Monday Morning Memo: The Battle is His

Confession time…I find it hard sometimes to concentrate when I’m reading the Old Testament.  Sure, I know all the facts and lineage details are important…but oftentimes my thoughts go haywire as I attempt to absorb what I’m supposed to learn from my reading.

As a result, I was struggling one day as I attempted to read 1st Chronicles. It was so hard for me to get much out of the fact that Ashhur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah and that Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni and Haahashtari. Sorry, but if I can’t even pronounce the names...I can lose interest real fast. 

So, as I sat down one morning just thrilled (tongue in cheek) to read about who bore whom, I came across these words in Chapter 5:18-22: “The Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 men ready for military service—able-bodied men who could handle shield and sword, who could use a bow, and who were trained for battle. They waged war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish and Nodab. They were helped in fighting them, and God delivered the Hagrites and all their allies into their hands, because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him. They seized the livestock of the Hagrites—fifty thousand camels, two hundred fifty thousand sheep and two thousand donkeys. They also took one hundred thousand people captive, and many others fell slain, because the battle was God’s. And they occupied the land until the exile.” 

The reason these verses jumped out at me is because I’m currently having difficulty trusting God to take care of a concern of mine. I know He cares even more about this matter than I do, and He is more than able to handle the details, but I want to hold onto it…fretting, stewing and losing sleep. As I read these verses, I was reminded that God wants me to make sure I do what He has asked me to do…by spending time in prayer and reading His Word.  Just like these men who were able-bodied and trained for battle, He expects me to make sure I am doing all I can to learn His ways.  These things will help me be prepared for whatever happens in the days to come.  

He then reminded me that He is the one I should call out to as I navigate these uncertain times.  I need to trust Him FIRST, before He has even answered my prayers and keep in mind that in this life, the battle is His not mine. That’s often hard to even comprehend with my Type A always-want-to-be-in-control type personality.  But if I fully trust Him and His ways, and remember that the battle is His…not mine…there is no reason for me to worry. 

Are you holding onto something in your life that needs to be turned over to God? Are you having trouble trusting Him with every area of your life? There’s no better time than now, as we begin 2022, to start trusting as we let Him fight the battle. I’m going to give that a try this year and, believe it or not, I’m even looking forward to reading more of the Old Testament 

Monday Morning Memo: Miracle Moments III

 

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done (Psalm 9:1).

 

If I am completely honest, I had mixed feelings on Thursday, August 13th, 2009, when I received a phone call informing me that my mom had taken a turn for the worse.  As I drove to be by her bedside, I really wasn’t sure how to pray.  The thought of losing my mother from this earth overwhelmed me, but the realization that in death she would have a new, whole body and mind with Jesus was healing to my soul.  She had made it clear to us as we grew up that her focus was on her Lord and Savior, and she was willing to do whatever He asked of her.  She had shared with me that in every decision she made, she wanted to make sure it honored her Jesus and would have a positive impact on eternity.  Knowing that was her desire, I knew it was selfish of me to want her to remain on this earth.  I knew of no one else who deserved more to be welcomed into heaven with the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

I entered her room and the scene was hard to observe.  The nurses were telling us she had suffered another stroke and could no longer swallow or speak.  Her eyes stared blankly at the ceiling and there was no recognition on her part that her family was by her side.  We did our best to keep our conversation on a positive note not knowing for sure whether or not she could hear us.

Then, out of the blue and much to my surprise, I saw her eyes begin to move.  Not only were they moving but they were actually following me as I walked around the room.   I remember thinking that maybe I wasn’t seeing clearly or that it was just my imagination, but when I looked again it was clear that I was looking into the face of the mom I had known for so many years.  Even though she couldn’t speak, it was obvious she was trying to convey a message to me.

As tears fell, I looked at her and said, “Mom, you know everything that is going on right now, don’t you?”  And, as unbelievable as it seemed at the moment, with everything she had left in her, she shook her head yes and attempted the slightest smile.  I then moved to the end of her bed and once again, her eyes followed my every move.  

I realized at that point that I more than likely had a very small window of opportunity to talk to her, so I knew exactly what I wanted to say.  I looked into her beautiful eyes and said, “Mom, I just want you to know how much I love you.”  No sooner had the words left my mouth than my mom did something I will never forget.  She winked at me.  I couldn’t believe it.  In that instant, I knew God had performed this “miracle moment” so that my mom could tell me she loved me one last time.  She couldn’t speak, but she could wink and what a gift that was to me.

Just as quickly as the miracle happened, it was over.  Her eyes glazed back over, and she was back in the world I could not enter.  But at that point, I knew it wouldn’t be long until she would meet her Jesus face to face.

Two days later, her family who had gone before her, along with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, greeted my mom on the streets of gold in heaven. No more anxiety.  No more confusion.  She was finally whole. 

Miracle.  It may be an overused word in our vocabulary but for me, it is the only word that is appropriate for this experience.   I have no doubt it was an act of God, and it was truly amazing, extraordinary and unexpected.  

What amazes me about this event is the fact that the Creator of the universe, the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, my Jesus, cared enough about me to bless me with this miracle.  I didn’t deserve it and I surely didn’t do anything to earn it; but it was given to me because He knows me so well and knew what occurrence would be miraculous to me.  I also believe He orchestrated this miracle moment not only to remind me of my mom’s love for me, but to whisper in my ear that I am also His child whom He dearly loves. He wanted me to know He would hold me in His arms in the difficult days that followed.   

Do you want to see miracles happen today?  Look around you.  Be watchful.  I think too often we are looking for an earth-shattering miracle to take place and we miss the miracle moment.  You may not see a withered hand healed, but you just might experience a blessing far greater than you could ever imagine!

My Jesus Prayer

Jesus, thank you so much for shining Your light in my darkest moments.  Help me to rest in Your care when sorrow overwhelms me, but keep me mindful that Your blessings may be right around the bend on my journey with You.

By the way, check out my YouTube Christmas message and then please share it with your friends.  Time is of the essence and we need to let others know about our Jesus! You can find it at: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0MNguffUtw

Monday Morning Memo: Miracle Moments II

Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible” (Matthew 19:26).

 

For you to better understand my “miracle moment”, it is necessary for me to give you some background.   My mother had been ill for a very long time before I stood by her bedside on that day in 2009.  Ten years prior she had begun to show signs of dementia.  We noticed her nerves being on edge and her thought processes were not clear.   She would become agitated easily which was not at all her normal personality.

My mom had always been a very sharp, talented person.  She was very detail-orientated and could accomplish tasks that often baffled others.  The last job she had was being the final proofer for magazines and would often find errors that the previous proofers had missed.

She was also a minister’s wife and she carried out that “position” beautifully.  I doubt you could find any person to say a negative thing about my mom in all the churches in which she and my dad served.  She displayed grace, poise and a servant’s heart that impacted many throughout the years.

Mom also had a great impact on me, along with my older brother and sister.  No matter what we did, whether she approved or not, her love for us never faltered.  Her steadfast faith in her Savior was such an example to us as to how a walk with Him should look.  She taught us that if a job was worth doing, it was worth doing well.  She used to always share with us the words, "Once a task has begun, never leave it till it's done. Whether it be great or small, do it well or not at all."

To see this amazing woman begin to falter mentally and emotionally was very difficult.  It was a very slow process with her.  I often felt like I lost her one inch at a time over the years.

The day came when we had to move her into nursing care at the retirement center where my parents were living.  We would visit her weekly and never knew what to expect when we entered her room.  There were times she was coherent and we could enjoy our time together.  There were other days when her emotional and mental state made it very difficult to converse.  She was often agitated and upset over something which had occurred that day and nothing we would say would make a difference.  It was those days when I would leave her room with such a heavy heart; frustrated that I had been unable to calm her spirit.

But nothing prepared me for the day when I entered her room and it was obvious she didn’t have a clue who I was.  The blank expression on her face, with no hint of recognition, was something I had never seen before.  I remember sitting down beside her and trying to carry on a conversation, only to have her interrupt me and ask me who I was and why I was there.  I explained to her that I was her daughter but her only answer was “Oh”.

I walked out of the facility with tears running down my face, with the realization that the mother whom I loved so dearly for so many years didn’t know me.  The mother who had stood beside me through thick and thin, who often told me how much she loved me and how proud she was of me, was now lost in a world I couldn’t understand and couldn’t enter.  

Honestly, visiting her was more difficult after that experience.  Not because I loved her any less, but because the pain of losing the mom I knew was so great.   I learned over time that I could still visit with her, but that our relationship had been changed to being acquaintances instead of family.  I celebrated on the days when she seemed to know who I was and fought tears on the days when she didn’t.

Life isn’t always wrapped up with a pretty bow, is it?  Sometimes we are thrown into what seems like a deep abyss and there is darkness all around us.  It’s often at those times though, when God decides to bless us with one of His “miracle moments”.  But as I shared last week, if we are too busy with our day-to-day activities to notice His hand at work in our lives, we just might miss it.  Today might be the day, so make sure you are paying attention!

My Jesus Prayer

Jesus, sometimes life’s circumstances cause such 

deep pain that can’t even be explained.  

Please hold me Jesus during those times, 

but help me to be watching for those moments 

when You display Your power in a mighty way!

Monday Morning Memo: Miracle Moments I

2021 has been another difficult year in our world, and it has been easy for many to become discouraged.  I think in many minds, 2020 was the year to just “endure” and once we made it through those months, life would return to normal.  If that was your thought…you must be very disappointed in 2021.

Last week I shared about an experience I had with my mother many years ago and I was overwhelmed with the response I received.  As I’ve thought about that this past week, I have concluded that it was because it was a positive message of how God can show up in a mighty way…even in our day-to-day messy life.  We all need to be reminded of the fact that God sees us…He cares about us…and nothing we are going through is missed by Him.  And…nothing, absolutely nothing, is beyond His control.

So, I feel led to use the last three weeks of 2021, to share with you a message of hope, using another story of how God used my mom and Alzheimer’s to touch me.  My prayer is that my words will hopefully prepare you for 2022…helping you to remember that we serve a God with unending power…unending hope…unending ability to still perform miracles that are beyond our ability to comprehend.  Because you see…miracle moments are everywhere…we just need to make sure we are looking for them.

Miracle Moments – I

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).

 

I often hear people question why we don’t see amazing, mind-blowing miracles today like those witnessed in Biblical times.  We don’t hear about someone feeding 5000 people with one slab of ribs and a piece of cornbread.  We don’t come in contact with a person who was blind all their life but had their sight restored by just a touch of a hand.  And we surely don’t turn on the evening news to hear that a neighbor of ours has been raised from the dead, after taking his last breath four days prior.  If events like this are happening, the general public is not getting the message.

Does that mean God isn’t capable of performing miracles in our day?  Does it mean those kinds of miraculous events were only for the Biblical times and we just aren’t blessed enough to experience it today?  The answer to those questions is no.  God is capable and He is still in the miracle blessing business.  I believe He wants nothing more than to shower us with His blessings and reveal to us His power that never runs out every single day.

So, the question then becomes, why aren’t we seeing the miracles that God is doing in our midst?  Unfortunately, I believe the answer might be that we aren’t looking.  We are so busy; we have become so wrapped up in our day-to-day activities that we don’t look for His hand in our life.  I’m afraid our faith is also not where it should be. As a result, we don’t expect Him to work, and it never occurs to us that He is able to do far more than we ever dreamed or hoped.  I think we often forget how big our God is and that there is nothing that He can’t accomplish.

Miracles come in all sizes.  They may be an event such as physical healing that occurs and lasts for a lifetime.  Or they may be what I like to call “miracle moments”.  Moments in time, when something happens that can’t be explained through medicine, wisdom or coincidence, but are surely a result of the hand of God.

One of the greatest, most powerful miracle moments occurred in my life in 2009 at the bedside of my dying mother.  The time span was probably no more than three minutes from when the miracle began to when it ended and if I hadn’t been watching, I easily could have missed it.   But those precious moments are something I will never forget.  That day, God chose to show me His power as only He can do.

Be on the lookout today for “miracle moments” that God just might send your way.  He is able to do far more than you can even imagine and today just might be the day that you will be talking about for many years to come!

My Jesus Prayer

Jesus, it is so easy for me to become self-focused and forget to watch for Your mighty hand at work during my day.  Keep me focused and always looking upward so I don’t miss a “miracle moment”!

 

By the way…if you haven’t already done so…please check out my latest videos on my YouTube channel, Image Seeker, where we studied the Fruit of the Spirit.  The entire series is there so you can watch it any time of the day or night by yourself or with your small group!  You can check them out at:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0szlDSgNBtFuzzNLBWzwMA

Monday Morning Memo: She Was Willing...I Must be Too

I have shared this story before, but for some reason, the details came flooding back to me again last week.  It centers around my mom, who took her last breath on earth and her first breath in heaven in 2009.  Oh, what I wouldn’t give to have just one more afternoon with her.

The events took place as I sat in a hospital room next to her bedside.  She was restless and confused.  As a result of Alzheimer’s, her mind didn’t always comprehend what was going on around her and being in an unfamiliar place made it even worse for her.  I remember talking to her and trying to calm her nerves, but I wasn’t having much success.

Suddenly, she began to relax, and I saw her beautiful smile return.  She looked at me and said, “Do you hear that?  Do you hear that singing? It’s beautiful!”  I must be honest…all I could hear were the ordinary hospital noises…but I wasn’t about to let on to her that I couldn’t perceive what she could.

I decided that since whatever she could hear was calming her, I would play along.  I told her I could barely hear the singing and I just couldn’t make out the words and wondered if she could tell them to me.  Her response?  “Oh, they are singing my favorite song, ‘His Eye is On the Sparrow’.  Isn’t it beautiful?”

By this point her face was beaming and she was completely relaxed.  We sat there together, mom being ministered to by her Savior and me being ministered to by my mother.  I believe the Lord knew what words my mom needed to hear to remind her of His constant care of her.   I, in turn, needed to see once again the deep, powerful and intimate relationship she had with her Heavenly Father.  Her faith was so ingrained in her that even in the darkness of Alzheimer’s, she could still recall the promises of her Savior.  You see, during her life, my mom didn’t just talk about her faith…she lived her faith day in and day out…even at times when following Him meant great sacrifice for her.  She was willing to give and do whatever her Lord asked of her.

That’s the kind of relationship I want to have with the Lord, and if I am honest, I know I have a long way to go.  I want His words, His wisdom, His promises to be so much a part of me that no matter what happens I will be able to draw from His power.  But I realize that that doesn’t just happen.  It isn’t something that is automatically in me because I had Christian parents and grandparents or even as a result of sitting in a pew every Sunday.  Just like sitting in a garage doesn’t make me a car…sitting in a church doesn’t automatically make me a devoted follower of Christ.  I must be willing and open to learn from those who have walked with their Savior longer than me and from my brothers and sisters in Christ with whom I worship.  Ultimately, my bond with the Lord will grow over time as I fellowship with Him, read His Word and listen for His voice through prayer. 

Mom’s favorite song says, 

“Why should I feel discouraged, 

why should the shadows come,

Why should my heart be lonely, 

and long for heav’n and home,

When Jesus is my portion? 

My constant Friend is He:

His eye is on the sparrow, 

and I know He watches me;

His eye is on the sparrow, 

and I know He watches me.

I sing because I'm happy,

I sing because I'm free.

For His eye is on the sparrow,

and I know He watches me." 

