God allows us desert time to teach us to trust Him with ALL of our hearts. It isn't fun. It can be quite painful and we may think He has deseted us, but He wants to learn to trust His timing.
If I had to pay child support for all of Ishmael's I have created when I ran ahead of God, it would probably exceed the national debt.
But praise God He has forgiven my debts. Now I wait for His timing and His deliverance.
I have never felt the peace I now know. It is a quizzical place. I have no idea what the future holds from the simplest of things like my Mary Kay business to whether or not to take in a troubled woman.
I have always had little patience for those who could not make quick decisions, but now I am learning the peace in trusting God and waiting for Him to reveal the answers instead of trying to figure it out on my own.
Satan pushes, but the Holy Spirit leads. I am sitting on the backside of the desert waiting to be lead. Waiting to hear His voice saying, "This is the way, walk in it."
We left Jacksonville seven years ago. The Lord had given me a scripture: And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. Mark 10:29-30 We came to Thomaston dead broke in the middle of bankruptcy payments. My illness and inability to work had quickly brought the roof down. I saw hope in Thomaston in the middle of nowhere. I had already been delivered of multiple personality disorder and several other diseases like fibromyalgia and heart problems. But I knew if I was going to continue to walkout into wholeness, I would have to walk away from everything familiar. It was hard, very hard to leave my family especially my mother. I felt like a deserter, but I knew I was fighting for my life. I was misunderstood and shunned by family. Of course, when your family only knew you as mentally unstable, how could they see what the Lord showed me? Ray was driving long distance at the time which made it easier to move, but he was only home about 36 hours a week. So I was lonely and doubted that I ever heard God. It is in the pit that you find out what you are made of. In my case, it was not all good. I had a lot of selfishness that had to go before the Lord could get near me. Out of fear I tried to control things. When I realized that tied God's hands, I eventually surrendered. When we try to control a person or a situation, we are really saying, "God, I don't think you can handle this without my help." What arrogannce! Pride goes before a mighty fall. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Proverbs 3:5-8 This past year I have been learning to trust Him. All the while I thought I was trusting Him, but it was fear faith. Just like oil and water do not mix, fear and faith do not either. Getting the fear out of my life has been a process. I think I have it, but then another fear presents itself. Time Magazine had an article once that said there were over 4,000 fears. I certainly did not have that to face, but I sure had my share from fear of poverty to fear of man. One by one with God's help, I have picked them off. I am facing an enigma of a health challenge right now. For the most part, I am fine. I am just tired. The difference now is in this pit, I do not have unwanted guests of fear, doubt and unbelief. I am trusting Him and believing His Word that it shall be health to my navel and marrow to my bones. Today alone I have had four requests from people with cancer. In two of the cases, it has already metasized to the bone. I can only share my hope and my trust in my Lord. I have no words of wisdom, but I know God heals. He has certainly healed me of many diseases. He has spared my life more than once. I must trust the Lord with ALL of my heart. I cannot lean on my understanding.
There are people that you love, but loving them means you are going to get hurt. Sometimes that hurt is so defiling. When it is, I realize that I have taken it in, instead of separating the person from their sin. Wonk! I am down for the count. Now I have a choice. I can forgive and not keep a record of wrongs or I can stew over it and literally make myself sick. (Psalm 38) The doctor has prescribed a 30 day time of rest. In this time, I am taking the time to be with Him especially in daily reviewing 2 Peter chapter 2. God frequently gives us building blocks. In our haste, we want to skip steps. In 2 Peter it says: ...add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make [you that ye shall] neither [be] barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:... I want to skip from faith to love. There is so much more. Without taking the time to build this foundation, His perfect love can not be shared. I hugged a porcupine today. I am going to sit in my favorite chair, pull out the quills, and allow the Lord to breathe His life into me and then I will begin again once again.
