Sharing Part 1 - where my testimony begins

So based on my post yesterday, I am going to spend the next few weeks sharing small bits and pieces of my testimony.  Some of what I will share may have already been on this blog, but I am going to assume that there is someone out there who may need to hear this today!  All day today I've been thinking about how powerful it is to hear someone's testimony.  I was remembering the many, many times that I was encouraged and uplifted hearing about the large and small miracles that happen around us day after day.  Today I decided to share my first encounter with Jesus when I was 4 years old.

I know exactly how old I was when this happened, because we only lived in Aberdeen, South Dakota for a few years.  And I was not yet in school.  One night, I had a very powerful dream that has never left me.  I was walking down a path in very beautiful garden.  Very much like the photo above.  Suddenly Jesus was with me.  He was holding my hand as we walked along.  He told me, in a way that a four year old could understand, who he was and the entire Gospel message.  I remember very clearly my surprise when Jesus said that he had died on a cross.  He assured me that it was okay, since his Daddy had brought him back to life so that all of us could live forever.  The last thing that he said to me was that Easter was about HIS story, and not the Easter bunny.  And I needed to tell everyone the truth about who Jesus is and what Easter is all about. 

I remember telling my mom about this dream, shortly afterwards.  And I remember very clearly her reaction!  Very simply it was, "We don't talk about things like this.  Don't tell anyone about this dream".   So I did as I was told.  I never said a word to anyone.  At least not until I was much older. But here's the thing! When I talk about this dream, I can still feel the way my hand felt as he was holding it.  I can't explain the powerful influence that this dream had on my life.  Shortly after this I received my first Bible.  I spent many, many hours reading that Bible.  I loved the "red letters" - everything that Jesus said.  I knew, deep down in my spirit, that Jesus was walking with me, that he loved me and cared about me.  I also knew that he had given me an important message to share. 

Most of the last 25 years I have been sharing one main message -  Children can and do hear Jesus speaking to them and God has a destiny and a plan that he will reveal for each child.  This life changing message was birthed in that dream, so long ago. 

So, this is the very beginning of my "walk" with Jesus.  I am so grateful that I had been brought to church as an infant, and became part of the family of God through Baptism.  It was a blessing to have been in Sunday School and church so that I knew who Jesus was, when I met him in this dream. 

I know that I have said this before, but here is another reminder.  God has a plan and destiny for each one of us.  That includes everyone!  Even those little children.  And more than that, Jesus wants to share this plan and destiny with us!  All we have to do is ask, wait silently, and listen!   Pick up a pen and write down those thoughts in your head.  Sketch out a picture.  Flip open your Bible and wait for a verse to come alive.  And the next time you have a chance, ask a child what Jesus has been saying to them!  You just might be surprised! 

Jesus, thank you for your presence with us! Holy Spirit, continue to empower us to share our stories.  Give us courage and boldness to testify about the miracles and wonders that happen each day.  Thank you Jesus, for this blog and all that take time to read these words.  Bless them with assurance of your presence with them.   Amen

Celebrating the power of sharing!

These two photos represent 4th of July's that I remember very well.  The top picture is Gwen at the age of 2 months - taken July 4, 1979!  We just happened to be out shopping to pick up a few items at Kmart before going on a picnic, and they were taking pictures in the store.  We decided at the last minute, to have Gwen's picture taken.  Although this had already faded badly before we got it scanned, I still love it!  She was dressed in that darling red white and blue dress with matching shoes.  I loved that little dress!  I can't help but to notice how much Anna looks like Gwen!  The bottom picture was taken on July 4, 1983.  We were on our way to spend the day at our good friends house.   I love this holiday memory, captured in a photo.

Gwen posted this picture on Facebook today!  I love that Gwen takes these pictures.  The best thing is that I will most likely get to look at this picture next year during the month of July.  Gwen usually makes me a wall calendar with pictures, so I get to enjoy them all year. 

