I FELL OFF MY BIKE

Oh yes, I did.

Wiped out, pancaked, crashed and burned.

Me and asphalt – new friends.

Would you like to hear the painful story?

(If you're saying yes, shame on you!  However, I would also say yes…)


I celebrated my birthday several days ago.

I turned 62.

"The Hub" and I decided it would be fun to go out of town for a couple of days to celebrate.  And, when you’re celebrating, you might do some out-of-the-ordinary things.

One day we went antiquing.  (I am very lucky that my husband enjoys doing this with me!  A birthday gift in itself!)

We had so much fun!

Sometimes we saw things that we remembered our mothers or grandmothers having, sometimes we saw toys from our childhood, sometimes we saw things that reminded us of our high school years.

It was a great day.

We spent over six hours traversing all the stores, perusing and pursuing potential treasure.

The next day I wanted to go on another sort of adventure – I wanted to go on a bike ride – even though my antique-aching legs were protesting.

We don't go bike riding too much.  

For one thing, living in the mountains makes it more difficult.  Nothing is flat, and the hills are steep.  And, I am "incline-challenged."  Anything more than a 0% rise in elevation and I am toast.

So, it's been several months since I hopped on my bicycle seat.

But, where we were planning to ride our bikes was ALL FLAT.

You can go for miles, and that was our plan.


Things went well for quite a long time.

I enjoyed the fresh air, the cool breeze, and the wonderful sights and sounds.

I enjoyed feeling like a kid again…and since it was the eve of my birthday, this was important.

"Ha, ha, 62 years old – take that!"

(Pride cometh before a fall…)

It was just after we had turned around, maybe a good three miles into the journey, that I made a fatal error in judgment.

We re-encountered a small circular area where bikers and skaters and walkers came to a meeting place.

On our way through the first time (on the going-out phase of our trip), I stopped and got off my bike.

"What are you doing?" my husband asked.

I pointed to the sign that said something to the effect, "Bikers must walk their bikes in this area."

"See," I said.  "And I'm a rule-obeyer."

Yes, well, consider that statement foreshadowing.

When we returned to this area, I didn't feel like stopping.  I was feeling pretty cocky about my skills at that point.  Feeling kinda *fit* in spite of my long bike-riding moratorium.

I saw that there were hardly any pedestrians in the circular area.

And, I noticed a little "driveway" next to a parking area where I could quickly ride through without getting off my bike.

So much for rule-obeying.

Thing is, this little driveway had a bit of a lip in it.  Not much – maybe only an inch or so.  But not completely flat.

No worries.

I remembered distinctly that it was important to approach and ride through this type of obstacle head-on.

You see, years and years (and years) ago, my dad and I used to take long bike rides together from our house to his parents' apartment in the next town.  It took about four hours to make the trip.  Which, in my humble opinion, was pretty impressive as I made the journey on my *one speed, me speed* Schwinn!

But, there was this one trip when he attempted to cross some railroad tracks.

A little too parallel, not enough perpendicular…and BOOM!

He crashed.

Things probably would have been OK if he'd been on a mountain bike.  Those big tires would have saved him.  But alas, he had tiny little skinny *racing bicycle* tires...

Enough said.

(For the record, this incident is not to be confused with the time that he fell when traversing a pothole hidden by blowing sand.  Or the time he crashed into a bridge over a small canal at the beach – a place where for years, every time we went over the bridge, my sons would say, "Look!  There's Papa's paint!"  

In my dad's defense, this incident is also not to be confused with the time that he told me to ride really fast to get up a hill, and not to worry about whether he was behind me.  Well, I did, and turned my head to look back.  My handlebars followed my lead.  And no, my dad wasn't behind me – he was beside me.  Yeah, that.

Nor should this incident be confused with the time that my dad had me hop on his handlebars to ride around a bit.  This, after admonishing me to keep my feet up.  Well, my legs grew tired, I dropped my feet, right into the spokes of the front wheel.  Ahem...)


So, lesson learned, right?!

Maybe not.


Fast forward 50 years, and I remembered this incident, but perhaps not completely enough.

I approached the little driveway at about a 45-degree angle, which I (inaccurately) figured was "enough of an angle" to negotiate it just fine.

Nope.

While I did get up and over the lip, it sent my handlebars gyrating in an out-of-control manner, and headed me straight for the curb only a couple of feet away.

"Houston, we have a problem."

In the next nanosecond that passed like an eternity, my mind raced through possible rescue scenarios.

If I turned sharply to the right, I'd avoid the curb – but the turn would have to be very sharp, and I'd crash.

If I applied my brakes, I might avoid the curb – but the stop would have to be instantaneous, and I'd crash.

I distinctly remember my next thought, "I am going to crash.  How badly am I going to get hurt?"

And then I did.

Taking a sudden fall is a weird thing.  

