The contrasts of today.........

Today is the day.  Three years ago today, I lost my mom.  She was truly more than just my mom.  We shared and laughed and enjoyed each other so much.  I just love this very old photo of us.  It is a "casual" photo - not posed.  And we don't have many pictures like that!  It was taken at "the lake". And I just love the look on my mom's face.   It was taken in 1955.  I assume that the cat belonged to my grandmother.  I know that she always had at least one cat around.  Most likely, she had brought it down to our cabin from the farm. I decided that this was the picture I would share today, in honor of my mom. I love remembering that she is now, celebrating with Jesus.

This has really been an amazing day, something that I didn't expect. First of all, it was actually WARM!  Like 75 degrees warm.  Remember that this winter was brutal and the ice and snow seemed to last forever!  So a day with the sun out and no coat required is really something to celebrate!  There was a short, very stormy period this morning, but it past quickly, and the sun came out again. 

And then the doorbell rang.  It was a neighbor telling us that a piece of siding near the peak of our house was "flapping in the breeze".  Needless to say, we ran out to take a look.  And there, on the OTHER side of the house, was the very loose siding. (See my post from November 29, 2013 - we had a piece of siding blow off in the same location - on the opposite side of the house)  Ken got out are very short ladder and our very long tree trimmer tool and tried to push that siding back so it wouldn't blow all the way off, lest we lose it!  Thankfully, as soon as he touched the piece, it fell to the ground.  So we are now in possession of THAT piece of siding.  However, there is still a LARGE piece that is loose. And it was Saturday, at noon.   The soonest that we could arrange for anyone to come out to repair this is Monday afternoon.  It is supposed to rain and storm over the next 24 hours, so we are praying that piece of siding stays put!  

To finish off the day I went to an amazing church service.  I just loved the wonderful worship and the sermon was great.   I felt as if the entire service had been planned for me.  The sermon topic was from 1John 5 beginning at verse 13.   It was about KNOWING! (See my comment from yesterday about Lia, just knowing).  The point was that knowing was more than understanding.  It was having absolute assurance. During the sermon the Pastor shared an interesting list of the contrasts that are expressed all through out the book of 1John.  Here was the list....

God (Love)      Satan (Sin)
Truth                 Lies
Light                 darkness
Life                   death
confidence        fear
love                   hate

The thing about this list is that these represent what it is like to live either in the Kingdom of God or the kingdom of Satan.  Without the KNOWING and the assurance, when we are in the world, our life is filled with lies, darkness, death, fear and hate.  I am so blessed to have that knowing - the assurance of living in the Kingdom of the King of Kings!  A place of truth, light, life, confidence and love.  

In each of the events of today..... there is the contrast.   My mom died, but she is celebrating with Jesus!  There was a time of storms today, but the sun came out again!  Our siding came loose, but we were able to retrieve the piece - it wasn't lost!  We live IN the world, but we are not OF the world.  Coming into this Holy Week, I am so thankful that I have the assurance - that deep knowing that Jesus is all that I need.  I am so grateful for Jesus' work on the cross, and his marvelous resurrection! 

Jesus, thank you!   For contrasts, for blessings, for all that you do in our lives.  Thank you for guiding and directing us to the exact places that we need to be.   Thank you for memories, for moms and for the assurance of our eternal life!   Holy Spirit, help us all to spend time this week, remembering all that Jesus has done for us.   Thank you for the assurance that comes from KNOWING!  Amen

Celebrating Lia!

Yesterday I ended up in the "Orange" room..... filled with all the "after school" kids.  These are the first through fifth graders who join the pre-K and Kindergarten kids in the afternoons.  YIKES!  There were 31 of them!   Thankfully, it was very warm outside and we were able to go outside to the playground area.   So, there I stood with these kids that I don't know very well.  One boy seemed drawn to me and stood talking a mile a minute (as everyone else was running around playing tag).  We were talking about rock climbing and I told him my adult son has done rock climbing. This little chatterbox boy, stopped, looked up at me and said, "I knew you had adult children cuz you are old - I can tell by your neck"!  Okay, what is the appropriate response to that????  Thank you???  Sorry????   I don't think I actually said anything!  Sigh. 

