Reflected Glory

“The glory which you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one.”    John 17:22

I enjoy watching the sunset whether from my porch, a chair in the yard or at the beach.  Some nights the sunset is filled with brilliant colors that take your breath away, and other nights the colors are subtle with a quiet rest to the day.  One night as the sun began to set a dark cloud was around the sunset and I thought no colors would shine this evening.  But I turned around and looked in the east and the sky was a brilliant deep pink.  The sun had reflected above the darkness to bring intense colors across the sky.  This experience has happened several times.  I began to ponder what God was telling me each evening in the closing of the day.  The Holy Spirit has revealed within me meaning to these sunsets.

When we look at the sky and only see the darkness, it is the same with our lives.  Sometimes we only see the darkness, the loneliness, the sadness, the grief, the fear, the anger, the hurt.  We see no hope and no possible way to live and find joy in life.  When we only focus on the loss of our loved ones or the problems and negatives of life, all we feel and experience is darkness and despair.  The darkness and longing for our loved one will always be in our hearts.  Nothing takes that away.  We learn to live with it.  But when we change our focus and turn around, the darkness reflects the glory and presence of God and our loved one in our lives.  The darkness brings something different into our lives.  We did not choose the darkness, but it is present.  It is allowing the darkness of grief to change us and find meaning in the different. 

The word “glory” has been my word these past weeks.   I have been pondering the meaning of glory.  Throughout Scripture, God’s glory is revealed through the face of Moses, in the temple, the angels sang “Glory to God” at the birth of Jesus, and Jesus prays before his arrest that He gives to His disciples His glory.  In the past as I have watched the sun begin to set, in the sky was a “hole” between the clouds that seems to be a window into Heaven.  It was God’s glory – the splendor of God’s presence.  Glory is God’s physical presence revealed to us in so many ways. 

I believe Jesus gives to us His glory which is the physical reminder of His presence with us.  Jesus’ spirit – the Holy Spirit – lives within us and the glory is the outward expression and visual reminder that Jesus is with us. Because our loved ones had this spirit and glory in them, I believe that glory stays here with us.  Why else would we experience such powerful physical reminders of their love and life?  For example, my husband Dave loved hawks and had the nickname “Hawk” in high school because he always kept his eye on the ball in whatever sport he played.  Whenever we traveled by car, he would spot a hawk sitting on a fence post or wire every time.  After his death, every trip I took, a hawk would be sitting on a fence post or wire like it was waiting for me. It reflected Dave’s continued presence.  I still see hawks in my travels.  I saw two hawks this past week on my trip to Marysville.

Even more, God wants us to see His glory – His presence in our lives – every day.  It is these reflections that help us in our grief and give us moments.  These precious moments remind us that we are not alone, and God wants us to know He is beside us.  God gives us beauty though in our different life, it takes a while to again see it.  As we journey forward in life, we begin to reflect God’s glory to others who are beginning the journey.  The darkness and sadness of grief leaves a hole in our hearts and lives.  On the journey, we begin to see God’s glory and presence even in the hole.  God is with us no matter how we feel.  God shines around and through our darkness.  Someday in some way God will bring beauty out of our darkness.  Sometimes we need to turn around and focus on a new path and direction.

God’s glory in us helps us to look and live more like Jesus.  We begin to focus on how our life reflects God’s love and presence to others.  We take the focus off our sadness and problems, and we focus on God with us.  We look for God’s presence in nature, in relationships, in the quiet moments, in our thoughts, and in His Word.

Allow others to reflect God’s love and glory to you, too. 

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Check out my books on Amazon - Living In The Different, Living Different Moments, Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper.

Birthday Reflections

“All the days planned for me were written in your book before I was one day old.”  Psalm 139:16

Last week was my birthday.  I received numerous Facebook birthday wishes, text messages, phone calls, and cards.  I was touched by all the people who reached out and thought of me on my special day.  As I thanked people on Facebook, I thought of how our paths connected in life – family, high school, hometown, churches, work, weddings, and so many other ways.  It made me ponder how important relationships are and how they give meaning and purpose to our lives.

Birthdays are full of memories.  We remember our childhood and how we celebrated our birthday with family or friends.  For some of us, our childhood was good, and birthdays were observed with cake and presents.  For some of you, this did not happen, and I am sorry you did not receive this gift of commemorating the day God gave life to you.  I remember baking and decorating my own cake from about the age of nine.  My dad always took a picture of the family around the cake that had candles.  I got to choose the flavor of the cake and the color of icing.  My brother, David, always chose chocolate cake with blue icing.  The presents were small and are long gone, but the memories of being together as a family remain.

As we age, we may not celebrate birthdays like we did in childhood except for some milestone years when one lives into those extra decades of life.  My mind does not feel the number that I just turned nor does my body most days.  I think I am half my age and probably act it sometimes too, which I am proud of.  I was in line at a restaurant on my birthday waiting to give my order (we were traveling). A bus load of youth were in front of us.  Three boys were talking and one of them about twelve years old said to his youth pastor that there were three old people behind him and he should let them go first.  I looked behind me and realized he was referring to me as one of those “old” people.  Wow, I am old to those who are teenagers.

Yes, on each birthday, we add another number to our age.  God has planned each day that we will live on this earth.  Are we focused on the number or on the experiences and adventures of each year?  I am trying to reflect more on how God has used me this year, and on how I have glorified God in what I did this year.  It is also a time to be grateful for how God has brought me through trials and situations.  I recognize that God has showered me with His grace and forgiveness – my past has been redeemed.  Yours has too, and God has forgiven you and blessed each of us with His grace and mercy.  Birthdays are a time to be grateful for the blessings of the year.  It is also a time to recognize God’s comforting presence through the difficult and sad times of the past year.

I am grateful for the people I have encountered on my path of life.  I am thankful for each of you who are reading this blog. I am thankful to have celebrated and officiated at your weddings, baptisms, confirmations, and funerals of your loved ones.  Relationships add joy and love to our lives.  They can also be the cause of pain, trauma, and heartache.  They are a mixture.  I do not want to diminish anyone’s pain and hurt, but God will redeem it.  We cannot change the past and what happened, but we can change our focus to what is good now in our lives and allow the days God has for us to be filled with His love and grace.

I am grateful for each one of you.  Some of you I have walked with through the hurts and pains of your life.  God has used me as His vessel and filled me with His Spirit to bring comfort to you and redeem the past.  Some of you have found hope and comfort through the words I have written in these blogs and in my books.  My friend, Pat, found comfort in my book, Living In The Different, after her husband, Bill died.  Pat now is my number one salesperson for my books.  God places people on her path who have lost a loved one and she shares with them and gives them a book.  I am so humbled that the words God gave me are helping other people on the grief journey.  I am thankful for my friend, Pat.  God redeemed my grief and used it to provide comfort to others.

God has blessed me in my life and ministry, and God has brought good out of the hurt and grief.  I am thankful.  God gives each of us so many days on earth to live and share His love and grace with others.  None of us are perfect.  We all mess up and are not always a great witness for Jesus.  But we keep trying.  We keep receiving God’s grace, and God continues to use our imperfectness to humble us and focus on God through us not on ourselves.

It is in this humbleness and imperfectness that I ask each of you to share one of my books with someone in your life or give a gift to yourself.  Maybe someone who is grieving – give them my book, Living In The Different.  For someone who wants to take steps into life and truly live in the moments, give them Live Different Moments.  For those who want to leave a legacy and find purpose in life, give them Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper.  (All 3 are available on Amazon or directly from me.)

 Thank you for reading these words and allowing God’s Spirit to touch your life just like His Spirit has touched mine to write these words.

Birthdays are a time of reflection.  Has my life made any difference?  My focus now is not about me but glorifying God in all that I do and say and write.  God is with you.  Focus on the moments in front of you and how you can glorify God daily.  Reflect.  Release.  Redeem.

God bless you!

Be Still And .....

“God says, “Be still and know that I am God. I will be supreme over all the nations; I will be supreme in the earth.”  Psalm 46:10

I listened to my ninety-one-year-old friend wonder if his life had any more purpose.  Why was he still here.  At different stages and seasons of life, we all wonder what our purpose is and do we still have value.  We are unable to accomplish what our normal routine was.  We have always been busy, productive, and active.  Disappointments come and dreams go unfulfilled.  We all have these thoughts.  It is a part of life.  Our worry and anxiety get the best of us even when we are trying to stay close to Jesus. 

I had a period of time like this and the song, “Be Still, My Soul” began to play in my heart - 

“Be still, my soul; the Lord is on your side.

Bear patiently the cross of grief and pain;

Leave to your God to order and provide;

In every change God faithful will remain.” 

It is difficult to slow ourselves down emotionally and mentally, but the turmoil inside of us may have become more intense and uncertain.  Our hopes and dreams are unrealized, and we wonder what the purpose of our life is now.  In these moments of turmoil, grief, loneliness or sadness we need to be still.  To be still and change our focus.  To be still and allow ourselves to feel the emotions and accept that it is OK to feel this way for a moment.  To be still and know God is beside us and is on our side.  To be still and give it all to God.

