People On The Path

“So I urge you now to live the life to which God called you.  Always be humble, gentle, and patient, accepting each other in love.”  Ephesians 4:1-2

I recently had lunch with my friend, Pat, and her two children.  Pat’s husband, Bill, died over a year ago, and I had the privilege of officiating at his service.  Pat has embraced trying to live into this different life, and she has used my book – Living In The Different – as her foundation to take steps forward on this grief journey.  Pat says that God keeps putting people on her path that are grieving.  She shares with them, listens to their grief, and recommends or gives them my book.  Pat’s encounters help her in her own grief journey.  God has given her comfort as she comforts others.  Grief equals love to Pat.  She shares Bill’s love that always remains in her heart with people on her path.

I have encountered a variety of people on my path in recent weeks.  I listened to a group of women who were grieving their husbands and felt the loneliness and emptiness of not having their person with them.  They were trying to figure out how to live in this different life.  They were encouraging of each other and shared their struggles and also their laughter.  It was good to be together without judgment knowing everyone in the room could relate and understand.  These are people on the path to draw closer – people who accept you and your grief and place no judgment.  They walk beside you on the path and give you hope and encouragement when you stumble or feel stuck.  They are with you on the path.

Then on the path was a person who complained and assumed rules were being broken.  I realized he was so focused on finding fault with others that he was not living his own life.  He was existing to judge others and complain.   At first, he irritated me, but then I was sad for him.  It is not how God wants us to live.  Some people on the path are not healthy emotionally for us and they do not want to move forward on the path.  These are the people we pray for and release them to God, we set a boundary around them, and let them be who they have chosen to be.  You cannot fix or change them.  You do not let their negativity consume you because they will have control over your thoughts.  I have learned to be kind but also quiet.

On the path, I witnessed the love and support of friends and church family.  They surrounded my friend whose wife had passed with the love of Jesus.  He is loved, and he loves those around him.  They are the body of Christ in action.  My friend states that he is blessed.  It is because of the love he and his wife had shared with others in the past that now he receives the fruit of his labor of love.

Then I experienced the joy of my nieces and nephews at a festival.  My nephew hugged me, and he was soaking wet.  He had been playing in the rain.  The rain delayed the parade and made others irritated, but not my nephew.  He played in it and embraced the rain.  It is a pleasure to encounter people on our path who love the simple things in life and dance in the rain instead of complaining about it.  These are people who make us smile, bring laughter to our hearts, and help us live in the current moment of life. Embrace these people who breathe life into you.

My weeks have been filled with a variety of people with whom I have shared the path of life.  Some were hurting and sad.  Some searching and confused.  Some hopeful and seeking purpose.  Some negative and judgmental.  Some joyful and at peace with life.  God was present in each encounter.  I am learning not to absorb someone else’s mood and attitude and focus more on God’s presence with me. 

We can all go quickly down the complaining, negative path with people, but I believe as we try to live into this different life, our encounters need to be different.  How are we signposts and guides to those we meet on the path?  I want to be a light of hope and joy, not a cloud of gloom and woe.  God calls us to live a life that is filled with gentleness, patience, and love.  Even in our own grief and sadness, we can be patient and kind.

Strength In Silence

“He will give strength to those who are tired and more power to those who are weak.”  Isaiah 40:29

This past week, a strong and elegant lady from the church I was first appointed as an Associate Minister took the journey to Heaven.  Dawn had fought the good fight, kept the faith, and finished the race of life here on earth.  Dawn was a strong, deeply committed, and vocal leader in the church.  Dawn and her husband, Dwight “adopted” me into their family while I served the church.

Dawn had written a letter to me before I was assigned to another church.  I have kept this letter over the past decades with my memorabilia.  I read Dawn her letter on one of my last visits.  I quote a few words from her letter – “Dwight and I have loved and enjoyed you.  We’ve basked in parental-like pride; also concern at times.  There have been so many good things to remember.  Early in the fall of 1985, I needed the counsel of a pastor.  I could not think what to do.  Then I realized that you were my pastor.  You were!  You gave me the support, reassurance and information I needed…undergirded with prayers.”

Dawn’s acceptance of me as her pastor and her love as a parent figure challenged me to grow and develop the role God gave me in life.  Her letter has been part of my foundation in ministry.  Her words strengthened me to keep sharing the gifts God has given me.  Dawn had the gift of being very direct with her words.  She was detailed and could express the process of a situation verbally and in the written word.  She was a teacher whether in the classroom, kitchen, or daily life.

Words have power.  They can encourage and build up, or they can hurt and destroy.  Emotions and feelings are connected to words.  Each day we hear and speak thousands of words and not all of them are good.  We think even more that go unspoken.  I am a writer of words in hope that the words you are currently reading will give you hope and encouragement today and help guide you on your journey of life and in your relationship with Jesus.

The Bible is filled with words – God’s Word is given to be our guide to life.  Jesus is “The Word that became flesh.” (John 1:14) When we do not know what to say, the Holy Spirit speaks through us and gives us words to share God’s message of truth. The Holy Spirit even helps us pray.  Some prayers are “sighs too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26)

Dawn’s words were silenced because of her disease.  She could no longer write or speak words of love and direction.  There was silence in her hand and her voice, but her eyes continued to speak.  In my last visits, Dawn opened her eyes when I prayed with her.  It felt like she looked deep into my soul with her eyes to connect with me, and even though she could not speak words, I heard her heart connect for a brief moment.  Dawn’s inner strength that came from her faith and love for Jesus never left her.  God continued to speak to her in the silence.

I believe God gives us His strength especially when we are tired and weak.  We become dependent on Him because we are His children and need Him to fill us and hold us close.  Sometimes this happens because of illness or loss, but it is also what God desires for all His children – to depend on His strength not our own.

The more we are aware of God’s presence with us each moment of life, the less we need to use words.  The silence becomes a hushed intimacy with the Father.  Words are not enough.  God comes to us in the silence of our hearts, and we worship Him.  There is strength in not saying what we could say.  It is knowing when not to speak what we want to and just say it to God.

Learn to be still and silence your voice and quiet your mind.  Find strength for each moment in the silence of God’s Presence.

Wildfires of Life

“I have carried you since you were born; I have taken care of you from your birth…I made you and will take care of you. I will carry you and save you.”  Isaiah 46:3-4

This past week, the wildfires in Maui have devastated the area of Lahaina.  This beautiful small town on the coast of Maui has been destroyed along with lives lost and the livelihood of those who remain.  Wildfires cannot be predicted.  They just happen with little notice or warning.  High winds prevented helicopters from carrying water from the ocean to help contain the fire.  As I have watched the videos, my heart aches for the people of Lahaina.  It touches my heart so deeply as I remember my recent trip to Maui.  I stood in the place of those fires and remember its beauty.  Now all I see is charred ruins and the fear and heartache of those who have lost everything, even loved ones.

A wildfire is defined as an uncontrolled fire that burns in the wildland vegetation.  It spreads quickly.  I have personally witnessed the destruction of fire when fire destroyed my childhood home when I was fourteen years old.  Fire destroys quickly and without warning.  Fire changes lives, and it consumes what was valued.

Life brings wildfires in many forms.  Some are visible and destroy possessions and nature.  But other wildfires happen within us and within the relationships of our lives.

The wildfire of addiction destroys lives, tears families apart, and takes away trust.  Addiction takes over a person’s life, and the substance is in control.  A person is consumed in the impulsiveness of using and cannot stop the downward spiral.  There is the consuming fire of sin.  A choice is made, and it leads to other choices, and it spins out of control going down a path of wrong and evil.  The consuming fire of unforgiveness makes a person bitter, angry, and controlled by the pain and hurt caused by another person.  This wildfire when not controlled leads to hatred and revenge.  It can also cause isolation from others who do not want to be included in the intense negativity and destructiveness.

Then there is the wildfire of death – unexpected and out of our control.  We have no power over illness or death.  When a loved one dies, we are consumed in the grief.  It devastates our lives and changes everything.  It leaves us empty and trying to pick up the broken pieces of our lives.

Wildfires occur within our hearts and emotions when something unexpected or devastating occurs.  So how do these wildfires get controlled?  Who carries the healing water to quench the fire that causes the pain and hurt?  I believe the healing water comes from God.  God has carried you and me since we were born.  God promises to take care of us and save us.  It does not feel like it when we witness all the wildfires of life that consume and destroy the good of life and the ones we love.

