God Answers

A week ago, I awoke to feelings of fear and worry. As I was writing in my journal, I began to pray to God through my writing. Through this process, I really did hear an answer to my prayer.

Dear God, I need to focus on serving You to the best of my ability. You are God Almighty who was and is and is to come. Manificent Creator. Guardian of my heart, Healer and Comforter, the Great I Am. God who makes the wind to blow, the sun to rise and set, the warmth of a fire, the sound of a baby, the reassurance that life begins again as one fades, God who sent His Only Son to provide the way for forgiveness, salvation, reconcilation and eternity with Him instead of apart from my Creator. Praise You Lord God for Your Holy Presence who dwells among us. Your guidance, Your still small voice, hope when things seem hopeless. You provide the faith because I am too weak. Bless You, Lord God, bless Your Name. I lift Your Name, Jesus Christ, in my inner being, the center of my heart where You dwell. I life Your Name and worship You.

And, then God spoke to my heart--

Quit holding on so tightly to the things of this world.

I will provide for you.

Worry and doubt have no place in Your heart where I dwell.

Let faith and compassion lead you.

I will provide all that you need.

Take My Hand this day and walk where I lead.

You will not be afraid.

It's joy that I wish for you today.

Express happiness to those you encounter,

And You will received happiness in return.

Let go of old hurts and distrust,

it does not serve you well.

Replace it with gentleness and kindness.

I will flow through you.

You have no need to know what the future holds.

I have all in my control,

and will show you wonders beyond your imagination.

Enjoy the moment, every moment.

I made it just for you.

Today, lean totally on Me

and I will teach you the true meaning of faith.

It may seem hard,

but the goal is much greater than the toil.

My burden is easy

if you let me carry it for you.

When you walk in fear,

I can't fulfill all I need to do in your life.

But, if you will relinquish the fear,

I will fill you up to overflowing with creativity

and wealth of spirit.

Give me all of you

and I will restore your heart.

I am your God. 

I know you.

I hear you.

I love you.

Let me into your heart, mind, body and spirit.

I am the Alpha and Omega.

I am the one and only God.

Yahweh.

Jehovah.

The Great I Am.

The Everlasting Counselor.

God, the Father.

God, the Son.

God, the Holy Spirit.

As I pondered all that God had just spoken to my heart, I saw a vision: I saw my fear as a big ball of black ooze. I asked God to remove it from me, from all parts of me. I handed it over to God and it was as if it just exploded into light and dissipated.

I believe God heard me cry out to Him in fear. He answered me with a path for me to follow. I share this with anyone who might read this as encouragement. These words might be just for me, but if they speak to your heart, then I pray that you ask God to dwell in your heart and that He answers your prayers, too.

Praying Girl

Today's My Birthday

Today is my birthday. I understand from my Mom that I was bald and fat when I was born. I guess by the time this photo was taken, I had sprouted a bit of hair!

I remember when this photo was taken with my brother. This guy just came by our house with a pony and headdresses. You really can't tell so much in this photo, but we had been playing outside all day and we were filty!

Here I am a prim and proper 5 year old on my Grandparent's front porch. This house has long since been torn down, but I still remember loving to go to my Grandmother's house. She was a fantastic cook and I was the only girl, so I always got to sit by Granddaddy at the dinner table. Loved them and that house.

This is a late 60's glamour-type shot. I felt like a model when I went in for this photo shoot. All of the photos were in black and white so that tells you how long ago this was taken.



Guess I'm being a bit nostalgic today on my birthday. I started gathering these photos this week to start a memory book for my Dad. He's in a nursing home and suffering from vascular dementia. He still knows me, but life for him will never be the same. Great sadness surrounds me when I think of him, but these photos remind me how grateful I am that he and Mom were such good parents. I always felt loved and safe. Life has dealt me a lot of pain and suffering over the years and unbelievable joy. God has blessed me in so many ways that I can't complain.

As I start another new year in my life, I know God will strengthen and guide me in whatever lies ahead. He didn't promise me that it would be easy. He did, however, promise me that He would be here with me every step of the way.

So I am thankful for one more birthday. Thankful for this wonderful gift of life.

PG

Tomorrow's the Day

One might ask why is tomorrow so important? Well, I'm not going to tell. Nope, not today. But tomorrow is the day!

