Four Old Ladies

My day was spent with four old ladies, much older than me. I drove them to church. 

Three of them squished their soft bodies in the back seat of my car and buckled each other in.

Each of them are over eighty.

We drove to a little white country church with a tall steeple, and sat on a narrow pew. The church was full, our pew was shoulder to shoulder saints.

We sang old hymns, and blessed each and every child. It felt like I had gone back in time.

As I drove the car, listening to the four old ladies, I was so struck by the cycle of life. Each of them with a story about a husband or two, children near or far, grandchildren that once came to play. And now, so many of the people they once had in their lives, are gone or busy. 

They have each other.

Old ladies, old friends.

These women, so rich in life, yet in so many ways forgotten. So faithful to turn to God in prayer, because they know that is really the only way to win the battle, yet so many times never asked to pray. Women with a wealth of wisdom and knowledge, yet so often pushed aside never to be heard. 

These women are thirty years older than me, a lot can change in thirty years! As I listened to them, and watched them, I prayed. I don't know what God has in store for me in the next thirty years, but I do know that I want more. I want more of Jesus, and more of His promises. I want more richness of relationship from family and friends, more love, growth, and wisdom. 

I want to be embraced, not pushed aside. 

I want all that Jesus has for me, to step into His Promised Land and thrive there.

Say That Again, Sweet Jesus!

Tripping

When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; and your foot will not stumble.

Proverbs 3:23

I just drove over 1800 miles in two days. It was a very long road trip. For the most part, it went very well. Near the end of my road trip, I felt a little tripped out. I spent much of my time on the phone talking to my husband.

 I was exhausted. 

The second day of my trip felt much longer than the first day, and I took more breaks. So, by the end of the day, it was dark when I was nearing my destination. I kept praying for God to keep me focused and awake. My husband directed me on the lonely country roads. It helped to have his voice in my ear as well as my friendly GPS.

The 1800 miles of road tripping was really amazing. It gave me time to think, pray, sing, cry, and listen to favorite books. I thought a lot about previous trips with me sons, and thanked God for the blessing I have in them. 

I loved the long stretches of sunflower fields and the beautiful acres of tall corn growing in the sun. I praised God for the farmers I saw working hard in the dirt, and the numerous cows grazing in the pastures. 

Life is precious.

Every step of the way.

There are so many golden moments. 

In the midst of loss and sadness, there are golden moments before us, precious times. This is what I love about God, He lays out such beauty and peace.

In my 1800 miles I felt some major irritation, too. It was like walking through a dry desert with no water, but even that period of time, God blessed me. He pulled me through, very gently. 

He showed me my fears.

Jesus, sometimes I start to feel like I'm tripping out inside my heart, and I need you to calm me down. You are always there. You have promised that I will not stumble when I walk with You.

Say That Again!

When Death Visits

My mother died last night. Both of my brothers were with her, I'm happy she was not alone. She needed to have them with her. She was 85 years old.

It feels strange to me.

It feels sad.

It's 2am, I woke up from a restless sleep. I was thinking about my mother.

I keep telling myself that I need to hold off on feeling or thinking about this right now. Today is a very big day, my ministry team and I have been preparing for it for months. 

I need to focus.

But, focus may be challenging for me.

I remember the day my dad died; it felt strange.

In fact it seemed unreal, I didn't even tell anyone.

It took about a week for me to soak it in.

A friend called me last night to pray with me; it was comforting. She knew I would have all kinds of swirling thoughts, and I do.

Swirling thoughts.

It's a new chapter in life. Or maybe it's a new book. I am now without earthly parents. It's a strange place to be, I don't think any child ever imagines it to ever really be a reality.

Now it is.

It jumps me to my own life and my own children. Someday, they will be without a mother. And, even though they will have the eternal hope of seeing me again in the Kingdom; it will still be a loss for them that will be painful.

Death is painful.

I am sad.

I am sad for many reasons. 

I am praising God for His mercy toward my mother. She wanted to go, she was tired. 

Father, You hear our cry, and You answer.

Say That Again!

Image Bearer

God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him, male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:27

David says this:

Yet You have made him a little lower than God, and You crown him with glory and majesty! You make him to rule the works of Your hands; You put all things under his feet.