God is good.  God cares.  God is a God of grace and forgiveness.  God created life.  God gives to humanity the freedom of choice.  Because of choice, there is evil and brokenness in nature and in people.  We have choices, and we are affected by the choices and consequences of other people’s decisions.

I cannot explain why the wildfires happened in Maui or in your life.  I know God was with me in our house fire – protecting my family.  I learned from that experience that possessions are replaceable and are just stuff.  Relationships are more important than any material object.

Wildfires are going to happen to the land and to our hearts.  It is inevitable.  We can blame God.  We will never get an explanation and justify the destruction or loss.  It will never make sense.  We will never understand the “why” of it.  So, I am still believing God is in control.  I am believing God is with me through the wildfires.  That God never leaves me and still cares about me.  That God holds me when I cry.  I am not denying the evil and brokenness of the world, I am just choosing to hold closely to the One who cares for me through the storms and wildfires of life.

Pray for Maui!

Guardrails on The Journey

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”  Proverbs 4:23 NIV

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:7 RSV

As I have travelled the interstate highways, I have noticed many guardrails are damaged.  Some just have dents in them.  Some have been pushed down, and some look like they were rolled up from a can opener.  Guard rails help protect vehicles from danger.  They prevent vehicles from crossing the median and going into oncoming traffic.  They are placed along curves on the roadside to protect vehicles if they lose control around the curve.  Guard rails are a protection to keep vehicles within the boundary of the current roadway.  On back roads, guardrails are not always present, and you can see the danger on the curves and through the hillsides.

Guardrails keep one from the dangers on the highway.  They are boundaries of the road.  Living within the boundary of today is how God created us to live.  To live fully within each twenty-four hours.  God knew the danger of seeing the future or living in the past so God set limits on each day.  The danger of crossing this boundary is called anxiety.  It is focusing on the worry and fears of the future or regret of the past and not enjoying and experiencing the present.

God provides guardrails for our personal lives too.  The Bible expresses how God calls us to live and gives guidance for life.  Prayer is a guardrail that keeps us in communication with our Heavenly Father who loves us, forgives us, and desires for us to live in constant communication with Him.  By doing so, we are aware of the dangers of sin and the evils of this world.

Guardrails are needed in relationships too.  We usually call them boundaries.  It is how much one shares and allows another person into one’s life.  It is deciding how much one gives in time, talent and gifts, and commitment.  Boundaries help us to remain in control of our own lives and not give in to the danger of being controlled by someone else.  Boundaries keep us from the negativity of relationships, but the boundaries also help us stay on track to grow and move forward in a healthier way.

Your thoughts need guardrails to keep you from the dangers of negativity, discouragement, worry, fear, and a vast array of thoughts that will get you derailed from God’s purpose and direction in life.  So how do we not get derailed?  Remember that guardrails on a road do not prevent the curves and cliffs and drop offs, they just provide a protection from them if you obey the warnings and slow down on the curves.  So, the dangers and negatives of life are still going to be present.  God does not take them away but provides protection if we slow down, become aware of them, and ask God to help us navigate the curves of life.  It is being in constant communication with God about what is around you and allowing His protective care to surround you.

It is putting good thoughts in your head through God’s Word – the Bible, listening and singing Christian praise and worship songs, and surrounding yourself with people who pour good into you.  Set a boundary of the negativity of social media, the news, and any media that focuses on the evil and bad.  The dangers are real and present.  The guardrail is what is between you and the danger.  Let the guardrail be God.

For you and me, our spiritual guardrail is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our counselor to guide our thoughts and make us aware of the dangers.  But we have a choice to listen or ignore the nudging of the Spirit.  Guardrails on the highway are damaged or destroyed because of an accident, someone choosing to go too fast, falling asleep, or making a poor choice while behind the wheel.  The guardrail tried to protect as much as it could to prevent injury.  The Holy Spirit tries to protect each one of us, but we can make the choice not to listen.

People can also be guardrails for our lives.  Those that give us guidance and protection.  Those who have been with us through the dangers, traumas, and trials of life.  They may have even taken some of the load and impact for us.  Just like a highway guardrail takes the impact of the vehicle as it protects the vehicle from the danger on the other side.  There are people who come alongside us and help us through the dangerous curves of our lives.

As we journey down the highway of life, let us stay within the boundary of today allowing God’s Holy Spirit to be our guardrail of protection and God’s Word.  Guard your heart from the evils, negativity, and worry of the world. 

“Brothers and sisters, think about the things that are good and worthy of praise.  Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected.”  Philippians 4:8 NCV

Some of my future blogs will focus on people and events that have been my guardrails and signposts in my life.

This Is Who I Am

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father but through me.”  John 14:6

I enjoy running each morning.  It does not matter the weather or time of year, I will be running in the early morning light.  It is just who I am.  It is my prayer time and quiet time with God.  I also enjoy visiting with people.  I schedule my week of counseling and then on the days I do not counsel, I make plans to visit someone and share conversation and sometimes a meal together.  That is just who I am and who I believe God calls me to be.  So, if you want me to visit with you, just let me know!!!

Also, when I go different places, I usually see someone I know.  It seems so random, but I just call it a “God Appointment.”  For example, recently I went to an ice cream shop in a town to share a meal with family and a young lady whom I officiated at her wedding came into that same shop with her daughters.  My friend said, “This happens all the time.  That is just who she is.”  It is true I can go to a fair, a store, or museum and find someone I have known from the past.  It is just who I am.

Sometimes we use the phrase, “That’s just who I am” to defend the rough edges of our personality.  We may have inherited our temper, control, or anger from a parent.  We did not like it in them, and now we find it in ourselves.  Or we believe God just created us as an anxious person instead of seeing ourselves as having anxious feelings.  Many qualities are learned behaviors acquired from our environment and the people who have been an influence.  Once we are aware of their negative impact on our lives and the lives of those around us, we can begin to change who we are to align with how God created us to live in relationship with one another.

So, do you like who you are now?  I had a conversation with a friend whose husband died recently.  Her focus in life had been caring for her husband and children.  She had not been alone for many years.  Now she is alone and trying to figure out who she is now.  Nobody else to define her.  It is now up to her.  Many times our roles and responsibilities define us, or we allow others to tell us who we are.  After a loss, we have to redefine who we are and figure out our new role in life.

Through my journey, I have come to like who I am now.  I am far from perfect, but I continue to live into who God created me to be.  I am accepting my uniqueness and my quirks.  I have certain routines and ways of doing things.  I desire my environment to be clean, neat, uncluttered, and simple.  I know what I like to eat.  I could eat salad every day and ice cream.  I like who I am physically.  I like that I can enjoy adventures and have the ability to travel.  I am content with the life God is giving me now. 

But who am I in regard to my inward self?  Who am I in my spirit?  Our spirit is what truly defines us – what is inside our heart – our essence – our true being.  Who am I in the eyes of God?  It is this part of us that is eternal and lives forever in Heaven.

Jesus knew who He was – the Son of God, the Messiah, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  Jesus knows who He is in relationship to humanity – “I am the resurrection and the life.”  “I am the Good Shepherd.”  “I am the Bread of Life.”  “I am the Light of the world.”  Not the world nor any religious leader defined Jesus.  Only God the Father defined Jesus.

We know who we are through God.  We are His children.  We are loved and forgiven.  God knows us by name.  God created us.  God is with us and holds our hand.  When we know who we are in Jesus, that is all that really matters.

I am no longer allowing others to define me, and I am not focused on pleasing others.  My focus is to glorify God.  It is sharing with God my thoughts and feelings.  Releasing to God my fears, anxieties, and troubles.  It is allowing God to put into my life and on my path whom He wants me to interact.  I trust God.  When you know whose you are – a child of God – then who you are in Jesus is all that really matters.  Start living in the freedom of being a child of God.  You are loved and forgiven.  The past is complete.  Live into who God says you are!

