Monday Morning Memo: A Life Detour - Part I

I believe there are a list of phone calls that most parents don’t want to receive.  We received one of those several weeks ago and immediately, an unexpected life detour began.

We were on our way to church on a Sunday morning and the call came from our daughter, Erica, who lives in North Carolina.  She told us that she had been up all night, doubled over in severe pain in her abdomen and lower back.  We told her that she needed to call a friend to take her to the ER immediately.  Erica has such amazing friends and one of them immediately came and rushed her in to get help.

I’ll be honest…I don’t think I could tell you much about our church service that morning. This mama’s mind and heart were in North Carolina and not in what was going on around me.  Updates were sent to us often and finally, after tests were run, it was determined that large cysts on Erica’s ovaries were pressing on the ureters of her kidneys.  They released her and instructed her to see her doctor the next day because surgery would be needed ASAP.

The next morning, while I was on a plane flying to be with her, Erica saw her doctor and she confirmed that surgery would be needed just as soon as it could be lined up. But what she was told next…were words that no one wants to hear.  The surgeon she needed to see was an OBGYN Oncologist, because some of her test results pointed towards the possibility of cancer.

No one wants to hear the “C” word…cancer can take on many forms and can entail so many decisions, procedures and outcomes.  As I arrived to be with Erica and she told me the news, my heart fell to my toes.  But I knew that God was in control and whatever was ahead, was His perfect plan for her…even if it made absolutely no sense to me and scared me to death. 

Of course, even though the surgery was deemed as one that was needed immediately, we were told that the OBGYN Oncologist couldn’t see Erica until Thursday.  What added to the stress load of concern while we waited, was the fact that they told her to be very careful in the meantime, since her kidneys could suddenly shut down…or one of the cysts could burst which wouldn’t have good results.  So much to fill our minds with as we walked through the days until Thursday.

Of course, because I believe our God has a sense of humor, it was at this time that I was writing in my blog about trusting God completely…with no ands, ifs or buts.  That isn’t too hard to do if life is going along swimmingly, but throw in a sudden, scary detour and it takes it to a much higher level.  But God just kept reminding me…and I just kept saying over and over “God, I am going to trust you…with no “buts”.

Thursday finally arrived and we went to her appointment…expecting to come out with a game plan and a surgery date.  I’m telling you, I think the hardest thing I have ever done was walk into a women’s cancer center with my daughter.  Oh, if it could have only been me that needed to see the surgeon…not my daughter.  But that hadn’t been God’s plan, so we needed to see it through.

After the exam was done, we heard encouraging words and discouraging words.  The doctor said that even though Erica’s counts were high…she didn’t think she had cancer…but because of that, she didn’t think she was the right surgeon to operate.  She felt a Minimally Invasive OBGYN surgeon would give Erica a much better outcome and wanted to refer us to one in the area.  

We walked out a little relieved but a whole lot frustrated.  We felt like we were back to square one and now we would have to wait again to see the next surgeon.  Many calls were made, and, in the end, we were told that this surgeon couldn’t see Erica until the next Wednesday.  So, more days of waiting, all while wondering what might happen since the surgery needed to be done ASAP…but no one was in a hurry but us.

Waiting. I’ve decided I don’t like it.  If you are waiting for something fun to happen…there is excitement in the air and waiting is part of the fun.  But when you are waiting for something that you wish you didn’t have to even experience…waiting becomes, at times, overwhelming.

Since Easter is on the horizon, this experience has me wondering what it must have been like for Jesus during the days leading up to His crucifixion.  Talk about waiting!  It wasn’t a situation where He didn’t know what was going to happen…He knew every detail.  We were waiting for the unknown…He was waiting for the known.  He knew what He was going to have to go through…for you and for me…so that our sins could be forgiven and we could spend eternity with Him. Absolutely unbelievable. 

