We Are Family
I didn’t need to look at a picture, because I can still see it in my mind so clearly.
My Facebook memories jolted me back to this day 15 years ago.
There would always be music playing during my treatments.
May 23, 2011
“We Are Family” today, which was appropriate as Dad and I were both there
for radiation…
“Have faith in you and the things you
You can’t go wrong, oh no..
This is our family jewel…”This was not the experience we planned on having together.
But having been diagnosed a year apart, we found ourselves in that small cancer center awaiting radiation treatment at the same time.
I have said this many times over the years.
Of the literal thousands of photos that I have, this is my most cherished one.
It encompasses my life verses in one snap shot .
“Two are better off than one, because together they can work more effectively. If one of them falls down, the other can help him up. But if someone is alone and falls, it’s just too bad, because there is no one to help him. If it is cold, two can sleep together and stay warm, but how can you keep warm by yourself? Two people can resist an attack that would defeat one person alone. A rope made of three cords is hard to break.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 GNTDFighting cancer alone would have defeated us.
But we were fighting together.
“Let love be your highest goal…”
1 Corinthians 14:1 NLTThere may have been just the two of us in this picture, but the outpouring of love we both received during this time included so many people that you don’t see here.
And we were constantly surrounded by His love.
Side by side, we were never alone, never unloved.
Friend, I don’t know what memories will pop up for you today.
My prayer is that you are reminded whatever you are facing, that He is with you.
You are part of His family.
We are family.
Blessings to all this weekend!
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Through the Storm
Raindrops fell quickly on the window of the car, but I could still see the irises in full bloom through the glass.
Something hopeful in the midst of an otherwise gloomy day.
The beauty was not hard to see if you were looking.
But that is not always the case.
Sometimes when we are in the middle of a storm, it is difficult to find the good.
We become focused on the outcome or our own fear.
But if we fix our gaze in Him, His light can break through the darkness of any storm we face.
He will not let us fall.
Even those closest to Jesus had trouble seeing what was right in front of them.
It only took a split second for Peter to take his eyes off the Savior before he let his fear take over.
“He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out His hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?””
Matthew 14:29-31 ESVFriends, it is easy to focus on our fear instead of our faith.
Whatever storm you are facing today, remember this:
He is with you always.
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Son Seekers
I learned a new word this morning.
Full disclosure.
I am a bit of a word nerd.
Here it is : heliotropism.
This is the act of flowers or leaves tracking the sun.
It is sometimes referred to as solar tracking.
Young sunflowers are one example, following the sun for growth.
The interesting fact is that two types of heliotropism exist.
Positive heliotropism is when plants move towards the sun.
Negative heliotropism is when plants move away from the sun.
Here is the most fascinating part of the this process to me: the movement is a daily, reversible process.
I love how God can use His creation to reflect our human nature so perfectly.
We can choose to follow the Son.
It is a daily, reversible process.
It is easy to be distracted by the things of this world and move away from the Son.
But if we want to grow, we need to follow Him daily.
My prayer today is that we all become Son-seekers and grow closer to Him.
Blessings in heaps to your week!
“Seek more of His strength! Seek more of Him! Let’s always be seeking the light of His face.”
Psalms 105:4 TPTShare this:
Finding Peace Right Where You Are
Nature has a way of quieting the noise of the world.
The birds chirping outside.
The gentle falling of the rain.
The sound of the waves as you walk along the beach.
It is hard to describe how almost instantly that sound calms my spirit.
Standing by the ocean brings me such peace.
Maybe it is because during these times I pause to listen and let my worries go.
I can’t always get to the beach, lovely as that would be, to find that peace.
But there is another place I have access to every day.
No car ride or flights required.
It’s in His Presence.
A place where I can sit and calm the storms in my mind.
It is the place where I know I can always find peace and restoration.
“Don’t fret or worry.
Instead of worrying, pray.
Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”
Philippians 4:6-7 MSGFriend, if you want to experience His peace today, take the time to sit with Him for a while.
He is always near.
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Where Are You Going?
The line of cars was long waiting to get into the church parking lot.