I found myself talking with God.  For me it was a time to look into my heart and face the feelings and reasons I got off track. In the stillness of my soul, I began to search for God’s will for my life.  I have always believed different is not bad, it is simply different.  In each change and decision in my life I have tried to listen and discern God’s direction.  I have found that reading God’s Word helps to quiet my soul and begin to listen to God speak directly through familiar words.  I study and go deeper into these familiar words and hear something different.  God’s Word is a living Word that speaks in different ways throughout our lives. 

It is in the quietness of a sunset or in the stillness of the morning that God speaks too.  When I am still long enough to listen, God speaks.  I run each morning not just for exercise but for quiet time with God.  A few days ago, God and I sorted out some hurt and disappointments.  God opened a new door in my thoughts and gave me a new freedom that I had not even considered.  It was only when I was quiet and began to listen that God revealed what was really going on inside of me.

When I am still before God, I am honest with myself because God already knows my heart.  It is in this time I admit my grief, my pain, my sadness, my joys, my blessings and everything in between.  In our grief, we need this honest time to allow ourselves to feel all the emotions of the loss and begin to admit to ourselves the depth of love and loss.  It is also the time when we cling closely to God knowing it is only through God’s strength that we have made it this far. 

I have come to accept that the “cross of grief” was part of my journey.  It has been in my grief that my quiet moments with God have become moments of dependency and growth.  I have allowed myself to just “be” – to be still, to be present, to be in the moment, to be.  God wants us to be present more than He wants us to be doing tasks and being busy with the things of this world.  I am finding quiet moments with God each day bring healing to my heart and soul and refreshes me.  Just be still and know that God is with you.  You do not need to speak words, just sigh and speak God’s name then listen.  Be still and know.

Revised blog from 6/4/2020

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Are you going through a storm right now or know someone who is?  Through the month of July, my birthday month and as your gift to me, I am asking everyone who reads my blog, to purchase one of my books either for yourself or for a friend.  It may be the storm of grief, then purchase – Living In The Different.  It may be that you have gone through the intensity of loss and change and need guidance on the journey, then purchase – Live Different Moments.  It may be that you want to make a difference and leave a legacy, then purchase – Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper – and read how my husband, Dave left a legacy.  You can laugh and cry with him.  All books are available on Amazon, through me, or at Tea Story in Upper Sandusky.  Thank you.  Give a gift to a friend or to yourself.

Leaning On Jesus

“So he (John) leaned back against Jesus and asked him, “Lord, who is it?”  John 13:25

One of the hymns I remember from childhood is “Leaning On the Everlasting Arms.”

What a fellowship, what a joy divine
Leaning on the everlasting arms
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine
Leaning on the everlasting arms

Leaning, leaning
Safe and secure from all alarms
Leaning, leaning
Leaning on the everlasting arms

What have I to dread, what have I to fear
Leaning on the everlasting arms
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near
Leaning on the everlasting arms

Leaning, leaning
Safe and secure from all alarms
Leaning, leaning
Leaning on the everlasting arms

 The backyard of our home is a wooded area.  When I look out my office window, I see several trees bent over with one tree in particular against another tree.  The tree is still growing but not straight and tall like the tree it is leaning against.  It is protected, but the winds have bent it.  It is a part of the woods, and it still has strong roots.  It will just be a tree that will be connected to another tree and grow at a different angle than the trees around it.

The winds of life bend us to the point of struggling to survive.  Who are we leaning upon?  The world gives us some options – money, material possessions, the media, and gives us ways to escape life.  We can get lost in alcohol, habits, shallow relationships, and acquiring more stuff.  None of these sustain us for long.  When we lean on them, they are not stable or have a foundation. 

Who or what is safe for you?  We long to feel safe and secure in this broken and fallen world.  We have people in our lives we depend on and count on to be with us, but they have their own struggles and troubles and are not always available when we are in need.

“Safe and secure from all alarms” – I’m in Jesus’ arms.  Oh, what comfort to know I can rest in Jesus’ arms.  When John leaned into Jesus, he knew he could ask anything of Jesus, and he would respond to his need.  John believed in Jesus and knew to stay close to Jesus when there was uncertainty in life.

In my journey of life, I have learned to lean into the presence of Jesus more and more through the difficult times of life.  Too many times, we think we can do it on our own and try to be independent on the journey.  This never works for long as we crumble under the load of emotions and turmoil of life.  Life can be intense at times.  We watch the news and our hearts ache when we see the loss of life, especially innocent children.  We do not understand.  There is no answer to the “why” we ask.

In my grief journey and now in my journey forward, I have tried to be more aware that Jesus is sitting right beside me just like Jesus was with John at the Last Supper.  Jesus doesn’t move.  He is right beside me in whatever I encounter in my life.  I am the one who needs to be intentional and lean closer to Jesus in my need, my sorrow, my grief and struggles and questions of life.  Jesus wants me to lean in and share my fears, my questions and know He has the answers and is the answer to my fears.

When we need to lean on someone in our grief and in daily life, we realize that many times those we thought would be with us do not understand the intensity and length of grief.  We may try to lean on others, and it feels like we are falling into an emptiness where nobody is holding us up.  It is in these moments, I have become even more aware of Jesus’ firm and steady presence.  Jesus is our foundation and holds us up.  It is connecting ourselves to the One who is rooted firmly and grow around him. Jesus has never moved, I just need to lean more into his holy presence. 

Lean closer each day to Jesus.  Feel His presence through His Spirit and find your safety and security in Jesus.  Trust Him.

(Revised from 1/30/2020 blog)

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Are you going through a storm right now or know someone who is?  Through the month of July, my birthday month and as your gift to me, I am asking everyone who reads my blog, to purchase one of my books either for yourself or for a friend.  It may be the storm of grief, then purchase – Living In The Different.  It may be that you have gone through the intensity of loss and change and need guidance on the journey, then purchase – Live Different Moments.  It may be that you want to make a difference and leave a legacy, then purchase – Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper – and read how my husband, Dave left a legacy.  You can laugh and cry with him.  All books are available on Amazon, through me, or at Tea Story in Upper Sandusky.  Thank you.  Give a gift to a friend or to yourself.

Summer Breeze

Jesus said, “The wind blows where it wants to and you hear the sound of it, but you don’t know where the wind comes from or where it is going.  It is the same with every person who is born from the Spirit.”  John 3:8

While on vacation in Destin, there was a beach complex with a sign in front of it that read “Summer Breeze.”  Each time we biked passed it, the song by Seals and Crofts played in my head – “Summer breeze makes me feel fine.  Blowin’ through the jasmine in my mind.”  Some of you just sang those words, didn’t you?

There is such peace in my heart when I breathe in the feelings associated with a summer breeze.  It is now summer, and the breeze of summer is filled with memories and smells for me.  The smells include fresh cut hay, the early morning smell of the corn and beans in the humidity, the fresh air, and the smell of the summer flowers.  The summer breeze brings memories of Vacation Bible School and my mom sitting in her swing enjoying the sunshine and breeze. 

Summer brings a more relaxed view of life with vacations, longer daylight, evening walks, some porch sitting, swimming, cookouts, and even sometimes the feelings that one does not need to be as productive.  There are less expectations.  School is out for summer break and the routines have slackened.  More people are camping and boating.  For farmers, the crops are all planted and just relying on God to water them and provide the needed sunshine for growth.  The hay requires the summer breeze to dry it out, and those baling it need the breeze to cool them off in the hot summer sun.

The summer breeze is refreshing and peaceful on bike rides in the sunshine.  It is amazing to watch the white fluffy clouds gently move across the blue sky and create unique shapes in the summer breeze.  It is also listening to the breeze through the trees and watching the trees clap their leaves together like hands as they sway in the wind.

But along with these peaceful feelings in the summer breeze come the pop-up summer storms.  They can happen without much warning and come even when the prediction is for no rain.  Soon the gentle breeze becomes strong, and the swirling wind seems to come from all directions bringing a downpour.  The unexpected happens and disrupts the peacefulness.

Life is like the unexpected summer storms.  We feel that life is going good with a gentle summer breeze of peacefulness.  Life has a good routine, and you predict smooth sailing for a while.  The bills are paid, the family is getting along at the moment, and you have some hope that progress is happening in your life.  Then a storm pops up unexpectedly, out of nowhere.  The storm may be that something breaks down, a financial stress, an illness, conflict in the family, job loss, or the death of a loved one.  The gentle breeze turns into a raging hurricane with the strong winds that are pulling you under and destroying your sense of peace and hope in its pathway.  You do not know what will happen next, and your anxiety and fear take control.  The winds of change are coming from all directions.

 Can you relate?  We have all been there if we admit it.  So, what do you do when you thought you had control over your peaceful summer breeze, but now the unexpected winds of life overpower you?  Do you let worry and fear take control and allow the negativity of life to be your view?  You just feel like everything bad keeps happening to you just when you begin to relax and enjoy the summer breeze.  The summer breeze of life is just a false hope for you.  No matter how hard you try, life keeps blowing up and the raging winds toss you around.

