Unexpected gift that brings a sweet memory

On Wednesday at my small group, one of my dear friends brought this lovely plant for my birthday! She has been missing our group for a variety of reasons and we were all so delighted to have her back in our midst!  And then, she came bearing special gifts for all of us with birthdays in the last month.  She would have no way of knowing just how special this little African Violet plant was to me, and that made it all the more special.  Here's why.

Ever since my birthday I have been thinking about my mom.  She has come to mind so often and I have been really missing her.  I guess there is no one who shares your birthday with you MORE than your mom.  It is interesting that I feel this on my own children's birthdays.  As a mom you always stop and remember that special time right as your kids are born.  The very first flowers I ever remember were the African Violets that sat on our kitchen window sill.  My mom usually had at least one but usually there were more than one!  I remember that she had a real knack for starting new plants by taking a cutting and rooting it in water.  What a great little "reminder" of mom this plant was for me!  I am usually not very successful in keeping plants alive, so we will see if I do a better job with this one than all the others I have tried to raise.  Isn't it great how just when you need it, these little reminders show up.  For me, it is knowing that Jesus knows about me missing mom!

In all that thinking about my mom, I am feeling so blessed that Gwen is close enough that I get to see her all the time.  I love this picture of the three of us.... me, my mom and Gwen.

In the last week I have thinking about what an amazing woman Gwen has become.  She has a full and busy life that makes me wonder where her energy comes from!  Raising four young children, a part time job teaching 16 four year olds in a preschool, home schooling her oldest three, teaching and mentoring junior high and high school youth at her church, leading a women's Bible Study, AND training to run a half marathon in a couple of weeks!  This list does not even touch on the many more ways that she supports and blesses her many friends and family members.  I suppose that her life is not that much different from many young working moms.  But she manages this all while keeping her focus on what is really important.  For Gwen and Tim, their relationship to Jesus is central for their family.  And it shows in so many ways.  

My mom just loved to listen to Gwen fill her in on all that was happening in her life.  One of her greatest joys was listening to Gwen sing and/or play her flute.  I was thinking about this last week as I listened to Lia practicing piano!  And I just love it when my "girls" (Lia and Ellie) facetime with me and I get to hear all about what is happening in their world.  Yes, it is one of those times when I feel the "generational tree" shifting and I am suddenly on the very top.  But what a wonderful example my mom was for me.   And now I really "get it".  I am beginning to understand just how important this grandparenting job is.   I recently saw this video (click the link), made for Grandparent's day called -Grandparents are important.  It is a sweet video that highlights a lot of things that I and many of my friends are experiencing.  I am so thankful that passing on my Christian heritage is part of my role as Grandma Lyn.  I love that I get to sing some of my very favorite songs and hymns with them, I get to pray with them and listen to their Bible stories.  It is a very special thing and I am very blessed.  

I know that my mom would have loved to watch all of her great grandchildren growing up.  She loved on all of her grandchildren and relished all the time she had with them.  It is so bittersweet to realize that the seasons of our life pass oh so quickly.    I think that is one reason that grandparents really enter into times with their grandchildren.  The reality of a shortness of time is really clear the older that you get.   

But along with that is also the very clear Biblical directive that none of us know the number of our days.  We are all to live as if each day may be our last. That thought can really change what is important.  Suddenly, things don't matter much at all.  Spending time together, loving each other, sharing - that is what really counts.  It is a good reminder that the time I have with my children and my grandchildren is precious and important.  

Yes, I love that this sweet flower brought such good memories to my mind.  I can't think of another time when I have felt so blessed.  It is a good follow up reminder for me, from my blogs in the last few weeks.  Even if I am not sure exactly where my path should be leading or what goal I am supposed to pursue, I know that what I AM doing, the time I am spending with Lia, Ellie, Zeke and Anna, is meaningful.   That is a great and special gift.

Jesus, thank you for knowing our hearts and bringing exactly what we need to us.  Holy Spirit, keep us all mindful of the important things each day.  Keep our eyes on Jesus and remind us to see each day as a blessing.  Thank you for wonderful flowers and great videos that stir our hearts.  Amen

Feeling of accomplishment....without a fear of failure!

Don't you just love the look on Anna's face after she built this really tall Lego tower?  She was so happy and so proud.  This all started because her older siblings were not so happy with her attempts to play with the very tiny pieces of their Lego sets.  I knew exactly where her "big" Lego's were and she was delighted when I brought them out for her.  We spent a very long time building towers that sometimes fell down or sometimes were knocked down.  Which made Anna laugh and laugh.  She was just as happy when her creations fell apart as when she put them together!

