Angela Beach Silverthorne's Blog, page 7

Money, Money, Money

Money, money, money must be funny in a rich man’s world!

I can’t help but think of this song every time I get phone calls from Omaha, NE; Washington DC; E. Waterford, PA; Santa Paula, CA; or Lytton Spg, TX. All the calls want is money for political agendas, ad campaigns, or to stop certain political opponents. Really? Money is not the answer folks. If they were selling something of value, they wouldn’t have to ask for money. We would already be sending it.

When my grandmother died, I helped mother clean out her home. While taking clothes out of the dresser, a letter fell on the floor. It was one I had written to her when I was seven years old.

Dear Grandmama,
How are you and Papa doing? I miss and love you so much. Could you send me a quarter? I really need it. Love, Angela

Guess I was practicing for today’s culture!!! I set it up to make them feel good and then wham, I’m asking for money.

Money, money, money.

And have you noticed all the pop-up ads on Facebook recently? Cure wrinkles. Write a book today! Buy this. Buy that. It’s beginning to feel like an assault.

In my devotional this morning, I read:

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. . . . and which of you by worrying can add one cubit to your stature? . . . But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Luke 12:22-31, paraphrased)

When I get stressed over every day occurrences, I get so agitated. I lose my joy.

John Piper said, “Maintaining joy in God takes work; that is, it’s a fight against every impulse for alien joys and every obstacle in the way to seeing and savoring Christ.”

“Rejoice always.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16)

I have to fight to feel the joy. And that’s okay. Fighting or resolving to be joyful has many bonuses, internal and external.

Omaha, NE just called me again. I felt my ire rising, but I fought back, answered the phone, and listened before saying, “Thank you for your offer. You are so kind. I pray God blesses you to the uttermost. Have a wonderful day. Goodbye.”

I did not hang up on Omaha, NE. And before the receiver left my ear I heard, “Thank you! God bless you, too”

Joy.

God will do it His way – in great and unexpected ways through us when we trust Him and fight for joy in the middle of life’s aggravations!!!!

Are you fighting for joy in your life? If so, marinate in the following verses:

Romans 12:12 “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”

Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

James 1:2 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.”

Proverbs 17:22 “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

Psalm 16:9 “Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.”

Psalm 118:24 “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

1 Thessalonians 2:20 “For You are our glory and joy.”

1 John 1:4 “And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.”


Fight for joy! Marinate in it! It’s the key to physical, emotional, and spiritual health.

God bless you,

Summer At Camp Love

My husband and I had a very concentrated six weeks of summer company. It was awesome and filled with joy and blessings. At one point we had sixteen at the beach! As our summer fun was coming to an end, our seven-year-old granddaughter handed us a postcard: Greetings from Camp Love! (with the word Wannago! struck out).


I don’t think our granddaughter knew what Wannago meant or she might have inserted the “love” in between Camp and Wannago.

The postcard has been in front of me for a few days. The house seems way too quiet, the laundry is caught up, and the bare refrigerator is filled with healthy food again. I miss the morning sleepyheads who straggled into the kitchen with a blanket wrapped around their shoulders asking for juice. I miss the kitchen table filled with art supplies and stacks of finished and unfinished artwork. I miss the chatter of small voices.

I wannago back to the chaos and feeling filled up with love. I wannago back to the beach, the zoo, the aquarium, and the theater. I wannago randomly to the ice cream store and sit at the waterfront in Washington, N. C., licking very fast to catch every drop of coconut, chocolate, almond ice cream in 98 degree weather. I truly don’t want summer company and fun to be over.

So today Dallas and I got in his ’57 Chevy, and we went to Scoops Ice Cream Store in Washington. We got our favorite ice cream and walked over to the waterfront to enjoy our dessert, people watch, and settle into the late afternoon heat and slight breeze off the Pamlico River.

And for a moment, summer fun was back on, and I could feel all the blessings and joy of those six weeks. I closed my eyes and said a prayer of thanksgiving. When I opened them, I witnessed the most beautiful sunset ever. It was like another blessing, a gift to remember God’s love pours out in many ways: grandchildren, fellowship, worship, fun, and nature.

As I get back into the routine of life after Camp Love, I realize I am eager and excited about our next Camp Wannago, I mean Camp Love. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for our family.

