Being Found

Post card, I wish you could talk!!!
During  this time of hospital and rehabilitation stays Mom has received cards and notes of well wishes. People encouraging her and telling her they are praying for her.  It is a sweet thing, as a ministry of Mom's is sending cards!  Family members near and far (and she has a very large family!!) plus many who are associated with family, friends  and our entire church family receive a card from Mom!  One thing that has been distressing for Mom is the fact she was loosing the ability to hold a pen and write out these cards.
So one dear friend and her children saw this as a perfect opportunity to return some if the blessings "Gramma", as she called by many, has given them with cards.
Some sent her cards during her 10 day stay at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse.  I gave many people my sister's address in Carthage because we knew at some point Mom would be heading to a physical rehabilitation facility near her and I didn't want mail to get lost once she made that move.
The receipt of mail seemed to flow seamlessly.  But my friend and her children asked about a post card...I said I would check.  Well, days would go by and in my commuting to see Mom I would forget to check. I had given out the address of Mom's newest place of residence as we were projecting a stay of possibly 6 weeks.
One day last week I finally asked about the post card...had it been forwarded?
AND HERE is what I found!!!!

This post card was found by my father in the driveway of their home 3 hours away from the rehab facility, on one of his short, infrequent trips to tend to business!

If you are able to zoom in on the address section it is addressed to Mom at Crouse Hospital.....there was a pink post-it taped over it that said.."no longer here".

NO forwarding address, no other address than an return address that is a town an hour away from my folks.

It was lying in the drive way...and seems to have been run over at least once because of the stone marks imprinted in the card.

HOW DID THAT POST CARD, AS IT IS, FIND IT'S WAY TO THE CORRECT PERSON'S DRIVE WAY????!!!

My explanation...

God makes sure things are found!!

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8

Maybe it had had a label that had the forwarding address on it ...but where DID that go?  When was it ripped off?

And why, when the wind at their house NEVER stops, would it remain in the driveway until my father found it?!

I know it seems like something trivial, but I look at things like this and see God!

He has shown all throughout this journey HE is the God who moves mountains!  AND He is the God who cares about postcards!

He is in the big things and in the little things!

Doesn't that give you peace!!??

 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, Jeremiah 29:12-14a

Rest in the fact that regardless of the turmoil He cares and is in control!

It doesn't mean that turmoil stays away, but ....if we seek Him we will find Him...we can  have faith that He is walking it with us!

He came to find us, to find YOU..no matter how lost we may be or feel....He has come to save us!

IF He can find a post card, how much more important are YOU!!

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10

You Have Saved Us - Paul Baloche  click on the link for a great song!

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

 He makes me lie down in green pastures,he leads me beside quiet waters,

   he refreshes my soul.He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of theLord
    forever.

I have used this verse before...probably more than once, but I am going to look at a different part.
My mom is taking great comfort and strength from this scripture passage during this journey.
She shared with me her imaging when reciting it;
"Your rod and Your Staff"
Mom invisioned one in each hand.
HIS rod...
HIS staff....

In scripture many times they are used synonymously,  but I  am going to expound on the subtle differences.
There is the rod...used for correcting/discipline, defending, protecting.

"You will break them with a rod of iron;
    you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”
Psalm 2:9

A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother. Proverbs 29:15

With Moses all through out Exudus God had him use the staff to do amazing things, over and over, to show them the power of God

Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. Exodus 14:16

The staff was used when traveling to give assistance to the traveler.
Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts—  no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. Matthew 10:9-10

Or even something to lean on for rest.
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
Hebrews 11:21

The shepherds used a staff to guide the sheep in the direction they needed to go, and even rescue them with the crook if neccesary.

Kevin has walking sticks he has made for hiking.  They are taller than the hiker and they lend balance and support on unsteady ground  and defiantely something to lean on when weary.

So Mom, with God's rod in one hand....
God is defending and protecting her against attacks from the devil (discouragement, dispair etc)
In her other hand God's staff giving her support with every step, somewhere to lean when she gets weary. Guiding her,  directing her steps.

We are grateful for God's peace and comfort as we work through all of the challenges life brings.
God defends us, protects us, gives His stength.
And He gives us the tools to climb any mountain! AMEN!

The song that has been going through my head as I have been working on this.
Word of God Speak - Mercy Me

Life With You

You all know that songs play in my head! And that they play an important part in my inspiration.

Well, for 2 weeks now a VBS song has been going over and over in my head...just the chorus really, but I had to try and see where the rest of the song will take me and YOU get to ride along for the process! 😉

"life with You is better than life without You, and life with You is better than life with anybody else."

Over and over that line has rolled in my head.

It started when Mom had her surgery.  I think part of it was the possibility of her not making it through surgery....and how my life would be so different without her.

But also, no matter what happened with Mom life with Christ is still better than a life without Him. I also knew if that was the outcome of surgery Mom would be walking those "streets of gold"!!!

"You will never leave me, You will not forsake me, I can't wait to spend eternity with You!"  Is the line before the one that was in my head! No matter what HE will never leave me...and in the end I, all of us who believe in Him will spend eternity together!

The song talks about how He is the provider, the lamp that lights our way.

"No one else can part the waters, No one else can give me strength  when I feel weak,

No one else can give me courage to take a 

step of faith. No one loves me like You do."
Strength and courage that come from Him can help us get through what ever it is we are facing.

God, You are my God; I eagerly seek You.
I thirst for You;
my body faints for You

in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water.

 So I gaze on You in the sanctuary
to see Your strength and Your glory.

 My lips will glorify You

because Your faithful love is better than life.

 So I will praise You as long as I live;

at Your name, I will lift up my hands.

 You satisfy me as with rich food;
my mouth will praise You with joyful lips.

When I think of You as I lie on my bed,
I meditate on You during the night watches because You are my helper;

I will rejoice in the shadow of Your wings.

I follow close to You; Your right hand holds on to me.   Psalm 63:1-8

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6

So why that song for 2 weeks??  Maybe to remind me...and so I could remind you, that no matter what circumstances we find ourselves, life is better if we have chosen to have Christ in it!  And not just IN it but in charge of it!!

That and it is a pretty catchy tune!

Life With You - Rolling River Rampage VBS

Seek and You Will Find

As I sit here in the quiet of Mom's ICU room...(well, quiet in 20-30 minute increments)...but as it was quiet...realizing it was Blogging day...I have lost track of time....and days.
But remembered early last week God showed me a couple scriptures that I jotted down.

Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking,[and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds,and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.  Matthew 7:7-8

We have asked and He has answered.  We have sought Him and He has met us at every turn. 
We have cried out and He has comforted.
We have had some BIG requests, but He has been faithful, and in the little things too!
Things that don't seem important...especially in light of the hugensess of mom's recovery, but sometimes those little things give great encouragement.  Like the ONE hotel that has a free shuttle for Dad.  And the manager sending me daily emails checking on my Mom and taking extra special care of us.
The timing...in and around Leah's chemo, among other things.

You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and places where I banished you”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “I will restore you to the place I deported you from.” Jeremiah 29:12-14
We will seek Him with all our heart and call out to Him and pray and  we will be restored! I say WE because as I read His word and thank Him for ALL He has done I am being restored. Allowing it to work for me to be at church and lifted by my family there. He is giving each of us...Dad and Leah restoration, physical and spiritual.
And Mom will be restored!
We see physical strength restoring each day. Baby steps...restoration will be in baby steps!
Ask, Seek, Knock