3 Things that Help Us in Troubled Times

The condition of one’s soul matters not just when a ship is sinking but every day. Each day we read the numbers of new COVID 19 cases and hear of the resulting deaths. Indeed, it is heartbreaking. Amidst the turmoil, this news must have some effect on our hearts. Here are 3 things that stir within me that I have found helpful.

1. Know the One who holds your life in His hands. Psalm 139:16 says, “your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days were ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” God has not gone to the calendar and switched anything since this virus began to creep across the planet. For sure wash your hands, etc., and be wise but know this too - God has marked all of our days long ago.

2. God, the author of peace in its truest form, offers it to all who seek it. Here is part of an old hymn that has been going through my mind this morning. It is called “When Peace Like a River”:

   “When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
   When sorrows like sea billows roll
   Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say
   It is well, it is well, with my soul.”

3. God holds us in His hand so we do not need to be afraid. Isaiah 41:10 says, “ Do not fear, do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God and I uphold you in my righteous right hand.” I find great comfort in knowing that I live every single day with His hand holding me steady.

   It is by these three things I find rest for my soul in the midst of turmoil and uncertainty. I hope that you will as well.

When Angels Step In

Living in Fort St. John while wonderful, was a long trip from Ontario. Every summer, we would pack up our car and make the long drive. One year, on our way back to B.C. when we decided to stop for lunch. We piled out of our brand new car. It was amazing to be driving such a wonderful reliable car. We ate our meal and piled back into the car. It was a beautiful sunny day. The car did NOT start! That was a real shock to all of us! The car was brand new! Bill looked under the hood, we had lots of gas. So, we prayed together as a family. About 5 minutes had passed when we tried and the car started. It was really weird.

We started down the highway and after driving 5-8 minutes, right before us was a semi truck in the ditch and cars smashed and people everywhere, some with serious injuries. It was with sobering realization that we would very likely have been in that same accident if our car had started as it should have. That car never failed to start again, only that one time.

If we could have seen with our spiritual eyes, I believe we would have seen an angel doing something to our engine. I have no idea. Whatever happened, we were spared untold harm to our family. I have never seen an angel, but I have been the recipient of their ministry.

Psalm 119: 11-12 “ For He will command His angels concerning you and guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone”.

In these days of a virus that is frightening to many and endless hand-washing, it is good to know that we not only have God watching over us, but some angels also are really busy. If only we could see them!!!

Stay safe my friends.

Happy Coincidences or Answers to Prayer

I have had many people ask me over the years “ Donna why do you believe in God?” The first reason is because of the resting peace He gives me regardless of what is going on and the wisdom He offers me. He also provides me with His love to share with others when mine has run dry. And then … there are all the cool things I have seen him do.

I want to take the next few weeks or months and simply tell you some of the great things He has done. Some might say that is just a happy coincidence, I call them all answers to prayer. I think that during uncertain times it is nice to know that prayer is still powerful and God is still in the business of answering prayers. He does not always answer the way I have been hoping, sometimes He says “No” sometimes it is “ not right now, you have to wait” and then there are times when it is amazing. I want to talk about the amazing today. Here is this week’s story.

One of the greatest fears as a parent is when your child becomes lost. When we lived in Fort St. John my husband was the Youth Pastor. We were doing some kind of a youth event at this park. There was a large open field in the middle with a road on one side and a forest on the other. It was about 4 kilometers across ( I am just guessing) if you walked straight through you would hit another park road BUT if you turned and walked to the right- the forest does not end. If you have seen the virgin forests of Northern B.C. you know what I mean by a dense forest. That was where the problem began.

I was watching the teens as they were playing soccer. I was sitting at a picnic table rather than playing as I was keeping an eye on 3-year-old Martin. I noticed that my daughter Lisa was nowhere in sight. She was with her dad the last time I looked. She was about 4 or 5 at the time. I asked Bill” where is Lisa?”. He told me she was with some girls who were from about Grade 3 and they wanted to show her a hut they had built in the forest. It was just barely in the forest. I was alarmed, to say the least. I asked Bill how long ago was this? He said ‘maybe 20 minutes ago”. I told Bill you better start looking, He did. He went in the direction he had seen the girls go and there was no sign of them anywhere.