 

It has been an interesting evening.  Ken and I decided that we would go out and try to see the fireworks.  Now we live in a very small suburb of only around 14,000.  And every town around here has their own fireworks. We decided to try to park a bit away from the park where the fireworks display happens.  We know of a small industrial area a short distance from the park, so we decided that would be a good place.  Well, apparently EVERYONE in our town decided to go there!  The streets were lined with cars.  As we drove home, EVERY street had cars and people.  One little lake had rows and rows of chairs and people on the grass.  It was really silly.  I really didn't know that there were that many people in our town!  Needless to say, we drove home and skipped the fireworks.  It was quite an adventure! 

 

All in all, this was a really nice day.  The weather was spectacular.  It was warm, but not hot.  There were a few clouds and a soft breeze.  Ken did a bit of yard work and I sat outside and watched!  Ken went on a bike ride and I just chilled.  We grilled brats for dinner and ate corn on the cob.  Yes, I would say this was a really nice 4th of July.  In spite of missing the fireworks.  It was a great day.

 

Here's the thing.  I love that because this is a "special" day, we mark the day with photos.  And memories.  Ken and I talked about the last few years and how we celebrated.  It is good to spend time talking and remembering together.  In some ways, this has become a lost art.  People don't spend time really telling stories about the past.  And we also don't spend much time giving our testimony.  Nor do we share stories of how Jesus has blessed us and answered prayers.  We don't talk about the miracles we have seen in our families.  How sad is this?  We have lost the power of our testimony!

I was thinking of these verses from Revelation 12:10-11.....

"For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God

day and night, has been hurled down.  They triumphed over him by the

blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony"

 

Wow!  Isn't that amazing?  There is so much power in our testimony, yet we don't use this gift!  I am going to remember this lesson. More than that, I am going to DO this lesson.  So for the rest of the month of July, I am going to be sharing my stories (my testimonies).  And I am going to be expecting to hear some of your stories also.  Please share them with me.  Share them with others.  Let's start a new trend and share lots of good news stories that bless others.  What a joy this will be.  This is a great 4th of July message.  Its all about freedom.  The freedom that we have in Jesus.  The freedom that we have in this country to SHARE our testimony about Jesus.  Yes, this is a reason to celebrate. 

 

Jesus, thank you for the freedom you bring to us.  Those you set free are free indeed!  Holy Spirit, thank you for the reminder and the nudge to share more testimonies of all that you have done.  What a blessing it is to be able to share openly.  Thank you for this country and the freedoms that we have. Holy Spirit, give us all courage and boldness to testify about all that you have done for us.  Amen



 



Thankful to be flying the flag......

So today is one of those days that lots of people decide to put a flag out to celebrate the Fourth of July!  At our house, we have a flag flying EVERY day - since 9/11.  I can't imagine coming home and not seeing that flag on the house.  Just last weekend Ken put up a new flag.  Something that we do about once a year.  We knew that our old flag had gotten a bit faded and we were planning to change it out.  Then we had a very bad storm with strong winds, and one side of our flag came loose.  So the decision to change to the new flag was an easy one! 

I do love the fourth of July.  For all of my childhood we were at the "Lake" for the 4th.  From the time I was in early grade school, I had firecrackers!  Everyone did.  The little ones (although I know they were still dangerous) were called "Lady Fingers".  And we always had some "Big" firecrackers and fireworks that we shot off, usually off of a raft out in the lake.  Yes, I have lots of great memories of family celebrations around this holiday.  I remember one very memorable July 4th, when I got the worst sunburn of my life!  I had been out on the lake for the entire day.  The backs of my legs were a blistered mess!  And just to get in a plug for the use of sunscreen, I had to have a small growth removed from my leg, thanks in part to that sunburn.  Needless to say, I use sunscreen every day now.  Boy how things have changed! 

So tonight I am also thankful for the wonderful cool air coming from our vents!  Yes, we got our new furnace and air conditioner.  This was not an inexpensive day. 