I can't escape the fact that, yes, I am old.  I am a grandma!  Gwen was telling me that Lia recently had a "light bulb" moment when she realized that her beloved great grandma Nona (my mom), was her mom's GRANDMA!   She had just connected the fact that her mom's grandma had died.  And she began to think about her own grandma (think ME!) and wondering if she would lose me.  Thankfully, Gwen was able to put her fears to rest with a discussion that included the fact that no one knows how long their life will be (and also, thankfully, that I am younger than my mom was when Gwen was 8 years old). 

 

I certainly love my Lia.   She is so much like Gwen in so many ways, but she is most assuredly her own person.  I love how she is a deep thinker!  There are times when you can almost see the wheels turning in her head.  She has a depth of understanding about faith and Jesus that is amazing.   She just KNOWS that she KNOWS!   And she is not afraid to tell you just what she thinks! She loves to dance and sing and comes alive on a stage.  I can't help but reflect on the strong prophetic word given Lia when she was just born   She is a prophet of the Lord.  She will speak God's word, proclaim the truth and lead the people.  She is a "little bird with a big voice"!    I can't wait to watch as Lia grows to see all that Jesus will do in and through her.   Yes, I am blessed to be a Grandma!  

 

What a gift it is to be able to see our children and grandchildren not just with "worldly eyes" but with an eternal perspective.  I would encourage you all, to pray and seek revelation of the plan and destiny for your family.   The Holy Spirit will reveal so much if we just stop and ask.  It is amazing how much easier it is pray when you have a picture to pray into! 

 

Jesus, thank you for children and their forthright honesty.   Thank you especially for Lia and the special relationship that I have with her.   Thank you for Gwen and Tim and their reliance on your wisdom, Jesus, as they parent all of their children. Holy Spirit, continue to work in Lia as she becomes the woman you have planned her to be.  Jesus, speak clearly to all of us who ask for revelation.  Thank you for family, for grandchildren.  And thank you for the warm weather!   Amen



Celebrating "Sibling Day" and Mom....

As I have said, April is a tough month for me.  I set out to celebrate this month with memories and sharing rather than trying to ignore this month.  Today I saw on Facebook that it is "Sibling Day".  And for the last several weeks, my Mom has been on mind.  So the above photo certainly fits today.  I think it may be the last photo of all of us together. It was taken at my mom's 90th birthday in 2005.   We actually managed to get EVERYONE to that event.   ALL of my siblings, ALL of the grandchildren, and ALL of the great grandchildren came that day.  My mom was so happy!  There is really nothing that made my mom happier than having us all together.   We had a family party on Saturday and most of us from out of town stayed at the same hotel (Lia affectionately called this hotel "the Castle Pool"!  She loved that hotel since it was a part of seeing Great Grandma Nona).   The party was held in the Community Room of my mom's apartment building. We took these family
pictures at that party.  Some of us were able to stay on Sunday and the celebration continued with a party for all of her friends, held in the dining room of her building.   It was wonderful to see the room fill up with her friends and family.   We had a wonderful time and mom was truly amazed that anyone would care that it was her 90th birthday.  She was surprised when she turned 95.  I remember that she told me she never expected to live that long.  I assured her that Jesus had plans for her and that there was much for her to accomplish.    I reminded her that there were many people in her building who needed  a smile and a kind word each day.  So she set out to make a difference each day right where she lived.   I saw the effect of this during many visits.  Yes, mom was well liked at that senior apartment. 

One of the benefits of being the youngest child, was that I got to hear all the stories about my siblings!   I believe that I heard about when each of them were younger much more than I heard stories about myself!  Mom loved to talk about Karen and Jerry when they babies.  I do think it is very interesting that because of our age difference, Karen and I had very different "birth" stories.  When Karen was born (in 1938), mom stayed in the hospital for 10 days! ON HER BACK in bed!  She was not allowed to walk anywhere until they sent her home.  I remember her saying that she was so weak from not moving around that she was afraid she would drop Karen!   Contrast that birth with my own in 1954.  Mom went to the hospital on Monday morning at around 5:30am, I was born at 7:10am.  On Wednesday morning the doctor suggested that she should go home since my dad had to leave town on business.   So she did! It was a small town and the doctor knew that she had plenty of help at home.   I heard stories about Karen and Jerry during the years my dad was in WWII.  I heard stories of Julie when she was sick.  I heard stories about Greg and the troubles that he got into as a small boy.   So, sorry to my siblings, but I think I know some of your "secrets"!  Mom made sure to share them with me.   I am so thankful that I got to listen to these stories.  Unfortunately, we have lost the art of "storytelling".  You know, that verbal passing on of family stories and history.   In a way, this blog is acting as my "storytelling".  

