This weekend a friend, Beverly and I went to Lenoir City, TN to a prayer conference. While there one of those things happened that happens to all of us in life. I call them the "little things", but after this weekend I realized I need to rethink that term.
Okay, let me try to explain myself or as Ricky Richardo (Lucy's husband) used to say "splain" myself.
I've kind of mentioned this before in previous blogs, but it's just so neat how we are all alike, but different and we all live in different bodies and have different life experiences, but similar.
This "little things' thing is one of the similar things that I believe we all experience at one time or another.
You might be saying, "what are you talking about?" "Little things?"
Well, let me "splain" (rhymes with Spain).
You are coming out of a store and your arms are loaded down when someone races ahead to open the door and hold it open for you
or you see a precious baby in a restaurant of a complete stranger and you catch the parent's eye and tell them that their baby is beautiful
or you're leaving a CROWDED TN or AL or (insert your team here) ballgame and traffic is insane, bumper to bumper and a car stops and motions you out ahead of them
or you're walking down the middle of the mall and you trip on NOTHING (don't look at me like that, you know you've done it, too) and some bored guy sitting on a bench waiting for his wife catches your eye and you both laugh
or you tell someone that that color really looks good on them.
Those are what I've been calling the "little things" Not so sure that I would call them "little things" anymore.
Okay, back to this weekend in Lenoir City. I was in this session at the conference with a small group of about 10 or so and there was just this very brief mention of what Bobby and I are going through. I mean very brief. Just a quick mention that "my husband has lymphoma and God has been so close and given us such peace." That was it. Just super quick and we moved on. I knew no one in the roon at all. I was even at the front of the room facing forward with everyone else sitting beside or behind me.
At the end of the session I left the room to meet up with my friend, Beverly when a gentlemen walked up behind me and got my attention and asked, "what's your husband's name?" I told him that his name was Bobby. He went on to tell me that he was part of the prayer ministry at that church in Lenoir City and that he wanted to pray for him and wanted to add him to their prayer list. Wow! how humbling and unexpected.
It may seem like a "little thing" on the surface, but a closer look reveals something completely different.
Here was a man who obviously has a tender heart toward God. He was vulnerable enough to approach someone he didn't know so that he could show kindness and concern to someone he doesn't know and to her husband he's never seen.
Calling that a "little thing" just seems wrong.
There have been soooooo many "little things" done for Bobby and me in the last four months that are not "little things" at all. I have written about several of them in past blogs.
Each of these kindnesses and acts of love and concern has been embraced and cherished and appreciated and used to bless us and humble us.
I don't know what the new terminology should be for "little things", but I know I want to become one who does more of those things in others lives. May it be so.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Wrong Entry???
Today was Round Four. For those new to this blog, my husband, Bobby has Large B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and today was his fourth chemo.
Two left.
As he says, "the snowball has been pushed up the hill and is now going down the other side."
Not a bad analogy especially with all the snow we have been getting here in TN lately. :)
Last night I decided to get my journal out and write down some of the scriptures that have been the most comforting and sustaining and helpful during this four month journey. (Now don't picture one of those fancy, neatly written journals that have daily or even weekly entries. My journal is soooo sporadic. I may write a few days in a row and then not have an entry for a month or two or even a year)
I wanted to have all of the scriptures written together in one place so that I could go to them at anytime easily and quickly. Some of these passages were sent to us by family or friends on e-mail or card or facebook and some were scriptures that I found while studying or reading on my own. Nevertheless, God has used His word to speak peace and comfort to me, to us.
Here are two I wrote in my journal last night.
Isaiah 41:10 "Do not fear for I am with you. Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
Isaiah 41:13 " For I am the Lord your God, who upholds your right hand who says to you Do not fear, I will help you.
Bobby and I got up fairly early this morning in order to leave the house by 5:50. Bobby's mom was going with us this morning and so we wanted to go a few minutes early to swing by and pick her up, but before we left we prayed and read from our devotional book.
