Not This Again

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Psalm 46: 2-3 NIV

Several years ago, I met an interesting character. I didn't really feel comfortable around him, but was glad he was attending church. He had a RV which eventually ended up parked on the church grounds. This was not to be a permanent situation.

He had a drinking problem, another reason I was glad he was at church. At least he was trying, right?

Eventually though, one night he got a bit nutty. He ended flashing a gun at people. It was time for him to go. He ended up escorted off the property that night, and was asked not to return.

I was nervous though he would and do something crazy. Luckily, he never did.

A few years later came another fearful time. The church was trying to do something good for the community. Unfortunately, God was removed from this ministry. The ministry was closed, so that God could once again be glorified.

During this time we (my husband, me, and the kids) received threatening phone calls. It was a very fearful time. One of the messages was "I hope you all choke on your food and die."

Even though we were fearful, we still continued to serve God. We prayed and asked for safety.

This is why this week has been deja vu. Last Sunday another threatening phone called happened. Fear once again gripped me. I called out to God and felt His peace.

Until it started again this Sunday. This person was again called and left an upsetting message.  Terror consumed me.

Sometimes it's hard to find peace when there is a fear of the unknown. It's hard when one is never quite sure what someone else is really thinking.

Still though I know I must trust in God. I will try not to fear even when things seem unsettled.

This Is Not The Way The Story Goes

God had planned something better for us so only together with us would they be made perfect. Hebrews 11:40 NIV

This past weekend I had the privilege of watching some talented youth perform in "Snow Off White." This play was a mixed up fairy tale with lots of twists and turns.

Snow White ends up meeting Prince Philip who's looking for Rosamond, aka Sleeping Beauty. Snow White must hurry back to the castle to stop a wedding, her father the king is going to marry Velinity the evil witch. Eventually, Snow White and Rosamond end up together and save the kingdom. It was a cute story that ends up with a happily ever after just not the way we would expect.

Funny, how our lives can get mixed up with all kinds of twists and turns. Twenty-four years ago I had my fairy tale wedding and I had a plan how our lives were gonna be. We'd have a few kids live in a nice house and everything would be great, right.

A few months end to our fairy tale we lost a baby. Not exactly how our story was supposed to go.

Years later we almost lost our house. Not the way the story goes.

Medical problems requiring surgery or physical therapy. Life wasn't supposed to be like this.

The thing is with all of these twists and turns my reliance on God grew deeper and deeper. As I look back over the past twenty-four years I can see how God's plans were better than my fairy tale plans.

We were blessed with three more children.

We still live in the same house.

We are all healthy, some of us may have a few less parts though.

It's through these twists and turns that God has made my life better. He's still working on the perfect part, but one day I will get to celebrate my happily ever after with Him.

They Were Once Broken

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 NIV

Sitting in the room, I noticed the wall.

I was memorized by the pieces of rocks. There were small pieces, long pieces, crooked pieces, and straight pieces placed together to make one beautiful wall. Each one placed in just the right spot.

Each of us has been broken in some way. We've either broke ourselves or someone broke us.

We feel unworthy, dirty, crooked, and shamed. We get angry. We hold grudges. We don't need any one's help. We don't need anybody.

There comes a time when we realize though, that we can't do it on our own. We're broken.

Good news! There is a way for us to be fixed. GOD!

God is close to us when we're broken. He's just waiting for us to call out to Him, so He can put us back together. God can clean up the dirt, straighten us out, and turn us into something beautiful.

The thing is we have to ask. He's waiting to fix you, go ahead give Him the chance.

New Friends

Did not he who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one form is both in our mothers? Job 31:15 NIV

Only one more day!

Tomorrow evening I begin an adventure, one I have praying and planning for. That wasn't the case fourteen years ago as I planned to go on this "Walk to Emmaus."

Fourteen years ago I was a bit scared. I was going someplace different, to be with people I hadn't ever met before. My husband had gone the week before and came back all happy and not sharing anything. This was not what I expected. Why couldn't he tell me anything? Why the big secret?

After I went I understood, it wasn't that it was a big secret. He just didn't want me to open my gift to soon. That's exactly what the "Walk to Emmaus" was to me, a gift. A gift of God's love exploding!

This weekend I am sure some of the women who are about to embark on this adventure are a bit nervous. Soon though their fears will be relieved.

The best part about this weekend is the ladies I'm going to get to meet. We each will have our own unique gifts and looks to bring with us. In fact, some may not even want to truly be there and may let us all know it.

But by the end of the weekend though, lives will be touched or changed.

God is so good, that He formed us each in our mother's womb. He's always been with us. I hope each will experience her own gift.