Jesus, thank you for my mom and the wonderful years that we had together.  Thank you for my siblings.  Holy Spirit, help us all to see the benefit of keeping our family history alive by sharing it!   Holy Spirit keep our eyes, ears and hearts open to see you working in our family times.  Jesus, thank you for giving me more reasons to celebrate and remember my mom.   Thank you for the spiritual heritage in our family.   Amen

Problems that turn into blessings!

Yesterday I was reminded, once again, that sometimes a problem might actually be a blessing in disguise.  I was getting ready to leave Gwen's house, after another wonderful day with them, when my car seemed to be totally dead!   Now this is frustrating on several levels.  First of all, there is an almost brand new battery in this car - just purchased in November.  Secondly, I had another time when my car would not start.  When Ken came to figure out the problem (since it was just weeks after the new battery), he discovered that the cable to the battery was loose. So he connected the cable and tightened it and since that, everything has been fine.  Here we are, just a couple of months later and the car won't start.  When I opened the hood, there was the battery cable, NOT connected, AGAIN!  Thankfully, Tim was able to just push the cable on and the car started right away.  I got home just a bit later than normal and Ken was able to fix (for the time being) this battery problem.   As I was driving home I was thinking about this "problem".  In the morning I was reading a Facebook post by my Kenyan friend Lucy.  She was recounting all the ways that Jesus works in our daily life.  One of the ways she noted was through "problems".  As she said, sometimes the problem we face actually keeps us out of what might be a real disaster.   I was imagining the accident that I might have avoided or some other thing that I can't even imagine!   So, I am thankful for this blessing, yesterday. 

A few weeks ago, I had a dream.  In the dream there was a very large banquet table, and it was filled with the most amazing looking food.  I have a picture similar to the one above, hanging in my bedroom.  But in the dream, the chairs were all filled with people and the table (and the plates) were filled with food!  There were also lots of people standing around the table - which I thought was kind of interesting.  I felt that this dream had something to do with Communion, but it seemed that there was more.  While I knew that there was a message in this dream, I couldn't quite figure it out.  Then a couple of other things came up.  First, I saw a video of Heidi Baker describing the floods in Mozambique.  The short video brought me to tears.  I can't find the link to the exact video, but you can watch a more recent video about the flooding here Heidi Baker - flooding.   And then I got invited to a Passover Seder.  Well, these three things did not seem at all connected...........until I spent a very powerful hour in worship at HUB on Sunday night.  

I  can't explain exactly how I began to put these very odd pieces together, but what I began to see during worship was a FLOOD of the Holy Spirit and a FLOOD of revelation of exactly who Jesus is, that was going to happen all over the world at Passover Seder celebrations.   I felt that all of those people that were standing BEHIND the chairs in that dream, had not yet discovered the host of that banqueting table - Jesus.   It seemed that many people are "stuck in the mud" (which was shown very clearly in the Heidi Baker video) and while they are very close to the truth, they are not quite there.  I just love that Jesus may well be using that flood - that problem - in Mozambique as a blessing.  Please join me in praying for all of these things.  Pray for Heidi Baker, her ministry, and everyone in Mozambique.  Pray for all of those Passover Seders around the world.  Pray for a new and renewed revelation of Jesus in that special meal. There is plenty of room at that "Communion" table!  And pray for that flood of the Holy Spirit over all of us! 

Jesus, thank you for the reminder to see the blessing in every problem.   Thank you for speaking to me in dreams and bringing further revelation during worship.  Jesus, bless Heidi Baker and bring more of your provision and presence to Mozambique.  Yahweh, it is your plan that ALL would be saved.  Holy Spirit, bring revelation of Jesus during all of the Passover Seders.  Let there be a flood of new saints taking their places at that Communion table.   Amen
 

Family time and new things!

