If you have not had time to get out and enjoy all this beautiful weather God has been blessing us with, then stop reading this and get out there! My goodness has God been good with the weather or what! I can't recall so many beautiful days in a row during the months of August and September. I give HIM praise!
I have to laugh as Bill struggles to kill those little white "things" that seem to continue to visit our roses. He had me check online to see what to do to get rid of them. A simple thing like hosing them with water should do the trick. Getting them off the roses and down on the ground where "nature" can take it's course is the best way......so says the internet. Evidently that didn't suit Bill! He's back to using sevin dust on them!
Aren't we the same way in our Christian walk? God tells us what to do to deal with whatever is in our lives and what do we do? What WE think is best. I was cleaning out some files recently and stumbled over something I read that Joni Eareckson Tada wrote back in 2003. I was reminded of how, as His children, we want the seaside experiences where we can sit and listen to Him preach. We enjoy the miracles of the fish and bread experiences, but what we don't like are the hard, difficult, pain staking challenges that are just plum not comfortable. Instead of enjoying the hard, difficult, pain staking challenges just like we would a fish and bread experience, we fuss and stew and lots of times just venture out on our own knowing our way is gona work!
I cannot encourage any of us enough to not do that! During the hard, difficult, pain staking challenges that we don't like and we certainly don't want to be a part of, are the BEST times to grow in Jesus! We want all the jelly on the bread stuff, we just don't want what it takes to keep the jelly on the bread, do we? On one hand we will sit and tell God we want to KNOW HIM better. On the other hand we sit and BEG Him to release us from whatever it is that has made us so uncomfortable. Come on now! WE ALL KNOW we have done this! I guess we best constantly keep in mind that we need to be careful what we ask for. God really does listen to us! Every word! All the time!
If God has TRUSTED YOU with a major crisis, if He has TRUSTED YOU with something that is not comfortable in your life...........I encourage you to rest in the situation. I'm sure if you were standing near me, you'd want to throw a book at me or at least give me a good swat! Don't blame ya one bit. Been there, felt like that. The last thing I've ever wanted to hear from someone during one of the many uncomfortable times God has trusted me with is to rest in the challenge and be honored that God has trusted me with it.
Just to be honest..............what I'm telling you is the truth! When I sit and think of all the challenges God, (you know Him, THE GOD OF THIS UNIVERSE, the ALMIGHT GOD, THE ALPHA AND OMEGA GOD, the ONE AND ONLY GOD) has trusted me with...........I STAND AMAZED! I wouldn't trust me with a basic decision that needs made let alone trust me with all that God has trusted me with!! Yet, God sees my entire picture! He wants me to be all I can be...........for HIS GOOD AND HIS GLORY!
There has not been one of these challenges in my life that God has trusted me with that I have not come away from with MORE GOD than I ever dreamed possible! I would go into a situation like any other kid would do. I'd kick, scream, and have a fit! Did that make God take the situation away? Did it help me while the challenge that was there? God allowed the situation to work according to HIS time, not mine. My fits of rebellion only caused my "lesson to be learned" come harder.
Do I do it all right now? No! I find myself still wanting to kick and scream BUT.....I remember that little word, rest! May I PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZE encourage you to think of the word REST this way: R---- Really E----Enjoy S----Solitude T---- TIME.
Webster tells me that rest means a "state of ease." God has a purpose for the challenges in our lives. He trusts us with the challenges HE KNOWS we need to have the relationship with Him not only we want and need but HE WANTS AND NEEDS. It's those valley experiences with all the solitude that we will find so much MORE God than we ever dreamed we could find.
As humans, we want the easy way. As humans, we'll accept less. As humans we just want it all over with and life back to whatever normal is. Not God's way! Just not gona happen! So, we may as well REALLY ENJOY SOLITUDE TIME (rest) in God from each challenge.
I am reminded of Matthew 11:29, "Come unto me...and I will give you (REALLY ENJOYABLE SOLITUDE TIME) rest..."
It is so hard! I am so human! I make things so much harder on myself. I don't know about you but when there's a challenge before me, I have to DO something! Resting, being still, waiting............I do not like any of those words! Those are words I'd like to take out of the dictionary. I am NOT GOOD at any of the above. YET.............it's the resting, the being still, the waiting times in my life that I have found MORE GOD than I ever dreamed I'd ever be allowed or entrusted with! It is those times that have been the most amazing times of my Christian walk. Easy? No! Amazing? YES!
