Stepping Stones

I held her frail hands in mine; my reward after a 4–hour drive. The same hands that embraced and nourished and loved me from the start now clench blankets and every precious moment.

We gathered, not for tears or to share our fear about this life about to take flight, but to support and comfort her and one other. In the noise and conversation we find strength in our numbers that somehow smoothes over the unknown until the quiet seeps back in.

Family. Those who share my blood and my past talk and recall and we laugh through tears over coffee and hugs.

We talked about the stepping stones well into the night; the memories, those times well hidden and tucked away behind the years reaching, waiting to grab you by the heart to be re-lived and enjoyed.

These are the stepping stones; brief moments in life captured in the midst of time that strengthen you to move forward to the next season and the next and the next. How precious are the memories that bind people by the heart.

Thank you, Lord for the stepping stones.

"Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes

in me will live, even though he dies; 26and whoever lives and believes

in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

(John 11:25-26) NIV

Giving Your Best

I sat there in the RV sipping hot cocoa while the rest of my family braved the wind and rain to stare at a beach piled high with seals of massive proportions. I’d joined them for a short time, but failed to share their enthusiasm over watching large blobs doing a lot of…well, nothing in the pouring rain and a freezing wind that quickly cut right through my patience.

Swift gales shook and rattled hatches and windows while I enjoyed sitting bundled against the weather marveling at the pounding surf and flocks of birds bold enough to skim low over churning waters and race against the tide.

Despite the fierce and thundering waves, the gulls seemed to have it all figured out, choosing to soar with the wind instead of race against it. Soon a flock of pelicans joined them for a truly impressive performance skimming in a wide “V” formation low and slow for their meal not put off in the least by unfriendly elements.

That’s so cool, I thought. Why can’t I learn to do that; just skim over the top of the turmoil, go with the ebb and flow of life…to float effortlessly on the breath of God?

That’s when a whisper broke through the thrashing about outside my window and said, “You…aren’t…supposed…to.”

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

(John 16:33) NIV

God didn’t design us to float above the challenges. We’re to ride out our faith, live it as He’s equipped us to do, however bumpy a ride it may be. We may pray and ask and believe, only to land in disappointment. We beat ourselves up when we feel we’ve failed the many tests of life, and it stings while others around us seem to achieve and rise above with minimal effort.

But, God wants YOUR best – not someone else’s best.

He wants you to use the abilities within, not the ones you wish you had. He’s equipped you to float on the breath of God. He’s already given you everything you need to carry out His plan. He wants to hear your voice, watch you succeed, share in your joy. Your abilities aren’t measured on someone else’s scale. Your style, character, strengths and dreams have all been fitted to you; custom made by the Lord himself. Only with Him will you soar above the swift and churning waters.

Welcome to My Garden

She’s the only one who waits her turn. She makes no demands. She shows patience and grace as she stands in disarray with her head hanging low and arms weak at her sides. Yet, with merely a glance, she rewards me with her bounty, her beauty and fulfillment at the end of the day. She gives and never takes. She’s my sacred little space beyond the gate set aside to create, to change, to grow and to dream. But, most of all, to feel His presence.

“And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.”
(Genesis 1:11) NIV

It’s where blessings flow; where a childhood of garden memories hover and mingle with the flutter of wild finches and visiting ring-neck doves. They, too sense the life taking place, drawn by the flow of the fountain. It’s in the birth of dreams and the joy of creating a space that both satisfies and glorifies.

I’ve kneeled there. I’ve found healing in the soil, a stirring that calms and breathes life back into the spirit.

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.”

(Matthew 6:28-29) NIV

Join me this season as I set out to restore my long-time friend, the garden. And in doing so, it never ceases to amaze me the life lessons revealed in the process. I believe that’s how God designed it; working the earth, creating, nurturing life along until it gives back to others and teaches.

I believe we all have our “thing,” that one something we know and rely on that wakes us up on the inside and breathes life back into our souls.

What’s yours?

Thank you, Mothers on Mission!

I’m sending one huge THANK YOU, along with loads of hugs, to Kelli and Heidi, my blogger buddies over at Mothers on Mission, for extending my very first Guest Blogger invite.

Please join me today at http://www.mothersonmission.blogspot.com/ for

“Broken Shells.”

"You’re forever beautiful to Him whether broken or whole; crumbling with the world around you or dancing on top of it. How wonderful to belong to the God who holds the missing pieces that restore and replenish. And He does indeed hold them…there, in the scars of His hands."

See you there!

Chasing Fur Balls!