Have you had a wannago summer? If not, it’s not over yet. Plan a wannago outing and invite someone that needs to have a little fun and companionship.

God be with you!

All Lives Matter

My Papa, Theodule Joseph LeMaire, was a descendant of Pierre Thibaudeau and his wife Jeanne Terriau who left France to settle in Acadia (Nova Scotia). Their lives as settlers in a new land were extremely hard. But life got harder. The British Conquest of Acadia in 1710 set up deep barriers between the French settlers and the British, culminating in the Great Expulsion in 1755 of the French. Ten families in my ancestry line were put in concentration camps. Later, they were deported to many different locations. Most of my family ended up in the swamps of Louisiana. They later became known as Cajuns.

My Papa was born in 1898. Only one time do I remember his sharing how hard life was for him, and his immediate and extended family. French mothers fought hard to keep their family heritage and language at the forefront of their teachings. Papa’s mother insisted her family only speak French. If she heard them speak English, the children were punished severely. At that time, assimilation into the English culture in Louisiana was forbidden by French families. The children received the brunt of this division. If they spoke French in public, they were often slighted, made fun of, or physically harmed by the English settlers.

My great-grandmother’s maiden name was Hebert (pronounced A Bear). The picture below gives a clear indication of what the Cajun/French children had to deal with.

This painting entitled “He Burt Yes. A Bear No.” by George Rodrigue illustrates what Cajun children had to deal with for years. It shows a boy in school where the black board says ‘No French Spoken in School’. In the painting, the little boy is being chastised for pronouncing his name, Hebert, using the French dialect. The English speaking teacher wanted him to pronounce his last name phonetically (He Burt), robbing the boy of his nationality and culture.

My grandfather spoke broken English all his life but he persevered, working long hours in the rice fields of Louisiana. He eventually broke tradition, learned English, and moved out of Louisiana in order to better himself. By the time I was born, my grandfather ran a furniture store and wore a suit and top hat to work every day He worked past his cultural disabilities to provide a good life for my grandmother, mother, and aunt. My mother said she never heard her father belabor his plight in life. He only showed his family his pride in succeeding.

This is not an unusual story. A lot of people flocked to America and went through the same kind of discrimination, violence, and persecution that my French forefathers endured. But that was then and this is now. These ancestors of different cultures, languages, and beliefs paved the way for our freedom. I’m sorry bad things happened to those refugees. But we live in the twenty-first century, and free to be all we want to be. I don’t care what circumstances you are facing, our forefathers showed us that perseverance and a strong work ethic can bridge gaps to ensure a good life.

More importantly, we need to focus on what is real to all of us today.

Jesus died for each of us. He ended the debate on which lives matter. Everyone matters. The prostitute. The unbeliever. The lost. The demon-possessed. The doubter. The sick. The widows. Jesus encountered them all with love and offered words for an eternal life. When people approached Jesus, he engaged them. Jesus also pursued the ordinary and unlikely and called them to follow Him.

Isn’t this what we should be focusing on in 2016? I don’t expect an apology from the British or from the English colonists about the deplorable treatment and persecution my family endured. What I want to remember is their survival, determination, and sheer willpower to persevere. Without that, I might not be here today writing these words. I am alive and free because of the perseverance of my ancestors, and I’m so proud.

Let’s end the debate on whose life matters. It truly is not up for debate.

We are God’s children: red and yellow, black and white, we are precious in His sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.

Do you believe this?

You should. Jesus loves you, and He can’t lie. Jesus also insists we love one another.

We are in this messy, dangerous world together. We need all races and cultures in this great land to put their energy on creating a better life for generations to come by focusing on what we have in common. Remember Jesus understands persecution and hatred. He was killed by people who should have opened their arms to Him. I’m sure His heart breaks over every death and killing that has happened in our great country.

I implore you to read Dr. Tony Evans book, “America: Turning A Nation To God”. In it he states, “America is in serious trouble. From sea to shining sea we are witnessing the devolution of a nation. Regardless of which side of the political aisle you sit, it is clear that things are unraveling at warp speed. The United States is quickly becoming the divided states as signs of disunity and conflicts abound. From family breakdowns to the immigration crisis to the abiding racial divide to Congress’ inability to function; it is clear we are a fraying nation. Add to this the continuing moral decay that is engulfing us, whether it is the redefinition of marriage and the family, abortions on demands, a media that continues to dumb down decency, or an educational system that increasingly seeks to impart information without ethics in the name of ‘freedom’. We are as a nation sliding south fast. The American dream is quickly becoming the American nightmare as more and more citizens become disillusioned with the direction things seem to be going.”

