Resolutions and Solutions

No Matter What Comes My Way...

When peace like a river

When it flows my way

When sorrow surrounds me

And I don't have words to say

I will hold on to you and the

Promises that you make

‘Cause it is well with my soul

No matter what comes my way

No matter what comes my way.

I know you're watching over me.

I know that you will never leave.

I know that you won't turn away

So I, so I won't be afraid

When joy like an ocean

When it floods my heart

When I don’t feel good enough

And the fear tears me apart

It is well  

With my soul.  

It is well  

With my soul.  

I will hold on to you and the

Promises that you make

‘Cause it is well with my soul

No matter what comes my way

No matter what comes my way.

I know you're watching over me.

I know that you will never leave.

I know that you won't turn away

So I, so I won't be afraid

No matter what comes my way

No matter what comes my way, oh

No matter what comes my way

No matter what comes my way, oh

Driving home in the evening...leaving my Mom at the hospital 3 hours away...going through the day in my head...I kept hearing the words to this VBS song.

My sister and I had just discussed some of the scenarios that may play-out in our family's near future.  And some of them are pretty scary...
But the Truth she and I settled on is that...
No matter what, God has this ..
Has our family...from my sister's imaging on her liver today to our mother's neck surgery this week...to ALL the rest.
And though we have resolutions and solutions that WE believe are best, it comes down to trust and faith ... SO
Do we have faith that God's resolution of the issue is BEST for HIS glory?
Do we trust God enough even if we don't understand or even like the solution?
What ever comes my way!

We see God in every step of this.
From a trip to Florida to find spinal cord compression...and the name of a Syracuse neurosurgeon.
To sitting in his office a week later...
To within 10-15 minutes from talking to the doctor you are a direct admit with a room across the street at the hospital!
We got the hospital room faster than dad's hotel room!
To even little things...like Dad's shuttle driver being a delivery driver to dad's former employer and other area schools (because Dad taking a shuttle on his own in the city is a big deal and having someone who would know the same places would have calmed dad's nerves)
Or even finding a hotel that would shuttle to more than the airport!

We....any of us who are going through "stuff", have to remember;
He promises to be with us, in times of trouble and times of joy!

For this is what the Lord says:  

“I will extend peace to her like a river and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; Isaiah 66:12

God is our refuge and strength  an ever-present help in trouble

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way 

and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam  and the mountains quake with their surging.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

 the holy place where the Most High dwells.

God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.

Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.     Psalm 46:1-7

It is well with my soul....
because God has all the Resolutions and Solutions that we could ever need!

Here is the link if you want to listen  No Matter What Comes My Way

The Mountain You Don't See

Above the clouds on return flight

When we pray we know God moves mountains....but we may NOT even realize the mountain in which He is going to move.  We may see what we think is a mountain ....not realizing most of it is concealed by clouds.
We think "yes God will move this mountain...it is large ...but not overwhelming."  We don't even see it's summit or the worst part of it....so we are not too overwhelmed.
BUT at some point the clouds part and the bigger mountain is looming, large and foreboding.  That tiny place we left for that mustard seed of faith (see last weeks blog) shrinks to an even smaller space.
"WHAT is God going to do with THAT?!?"
The same thing He does with every mountain and mole hill....He will get us over it, around it or through it....
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;  persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.  2 Corinthians 4:7-9
As I started this, these are the verses I intended to use.  BUT as I continued to read God had so much more for me (and hopefully you too)


 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.  For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”  Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.  Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  2 Corinthians 4:10-18

I ended up including more, every part of it seemed to be so appropriate, at least to me;
Our bodies hold the amazing treasure, Jesus Christ, with-in our imperfect and temporary vessels, so that it is obvious that all that happens in us is through God's extraordinary power ...not anything of ourselves!  Because when we face troubles...crushing troubles from every side, and we are not destroyed, Jesus is visible in us through all of it.
All that happens is for God's glory to be spread. If we tell others...show others, that regardless of our circumstances Christ is at work in us and around us. And we show that by living out our faith in the very fact that we trust God in it.
Our physical bodies are wasting away, wearing out, we are ALL headed for death, BUT the Spirit within us is being renewed everyday! Drawing closer to Him and His purpose every day!
And though our struggles are real, in God's sight it is fleeting, temporary.  We must remember it is NOT the end!  This is not what our focus should be on...This is all for eternal Glory...His Glory!  AMEN?!
AMEN!!
No matter what LIFE here throws at us....we will NOT be crushed, destroyed, overcome or abandoned!  
We are His! He is before us at every twist and turn and bend in the road.  
We will not be overtaken, we will not be over come!! This mountain, too, will be moved.
click on the link for a great song about this very thing!
The Same Power - Jeremy Camp

Moving Mountains

I may have talked about faith before..
Maybe even used the same scripture.
But I have another perspective on "small faith"  ..I don't mean I had little faith that God can do ANYTHING....that He can arrange a place for Mom to have some relief from debilitating spinal stenosis...that He can keep a plane in the sky...
because I know HE CAN! ...it is more that fear, anxiety, uncertainty crowd faith and only give it a tiny bit of space.
 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”  Matthew 17:20
So, to me,. that means even if my faith has been crowded so small...God can move mountains!
AND a big one!  I never thought I would board a plane without feelings of apprehension, panic, dread, anxiety, over the top fear.....because those were the feelings I had standing on the ground TALKING about flying!
BUT, Mom needed surgery and it is in Tampa FL...so I made travel arrangements, picked seats, chose luggage and booked the flight!  Not once with any feeling of dread or anxiety.  Checked bags, went through security...with a mom in a wheel chair and walker and luggage...still no panic.  Waiting...to board, then on the plane...in the very last row....I even opened the shade on the window! Still good!
Finally time for take off....I took pictures out the window!  We had some bumpy turbulence...nothing, I am sure to the seasoned traveler...but I didn't even really pay attention.  More pictures out the window...then I closed the shade and read a book! I even dozed off!
Then came landing.  Opened the shade..though I did need to close it when we were banking! (A little bit of motion off balance thing going on)
 I even videoed the landing for my grankids!
How is that possible!?....I did not have to give myself any pep talks, did not even have to grip the seat! The answer....GOD!! 
He took that mustard seed size faith and moved my mountain of fear!