We read from our devotional book that has been so comforting and helpful during our journey. It was first loaned to me by my friend Tracy and then I finally ordered a copy for us. I've mentioned and quoted from this same book in an earlier blog. The book is entitled Jesus Calling and is by Sarah Young.
Early this morning as I opened our Jesus Calling devotional book and read today's entry it said,
" I AM WITH YOU. These four words are like a safety net, protecting you from falling into despair. Because you are human, you will always have ups and downs in your life experience. But the promise of My presence limits how far down you can go. Sometimes you may feel as if you are in a free fall, when people or things you had counted on let you down. Yet as soon as you remember that I am with you, your perspective changes radically. Instead of bemoaning your circumstances, you can look to Me for help. You recall that not only am I with you, I am holding you by your right hand."
One of the main truths, if not the main truth that has been such a comfort to me and given me the greatest peace is the truth that God is with me, with us. We are not alone. There it was in black and white again this morning. It was even in all capital letters. "I AM WITH YOU."
Once again, we were comforted. And then to continue reading and there it was, " I am holding you by your right hand or with My righteous right hand." The same phrase that was used in the scriptures I had written in my journal last night. God is so good.
As Paul Harvey would say, "Now for the rest of the story."
Just about 2 minutes ago. Seriously, as I was about to type the above paragraph I discovered something. This morning I opened our devotional book to the place our ribbon book mark was and I read the date at the top out loud to Bobby and myself that said, "February 18th."
Just as I was typing the above paragraph I realized today is NOT the 18th, it is the 17th. I just discovered like two minutes ago that I read the wrong entry. If I had read the right entry for today I would have read the 17th.
The entry for the 17th, today started out, " I am the risen One who shines upon you always. You worship a living Deity, not some idolatrous, man-made image. Your relationship with Me is meant to be vibrant and challenging."
Nothing wrong with that entry, but not quite what we needed this morning.
Oh, my goodness!!!!!
I read the wrong entry today. Today's entry was Feb. 17th, not the 18th. I should have read the other entry.
I read the WRONG ENTRY, I read the wrong entry, I read the WRONG entry OR DID I?
Two left.
As he says, "the snowball has been pushed up the hill and is now going down the other side."
Not a bad analogy especially with all the snow we have been getting here in TN lately. :)
Last night I decided to get my journal out and write down some of the scriptures that have been the most comforting and sustaining and helpful during this four month journey. (Now don't picture one of those fancy, neatly written journals that have daily or even weekly entries. My journal is soooo sporadic. I may write a few days in a row and then not have an entry for a month or two or even a year)
I wanted to have all of the scriptures written together in one place so that I could go to them at anytime easily and quickly. Some of these passages were sent to us by family or friends on e-mail or card or facebook and some were scriptures that I found while studying or reading on my own. Nevertheless, God has used His word to speak peace and comfort to me, to us.
Here are two I wrote in my journal last night.
Isaiah 41:10 "Do not fear for I am with you. Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
Isaiah 41:13 " For I am the Lord your God, who upholds your right hand who says to you Do not fear, I will help you.
Bobby and I got up fairly early this morning in order to leave the house by 5:50. Bobby's mom was going with us this morning and so we wanted to go a few minutes early to swing by and pick her up, but before we left we prayed and read from our devotional book.
We read from our devotional book that has been so comforting and helpful during our journey. It was first loaned to me by my friend Tracy and then I finally ordered a copy for us. I've mentioned and quoted from this same book in an earlier blog. The book is entitled Jesus Calling and is by Sarah Young.
Early this morning as I opened our Jesus Calling devotional book and read today's entry it said,
" I AM WITH YOU. These four words are like a safety net, protecting you from falling into despair. Because you are human, you will always have ups and downs in your life experience. But the promise of My presence limits how far down you can go. Sometimes you may feel as if you are in a free fall, when people or things you had counted on let you down. Yet as soon as you remember that I am with you, your perspective changes radically. Instead of bemoaning your circumstances, you can look to Me for help. You recall that not only am I with you, I am holding you by your right hand."