And it was not an easy day for the guys doing the installation!  Our furnace is in a tight little closet in our powder room.  And we have 37 year old pipes and tubes and wires.  These wonderful men finally left our house around 8:00pm last night.  And even though it was only in the 50's, we ran that air conditioning.  For the first time in several days, I could actually breath!  It's amazing how much difference it makes when you have allergies.  It was money well spent.  We will have a much more efficient furnace for next winter also, and we won't be concerned about having no heat when it is below zero. 

Yes, it has been a couple of thankful days.  I love that even in the midst of various obstacles and not so wonderful events, I am reminded to be thankful for all that we have.  I think somewhere around noon today, I realized that I was feeling quite upbeat!  Normally this would not be something to write about.  But given the past couple of weeks, it was a miracle!  In my Bible reading today, I read

" But you, Lord, are a shield around me, the glory and the One who lifts my head high.  I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain.  I lie down and sleep.  I wake again, because the Lord sustains me."  Psalm 3:3-5

I love thinking about Jesus lifting my head up (helping me be upbeat)!  Yes, it is amazing thing to remember that every day that we wake up, it is because Jesus is the one who sustains us.  Yes, its been a good couple of days.  And more fun in the long weekend ahead. 

Jesus, you are an amazing and wonderful Lord.  Thank you for your answers when I call out to you.  Holy Spirit thank you for peace and joy and rest.  Thank you for air conditioning and gifted and talented men to install it.  Thank you for family time and holidays and celebrations.  Amen

When the bubble breaks.........

I had a really wonderful day today.  Gwen and I took the kids to the local Children's Museum.  I can tell you that a couple of hours at this place is long enough for this grandma!  The kids had a blast!  I love this picture of Lia putting herself inside of a bubble.  The kids discovered that it was very messy when that bubble broke!  It's a good thing that bubbles = soap and it's not a big deal to get a bit of a bubble mess.  Then after this time at the museum, Gwen's childhood best friend brought her one month old baby to our house for a visit.  We had a great lunch and both Gwen and I got some time holding this sweet little boy, who seems so much littler than Anna!  But on the down side, it was WARM in our house since our air conditioning is now totally not working.   And just to add to the day, they are repaving the roads in our subdivision.  So it was a bit sweaty and smelly in our house!
I believe that we all had a good time, in spite of this.  

Yes, the last couple of weeks have seemed a bit like that bubble bursting.  (Which I guess is just another way to say getting dumped on!)  Losing a job, finding out you need a new furnace and air conditioner - yes, these are not pleasant things.  I love looking at this picture of Lia.  You can see the rainbow in the bubble.  I love the look on her face.   Just before the bubble burst!  It's good to remember the rainbow and the joy that precedes the bursting.  I have been reminded of the amazing provision of the Lord for Ken and I.   We are blessed with a wonderful home and we have always had jobs provided exactly when we needed them. In my Bible reading today, I came upon this verse -

"For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." 2Chronicles 16:9

 

I love this idea that Jesus is watching over the entire earth.  Doesn't that put all of our own problems and situations into perspective?  On one hand, he is mindful of the entire earth but on the other hand, he cares about ME!  It's a wonderful thing to hold the picture of the rainbow filled bubble in the front of your mind.  Remember that all that I have and do, is because of the provision and love and care of Jesus.  That makes the point of the bubble burst a lot easier to take.  Because the kids discovered very quickly, that there was another bubble just around the corner.   And I will remember, that there is another job out there, in His time and His plan.   Tonight I am especially thankful for the provision of exactly the right company to install a new furnace and air conditioner TOMORROW!  Ken and I were really expecting that it may be next week before we were comfortable again.  This is truly a miracle. 

 

Jesus, thank you so much for your watchful eyes that bring your strength to us.  Holy Spirit, thank you for the rainbows that remind us of your love and care.  And thank you especially for your joy.  Jesus thank you for trustworthy friends and wonderful family times.  Amen

A day at the races.... and thinking of snow!

