Miracles...

I love this picture of the sky and the radiant light shining through the clouds. I think heaven might be right beyond the purple haze.

I have been thinking about miracles that have occurred in my life over the past few days, and wanted to share a few thoughts about how people view miracles, or indeed if they believe in them at all?

A miracle is defined as an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs. Also, an unusual event, thing, or accomplishment.

We live in a time of miracles, yet many people think they have an answer as to why something happens or does not. Cynics may call it logic, I would call it a miracle.

Do you believe in miracles?  I have believed in miracles all my life. I have had too many close encounters to think I just have good luck!!

We see miracles unfold everyday. A newborn baby, a stunning sunrise or sunset,the amazing works of nature and its many unanswered splendors. We witness physical and emotional healing and personal success, we witness unmerited favor, and wonder why some get more than others?

We all hear the stories, you have to be at the right place at the right time, then good things happen, or if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time bad things will happen.  But I have never thought that luck or a certain timing was part of the deal. I believe there is a purpose for everything in its own time. Wouldn't it be lovely if we could control time and outcomes, but we cannot. So we must continue to believe.

If you take note of an unusual occurrence or event, and you can't explain it away through logic and or reason, you might want to call it a miracle. What else could it be? Not everything that occurs in life has a concrete explanation.

It would be so sad to live in a world of absolutes, I like it when life surprises me, I like it when something unexplainable happens.  It increases my faith, my own personal belief in God, and it reminds me to  continue to dream my dreams and believe in the impossible.

Because we are imperfect human beings, we sometimes place limitations on God. But, God's power has no limitations. God will work miracles in our lives in we continue to trust Him.

I think if you look around in your own life today, you might find a small miracle...you need only to open your eyes, your ears, and your heart. The miracle in front of you may be you.

We have a God who delights in impossibilities...Andrew Murray

You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples...Psalm 77:14 NIV

Reap the love...

Valentine's Day is right around the corner, what are you giving your loved one? What would you like to receive from your loved one?

Browsing through the store today I noted flowers, heart shaped candy, roses, stuffed animals, rose petals, cookies, cakes, love Cd's, videos, beautiful cards, a plethora of goods to entice a loved one.

So many kinds of love...Love of a husband, wife, family, friends, grandchildren, neighbors, strangers and of course the greatest of these...the love of God.

Like the little girl carrying her small bouquet of fragrant flowers, she walks towards a moment wisely chosen. This little girl could be me today, feeling like I have a life time ahead of me, filled with wonder, adventures, expectations, new possibilities, new friendships, and always the love of God by my side. You need not be a little one to enjoy whatever time you have here on this earthly plane.

Most of our heart-held relationships, those that add to our lives and multiply our blessings, are fairly drought-resistant, they can thrive on bursts of concentrated love and attention.  If nurturing and sustaining our relationships feels like yet another energy-draining obligation, I think we need to change our perception and see friendship as a sacred, life-enhancing gift we give and receive.

Give yourself and others the gift of time...Allow yourself ten minutes a day of quiet and solitude. Make no demands on how to use that time; just relax and be open and still...and see what God has for you. Receive the gift of God's time by listening and allowing Him into your very being. We can learn so much by being open and then become the vessel through which God works.

Today is the day to reap the time...tomorrow is the time to enjoy that which you have created and brought forth.

Today is the day to reap the love your heart desires.  It really doesn't take much, just your time. You can keep the spirit of Valentine's Day alive everyday by reaching out to one another through love.

Love one another deeply, from the heart. 1 Peter 1:22 NIV

Let's take a walk...

The snow crunching beneath my feet and the starkness of the white covered ground brought me to a place of quiet repose and reflection. I am the woman walking alone and trusting my God.

Just when you think you know how things are going to turn out...God steps up and into that magical space of hope and promise and grants you more than you ever thought was possible.

The last two weeks for me has been a roller coaster. Everything from doctor visits to crisis with my son. I thought I knew what was coming and predicted the outcome, but I was so very wrong.

Just like the beginning of last year my faith was put to the test. Was I up for the challenge? I thought not, but once again, God showed up and surprised me with unconditional love and abundance.

Walking in God's light and grace gave me great opportunity to touch my son's life like never before. I have been praying for Eric and all my children since I can remember. But the prayers in the past few weeks went something like this..."Please God, help me to help you reach into my son's heart and life, let him see your light and walk towards it, give him the peace he seeks and strength and courage he will need to continue on. I will step aside and trust you to do whatever it is you have for him, keep him safe, well and courageous." A simple prayer with miraculous results.