The other night when I could not sleep because my blood sugar was so high, because of the prednisone I was on. So I wrote letters to several friends people asking them to give out $10 Mary Kay gift certificates to help promote my home business while I am home on a doctor ordered rest. Still when I woke up this morning after only three hours sleep, I was stewing in my juices. I was totally annoyed because doctor's visits, prescriptions, tests, etc. had stripped me of the ability to place a $500 order of all the new products and get them before my existing customer base. I feel we are at a pivotal point in MK and this is probably the most important quarter of my short career, because they have some new marketing helps available only to their Star Consultants. I am generally in that category, but between Ireland and illness had fallen short. I was so frustrated. Then after my first cup of coffee, God was able to get my attention. Who am I trusting with this business? We saw so many provisions while preparing and then going to Ireland. Had I forgotten? So once I again, I turned my business back over to Him. During the trip preparations, I saw I had to always step out in faith, THEN He came alongside me and move in my behalf. More important than that I had gotten my eyes off of my calling and on to one of the vehicles that funds it. It seems lately the Lord is bringing me abused women with emotional problems. Tuesday evening a woman came and asked if she could clean for me, because they had repossessed her car and she had no job. I told her Ray would have to make that decision because he handles all of our finances. They talked together and I told Ray that I trusted her. (I had helped her with smaller things before and I knew she had a lot of fear and abandonment issues.) The next morning we have coffee and she talks a bit and she feels led to share some witchcraft going on across the street. I was nonplussed. I told her she didn't have to be a victim of it. I tell her what the Lord has done for me and how He delivered me of multiple personality disorder and the many physical healings. After over 20 years of everything from psychiatric wards to Christian counseling, I was finally set free. I asked her if she wanted to be free of Satan's power. She said yes and I gave her a mini-lesson on the Father's Love. Then I lead her in a simple prayer. Then she tells me she has been diagnosed with seven personalities. I began to share with her that God saw her before the foundations of the world. He had a purpose for her. Her heart is soft. She said until two months ago she was on Lithium that cost $300 a month, but she could no longer afford it. (Praise God!) I notice the cut marks on her forearm but say nothing. She is working on the kitchen. So I come in and ask if I can put on a CD from our church. She said, well, I don't know if I can get me work done quickly if I am listening. I said, if she found it a major distraction just turn it off. I came back a half an hour later and she said this is good. The CD she is listening to? How Thoughts Affect Our Body by Pastor Anita Hill. She is doing an excellent job and I wish I could pay her to come daily while I am off, but I would have to sell a whole lot of Mary Kay to do that. Imagine who we will each be when this 30 days is up. What God has done in my life gives me confidence to help this woman and others like her. I know God has brought her into our lives for a purpose. She worked hard all day long and when she left, she said this is the happiest I have been in a long, long time. She has come again. She struggles with fear, but is crying out for help. Funny. 72 hours ago the most important need I had was to have money for inventory to make more money. lol Now I think I sure would have some money to hire her while I am off work on a doctor-ordered rest just to be able to disciple her and love on her. I have been very near to where she is today. Disenfranchised from family because of her instability which began several years ago when her husband abandoned her. She has lost all that is precious to her. She is unemployed and has valid needs. Amazing how when we get our eyes off ourselves, we begin to see how much the Lord wants to do through us. It is time for me to take that Holy Ghost roto-rooter to my heart. Open my heart, Lord, to see as you see and love as you love.
This particular blog is a compilation of what the Lord has been doing with me the past couple of weeks. He has been faithful to send illustrations across my path to make it clearer. I understand that there are possible spiritual roots of over 80% of all disease. I understand that disease has no legal right to me unless I open the door through sin. As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come. Prov. 26:2 So when I became ill, I knew what needed to be dealt with and that there probably another layer or two that would be revealed as well. So the journey began. The first block to healing is unforgiveness. More often than not, that is directed towards me. I don't give myself a lot of grace. This week I listened to Mary Pat's CD, Biblical Insights to Food and Related Issues. In it she says, Pastor Henry teaches that we are neither black nor white, but pilgrims in progress moving from black to white. So we are all in vary shades of gray. Then she nailed me with the following, "We hate the gray. We hate where we are. We say, 'I don’t like where I am. I should be thinner or healthier or stronger or different. I don’t like this gray. I want to be more white. So I am going to try to get more white. I am going to try to get more white.' "How many of us have tried to get more white? It is ugly. It is not pure. It’s not white.We are all a shade of gray. And if we hate it, if you hate what you are doing, where you are and who you are, that is a door point for accusation for self-hatred and for drivenness and performance to get you whiter. So the moral of the story is love the gray and trust God. That if your heart is open to Him, He will change you. You don’t have to do a thing. God will change