I am glad my Papa is dead and cannot see what has happened to America. I think his heart would break just like Jesus’.

We have to secure our land and return it to God in our worship, praise, and how we conduct our lives. There is nothing more immediate or urgent than our unity as a people.

What can you do today to help discord in your area? This is not a rhetorical question. It’s an imperative one that needs to happen now.

One thing I know I can do to help unify is to talk more about Jesus. Even unbelievers know what He went through; and yet, through it all, He maintained integrity and love in all He did. Share the hard core reality of Jesus. Tell others what Jesus has done for you (Luke 8:39).

As Lysa Terkeurst said, “Our job is obedience. God’s job is results.”

Charles Spurgeon ended a sermon with this call, “Now, get at it all of you! You that are doing nothing for Jesus, be ashamed of yourselves and ask Him to work in you so that you may begin to work for Him.”

God has given us the power of choice. Let’s accept our responsibility to do something about it.

As you plan how you can help change things, keep your eyes upward. Pray continually for God’s intervention and mercy on our nation and her people.

God bless you. God bless America.

Renew A Right Spirit In Me

“Hey, Missy, do you know Jesus?”

I was 7 years old. Both my parents worked; so, I had to walk to and from school by myself. I don’t remember any lecture about strangers. If I was told about the dangers, I quickly forgot them when an elderly black man halted me in midstride to ask me a question.

“Hey, Missy, do you know Jesus?”

I was walking past a large cotton mill in Rome, Georgia. When I stopped, he motioned for me to come and sit down beside him. I realize now he was sitting on a retainer wall leading down to a docking bay for delivery and pickup, and he was probably on a break or waiting for the next truck to arrive.

His smile was infectious, so sincere and welcoming. I didn’t hesitate to join him. Seeing I was too small to join him on the wall, he jumped down and hoisted me up. Then he joined me.

“Have you ever heard about Jesus?” He asked, smiling at me again.

I just shook my head. Curiosity killed the cat, as my Papa would have said. I wanted to know who this person was.

“Jesus was a great man. He taught us love. We are supposed to tell everyone about this love.” Then he laughed. I could hear it bellow over my head. A deep, throaty laugh, deep like his voice.

That day began a meeting every afternoon for what seemed like forever, especially now. I remember his voice and his words. He would tell me stories about Jesus. Then he would start the drill. All I remember are the first few names he had me recite, “Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Paul, Jude, and James.” I tried so hard to memorize them just like he said. I wanted to please him so he would tell me more stories about Jesus and the people that knew Him.

This beautiful black man has stayed in my memory for almost 60 years. If he told me his name, I have forgotten it, but I’ve never forgotten his attention and the powerful words he shared with me. I’ve often wondered if this was God’s way to begin my journey into faith. Seeds planted that have grown and grown because one man decided to tell me about Jesus.

The year was 1957. I didn’t know anything about racial tension or color bias. I was a 7 year old girl who met a man who was living out his commission in life: spreading the gospel of Jesus to all who came across his path.

Isn’t that what we are supposed to do? Nothing matters more than for followers of Jesus Christ to keep the Words written in red close to our heart and proclaim Jesus’ victory in our lives. We’re to share Jesus’ love with everyone regardless of who they are.

“Call out for insight, and cry aloud for understanding.” (Proverbs 2:3)

Become more interested in a person’s character rather than the package they are in. Look beyond the color or disability or size and into their heart. It might seem too simple to change the explosion of racial tension that is threatening to implode our country, but we need to stop running down the agonizing road of hate and dissension. It didn’t work in the ‘60’s and it won’t work now.

How do you view people? By color? By faith? By actions? By sin?

Take these to Jesus and let Him guide you through scripture for a fresh revelation.

Our hearts are messy with sin, weakness, and judgment. We feast on selfishness, pride, and ambition. On our own we can accomplish nothing, but with Jesus we can conquer the bitter bile of racial conflict and social tension.

Lord, create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from Thy presence;
Take not Thy holy Spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation;
And renew a right spirit within me.



