AND ALL THINGS CAN BE NEW AGAIN!!!

As of today, May 1, I am employed by World Bridge Partners out of Omaha Nebraska, by a franchisee of  MRI NETWORK  that I have known for 25 years.  This is a person that I highly regard both personally and spiritually and professionally. It was just a month ago that he and I were renewing our acquaintance as he asked for my help in mentoring his son in legal recruiting. I spent the next day working with a young man who soaked up everything I said like a sponge and asked the most intelligent  questions!  Once I gave him a partner level candidate, he also wrote the most beautiful script I’ve ever  read about a candidate and I told him to start making calls on the candidate’s behalf the next day. He called almost in a panic after just a couple of hours of calls. He was getting responses within 10 minutes of his calls-wanting more information, a resume or an interview-and what should he do next? WOW  Thank goodness it was a Friday! It gave me time to get with my candidate and tell him who was interested in his bio/no name/no firm so who might he want to speak with? He chose to do his due diligence over the weekend and first thing on Monday, I knew who he wanted to see. Now he is going forward in the process and we are very excited about that as my young friend had not gotten so far in a year; nor did he realize that corporate contracts are to be negotiated on both sides, including payment terms. I am of course, thrilled to be able to bring anything to the table. This will be a win/win/win for everyone. More than just helping mentor this young man, I began to see a well run franchise that had made it through the recession, still took good care of its recruiters-in fact valued them-and I began to ask the Lord, “Have you brought them to my attention for a reason? Am I supposed to ask for a job?” 

 You all know I have been studying the book of Genesis this year in BSF. Just lately we have been studying the life of Joseph. Sold by his brothers into slavery, into Potiphar’s house where he rose to the role of managing the household, and then thrown into prison after being unjustly accused by Potiphar’s wife of attempted rape, he rose again to oversee the prison under the warden. Those two jobs prepared him for the number 2 job under Pharaoh that he would have after he interpreted Pharaoh’s dream’s by the grace of God. Last week when I had determined that it was ok for me to ask for a job with this man and we began to talk of what might could be–oh my goodness–did I begin to see parallels!  For the very first time, I actually thought that my desert, my pruning, my fire, my refining, might not all be about discipline and getting me ready for heaven, but ready for something else God wants me to do here! 

WOW!! How GREAT is that at almost 62!! and having had a stroke even a mini one just 45 days ago, even if it wasn’t my fault? Because as you all have been with me on this journey, you know that I have found out that material things are nice, but not important unless it’s matter of keeping warm or comfortably cool or medical bills paid, medicine paid for, basic groceries paid for. I am no longer about all the stuff I accumulated. it’s long gone and I don’t have any room for it in my life or my place any more. What’s more important is what decision I have made in an action and has it damaged my witness? Cause I am far from perfect, but that is so important. I do not want Jesus Christ to be ashamed of me. Anyway this is going to make a huge difference in my life–already has. I have real hope about our circumstances going forward. I know the Lord can and does and did provide miracles every month but goodness, gracious, that’s hard on a body, on two people just striving as best they could! I know He expects people who can to work and so I am-doing what He has given to me to do. Just this time, I have those basics that most employed people expect-benefits, expenses, a more than generous draw. I have to tell you that when he made the offer, the scripture running through my head was how ”He is able to  abundantly supply more than we ask, or expect or even dream of.”  I can only say that because I have almost  learned to live on a minimum wage draw. Now OF COURSE everything wasn’t getting paid on time or at all, but we were alive, had enough to eat, power, gas in the one car, a credit card paid for that. Now everyone can get caught up for which I am so very VERY  thankful! I don’t like owing good people money, so now I can start to take care of that.

Thank the Lord for the people in my church that have kept me with health insurance–again, the Lord has been ever so close through all of this time. I thank Him and all of those who have helped us. Once we are back on our feet,  we can go back to helping others as we used to do. Thank you for all of your prayers for this also. I know you were also praying for a miracle for me and IT HAS HAPPENED!

God Bless and Good night–

Cindy

SUNDAY NIGHT, HOME, MY SINCERE THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS ONCE AGAIN

Once again,  I found myself in the hospital ER on Thursday afternoon. I had gone in for my simple physical therapy session this week, but this time, I was put on a bike. It wasn’t a regular bike, I was leaning back on the backrest, very comfortable, not even hurting my knees. The clock turned over 8 minutes and I began to have just a little pain on my left side up under my breast. I really didn’t pay attention at first, but then it got worse it enough to really call my attention to it and and I must have rubbed it. My therapist said “what’s the matter?” I told her I had a little pain in my left chest. She had me stop cycling at once and took me over to a chair and took my blood pressure and  oxygen levels.  I don’t think they were that bad,  but by then the pain had gone down my arm with lots of tingling and piyns and needles in my hand that I just couldn’t shake off.  When that happened she got help and a wheelchair and away we went to the ER. They treated it like a heart attack, but I don’t think that’s what it was-heart spasms is what I have heard so far with EEG changes the 3 different times I had them.  Since there were already questions about what my heart is doing these days ( I have 30 day event monitor I was already wearing) the doc decided a stress test would be a good thing to have-the following morning-so the night in the hospital and my email to Diane to ask for your prayers that there was no blockage.  The doctor was sure that’s what it was. It even sounded like it to me, based on what my daddy had been through several times and had stents put in after 2 quadruple by-passes.  But thanks to your prayers and  to God‘s purpose, that was not why I was in the hospital that night.

