Have you ever had one of those days when you were in the right place at the right time? I have those moments a lot! Some would say it is just a coincidence, or luck, but I am not a lucky person (see my blog entry about my fall). So I don’t believe it is luck, and these moments happen far too often to be just coincidence.
Recently, I took over a case at work and didn’t feel like I needed to see the patient quite yet. They were not ready to hear the options for care I had to offer them, even though my option was really the only one they had. I finally decided that I was going to go see this patient, introduce myself and spend some time with them.
I came to see the patient at 2 p.m. The nurse said “Oh, you are here for the meeting.” “What meeting?” I asked. “The big family meeting,” she answered. I had no idea a family meeting was scheduled, but I attended it anyway. During the meeting I got to be a support to this patient and family and inform them of how I could help. It went great, and I think I am going to be able to help this patient be more comfortable during the last part of their life here on earth.
I know I have mentioned this before, but this situation reminds me again that God is always at work around us! He is always working in me and working for the good of those that I care for. We serve an amazing and loving God! Our God consistently puts us in the right place at the right time to minister to His people and to accomplish His work and luck has nothing to do with it. Incredible! God, thank You for Your direction in my daily life!
Michelle Heriford
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Where Has the Time Gone?
I was rushing around recently getting ready for a trip to visit my son, Ryan, and his family. They live in Libertyville, Illinois, on Sunnyside Lane. Now doesn’t that sound like it is right out of a movie? I don’t like traveling around Chicago to get there, but once we are there, it is a lovely community. Sounds a lot like life on our way to heaven, right?
I love to reminisce and have thought a lot about Ryan this morning. It was just yesterday (seems like) that he was a little boy standing at my side watching me put on my make-up. Now, I am on my way to see his kids — George, eight; Andrew, six; and little Sarah who is four years old. Where did the time go? I mean it, where did it go? I just want to say to life … SLOW DOWN!
That is why we must take each minute to enjoy and not rush past the lovely times that will someday be our memories. Stop and “make some memories.” Those are not always the big Disney World trips. They can be walking in the yard and examining — really looking — at the flowers and in our yard, looking at the mole holes.
The other day I was sitting on my porch swing facing our side yard. At that very moment, all was at peace and I was just wallowing in the good feeling of the sun, the swing’s movement and the beauty of God’s nature. Are you moving too fast these days and enjoying life less? Stop and take a deep breath, walk a little slower and enjoy the trip. The trip through life that is!
Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10
Patricia Harvey
I love to reminisce and have thought a lot about Ryan this morning. It was just yesterday (seems like) that he was a little boy standing at my side watching me put on my make-up. Now, I am on my way to see his kids — George, eight; Andrew, six; and little Sarah who is four years old. Where did the time go? I mean it, where did it go? I just want to say to life … SLOW DOWN!
That is why we must take each minute to enjoy and not rush past the lovely times that will someday be our memories. Stop and “make some memories.” Those are not always the big Disney World trips. They can be walking in the yard and examining — really looking — at the flowers and in our yard, looking at the mole holes.
The other day I was sitting on my porch swing facing our side yard. At that very moment, all was at peace and I was just wallowing in the good feeling of the sun, the swing’s movement and the beauty of God’s nature. Are you moving too fast these days and enjoying life less? Stop and take a deep breath, walk a little slower and enjoy the trip. The trip through life that is!
Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10
Patricia Harvey
Friday, September 24, 2010
Beauty from Pain
It’s funny how life can be daisies and sunshine and then, in the matter of a few hours, something happens that breaks your heart and steals your joy.
A few years ago I memorized chapters out of the book of 2 Corinthians, and lately this verse has just been on replay in my mind: “We are pressed on every side, but not crushed.” (2 Cor. 4:8) Sometimes I feel crushed. My life is not perfect, and sometimes I feel so lonely and overwhelmed that I want to give up, stay in bed, and just forget the world outside.
We are told that God sees each tear that falls from our tired, swollen eyes, and, yet, sometimes He feels so far away when we’re hurting. We must separate our emotions from reality, though, and remember that regardless of how we feel, God promises that when our dreams go up in smoke, He’ll trade in beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (that comes straight from Isaiah 61).
I love these lyrics from Superchick. The song is called Beauty from Pain.
I’ll wonder why God lets me walk through this place
And though I can’t understand why this happened
I know that I will when I look back someday
And see how You’ve brought beauty from ashes
And made me as gold purified through these flames
So, dear heart, when you don’t feel like getting out of bed in the morning, and you’ve lost sight of your precious dreams, have faith! Joy comes in the morning, and God is faithful and able to restore and mend your broken heart. You will be stronger and radiate more beauty and love than before ... just give Him time to work it out.
Andrea Perry
A few years ago I memorized chapters out of the book of 2 Corinthians, and lately this verse has just been on replay in my mind: “We are pressed on every side, but not crushed.” (2 Cor. 4:8) Sometimes I feel crushed. My life is not perfect, and sometimes I feel so lonely and overwhelmed that I want to give up, stay in bed, and just forget the world outside.
