Tears - An All Saints Day Tribute

As I often do, I'll start this post off with some brutal honesty.

I've never given All Saints Day much thought.  It is a centuries old tradition, especially meaningful in the first 300 years of the Church when so many were martyred.  It still has a place today, and in the Methodist church, on the first Sunday of November, we celebrate the lives of those who've gone home to heaven in the last year.  As a family, we've lost people before now - including Dave's beloved grandmother Mable 18 months ago.  Yet, it's never hit this close to home; so close to pull me out of my self-absorbed reverie to grasp the full meaning. This All Saints Day, the day we put my Dad's ashes in the ground after church, definitely brings the full concept painfully close.

I woke this morning with a song in my head, "Already There," by Casting Crowns (you can listen to it here).  I've listened to that song a lot in the last 6 weeks.  We all have moments where we look at God and go, "What is happening?  Why?  When?  Where?....Huh, God?"  It is immensely comforting for me to be able to say, One day I'll stand before You and look back on the life I've lived. I can't wait to enjoy the view and see how all the pieces fit.

Today, of all days, when I know it will be so hard, I am desperately clinging to that hope of glory.  There will be a day when those questions get answered.  It's funny to think, too, some of those questions I think are so important right now will not be when I'm standing next to Jesus. 

But for right now, just for today, for the next few hours, I'm not going to ask any questions.  I am just going to rest in the comfort of knowing God has me.  He has us.  He has my Dad.  He has the whole world.  He has not lost His grip. He is  present and able, always.  He is kind and gracious.  He loves me.  He loves you.  He knows it hurts and how badly it does.  He is already at the end of my life on earth but at the same time, and I write this with incredible mystery and wonder, He is right here with me in this moment and time.  I know all of that for sure, even if I don't understand it at all.

For anyone out there struggling like me, on this All Saint's Day, I gained permission from my friend
to post a vision she shared with me this week.  It is SO powerful, it shifted my thought-life about the world to come in a major way.  My friend is working through a decade-old grief and recently had a healing experience in prayer which is nothing short of otherworldly.  It's called Tears and will speak to the heart of anyone who's lost a loved one, as well as all those who've wondered what the Lord really does with our tears.  It's precious.  Please take it in and know the Lord indeed provides this level of comfort to all when we ask. 

Lord, You've kept track of all my wandering and my weeping.  You've stored my many tears in Your bottle, not one will be lost.  You care about me every time I've cried.  For it is recorded in Your book of remembrance. - Psalm 56:8

I asked the Lord for a picture and this is what He gave me.  I share it with you.

I saw your tears, I felt my own - I fell to my knees.  Why Lord, why so much pain - who will carry all this pain?

In an instant I was swept away to a place; a weighty place so beautiful that words alone are insufficient.  I believe it was a secret place, for the most magnificent beings I have ever seen lined the room in majesty.  There were more than I could count and each one was holding a bottle.  Was it a bottle of light?  A bottle of gold?  A bottle of glory?  I could not tell.

No one spoke and I knelt, trembling in fear.  When I looked up, one bottle caught my eye.  It seemed to shine like the stars of Heaven.  The angel holding it summoned me toward it.  As I came near I saw its color; iridescent blue mixed with a majestic purple I have never seen on earth.  I could not take my eyes off such a stunning sight - my eyes were fixed, almost frozen as I looked upon this jar of beauty.  What was stored in such a container?  It could only be something worth more than all the wealth of the nations or all the hearts of men.  What could it be?

As I looked at this amazing bottle, I saw a name written on it - it was your name. The angel tipped the bottle and summoned me to look in - I trembled and tried to look away but I could not; I wanted to see the treasure within.  As I looked, I saw you my sweet friend, crying.  There you were, broken-hearted and tears unstoppable.  Before I could reach out to you, I saw your tears dropping, dropping into the beautiful bottle.  Yes, every tear spilling into this jar, not one to be lost.  As I watched the scene before me, I saw your tears turning into gems, diamonds and sapphires.  Each tear that dropped turned into splashes of beauty that were carefully contained so as not to be lost.   

I looked up at the angel as if to ask why but then I saw beyond the tears - it was a great and glorious ocean, iridescent blue and majestic purple splashing upon the beach.  Each splash formed a beautiful gemstone creating the sand.  Then I saw Him - my Jesus - His eyes the color of the ocean, His smile so joyful my heart could barely contain such magnificence.  He was running and laughing in the sand.  He was playing with someone - a family - I looked, it was you.  You were together - all of you - your faces looked happy, joyful yet filled with a peace I have never seen.  I watched Jesus as He carefully ran His hand through the sand.  It was as if the joy were come from the gems that formed the sand.

Yes, the joy was coming from the gems; the diamonds and sapphires that had been your tears.  The ones He had guarded so closely and stored in this jar of beauty were shining with joy.  How could this be - such pain turned to joy?  I looked again and I saw you crying, yet dancing together in the sand at the same time.  Could this ?  Two worlds so carefully knit together?  One of pain and one of joy?