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

1 John 4:4
He, who is in ME, is greater than anything in the world...or anything "not Christ" that is IN me!!! And really that  instantly!  

Such confidence we have through Christ before God.  Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 2 Corinthians 3:4-5

He moved that mountain..and we have confidence this mountain before my mom will be moved too!!  AMEN!!!!

Click on the song....words are true...and it should make you 😃!

Greater - Mercy Me

Bangles, Bracelets, and Badges

I wear a bunch of bracelets...actually they are bangles....wire bracelets with things that dangle from them. As I put them on I think about the person who gave them to me...and what the bangle represents.
Special ones;
Like the ones from my sister; "Sister" ("irreplaceable- forever-friend")
and an owl ("owls are symbols of wisdom and can see in the dark and see 'the larger picture' ")
My sister-in-law; a lighthouse("reassuring sign of steady ground, symbol of hope and strength at the edge of unpredictable tides as it provides navigational guidance and light in a storm.")
A very dear friend; with a "count your blessings" and a very special, personal.."B.H.O.B." (we are living proof 2 minds are better than one!)
Another very close friend and fellow "coffee club" member gave me one with the bangle that says "with enough coffee I can rule the world!" And it even has a mini travel coffee cup dangling!
One friend has given me a bracelet with charms that are children in various forms, as I have been blessed to have many little ones in my life prior to grandchildren.
I have two that are very important....one says .."grandmother" - ("wisdom-legacy-love") given to me by my mom and the other says "GiGi"....which is who I am to 5 very special little people in my life!!
The thought and sentiment behind each one is very touching and special....I HAVE to wear each one....they are "who I am"! Right?!
And I wear them proudly! Bangles jingling all over the place!
I wear a badge for work....it denotes my title at work (receptionist)....it allows me access to some areas that regular people off the street aren't able to go without being let in.
It tells patients who I am....though they dont always pay attention....just the other day I was called Doctor!
Badges are everywhere...jobs, military, volunteers, etc etc.
Badges denote who we are, our rank or position.

So...where am I going with this??!!
As believers (and yes some of us wear bangles that state we are believers)
But even if we don't wear it....can people tell?...can they see our "rank " is Christian? we serve in the Lords Army!
Does our reaction to situations show who we really are?  Wise? A light? A friend?
A sister in Christ?
Or are they just dangly, bangly things that dress up my wrist?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25

ALL believers should be recognizable....our "badge" should be evident in our behavior, in tough situations and everyday circumstances.

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:5

People should NOT be surprised if they hear someone say..."oh, didn't you know ___________ is a Christian?"

Every response, reaction, everything we do should be our badge. It should let other's know who we are, that we are a Christ follower, and we should "wear" it proudly!

 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:15-16

It is for God and for His glory!

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,  Colossians 3:23

A Lesson From Vacation Bible School

You know me...songs etc run through my head!  Last week was our annual Vacation Bible School (VBS)...so all the great, catchy music, that is so amazingly sung by 2 very talented ladies in out church, are all that keep running through my head! I hope you take the time to click on ALL the links and enjoy the music and the bible stories!

One of my favorite songs;

I've Got a River of Life

Or one about  about a man in one of our bible stories;

Zacchaeus (Wee Little Man)

Our verse was Isaiah 43:2

"When you pass through the waters I will be with you."

Today I am going to look at the whole section starting with verse 1 and going into the first half of verse 3.  The "bookends" to verse 2 are just as meaningful.

"Now, this is what the Lord says,
the one who created you, O Jacob,
and formed you, O Israel:
“Don’t be afraid, for I will protect you.
I call you by name, you are mine.

When you pass through the waters, I am with you;

when you pass through the streams, they will not overwhelm you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not harm you.

For I am the Lord your God,the Holy One of Israel, your deliverer."

First of all ...sit up..and listen..."This is what THE LORD says"...

.."I have CALLED YOU BY NAME, YOU ARE MINE"!  Do you get that part??!!...the importance of it!!??

So we are going to insert our name into this verse...because HE calls us by name! 

"[Your name here] ie. 

[Mary] when you pass through the waters I will be with YOU.

when you walk through the fire [Mary], YOU will NOT be burned, the flames will not harm YOU [Mary].  

For I AM the Lord your God [Mary] the Holy One of Isreal,

YOUR deliverer,  [Mary]."

 During the week we learned about different people in the bible who had their "rough waters" in life and in each story Jesus was with them, literally!
When  Jesus Calls the Disciples it was "rough water" for them. They were called to leave job, family, everything they knew.  BUT Jesus was with them
Mary and Martha Martha had "rough water" when she had to learn the lesson that it was more important to listen and spend time with Jesus then to worry about all that was around her.
Zacchaeus had rough water because, of course he was so small, and he had done things that made him feel unworthy to see Jesus.
BUT Jesus was there, called to him AND wanted to go to Zacchaeus' house!

What I hope each child (and adult) there took away from the week;

That no matter what rough water we are going through,  Jesus is there with us as well!

the song that went with the verse

I Will Be With You

And I pray that for you today, you have peace knowing Jesus is with you through anything you are going through!

No Matter What Comes My Way