Taking a drink.......when you are very thirsty!

We have been having some really nice, warm weather (for February) and as of tonight, we are snow free!  In typical Chicago fashion, (you might get four seasons of weather in one day) we are currently under a winter storm warning.  So tomorrow will most likely NOT be snow free.  However, given the very unpredictability of our weather forecasting, we might not have any snow! During one of those really nice, warm days I happened to notice "our" squirrel putting on a show outside of my living room!  We have a pair of squirrels who have taken up residence in the tree in our neighbors back yard.  We see them scampering around and leaving their prints in the snow on our patio.  This was the show I watched......

That squirrel came back over and over again for drinks of water.  The interesting thing about this is that we have a creek behind our house that has plenty of water in it.  As a matter of fact, the area behind our house is a "detention" area and because we have had some rains this winter, there are pools of water in that space.  So I could not imagine why that little squirrel was so intent on visiting the bird bath!  Whatever the reason, both squirrels had several drinks from what looked to me to be dirty, icky water.  They must have been very thirsty!

I was thinking how awful that water looked that that those "furry tailed rodents" (as Ken calls them) were drinking.  I am so thankful that the living water that flows from the throne to us is crystal clear and perfect.  I was thinking about Jesus' words to the Samaritan women at the well...  Jesus was right there to meet her need.  So here are those verses John 4:13-14 from my very favorite...The Passion Translation....

Jesus answered, "If you drink from Jacob's well you'll be thirsty again and again, but if anyone drinks the living water I give them, they will never thirst again and will be forever satisfied!  For when you drink the water I give you it becomes a gushing fountain of the Holy Spirit, springing up and flooding you with endless life!"

I have been feeling thirsty myself in the last couple of weeks.  Thirsty for the presence of Jesus.  Thirsty for worship.  Not just "singing" but worship.  I have felt dry and a bit "out of sorts" and from experience, I know that what I really need is more of Jesus!  I am very happy that I have a small group meeting tomorrow where I can take a big drink...... of the presence!  There is something so good about being with your trusted friends and talking and laughing and crying.  From that place we worship and pray and just experience the closeness and support of one another.  And always there is that wonderful, amazing flow of the river of the Holy Spirit, gushing forth from each of us.   So, I am sure that after jumping into that river tomorrow, I will be less thirsty.  

Isn't it interesting how things in the natural so often speak to us about Spiritual things?  I needed this reminder tonight. I already feel less "thirsty" just talking about that gushing fountain springing up and flooding me.  Yes, that is just what I needed tonight!  Thanks to some squirrels!

Jesus, I love that you know exactly what we need.  Thank you for your Word that gives us a clear picture of all that you have promised for us.  Holy Spirit, thank you for your fountain of  living water! Jesus, remind all of us who are feeling dry and thirsty that you have given us an endless supply of living water!  Amen

Playing in the snow and praying with strangers

Today I did something that I don't remember EVER doing (at least as an adult!)...... I went to a playground and played in the snow!  Or at least the KIDS played in the snow.  I did a lot of watching but also some swing pushing!  Gwen had a meeting later in the day and had planned a "play date" with another home school mom, who also has 4 kids!  We met at the local park in their neighborhood.  There is several inches of snow on the ground and the kids were fully decked out in their "snow gear".  Those 8 kids played together for almost an hour.  It was about 36 degrees out, but there was a bit of a wind.  Not really WARM but also not bitter cold.  It was so fun watching Anna.  She spent most of her time eating the snow.

She did make more than one trip down the very slippery slide after watching the big kids do it.  We all came home with rosy cheeks and it was good for the kids to burn off some of that always inside, winter energy.  I confess that I would not have chosen to spend this hour outside, but I am very glad that I did.  The kids were not the only ones that needed some fresh air!

On the way home I was thinking again, how thankful I am to spend time with my grandchildren.  Over and over they push me out of my comfort zone and bring me into experiences that I would never have without them.  Playing in the snow on a sunny- warmish winter day, would not have been on my agenda. I am convinced that this is the season and time to expect to find yourself in situations that are not "normal" for you.  

Recently I met a young gal at the Sunday night meeting I attend.  After praying for her, I gave her my phone number.  We have had some wonderful conversations since that time.  Stepping out and praying for a stranger and then going a step further to give them your phone number is really out of my comfort zone.  But what a blessing this has been for me.  I have been challenged in discussions on topics that are sometimes difficult.  It has been a faith affirming and uplifting experience.  So I've been asking myself, "why do you hesitate to reach out to strangers?"   