Then I asked: WHY LORD ARE THESE TEARS SO IMPORTANT TO YOU THAT NONE ARE TO BE LOST?

Immediately the angel tipped the jar so I could no longer see the contents but before me sat another bottle.  This one was gold, so bright I could barely look upon it but I saw for a fleeting moment the name: THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB.

I fell to the floor with my face down for fear I would die at such a precious sight.  My Savior's blood - the very blood that was shed for my life.  And then I knew....His blood that come from such a great sacrifice was shed for our tears, your tears, my tears, all the pain of this world.  Those tears were worth more than I could think or imagine and none were to be lost.

In an instant I was back on my knees, tears streaming down my face - tears for you.  The Lord was there holding a bottle - this one had my name on it - collecting my tears; the ones He gave His life for.  At that moment I let go - I surrendered my tears to Him who promised to carry my sadness, my pain, my heartbreak.  I know each tear has a safe place till Heaven and earth are one.  I do not understand but I will trust.

I pray that you will allow your tears to flow freely - for not one is ever lost or wasted and someday those tears will be like grains of sand that look like diamonds filling an ocean that only knows JOY.

I am forever thankful for you...my friend. 

Summer Bridge Workbook LOL to Tears Entry #2

So, a couple of weeks ago, our middle daughter - the ever hilarious Sophia - wrote about what she would keep if she had to give away everything but three things in her room.  It was settled pretty easily - you can read her commentary here.

In her summer bridge workbook, she writes something weekly.  She doesn't try and make it funny every time, but today, I'm pretty sure she worked hard at it.  She was successful.  She was asked about something she could reuse or recycle and how she would reuse or recycle it.

Third Grade has never seen a kid like this.  I hope her teacher is tuned into Sophia's particular brand of dry wit.  Lord, have mercy on us!

(Personally, I think she likes the subtle fame that comes from me posting her work...no matter what she says!)

I would recycle my old toothbrush.  Because its old and I don't want a old, moldy, stinky toothbrush running around my house yelling, "I'm a stinky toothbrush!"  But once my mom sees it, she grabs it and sticks it in my mouth.  And that's when I reuse it.

Here is the original, in all it's unedited glory

Wednesday of Wonder - No Broken Bones?!?!

I'm so thankful for this post!  I've had a lot of "life" going on, sort of a continuation from Saturday (read about it here).  Due to the enormous deluge of rain we've had in Texas the last couple of days which we so desperately need, we've been dealing with drainage and flooding issues at our house, including up and into first floor!

It seems God's blessings are going to drown us!

Not really.  We are fine and He continues to speak and act and work in our situation.  Not in dramatic ways, but through His still, small, quiet (and patient) voice, guiding us to resolution of our issues.

Yesterday, in the book Take Another Look at Guidance, Bob Mumford challenged me with these words: The life of dependence (on God) is humbling, and to deal with self-sufficiency, God keeps us in a slight state of crisis most of the time.

More than noted - that sentence is double-underlined and starred.  It may go on my wall above my computer.  It is a sacred truth and is working itself out in my life as well as the life of my friend Kathryn Smith. Kathryn is a b.e.l.i.e.v.e.r.  This woman is razor's edge smart and successful both in her personal, professional and spiritual life.  She is my best friend's mentor and I've sat at her feet to learn as well.  She loves the Lord and is of constant use to Him because she keeps surrender in the forefront of her mind.

I asked her if she would provide me a #WOW post because I knew she had some.  The one she wrote up below is the most recent.  It is a challenging reminder to me to operate not as the world does, but as Christ - to have His mind about my circumstances and to receive what He has to say, rather than listen to what everyone else is telling me.

It happened just 2 or 3 weeks ago!  You will be hearing from her again because she has more to share.  But until then, you will see she is an example of Isaiah 26:3, You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!

Now, onto this week's WONDER-filled testimony!  

We live in a fallen world.  Calamity comes to the Christian and non-Christian alike; however, as Christians we live differently.  We don’t live fearing the unknown, but we live with a hope and an assurance that when the trials of life do come (and they will), our God will be faithful to take care of us; to deliver us from or through the circumstance.  It’s important for us to find scripture(s) to stand on, scripture(s) to believe.  These are promises from God and God doesn’t break his promises.  When the trials and bad reports come, rather than reacting in fear, we stand in faith and reject the predicted bad outcome.  This isn't denial.  We live recognizing from the natural world we have a bad circumstance, but from the supernatural we have a Deliverer!  When we go quickly to the Word to see what He says, we can deal with from a faith-filled kingdom perspective.  

A scripture I stand on for my family comes from Psalm 34:17-20, "When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken."

Recently my 11 year old daughter was leaning on a table at school.  She says she was just leaning.  She denies the possibility that she was putting her full weight on the table trying a gymnastics maneuver.  The top of the table was not secured to its base.  The tabletop came up and smacked her in the face, slightly chipping her front tooth.  She fell with her full weight on her right thumb.  The tabletop came down on top of her back.  She screamed out of shock and pain.  She was hysterical and taken to the school nurse. The school called to tell me that I needed to come pick her up, that she may have a broken thumb.  Later I was told that the school counselor covered her with a blanket and held her to keep her from going into shock.  By the time I arrived, 3 members of the school administration and the headmaster’s wife were there to greet me.  They advised that her thumb looked dislocated and probably broken.  It was swollen and causing my daughter much pain.    

While I was concerned, I didn’t lose peace.  I started praying and remembering my confession of faith from Psalm 34: no broken bones in my household.  I made a pediatrician appointment for that evening.  In the meantime, I reached out to a friend who had a wonderful suggestion that I let one of the gymnastics coaches take a look at the thumb because they are used to looking at hand and finger injuries.  The experienced Eastern European coach looked at it, said it was dislocated and asked if I want her to fix it.  Naively, I said yes, so the coach worked the thumb back into place.  This was very good because this action immediately reduced the pain.  She also thought that the first joint of the thumb might have a little fracture.

The pediatrician saw us at 8:00 pm and said, “It is a bad sprain.  Fortunately the thumb is not dislocated.  Take a pain reliever, put it on ice, and come back in a few days at a convenient time for the x-ray, as that department is closed for the day.  I’m pretty sure there is a little fracture in that first joint.  A fracture is the same thing as a break.  If there is a fracture, then we will need to talk about next steps based upon the x-ray results.” 

 

I knew the thumb had previously been dislocated, but that God ordered our steps and the gymnastics coach was used by the Lord.  The doctor put my daughter’s hand in a temporary splint.  Deep down, I believed the coach’s and doctor’s assessment was right, that there was a little fracture in the thumb at the time of the injury, but I also believed that God was healing the thumb and that it would prove out to only be a sprain and no break.  

I also had a sense not to hurry in the next morning.  There was a miracle in the works.  During this time, I did not confess a break.  I knew I was standing on the promise of Psalm 34.  I took my daughter to church on Wednesday night for our pastor to pray.  Our pastor agreed with the prayers that had been offered for healing.  The thumb continued to get better. 

Friday morning I took my daughter in for the confirmation x-ray.  That’s exactly what it was - a confirmation!  The x-ray proved that there was no fracture.  

If we had received that broken thumb, that's what we would have had; then we would be faced with an entirely different summer of life with an injury.  Instead, now there will be no disruption to the summer.  It will not just getting by, but the best the Lord has for us.  

Instead of receiving what comes to us in the natural, we trusted God’s Word and gave him room to do His supernatural work that He is fully capable to give, or rather we needed room to cooperate with His will. 

To God be the glory, Amen!

Wednesdays of Wonder - The Generosity of God

If a person has a desperate need but never says it out loud, does God still hear?

Absolutely.

While, the Lord does not often clue me in on how He hears, when He hears or How He will respond, I know enough of Him to say He always does.  Sometimes the answers are obvious and other times, the Lord works in mysterious ways; ways so mysterious, we can never untangle the connections to get back to the root of the answer.

Except that the root is always Providence.

I love that name for God, even if it sounds old-timey.  It comes from the Latin providentia.  It essentially means seeing AND meeting the need in advance.  Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology defines God and His foreseeing provision as such, 

God not only looks ahead and attempts to make provision for his goals, but infallibly accomplishes what he sets out to do... Providence, then, is the sovereign, divine superintendence of all things, guiding them toward their divinely predetermined end in a way that is consistent with their created nature, all to the glory and praise of God.1

Today's wonder-filled story is about an unspoken need and God meeting it.  He knew what was needed and provided abundantly above all expected.  It is because of His love for us, His children, He does that.  It is because He IS love He provides for us.  We are the apple of His eye and when we seek Him first, everything else will be added to us (Matt 6:33).

If you need something today, ask God for it.  It doesn't matter if it is money, healing, forgiveness, grace, wisdom, freedom.  Whatever it is, He wants to give it.  This isn't prosperity gospel.  This is going to the Source of all things, seeking Him above all else.  When we do that, He has promised to give. The boundaries of His love, I am confident, are much more than we can reach! (Eph 3:20)

Now onto Darly's story.....

Darly lives in Olympia, WA.  She has suffered, been through horrible things.  But now that she is free in Jesus, she works for justice for those in situations like she used to be.** However, Darly has had a difficult time financially.  Her church told her to let them know when she needs help, but she has been hesitant to do so.  A few weeks ago, she needed to pay her medicine but didn't have the funds.  Her pastor at Hidden Creek Community Church, Tim Heffer, has been preaching a series on Grace, Gratitude and Generosity.  So, after listening to his sermons, she writes, 

I had made (God) a promise to ask for help if I could not pay for my meds.