If God has entrusted you with a challenge you simply want to go away, I encourage you to bury yourself in His arms and rest. Keep your eyes open. Keep your heart open. You really don't want to miss out on the "valley of blessings" God has in store for you during the time of challenge.
Until next time.....................stay in His word.................hugs to all............................Dea
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Been a Long Time, Huh!!!!!
yes, it has been a very long time since I've been on my blog. There have been many changes in my life and it's been a time that has been very difficult for me.
Most of you who take the time to check in on my blog already know that God took Mom home finally December 14, 2008. Of course, she even made her final rest a challenge.....but that was Mom. The funeral home where her already arranged funeral was to be was busy when she died. We had to wait til the end of the week before we could have calling hours or service. I worked until the day of the calling hours. I took that day off and the day of service and then went right back to work. I had no desire to be at home and have time to "think." Mom's home going caused an enormous amount of relief to us. We wanted Mom to always have "the best" and now, finally, she does. Even tho to this day we rejoice in Mom having the best, I think it's safe to say, we all miss her so much.
It has been especially tough on my youngest brother, and on this big baby who happens to be her baby girl. The two of us were closer to Mom than the other two. It doesn't mean she loved us more, it just means she spoiled us more. Mom was always such a part of my life my entire life. Not having her has proved to be a major, major challenge for me. I still find myself asking, "what am I suppose to do with me now?"
We have seen our youngest grandson reach the age of 1. What a cutie he is. He is such a loving little guy. If he thinks he's done something to upset you or make you mad, he'll come and want to hug and kiss to make sure you aren't mad at him. How could anyone get mad at such a jester from one so little?!!!! Our oldest granddaughter, Bryanna, continues to have a heart far older than her age. She will be 12 in October.........what a joy she is. Justin survived breaking the big bone in his left leg and laying in a body cast most of last year. He's in 3rd grade this year and playing football!!! Scares this grandmother to no end, but, he is so excited. As much as my work schedule will allow me, I will be on the sidelines rooting our little blonde on. Alexis turned 10 this year and I swear she's grown a foot this summer. Off to the country fair I went in support of her and her turkey. What fun I had enjoying her in the 4H fashion show! Back the next day for the turkey show! I survived and that's enough of that. Next year? I hope it's not a turkey. Those turkey things at the county fair takes sooooooooooooooooooooooo long! Our Gage is still the same ornery, busy little guy he has always been. He will be 4 the end of October. He takes his job as "big brother" very serious and it's such fun to watch the two of them. Reminds me so much of our own two boys at that age. God has blest us with 5 great grandkids. I'm still trying to get them all together and get ONE picture taken. Hopefully I'll figure out how to post it after I get it taken.
I continue to praise the Lord always regardless of the circumstances in my life. I continue to struggle with the dark hole of depression although I have had times when it's not been so bad. I have had to accept another physical challenge in my life in the name of diabetic neuropathy. Painful thing. I do not like it. Yet.......I have it. Life goes on and I keep telling it as well as my bad hip that I refuse to listen to them and we will go on.
I dearly love my job as a cashier at Walmart in Oberlin. I work with a great group and feel very blest to have the job I have. So many have no job at all. I SEE the results of that every day. My heart breaks when customers must put back groceries they need because they can't afford to buy them. I long to have pockets full of money so I can take care of every one of them. I cannot begin to share all the opportunities I have had to "let His light shine" at my workplace. So many times a day I find a crack, a window, and sometimes a door to speak up and be heard. I have a dear brother in Christ that will stop immediately and pray with me if I need him to. He's one of my coworkers God has placed there. I get lots of hugs from other cashiers often.........when THEY need one and when I do. My organizational skills have rubbed off on others. PRAISE THE LORD! So many are now cleaning and keeping their work areas neater and cleaner. I never SAID ONE WORD! I just try to be a good example and it has rubbed off. It was such a blessing to have a job closer to where Mom was. I rejoice to this day in that. It's closer to my house and closer to my sister and brothers. I am thankful for that, far more than I can express.