God bless you,

Hope Is Freedom

My nephew was in the hospital for 65 days. He’s been a quadriplegic for 40 years and up until this hospital stay he’s been able to manage life and live independently with the use of trained helpers.

For 65 days many people have been by his side. They have offered help, but more importantly, they have offered him Jesus in the way they act and conduct their lives. And my nephew has listened, requesting prayers before they left the room. My husband and I have watched expectantly knowing God was going to show up in a mighty way in His perfect timing.

But the looming problem: my nephew was losing hope. He had fought a good fight, but he wasn’t healing like he should. For 64 days the hospital staff changed his orders many times, and we watched as his condition changed from grave to poor, but never really getting any better. Then on day 65, the surgeon walked in and told him to go home and see if he could manage better with his helpers. He was released that day.

He still has a battle ahead of him, but being home has offered hope. Many issues have arisen, but he’s had a tremendous support group who has rushed in to help. His faith is growing. As faith grows, hope grows.

On Monday, we celebrate the 4th of July, Independence Day, when 13 colonies celebrated their freedom as a new nation with a new home – the United States of America.

Our forefathers had renewed hope when they were freed from British rule. They knew they would have issues ahead, but they were ready to move forward and succeed as a new nation.

“Hope is the thing that gets us up in the morning when we know that God cares but we haven’t seen any evidence of it in the last few days. Hope drives us onward when we stop and quit. Hope keeps our dreams alive while we are waiting.” (Dr. David Jeremiah)

How about you? Are you facing circumstances that are taxing your hope?

Attend a 4th of July celebration, remember and feel the power of hope that is still vital 240 years after our battle for freedom.

Take that hope home and pray for God’s intercession in your life, trials, struggles, and heartbreak. Ask God to help you revitalize your hope. Hope is the freedom to move forward and live life to its fullest.

Happy 4th of July! God bless you all,

Love Never Forsakes

Last year my heart broke when Dylann Roof on June 17, 2015 walked into a Charleston, SC church and began shooting. In less than a year, there have been many more shootings. Mass shootings are described as four or more people shot in one incident. It’s becoming more frequent and more deadly.

On June 12, 2016, in the wee hours of the morning at an Orlando, Florida nightclub, the deadliest mass shooting attack in American history occurred.

I was brokenhearted. For the lives lost, and the man who did this atrocious act of violence. Every deceased person had someone that loved them, and their hearts are broken, too.

On Tuesday, I was standing in line at a store when I overheard a conversation on the shooting. It was ugly and mean. There seemed to be little remorse for the victims, and an almost acceptance of the tragedy. Their laughter caught me off-guard as they speculated that maybe a Muslim could have killed people based on their sexual preference or orientation.

At first, I got sick at my stomach. I knew these people went to area churches. But the absolute worst thing was, for just a moment, I leaned in and let Satan tip my ear to hear their horrible accusations. It was an ungodly conversation with ungodly thoughts. I’m so blessed that I immediately took my thoughts captive, reigning them back under God’s authority.

Folks, John 13:34-35 states:


“Love one another; as I have loved you.”

Jesus does not segregate or isolate a particular people. He said, “Love one another; as I have loved you.” It’s all inclusive. It doesn’t say “leave out the sinner” because if we did that we would have to eliminate everyone, including ourselves.

This mass killing and all the other heinous acts committed across our vast land have left people devastated. Their loved ones are dead. Murder has left fear in the hearts of many. Some wonder if their lives will ever be the same again.

Jesus asks us to love one another as He loves not to justify a killing or a killer’s intentions. There is no justification.

We have to keep our eyes on God, not on sin. We have to preach the good news of the gospel to our hearts first in order to remind ourselves how much Jesus sacrificed for all of us.

At church on Sunday, the Praise Band played Meredith Andrews song, “Not For A Moment”. The words are so right to sing over God’s children who are deceased, and to those who feel they have been left in a dry and thirsty land, wondering how they can possibly move forward.

They can, but it’s with God’s mercy, love, and grace. They need our outpouring of love and prayers.


Hope you are able to view the video and let the words sink deep into your soul. We’ve all been in the throes of heartbreak. Let our heart always break for the things that breaks Jesus’ heart.

Go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD0cv...

