I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt; open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. (Psalm 81:10)

The last time I wrote in June, I had hoped to complete the manuscript of my first book by my 65^th birthday, August 5^th. Well, God had other plans as He usually does…

We took a longer time driving to Hope Heals Camp this year. We were blessed to stay in Asheville, North Carolina for a few days and visit The Cove and drive around the city for the first time. It’s devastating now to know that two months later a large area where we were would be tragically wiped out by Hurricane Helene.

We also stopped in Atlanta to visit the new coffee shop, MEND Coffee, created by the people who started Hope Heals. After that brief stop, we had planned on spending a few days in Birmingham, Alabama but God had another schedule change as a torrential storm blew in and we had to hunker down in a hotel in Atlanta.

Two days later we headed to the amazing disability camp that reaches new heights yearly. The most spectacular celebration was watching how well my son did. This was our third summer. The first summer Josh had never been to camp. He didn’t participate very much and was obviously overwhelmed by overstimulation. The second summer, he was still recovering mentally and emotionally from the abuse that had happened to him at a previous school. I was concerned that he would not even separate from me. His buddy from the previous year met him at the car when we arrived. Within a few minutes, Josh perked up and was emotionally healed through that week there. Praise be to God! Grateful to Hope Heals Camp.

This year… well, he blew us away! He conidently got out of the car, shoulders back, head held high, like, I know what I’m doing! He participated in more activities and was able to eat dinner and remain in the huge dining hall, with over 200 people, for the entire, loud, program. This was the first time, being autistic with high sensory issues, that he was able to do it. Josh even stood at the back of the church and watched the entire talent show! This coming year, God willing, he will participate in the show! My gratitude goes to God who gave him peace, and the loving team at camp.

The day of packing up didn’t go quite as well as I expected. I’ve had knee pain off and on for years. Working overseas for sixteen years in a Third-World country probably wore down my aging body some. The journey through the country was not always easy or smooth. But on the last day of camp, my knee began hurting more, so I got out my cane and hobbled around saying goodbyes. By the time we drove two hours to Birmingham I couldn’t get out of the car. I had severe pain and couldn’t put any pressure on my right leg.

By the amazing grace and strength of God, I was able to finally get Josh out of the car, grab minimal luggage, and make it to the bed. God poured His peace over Josh. He was calm for over 24 hours while I lay in bed with cold presses on my knee. The only time I moved was to hobble somewhere for food. Some 45 hours later I had less pain and was able to limp to a church that I had wanted to visit in Birmingham. After church, we began our two-day trip home. By God’s kindness, we safely made it home.

Surgery was scheduled for my knee in September, and God graciously provided a home care person and friends who helped me and my son. The following month, my son was hospitalized with his own medical issues. Gratefully, we both are doing better.

This is the reason why there has been a six-month absence from the blog. I was first discouraged because of the delay in the book, but I know that God’s timing is precise.

The good news?! I’m in the final turn of the book. I have the last chapter to write but am first having a few, handpicked, women, to read the first chapters so that I can fine tune the last chapter. After that, I am still weighing the pros and cons of going with a publisher or self-publishing.

Finally, many Christians pray and listen for a word for God to give them for the new year. God usually gives me one word and then halfway through the year He may change it. I don’t know if His thinking is, “Okay, Deb is not following that word too closely, I better give her something she can work with,” or, hopefully, the new word is becoming a habit, and I graduate to a new one!

Remember, before I share my word for the year, that I have not looked at the blog for six months. God has been speaking to me often about, Redeeming the time. Even though there have been several obstacles in the past six months, there also, admittedly, have been moments where I’ve wasted time. Yes, there should be rest, but even then, we should focus on what is important.

No one knows the number of days he or she has, I have been praying about that often. As long as I have breath, I have a purpose for God. Yes, to glorify Him, but also to be used by Him for His work.

So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:10)

Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all you do be done with love. (I Corinthians 16:13-14)

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. (1 Corinthians 9:24)

To be diligent in what God has been teaching me means that I need to focus. Not just attention or observation, but a grounded focus like an anchor, to hold fast, cling to, firmly hold, with diligence.

When I opened my blog to update something, I realized that my last posting in June was titled, FOCUS.  God is good… all the time, (Joan). 😉

So here I am again, Lord, arms opened wide in full surrender… fill my cup to overflowing.