Two weeks ago neither he or I knew his fate. But on Tuesday the 18th of January my son was set free and was ready to begin an unexpected journey. He didn't know I was there to support him and he drove back to where I was, jumped out of the cab and we hugged and held on to each other just like when he was a little boy who needed a mother's touch and a hand to help him stand up and become who I knew he could be.

He and I drove to the beach and watched a beautiful sunset and basked in the favor of God.  It was our 9 year anniversary date of my kidney transplant. He was my donor. He has struggled over the years and his life he thought had not been touched by God. But he was so wrong. God and his angels have watched over him and kept him safe. After 18 years of addiction, he was ready to submit.

So on Sunday the 23rd of January he and his son Dylan stood before God and the church and my son asked for help for the first time in his life. I mean spiritual help.  I am sure over the years he has prayed, cried out, and went through much suffering, the long suffering that we Christians talk about. But this day he was not ashamed and I pray, he turned his life over to God.

God acted quickly..joint custody of his son Dylan remained, he received his guard card and with his record it surely was doubtful.  Then one of the members of the board made a phone call and got him a job interview, he got the job today and begins a new job and a new life tomorrow.

Now he has a tomorrow to look forward to. My prayer for him today is this: "Father thank you for you grace, mercy, love and for giving him an opportunity to know you and love you as I do."

So take a walk with God today, with God holding one hand and faith holding the other and trust that He will take you where you need to go.

In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps...Proverbs 16:9 NIV

Generation to generation...

I wonder what my son is thinking in this picture of two generations?  He looks pensive and maybe he is reading a book or showing his son Dylan how to work a new toy.  They are sharing a moment, father and son.  Sometimes I wish I could make my children's lives easier and care free. I pray for them daily and ask God to touch their lives and keep them safe.

As I was driving around today it suddenly occurred to me that God does watch over them but it isn't God who needs to wake them up, but it is themselves that must pursue and seek God. I think we get that backwards sometimes and may lose our own faith thinking that God is not doing His job. But God is doing His job, we need pray that the person will have his own awareness of God and seek Him out on their own. If we think God can fix all, we must remember that God expects much from us and we must be diligent in our own grown and learning. We must trust God and learn to trust that others will find their own way.

It has been a difficult week in our country. If we all would just take a breath, look around at the blessings we have and look for the goodness in people, we would fare well. God teaches us compassion, love, and understanding. We must do that for all, not just those we think are worthy. If you have someone in your life that you don't think is worthy, think again.  We all make mistakes, have personal struggles and battles, we all have pain, sadness and lose. But we all deserve love and a prayer to help us find our way.

Please be kind to someone today. It isn't important that you feel better, but that you have made someone else feel worthy and loved. I pray that my words, thoughts and prayers will be remembered generation to generation.

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless...Mother Teresa

The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you."  Psalm 32:8 NLT

2011...A rebirth

What are your expectations for 2011? Do you have a dream or a goal? Aren't we blessed that we get that chance not just when the new year rings in, but everyday that your feet touch the floor. When we have our minds and a healthy body to do what we wish, we should not let opportunity pass us by.

Like the children running thru the sand and into the cool surf we have the chance to start anew. A rebirth of sorts. To experience the cool water on your feet, and the cool mist on your face we run towards a new day and maybe a new dream.

It doesn't have to be a big dream, but the gift that God gives us is the opportunity. We miss opportunities  because we may think the task at hand is too hard, takes too much time, or we don't have the confidence to do that which God presents before us.

Confidence comes from jumping into the project or a goal, you need not beat yourself up if it takes time or it doesn't move as quickly as you would like. We must learn to be obedient to ourselves, but first to God. We must also be patient in the waiting. For it is in the waiting that we learn, grown and develop our patience, after all, think of how patient God has been with us. 

Talking about God is easy; living by His commandments is considerably harder. But, unless we are willing to abide by God's laws, our righteous proclamations ring hollow.  How can we best proclaim our love for the Lord? By obeying Him.

So start your new year with a goal to increase your confidence and stay the course by having courage, taking the time to complete one project at a time, and keeping the faith that all you hope for and desire will come to fruition.

Dreams have a new beginnning everyday, take advantage of the day.

For when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don't  try to squirm out of your problems.   James 1:3-4  TLB