I was in my first trimester with our 3rd child and not feeling well. I panic I felt was great indeed and the prayers that followed were fervent, to say the least. Bill and the youth leaders all split off and were off running and calling for the girls. Bill ran around to the other side of the forest along the road, and prayed, “ Father my little girl is in there somewhere, please help me find her”.

In a moment, Bill said it was like someone shone a flashlight into the depths of the forest and he followed it. After about 15-20 minutes of walking, Bill could hear little girls singing a song they had learned in Sunday school. They stood in a circle holding hands and were singing and crying.

I know that it does not always work out this neat and tidy, but this time it did! I thank God for how He helped Bill to find our little girl and her friends.

Psalm 77: 2-4 “ I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, from of old, what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. We will not hide from our children; the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His powers and wonders He has done.”

Hope for Rainy Down Days

Years ago, I backpacked 22km. up a mountain on cross-country skis with a heavy backpack weighing me down. When I think of what it felt like after hours of skiing up that winding path, and then to see the mountain shelter finally come into view, relief flooded over me. That moment is as clear to me today as it was all those years ago.

God’s mercy is a bit like that. In this passage the psalmist talks about God’s mercy after acknowledging that God heard his cry. It might be a bit like the feeling one has when they keep finding people who do not understand what they are going through but then finally meet someone who totally gets it. There is a relief that comes, a sigh to the soul. This in my mind, is a similar to the mercy that is described in this passage.

 As we call out to God in the middle of our messy lives, He hears, and helps us. He gives strength for today. If you think about it, as we find ourselves on the receiving end of His help, we also discover that result is a joy that quietly slips into our hearts. All of this can help us as we seek to give thanks to God for a new day filled with new possibilities. I have found that as I give thanks for the smallest of things, it tends to usher me into a better attitude as I face the day.

 Dear Father,

Thank you for your mercy and that You hear me when I call to You. Thank you for a brand-new day to say thank you for small and great mercies. Give me eyes to see each one if mine are struggling. I need you Father to be my shield and my strength today. I do not have in myself all that is needed. Help me I pray.

This entry is based on Psalm 28:6-7 

The Upside of Disappointment

We have all had more than our share of disappointment. I sure have. I confess to you, I do get tired of them. I pray and I believe God but … it does not turn out at all the way I thought it was going to. Does this sound at all familiar to you?

What do we do with all the disappointments? Jobs pass us by, invitations pass us by, we fail at something we had hoped to do well at, we trusted God to lead a certain way… the list goes on. The more we live the more we have successes certainly, but my goodness, we also have to face the disappointments.

What could possibly be the upside of disappointments? Here is what I have discovered. It ushers you back to the forest where there is this path, and just off to the side a bench and when you look down you see carved into the stone bench is the words “ waiting place”. You notice it is well worn but very readable. The fact is - there is a lot of waiting in this life of ours. How we wait is the challenge we face.

We rant, we complain and maybe we are even bitter for awhile… but is this really how we want to live out this season of life? I wonder if there is not stages of disappointment like stages of that of grief. Some disappointments we can easily let go of- it is not a big deal anyway. Some though are big and they leave us feeling winded and bewildered while we sit on the waiting bench.

If you are broken hearted while you sit there the good news is that God promises us that He is near to the broken hearted. So if we can think of nothing else to be thankful for while we sit there, we can start by thanking Him for His presence. I pray that He will reveal Himself to you while you wait. In Psalm 121 He promises to be a very present help in times of trouble. That is also comforting.