Today was, indeed, a day of celebration!   We spent the day together as a family.  All of the kids and grandkids (but only 2 of the 3 "granddogs").  Yes, it was a sunny, warm and wonderful day.   And I am in the "celebration" mode!  We ate, talked, laughed and played with the kids.  Anna mostly slept.  We watched a little bit of a baseball game (since Zeke is always saying he wants "baseball" when you ask what he wants for his birthday).  However after a bit of watching the Cubs, (losing, of course), he decided that he doesn't like baseball very much.  

Yesterday my niece Susan, posted on Facebook that it was her 16th Wedding Anniversary.   I had forgotten that she got married in April.  But I remember the weekend of that wedding for lots of reasons.   First is this picture............

My sister Karen had suggested that we have this picture taken when we were all in Kansas City for Susan's wedding.  So, early on Saturday morning, we went to a studio and had this picture taken.   I am so grateful for this picture!   Not a typical "professional" picture since we were all sitting on the floor.  But I just love the casual nature of this picture.   And we spent a lot of time laughing as the photographer tried to get us all "arranged" for this shot.   It was memorable, to say the least.  But this is one of the few really good pictures I have of all of my siblings and my mom.   Hard to believe that it was 16 years ago.  And that my mom and my sister are both gone now. This picture is up in my bedroom and I look at it every day. 

The second really powerful memory I have of this weekend, 16 years ago, was the actual trip............the driving to Kansas City.  And the reason that my memory is so strong is that Doug was in High School and Gwen was in College.   Imagine that back seat.   Neither one of them really wanted to be in a car, making a very long drive.   And then there was the hotel.  Yes, we had a bigger "suite" hotel room, but they still ended up not very happy.   This was, in fact, the LAST time we ever went anywhere, in one car, on any kind of a trip.   So the memory marked the end of an era for our family.  

I just love that these two memories are framed, today, with the wonderful family time that we had.  I just love seeing Gwen and Doug as adults that seem to really like being around each other.   And I couldn't be more sure that it was God ordained that Tim and Susie are part of our family.  Seeing those  sweet little grandchildren certainly helps to change my perspective on being so disconnected from my own siblings.   So even when one "era" of my family seemed to end - car trips and vacations, there was this time today, another wonderful era for us.  And even though my mom and sister are no longer with us, that picture reminds me daily, of all that Jesus has done in my family. 

Don't you just love that even when it seems like things are ending, it really just means that there is some new thing just around the corner?   It can sure change the way you view things.  I was thinking about it today.  And I will add this wisdom into my memory bank so that the next time an "era" seems to be ending, my perspective will be in the right place.  

Thank you Jesus, for helping me to continue to celebrate the month of April.   Thank you for the reminder from Susan that brought me to these wonderful memories.  Mostly today, thank you for my family and all that you are doing in each person.   Holy Spirit, help us all to look beyond the endings to the new beginnings that you have planned and purposed for us.  And thank you for the very spring-like weather and the sunshine today!   Amen

Work, reminders, a great photo, and reason to celebrate!

So today at work I had one of those "quick" realizations.  You know, the kind of thing that just pops into your mind at the strangest time?  I was trying to keep a group of 16 little three year olds "entertained" when there was about 40 minutes left until lunch time.   I had read a couple of books, but their interest (and desire) to sit still was simply not there.  On a better weather day (not 35 degrees and raining and windy) we would have been outside letting these kids run off their energy.  But sadly, not today.  So I used the wonderful (life-saving) CD's that Gwen had given to me, of active kid friendly songs.  We "Tapped our Toes", we chugged like "trains", we marched like "We are the dinosaurs", and we went "Fast and Slow".  (Note -  all of these are preschool songs). Then we sat down and did a couple of counting "finger-plays".  And it was just as I realized that there was still a good 15 minutes before lunch time, when I launched into "5 little Ducks".  Then, the realization hit me....... Most of the "good stuff" that I know to keep preschoolers happy is Christian based and therefore can't be used at my current job.  