Backside of Life

“So we do not give up.  Our physical body is becoming older and weaker, but our spirit inside us is made new every day.”   2 Corinthians 4:16

Recently I visited the town of Hickory in the mountains of North Carolina.  It has a quaint restored area called “Union Station” with shops, restaurants, and outdoor stage and seating area along the railroad tracks.  We walked around the block and found an alley that exposed the backside of these shops.  The backside had its own unique beauty and rustic look.  It was the quiet side of the town.  On the trip, we also drove some of the back roads of North Carolina to see what life was like in the mountains.  I tend to drive the backroads more often than the major highways especially when I am not in a hurry.  I enjoy seeing everyday life and the countryside.  Growing up in the country, these backroads were the usual way to travel.  The backroads also display the beauty of God’s creation in its natural form.

I recently took my elderly friends to lunch, and we drove some of the backroads of their area on the journey.  As we talked about life and their almost seventy years of marriage, the thought came to me that they are in the backside of life.  Their bodies have declined, but their spirits are full of life as they shared their wisdom and love.

I grew up in the day of record players and records.  On the 45 records there was the hit song on one side and on the backside was usually an unknown song.  Many times, the backside song was a decent song that just did not get playing time on the radio.  It was usually ignored because it was the backside.

So after all these examples, what is the backside of life?  I believe it is the different life we are living now.  It is a slower journey, and we need to find the beauty in it and its purpose.  It is not as obvious.  The backside of life occurs when life changes.  It is not what we expected, planned, or wanted to happen.  It is now the other side – the unknown song.  It is not as familiar, and it takes time to see its beauty and meaning.  There are lots of twists and turns, ups and downs, and sometimes we get lost because there are no maps or at least direct routes.  Those who have traveled these backroads see the beauty because they slow down and focus on what is around them.

The backside of life can also be what is hidden from view.  We live a life that is visible to these around us, but we keep hidden most of the time our emotions, feelings, hurts of our hearts, regrets, sins, and all the thoughts in our heads.  Sometimes they spill out but most of the time we keep all of the backside inside of us.  We stuff it down.  To live life to the fullest and experience the freedom of life, we cannot pile up the stuff on the backside. When I travel on the backroads, and I look at some of the properties, on the backside unneeded stuff or old used stuff is piled up.  It is discarded but still on the property.  Some piles are quite big and have become permanent with trees growing around and in it. 

It is the same with you and me.  Thoughts and past feelings of regret, pain, and hurt can pile up inside.  We hold on to the sin of our lives.  We ask God to forgive us and believe God forgives, but we do not forgive ourselves.  It is releasing the stuff inside so you can be free to live in the beauty of the backside of your life.

You wanted to live life on the side of life that was familiar, good, and where you planned to enjoy life.  But now you are living on the backside whether it is in years or because of change, this is now life.  I believe God was faithful when life was good, and you were playing your favorite tune.  I believe God is faithful now as you begin the journey on the backside.  I believe God will be faithful as you walk the journey in the future.  God is with each one of us no matter where life takes us.  Enjoy the ride.  Look for the beauty and God’s presence on the backside.  It may take a little longer to find it but keep looking!

Experiencing God Moments

“People trust God all the time.  Tell him all your problems, because God is our protection.”  Psalm 62:8

This past week I intentionally focused on living in the moment and trusted God was with me in those moments.  I focused on living fully in the day.  This was much easier than normal because I went on an adventure.  Each day I traveled to a different place and focused on what God was placing on my path.

We experienced the Billy Graham Library and felt the Spirit of God through the library and with the staff.  Billy Graham’s purpose in life was to offer Jesus to those who are lost.  The library’s focus was Jesus and how God used Billy Graham to bring others to accept the gift of salvation through Jesus.  It was amazing to see and hear about the people God brought to Jesus through Billy Graham and the relationship he had with so many people throughout his life.

We also visited the Cove which is the Billy Graham Training Center in Asheville.  It is the fulfillment of the dream of Ruth Graham to provide a place for Christians to rest, renew, and grow within the beauty of the mountains.  The Chapel is breathtaking in its design, furnishings, and location.  But the true beauty is felt as you walk into the chapel and feel the Holy Spirit move through the pews and magnificent wooden ceiling and lights.

We traveled to the Biltmore Estates and experienced the extravagance of a home and the detailed architecture and mountain views and amazing gardens.  Words cannot describe it and it was beyond my imagination.  But what touched my heart was the reason for it being built – the Vanderbilts wanted a place where their friends and family could rest and retreat from the busy city and enjoy the mountains of North Carolina.

Even in our visit to the Samaritan’s Purse headquarters in Boone, North Carolina, the purpose was not the beautiful facility nestled in the mountains, but how the organization shares Jesus throughout the world during disaster relief and caring for the needs around the world.

While I enjoyed all the beauty, architecture, and ministries on this adventure, my God moments were about the relationships I encountered on the trip.  Bringing a smile to the desk clerk when I thanked him for the dinner suggestion.  Meeting a grandmother and her grandchildren in the Biltmore parking lot as we were finishing our day and they were starting their tour.  I shared pictures I had taken with the young girls who were so excited to see everything.  Sharing a few hours with a former youth, Nikki, and her mom and talking about life and how God had brought us through the challenges of life.  Then sharing with a cousin and her friend about their ministry and the struggles of serving God in ministry.  Talking with our tour guide for several hours about Jesus, life, pain, and joy.

These were all Divine God appointments and became the purpose for our adventure.  When one lives and experiences the moment, it is a true miracle.  To be able to not worry or think about what happens next but to trust that God has the future and wants us to just find the purpose and the good in what is going on in front of us.  Give yourself permission to live in the moment.  Get out of your fear of what could happen and live in what is actually happening.  If you do not like it, you can either change the situation or your attitude toward it.

Life is what we create in our head.  While the places I go to are wonderful, and I experience the history, enjoy the entertainment, and breathe in the beauty of God’s creation, I look for God appointments in these moments.  It keeps me in the present because I am excited to see who God will put on my path today to reveal His love and presence.  I know God is with me and all around me, but these special God appointments reveal that God has a purpose for me today and God will draw me even closer to Him through these encounters.

So when I live in the moment, I am more aware of the people around me.  Someone I can encourage with a smile, praise for the work they are doing, thank them, or be open to listening to their heart.  It is also being intentional about taking the time to bring people closer into my life and not be in such a hurry thinking that is out of my way or I will do it some other time.  Make the call.  Reconnect.  Look around you with the eyes of Jesus.  Encourage.  Trust God to give you a Divine Appointment when you stay in the present moment with Him.

Confusion of Days

“But you do not know what will happen tomorrow!  Your life is a mist.  You can see it for a short time, but then it goes away.  So you should say, “If the Lord wants, we will live and do this or that.”   James 4:14-15 NCV

This past week has been confusing to me, not that it takes much at times to confuse me.  The holiday was on a Tuesday, and my schedule was different.  I did different activities, and I was confused about what day of the week it was.  Sometimes that happens on a trip or vacation when everything is different.  It is difficult to remember what day it is because the routine has been changed.  Though it does not matter the day of the week while one is relaxing on a trip unless you have made plans on a certain day.

We are people of calendars, schedules, and time.  It may feel like the schedule controls life instead of life controlling the calendar.  At the beginning of each month, I change my wooden calendar that hangs on my kitchen wall.  I move the numbers around for that month and place the month name in the slot at the top.  The whole month is before me, and I am excited about a new month of adventures ahead.  Then it seems I look at the calendar again and the days have flown past, and someone has removed the numbers and jumped ahead in the month.  What have I done with the days God has given to me?

This year I am keeping a calendar journal.  I will write the date and a highlight for each day.  Most entries involve who I connected with and what adventure I experienced.  If I forget to write it down each night, I get confused about what happened which day.

Enough confession on my part.  We all forget and get confused at times in life.  Confusion is a lack of understanding or being unclear in your mind about something.  We doubt ourselves and question what is real.  In loss and grief, it is being indecisive and hesitant in taking steps forward by yourself because it seems overwhelming and impossible to do life alone.  Confusion comes in the simple and natural day to day occurrences.  It is when our minds are thinking about something in the future while we have not finished our current task.  Or the mind gets distracted and wanders to some place other than what is in front of us.  Then we come back to the present moment and are confused about what we were doing or what we came into the room to pick up.

Confusion happens also in what we believe about a topic, an opinion someone has, what is God’s will and plan.  We desire to be knowledgeable on issues and topics but with so many diverse opinions, we struggle and become confused about what is right and what we should believe.