Yes, I was refreshed and energized after my outside playtime today.  And I've been blessed by my new friend.  Not so bad for "out of my comfort zone" experiences.  I don't think I'll be so hesitant to take chances from now on!  You never know when a stranger will become a new friend.  And you never know how much fun a little snow can be!  Trust me!  

Jesus, thank you for another reminder to trust your leading and enjoy every part of each day, even when the circumstances are out of the familiar for us.  Holy Spirit, give us grace to walk out of our comfort zone.  Thank you for kids who remind us to breathe in fresh air and taste the snow!  Amen  

Grace in the unexpected..........

I did not expect to be home tonight, sitting at my computer, blogging.  There is a speaker at a church fairly close to my house, and I have been anticipating hearing him for several weeks.  So, in spite of the "Severe Weather Warning" for a wind chill advisory, I set off for the meeting.  However, when I finally arrived at this church, there was an all out traffic jam.  The very small parking lot was full and every street was filled with cars parked on both sides.  I drove around for several minutes and then decided that I would have a very long walk (in the very cold) if I even could find a place to park.  So I turned around and headed for home.  On the way home, all I could think about was there MUST be a reason that I was missing this speaker!

Isn't it interesting how easily we get distracted when things don't go as we had planned?  Yes, I was very distracted and disappointed on my way home.  But, thankfully I had on my favorite Christian Radio station and there it was.....a great song about grace.  In all situations.  Grace.  So I took a couple of deep breathes, and gave myself some grace.  And then came home to my nice warm house.
And this project.........

 I've been working on this cross stitch for a long time.  And as I am nearing the completion of this project, all I can see are all of the "not perfect" parts of this piece.  It is NOT turning out exactly as I had imagined.   Yet another area where I need to give myself a bit of grace.  But I am hoping when this is completed, all of those imperfections will make this a special, one of a kind piece.

This week marked the beginning of the Lenten Season.   I have marked this time in many different ways over the past years.  When my children were young we always did a daily devotion.  One year I did a very intensive Bible study that actually took a bit of time each day to complete.  I remember a year that everyone in my church was challenged to commit to ADD minutes of Bible reading rather than giving something up.  Today I saw a Facebook "Lenten Challenge" that was interesting.  Someone had taken a large black garbage bag and attached a card with this challenge.... each day during lent, find something in your closet or cupboard that you don't need and/or use and put it into that bag.  At the end of the Lenten season you will have a large bag of items to donate to someone else.  Remember that one man's trash in another man's treasure! As an added bonus you will gain a closet that has been cleared of unused items and more organized cupboards!  Additionally, each day you can pray for the people who will benefit from these items when they land in the resale shop.  Now this is a challenge I can sink my teeth into!

  I added some items to my bag tonight, remembering to pray for the people who might want these "treasures"!  It is a good way to keep our focus on Jesus.... on His great sacrifice for us.  These items that I am donating really don't qualify as a sacrifice to me.  Like most of us in the United States, my family is very blessed.  As I said, I came home to a warm and dry house on this cold day.  I have a closet and cupboards filled with many more items than I really need.  I am sure I will be adding prayers of thankfulness to those prayers over each item.

So along with showing some extra grace to yourself  (and others) when your plans don't turn out as your expected, you can join me in this Lenten challenge.  

Jesus, thank you so much for music that speaks to me.  Thank you for grace in those times of disappointment and distraction.  Holy Spirit help us to keep our focus on Jesus during this time Lent.  And remind us how blessed we are, in spite of those unexpected things!  Amen

Fighting fear leads to victory and joy!