We’ve had our beautiful, sweet yellow lab for almost 6 years. Sammy was shedding when we welcomed him to our family, and he hasn’t stopped since! Seriously, I could have made a whole other litter with the fur he’s dropped all over the house! I suppose we’ve confused him into thinking he’s one of “us” as he lives most of his life indoors, mainly because it’s the place to be for hugs, scratches behind the ears and the occasional “Oops, I dropped that. Come here, boy!”

He’s precious, docile and loves unconditionally. But, I’m so tired of finding shreds of him in every room! He’s like Pig Pen from the Peanuts comic strip, except in fur form. You can actually watch his beautiful golden locks fall to the floor with every step. (Luckily, my tile is the same color, so it blends in well).

Still, his fur flies. It sometimes piles up like snow drifts beneath the kitchen cabinets. Other times, it just sort of clings to the bottom of them like little beards! (Yep, trying to find a bit of humor in this annoyance). I vacuum constantly. I mop…when I can. I sweep almost daily only to finally collapse in a chair and stare at clumps of him balled up under the couch! Uggh!

Are you chasing fur balls? Is there a situation in your life that’s running you ragged that you just can’t seem to get a handle on? I’m just using my fur ball frustration to illustrate a point, but I’ve learned over the years that God does want even our small stuff. Sure, He can move mountains, but if the "fur balls" of life are making a mess of things and bringing a different kind of stress to your life in any capacity, give it to the Lord. Nothing is too small for Him.

Give your burdens to the Lord,and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. (Psalm 55:22) NLT

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:20) NIV

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. (Psalm 105:1-2) NIV

Heal me, LORD, and I will be healed;
save me and I will be saved,
for you are the one I praise. (Jeremiah 17:14) NIV

His feeble frame only took up a portion of the wheel chair. I’m sure what may be a simple act for most to rise and prepare for church each Sunday was no simple task at all for him, but he’d done so willingly nearly every Sunday for the past 96 years and wasn’t about to let physical limitations keep him from worshipping with the body of Christ.

On his “good days,” they’d wheel him into the sanctuary where he’d sit at the back of the room, offering his own verbal exclamation mark with a distinct “Amen!” throughout the sermon. He’d raise his hands in worship. And with every ounce of strength and determination he could muster, he’d force his thin, weakened frame up on unsteady feet to give testimony to the awesome power of God and the many ways in which He was still at work in his life.

His sincere heart for others led him many times to our church directory, where from his home, he’d make phone calls to each and every person listed, and in a frail voice ask how THEY were doing. He wanted each one to know, without a doubt, that he was praying for them.

His praises to God and concern for others continued to his last breath and still resonate within the walls of our sanctuary today.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again:

If you’re still here, there’s still work to be done.

There’s no finer example of that than our dear friend, Bill.

I usually try to make an effort NOT to sound preachy with my blog posts or tell anyone what they should or shouldn’t do, but I just have to say that I think it’s an absolute sin NOT to thank the Lord and share our praise with others. If you’ve been given a brand new day and there’s still breath in your lungs…if you’ve fought a life-threatening disease and the Lord has healed you….if you’ve gone through financial difficulty but God has shown you mercy and grace and has mended your suffering…if you can truly say He’s brought you through the pain, then get up, get out and praise him! Psalm 35:18 says, “I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among throngs of people I will praise you.”

Don’t keep the blessing all to yourself. We serve a mighty, loving God, and we only strengthen each other when we humble ourselves before Him, turn from our own circumstances to help others and simply….praise Him.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace...

Cast Son-Light on Your Dreams

You know that idea – that thought

That dream spinning circles

Gathering strength and passion with every sigh?

You know the one

It’s that bright spot that captures your hope

At every odd moment

But you don’t really want to speak it out loud

Don’t want to put it out there

Weak and vulnerable

To the critique or opinions of others

Especially when it’s struggling to stand on wobbly legs

But it deserves a voice, don’t you think?

It kicks and begs for air

And if you don’t share,

Keep it all to yourself

How will it ever breathe

And grow wings of its own?

How is God glorified

By a rose yet to bloom?

If fear binds and gags

Makes the smoke billow

but stifles the flame

Perhaps it’s time to

Bring the dream to life with your words

Give it a name

Give it a voice

Write it to the Lord

In words meant for only Him

The One who planted the dream seed

Long ago, before you were you

He planted the seed so He, too could watch it grow

After all….

You were just a thought once

Just a dream of the Father

Until God gave you a voice

Gave you a name

Gave you today.

"There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off."

(Proverbs 23:18) NIV

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

(Mark 11:24) NIV