Life is an adventure

Life is an adventure

by | Oct 14, 2022 | Blessing, Support

It was not quite the adventure I had in mind when we left a rainy Branson, Missouri morning.

On our way to visit the first town mom and dad lived in after they married, we stopped in Joplin, Missouri. There we visited Grand Falls, The Route 66 Mural Park and the Precious Moments Chapel with plans to stay over in Wichita, Kansas. We envisioned eating a nice steak dinner in Wichita, (well except for the one vegan member of our party), and resting before our two-hour trek north to Concordia, Kansas the next day.

About an hour from Wichita, we stopped for gas and a rest break. As soon as I turned off the car, I got a message that my car remote was missing. I didn’t worry immediately, as I thought it had just slipped off the console and I’d just need to find it and get it close enough to the ignition as I had done before.

That didn’t happen. We found only loose change and trash scattered from our four days on the road.

I remembered unlocking the car from a distance at our last stop. But that was as far as my memory went. Evidently, the car will start once without a remote, but you’d better find it because that’s the only chance you get without a remote nearby.

After an hour-long wait at the gas station, OnStar was still unable to locate an Uber or Lyft driver to come to our location and take us to Wichita. We did get a tow truck for the car. And Richard was nice enough to offer us a ride with him; however, dad definitely couldn’t make it up into the truck. And he certainly couldn’t carry all six of us, much less the scooter and a week’s worth of luggage. He suggested a better drop-off location and a closer hotel.

Desperate to get my parents settled into a hotel for the night, I called the local county Sherriff’s office at the suggestion of the nice ladies working at Pete’s convenience store. At first, they turned me down, but at the suggestion of Deputy Taylor Cordell, the Sergeant agreed to let her drive to pick us up in the inmate transport van and take us 40 miles to the next town. Four hours from our initial stop, we gratefully walked into the hotel lobby.

Why did Taylor do it? She said she had been stranded recently and knew how it felt. I believe God sent her our way. She made conversation the entire way, making us feel at ease as well as teasing my boys about the ankle cuffs in the back seat. We even have pictures to prove it.

A lesson in blessing

So why am I sharing this? I kept thinking God must have a lesson from our predicament. Taylor knew how it felt so she wanted to help us.

Can we also stop for a moment to think of situations we’ve been through and how, because we know how that experience feels, we can be a blessing to someone else?

That’s what I wanted to do by writing Grief Unwrapped: Discovering Joy in a Season of Sorrow (launching November 5). And I won’t think twice about being the hands (or wheels) to someone else in need.

I know you’ve been in desperate situations too. You know how it feels to depend completely on someone else to help you get through it.

Take some time today to think of how God has rescued you, and how He’s put people in your life to get you where you need to go.

Do you know someone going through a trial? Think about how you can stand in the gap for that person. It could be through a prayer lifted. It could mean making a visit. It could be providing a meal or even a much-needed ride with a smile on your face and kindness in your heart.

I know why birds sing

I know why birds sing

by | Oct 7, 2022 | Beauty, God, Moments

God is an artist.

And he must love music.

  • He created the birds to sing and praise him
  • His angels sing praises to Him.
  • People worship and sing praises to Him.

I know, I know — scientists say birds sing to sound an alert of a predator, or to snag a mate. But God wanted them to sing for His enjoyment — and ours.

We create things for enjoyment too.

  • A favorite dish or entre’
  • A painting or other work of art
  • A song played
  • A poem written

Creativity. Some people have an overabundance of it. Matthew did. Parker is following in his footsteps with that talent. Garrett’s creativity comes out in his relationships. Connor’s is released through his favorite sport.

Me? I’m still trying to figure that out.

Recognize the wonders of the earth

How can someone recognize the wonders of the earth, yet not believe in the God who created them? We can find God’s beauty no matter where we are. Author Sue Monk Kidd writes it excellently. “Something deep in all of us longs for God’s beauty, and we can find it no matter where we are.”

God’s creation is beautiful. Creation’s beauty points us to Him.

So, where God is Almighty and worthy of our reverence and worship, He also delights in creativity — the tiny bird’s song, the things that are awe-inspiring, things that are beautiful, things that give us pause or make us laugh.

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For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. Romans 1:20 (NIV)

My stubborn heart

My stubborn heart

by | Sep 29, 2022 | Blessing, God, Trust

He wouldn’t budge!

At 18 months, I could not get my son Parker buckled in his car seat one night after church.

Problem #1

He didn’t want in the car seat.

Problem #2

Evidently, he was stronger than me.