For the last couple of weeks, my friends and I have been talking about how often FEAR is the root of our issues.  Fear of what someone might think of us can keep us from sharing.  Fear of the "what ifs" can paralyze us and keep us from moving ahead.  Fear of change.  Fear of nothing changing.  Yes, fear seems to be at the bottom of many, many troubles.  I mentioned yesterday that my family just returned from a wonderful time away at an indoor water park.  Needless to say, this is a favorite of the kids (and some of the adults!).  But this park, while it is amazing, offers some very challenging things for the young ones.  Lia (age 10), Ellie (age 7 - almost), Zeke (age 4 1/2) and Anna (age 2)  faced many fearful things during our time at the park.  That is except for Zeke!  He didn't seem to be fearful of anything!  He charged ahead and went on any slide that he was allowed to be on!  He is quite the kid!  Anna also, was not very afraid.  As a matter of fact,she thought she should be able to do everything that the older kids were doing.  She really believes that she can swim!  The first couple of times on the slides in the toddler area, she needed to hold a hand going down the slide.  But after that, she was determined to go it alone.  

Lia was a wonderful big sister, helping her up the stairs and onto the slide, over and over again.  But Lia was a bit afraid of the "big" tube slide that mommy and daddy wanted her to try.  She had done this slide last year, but she was still worried about trying this again.  Gwen finally convinced her to try it, and then she asked to go over and over!  She conquered that fear!

Ellie was very fearful of the indoor/outdoor hot tub.  She really wanted to try it, but the transition between the two spaces was very scary to her.  I took Lia and Ellie and promised that we would not "force" Ellie to try the outdoor space.  Slowly we showed her that it was not really that scary and within a few minutes, she was happily experiencing the wonder of being warm and wet while it was cold around you! 

Ellie was fascinated by the steam (fog) hanging over the pool!  I just loved to see the wonder on her face!  After she conquered her fear, she asked to go back to the hot tub over and over!  Ellie was also a bit afraid of the lazy river.  But after several times around with all of us, she was ready to go! 

The lazy river was a bit tame for Zeke.  He just sort of tolerated the time going around and around.  It was a good time to let the kids actually take a breather from the constant motion! Not so bad for the adults either!  It's really good exercise to chase after 4 little ones at a place like this!  

It was clear that Zeke much preferred a bit more action on the tube......

As I said, not much fear in that one!  He loved the action and went on this slide over and over and over.  

Anna was about ready to jump out of the tube on the lazy river every time we passed by the waterfalls!  It became a game to her and she looked for those waterfalls at every turn!  She wanted to play in that flowing water!

By the time we left the water park, we had 4 very tired kids and 6 very tired adults!  But what a great lesson this time was for me.  I watched the kids face some really big and real fears.  And they pressed through, accepted help from people they trusted, and then celebrated with joy when they were successful. I need to let that sink in and learn from their example!   

The phrases "fear not..." and "do not fear" or "don't be afraid"  appear over and over in the Bible.  It is as if God knew that we would all face fear every single day.  He made sure that His Word would be the help that we could lean on and trust to help us press through into victory when we are fearful.  I am going to make a list of all of these "fear not" verses and focus on these!  Here are a few to get you started on your own journey..........

Psalm 118:6 -  "The Lord is with me, I will not be afraid"

Hebrews 13:6 - "The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid"

Isaiah 44:8 - "Do not tremble, do not be afraid"

Isaiah 41:10 - "Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed for I am your God"

Acts 18:9 - "Do not be afraid, keep on speaking"

I am going to start each day with a "fear not" verse and then I will remember the joy and excitement of Lia, Ellie, Zeke and Anna from this weekend.  What a wonderful lesson learned at the water park!

Jesus, thank you so much for family time that fills me up and spills over into lessons that keep speaking to me.  Holy Spirit, help us all to face our fears and hold on to the promises in your Word.  Thank you for the smiles and laughter and fun of children.  Help us all to climb to higher places (outside of our comfort zones), be willing to lean out of our safe zone to splash in your living water (that is pouring out to the world around us), and most of all celebrate!  Amen

You have to take a step to move ahead.........

Ever since Wednesday and my small group, I have had this song just playing over and over in my head, in my heart and in my spirit.....  Tell Your Heart to Beat Again by Danny Gokey.  I know that I have heard this song before, but I heard it differently this week.  You can click on the link and watch and listen (the lyrics are on the video).  But for the sake of this blog...here are the lyrics.