What Egypt trial has the Lord brought you out of this past year?

What word is God giving you for the New Year?

2025 is going to be amazing… just wait and see!

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him. (Psalm 34:8)

Hopeheals.com/camp – If you have someone in your family with a disability, the whole family can attend! Check out the website! Applications for this coming year open on January 21st!

If you want to challenge yourself and experience something amazing, they are always in need of volunteers. Hop on the website and find out details.

Mendcoffee.com

Face your deficiencies and acknowledge them; but do not let them master you. Let them teach you patience, sweetness, insight. When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another. Helen Keller

I am still here, but not writing on the blog now. Any available time that I have to write, I am committed to finishing the book, God willing, by August 5th. A very special day!

We also have a very exciting 12-day trip to Hope Heals Disability Camp in Nauvoo, Alabama! It’s a great highlight of our summer. It’s only a 1-day trip, but we usually do it in 2 days. This year, I need to take a little more rest stops because of a physical condition, but God willing, we are joyfully stopping by Bill Graham’s The Cove and Ruth Bell Graham’s garden. Then, we head to Atlanta to visit the new Mend Coffee shop, welcoming all abilities and hiring those with disabilities.

https://www.mendcoffee.com/

We will finally head to Birmingham, Alabama, to attend church. They have a wonderful special needs ministry, and my son is welcomed with open arms, even just for one Sunday! Then, it will be a week-long time of cherished friends, good food, suitable lessons, and fantastic pampering at camp! We both are looking forward to it. I hope to deliver some copies of drafts of the book there for some feedback.

If you have never checked out Hope Heals Camp, please do! It is free for families with disabilities, excluding transportation. Volunteers raise money to participate, and they need many volunteers! It is genuinely an anointed, blessed event for everyone who attends! It’s full for this year, with a waiting list for people wanting to attend. Maybe it’s something you would like to do next year?! If not, donations are always welcomed to help support this much-needed event.

https://hopeheals.com/camp

I appreciate prayers for travel mercies and covet prayers for completing the book. My goal is that the book is not about me and my story but God’s story through my life. It’s a journey of abuse, rejection, healing, amazing ministries, revelation! And it undeniably confirms Romans 8:28!

Waves of Gratitude: Seeing God’s love through the darkest storms. If God wills, in bookstores before the year ends.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)

In Isaiah 1:17, God says, “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause;” but sometimes we don’t see the simple needs before us.

For several years since my return from overseas ministry, I have been praying and asking God, “What’s next?” I prayed and asked. I prayed and pleaded. Finally, I prayed and wept to a seeming void where I perceived God was not listening.

God, you asked, Whom shall I send??

Jumping up and down with my hand up, I’m here! I’m here!

Don’t misunderstand… I have a vision for the future but that takes many pieces to fall into place. I don’t have a problem waiting for that to unfold. I know part of my ministry is completing the book telling of God’s faithfulness from my childhood until now (Psalm 71:17-18). I even know that caring for my adopted special needs son is a ministry. But there seemed to be something missing that I was supposed to do right now. There was! I was just looking at what I thought reaching out to someone should look like, instead of listening to the cry that God was trying to get me to hear.

In my community was someone who needed a listening ear, someone to pray for them, and someone to say, I’m here for you. The person in need was right under my nose.

Sometimes we just need to wake up and smell the coffee.

Pamela Kearney wrote an article sharing about a man, Matthew, who owned a bakery directly across from a funeral home… She went to visit Matthew one day to share a story. “On a bitterly cold December evening, there was a visitation at the funeral home across the street from his bakery. The people bundled up in coats, scarves, and blankets, were lined up around the building waiting to hug the family of the deceased.” Mysteriously, a man appeared out of nowhere, serving hot coffee to these people. Pamela soon realized that Matthew was the man serving the hot coffee that night. He admitted that he felt so bad for the people that he wanted to do something, but that all he could do was make coffee. So he made coffee.

Further in the article, one learns that Pamela’s sixteen-year-old son was the one at the funeral home that everyone was visiting. Pamela was moved by the kindness of this person who didn’t know the people but did what he could do. Pamela responded, “Somedays, I’m burdened with the reality that I can’t do everything to help everybody. I truly do want to make a difference in people’s lives and change the world. I dream big, but I can’t do it all.” Matthew’s words came back to her once again, “All I could do was make coffee, so I made coffee.” Pamela repeatedly asked herself, “What is my ‘coffee’ in this situation?”