Storms happen unexpectedly but summer breezes are also reality.  Storms are not forever.  Slow down your thoughts from going down the negative path.  Yes, we do not know where the winds come from or where they go.  You can only see their path after they have gone through.  Enjoy the moments of peace and the gentle breeze.  God is there in the summer breeze, when life feels good and peaceful.  Hold fast to the stronghold of your life – God’s presence – in the storm.  God is still with you.  Life is filled with all types of winds.  The Spirit of God is always in the wind.  Always present within us.

The summer breeze of peace is always within you because that peace is the Holy Spirt that dwells within you.  It is still there even in the storms, but it is not our focus at that moment.  The storm gets all our attention.  It is reminding ourselves that God is in the quiet and in the chaos.  God never changes.  The circumstances of life change along with our focus, and we forget that God is in control, and we just need to depend on Him to walk us through.  God gives us His peace in the summer breeze and in the storm.

Allow the peaceful summer breeze of the Holy Spirit to flow through you.

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Are you going through a storm right now or know someone who is?  Through the month of July, my birthday month and as your gift to me, I am asking everyone who reads my blog, to purchase one of my books either for yourself or for a friend.  It may be the storm of grief, then purchase – Living In The Different.  It may be that you have gone through the intensity of loss and change and need guidance on the journey, then purchase – Live Different Moments.  It may be that you want to make a difference and leave a legacy, then purchase – Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper – and read how my husband, Dave left a legacy.  You can laugh and cry with him.  All books are available on Amazon, through me, or at Tea Story in Upper Sandusky.  Thank you.  Give a gift to a friend or to yourself.

Affirmative Life

“This is how God showed his love to us: He sent his one and only Son into the world so that we could have life through him.”  I John 4:9

I was blessed this past week to share a day with one of my nieces.  Raya is a nine-year-old with a great sense of humor and joy for life.  She is a ray of hope to her parents.  When I picked her up, I told her this was her “Yes Day.”  She looked at me a little puzzled, and I explained that I took the idea from my niece, Jodi.  It means it is her day and whatever she wanted to do or buy, I would say, “Yes.”  There were limits but basically, I would agree.  She jumped up and down with her arms in the air and yelled, “Yes.”

First, we mixed up chocolate chip cookies to bake but chill first.  Then it was off to her favorite store (the one I do not like, but I said, “yes”).  We skipped into the store together.  She picked out cake mixes to make into cookies, frosting and candied eyes to decorate them.  Then it was down the arts and crafts isle for a sketch pad and pens.  She loves to draw.  The toy isles called to her, and she carefully chose toys that added to what she already had and that she would play with more than once.  Next, she wanted to go to a local restaurant for lunch, The Village Restaurant, which is one of my favorites, too.  Then it was back to my house to bake and decorate cookies, draw, and open her small treasures.  Nothing elaborate but simply time together to create and laugh.  It was “Yes” to enjoying today.  Her fun was also hiding the candied eyes in my house, and I continued to find them days later.

As we sat together in the restaurant and at home baking, I learned from a nine-year-old.  She likes who she is and will not let anyone change how God created her.  She knows God loves her, and her sister is in Heaven with Jesus.  She loves her mom and dad.  She loves her friends and has future plans with them.  She loves her cousins.  Nature is beautiful to her.  The birds and animals in our backyard amazed her.  Laughter and having fun come naturally to a nine-year-old.

Society would say my niece does not have a stable life, and she has had some intense experiences in her short life.  But that is not her view of life.  She is positive and her joy and love is contagious and fills my heart.  She finds ways to make the most of each day in very simple ways.  As we walked out to my vehicle to take her home, we were singing, “Our God is an awesome God.”  She loves to sing and loves music and art and animals and life.

My niece loves her life and the people in her life.  No matter the hurt and sadness of life, she finds joy in the days.  She adjusts to her parents’ schedule and does not let other people define her or let circumstances of life bring her down.  It is about attitude.  There is always negativity in life, and we can focus there if we choose.  But there is a lot to be grateful for and to look for the positive in life.  A sense of humor is essential, too.

God affirms you and me daily and gives us “Yes Days.”  God loves us.  God calls us His children.  “Yes, I love you.”  “Yes, I am with you.”  “Yes, I forgive you.”  “Yes, I will walk with you through the storms of life.”  “Yes, you are mine.”  “Yes, I have given you abundant life.”

Can you affirm today?  I know that today is not perfect.  There is a ton of negativity all around you and me.  The world is broken and fallen and filled with evil.  I am not denying the bad and the hurt and pain this world brings into our lives.  It is there, and it can be our focus that pulls us down and fills us with worry, anxiety, fear, depression, and struggles.  But I believe God gives us “Yes Days.”  We may not get what we think we want, but we receive what we really need.  We need Jesus.  We need God’s presence and love.  We need to release control and surrender to Jesus.  We need to let go of worry and anxiety that is unproductive and leads us to fear and being afraid of everything.

Today is your “Yes Day” with God.  “Yes, Jesus loves me.  Yes, Jesus loves me.  Yes, Jesus loves me.  The Bible tells me so.”

Yes, you are loved.  Yes, you are forgiven.  Yes, God is with you.  Yes, God has given you today to live in the present and enjoy the moments of today.  Yes!

My Books are available through different venues

·       Tea Story in Upper Sandusky

·       Personally through me

·       Amazon

Living In The Different

          Live Different Moments

                     Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper

Check out my Newspaper Articles also on my Website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

The Strong Hold of Life

“The Lord is my light and salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”  Psalm 27:1

It is fascinating to watch the squirrels in the backyard jump from tree to tree and land on what seems to me a small branch for such big squirrels.  The squirrels seem to hold on tightly to the branch, and then they quickly jump to another one going up and down trees enough to make one tired just watching them.  The baby squirrels are learning to hold on as they chase one another around the trees.  I have seen a few mishaps, but those little ones just get up and keep trying.  Even in the wind they hold on as the branches sway in the breeze.  It is amazing how God created these squirrels.  They are definitely entertaining.

We went biking recently around Indian Lake.  The wind was stronger than we anticipated.  A few times the gust of wind caught my bike, and I had to hold on tighter.  We thought the wind would be at our backs when we turned around, but it was just as intense.  The wind was coming from all directions it seemed.  It was a beautiful sunny day, but the wind made the ride a challenge along with dodging all the goose droppings on the trail. The wind had a strong hold on how fast we could go.

So, what has a strong hold on you right now?  Sometimes strongholds are negative like anxiety, fear, addiction, depression, and they can control our direction and stability in life.  Grief can have a stronghold on us too.  Yes, we need to grieve, and it will be part of the rest of our lives, but it does not need to control all of life.  It is living with grief.  Just like there will be situations that bring fear and anxiety, it does not mean we have to stop living and finding moments of joy in life.  Sometimes we have to do things afraid.  It is not letting the fear or anxiety have a stronghold on participating in life.

Stronghold is also positive.  Psalm 27:1 describes the Lord as the “stronghold of my life.”  God is our safety and protection.  God holds us up in the winds of life.  We do not see the wind, but we can feel it and see the results of it.  We cannot see God, but we can feel His presence and receive His peace and comfort.  God also helps us maneuver around the “droppings” of life, that is, the messes and problems and mistakes of life.

I have been pondering this concept of the stronghold of God and trying to visualize what it looks like for me.  The image that comes to my mind is like sitting in a fortified and sturdy chair wrapped in God’s presence.  The chair has arms where I rest my arms upon Jesus.  Every time I think of this image, it brings peace to my soul and pulls me into the presence of God. 

The worries and problems of life can get a hold on us and pull us away from the One who holds us and protects us.  This is a trust issue.  Do we trust God to take care of our needs in His timing not ours?  It is surrendering daily and recognizing God is in every moment and sees the big picture that we do not see.  God has a strong hold on us.  God will not let us go.  Fear, worry, anxiety, and struggles get in our head and cycle on repeat.  We fear God will not take care of us, so we have to be in control and our thoughts go to figuring it out on our own.  It is putting God in our thoughts first in the morning when we awake and allow God to be strong for us.

Listen sometime to Anne Wilson’s song, “Strong.”  Some of the words are –

“The world’s gonna try to break me.  But I know the one who makes me Strong.  I’m strong when I got nothing.  I’m strong even when I’m weak.  ‘Cause the strong arms of my Savior are holding on to me.”

Strong.  God has a strong hold on you!  God will never let you go.  You can trust Jesus.  God is the stronghold of my life.

Check out my Newspaper Articles also on my Website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

Covered In Singing

“The Lord your God is with you; the mighty One will save you.  He will rejoice over you.  You will rest in his love; he will sing and be joyful about you.”  Zephaniah 3:17

My sister made a beautiful prayer quilt for my dear friend.  My friend is a gifted musician, and the quilt was made with fabric printed with music.  It was a joy to present this gift to my friend as she begins the journey of cancer treatments.  The quilt has many individual strings that are tied and as a person tied the string in a knot, the person said a prayer for the receiver of the quilt.  My friend will wrap up in this quilt as she receives her treatment, and she will feel that she is covered in prayer.