And, as always, there is a lesson for me in this little activity.  She worked so hard to build those towers, yet she was not upset when they fell.  She just calming said "AGAIN!" over and over.  This had me thinking about all the times that I was not very happy when something I had worked on didn't turn out as I expected or wanted.  As a matter of fact, many times I just gave up when things went wrong.  Isn't that a pretty common response?  This morning on the radio, I heard a short story about the CEO of Pixar Studios.  He views failures as something positive.   He says that failure is a necessary consequence of doing something new!

WOW!  Isn't that a unique idea?  But think about all of those new things that we learn in life - starting when we are babies!  Not many babies stand up and walk across the room.  There are usually weeks and weeks of wobbly steps and lots of falling down on your bottom.  We don't think of this a failure - rather as learning!  Yet as adults, if we try something new and it doesn't work out right away, we are quick to say it was a failure.  And even worse, to think of ourselves as failures.  I wonder how many amazing new things are lost to us because people just called it a failure and gave up.

After our Lego building, we all went to the park.  Anna has watched all of her older siblings working on the monkey bars.  She is certainly not able to reach them.  So when she discovered this bar in the slide, she knew just what she wanted to try.  And she was able to hang there for quite a long time.  She managed to swing her feet and fly down the slide!  Quite an accomplishment for a little two and half year old!  She was once again, not afraid to fail.  

And right along with this wonderful lesson, came another bit to add to this.  I heard a teaching on how Jesus takes the failures we have - the bitter things in our life - and brings them together with the success we have - the sweetness - to bring a perfect blend to make us who we are as individuals.  

Both bitter and sweet are needed to make a balanced end product.  And Jesus always turns that bad, bitter stuff  - even when it is of our own doing, into something amazing when He touches our life.  Doesn't that change how we should view all of those past failures?  They are just part of the "spice" that makes us who we are!

I want to change this fear of failure in my life!  I would like to try and do lots of new things and not be afraid of failing.  I have three paintings hanging on my wall because I decided to try a new thing!  And I am sure that there are plenty more new things just around the corner for me to do.  I will just have to be continually reminding myself that it is okay to fail!  And more than that I, I need to re-program my way of thinking!   I need to be more like Anna and be willing to say "AGAIN" when something falls apart.  And most of all, I need to remember to laugh when things don't go right!

I think it is time to look for a new opportunity!  

Jesus, thank you for the lessons you continue to teach me.  Help us all to remember that you take our past mistakes and failures and bring your Holy Spirit to turn sad to glad and bad to good.  Holy Spirit, help us to overcome the fear of failure.  Give us courage and boldness to step out and try new things.  Thank you for new ideas, new thoughts and new concepts.   Amen

Look for the helpers.....

Sunday was the 15th anniversary of the World Trade Center disaster.  It is another one of those dates that you just can't forget.  9/11.  September 11, 2001.  It is a date that touched every person.  I happened to be working at a spot that had television tuned to a morning news show.  I happened to be in view of the TV when they showed video of the first plane hitting.  I remember that I stood there wondering what was really happening.  By the time the second plane hit, it was clear that our country was under attack.  My first thought, of course, was for my family.  Fortunately I was able to get in touch with them and we all were safe at our homes by that evening.  There were so many people who did not have that outcome.  The strangest thing for Ken and I was the absence of airplanes flying overhead.  When you live so close to the "worlds busiest airport" - Ohare Airport -  as well as a second large international airport -   you are very used to seeing and/or hearing planes.  It was so quiet.  I remember feeling powerless to do anything to help.  

Last year Ken and I visited New York City.  It was my first ever trip there.   It was also the first week that the new "One World Trade" building's observation floor was open to the public.  We were fortunate to get tickets to this amazing place.  There are windows 360 degrees, so you can see all of the city.  We stood at this spot for some time, looking down at one of the memorial pools - which is actually the footprint of the destroyed building.  Notice the black square on the lower right corner. 

That view from the 102nd floor was breath taking.  When you see so many buildings crammed so close together, and then you consider the magnitude of the 9/11 disaster, you wonder how so many people survived.  While walking on those streets, I tried to imagine the panic and the terror that filled the hearts and minds of all of those souls trying to leave these crowded streets.  

