My daughter has had braces on her teeth for a couple years. Recently, the Orthodontist let us know that a stubborn tooth was refusing to move down and come out, so they wanted to go in and expose it with surgery. Of course, I didn't want to have to get this done - no surgery is without possible complications. So...
I prayed.
I asked God to please allow that tooth to move into it's normal place so we did not have to resort to the surgery. Amen.
However, like the good Mom that I am (or maybe I should say the woman who struggles with faith) - I went ahead and kept the pre-op appointment, and scheduled a day for surgery - hoping and praying that I would not have to keep it.
This weekend, my daughter make a passing comment while we were watching TV...hmm she said - I think I feel something, I wonder if it's that tooth coming through.
Today, we met with her Orthodontist to have him look at it - and sure enough - it's THE tooth - the one we have been waiting and praying for. It has not only moved, but is beginning to peak out.
We get to cancel the surgery date and I am so excited to proclaim that God answered my prayer. Why? I don't know. Why he chose this one to answer and not some of the other ones that I have begged for? I don't know.
All I do know is that he answered this one, and for that I am so thankful.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Walking the Walk...
I am so excited about an upcoming event. It's not until January - but I am still excited. Our church will be participating in our City's Prayer Walk. Churches from around our city, all denominations, will be taking one or more mile segments that surround our City, and on January 6th we will be walking and praying.
How awesome is that?!?
This will be something that will be in my heart from today till the event, praying for God's love to be shown to the community, for a uniting flame to be lit between denominations, and for God's heart to be made manifest to those in this City.
Short post, but sweet! I will be posting more as we progress to this date!
Monday, September 10, 2012
Life beginning to focus...
As I continue down a path to bring me closer to God, life does not stop and wait for me to get there. Wouldn't that be so nice if it did? If you could say, OK - I have identified where I need to be - now if everything around me could just freeze for a moment while I get there - that would be just awesome!
Come on, I know I am not the only one who thinks like this.
However, life does not stop. The things we did yesterday, last week, last month, last year - - they are still with us. Sometimes blurring the lines of reality as we continue on our journey.
We find ourselves squinting to try to make out the directions, the map...but still feel tired and unsure.
Then, just when we are about to give up hope...it happens...
You see it...a little at first then it begins to get clearer and clearer and before you know it you see it again.
You notice that not everything in your life has been brought into focus, just a little. But it gives you the energy, the inertia, the desire to continue on.
You can start to make out the word, then you remember what is was that has brought you this far.
Hope in things not yet seen, in things not yet known.
You may doubt yourself, your ability, even your motives at time. But, when you focus on God all of those things become clear.
This, I need to always remember. The only time this becomes blurred is when I travel too far away from him. If i keep focus on God...you will be able to handle the things that our out of focus in your life.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Faith and the little things...
With my mind swirling constantly of late due to the many things that have to be done, paid for, completed, followed up on, and basically just done over the next month...I find it hard to settle down and just focus. I feel like I am constantly going every direction - all day - every day.
It's hard to wind down at night and I find myself talking myself into bed at Midnight - just because I know its late - not because I am sleepy.
Yesterday, in a usual rush - I stuck a $10 bill in my pocket. I usually do not put money in my pockets - but yesterday for some reason - I did.
Later that morning, I put my hand in my pocket and realized - hey I still have $10 in here. I thought to myself that I should put it in my purse - however my purse was in my office - and I was not.
The rest of the morning was a blur. Meetings, Phone Calls, Expense Reports, Travel Arrangements - you name it.
At lunch, I decided I wanted to go down to the Quick Trip on the corner and get a big Iced Tea! Great Idea!
It was election day here yesterday for various primaries in our state. The parking lot was very busy, because they have a poling place here at our church on voting days.
As I made my way to my car - I noticed all the different people coming in & going out of the polling place.
I arrived at Quick Trip, got my drink and proceeded to the counter. At that point I realized that I never put my $10 in purse - so I reached into my pocket to retrieve the money.
It was at that point I realized - - - It was not there.
I checked my other pockets, my purse, my wallet - - nope not there.
I handed my debit card to the cashier, got my drink and went back to my car - all the while thinking about where that money may be.
Checked my car - No. Got back to the office - checked my office, around the floor, in the bathroom - basically retraced my steps for the morning. Nothing.
As I sat down at my desk, a thought popped in my mind. Finish, and trace your steps to your car.
I remember thinking -well that's silly - if I dropped it outside - its gone.