The article influenced me greatly. My coffee was reaching out to the person who needed to share. My coffee was seeing the woman in the Dollar Tree crying after a phone call, asking her if she was okay, and then praying for the situation. My coffee could be doing more than just praying for my neighbor going through radiation for cancer. My coffee could be being nicer on the phone when I have to talk with insurance people, and medical staff, and the endless, frustrating calls to call centers. Yet, one action can make a huge difference when people are hurting.

Patiently I will wait for the larger ministry assignment, but in the meantime, I can be the hands and feet of Jesus to a world that is hurting. One cup of coffee could change a life.

(What is My Coffee/Pamela Kearney)

Further article: https://www.pressreporter.com/lifestyles/%E2%80%98we-are-declaring-worst-day-our-life-god-still-good%E2%80%99

We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope. Martin Luther King, Jr.

For over a year I have been trying to think of a name for a ministry I desire to start for single moms with disabled children, believing in my heart that I am called by God to do so. For a long time, I thought of calling it the Snowflake Project, or The Snowman/Snowwoman Project. Why? Because disabled children remind me of snowflakes. Each is different, delicate, and beautifully designed by God. If you know ten different autistic children, you only know one autistic child… none resemble the other. Alone, disabled children can be fragile, but together as a community, they can build into something strong and vibrant. I never tire of watching a special needs child, with their individual disabilities, and usually complex medical issues, grow, learn, and personify the unconditional love of Christ.

Due to political issues, I decided not to focus on the snowflake image. I waited for God to enlighten me.

The other week I was driving somewhere doing one of the hundred things I do as a single mom of an autistic child. There are always appointments, phone calls, paperwork to fill out, and battles to fight. I’m a highly visual learner so I love to, cautiously, sightsee while driving. I can’t even remember where I was when the road sign caught my eye. It was truly an epiphany! It was an intuitive grasp of reality, simple but striking. The road sign read… Good Hope Road.

For eons, the word, hope, has been overused. Not in meaningful terms, but in pointless, superficial ways.

I hope it doesn’t rain.

I hope (fill in the name of your favorite sports team) wins.

I hope I win the lottery!

The good hope is not a blind wish, such as, Hope you have a nice day! Although our intentions are heartfelt, we are just wishing that the day goes well for someone and that they don’t have to deal with the daily normal battles of this world. But the good hope is the hope of God, and everything from God is good. Randy Alcorn says, “To many of us, “hope” sounds wishful and tentative, but biblical hope means to anticipate with trust. We expect a sure thing, purchased on the cross, accomplished and promised by an all-knowing God. Scripture offers solid ground for our hope in Christ.” 

The good hope is unwavering. Paul says it in Romans 15:13. I still haven’t decided which version I like best. They both are encouraging and inspiring…

I pray that God, the source of hope will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. (NLT)

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promises. (AMP)

Abound in hope?

Overflow with confident hope?

Why do we walk around with wobbly hope?

Not only do we have a book [several versions] readily accessible to us, which is spilling over with hope – God’s Word, but we also have our own lives to look back on.

In the book I am writing, Waves of Gratitude: Seeing God’s love through the darkest storms, I am amazed at what God did in my life, how He rescued me, and how He has used the occurrences as an inspiration to me, and to others on this journey. Did I have hope back then in the dark days? No… the choices I had made had me spiraling down into an empty abyss. I didn’t have a measure of hope. In a series of events, I was reminded of Jesus as a shepherd – guide, protector, healer – whom I had accepted as a child. I moaned in complete emotional and physical brokenness. Jesus reached down with His loving, forgiving hands, and pulled me up out of the miry clay (Psalm 40:2). No one is too hopeless to be rescued.

God will take your tiny spark of hope and your mustard seed size of faith and make it into something spectacularly amazing. I am a living, walking, breathing testimony of His goodness and forgiveness. Those experiences have grown my faith and deepened my hope.

I am not always hopeful. As Paul also says, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it but one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14/NIV)

Paul was saying, don’t look back on your failures, keep moving forward towards your calling. I agree with that, but I think it is important to look back and see how God used those failures and wrong turns for your good and His glory.

