Just Thankful

I have so much to be thankful for, my mom is home from the hospital and doing very well at that.  My family was all together, we were so blessed to be together. 

Sometimes we have to be grateful for the little things, so I am.

For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

Lessons in life!

My mother was recently put in the hospital and while we were there visiting over the weekend I was reminded by one of the other patients that God's time is not our time.

When we were visiting on Saturday, my mom was not having a good day and she wasn't really wanting to visit with us.  While I know she can't help it, it makes me feel bad, guilty even, but I can't change it.  It can make you feel pretty useless.

There was a lady sitting next to her who told me she grew up with mom.  She went on to tell me that while this may seem hard now, God has a plan that we know nothing about.  His timing is not ours and while we can't see why this is happening now, one day we will look back on it and know why this happened.

While I know in my head that God is completely in control, when we are going through something that makes no sence to us it can be hard not to ask "Why me?"

So it really meant a lot to be reminded by someone else who was in the midst of the trial so to speak that even she knows God is in control.

Sometimes it takes being reminded by someone else that everything is OK.

Let him have all your worries and cares, for he is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.

2 Peter 5:7

Adjusting to Change

Over the summer my mom became ill, but we were very lucky because whatever it was went about as quickly as it came. 


Unfortunately whatever it was has returned and seems much worse this time.  I know the Internet is not always a good thing, but since she has become ill again I have come across some people with the same type of situations.  


No cure mind you, but at least I know that this kind of thing does happen and we are not alone.


The hard part is watching someone who was always such a nurturer and sweet person change before our eyes into something else.  There is hope that since she snapped out of it last time that could happen again.  That is what we are holding onto.  


Hope.


I wonder how people who go through traumatic situations survive without hope.  While I know I should just let the Lord take care of it, and I really have given it to him, it is so hard not to ask why, or what good can come from such a thing.  


Last night I went to visit my mom and she wouldn't hardly look at me, when I spoke to her she would look away and ask us to leave.  There was a lady sitting next to her who had grown up in the same area as my mom and knew her sister.  


As she talked she said, you know, sometimes things happen and we don't understand why God lets them happen, but maybe in a few years we will look back and we can see that he did have a plan, we just have to trust him.


While I knew that in my heart, and I truly believe it, I was glad to hear it come from someone else.


That is hope.


Trusting in the Lord.


It's hard to not be able to just call her and talk to her like we use to, but that's where I have to adjust myself.  Things will not be the same, they will be different.  But they can still be good, I just have to keep trusting the Lord, and hoping.

Encouraging Words

For everything, absolutely everything. . . finds its purpose in him.
Colossians 1:16

For the mountains may depart and the hills disappear, but my kindness shall not leave you.
Isaiah 54:10

If you love me, obey me, and I will ask the Father and he will give you another Comforter, and he will never leave you.
John 14:15,16

Let the peace of heart which comes from Christ be always present in your hearts and lives, for this is your responsibility and privilege as members of his body.  And always be thankful.
Colossians 3:15

Strangers in this place

In bible study we are doing 1 Peter.  One of the phrases that has really hit me this week has been about being strangers in this world.


We talked about how even though we live on the earth we do not want to become like it.


Hmmmmm.   


Our Pastor did a little experiment where he tried to walk on two different leveled steps at the same time.  While he was doing that he says to us, how easy do you think it would be to learn to walk like this?


Of course we all said that it would not be easy at all.  Then he told us to pretend that top step is us trying to walk like Jesus.  The bottom step was our earthly home.  


I don't know about you, but I have a very hard time trying to balance this world and being holy.  But that is what Peter tells us we should be doing.  It is written in the Scriptures:"You must be holy, because I am holy."  1 Peter 1:16


Why do we make it harder than it really needs to be?  Is it because we want to fit in so badly we aren't willing to be different?  Or is it because we have made it acceptable to just be like everyone else?


Hmmmm.


Do we believe the Bible or don't we?

People who do not believe are living all around you and might say that you are doing wrong.  Live such good lives that they will see the good things you do and will give glory to God on the day when Christ comes again.

1 Peter 2:12

How are we living?

OK, so I have been reading Radical, which is an awesome book by the way.  I am learning that I have a long way to go to be the kind of person God intends for me to be.


One of the things it is addressing is things, possessions, stuff.


I know that I have more stuff than I need that is for sure, but I guess I never realized what a difference stuff can make.


The more I become aware of the needs of others around me.  And there are needs, it makes things seem so much less important to me.  


Right now, there is nothing that I need.  Nothing.

I have a house, running water, food, clothes that I never wear.  Stuff that I don't need and I know it.  So what can we do about it?   One lady in the book sold most of her stuff to get out of debt so that she was able to give more. 


What a great idea, get out of our own debt, to be able to help others.  


We are so fortunate to live where we do, we should not forget that their are others who are less fortunate.




So, who's up for a challenge?


Why don't we just clean out our closets and get rid of the stuff we don't need.  


Our church has a free yard sale every year for the community, that's where my stuff will be going?


What will you do?

Still Going!

I have had a busy weekend, but I am still trying to stay on focus with my task of Thanksgiving prayers.  I have to admit there have been some sticky circumstances where I really wanted to talk to God about me, but I didn't do it.


I was thinking this was my opportunity to praise him in the storm.


So, I just kept on Thanking him, it was difficult sometimes, but I did it.  I left the problems with him for him to take care of, and I just praised him.


After all it he does say, In all things, give Thanks.