Are you in a time of waiting?   Trust Jesus.  He understands exactly what you are going through.  He’s been there and He won’t let you walk the detour without Him. Reach out to Him today.  If He loved you that much to be willing to go through the waiting period that led up to being crucified…I think He can help you as you walk these uncertain days.

Until next week, when I’ll share about the next wrench that was thrown into our detour…

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart 

and lean not on your own understanding; 

in all your ways submit to him, 

and he will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

Monday Morning Memo: Don't Be a Fool

I came across this graphic last week and it sure hit home to me.  Many of you know that I come from a long lineage of Christians.  My grandfather was a minister…my father was a minister…so was his brother…his sister was a missionary nurse in Africa and his other sister married a minister.  On my mom’s side, her two sisters also married ministers and her brother was always a leader in the church.  Just about everywhere I turned growing up…someone in the ministry was in eye-shot.

I told someone recently that I don’t know why I was blessed to have this kind of lineage. Why was I born in the United States…to parents, grandparents and extended family… who loved the Lord?  Why was I fortunate to always have enough to eat and a safe, warm place to lay my head at night?   Why was I shown Jesus over and over again growing up, instead of being born in a country that never even spoke His name?

I don’t know the answers to these questions, but I am realizing the responsibility that I have because of what I have been given.  I think it is coming to my mind more often now, and in a much clearer view, since both of my parents are now in Heaven.  It now starts with me and those who have come after me will either feel blessed to have me in their ancestry “pool”, or wonder why they were chosen to have to put up with me.

I do know one thing for sure…having the long line of Christians before me…won’t get me into Heaven.  When I stand before Jesus, He won’t say, “Now let’s see…ahhh yes LuAnn…I see where your father, grandfather and uncle were ministers.  Why, quite a few of your ancestors were Christians and are already here in Heaven, so by all means…come on shore!”

No, I’m very doubtful that any of my relatives will be in the conversation between Jesus and me when I see Him face to face.  I also doubt that He will ask me what church I went to…gasp…because just being a member of a church won’t get me in either!  The only thing that Jesus will care about at that moment, is whether I asked Him to forgive me of my sins and invited Him to come into my heart and lead me on my earthly journey.

As the graphic today tells us, no one will ever get into Heaven because of someone else’s faith.  It is up to each of us to ask Jesus into our heart. So, if we are expecting to spend eternity with Jesus, just because our parents were Christians or because we sat in the pew every Sunday, unfortunately, we are wrong.

Today is April Fool’s Day and I know many people will be pulling pranks on their family and friends.  I want to assure you that my words today are not said as a prank or a joke.  Jesus is the reason that I get up every morning, pen every blog post and urgently pray for those who need to know that there is hope! Accepting Him is not difficult; you can come to Him just as you are right now…today.   All you have to do is say a prayer such as this:

“Dear Jesus, I believe that you died on the cross for my sins, were resurrected and that you are alive and well today.  I believe that you are the Son of God and that you deeply love me.  I confess that I am a sinner and I need you to forgive me and cleanse me from my sins. I accept you as my Savior and want you to create a new and clean heart in me.  I now want to live every day for you and I know that I will have eternal life with you because of what you did on Calvary’s cross for me.  Thank you, Jesus.  Amen.”

If you have prayed this prayer, please let me or a friend know so that we can be praying for you as you begin your walk with Jesus.  Please…please…don’t be a fool and reject what He has to offer you.  Only you can make this life-changing decision and I’m urging you to make it today.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son,

so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16

Monday Morning Memo: Heavenly Prime

I have no idea how you are…but you have probably figured out by now that I’m not a good “wait-er”.  If I get in my head that something should happen, I usually think it should happen now. Or better yet…it should have happened yesterday!

I think I can blame our world for some of the reasons I feel this way because we live in an instant society.  Many things I own in my kitchen, are there because I want to do things faster.  I own an electric mixer because I don’t want to take the time to stir something by hand.  I own a microwave, because heaven forbid, I would have to wait for something to heat up on the stove.  I own an instant pot, because I want to cook our meal in the fraction of the time that it would take in the oven.  