Disappointment ushers into that “what now God” conversation .The wonderful thing is that He invites us into honest conversation with Him. As you wait - I pray that He will give to you His peace. The funny and awesome thing about His kind of peace, is this; it can rest on you even when not one thing from what you can see - has changed. We just know that He sees us while we sit there, He hears us while we rant or whatever we are doing. He cares and loves us still. His promises are all intact and this season of the waiting bench is not forever though it might feel like it.

I pray dear reader that in some small way, you will find some comfort today. The upside is simply this, we are in the position to sit on this bench and ask “ what is next then God” and know that He hears us. You are not alone. Many of us find ourselves sitting on that same bench or perhaps, we were just there. God has many lessons to be learned at “the waiting bench”.

2 Choices around Fearful Times

None of us are strangers to fear. It is either nipping at our toes or has gripped our hearts. Sometimes we get so used to it, or we fail to recognize its presence.

I went to my son’s former addiction rehab last night and attended the parents’ group. I have been praying for a number of the boys there. One mom caught my eye. It is her son that has been heavy on my heart. He is somewhere lost in his addictions which he has been struggling with for years. I wanted to ask the mom how her son was doing, but I did not need to. Worry and fear were etched into her face. I know that look, I have worn it myself when my own boy was lost in addiction. The fear for their very lives is an everyday event.

In Mark 4:35-41 we see that the day has come to an end and Jesus and the disciples have jumped into a boat. It had been a long day for Jesus teaching, crowds of people full of need pressing on every side. The boat and the prospect of getting to the other side was a welcome thought. Jesus, exhausted from his day, lays on a cushion at the back of the boat and falls asleep. The disciples find in short order they are dealing with a vicious storm that is threatening to overturn the boat! They do everything to try to steady the boat but know that this storm is beyond what they can navigate without Jesus’ intervention.

How often we find ourselves in this same predicament. We see the storm that is swirling all around us, we know that it is too much for us. We make our plans, we do what seems reasonable and wise, just like the disciples were doing in this story. They were experienced boaters, they know this sea and how prone it is to fast-approaching storms. They have seen it before.

There are many trials that come to each of us that are beyond our control, we cannot make all sick people well, we cannot make people get jobs, we cannot control the addict we love, nor can we fix the problems of other people as much as we would like to.

You know what is the problem that is causing fear to grip your heart or nip at your toes.

We have two choices. We can hold onto our fear and work our plan or we can do what the disciples did and call out in the middle of their fear and ask for His intervention.

In this passage, Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the waves and everything stopped. He spoke to the disciples first though and called it as He saw it “ oh you of little faith, why did you doubt?’.

If we choose to call out to Jesus in this same way, He does intervene, except it is not always as fast as we see in this story. I have seen fast interventions by Jesus in my life and I am familiar with the slow kind as well. Regardless, He asks us to not fear but trust in Him. And that my friend is one of two choices, we will either trust Him to help in this storm or we do not. We are given that freedom.

What does trust look like though? It is like this. Picture yourself on a pile of rocks in the middle of a large body of water and the waves are crashing around you. You cannot see a way off these rocks try as you may. You call out to God “ help me God, there is no way out of here!” He throws you a lifeline and it lands at your feet, what will you do? Do you leave it there or do grab on and let Him pull you into a new place even when you cannot see where in the world He is taking you. That is what trust is. There are many people who believe in God and say they pray but they never grab onto the lifeline and hold on.

He is trustworthy and He sees what you cannot. Whatever you face today, know that He is big enough.

12 Things that made my "Good Stuff" List

Today is a sunny day in Toronto ( which is an event in itself these days) and I managed to go for a run. I was listening to a song and it is called “ The Good Stuff”. In the song, a guy had just had a fight with his wife and went to a bar and asked the bartender for a glass of the good stuff. The bartender said, “ we don’t serve that here”. He proceeded to pour him a glass of milk and told him what the “ good stuff” really is.

I wondered what would be my list of “the good stuff” "? So, here is my list and it is not necessarily in any particular order.

