Robin Gilbert Luftig's Blog, page 48
June 3, 2016
Using Words that Count
Our hearts are full of love as we set a course full of good things when we hold our swaddled babies in our arms. We never want heartache and pain to enter their little worlds.
But it does, and sometimes we can’t save them.
Take a moment and read Beth Miesse Saadati’s latest post, It Shouldn’t Have End This Way: The Epilogue to My Daughter’s Suicide Note. Beth has felt pain no parent should feel. Maybe her words can be used to reach that special person, letting them know that they are loved.
Our children need to hear us–really hear what we say–when we tell them bad situations don’t last forever. They need to know they matter; that they fill our lives with joy every day.
Love you, Beth, and am praying for you and your family..
.
May 31, 2016
How long is a piece of string?
Here’s an honest and inside look at healing from a brain injury. It can happen to anyone. It can take longer to heal for some than others. The question is a good one: how long is a piece of string. LizMollyOldershaw shares some of her experiences. Check it out. Thanks, Liz, for sharing in such a transparent way.
Your rock!
Anyone that has suffered any form of brain injury will understand how frustrating it is when you get asked one particular question.
“So, are you fully recovered now then?”
You may as well be asking, “How long is a piece of string?”
I know that I have banged on about the trials and tribulations that go hand in hand with living with a brain injury, but I just wanted to tell you about the difficulties that come when trying to explain to someone just what it is like once you are almost back to your ‘old self’.
There was a documentary on the BBC the other day that should have been my favourite show on the planet. Having my two loves intertwined together on one screen at the same time should have been extraordinary; Louis Theroux (need I say more) and brain injuries. What could be better?
The thing is…
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May 30, 2016
{Beauty} Do You Feel Disqualified?
Angela Howard’s word hit home with me. As a Christian speaker and writer, I STILL find times when I feel like I don’t measure up. But those are lies from hell. Thank you, Angela, for reminding us of what God says in His word.
Written By: Angela Howard
Do you ever feel disqualified? Have you experienced failure, heartbreak, or committed a sin that left you wondering if you should be benched, banned or declared ineligible for service? I have. It’s defeat at its highest and it’s likely a distortion of the truth.
I’m not good enough.
Why would God choose me?
When will I ever be free from sin?
I’ll never make the cut.
My hard work is all for nothing.
It’s easy to notice that this destructive internal dialogue is totally self-focused. It’s all about shame, a little dose of self-pity and a whole lot of self-sufficiency. It’s pretty hard to find the good news of Jesus under the weight of all that garbage. And grace? Well, you’ll be hard pressed to remember that truth.
Last week I felt like a scarlet letter had been stamped on my favourite sweater. I was sure…
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May 19, 2016
Bubbles of Childhood Joy
Dedicating this to a good friend … you know who you are. And for all those who are overwhelmed with Life … look forward to a bubble or two.
When bubbles of childhood joy replace sorrow and pain, there’s more room for simple pleasures in life.
I walked to school to get my boys at the end of a busy day, and in front of me a young girl skipped down the sidewalk. Then she returned close to her Daddy’s side, never going too far ahead. First she squeezed her Daddy’s hand, then she looked at him, tall above, and decided she couldn’t give up holding his hand. Yet, I could see her dancing a bit, and perhaps she wanted to skip once more. Dad wasn’t into skipping so she just took smaller steps, bouncing up and down while beaming a large smile up to her father.
I loved her determination to keep the joy she was feeling, yet remain close to her Dad. It whispered to the young one somewhere deep inside of me, coaxing a smile to…
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May 17, 2016
I am not going to be an Israelite today.
Some days we see clearly, then other days we do not. Marie Monville’s post shares how we all can have our moments. But God’s plans are still good. RGL
We all have those moments. We all have those days that seem to push us over the edge of what we feel is “humanly possible”. Maybe it’s that one appointment I almost missed, or trying to squeeze one…
Source: I am not going to be an Israelite today.
May 11, 2016
I went to a strip club
Thoughts from Anna McCarthy on the first time she and a handful of ladies from her church went to a strip club.
Moving.
