AWE NUTS!!!

 

Awe nuts!!  The squirrels at my daughters house in Toledo are crazy.  They feed them nuts right out of their hands.  At a certain time every day the squirrels run down the tree and either stand by the front door or the perch themselves in a small tree that looks right into their home.  They chatter and chatter and chatter until someone gives them some peanuts.  It's actually quite entertaining, especially for their little yorkie names Molly.  The funny thing to me is that these wild animals have been trained to expect the peanuts.   They know that inside that house somebody loves them enough to give them special treats.  They have a confidence and faith that my daughter and her family will supply their needs. 

These squirrels do nothing to earn these nuts, except maybe look cute and adorable, they have not earned them by working or doing anything nice for my daughters family.  If this family of mine can take care of these squirrels the way they do, why do we doubt that God will take care of us?  Why do we question what God is doing, or not doing in this world?  Why do we worry about our present circumstance?  Why do we even begin to speculate whether there is a God or not?

We doubt, we fear, we question, we worry...why?  Does any of our doubts, fears, questions or worries do us any good?  What good does it do to live life this way?  It destroys our health and causes us so much stress.  We can be so overwhelmed and consumed by these things that we fail to live the life we have been given.  These emotions age us not only internally but externally.  I have seen the worry lines on peoples faces, I've heard the despair and doubt, I've listened to the fear.  It's heart wrenching.  The enemy wants us to continue to live this way.  He wants us overwhelmed and consumed by worry and dread.  He is happy when we live in fear and doubt.  

Listen I am not going sit here on my high horse and say I have never dealt with these emotions.  I have.  I battle with these emotions on a daily basis.  I am not going to ever question anyone's faith in God because I have not walked in your shoes.  BUT GOD...He has a plan to work all things out for our good.  No matter what your circumstances are right now...BUT GOD!  No matter how devastating it may look right now...BUT GOD!  

When I find myself worrying or doubting or being afraid, I turn to God not my emotions.  I allow Him to speak to me, I allow Him to point me in the right direction and I trust that He will work it all out for my good.  It may not be the way I wanted it to be or what I expected, BUT GOD knows me better than I know myself.  He is my best friend and He has never let me down.  He has always taken care of me in ways I never dreamed possible.  

I Surrender!!! I have never done anything to earn His grace and mercy.  I have never done anything to earn His love.  It is given freely to all who believe in His Only Son, Jesus Christ.  So today I am challenging all of us to surrender all our cares and worries, doubts and fears to God.  Right now!  Surrender!    

STORMY WEATHER

 Spring and summer in Michigan mean storms.  Last week was crazy busy.  Babysitting our 3 youngest grandchildren, kindergarten graduation, dance class and T-ball made it even more exciting.  We were driving home from the graduation when these storm clouds appeared.  Driving down an old country road, the wind was crazy strong and these clouds were just looming over the countryside.  The photos do not do justice to seeing them in person.  It was amazing.  It was powerful.  It was exciting.  Yes I said exciting.  You see I have seen photos of these types of clouds before but seeing them in person was breathtaking.  Witnessing the power of this storm seriously made me double think about the power of our God.

God is more powerful than we can even begin to comprehend.  I understand He created this world we live in in 6 days but to witness His power and His creativity is something I love to experience.  I know for some of you God's power may seem frightening, but for me it inspires me and draws me closer to Him.  Listen I've said it before and I'll say it again, I know I'm weird.  Or I should say unique.  While many people, believers and non believers alike, fear God's power especially in a storm, I enjoy witnessing His power n display.  The other night was a prime example.  A thunderstorm was coming our way about 10 o'clock at night.  It was dark out and the wind was still, yet the smell of rain was obvious.  I sat in our screened in porch and watched as the lightning danced across the sky in a vivid display of God's power and creativity.  It was awesome.  While this was going on I listened to worship music and actually praised Him in the storm. 

Yes for me, worship happens everywhere not just in a church building.  Yes, for me worship happens not just in the good times but in the bad times as well.  In fact I get my most comfort when I praise Him in the stormy times of my life.  When all my hoe seems lost, when I have no where else to turn, when the situation I face becomes more than I can handle, I listen to worship music.  During this storm I surrendered my life, my heart and my family once again to God.  Because of my faith in belief in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, I have faith that even in the darkest storm, God is with me.  I pray, I surrender and I give all my stormy situations to the one who created me, the only one who can change the situation and my circumstances.

God calms the storms in my life.   While I don't always like them, okay et me clarify, I don't ever like the storms in my life.  I'd rather breeze through life with no complications, no storms, no twists or turns.  But I do not draw close to Him when life is a piece of cake.  I don't need Him when everything is going my way.  That is why God allows the storms in my life, and yours...to grow you and to draw you closer to Him.  It is only through the storms that I realize and remember how powerful my God is.  I am so grateful for the lessons I have learned through the storms in my life.  I am so thankful that I have a powerful God who loves me more than I can ever begin to comprehend.  If you don't know this God I'm talking about, please message me.  You don't know what you're missing out on.