1. Family and all the precious times I have with them.

2. Friendships that span the years.

3. The joy of being a grandparent and the sacred privilege to share my life and my faith with them.

4. Health and wellbeing. I am almost 60 and I have not been this fit in many years. I run a few times a week now and find it clears my brain and helps me with anxiety which can really trip me up.

5. A rainy day which gives me the freedom to enjoy a good book and a cup of tea.

6. The knowledge that I did my best, whatever that is.

7. The courage to just forgive someone who has hurt or wronged me.

8. The resting peace I find when I sit with God’s word, reading and listening for His voice.

9. The pleasure of completing a project and seeing it turn out the way it was supposed to.

10. Sitting by a campfire with people that I love.

11. Walking with my dog ( hoping to get one someday soon)

12. Feeling the sunshine on my face. I love the sunshine!

What does your list look like?

Rainy Day Motivation!

I don’t know what the weather is where you are, but it is pouring here in Toronto! I really struggle on rainy days to stay focused on what I need to be doing.

I have discovered a podcast that has been helpful to me called “ The Lazy Genius”. I wish she would do one on motivation for rainy days! I like the way she thinks. She thinks in smart systems and asks great questions. She really is suited for young moms, which I am not. I am, however, a young grandmother!

Trying to get to the gym or writing for my next book or even writing this blog, can be really difficult. I know that there are people who pretty much skip to the gym. I am not one of them, I am more likely to skip home from the gym! I always feel better once I have gone.

The same is true when I have written another entry for my book and I am always thankful when I can write this blog and feel confident that in some small way, someone is encouraged or helped. But getting there is really hard some days! Even though I am considered a “writer”, I don’t feel like a writer. I don’t get excited at the thought of it, but it does feel right when I finally sit and do it!

I thought I would take “The Simple Genius” method and ask myself this question- what is causing me to feel so indifferent- as that is what I honestly feel and believe it leads me directly to an unmotivated unproductive day. I think it may be the belief or fear in my heart that says, what I do makes no difference. I need to change the message in my head if I am going to change my behavior.

For me, I am able to change the voice in my head in one place and that is prayer. It is where my hope and my footing find peace and wisdom. Here is my prayer for an unmotivated day

Thank you, Father God, that I have you with me, thank you that I know that You hear me when I pray. You see me even now. You are familiar with all my weaknesses and struggles and You still promise me in Your Word- that I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. Thank you, Father, that You give me strength and renew hope, even on this very rainy day.

Amen

God's Latest Advice for me

I was doing my makeup (not an everyday event for me) and thinking. I could feel something was eating away at me quietly. For me, when things bother me, they just quietly bang around my head. It takes some time to really figure out what it is.

It is surprising what a bit of quiet can do for the soul, even while putting on makeup. I did figure it out, and the issue turns out to be the less than wise choices a loved one is making and frankly, there is not much I can do but pray.
I would like to just tell them point-blank about the decisions and choices they are making and what I think about them. There are times, when I am invited I can speak up, but generally, they do not ask. To say anything would only burn bridges in my relationship with them.

I confess I was feeling discouraged thinking about this one so very dear to me, then God, with that quiet calm voice, broke into my thoughts. He said” The battle is mine” and that is it. I would love to expound on all that He said, but that was it.

So, I take this loved one and lay them down at the feet of the One who is big enough to intervene and big enough to do in their heart what I have zero power to do.

I love the story of Gideon when God called him and his army into battle. I would love to have been there, at least I think I would have loved to have been there! Gideon was faced with a task that seems insane really. He had to attack the Midianites as God had asked him. He had a massive army which was great in Gideon’s eyes but not God’s. God cut the army down to only 300 men, the rest were all sent home. From our eyes, not the best battle plan! But God wanted Gideon and all of Israel to know that it was Him who won the battle. Gideon and his army just needed to show up. The victory was indeed given. The whole story is in Judges 6-7. if you would like to read it.

God is not resolving this deep concern I have for my loved one today, but He does give me peace knowing that the battle is not mine but His and He is asking me to trust Him in it. So, that is what I am going to do!