But, I kept thinking to try. So, I got up. Walked downstairs. Opened the door and looked at the parking lot. I didn't see anything. Im sure it's not there.
Then I thought...just go - walk towards your parking place.
So, I did.
To my utter amazement. There it was. Laying on the ground about 10 feet from the entrance to the building.
How many people have walked right by this! I was shocked - I picked it up and walked back to my office.
Was that God? I thought to myself? Was it?
Did he keep it there, hide it even so no one else saw it?
Was that him prodding me to go down and look? Even though I thought it was a silly waste of time, because there was NO way it would still be there.
I believe it was. I believe he was showing me he cares about the little things. He does. To me, I think He has better things to do than to worry about my lost $10 - however he is God! He is saying - I can do ALL thinks - I am never overwhelmed, too busy to care for my children.
Thank you God for showing me your love, care and reinforcing in me the fact that nothing is too big - - or too small for you!
It's hard to wind down at night and I find myself talking myself into bed at Midnight - just because I know its late - not because I am sleepy.
Yesterday, in a usual rush - I stuck a $10 bill in my pocket. I usually do not put money in my pockets - but yesterday for some reason - I did.
Later that morning, I put my hand in my pocket and realized - hey I still have $10 in here. I thought to myself that I should put it in my purse - however my purse was in my office - and I was not.
The rest of the morning was a blur. Meetings, Phone Calls, Expense Reports, Travel Arrangements - you name it.
At lunch, I decided I wanted to go down to the Quick Trip on the corner and get a big Iced Tea! Great Idea!
It was election day here yesterday for various primaries in our state. The parking lot was very busy, because they have a poling place here at our church on voting days.
As I made my way to my car - I noticed all the different people coming in & going out of the polling place.
I arrived at Quick Trip, got my drink and proceeded to the counter. At that point I realized that I never put my $10 in purse - so I reached into my pocket to retrieve the money.
It was at that point I realized - - - It was not there.
I checked my other pockets, my purse, my wallet - - nope not there.
I handed my debit card to the cashier, got my drink and went back to my car - all the while thinking about where that money may be.
Checked my car - No. Got back to the office - checked my office, around the floor, in the bathroom - basically retraced my steps for the morning. Nothing.
As I sat down at my desk, a thought popped in my mind. Finish, and trace your steps to your car.
I remember thinking -well that's silly - if I dropped it outside - its gone.
But, I kept thinking to try. So, I got up. Walked downstairs. Opened the door and looked at the parking lot. I didn't see anything. Im sure it's not there.
Then I thought...just go - walk towards your parking place.
So, I did.
To my utter amazement. There it was. Laying on the ground about 10 feet from the entrance to the building.
How many people have walked right by this! I was shocked - I picked it up and walked back to my office.
Was that God? I thought to myself? Was it?
Did he keep it there, hide it even so no one else saw it?
Was that him prodding me to go down and look? Even though I thought it was a silly waste of time, because there was NO way it would still be there.
I believe it was. I believe he was showing me he cares about the little things. He does. To me, I think He has better things to do than to worry about my lost $10 - however he is God! He is saying - I can do ALL thinks - I am never overwhelmed, too busy to care for my children.
Thank you God for showing me your love, care and reinforcing in me the fact that nothing is too big - - or too small for you!
"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34
Monday, August 27, 2012
The woman in the picture
Last week we had a team building day. It was fun, and I enjoyed it a lot. However, when the pictures surfaces on Facebook...well that was hard.
Who was that woman standing there? I recognized her face, but not her body. It was so large, so oafish... it was me.
The human mind is a complex and scary thing. It can take a 100 lb woman and make her feel like she is obese, and it can take a woman who is way overweight and make her feel ok...
For the most part, when I look into the mirror I do not see this large woman. However, if I glance at my reflection in a store mirror or shinny window...the image always disturbs me.
I have 'talked' about losing weight for years. However, I continue in the same habits that have gotten me where I am now.
I have tried all kinds of diets and exercise to no avail. I do not lose weight, then get busy with life and forget to prep food - get hungry - and reach for whatever is available to me.
What it boils down to is the horrible lack of self-discipline. Honestly that's it.
So, staring at that picture of Facebook...of me...of that person...that shell...I had enough.
My knees have been begging me to lose it, my hips have been begging me as well. My body slowly but surely lacking the mobility it once had. Simply snuggling up on the couch and tucking my legs beneath me is a chore - and will always result in my legs falling asleep.
My clothes just get tighter and tighter - something needs to give.
