Living Life Large

Living Life Large

by | May 26, 2022 | Joy, Moments

Meeting my mom and dad at the doctor’s office, I popped the trunk to get the scooter out of the car. A problem stared me in the face. The missing battery. I remembered seeing it that morning charging in their den.

I told mom I’d head to their house, get the battery and return so dad could make his appointment. Opening the carport door, I ran straight to the den to grab the scooter battery and quickly turned to make my way back out to the car. My heart almost stopped beating. Two legs were standing close to the door.

Correction: two prosthetic legs stood close to the door. I breathed a sigh of relief. Why were they in the kitchen? I told mom and dad about my experience when I returned, and we all shared a deep belly laugh.

A new pair had been delivered that morning.

The life of an overcomer

Living more than 50 years with prosthetic legs, my dad is the picture of an overcomer. (Growing up, we called them artificial legs.) When life threw disappointment and pain at him, he bounced back, determined to live his life abundantly. He has inspired countless people along the way. He still teases new friends, especially kids, trying to convince them to hit his leg as hard as they can, and laughs when they realized they’re not real. Yep, he’s all about squeezing as much out of life as he can.

I always wanted to live my life to the fullest as well, and I think I got this drive and my sense of adventure from him.

At 89 he decided he would take his three-wheeler for a spin down the street. (Yes, it is a 1980’s three-wheeler, not the safer, more stable four-wheeler version. I grew up doing wheelies on that now-banned ATV!) His excursion may not sound odd but because of his prosthetic legs and his age, we help him get in and out of the car for every outing.

“Dad,” I asked, “How did you even manage to get up on the three-wheeler?” He replied that he backed up to the seat, pushed his body up and swung one leg over. I think his willpower, along with sheer determination, got him on and off it! My heart races just thinking about it.

Nothing like living life to the fullest, right? He says that when he turns 90, he’ll probably stop doing stuff like that. Thankfully, that’s right around the corner.

The Source of all joy

I think Jesus would have us do the same thing. Maybe not breaking the law but living a life overflowing with joy. After all, The Bible teaches that Jesus is the source of all joy.

Granted, there will be pain and disappointment along the way. Until I lost my husband, I never knew that a heart could physically ache from grief. I didn’t know that I could miss someone with every breath I took.

But in my grief, God reminded me of one of my favorite verses. Odd that it talks about living a full life. Jesus told us that He came so we might have life abundantly. (John 10:10) The first part of that verse tells us that the thief (Satan) comes to steal and kill and destroy. But Jesus wants us to not just live life, but experience life to the full. And we don’t have to do it alone. Jesus is right there, walking beside us if we will let him.

Let’s commit to living the rest of our days – not half alive, but fully alive. Like my dad.

God showed up

God showed up

by | May 19, 2022 | God, Trust

For Elijah, God showed up in a whisper. (See 1 Kings 19:11-13)

For me, God showed up on a motorcycle.

Driving through a not-so-safe-small-town on my way home from a funeral in Tennessee, my car blew out a tire. I didn’t hear anything, so I wasn’t certain of it at first. But my tire gauge told me my PSI had quickly dropped to 22. After that, it began declining every few seconds.

I called friends who lived close by. No answer. I thought, “if I can make it to a gas station on the edge of town, it will be well lit.” By the time I arrived, my PSI number was nine. My heart sank when I saw only darkness surrounding the station.

Why were they closed? It was only 10 p.m. on a Friday night. I had no choice but to pull up to the air pump and try to get air in the tire. That didn’t work because by that time, the tire was completely flat. Zero air in it.

As I stood by my car, I saw someone driving toward me on a motorcycle. I quickly ran and jumped in the car; I wasn’t taking any chances. He yelled, “I’m not going to hurt you,” as he passed me. He drove to the end of the parking lot, turned around and headed back my way. My heart in my throat, I cracked my window as he stopped beside me.

His name was Jeremiah. He told me he had seen me from his house, knew the area of town was dangerous, so he came to help. He informed his wife, “I’m going to go help that old lady.” Okay, so my night was getting worse by the second. I’d never been called old lady before, at least not to my face!

I said a quick prayer for protection and got out of the car. My rescuer talked in colorful language while changing the tire out with the spare. At one point, his head darted out from under the car seconds before the jack stand collapsed. My concern escalated.

As a side note, a friend talked with me over the phone as I spoke to Jeremiah throughout the entire encounter. Always quick to help, she had jumped in her car and headed my way, arriving the second time around with the jack. Jeremiah secured the spare tire, loaded the old one in my car, all while sharing many of his life stories. I thanked him as we said our goodbyes.

Later, sharing my story with another friend, she suggested, “God sent an angel to help you.” My quick reply was, “He was no ‘angel.’ I don’t think angels talk like that.”

However, Jeremiah means appointed by God in Hebrew. I had no doubt that God sent him to my rescue, riding in on a two-wheeled chariot, rough language and all.