 I was on the phone with my sister (yes, that one) We were praying. The young person who was to take me up my room arrived in the middle of it and I raised up my finger signaling-just a minute-he nodded and waited respectfully. When we were done and he had helped me into the chair and we were rolling along, I thanked him for waiting and explained you don’t just “hang up” on the Lord.  He nodded and me I guess I was still really in the Spirit, because I looked at him and I asked him if he knew Jesus. He got me on the elevator and said, “Do you mean am I saved?  No, ma’am, I don’t know Jesus.  But I have been thinking a lot about it for quite awhile months- thinking hard on it.  By this time we had arrived at my room. I asked his name and asked if I could tell him a story- just take a few minutes. He agreed  and I told him about when the Lord Himself  had met me at the moment of my need to breathe without panic and fear on May 5, 2011. Then I asked him by name, don’t you want Jesus for yourself today? He looked at me and said yes, ma’am  I do.  I asked again, do you want to pray to receive Jesus into your heart right now?  He said he did, so I asked him to give me his hand and I would lead him in prayer. ..Once he had gone I of course knew why I was visiting the hospital that night!! Still as I shared the news with my family, everyone’s response was great, but couldn’t the Lord send you there for something less serious, less painful…why this way at all??

My only answer can be that whatever I have to go through for Jesus’ sake is so far below anything that can be considered or compared with what HE did for me is minor -even if it is major to us. There were so many people to give His word to, from the one who wanted to know if I have a Living Will (I do), each  nurse or tech-there were so many people to tell a story to.

I didn’t get a chance to write what has been on my heart since last Thursday. The Lord has been exceedingly gracious in speaking to me. Not just Thursday morning during my  devotions but also during my dreams Thursday night which were confirmed again in the sermon in church this morning. So ya’ll will have to keep coming back! I told you life with me was never boring!!

Goodnight

 

A New Award That I Don’t Deserve!

Very Inspiring Award

This award was given to me in January!!! I was thrilled and wrote what you see below. The only problem was doing the the rules that go along side of the award. So I thought I would just save it for a day or so till I felt better and as you all know, things got only crazier. Until I was going through the dashboard last night and cleaning up a bit, did I find this sweet award from my dear Cheryl (please forgive me) so here it is Cheryl. Thank you so much. You also inspire me!

“Cindy, I nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award because you know what trials and tribulations are about, and still you glorify the Lord. You have no idea, but as I have been suffering with chronic (constant) back and leg pain, your testimonies have been an encouragement and an inspiration for me. I think to myself, “If God can do that for her, He can surely do it for me too.” Thank you Cindy!”

Let me tell you why I don’t deserve this award or even an award for when I was in the hospital with meningitis. I have so tired of hurting! and so tired of hospitals! and blood tests, xrays, MRIs, any and all thing that test a person in some way!!I know I have to do my blood test in the morning. I have put it off the last 2 days. No reason, just didn’t think about it till I’d had coffee with a lot cream, etc. Pretty much since I came home from Atlanta, I have been sidelined with this sciatica-and oh yes! have I complained! Loudly and long to the Lord and my husband had heard it! I still have leftover issues from the meningitis. I didn’t know that it could mess with you cognitive abilities-certainly not for so long, but now that I have spoken to other survivors, I’ve found that this is pretty common. One of my nurse friends today urged me to see my doctor. So I will this Friday-when I had been considering canceling it since I have a new deductible to cover! This is one of those ‘keep you posted kind of things’

So you can see for yourself  how undeserving I am  and yet, exactly why our Lord allows the suffering-so that I will understand completely and utterly the suffering of the other person. I need to learn to keep my mouth shut and just bear it-but sometimes like this time it was too hard. Cheryl, I should have shared it and then you would have shared also and maybe there are others who suffer in the same way? I intend to find a solution. I hurt too much to live like this for long..much less 102!! what are you thinking? Besides our Lord Jesus is coming back before then. I am sure of that.  So here it is April instead of January and again so much has happened. The Lord is still teaching me, I am still learning. He is still bringing people to me to share with and that is exciting. The more people who come into the Kingdom of God the faster we bring Jesus to get us! And with the headlines as they are, it can not be too soon.

OK  enough, here’s for fun!