We are told that God sees each tear that falls from our tired, swollen eyes, and, yet, sometimes He feels so far away when we’re hurting. We must separate our emotions from reality, though, and remember that regardless of how we feel, God promises that when our dreams go up in smoke, He’ll trade in beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (that comes straight from Isaiah 61).
I love these lyrics from Superchick. The song is called Beauty from Pain.
I’ll wonder why God lets me walk through this place
And though I can’t understand why this happened
I know that I will when I look back someday
And see how You’ve brought beauty from ashes
And made me as gold purified through these flames
So, dear heart, when you don’t feel like getting out of bed in the morning, and you’ve lost sight of your precious dreams, have faith! Joy comes in the morning, and God is faithful and able to restore and mend your broken heart. You will be stronger and radiate more beauty and love than before ... just give Him time to work it out.
Andrea Perry
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
When Darkness is NOT Dark
I am memorizing Psalm 139 this year. On the first and fifteenth of each month I begin a new verse and spend the next two weeks thinking about that verse, asking God what He wants to say to me through it.
Going so slowly through the psalm has been a tremendous blessing to me. And although I've been ‘past’ verse 12 for some time now, it is the blessing of that verse that I want to share with you today.
“… even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” Psalm 139:12
As I spent time mulling over this verse, I was struck by the opposites: darkness/not dark, night/day, darkness/light. Regarding the darkness/not dark contrast, I was reminded that the things in my life that appear dark to me are not dark to God. He is not overwhelmed by the things that are overwhelming to me. Situations that are scary to me are not scary to Him.
And I had fun considering the opposites of night/day and darkness/light. When it comes to God and my circumstances, that which is confusing to me is clear to Him. When I don’t know what to do, God has perfect wisdom. Situations that are too much for me to handle are easy for God. Ahhh, what a blessed assurance!
What darkness are you facing today? Can you put a name on your circumstance (e.g., uncertainty, fear, chaos) and then come up with the opposite way God feels about it (e.g., clarity, confidence, peaceful)? As you look to God in the midst of your mess, I pray you will be encouraged to know that He can handle it!
Karen Hossink
Going so slowly through the psalm has been a tremendous blessing to me. And although I've been ‘past’ verse 12 for some time now, it is the blessing of that verse that I want to share with you today.
“… even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” Psalm 139:12
As I spent time mulling over this verse, I was struck by the opposites: darkness/not dark, night/day, darkness/light. Regarding the darkness/not dark contrast, I was reminded that the things in my life that appear dark to me are not dark to God. He is not overwhelmed by the things that are overwhelming to me. Situations that are scary to me are not scary to Him.
And I had fun considering the opposites of night/day and darkness/light. When it comes to God and my circumstances, that which is confusing to me is clear to Him. When I don’t know what to do, God has perfect wisdom. Situations that are too much for me to handle are easy for God. Ahhh, what a blessed assurance!
What darkness are you facing today? Can you put a name on your circumstance (e.g., uncertainty, fear, chaos) and then come up with the opposite way God feels about it (e.g., clarity, confidence, peaceful)? As you look to God in the midst of your mess, I pray you will be encouraged to know that He can handle it!
Karen Hossink
Monday, September 20, 2010
Second Class Pancakes
Usually toward the back of any parenting magazine is a section where people have written in with funny things their kids have done or said. My son, Zachary, at nine years old is somewhat of a comic genius. He says the most hilarious things. Recently, we were finishing up a rather hectic breakfast. I was trying to get Zach plus the two children I was babysitting that day fed and out the door to run a few errands. I was admittedly frazzled, rushed and probably short on patience. Our conversation went like this:
Zach: “Mom, you make the second best pancakes in the world.”
Me: “Only, second best. Who makes the best?”
Zach: “Well, Dad of course.”
Me: “Well, Zach let me let you in on a little secret. We use the same recipe.”
Zach: “Well, Dad still makes the best, but don’t worry Mom because yours are still better than McDonald’s. Theirs are awful!”
At that moment all my frazzled, impatient feelings flew out the window and I just laughed! Even though my pancakes came in second in Zach’s taste test, they ranked higher than McDonald’s, which is the epitome of high-class-food for a lot of kids. I love my son more than words can express. He makes me smile on a daily basis. His laughter and random remarks are often the highlight of my day.
Psalm 127:3 says: “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.”
I thank God every day for the reward of Zachary but mostly, I thank him for Zach’s sense of humor. It often makes a difficult day disappear in the blink of an eye.
Nichole Richardson
Zach: “Mom, you make the second best pancakes in the world.”
Me: “Only, second best. Who makes the best?”
Zach: “Well, Dad of course.”
Me: “Well, Zach let me let you in on a little secret. We use the same recipe.”
Zach: “Well, Dad still makes the best, but don’t worry Mom because yours are still better than McDonald’s. Theirs are awful!”
At that moment all my frazzled, impatient feelings flew out the window and I just laughed! Even though my pancakes came in second in Zach’s taste test, they ranked higher than McDonald’s, which is the epitome of high-class-food for a lot of kids. I love my son more than words can express. He makes me smile on a daily basis. His laughter and random remarks are often the highlight of my day.