It's funny how you know something, but then the reality of that fact just hits you in the face?   I would say that about 75% of my preschool music "library" (you know, the music that just pops into your head) is Christian.   I can't sing Jesus Loves Me or Arky Arky, at work!  Yep, this is a different playing field for me.   And it is certainly stretching me and giving me lots of things added to my prayer list every day.  

Which brings me to my actual topic for tonight's blog.  Remembering that I said that I was going to spend the month of April with a spirit of celebration, tonight I am celebrating this amazing picture!

I actually just downloaded the pictures from Ellie's 5th Birthday party (actually held on March 8), and here is the above picture!   I am celebrating this for several reasons.  First, it is a great picture of Ken holding Anna.  Not the most usual thing!  Most of the time I am the one holding the baby.   But on that day, I was busy helping with other things.  And then the fact that it is a picture of Ken and Gwen!  Another not so normal thing.   Usually, once again, it is ME and Gwen with Anna.   This photo is just so worth celebrating.   It is such a natural picture of both Ken and Gwen and Anna is peacefully sleeping.    It just makes me smile and makes my heart happy!  Yep, I love this picture!

 

Isn't it interesting how Jesus puts us in "out of the box" situations (like my current work), so that we have to rely on the Holy Spirit and not necessarily what comes most naturally for us?   And even though I am NOT using all those Christian, Biblical songs, every time one comes into my mind, I am reminded to shot up those arrow prayers for these children and their families.  I really celebrate those moments when the Holy Spirit reminds me that there is a plan and purpose for my current work situation.  And this picture of Ken and Gwen with Anna reminds me of the importance to catching those moments of celebration.  What a great reminder of the plan and destiny that Jesus has for my family.  

 

Jesus, thank you for preschool music, for finger plays and your gentle reminders.   Holy Spirit, your plans for us include putting us in sometimes difficult situations.  But you give us the courage, boldness and inspiration that we need to walk through them.   Thank you Jesus for family and the reminder of the bigger picture of your plans and destiny for us.  Thank you for giving me reasons to celebrate every day.  Amen  

"Speaking to the Heart"

Over the last couple of months I have been doing a lot of thinking and praying about this book.   I have known Lynn Zuk-Lloyd, the author of this book,  for almost 33years!   I almost couldn't believe it when I started thinking about that.  That is a really long time.  I know it was that long because Gwen was a toddler and Doug was not yet born.   Lynn moved into my neighborhood and stopped by my house for a "craft sale" that another friend and I were having.  That year the "crafts" that I was making were mostly toys.   We had wooden dolls with clothes that attached with Velcro.  We made playmats for cars.  And also felt "books" that had lots of pieces to create various scenes. There was also several small dolls among other things.  It was a short lived "business", but really a lot of fun. Kind of the beginning of my interest in crafts and creating.   

Lynn is an amazing artist and author.   Over the years I have seen and read some of the books and art pieces and cards that she has created.   Lynn and I have had some really deep discussions about Jesus.  It has been such a joy to see how her relationship with Jesus has deepened and grown and enhanced her artwork.   She IS an artist!  I, on the other hand, am much more a "crafter". 

Which brings me to this book.   Lynn asked me to submit some "artwork" that I created for my grandchildren.   These "scrapbook" frames for Lia, Ellie and Zeke were birthed out of some very clear prophetic words that I received for them.  I have never really experienced "seeing" and "knowing" exactly what something is supposed to look like before it is actually completed.   But that is what happened with those frames.  A few days ago I completed the frame for Anna.  It was so satisfying.  I felt the completion of the series.  Soon I will share a picture of the final frame on this blog.

And now these three pieces of art are included in this book alongside some truly amazing artists.   I am humbled and awed at that fact.   I can see the hand of Jesus on this book.   It feels a lot like doing this blog.   Way beyond anything that I could do on my own.  The bigger thing is that there is a purpose that I don't understand fully.   What I do know is that there is a reason and I might not get it, but it is very real.  The book is available on Amazon and you will be blessed by the amazing art and stories contained in this book.  

Jesus, thank you for Lynn and her desire to follow your plan and destiny for her life.  Thank you for all of the artists represented in this book.   Bless them with continued inspiration and creativity.   Holy Spirit, would you get this book into the hands of people who most need to be encouraged by this message?  Thank you for divine connections and friendships.    Amen