Acknowledge person who has given you the Award.  Miss Cheryl “Burningfireshutupinmybones”

The Award logo should be placed in the post.  it is

I have to include 7 things about myself  what don’t you know?                                                                                                                                                   1 I spent a couple of summers on a real farm-my grandma’s she raised cotton and tobacco
2  I’m not ready for grey hair/can you tell?                                                                                                                                                                                       3  I have to watch my mobile minutes super close every month and just barely make it!                                                                                                    4  I am the oldest of 6, being 17 when the youngest was born, a unique perspective                                                                                                                    5  I don’t like chocolate by itself-Great with p’nut butter though!                                                                                                                                                     6  My husband has spoiled me rotten-he takes such great care of me                                                                                                                                               7  Unless you’ve gone back into the archives, you don’t know that I used to be a ‘wild woman” loved fast roller coasters, fast dancing, would  have loved bungy jumping if they had invented it before my neck had to be fused. I was always the kid you didn’t dare.                                                                                                              

Nominate (although 15 is suggested I will nominate 8 as I have nominated several previously, but it’s been awhile since I did this, so these are people that lately have inspired me…in no particular order

http://Tothe
AssemblywithLove.wordpress.com, http://VesselofGod.wordpress.com,http://mychristiancoffeehouse.wordpress.com, http://possesshispromises.wordpress.com,http://aviesplace.wordpress.com,http://tellGodthankyou.wordpress.com,http://lilliessparrows&grass.wordpress.com, http://forhisgloryandpraise.wordpress.com

   The nominees should be advised on their site.

 

THE LORD IS WORKING ON MY TRUST FACTOR

And now it has been a  week again! This time, except for a couple of Doctor appointments, I was in all week, but once again dealing with a bacterial infection. and not much   voice either, but God has beenvery plain spoken with me and I have read the most wonderful  scriptures and devotionals t hat were directed right to me in terms of trusting and of course faith.

I have not been given permission to share all of this yet. but I will share what  I can.

the last 2 -3 weeks have been very difficult physically, regardless of being on antibiotics. I have still had C Diff which is not any fun to have  even if you are on meds. and it was still August, my worst asthma month-it has felt like I have had it all month. Now it  is September and I am starting it off the same way!  And not only me, but I have watched as my family has been attacked. My sister’s husband started his chemo this week. Part of  the “cocktail” is Rituxin. He was on it 20 min, when he started reacting.;He had hives, then the nausea , then a small seizure–all of  this totally freaked both my sister and my brother in law out.And did I mention her youngest son had been out with a virus for most of the week, and her car engine blew something up to the tune  $900$ She called me while I was on the phone with my new BSF Bible teacher–so we immediately prayed.  Then my daughter called. She was on the way to the hospital with my 7  yr old granddaughter. She had a pretty bad  case of bacterial pnuemonia!! I reassured my daughter as much as I could, reminding her that she had also had pneumonia twice one winter and her sister once!! That medically things were so much better now and that I was sure that our girl was going to be fine.I would be praying and so would all my great friends.  (of course I was right. the doc thought 4 days. she was only in for 2)

Suddenly my eyes were opened and I could see that my family is being attached even more than usual==I immediately got on my face before the Lord. I asked Him for  protection because I was going to have to confront this  devil -, I am even having to type this a third time-my words keep disappearing on me!  I remind you Satan who won? I did! Because of Jesus!! Go Back to Hell and Leave ME and MY FAMILY alone in the name of Christ Jesus the Son of the Living God!

So let’s go back to last Sunday night and my first scripture. I will type what I can, but there is a lot. I may have to let you look up too.  or I am send you to a particular blog .  Numbers 23: 19-20  God is not a man,  that he should lie, nor a son of man, t hat he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act?  Does he promise and not fulfill? I have received a command to bless;  he has blessed it, and I cannot change it

Is that not just the most beautiful 2 verses? And given to me 2 minutes after I asked for confirmation!  The Lord really wanted me to know, didn’t he?  And then the next day He sent me to Avie’s Place a blog I follow-what a wonderful teacher of the Word she is! Today is was Psalm 119:1658 Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make you stumble.  I wait for your salvation, O Lord, and I follow your commands.  I  obey your statutes, for I love them greatly. I obey your precepts and your statutes, for all my ways are known to you.  This post was about peace, the peace you get when you trust absolutely. and then I think this was next although I wondered why it wasn’t 2nd.  It is 1st Peter 5:8 -9   Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil  prowls around likes a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.  Now you see why I needed this verse reminder a little earlier?    

Then we went to Ecclesiastes written by the way by Solomon -son of David, a man after God’s own heart When I read David’s story or even Solomon’s story or anyone’s story for that matter, I know once again that God can forgive anyone, anything, anytime, anywhere–JUST BECAUSE HE LOVES US.  But we do have to be obedient…as Solomon discovered late in life as he also finally found the purpose in life. He had looked for it everywhere,  in everything, But of course our purpose is only fulfilled in our Lord–when He fills up that hole in our hearts  we all come with  —and that hole is only filled by the Holy Spirit of God Himself, then, can you know your purpose. We will be talking about that in the future.”