Suddenly, I caught a car out of the corner of my eye passing us on the right.
Not in a lane, but on the gravel and grass beside it.
As if the driver inside could hear me, I said out loud:
“Where are you going?
We are all going somewhere.”While a line of cars may feel frustrating to some, it’s a beautiful sight to see so many people waiting to hear the message.
Crowds are a sign that people are seeking more.
Seeking Him.
Jesus encountered many crowds in His day.
He didn’t get frustrated or turn people away.
He patiently and graciously moved so that all could hear the message.
“That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.”
Matthew 13:1-2 NIVIt is easy to get impatient.
Sometimes we forget that
where we are going for eternity is more important than where we are going day to day.Until that day when we are called home, remember that lines are blessings.
Crowds means people are searching for a message of hope.
We are all going somewhere.
Where are you going?
Hope to see you in the car line.
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Receive It in Your Heart
Somedays feel a little more chaotic than others.
On those days, it is easy to turn to the things of the world to calm our anxious hearts.
Music often soothes the soul in ways nothing else can.
And when His message is woven into the lyrics, a certain sense of peace can wash over us.
The other day this hymn written by Elinor J. Di Falco popped into my head.
It was one I had committed to memory from my childhood.
Nostalgia and comfort flowed through me quickly.
“The peace of the Lord is given to you, receive it in your heart.
The joy of the Lord is with you too, receive it in your heart.
Make it grow in you and me; make it glow for all to see.
Show his love to all the world, it is in your heart.”
The peace of the Lord is given to us all.
Will you receive it in your heart?
“I leave the gift of peace with you—My peace. Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but My perfect peace. Don’t yield to fear or be troubled in your hearts—instead, be courageous!”
John 14:27 TPTShare this:
Look for the Beauty
It is easy to focus on the negative.
We are constantly bombarded with images and news of these things.
But that is not what God tells us to do in His word.
As we begin a new week, look for the beauty.
What is kind and true.
Fix your gaze and your mind on His glorious creation.
And then remember to thank Him.
“Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising Him always.”
Philippians 4:8 TPTShare this:
In His Presence
Each year I drive back to this spot along the river.
The menu has not changed in the 40 plus years since I have worked there as a waitress.
In a world that is always changing, this brings me comfort.
I sit across from a friend and have my favorite meal, dipping my fries in the homemade tartar sauce.
Cars pack the parking lot and all of the picnic tables are filled.
Families having conversations.
A group of friends taking pictures together by the river bank.
There is joy in watching people pause and enjoy His creation.
And just like this place has not changed in all this time, there is another place that I can go to that brings me even more comfort.
I don’t need to drive 2 hours to get there and it is available 24 hours a day.
It is in His presence.
This is where I find my peace.
In a world that is always changing, spending time with the One who never changes will bring you comfort like nothing else can.
Will you pause today to spend time with Him?
“Whenever my busy thoughts were out of control, the soothing comfort of Your presence calmed me down and overwhelmed me with delight.”
Psalms 94:19 TPTShare this:
Still Beautiful
The petals hugged the edge of the curb.
They had fallen into random piles on the road.
I decided to reshape one of the piles and add a heart in the middle.
Even though the petals had fallen from their original place, they were still beautiful.
And that is what God does with us.
Regardless of our falling away, He still sees us as beautiful.
Worthy of His love.
He helps to reshape our hearts when we let Him in.
Will you let Him into your heart today?
“And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.”
Ezekiel 36:26 NLTShare this:
Every Step
Did you ever have one of those days?
Everything just felt a bit off, and my thoughts started to keep in time with the beats of my anxious heart.
But God.
He sends reminders just at the right time.
Before I got ready to enter my next stop, I looked down to see this.
Thank you for always knowing what I need.
“Lord, you know everything there is to know about me. You perceive every movement of my heart and soul, and you understand my every thought before it even enters my mind. You are so intimately aware of me, Lord. You read my heart like an open book. You know all the words I’m about to speak before I even start a sentence! You know every step I will take before my journey begins.”
Psalms 139:3-4 TPTShare this:
