A few days ago, my mother who just turned 96 years young, had her annual health check up and also had her pacemaker checked for its battery life. She called and with excitement in her voice, she announced, "Missy, the Dr. says I have 9 years left on my pacemaker battery." Then she continued, "My cousin called the other day and she is 103...so I may not be going anywhere for a while." (Note-this is her second pacemaker. The first one was a 1991 model and they assured it would last but she outlived that one, so she is now cruising on with her second pacemaker. She truly reminds me of the bunny on the Energizer battery commercial!)
One morning while having our coffee date and devotions Gloria became very emotional and tearfully shared, "Honey, I don't know what's coming ahead, but I feel God is telling us to 'gird up and hold tight to me'." She then continued, "Larry, I feel like we are going to face some real challenges and trials; we are going to need all of Jesus to go through this...not just us, but everybody. Our faith is on trial and is going to be tested. We will need to hold tight to God, to each other, and to consistently encourage one another.
Needless to say, it was rough on our schedule, but we continued to trust in God. We prayed and ask God, "Now what?" We felt God lay on our hearts to "GO and FIND hurting and discouraged people (this is not hard to do) and minister hope and encouragement to them." It happened! It has truly been an exciting time of just being at the right place at the right time with God's chosen people.
What concerns me the most is the longer I serve God, walk with God, and the deeper my relationship grows with Him - do I carry a likeness of Him, a resemblance of His character? When people meet me do they associate my smile, my talk, my actions and integrity with my spiritual mate, Jesus Christ?
Family Reunions...reconnecting, searching and desiring to know about our origin and our family roots.
Life is too short to live with regrets of past hurts and words left unspoken. By choosing to not forgive, we are the ones who live on "Bitterness Boulevard". Anger will soon steal our joy, peace and purpose in life. I know; I was there!
If you are going through a troubled time of discouragement, low self-worth, or trials, I encourage you to begin to praise God for His faithfulness to you. He will remain faithful to you until the end. Thank Him for each morning that you are able to awaken in your own home, put your feet on the floor, take a step, and breathe without the assistance of an oxygen tank.
After 44 years on the road, having traveled hundreds of thousands of miles, God certainly has commissioned His angels to watch over us.
As directed, I put on my life jacket, delicately stepped into the canoe as he issued a string of commands, "Don't rock it…don't try to get up and walk…don't move…just sit still and you'll be fin! Just trust me!" Yes, those final words were to settle me down and remove all my fears so I could enjoy the trip. Larry carefully observed me sitting like a cement statue per his instructions. He started to shove the canoe from the shore. My heart was beating faster; both excitement and fear had me poised to explode, but then I remembered Larry's words of comfort, "Trust me," which calmed me.
I don't know about you… maybe you experience the same thing. As I look ahead, I can only look so far as it is too much to handle in one glance. I've learned to live one day at a time and to ask God for strength and guidance for that day…and then the next, and the next! I've had to learn to do as the Scripture commands and what my dear Mother reminds me to do over and over again, "Cast all your cares upon Him, for He careth for you."