HELP I'M STUCK

"Help I've fallen and I can't get up."  Thanksgiving weekend my youngest grandson was playing in this draw in the kitchen.  It's the one draw in my kitchen that he is allowed full access.  There is plastic bowls, cups and plates all to entertain him.  He walks n the front door and instantly heads for this drawer.  To him it's a treasure chest filled with wonderful surprises, to me it's something to keep him occupied so he won't open the other draws.  Sometimes it works well, other times he still tries to investigate all the other cupboards.  Thanksgiving weekend he discovered a new way to enjoy this draw, he sat in it.  The only problem was he couldn't exactly figure out how to get out.  He was stuck.

How many times in our lives have we felt stuck?  Stuck in the past with memories that haunt us?  Stuck in a dead end job with no hope for a future?  Stuck in the consequences of our decisions?  Stuck in pain of choices?  Our minds can be filled with regrets and lost dreams.  We feel hopeless and alone like my grandson here in this picture.  So often we here people say, "You got yourself into this mess, you get yourself out of it."  While this can be true and these periods of being stuck can be a great learning tool, this saying doesn't help those who are where they are at no fault of their own.  They didn't choose to be stuck, they didn't decide to end up stuck.  They walked a path that no one should have to walk and it was not their choice.

There have been times in my life where I have felt stuck, if we're being honest we all have felt stuck one time or another.  Most of these times where of my own choosing.  Then again some were not.  When my parents moved to Arizona, that was not my choice or my decision yet I felt stuck because of their choice.  I was "stuck in the muck" for 25 years.  That was a terrible place for me to live. Their choice affected me and just like many others out there in this world, other peoples decisions and choices can affect us and put us in a place where we feel stuck.  

1 Corinthians 7:20-22 (The Message)  Stay where you were when God called your name.  Were you a slave?  Slavery is no roadblock to obeying and believing.  I don't mean you're stuck and can't leave.  If you have a chance at freedom, go ahead and take it.  I'm simply trying to point out that under your new Master you're going to experience a marvelous freedom you would never have dreamed of.  On the other hand, if you were free when Christ called you, you'll experience a delightful "enslavement to God" you would never have dreamed of.  

The thing I've learned on this adventure through life with Jesus Christ is that I do not have to remain stuck.  Learn and move on.  Grow and be free.  Give it all to God.  When I feel stuck now days, I give it to God.  I ask Him what I need to learn during this time.  I ask Him to point out my fears and failings.  I ask Him to help me forgive those whose choices made me feel like I was stuck.  I asked Him to forgive me for getting myself and others stuck because of my choices.  The other thing I've learned is that no matter how stuck I may feel, there is always one who will pull me out of the muck.  There is one who is always ready with His 

4-wheel drive and a tow chain, or maybe just a helping hand.  

If you feel stuck today, turn to Jesus Christ.  He is always there ready to lift you up ad pull you out of the muck you're stuck in.  He's not afraid to get dirty and He's not afraid to dig down deep.      

  

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

 A few weeks ago I flew out to Arizona to visit with my mom.  As I was flying I looked out my window and saw this amazing scene.  The clouds, the sunshine, the airplane soaring through the sky; I was mesmerized by the beauty that spoke to me as I gazed into the sheer beauty of the sky I was flying through.  I instantly was reminded of this verse from scripture,

Psalm 19:1  The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.

You know there are so many times we take the simple things in life for granted.  Oh we thank God for the extraordinary, out of this world miracles, we thank Him for open doors that propel us to a new level of success at work, we thank Him for healing, we thank Him for all the big things in life, but do we thank Him for the everyday things we take for granted?  Oxygen?  Clean water to drink?  Electricity?  A roof over our heads?  Health?  Sight?  Hearing?  Walking?  Our job?  Rain?  Clothes to wear?  Food to eat?  A bed to lay our weary heads at night?  How about thanking Him for the sunshine?  The stars?  The moon?  The universe?  Okay here's a real challenging one....ready?  How often do we thank Him for the challenges in our lives, the storms, the trials that test our faith?  

Yes I said thank Him for the tough times in our lives.  It is only through those tough times that I have learned so much about myself and His faithfulness.  It's only during those hard times that I have grown in my faith.  Those times have propelled me to a new level of faith and a increased season of blessings that still amaze me.  Although those times are hard I have come to appreciate them because for me it means that God is going to trust me with more blessings and more favor.   Mind you He doesn't cause any of these hard times, I'm usually the cause of my own troubles with the help of a little red horned devil.  But He will use those difficulties to shape me to be more like Him.  

If everything in my life was a piece of cake, and everything was filled with sunshine and roses, I wouldn't need God.  As a parent we have to allow our children to make mistakes and face the consequences of their decisions.  That's the only way they learn.  Well if God is our Heavenly Father, why wouldn't He do the same thing for us?  I can imagine the smirk on His face sometimes when we make the decisions we make. He probably shakes His head in disbelief at our choices.  But He never abandons us, He never lets go of us and He'll always be there to pick up the pieces when we fall.  

Today, and every day...let's give Thanks to God for all the blessings and all the trials in our lives.     