As I read through my own blog, I find a post back in April of this year.. 'When Subtle Doesn't Work', and I am shocked that I have let 4 months pass without doing much of anything. Quite embarrassing honestly. And, to be totally transparent - I did attempt to get going then. I did the good grocery shopping and bought the right stuff - however preparation fell short and the cookies in the break-room called - and I answered.
Excuse, excuse - I know.
All I can say is - I need to pick myself up - jump back on the wagon - and give it a go.
Questions for any of you who read this. Weight Loss? What has worked for you? Any tips/tricks encouragement from those who have been where I am now - is greatly appreciated!
Who was that woman standing there? I recognized her face, but not her body. It was so large, so oafish... it was me.
The human mind is a complex and scary thing. It can take a 100 lb woman and make her feel like she is obese, and it can take a woman who is way overweight and make her feel ok...
For the most part, when I look into the mirror I do not see this large woman. However, if I glance at my reflection in a store mirror or shinny window...the image always disturbs me.
I have 'talked' about losing weight for years. However, I continue in the same habits that have gotten me where I am now.
I have tried all kinds of diets and exercise to no avail. I do not lose weight, then get busy with life and forget to prep food - get hungry - and reach for whatever is available to me.
What it boils down to is the horrible lack of self-discipline. Honestly that's it.
So, staring at that picture of Facebook...of me...of that person...that shell...I had enough.
My knees have been begging me to lose it, my hips have been begging me as well. My body slowly but surely lacking the mobility it once had. Simply snuggling up on the couch and tucking my legs beneath me is a chore - and will always result in my legs falling asleep.
My clothes just get tighter and tighter - something needs to give.
As I read through my own blog, I find a post back in April of this year.. 'When Subtle Doesn't Work', and I am shocked that I have let 4 months pass without doing much of anything. Quite embarrassing honestly. And, to be totally transparent - I did attempt to get going then. I did the good grocery shopping and bought the right stuff - however preparation fell short and the cookies in the break-room called - and I answered.
Excuse, excuse - I know.
All I can say is - I need to pick myself up - jump back on the wagon - and give it a go.
Questions for any of you who read this. Weight Loss? What has worked for you? Any tips/tricks encouragement from those who have been where I am now - is greatly appreciated!
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
Thursday, August 23, 2012
The Ripple Effect...
Our lives spill into each other - really that is unavoidable. The ripple effect happens in all of our lives.
When it first happens, or when we are close to the center it is the worst. As time goes on the waters begin to settle - not quite back to how they were before...things may never be the same as they were before.
We find that we were carried a bit from the inertia of the ripple. We look around to see that we did not end up exactly how or where we started when the event first took place and the waters in our lives were disturbed.
Sometimes, we end up in a better place - a place where we didn't even know we wanted to be - until we were there.
Other times it is very bitter sweet. We miss where we were. We loved it there. We lost innocence, trust, security...all things that can easily be disturbed.
Sometimes, when we think we have finally began to feel like our lives are resembling some kind of normalcy - the waters are disturbed once again.
Sometimes by things we do, and sometimes by things done by others - totally outside of our control.
We had a bit of that happen in our family last night.
Someone we had not seen in a long time. Someone who violently disturbed the waters of our family. Someone who - not out of the intention to hurt - but simply so wrapped up in themselves - caused ripple effect in our family that touched each and every one of us.
What do you do? The feelings that rush back... The emotions that are stirred that had just finally settled...
You pray. Pray that God will someday at some point reach this person. Pray that the bitterness they have will be touched by the hand of God and his love.
This is important - however one of the most difficult things I have had to learn to do.
Pray - Just - Pray.
I use to think of it as a weak response, a cop out of sorts.
Then I realized how much strength that requires.
So, this morning as I type this - I ask God to calm the waters in my life. In my husband's life. In my daughters life, and in my son's life.
I ask God to speak to my family in love, remove blinders we may have to see his plan.
Learn to be quiet and listen for God's voice.
Exhale, and learn to ride the wave until the waters once again begin to still.
When it first happens, or when we are close to the center it is the worst. As time goes on the waters begin to settle - not quite back to how they were before...things may never be the same as they were before.
We find that we were carried a bit from the inertia of the ripple. We look around to see that we did not end up exactly how or where we started when the event first took place and the waters in our lives were disturbed.
Sometimes, we end up in a better place - a place where we didn't even know we wanted to be - until we were there.
Other times it is very bitter sweet. We miss where we were. We loved it there. We lost innocence, trust, security...all things that can easily be disturbed.