you. When we try to do it ourselves, it gets ugly. So be content in your gray where you are. Love yourself where you are." "Love yourself where you are." I chewed on that for three days. I knew I didn't love myself where I am. As I said, I am hard on myself. No matter what I do, I should do more. That is drivenness and performance and certainly makes no provision for resting in God (Heb.3) or fully trusting Him. In the midst of that I got a devotional that included the following story: "One of the common soldiers was driving a mule that carried some of Alexander the Great's treasure. The mule was too exhausted to go on, so the soldier put the load on his own shoulders. Alexander saw the man staggering along, and he asked what was the matter. The soldier told him that the mule was too tired to carry the load, and that he was about at the end of his endurance too. "Don't give up now," said Alexander, "but carry what you have there to the end of the journey, then take it to your own tent, to keep for yourself." I thought that is me. I am staggering under this, but all along God intends it to be a gift to me. I can look at the pain in the journey or His strength for the journey to bring me to His expected end. I choose not to give up. [It is of] the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. [They are] new every morning: great [is] thy faithfulness. The LORD [is] my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD [is] good unto them that wait for him, to the soul [that] seeketh him. [It is] good that [a man] should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. Lam.3:22-26
Recently I have had some health challenges. I have had to be still. Sometimes I have slept twelve hours at a time. As I began to recover myself, I picked up a new rhythm. I have been reminded to "Be still and know that He is God." It is always a sweet time when I do that. Each time I wonder why it took me so long to get back to this place. More often than not it has been fear that has drawn me away from the safety of His arms. It really doesn't matter whether it is fear of man or fear of tomorrow. Fear is the antithesis of faith. God has given us each a measure of faith. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think [of himself] more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Romans 12:3 If He has given us this measure of faith, are we not to be good stewards of it? That is totally impossible if we are entertaining fear. I had to realize that when I was in fear, I simply was not trusting God. Seeing it clearly, it was an easy decision to run back into His arms and once again Be Still.
Ever wonder why we wait until someone comes into our space to smile? Smiling or even someone else smile releases endorphins that work in the brain to transmit an overall feeling of well-being. so why not do that for yourself today. There is an old South Pacific song called Happy Talk. Just listening to the song makes you feel happy. What makes you think happy thoughts? Talk a happy talk? Why not go there instead of unloading the stresses of the day? You were born with the ability to smile. Let somewhere along the way as we pick up the cares of the world, we quit using that ability. Did you know that adults laugh approximately 15 times a day, while children laugh FOUR HUNDRED times a day. My personal opinion is that we think too much. That thinking often turns to worry. And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matt.18:3 Why not change courses today? Smile at everyone, yes, everyone you see today. If you need to practice, make funny faces in the mirror. This will amp up your giggle meter. Someone once said, Happiness leads to smiling and smiling leads to happiness. That may not be a truism in all cases but I do know it is a good beginning. So what are you waiting for? Go ahead. Give the world your biggest smile.
Friends give me their broken or unwanted jewelry and together Ray and I make new pieces. I design the pieces on a jewelry board, but Ray does all of assembly and finish work. Tonight I thought that God does that, too. He takes the broken pieces and creates something beautiful out of. The pieces are laid out, but we have to string it, make adjustments, crimp it and attach closures. At each stage there is a choice. but I believe out of it all, even when we string it wrong, He can make something out of our lives. Listen to these oldies for a gentle reminder that no matter where you are He can make something beautiful out of it and He is there for you at each juncture.
The way we live our life, the choices we make either prepare the way for the Lord or the other kingdom. Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people. Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward [is] with him, and his work before him. And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken. Isaiah 62:10-12 He calls us to go through the gates first. This is to lead by word and example. What gospel are people reading when they see my life? To cast up the highway we must cut a swath through the hindrances, to clear obstacles. This is not passive but if we are to prepare the way for people to meet the Lord, we must remove the stones from the highway. How sobering it is to realize that we put some of those stones there. A harsh word, a critical judgment are just a few of the stones that others stumbled over as they sought that life abundant. Am a raising a standard or just getting by? If you have ever held up a flag for any length of time, you know how heavy it seems and how weary your arms get. The difference here is we don't do it in our own strength. When we are weak, He is strong. Years ago when I was involved in politics, I sat in on many city planning meetings. I even had the honor of being appointed by the governor of Florida to serve on a board to meet housing concerns for the citizens. I look back now and laugh for that was wood, hay and stubble compared to the city not forsaken that the Lord is preparing for us. Until that day though we must "prepare ye the way." This is our call to action.