Add Amazon Prime into my life, and I usually don’t have to wait more than 48 hours to have something delivered to my door.  Doesn’t it just fry your goose when you go to order something and it says it can’t be sent Amazon Prime?  You mean I have to wait 3 additional days for it to ship?  Outrageous!

Don’t you wish God had Amazon Prime?  Oh, I’m sure it wouldn’t be called that, but it could be called Heavenly Prime.  When we need an answer quickly, we could just get on our computer…pull up www.heavenlyprime...put our order in and within 48 hours our prayer would be answered.  We could even sign up for updates to be sent to us so we would know exactly when our answer would arrive.  Oh, and if the answer we received wasn’t exactly what we thought it should be, we could send it back, no questions asked.  Ahhhh, what a life that would be!

But that’s not reality, is it?  Unfortunately, many times in our lives the only answer we receive from God is to wait. Ughhhh, I often find that difficult to do.   “Wait patiently for the Lord.  Be brave and courageous.  Yes, wait patiently for the Lord” Psalm 27:14.  “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act”Psalm 37:7a.  “But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently” Romans 8:25. “Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised” Hebrews 6:15.  Those verses are just a few reminders of how we should wait. 

My difficulty in waiting pretty much goes along with my times when I lack trust…which I wrote about last week.  One feeds the other.  But I’m thinking that each time we can successfully wait on God…trusting His timing and His answers…we get one step closer to looking like Him.  And isn’t that what our goal should be?

I shared last week that I was going to really work on trusting God…no ands, ifs or buts…and I think I did much better these past days.  But I’m here to tell you that it wasn’t easy!  I told a friend one day that I felt like I was on the edge of a cliff and the Lord was whispering in my ear, “Do you trust me LuAnn?  Even in this situation…do you trust me?”  I found myself answering Him with the words, “Yes, Lord.  I will trust you…without any buts.”

I love the verses in Psalm 5:1-3 which say, “O Lord, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning.  Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but you.  Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord.  Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.”  I find it amazing that the King of Kings wants to hear my requests (yes, even when I am groaning) and then I am to wait expectantly.  Because once I have fervently prayed to Him, I am to wait…believing that He will work all things for His good and His glory…and in His timing.  

Well, I still wish I could sign up for Heavenly Prime…but since I can’t…I’ll keep working on waiting, praying and believing.  My answers may not come in 48 hours…but whenever they show up…I’ll know they are perfect for me and won’t need returned!

Monday Morning Memo: Ands, Ifs or Buts

Have you ever noticed how often we tend to use the word “but” in our day?  I know it’s time to get up…but I’m just too tired.  I love my job…but my boss is just too hard on me. I’m so thankful for my kids…but they sure drive me crazy sometimes.  I know the person who works next to me needs the Lord…but I’m sure I’m not the one to tell him.  We say one thing…but we often feel the need to clarify what we said.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the word “but”.  The reason is that I’ve heard myself say it over and over again recently.  I know I just need to trust…but…and then I’ve given an excuse as to why it’s too hard. I know I  need to trust God for my loved one’s health…but…I love them so much and I want to just fix this. I know I need to trust God with my health…but…I’ve been through so much and what if I get worse?    I know I need to trust God for whatever happens today and tomorrow…but…I’m so scared of what might occur that will be out of my control.

Bingo.  I have a hard time trusting God…because I want to be in control.  To completely trust Him, means that I take my hands off of any situation I am facing, and allow Him to be the One with the steering wheel.  It means that I don’t just say that I trust Him, and then keep taking the reins back over, trying to manipulate Him to do what I think is best. It means that I trust Him to work out every detail…in His timing…and for His honor and glory.

When I look at this logically, I have to ask myself, Why?

1.     Why wouldn’t I trust Him with my health, since He is the One who “made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.”  (Psalm 139:13)  

2.   Why wouldn’t I trust Him with my loved ones since He, believe it or not, loves them even more than I do.  Not only did He create me, He created them too, and knows everything about them.