Then we attempt to discern God’s will in our lives or in a situation.  How?  We pray, we read the Bible, we talk with trusted Christian friends and leaders, but we still are confused.  I have learned to wait and rest in God’s presence until God reveals His will and my next step.  I believe confusion is more about the desire to see the whole picture and plan instead of just one step at a time.  It may not make sense but that is when we trust God one step at a time. 

When it is confusion over what day it is, I stop now and ask myself, “Does it matter?”  Today is the day God made and I rejoice in the gift of today.  That is where I begin.  I focus for a moment on my calendar – is it a workday, an appointment day, a scheduled event day?  If it is, I bring God’s presence into the schedule.  If it is an open day with no definite plans, I pray, “God put on my path the people you have scheduled for me to see and keep me open to the adventure for the day.”

Day to day confusion also comes when we lack confidence in ourselves and lose focus on what is important in life.  We focus on the world, the negative and the overwhelming tasks that never end.  We have the inability to prioritize.  We start so many things and never complete them, and then it becomes overwhelming.  For example, we have stuff.  It piles up.  We are confused about what to do with it all, so we do nothing and the piles get bigger.  We store it, but when we attempt to sort through it, we cannot decide what to do with it.  It is the same with our mind and thoughts.  We stuff our emotions and feelings and hurts and pains down inside.  We are confused about how to sort them out and release them, so we just keep stuffing them inside.  Our minds rehearse over and over these feelings, past hurts, and trauma.

So how do we overcome the confusion?  The solution to both the physical stuff and the thoughts is to purge and simplify.  Keep what is necessary and healthy and needed and release the rest to God.  Confusion is a lack of focus.  Begin focusing on the presence of God and the life that is in front of you, and the confusion vanishes.

Time Without Watch

“He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.”  Isaiah 33:6 NIV

Today I took a journey back in time and did not even need my watch.  I attended the Ninety-Fifth Birthday party of my Nineth grade English teacher. As I talked with my former teacher, pictures flooded my mind of her class, her influence, and how she cared for her students.  Her influence encouraged me to write.  I attribute my writing career to Mrs. Leeth.  She told me it was always in me.  She recognized it and helped me develop it.  As I hugged her, it was as if I was a senior in high school, and she was giving me the pep talk that I could take this next step of my life.

The party was in the small town where I attended elementary school.  I walked onto the playground of my former school.  The building had been torn down, but the playground remained for the community.  Everything seemed smaller but I could picture playing on these grounds so many years ago.  For a moment, I felt I was that little girl standing in the same place I stood at recess.  The actual ground had not changed.  I was still me and the ground was still the same dirt.

I also visited a cousin and walked into her farm home and immediately remembered standing there as a teenager when I attended a 4-H club meeting in her home.  I stood in this house years ago.  Again, I journeyed back in time without the need for any time equipment.

Each place I went and each person I interacted with took me to memories of earlier times in my life, but I was currently present with them.  It is as if I was in the past with memories but living in the present at the same time.  I drove down country roads and it felt like my mind was on the school bus traveling on those same roads.  I talked with people from my earlier years of life who were also with me in my present moments.

We cannot live in the past even though in grief and loss, our desire is our past life especially when we feel the emptiness and sadness.  We cannot be who we currently are without our past and the people who have influenced us.  It is good to remember and to stand still in the memory and actually stand on the same ground and breathe in the feeling of that moment.  Take it in again.  It is still a part of you and always will be.  Time stands still it seems, and we experience the feelings and connections again.

Let us take this into the present moment.  What if you stopped more often, took a deep breath and were fully present in this moment.  It is what God has given to you.  Find yourself in this moment.  God is fully present in the now.  Stop wondering why God did not do something in your past and start meeting God in the now.  God gives you a fresh start each day and reveals Himself in the sunrises and sunsets, the clouds, the sweet smells of summer, His Word, and He is as close to you as your own breath.

It is taking off the watch in your thoughts and stop trying to figure everything out and make sense of it and trying to control life with all the planning and scheduling.  It is actually just experiencing the now.  You can because you have the foundation and experiences of the past to keep you living forward.  You will not sink because the past is your foundational support.  This is the moment of life you have.  You cannot live in the past, you just remember it.  The past is completed and integrated into your foundation.  At times certain memories are more vibrant and intense.  They are all mixed up together.  You have the privilege of treasuring the now – what is in front of you and making it a vital memory to use to strengthen your steps.

You may be thinking, “But I miss my past life.”  I get it.  But all you have is the now.  So be fully present in the moment and find something to enjoy in it.  Soak in the presence of God and allow God to shine His Presence into this moment.  Find ways to see and feel God’s Spirit.  God is timeless and His presence connects the past, present, and future.  The time you have is now.  Live in it.

Heart Attitude

“Seek the Lord while he may be found, call on him while he is near.”  Isaiah 55:6 NIV

Currently I am reading Franklin Graham’s book, Rebel With A Cause.  In the book, Franklin describes his rebellious life, and how God called him out of that life.  When Franklin took over the leadership of Samaritan’s Purse, he followed the guidance of the founder, Bob Pierce, who always personally checked out the need before sending support and supplies. This put Franklin in harms way in wars and natural disasters.  It has been amazing to read of his travels around the world, but overwhelming to read of the atrocities humanity does to other humanity.  Our world is so broken.

Franklin has a heart for Jesus.  He also has a heart to care for the needs of those in tragedies and to share Jesus with them.  One chapter concludes that he was taught by Bob Pierce that he could not help everyone, but he could help a few in Jesus’ name.  I began to reflect on this for my own life.  I read about all Franklin Graham and Samaritan’s Purse has done around the world.  I even support this ministry financially, but God has not called me to do what Franklin does.  There should be no guilt, but guilt creeps in believing that we are not doing great works like other people.  I have had to change my attitude and look into my heart.  Who are the “few” God have given to me?

Those “few” have been so many different people and situations throughout my life. For example, I recently officiated at a funeral.  My connection began with my late husband, Dave and his high school best friend who was married, had three daughters, and then divorced.  I officiated at his funeral, his mother’s funeral and now his former wife’s funeral.  I have become part of their family as God called me to walk with them in the losses and to share Jesus with them.  My heart has stayed connected to the three daughters and their families.  I continue to draw near to God when I connect with this family and other families God has placed on my path of life. 

I keep last year’s Christmas Cards in a basket.  After Easter, I take a card from the basket each day and place the card on my table.  I pray for that person or family every time I walk past the card.  One card recently had printed on the front – “You are what Christmas is all about.  You care with all your heart, reach out and give with kindness, and touch the lives of those around you with happiness and love.”  Wow!  That touched my heart deeply.  That is my prayer.  I hope “the few” that God places on my path see my Jesus heart and through God’s Spirit in me I help them grow on the path of life into a closer relationship with Jesus.  I do not succeed every time and in every relationship.

Sometimes I get lost in trying to do enough and focus on the tasks to accomplish.  Being busy seems like I am doing more for God.  God does not look at the tasks completed, but He focuses on the attitude of our hearts.  Am I bringing people closer to Jesus and am I drawing nearer to Him in the process?  Sometimes I hurt people unintentionally.   It is when I focus on protecting myself and my desire to be right.  My heart attitude is selfish and not in keeping with what God wants for me.  I recognize I have stepped away from God and am trying to be in control and have rebelled.  When I realize this, I need to humble myself, seek God and draw closer to Him.  I have to admit who I have been is not who I desire to be.  I need a change of heart and to return to the “few” God has called me to care for.

Each day I pray that God will put on my path those whom He calls me to interact and provide care.  I pray for discernment and for His Holy Spirit to speak through me.  I will never preach to thousands in a stadium, and you probably will not either.  I may never provide hospital equipment and supplies to a war-torn village.  But God may call me to listen to the hurt of someone’s heart.  God may call me to provide comfort for someone who is grieving.  Hope to someone who feels life is not worth it and feels hopeless.  God may call you to share a smile and word of encouragement to your neighbor or a stranger.

I have found in seeking my “few,” that is, those God calls me to draw nearer to, I am not always connected to them on a regular basis.  Many times, we have had a connection in the past through a church, situation, or another person, and when in need, they seek me.  Just like the daughters whose mom’s funeral I recently officiated, they have remained in my heart over the years.  When a need arose for them, they reached out and God drew us near.