One second you're up, and the next second you're down.

Your brain is like a stunned computer – unable to initially process what just happened.  I had a couple of seconds of preparation, but the moment you find yourself on the ground, something just "does not compute."

I remember looking at the sidewalk – up close and personal.

I remember thinking that "The Hub" was going to be so sad to see me like this.

I remember feeling all the pain, especially my right knee.

I tried to get up, but couldn't move.

And then, my hero was there.

With tears in his eyes he plaintively asked me, "What happened?  Are you all right?"

Well, yes and no.

Thankfully, I knew that I had not hit my head, had not broken any bones, had not sliced anything open, had not knocked out any teeth.

But I knew I was hurt.

My loving husband helped me up, and we slowly – oh, so sloooowly – walked over to a place where I could sit down.

I remember feeling kinda dizzy and very nauseous.

And I remember the pain.

My body – and my injured pride.

That might have been the worst – the knowledge that I had made a mistake, even though I knew better.  That I had chosen not to obey the rules and do the safe thing.  That I could have prevented all of it.

I thought about my dad.

My dad, the one who had given me such sage advice about bikes.

And yet, the one who had a reputation for being accident-prone himself.

I could almost hear him saying, "Sharon, what a knothead."

(Takes one to know one…??)


Well, how does the story end?

I had to ride my bike the three miles back to our car.  I returned to the hotel room, took some ibuprofen and iced my knee.

The next day was my birthday.

And instead of counting candles, I counted all the places that hurt…

"One, two, three…sixty-two…and one to grow on."


What spiritual lessons could I draw from this?

Well, there's the obvious –

Be sober-minded and alert.

Be careful to avoid false pride.

Be obedient to the rules.

But, the other day as I was driving in the car and listening to a local Christian radio station, I heard something that hit me right between the eyes.

They had a man sharing his story.

He said that he always listened to the radio station every day on his way to work.

But on one particular day, he listened and his heart was moved.  He decided to turn his life over to the Lord, not just as his Savior, but as the Lord of his life.

Later that same day, on the job, he fell 26 feet into a pit…landed on his stomach…and lived.

He recounted how several of the workers in the bottom of the pit said that they saw angels soften his fall.

He ended his story with this line:

"Angels kept me from falling as hard as I should have."


I ponder this.

After my fall, I was hurting.  

But I was also grateful.  

Things could have been so much worse.  My injuries could have been terrible.  And though my pride took a blow, in the end, I was still relatively intact.

I wonder now – did God send an angel to protect me?

Years ago I read Frank Peretti's two classic books, "This Present Darkness" and "Piercing the Darkness."

And I vividly remember one scene when a car careens down a mountainside, narrowly missing a head-on collision at one point.  Later we get to see behind-the-scenes, and find out that an angel kept the car from crashing.

A timely angelic shove to safety.

Fiction, yes.

But I wonder…

Could this have happened to me?

Maybe, maybe not.

I have no need or desire to enter into a theological discussion or debate over the individual work of angels in the life of a believer.  I don't know enough to say for sure that we are each assigned our own personal guardian angel.

It matters not, perhaps.

What matters is this – I do believe that sometimes God allows bad things to happen to us, but they are kept from being as bad as they could be.

Think of Job.

Twice God limited the scope of what He allowed Satan to do.

"'All right, you may test him,' the LORD said to Satan.  'Do whatever you want…BUT…'" (Job 1:12, NLT)

"'All right, do with him as you please,' the LORD said to Satan.  'BUT…'" 
(Job 2:6, NLT)


We may never know this side of eternity how many times we are protected in our circumstances.  How many times we are spared, saved, rescued, shielded, preserved, delivered.

How many times the worst-case scenario could be so much worse.

But isn't.

How many times we don't fall as hard as we should.


This is the spiritual lesson that I have drawn from my bike accident.

That God is my Protector, and I thank Him for the many unknown times when He just may have saved me from injury or disaster, from pain and sorrow, from certain death.

He alone knows the times appointed for me.

And nothing happens too early or too late.

Nothing happens outside of His watchful eye.  

Nothing happens beyond what His hand allows.

Nothing happens that is not for my ultimate good.

I have learned another step of faith and trust – which ironically happened when my steps were hindered by the pain of an accident.


God has ways of teaching His most precious lessons.

Thanks, Father, for teaching me…



Do you have a story when God protected you from *something worse*?

Be thankful the photo choice
is this...
It could have been
my knee.


"These bruises make for
better conversation...
Everybody loses, we all got bruises
We all got bruises."