Psalm 127:3 says: “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.”
I thank God every day for the reward of Zachary but mostly, I thank him for Zach’s sense of humor. It often makes a difficult day disappear in the blink of an eye.
Nichole Richardson
Friday, September 17, 2010
A Shameless Plug
I thought I would use my blog space this month to promote the Trinity Church Book Club. I’ve discovered that many people don’t even know it exists! We’ve been meeting once a month since 2003 and, as an avid reader, I’ve really appreciated the opportunity to read books I wouldn’t have read before. I’ve been exposed to new authors, new Christian heroes, and have greatly enjoyed meeting women at Trinity I may not have met outside of this group.
The format is simple. In November, we meet to choose 11 books for the following year from three categories — fiction, biographies and Christian living. We meet the last Tuesday of every month, except for December, in a very casual atmosphere. You don’t have to commit to coming every month, and we take turns leading the discussion.
Even though we don’t study the Bible, I often come away challenged on biblical ideas or my thoughts on a certain topic. Hearing others’ opinions and experiences has a way to making me think differently. It helps get me outside of my box and see things in a new perspective. The group is open in sharing their opinions and thoughts and we don’t always agree. But we always appreciate the other person’s viewpoint and what it adds to the discussion.
If you like to read and would enjoy discussing your thoughts on books with other readers, I’d invite you to come to one of our meetings and check it out. If you are interested, the books we have left on the schedule this year are Walking from East to West by Ravi Zacharias, Abba’s Child: the Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging by Brennan Manning and Beaded Hope by Cathy Liggett. You can reply to this blog or send me a message if you want more information.
Patty Dextrom
The format is simple. In November, we meet to choose 11 books for the following year from three categories — fiction, biographies and Christian living. We meet the last Tuesday of every month, except for December, in a very casual atmosphere. You don’t have to commit to coming every month, and we take turns leading the discussion.
Even though we don’t study the Bible, I often come away challenged on biblical ideas or my thoughts on a certain topic. Hearing others’ opinions and experiences has a way to making me think differently. It helps get me outside of my box and see things in a new perspective. The group is open in sharing their opinions and thoughts and we don’t always agree. But we always appreciate the other person’s viewpoint and what it adds to the discussion.
If you like to read and would enjoy discussing your thoughts on books with other readers, I’d invite you to come to one of our meetings and check it out. If you are interested, the books we have left on the schedule this year are Walking from East to West by Ravi Zacharias, Abba’s Child: the Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging by Brennan Manning and Beaded Hope by Cathy Liggett. You can reply to this blog or send me a message if you want more information.
Patty Dextrom
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
A Fresh Coat of Paint
We recently had our house repainted; it was long overdue. The house itself was lemon yellow and the soffit and trim were all deep brown. If Lou Rawls had sung a 70s song about a house, it would have been ours! I painted strips of colors all over the house and finally decided on Khaki Green and Mississippi Delta — beautiful tone-on-tone colors that brought new life and made me instantly feel better about our house.
My house reminded me of my life as a woman. I spent $120 on new makeup last year because I’d had a hysterectomy, gained weight and needed something new to make me feel pretty and womanly. I’ve done the same with hair, clothes … and mostly it works … for a while. But even with a makeover, we still can’t escape ourselves. You know, the part of us inside that really bugs us so we try to distract ourselves from ourselves.
What you don’t know about our house is that the inside is still a mess. There is one whole bathroom that gets mold around the tub, the tile is mildewed and soggy, the mirror is broken, and the lights hang from the ceiling. The kitchen has chipped tile; a mushy, stained countertop; and a stove that doesn’t work right. But, if you just drive by or stay outside, you wouldn’t know that the inside needs work because the outside looks so nice.
Can you see where this is going? The spiritual part of this blog is this: Go ahead, Girls, and make yourself feel pretty, but don’t ever neglect the inside and being honest about what ick is in there. Then, enlist all the help you can from Father God, His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit so that the “fresh coat of paint” you just put on isn’t a cover up, but a reflection of what’s on the inside.
Sally Hall
My house reminded me of my life as a woman. I spent $120 on new makeup last year because I’d had a hysterectomy, gained weight and needed something new to make me feel pretty and womanly. I’ve done the same with hair, clothes … and mostly it works … for a while. But even with a makeover, we still can’t escape ourselves. You know, the part of us inside that really bugs us so we try to distract ourselves from ourselves.
What you don’t know about our house is that the inside is still a mess. There is one whole bathroom that gets mold around the tub, the tile is mildewed and soggy, the mirror is broken, and the lights hang from the ceiling. The kitchen has chipped tile; a mushy, stained countertop; and a stove that doesn’t work right. But, if you just drive by or stay outside, you wouldn’t know that the inside needs work because the outside looks so nice.
Can you see where this is going? The spiritual part of this blog is this: Go ahead, Girls, and make yourself feel pretty, but don’t ever neglect the inside and being honest about what ick is in there. Then, enlist all the help you can from Father God, His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit so that the “fresh coat of paint” you just put on isn’t a cover up, but a reflection of what’s on the inside.
Sally Hall
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