On this path of life, draw near to God.  Take steps closer each day to God.  Open your heart to those God places on your path.  God does not ask you to fix them nor their lives.  Just to share the love of Jesus with them.  Simply and genuinely.  Just the “few” He has given you.  You may be the one someone is seeking out to care for today.  Be open to allowing God is draw near to you through someone following God’s call for them.

GPS for Life

“Your word is a lamp to my feet, a light on my path.”  Psalm 119:105 NIV

I got lost today.  Not physically but in my head.  We use GPS and maps to find our way to destinations.  GPS – Global Positioning System – gives us position, navigation, and timing.  Whenever I go to some place I have never been, I put the address into my vehicle’s GPS.  Sometimes the directions take me out of the way or through an area I do not want to go. Sometimes I take a wrong turn.  Each of these incidents causes recalculating to happen with the GPS.  I used the GPS this past week to travel to a funeral.  It got me there with a few times of recalculating, but it took me directly to where I needed to be.

So is there a GPS for my head?  Do you need directions to get out of your head too?  Worry, anxiety, fears, and the past take us in circles within our thoughts.  This past week, I have been writing and remembering the past with my dear companion dog, Annie.  There were nights I felt stuck in those memories and my mind was foggy.  I felt like I was living in those memories which brought sadness that she is not with me.  I got lost in those thoughts and could not adjust back into my present situation.

Then I got lost in my head as I tried to understand a situation.  It did not make sense to why it happened or even how I was so consumed in trying to make sense of it.  Then I tried to understand a family member and got lost in the conversation.  My head was trying to comprehend her thought pattern and to decipher her words.  I got lost.  These are just some examples of how I got lost in my head this week. My thoughts were focused on figuring out all that I was taking in and staying on the merry-go-round without filtering out what was important.  That is worry.  We worry about things that do not really matter or that are not relevant to us or that we have no control over.  We get stuck.  Need a GPS for your head?

I found one – the Bible.  God’s word always leads us to Jesus.  When we release our thoughts and worries to Jesus, He reminds us that He has us and cares about us.  He reassures us we are not alone and when we surrender our thoughts and worries to Him, He will help us navigate in His perfect timing.

You may accept that the Bible is your guiding light and when you read and follow God’s word, there is a sense of peace and assurance that you are not alone.  You know it in your head, but you just cannot get out of your own head.  How do we do it?  We need to silence the world first in our heads – give ourselves some silence to hear God about the shouts of this world.  The noise of the world heightens our worry and anxiety.  It tells us we are not doing enough.  The world is all bad and you have to be in control and carry the load.  You think you have to figure everything out by yourself and your own strength.  That is how we get so lost because there is too much going on and you cannot make sense out of it all and navigate the rough waters.  Your head takes in all the opinions and views around you, and you cannot distinguish between what is God’s will and the noise of the world.

The GPS guidance on my friend’s vehicle was difficult to hear over the radio because it was not set to have the audio stop when the GPS spoke.  I believe that is what happens in our heads.  We do not stop the worry and anxiety that is instilled in us from the world nor do we silence all the voices outside of us, so we can hear the still calming voice of God.  The Bible can only guide us if we read it and listen to the Holy Spirit speak to us through the words. 

In using GPS, I had to trust its guidance.  I could not see the end destination just the next step.  It is the same with trusting God to guide us.  We need to get out of our own heads of trying to figure everything out and just trust God one step at a time.  God will give us the next step that is right in front of us.  God will not give us the entire destination. 

How did I get out of my own head this past week?  I sat quietly in my sunroom, soaked in the quiet and began to focus on what was around me bringing me to the present.  I thanked God for Annie and the memories and asked God to direct me in passing on her legacy.  I prayed for the situation and family member and released it all to God.  I felt God’s peace.  I asked God to navigate, and I surrendered the timing to Him.  Position God in control.  Let God navigate in His time.

Acceptance

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send also accepts me.  And whoever accepts me also accepts the One who sent me.”   John 13:20

I received an email about an upcoming Half Marathon race that I had participated in a few years ago.  I have completed five half marathons and several 5 K races and 10 K races over my running career.  I thought about signing up to run again, but I have not run that far in several years.  My body has changed.  While I still run six days a week, I only run three and a half miles each day.  My body can no longer endure longer runs.  I have had to accept my limitations with running.  I can still run and enjoy my prayer time running, but my days of races are complete.

Acceptance is when one faces the reality of one’s situation without attempting to change it or argue against it.  It is facing the reality of one’s current life.  And it is a very difficult part of life when one does not like the reality.  An aspect of my counseling is helping clients face the reality of where they are in life.  It may not be the life they expected or chose, but it is what is in front of them.

Accepting the limitations of our aging bodies is a challenge.  When illness or disease is added to these physical changes, it is challenging.  One does not want to give up hope of improving, but it is saying, “This is how it is today.  How do I make the most of the present?”

I have come to accept that those I have loved and have died, are living in Heaven and my life continues here on earth.  It is different without them, but their lives have been completed here on earth.  I cannot add anything or take anything away from their lives.  I accept their love and their legacy continues in me and in those they have influenced.  I have come to accept myself for who I am now and whose I am in Christ.  I accept that God blessed me with different gifts and my own unique personality.  I like being me.  I accept that I am not perfect, and I mess up from time to time and not everybody will like me or my choices. And that is fine with me.  Acceptance of self is vital to living in the present and finding peace and contentment.

I accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior.  I accept and believe I am forgiven of my sins through Jesus’ death on the cross, and I have a place someday in Heaven because of Jesus’ resurrection.  I believe God is with me.  God loves me.  God created me for a purpose, and the Holy Spirit dwells in me giving me words to share to touch other people’s hearts and help them grow closer to Jesus.  I accept God’s plan, and my purpose is to glorify Him. 

Acceptance does not mean I like everything that has happened to me in life, or that I think life is perfect.  We live in a fallen and broken world where people hurt one another and life is not fair.  I accept that this is true.  But I also accept that God is still in control and that good will win in the end.  When these bad things happen to you and me, it is hard to accept that God allowed it to happen.  I do not understand the “why’s” of life, I just know the “Who” of my life – that God is still with me in the storm and the sorrow and the bad.  I am not alone.

When we accept that this is now our life, we begin to take steps into this different life and find a new way to experience life with new relationships.  I am learning to accept people for who they are.  It is not my responsibility to fix and please everyone.  This acceptance gives me peace and freedom.  I am responsible for myself and to live as God calls me to live.  Acceptance is living in the now.  It also means I accept that I have worth and value and do not have to allow others to control, use, or abuse me.  I accept the need for boundaries, rules, and laws.  Most of all, I accept that God loves me and when I surrender my life and will to Him, God will guide me on this journey of life.

Yielded and Still

“I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.”  Isaiah 42:8 (NIV)

The sign was a triangle with a red outline and said, “Yield,” but the car kept going and the driver did not even look my direction.  The car proceeded with no intention of slowing down for anyone else.  Every time I drive on the interstate and deal with the on and off ramps, it seems people have forgotten what “yield” means.  When I was in Florida, the sign stated that traffic yielded to pedestrians in the walkways.  Most drivers obeyed the sign and stopped when we wanted to cross the street. 

Yield is an important rule in driving.  The yield sign, according to the rules of the roadway means you should drive slowly and give the right to other vehicles or pedestrians approaching from a different direction.  To yield is to relinquish control, to surrender.  To yield is also used in agriculture and industry to describe how much is produced.  Yield is also used in describing authority – one yields to the authority or leadership of the one in charge.

We tend to yield – give up control – too easily to people who do not have our best interest.  We yield to those who are loudest or who wear us down.  We yield to society’s views even when they are different than what our beliefs and foundation of life state.  We yield to the desires of others even when it does not feel right.  We make yielding a negative term.

I have been pondering what yield means in our relationship with God.  To yield to God means we surrender to God’s control of our lives.  We allow God to merge into our lives, and God combines His strength with ours.  Sometimes we need to slow down, let God in, and allow God to lead.  To yield also means we need to be still for a moment and look for God’s Presence.