She did tell one of her friends her predicament. They both were working at the church food bank and her friend told her,

I only have a bunch of ones in my purse. It's the end of the month. But let's see what we can do.

A few hours later, after finishing work, Darly's friend called her over to discreetly give her the money. She opened her wallet and a shocked look came over her face; then tears came to her eyes.

"What's wrong?" Darly asked.

Her friend's voice was wobbly with tears when she said, "There are no ones in here."

Darly replied "Ok, that's ok, " (Not perceiving what the tears were about.)

"No," she said as she fanned out a number of bills. "They are all FIVES!"

Darly's friend explained she KNEW they were all ones because she had just counted them.  Yet, by the same power that raised Christ from the dead, the Holy Spirit made sure Darly's blessing wasn't just a little bit.  He supernaturally changed the currency of the bills!  It met her need, right where she was and then some.

Your takeaway from this is that God can handle all all your needs, spoken and unspoken.  Bring them to Him for He is a God of wonders and miracles.  Let Him show you what He can do for you today!

**You can read about the organization Darly works with, the the Justice and Mercy Foundation, on their website: http://tjamf.org.

Wednesdays of Wonder - The Very Breath of God

In Genesis, a few days after the Creation of the Universe, the Lord made a human, in the image of the Trinity.  He took the earth and formed, sculpted and perfected the very first human - Adam.  He spoke the animals into being, but made humanity with His own hands.

To cement this first precious life, He breathed His breath into his lungs.  Adam lungs inflated, not with oxygen or atmosphere, but the Holy Spirit.  (Genesis 2:7)

Adam wasn't alive because he could breath air.  He was alive because he was filled with Ruach Elohim Who had given Him pneuma, the ancient Greek word for soul, spirit, breath or wind.  It is the source of continued, blessed life.  That's what Adam got. 

We receive it as well when we place our faith in Jesus.  In John 20:21, Jesus demonstrated this with His Disciples after the His resurrection. 

Jesus said to them again, Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.  After saying this, He breathed on them and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit...'

We live because He lives in us.  We move and have our being because He breathed His Spirit into us.  Beyond that, He affords us the opportunity to life in fullness with Him, with the chance to invite that same Spirit to overflow out of us and into others. 

Our encounter today reminds us of the power of God, not only in His being, but in His breath.  It is a beautiful, incredible portrait of how He encounters us when we least expect it, and especially when we ask for Him too! It's from my friend Shelley Einarsson.  Let the Holy Spirit breath life into you today!  

I was attending a prayer retreat in February 2014 to have an opportunity to see The Lord more clearly.  The setting was incredible.  It was a precious country house with a lovely pond in front of the house.  I spent much time on the front porch, looking at God’s amazing wonders.  He was present!  The Lord was in this place!

On my final day, I was preparing for my last prayer session.  I sat in a small room on a folding chair praying, breathing, and meditating.  I wanted to hear what The Lord wanted me to know.  I wanted His truth revealed to me and the lies to be washed away.  I breathed in “God the Father” and breathed out “Shelley”; I breathed in “Jesus the Son” and breathed out “Shelley”; I breathed in “The Holy Spirit” and breathed out “Shelley”.  Lastly, I breathed in “faith” and breathed out “Shelley”.   

I was breathing softly, nearly silently. However, from the back of my right ear I heard a breath.  It was loud and gentle, but very clear.  I looked around the room; I was the only one in the room.   

I ignored the sound as my imagination, or others breathing loud, or the wind.  I closed my eyes and began breathing again.  I heard it again.  I opened my eyes and looked around again.  Nobody.  I ran out of the room and saw a woman standing far across the house.  I asked her if she was breathing loudly but she wasn't.  I told her the story and again disregarded it as my imagination.

I went back into the room and into breathing.  (I was not going to let fear distract me.  I knew that I was to hear from God.)  So I blanked out my mind and I heard the sound again.  Surely, I was hearing things.  This couldn’t be God, could it?   

Fear or the thought of the unknown took over again and I ran out of the room.  The first lady, still across the room, assured me it wasn’t her and we found an obvious conclusion to the sound: 4 ladies in the other room praying.

At that moment, the 4 ladies walked out and I asked them if they were breathing heavy.  I had to get to the bottom of this sound!!  They had not however, they were praying for The Holy Spirit to enter this house and breathe His breath over the house and in the house.   

We stood amazed and told them what I had just experienced!  They assured me it was The Holy Spirit’s breath flowing in the room and He gave that gift to me.  He wanted me to hear Him and let me know that He was indeed present.

While I'd been praying, I asked for all of my physical, natural senses to come alive with Him.  I was welcoming The Holy Spirit.  I thanked God.  I asked for His presence and He immediately delivered.  

I doubted initially but immediately confessed my doubt.   I praised Him for showing up in a mighty way.  His breath!!  All of the ladies praised God & thanked Him for showing himself.  They all encouraged me to receive what The Lord did for me and I did!!  I will forever be changed because of Him and for Him!!  The presence of Ruach Elohim!  I couldn’t explain it away.  It was real!   

