Jesus with all my heart and soul. I know I'm undeserving of all He's done for me, but I also know that His love is beyond my comprehension.
I've always wanted to write. I never kept diaries, but tucked my thoughts in my head for future reference. I use them now in creating stories, plays, poetry and my blog.
I continue to learn every day. I believe the compilation of our time spent with God will have huge affect on the way we live. I know I'm a sinner and I need a Savior. I have One through Jesus, Christ.
My book, "Stages - a memoir," is about the seven stages of life from the perspective of a woman. It addresses all the things girls and women go through in life as they travel it with Jesus, and it is available on Amazon.com.