Fifteen years after this event, I was remembering a quote from "Mr. Rogers Neighborhood".  Fred Rogers said that his mother always told him during any catastrophe to look for the helpers.  It is a good way to shift your focus away from the horror of the events and to see the humanity that presses forward to help one another.  One of my favorite spots in New York City was this church.  

 It is just a few blocks from the Twin Towers,  This place was a refuge for the first responders and all of the clean up crews in the weeks that followed.  This church opened its doors 24 hours a day and provided food, water and a place to sleep to thousand of tired and emotionally drained helpers.  This spot is the helper of the helpers!  Whenever I hear that quote from Mr. Rogers, this is the picture that comes into my mind.  How fitting that this place was preserved and used for such a purpose.

Ken and I toured the museum and walked among the many preserved artifacts from 9/11.  It is a tour that every American should take.  This is a place that we should all walk.  There were so many stories of the helpers.  It is a place to honor and remember those who died that day.  Ken and I got shirts from the museum store.

Yes, when times are hard, when bad things happen, people seem to rise up and realize that we can all help and make a difference.  That is when our lights are shining brightly and we realize that light destroys the darkness.

The outlet that I found to do SOMETHING after 9/11 was prayer.  I went to many interdenominational prayer meetings.  And it was during those times of prayer that I could feel the light pushing out the heavy darkness that had settled over the United States and also over me.  It was during those times of prayer, 15 years ago, that I understood exactly what terrorism does to people.
The light of Jesus was able to cast out fear.  And fear is the central operation of the enemy in terrorism.  Because of 9/11 and the impact these prayer times were for me, I view each new story of terrorism from a different perspective.  I always look for the helpers.  And I always look to THE helper - Jesus.  He is the light of the world.  In Him there is no darkness.  And in this dark world, those of us who carry the life of Jesus do indeed shine brightest when it is the darkest!

I realize that it is now September 13 and most people have breathed a sigh of relief that 9/11 has passed and they don't have to think about it anymore.  But I knew that I needed to wait a few days to share this blog.  It is good to step back and take another look when something is so difficult to think about.  So let this be your "another look" at this fifteenth anniversary of a terrible act of terrorism.  But I encourage you to see the helpers.  And even today, when a sad or terrible story comes across your newsfeed, look for the helpers.  And turn to Jesus.  He will fill you with His light so you can shine brightly today!

Jesus, thank you for stirring your people into action when crisis hit.  Thank you for the courage and boldness of the police officers and fire fighters who are often the first helpers on the scene.  Holy Spirit give us reminders to look for the helpers.  Stir us all to focus on your light, Jesus and guide our steps. Let us be helpers and light bringers!  Amen

From a long ago birthday........

This very faded poster still hangs in my bedroom.  This poster (along with another poster) were given to me by Ken on my 17th Birthday, just after we had started dating.  I love that there is water in this poster.   Ken didn't know me well enough yet to know just how much I loved the water.  The second poster he gave me (which is now so faded you can hardly read it) says "I have to be me, you have to be you, that is the only way we can be us".  This one says "In the solitude of our minds we can look to the future, for we know what we are but not what we may be".   When I first got these, they were thumb tacked to my bedroom wall.  After we were married, Ken took them and had them framed for my 21st birthday. Isn't it interesting how something so small can stay with you for a very long time?

I have often thought about how meaningful and interesting the words on these poster are.  In 1972 when Ken bought these, he had no idea what was ahead for us.  He couldn't even envision us being married.  Yet, here we are 45 years later.   And that saying is still very much true!  We know what we are right now, but we have no idea what the years ahead have in store for us.

I remember so well my 6th birthday.  My mom wanted me to have something special for my "golden" birthday (I turned 6 on the 6th).  But that year was a busy, crazy year for my family.  We had just moved to St. Paul and we were staying in a hotel until our house was ready.  Three kids and a dog in a standard hotel room was no fun.  We had made a quick trip to the lake to "close up" since we were stuck half way moved.  My birthday actually fell on the Tuesday following Labor day - which was the first day of school.  So we had a cake at the Lake to celebrate my birthday.  I don't remember exactly what my present was that year, but it was nothing "golden".  Truthfully, I don't remember very many of my birthday presents growing up.  Birthday's just were not that big of a deal in my family.  I remember my 12th birthday most of all.  My dad drove up with a brand new bicycle for me!  It was purple and the first new bike I ever had!  The most interesting thing about getting this bike was just how much I would need that bike in one years time.  Just before my 13th birthday, we moved to the Chicago area and bikes were the standard means of transportation for kids.  I road the  wheels off of that bike from one side our village to the other.  If I didn't have that bike, I wouldn't have been able to get around.  Looking at this now, the Lord's provision for me seems so clear.  Jesus knew that I would need that bike and he provided it a year in advance!