One of the main truths, if not the main truth that has been such a comfort to me and given me the greatest peace is the truth that God is with me, with us. We are not alone. There it was in black and white again this morning. It was even in all capital letters. "I AM WITH YOU."
Once again, we were comforted. And then to continue reading and there it was, " I am holding you by your right hand or with My righteous right hand." The same phrase that was used in the scriptures I had written in my journal last night. God is so good.
As Paul Harvey would say, "Now for the rest of the story."
Just about 2 minutes ago. Seriously, as I was about to type the above paragraph I discovered something. This morning I opened our devotional book to the place our ribbon book mark was and I read the date at the top out loud to Bobby and myself that said, "February 18th."
Just as I was typing the above paragraph I realized today is NOT the 18th, it is the 17th. I just discovered like two minutes ago that I read the wrong entry. If I had read the right entry for today I would have read the 17th.
The entry for the 17th, today started out, " I am the risen One who shines upon you always. You worship a living Deity, not some idolatrous, man-made image. Your relationship with Me is meant to be vibrant and challenging."
Nothing wrong with that entry, but not quite what we needed this morning.
Oh, my goodness!!!!!
I read the wrong entry today. Today's entry was Feb. 17th, not the 18th. I should have read the other entry.
I read the WRONG ENTRY, I read the wrong entry, I read the WRONG entry OR DID I?
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Parties
I've been to lots of parties in my lifetime and I am sure that you have as well. I mean we all have those photos in our baby books or parents' photo albums (I was born before the scrap booking revolution) of us at our first birthday party with our cake in front of us and being given permission to destroy our lovely cake with our hands and smear it all over our face and everything else while others smiled and giggled with delight. Wonder what would happen if I tried that on my 49th birthday??
Parties are something we all have experienced over the years. Whether it be birthday parties for little ones, or birthday parties for older ones, or that infamous 4oth birthday bash where everything turns black, or the 5oth where everything turns blacker and everyone is laughing a little too hard at your "gag gifts." We've all been to the party with the black T-shirt with neon lettering that reads "OLDER THAN DIRT." My mama and daddy had that one for some reason and it is now hanging in my closet for future use.
Speaking of parties who hasn't been to the occasional retirement party or going away party(we've hosted two of those in our home in the last couple of years and I must say I am not a fan of those) I mean who wants to party when their friends are leaving and taking their kids with them. "You all know who you are." :)
Last night, Friday, Bobby and I went out to eat with his sister and mother and we had a great time.
Later that evening I kind of had my own party. You know the kind I am talking about. The kind of party where there is only one guest invited, one invitation sent, one person present and that person is you. There are no colorful and creative decorations. There are no yummy snacks. There are no people mingling around amongst one another. There are no games being played and no loud laughter.
I could never write mystery. I am sure you have figured it out by now.
This is A PITY PARTY. Yes, if you are old enough to read this I am sure you have been to at least one or two in your lifetime.
This is not the kind of party that you look forward to and buy a new outfit for.
This is not one of those parties where the guests leave soon after arriving before the party has a chance to really get going. This is the kind of party that has the potential to be an all nighter.
This journey that we are on is one that you don't wake up from. It is there when you go to bed and it is there when you wake up. MOST of the time I fix my eyes on Jesus and see the big picture and focus on God and see the positive and take negative thoughts captive and rein in the negative, but then there was Friday night.
Thank God my PITY PARTY was not an all nighter, but it lasted long enough that I sure know I don't want another invitation anytime soon.
After being a really bad guest at my own party all alone in my back room for a short while, I invited Someone else to the party. I invited God. I began to kind of whine to Him about all the stuff about this journey that I just did not like. I began to be honest with Him and just tell Him how I felt.
Thankfully, thoughts began to come in my mind about Jesus and how when He was on planet earth He went through lots.