So my week has been all about the Lord talking trust me, Trust me TRUST ME. The first night that He spoke to me, MY  Lord God said “Cindy, I love you, I love you, I love you, I  love you. ..but you don’t trust me.”…his first words almost and when I said,” no,I do trust you,” He again replied,”" no, you don’t trust me, but you will.”  I have come to find out that Trusting the Lord  with all my heart is the most important  thing to Him NEXT to  Honoring and Loving Him and Putting Him first in all Things.-which is the first and greatest commandment. And I will tell you that it is easier to follow than the learning to trust so completely. How very, very hard it is.But  it is what we are called to do and when the Lord singles you out for something and  He consistently confirms it,  You know you have to do it, even if it scares you, and it doesn’t seem the right thing to do. But Obviously I will know soon if I must do this thing.   and if I must then I will be calling  on you to pray for me like never before. I feel like the t he guy in the Raiders of the Lost Ark or the sequel when t hey   were looking for Jesus’ chalice from the last supper.  He had to take a step out on faith that there was a bridge when there was no evidence of a bridge–but of course as soon as he put his foot out there-it was there for  him. I am hoping for that for me. And I should be able to explain further later this week.

 

             

A Familiar Passage John 14:7-14

I can’t begin to do justice to this passage. It is so deep with meaning in different directions-but I am following just one today early as I read it and tonight before I sleep as I read it again. Key verses for me are  if you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.  Philip said, ” Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”.  Jesus answered” don’t you know me,  Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say ‘Show us the Father?’ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and that the Father is in me? The Words I say to you are not just my own. rather it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.  And I will do whatever you ask in my name so the  Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name and I will do it.

So for me, the parts that made the Holy Spirit in me stand up and shout were:I am in the Father and He is in me. And that seeing Jesus is seeing the Father, knowing Jesus is knowing the Father. This is a huge concept even today!  We get up every morning and go through our days and pay some attention hopefully to the Lord in some way, shape or form-we have dinner, play with the kids, bath routine, bed routine, and tomorrow it starts all over again. What for? We know Jesus. We claim to. He says that knowing him is knowing the Father. The Father, Our creator of heaven and earth, who by His very thought keeps everything together and in motion. So what ? Well, if you plan to go to heaven instead of hell you might give some thought to getting to know the God of the Universe, King of all Kings. He is a BIG GOD. He is not a benevolent old man up there administrating heaven! He is a HOLY God and He says we should be HOLY as HE is HOLY. How can we do that? That’s like telling me to quit drinking water. I can’t talk without it. How do I be Holy?

And then there is the final part of that passage.  the Son wants to bring glory to the Father, period and as long as what you ask is going to bring glory, he says you may ask me for ANYTHING in my name and I WILL DO IT. This is where you find out what brings Him glory-sometimes its the smallest thing, because it pleases Him to please us/me. This is where you learn trust. Because you believe that He will do what He says He will do. For me this was a harder road than I would have ever believed. I thought I trusted. But I didn’t. God knew I didn’t. He told me so. And then He said…but you will. I would tell you it is so much easier to do it His way in the beginning than your own way. You will find in searching for that peace and trustworthiness in every other place but God’s House, that it was right here waiting for you all the time.

One other thought-when we answer that door and invite Him in. the Holy Spirit comes in to stay. This is where again, you trust, because your mind can’t get around the idea of the Trinity. But this is what I know. the Holy Spirit is God also. So just as the Father was in Jesus and Jesus was in the Father, so is the Father in the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit in Him. And like Jesus, all things are said and done to glorify the Father who sits on the throne of the Godhead. Now think about this, don’t miss it; the Holy Spirit which is in the Father and the Father is in Him is also in You. That means that the Father is also in YOU. This is truly the greatest of all gifts that the God of the Universe, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, our Creator of all things could give, He is IN YOU. He makes you able, Jesus says to do things even greater than He did. I am not talking about those things this morning-just His indwelling and the miracle of it all-but do you see now why He would say Be Holy as I am Holy?  You are my Righteousness? Your body is the Temple of God? this is all why.

There are so many other important parts in this particular passage, but these spoke to me today. How long do I have to have those quiet times with my Lord in the morning? either because He has come for me, or persecution has-and I’ll be the first to go. Because we are so close-on the very edge of eternity. I am so ready for this and then I think of beloved friends and family that I know don’t know my Lord Jesus and I think, tarry, just a little while more…surely they will come. if you are that person, don’t wait another day, another hour, another minute. Don’t take the chance. He’s standing at the door and knocking still, may I come in???

HAPPY TO BE ME!

For those who knew it was my birthday on Wednesday, thank you for those good wishes,  for those who didn’t know, don’t worry about it.  When I was younger and until this year, I have only celebrated my birthdays on the decade. But as the last 2 yrs have been a little more dicey than the previous years, I have decided to celebrate every year and when I feel like it any day of any month that needs celebrating! What should I not celebrate? I am a child of the king of the universe! The very creator of all things, the one who has always been and will always be; who is mighty and powerful, yet so personal and compassionate, there is no one like my Father which is in heaven. Holy, holy, holy be your name!