Yes, birthday's are a time to reflect and also to look ahead.  I've been thinking about what might be in store for me in the years ahead.  It's funny but 62 doesn't feel very old right now.  It feels like there are lots of years ahead and so many things that are yet to be accomplished.  My bucket list just seems to keep growing and growing instead of getting smaller and smaller!   There are places to go and people to see!

More and more I realize that birthday's are not about the presents that are given.  They are not only about remembering the years past, they  are a time to look ahead and celebrate the future.  When that time of reflection on the past reveals just how amazingly Jesus has taken care of you, it is impossible to NOT celebrate and be excited for what is ahead!  And birthdays are a time to be PRESENT IN THE PRESENT!   You know what I mean by this.  Really aware of what is happening right now in this time.  Not so caught up in either the memories or the lists of things to do in the future.  But having your heart tuned in to what is worth celebrating right now!

And that is an amazing place to leave this blog.  In celebration of what Jesus is doing right now - today.  There are songs to sing and people to hug.  There are blue skies outside and white puffy clouds.  There is joy and peace and love and hope.  And it is all found in Jesus.  In His PRESENCE there is the fullness of joy.  There is no greater gift - no present - that is more necessary and life giving than the presence of Jesus!

Jesus, thank you for the reminder that you are the very best gift we could ever receive.  Thank you for your love that seeks us out, even when we are not looking for you.  Thank you for knowing exactly what we need even before we know we need it!  Help us all to stay present in our busy world.  Keep our eyes on you Jesus, and off of our to do lists.  Thank you for your joy.  Amen

When a "Daily Devotion" just fits!

I have a couple of favorite daily devotion books that I have used for years and years.  I often find myself going back to this tried and true book by Oswald Chambers.  I have always loved that the devotion for my birthday is taken from John 7:38.  That verse is my "life verse".  It is the verse that is associated with my name meaning.  That verse says  "Whoever believes in me as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them".  I have read and re-read that days devotion over and over again.  It just speaks into my spirit in such a powerful way.  Today, however, I read the September 7th entry. All I can say is WOW!

This entry begins with the verse John 4:14. "The water I give will become in him a spring of water".
And here are a couple of sentences from the devotion......
*The picture our Lord gives is not a channel but a fountain
*As we receive from Jesus, He will pour out through us
*If life is not flowing out of you, you are to blame, something has obstructed the flow

And I love the last lines of this day's reading...."Never look at this from the standpoint of "who am I".  In the history of God's work you will nearly always find that it has started from the obscure, the unknown, the ignored but the one that is steadfastly true to Jesus Christ."

Today at my small group we were talking about the Holy Spirit and about these exact verses.  We were also reflecting on the key to this entire "rivers of living water flowing out of us".  That key is that we have to have a close relationship with Jesus so that we are getting filled up to overflowing!  So tonight when I picked up this devotional and saw today's topic, it made me sit up and take notice.  As I got to the end of the reading, I just sat and pondered that last line.  Oswald Chambers was making a case for this passage (and the one on September 6) being for EVERYONE!  Not just for the church worker.  Or the pastor.  Or the evangelist.  Not just for the bold person who can easily share their faith with others.  This pouring out of the life of Jesus happens through ALL of us.  That is pretty amazing isn't it.  And if you are thinking that there is nothing flowing out of you right now, Chambers makes the reason really clear.  It is because you have some kind of obstruction in your life that is stopping that flow.  And the answer to clearing up the obstruction is a simple one - get closer to Jesus.

A really interesting thing happened in our meeting this morning.  After all this discussion about the Holy Spirit, we began to pray together.  And suddenly, the heavens opened up and there was a downpour rain!  It was as if Jesus had heard our discussion and He was just pouring out more for all of us.  The rain continued through the entire time that we prayed.  And as our prayer time ended and we were visiting together, the sun came out!  It was a wonderful reminder for me that Jesus is ready to pour out more for us if we just ask.