All through this journey that has been one of things that has come to my mind most often. It is the suffering Servant, the Jesus who came here, went through life here, went through pain here, people talking about Him, often right to His face. If not to His face, then behind His back.
Jesus went through. He went through. Yes, Jesus went through. NOT AROUND.
What a comfort.
It looks like right now that Bobby and I are going to have to go through, not around. I am thankful that I have a God that is with me, that is with us. His Spirit comforts me, comforts us. He understands me, He understands us.
Next time I get an invitation to a PITY PARTY, I pray my RSVP says, "NOT AVAILABLE."
Parties are something we all have experienced over the years. Whether it be birthday parties for little ones, or birthday parties for older ones, or that infamous 4oth birthday bash where everything turns black, or the 5oth where everything turns blacker and everyone is laughing a little too hard at your "gag gifts." We've all been to the party with the black T-shirt with neon lettering that reads "OLDER THAN DIRT." My mama and daddy had that one for some reason and it is now hanging in my closet for future use.
Speaking of parties who hasn't been to the occasional retirement party or going away party(we've hosted two of those in our home in the last couple of years and I must say I am not a fan of those) I mean who wants to party when their friends are leaving and taking their kids with them. "You all know who you are." :)
Last night, Friday, Bobby and I went out to eat with his sister and mother and we had a great time.
Later that evening I kind of had my own party. You know the kind I am talking about. The kind of party where there is only one guest invited, one invitation sent, one person present and that person is you. There are no colorful and creative decorations. There are no yummy snacks. There are no people mingling around amongst one another. There are no games being played and no loud laughter.
I could never write mystery. I am sure you have figured it out by now.
This is A PITY PARTY. Yes, if you are old enough to read this I am sure you have been to at least one or two in your lifetime.
This is not the kind of party that you look forward to and buy a new outfit for.
This is not one of those parties where the guests leave soon after arriving before the party has a chance to really get going. This is the kind of party that has the potential to be an all nighter.
This journey that we are on is one that you don't wake up from. It is there when you go to bed and it is there when you wake up. MOST of the time I fix my eyes on Jesus and see the big picture and focus on God and see the positive and take negative thoughts captive and rein in the negative, but then there was Friday night.
Thank God my PITY PARTY was not an all nighter, but it lasted long enough that I sure know I don't want another invitation anytime soon.
After being a really bad guest at my own party all alone in my back room for a short while, I invited Someone else to the party. I invited God. I began to kind of whine to Him about all the stuff about this journey that I just did not like. I began to be honest with Him and just tell Him how I felt.
Thankfully, thoughts began to come in my mind about Jesus and how when He was on planet earth He went through lots.
All through this journey that has been one of things that has come to my mind most often. It is the suffering Servant, the Jesus who came here, went through life here, went through pain here, people talking about Him, often right to His face. If not to His face, then behind His back.
Jesus went through. He went through. Yes, Jesus went through. NOT AROUND.
What a comfort.
It looks like right now that Bobby and I are going to have to go through, not around. I am thankful that I have a God that is with me, that is with us. His Spirit comforts me, comforts us. He understands me, He understands us.
Next time I get an invitation to a PITY PARTY, I pray my RSVP says, "NOT AVAILABLE."
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Hold Me Jesus
I don't really have a lot to share in this blog, but I wanted to share the lyrics to a song that I have loved for a while and before I do that I thought I would kind of share the back story.
I think it is interesting how one thing can lead to another which leads to another which leads to another.
Case in point, about four or five days ago I was listening to an interview with Phil Stacey, a former American Idol contestant and he mentioned the song HOLD ME JESUS by the late Rich Mullins. I love that song so much. I have heard it on radio over the years and every time I would hear the song it just resonated with me.
Anyway, after hearing that interview with Phil Stacey I went to the computer and looked the song HOLD ME JESUS up on You Tube and watched Rich Mullins sing the song. Of course, that led me to Google the lyric, which led me to researching a tiny bit about Rich Mullins' life.
