Feeling Lonely?

No one who knew Linda could see it. She always had a smile on her face and hands and feet that kept busy with her home, family, and volunteer work. But there was a loneliness deep within that no social gathering or crowded shopping mall could relieve.

Sound familiar? Do you ever have those moments?

Loneliness is a mood not a permanent situation. It is a snapshot of the moment.

It is normal.

You are normal.

This kind of loneliness comes from a lack of connecting on a deeper level with those around us. It is a longing to get past the superficial and penetrate the soul.

A sure fire remedy to get reconnected is to get outside of  oneself and do something for someone else. Jesus said, “This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love.” John 15:12 

But when that pendulum swings the other way, be careful. Sometimes in our quest for happiness we seek to fill every moment in our lives with something. 

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

Sometimes God might be using quiet moments alone to speak to us.

Even in our loneliness, we are never alone.

Right now, you are not alone.

Dust Collectors

It’s time to clean out the clutter I have collected all year to make way for more clutter we will receive during the giving season. I find it odd that I will be throwing away or giving away those items that, at some point in time, I thought were so important or I paid good money for! When I was newly married my plan was to get a diamond anniversary ring for my fifth wedding anniversary. Five years went by, then ten, and twenty. At some point along the way that ring became very unimportant to me. The treasures I find dear to me now are no longer trinkets. They have been replaced with relationships and memories.

While Jesus walked this earth, the treasures He held as important were people and matters of the heart, loving one another.

I ask myself this question; What really fills me up with peace, joy, and contentment? Is it items that collect dust or the sound of laughter in my home? Is it the very home I live in or the sound of my husbands whistling, the touch of a soft hand?

All the trinkets we can collect while here on earth can take time away from all the treasures we should be storing up in heaven.

I think I will start with my closet.....

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:18-20

We Are Not Home Yet!

I attended the Women of Faith conference this past weekend. Looking out over a sea of faces, I realized each woman there had her own story, her own share of troubles. Equal to the bonding of souls I witnessed, was the brokenness of hearts.

“In this world you will have trouble.....”

 I am reminded  of all the suffering the Israelites went through between their release from slavery and arriving in the Promise Land. Although God was with them, they had their share of trouble. He had to keep reminding them they could trust Him along the journey.

Like the Israelites, I have been saved, I am no longer a slave to sin, but I have not yet reached my Promised Land. So there will be suffering and longing for peace while I am on this journey. This journey which will take a lifetime to get me to my final destination.

How is God calling you and me to trust Him along the way?

To finish the scripture I began, In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16: 32-33

Moodiness

I was having a party and I was the only one invited. It was my pity party. Knee deep in what I call the funky mood, sometimes I may get too comfortable there. I was finding no peace in all situations around me. Couple that with just being a woman with hormones -- dangerous combination.
A reality of life is that typically things don't run smoothly and that is when our moodiness can set in. When we allow circumstances, usually beyond our control, to zap our joy, time and energy. But even when circumstances are beyond our control, God is still completely in control. He gives us several ways to cope with our female moodiness. It's called  P.M.S. -- positive mood solution. One positive mood solution is the Holy Spirit. He gives us the fruit of the Spirit; love, joy, peace........ remember? When we let the Holy Spirit control our lives, we will better be able to manage our moods, through prayer, talking to Him and telling Him everything.
Another P.M.S. God gives us is the sisterhood. They are our sisters in Christ around us. The girlfriends we can be ourselves with and they love us anyway. After we go to the Throne, we can go to the phone. It's great to have a friend we can share our moods with and sometimes that's all it takes to snap us out of it.
Give God your moodiness then start your own sisterhood club.


Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point our anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Psalm 139:23-24

Taking Care of My Husband

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
 Romans 12:1-3

My husband has gotten the news that his cholesterol is high and his diet must change. It has been suggested to him to cut out as much animal products as possible. Being the good wife that I am, I google low cholesterol  menus and make everything from scratch. I must confess at times I want to say, “Honey, just get back on your medicine and let’s go have a steak”. But instead, I bear my cute apron, work tirelessly in the kitchen and still manage to look like June Cleaver. (Not really, except for the apron part). 

I lay in bed at night with my tummy growling and I dream I am withering away. So as my husband works diligently at the office to make a living for this family.... I sneak off to Chik-Fil-A and chow down!! Oh, the sweet savor of the #1 combo meal, on wheat buns of course!

Back to reality. This is not a food blogsite, however, I must share with you this amazing Country style gravy recipe. Ya’ll, it is really tasty!

2 c hot water

3 T soy sauce

1 T onion powder

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/2 c cashews

1 T yeast

1 T corn starch

Waiting on God

I am not a fan of waiting. Waiting in line at the grocery store, waiting on the road while construction crews work, or even waiting on God to answer important prayer. Waiting forces me to not move forward. In this fast- paced world we live in, we have developed the philosophy that to not move is to not be productive. Therefore, I subconsciously feel God is not being productive in my life because my urgent prayers are not “moving forward”. I confess this line of reasoning is not equal to the Christian maturity I had hoped to achieve at this point in my walk of faith. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians,  when we are in our weakest state, his power is made perfect. Ironically, when I am in my weakest state, I feel just the opposite. That God is not working in my life. I know this is not true, and yet I can still feel this way.

When we are feeling great about our lives, wonderful things are happening, all is right with our little world,  we lean on our heavenly Father the least.... and the enemy attacks.

Feeling weak, helpless, impatient, we come before the Lord and wait on Him for our strength, direction, and patience. This is when our faith grows deeper and we can be used for His kingdom in a mighty way.

Are you feeling weak, helpless, or impatient as you wait on the Lord? Thank Him for this pathway to receive His power at work in you.

My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9 The Message

Mission Trip to Tuxtla

Returning home last Sunday, my feet hit the ground of  Bush Intercontinental Airport with gratefulness, but my heart was left behind in Tuxtla-Gutierrez. We served as a medical/dental clinic the first three days in the home-church of Pastor Carlos, his wife Nellie, and their three beautiful children. Their home was a cinder block, cement floor building no larger than the three car garage we put our two cars in. I admit I was shocked by the living conditions so primitive to our way of life, until I saw the rest of the neighborhood and realized their home was a palace and a safe haven.

My dental hygiene equipment consisted of one scaler and a disposable mirror, a cup of water for rinsing their mouth, a bucket for them to spit in, ( when the bucket got half-way full, we poured it outside) and a flashlight I had my translator hold.

The community was waiting for us when we arrived and by the end of day, we were turning people away. These people never had their teeth cleaned before in their lives. You can’t begin to imagine what I saw, yet they were so gracious and thankful for my service.

Two days were spent in the orphanage. Each child there had a heartbreaking story of their own. The doctor working with us on this trip, Saul,  shared with the children that they were not a mistake. That God is their Father and He loves them and has a plan for each of them. This made a huge impact in their lives because Saul was once an orphan himself and he rose above it to share the hope he had found through Jesus Christ.

It took faith for me to go, it took the hope found in Jesus Christ to encourage those around me, but the best part of all, was the overwhelming love I received, giving back to me a thousand times more than what I gave.

There are three things that will endure; faith, hope, and love.... and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13