Humbling.
Challenging.
Your thoughts on serving may be changed after reading this. I know mine waskine was.
A while back I was asked by a group of pastor’s wives to go with them to strip clubs.
That sentence alone sounds strange. But hang with me.
At first I was a little hesitant. And not for reasons you might think.
I love people. Especially ones who are broken; it’s part of my calling. But, given what I’ve walked through, I know how fragile broken people can be.
And I know how insensitive the church can be.
And I was uneasy.
But, these weren’t just any pastors wives.
They had a vision.
One that longed to love on women that society had thrown aside.
It reminded me a lot of Jesus.
So, I jumped on it.
Their plan was to visit these clubs once a month to deliver a meal and gift baskets. I joined them the first night and I’ll be honest, I had NO IDEA what to expect.
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May 9, 2016
Problems Still Happen
Mother’s day is over. Back to reality. What do you do when the trials come? Dr. Michelle Bengston addresses dealing with how to deal and view trials that come into our lives. I hope you find this as encouraging as I did. http://drmichellebengtson.com/what-do-you-do-when-the-trials-come/
May 3, 2016
Five Things to Say to Your Adult Children
Parenting doesn’t stop when children leave home. The challenge is finding how to change our approach. Follow Shelly Jean Beach at https://shellybeachonline.wordpress.com/
When my two kids hit their college years, they ran from our house like Jessie Owens at the Berlin Olympics.
And I don’t blame them. I’m pretty sure they were running from me. It wasn’t because I’d nearly snuffed out their young lives with my horrific cooking. But more because I was a Control-a-holic. Not that I would have admitted it or even recognized it back then.
I thought I was being a good mother.
A mother who happened to believe her kids should agree with her, think like her, never question her about the hard stuff, and never smoke, drink, chew or listed to that “other” music.
I panicked when they talked too much like Democrats and became old enough to make their own choices about alcohol. I panicked about their friends about things I imagined they might be doing when they were out of the house.
But I…
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May 1, 2016
Asking for God’s Blessings
Why is it I tend to only talk about the God I see in the rear-view mirror?
It’s easy to share stories of His presence after I’ve crested a hill or made it through the latest crisis. But I’ve come to realize that’s when the victory ends up being about me. My relationship with Christ. My answered prayer. My faith that sustained me. See what I mean–rear-view mirror.
Pathetic, just pathetic.
I want to have a confidence in the God of my today. He’s constant. It’s my pain, fear, and sometimes lack of faith that I struggle with. I am a broken person. I need to seek God’s face.
Lean in and I’ll whisper a secret fear to you. Will God think I’m crazy and selfish if I ask him to answer the prayer of my heart? I can’t tell others about my prayers to God because what would they think of me if the prayers don’t get answered? Maybe I’m asking with a self-serving heart? Maybe I’m spending too much time asking for my glory instead of His?
Then it came to me: It’s not the size of the ask, it’s the condition of the heart when I ask. I need to check on my heart when I go to God and not wait until the the blessing has played out. Half the blessing is in the process. The other half comes when I can see it.
In reading Torry Martin’s book, “Of Moose and Men” (Harvest House, 2016), a line jumped off the page and into my heart, “…God doesn’t just answer prayers. He sometimes exceeds our measly requests so that our cup may runneth over.” Torry shares stories of his life–as well as his best friend Rob and faithful dog, Sam–in Alaska and how God used challenges to show His presence.
I need to remember that God’s always awesome—always! I need to remember that it’s me and my self-run focus that gets in the way of receiving the blessings God has for me. He wants to bless me, and I want to be open to His blessing.
Just as in Mark 9:24, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
I love it when a book changes my heart. That happened with this one. Give it a read. You’ll be blessed by it, too. And together we can tell of God’s blessings for us while we’re climbing our hills.
April 29, 2016
I Just Want to be With Him
A great question for all Christians … why did you choose to be a Christian? A great post.
Separated by 12 hours, my entire mind and body ached for James. Newly engaged, I felt only half of a person waiting for my wedding day to be complete. My life was one thing: waiting. I …
Source: I Just Want to be With Him