I am so filled with wonder that you called me by name, that you wanted me to be your own. So important that you sent your own Son to die for my sins to make perfect to enter your heaven…that you planned this out from before the world was even made. Oh yes, You are too wonderous to behold,  to understand , to do anything but worship You. You are amazing God. Amazing should be strictly a word reserved for describing You. Incredible would be another word that would be used to describe You and the things that you do. Oh, Holy, holy, holy be your name.

Righteousness, I am your Righteousness, I must stay clean and pure for the Lord God of Heaven and Earth that I am never tarnished Righteousness, but bright shining as the Sun. I am the Temple of the Holy Spirit, my body is no longer my own. It should reflect the Son. My name is Cynthia–which is the moon in reflection of the sun, but in my case the reflection of the Son.  Oh Holy, holy, holy be your name.

I just want to praise you O Lord for all that You have done in the last few weeks. The people I have met, the validations I have received, the new friends, the new knowledge, and confidence, oh Lord God, all of these are from you!  How I praise You! How I love You! OH Holy, holy, holy be your name.

Oh Father tonight I bring a new name before you to call to you. His precious wife is a new friend, my Lord. It seems that he is a good man and they have a daughter together and he tolerates her faith. But oh Lord, my God how wonderful it is to pray with your husband, to know that your husband is praying to the alive and real God of the Universe for you instead of a long dead god who is really no god at all. O my Lord, grant her this desire of her heart to see her husband come to know you too. Pray with me all of you out there that I love back. Now you too are part of my family, my sphere. And as I told a man that wants me to work with him to place this is the way I work, I have to be free to pray for you-God is the one who gives the guidance for each person I work with. Thankfully it was ok. So many to pray for -that ’s why I am praying and talking to the Father all day long-otherwise my quiet time would be all day long!! LOL-For all those who have said it’s like He is sitting right there with you. He is. I couldn’t do it otherwise. He knows it all. Oh Holy, Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty and greatly to be praised.

goodnight.

A Tribute to My Dad re-written almost 4 years later

I am Cynthia, soon nicknamed Cindy, the first born of the Hungerford clan.  I was the first girl in several generations in the family and so a big surprise for everyone.   My dad cared for me in those first months of my life as he was finishing his PHD and my mom was working as a designer in Knoxville.  I’ve carefully read my baby book and believe that for the first time in his life my Dad experienced unconditional love with me. He wouldn’t have characterized it as such, because he didn’t know what it was nor had he experienced it aside from my mother’s love. But as I grew up and until he went to be with Jesus, Daddy and I had an understanding and a special relationship. 

I believed everything he said and tried — until my teens anyway — to do everything he wanted me to. In first grade, I told my teacher that my dad said the moon was made of green cheese. She said absolutely not! But I argued with her and got sent to the principal’s office. I explained that my dad said it—so it was true! Poor Daddy, he had to go down to the principal’s office and explain and apologize!

When Dad died, I had all these flashbacks of him and me. At six, my first Christmas I remember the handmade doll furniture for my doll. My first bike and teaching me to ride without training wheels. A Halloween parade where he made me the most a awesome tail that curled and pitchfork for my devil costume—this was before we knew any better!

When I broke my arm playing Tarzan and Jane and he ran all the red lights to get me to the hospital. The weekend trips around Texas, to San Jacinto Memorial, to New Braunsfels where I rode my first horse.

Of course in my teens things changed a lot! I wanted to be a part of the crowd. Dad didn’t want me out there at all. I seemed to get grounded all the time. When I was 15, I was grounded and had to ask him to please let me go with my boyfriend to his prom-he relented and let me go. But I had to be home by 1am and couldn’t go to the beach with everybody or have breakfast with them. I didn’t understand why? When I was 16 and had my birthday party at home and the kids started dancing—he shut it down. I was mad at him for a long time. I didn’t care that our church preached against dancing and he was a deacon—and needed to adhere to the church’s doctrines. But that was Dad-at that point in his life he was still about works and earning his salvation.

Life with my dad was not easy as a teen, but after I married my Dennis at 29, I seemed to finally grow up and when we moved toTampa in 1984, I purposed to have a closer relationship with both my parents. This led to much visiting and really getting to know my father as a person. For this, I really have to thank my husband. Because it was to him that my dad opened up. Dennis is a little older than I and studied and read quite a bit about World War II. I guess he encouraged my dad to talk, because talk he did! I would be around for some of it, but I would use that time to take my mom out to shop, do her hair, nails, etc. So Dennis would fill me in when I questioned him about the rest of the stories!   For the first time, I heard about his early life and his war years. I finally understood why he was the way he was—military straight, absolutes because of his nuclear physics education and lack of love in his home growing up. When he stood at my mom’s funeral and said  that she was the first person to love him unconditionally-he was being truthful.  I am glad that I had come to love him unconditionally long ago.  First in obedience to God‘s word, but then simply because I loved my dad and could never stay mad at him long!