In a eulogy, titled Glorious Together (October 11, 2012), Pastor John Piper, sharing from Romans 15:13, said there are Six Steps for Abounding in Hope. These are the highlights:

1. The God of Hope – Everything begins with God. If there’s no God, there’s no hope. So, we start with God.
2. The Word of God – All the passages of Scripture, all the promises of God. Believe those.
3. The Spirit of God – If you hope more in God than in physical things or the future, then your hope comes from the Holy Spirit.
4. Faith in God – Simply believing.
5. Joy and Peace – You have joy and peace when you Rejoice in the Lord always. (Philippians 4:4)
6. Abundant Hope – Joy and peace do not produce hope. You are not going to have joy and peace without hope. If you are a hopeless person, where would joy and peace come from? Abundant hope brings joy and peace.

I don’t know about you, but I’m going to follow the good hope road. Oh, it’s a good hope road because it’s a journey. I have stories galore of God’s faithfulness and, I believe that I will see the goodness of God in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13). I have already experienced abundant hope and goodness! Haven’t you?

Give God your spark of hope and your mustard seed of faith and watch what He will do. You can be confident that He will give you the strength and the wisdom, with joy, to face whatever may come. You too can have abundant, overflowing, confident good hope.

Therefore, my beloved brothers (and sisters), be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58/emphasis added)

Even though 2023 was a challenging year for my son, not only with school issues, battling depression, and major medical issues, we both have abundant reasons to be grateful. This is the heart attitude that I want to take into 2024.

As we usher in the fresh beginnings of January, I feel compelled to fix my thoughts on paper regarding the multitude of ways the Lord’s grace was manifested in our lives over the past year.

Not merely did God provide for us, but He gave me, peace through the pain, delivery from discouragement, and hope in what appeared to be hopeless.

Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. BEHOLD, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.(Isaiah 43:18-19/emphasis added)

God has been sending this verse to me often. When God repeats verses to me over and over again, I pay attention! I am hopeful that God is about to do a new thing… it’s been a long wait… but not according to His calendar, “One day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Peter 3:8).

What can you do while you wait for the Lord?

1) Immerse yourself in God’s Word. It has been my hope, my guidance, and my strength in the past. I anticipate the same in the days ahead.

2) Schedule time alone with God. Whether you work, have children, or are a single parent, you have to schedule that time. If you have experienced communion with the Lord, then like me, you crave that time! Decide what time of day is best for you. I’m a morning person. I am too tired in the evening. My early morning hours have given me the strength and joy I need to get through the day.

3) Pepperdine states that there are 8,810 of God’s promises in the Bible. I think in that number you can find one a day for the next three hundred and sixty-five days. Write down a promise a day! https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1769&context=leaven#:~:text=reading%20of%20the%20Bible%2C,made%20by%20God%20to%20humankind).

4) I started making a prayer Bible. It’s still a work in progress. What I decided to do first was to highlight verses that God has given to me over my life.

– My life Psalm – Psalm 27

– Life Gratitude #1 – John 3:16

– Life Gratitude #2 – Psalm 40:1-3

– Life Verse – Romans 8:28

– Life Walk – Hebrews 12:1-2

– Life Commission – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

– Life Assurance #1 – Proverbs 3:5-6

– Life Assurance #2 – Isaiah 46:4

– Life Goal #1- 1 Corinthians 10:31

– Life Goal #2 – Philippians 3:12-14

– Life Goal #3 – Philippians 3:12-14

Then I started highlighting verses that proved my identity in Christ. As I mentioned, it’s a work in progress. There are hundreds of other verses that I love but the ones above are dear to me. Ask God to show you verses and a plan that fits your journey.

5) Finally, I have been analyzing a good fit for an acronym with the first word of this blog and the book. I finally came up with one!! WAVES

Walk with gratitude – Head held high. If Christ is your Savior – You are a child of the God Most High – be grateful!

Arise with gratitude – Wake up in the morning with gratitude. I have near my bed Psalm 143:8-12. I am teaching myself not to immediately jump out of bed. Instead, I pray this to God.

Verbalize with gratitude – Have a positive attitude. No critical talk. Encourage one another.

Emblaze with gratitude – Let the light of Christ shine through you. Light someone else’s candle that is out.

Sing with gratitude – Worship the Lord with praise and gratitude.

Waves-of-Gratitude

ARISE! It’s a new day and a new year!