Sometimes, when we think we have finally began to feel like our lives are resembling some kind of normalcy - the waters are disturbed once again.
Sometimes by things we do, and sometimes by things done by others - totally outside of our control.
We had a bit of that happen in our family last night.
Someone we had not seen in a long time. Someone who violently disturbed the waters of our family. Someone who - not out of the intention to hurt - but simply so wrapped up in themselves - caused ripple effect in our family that touched each and every one of us.
What do you do? The feelings that rush back... The emotions that are stirred that had just finally settled...
You pray. Pray that God will someday at some point reach this person. Pray that the bitterness they have will be touched by the hand of God and his love.
This is important - however one of the most difficult things I have had to learn to do.
Pray - Just - Pray.
I use to think of it as a weak response, a cop out of sorts.
Then I realized how much strength that requires.
So, this morning as I type this - I ask God to calm the waters in my life. In my husband's life. In my daughters life, and in my son's life.
I ask God to speak to my family in love, remove blinders we may have to see his plan.
Learn to be quiet and listen for God's voice.
Exhale, and learn to ride the wave until the waters once again begin to still.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Fall-ing...
September 22nd. That is the first day of fall for 2012. Now, I live in Arizona - for those of you who do not know - we do not have four seasons as depicted on most calendars and cards. I grew up here, so thinking about fall the way the rest of the country does - was strange for me. However, once you live there - in that world - where leaves turn amazing colors and fall to the ground...you will never be the same.
So, here I am back in Arizona. Changes in my live over the past 5 years have brought me out of the cold corporate culture of ladder climbing and social pursuit - and into the amazement of what is God's world.
I could so easily spend hours upon hours, days upon days, regretting everything I let slip away - the years of focus that was misspent. The moments I will never get back, because they are gone. The things my religion of Work robbed me of - and I willfully and with enthusiasm let it.
If I do that though, I lose more. At some point you need to acknowledge the things you have done wrong, ask forgiveness from those you hurt along the way, and then make that step over the boundary of your comfort zone to live different. You have to make the choice to not spend one more day wasting your precious life on regretting the past or not trying each and every day to live your life to your fullest potential.
This point was brought to the forefront this morning when I got to work and I received the news that someone in our congregation had passed away in an accident last night. I was not close to this person, I knew them and their family - however - that moment of realization again - of how each moment of our life may be our last. He went out to run an errand, and was struck by a reckless driver. He never came home. His family, wife, children... In a literal instant...everyone's reality was altered.
My deepest prayers go out to this family, as does the prayers of so many.
No moment should go by without thought. No time should be ignored. No petty thing should take our focus off of the amazing gift of life we have been given.
This month, as we close out this season and prepare to enter another one. I will allow myself to fall in love with it. I will allow myself to look around my world and appreciate the oh so subtle way our surroundings will make a quiet transformation from one season to another.
Hold on to the ones that I love. Find ways to spend precious moments with them. Special ways to make memories that will last long before this season of my life has passed.
So, here I am back in Arizona. Changes in my live over the past 5 years have brought me out of the cold corporate culture of ladder climbing and social pursuit - and into the amazement of what is God's world.
I could so easily spend hours upon hours, days upon days, regretting everything I let slip away - the years of focus that was misspent. The moments I will never get back, because they are gone. The things my religion of Work robbed me of - and I willfully and with enthusiasm let it.
If I do that though, I lose more. At some point you need to acknowledge the things you have done wrong, ask forgiveness from those you hurt along the way, and then make that step over the boundary of your comfort zone to live different. You have to make the choice to not spend one more day wasting your precious life on regretting the past or not trying each and every day to live your life to your fullest potential.
This point was brought to the forefront this morning when I got to work and I received the news that someone in our congregation had passed away in an accident last night. I was not close to this person, I knew them and their family - however - that moment of realization again - of how each moment of our life may be our last. He went out to run an errand, and was struck by a reckless driver. He never came home. His family, wife, children... In a literal instant...everyone's reality was altered.
My deepest prayers go out to this family, as does the prayers of so many.
No moment should go by without thought. No time should be ignored. No petty thing should take our focus off of the amazing gift of life we have been given.
This month, as we close out this season and prepare to enter another one. I will allow myself to fall in love with it. I will allow myself to look around my world and appreciate the oh so subtle way our surroundings will make a quiet transformation from one season to another.
Hold on to the ones that I love. Find ways to spend precious moments with them. Special ways to make memories that will last long before this season of my life has passed.
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