So you know when you kind of drive yourself crazy looking for something that you KNOW just has to be somewhere?   Well, I just spent a couple of hours doing just that!

It all started because Ken was invited to go to the drag races with Doug!  Doug just posted the above picture on facebook with this quote "0-320 in 3.7 seconds, yes please!"   I was thinking about how awesome it is that Doug and Ken love to do these kinds of things together.  And then I remembered another race that Ken and Doug attended.  And I began to look for the photo that had hung on our refrigerator for so long.  Well, I looked and I looked but I just could not find that picture.  It was from a lawn mower race!  Yes, that's right!  A lawn mower race.  Doug was pretty young.  I'm not exactly sure how old he was, but I think he was about 6 or 7.  Consequently I looked through many, many boxes of photos and many, many albums.  I did find this picture, which I am fairly certain was taken on the same day.  The photo I could NOT find was Ken and Doug together. 

I feel so thankful for my adult children!  I feel this so much when Gwen and I spend time together. And when I get to spend time with Susie.  I am so thankful that we love scrapbooking and that gives us a reason to be together.  And a day like today makes me thankful for Ken and Doug's relationship that includes cars, motorcycles, races, and loud music.  Sadly, I was not with Gwen today, although we were supposed to be spending the day together.  A child with a stomach bug was all it took to cancel our plans.  Thankfully, it seems that it was a short lived illness and Lia is feeling much better tonight! 

   

So, once again, I have been thinking about one of those "Today God wants you to know" posts that show up on my Facebook page.  Here is today's..........

 

Today, Lyn, we believe God wants you to know that ...you belong.

Like a snowflake, you are same and different from all others. In a bed of snow,

every snowflake belongs and every snowflake is unique.

 

I am always a bit surprised when these posts hit on something that has been in my thoughts.  I confess that this is something that I struggle with quite a bit.  I have many, many times when I feel sort of "out of place".  Sometimes it may be because I am not with a group of people, sometimes it is because I am older than the group, sometimes there is no obvious reason WHY I feel this way, I just do!  But knowing that you belong is very important.  No one wants to be left out. Right now I think that being out a job is fueling this feeling.   I love this analogy of snow.  I will need to meditate on this and keep this in my head.  Even though it is hot today, I will be thinking about snow.  And I will be reminding myself that I BELONG!  I am in God's family, and because of Jesus, I have a big and wonderful family.  That is where I really belong. 

Jesus, thank you for the reminder today that I belong in your family.  Holy Spirit, thank you for your reminders that help us focus on the truth of who we are in Jesus.   Thank you for Ken and Doug and Susie and Gwen and Tim.   Continue to lead and guide us every day.   Thank you for this picture of snow that will help me remember where I belong!  Amen




Four year flashback

So today I was thinking about this new "app" that shows you flashbacks for past years.  I have not yet gotten that app, but when I was in a store today, a sales person was showing someone a picture from her phone on that app.  So when I got home, I did a little looking back myself, and realized that 4 years ago today (2010) Ken and I were just beginning one of our longest vacations ever!  I think I would have to say that this 2010 vacation was one of my all time favorite vacations.  This was our first "real" day of that vacation.  On the previous day we had traveled for 15 hours.  This was a long awaited day at Blackwater River State Park in Alabama, near to the Florida border.  We had tried to kayak at this location on a different trip, but it was 32 degrees and snowing on that day.  On this day in 2010 it was beautiful.  The water is really black appearing, caused by a mineral in the soil, but crystal clear.  The sand is the white sand just like the beaches of Pensacola.  For the first hour we were there it was wonderful and we had a quiet paddle.  Until about 9:00am.  Suddenly, it was just a sea of people along the entire stretch of the river.  And there were swimmers and floats and it was just crazy.  This was all caused by the oil spill that had closed all the ocean beaches in Pensacola and the surrounding area.  So everyone was at the Park to swim!  We were glad to be out of there by 10:00am. 