Be steadfast,

           immovable,

                         always abounding in the work of the Lord,

                with gratitude.

“Who, contrary to hope, in hope believed” (Romans 4:18).

As I am writing chapter 4 on disability in the book, several images have flooded my memory, and my emotions. A couple who are good friends of mine and I spoke the other day. Part of our conversation touched on our disabilities. Also, recently, I watched a podcast where Joni Eareckson Tada, a paraplegic, talked about how she was limited to how long she could speak due to the new increasing pain level. She experienced one of those pain attacks during the interview (see link below), but at the moment, she was still overflowing with hope, joy, and the love of Jesus Christ. Amazing… I sense that whenever I hear her speak or read her writing; I want that full joy during my pain. I want that filled-to-the-brim joy when I struggle with my memory after two-plus concussions.

I could have used that cup of joy last night.

I have had chronic pain for almost thirty years. After the first five years, I was able to live and function with the pain. Only rare flare-up sparks would take me down. Then four years ago, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. It’s been a whole new circus and I’m not laughing with the clowns. The pain has been intense… and I’m praying for any relief. Sleepless nights are as common as earthquakes in California. I am seeing my fifth Rheumatologist this month.

Back to last night… in exhaustion, I was ready to call it an early night… but my autistic son, who had taken his sleeping medicine, had other plans. I wish I could say that I was as happy as Snow White, or as compassionate as Mother Teresa… but that wasn’t the case. Of course, after he fell asleep, I was laden with guilt which overruled the pain. Gratefully, on my knees, I repented and knew there were other ways I could have handled that scenario instead of yelling.

Another sad memory was about a precious lady I met at a disability camp in July 2022 that my son and I attended. Even with a disabled teenager, she was always the sweetest, caring, person. Only nine months after camp she was diagnosed with cancer. She was like Abraham (Romans 4:18). When her father passed away in September 2023 after a short bout with cancer, even though sad, she was still trusting God, giving everything to Him. Two weeks later, this beautiful lady went to heaven.

I want that joyous hope in all circumstances… even with repeated sleepless nights and extreme pain.

We have many examples besides Joni Eareckson Tada that shine through the darkness.

• Nicholas James Vujicic – Tetra-Amelia Syndrome – no arms or legs – yet a motivational speaker.

• Jennifer Rothschild – lost her sight at age 15 due to a degenerative eye disease – she is a well-known speaker and Bible teacher.

• Katherine Wolf – with hopes of a promising career for her and her husband, six months after having a baby, had a brain stem stroke that left her as a paraplegic. She and her husband started Hope Heals and Hope Heals Camp. She is also an author and speaker sharing about the “Good hard life” with joy and confidence in the Lord.

Even with their disabilities, these four people, and many more, hope in the Lord so that disability doesn’t have the final word.

I’m not trying to gloss over the disabilities, difficulties, discouragements, and disappointments. I am saying that there is a Divine God who knows the day-in and day-out drudgery of living with a disability. He is reaching out to you saying, “Hold on to My hand. I’ll walk with you, comfort you, and assure you that, not just something good is going to come out of all of this, but that you will amazingly experience My power!”

Don’t give up. Don’t give in. Hold on to hope even when disability seems hopeless.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnpG3ZG8sI8 – The Nearness of Christ in 50 Years of Suffering. Podcast with Joni Eareckson Tada/Alisa Childers – Host.
• Did you know that California experiences 100 earthquakes a day?! (California Earthquake Authority.com)
• https://www.jenniferrothschild.com
• HopeHeals.com – They are living the good hard and stating “We’re disrupting the myth that joy can only be found in a pain-free life.”

.

One of the most difficult chapters that I am working on for the memoir is the one that I am currently on… Chapter 3, Rescue – Amazing From Evil:  Evil must not have the final word.

Finding a balance between what to share and what not to share is difficult. Part of me wants to tell every detail of the abuse and demoralizing things that happened to me. Why? For sympathy? For people to know how terrible those abusers were?

None of those reasons.

I want the person reading the stories to know that no matter what evil happened to them someone understands. I may not understand their specifics, but the aftermath is the same.

Fear

Shame

Guilt

Hopelessness

Grief

Then there are flashbacks, sleepless nights, PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), and haunting dreams.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. You don’t have to live in that never-ending cycle of anguish. Jesus will pull you out and up, as He did with me.

“I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry.