We had a wonderful birthday celebration after that prayer time.  I am so blessed by these wonderful women who support me through prayer and friendship.  It is easy to feel like we are just not that important in God's plan.  To think that we don't matter.  And to feel that we have nothing to offer and no purpose to serve.  But this devotion just reinforced for me what I feel with this small group.  Jesus uses each of us.  We can never know who we might touch in our daily life.  And I loved the reminder that all we need to do is stay close to Jesus.

Sometimes we all need a wake up call.  We need to open our eyes and see all that Jesus has put around us.  The people, the places that we can let that river flow!  Today for me, it was at my small group.  And it was also the place that I got even more filled up so that I more to share!

My day included receiving these really amazing flowers from my friend.  I love that these are called "Sunset Roses".  They have the colors of the sky!  Yes, this has been an amazing few days of birthday celebrations.  I am so thankful and I am so blessed! It is a fitting end to today and to this blog.

My prayer for all of you reading today is to grow in the understanding of this river of living water that we all carry.  What an amazing and wonderful God we serve that blesses us in the big things and in the little things through our friends and our family and through amazing flowers.  

Jesus, thank you for all of your blessings.  For the rain that reminds us of your presence with us.  For devotion books that point the way to your truth.  For friends who stand with us in good times and bad.  For your amazing creation.  Thank you for your love.  Amen

What a great day!

 Do you ever have one of those days when you just think - "Wow, this was a great day"?  Today was one of those amazing wonderful days for me.  Our family gathered together to celebrate my birthday (which is actually tomorrow).  I love this picture of Ken and I with the grandkids.  Even though it was really hot and humid, we spent a bit of time outside so that the kids could run off some energy.  They managed to find a frisbee in the box of toys, so we watched a rousing game of frisbee toss!  

Then we posed for these pictures.  I love this shot of the "BOYS"!

 And this one of the girls - and given it is my birthday - I use the term "girls" very loosely!

We didn't do anything fancy.  Doug handled the grilling of the burgers and hotdogs.  We had chips and fruit.  Really nothing big.  The best part of the eating was dessert! The cookies that Susie brought (oatmeal raisin - my favorites) and my birthday cake, made by Lia!  I love this 7-Up cake and she has been working on baking this all by herself!

One of the most memorable parts of the day was watching the kids look at the scrapbooks that I take so much time to create. It was so great to see them look at album after album.  It makes me so happy that I have these on a bookshelf,, all set to be enjoyed.  Yes, it was a great way to celebrate another year.  

I listened to a really interesting message last night.   It was actually the speakers birthday and he was sharing some thoughts about that.  Needless to say, this really resonated with me, since this is my birthday week also.   Some things that were included in his message have been my mind today.

First, our births are a part of the master plan of God.  It was His plan that I would be 62 years old tomorrow.  He has specific purposes for each of us that relate to the time period we are born into.  

Doesn't that give you cause to stop and think?  I guess that since this blog is the path that I seem to be on, it makes sense that I would need to be alive NOW when the internet and blogging exist.  It really doesn't seem possible that this computer stuff is very new and really hasn't been around all that long.  

Another thing that was shared in the message last night is the interesting connection to the Jewish New Year for people born in September.  In the Hebrew Calendar this is a month of looking ahead to the New Year.   So, for all of us born in September, this is the perfect time to reevaluate where we are and what we are doing.  Sort of like making "New Years Resolutions" but not for January 1!  In the past, I have sometimes thought about goals for the next year.  But I don't think I have ever really thought about them as plans for a new year.  I think that I will be working on a list for my new year!

Yes, today was a good day.  Ken and I were really appreciating the day today because our day yesterday was NOT so good.  A simple routine changing the furnace filter, ended up causing the furnace to lose all power!  I am so thankful that Ken is really an amazing "handyman" and he jumped right in to figure out this problem and then fix it.  The temperatures were climbing yesterday and the thought of no air conditioning today for our gathering, was not good!  It took him several hours and several trips to the store, but by bedtime last night, we had a much cooler house!  We were imagining just how much  money he saved us on this repair.  Let's see..... a Sunday night, on a holiday weekend.  That would have been a really big bill!   Isn't it amazing how Jesus provides in all things?  

Today was truly a wonderful birthday celebration.  I am so blessed and feel so loved.  How thankful I am for Ken and my children and grandchildren.  I have a great home (that is nicely cool today) and good food to eat.  I don't take any of this for granted.  It is all a gift from Jesus.  Not just on my birthday but every day of the year. 

