We Remember You...

"In Memory of those gone from our lives too soon... We remember you in the morning, in the night, when we look at the stars, hear a song, revisit a place, and catch a familiar smell. You are always with us in our hearts." ~ Unknown #quotes #stuckinindiana

Do you miss someone and grieve for them? Grief and loss come in many forms. We miss those who have passed on. We miss those who once were cherished friends or family member but are no longer a part of our lives. Although not experienced in our family... I can imagine "missing & grieving" a child who passed prior to or at birth. 

Love comes with some sort of expectation of what the future will bring. The absence of a loved one can be strongly felt at the most expected times -- clearly out of the blue. Love doesn't necessarily stop when a person is no longer a part of our day to day lives. One of the most wonderful things about love is that it lives on and survives and even thrives when the loss happens.

Hold tightly to those feelings of love. They will bring comfort in the most uncomfortable times. They will be an inspiration that love is worth the cost of losing it.

Worst Year Ever!!!!!

Have you ever looked back on a long period of time (12 months or more) and said to yourself.... That was the WORST YEAR EVER! Have you ever been so very certain of something to only watch it implode in front of you? Have you cried out to God and earnestly pleaded for what you felt deeply was His will - something of which you believed to be His will all along. Have you cried out to Jesus... for Him to restore what was broken... for Him to show up mightily on behalf of hurting loved ones... for Him to soften hardened hearts & heal injured souls?

I was brought up in a "Christian" home. And, by that I mean... a family who walked the talk... a preacher's family where a daily, personal relationship with the Trinity (Father, Son & Holy Spirit) was taught and lived out. The choice for me to be a "believer" was more so for my family in my younger years. But over time, I came to understand, choose and grow into my very own personal relationship with Christ. 

Over the years I've experienced a peace that passes understanding through my faith (Philippians 4:7)... in times of death, disappointment, illness, hurt, loss of relationship, rejection, fear, and more. 

          * I walked the road of cancer with my father believing fully that at any moment God would heal Dad's earthly body and feeling the perfect will of God as I sat by my dad and heard his body let out it's last breath. It was a very hard year. But, in the end, my heart knew that what had happened was in God's perfect timing. 

          * I was lied to and betrayed by a person that I felt would always be a huge part of my life. It was years before I saw what a blessing that rejection had actually been for me & my future. 

          * I've lain awake many a night wondering about the safety of a dear, loved one. I've cried countless tears over the choices and their consequences from decisions made contrary to what I would have suggested. I've felt bullied, badgered & belittled for my feelings & faith in many of those times. I'm still waiting for some of those things to be resolved. But, I believe that they will.

          * And, I could go on...

My story probably isn't any different than most others. However, I've had the peace and assurance that God was at work in all situations... working for the best --- our best! Often that peace has been painful. I'm still confused about how certain things turned out. I still wonder if some of my prayers are being sent up in accordance to His will or just to heal the pain I experience. Each day is a new beginning of trusting & believing that it will all be fine, in the end.

So, for those out there who have had similar thoughts to... Worst Day Ever... Worst Week Ever... Worst Month Ever... WORST YEAR EVER, know that you are not alone in those feelings. Be encouraged that sometimes things are falling into place when you are certain they are falling apart.

A scripture that I cling to is... 

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:28‬ ‭NLT‬‬ http://bible.com/116/rom.8.28.nlt 

Some songs that have helped in times of struggle -- in the past year especially...

Alanna Story - I Won't Let Go

Casting Crowns - Oh My Soul 

Mercy Me - Even If 

Lauren Daigle - You Say 

Laura Story - Blessings

Hillsong United - So Will I 

The Choice Belongs to YOU!

Writing today with the Tuesday at Ten group on the prompt word... CHOICE

Are there any other parents out there who feel like they said this a thousand times to their children... "LIFE IS NOT FAIR!" When one child complained that it wasn't fair that the other got to attend a special concert that they couldn't... we tried to explain that things in life can't seem "EVEN" and often don't seem "FAIR". When one child got on a team or into a group that the other didn't... we had to try to help them see that sometimes things happen in a way that we totally do not expect.  We told both, "We must take what happens in our life and make the best of our life."  We don't always get

All You Need Is Love

There are times in life when you are... held between earth & heaven... with no words to speak... with only raw emotion to remind you that you are, in fact, still alive. The passing of a cherished loved one... cradling a newborn baby in your arms... hearing the diagnosis of a terminal illness... watching your child grow up to give birth to their own... being broken under the load of grief & sense of loss when a marriage dies...

Quiet Yourself & Listen to Your Heart

It was early January and a cold snowy day -- not much different than what we'd been experiencing for the past few months. My winter blues were turned on "HIGH" that year. My desire for warm sun & hidden beaches was intense. Through a few years of experience, I'd finally figured out that those desires could be fed when I was out in nature observing the wonders of God. The dusk light on a snow covered pond brought peace to my restless soul. The sound of the snow crunching under my feet as I wondered through a nearby woods lifted my spirits. Even as I shivered from the cold air, I felt

When Dreams Die

"Yes, it is cancer."
     "We are getting divorced."
          "It's time to turn him/her over to hospice care."
               "The baby didn't make it."

When you hear words you prayed you'd never hear... 

and you have no idea what to say when you pray... 

and you can't possibly conceive how good can come from "this". 

When you want to wrap yourself in a blanket and never leave home... and never utter a sound beyond the walls of your mind. 

When you feel the pain in a loved one's heart but, have no comfort to give... and see the hopelessness in the eyes of another but are no longer regarded as a source of hope by that loved one. 

When dreams are shattered... when dreams die... hope can only be found in resurrection -- new life, after death. Hope can only be felt if you believe in & expectantly look for miracles. 

When you are stubborn in believing in & expecting miracles, you wrap yourself in the blanket...

of God's love...

and, you wait... expectantly!

photo by T. Getz

Shared with the Ann Voskamp Community on Wednesday, 9/19/12

Capture the Flag

Remember the game we used to play into the wee hours of the night at summer camps & weekend youth retreats? We gave our all in that game -- doing all we possibly could -- in hopes of being victorious. At the end of the game we were exhausted. In a good way. We hadn't reserved our energy but had given it all to capture the flag.

In recent years, I've seen another version of that game - a grown up version in relationships (often marriages) where red flags are seen & ignored year after year. They are never captured. Those reds flags fade as their pursuit is ignored... until they turn into white flags of surrender. White flags of giving up. White flags signaling "game over."

Jagged Puzzle Pieces

"He brought streams out of a rocky crag
and made water flow down like rivers." Psalm 78:16
Photo by T. Getz

With some things that have recently happened in my life & in the lives of others around me, I can't help but think about a small-yet powerful verse, Philippians 4:4, "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say - rejoice!" Close friends of mine have lost loved ones recently or marked the anniversary of the passing of a cherished one or are anticipating the passing of a loved one soon. Marriages & relationships are under attack by Satan. Economic trials are pressing in on many in these day.

But, when I read Philippians 4:4, I can honestly say that I believe that promise. God doesn't ask me to rejoice in what happened but to rejoice in Him through whatever happens. He offers peace in the troubled times. He offers comfort in the times of loss. He offers reassurance in the times of uncertainty & fear. 

David offered the truth in Psalm 37:25a... "I've been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken..." I rejoice in the fact that God will bring His children through anything & everything. I rejoice in the fact that our struggles and hardships will play a part in the wonderful plan of the Father.  It's not always easy... but, God's promises are true. 

Often our "jagged puzzle pieces" are designed to fit perfectly into the masterpiece that will be revealed when we meet him face to face.