He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.

He has put a new song in my mouth-

Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, and will trust in the LORD” (Psalm 40:1-3/NKJV).

Wouldn’t it be amazing to be free from the nightmares?!

By Christ’s sacrifice and suffering. I am free!

Free from fear, without shame, having no guilt, released from hopelessness, unburdened from grief, and cleansed and free to be used by God! You can be unencumbered from these burdens too!

Aren’t you weary of struggling in that miry pit?

You have to let it go. Forgive the person who did horrible deeds to you. You may have to forgive them only from your heart for safety reasons… I did. If you hold on to the cruelty then the abuser still has control over you. Take that control away! Be unshackled!

Look at the suffering that Christ experienced for you! Jackie Hill Perry writes, “The only way I’ve chosen to make sense of it all is not by understanding God through the lens of my circumstances but understanding God by the things that happened on the cross.”

Why is there evil in the world?

C. S. Lewis shares the reality of free will, “God created things which had free will. That means creatures which can go either wrong or right. Some people think they can imagine a creature which was free but had no possibility of going wrong; I cannot. If a thing is free to be good it is also free to be bad. And free will is what has made evil possible. Why, then, did God give them free will? Because free will though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having. A world of automata-of creatures that worked like machines-would hardly be worth creating.”

Paul in Galatians states it like this, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery” (5:1). Satan will constantly try to bombard you with condemnation, but if you believe in Christ, you can use the power that He provides through the Holy Spirit.

“There are forces all around you working to undermine the freedom Jesus died to give you. Whispers of condemnation, feelings of fear and insecurity, graceless messages from well-meaning believers, constant criticism from those you love. Day after day your spiritual liberty and God-given identity are assailed from all sides” Dr. Charles Stanley.

Unless you cling with faith to the freedom Christ gave you as His child, you will continue to spiral downward. But if you stand in faith, meditate on God’s Word, and pray quietly or out loud every time you feel an attack against you, then you can live in freedom from the past, have freedom in the present, and be free for the future to be used by God for His purpose and His glory.

Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. John 8:36

Rise Up!

Stand Firm!

Be Free!

** I appreciate prayers in writing Chapter 3 to make it helpful and not hurtful. Thanks!

“Therefore, He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” “See then that you walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:14-17/NKJV/emphasis added).

Sometimes it’s difficult to return to things.

• It’s tough to return to work after a restful vacation.
• Remember returning to high school after being off for summer break? You never knew what friends would be in your classes and what the teachers would be like.
• Also daunting to return to a friendship after hurtful things happen.

It has been grueling for me to return to writing. I love to write, and I believe God has put messages in my heart, but my son who has medical issues had a huge setback and even a week-long hospitalization. There have been weeks of aftercare and recovery. God would bring something to my heart while I was studying the Bible in the morning and I wanted to rush and begin writing, but then a phone call, an outcry from my son, an obligation, or another interruption would halt me from proceeding.

I praise God that my son has improved and I have time to get back into writing sharing the wonders of God in my life. I also started a new habit tracker (yes, before New Years!), to make sure I was taking full advantage of the hours in a day!

Besides being challenging returning to responsibilities, there are also things that leave and never return:

• Words spoken or not spoken at the right time.
• Opportunities missed.
• Chances to forgive or to ask for forgiveness before someone dies.
• Wasted hours doing something not beneficial for your mental state.

There is only one thing in the world that is truly easy to return to. You might not think so, but the reality is that it is easy to return to God when you have sinned, walked away for years, or have been angry with Him. Like the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), God is waiting with open arms to take us back.

There are other reasons that we walk away from God. Some of us don’t want to do what God asks us to do, like Jonah (Jonah 1-3). I can tell you from experience that I would rather be in God’s will and walk with Him through the hard stuff than be without God doing what pleases me. The latter is a temporary pleasure. The first is done for eternity and brings Glory to God.

God is a redeeming God. He has taken all the past things I did wrong, things that others did offensive to me, and turned those around to empower me to encourage others who have been in similar tragic circumstances. Our Redeemer can redeem, restore, reclaim, and rescue you and use your experience to give you a joyful, purposeful life.

Wouldn’t you rather bring light and hope to someone’s life rather than spend all day watching the blue screen light that doesn’t bring you real joy? Instead, the things you view on the visual display both on the phone and television screen become suffocating to your creativity, visions, and calling. You may feel joy for the moment, but it quickly dissipates.

If you feel that you have run too far to turn around, engaged in too many bad things to have hope, or committed yourself to an irreversible course, you couldn’t be further from the truth.

• Saul persecuted Christians (Acts 9).
• David committed adultery (2 Samuel 12).
• Peter denied Jesus three times (Luke 22:54-62).

Christ forgave, restored, and used their lives for amazing journeys.

Turn around…

Return…

Be redeemed…

Jesus is calling you and waiting for you to return or join Him for the first time.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5)

Our Redeemer can rescue the lost. It’s time you returned.

He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. (Psalm 30:1/NIV/Emphasis added)

Those of us who are believers already know that Christ has carried us since we first trusted Him. But sometimes we get weary and overwhelmed. That is common. God knows we are just flesh. That is why it says in His Word, “Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass. And He will make your uprightness and right standing with God go forth as light, and your justice as [the shining sun of] the noonday. Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him;…” (Psalm 37:3-7/AMPC/YouVersion/Emphasis added).

Most mornings I am blessed to have an hour with the Lord. I always read from the Bible and meditate on it, read a devotional, pray, or just talk to God, and many times sing a worship or Christian song. I have to take advantage of the mornings as a single mom with a special needs son. By midafternoon I am wiped out. Mostly because I haven’t slept much the night before. However, if I at least read something, even a small portion, it focuses me back on Jesus at the end of the day. Then when I wake in the morning, I start humming a praise song. It’s not something I initiated, I just all of a sudden realize I’m humming a song.

The past few months, though, have been more fatiguing than normal. I know you have those hours, days, and months, too. My son, who has stage 4,severe kidney disease has been experiencing more than normal pain. There have been several doctor visits, tests, some ER visits, and many sleepless nights. My heart breaks for him since my son doesn’t understand why he is hurting so intensely that it brings actual tears to his eyes (he is not a crier).

This month, I have been reading through the book of Isaiah. There are many bite-size, golden morsels to chew on. It amazes me that when I wake up a little more weary than usual, maybe not so joyful; as soon as I finish reading through and praying through God’s Word, I have this peace, joy, and motivation to not just survive, but to flourish through the day.

The LORD will always lead you, satisfy you in a parched land, and strengthen your bones. You will be like a watered garden and like a spring whose water never runs dry. (Isaiah 58:11)

For you will not leave in a hurry, and you will not have to take flight; because the LORD is going before you, and the God of Israel is your rear guard. (Isaiah 52:12)

Even if these forget, Yet I will not forget you. Look, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me. (Isaiah 49:15-16)

Reading God’s Word in the morning is not a magical formula that will produce a miracle, or an answer to a prayer in the moment. It will however miraculously change your heart. You will have more peace feeling God’s presence with you, and more strength (above and beyond strength), to get through the day while you wait on answers, provisions, and guidance.

Have hope! Be encouraged! Be grateful!

Let God’s Word take you from being floored by sadness, frustration, and exhaustion, to being lifted up with peace, renewed strength, and hope for the day!

I appreciate all the prayers for my son’s diseased kidney and hopeful answers and guidance from an appointment with a new Nephrologogist on the 19th.

I will be away from the blog for another month. A second person reviewed several chapters of the book I’m writing. I was encouraged again to continue. God willing, I hope and pray to finish the completed book draft by the end of September. Thank you for your prayers in both matters.

Remember God’s faithfulness – Give a Wave of Praise and Gratitude.

Therefore welcome one another, just as Christ also welcomed you, to the glory of God. Romans 15:7

“Welcome Home” are wonderful words to hear, but what if you have no one at home to welcome you?

My dog and I are always excited when our boy gets home from school. My dog expresses it a little more comically than I do. She runs around in circles, bouncing near my son, wagging her tail! You can almost see the smile that comes across her face! Her boy is home! I’m afraid the neighbors would think I was crazier than they already do if I exhibited those same antics to greet my son! I smile and joyfully greet him with words expressing how happy I am that he is home… happy, loved, enjoyed, wanted, even if he doesn’t function in the same way that typically developing children do. He is loved beyond words but only a fraction as much as Jesus loves him.

