Life in His Hand

Some days this blog feels pointless. I ask myself why? And usually answer with--well it helps me cope or someday, my kids may read it if something should happen to me... And then there are times where I am on Facebook and a friend is dealing with something tough and I'll remember something I wrote on here. Usually about God and the way He comforts. I have shared with people several times. Recently I had a Facebook friend dealing with some church stuff. I had written a blog that was similar to what he was dealing with. I wanted to encourage him. He liked it and wanted to put it in his church newsletter that he edits. I'm supposed to receive a copy in the mail soon. Recently, got to share one with my best friend I just reconnected with. At times I write about what has happened in my life and its nice to have it handy to share. So I guess that's worth writing it. Besides, it just helps me. I need to write things down to process them. I keep a prayer journal as well, for that...

And so... yesterday, the relationship I was in, ended. Things just were not going to work out. Too many differences. Unfortunately, you get attached and that can make it hard. The previous day, I had picked up a little book that you can send through the mail. It sort of had all the little themes that reminded me of us. It was a child's book-written from mother to child, but I thought it so perfectly fit, that I was going to give it as a Valentine's gift. It's called, "If Kisses Were Colors." It has lines in it which say things like-if kisses were colors, you'd see every one of the bands of the rainbow that shines in the sun...and...if kisses were blankets, you'd always be warm, wrapped up from the cold during winter's worst storm...If kisses were snowflakes, your world would be light, sparkling with crystals of silver and white... And so... I picked up the sweet, little book and wondered, what will I do with it now? Take it back? Send it to the g...

Words are powerful. You can use them to build people up or tear them down. For many years, I listened as someone tore me down, bit by bit - using words. At the same time, I had God building me up with His words. The negative words still hurt - still affected me, but did not destroy my self-worth. I believed what God said about me and that helped me to hold onto who I was, even in the midst of trials. I knew that being in such an environment was not what God wanted for me. I had to learn to trust Him enough to let go and follow His plan for my life. Which hasn't been easy. Earlier today, I had a talk with a good friend. This friend amazes me with his ability to use his words to encourage, to uplift, to simply understand. When I am critical or hard on myself--he sticks up for me; defends me. Hey wait a minute, maybe this is why you did that or of course you're going to feel such and such a way--look what you've been through. When I am down, he lifts me up, he prays fo...

Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul - and sings the tunes without the words - and never stops at all.   Emily Dickinson This is for all of us who need hope. Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."  Psalm 34:18   The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. Lamentations 3:22-24   The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. I say to myself, "The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!"  Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Psalm 10:17   LORD, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them...

The one great thing that really excites me about being a Christian is the fact that God is in my life. He's real. He's present. I see Him, sense Him, hear Him, feel Him. It's not pretend. He is not an imaginary friend that my mind conjures up on it's own. What so excites me about God is that He shows up. He is thoughtful. One day at church, a few weeks ago, during prayer, our speaker prayed, " Lord, put your arm around those who are hurting today." As I was kneeling there, I felt someone touch my back. Twice. I looked to see who it was. It wasn't the person beside me or the person behind me (I even asked). I was so overwhelmed by that. God put His arm around me that day. Did I deserve it? No. I'm struggling a lot lately. All I could think was--He really wants me to know He loves me. And that He understands my struggles and problems and no matter what I do--He still loves me. When He promises to carry you--He does. When He promises to save you--He do...

On Wednesday, my study group was over. We typically read the Bible,  read a section from a book called, 'Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing' and pray. Sometimes, I share a story. Yesterday, I shared one called, 'Unanswered Letters'. It was about a man who had lost one arm, the use of his legs and on his "good" hand, he only had one finger and his thumb. He was discouraged, because he couldn't really do anything anymore, but wanted to do something to help other people. He started thinking about writing  letters to people who were shut-in like himself. He thought of writing to prisoners. His mind was still brilliant; he had a lot to share. He contacted a Christian ministry and began painstakingly writing letters twice a week. Only thing was-he wouldn't receive any responses since it was against the rules of the prison. He put everything he had, his whole heart into writing. He eventually became discouraged as it was so physically challenging for him. Fi...