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED

I absolutely love to travel.  I love to get in the car and just drive.  I grew up going on vacations and driving for days.  My dad drove us out to California twice.  I've driven down to Florida quite a few times.  Jerry and I have driven out to Arizona to see my mom numerous times.  Some people wonder why I'd drive 4 days instead of flying in 4 hours.  Well I've seen a lot of the beautiful country by car that I would have never seen from an airplane.  Oh I like to fly also, but there is something about driving that just touches my heart.  For me driving is an adventure.  I never know what I'll see or who I will come across in my journey.  The journey, the adventure, the excitement for me comes when I take the road less traveled.

Oh sure the highways are amazing to drive on but the real adventure begins when we get off the highway and journey onto a country road.  All around this country there are roads that lead to stunning beauty.  Cliffs, mountains, water falls, rivers and streams, desert vistas and lakes and oceans, most of these beautiful scenery cannot be seen on the main highway, you have to get off the main drag and venture onto the road less traveled.

The path we take to our final destination will determine our experience.  It will determine our future and whether it will be a stunningly beautiful adventure or a normal, everyday experience.  Oh don't get me wrong sometimes the highway is the easiest and fastest route to take, and it may be the wisest in many peoples eyes, but is it the best for you?  The easiest and fastest path is not always the best,  It can be filled with chaos, road rage, traffic tie ups and road construction.  Oh that path may be more efficient and it usually is a very straight path with very few twists and turns, but is it the best?   Really?   

For me I'd rather choose the narrow road, the road less traveled because it leads to an adventure that is stunningly beautiful.  While it may be filled with potholes, twists and turns, it may have hills and valleys to go through but oh it is so much more fun.  While traveling on this narrow path I have a guide that leads me into some wild areas that reveal and amazing adventure I would have missed if I had taken the wide highway.  But I will warn you, the path I am on is not always easy.  It has it's challenges.  People don't always understand why I decided this path.  People may avoid me because I have chosen the narrow path.  People may criticize me for taking this path, but this path has given me so many rewards.  

While I may have lost friends, I have never lost my God.  While I may have family members who think I'm weird (I am and that's okay), I have my Jesus who has accepted me into His family.  While I post things on social media that no ones really cares to read, I have the Holy Spirit that continues to guide me in ways I never dreamed possible.  Because of this path I am on, I have a peace that surpasses all human understanding even in the midst of chaos.  By accepting Jesus Christ as my personal Savior, by taking the road less traveled, I know my final destination is secure...eternity in heaven.  Can you say the same thing?  Are you sure?  If not please feel free to contact me privately.  Please consider taking a turn down the road less traveled, the rewards far out weigh anything you've ever experienced.            

I'VE GOT YOU IN MY SIGHTS

 

Last night while I was taking a walk I came upon this beautiful deer.  Usually if I come across a deer when I am walking they instantly run away.  But this one didn't move.  In fact it's sort of funny.  Let me go back a few steps here.  I do not like walking by myself.  It makes me uncomfortable, especially when I walk by the woods in our neighborhood.  I picture a skunk or an angry raccoon.  But last night God challenged me.  I knew Jerry would go with me if I asked but he had other stuff to do and I just felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to go alone, so I did.  Then half way through I came across this deer.  As I spotted him I instantly slowed down and took out my phone for a photo.  No every other time I've tried to do this, the deer run and scatter.  But not this one.  He kept his eyes on me the whole time but he wasn't afraid.  It was like he was saying, "It's okay God sent me here to let you know He's always with you on your walk.  You are never alone."

Wow!!  That truth still rings in my ears and in my heart today.  This deer had me in his sights just like God does.  It makes me think of all of you who are struggling right now with fears or doubts.  God's got you in His sights!  You are never alone!  I know it's hard when there are trials and storms in our lives.  Whether it's a devastating loss of a loved one, a bad medical diagnosis, a financial crisis or just and emotional chaos....God's got you in His sights.  When you feel alone, He is there.  When you feel lost, He is guiding you.  When you are afraid, He is your fortress.  When you are sick, He is your healer.  When you are sad, He is your comforter.  

On my journey in life there have been many times I have felt lost.  There have been times I felt God had been silent.  There have been times I felt alone and afraid, but He always sends me a reminder that He is with me even if I don't realize it.  I am so grateful for the simple gift of this deer last night.  It may seem coincidental, it may seem illogical to some, but for me this deer was a sign from God.  I cling to these precious signs from above because they are a gift to me.  

What signs are you missing?  What or who is God placing right before your eyes, or even standing in the middle of the path you are on that you are missing?  For years I missed the gifts in front of me because I was caught up in "religion".  I didn't understand the truth about the relationship I could have with God through the blood of Jesus Christ.  He was with me all along my journey from "religion" to relationship.  I can talk with Him daily, or minute by minute, but He also talks with me.  He sees me, He hears me, He knows me, He loves me.  We sit down and talk together quite often and I cherish those times.  For me I won't answer the question, "What religion are you?" because that's not what it's about.  It's a relationship with the Holy Trinity that encompasses every aspect of my life.