3.  Why wouldn’t I trust Him with my today and my tomorrow, since His Word tells me to, “Trust in the Lord with all my heart; do not depend on my own understanding.  Seek his will in all I do, and he will show me which path to take.”  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

So today… I. Will. Trust. God.  Period. No ands, ifs or buts.  No excuses, no rationalizations, no manipulation.  He alone is worthy of my complete trust, and honestly, He really doesn’t need any help from me J

What about you? Do you find yourself saying that you trust God…but…your actions show something entirely different?  Why not leave the driving to Him today.  Your path may not take you where you think you should go…but…I’m confident your destination will put you exactly where He wants you to be. 

Monday Morning Memo: Filling Our Minds

I like to read. In fact, I don’t just like to read…I love to read.  I usually have at least two books going at a time, and sometimes three.  While I have lots of books on my Kindle app, I would still much rather have a book in my hands than read one on a screen.  

And, if you’ve ever been in my home, you know I have many, many of those books that can be held.  Not only do I have books I have purchased, but I also was given my Dad’s books when he moved out of his apartment.  Fortunately, we have a room that has had several purposes over the years, but it finally became my library some years ago so most of my books are in one location.

I usually start my day reading the Bible and often end my day devouring a non-fiction, Christian book that will challenge me in my Christian walk.  I have found in doing this, that reading relaxes me.  If I am stressed and I pick up a book…I often feel my body begin to “chill out”.  If I am discouraged, it never ceases to amaze me how God will put just the right words in front of me to minister to my mind and soul.  

The past couple of weeks, I’ve been reading the Max Lucado books that I own.  All of them were written quite a few years ago, but each one has spoken to me in a powerful way.  They have encouraged me, challenged me and have at times, stepped on my toes. Each of these books have impressed on me how important it is that I fill my mind with God’s truths.  Whether it be through prayer, by reading His Word, listening to Christian music, listening to ministers who speak Biblical truths, or through literature…what I choose to fill my mind with, will make a difference. 

Now, while I’m sure you have found it riveting to read about my love for reading J…you may be wondering why I felt the need to share this with you.  We are living in a world that is unhinged most of the time and it is so easy to become depressed, discouraged and feeling like there isn’t any hope.   Because of this, I think it is important for all of us to pay attention to that with which we are filling our minds.  We all want to feel peace and hope, but if we are feeding on a constant diet of news shows, Facebook posts, raunchy books and movies…I’m afraid we will feel more despair than encouragement.  More darkness than light.

If you are struggling with the health of your mind…why not take note of what you are filling it with today.  Is it true? Is it Bible based?  Is it encouraging?  If not…make choices that will uplift you and draw you closer to the One who created you.  He, my friend, wants to fill you to the brim and overflowing with His peace today and in the days to come. 

“Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling 

your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious - the best, not the worst; 

the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.

Philippians 4:8

Monday Morning Memo: Mind-Talking

I’m embarrassed to admit that it wasn’t the first time this has happened.  You would think that after it occurred the first time, I would have remembered on subsequent occasions…but I haven’t.

I was sitting at my computer the other day becoming more frustrated by the minute.  No matter what I did…I couldn’t get any sound out of it. At first, I thought there was something wrong with the short video clip I was trying to watch, but when I attempted to listen to other videos, I had the same problem…no sound.  I finally thought that there must be a glitch in my computer, so I turned it completely off and then turned it back on…hoping that would solve my problem.  No such luck.

I was about to walk away from my computer since I was getting so frustrated, when I happened to look at my keyboard and I saw the culprit.  Yes, I’m sure many of you have already figured it out…my earbuds were plugged in.  I unplugged them from my computer, and wouldn’t you know it…I had sound.

It was at that point that my mind-talking began. How stupid can I be?  What is wrong with me?  This isn’t the first time I have done this…when will I ever learn?  I bet other people don’t do such stupid things.  Am I even safe to be alone at all?

