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

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory...” Ephesians 3:20-21a/NKJV

Just to let you know that it will be two more weeks for an article as my computer crashed and we are in the long haul of setting up a new one. We will also be traveling.

I look forward to sharing the amazing things that I know God will do in the next two weeks! He is always faithful and does more than we can think or ask!

Soli Deo Gloria!

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)

Embrace – to take or receive gladly or eagerly; accept willingly.

A few hours after writing my previous blog post, I checked Facebook, Twitter, and email to see if anyone had made any comments. This was not to feed my ego. I have prayed several times over the course of two years for two things I wanted to achieve in my writing. One, that readers would see the faithfulness of God in their own lives and give Him glory; and two, that the one person out there who felt broken, lost, or hopeless, would find courage for today and hope for tomorrow.

I wanted to know if this struggle with time, words, and prayer in writing was making a difference. After two concussions and other health issues, word meanings and spellings seem to evaporate from my mind like steam on the hot pavement after a rain. Praise God for a former English teacher who edits my blog and book!

Friends will mostly encourage you. That is always appreciated.

God, please, send me a person that doesn’t know me, that would acknowledge that what I wrote, encouraged them, convicted them, or brought them reassurance? What was the point of writing if not?

I’m not trying to make a name for myself but to make the LORD’s name renowned.

We all desire that what we say or what we do will make a difference.

We observe professional athletes, actors, singers, and other professionals receive accolades, and yes, criticism too at times. But I believe it’s the hidden artist who paints, writes, teaches, preaches, and creates, that lives in uncertainty asking, is what I’m doing having any effect on anyone?

I read recently of an artist who had submitted a painting to a show, and their painting was not accepted. You could tell he was a little disappointed. I wrote a note of encouragement that no matter what he created, some people were going to love it, and some were not. But if God had given him a gift, to keep using it and keep submitting the finished work. One day it would bring joy to the perfect person.

My issue wasn’t about being accepted (well, wait till I try to publish the book!), it was more about if my writing was making a difference. I pray before I write anything and hope that the Holy Spirit is instilling words into my heart that pour out of my hands into the keyboard.

As I sat there praying about writing, I heard the Lord answer in my heart.

Why do you need someone to acknowledge what you’ve written? Just obey!

Listening to several of the late Dr. Charles Stanley’s sermons, I’ve repeated his life-long phrase a hundred times in my mind: “Obey God and leave the consequences to Him.”

God then placed a vision in my mind to humble me… Jesus kneeling at the rock in Gethsemane.

God just asked me to share His faithfulness in my life. God asked His Son to give up His life. The most difficult obedience ever – die the most painful death for universal sins, past – present – future. Did He receive encouragement from his disciples that had journeyed with Him for three years? These men had seen the way Jesus treated outcasts with unfathomable love. They had watched the miracles of touch, and sometimes the miracle of a word. But no, they couldn’t even stay awake to be with Him when they had heard what was about to happen.

They didn’t see Jesus sweat tears of blood, asking, My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me (Matthew 26:39).

When Jesus was being obedient, and suffering on the cross, was there any acknowledgment?

There was no…

Hey, thanks Jesus, for doing that! Your sacrifice encourages me! You set a good example for us all!

Instead, Jesus was ridiculed, laughed at, spat on, slapped, criticized, and doubted. Those who did not believe He was the Christ, thought he was a self-seeking, crazy man. Those who did believe in Him were…

Disappointed

Doubtful

Depressed

Yet… Jesus still obeyed. He died the most horrific death and gave His life for our salvation and redemption (John 3:16). There was no applause for His sacrificial offering.

The next time you are desiring acceptance, acknowledgment, or confirmation…remember how Christ surrendered everything for you.

Just obey and leave the consequences to God. Even if you are rejected, turned down, criticized, or forgotten.

If God has given you a gift or a calling, embrace it and obey.

If God has asked you to go out of your comfort zone and do something you don’t believe you have the skills to do, just obey and leave the consequences to God.

You may never know until heaven if you have encouraged someone, saved someone’s life, or led them to Christ.

Whatever God has called you to do…

Teach

Paint

Write

Build

Preach

Caretaker

Nurse

Create

Be a mother to a behavioral, needy, ill child…

…work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men. (Colossians 3:23).

Leave the ramifications, results, and reactions to God.

Embrace your calling remembering that every skill you have comes from God. We perfect it with practice to proclaim the precious name above all names.

How lovely is your dwelling place, LORD of Armies. I long and yearn for the courts of the LORD: my heart and flesh cry out for the living God… They go from strength to strength. (Psalm 84:1-2, 7a)

It has been two and a half months since I have been able to write on this blog or make any progress on the book. It has not been by my own choosing. I yearn to spend time with God every morning, and mostly, by God’s grace, I am blessed to be able to spend that time in the presence of my Lord. I deeply desire to write of God’s wondrous love and faithfulness, especially the love He has given me over my lifetime. The latter is getting bombarded by obstacles daily by the enemy.

Everyone has trials, bad days, and tragic things that happen in their lives. However, when the flaming arrows are relentless, you can be assured that God has a special purpose for you to fulfill and the enemy is trying everything possible to deter it.

