Hangin’ In There...

Whew! June is here! Happy June!
Personally, I am relieved we are in this part of 2009.

My husband, Gary, has worked for G.M. for 25 years.

We had known since last winter things were going to happen at G.M. But we weren’t real sure just what would transpire, we were put in a place where information was given on a “need to know basis”.

From December of last year until the last week of April we had been functioning in a way we have never had to before...not worrying and thinking daily. I had an example of living daily from those of Nicaragua, living in the poorest of conditions. They lived daily, in that moment, not worrying, and talking to God about their deepest concerns.

We werent sure if Gary would lose his job, be “re-leveled” (demoted), or stay in his current position. Each of those situations had things to think about, each of those situations had things that worried me. I kept thinking, “how are we going to do this?” Then I heard a quiet voice remind me about, “not worrying about tomorrow”, asking Him for our “daily bread” and “talk to me”.

I am very relieved to share with you Gary is still working for G.M. Please remember to keep us in your prayers. Changes will be taking place within his “group” at work and of course we don't know what these changes are or what they will mean but as you know...information is still given

on a “need to know basis”.

Food for Thought :0)

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.

Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34 NIV

Give us each day our daily bread. Luke 11:6 RSV

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6 NIV

URGENT PRAYER REUQEST

Hi Everyone. I have an urgent prayer request from my cousin about his daughter(my second cousin).

Ella, my 2 ½ year old Second Cousin, has been in the hospital since last Tuesday (4/28). She was born with Spina Bifida and is paralyzed from the waist down. She has been spiking a high fever for several days and the doctors found that one of her kidneys was infected. Last Thursday they inserted a pick line for her antibiotics and a tube into her kidney to drain it. Since then her stomach and intestines shut down, they think due to shock, but have that somewhat under control by inserting a tube into her stomach to drain it. She continues to have a high fever.
Today she will get a blood transfusion because her hemoglobin is low. The doctors also plan on tapping the shunt in her head to see if that is infected and do more tests to find out exactly what is going on.

Randy & Lori (Her parents) and Ella are drained emotionally and physically. Please pray that Randy & Lori will be able to make good decisions regarding Ella’s care. Ella is not allowed to eat or drink anything until they can get some answers.

How

Often after I past the question of why, I then move to the question of how.

God how would you like to me use this to glorify you?

So right now...I am wondering this. I am staying quiet so I can hear what he might say.
Looking at life right now to see where the how question to be answered.

Suffering...

Suffering...why?
I often wonder why.
I'm not sure.

I wonder when I will be healed. Some days I dont care what day it will be, whether it will be here on earth or in heaven. Those are the good days. :) The bad days I believe this too. Just a bit harder to believe I guess.

I often wonder why I have to be in pain.
I learned that pain is God's gift to us to help us know when something is wrong with our bodies so we can get the care we need. Im glad that He made our bodies in such a way to signal us when things are going wrong.

Back to the orignial question, why suffering?
Is it for us to reflect on our lives, ourselves, others, God or what?

I know my response for the past 10 years has been whatever God, and I dont mean that to be a sarcastic thing. I mean God whatever your will is for the pain, and weird things that go on with my body.

I cry in his arms, they are the strongest. When I relax I see myself laying in His arms, and Him stroking my head and hair ever so gently.

Really I cant think of any other place I would rather be, in His arms being comforted. Because there is no other place I can get comfort that is so loving and gentle.

Those are my thoughts on suffering. I dont know the whys of suffering, but I know who to turn to in times where life is hard. It is easier than what I might resort to.

What is my focus...what will be the response???? I can focus on suffering and how terrible it is, or I can focus on who God is. My response can be one of surrending the battle of suffering with a huge fight, looking to Him for answers about treaments, doctors, and respond with thanksgiving, praise and worship for the things that can be done. The things that can't be done, well He is gonna get the glory cause I dont know how He will use me and the situation I am in!

Below is an execerpt from a Grief Share Devotional that I received in my email.



Excerpt from Grief Share Limited Answers Day 192

Here is the challenge: Do not use your suffering as a time to discover if you believe in God, but focus instead on discovering what you believe about Him. In times of suffering, God does not change, but what you believe about Him, what you understand about Him, may.

You will likely have questions to which you will never receive answers. It is human nature to want all the pieces to fit, to want to make sense of things. But there are times when that will not happen.

"Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known" (1 Corinthians 13:12).

God, instead of focusing on the questions, I want to start focusing on the Answer--You. Help me to better understand Your attributes and Your plan for my life. Amen.


Suggested reading from the GriefShare HelpCenter
When God WeepsJoni Eareckson Tada

WHY, God Why?!

I often have the question, Why God?

I was reminded of this again this morning through a devotional I have been receiving through an organization called GriefShare. It is a ministry for those who have experienced a death of a loved one. I was involved in a support group that lasted 3 months. A very good program.