He revealed himself to me in the very way that I asked; through my bodily senses.  I will never be the same!  I am blessed!  I know God, I have known God, and I received His sweet gentle breath of Him knowing me!

PRAISE GOD!

Wednesdays of Wonder - It's Almost Too Good To Be True News

Man, I just read what my friend Jeannie wrote to me for this week's post.  Her story of encountering Jesus and put Him in His rightful place in her life has completely knocked me back a few pegs.  How often have I gone about my day, taking for granted the place and position of Jesus, My Lord and Savior?

I know I've forgotten Christ's rightful place....even today!  I always need a renewal, a reset to orient myself the right way to Jesus. So, I want to share this WONDER-full witness of my friend because it not only changed her life, it will change yours.  It will set you back on course if you've gotten off track or it will keep you going in the right direction.

If you have ever struggled with how Jesus fits into the picture, don't worry.  We all have.  We all have had to come to terms with the difference between a religion and a relationship as well as the discomfort of the Cross.  The Cross is hard to take because we don't feel it should be necessary.  We know we are unworthy, but we don't feel like we should be.

I love that the Holy Spirit downloaded the revelation to her IN.THE.SHOWER.  God does not wait till we are in Church or comfortable.  He comes in the middle of our everyday affairs because knowledge like she received can not wait!

When Jesus enters our atmosphere, we know for sure we are not worthy.  But He doesn't leave us that way.  Read on in Jeannie's story and you, too, will know the hope she has found!

God brought a friend into my life and one of the things I noticed the most about her was how she talked so candidly about her Jesus. I knew God and I were cool. I was also very aware of the Holy Spirits' presence in my life. I believed by faith everything that The Word says about Jesus: who He is, what He did, and that He is alive and coming back again. 

One day, I confessed an issue I had concerning Jesus. It revolved mostly around the crucifixion. I was uncomfortable hearing the gruesome details about it, especially during Easter. I came from an abusive background with a lot of pain and suffering and while I knew the importance of the sacrificial death of Jesus I didn't want to focus on that part, but get to the Good News about the power of His resurrection. 
 
I also confessed that when the movie Passion Of The Christ came out, I'd seen it by myself.  I did not think I would have the same emotional reaction that others were having and thought that they would find that odd.  My friend told me that she had gone to get popcorn right before the crucifixion scene of the movie and was offering it to others when she got back!  Knowing that, I didn't feel so bad.  She prayed for me right then and there I would receive a greater revelation of who Jesus is personally in my own life. 

Later that same day my sister from Virginia (who I don't talk to very often) called me. I can't remember why but she told me every morning when she goes out to her car, before she gets in, she looks straight up to heaven and gives God a kiss and says, "Good morning God!"  Then, she said, she looks to her left (because Jesus is on the right side of God) and tells Him the same, and also gives Him a kiss. Of course, she would then look to her right and do the same thing with the Holy Spirit. I thought this was strange and didn't waste any time telling my husband and my friend later that day.
 
The very next day, when I was in the shower, I had an unction to tell Jesus I was sorry I hadn't paid Him very much attention. Still in the shower, He told me that, "It is OK.  I am the hardest one!" and then had a vision of God on the throne.  Jesus was sitting next to Him but it was on my right side. I suddenly realized my right side was actually the left side of God and said, 

"Oh no, I've had you (Jesus) in the wrong place all of this time!" 

While this was the literal wrong place that I saw, I believe what it represented religion vs. relationship.  My take away from this is: for a lot of people Jesus is the hardest one to get to know because of the price He personally paid for each of us. While by faith we received this gift and we were changed forever in our spirit man, we still have to renew our minds to be able to accept this fact on a daily basis. It is hard to believe we are worthy not only of His sacrifice, but His constant intercession on our behalf; along with our place of power and authority there with Him.

Even though Jesus is God incarnate, our Savior and Lord, and deserves our reverence, we can still have a very personal relationship with Him. He calls us Family and Friend.

Now this is almost too good to be true news!!  

Maybe we all should start looking up to the right hand of God, which is our left, each day and saying good morning Jesus and giving Him a kiss and then as a popular song says: keep our eyes on Him and all that He is, so the cares of this world will grow strangely dim.

 

Scripture References:

• Hebrews 1:3 - The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
• Romans 8:34, 35 - Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
• Revelation 3:21 - To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 
• John 15:13-15 - Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
• Hebrews 2:11-12 - Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.” 
• Colossians 3:1 - Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Wednesdays of Wonder - The Baby Sees Angels

This is a new series on this blog.  It's been awhile since I've started something like this but it's not a new idea.  I know a lot of pretty incredible, deeply faithful people who've experienced God in ways that are without a doubt real, even if they leave us with the hair on the back of our necks standing up.  I've been wanting to document some of their experiences for some time, for the legacy they leave.