 

Just as those words were a comfort to her during her hospital stay, they are a comfort to me knowing that nothing will happen to me today that He won’t see.   The One who knows everything, wants to have an intimate, personal relationship with me and it is my choice how close I will allow Him to be.  I have no reason to be discouraged, no reason to be lonely because Jesus is all I need and He promises to be my constant friend.  It just can’t get much better than that.

“Lord, help me to make the choice every day to strive for a closer relationship with you.  Help me to seek you, to learn from you, to hear your whispers as I go throughout my day. And may those who come behind me, see you in me, and see someone who was willing to do whatever you asked to bring glory and honor to your name.”  Amen.

 

By the way…if you haven’t already done so…please check out my latest videos on my YouTube channel, Image Seeker, where we studied the Fruit of the Spirit.  The entire series is there so you can watch it any time of the day or night by yourself or with your small group!  You can check them out at:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0szlDSgNBtFuzzNLBWzwMA

Monday Morning Memo: Lost...and Found!

It was just an earring.  In fact…it was a really cheap earring.  It was one of those that you buy hooked to a card…with several other pairs.  Regardless of the cost, it was an earring I liked and wore often.  So, when it came up missing a few weeks ago…I was bummed.

I had put both earrings on that morning but discovered during the day that one was gone.  I had just been outside clearing leaves away from my plants, so I figured it had fallen off as I was working.  Knowing it was a long shot that I could find it…I went outside anyway and retraced my steps.  Much to my chagrin…it was nowhere to be found.

I debated as to whether I should keep the one lone earring that was left, but finally decided to hold onto it for at least a few weeks, just in case Dan spotted it as he was working outside.  Maybe, just maybe, he would see something shiny and the lost would be found.

Fast forward two weeks.  I went to visit my mother-in-law who lives in a retirement home and as I was leaving, I stopped to talk to the receptionist.  While we were visiting, a woman walked into the home with her young boys and she approached the front desk.  I heard her tell the receptionist that they had been walking past the facility and found an earring.  She thought maybe it belonged to one of the residents and wanted to make sure and turn it in.  I thought that was really nice of her and I left and went home.

Later, I began thinking about what had happened that day.  Since I was convinced I had lost my earring here at home, I hadn’t given it any thought that the earring which was turned in was the one I had lost.  But as I thought back to the day when the earring went missing, I realized I had gone to see my mother-in-law that morning, before working outside.  Now, my interest was piqued!

A couple days later, armed with the earring I had in my possession, I returned to the Home and asked the receptionist if she still had the earring.  There it was on her desk and as she picked it up…I took my earring out of my pocket.  It was a match!  I stood there in shock.

What are the odds that all the events of that day lined up?

1.    I just happened to go see my mother-in-law the day the earring was turned in.  The facility was actually closed due to Covid, but since I am considered an Essential Caregiver, I was allowed entrance.

2.   I stopped to talk with the receptionist before leaving.  Confession here…I’m usually in a hurry to leave because you know…I have things to do   But for some reason that day I stood and talked with her for quite some time.  If I would have left immediately like I usually do…I wouldn’t have been there when the earring was brought in.  As a result, I never would have known it was there.

3.   The woman and her young boys just happened to be walking past the facility that day and just happened to see this earring which had been laying there for two weeks.  Instead of leaving it on the ground…or throwing it away…they took the time to take it into the Home…at exactly the same time I was standing in the lobby.

4.   The earring was not damaged at all…even though it had been outside where cars are constantly driving in and out.  The only thing wrong was that the back of the earring was missing…but I could easily replace that.

 

Isn’t it amazing that God cares about even the little things in our life?  Isn’t it amazing that with all the horrendous, earth-shattering happenings that are going on in our world…He still takes the time to show us how much He loves us? 

For me, I think God allowed all this to happen to remind me that He sees me…He knows everything about me and cares about every detail.  Oh, how I needed this reminder and maybe you do too.  If you are feeling alone…He sees you.  If you are feeling lost…He never leaves your side.  If you need direction…He will guide you every step of the way.  Oh, how He loves you and me!