After mom’s funeral, he came to stay with Dennis and me for three weeks.It was a precious time I am so thankful for now. We talked about his salvation experience and his great regrets in his life. How very much he loved his children, but couldn’t express it. How proud he was of everyone for their teaching their own children about Jesus. That we, his children were believers. That was his greatest legacy.                                          I was sent a card by one of my staff at work.  It said  “Remember that your father left the world a legacy in the good and caring person that you have grown to be. And in this time of sadness may it help comfort you to know that he is still a part of all you are and do.

I had thought to write a Father’s Day tribute, but this one which I tweaked a little from the eulogy for him is the best one I could have ever written for him. The Bible has a lot to say about Fathers. They are to honored.  We are to heed their instruction. In fact it says several times to honor and to heed. At least in the last years of his life, my dad knew I loved him-even on the day that he thought that he would lose my love if he told me his story. All I cared about was that he had a story!

The day that we cleaned out his apartment and we were on our way home coming across I-4. I was crying and praying. I asked the Lord for a sign that Mom and Dad were up there with Him and singing and dancing… I knew (or thought I knew, I was wrong) that God didn’t give signs but please God give me a sign. I need a sign so much. And just a minute or two later, here comes a little red plane buzzing by our car and then up in the sky he goes and begins to draw…a … smiley face…and then he is writing…Jesus…loves…you! well, there was my sign. How else could an airplane draw up by our car, then do draw a smiley face and write Jesus love you-right after I have asked for the sign? to read a sign in the sky, you have to be in just the right place as we were. I called all my sibs and told them. I think they were just as happy to hear this as I was to see it!

There have been a lot of changes in the family since Daddy died. My youngest sister has had 2 little boys a year apart. My oldest granddaughter has accepted the Lord Jesus into her heart.And she has a new sister who is now 3. A couple of my brothers kids have graduated high school and started college and he and wife Lesley had one more little girl  and my sister’s kids-Anna graduated college this year and Beau started this year and made DEAN’s list. Dad would have been proud.  He would have been thrilled with all the babies! He might have had a hard time interacting with children especially as he got older and couldn’t hear, but there was no one that loved having his family around more than he did.

I am better with my grieving now of course than I was even a year ago. But I still cry and I still miss him-and my momma too of course. I had no idea that they were so much my foundation–but in losing them, I found my God who said He would now be my father. He would be my Rock and my Foundation. He would provide for me, protect me, care for me, teach me all things-including trusting him implictly. Hard lesson to learn but wonderful peace to have. Not that He was not there before, but now it is only Him. I love you, Daddy.

A NEW AWARD “THE MRS. SPARKLY’S TEN COMMANDMENTS AWARD”

Well, you could really knock me over with a feather tonight when I saw this  new award. I really, really appreciate and treasure each award. For me it is telling that I am on the right track saying and doing exactly what my Father wants me to do. This week has been full of those validations. I didn’t realize that I needed them so much! But my Father knew–and made sure that I got just what I needed-just as He always does.

Last night I spoke with one of my candidates. His father had passed from this life to eternity on Saturday. I spoke with him very briefly Sunday and he had mentioned that he had thought of me when he was with his father in his last half hour of life. I didn’t quite know what to make of that. But then when we spoke yesterday he explained. You see, often when you are speaking of someone’s hopes and dreams, you speak of faith as well if it is important to the person and to him it was important.  So we had exchanged a few stories over the last 2-3 months we’ve been talking-one of them was about my dad who has also passed on. It seems our dads were alike.  We commiserated with each other a bit, but I also had told him about how I had found out 1 week before he died exactly what my dad’s story was. I asked because I was afraid that he had not story at all. Instead he had quite a story-a brilliant mind (he was a nuclear physicist) regardless of what the Bible said, he still thought he needed to earn his way into heaven –he tried for over 60 years! When I finally got him to tell me about it. He said, “I’ll tell you, but you won’t love me anymore”. You see my Dad still didn’t understand unconditional love or grace. Even after he “gave it all up” as he called it and knew that at that moment the Holy Spirit truly came into his heart-He still had a very difficult time believing that anyone would love him unless he behaved a certain way, or acted a certain-even me.  I, of course, simply put my arms around him and told him how much I loved him –that I had always loved him even when I was mad at him. I didn’t stop loving him. He still asked me if I was sure that I still loved him-because his life had been a lie and he had been a hypocrite. I just looked at him through my tears and said, “that’s why Jesus came, Daddy.”  A little over a week later, he was gone, gone to be with my mom and Jesus in heaven.