Not for a moment will God forsake us. God bless you,

"

I'm Ready To Listen

The news on TV can be stifling. People expressing their views about the news can be unnerving. Reading the newspaper is depressing. Magazines distort or embellish even the lies. More and more people wonder what truth really is and where they can we find it. Or buy it. Manufacture it. Make it. Or possibly create it.

I was sick and tired of being sick and tired of it all. So I decided I was better off being uninformed since I was having trouble shoveling through the mirage of “truths” to find a kernel of truth or none.

But let me share something with you. There are several verses the Lord has placed before me recently to pray over and remember as the Truth. I wrote about one in my blog post, Do You Believe.

The second verse God offered me was 2 Chronicles 20:12. I sat with this one a long time, holding it in my mind, and marinating in its profound lesson.


God hit the nail on the head with this one. It wasn’t the first time I had read it, but now its nuances became clearer. The words went beyond a physical army, applying to all aspects of life and living, and wrapping its meaning in the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. God verified this by sending me to other verses about His Truth and Sovereignty.

Proverbs 19:21 Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the Lord’s decree will prevail.

Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be frightened or discouraged for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Isaiah 45:6-7 This is so people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides Me; I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things.

Psalm 22:28 For kingship belongs to the Lord, and He rules over the nations.

Hebrews 2:8 Now in putting everything in subjection to Him, He left nothing outside His control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to Him.

Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

John 17:17 Sanctify them in the Truth; Your Word is Truth.

The verses came through devotionals, Bible study, faith-based blog posts, and sermons my pastors preached over a six month period.

The vast army Jehoshaphat faced was fearful. It was vast. The armies coming down on God’s people were fearless, mighty, and evil. Much like those people I heard about on the TV who were doing evil, despicable deeds. And scarier were those heinous crimes committed in my country and worse my hometown.

Jehoshaphat gathered the people together and went to God in a bold prayer-cry. Jehoshaphat asked God, “Are You not the God who is in heaven, and do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations?” God’s people knew their God and expected no less than His full deliverance from their attackers.

Here goes several life lessons God placed on my heart:

1.Go to God immediately with your concern.

2.Pray BOLD. Your God wants you to state who He is and then confirm you know He can do all things in His will and timing!

3.The vast army going against God’s people, instilling fear in their heart also occurs today. Satan, our enemy, tries to defeat us and disillusion us by distorting the truth in order to take our eyes off the Almighty God.

4.And don’t think it’s all about the horrid things on the news. That vast army is also the day-to-day mess we find ourselves in – being overwhelmed, frazzled, disappointed, angry, unforgiving, gossiping (yep, that one, too), and faltering in the steadfast knowledge that God is over all things, including rulers and nations. That’s Satan’s playground, too, trying to keep our eyes on worldly things.


The Battle is the Lord’s. Our job is to keep spreading the Good News, and at the same time, to keep vigilant by staying in Scripture to be able to detect lies and deception. We need to lift up our greatest gift to the Father, our worship and praise. Let Heaven ring with our rejoicing. Joy will overflow on us. That’s worth singing about and listening to.

Let God’s blessing flow over you,

(Opening picture is from Dear God Kids series book, Guess What, I'm Ready to Listen Now!; Flying Frog Publishing, 2011)

Memorial Day 2016!

Remember all the men and women in the military who have served this great nation. Sometimes we forget their sacrifice - long periods away from their family and home. Often we forget their efforts to keep our nation free by putting their lives in harms way. Please stop and say a prayer for everyone that has served, is serving, and will serve in our armed forces. America is free and beautiful because of them! God bless our military! Angela

Dump It!

Getting rid of years of your “stuff”, your mom’s “stuff”, and your grandmother’s “stuff” is hard. Why did I hang on to so many things?

Just dump it! But I can’t. I feel like a child clutching a toy, screaming, “Mine!”

Recently, I tried to throw away the 200 VHS videos my grandmother gave me. It should have taken me no more than 15 minutes to pick up those videos and toss them into the trashcan. Two hours later, I’m still reading the backs covers, reminiscing over the times I sat with my grandmother and watched these old black and white and colored films. Beautiful memories, along with unforgettable quotes.

How could I throw away Love Is A Many Splendored Thing. I mean it is William Holden and Jennifer Jones! Who could forget Suyin saying this?

“I am so happy it frightens me.”

“You are gentle, and there's nothing stronger in the world than gentleness.”