The Grudge Room

If we think of our soul as a house, it has several rooms. As we stroll through, some rooms are noticeably happier looking than others. There is, however, one room that is occupied quietly or perhaps not so quietly, and that is the grudge room. Some will say they have no grudge room and to you, I say, “that is great. I wish I could say the same!”

I would like to think I am not one to keep a grudge room, but I know it is not true. I was reading the scriptures this morning and was reminded of a serious warning that Christ gave in regard to forgiveness of sin. In Mark 11:25 he says that” when we stand praying and remember that we hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so your Father in Heaven may forgive your sins”.

When I read this I thought to myself “ well, I am holding no grudge whatsoever” and was ready to move right along. However, I took some time to really consider if I had some occupants locked in that grudge room that I had forgotten about. I was a little surprised when I saw who was sitting there waiting for me to release them. Jesus never gave permission to hold anyone captive, he simply asks that forgiveness is extended. So I took some time this morning to do this very thing.

I believe it is a good habit to keep going to check the “Grudge Room” and see if I have allowed someone to slip into it as the door locks behind them and only I have the power to release them. He also warns me that forgiveness flows from God as I forgive. So, forgive I must!

If there is one room that is good to have no clutter it is this room that some of us seem to have. Some people are better at keeping it clutter-free than others, but sometimes after quiet reflection, it may not be quite as clutter-free as you had thought. It is worth taking some time to take a good honest look.

My Top Ten Tips for a Long and Happy Marriage!

I was thinking about what are some of the most important tips I could tell someone on how to make a marriage last. I have been married to my husband Bill for 36 years now and I hope and pray for many more years to come! Here are the top ten things I have learned about making it last.

1. Listen when they talk. Don’t tune your partner out.

2. Respect them- especially in public. Do not tell people dumb things they did and make them feel like they are an idiot…. unless of course it is a story that is just funny and they don’t mind you telling it. Do not assume though.

3. When trouble comes, especially when it is one of your children, your partner is not the enemy. You have to stand together through the storms, and not fight against each other.

4. Don’t take your bad day out on each other.

5. Do not fight when you are tired or at the end of the day. Agree together that you will talk when you are tired. There is wisdom around timing and even how much to say. Know when you have said enough. Don’t go on and on. It is never helpful.

6. Learn to fight fair. Accusations like “you always or you never” are rarely helpful or true.

7. Believe in each other. If you do, you will see them rise to accomplish amazing things and endure hard times, in part because the one they love is cheering for them. Be each other’s biggest fan.

8. Learn to forgive well. Bitterness is a poison that finds its way into every memory and conversation. It can poison your children and others you are close to.

9. Learn to compromise. It cannot always be your way or their way.

10. The small and thoughtful things you can do for each other add up and are precious.

If you have children, you are teaching them how to do life every day with someone. How you love and care for each other speaks louder to them than any book they will ever read. You will teach them how to forgive, how to listen and how to care for this one whom you are walking through life with.

Remember, It is an important journey and one you want to get right. Know who you married and accept them. Do not spend your energy trying to change them. The only person you can change is you.

When I run out of love I look to the Author of Love who is God. When I run out of wisdom which I often do, I turn to the One whose wisdom which is above anything on Earth who is again God.

Lastly, in a day where faithfulness to one’s partner seems optional, in my experience, it is NOT. Be faithful and true to the vows you took today and every day that follows.

Technically, this is more than 10 things so, let’s think of the other tips as bonuses!

My Secret to letting go and letting God !

Day 5

 1 Peter 5:7- “Give your worries and cares over to God for he cares about you”

 it is easy to hold onto what haunts us. I sure don’t need instructions on how to hold on tight to every one of them, especially for my loved one.

 When a drunken text would light up my phone, my heart would begin to race, and then the panic would set in. This was generally the order of things. I wish I could say this only happened sometimes, but that would be a lie. I had well-meaning friends say, “Donna you shouldn’t worry”. If only it was that simple.

