God Controls the Storm

A dear friend just sent me a text asking me to pray for safety as she drove through a fierce hailstorm. Immediately God gave me a vision of His Mammoth Hands stretched over her vehicle. The hail bounced off his closed fingers but every so often, He'd split two and some hailstones rained down. Then, He closed His fingers again.

Moral: God controls how much storm hits us. Nothing passes through His fingers without His knowledge. Period and amen.

God's Heart

Why did God call David, a man after my own heart? David, the adulterer, conniver, murderer? Because David's whole being was consumed with desire to be with God, in God's presence. David fled to God, sins and all, because he trusted God. He knew God. He loved God with his whole being.

I've observed countless teens treat their parents like discarded potato peelings, yet in a crisis go running to them. Why? Because the kids understand relationship. They know that they know that Mom and Dad are Mom and Dad no matter what stupidity the kid acts out.

David understood relationship. He knew that he knew that the Almighty Father loved him ... no matter what. Isn't it interesting that David begs God not to remove His Holy Spirit in Psalm 51 - the famed "prayer of repentance"? So, can we conclude that God's spirit rested on him before he repented? It appears that way.

After years of worrying whether I "please" God or not, I now rest in relationship. He is my Papa and I am his daughter. I may stumble, fall, do stupid things, but I cannot sever that relationship. My heart rests in Him and who He is, not in me and what I may do, or fail to do.

My soul pants after You, O God. My inner being thirsts for God, for the Living God: when will I come and appear before God? Psalm 42:2,3

How Much of God Do You Want?

Many years ago, a very wise woman spoke those words to me: How much of God do you want? Do I want a God to forgive my sins? I've got it. Do I want a God who rescues me from hell? I've got it. Do I want a God who will take me to heaven someday? I've got it.

Is that all there is to life? Just get my sins forgiven and hope for heaven someday? Do I only live in the past of sins forgiven and the future of going to heaven?

What about the present? What about NOW? Jesus didn't talk about "going to heaven." He talked about bringing the Kingdom of God to earth. He talked about eternal life. Is eternal life merely "going to heaven?"

Eternal life is more, so much more. Eternal life is the life of God IN me. I need God NOW. I need his presence NOW. If he's in hell... I'll go to hell to find him. If he's in heaven, I'll go to heaven to seek him out. If he's on earth... I will search the ends of the earth to find him.

I can't rest in the past of 'sins forgiven' and hope for the future of 'going to heaven.' I gotta have God, NOW. Give me JESUS. He prayed, "Your kingdom COME TO EARTH as it is in heaven. Bring me Jesus. I need him NOW.

Inconvenient Events - God's Opportunity

Yesterday my router stopped working, only hours before a scheduled interview for a writing job. Panic nipped at my heart. I sent a text to trusted warriors to pray and called my interviewee to let him know of the issues.

A dear friend stepped forward and offered her house. I dashed over and set up my computer, speakers, microphone and voice recorder with minutes to spare.

This morning I got online for two minutes and again, the router kicked me off. I have another interview, so I trotted back to my friend's house and set up again.

My friend met me at the door, spiritually worn out. Then she left to do a show in an Alzheimer long term facility.

Inconvenience and physical exhaustion had zapped us both. So, what to do? I went to YouTube and put on a Bethel Church worship service. Time to blast the demons from the house and our lives.

So maybe the router went out because God had a job for me to do.  Just trying to flow in the Holy Spirit.

God's way is perfect. Always!!

The Other Side

       My cousin faces overwhelming obstacles. Have you ever been there? Pushed to the point of absolute, engulfing despair?
       I have.
       My heart bleeds for my cousin.
       BUT!
       I am now on the other side. I KNOW the goodness of my Papa God. I KNOW the absolute, unchanging love of my Papa God. I KNOW the unfailing faithfulness of my Papa God.
       My heart bleeds for my cousin BUT I anticipate her journey to THE OTHER SIDE


       I will praise you in the storm
       I will lift my hands
       You are who you are
       No matter where I am
       Every tear I cry
       You hold in your hand
       Though my heart is torn
       I will praise you in the storm.
                         Casting Crowns



Only a person who's been there can write such words. I know my Papa God loves my cousin every bit as much as he loves me and HE WILL SEE HER THROUGH THE STORM. God Rocks!!

I'm Alive

I awakened this morning to discover I'm still alive. Jet lag truly exists! I spent all of yesterday lolling in bed, watching inane shows, playing card games on my computer, eating and napping - especially the latter!! Couldn't find energy to do anything. This morning I awakened before 8 am, dragged all the dirty laundry to the machines and got started. I will leave today or tomorrow to drive to Florida to help my brothers dispense with our mother's vast accumulation of stuff. She frequented Goodwill on a regular basis. I should have bought some stock in the company for what she bought and donated over 70 years!! People ask why I am not in mourning over Mom's passing. The truth is, I am still rejoicing in the perfection of God's timing. Mom's mind remained razor sharp to the end and she died exactly as she wished - surrounded by her treasures. Mom's body was giving out, joint-by-joint, and serious decisions as to how and where she'd live loomed on the near horizon. God took care of all that and took her home. She is now pain-free and probably in search of the closest heavenly Goodwill! *grin* God's timing remains perfect. I rest in that.

Crap Happens - God wins

I returned from my 4th trip to Germany yesterday. The enemy robbed me of biological children. God gave me kids through hosting exchange students. My mom died while I was in Germany. Those who know me best, know that Mom and I had a rocky relationship for many years. The last year of her life was filled with forgiveness, love, reunion. God made sure I was surrounded by families who have known and loved me for years when Mom graduated to heaven. Bottom line: Crap happens, but God wins. I've got kids and families who love me and I got my mom back. God rocks!