I am sure others have the same question on their mind when things happen in their life and they have no answer.

In the past year I have asked the Why question many times. Often times there is no answer, not one I can come up with from myself or others, God doesn't answer either. I get frustrated. I think okay, when will the answer come?

Then my thoughts come back to this verse,

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways, my ways, declares the Lord."

This brings me back to this one thought track I have been having...where is my focus...and what is my response going to be.

In this I am brought back to the thought that God's thoughts may be such that I won't understand the reason he has for things that happen in my life, that I won't understand why. I have decided I dont have to understand why, but trust and have faith that God does know why. I have learned to trust that God has the answer and that He knows best for me in my life, now that is FAITH! I have faith even though I dont know the answer.

Below is the copy of the devotional I received this morning.

The Why of DeathDay 188

Right now you might not be feeling very close to God. You might be thinking, Where is God? Does God really care? How could He let this happen? What does my future hold?

Dr. Robert Jeffress shares the response of a man who lost three of his seven children through horrible deaths to leukemia: "When somebody asks him, 'How could you keep believing in a God who would allow you and your children to experience such a tragedy?', this is what he says, 'In those kind of experiences you have two choices: You can either give up or you can keep believing in God even when it doesn't make sense. Faith means something when it's exercised in the darkness.'"

Dr. Jeffress adds his own insight: "I believe that faith means something when you don't understand the whys. I don't think God ever condemns you for asking why. But in the ultimate analysis, the question is not why but it is Who? God calls on you to believe in Him who said, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me. I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live again' [John 14:6, 11:25]. Ultimately you must trust in that."

Lord God, I have so many questions and doubts and feelings of guilt and blame. Where do I go from here? Lead me in Your way, truth, and life. Amen.


If you are in a Season of Grief, you can go to GriefShare to find a group and read devotionals, and even receive devotionals if you would like!

'A Season of Grief' from GriefSharedaily emails to help you through the grieving process--------------------------------------------------------
Grief support groups:Go to the following link to find a GriefShare group near you:http://www.griefshare.org/findagroup/?z=48323
Want to read ahead or resend a previous daily email? Click the link below:http://www.griefshare.org/dailyemails/my/

Turkey or Eagle, Which are you???

Very often I will receive something in my email box that hits the nail on whatever I am dealing with in my life. Below is an excerpt from Billy Graham's Decision Magazine. I posted the link at the end if you would like to read the whole devotion.

I was reminded today of what my focus should be....on Jesus Christ...my Savior and Redeemer. That he knows the plans for me, that when things happen He will have an answer for me.

Anyway, enough said.

I received this in another email,

"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver." Proverbs 25:11 (NKJV)


"Besides feeling totally helpless, what has been your reaction? Are you defiantly standing in the midst of the swirling circumstances, yelling in your spirit, Why did You let this bad thing happen? Or maybe you’re withdrawing into a shell of denial and depression, hoping that things won’t get any worse.

I have heard that a turkey and an eagle react differently to the threat of a storm. A turkey runs under the barn, hoping the storm won’t come near. An eagle leaves the security of its nest, spreads its wings and rides the air currents of the storm, knowing its wings will carry it higher in the sky than it could soar on its own. Based on your reaction to what has happened in your life, which are you—a turkey or an eagle?It’s natural for me to be a turkey in my emotions, but I have chosen to be an eagle in my spirit. And as I have spread my wings of faith to embrace the “wind,” placing my trust in Jesus and Jesus alone, I have experienced quiet, “everyday” miracles:His joy has balanced my pain,His power has lifted my burden,His peace has calmed my worries,His grace has been more than adequate to cover me,His strength has been sufficient to carry me though,His love has bathed my wounds like a healing balm …And through it all, I have seen the Lord!"

Below is the link from the section above:
http://www.billygraham.org/DMag_article.asp?ArticleID=1081&BA=1604&QR=120


May your focus today be on the One who Forgives, Saves, and Redeems!

It has been a while.

As much as I love my husband, sons, dogs and cats here in Michigan I sure miss the people of Nicaragua! :)

Not a day goes by that I haven't thought of the sweet people I met in Leon.

Oh....BTW....I have been invited by the team leader to go back to Leon in 2010! I am thrilled! When I received the email...I nearly did a dance. I can hardly wait. But then...the fundraising starts all over again, my least favorite part of going out on mission trips.

My thoughts have been on what can we do to serve them in 2010! What will the Lord have us do during that time.

I especially miss the children that we worked with. There were so many that we ministered to. I am so glad that our team photographer took pictures of the children. So many were just so delighted to have us come play and show Jesus' love to them.

I am hoping things work out so that I can go back in January of 2010...Lord willing of course.

My heart continues to be ministered to through music here at home. I love music. I have been enjoying a song called "Joy", by this singer named Niyoki. Joy....unspeakable... joy!