Tell Your Heart to Beat Again

By Danny Gokey

You're shattered

Like you've never been before

The life you knew

In a thousand pieces on the floor

And words fall short in times like these

When this world drives you to your knees

You think you're never gonna get back

To the you that used to be

Tell your heart to beat again

Close your eyes and breathe it in

Let the shadows fall away

Step into the light of grace

Yesterday's a closing door

You don't live there anymore

Say goodbye to where you've been

And tell your heart to beat again

Beginning  Just let that word wash over you

It's alright now Love's healing hands have pulled you through

So get back up, take step one

Leave the darkness, feel the sun

Cause your story's far from over

And your journey's just begun

Tell your heart to beat again

Close your eyes and breathe it in

Let the shadows fall away

Step into the light of grace

Yesterday's a closing door

You don't live there anymore

Say goodbye to where you've been

And tell your heart to beat again

Let every heartbreak

And every scar

Be a picture that reminds you

Who has carried you this far

'Cause love sees farther than you ever could

In this moment heaven's working

Everything for your good

Tell your heart to beat again

Close your eyes and breathe it in

Let the shadows fall away

Step into the light of grace

Yesterday's a closing door

You don't live there anymore

Say goodbye to where you've been

And tell your heart to beat again

Your heart to beat again

Beat again

Oh, so tell your heart to beat again

I have blogged about the death of my grandson Lucas in November of 2014.  There is nothing that can prepare you for something like this tragedy.  Looking back, I really don't know how my son and daughter-in-law have gotten through this.  But this week, all I can think about is how Doug and Susie have made a choice to tell their hearts to beat again.  There is no way that I can really understand the depth of their loss...only someone who has lost a baby can begin to understand.  But when I heard this song, especially this verse........

Beginning  Just let that word wash over you

It's alright now Love's healing hands have pulled you through

So get back up, take step one

Leave the darkness, feel the sun

Cause your story's far from over

And your journey's just begun

I felt so proud and thankful and hopeful for our family.  Every day...EVERY DAY.... Doug and Susie have made a choice to close their eyes and breathe and tell their hearts to beat again.  What a brave and wonderful and strong thing that is. And they have been able to do that because of the love and healing hands of Jesus.  

This weekend, Ken and I got to spend time with Doug and Susie and Gwen and Tim and the kids. (More about our weekend away in another blog tomorrow!) For me it was very much putting an exclamation point on what I had been feeling since Wednesday.  The 6 of us (the adults) sat around the table last night (after the kids were asleep) playing a rousing game of Trivial Pursuit.  As usual (for our family) we were laughing and talking.  I am so thankful that Doug and Susie didn't allow the lose of Lucas to stop them in their tracks.  They have gotten back up, they have made that choice, they have taken that step.  And I know that the story is far from over.  Yes, I am a thankful mom today.

Jesus, thank you for Danny Gokey and this amazing song.  Holy Spirit, you so often speak to me through lyrics and this week has been another one of those times.  Thank you for the reminder that we all have to make a choice, every day, to breathe and take a step.  Jesus thank you for the wonderful example Doug and Susie are for all of us.  Thank you for family and time together.  Amen

Throwing rocks and skipping stones

I had a really interesting dream last night and I woke up thinking about Lake Maud.  I have blogged before about my family lake home in northern Minnesota that we always just referred to as "the lake".  So I started to search my scanned photos for a perfect picture for this blog.  I ended up with this picture.......

I think I love this picture so much because it was one of Doug's first fishing experiences.  Now he is an expert fisherman.  It was a special time for me to share Lake Maud with Ken and Gwen and Doug. So, back to my dream......

I was standing on the shore, very close to that dock.  I was throwing rocks into the water. 

 I spent HOURS and HOURS of my life doing exactly that.  I was the youngest kid among all the nearby cabins and often I would be left to my own devices.  I often just collected rocks and tried to thrown them far out into the lake.  My dad used to say I was going to make the lake shallower because of all of the rocks I added to the bottom.  

In the dream I was watching the rocks make wonderful circles that just spread out further and further.  I heard the Lord speak these words to me......

Take a risk.  Throw your stone further.  Pick up the biggest stone you can find and throw it as far as you can.  That will make the biggest mark on the water and send ripples pouring outward that will hit the shoreline and change it.  Trust me to show you which rock to pick up.  Sometimes it is the small flat stone that, if thrown correctly, will skip along the water and make mark after mark after mark.  Each of these will spiral outward and together make a bigger change than one large stone.  Trust me.  Don't be distracted by the stones that are right at your feet.  Look up to me and I will show you what is the best for you. Trust me to give you exactly the right the stone.