Psalms 8:5-6

God created Eve to be His Image Bearer. He was calling her into a deep intimate relationship with Him, a long walk. A life time journey. He wanted her to study Him. He called her to make Him her center. 

She was also called to walked daily with her husband and be in relationship with him, but he was not the one that determined who she was! She was not called to reflect Adam, she was called to reflect God.

And, together, they were crowned with glory and majesty. Together they ruled the works of God's hands, together it was under their feet.

Eve was called to be a helper (ezer)  Genesis 2:18

Ezer is used sixteen times in the old testament, and means "strong helper" as in Warrior!

Adam was alone, and he needed a warrior by his side. Someone strong, someone that could lead at times, make wise decisions, share God's Word with all people, fight, and play. There's no way he could've done it alone.

No man can stand alone.

As a strong woman with a calling I know that my purpose is to be an Image Bearer and God's Warrior. This is His original design. His calling on my life has purposed me to speak His truth to all people when His Spirit prompts me to do so. 

Because He has crowned me with glory and majesty, He has given me gifts to lead in battle, and that is good.

What will you do with your gifts and abilities that God has given you? How are you being an Image Bearer today? How does your ezer benefit others?

Father, thank you for creating me with strength in Your Image, show me how to continually speak Your truth!

Say That Again!

Shoulder News

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, Your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place. Since you were precious in my sight, You have been honored, and I have loved you.

Isaiah 43: 2-4

Eight weeks ago I had shoulder surgery. It has been a long eight weeks! 

Lots of pain.

Yet, God has healed my shoulder and my heart. And, it has been very good.

I saw the doctor last week and he said all is well. Nine more weeks and my shoulder pain level should be much less. (clap please)

Physical therapy is down to one  day a week, which I will find more manageable. (more cheers)

Last Saturday, I held my grandson. By this, I mean, I carried him around the room in my arms. This is a joy I have not been able to participate in for months. (cartwheels, cheers, and claps)

So, yes, it has been challenging. God has given me so much support through my husband. And, I have another friend that always takes the wheel when we go somewhere, so I get a break. 

And, so much more.

I'm praising God for His healing. 

I'm praising God for the support He has brought into my life.

I'm praising God for redemption!

Say That Again!

The Fountain

Last week as I was reading my Bible and worshiping, God gave me an image of a bubbling fountain. It was inviting, beautiful, and invigorating.

In Revelation 21: 6-7 He talks about the fountain:

And He said to me "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son."

It says that He will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts!

I don't know about you, but I am thirsty EVERY, SINGLE. DAY.

I'm taking the drink; it's free!

If I don't take the drink, I won't overcome. 

Jesus is inviting. Jesus is beautiful. Jesus is invigorating.

Jesus is the Overcomer.

I have a shirt that says "A BLOOD DONOR SAVED MY LIFE"

that would be Jesus. 

His blood, on the Cross, has opened up eternity for me. He took my past, present, and future upon Himself, so I could be an Overcomer and live with Him for all eternity!

This is amazing news!

Take courage, my friends, and drink today from the fountain. He is there for you.

Say That Again, Sweet Jesus!

Deep unto Deep

Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; all Your waves and billows have gone over me. The Lord will command His loving kindness in the daytime, and the night His song shall be with me-a prayer to the God of my life.

Psalms 42:7, 8

This last week my husband and I took a step of faith. It felt scary to me in a lot of ways, and we had to pray through it. I also needed to ask a couple friends to pray with me, because I was not feeling calm, and I wanted calm. God brought this verse to me immediately and I began to feel waves of calm come over me as we moved forward with our decision. I even woke up in the night, feeling assured that God was with me, singing me His lullaby.

Near the end of the week, God sent a friend with a gift for us; it completely redeemed our step of faith! It was so incredible and once again I am amazed by what God does and who He is!

He continues to call me into deeper places, because He is deep. He assures me that He will be there all of the day with His lovingkindness. And, when  the nightfalls He will still be there, singing His sweet song over me. It will be so constant, it will be the prayer of my life!

Before this step, He kept repeating to me "Hope in God" and each time I would open my Bible it would seem to fall to Psalms 43:5

Hope in God

For I shall yet praise Him, 

the help of my countenance and my God.

Deep places require hope, and all hope comes from God. I am learning that more and more. Praises to the name of God!

So today I will Say That Again!