Jesus, you are so good to us.  Your plans for us include good times with our families.  Holy Spirit, remind us how very blessed we are and help us to remember those who are less fortunate.  Give us grace to know how and when to reach out and share with others.  Thank you for wisdom to fix broken furnaces and time to laugh together.  Help us all to consider our plans for the futures.  Amen

Trying to find the place to put your feet....

This week at Gwen's the kids asked to go to "the park with the fake grass".  Needless to say, Gwen knew exactly which park they were talking about.  As you can see in the picture, the entire play area has some kind of artificial grass that is also very spongy to walk on.  It does seem odd since most of the playgrounds around here have either some kind of wood chips or rubber chips.  I can see why this is memorable for the kids.  This playground also has some really different play structures, including this one that Zeke has mastered.  He actually climbed to the very top and went down the other side!  I was watching him and thinking about just how difficult it is when you are trying to figure out where to put your feet - especially when you can't see your feet!

That is certainly how I have felt in the last few months.  I've been trying to figure out exactly where I should be putting my feet.  Not to climb - but simply to find the correct path to walk on.  I think it is especially difficult when you don't seem to have a clear idea of what the destination looks like.  I know that I want to be in the place that Jesus has for me.  But I am not exactly sure what that place is!
I have had times in the last year when I THINK I have found that open door and I begin to move towards it, only to have it shut right before my eyes.  There were a couple of times that I thought I was actually going to be moving in such a different direction that it almost seemed like I was going backwards.  But then suddenly that path faded away and I found myself standing in exactly the same spot as before..  I've been hearing that many people feel like this is a time of shaking and transition.  I can agree with the shaking since you feel that most clearly when you are standing still.  It is just the transition piece that hasn't seemed to happen for me.  At one point early this year, I blogged about feeling so called to Kenya again.  I had an opportunity to work with a church that was in the beginning stages of partnering with a ministry in Kenya.  As I got a few months into this, it didn't seem like this was the correct fit for me.  Over the summer months off from meetings,  I have been in prayer for a decision regarding my participation in this group,  Just as I had reached a decision that this might not be the place I needed to walk, I got an unexpected contact from a pastor in Kenya.  While there is no connection between this pastor and the group I've been meeting with, this surprise message was a reminder to me that Kenya is calling out to me.  So I got the message and will continue to walk forward and participate in this group.

Isn't it interesting how Jesus gets our attention?  Within hours of that decision I made to step away from the Kenyan ministry, a pastor friend that I had not heard from since 2013 decided to send me a personal message.  Sometimes Jesus knows that you need that extra bit of encouragement to make the correct decision.  I'm not sure what is on the horizon regarding Kenya for me.  I feel exactly like that photo of Zeke.  I am off of the ground and out of my comfort zone and I can't quite see my feet.  So I am just moving ahead and trusting that Jesus is helping me find the place to plant my feet.

This has been an interesting week for me also as far as this blog goes.  I noticed that there was an unusual amount of traffic reading my blog.  And the most interesting thing was looking at the map of blog hits.  There were hits from all over the globe.  The list of blog readers included the United States, Kenya, Germany, France, Portugal, Ukraine, Russia, Argentina, China, Finland, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Uganda, India and Indonesia.   I've said it before and I'll say it again -  I just don't get it.  The only explanation for this is that the Holy Spirit is leading people to read the things that I am sharing from my daily life.  In total truth telling, I was at a point of considering, once again, stopping this blog.  And every time that I begin to feel like I have nothing valuable to share, the number of readers increase.  It has to be a God thing.  So for now, I will continue to share in total honesty with all of you.  Even though I don't feel like I have any idea where I supposed to be going.  Even though I don't feel like I have anything worthy of sharing.  You are getting the real deal on this blog.  The good, the bad and the straight up real deal.

If you are in this place with me - you don't know exactly what or where you are supposed to be going, know that I will be praying for you.  The one assurance I have for you is that you are not alone!  And sometimes all it takes is knowing that there is one person out there that is feeling the same way you are to get you to take that first step.  Leave me a comment if you are in the same boat as me and I promise to pray for you as I ask that you pray for me!

Jesus, thank you for reminding me that you will get my attention when I don't seem to be getting your message.  Holy Spirit, continue to guide me and help me to find the path that I need to be walking.  Thank you for all the readers of this blog.  Give them great peace as they encounter Jesus as they read these words.  Thank you Jesus for always being with us and always loving us.   Amen