With this idea in mind, I posted on my Facebook page yesterday: When God breaks into your reality, the experience is not going to leave you confused. He is the God of clarity & order, not contradiction. It's going to line up with His Word, You may not be able to process it all at once but when you encounter The Lord, your deepest heart of hearts is healed.  He works at that level.

This is a weary world.  There is no better time to share the news the Good News: God is real and He is real in the Person of Jesus Christ.  We must, as a Church, share what we know, even if it doesn't always make sense in the natural.  It is the most important message, we as Christians, carry into this weary world each day.

There is so much bad news out there.  Let's turn the tide and show people God isn't dead and He cares - more than we can ever imagine.  If you have an undeniable encounter with the Lord, please share.  (Email me at amysvogel@hotmail.com) Angels not required, even though we seem to experience that a lot in this house!  It can be about anything that lines up with the power of the Holy Spirit, an experience you know without a doubt it is God breaking into your reality.  That is Who I want to glorify here, always! 

He is called Wonderful Counselor.  So, let us share in His wonder!

I've written before about the two experiences of angelic encounters when Sophia was in treatment.  I thought those were miraculous and I couldn't explain it.  But this is a whole other level.

Last fall, one of my prayer group leaders prayed over the baby - Ella Grace.  She was having some separation anxiety when she was in a particular area of the house, which was/is not typical of her.  It was more than annoying, it was getting me a little worried.  She would just wail if Dave or I put her down and walked away just a few steps.  So, my leader prayed this part of Psalm 91 over her:

For He will give His angels orders concerning you, to protect you in all your ways.  They will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against the stone.

It was very sweet and I left feeling like something got done for us, spiritually-speaking.  It did, Ella stopped her wailing that night.  However, little did I know when Leslie prayed for the angels to show up, they would never leave.

It started off small - before she was really verbal, she would stare off into the dark corner of her room and smile. Then, a few months later, she started waving to the open hallway.  Then she started "chatting" with "someone" right at her door frame.  Once she started making the sound for "birdie" ("DEE-DEE"), she started pointing at that same spot in the hallway, right out her bedroom.

No one else around.  And certainly not directed at me or Dave.

The last time she's really done it was nearly two weeks ago, when we were Indiana to say goodbye to Mable, Dave's grandmother.  She hit fussy for nap time right as the memorial service started, so I took her to the infant room of the church to rock her.  It dawned on me this was the room in which Dave's grandmother worked.  I was rocking her precious baby great-granddaughter in what was probably the chair she rocked countless babies in. It was a poignant moment and I took the chance then to say goodbye to my dear friend Mable.

Ella was drifting off to sleep when all of a sudden she perked up, looked over my right shoulder (as usual) and said "BIRDIE!!"  She smiled, waved, gave me a kiss and dropped off to sleep.

I know the line between Heaven and Earth was extremely thin in that moment.  I will never forget just how close to the Divine we were.  Ella seems to be aware more than most of us, fulfilling the words of Jesus (quoting Psalm 8) in Matthew 21:15-16,

You have prepared praise from the mouths of children and nursing infants.

God breaks in.  Hope is confirmed.  Love is poured out.  Glory to God. Amen.

The One Thing I've Learned about Marriage

If this isn't a key to a long, happy marriage, I don't know what is. It's a goal to work towards, not an end to achieve, but it is possible to find your way to this.  Doesn't have to look like Beaver Cleaver because the Lord works all things together - and He can work in any and every situation.  Just try to believe that and He will come alongside you both to guide you towards this. 

Thanks to my friend Michelle for posting it on Facebook!

Divorce through My Eyes - A Guest Post

This weekend, I had the honor of spending time with my family - especially my nieces.  Our oldest, Madison (who is one of the big reasons our family is so close), is 12.  She is getting so grown up, so fun to talk to and interact with!  Not that she wasn't before but now it is just.....different.

And we have even more in common now.  We are both blossoming writers.  I have a few years ahead of her, but she has the advantage.  She has an opportunity to be taught how to write and not just fly by the seat of her pants like her Aunt.  ;)

Madison's parents are in the process of a getting a divorce.  We are very proud of the way both girls have handled this situation.  They are both happy, well-adjusted and seem to be doing fine.  But Maddie provided us a glimpse into her heart on Friday night.  She read a piece she wrote for one of her classes about the moment, over 3 years ago, when her parents announced to her and her sister, they were divorcing.  I asked her permission to share it with you.  It is so poignant and, to me, explains why anything and everything should be pursued to save a marriage.

I know some marriages cannot be saved.  I know it.  But divorce means something has come between a covenant between 2 people and God. It means long-term pain. It means bitterness.  And most of all, it means loss of love.

You will see, from Maddie's experience, this situation goes deep.  Real deep.  She says she still feels this way sometimes.  Her parents' divorce marks her for the rest of her life.  But I pray she doesn't let it define her.  She is a brilliant writer and I hope to share more of her writings in the future!

Here it is, please leave your comments for her - I know she would love to hear what you have to say!