We have enjoyed a harvest from our garden this year! We continue to eat tomatoes. I think there is still one cabbage which I will use for cabbage, ham and potatoes. Speaking of potatoes...my goodness how God did multiply! Bill said he'd guess he dug about 500 pounds of red potatoes. Yes, we both are diabetic, but we are careful and there's so many things we can do with potatoes. AND.....I have plenty to share with others in need. Bill has worked hard on strawberries in hopes of having plenty of them to pick and sell next year. His berry patch sure looks nice at this point. What blessing we had with blackberries. They grow in our fence row and Bill worked hard to keep the weeds down and away from them and grass cut to make easy access. I have 4 (or was it 5) quart packages in the freezer and I think I made a total of five pies.....no, we didn't eat five pies. I sent pies to Gerry's house and sent pie to my sister and I took pie to my oldest friend, Margaret, who has been battling colon cancer. Plenty of pie to share and share we did. I'll use the frozen to munch on this winter and to bake a pie at the holidays. We have been blest and I am thankful!
Our roses grew beyond words! What a major, major thing it is to me to come here after a long day at work and see the beauty of the Lord in the roses! I was able to use some of my roses as encouragement to one of my coworkers as she graduated from college at the ripe ole age of.......well........not much younger than me. A small act of kindness gained much ground for His good and His glory!!!
Reality has set in as during this past summer we lost so many of our dear old saints that served as youth leaders and teachers during my younger years. Their time is done and God has called them home. I rejoice knowing we will have eternity together. Yet, my heart aches that we no longer have their example, or their visible strength with us. We still have one dear sweet, so very special saint left and she told my brother-in-law last week she was going to start attending the Methodist church because too many old people were dying in that church! I wish you all could meet her.................what a loveable, amazing, ornery dear saint she is. Jean told me not too long ago she'd had a long talk with God and told Him in no way was He ready to have her up there yet! How tough it will be for all of us when God calls her home! Loosing so many makes ya realize just how short life really is.
My challenges have been many, yet I know I am blest in so many ways. I truly do try hard every day to see the blessings and dwell on them. Being the human that I am, I often fail. Yet, I know it is never God who moves all over the place, it is me. Standing still and knowing has never been my strongsuit. There are days when I so long for heaven, but I know I do for all the wrong reasons. I want to be where Mom is..................and I know I need to want to be where God is! I do, I really do, but I so long to go and be where Mom is. I guess that little girl inside of me will always want her mom.
I have not dug out any new Bible verse that is gona blow us away these days. Instead I dwell on the faithful, the good ones, the strong ones that we grew up and will never forget. "Remember not the former things....behold, I will do a new thing now. It will come forth." Isaiah 43. I sure wish the new thing will come soon...................I grow weary waiting for the old things to go. I truly want to be "more like Jesus" and I realize that so often I fail.
Til next time.......and I really will try to do this more often..............hugs to all.............
Dea
Most of you who take the time to check in on my blog already know that God took Mom home finally December 14, 2008. Of course, she even made her final rest a challenge.....but that was Mom. The funeral home where her already arranged funeral was to be was busy when she died. We had to wait til the end of the week before we could have calling hours or service. I worked until the day of the calling hours. I took that day off and the day of service and then went right back to work. I had no desire to be at home and have time to "think." Mom's home going caused an enormous amount of relief to us. We wanted Mom to always have "the best" and now, finally, she does. Even tho to this day we rejoice in Mom having the best, I think it's safe to say, we all miss her so much.
It has been especially tough on my youngest brother, and on this big baby who happens to be her baby girl. The two of us were closer to Mom than the other two. It doesn't mean she loved us more, it just means she spoiled us more. Mom was always such a part of my life my entire life. Not having her has proved to be a major, major challenge for me. I still find myself asking, "what am I suppose to do with me now?"
We have seen our youngest grandson reach the age of 1. What a cutie he is. He is such a loving little guy. If he thinks he's done something to upset you or make you mad, he'll come and want to hug and kiss to make sure you aren't mad at him. How could anyone get mad at such a jester from one so little?!!!! Our oldest granddaughter, Bryanna, continues to have a heart far older than her age. She will be 12 in October.........what a joy she is. Justin survived breaking the big bone in his left leg and laying in a body cast most of last year. He's in 3rd grade this year and playing football!!! Scares this grandmother to no end, but, he is so excited. As much as my work schedule will allow me, I will be on the sidelines rooting our little blonde on. Alexis turned 10 this year and I swear she's grown a foot this summer. Off to the country fair I went in support of her and her turkey. What fun I had enjoying her in the 4H fashion show! Back the next day for the turkey show! I survived and that's enough of that. Next year? I hope it's not a turkey. Those turkey things at the county fair takes sooooooooooooooooooooooo long! Our Gage is still the same ornery, busy little guy he has always been. He will be 4 the end of October. He takes his job as "big brother" very serious and it's such fun to watch the two of them. Reminds me so much of our own two boys at that age. God has blest us with 5 great grandkids. I'm still trying to get them all together and get ONE picture taken. Hopefully I'll figure out how to post it after I get it taken.
