Proposed release date – November 2025 with Beatitudes Publishing!

Sailing waves refers to “navigating a sailboat or boat through ocean waves, which can be a challenging yet rewarding experience, requiring skill and knowledge to maintain control and safety.”

This is why I’ve chosen to call the updates on writing and publishing, Saling Waves!

Despite numerous obstacles in the first three months of 2025, writing has gone well!

We’ve had an unexpected amount of winter snow and freezing temperatures. Parts of the city went through a period of no water or contaminated water, which closed schools and businesses. My son’s health issues have gone up and then dove down, gone up, and then dove down. Our dog had a freak accident at the dog park, which made her need extra care for a few weeks, including two trips to the vet. My strength improved somewhat with knee surgery, but the surgery didn’t fix the problem entirely. And there were time-consuming events like replacing the lawnmower, then the dryer. Gratefully, the landlord has to replace the oven that just went out a week ago!

But the Lord has been pushing me to continue to fight the good fight of faith and move forward.

I have weighed all the pros and cons of traditional and independent publishing. The gauge is leaning more towards independent due to personal control of writing and a more significant percentage of royalties. Of course, an independent publisher is still needed unless qualified, trustworthy editors, book cover designers, etc., are known. I was given a referral, and the gauge, once again, leaned toward one.

I had a one-hour Zoom meeting with the company owner. She asked me to submit my manuscript, and the team would review it this week and get back to me to see if they would work with me and the manuscript.

I prayed and forwarded it on. Now I wait…

Stay tuned for more writing updates!

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” John 15:16

Chosen is a powerful word. Out of all the definitions of chosen, the one that blesses me the most is “to want; desire.” Do you remember being chosen, or not, as a child at school for games? Have you ever been designated for a prestigious award? The “chosen” word can be both painful and joyful.

In my book, “Waves of Gratitude: Seeing God’s love through the darkest storms,” there were many painful times that I was not picked out but picked on. I learned over the years that earthly choices were nothing compared to being favored by God. “What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that you visit him?” (Psalm 8:4). Despite our apparent insignificance in the vastness of creation, God has chosen us. To be called by the King of the universe is a glorious calling indeed.

This weekend I had the great blessing of attending a women’s gathering at a local church. Now some might not think that it is a memorable event, but to me it was a joyfully overwhelming opportunity! You see, as a single mom with a disabled child, and because of an enormous lack of caretakers for children, elderly, and everyone in between; I had not been to a women’s celebration in over ten years.

The amazing thing God orchestrated, without a doubt, is that I just happened to notice that Kelly Minter, a women’s Bible teacher, author, and singer, was coming into town. I saw the ad months ago before I even had someone to care for my son. For some unknown reason, I had high hopes of attending and registered. A friend and I both signed up to go… and I prayed earnestly.

When there was a notice that my son received a special waiver, which included childcare from an agency, my heart skipped ecstatically, and I thought that I might soon have a little more freedom and be able to attend this conference. The first caretaker that I interviewed seemed perfect. She was even studying to be a nurse! Of course, the day of her first assignment was a no-show. I began to give up all hope of going to the event. My friend and I considered who could take my place to go with her. Strangely, everyone we thought of was obligated to do something else. I was determined to encourage my friend to go by herself, knowing she would likely make friends there. But God already had plans.

Two days before the event, the attendant agency contacted me again. They had another person for me to interview. This was a male helper, which was better for my son. The interview went well, and I asked him to come that day to meet my son and for me to meet him in person. This was the day before the conference.

The guy was very nice and respectful, and my son liked him, (my son has great insight to people’s personalities), but still… I wasn’t sure. By this time, I was begging God to let me attend the conference for teaching and encouragement, but I also knew that these days, even background checks didn’t prove everything. I decided to trust God since He had called my attention to the special program and let this guy be with my precious son. I called the agency supervisor to confirm they had run a background check and that there had been no complaints about this person.

Friday arrived. The caretaker showed up. I prayed out loud for my son and him. I took a deep breath and left.

My friend and I excitedly arrived at the crowded event. We miraculously got great seats near the front and waited for the workshop to begin. The emcees played games with the audience, gave gifts, and then worship began. After worship, Kelly came out. She gave a summary of what she would be sharing that evening and the next day in the three one-hour sessions. And then she spoke the foundational verse of the conference. I almost burst into tears. The verse, John 15:16, has been one of many cherished verses to me. This verse was prayed over me in January 2003 when my church and missions board commissioned me to India. It had been the most incredible ceremony that I had ever experienced. Kelly dug deep into John 15:1-17 in those three sessions and closed the ceremony, singing How Great Thou Art.

Oh God, how great You truly are!

My son was safe and joyful with his new caretaker. I was convinced and refueled for the appointed journey ahead. I was reminded to focus, move forward, and bloom right where I was at and would be.  I knew, without wavering, that this conference was chosen for me.

***In one day, I will begin short update notes of Sailing Waves! Stay tuned in!

“We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith…” (Hebrew 12:2/GWT)

     Every morning, my dog, Riley, has a ritual. She goes outside to take care of business and then comes to the door. When she walks in, I say, “Sit,” or just touch her, and she sits. She knows what is coming next. I have buried a special treat in the living room. She must stay in that sitting position if it’s for one minute or five minutes. Riley knows she can’t move before she hears the command to “search” or “go.” I have noticed every morning, though, without fail, that Riley never takes her intently focused eyes off me. I could be in the kitchen getting a cup of coffee or just wandering around. Her eyes follow me. Even if I leave the room. As soon as I return, you can tell she has been looking in the direction that I left. It’s worth it for her to obey and be alert. There is a marvelous prize waiting. Riley knows she won’t get the goodies if she moves too quickly.

Riley is well-trained.

     As children of God, we are not as well trained. We know and understand that there is a glorious reward awaiting us… better than any special pleasure imaginable. We will one day see Jesus face-to-face and spend eternity in heaven… no mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore (Rev. 21:4), everlasting joy and gladness (Isaiah 35:10). There has never been, nor will there ever be, a gift so grand! We get distracted, though, and take our eyes off the ONE leading us.

     In the world today, there are a million reasons to get preoccupied. It could be we are watching:

• The wealthy continue to have even more.
• Overwhelming natural disasters.
• The political arena.
• Our health declining.
• Biblical leaders fail and fall.
• Questionable changes happening in the U.S. at lightning speed, that make no sense.
• Other ministry workers succeed when we might not be doing as well.
• People are getting promoted over others.
• A nonstop series.

There is always something trying to attract our attention. We must be steadfast, without doubt, even when things in our world seem to be falling apart. We have one HOPE, one Future, one God, who is trustworthy and praiseworthy.

So, sit. Get your focus back on Jesus and His word. Wait for His direction. Then move when he says “go.”

Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. (Galatians 6:9)

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will go strangely dim. In the light of His glory and grace.” (Helen Lemmel)

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.”

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