My friend is gifted in music and prayer.  It is a joy to pray with her and feel the closeness of her heart to her Heavenly Father.  The joy of the Lord radiates from her in prayer and when she sings and leads others in worship and praise.  Music is in her heart.

Prayer is the music of our souls.  We develop a rhythm to our prayer life and create a harmony between our heart and God’s.  Words are not always needed in our expression to God, and God does not always answer in audible words.  Prayer and music are universal languages that are not just spoken but felt and experienced.

Music is woven into the fabric of my being and life.  I grew up with my mom playing stacks of gospel quartet records on our stereo.  I enjoyed the hymns of worship and Sunday School in my little home church.  Vacation Bible School songs are still in my heart today.  Music is played daily in my home and always in my vehicle.  When words fail me in prayer and worship, a song will express how I feel and provide the avenue to truly glorify God.

Songs can assist us in expressing our feelings and emotions. Music sparks memories within us, and we associate certain songs with people and events. No matter the type of music, there are songs that will speak to you and allow you to feel what your heart has trouble expressing.  Music helps to heal our souls.

God loves to sing over us too.  The Scripture in Zephaniah tells us that God will sing and be joyful about us.  I believe God sings through nature too.  In the wind through the trees and all His creation.  God loves to sing so God created birds that sing such a melody of joy.  Each morning, I hear the robins sing their songs of joy that a new day has begun. 

I have an app on my phone that recognizes the sounds of all the different birds.  Each one has their unique song to sing, and I am learning to recognize some of the bird calls.  The birds cover my morning runs with singing, and they close out my porch sitting evenings with songs.  The birds remind me that music is within all of God’s creation and creatures.  God sings over us, that is, God covers us with the songs of nature and God created the songs of life that He wants us to sing with Him.

Sometimes, our song is sad and filled with deep sorrow and pain, but we still can sing.  Sometimes our song is filled with joy and thankfulness, and we sing songs of praise and glorify God.  No matter how we feel, we can always sing, and God hears every word and feeble attempt.  I believe sometimes God holds us and sings to us through His Holy Spirit a reassuring melody that He is always with us and will never leave us.  No matter what you are going through right now, know that God is covering you in His song of love and comfort.

You are covered in singing.  So keep singing and listening to the Lord sing over you.

*************************************************************************** 

I am available to your group, organization, retreat or event to speak on a variety of topics – Grief & Loss, Next Steps Into Life, Living Life with Joy, Anxiety & Worry, Foundations of Life, and many others that we can create together.

Just message me, and we can schedule

 **************************************************************************** 

My Books are available through different venues

·       Tea Story in Upper Sandusky

·       Personally through me

·       Amazon

Living In The Different

          Live Different Moments

                     Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper

Check out my Newspaper Articles also on my Website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

Gleanings From the Beach

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.”  John 15:7

I spent some time at the beach recently enjoying the sunshine, the rest, and renewal.  I listened and learned a lot about life from the beach.  I abided in God’s presence and just listened.  I want to share some of what I gleaned from the beach with you -

At the beach, there is equality.  Everyone is the same – enjoying the sand, the water, the waves.  When you are in the water, there are no differences.  Everyone is enjoying the moment.

There are rules at the beach that seem to be obeyed by everyone – you can leave your stuff – your chair, your towel, your toys and everything you have brought and set up and nobody bothers it if you go take a walk.

A smile or head nod crosses all language barriers.

Children are filled with joy and laughter at the beach.  Their smiles are contagious.

Complimenting a child brings a smile to them and their parents.

People are more polite on the beach than in their vehicles going and coming from the beach.

The waves always come.  No matter the time of day or night, the waves never stop.  Like the waves, things always happen in life.  You cannot stop life from happening.  You learn to embrace it and jump in just like you jump into the waves.

There is always a breeze at the beach.  In life, there is always the wind of the Spirit around us if we take the time to recognize the Spirit’s presence.

It is more comfortable and cooler at the beach than at the pool.  There are those who vacation at the Beach but spend all their time at the pool and never go to the actual beach and experience the sand, the water, and the waves.  They never experience the beauty of God’s creation.  It is like people who are Christians and do not live in the joy and freedom of the abundant life that Jesus gives.  They never experience the fullness of life that God gives freely through His grace.

Always look up.  The clouds are always changing.  The sunrises and sunsets are God’s beautiful painting each morning and evening.  You need to look for the beauty around you.  It is always present.

If you look at the water, waves, sand, sky and people, God created them all and knows every grain of sand, drop of water, and hairs on every head.

Every moment is a God moment because God is in every moment.

Footprints are like are past sins – God washes them away.  When we look back immediately, they are still there because we still linger in our past.  When we focus forward and allow God to cleanse us, the past mistakes are gone. 

The closer you run to the water and the waves, the firmer the sand, but you get hit by the waves.  The closer you are to God’s strong foundation, the stronger you are when you get pounded by life.  When you start to sink in your run on the beach, you are too far from the water.  In life, we sink when we are too far from the Living water of Jesus.

You can miss God’s glory if you don’t look up.

Clouds are every changing just like life.  But God is who does the changing and is with us.

Listen to the sounds of the beach.  God speaks loudly in the waves, softly in the clouds.

There is always room for you at the beach.  No matter how crowded it may seem, there is always space somewhere on the sand to set up your chair and towel.  God always has room for you.

You need to rest and take in the calming water, the breeze, the sunshine, and be in the moment and not think about what comes next.  Just rest and relax.  Life needs to be lived in the present not in the future.  Sunshine warms the body and spirit.  God’s Son fills our soul.

Stay active – get up and walk the beach.  Play in the water.  Movement is important at the beach and in life.

When you bike at the beach, make sure you announce to those in front of you, “Bikes on your left.”  It is amazing how many people do not know which is their left and do not know which way to go.  Some bikers do not tell you and come up quickly behind you and scare you.  Sometimes in life, we are prepared for what is coming behind us and know what to do.  Sometimes things sneak up on us and we are not ready and do not know which way to go.

It is good to have friends wherever you travel – someone who knows the best restaurants and things to do and be of help when needed.  It is good to have a friend in Jesus who is always with you.

God will speak to you through every experience in life, you just need to listen and abide in His presence.

Living Set Apart

“But be holy in all you do, just as God, the One who called you, is holy. It is written in the Scriptures: “You must be holy, because I am holy.”  1 Peter 1:15-16

On Mother’s Day, I visited the cemetery, and I planted flowers on my mom’s and grandma’s grave.  I know they are in Heaven with Jesus but out of respect and love, I honored them that day.  I talked with them and thanked them for sharing Jesus with me and being the two main influences in my life and faith.  I prayed and thanked God for their lives and the gift they were to me.  I stood in this country cemetery and looked up at the blue sky and clouds.  I was surrounded by trees and plowed fields.  I felt the warmth of God’s love and presence and the love in my heart for my mom and grandma that never dies.   I set myself apart from the dailyness of life and experienced a holy moment.

We visited the Basilica and Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation and were in awe of its beauty and splendor.  The magnificence of the building just made me stand in quiet silence and take in each aspect of the Church and its significance.  I felt the glory of God all around me.  It was a holy moment.

I have watched nature unfold all around our home as the trees are in full leaves and the birds are singing their songs and eating from the birdfeeder.  The deer, birds, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, and a few other wild animals are enjoying the woods all around us.  It is amazing to look out the window and just watch nature develop and animals enjoy daily life.  It is a holy moment.

Then a dear friend, Dwight, who has been like a dad to me, drove up to see our home and shared lunch together with another friend.  We talked.  We laughed.  We shared tears of grief.  We remembered.  I took him on a tour of my hometown.  We hugged good-bye and spoke words of encouragement and love to one another.  It was a holy moment.

Holy means to be set apart for a special purpose.  Holy moments reflect God’s glory rather than the world.  Holy is living within the will of God.  It is focusing on God and looking for ways God reveals Himself in the moments of life.

When we worship, a holy moment may happen if we are open to God’s Spirit moving within us.  A song may touch you and you lift up your hands in praise to God.  It may touch your heart, and you quietly sigh and feel the presence of the Spirit within you.  It may be in a Church or in your car.  God speaks to you, and it becomes a holy moment. 

Are you living set apart?  That is, is your life set apart from the noise and hustle of this world, that you are listening for God to speak to you and bring hope and healing into your life?  Or has the world got a tight grip on you that you have conformed to the ways of this world and just want to fit in and find happiness in the things and possessions of this world?  You feel empty, though, and sometimes you feel lost in a world that continues but you have changed.

Living set apart means living differently.  It is living with purpose, a daily purpose.  It is no longer just existing or going around in circles.  It is living in the life you now have.  It may be different than you had hoped or expected, but it is the life that is in front of you.  You have been set apart to live differently than the world.  Keep your focus on Jesus and move closer to Jesus.  Do not live in the expectations of others or society.  You have been set apart to live the life only you were designed to live. 

Experience the holy moments of life.  They are right in front of you if you open yourself up to new adventures and experiences.  These holy moments reveal to you that God is always with you.  God has the power to take your breath away and have you stand in awe.  Eagerly pursue the holy.