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I could feel the intensity in the room.  "Is there something wrong?" I said as my parents stared me and my sister down as if we had 3 eyes.  

"Maddie, Ryan, could you please sit on the couch?"  Sure, we both said.  

I could tell he (my Dad) was trying not to tell; he was trying not to cry as he clenched his fists.  He was also extremely tense, and his eyes were red.  On the other side of the room, my Mom was pacing back and forth.  She was also unusually tense.  And she had red eyes but never cried.  When we sat down, she said there was something that they had to tell us.  "Okay," my sister and i both answered.

Then they said it.

UGGGGGHHHHH!  Divorce.  I hated that word.  I remember my parents' exact words: 

This has nothing to do with you girls but your dad and I are getting a divorce.

All I wished at that point was that, hopefully, it was just a really bad dream.  But no, it was all real.  My parents basically put their wedding rings away in a dark place just like my feelings.  In which I know they wouldn't do intentionally.  Honestly, it felt and still does, like someone put 100 pounds of bricks on each of my shoulders.  It felt like one of those movies where it seems like you are in slow motion but everything around you is moving at a million miles per hour.

Just to get out of my head - once you are the victim of the crime of divorce, your life changes forever.

What if God says No - Guest Post

I think I'm getting the hang of this guest post idea!  If you have something you would like to contribute - please let me know!!!  No parameters other than it has to be meaningful to growing in faith.  But other than that - it could be anything, poem, song, a prayer - any original work you want to share!  Please email me at amysvogel@hotmail.com if you are interested!

This morning's comes from my personal devotional plan - called Lifetime Daily Devotions.  It's a year long series and while I get it off my Bible App on my iPhone, you can also find it on the web here.

I had to share this with you because after Sophia's last scans still had a remnant and I had prayed, for the first time in a long time, so boldly for it to be gone - I had a very hard time reconciling what it meant.  It took me a few days to wrap my head around how I felt and this devotional confirms where I ended up: that what still shows up was a reminder from The Lord of His deliverance and healing - It remains to keep me dependent on Him.

A sweet friend, who prayed so boldly with me, was as disappointed as I was.  So, this one is for her too.  And, as always, it's for you, with my prayer that it will help you expand your perspective of The Lord and help you to love Him even more.

Enjoy!
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In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. (Hebrews 5:7)

I've seen pictures and drawn the scene in myo wn mind of Jesus offering up those prayers (Matthew 26:38-44) - intense, fervent, emotional, desperate, tearful prayers.  And we've just read that He was heard.  But even though His prayers were heard, apparently they were not answered as He had petitioned. 

That seems incredible to me.  If anyone should have His prayers answered immediately and to the most minute detail, it would be Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God.

You know, that happens to me too.  A crisis comes.  Difficult circumstances.  I pray and when the answer doesn't come as I expected, all sorts of thoughts invade my mind.  What do I do?  Have I done something wrong?  Is my prayer not right?  The difficult circumstances that Jesus was facing were not changed despite His prayers.  What did He do?  What did He have to stand on?

Well, He must have known that He was in God's plan.  How can I say that?  Because the plans were not altered, even though His prayers were heard when He suggested Plan B.  Have you ever suggested to God that there might be a better plan, only to have Him apparently reject your suggestion?  Have I?  Yes, many times.  Doesn't that mean that He has said, "No, My plan is better; we'll go with Mine'?  Jesus stood on that and so can we.

He was assured of His ability to meet the circumstances because the circumstances were not changed.  God is faithful.  He will not give you more than you can endure (1 Cor 10:13).  If He were not totally confident in my ability to endure, He would remove the circumstance.  I can believe that and walk in it, and so can you.

And how about this: He was not comforted by the knowledge of God's presence with Him.  In fact, He cried out, "Why are You not with Me?  Why have You forsaken Me?"  At the most crucial time, the most difficult time in His Life, God left Him on His own.  He abandoned Him.

Have you ever cried out, "God, where are You when I need You so desperately?"  Does He ever leave you or forsake you?  No.  We never have to experience what Jesus did....because of what Jesus did!   


Even when we are too weak to have any faith left, He remains faithful to us and will help us, for He cannot disown us who are a part of Himself, and He will always carry out His promises to us. (2 Tim 2:13, TLB)

That is ours!  We can stand on that!

He then proceeded on what He know to be Truth and what He had come to know of God in days past, not on what He was experiencing at the moment.  Isn't that walking by faith?  Oh the circumstances may be intense and they may not change, but I know God.  I've walked with Him through the years.  So I proceed in what I have come to believe. 

That door of faith was open to Jesus, and it is open to us.

His prayer was heard "because of His piety" (meaning godly reverence), not because of who He was, not because of His outstanding miracles, but because of His "godly reverence."  Do you understand?  This piety, this godly reverence that brought about answered prayer, can be ours just as it was His.

This one act of sacrifice was the final proof of His worthiness. 