 The only way I can truly give my cares to God and leave them there would be to believe that He is big enough to care for my loved one. I need to know that in the middle of the messiness of my son’s life, my Lord, my Good Shepherd, would truly be with him, every moment. Then I would have to say thank you as that was a way of acknowledging that now God had him and I know that while I may not be able to trust loved one in his current state, I could trust God who holds the world in His hands. The One who is all-wise and all-powerful stood near my loved one. Then and only then, is the giving over possible.

 There is nothing about this that is easy, but it is possible. Whatever the worry or care, God says we ought to give it to Him. There is something much more comforting in the knowledge that the One we are passing this desperate worry and care over to cares for us and He cares for us perfectly and completely. Giving the care of something or someone very dear to us to someone who cares deeply is so much more comforting than passing that precious situation or loved one to someone who is indifferent. God is NOT indifferent – He loves and cares for us and for our loved one. He is big enough and He is faithful.

 Dear Father,

I want to lay my loved one down before You today. I want to say thank you for caring for me and for this loved one who is very dear to my heart. You know all my fears and you see where my loved one is right now. Watch over him. Care for him in all the ways that I cannot. I so much want to rescue him, but I cannot. It is beyond me and the truth of this frustrates me so deeply. But, Father God, I come to You and continue to ask – please watch over my loved one today, wherever he is.

In Jesus Name,

Amen.

Cliff Climbing

I had a dream last night and in it, I was climbing up a very steep cliff. As I climbed and even tried to look up, I could not make out the end of the climb. I could only reach for the next jagged rock, and pull myself up a little bit more and then a little bit more. Finally I found myself at the top, I could not even remember exactly how I got there. It is a reminded me of driving. I remember leaving my house, but somehow, I covered a lot of ground, but don’t exactly recall doing it. That is what parts of this cliff climb was like. Especially when I stood at the edge and looked down. I was amazed.

I asked the Lord this morning, what was that cliff climbing all about? He told me it is about faith. I was not expecting that reply. He said that “ faith is often pictured as jumping off a cliff and trusting that I will catch you. That is true but it is not the only picture of what true faith. Sometimes faith is climbing up a cliff where you cannot see the top. You can only see what you need to grab onto next. It is a hard climb and you know that you need Me. There is no doubt in your mind of the need for my presence, my strength, and my wisdom.”

I can honestly say that it is not a picture of faith I have ever considered before. The beauty of the climb at least in my mind is simple. There is no debate that God is desperately needed every moment of that journey.

Psalm 55:16-17 says “ But I call to the Lord and he saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress and he hears my voice”

Maybe you feel like you are climbing a cliff today, remember these truths and more. You are not alone. He is with you.

Day 4- Worrying Prayer.

Read Psalm 18:6 “ In my distress I called to the Lord, I cried to the Lord for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears”.

I have always found it comforting to sit in a coffee shop with a friend who really listens and understands me. The difference between this very understanding and listening friend and God is this- God has the power and wisdom well beyond anything a person can do.

 It is comforting to remember that God is very different than people. As a young mom, I l sometimes would tune out my kids after they were coming to me with their one-hundredth request of that morning. I heard them, but sometimes it came in one ear and out the other. I am so thankful God is NOT like that.

 In this short verse, initially, we don’t need instructions- in our distress we call out to God. I do not need to tell you how to do that. However, remembering the second half sometimes requires reminding. God listens to our cry. The one who holds the whole world in the palm of His hand, the God who is all-powerful and more than able has heard your cry. Now, that brings a sigh of relief! We need someone like that to hear us!

 Peace will only come as you acknowledge this truth! Thank you, Father God, that you do hear me when I call to you. Thank you that I can know that you care for me and my loved one.

 Remember, another difference is that God can see into the future. He knows the journey of my loved one, today and tomorrow and every other day.

 Father,

Thank you that you care for me and my loved one in the middle of their struggles. Father, please reach down and intervene. Give to me peace and strength for today. I need you to watch over my loved one. You can do that like no one else.