Ephesians 5:20 Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Abba Father...today I give You all thanks ad all praise for being who You are.  You are the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.  You have been, You always are  and You always will be.  Apart from You there is no God.  I thank You for all the blessings in my life.  I thank You for all the trials and storms that have taught me so many valuable lessons.  You are amazing God.  Thank You for Grace and salvation in the name of Jesus Christ.

WHY???

I stare at these roses and it takes me back to Arizona, back to my mom's home, back to where the sun shines every day and the weather is warmer than it is here.  These roses are beautiful.  I took this picture the first of November.  This picture proves a very powerful point for me; that even those every plant here in Michigan is going into hibernation mode, even though my flowers look dead and every tree is losing it's leaves, somewhere else in the world there are places where the flowers are just starting to blossom and trees still have their leaves.  In other words for me today, right now in this moment....there is hope!

It's been a rough week for me personally.  A family member is going through some health issues and my momma bear heart is wondering why?  The helplessness can be overwhelming, I'm not a doctor or a nurse, I'm just a mom who wants here kids to all be happy and healthy.  When some illness throws a monkey wrench in my plans, it hearts my heart.  I don't want to see anyone in pain, especially not one of my loved ones.  As days drag on and no answers are found my mind begins to feel doubt creeping in like a thick fog.   My heart begins to ache and tears run down my face as the question keeps spinning in my mind...why????

My ladies prayer group this week was interrupted by 2 phone calls and a series of texts, "I'm in the ER."  My heart sank, my head fell to the table and tears poured out my eyes.  "There's still pain, no relief, nothing's better."  Instantly my prayer warrior friends surrounded me with prayers and support that was so comforting.  Even though I was prayed over and have been continuously prayed over during this time, I was still filled with doubt and fear.  What if? Why? My heart raced to the hospital before I could get there physically.  Doubt and fear, hopelessness and helplessness, frustration and yes even a little anger are just a few of the emotions I have been trying to deal with.

Then I heard a still, small voice whisper..."I've got this.  Everything will be fine.  Trust in me.  Rely on me."  Seriously?  I write this as a believer in the God who created the universe by speaking it into existence.  God, my heavenly daddy is all powerful, everlasting King of kings and Lord of lords.  He parted the Red Sea, He calms the storms, He moves mountains and raises the dead to life.  My question then begins to take a different turn...Why am I filled with doubt and fear???  My God is an awesome God!!!  There is no reason for me to doubt or fear.  It is in my human, sinful nature, but I cling to this truth today....The same God who raised Jesus from the grave, lives inside of me through His Holy Spirit.  The power of God is with me and lives in me.  I'm okay!  I don't need t doubt or worry or fear.  He's got the whole world in His hands and that includes me and you.

Matthew 14:31  Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him.  "You of little faith," He said, "why did you doubt?"

IT'S TIME

I'm sorry I haven't been writing.  It has honestly been a huge struggle for me.  The last few years my mind has been distracted, my heart has felt sort of empty so writing this blog just didn't work for me.  I've felt sort of lost when it came to writing.  Words still managed to come out of my mouth, but to put them in writing seemed impossible.  I can't explain it and I can't excuse it.  God has been telling me too keep writing but I just couldn't or maybe I should be honest with myself and say I just didn't want to.  Maybe I should call it "burn out" or laziness or disobedience.  Either way I have been struggling to write, but here I am right now, writing.  

I can make a list of excuses but it doesn't change the fact that I have disobeyed God's whispers.  It's not the first time I disobeyed God and I know I'm not alone.  I am a sinner in a fallen and broken world.   It really makes me mad at myself because I feel like I've been wasting time, but maybe I've got the wrong attitude.  Could it be that God decided to use my disobedience to teach me something?  Of course!!!   God has a sense of humor, especially when it comes to me.  He chooses to allow me to learn at my own expense, which is rather a genius move on His part.  There is nothing He needs to do except sit back and watch me be my own worst enemy.  

It's sort of funny as I'm sitting here writing I am starting to laugh at myself and the absolute hilarious way God tries to get my attention.  He has spoken to me through a dear friend who challenges me to listen and obey, He speaks to me through my pastor who challenges me to keep growing and learning to be a better disciple, He speaks to me through dreams and visions.  Although I have tried to ignore these whispers, which at times seemed like I was being hit by a 2x4 across my head, I couldn't ignore them any longer.  So here I am doing my thing and writing again.  I'd say "Wish me luck" but I don't need luck.  I need grace and mercy and forgiveness.  I need more of Jesus.

Honestly I haven't read my Bible in long time.  I keep walking past my desk and thinking, "maybe later" or "maybe tomorrow".  Why????  Why do I do that?  The Bible is the best love letter ever written and it was written with me in mind.  While some women feel the need to  read romance novels, I don't need to because the Bible is a romance novel from the God of the universe.  I need to stop walking by the book that changed my life, my heart, my mind, my words and my eternity.  Oh boy is God dealing with me right now.  My heart is longing for His Word, His truth, His love letter.  Let's be honest, who doesn't like a great love letter?  I know I do and I'm assuming you do too!

It's been great writing to you again.  When I started this earlier, I didn't think I'd be able to finish it, but I did!!!  I feel more energized than I have in a long time.  Thank you for your patience with me and allowing me to open my heart to you.