“For the mountains may move
    and the hills disappear,
but even then my faithful love for you will remain.
    My covenant of blessing will never be broken,”
    says the Lord, who has mercy on you.

Isaiah 54:10

By the way…if you haven’t already done so…please check out my latest videos on my YouTube channel, Image Seeker, where we are studying the Fruit of the Spirit.  The last lesson in this series will be posted this week…so make sure you are all caught up! You can check them out at:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0szlDSgNBtFuzzNLBWzwMA

Monday Morning Memo: Do or Don't: Blessed Either Way

Well, it is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is this week.  Once again, the months this year have seemed to just fly by…and I’m guessing that’s a sign that I’m getting old...well at least old-er 

I think it is so important for us to be intentional in making sure we don’t just rush through Thanksgiving to get to Christmas.   I happen to believe if we take time to really count our blessings now, we just might have a different perspective on Christmas.  When we realize what is really important in life and contemplate on how much we have been blessed, I’m guessing it will be easier to focus on the birth of our Savior.

I’m not naïve enough though, to think that everyone finds it easy to recognize his or her blessings.  There may be some of you who have so much pain in your past, so much heartache, that this week only reminds you of what you don’t have instead of what you do have.  Your spouse may have decided he or she didn’t want to be married anymore.  You may have lost a loved one, which left a hole in your heart that words just can’t describe.  Your child may have chosen a path that is against everything you believe in and the pain you feel has left you drained.  Your job, which you thought would always be secure, was taken out from under you and it has left you wondering how the bills will get paid.  And in an instant, your health began to fail and it is all you can do to face another day.

You don’t need me to tell you that our plans are often thrown out the window and our journey takes a sharp detour that makes no sense.   Unfortunately, life happens and we can’t always control what is going on around us.

So, what do we do when the pain from our past keeps us from moving forward and being able to count our blessings?  I saw a quote recently from C.S. Lewis and I shared it on Facebook. It is so fitting and I love the analogy, “Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars.  You have to let go at some point in order to move forward.”  There comes a time and a place where we just have to let go of those things that have entrapped us.  Until we loosen our grip, we will just be left hanging and there will be no way for us to dwell on what we DO have instead of what we DON’T have.

If you find yourself struggling today as you begin your week, I’d like to make a suggestion.  Find time today to write down at least 2 things you are thankful for and then tomorrow and Wednesday do the same thing.  By the time Thursday rolls around, you will begin your day of thanksgiving with at least six blessings on which to focus.  When your past begins to overshadow you again, take out this list and read it out loud.  Read it over and over until it is ingrained in your mind.  

If even this assignment seems to be more than you can handle…take time to write down what you DON’T have.  Let me give you some examples of what I mean, by sharing some of the things I don’t have:

I don’t have cancer

I don’t have to worry that I won’t have anything to eat at my next meal

I don’t have to live on the street in the cold in a cardboard box….

Understand what I mean?  Sometimes when we start listing what we DON’T have…we can begin to realize the blessings we DO have.

I think you will find that with each blessing you write down or with each “don’t” you record, your grip on the past will start to loosen.  With each entry, you will begin to find it easier to move to the next “rung” and you will start making forward progress.  Your past will no longer have such a tight hold on you.

I would be amiss today if I didn’t let you know that one of my largest blessings is YOU. YOU have blessed me over and over again by your encouragement and support of my ministry and without YOU, my life wouldn’t be as full and rich as it is.  So today I want to make sure and thank YOU for taking the time to read my posts each week, for your words and notes of encouragement, for sharing my writing with your friends and for your acceptance of me even if you don’t agree with everything I share.  I have been truly blessed and I’m thanking the Lord today for YOU! 

“Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.”

Philippians 1:3

 

By the way…if you haven’t already done so…please check out my latest videos on my YouTube channel, Image Seeker, where we are studying the Fruit of the Spirit.  The next lesson will be posted this week…so make sure you are all caught up!  You can check them out at:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0szlDSgNBtFuzzNLBWzwMA