 ************************************************************************* 

I am available to your group, organization, retreat or event to speak on a variety of topics – Grief & Loss, Next Steps Into Life, Living Life with Joy, Anxiety & Worry, Foundations of Life, and many others that we can create together.

Just message me, and we can schedule

************************************************************************  

My Books are available through different venues

·       Tea Story in Upper Sandusky

·       Personally through me

·       Amazon

Living In The Different

          Live Different Moments

                     Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper

Check out my Newspaper Articles also on my Website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

Raising Your Ebenezer

“After this happened Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen.  He named the stone Ebenezer, saying, “The Lord has helped us to this point.”  I Samuel 7:12

We sat in our living room for several hours sharing memories from childhood and talked about the people in our lives during that time.  We laughed.  We asked questions.  We ate cookies and ice cream. We talked about cars, John Deere tractors, and first jobs.  My siblings, cousin and partners spent the afternoon remembering. Then we described our parents with memories to support our perspective.  When I asked how my siblings would describe our mom, my cousin immediately replied, “She was a sweetheart.”  Yes, she was.

My faith foundation was built through my mom and my Grandma (my dad’s mother).  My mom taught Sunday School, read her Bible, was a prayer warrior, and was a living testimony of Jesus.  She was known for her knowledge of the Bible, and she knew where to find something in the Scriptures.  Even her pastors would rely on her knowledge.  Her faith was strong, quiet, and it sustained her throughout life.  I so enjoyed over the years all my conversations with my mom about what a certain Scripture meant to her.  Being the youngest, I had the privilege of more one on one time with my mom after all my siblings left home and started their own lives.

As I have matured, I realize I have other traits and mannerisms that I have acquired from my mom – her love for baking and chocolate, her way of dealing with situations, her love for nature, the desire to read, and so many other pieces that fit into my foundation and make it strong. My mom has been an Ebenezer – a stone of help – throughout my life and even after her death.  She encouraged me through letters that I still possess and read from time to time.  Just knowing I have her tangible words in writing gives me hope and strength, and it makes me feel like she is with me.

My Mom’s knowledge was amazing.  She was my Google before Google was invented.  She was my “go to” person with all types of questions.  My mom was brilliant in her own humble, gentle way.  I still ask myself in many situations, “OK, mom, how do you do this?  What would you do?”

As I think about the foundation of life, it is built on faith in Jesus, trust, relationships, values and morals.  The spaces and cracks are filled in by Ebenezers – stones of help.  Who have been stones of help to you on your journey of life?  Some people come for a moment in our life to help us deal with a situation or give us guidance and teach us valuable lessons that we incorporate into our foundation.

When I meet with families to plan a funeral and to help them begin the process of sharing stories and memories, I ask, “What difference has your loved one made in your life?  What is their legacy for you?”  In essence, how have they built upon your foundation of life and been stones of help to you?  As we look back, we see the difference and when we look forward after time has passed, we recognize how they are still influencing our lives.

Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate our moms whether they are here on earth or in heaven.  My mom is living abundantly in Heaven with her Lord and Savior, Jesus.  Her love and influence continue to live in my life and heart.  She has been a stone of help to me.  Her faithfulness in writing to me during my college and seminary years and first years in ministry sustained me knowing I always had an encourager.  She lived her dream of college through me.  I was gifted with a wonderful mom who remains part of my foundation of life.

Stones of help guide us to certain points in our lives.  Look for stones along the way.  We all need help if we admit it.  God created us to be in relationships, and we need to reach out to others and be stones of help along their path too.  Recognize those who have helped you.  Give thanks for the stones.

Who are your Ebenezers – stones of help?  How can you be an Ebenezer to others?

 ************************************************************************** 

I am available to your group, organization, retreat or event to speak on a variety of topics – Grief & Loss, Next Steps Into Life, Living Life with Joy, Anxiety & Worry, Foundations of Life, and many others that we can create together.

Just message me, and we can schedule

***************************************************************************** 

My Books are available through different venues

·       Tea Story in Upper Sandusky

·       Personally through me

·       Amazon

Living In The Different

          Live Different Moments

                     Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper

Check out my Newspaper Articles also on my Website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

Raising Your Ebenezer

“After this happened Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen.  He named the stone Ebenezer, saying, “The Lord has helped us to this point.”  I Samuel 7:12

We sat in our living room for several hours sharing memories from childhood and talked about the people in our lives during that time.  We laughed.  We asked questions.  We ate cookies and ice cream. We talked about cars, John Deere tractors, and first jobs.  My siblings, cousin and partners spent the afternoon remembering. Then we described our parents with memories to support our perspective.  When I asked how my siblings would describe our mom, my cousin immediately replied, “She was a sweetheart.”  Yes, she was.

My faith foundation was built through my mom and my Grandma (my dad’s mother).  My mom taught Sunday School, read her Bible, was a prayer warrior, and was a living testimony of Jesus.  She was known for her knowledge of the Bible, and she knew where to find something in the Scriptures.  Even her pastors would rely on her knowledge.  Her faith was strong, quiet, and it sustained her throughout life.  I so enjoyed over the years all my conversations with my mom about what a certain Scripture meant to her.  Being the youngest, I had the privilege of more one on one time with my mom after all my siblings left home and started their own lives.

As I have matured, I realize I have other traits and mannerisms that I have acquired from my mom – her love for baking and chocolate, her way of dealing with situations, her love for nature, the desire to read, and so many other pieces that fit into my foundation and make it strong. My mom has been an Ebenezer – a stone of help – throughout my life and even after her death.  She encouraged me through letters that I still possess and read from time to time.  Just knowing I have her tangible words in writing gives me hope and strength, and it makes me feel like she is with me.

My Mom’s knowledge was amazing.  She was my Google before Google was invented.  She was my “go to” person with all types of questions.  My mom was brilliant in her own humble, gentle way.  I still ask myself in many situations, “OK, mom, how do you do this?  What would you do?”

As I think about the foundation of life, it is built on faith in Jesus, trust, relationships, values and morals.  The spaces and cracks are filled in by Ebenezers – stones of help.  Who have been stones of help to you on your journey of life?  Some people come for a moment in our life to help us deal with a situation or give us guidance and teach us valuable lessons that we incorporate into our foundation.

When I meet with families to plan a funeral and to help them begin the process of sharing stories and memories, I ask, “What difference has your loved one made in your life?  What is their legacy for you?”  In essence, how have they built upon your foundation of life and been stones of help to you?  As we look back, we see the difference and when we look forward after time has passed, we recognize how they are still influencing our lives.

Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate our moms whether they are here on earth or in heaven.  My mom is living abundantly in Heaven with her Lord and Savior, Jesus.  Her love and influence continue to live in my life and heart.  She has been a stone of help to me.  Her faithfulness in writing to me during my college and seminary years and first years in ministry sustained me knowing I always had an encourager.  She lived her dream of college through me.  I was gifted with a wonderful mom who remains part of my foundation of life.

Stones of help guide us to certain points in our lives.  Look for stones along the way.  We all need help if we admit it.  God created us to be in relationships, and we need to reach out to others and be stones of help along their path too.  Recognize those who have helped you.  Give thanks for the stones.

Who are your Ebenezers – stones of help?  How can you be an Ebenezer to others?

 *************************************************************************** 

I am available to your group, organization, retreat or event to speak on a variety of topics – Grief & Loss, Next Steps Into Life, Living Life with Joy, Anxiety & Worry, Foundations of Life, and many others that we can create together.

Just message me, and we can schedule

 ****************************************************************** 

My Books are available through different venues

·       Tea Story in Upper Sandusky

·       Personally through me

·       Amazon

Living In The Different

          Live Different Moments

                     Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper

Check out my Newspaper Articles also on my Website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

Making The Most of It

“Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity.” Ephesians 5:15-16

My day was all scheduled, and I thought I was following God’s purpose by counseling that day. Then it all changed. Clients canceled for a variety of reasons. I was disappointed because I already had the day planned to serve God through counseling. My thoughts were focused on counseling. I had lost my purpose. Now what? At first, I was discouraged that I could not fulfill my plan and purpose, but the day was not lost. I just had to pause, pray, change my focus, and allow God to reveal to me my new tasks and purpose for the day.

I had to change directions in my thought process. I thought I knew my purpose for the day, but it was canceled. Just because what I had planned fell apart, the day still had purpose and meaning. I was able to accept the different focus and change directions. I let go of the ministry that defined me that day and enjoyed the beauty of God’s creation by planting some flowers and shrubs, taking a walk at a local park, reading, and being refreshed in a different way and purpose.

I could have stayed in the irritation of clients cancelling and wallowed in the negativity all day. But I made the most of my situation and saw the new opportunities in front of me. Do you make the most of your situation even when it becomes not what you had expected or planned? Life is only predictable in its unpredictability. Life happens. Changes occur. Diagnoses leave you speechless. Life throws you a curve ball when you had a straight and direct plan.