How wonderful are the friends who remind us that God IS right here with us, even when it doesn't seem like it. And when we feel most down, they are there to pick us back up again, dust us off and help us on our way. What a priceless gift friendship is. So as we speak, my problems have not gone away, but my heart is warmed by the tender compassion shown me by a true friend. I have also been able, through this encouragement, to hand it all over to God and let Him carry it. I thank God for the amazing superpower, called love, He gives to some. For when it is shared, amazing things begin to happen.

Today, I gathered my three girls together and read two Bible verses to them and prayed for them to be safe while they're away from me this weekend. Then I hugged them good-bye. They're staying with their dad and going to church with him in a nearby city. I think this is the first Sabbath I have spent alone. After they left, I came across a quote by a religious author about the importance of having family worship daily, morning and evening. I was going to share it tonight at our prayer vespers, but found something else. Funny, when I got there, another lady brought a story to read called-Family Prayer. So I dug my quote out and shared it. I had been praying about what God was calling me to do. And this is it! Once again! I don't know why I so struggle with this simple thing, but I DO!! For the New Year, I wanted this to be the only thing I was going to do and it's been terribly neglected. God is nudging me to pick it back up again. I wish this was easier for me, I wis...

Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.   But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:32, 33 We can confess Christ with our mouths but deny Him by the way we live our lives. We claim to be Christians. But what does that really mean? What is a Christian? A Christ follower. A representative of Christ, an example of His transforming power and grace. So how do we make sure what we claim matches who we are? And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Cor. 3:18 As we spend time with the Lord, in prayer, in His Word meditating on His character, we become more like Him. That is why it is so important to make having our own private devotions a top priority. If  we don't "behold" Christ, how will we bec...

How big is your God? How small is your box you keep Him in? One thing that bothers me is when people limit God. They try to make Him fit their ideas instead of realizing that He can act in unusual ways. The Bible is full of examples of freak and weird things God has done. Like Jonah being swallowed by a fish, or lot's wife being turned into a pillar of salt. How about Balaam's talking donkey? God does not always fit into a neat little package tied with a bow. I haven't shared, with many, some of the highly unconventional ways God has worked in my life. Some of the promises He's made to me would cause others to raise an eyebrow. God sees the whole big picture and acts accordingly--whether or not it fits into someone's preconceived ideas and rules of what God "can" do or say. Four years ago, I went to Campmeeting, seeking God with all my heart. I was struggling so much under the burden of my miserable marriage. I spent much time in pray...

Tonight I am sitting here feeling a deep contentment and peace which has been a rarity for me. This whole week LIFE IS MINISTRY has been running through my head. Here is one of my favorite quotes from a book called Desire of Ages, pg. 20 and 21: In the beginning, God was revealed in all the works of creation. It was Christ that spread the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth. It was His hand that hung the worlds in space, and fashioned the flowers of the field. “His strength setteth fast the mountains.” “The sea is His, and He made it.” Psalm 65:6 ; 95:5 . It was He that filled the earth with beauty, and the air with song. And upon all things in earth, and air, and sky, He wrote the message of the Father’s love. Now sin has marred God’s perfect work, yet that handwriting remains. Even now all created things declare the glory of His excellence. There is nothing, save the selfish heart of man, that lives unto itself. No bird that cleaves the air, no animal that...

Life is strange. No matter how long you're in a situation, it never stays the same. You will not always be there, doing what you're doing or dealing with what you're dealing with. That can be hard to remember, at times. Especially when you're in the midst of it. We can't see what lies just around the next curve. My life is now beginning to look a lot different. The daily stress I used to endure is gone. My bleak future has been replaced with one of hope. I no longer see brick walls and chains. Now I see blue skies and possibilities. As I place my hand in His, I know I can trust Him wherever He leads. My prayer has been for awhile, that I wanted God's plan--not mine. He sees around the next bend, well He's paving the road! So if today, you are faced with something hard, something so bad that it doesn't feel like you can go on for one more day--hold on. It won't always be this way. Things will change. And that is why it's never a good idea to...