Okay . . .you didn’t see the movie, and these lines mean nothing to you. That’s okay. I’ve cried for both of us.

The point is I’m struggling to throw away things in order to downsize my life. I’ve got stuff packed up to the ceiling!!!

Why am I struggling over things that are not being used? And probably never will be. It makes me wonder what else I am struggling to get rid of.

“Everything in this life—and everyone you hold dearest and most precious—you must release one day. Corrie Ten Boom said it well: "Hold everything in your hands lightly, otherwise it hurts when God pries your fingers open." Job, who had suffered the loss of his ten children, had learned the hard lesson of holding onto God’s gifts with loose fingers. He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return there. The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. May the name of the LORD be blessed!” (Job 1:21) Are you grasping something—or someone—too tightly? Loosen your grip.” (Reg Grant on June 21, 2009 in DTS Devotional)

Maybe God is getting me ready for a bigger downsize. Maybe the housecleaning and house-clearing is a way to prepare for now and later. As I picked up another old movie, I felt it was time to let go.

Maybe it’s time for me to finish the work of letting go of temporal things.


“I cling to You; Your strong right hand upholds me.” Psalm 63:8

Cling to Jesus and hold everything else loosely in your hand.

God bless you,

Do you believe?

Several weeks ago I began whining about my health, lack of energy, and feeling overwhelmed with life. I prayed, but the words I uttered sounded like whining, too. Frankly, I was getting tired of myself.

During all this boo-hooing, I kept doing my Bible study. One morning I ran across Matthew 9:28 and I stalled, reading it over and over again.

“Do you believe I am able to do this?”

All those “I” statements came rushing back to me. I can’t do this. I’m too tired to do that. I wish I could crawl under the sheet and stay there until I feel more like me.

I . . . I . . . I.

So I kept reading the verse. Did I believe God could do this? Handle all my mess? Could I trust Him enough to get it done?
Then the absolute unimaginable sentence slipped into my mind. Would God do it the way I wanted it done or would He change things . . . or change me?

Wow! Now I had shifted the whole ballgame. God was asking me to put my full trust in His delivery even when I didn’t particularly like His response. So I spent the next few weeks listening, waiting, doing less complaining, and a lot more praying.

I began each day in prayer. And I prayed over what I had on the calendar and asked for God’s guidance on every bit of it.. At first it was an inner struggle. If I sat down, my knees would bob up and down. My grandmother used to call it the St. Vitus dance. I never asked her what it meant, and I’ve used the expression many times; so I looked it up.

“Sydenham’s chorea, historically referred to as Saint Vitus Dance, is a disorder characterized by rapid, uncoordinated jerking movements primarily affecting the face, hands, and feet. “

In my case, it was the legs. But the action actually began to calm me down. Don’t ask. I’m strange. Ask my granddaughter, Jackie. She shakes her head and smiles as soon as I begin to explain the oddities of life. Don’t ask about that either.

At the end of each day, I began to see God’s hand in every movement. The layout of my plans under His direction began to have a rhythm. The most important things were done first. There was no mayhem anymore. And no . . . I did not complete everything on my list. That’s the beauty of it. I realized I didn’t need to.

That’s when I began to feel the internal change. The power from within that could only have been from God. I became excited to visit Him in prayer each morning and dedicate my list to Him. Before long, I felt at ease prioritizing my list, keeping a separate list for things “I’d like to do”.

The internal change became an outward change. My legs quit bobbing when I sat in silent reflection and prayer. Yes, I was still tired, but I also began stopping during the day. I started coloring. Yep . . . coloring! I kept a table set up with colored pencils and beautifully illustrated scripture sheets from a coloring book I bought at a Margaret Feinberg Women’s Conference. Even if I stopped for 10 minutes, it gave me time to breathe deep and reflect.

It’s amazing how revived I became and was able to accomplish more than I could have imagined, even doing things not on my list – mailing cards and calling family and friends.

It’s been eleven weeks. Eleven weeks of believing Jesus can do this. My Bible study has gone deeper. My prayer life has accelerated. Knowing that I need the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior, and yes, Life Planner, too. I need Him in the extremes of life and in the everyday planning of it.

Thank you, Jesus, for standing by me and showing patience in my angst. I’m still tired, but You are helping me manage that, too. Bless you for loving me to the uttermost!


God bless you!