Make the most of it. Yes, easier said than done. We like our plans and having control of situations. It rains on days we had outdoor plans, and people cancel appointments and events. So what do you have now in front of you? God gives you other opportunities in the unexpected and unpredicted. We can sulk and be upset and allow it to ruin our mood and day. It does not mean we have to like what happened, but we cannot change it. The only thing we can change is our reaction to it.

Make the most of each day you are given. It is fully utilizing your gifts, abilities, your resources, and your opportunities around you. It is experiencing the day to its full potential. For example, it is making the most of your vacation – relax, take in the experience instead of worrying about what happens next, and live in the moment. It is not thinking about what you are going back to or working on vacation. It is leaving it behind and enjoying the possibilities.

Make the most of the life you have been given. Do not just exist but actually live. You may have experienced the loss of a spouse, the loss of a loved one, pain, trauma, hurt, or are dealing with a disease or diagnosis and you are struggling with the emotions and chaos that it has brought to your life. I am sorry for what you are going through. You cannot change the past or pretend it did not happen or stay stuck in the hurt. This is the life you have now. It is finding ways each day to live and experience moments of hope and life. You begin with what is in front of you and take steps forward. You have a foundation of love underneath you to hold you up. It is being grateful for what you have and not focus on what you lost.

Let’s go in another direction with this idea. Do you make the most of every opportunity to share your faith, to share words of encouragement, to connect with others who are struggling? We have opportunities to share love and hope with others, but we do not take the time, or we put it off until it is too late. You hear that someone you know lost a spouse or received a difficult diagnosis, and you have the opportunity to make the phone call or reach out in some way just to let them know they are in your thoughts and prayers. We may think it will not matter to them or you even question if you will be bothering them. Do it. It makes a difference.

Make the most of each day God has given you. It may not be what you planned or expected, but it is what you have. Live in the freedom you have. Live in the blessings you possess. Give each moment, each day a chance.

****************************************************************************

I am available to your group, organization, retreat or event to speak on a variety of topics – Grief & Loss, Next Steps Into Life, Living Life with Joy, Anxiety & Worry, Foundations of Life, and many others that we can create together.

Just message me, and we can schedule

**************************************************************************

My Books are available through different venues

• Tea Story in Upper Sandusky

• Personally through me

• Amazon

Living In The Different

Live Different Moments

Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper

Check out my Newspaper Articles also on my Website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

Who Goes With You?

“When you have the opportunity to help anyone, we should do it. But we should give special attention to those who are in the family of believers.” Galatians 6:10

This month has been filled with relationships that began in past seasons of my life. I have made visits in nursing homes, had lunch with friends of all ages, and shared conversations that were filled with emotions and depth. Life is about relationships. Some people we connect with for a season, and other people stay in our lives through different seasons. I believe there are just a handful of people with whom we share the depth of our heart and soul with true honesty without fear of judgment.

As I have moved throughout my adult life because of ministry changes or relationship changes, I have connected quickly with people and enjoyed the fellowship with the family of believers. It has been a joy to serve in churches and to counsel with people through the crises of life. These connections are part of my foundation of life and faith. I am grateful for the experience and their willingness to share life with me. They do not continue with me on my path of life, but it does not mean they are not important to me. If our paths cross again, the connection would still be there.

But there are people that go with us for a lifetime. I am not sure how we choose them or even if we actually make a conscious decision to keep them. We bring them from the past into the present and know that as long as we are both on this earth, we will walk beside each other. Recently, I have had seven friends with whom this bond is permanent. Four of them have been like adopted parents to me, and as they live into their nineties, I know our time together is limited. I value their wisdom, their love, and our heart connection. They share with me what they do not speak even with their biological children.

In the other three friendships, I am walking with them through an unknown journey and together we are finding our way through the jungle of life. They each come from different seasons of my life, but they have always gone with me. Why? It is because we communicate on a heart and faith level. It is a level that contains no judgment, only acceptance and a desire to be present for each other. Sometimes other people perceive them as having it all together and able to handle whatever comes into life because of their position or perceived depth of spiritual maturity. It is therefore difficult for them to share their struggles with some of their friends.

So, who goes with you? We know people. We interact with people. We may even have meals and conversations about easy topics like the weather, sports, food, vacations, and family. We love them and value their friendship. But when it comes to sharing our pain, hurts, struggles, and fears, very few people draw close enough to hear our hearts. When you find someone who truly hears your soul without judgment and allows you to just share without trying to fix or control, you keep them, and they go with you into all your seasons and chapters of life.

Josh Turner recorded the song, “Would You Go with Me?” Here are a few lines of the song –

“Would you go with me if we rolled down streets of fire? Would you hold on to me tighter as the summer sun got higher? If we roll from town to town and never shut it down. Would you go with me if we were lost in fields of clover? Would we walk even closer until the trip was over? And would it be okay if I didn’t know the way?”

The song was written as a romantic song asking their love interest to join them on a journey through the experiences of life. But for me, the song helps me to ponder who I would want to go with me through the experiences of life and be there for me even when I did not know the way. Whatever your struggles in life – grief, change, crisis, disease – who do you want to go with you through it? Yes, I know God is with me through everything. I rely on God to be my support, my rock, my strength, and to walk with me through every storm of life. I also, believe that God works through others. When friends allow the Holy Spirit to use them and speak through them, that friend is the person we want to be with us. Many times, we hear God speak to us through friends who are walking close to Jesus.

I discovered that this friend may not be the one you expected to be there for you. God connects the unexpected because God knows who we need. It may not be the person you share daily life with or even around the most, but it is someone you share your heart and soul with who loves you for who you are and the one you trust to listen and speak the truth to you when needed. It does not matter the age or stage of life; it is about the heart and soul. Live close to those who understand you and step into your struggle and walk with you.

So, who goes with you?

***************************************************************************

I am available to your group, organization, retreat or event to speak on a variety of topics – Grief & Loss, Next Steps Into Life, Living Life with Joy, Anxiety & Worry, Foundations of Life, and many others that we can create together.

Just message me, and we can schedule

My Books are available through different venues

• Tea Story in Upper Sandusky

• Personally through me

• Amazon

Living In The Different

Live Different Moments

Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper

Check out my Newspaper Articles also on my Website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

Who Goes With You?

“When you have the opportunity to help anyone, we should do it. But we should give special attention to those who are in the family of believers.” Galatians 6:10

This month has been filled with relationships that began in past seasons of my life. I have made visits in nursing homes, had lunch with friends of all ages, and shared conversations that were filled with emotions and depth. Life is about relationships. Some people we connect with for a season, and other people stay in our lives through different seasons. I believe there are just a handful of people with whom we share the depth of our heart and soul with true honesty without fear of judgment.

As I have moved throughout my adult life because of ministry changes or relationship changes, I have connected quickly with people and enjoyed the fellowship with the family of believers. It has been a joy to serve in churches and to counsel with people through the crises of life. These connections are part of my foundation of life and faith. I am grateful for the experience and their willingness to share life with me. They do not continue with me on my path of life, but it does not mean they are not important to me. If our paths cross again, the connection would still be there.

But there are people that go with us for a lifetime. I am not sure how we choose them or even if we actually make a conscious decision to keep them. We bring them from the past into the present and know that as long as we are both on this earth, we will walk beside each other. Recently, I have had seven friends with whom this bond is permanent. Four of them have been like adopted parents to me, and as they live into their nineties, I know our time together is limited. I value their wisdom, their love, and our heart connection. They share with me what they do not speak even with their biological children.

In the other three friendships, I am walking with them through an unknown journey and together we are finding our way through the jungle of life. They each come from different seasons of my life, but they have always gone with me. Why? It is because we communicate on a heart and faith level. It is a level that contains no judgment, only acceptance and a desire to be present for each other. Sometimes other people perceive them as having it all together and able to handle whatever comes into life because of their position or perceived depth of spiritual maturity. It is therefore difficult for them to share their struggles with some of their friends.

So, who goes with you? We know people. We interact with people. We may even have meals and conversations about easy topics like the weather, sports, food, vacations, and family. We love them and value their friendship. But when it comes to sharing our pain, hurts, struggles, and fears, very few people draw close enough to hear our hearts. When you find someone who truly hears your soul without judgment and allows you to just share without trying to fix or control, you keep them, and they go with you into all your seasons and chapters of life.

Josh Turner recorded the song, “Would You Go with Me?” Here are a few lines of the song –

“Would you go with me if we rolled down streets of fire? Would you hold on to me tighter as the summer sun got higher? If we roll from town to town and never shut it down. Would you go with me if we were lost in fields of clover? Would we walk even closer until the trip was over? And would it be okay if I didn’t know the way?”

The song was written as a romantic song asking their love interest to join them on a journey through the experiences of life. But for me, the song helps me to ponder who I would want to go with me through the experiences of life and be there for me even when I did not know the way. Whatever your struggles in life – grief, change, crisis, disease – who do you want to go with you through it? Yes, I know God is with me through everything. I rely on God to be my support, my rock, my strength, and to walk with me through every storm of life. I also, believe that God works through others. When friends allow the Holy Spirit to use them and speak through them, that friend is the person we want to be with us. Many times, we hear God speak to us through friends who are walking close to Jesus.

