Somewhere over the course of my lifetime it dawned on me that life is a journey. I am heading to a destination, drawing closer and closer every day. Back in the '60s someone started singing about stopping and smelling the flowers along the way.
I am totally loathe to admit that I remember the '60s, but I was a very sad and quiet little child who soaked in everything I heard or saw like a sponge . . . keeping it inside until just the right time. I have a ton of useless information stashed in my brain, and some good stuff too! I can still vividly remember things from when I was a tot in my high chair . . . but I digress . . . as usual . . .
Okay, stop and smell the flowers. Good advice. Take time to enjoy life along the journey, and realize that it is during the ordinaries of every day that many of life's most meaningful moments - our most memorable moments - the ones we talk about years later as we stand around eating potato salad at a funeral - occur during the ordinariness of every day.
God is in the ordinariness of the every day. Little glimpses. Ordinary moments.
Sometime back in the early spring of this year I began to sense that God was going to move me from point A to point B. I wondered how this was going to occur since I had lived in the same city for twenty-some years, was happily working for myself, owned my dream home, was deeply rooted into my church, and enjoyed the camaraderie of a great many friends and acquaintances. If you have read my past blogs, you'll know the outcome and how I got to Texas.
As I craft tonight's blog . . . I am just about to go and grab my bible and open it in prayer. A friend's nine year old grandson has been in a drug induced coma since Christmas day with severe swelling on the brain caused by some mysterious viral thing attacking his little body. The doctor's have told his parents that IF he survives, he will have brain damage. The last I heard his brain was 40% larger than normal. The family, including the parents, are not allowed to go into his room because the doctors don't want him stimulated in any way. Imagine not being able to touch your baby.
Another friend's father is riddled with melanoma . . . brain, lungs, you name it . . . yet as I spoke to her today, she told me that she is positive about how this turns out - one way or another - and knows that God is in control. She told me that a year ago she would never have imagined herself trusting in the Lord the way she is right now.
I've only know her since I moved to Texas . . . but don't believe for a minute that our meeting was accidental . . . in the ordinariness of every day . . . my path encountered hers . . . and we have had many conversations about faith and trust in the maker of the heavens. As I see God work in her life, she has strengthened me in my faith walk . . . how "cool" is that?
I came to Florida for Christmas, and on Tuesday morning, during a routine mammogram, I learned I have a mass in my right breast . . . small, contained to the duct, but what it is we don't know . . . yet. Additionally, there is a very nasty looking spot that "popped" up on my nipple. On Thursday, I am having surgery, but it's all good. I will be at one of the finest hospitals and with some of the finest doctors, nurses, and LPNs this side of Texas, and I won't be alone. I have friends praying for a speedy recovery . . . friends are going with me . . . and I am praying that God will use this to good and provide me with the opportunity to reach out and help someone else . . .
As a Christian, I know that God uses ALL things for good . . . At first, I panicked about my clients in Texas who have a huge investment in me and in their business plan for 2010. Silly me. After some reflection I have just given that over to the Lord. He will bless them abundantly because they took the news so well, are praying for me, and they are hanging in with me to see where this leads.
I have assured them that I am coming BACK to Texas after the surgery one way or another, and if I need further treatment, I'll get it out there.
So, until then, I am looking for opportunities to be the face of Christ for others in the ordinaries of every day and the unexpected of every day. I am going to continue to seize life, laugh and joke with everyone I encounter, and do my best to get well and get on with my life and God's work . . . you see, whether I live or die . . . through Christ I win, and I want as many people to know that as possible.
Happy New Year to each of you . . . May the Lord Bless you and keep you in His care . . . May He make His face to shine on you and yours . . . and may you be a blessing to someone as you take the time to stop and smell the flowers . . . and be the face of LOVE to others.
I am totally loathe to admit that I remember the '60s, but I was a very sad and quiet little child who soaked in everything I heard or saw like a sponge . . . keeping it inside until just the right time. I have a ton of useless information stashed in my brain, and some good stuff too! I can still vividly remember things from when I was a tot in my high chair . . . but I digress . . . as usual . . .
Okay, stop and smell the flowers. Good advice. Take time to enjoy life along the journey, and realize that it is during the ordinaries of every day that many of life's most meaningful moments - our most memorable moments - the ones we talk about years later as we stand around eating potato salad at a funeral - occur during the ordinariness of every day.
God is in the ordinariness of the every day. Little glimpses. Ordinary moments.
Sometime back in the early spring of this year I began to sense that God was going to move me from point A to point B. I wondered how this was going to occur since I had lived in the same city for twenty-some years, was happily working for myself, owned my dream home, was deeply rooted into my church, and enjoyed the camaraderie of a great many friends and acquaintances. If you have read my past blogs, you'll know the outcome and how I got to Texas.
As I craft tonight's blog . . . I am just about to go and grab my bible and open it in prayer. A friend's nine year old grandson has been in a drug induced coma since Christmas day with severe swelling on the brain caused by some mysterious viral thing attacking his little body. The doctor's have told his parents that IF he survives, he will have brain damage. The last I heard his brain was 40% larger than normal. The family, including the parents, are not allowed to go into his room because the doctors don't want him stimulated in any way. Imagine not being able to touch your baby.
Another friend's father is riddled with melanoma . . . brain, lungs, you name it . . . yet as I spoke to her today, she told me that she is positive about how this turns out - one way or another - and knows that God is in control. She told me that a year ago she would never have imagined herself trusting in the Lord the way she is right now.
I've only know her since I moved to Texas . . . but don't believe for a minute that our meeting was accidental . . . in the ordinariness of every day . . . my path encountered hers . . . and we have had many conversations about faith and trust in the maker of the heavens. As I see God work in her life, she has strengthened me in my faith walk . . . how "cool" is that?
I came to Florida for Christmas, and on Tuesday morning, during a routine mammogram, I learned I have a mass in my right breast . . . small, contained to the duct, but what it is we don't know . . . yet. Additionally, there is a very nasty looking spot that "popped" up on my nipple. On Thursday, I am having surgery, but it's all good. I will be at one of the finest hospitals and with some of the finest doctors, nurses, and LPNs this side of Texas, and I won't be alone. I have friends praying for a speedy recovery . . . friends are going with me . . . and I am praying that God will use this to good and provide me with the opportunity to reach out and help someone else . . .
As a Christian, I know that God uses ALL things for good . . . At first, I panicked about my clients in Texas who have a huge investment in me and in their business plan for 2010. Silly me. After some reflection I have just given that over to the Lord. He will bless them abundantly because they took the news so well, are praying for me, and they are hanging in with me to see where this leads.
I have assured them that I am coming BACK to Texas after the surgery one way or another, and if I need further treatment, I'll get it out there.
So, until then, I am looking for opportunities to be the face of Christ for others in the ordinaries of every day and the unexpected of every day. I am going to continue to seize life, laugh and joke with everyone I encounter, and do my best to get well and get on with my life and God's work . . . you see, whether I live or die . . . through Christ I win, and I want as many people to know that as possible.
Happy New Year to each of you . . . May the Lord Bless you and keep you in His care . . . May He make His face to shine on you and yours . . . and may you be a blessing to someone as you take the time to stop and smell the flowers . . . and be the face of LOVE to others.
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