I had a priest once who said, "To listen truly listen to someone is to allow the Christ in them to be formed." He went on to explain that God has given us the answers to our problems, but it often isn't until we share our heart that the answers form from our own mouth. Yesterday I had two dear friends who visited me. Just sharing allowed me to have clarity over a situation that I was conflicted over. Until recently I was the queen of self-sabotage. I could get most any job, but soon I was doing things that would sabotage my effectiveness and before long I was resigning because I was sure it was only a matter of time before they would fire me. How insane is that? Now that I know fully that God is my Source, not the job, I am not driven to self-destruct nor even driven to perform. I simply do my best for Him. Our trip to Ireland was very healing. It was time out for the two of us as a couple. We get way too little of that. There were no deadlines to meet and everywhere we went people went out of their way to see that we had a delightful visit. I saw hospitality as a way of life. I came home determined to rid my own life of performance and drivenness, but I had not a clue what that would look like. I knew I had to refinance our home and the goal is to pay it off in the next seven years. The problem is that credit requirements are particularly stringent and it will take someone who does private mortgages. Since I know that would have to be a God-thing, it doesn't stress me. I mean look at our trip to Ireland. Still there was a part of me that wanted to help God make it happen. I work for Be In Health and I sell Mary Kay. Should I back off off the predictable income job that I love and push for personal sales and make it happen? I had no peace in that, but I really didn't know if that was fear of failure. Then I was watching a Food Network challenge last night and this young woman said something like this: "It is better to fail at something you love than succeed at the wrong thing." I love my job. Last Thursday when I taught Unloving, I could see that I was making a difference in people's lives so that they could know freedom from the enemy. People came to me afterward with gracious comments. One girl was so cute. She said, "I got it! I finally got! Thank you so much. I finally understand what I was allowing the enemy to do in my life." She went on to say that she had called her husband the night before and told him to come get her. She didn't understand anything and this was a waste. He didn't do that. So she had come that morning anyway and now she had the key to her freedom. I love being one of the moderators of the Bulletin Board. It's like have an interactive extended family with people helping each other. So last night when she said, "It is better to fail at something you love than succeed at the wrong thing," Be In Health won hands down. Almost immediately the Lord gave me a way to build the internet side of my Mary Kay business. It is rather passive and will not take away from Be In Health in the least. Also, I saw God sell Mary Kay for me before I went to Ireland when I was too busy. Just last week someone who hasn't ordered in a week, called me out of the blue to order. I have to be faithful to keep my "store" stocked and give good service, but I don't have to get into drivenness over it. Corrie Tem Boom once said, "Hold everything loosely because it hurts when God pries your fingers open." That everything includes my hopes, my dreams and my future. Today once again, I lay it all in His hands. He is faithful. What shall I fear if I totally surrender to Him?
If there is one thing that I have learned this year, it is that I am in control of nothing. Although all of my children are adults. My youngest is 31. I am old enough to have two married granddaughters and two adorable great-grandchildren. Until this year in my desperation to help them avoid some of the mistakes that I have made, I would try to direct or even control situations. There are many subtle ways that you can do this, too. However, what I finallylearned is when I am in control, I am tying God's hands. If I fix the fix that God fixed to fix 'em, God will have to fix another fix. When I was afraid of not being in control or at least speaking my mind, what I was saying was that I didn't trust God with their lives. I didn't trust God to meet them unless I helped Him. How ludicrous is that? Why is it so difficult to give up control of things that we are not in control of anyway? I had to practice. I would release them to father God and then open my mouth or put my sticky fingers in their lives. Then I would repent to both them and to God. The quicker I was to repent, the easier it got to not go there for I would recognize it before I did and stop. You see always having to give input is a form of self-idolatry and frankly, it is sin. God will have no other gods before Him. Anything that exalts itself above God is an anti-Christ spirit, because frankly it against Him. This was a very sobering lesson. As I gave them up and released them, God gave me the opportunity to give up other areas of my life that I had been clutching from finances to my time. One by one I yielded (and sometimes took back) and got to the point of absolute surrender, God was finally able to move in my behalf. He moved mightily. Perhaps the biggest show of his grace was our trip to Ireland. It was as if He opened the windows of heaven. He was absolutely extravagant in His provision. Each time He has required that I step out in faith first. Sometimes that was scary, but I know that "perfect love casts out fear." So I would step out holding on to His perfect love. Now fear no longer has a hold on me. I recognized that those things, I felt that I needed to control were because out of fear I didn't think they could be met any other way. I believed a lie. God is more than able. So I am counting on God.