So somehow in sharing my story and maybe other stories –I never know later what we’ve talked about-just that we’ve connected. I know my candidate a little better, they know me a little better. So whatever I had shared apparently helped this young man make absolutely sure that his dad was going to make it to heaven as well.  I am in awe of a great and mighty God that puts people together to help one another-sometimes when you don’t even know you are helping–but God knows-because He knows the future and everything that is going to touch me in any way, shape or form and it’s got to be filtered through His fingers. I am comforted by that knowledge.

So now we are going to talk about the Mrs. Sparkly’s Ten Commandments Award

The “Mrs. Sparkly’s Ten Commandments Award” has to do with a woman of the same name, known for being very elegant and having high expectations, and who is committed to maintaining integrity, good manners and behavior, as well as a rich sense of humor. I have been told  that I am elegant. I have been told that I have too high expectations of me and others. I have been told that I have integrity, good manners, and good behavior (thank you, Mama) But I don’t know about the rich sense of humor. I often don’t get the jokes. I do take things too seriously even when people are trying to ‘lighten up’. But I am trying to be better and ‘lighter about everything’. So again, I am grateful for the award and will try to live up to its name and keep its commandments.

 

RULES:
The rules for this award are that you must answer the following ten questions and nominate five-ten blogs that you think deserve the award.

 

 

1. Describe yourself in seven words.

 

Christ follower, Bible Student, Wife, Mother, and Mimi (grandmother0 

 

2. What keeps you up at night?

sometimes it’s God telling me to pray for something specifically, sometimes it’s reading too many blogs, sometimes, its writing too late., sometimes it’s my asthma.

 

 

3. Whom would you like to be?

 

Me. I am finally satisfied and at peace with who I am, and what my “perfect” body  is to God

 

4. What are you wearing now?

 

Jeans and a knit top my daughter gave me

 

5. What scares you?

 

is not standing up for my God and Savior enough or if it meant my life-could I do it-like others are having to do in the world today.  I used to be scared of dying of an asthma attack but the Lord cured me of that!

 

6. What are the best and worst things about blogging?

 

the best- is reading what God puts into the minds and hearts of others that so reasonates with me, that you form true bonds, friendship, love and caring for these people you haven’t physically met, but that doesn’t matter because you KNOW them. the worst thing is not having enough time to read all the blogs I want to read. I could read 24/7 for a week I think and still only mabe make a dent.

 

7. What was the last website you looked at?

 

One of my client’s websites

 

8. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

 

I would not talk so much

 

 

9. Slankets, yes or no

 

No….if  Diane said no, then I’ll say no.

 

10. She is absolutely so loving and giving. She is always concerned about the other person-not herself. I am not surprised that she is constantly be awarded  because she is such a dear, sweet, giving person. She listens, if she can help fix something she does-she’s the best editor I’ve ever had. I love her. She’s Diane and would you all join with me in tell her to put up the website called writerwannabe…because she already is, right???

 

 

Our God Is Faithful! Psalm 145:13-18

 

a picture of the lake of Ohrid by Sunrise (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down…You open your hand satisfy the desires of every living things. The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

There are so many verses that are in God‘s Word about His Faithfulness. But let me tell you how He demonstrates them to me.

I have said before that I write just like I talk. Did you ever think what that might really mean? Because when I am writing, I am talking  about my Lord; usually about some new lesson I have learned, or something I have discovered new and fresh in His Word that I have read a thousand times, but only understood just today. So if I talk like I write, I am talking about Jesus, I am talking to Him and with Him all day long. I need His advice every step of my way and I have only to ask and it is given. When I am speaking with someone for someone, I just try and get to know them a little the first time we speak. I never have an agenda, other than basic contact information, maybe business numbers, something about their life, family, and if they could describe the perfect job, what would it be? Now granted God and faith can come up at any time in that conversation-often does. But again, I am just gathering information my first go round. Sometimes God has a different agenda than I do-and it is His voice after all, so He gets to speak if He wants to. But it is done so carefully and casually that again, anyone I have spoken with is so happy to talk and ready to talk about this particular subject!

So today, I had a referral call and we chatted a bit and then the floodgates opened  and I shared a little about why I work at a home office, the work and connections that I have. And then we began to talk about all the commonality that we had together, so many very personal, deeply wounding experiences-but I shared the great solution to all too. I promised to send her resume to an attorney friend of mine to see if they had any needs for a paralegal and that I would be in touch.

As soon as we were off the phone, it rang again. It was another lady that had been referred to me last week. She wasn’t someone I could place, but I could tell her how to get a new job. She was very depressed-had been looking for at least a couple of weeks and discouragement had set in. So I told her that she needed to make a list of all her blessings. Then she needed to make a list of all of her good qualities. And third she needed to make a list of companies 5-6 of them that were just like the one she had been laid off from and were in the same state of disorder, disrepair, horrendous receivables. Nothing was going right with that company when she got it-and then proceeded to turn it completely around to now the company is managing leasing for other companies. She was then to take that list and call each CEO and introduce herself as the woman who had turned around ABC company–but that when she had it up and running on its own, the owner let her go and put his son in her place. SO that made today the luckiest for XYZ Company, because she was sure that she could do the same thing for them. When would they like to meet her??????