Be confident of this. God walks beside us when we are afraid. He isn’t just for the Moses’ of the world. He’s for us too. After the death of Moses, God told Joshua, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Joshua 1:5 NIV)

Just as God called Joshua to trust, we can trust Him at his word and put our faith in Him.

What is your story? How has God rescued you? Do you need rescuing now? I share this story because I’ve been there countless times. Sometimes from my own mistakes and failures. Each time, God has been beside me, sending his appointed to save the day.

Are you going to trust me?

Are you going to trust me?

by | May 12, 2022 | Belief, God, Trust

“Trust me,” my husband Matthew used to tease. I knew right then I’d best beware. He was up to something.

This flash from the past popped into my mind as God spoke to me about trust during my morning devotion. Oh, I say I trust Him – and really, I do! But overwhelming thoughts sneak in when I least expect it. Worrisome thoughts. Fearful thoughts. Sometimes even dark thoughts.

God calls us to trust. This means trusting no matter the circumstances. That trust – or confidence – allows us to be calm in stressful situations. That’s trust in action.

The Lord is my strength and my shield;
    my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
    and with my song I praise him.     Psalm 28:7 (NIV)

Trusting in Christ strengthens us. He is our strength, if we will let go and trust. I have reacted in ways that absolutely came from the Lord’s strength, not mine.

Shortly after Matthew’s death I learned something that had my head spinning and my stomach in knots. Breathless, I cried “Lord, what am I going to do?” In my spirit, I heard God say, “Are you going to trust me in this?” In a heartbeat, I thought “I don’t know what else to do but trust you.”

And that is what we are called to do. Even in our desperation, put our trust in action. Trust the one who is trustworthy no matter your: 

situation;

heartache;

conflict; or even

your next decision.

Reading the word of God tells us how. Let the words of Christ wash over us in a new and life-changing way today. Chances are, God just may be up to something.

But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. Jeremiah 17:7 (NIV)

Does Mother’s Day bring smiles or tears?

Does Mother’s Day bring smiles or tears?

by | May 8, 2022 | Blessing, Sorrow

I hope you have had an amazing Mother’s Day, whether you were being honored or celebrating your mom.

I am grateful for a day with my family, but I also recognize that today may not be a celebration for some. Maybe you lost your mom and sadness made up most of your day. I pray that God would bless you and that your memories would put a smile on your face.

For those who want to be a mom but have yet to experience that joy, I know you long for the day. I remember what it’s like to want a baby in an all-consuming way.

The first Mother’s Day after our baby Ashlynn died at birth, I could hardly hold it together. My heart was so empty, the pain unbearable.

But God in his mercy dropped a baby in our lap just two months later. I met him when he was three hours old. It was love at first sight. He grabbed my finger with his hand and held on like there was no tomorrow.

With two other boys following, I accepted with gratitude that I would be a boy mom. And we haven’t stopped going, playing ball and challenging each other yet. Everything, and I mean everything, is a competition. You boy moms know what I’m talking about.

I tell you this story because many times we don’t know why tragic things happen. With our world turned upside down, we are at a loss as to what to do next.

I certainly don’t know all the answers, but I do know that Jesus does. I want to encourage you to stay strong and cling to Him. He is the one who can bring blessing from pain, joy from sorrow, and hope from crushing circumstances.

Numbers 6: 24-26

The Lord bless you and keep you:

The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you:

The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. 

Are you being tested?

Are you being tested?

by | May 5, 2022 | Belief, God, Obedience

It was a test of patience for my friend.

“Your son still on campus today?” she texted. “Yes,” I responded quickly. She called a second later.

Her son’s car was illegally parked and about to experience a visit from a tow truck. Since he didn’t answer his phone, she asked me to call my son and have him walk to his dorm room, bang on the door and wake him up.

Guess what? My son didn’t answer either. It was mid-morning.

The funny thing is, I had the same scenario happen two months prior, except campus security called me in the middle of the night. Those college students knew the rules but ignored them.

The Israelites faced a different kind of test. A much more consequential test.

After fleeing Egypt, they made it to the edge of the land God had promised. They were so close, yet so far away. The test was to:

  • follow God’s direction
  • conquer the land and
  • live in the paradise God had set aside for them, the land He had prepared for them. 

Somewhere along the journey, they lost their way.

After spies returned from scouting the land, Joshua and Caleb encouraged the assembly to go and take possession. But the other spies told a different story. 

Their fear had already defeated them. Their fearful outlook led the rest of the community into alarm and distress.

That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” Numbers 14:1-3 (NIV)

Their mistake?

The Israelites listened to the wrong voices, ignoring God’s direction. They decided it was too risky to cross the Jordan into the land.  And they failed the test. Scripture says the Lord forgave them, but they paid dearly for it. You can read the entire account in Numbers 13-14. 

What is your test today?

  • What step is God asking you to take?
  • What giant keeps you from crossing over to the other side?
  • What obstacle holds you captive?
  • What hurt still grips your heart?

Listen to the One who calls you to follow His direction. With Jesus by your side, you CAN cross over and conquer the giants. You CAN take that step of faith. You CAN overcome that obstacle.

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