After a bad case of jet lag, then company, preparations for my granddaughter's wedding and a surprise birthday party, I am ever so grateful that His mercies are new every morning. I am now 64 and love it. One cardiologist told me I would never see 60. So you see each day is a gift. I think if we really appreciate that one fact -each day is gift- we would be more careful what we do with it, how we share it and our gratitude meter would soar. We never get an "oopsey." When the day is gone, it is gone. How did I share love today? Who was I too busy for? Did I try to handle everything on my own or did I spend some time with Father God and get His direction? Each day is a gift.
I was asked to speak in Dublin at Sacred Heart Catholic Church at a small Cursillo gathering. A week later I spoke twice at Word of Life Church in Clonmel. Each time I shared my testimony and what the Father's love really is and how it restores us when we trust Him and receive it in absolute abandon. I have spoken at gatherings for over 30 years, but the last eight years I have been on a healing journey. The only public speaking I do is as a teacher at Be In Health. So I was amazed at the difference God has worked as I have become more whole. There was a gentleness that had been fashioned in me that wasn't there before. I had such compassionate for those I was sharing with. Most importantly, it wasn't about me; it was about Father God and what He has done. The first Sunday we got back, we sang He Raised Me Up and I realized that was exactly what He had done.
Ray had a copy of his grandparents' wedding certificate. They were married at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Dungarvan, County Waterford. So after leaving John we headed that way. We went through Waterford, but that wasn't really the vibe we were looking forward and it was very expensive. One hotel we inquired at wanted $125 euros a night or approximately $175. Not exactly what we budgeted. So we decided to go on to Dungarvan knowing that it was smaller and the choices would be fewer. Once we arrived, we fell in love with it and began looking for a B&B. I saw one that said Merry's located above Merry's Tavern. I thought that would be good Irish atmosphere. Ray went in and they had nothing but they suggested another and called to see if they had a room. They did. We warmly greeted at Casey's B&B by Maurice. He was a bit daunted by the amount of luggage we had. lol We are not seasoned travelers. What really surprised us though was that it was 100 yards from St. Mary's. How cool is that? The B&B is run by a loving couple, Maurice and Marie Casey. The room was not large but was en suite which was important to me personally. There were many personal touches to make us feel at home and very welcomed. Each morning we were served an awesome breakfast and unlike many places, we had several choices. They are great cooks and the presentation made you feel like you were in a four star restaurant. The table was set with china and again there were all of those little touches that made you feel welcomed and treasured. During our stay there Ray searched out his ancestry. He found that one of his great-grandfathers was a soldier while the other was a sailor. He was able to get a copy of his grandfather's birth certificate and their marriage certificate. The sweetest moment was when Ray and I entered the church and no other person was there. We set in a pew and declared our love for one another and our covenant. It was a simple way to renew our vows, but a precious moment for us. Dungarvan is quaint and friendly. We ate twice at a place called Cakes and Bakes. The soup was creamy and in Ireland a serving of soup is two cups! Add Irish brown bread and you have a meal EXCEPT in a place like that, you HAD to have dessert. How about Berry Pavlova? Or cheesecake? It was hard to leave Dungarvan because we felt so at home there and for the first time in a very long time, totally relaxed. Whether walking along the water or going through the castle, there was a sense of belonging that could not be denied. It was very healing and brought peace within. I wish I could really describe what I felt. I just know that the Lord guided us and sang over us.