We just returned a little over a week ago from another place that welcomed us dearly. A place where we were blessed for a second year in a row. Hope Heals Camp doesn’t say “Welcome Home.” They have words more endearing…

From the moment you enter the campgrounds in Alabama, to when you park your car and get out. You are greeted with a Christlike welcome and love and acceptance. Words of,

I’m so glad you’re here!

It’s so good to see you!

You were meant to be here!

The words are not mechanical but from deep within their hearts. They really are glad you are there.

This is a magical place, not the sorcery kind, but a place where you can feel the Spirit and love of God in every inch of the campus. This camp welcomes families with disabilities. Some disabled are small children, some are adults, and some are elderly. It doesn’t matter the disability or the age, the whole family is welcomed and loved on and pampered.

Last year I was healed at camp. I was healed from pride and rejection. In the initial application process, I had confirmed that my autistic child might have a meltdown but I was a trained professional and mom who knew him well and knew how to prevent and accommodate him if he became extremely stressed. He proved me wrong. As I took him back to his room to calm him down – (did I mention my head was tucked in shame and embarrassment?), I mentally planned how to secretly escape the camp before I even got to experience day one. Before I could take the first step in packing, there was a knock on our room door and I was surrounded by three beautiful ladies who loved on us and prayed with us. The rest of the week was an amazing experience of Christ’s love and their love poured out on us. My son did fantastic the rest of the week!

This year, my son was healed. I had just gotten him out of a devastating public school situation four months earlier. He was still traumatized by what had happened. Some of those traumatic events I will never know since he is nonverbal. He no longer trusted people he knew and simple noises made him jump and cling tightly to me. Even if I stepped out of his sight for a few moments to bathe or cook or get the mail I was met by screams and a child in terror. For three months, this child who had become independent and confident was clinging to me 24/7, seven days a week.

We had known that one of his buddies at camp this year would be the same as last year. Last year my son adored him, but how would he react this year? He wasn’t even trusting people he knew for years in therapy. I spread the word, and we covered him in prayer, even up to the last minute, as we drove into the camp. I had printed a collage of photos from the previous year of him with his buddy and we talked about the photos every day for a week.

As we parked the car, my son’s former buddy came to greet him. I saw the tension in my son; but just moments later, as his buddy took his hand, his shoulders relaxed, and he gladly went off with him for a ride in the golf cart…just like that, the power of prayer.

The word, Welcome, has been around since the Middle Ages (see Online Etymology Dictionary). It is a kindly greeting to gladly accept, with joy, a person coming to visit. Some synonyms are, wanted, appreciated, desired, cherished, invited, accepted, and honored.

In most of the world today there is a limited number of people who accept, honor or cherish a child or an adult with a disability. Thirty years ago when I was working with the deaf community I was heartbroken to learn about the obstacles this population had to face to exist day to day. I would have thought – dreamed – thirty years later opportunities would have been more accessible for them.

As a child of God, I hang my head and my heart breaks when I drive by many churches that have signs stating, “All are welcome here.” Seriously? Where are the special needs ministries in the church? How are programs including people that are confined to wheelchairs permanently? Some churches have counseling classes for widows or others who have lost loved ones. What about encouragement classes for those who have lost physical movement due to strokes, or lost limbs? Where are the support groups for single parents with disabled children? The body of believers should reach out to all people. “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit”(Psalm 34:18). Do you minister to the disabled with the same Christlike love?

It pains me greatly when people ignore my son or feel that he is not understanding just because he is nonverbal and walks to the beat of a different drum. If you could only understand where he came from, what he has experienced, and the milestones and achievements he has made, you would be amazed! All children have the potential to learn greatly when given love, time, patience, and respect… ALL children.

“The LORD of Armies says this: Make fair decisions. Show faithful love and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, (or the disabled), the resident alien or the poor, and do not plot evil in your hearts against one another” (Zecharia 7:9-10/Emphasis added).

Don’t miss out on the blessing of showing kindness to everyone.

I can’t wait to get to heaven, where I will meet Jesus face-to-face, and He will say,

Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord. (Matthew 25:23)

Enter!! Welcome!!

You are,

Invited!

Desired!

Cherished!

Accepted!

It will be the deepest, most loving greeting you will ever hear!

Welcome Home!

• My emotionally healed son at camp with his buddies. It brings tears to a mama’s heart to see her son’s joy restored. You too can make a difference in the life of a disabled child!
• See HopeHeals.com/camp for more photos