It was after he had proved himself perfect in this experience that Jesus became the Giver of eternal salvation to all those who obey him. (Hebrews 5:9 TLB) 

He had fulfilled the plan.  From the very beginning He set His face like flint toward Calvary (Isaiah 50:7).  He refused to be deterred.

For who knows but that this is the very reason that you came to earth?  For just such a time as this, for this very hour? (Esther 4:14, my paraphrase) 

Like Queen Esther, like Jesus, maybe God's plan for us involves "such a time as this."  Quite a high calling.  Can I accept that high calling?  Yes, I can, by His grace and strength.  So can you.  Like Jesus and so many saints over the centuries, we can stand on these truths.... 

God's will - God's plan - is supreme.  I will rest in God's will.  God will not allow something to come into my like that I cannot bear.  It may seem like He is far away, but He has promosed that He will never leave me.  I know the Lord.  He loves me.  I will walk by faith in that truth.  He hears my prayers because of my love for Him.  This maybe the one experience in my life for what I was created.  I certainly don't want to blow it!!

I watched You, Lord, when You were facing circumstances of a magnitude that I have not experienced.  I listened to Your prayers.  I walked by Your side.  I learned.  Thank You, dear Jesus, for showing me the way through this maze of hurt, confusion and unrest.

Scars - Guest Post

When The Holy Spirit gives you a message - whether you think you are a good communicator or not - you better deliver it; because He will not leave you alone till you do!

My sweet friend Jolynne (Anna Grace's Mom), like so many of God's Chosen prophets, found this out last week. She just could not get an idea out of her head and felt no relief until she put it on paper. When I read it, I knew it was a message you would want to hear too. What beautiful faith she expresses, even in the midst of a situation most people never go through.

Enjoy and be encouraged!
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I have been thinking about scars quite a bit lately. Perhaps it is because of what we have been through the past couple of weeks. Our youngest, nearly 18 month old Aidan had to get two cuts on his face “derma-bonded” back together and one cut on his forehead stitched back together. All separate incidents, separate days and in the end, not a good week. There is just something that really hurts when that baby skin, which up to know was even, spotless, gorgeous - gets marred.

After each accident (especially the last) he cried and I cried. He cried because it hurt. I cried because I knew his face would never quite be the same again. I was so upset because my precious baby boy was hurting. There is nothing worse than seeing your child hurting.

Then I thought about Jesus – God’s only Son and how much it must have hurt our Heavenly Father to watch His spotless, perfect Son suffer and die on the cross; bearing our punishment (which He did not deserve) so that He could freely pay the price for our sins. How His heart must have ached!

So often, I find myself wishing that I could take away any pain or illness my children face. How I wish that I could trade places with them because it hurts so much more to see them hurt! You see, God loved us so much that He gave His only Son and watched Him die on the cross so that through Him, we could have eternal life. Amazing love!

You know what? We have proof of that love. When Jesus arose from the dead on the third day, He still had His scars: in His hands, in His feet, on His brow, in His side. The gospel of John tells us of Thomas’ encounter with the Risen Jesus. Thomas had doubted the reports from the other disciples that Jesus was alive. “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe it.” One week later, Jesus appeared amongst the disciples and said directly to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Wikipedia defines scars as:

Areas of fibrous tissue (fibrosis) that replace normal skin after injury; a scar results from the biological process of wound repair in the skin and other tissues of the body. Thus, scarring is a natural part of the healing process. (emphasis added)

God has such an amazing purpose for Christ scars. Those scars are a reminder of what our Lord did for us - a tangible, real, flesh-and-blood demonstration of His sacrifice. We will see those scars for ourselves one day. They will be the only man-made thing in Heaven because they are proof of how He healed us and the reason we can have hope for eternity.

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

I thank the Lord for those scars.

When I look at Aidan’s beautiful (but now imperfect) face, I am reminded of God’s love - of my healing through Christ. When I see Anna Grace’s six inch scar on the back of her head from her fight with cancer, it reminds me not only of all that she has been through but of her healing. It reminds me of the miracles we witnessed during her surgery and recovery. It reminds me to be thankful and to continue to pray for her to remain healthy. It reminds me that God is faithful. No matter how deep the hurt, no matter how dark the day, no matter how hopeless you feel, God is always faithful.

The scars remind us.

When I look around and see Anna Grace, Aidan and other children get hurt, sick or even pass away, I do not understand it. It hurts so much. But I do not doubt God. I do not doubt that God has a purpose and a plan.

‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ (Jeremiah 4:19)

I may not see it or understand it now but I know that one day, I will. Each and every one of us has been hurt and has the scars to prove it. But no matter how deep, how long, or how wide our scars – God can still heal us. Nothing can separate us from His love.

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

Perhaps God wants us to use our scars not as a reminder of pain but as a way to point others to Him. To help other people believe and be reminded that God is good, He is faithful and He loves each and every one of us so very much.

HE has the scars to prove it!