 In Jesus Name.

Amen.

If Someone was looking to experience tension headaches or just tension in their muscles, you don’t have to work hard for that to happen. One drive downtown can do that for me, or a difficult conversation, or even a hard decision. There are lots of things. I am sure you have your own list.

A few days ago, I went through a list in my head of everything that was adding to the constant knot at the base of my neck. As I thought about what it is, I named it, described what is about the issue that was worrying me, then, I imagined laying it down at the foot of the cross. I did this over and over again, until- there was nothing left. It took a while. I also had to make sure I did not take that pile I just left at His feet and put all back upon myself!

I read a scripture today which I think is a very pleasant follow up to the practice. of giving all your burdens to God. Psalm 33:11 says this: “ May your unfailing love REST upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you”.

As I read that an image of one of those wheat bags you put in the microwave when your neck is sore and your muscles are tight. As I take it, put it in the microwave, then, take it out and wrap it around my neck, I feel the warmth and it rests on my neck and shoulders, just like God’s unfailing love. It surrounds me and rests on me.

So, today I stop and say thank you, Father, for your unfailing love- it is not fleeting like so much of this world. I can count on this. Your love stays with me always.

When the Cross Feels Super Heavy

I think everyone has gone through at least one season when the Cross feels really heavy. Jesus stands on the path you are on and says” keep going”. Your response is short and simple” no Lord, I don’t want to.”

That is how I have been feeling. When I was running today and listening to music I heard this song about the Cross. I was thinking about it. The Cross- I have carried it with the help of my Good Shepherd since I was 12 years old. He has walked many valleys, fields and even climbed a few mountains with me- the Cross with me every step.

Today the Lord reminded me, that I do not carry it alone. He is with me. I do not need to be afraid. He also reminded me of the verse in Matthew 28:30-31 “ Come to Me, all of you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Some days I forget. I come to Him, but fail somehow to really allow Him to bear the weight of the burden. No wonder I find myself tired sometimes.

He reminds me that He knows the path ahead, even if I don’t even see a path. He reminded me this morning that He lead His people through the desert and there are no pathways there.

Maybe you feel a bit like I do, you need Him to strengthen you for some journey He has you on or is calling you to. He promises us in His Word to not be afraid for He is with us. Do not anxously look about you, for He is your God. Surely He will help you, surely He will uphold you with His righteous right hand.” Isa. 41:10

A Gentle Reminder from God

Have you ever felt like you are never going to get there? Who hasn’t right?

A year ago, I took up running. My daughter had been encouraging me to download “Couch to 5 km”.and finally, I did it. When I run, everyone passes me. It bugs me. At least I run faster than the people walking.

I have always been hard on myself. I wish I had learned the art of extending a bit more grace to myself. It is something I am working on. I do find though when I run, I can think better. I used to run in my twenties and now I am almost sixty. That seems totally bizarre to me. I feel more like 42 or 43 not 59 years old! They say that you are as old as you feel. So- that puts me in my forties. I will take that. Running helps.

When I went running today , I saw a snail and he was stuck to the side of a condo. He was about 7 feet high on the wall! . I had seen that same snail ( at least I think it is the same snail) a few days ago when I was running. Even then I felt God nudge me saying “ see Donna, that snail did not get that high quickly, but he did it”

The Lord Jesus is kind and gracious with me and whomever calls out to Him. In Philippians 4:13 it says this “ I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me. “

What are you feeling snail like about these days? You are trying to get there but feel like you are going at a snails pace? Don’t give up! You can do it. Ask the One who is bigger than you. He can help!

The Default

My computer has a default setting it seems for just about everything. I was thinking how I am no different. I wish all my default attitudes and thought patterns was something I could truly brag about, but then I would be lying.

I think the first and greatest challenge I face it to respond instead of react. To react takes no thought- it is what comes naturally. To respond takes thought and reflection. It involves breathing and thinking - making a conscious decision to create a different outcome.