At first, I thought the adversities were God testing my faith, or working on building my character to be more like Him. After the last rocket hit us this week, I knew that it was flat-out warfare. The trials we were experiencing were swallowing the time I needed to do what God told me to do… which is to share His story throughout my life. Yet, still, God does allow those painful circumstances to happen to see if we will throw in the towel and quit? Or will we persevere and follow the will that God has called us to do?

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. (I Peter 4:12/ESV)

Therefore, let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator. (I Peter 4:19/NKJV)

And we all, with unveiled faces, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

If you cannot determine the difference, pray to God and He will show you. Does it matter whether the trial is character-building or warfare? To me, personally, it does. In the first, I persevere, in the second, I counterattack with my own arrows – the Word of God. Speaking Bible verses out loud or singing worship songs to God is more powerful to defeat Satan than any other ammunition I have found.

Remind yourself:

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (I Peter 5:8-11/NKJV)

Do I dwell on the enemy? No, but when I realize that it is he who is causing the ground to shake, I put on my spiritual armor and fight him with God’s promises.

I’ve grown weary of being knocked down, getting up, being knocked down, getting up, repeating.

Do you feel the same way?

Living from strength to strength?

It doesn’t have to be that way.

Let’s walk our daily walk as I Corinthians 16:13, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong” (NIV). In other words, grab your shield (Ephesians 6:16), put on your heavy work boots, and let’s build a firm foundation going from strength to strength – to Being steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord (I Corinthians 15:58).

Stand strong!

The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:17)

In my early teens and twenties, I despised sleeping. I thought it was an enormous waste of time. There were many productive activities I would rather be completing than sleeping! It was nothing for me to sleep four to five hours a night and have no ramifications.

In my time overseas, involved in ministry and bringing into my home a five-year-old autistic child, I began to think about sleep a little more, or in that case a lack of sleep a little more. The culture festivals that seemed to be every month lasted all night long with food, music, dancing, and fireworks… always fireworks. It reminded me of those cherry bombs my father used to get us when we were kids. The explosions were earth-shattering! I believe I lost most of my hearing overseas due to the fireworks and vehicle horns!

“A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book.” — Irish Proverb

These days as the years have flown by, my sleep time has been disintegrating. When a health issue escalated two years ago, my sleep time became mostly non-existent. Two to three hours at a time, or sometimes that is all I slept in a night. Funny how circumstances change your attitude. I now cry for sleep, whine for sleep, beg for sleep, and pray for sleep… sandman still sprinkles his golden sleep dust but an undetectable elf whooshing in blows the dust over my already sleeping four-legged guard dog happily snoring at my feet. There goes my protection from things that go bump in the night!!

God mentions time quite often in His Word:

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ecclesiastes 3:11

As long as it is day, we must do the work of Him who sent me. Night is coming when no one can work. John 9:4

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. Proverbs 27:1

My times are in Your hands;… Psalm 31:15

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12

We have all paused for a moment to honor a memory of some tragic event or the memory of a loved one. I love the moment in the movie A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019) when Fred Rogers asked Lloyd to do an exercise with him. Mr. Rogers said, “We’ll just take a moment and think about all of the people who loved us into being.” Although I wasn’t a precious thought in my parent’s minds, I still stand in awe to think that God (Psalm 139:13-16), and someone before I was born, prayed and loved me into being.

I’ve thought about the time wasted over my life. Sometimes I have fretted over time squandered in my teens and early adult life. However, if I wouldn’t have the experiences that I did, I wouldn’t be who I am. And even though I don’t waste time watching television, I have been known to convince myself that it was too difficult of a day and I needed respite from the world. Instead of soaking in the love of God in worship songs, Bible reading, or inspirational reading, I’ve lost myself in some comedy or several old television episodes from my childhood. I know we need rest to renew our body and mind, but it’s better to renew it with something that has long-lasting healing and regeneration and not just a mindless laugh. I’m not against a good laugh.

In the early hours of the morning, while I was wide awake, again, I decided to watch the clock for Daylight Saving Time, as the world changed from 1:59 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. Shazaam! Instantaneously, an hour was taken! In a split second, it was gone!

In a split second…

I rushed my son out the door for the bus.

I sneaked into the house hoping the neighbor wouldn’t see me.

I took that second helping of food.

I didn’t pray for the person in that instance.

I lost several family members.

I said goodbye without saying I love you.

A split second can be a crucial eyeblink. What do you want your defining moment to be?

Valuable time was spent yesterday listening to a sermon. There were several, Biblical tools I was given to help me build and repair things as I maneuver my way through life.

• Pray before talking to anyone that is hurting, in need, or has questions.
• Not only seize the day but seize the moment when a neighbor wants to talk.
• Strive for my walk to match my talk.

These weren’t exact sermon notes but how the Lord spoke to me.

The other great point in time was watching my son quickly scoot over to the iPad when I told him it was time for worship. He couldn’t sing with the worship, but I saw his sweet desire, especially when He swayed to the music.     

Take nothing for granted.

Remember the valuable people in your life. Ones that could go in a split second.

Cherish your special moments.

Always look for golden opportunities to share the love and joy of Christ.