But the rest of this trip was amazing.  We traveled 3860 miles on this trip.  Illinois to Alabama to the Gulf coast of Florida, to Marco Island Florida, to the Atlantic side of Florida.  From there we traveled to Washington DC and then made our way home.  It was 16 days and lots of time in the car, but still really a great time. 

I guess I am spending time flashing back to 2010 vacation is because our vacation this year did not turn out exactly as I planned, and I still feel like I need a vacation!  Isn't it silly how we all seem to need these vacations?  I think it is because we don't have enough rest in our day to day life.  We don't celebrate the Sabbath rest.  Our weekends are so filled with all of the "stuff" that we need to get done, because our work week is so busy.  And just as I have discovered this week (and wrote about yesterday), we don't sit and wait in silence.   And now that I am without a job, this seems really silly.  I have plenty of time, but it is not the same as being away on a vacation.

So, while I still would like to have another vacation to look forward to, I will practice more waiting and more rest.  And deep breathe and relax.  All the while I will be remembering to turn my focus onto Jesus.  And yes, I will also be remembering the relaxing time paddling on that river. 

Jesus, thank you for all the ways you have provided for Ken and I over the past years.  Thank you for vacations and travel and kayaks and beaches and exploring.  Especially thank you for pictures and memories that can remind us of peace and rest.  Holy Spirit, remind us to stop and rest and turn our focus onto you.  Change our perspective to heavenly things!   Amen

"Waiting in Silence for God only"

So I am remembering my last post......getting dumped on. Last night it became apparent that our Air Conditioning was not working - again.  So today we had yet another service person out to look at our unit.  And it was all bad news.  Both Ken and I thought our furnace and air conditioner were around 15 years old.  Sadly we were mistaken.  They are actually from 1993, and beyond good functioning.  So, we will be arranging to have a new furnace and air conditioner installed.  It does feel a bit like getting dumped on.  Especially since I have not found a new job! 

But here is the thing.  I am not feeling all that upset about this.  And I believe it is because of all the prayers that are being said for me right now, since I am unemployed!  Isn't it funny how that works out?  If I wasn't being covered in prayer by so many faithful friends, this might have really thrown me for a loop.  But today, it just seemed - sort of just one of those things.  As a matter of fact, I know that the Holy Spirit gave me wisdom and a potential plan of action to take care of not only this event, but also several other large repairs that are needed on our home. 

Being in that "dump" of the Holy Spirit on Sunday night sure helped and I am so thankful.  I've been reading Psalm 62 this week and meditating on everything packed into these verses. 

1 My soul waits in silence for God only; from Him is my salvation.

2  He only is my rock and my salvation. My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.

3. How long will you assail a man. That you may murder him, all of you, like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?

and then verse 5  My soul waits in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him.

6.  He only is my rock and my salvation.  My stronghold. I shall not be shaken.

I can not seem to let go of the concept of waiting in silence for God.  On Sunday night we were talking about how often we babble on and on with our requests to God.  Like somehow our words are going to achieve something.  I know I have been guilty of this.  It's really easy to cross a point into feeling like if we pray the right words, if they are exactly right, THEN our prayer will be answered.  And the reality is that God is the one who acts in His own time.  And I have discovered this week that there is great peace in waiting silently for God only.   I had waves and waves of peace just wash over me.  No direct answers to my needs.  But peace that passes understanding.  Wonderful, warm, comfort as I just sat and waited in silence.  I have to say this was some of the most wonderful prayer time I have ever had.  I am so thankful for the leader on Sunday, that brought forth this particular Psalm, in this translation (NASB).  If I were reading this in NIV (my usual, preferred version) I would have missed this.  It really does not read the same at all.  What a blessing this has been to me!And the evidence of all the peace I have received, is my response to my broken air conditioning. 

Jesus, thank you for preparing me for this week.  Holy Spirit, I love how you know exactly what we need and when we need it.  Thank you for Nancy and her insights shared that bless so many.  Holy Spirit, help us to all to get comfortable being silent and waiting.  Thank you for the peace you give in the waiting.   Amen