As I tried to buckle the 5-point harness, he stiffened his body and stretched so I could not get him in. I must have tried for five minutes. In tears and frustration, I finally forced him down into the seat and quickly buckled him in.

Stubborn hardly describes that moment. He did not want to be constrained so he revolted.

I’m a little headstrong too. He just might have gotten that from me.

Stretch out your hand

Jesus had a run-in with a bunch of stubborn people as well. His mission was to bring people to God and offer them life to the fullest, no matter the day of the week.

The Pharisees had a real hang-up with Jesus doing good on the Sabbath. They were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus so they watched him in the synagogue to see if he would heal on the Sabbath.

On one occasion, Jesus encountered a man with a shriveled hand. Knowing he was being watched, Jesus instructed the man to stand up in front of the people. Upon questioning the Pharisees whether it was lawful to do good or evil, to save a life or kill on the Sabbath, the Pharisees stubbornly remained silent.

Here’s how Jesus responded.

He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Mark 3:5 (NIV)

If the Pharisees had only looked beyond their rules and regulations, maybe they would have seen the glory of God.

The injured man did.

The people did.

But the Pharisees missed it and left with a mission to kill.

What’s your story?

Are you holding on to something that’s not healthy for you?

Maybe it’s a

  • Habit that needs to go
  • A sin or injustice that needs to be forgiven
  • An unwarranted fear or criticism
  • A way of thinking
  • A worry that you just can’t let go
  • Bitterness you’re holding on to

Wouldn’t you rather release it and see the Lord perform a work in your life? In theory, I know I would. In action, however, I struggle.

Let’s be like the man with the shriveled hand. Let’s stretch out our hands and allow Jesus to restore and heal.

When Words are Few

When Words are Few

by | Sep 22, 2022 | Moments, Sorrow, Support

What do you do when a friend is suffering?

Job 2:2 tells us what Job’s three friends did.

When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him, they began to weep aloud, and they ‘tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him because they saw how great his suffering was.

You may remember that later they had plenty to say, but at this time, they got it right.

Although my time of intense suffering is long past, anniversaries and special occasions still get to me. I voiced the upcoming anniversary of my husband’s death to the ladies in my Bible Study group last week. During the prayer, my friend beside me leaned over and put her arm around me. No words were needed.

Actions speak louder

Actions like these mean the most. Many times, words are just not needed. It’s the simple act of service, expression of love, and comforting touch that speaks volumes. Maybe a simple hug is your gift to others. My sister gives great hugs. When she hugs you, no doubt about it, you know she cares.

Do you know someone suffering this week? Chances are, we all do. Pain and suffering seem to be the constant in our world today. Has God moved you to do something? If so, do it.

So, when words are few and you don’t know how to respond, let your actions speak what words cannot say.

All Joy, No Stress

All Joy, No Stress

by | Sep 15, 2022 | God, Joy

I heard the words to a song one morning this week “All joy, no stress.” I didn’t even know the artist’s name, but those words clung to me like a dryer sheet on a dry-fit shirt. I couldn’t get the prior day’s mistake — or oversight — off my mind. I went to bed worried and woke up the same way.

My friends and I recorded a Facebook live video to tell people about my book’s progress. Not wanting to stuff myself in jeans, I put on my most comfortable skirt. We positioned the camera so people could only view our waist up. Or so we thought.

I didn’t even think about my skirt since it wasn’t in the camera screen. To my horror and dismay, my skirt — and top of my legs were clearly “on screen.” How could I have let that happen? In all my years of training, I should have known better.

Here I was, sharing what God had done in my life while showing way too much leg! My friends tried to encourage me, saying it wasn’t that bad and that no one would notice. (Thank God for friends!) But I wasn’t convinced.

The true test? My mom. Of course, she noticed. It still makes me shudder. I want to crawl in a hole.

Joy in all circumstances

So, the song lyrics seemed to mock me that morning. After all, my book focuses on having joy in all circumstances. I, however, was far from “All joy. No stress.”

That’s just like God, isn’t it? I had anxiety in droves. He sent me a song to release me from that worry.

I just had to grab hold of that joy, even when I wanted to stay in that hole and pretend the embarrassing moment didn’t happen.

What about you? Have you been there? Has God spoken to you through a song? A scripture? Or through a friend’s voice of reason?

We can find joy through any circumstance. Even when our own weakness, neglect or oversight is to blame.

I’ve got to tell you. I had a hard time keeping my anxiety from ruining my day. That would have been truly a waste. My stress served no purpose. I had to give it to the Lord.

All joy. No stress. Let’s try to live that way today. Let’s not waste the day by allowing our anxiety to get the better of us.

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. – Proverbs 17:22

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