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Eph 3:20 We have just come back from two weeks in southern Ireland. We made the decision early on not to try to see everything, but to thoroughly enjoy what we did see. This was not a marathon, but a vacation to celebrate 30 years of marriage. Writer Frank O’Connor said, “It would take more than one lifetime to discover the reason for all the ruins in Ireland, but it sure makes for a diverting tour of discovery trying at least to scratch the surface.” It was a dream we had as a couple since day one. We were met at the Dublin airport by a dear friend. John lives and works in Dublin and for the next 72 hours showed us Dublin's highlights from the Ha'penny Bridge to The Hole in the Wall. He took us to Newgrange which is over 5,000 years and to my first castle. John lives in Phoenix Park, Europe's largest urban park - five times the size of London's Hyde Park, double the size of New York's Central Park. Aras an Uachtaráin, the residence of the Irish president is also in Phoenix Park. John lives in the Bailiff's Manor, an 1835 stone manor. Very grand, but at the same time simple. His job affords him this luxury. We stayed there at the beginning of the trip. it is surrounded by more than seven miles of solid stone walls, access is via the eight major gates and six smaller (pedestrian) gates. One of those gates is round to allow the ladies access with their full petticoats over a century ago. Phoenix Park was the old hunting grounds of King Charles II and was stocked with deer in the 1700's. Descendants of these deer(about 600) still make their home there. In fact, when we came home Thursday about midnight, we were surprised to see over 50 of them literally yards from the road sprawled across the lawn. John heads up Cursillo for Dublin. It was at Cursillo that my husband met the Lord 29 years ago. So we went to his group gathering Thursday evening to share our testimony about Cursillo. It was one of the sweetest moments of trip. There was a lot of healing that night. Over the next week, I will share more of our trip. We just give God all of the praise and glory. We could have never put together a trip like the one He planned. To see a a few pictures from our first three days in Dublin, go to: http://partoftriptoireland.shutterfly.com/
When we awaken Wednesday morning, We will be in Dublin. We will go straight to Glendaloght, Newgrange and Wicklow Hills. Here are some of the things we will see:
In 30 minutes we begin our trek to the airport. We have to stop at AT&T on the way because we are having texting issues. Ray and I are so non-techie! Last night past our bedtime, we got still another phone call and a generous gift was deposited in our checking account this morning for the trip. Each time a gift arrives, I hear in my spirit: Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Eph. 3:20 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it].Malachi 3:10 This past week, it has been: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:38 We are truly in the running over mode now. It is funny for over a month ago, the Lord laid on our hearts to give $100 to a missionary. We barely had $100, but I knew that I knew that we were being directed by the Holy Spirit to give it. Absolutely NO doubt. At first, it made no sense because we were pooling money to go to Ireland. But we were obedient. I have a Mary Kay business. When I felt I was supposed to take a week off from work three weeks ago to spend time with my mother and my children and grandchildren, it made no sense. In the natural I could not afford to do that. While away from home the Lord blessed me with over $300 in online orders plus these other gifts. In fact, while I was out of town doing what I thought the Lord was asking me to do, the church took up an offering for our trip that exceeded a week's pay! Have you ever heard of a church giving someone an offering to go on vacation? In 64 years I have never seen that unless it was a pastor and I think that was ONE time. ONE time in 64 years! Had to be God! That is when I hit the "running over" mode. I praise God I attend a church that loves its sheep. What a family it is! Our prayer is that EVERY gift regardless of the size will be multiplied back to the giver abundantly.
Ray and I leave in two days for Ireland. It is the realization of a 30 year old dream. It is a time to have fun together away from schedules and responsibilities. Fran & Marlo Cowan below has been married 62 years, over twice what Ray and I have been married. They saw an opportunity to play on the piano at the Mayo Clinic Atrium. I mean, come on, just the name Mayo Clinic means serious stuff is going on. Instead, they found some fun in the moment and made others smile, too. Today look for ways to make others smile.
Abba Father has indeed blessed our trip to Ireland. My heart overflows with His many kindnesses and generosity. I am eager to share all of this with you, but am still catching up in my schedule. So today I just want to encourage you. God is faithful. He is faithful even when we aren't. He sees our hearts and He knows our journey. So I want to add this music called Faithful God. My favorite version is by Shannon Wexelberg, but I don't have it in a format that I can upload. I chose this one, because there is no pretense in the presentation. It is a humble, heart-felt rendition. Don't let anyone take away your dreams. They may not unfold the way you expected. Still they can unfold in an unexpected, delightful way.