I often look at normal people with their normal lives doing normal things that normal people do. And I wonder--do they realize what they have? They go along calmly living. They cook special things, talk about their kids, love their families, go about their lives working, playing, resting. They seem so quiet, settled and happy. Perfectly content. Perfectly placid. I compare myself with them and am amazed by the shocking, overwhelming contrast. My whole life has been anything but normal, anything but placid. My life is one of extremes. Extreme sorrows; extreme joys. Always lots of noise...sometimes good, sometimes not so good. Today, a kind, retired pastor was our visiting speaker at church. He is the epitome of a good Adventist. Soft-spoken, kind, spiritual, went to all the right schools, married a wonderful, sweet Adventist wife. He is living the Adventist American dream. And I wondered as he spoke of his 51 years of a happy marriage and shared stories of his calling int...

Today, I am in awe of God. I have had a lot of anxiety lately and even doubts have tried to creep in about my whole relationship with Him. About how He speaks to me, about what He says and does in my life. But today, He has shown me He means what He says and that His promises are true. That our relationship is as real as if He were standing right in front of me. Recently, I had felt a little mocked about how God and I relate to each other, causing me to feel a little awkward about it and maybe even almost causing me to second guess what is so real in my everyday life. But God has reassured me, again, that this is real and true. I have often asked myself why I feel so close to Him. And all I can say is He has been here to keep me from becoming totally discouraged in the circumstances I have been in. I think He's had to become closer over the past few years as things in my life have just gotten worse and harder to handle emotionally. So I know that b...

Today, I think of my sister as they are driving across the country, carrying all their earthly belongings with them.  I can't imagine the amount of work that it took them to get rid of ALL their stuff! They had a lot! Lots of old cars, too. But here they are now, driving with everything they own, tucked neatly away in the bed of the truck or the motorhome. My sister was so happy when all her most important things fit perfectly in the compartments and cabinets in the motorhome. I think of her family photos, stowed away in a box. I think of her other mementos and sentimental things, riding along to be carefully unpacked in a new life. These things are not there by accident, but were chosen, taking up privileged space that was reserved for the cherished. cher·ish (ch r sh) tr.v. cher·ished , cher·ish·ing , cher·ish·es 1. To treat with affection and tenderness; hold dear 2. To keep fondly in mind I think of this word--cherish. How beautiful a...

Do you ever ask God "Why"? I do. Sometimes He may give us the reason things happen. But it seems that most of the time, we just have to trust. One of my favorite Bible verses that is a comfort when bad or confusing things happen is Romans 8:28, which says:   And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. This verse is a nice reminder that although there is trouble in life, God can and does use even the bad things to somehow bring blessings to us. That all the trials aren't in vain. Trials grow us. They can bring us closer to Jesus. They can cause us to value what's important in life and cause us to get our priorities straight. When you are going through something really difficult, frivolous things tend to fall away. Today, my sister and her family are moving to Florida. I'm in California. This isn't what I would have chosen to happen. But God sees the bigger picture and kn...

Several weeks ago, we had six baby chicks hatch. There are two mama hens, so I'm not sure which babies went with which mama. But that didn't seem to bug them, they just cared for all of them together in the chicken coop. Aww...so precious. There's just nothing as sweet as seeing a hen gently caring for her chicks. Don't you think? And that reminded me of a song I used to do for the babies in our Cradle Roll class at church. We'd have a nice, stuffed hen up in front of the room and each child would have a cute, little chick to bring up to the mama hen and put it snuggly under her wings at the appropriate time. I have never had chickens before, except those stuffed ones in Sabbath school. So that was the sweet picture I'd think of when I'd read these verses in the Bible-- "....How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings....” Matthew 23:37 And... He will cover you with his feathers...

One way that God communicates with me is by having the same message come at me from different places. I like to call them "clusters." He really gets my attention when He does this. I have heard of Him doing this with other people also. Over a week ago, when I was waiting for everything to happen, I was writing/praying a lot in my prayer-journal about the situation. I picked up my daughter's little daily devotional book that was a gift for her baptism and found a little story to read. At the bottom of the page, there was a small section  which said... Think of a time when God said - wait. If God is allowing a door to be closed for you, look for the one He is opening. That really jumped out at me. I even have a keychain which says..when God shuts one door He always opens another. That brought me a little encouragement. A couple of days later, I was at the park with my grandkids I watch and I was writing in my journal and it was like a voice said..."the door's o...

I thought this was really cool. I am hoping to add some of these things into my life. Some of them I already do. Hope you enjoy this or at least find it helpful!! Haha!

This video really fits my life right now...all I CAN take are baby steps.