It is a bit like walking by the dining room table and seeing a bag of kettle potato chips( that I am convinced will be in heaven) and choosing to not grab a handful or three. That really takes a moment! It would take no thought to grab a big handful!

I think for myself and many people, how we respond to criticism whether fairly or not- is a huge challenge. It is hard to not take things personally. To make the first impulse response to listen and see what you might need to change and NOT get defensive- is really hard.

I go to God- talk it over to Him. He does give wisdom and peace. He helps us find a way when the contrary winds of life blow. But, He does wait to be asked.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God . Phil 4:6

I have discovered if I run to Him first as my default the outcome is generally much better. I find He gives me grace and wisdom. It is curious that in the middle of it all we are instructed to give thanks. Usually we say thank you for things that truly seem to have a positive- not a negative. Giving thanks does seem to make a way for many things including a different perspective on the challenges we face every day.

Sticks in My Eye!

I was thinking today about some of those quiet ( hopefully) unseen attitudes that are in my heart. It is so easy to smile and nod, say kind things all while in your heart, you hear the whispering that you are so thankful they cannot hear.

I felt that this week. I was nice enough but through the entire conversation, there was a storm in my heart. I said all the right things. Later, I was talking to God about it. ”. What is it that skews my view so I cannot see clearly, or that causes the storm in my own heart. That is when I started to think- maybe I have sticks in my eyes.

God pointed out to me it is sometimes jealousy, bitterness, envy, anger, hurt, fear, stubborn attitudes - all of these and more I am sure, can skew my view and likely anyones view if we are to be honest.

The next question I asked the Lord was what kind of sticks are in my eye. As He kindly mentioned them to me, I confessed each one.

I thought about how even when a bug flies in my eye, how hard it is to see, how much worse when it is a stick!

In Matthew 7:3-5” Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

When I was praying today, I did not feel like there were multiple planks as I have walked with God awhile but I have to say, there were a few sticks there. And He showed me this. Maybe I have found a way to look past these things for awhile, but now, they are gone. All confessed and the Lord has taken them out.

How is your sight these days? What kinds of plank or sticks are in your eyes? It is funny, how easy it is to see who needs to get the sticks out of their persons eye- but so hard to stop long enough to realize, there are indeed a few sticks in our own!

Party Advice to Myself

Every day I meet people, I notice what is on the outside, the styles, the expressions, the hair- do’s, beyond that, I do not see. I am met with serious limitations. I can’t see the heart, the motives,  nor can I see into the mind of another person. Even if they tell me, there is no guarantee that I am going to hear things as they were intended.

This is the season of many gatherings with friends and family. How many of those conversations will lead me to see and hear as I ought? I want to deal in truth and not false perceptions. I do not want to jump to my conclusions. I am well practiced at it sadly. I think I see clearly, but often. I am wrong, what I heard is not at all when they meant.

The only way I can know really is by taking the time to listen without thinking about what I want to say next. Listen without interrupting. Even if I know a story that would be perfect - except I also know it is way cooler or more exciting than the one I just heard, just let it pass. I don’t have to have the biggest story. Another good idea I need to remember  is no one needs to hear the bad news unless they are part of the solution. I need to be okay with asking questions, good ones that are more than a yes/no answer.

I was reading 1 Corinthians 13 a few days ago, I am reminded of what love looks like really from the Author of Love. Love is patient and love is kind. It keeps no record of wrongs.  It hopes all things and believes all things; love never ends.

I think most of usl have those people in our lives that require patience and maybe some extra grace. There are those whose errors in judgement, all the rotten things they have done, are all very fresh in my iron trap memory - yet, who am I really? God has forgiven me so much.

To live and love well, is to extend the standard of love that God Himself sets for us in 1 Corinthian .13. Before I go to another gathering or have people over, I think I am going to re-read that passage. Then I will ask the Author of love to fill me up with His kind of  love that I am so often short of.