I discovered that this friend may not be the one you expected to be there for you. God connects the unexpected because God knows who we need. It may not be the person you share daily life with or even around the most, but it is someone you share your heart and soul with who loves you for who you are and the one you trust to listen and speak the truth to you when needed. It does not matter the age or stage of life; it is about the heart and soul. Live close to those who understand you and step into your struggle and walk with you.

So, who goes with you?

I am available to your group, organization, retreat or event to speak on a variety of topics – Grief & Loss, Next Steps Into Life, Living Life with Joy, Anxiety & Worry, Foundations of Life, and many others that we can create together.

Just message me, and we can schedule

My Books are available through different venues

• Tea Story in Upper Sandusky

• Personally through me

• Amazon

Living In The Different

Live Different Moments

Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper

Check out my Newspaper Articles also on my Website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

What Just Happened?

“The angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid. I know that you are looking for Jesus, who has been crucified. He is not here. He has risen from the dead as he said he would. Come and see.” Matthew 28:5-6

He went to the hospital for a routine test and got through it fine. He went home, became ill and ended up in the emergency room still feeling groggy from the original test. More tests were administered, and an infection and other complications were found. It was at this point that the surgeon entered the room stating he had a team ready to operate. What? All of this happened so quickly and now he had to make a decision between an immediate surgery or wait to see if the antibiotics would work. He was trying to navigate the unknown and make a decision without fully understanding nor being able to completely focus.

We have all been at this point some time in our lives. Life seems to be going along fine, and then, Wham! Life changed. We ask ourselves, “What just happened?” Life changes without warning, and we stare at what occurred trying to figure out what to do next. You may have experienced a death or loss and have been navigating through the grief and trying to adjust to this different life, and you feel like you are moving forward in life. Then, it hits you and you just feel like you are falling apart and have no control. What just happened?

No matter how much you prepare for the unexpected, you cannot prepare for everything, and life will just happen. Accidents, medical issues, emotional triggers, and even making someone irritated just happens without reason or cause. You first feel shock and numbness and sometimes it feels like you are in a fog, daze or a nightmare. You thought you had it together and were proactive in planning for life situations, but sometimes we are just blind-sided and get knocked down.

It occurs in every situation of life, especially in relationships. You think all is going well, and then the person becomes silent and does not talk to you or answer your texts or calls. You are enjoying the day together you thought, and then you get an attitude from your friend. What just happened?

You could add to my examples, but you get the point. Life is filled with times we just stop and say, “What just happened?” “How do I navigate this unknown?” First, I have learned to cry out, “Jesus, come. I need you now.” I turn to my foundation, my faith, and sometimes your faith needs to come through a trusted friend because you cannot focus. You cannot think straight or even be rational and need someone to talk you through who is grounded especially in a crisis situation. When it involves medical decisions, you need someone with you to hear what you are trying to comprehend from the doctor. It is difficult to listen when fear and anxiety take hold.

I have been reading the Gospel accounts of Holy Week – from Palm Sunday to Resurrection Sunday. The disciples had to be in shock saying, “What just happened?” especially as they gathered together after the death of Jesus. Everything they thought they believed about Jesus being the Messiah was challenged with Jesus’ death. They believed an earthly kingdom was going to happened but now Jesus was dead. What are they going to do and believe now? The women go to the tomb to weep on Sunday morning, but an angel tells them Jesus is not here. Jesus is alive. What just happened?

Things happen so quickly for the disciples, the women, and for us. Our minds cannot comprehend or process how it all fits together. We ask the “why” question and what do you do now when your world is turned upside down. Many times you have never experienced what just happened so you cannot rely on your past. Other times, you go to what you did when something similar happened either to yourself or someone else.

Sometimes, you just have to step back, pause, take a deep breath, re-group your thoughts, pray, and say, “OK, God, let’s navigate through these waters together.” Do not let anxiety and fear control you. Yes, you will be in a heightened emotional state, but God has more power than your anxiety and fear. Trust Him.

Other times, you just have to wait it out and be patient. Let people have their needed space. Let go of your control and need to be right. Let the medicine work. You do not have to put everything together and plan how everyone will deal with it. Remind yourself, you just need to deal with what is in front of you. Just one step at a time.

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My Books are available through different venues

• Tea Story in Upper Sandusky

• Personally through me

• Amazon

Living In The Different

Live Different Moments

Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper

Check out my Newspaper Articles also on my Website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

Turning Toward

“Jesus said to her, “Mary.” Mary turned toward Jesus and said in the Jewish language, “Rabboni.” (This means Teacher.) John 20:16

I have been the speaker at the Community Senior Luncheons this month and was asked to share about stress since it is Stress Awareness month. This past Tuesday, Bonnie responded, “When I am stressed, I eat desserts because if you spell stressed backward it is “desserts.” It is true for many people, when stress, worry, anxiety, or fear enter their thoughts, they attempt to stuff it down with food, mainly sweets or unhealthy snacks. People turn to something external to deal with these feelings. What do you turn toward?

We tend to turn toward many options in this world when faced with challenges, pain, loss, and changes. We seek comfort, guidance, and support. Some choices are only ways to escape the pain and heartache for a short period of time, but it does not bring hope and healing. Life may feel heavy and dark at times with no light to turn toward to guide our path.

Recently I was at Lake Erie and discovered the statue of the “Lightkeepers” at the Port Clinton lighthouse. The Lightkeepers’ purpose was to guide boats in the dark of the night to find the shore, to prevent accidents, and to ensure the light was always on. The light was a guide toward safety. What light are you going toward in life?

Life can feel uncertain and scary when we have experienced changes and losses. Maybe the person who has been your guide and light in life is no longer here with you. You may feel lost trying to find your way in this different life without your lightkeeper. Maybe the darkness of fear and stress has you turning toward worry. You do not know what to do and it feels like life is not what you planned or hoped. So, you just turn inward and circle your thoughts constantly in worry and fear.

Easter hope calls us to turn toward Jesus. Mary Magdelene on Resurrection morning went to the tomb of Jesus to weep. Mary had gone inward with her grief and fear. She discovered the stone of Jesus’ tomb was rolled away from the entrance, and the body of Jesus was gone. Jesus then appeared to her, but she did not recognize him until Jesus spoke her name and Mary turned toward Jesus.

In our grief and sadness, sometimes it is difficult to feel and see Jesus with us through the darkness of our pain. Jesus calls your name. He speaks to your heart and calls you and me to turn toward him in our sadness and hurt. Are you turning to the light of Jesus in every situation of your life? Easter reminds us of this hope that Jesus is alive and with us. We are never alone. Jesus will take our stress, worry, fears, and losses and carry the burden. Jesus lightens our load. We just need to keep turning toward Him. Jesus is our lightkeeper guiding us through the rough waters of life.

Unfortunately, it is easy to get lost in the darkness of the world and pile on the stress and worries even in the hope that Easter brings. Easter reminds us to refocus our lives to the One who is the light of the world, Jesus. Jesus brings hope, a hope of a hope. You are not alone. Change your focus from your stress and worries to Jesus who brings light and hope and the assurance He will walk with you. Turn your eyes on Jesus!

O soul, are you weary and troubled?

No light in the darkness you see?

There’s light for a look at the Savior,

And life more abundant and free.

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.

My Books are available through different venues

• Tea Story in Upper Sandusky

• Personally through me

• Amazon

Living In The Different

Live Different Moments

Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper

Check out my Newspaper Articles also on my Website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

Absolutely Positutely

“God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life.” John 3:16

I had a very enjoyable day this past week doing what I love – making visits with people who have been a part of my life and need some extra support and compassion. One of the happiest people was my dear friend, Sue, who has dementia. I brought her chocolate chips cookies that she immediately consumed. We sang and listened to the old hymns of faith. When I talked about Jesus, Sue cried tears of joy knowing that one day she will see Jesus’ face and hug Him. Her joy of Heaven brought me to tears too. Oh, how she loves Jesus. Sue was filled with joy and smiles with the songs of worship, cookies, and companionship.

I felt totally in the moment and everything in life was good and light. She had given me the gift of joy. I came to brighten her day, and she brought sunshine and hope to mine. Sue’s favorite words to say when she agrees with something completely is – “Absolutely Positutely.” She said, “It makes people smile. You like my word?” Yes, I do.

Sue has no doubt that God loves her, and that God will take her to Heaven. “It would be wonderful to go see Jesus. Most best thing in the world, Absolutely Positutely.” She was positive and sure. Jesus loves her and Heaven is real even in her dementia. What are you “Absolutely Positutely” sure about in your life?

We tend to focus on the negative aspects of life that we know will happen. Life is not fair. Bad things happen to good people. Those we love will die. You cannot trust people. You will get hurt. People will always have something negative to say. I always mess up. Nobody is in control. And the list is endless.

When our thoughts continue down this negative path, it feeds our anxiety, depression, and view of ourselves. I agree that life is not fair, and bad things happen and people we love die. I cannot deny these truths, but there are many “absolutely postitutely” truths that we can focus on in our lives. I am not denying that we live in a fallen and broken world and evil, sin, and negativity are all around us. But focusing on the negative steals any hope and joy we have.

