Suitcases and journeys...

 When I was a little girl, I never knew when my dad would come home and tell us all, "I have been reassigned to a new duty station," and what that would mean for our family.  I would like to say that my siblings and I took it all in stride as sometimes, our time in one place may be just a year, maybe two and the longest ever was four.  Honestly, I didn't know what it was like for a family to be born and raised in one place and stay there until graduation from high school.  Being raised in the military meant that most of our vacations were used to visit and catch up on the doings of extended family.  It was a good life.  

Interestingly enough, it hasn't slowed down.  I took the time one day to count the times I have moved, whether from one city or state or country to those times from one place to another in the same town.  I stopped when I got to the number 40!  My husband and I have recently moved again to help take care of my elderly dad who has served his country well.  Mom has since gone to heaven and it has been a difficult adjustment for him - they were married almost 60 years.  In this process, there have been adjustments for everyone.  Once again, we packed suitcases and boxes and relinquished all the "not knowing" of how this was going to work to our Heavenly Father above.  The journey has been hard and so much still is unsettled.  It is why I hold onto this verse in Joshua..."Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord God will be with you wherever you go."  

Are you dealing with some uncertainty right now?  Are you tired of even having to deal with an unknown, again?  

In my personal Bible study time in the mornings, I am in Genesis 42...Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely accused by his master's wife and imprisoned.  After interpreting some dreams of the Pharaoh of Egypt, Joseph is placed in an elevated position and finds himself face to face with those brothers who had done him such a great injustice twenty years ago.  How does he handle it?  Joseph remembers the dreams from long ago and believes he must test his brothers to see if they have changed.  Talk about difficult journeys...  

I'm just going to tell you, Dear Ones, with the help of our Lord God in heaven who created everything, He is going to help you get through whatever is going on right now.  You can trust Him in this.  I am.  

In case you are wondering….

 

Wondering...or wandering?

 I just love the old black & white card pictures, don't you?

What, do you think, this little gal is wondering about?

"What am I going to be when I grow up?"

"How will this world look when I am as old as my mom?"

"Who am I going to marry?"

Or...

"Please hurry up!  This dress is uncomfortable and my shoes are tied too tight!"

We will never know.

But...God knows.

And, here right now...

God knows what is in your heart and on your mind today.  

Yep!  Even though, you are one in billions of people, God knows you.  

He knows your name.

He knows what you are feeling.

He knows if you have been struggling.

He knows.

And yet, Dear One...He is just waiting for you to talk to Him about it.

Just try it...it will help.  

Psalm 23

TRUE LOVE is given every single day...

My late husband Mark and I would not place any pressure on one another for the Valentine holiday.  From the beginning of our marriage, Mark said, "Deb, if I am not loving you the other 364 days of the year, I certainly can't make up for it on Valentine's Day."  I so appreciated this as one of my love languages is "gifts" of service...not necessarily to myself but also to others.  As far as stuff goes, I just don't need more stuff to dust!!!  Anyway, I lost Mark to cancer back in 2006 and am so grateful for the habits of showing love we developed over those years prior.  Now, I am blessed to be remarried to a most amazing, loving and godly man whom I treasure and we have discussed this upcoming first Valentine's Day for us.  Again, no pressure...let us just be loving on each other and others every day!!!  No dusting involved!!!   I love you, Benjamin Todd Adkins!!! 

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LET US DO MORE THAN SIMPLY COPE....

Acting out. Avoidance. Denial. Rationalization. Repression.

   All of these are examples of coping mechanisms people use to handle the pressures and difficulties they experience, but none of them cures the root issue. If you have money problems, for instance, avoiding the mailbox that may contain bills will not solve your financial issues.

   Some researchers see a direct correlation between increased pressure and coping mechanisms that result in alcoholism, drug addiction, divorce, abuse, and other social problems. Is there something that can free us from these worries and tensions, so we can better handle them in a healthy way?

   Jesus confronted head-on the issue of handling everyday problems. He said that people should give God—who already knows their needs—the central place in their lives, and these concerns will then be cared for. “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:33).

   This advice runs counter to our inclinations. Many of us get frenzied over our problems—both real and imagined. We don’t feel we have time for God because our energy becomes depleted by simply coping—just getting by in this crazy world. But when we make God our number one priority, he gives us the resources and strength to successfully face the demands of each day.

    You assign God first place by believing that although your sin has separated you from him (Romans 3:23), Jesus Christ, the Son of God, sacrificed his life to pay the debt for your sin (John 3:16).

    Admit to God your need for him and trust in Jesus as the one who rescues you from sin. Give God control of your life and live as the Bible, God’s Word, instructs you.

    When you do that, you have obeyed the command to seek his Kingdom above all else, and God will provide the rest. He becomes your Lord, and his strength will empower you to meet whatever problems you will face.

     The gospel isn’t a coping mechanism. It is the truth that will set you free.

[Jim Kraus]

God says, "NO"...sometimes a lot!

     We "must" and I do say, "must" remember that for there to be a harvest in the fields of which many benefit with food and other products, the seed "must" first die (John 12:24).  If this doesn't happen, there is no abundance, there is no continuing of true life.

"Those who love their life in this world will lose it.  Those who care nothing for their life  in this world will keep it for eternity" (John 12:25).

     This is about surrender in this life here and not living a negligent life but a purposeful one that begins with dying to self so when God does say "No" to something you want, your mind and heart are yielded in trusting God knows best and He has a plan.  Yes, God always has a plan (Jeremiah 29:11).

     Dear Ones, we can trust God in the "No's" of this life when we accept...

     "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the Lord.
          And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
     For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
          so My ways are higher than your ways
               and My thoughts higher than your thoughts." 
                       Isaiah 55:8-9

Yielding to this TRUTH is often hard, I know, but it is better!!!

A  BLESSING  FROM  ABOVE...

"May the Lord bless you and protect you.
   May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace."
                                                             Numbers 6:24-26