Moving the Hand of God...

Well, the Big Christmas Day EXTRAVAGANZA is done!  All th gifts are given and the food has been devoured, naps have been taken and all is well!  This year I really tried to be "present" emotionally and spiritually for Christmas.  In the last five years, my Dad suffered from horrible Lung Cancer, while my sister suffered and battled her own Cervical, Lung and Brain Cancer. We, as a family, tightened the focus around being there for them; helping , praying and living with our attention on every moment with them.  They have both gone to be with the Lord now; my dad 1st, and then my sister in Oct. 2009.  Last Christmas was full of bittersweet memories and grief.  But this year, time and God have healed some of that sadness, and I was able to devote myself to living in "my own moments".  The time with my boys, and husband, family and friends was truly magical, and I felt so at peace and loved!  I was able to focus again on the joy and love of God's gift; his Son, and be truly grateful for all my blessings.  One morning this holiday, I was overcome with the revelation of all those who had prayed for me and my family during our battles with cancer. I was able to see just how their faithfullness to pray for me and my family had sustained us over the course of our trail.  It took my breath away!  I saw myself and my family, held tenderly in God's hands, and just beneath us were the swirls of 1000's of prayers. I was in awe.

 If you know or love someone who is dealing with a life threatening illness, I ask you to pray regularly for them and those who are caring for them...they need all the prayers they can get.  So many times we say "I will  be praying for you", but then we forget or get busy with our own issues.  We don't mean to neglect them in our prayers, but we do none the less.  I know that those who were faithfully praying for me over the last 5 years helped save me from total grief & stress induced insanity. I am ever indebted to them for their love and selflessness. Think about those you know and make a New years commitment to pray for those in need of your support.  Nothing happens here on Earth until it manifests in the spiritual world...and that includes healing.  How do we move the hand of God? With prayer. Pray for your loved ones in need, and do it faithfully.  It will cover them with a grace and peace that they never knew existed, and it will move the hand of God in wonderous ways!

lil' wisdom; lots of love: snow day...

lil' wisdom; lots of love: snow day...: "Well here is is; the long awaited, much prayed for and anticipated, first snow day of the season! As a teacher I have to admit that I ..."

snow day...

Well here is is; the long awaited, much prayed for and anticipated, first snow day of the season!  As a teacher I have to admit that I too, love a good ol' fashion snow day.  We will ususlly sleep in, make a big breakfast and then play in the snow or curl up and watch movies, or venture out into town with our 4 wheel drive adn go out for lunch or to the mall, etc.  But today, we woke up and the house was only 60 degree and dropping fast.  The furnace went out overnight, and it won't lite. We called the repair guy, and he will be here this afternoon, but we will be chilly until then.  Now I admit, in the "flesh"  I am irritated as all get out that I have to wait here in this "icebox" for help to arrive, but in my spirit, I am keeping a good and happy attitude because I know that the devil would just love to ruin my day...a day off no less that God gave us!  Soooooo. I will fall back on Phil. 4:8..."whatever is true, honorable, pure, lovely. kind, virtuous, & worthy of praise; think on these things"  and I will pray for a quick and inexpensive solution.  A wise lady once shared with me that the devil cannot read your mind, but he can use your own negative words against you.  So even though I am thinking that this is a crappy situation, I am saying, "but at least I am home and we have help on they way", & "it looks like the perfect day to fire up the oven and bake", & "thank God we knew a furnace guy personally so he can get here today instead of tomorrow!".  This is what putting Phil 4:8 into practice look like.  I refuse to let the devil steal my peace today.  "I will rejoice in the Lord at all times, and HIs praise shall be continutally on my lips!" (Psalms 34:1) So take that devil...I am kicking your ugly butt right out of my day!