The hymn – “Have Thine Own Way, Lord” has this phrase – “while I am waiting yielded and still.” Do we truly want God to have His own way in our lives?  We sing this hymn, but are we really willing to surrender control of our total lives to God?  I think we sing the song – “I want my own way, Lord, and I am in a hurry so do not slow me down.”  We tend to want life to turn out the way we had planned and in our time frame.  We want God to bless our plans, and we do not want change to happen when we get comfortable.

I know what it feels like when life changes and I did not expect life to be so different.  It is not what I planned or thought but it is what I now have.  I am learning to embrace this different life and focus on the adventure.  I am yielding to God and allowing God to take the lead more.  I am waiting more on God’s timing.

I still keep moving on the path of life, but I slow down so God can get in front of me and I can follow God not the world.  This brings so much more peace. Sometimes when I yield, God slows me down and I am accepting it is what I need to do. Why am I in a hurry anyway?  God wants you and me to enjoy the moments around us.  Look what is currently around you right now and find God’s presence and peace in the moment.  Sit in the summer breeze and allow the wind of God’s Spirit to flow through you.  Take a walk in nature and surround yourself with the glory of God’s creation.  Pause and smile at a child and receive the joy in your heart from the child’s smile.  Yield to the life around you instead of focusing on what you do not have or lost. 

As you yield to God and slow down, God will produce in you His peace and joy.  God may not change your circumstances, but God will change how you view your life.  Yield to God’s loving presence.

Sometimes I Cry

“I cry out to God; I call to God, and he will hear me.”   Psalm 77:1

I cried last Sunday.  I buried the ashes of my dear companion dog, Annie.  The burial completed her physical life here on this earth.  I cried as I placed her ashes in the ground knowing it was my last earthly connection to her body.  The sadness was the feeling of emptiness that she was no longer by my side.  As I planted flowers over her grave, I smiled through my tears knowing she is just as much alive as those flowers as she runs in Heaven.  My faith gives me the assurance that God cares for His creation and welcomes each home to live with Him eternally in Heaven. 

My heart still cries when I miss the companionship of my dog, Annie. It feels like my heart is breaking because she is not beside me.  My heart hurts when I long to talk with my mom again.  My heart cries with joy when I see the faces of my nieces and nephews experiencing life.  My heart cries with the struggles of those I love.  My soul cries when those I love are hurting but do not turn to God for support and guidance.  My soul cries for my clients who are grieving and feel stuck, lonely, empty, and lost.

Crying is more than tears.  While physical tears are the cleansing of the soul, not all crying involves tears.  Crying happens within our heart and soul.  It is a sadness that life has changed, and we do not know what to do and how to navigate life.  We cry out to God wondering why and where God is in this pain and hurt.  No matter how strong or deep our faith is, we still cry.

I know I am saved through the grace of God and Jesus’ death on the cross for the forgiveness of my sins.  I know God is with me.  I know God is good, and God is faithful.  I know God loves me.  God does not take me out of the hurt and pain of this world that causes my tears.  Sometimes I mess up.  I stumble and fall and do not always do what is right.  I try to be strong on my own, but I cannot make it without the strength and power of God.  I cry over my mistakes and get frustrated with myself.  My faith teaches me that I still cry in this broken world, but God hears me.

No matter how much I believe and trust God, in loss and hurt I will still cry and be sad.  That is not a lack of faith but an expression of being human and being in relationship with others.  Jesus cried at the death of his friend, Lazarus.  Jesus sighed when the disciples did not understand.  He was tired and needed rest after the feeding of the five thousand and the death of his cousin, John the Baptist.  Jesus was fully human as well as fully God, so He understands when we just want to cry.  Jesus understands when life is frustrating, and we do not have the energy or desire to keep plodding along.  God knows when we need to stop and rest and cry.

God hears the cries of his children.  God knows life brings hurt and separation.  God loves us as we cry and He comforts us, but He does not always take it away.  We still have to go through the brokenness of this world.  We still cry because we have loved, and we have been in relationship with people who have made a difference in our lives.  When someone cares, our hearts are touched, and we sometimes cry.

Give yourself permission to cry, to shed tears of sorrow and joy, to cry within your heart.  Know God hears your cries, and He cares and understands.  Sometimes you just need to cry.

Prayer

Lord, hear the cries of my heart.  Help me, Lord, to trust that you are with me even in the depth of my sorrow and hurt.  Hold my hand.  Hear me when I cry.  Lord, catch my tears in the comfort of your mercies.  Amen.

Walking With The Waves

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.”   Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)

Recently I spent a week at the beach.  Each morning I ran on the beach.  Some mornings, I ran more in the water than on the sand because of the high tide.  I was slower when the waves pounded the shoreline and I had to run through them.  I had a purpose to keep going and not stop and was mindful of timing my run.  The sounds of the water hitting against the shore overpowered any noises of the people or the world around me.  I watched the sun rise and the day begin in all of God’s glory on the beach.  Clouds added to the color of the morning sky.  It was a time to worship and praise God as I ran.

Later in the day when we just strolled the beach, I could stop and wait for the powerful waves to come in before I walked forward.  I was just enjoying the water, the waves and the sunshine and could take my time.  I had no time restraints or focus except to enjoy the moments on the beach and soak up the sunshine.

There have been many stories written about the waves and its analogy to life and grief.  Let me add a few thoughts from my current perspective.  The waves, like life, keep coming.  They never stop and even become stronger and more intense at times.  When we face the waves straight on, we see them approaching at a distance and can prepare for them – either by bracing for the hit, running back onto the shore, or jumping into them and enjoying the ride.  Just like life – life is continuous.  Some days and events are intense, and we brace and prepare for them.  Other times, we just want to run away from life.  But there is still another option – embrace whatever life brings knowing you are surrounded in God’s light and protection.  God does not keep you from the waves of struggles and troubles, but He walks with you in it and helps you to learn, find meaning in it, and build your dependence upon Him.

Then one day on my run, I realized I was running across the waves, not into them.  The sun was in front of me, and I was filled with the warmth of the sun’s light.  And when I turned, the sun was on my back. Either way, the sun was shining on me bringing me warmth and comfort.  It glistened off the waves and made them dance in the light.

Life hits us straight on at times especially in loss and grief, sad and lonely times, hurtful and painful times.  But most of the time, we just walk through life – through the waves just plodding along.  We may even ignore the beauty around us and never walk fully into the moments that are in front of us.  Therefore, we miss the beauty of God’s presence and creation.  We keep our heads down and barely recognize we are walking through anything.

My perspective on life changed when I was walking through these waves.  I used to focus on God walking me through the trauma, the struggle and pain and finally making it to the other side.  But what if life is always walking in the waves?  Yes, sometimes the waves are more intense, and we need to slow down and struggle through them.  I have come to experience that life is a constant movement like the waves.  God moves with us.  He does not always calm the storm, but God always walks with us in the storm.  Remember Jesus walked on water in the storm.  He did not calm the storm first and then walk on the water.

The waves of life will never stop.  They will keep coming.  Sometimes they slow us down, and we stop until the intensity is less, but we keep moving with the waves of life.  I am learning to find joy in each wave.  To feel the warmth of God’s love and presence in each moment.  To trust God when to run, when to walk, when to plod, when to stroll, when to stop and rest.  But to always trust God is walking with me and to enjoy God’s faithful presence.

Look Up

“I am putting my rainbow in the clouds as the sign of the agreement between me and the earth.”  Genesis 9:13

On my morning run, the rain mixed with sleet and was pelting my face.  The clouds were dark, and I was cold.  I wondered why I decided to run outside today.  Puddles were everywhere so I had to keep my eyes focused on the ground so I did not run through the deep puddles and get wetter than I currently was.  Then the sun burst through the clouds even though it was still raining.  I looked up and then I saw it – the most beautiful full rainbow across the western sky.  It encircled the church where I was running in the parking lot.  It was brilliant in color contrasted with the dark sky.  I lifted my eyes and immediately raised my hands in praise to God.

In the gloomy darkness and pelting rain, God sent His rainbow of promise.  I worshipped on my morning run.  My grumbling turned to praise when I looked up.  I saw cars going by and wondered if they looked up and saw God’s beauty.  It would be easy to miss if your focus was looking down.