I continue to praise the Lord always regardless of the circumstances in my life. I continue to struggle with the dark hole of depression although I have had times when it's not been so bad. I have had to accept another physical challenge in my life in the name of diabetic neuropathy. Painful thing. I do not like it. Yet.......I have it. Life goes on and I keep telling it as well as my bad hip that I refuse to listen to them and we will go on.
I dearly love my job as a cashier at Walmart in Oberlin. I work with a great group and feel very blest to have the job I have. So many have no job at all. I SEE the results of that every day. My heart breaks when customers must put back groceries they need because they can't afford to buy them. I long to have pockets full of money so I can take care of every one of them. I cannot begin to share all the opportunities I have had to "let His light shine" at my workplace. So many times a day I find a crack, a window, and sometimes a door to speak up and be heard. I have a dear brother in Christ that will stop immediately and pray with me if I need him to. He's one of my coworkers God has placed there. I get lots of hugs from other cashiers often.........when THEY need one and when I do. My organizational skills have rubbed off on others. PRAISE THE LORD! So many are now cleaning and keeping their work areas neater and cleaner. I never SAID ONE WORD! I just try to be a good example and it has rubbed off. It was such a blessing to have a job closer to where Mom was. I rejoice to this day in that. It's closer to my house and closer to my sister and brothers. I am thankful for that, far more than I can express.
We have enjoyed a harvest from our garden this year! We continue to eat tomatoes. I think there is still one cabbage which I will use for cabbage, ham and potatoes. Speaking of potatoes...my goodness how God did multiply! Bill said he'd guess he dug about 500 pounds of red potatoes. Yes, we both are diabetic, but we are careful and there's so many things we can do with potatoes. AND.....I have plenty to share with others in need. Bill has worked hard on strawberries in hopes of having plenty of them to pick and sell next year. His berry patch sure looks nice at this point. What blessing we had with blackberries. They grow in our fence row and Bill worked hard to keep the weeds down and away from them and grass cut to make easy access. I have 4 (or was it 5) quart packages in the freezer and I think I made a total of five pies.....no, we didn't eat five pies. I sent pies to Gerry's house and sent pie to my sister and I took pie to my oldest friend, Margaret, who has been battling colon cancer. Plenty of pie to share and share we did. I'll use the frozen to munch on this winter and to bake a pie at the holidays. We have been blest and I am thankful!
Our roses grew beyond words! What a major, major thing it is to me to come here after a long day at work and see the beauty of the Lord in the roses! I was able to use some of my roses as encouragement to one of my coworkers as she graduated from college at the ripe ole age of.......well........not much younger than me. A small act of kindness gained much ground for His good and His glory!!!
Reality has set in as during this past summer we lost so many of our dear old saints that served as youth leaders and teachers during my younger years. Their time is done and God has called them home. I rejoice knowing we will have eternity together. Yet, my heart aches that we no longer have their example, or their visible strength with us. We still have one dear sweet, so very special saint left and she told my brother-in-law last week she was going to start attending the Methodist church because too many old people were dying in that church! I wish you all could meet her.................what a loveable, amazing, ornery dear saint she is. Jean told me not too long ago she'd had a long talk with God and told Him in no way was He ready to have her up there yet! How tough it will be for all of us when God calls her home! Loosing so many makes ya realize just how short life really is.
My challenges have been many, yet I know I am blest in so many ways. I truly do try hard every day to see the blessings and dwell on them. Being the human that I am, I often fail. Yet, I know it is never God who moves all over the place, it is me. Standing still and knowing has never been my strongsuit. There are days when I so long for heaven, but I know I do for all the wrong reasons. I want to be where Mom is..................and I know I need to want to be where God is! I do, I really do, but I so long to go and be where Mom is. I guess that little girl inside of me will always want her mom.
I have not dug out any new Bible verse that is gona blow us away these days. Instead I dwell on the faithful, the good ones, the strong ones that we grew up and will never forget. "Remember not the former things....behold, I will do a new thing now. It will come forth." Isaiah 43. I sure wish the new thing will come soon...................I grow weary waiting for the old things to go. I truly want to be "more like Jesus" and I realize that so often I fail.
Til next time.......and I really will try to do this more often..............hugs to all.............
Dea
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