("Bruises" by Train)

"Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14, NIV)

"For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.  They will hold you up with their hands…" (Psalm 91:11-12, NLT)

"He will guard the feet of his faithful servants…" (1 Samuel 2:9, NIV)

"The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them." (Psalm 34:7, NIV)

"In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them.  In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them…" (Isaiah 63:9, NIV)

"'See, I am sending an angel before you to protect you on your journey and lead you safely to the place I have prepared for you.'" (Exodus 23:20, NLT)

"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." (Ephesians 6:13, NIV)

"Having hope will give you courage.  You will be protected and will rest in safety." (Job 11:18, NLT)

"…let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy.  Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you." (Psalm 5:11, NIV)



Linked with:

SHARING HIS BEAUTY, SMALL WONDER, MONDAY'S MUSINGS, MONDAYS AT SOUL SURVIVAL, LIFE GIVING LINKUP, GOOD MORNING MONDAYS, MONDAY OF MANY BLESSINGS, THANK GOODNESS IT'S MONDAY, THE ART OF HOMEMAKING MONDAYS, MAKING YOUR HOME SING MONDAY, MUSING MONDAYS, MODEST MONDAY, MOTIVATION MONDAY, INSPIRE ME MONDAY, LIVING PROVERBS, REFLECT LINKUP, US, COFFEE & JESUS, MOM-TO-MOM MONDAYS, TELL ME A TRUE STORY, TITUS 2 TUESDAY, WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY, TELL IT TO ME TUESDAYS, UNITE LINKUP, TESTIMONY TUESDAY, TUESDAY TALK, RA RA LINKUP, TEACHING WHAT IS GOOD, INTENTIONAL TUESDAY, TELL HIS STORY, WHOLEHEARTED WEDNESDAY, A LITTLE  R & R WEDNESDAYS, WORD FILLED WEDNESDAY, COFFEE FOR YOUR HEART, COFFEE & CONVERSATION, WOMEN WITH INTENTION, WAITING ON WEDNESDAY, SITTING AMONG FRIENDS, WEDDED WEDNESDAY, GROWING IN GRACE, WINSOME WEDNESDAY, WISE WOMAN, THANKFUL THURSDAYS, THE HOMEMAKING PARTY, THURSDAY FAVORITE THINGS, ONE WORD COFFEE, GRACE MOMENTS, PARTY AT MY PLACE, SHINE BLOG HOP, THOUGHT-PROVOKING THURSDAY, FROM HOUSE TO HOME, GRACE AT HOME, THOUGHTFUL THURSDAYS, LITTLE THINGS THURSDAY, COZY READING SPOT, NO RULES WEEKEND BLOG PARTY, 100 HAPPY DAYS, LIVE FREE THURSDAY, BLOGGERS SPOTLIGHT PARTY, FRIENDSHIP FRIDAY, EVERYDAY TESTIMONY, FAITH FILLED FRIDAY, GRACE & TRUTH, MAKE MY SATURDAY SWEET, DANCE WITH JESUS, TGI SATURDAYS, FAMILY, FRIENDSHIP & FAITH, FUNTASTIC FRIDAY, SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS, FAITH 'N FRIENDS, WEEKEND WIND DOWN PARTY, LET US GROW, WORD OF GOD SPEAK, SMALL VICTORIES SUNDAY, GIVE ME GRACE, SOCIAL BUTTERFLY SUNDAY




BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

CORNY THE ACORN

Meet Corny.

The Acorn of Safe Travels and Good Times.

Let me tell you about him.

As most of you know, once a month I venture *off the mountain* to visit my family.

And a couple of months ago, before one of these trips, as I was walking out the front door and heading to the car, I decided to take a little bit of *home* along with me.

Years ago, one of my grandmothers told me that when you leave a place, and accidentally leave something behind, it just meant that you'd come back.

I think about that when I realize that I've left a pair of shoes, or a jacket, or a book, or something behind at my mom's after visiting her.

It just means that I'll be coming back…

(Which is much nicer than admitting to yet another "senior moment"!!)


So, I figured if leaving something behind has meaning, then taking something with you could have meaning, too!

That's why I decided to take a piece of my home with me, to always remind me of where my heart lies.

So on this particular day I was looking for something to take along with me.

And there was Corny lying on the ground.

He had a perfect little black hole in his shell, which I thought looked like the perfect little nose.  I added a couple of eyes and a cute little smile, and voila – Corny was born!


Now there's also another reason I thought about doing this.

Years ago, after graduating from college, my son and his roommate decided to take a huge road trip.  Their plan?  To visit all 48 contiguous states in one month!  (Just skipping Hawaii and Alaska!)

Can you even imagine this mother's concern?!

Well, they did it!

After driving over 14,000 miles, and accomplishing their goal of visiting all 48 states, they finally arrived home…in one piece.  (Thank You, Lord!!!)

Now it just so happened that in the first few days of the trip they got donuts.

And one donut that didn't get eaten ended up on top of the dashboard, snuggled up against the inside of the windshield.

The boys nicknamed it "The Traveling Donut of Freedom!"