I know that my “moment of stupidity” wasn’t anything life-shattering…but why do I often let my errors control my mind?  In this situation, I just wasn’t thinking clearly, but I can spend much more time berating myself than I did trying to find out what the problem was.  Then, add a time when I sin, and I can easily fear that God has his naughty and nice list out and I’m for sure getting checked off Heaven’s roster! 

Please hear me when I say that yes, when we sin, we need to go to our Father and ask for forgiveness…but at that point His grace covers us.  He doesn’t keep bringing it up to make us feel bad about ourselves (Satan is doing that) and He doesn’t love us any less.  But I’ve met so many people who are still dwelling on their past and as a result they are stuck in quicksand.  They are unable to move forward and accept God’s forgiveness because they can’t forgive themselves.

If there is something in your past that is controlling you today…hand it over to Jesus and let Him throw it in the deepest sea.  Then, stop the mind-talking and move on!  There isn’t anything you have done that His grace can’t cover.  Trust me.  If he can forgive this absent-minded writer…who falls short so many times and has to ask for forgiveness…I’m confident His grace can cover you too!

“And I will forgive their wickedness,
 and I will never again remember their sins.” 

Hebrews 8:12

PRAISE THE LORD AND SAY AMEN!!

Monday Morning Memo: Hot Water Bottle Prayers

Quite a few years ago, I wrote about how difficult it was when my children were young to find time to spend with my Jesus.  I shared that some years later, I taught classes on “God’s Plan for the Wife & Mother” and the material I used was from a woman by the name of Shirley Price from back in the 70’s.  For some of it, I played cassette tapes with her speaking on it, so that gives you an idea how old this material was.  But, since all of her teaching was Bible based, it was never out of date.  One of the chapters was entitled, “How to Keep Up With the Proverbs Woman” and she talked about Proverbs 31:15 taken from The Amplified Bible which says that the Proverbs woman, “Rises while it is yet night and gets spiritual food for her household.”

Shirley told how, just like me, she had struggled with having a daily time with her Lord.  Finally, one day she said, “Lord we have got to work out something different.  Will you please help work out a time when I can be alone with You?”

The next morning at 3 a.m., she suddenly woke up.  She couldn’t figure out what made her do this, so she went back to sleep. The next night the same thing happened. Suddenly, she remembered what she had asked of the Lord and she told Him that there was no way she could wake up that early, so she went back to sleep.  But you see, we have a Father who doesn’t give up when He knows we’re serious about something.  So, the next morning at 3 o’clock, off went her alarm and this time she got out of bed, went downstairs and started a 3 o’clock devotional period that went on for all the time her children were growing up.

She said there were times when the Lord would fill her to the brim in just 5 minutes and she would go back to bed.  Then there were other nights where she never went back to sleep because she was so excited with what He was sharing with her and she never became tired.  She shared that she always woke up refreshed and thrilled about what the Lord was doing within her.  Shirley was a wonderful example of what happens when we allow Him to have complete control! 

This came flooding back into my mind recently, when a dear friend shared with me that she has been suffering with sinus headaches and pain behind her eye.  She said that when this pain hits, she takes her hot water bottle to bed with her and rests.  As she lays there, she uses that time to, as she says, “Pray and Pray”. She cries out to the Lord asking for forgiveness if need be, and then lifts ups her praises and prayer requests to her Heavenly Father.  She has realized that even in her pain, she can use that time wisely to spend time with her Jesus.

Are you frustrated that your schedule is not allowing you time to spend with your Jesus? If you are really serious about it, just ask Him to give you that time in your day.  Since He loves to spend time with you, I’m confident He will figure out how your schedule can be rearranged so that He can work within you in a powerful way.  Whether it is during the day or night…or involves a hot water bottle…I know it will be worth it! 

 “But when you pray, go away by yourself, 

shut the door behind you, 

and pray to your Father in private. 

Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”

Matthew 6:6