What I will share today is a stupid pet peeve. Yep, I really can't stand it when someone opens a new sleeve of styrofoam cups but leaves the wrapper still intact. OK, I realize this is really an insignificant peeve. Just really bugs me. Why take the time to open a new sleeve and not take the time to remove the entire wrapper. It's like eating just one-half bar of chocolate. Who can do that?

I'm sitting here listening to one of my favorite singers, Bette Midler singing You Gotta Have Friends and now You are the Wind Beneath my Wings. Just love that unique voice.

Bette wins over the pet peeve any old day!

Don't forget, tomorrow's the big day!
PG

My Dad, a living example of God, my heavenly Father

I knew this day was coming, but it is extremely difficult. Dad's dementia is worsening by the day. The last meaningful conversation I had with him was a few months ago in April. We were talking and he said, "I just want to tell you I love you before I don't know who you are anymore." That was a profound day because he also said, "I don't know if I'm going up or down," and he pointed up and then down. That's the day I baptised my 86 year old Dad. My 28-year prayer had finally been answered.

I love my Dad and I've always been a Daddy's girl. He's a flawed human being, but never in my entire 58 (nearly 59 years) have I ever doubted that he loved me. I know for a fact that he would walk through fire for me. My Dad is a living example of God, my heavenly Father. Now, I seek God's direction and help in making sure that my Dad knows that I would walk through fire for him.

The dementia has stolen my Dad's mind but not his beautiful spirit. I know one day, he will be restored and we will sit down in the heavenly places, under a tree, once again having wonderful conversations.

Dear God,
Thank you for helping us as we walk this difficult road today. And, thank you the incredible love and sacrifices my Dad has made for me all of my life.

Praying Girl

Ebenezer Stone

I've had this stone in my car for a couple of years. It sits on the console so that I see it every day. Hunter, my grandson picked up this stone on one of our many trips. He loves rocks and I have his collections from the time he was just a little tyke. He's now nearly 10-years old.

This particular stone has always intrigued both of us because it looks as if it is a living rock because it has veins. We've never researched what type of stone it is, but it has always been one of our favorites because it is just so darn interesting. Every time Hunter gets into the car with me, he always picks it up, handles it, smiles and puts it back in its familiar place.

I read an interesting devotional from last Sunday's Our Daily Bread about the word Ebenezer.  It refers to a stone that Samuel called Ebenezer that was set in place between Mizpah and Shen symbolizing a time when the people turned from their sins and God gave them victory over their enemy the Philistines.

Today, I decided that this stone, that we have kept for so long, is going to be called our Ebenezer Stone.

To read the devotional by David McCasland, click on the link.

http://tinyurl.com/37h3dwj

Here's a photo of our Ebenezer Stone which has been returned to its place in my car so that we can remember that God is with me and Hunter always.
Perhaps you'll find an Ebenezer stone of your own. Happy rock hunting, and may God's blessing be on you and your loved ones.

Praying Girl


Man With No Shirt

Vic is my husband and we attended a downtown, elite, upper class church for years. Although we never fit into that category, we loved the church. My husband served as an Usher. He was much loved by everyone because he is such a "people" person. In addition to being an Usher and serving in many leadership roles throughout the years, he was also the Boy Scout Scoutmaster.

One Sunday morning, a downtown homeless man, entered our church after the service had started. He ambled up the center aisle and sat down in a pew next to an elderly woman and amongst many of the matriarchs of our church. This man was dirty and didn't have a shirt on. My husband was sitting next to me and watched the whole thing. Vic quietly got up and I thought he was going to go ask the man to leave. Instead, my husband walked out the back doors. I was shocked.

My husband's father had just recently died and I thought he was sad and left to compose himself. I kept pondering whether I should go check on him. After a few minutes, my husband entered the back of the church and started his way down the center aisle. The priest had already started his sermon, but my husband just kept walking down that aisle as the whole church watched. When he got to the man with no shirt, Vic stopped and put his hand gently on the man's shoulder, the man looked up into Vic's eyes, and then Vic handed him something.

Vic quietly started walking back down the aisle and returned to the seat next to me. My eyes went back to the man. He quietly raised his arms and put on the Boy Scout T-shirt that Vic had handed him.

As tears streamed down my face, I saw the sermon unfold before my eyes. No words were ever spoken more eloquently than the humble gift of a simple T-shirt and the regained dignity that my husband gave that man that day. I know I'll never forget that day.

Matthew 25:40 (King James Version) And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Praying Girl