Part of my stone throwing was, in fact, skipping stones.  Lake Maud had a large supply of perfect skipping stones.  I would search and search for perfect stones to skip.  I remember that one time I actually had a stone skip 10 times!  And then there was the very end of the word in the dream.......

Even though your feet never leave the shore, you are making waves that will change the world.  

This is a wonderful word picture for all of us to hold on to.  There are lots of ways that we can  have an impact on the world.  For some of us, it might be doing something that is really "big" and makes a big splash.  For others, it will be something that might seem smaller, but when it is something that Jesus has planned, just like that smooth flat stone, it will skip over the water and those rings of change will reach far and wide.   And the skipping stones are often small and very light.  The most important message of the entire dream is that each of us can have a part in changing the world.  And we can make those changes right where we are planted.  Wherever our "shore" is! 

I don't know about you, but I needed a reminder that we can't always see the impact we are having for the Kingdom.  I am always quick to see my own lack of "doing" for the Lord.  It seems so easy to look around and find many, many people who are doing big wonderful things for Jesus.  A good friend reminded me yesterday that we are own best critics.  We need to see ourselves using that exact stone that Jesus has for us.  However small it might seem.  We can stand back and watch those ripples moving outward!  

Jesus, thank you for speaking to me in dreams.  Holy Spirit, help me to remember that all I need to do is what Jesus asks of me.  I don't need to worry about throwing a big rock!  Jesus, thank you for reminding us that even small actions can have large impacts that can change the world.  Amen

A bit of "it's hard to believe"......

On Saturday we celebrated Anna's second birthday (she really turns two on the 30th).  It was the usual house full of kids type of birthday party!  We took a moment before the party to take this picture.  Anna was having none of it!  This was the only picture without her screaming!  So, it will have to do.  You might notice the penguins...that was the theme of the party.

It just doesn't seem possible that this little one is actually two years old.  It is really hard to believe how fast these two years have passed.  

I had a couple of interesting experiences over this past weekend.  Looking back on them, it is a little hard to believe, but I can assure you, this blog is about truth telling!  So, here goes..........

On Sunday morning, Ken and I were having breakfast at a local cafe.  We go to this particular place almost every weekend.  There is a really nice manager that we have befriended and a sweet waitress who always gives us service above and beyond what is expected.  As we were finishing our meal, I glanced up and just behind Ken's chair, I saw a waitress holding a tray filled with drinks, collapse backwards, hitting her head on the floor.  The people nearest to her, rushed over to her and it was clear that she was having a seizure.  Someone called 911 and it was a LONG wait for the fire engines and ambulance.  I spent the time urgently praying for the waitress.  By the time the paramedics arrived, the girl was alert and talking.  It was quite a relief to see that ambulance pull up to the door.  We could hardly believe that we had witnessed this emergency during breakfast.  

Now I spent some time kind of beating myself up because I did not rush over and pray for that girl.  I was certainly praying, but there was this question in my mind that I did not do enough.  

Then on Sunday night I attended a meeting and the speaker was a missionary to China.  I have heard him speak before, but last night I felt like he was speaking directly to me!  I can't tell you what anyone else heard, but I got the message very clearly......  you know what you are supposed to be doing....what your destiny is.  So why aren't you doing it?  It's time to take the plunge and go to the next level.  Don't say that you can't do it (whatever it is).  You have to take the first step.  

There was more, but that is the part that, well, stopped me in my tracks.  As a matter of fact, I had been hearing a very similar message myself.  After I got home, I happened to hear this message Lance Wallnau - "The Midnight Watch".   It is a hope filled message that says that Jesus will be sending us each a gift in the form of a person that will be strategic for us to fulfill our destiny.  

It's worth listening to the entire message from Lance.  This gift might be financial, it might be a connection, or it might be wisdom that will help us move forward towards our destiny. 

Pretty interesting, right?  So I'll be waiting expectantly for the person that Jesus is sending to me.  In the mean time I will worry less about what I did or did not do!  Yes, it was a weekend of hard to believe things.  It certainly left me with plenty to think about!  

Jesus, thank you for grandchildren that help us see joy and wonder in the little things.  Bless all the firefighters and paramedics who respond to distress calls.  Give us all wisdom when we are faced with emergency situations.  Holy Spirit, help us to take that first step towards our destiny.  And reveal that special person who will help us towards our goal!  Amen