When we look down – when we only see the brokenness, problems, and the hurt – life is painful and dreary like the dark clouds and rain.  God does not always take away the storms, but He always promises to be with us through the storms of our lives.  Sometimes God even sends a sign like a rainbow reminding us that He is with us and will do what He promised.  God will walk us through the storm.  We just need to look for Him.  Where are you looking?

The promise of the rainbow is found in the book of Genesis.  God promised he would not destroy the earth again by flood.  God promises are throughout the Bible.  God promises to love us, forgive us, hold our hand, give us grace and eternal life and so much more.  Do you trust God enough that He will fulfill His promises?

Many of you have been hurt by others breaking their promise to you.  Others of you have prayed for healing and only received pain.  You prayed for justice, and evil seems to keep winning.  You cried out to God, and you still feel alone.  It is hard to look up and praise God.  It seems easier to look down and muddle through life.

I have been walking recently through the loss of my companion dog, Annie.  I have also been listening to the grief of new clients and their struggle to live into life.  When we focus on the hurt and pain, we stay in the darkness of the storm.  It is difficult to trust in the storm, but that is what I keep trying to do.

I still trust the Lord to hold my hand because God has been faithful in the past.  His Word promises that He will never leave me.  He loves me and walks with me.  Jesus gives me His Spirit to live within me.  I know God has held my hand throughout my life.  I trust God even when the storm is raging around me.  Trust is more than how I am currently feeling.  It is knowing God is with me even if I do not feel it.  When I look up to the sky and let go of the earthly worries and struggles, I only see the light of God’s presence. 

We look down not just in the storms but in the dailyness of life. We get caught in a routine and sometimes it just becomes mundane and lifeless.  Task after task.  Work after work.  Just getting by at times.  We then focus on the negative, the loneliness and lack of fulfillment.  We just look down and it creates a sadness and a wonder if this is all there is to life.  Only when we look beyond the demands and emptiness of this world and look up to seek God’s presence do we find life.

I am learning to look up more.  Sometimes I see a rainbow, sometimes I see the blue sky and sunshine, sometimes I see the stars, and sometimes I see the darkness, the rain, and the clouds.  But every time I look up, I trust that God is there.  God wants me to focus on His presence.  To trust Him.  To hold His hand through the storms and through the pain and hurt. To hold His hand in the dailyness of life.  To look up and speak His name.  Look up!

Propensity of Life

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…”  Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)

My dog, Annie, always barked at other dogs and squirrels.  No matter how many times I told her “No” she still barked.  It is natural for a dog to bark at other animals.  She also barked when anyone came to the door, or a client came for counseling.  She was my doorbell.  I learned to tell her, “Thank you.”  She was doing her job and then she would stop.  It was her propensity to alert me when someone or some animal was nearby.

Propensity is a natural inclination, a leaning, a natural tendency to behave in a certain way.  Society has a natural propensity to complain, to focus on what is wrong, and to be negative.  It seems natural for people to complain about the weather and that life is not fair.  Why is the natural inclination to see the bad and hurt?  Many of my clients focus on the negative aspect of their lives which produce anxiety and depression.

Your propensity for life begins in childhood as you develop your foundational principles to guide and direct your life.  These are based on your family, your environment, your faith, human nature, influences from society, and friendships.  Over time, you believe this is who you are, and you accept these tendencies as defining yourself.  Sometimes these inclinations are influenced by others, especially your primary person in life. When life changes with loss, you rarely revisit these inclinations because they are integrated into who you believe you are.

I have come to realize when changes occur and people leave our physical presence, we need to look deep within ourselves to figure out who we now want to be.  Propensities can change and will change because of loss and trauma.  My natural inclination is to see the good and look for the positive in life which was developed because of the influence of my mom and Grandma.  I believe it was because of their deep and abiding faith in Jesus that their propensity was positive and good.

As I live into the different along with you, my propensity is to lean even more into Jesus.  Oh, the spiritual struggle is strong because of the brokenness of sin and evil in the world.  We have the tendency to look at the world and wonder where is God.  As we go through loss and struggle in our own lives, we wonder why lean closer to God when life has turned out the way it has?

Recently I visited my eighty-nine-year-old friend, Dwight, whose wife, Dawn, is in a memory care facility.  He visits her twice a day and feeds her pudding in the afternoon.  He loves her the same way he has always loved her.  His propensity is to love no matter the circumstances.  It is natural.  It is not what he had hoped for, but he leans closer to Jesus to walk with Him on this journey.  Dwight’s inclination in his heart is to always love.  He loves his wife.

During my visit, I read to Dawn a letter she had written to me almost thirty-five years ago.  It was saved in my memorabilia. When I was serving the church they attended at the beginning my ministry, they become “adopted” parents to me, and she was proud of who I was and how I had been support to her and given her words to lean on.  I realized as I read her words again that my natural inclination in ministry has always been to love and to trust God.  It always felt right.

Now as we live different because of change and loss, I am going to continue to lean into Jesus.  I hope that you can release the negative and focus on what is in front of you.  As humans we have the propensity to sin – our natural inclination is sin, but through God’s grace, He has redeemed us from sin.  We do not need to live in the evil and negativity and anxiety and fear.  We are redeemed.  It does not take away the hurt and pain of life, it just changes the focus that God will be with us in the traumas of life if we focus on Him.  God is with us in this different way of life too.  My propensity is to move closer to Jesus in this different. How about you?

Way of Life

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.”  John 14:6 (RSV)

I appreciate having a place to work through my current grief in this blog.  Grief as we all know is part of life.  We experience grief throughout our lives in many different ways and forms.  As you know, my current grief is because of the death of my companion dog, Annie.

Annie was so intertwined in my daily life and existence.  My routine and schedule were woven around her and her needs.  I was her caregiver, and she was my support.  She gave me unconditional love.  I never thought if I was going to meet her needs, I just did, and Annie never had to decide whether to love me, she just did because we were connected by our hearts.  My way of life was living with Annie beside me. 

Some of you understand this in a very deep and real way in your own life.  Your loved one – whether spouse, companion, parent, child, or furry friend – was your way of living life.  Their life and yours made up how you saw life and how you functioned.  You did life together.  You believed in them and no matter what happened, you could count on them to be there for you to listen, to care, to cry with and to love you.  Now your way of life is gone.

Oh, you keep trying to go down the same path, to enjoy the same things, to interact with the same people and to function in the same lifestyle, but it is not the same without your special one.  I have shared with you that in the grief journey, life is different, and we need to find ways to live into this different.  Different is not bad, it is just different.

Annie, through her death, is teaching me to live different and to find a new way in this new chapter of my life.  I have been a caregiver all my life, in ministry and family situations.  The essence of me is to care for others. So, it was natural for me to care for Annie who was dependent upon me for all her basic needs.  It was my way of life that I had accepted.  I did not deviate from it, but I accepted the responsibility with gratefulness most of the time.  Annie was a unique dog who became my trusted friend and companion through everything.

In Annie’s death, I have released the responsibility of caring for her physical needs. It has made me evaluate where God has me in life.  I am not totally responsible for anyone but myself.  My way of life as a minister changed as I retired from the Church.  I am therefore not responsible nor accountable to any organization.  I am not responsible for any building or to any administration when I moved my office to my home.  My way of life changed to being more independent in my schedule and creating my own office space.

These are mainly physical changes, but there have been emotional and relationship changes to my way of life.  Grief changed me into realizing the only one I need to please is God and in doing so I please myself.  I get to choose who I interact with and who I visit and share a meal.  It is not about doing enough; it is about being who God created me to be.  What matters most is that God loves me, not if I do enough to earn His love.  God’s love is given freely. 

My way of life has changed.  Annie and our routine together was my constant, but now my way of life has changed.  I am not sure what all this live different will look like, but I do know the way.  I will continue to follow the truth my life has been built upon – the truth of Jesus.  I have learned on this journey; the way of Jesus keeps me grounded.  His truth found in Scripture fills me when I am alone and doubtful.  His life gives me hope of life eternal, and His life gives me permission to live different.