I may not agree with decisions being made around me nor the leadership, but I know I can pray and release everything to God who is in control. I believe God is in control even when it does not look like it. The absolute truth is God is power, strength, knowledge, justice, love, and grace. God is present with each one of us. God loves you. God sent Jesus to earth to die for our sins. Jesus was resurrected and gives to you and me the hope of Heaven. Heaven is real, and we, like Sue, who love and believe in Him, will live forever in Heaven. God is with us through his Holy Spirit.

Yes, there are many absolute truths about our world – gravity, fundamental math facts, water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius, the earth is round. Something absolute is true in all situations. There are numerous scientific and philosophical facts that are absolutely true. I have mentioned a few here. My focus is what truths are you building your life upon? What are your foundational truths that are guiding your path in life?

Yes, life is hard and challenging and difficult and different in this season of life. Life is also beautiful and fulfilling and joyful and filled with adventures. It depends upon your perspective. Are you negative or positive? Are you focusing on all that has gone wrong and all that you are required to accomplish? Yes, life comes with expectations and necessary tasks. Focus on what is good in your life. Change your thought focus. Paul tells us in Philippians 4:8 – “Think about things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected.”

I am choosing, like Sue, to be positive and filled with joy even in the midst of the pain and heartache of life. Sue is dealing with a disease that takes away the reality of who she is and what she remembers. But Sue remembers Jesus and knows Jesus lives in her heart. I am not denying the trials of her family in dealing with the disease, but in the moments I spent with her, Jesus was our focus.

What if we choose to focus on Jesus not the negatives of the world? Instead of complaining and raising our anxiety and fear, we prayed and released it to the Absolute God. When life gets overwhelming and filled with fear, we need to remind ourselves, “God, you love me and are with me. You tell me not to be afraid but to trust you.”

I’m going to be positive and focus on being grateful. To give thanks for those who have come before me and whose love never dies and lives on within me. I am going to release control to God. Absolutely Positutely!!!

My Books are available through different venues

• Tea Story in Upper Sandusky

• Personally through me

• Amazon

Living In The Different

Live Different Moments

Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper

Check out my Newspaper Articles also on my Website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

Hope Even In Reality

“And this hope will never disappoint us, because God has poured out his love to fill our hearts.” Romans 5:5

We gathered to remember and celebrate the life of a high school classmate. We stood together to represent our entire class. His parents were burying their second son. Our hearts ached for his parents. That is not the natural order of life. The pastor shared words of hope. He shared Psalm 23 reminding all of us how God is our Shepherd who guides us through the valley of the shadow of death. We prayed together and heard the words of the hope of Heaven. The reality as we stood beside the casket was that our classmate was physically gone from our sight.

After the service, we stood and talked and remembered our time together in high school. We remembered Kevin and our shared experiences. In these memories, hope was restored even in the reality of loss. We remembered his intelligence and talents, and his quirky personality. He had made a difference in our high school years and therefore, he had a purpose in life. It made his classmates ponder life and the brevity of it. Where is our hope today?

It is difficult to live in hope when we experience death and loss and change. Life is not what we expected or hoped it would be. We tend to focus on what we want life to be and become disappointed and even angry when God’s plan does not match our plan. We see no hope for our lives in death and loss. Yes, we accept there is hope for the one who leaves this world and enters the hope of heaven. But our lives can feel hopeless and empty. So how do we live in hope now even in the reality of present life without just focusing on Heaven?

I am finding that when hope is dependent only on how I feel and my circumstances, hope is not alive. I am disappointed and not able to sustain the hope on my own. I mess up and fail and my feelings get hurt and others frustrate me. I lose focus. I believe some of you can relate to this view of life. You want to live in hope and focus beyond the hurt and pain, but it seems overwhelming and impossible. Your heart is broken, and hope feels like it is just pretending everything is fine.

Hope is more than your feelings and your circumstances. Hope is trust and believing the foundation of your life will sustain you in every situation in life. Your heart may feel empty and broken, but living in the reality of hope now is when God fills your heart with His love. You do not have to understand why life has happened as it has; you just need to trust God is still with you in it. Even when your situation does not change, you can still live in hope. It is based not on you and your outward circumstances but is based on God’s love that is within you even when you do not feel the love. It is present.

Hope is present. When I truly relax in God’s presence – truly just be, I can release the world view of myself and my life. God has no expectations of performance or conditions of love. I am loved because of who God is. I am hopeful in my present state because God just loves me for me. Hope is fulfilled because of God not because of me. My reality may not change. Death still happened, but hope is present because God is present with you.

Hope in our current situation involves a focus change. Hope is the trust that even if I cannot see the good in my circumstances, God is still with me and still loves me. When I focus on just breathing in God’s Spirit and not the anxiety, fear and worry that is around me, hope is present. Hope in my reality includes a release from the confines of this world’s view of myself and my own expectations. It is releasing my view that God’s love and peace has conditions and performance expectations. This is not true.

Hope is truly believing God just loves me now and that whatever happens, God is in control and God has me. This is not being naïve or putting your head in the sand. It is not allowing the world to take away your present hope. Hope is what sustains you and keeps you from spiraling down the hole of negativity and depression.

Live in the hope that God is with you right now. That you do not have to figure it all out or even know what to do right now. Live in the hope that it is OK to be who you are and trust God has you.

Hope even in your present reality.

My Books are available through different venues

• Tea Story in Upper Sandusky

• Personally through me

• Amazon

Living In The Different

Live Different Moments

Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper

Check out my Newspaper Articles also on my Website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

So What Am I Suppose To Do Now?

“God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.” Ephesian 2:10

He called. He was frustrated and did not know how to handle the situation. He wanted to control it, but he knew that it was not his to control. He did not have the patience or the words to talk through it. He knew that this was my area of knowledge and experience. So, I went, and I had the conversation. I was using the gifts God has given to me. I believe I was doing and currently am trying to do what God has planned for me to live my life doing. I have come to the acceptance that I am not the one making the plan, I am following God’s plan for my life. I am doing what I am supposed to be doing right now even when I wonder if it is enough and am I discerning God’s plan.

You may be wondering who you are now and what your life is supposed to look like. God made you what you are. God created you with your uniqueness and given you gifts and purpose. In each season or stage of living, your life and purpose will look different. Your life has valleys and struggles along with the joys and adventures. It is a mixture. It is learning from all of it and allowing God to use it for His purpose.

Right now, you may feel you are barely hanging on. You are just existing because of the loss, change, pain, hurt, or challenges of life. God has a plan for you even where you are. Remember, you are God’s child. In these times, God has a plan for you – hold on to hope and hold on to His hand. God’s plan for you is some self-care right now. That may not seem to be enough, but God knows you need to strengthen your foundation and acceptance of life beginning with taking care of the one God loves – that’s you. Start with the basics – take a shower, eat something healthy, make your bed, do some movement, go outside and look up.

Maybe you are in the depths of grief and loss. God’s plan for you right now is to grieve and allow yourself to feel whatever you feel. It is beginning to change your focus from the depth of loss to becoming grateful for the relationship and the foundation of love. It is focusing on the blessings of your loved one in your life. God’s plan for you right now is to rest and to give yourself permission to grieve and heal.

Sometimes the good work God has planned for us is to take care of ourselves. To just be His child. God wants us to surrender to Him and allow Him to guide us and give us strength for each day. We try to figure out life on our own and to earn favor with God. Because we are God’s child, God has wonderful plans for our lives to live fully and abundantly sharing in His love and grace. Sometimes God wants us to abide with Him. Just be and not focus on performance.

If you feel you are beginning to move forward into a new season of life, but you do not know the direction or path to take, then wait and listen. This is part of discernment. We may create a plan and desire to be busy and work for God and His purpose. But we usually define for ourselves what must be our purpose without waiting for God’s leading. We created a plan and ask God to bless it. We feel compelled to constantly be busy and always say “yes” to opportunities or even try to create ways to do more. Believing if an opportunity arises, it is what God wants for me.

I am learning to wait and listen. I ask, “God, is this from you? Is this what You have for me today?” The closer we stay to Jesus, the more we know and hear the whisper of God. For instance, I was cleaning and preparing to bake cookies to give away, when the phone rang. I answered and heard the overwhelming anxiety in her voice. I knew this was God’s plan for me today to come to her aid and just walk beside her. I listened to the inner voice of God speak to me. This was what I was supposed to do. The other activities could wait.

What are you supposed to do now? Slow down. Listen. Trust Jesus and get closer to Him. Ask God what He has for you today. Live in front of you. Stay active and not busy. Busy is fueled by anxiety and worry and fear that you are not doing enough. Active involves listening and resting and being and experiencing life.

“God, what do you have for me today?”

My Books are available through different venues

• Tea Story in Upper Sandusky

• Personally through me

• Amazon

Living In The Different

Live Different Moments

Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper

Check out my Newspaper Articles also on my Website – www.livinginthedifferent.com