DAY 7 (2015)

Don’t worry about what’s to come. Instead let God’s peace fall like snow.

Mmmm… almost forgot to post today. it was a long day, not a bad one by any stretch of the imagination, just long. This morning it snowed really bad and I was nervous about driving. But my awesome brother gave me an out when he offered to take me if I didn’t want to drive. So at 7 am I called him, woke him up and asked if his offer was still good, and it was. Yes!!! The drive was beautiful, but that is not my point of thankfulness. No, today I want to thank God for a brother who doesn’t mind getting up at seven am to take his sister to work. Even although he didn’t have to go to work. Life is lonely if we try to travel it alone. Lonely travelers are easy prey and fall quickly to the schemes of the enemy. But when we have a companion we have accountability and friendship. So thanks Jon for taking me to work, and thanks God for giving me a brother that didn’t complain about being woken up.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor” (Ecclesiastes 4:9).

So what am I thankful for today? Companions on the journey.

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

2 Samuel 13. “But she answered him, ‘No, my brother, do not force me, for no such thing should be done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful thing! And I, where could I take my shame? And as for you, you would be like one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you.’ However, he would not heed her voice; and being stronger than she, he forced her and lay with her. Then Amnon hated her exceedingly, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, ‘Arise, be gone!'” (Verses 12-15). What is interesting to me about this chapter is that David would have given Tamar to Amnon, he could have had the thing he most desired in the right way. But he chose to fulfill his fleshly desires instead of heeding his sisters words. The verse says he hated her after, and that his hatred was greater than his love. Seems weird, right? But it’s not, sin has a price and the price is GUILT. Amnon’s actions stems from the guilt of his sin. We feel guilty, but don’t want to admit guilt, so it leads to hatred, to lying, to anything but acceptance of our wrong doing. Amnon did not just hurt himself and his sister. No, his sin affected his entire family. Sin is dirty and its goal is to destroy the sinner completely. Listen to God, flee from sin.

DAY 170 (2014)

This basically my mom’s reaction… God loves to surprise His children, He’s good like that.

My mom’s birthday is on Sunday. As my brother and I decided what to do for her, we came up with a GREAT idea. We’d surprise her with the one thing she wanted most: My brother to come visit. Everyday since he moved to Buffalo at least one time a day she’ll say these words, “I miss Jon.” Yesterday morning I woke up, told my mom I had to help my boss with something, but I’d be back to pick her up and take her out. At which point I headed to airport to get “my boss” (aka. baby brother). I retrieved him from the airport, made a quick Starbucks run (we were both coffee deprived), then headed home. When I got home I left my brother sitting in the car in the driveway. Went inside and asked my mom, to come help me get stuff out of the car. She walked through the garage toward the driveway, she had a quizzical look on her face. Then she noticed him and immediately started screaming for joy. She was so excited (still is), she started laughing, crying, and yelling all at the same time (I did not know that was even possible). Here’s the cool part: she couldn’t stop thanking God. Why is that the cool part?  She knew to whom the praise belonged. She did thank my brother and I for the surprise, but her praise was all toward God. She praised Him for providing my brother with the funds to travel. She thanked Him for my willingness to get up at an insane hour in the morning. She thanked Him for another year of life that she will get to begin with both her children around. There was not a thing that she did not praise Him for. I am blessed beyond measure to have this, godly woman, as my example in life. She has taught me that truly “EVERY good and perfect gift is from God.”

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17).

So what’s the plan? Know to whom the praise belongs.

DAY 97 (2014)

Pray. He will answer. Every. Single. Time.

Yesterday I posted that my church received very devastating new. News that left me feeling saddened for a family, and worried about how the world at large would view God. This morning I woke up to my Pastor’s face all over the news. Which saddens me. Because while my Pastor may have been the person who made the wrong choice, it will be the reputation of God that takes the fall. My heart has been heavy all day because I want people to understand that Bob is just a man, but God is God. One does not reflect the other.  My Monday post for work reflects my heart. So I decided to once again share my Monday email for coworkers as my post for today. Please keep my Pastor and my church in prayer.

I have had a rough weekend. I received some devastating news about someone I loved, trusted, and learned a lot from. The news left me thinking “who can be trusted?” Some weeks prior to this weekend I had a conversation with a trusted mentor. We were talking about life, about relationships, and about forgiveness. In the midst of conversation she said this, “Forgiveness is given, it is NOT earned. It’s a choice on the part of the giver that no matter what you will continue to forgive.” Wondering how all of this relates to a work day/week? On any given day, at any given moment someone will disappoint you. Will hurt you. Forgiveness at that moment becomes your (our) choice. We can either extend it, or withhold it. Extending it gives us the opportunity to heal, to move forward and repair what was broken. Withholding leaves us holding on to an open wound that will never be healed because we refuse to apply the medicine. So, today to those around you extend a little grace, don’t hold a grudge. Forgive and move on. As always your perspective determines your day, your week. Make it AMAZING! Happy Monday!!!

“All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).

So what’s my plan of attack? Forgive and heal.

DAY 72 (2014) – Saying Goodbye

Goodbyes are often hard, but when done for the right reason will give birth to something beautiful.

Last day before I go back to South Florida and leave my baby brother in Buffalo. Can’t lie, I am nervous, a little scared, and really sad. We have not been separated in a while, and the family unit we have right now is very tight. So this feels like a part of my flesh is about to be cut off. This is an odd feeling for me, because I am not the personality type to miss things when they are gone. Sounds cold, doesn’t it? But it isn’t. I have always believed that life, things, and people are transient, and not permanent. Does that mean that I treat them carelessly? No, on the contrary it means that I treat them as though each day, each moment is the last I will be able to spend with them. So my goal always with friendships and life is to learn, grow, and respect the people and things that God has blessed me to encounter. Because of this attitude I don’t often feel sad at goodbyes. But this goodbye will hurt. To my brother (who reads my posts everyday…he’s my loyal fan 😉 ). I am praying for you. I know that you are where you are for a reason. I know that at this moment you may feel overwhelmed and maybe even scared. But don’t ever feel like those feeling make you a coward or weak. Understand that those feelings are the stepping stones to strength. I am very proud of you, and even though I may not show it, I will hate being apart from you for even a second. But I know that God will wrap His loving arms around you and keep you safe until we are reunited. Love you always. Your big sister, Lisa.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26).

So what’s my plan of attack? Trust God to take care of the part of me that will be missing.