Rich Mullins actually died in 1997 in a tragic vehicle accident. For those not familiar with Rich Mullins he was a Christian songwriter/singer. Some of his songs have been powerfully used to minister to so many including yours truly.
He wrote AWESOME GOD, CREED, HOLD ME JESUS, IF I STAND, MY DELIVERER, PRAISE TO THE LORD and many more songs that many may or may not be familiar with.
After doing all this research and looking all of these things up I went back to You Tube and there was a documentary about his life and one of his concerts in which he actually shared the circumstances for writing HOLD ME JESUS (the song I had originally You Tubed)
After watching the concert and documentary I realized that Rich Mullins was a guy that was willing to share honestly and openly about his struggles and failures and allow others to see that it was God's grace and mercy in his life that was what was the beautiful thing.
Rich Mullins said he wrote this song after an all night struggle in Amsterdam. He said on the concert tape I saw on You Tube that he wrote it as a prayer. I encourage you to You Tube the song and even the concert if you get a chance.
HOLD ME JESUS
Well sometimes my life just don't make sense at all
When the mountains look so big
And my faith just seems so small
Chorus
So hold me Jesus 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace
And I wake up in the night and feel the dark
It's so hot inside my soul
I swear there must be blisters on my heart
Chorus
So hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace
Surrender don't come natural to me
I'd rather fight You for something I don't really want
Than to take what You give that I need
And I've beat my head against so many walls
Now I'm falling down, I'm falling on my knees
And the Salvation Army band is playing this hymn
And Your grace rings out so deep
It makes my resistance seem so thin
Chorus
So hold me Jesus 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace
Can you relate? I certainly can.
I think it is interesting how one thing can lead to another which leads to another which leads to another.
Case in point, about four or five days ago I was listening to an interview with Phil Stacey, a former American Idol contestant and he mentioned the song HOLD ME JESUS by the late Rich Mullins. I love that song so much. I have heard it on radio over the years and every time I would hear the song it just resonated with me.
Anyway, after hearing that interview with Phil Stacey I went to the computer and looked the song HOLD ME JESUS up on You Tube and watched Rich Mullins sing the song. Of course, that led me to Google the lyric, which led me to researching a tiny bit about Rich Mullins' life.
Rich Mullins actually died in 1997 in a tragic vehicle accident. For those not familiar with Rich Mullins he was a Christian songwriter/singer. Some of his songs have been powerfully used to minister to so many including yours truly.
He wrote AWESOME GOD, CREED, HOLD ME JESUS, IF I STAND, MY DELIVERER, PRAISE TO THE LORD and many more songs that many may or may not be familiar with.
After doing all this research and looking all of these things up I went back to You Tube and there was a documentary about his life and one of his concerts in which he actually shared the circumstances for writing HOLD ME JESUS (the song I had originally You Tubed)
After watching the concert and documentary I realized that Rich Mullins was a guy that was willing to share honestly and openly about his struggles and failures and allow others to see that it was God's grace and mercy in his life that was what was the beautiful thing.
Rich Mullins said he wrote this song after an all night struggle in Amsterdam. He said on the concert tape I saw on You Tube that he wrote it as a prayer. I encourage you to You Tube the song and even the concert if you get a chance.
HOLD ME JESUS
Well sometimes my life just don't make sense at all
When the mountains look so big
And my faith just seems so small
Chorus
So hold me Jesus 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace
And I wake up in the night and feel the dark
It's so hot inside my soul
I swear there must be blisters on my heart
Chorus
So hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace
Surrender don't come natural to me
I'd rather fight You for something I don't really want
Than to take what You give that I need
And I've beat my head against so many walls
Now I'm falling down, I'm falling on my knees
And the Salvation Army band is playing this hymn
And Your grace rings out so deep
It makes my resistance seem so thin
Chorus
So hold me Jesus 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace
Can you relate? I certainly can.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