Returning To Grief

“Lord, have mercy because I am in misery. My eyes are weak from so much crying, and my whole being is tired from grief.”  Psalm 31:9

Grief has entered my life again, or I should say it has returned as central to my thoughts and feelings.  Last week, my sweet companion dog, Annie died and crossed over into Heaven.  At first, I was so thankful she was no longer suffering, and I could release her to Heaven to run and be reunited with my husband who was her master.  I was exhausted from caring for her so intensely the past month that releasing her to Heaven filled me with peace.  I am so grateful for all the kind words spoken about her and the expressions of comfort and support I have received from so many of you.  Annie touched many lives and fulfilled her purpose on earth.  I celebrate the gift of having her as my companion for almost eleven years.

But now I am grieving my loss.  I know Annie is running and enjoying the rewards of Heaven, but my house is empty.  I see her everywhere.  I hear the jingle of her collar and her lapping up water from her bowl.  I wake up and wonder where she is in the house so I can take her outside.  I come home and want to call, “Annie Girl, I’m home.  Let’s go out.”  I cook dinner and she is not there to lick off the plates.  The hardest has been that she is not greeting my counseling clients and laying beside me as I counsel.  The room feels empty, and I have to learn how to counsel without her.  I feel a little lost.

Grief returns in many forms and ways throughout our lives.  I have some of the same feelings and emptiness that I had when my husband died.  I feel a deep sadness that part of me is lost, and my heart feels ripped out of me.  Our hearts were connected in a most unique and deep way.  She was with me in the darkest times.  She was the only one I really cried with at the death of my husband.  She has been my emotional support dog and where I have released my emotions.  I snuggled and cried with her.  Now I do not have her to comfort me in this grief.  Just as my husband had been with me in the grief of my parents, and the one I depended on to be with me as I walked through life, Annie was with me in the grief I experienced since his death.  Annie was the one I shared the confidential parts of my day, and she heard and felt all the emotions.  Annie is the one I vented to and she just looked at me, rolled over and I rubbed her belly as I talked with her.

I have also returned to some of the same songs that helped express my grief over seven years ago.  “Walk Me Through” by the Perrys has been my foundational song for grief.  I ask God to walk me through the pain and loss.  I know this time that I will get through it because God has been faithful in the past, and God will continue to be faithful on this current grief journey.  God will hold my hand.  I have peace in trusting God.  Music has been a powerful outlet for my grief putting into words what I cannot express.

My desire was to jump into being grateful for Annie and to immediately live in the freedom of not having the responsibility of caring for a dog.  But I needed to return to feeling grief and allowing myself some sad times and to mourn the loss of my dear sweet, Annie.  Yes, she was a dog, but she took on a deeper and more significant role in my life because of my loss.  She was given the ability to feel pain and to feel the hurt of others.  She knew how to bring joy into the sad moments of life.  She was my constant and faithful companion.  I need to grieve and return to the grief journey for a time.

I have begun to tell stories of her life and to listen to other people’s memories.  Annie has a legacy, and she made a difference in my life.  She leaves a hole nobody will ever fill.  She is irreplaceable, and I have completed my dog ownership.

I feel Annie in my heart.  She will always be with me.  That is love.  Grief is about love.  We only grieve those we love.  It is good to return to our grief from time to time and give ourselves permission to be sad and to remember.  We remember who we are because of the one we loved.  We give thanks for their influence, their legacy, and the time we were blessed to share life.  These remembrances will always bring a moment of sadness and grief, but they also bring a gratefulness.  Return to grief as needed.  Remember, do not stay there.  Begin to live differently.

My Faithful Companion

“Well done good and faithful servant…enter into the joy of your master.”  Luke 35:21

This past week has been filled with emotions that have pulled at my heart and found me holding tightly to God’s hand.  My faithful companion dog, Annie, crossed over into Heaven on Good Friday, the 7th.  She had been declining all week and began to struggle.  Her eyes told me it was time to let go.  Through much prayer, I made the decision to let her go and release her from her pain and struggle.  I wrapped her in her beloved prayer quilt and carried her to the vehicle.  As we rode to the vet office, she pressed her body against me.  I felt her warmth and the beat of her heart next to mine.  Our hearts were connected in life and now in death.  I carried her into the office and laid her down on the table.  She looked at me and licked my face so tenderly as if to kiss me goodbye and our eyes embraced in that tender moment.  Within a few minutes, God released her to Heaven.

Annie has been my constant companion since my husband, Dave died.  We have a special bond that goes beyond even family.  Annie and I have communicated in the depth of our being.  She was sent by God to me for a purpose.  We grieved together at the loss of my husband, Dave and her master.  I was never alone because she was always by my side.  I took Annie with me almost everywhere.  She has been with me in counseling sessions, weddings, funerals, baptisms, worship services, seminars, family gatherings and then lived in the backseat of my vehicle when she could not attend the event.  Annie is known by hundreds of people in several states.  She has been from Niagara Falls to the beach, from the mountains to the farmlands.  Neighbors knew Annie’s name but forgot mine.  I was known as “Annie’s mom.”

I have spent twenty-seven years caring for two dogs – Annie and Specs.  Specs lived sixteen years and Annie was almost eleven years old.  My life developed a routine around them.  I made plans based on how long I could leave them or made arrangements for others to watch them if I needed to be away longer or travel.  I took care of their needs, but more importantly we created a bond of mutual love and care.  When life was tough, they were always there to love me and help change my focus to the present moment.

Annie loved people and brought a smile to most people she encountered.  She was a happy dog who loved her treats and belly rubs.  But there was more to Annie.  She had a purpose.  She was beside me in my grief and served my clients as a therapy dog by greeting them and sitting beside them in their tears and pain.  Annie recognized hurt because she had experienced it in her life.  She felt loss with the death of her master.  She adjusted to change with me in our moves and office locations.  As long as I was with her, Annie was content.

Her death on Good Friday seemed appropriate to me since Good Friday is a day of sacrifice and servanthood.  On Good Friday, Jesus sacrificed His life for our sins.  He humbled himself to be a servant to die a cruel death for our forgiveness and to conquer death so that we will have eternal life and be with Him forever.  He completed His purpose on Good Friday. 

Annie completed her purpose on Good Friday.  While it is difficult to let go of my constant companion who stayed by my side in the sad times of my life and celebrated the joys with me.  I did not want her to suffer anymore.  I also knew by her lick and her eyes that she gave me permission to close a chapter of life and have the freedom from the responsibility of caring for her.  She had completed her purpose on earth and was ready to enjoy the blessings of Heaven.  Annie made the sacrifice so I could take a step into the next chapter of my life.  Because of her sacrifice and her life, I have learned to slow down and enjoy the moments of life more, to play more, take walks and witness the beauty of God’s creation.  I have met people through Annie and sat like Annie with people in their hurt and pain.  Annie was sent by God to teach me.  She had purpose.  Annie was a servant who was good and faithful.

As I reflect on my sweet Annie this Easter Season, I have been able to focus more clearly on Jesus’ sacrifice for me out of His love.  He suffered for me and died so that I could be free from sin and live into this chapter of life that God has for me.  Jesus rose from the dead, ascended into Heaven and gave his Holy Spirit to live within us to guide and direct our daily lives.  The Holy Spirit connects us to others.  We love through Jesus’ Spirit.  He first loved us so that we can love others even our faithful companions. Spell DOG backwards and you get GOD – a selfless, sacrificial love.  We have the assurance we are never alone.  God’s Spirit dwells within us.

My life has been forever changed because of Jesus’ life and death on the cross and His resurrection and the gift of His Holy Spirit that fills me and guides me each moment.  My life has been enhanced by my dog, Annie.  She challenged me to stay active, to enjoy life, to be patient, to listen to the pain and hurt of others, to enjoy relationships, and to eat treats each day.

As we grieve our losses in life, we learn to release them to Heaven to live.  I believe Annie is running now in Heaven.  She has met my other dog, Specs, and they are playing together with Dave watching over them.  Releasing Annie has given me my last release of Dave so that we can both live fully – me on Earth and Dave in Heaven.  Dave and I adopted Annie on our wedding Anniversary therefore her name “Annie” for Anniversary.  Annie was Dave’s dog who became mine at His death.  I can now release Annie into God’s and Dave’s tender care.

There is a hole in my heart and grief fills my soul as I release Annie.  I am thankful for Annie’s life, and I am assured she is running in Heaven.  Heaven is filled with everything good God created.  Releasing Annie gives me the freedom to live into this next chapter of life without being responsible for her care.  Release allows us to live differently into this life.

Run, Annie Girl.  Run in Heaven.