She said I am calling you to tell you that everything you told me to do worked. And not only that but I have a great new job as of today as Director of Real Estate. Then she said, what was amazing to me was how God and Jesus were just a part of your conversation. I thought it was fantastic-but I had never had a business conversation  like that before. And now I want all of my conversations to be just like that. If you can do that I can do that. What do you do special to make that happen?

After I got off the phone with her, I had an email from the first one I had spoken with. She was thanking me for the time but mostly for our CONVERSATION. How do you do that? she asked. I have never had a business conversation about God or Jesus Christ or how any of that fits into the business life and always wanted that part to be different. Of course I told her the same thing.

So twice in one day I am explaining that I don’t do anything except tell the Lord in my early quiet time that this voice is His. This person is His-to do with whatever he sees fit. That if He will bring me prepared people to speak with I will open my mouth. And that’s about it. Except for praying as I am talking of course.! As I read the email to my husband and then told him of the phone call, I cried in amazement-more validation, more confirmation that I am doing exactly what God wants me to be doing. And I don’t take that lightly. Too many of my candidates really don’t know what the right thing to do is! What would I do without Jesus? I don’t ever, ever want to find out.

So after Supper tonight when I am still making a few calls and about to call it a night, I hope my email again and what do I get but a Liebster award  and because I show and speak the Lord!! Three time today He has shown me-Speak my word. I asked Him just last Friday if I should sign up with the speakers bureau here in FL. I guess I got quite an answer.

Last Night, Obedience & Holiness, Tonight Righteousness

2nd Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Now, there is in store for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord , the righteous Judge will award to me on that day–and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

This scripture has a lot of meaning to me. First, it is how I would have described my mother and her life in Christ. This was read at her funeral, just a few 3 1/2 years ago. I still miss her every day, but I know that when I am taken to heaven one way or the other, I will see my parents and so many who have gone before me. If she has not already laid her crown at Jesus’ feet, she will be wearing it and because I too long for His appearing in that day, I will be given one–still that is not exactly the righteousness I want to talk about tonight.

The Holy Word talks about righteousness a great deal, going all the way back to Genesis, when He God credited it (faith) to him as righteousness. 1st Samuel says the Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and this is the way the world will be judged–in righteousness.

So what exactly is righteous? Webster’s dictionary says it is acting or behaving in accordance with what is just, honorable, and free from guilt or wrong. then it adds the words virtuous, noble, moral, ethical. I would disagree a bit with that definition in light of what God says about it. Because I have personally known people that were perhaps virtuous, but not exactly what I would call sterling character. So maybe Webster’s is a little off too. I think you can be ethical, moral, noble and even virtuous without any relationship with God our Father. I know people who are tremendously good people who are all those things but without a Savior.

In 2nd Corinthians 5:17 It says that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come. All of this is from God-nothing we did ourselves. He reconciled  the world to Himself in Christ, not counting mens’ sins against them. Or to make this very personal, not counting my sins against me! And so if we are now reconciled, then we are Christ’s ambassadors…. as God was making His appeal through you.  I have to stop here again and say, yes that has happened to me numerous times, when He has just taken over, given the message, and then reconciled that person to Him. That is an awesome thing to be a part of!  The appeal is to be reconciled to God. God made Him who had no sin to be  sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.  2nd Corinthians 5: 18-21

But still what is this righteousness? Well it is described as Robes of Righteousness  and also a necklace of Righteousness which can become tarnished because of  lack of obedience. Faith is also credited as righteousness. He credited Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham that by their faith, became heirs of righteousness that comes by faith. Then Issac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses’ parents, Moses, the prostitute Rahab, and even more with Gideon, Samuel, David, the prophets–they too were credited by their faith to righteousness.  And so then I must ask what is faith?  Hebrews 11:1 gives us the perfect definition.  Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

So I see a pattern. Do you? Faith which leads to obedience and obedience which leads to holiness and holiness to righteousness which is defined by us as the Lord’s Righteousness, The robes of Righteousness, and the Righteousness that has been credited to me because of my faith!  I’d call that a perfect circle, a double whammy! The more you do, the more you do.

And that is true for me, the more you study God’s Word and talk with Him, the more you want to. I used to wonder what anyone could pray about to God for a whole night. Now I know.

I told someone earlier tonight that until the last 2-3 years, I thought I could choose when to be obedient and when to pursue holiness, but it doesn’t work like that! When you give your heart to Jesus, He is going to uphold His part of the covenant. That part is to refine you like gold and make you ready for heaven. So no, you don’t get to choose, once you’ve made the choice for HIM, eventually He will get you in a place where you can’t do anything but obey Him and once you are, you’ll find it rather pleasant, because His burden is light, remember, and then it is so easy to start pursuing holiness, excellence, faith.