Well, after all those miles, that donut ended up becoming hard as a rock.

Mummified.

And what did my son do about that? 

Throw it away?  

Oh no…

He bought a plastic display case made for hockey pucks, inserted the donut, got an engraved plaque made for it, and proudly points to his memento of an iconic and memorable road trip!

Truth be told, I kinda thought it was a great idea!

Let me tell you, that road trip was 12 years ago, and the Traveling Donut of Freedom is still in there, in the same shape, as it's always been – still serving as a great reminder of a great time!

(People joke about Twinkies being so durable they can survive a nuclear blast.  I don't know about that, but I think the TD of F could give them a run for their money!!)

Now Corny isn't mummified, and he probably won't be traveling 14,000 miles in one month – but he is up for being my companion as I journey back-and-forth, up-and-down the mountain.


And he reminds me of some important things.


First of all, he reminds me to pray.

For safe travels.

Yes, that's what I pray about.

That God will get me to my destination safely, in one piece.

Some people think that God assigns one guardian angel to every believer.

I don't know if He does or not.

But we do have certain promises in God's Word.


We are promised that nothing happens outside of God’s control.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28, NIV)


And yes, if we know Christ, we are told that His angels continually watch over us.

"For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." (Psalm 91:11, ESV)


The Bible also teaches that the angels work for our good.

"Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14, ESV)


And though I do not pray to the angels, I do indeed pray to the God of Heaven's Armies.

I pray for concentration on the road, for good judgment and quick reflexes if needed.  I pray for my aged car to rumble down the road without problems.  I pray for the other drivers surrounding me.

I pray for Him to protect me.

What ultimately happens is His will, but I still pray!


Second, Corny reminds me to pray for my family.

To pray about what's happening in their lives.  To pray for their struggles and challenges.  To pray for their relationships, their work, their health, and for their faith.

I pray for God to bless them, and keep them, and guide them.  

And I pray that I will bring happiness, not turmoil, to their lives when I come down to visit.

I pray for good times.

"…If now I have found favor in Your sight, O Lord, I pray, let the Lord go along in our midst…" (Exodus 34:9, NASB)


Finally, Corny reminds me of home.

Of the joys of returning to a place of comfort and security.  

And that reminds me of my true home, of where my heart is…

And to the remembrance that in many ways, this life is but my journey to that everlasting destination. 

I don't ever want to forget that.

All the problems of this world, and the troubling circumstances in my life – the sufferings and hardships, the losses and sorrows – all of this is only temporary.

Fleeting, transitory, momentary, short-lived.

A shadow that will surely fade in the glory of eternity!

"For our present troubles are small and won't last very long.  Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!" 
(2 Corinthians 4:17, NLT) 


So, friends, there you have it.

Corny, the Acorn of Safe Travels and Good Times.

My little traveling buddy.

A cute (and corny???) reminder...


To pray for safety when I am traveling.

To pray for family, and to look forward to the joys of spending time with them.

To always be grateful for my eternal home.


On the road again…



Who or what is your traveling companion – and what do you pray for?

Then you will go on your way
in safety...
For the Lord will be
at your side.

"Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully." (1 Peter 5:7, AMPC)

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7, NLT)

"For the angel of the LORD is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him." (Psalm 34:11, NLT)
"You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me." 
(Psalm 139:5, ESV)

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:18, NASB)


"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance – an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.  And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.  
So be truly glad.  There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.  These trials will show that your faith is genuine.  It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold – though your faith is far more precious than mere gold.  So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world." (1 Peter 1:3-7, NLT)


"'I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.'" (John 10:28, ESV)

"'And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day.'" (John 6:39, NLT)

"The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever." (Psalm 121:8, NLT)



Linked with:

INSPIRE ME MONDAY, SHARING HIS BEAUTY, SMALL WONDER, MONDAY'S MUSINGS, MONDAYS AT SOUL SURVIVAL, LIFE GIVING LINKUP, GOOD MORNING MONDAYS, MONDAY OF MANY BLESSINGS, THANK GOODNESS IT'S MONDAY, THE ART OF HOMEMAKING MONDAYS, MAKING YOUR HOME SING MONDAY, MUSING MONDAYS, MODEST MONDAY, LIVING PROVERBS, TELL ME A TRUE STORY, UNITE LINKUP, TITUS 2 TUESDAY, TESTIMONY TUESDAY, TUESDAY TALK, TELL IT TO ME TUESDAYS, RA RA LINKUP, TEACHING WHAT IS GOOD, INTENTIONAL TUESDAY, TITUS 2SDAYS, TUESDAY'S RUBIES, THE HOMEMAKING PARTY, WORSHIPFUL LIVING, TELL HIS STORY, WISE WOMAN, WHOLEHEARTED WEDNESDAY, A LITTLE R & R WEDNESDAYS, THREE WORD WEDNESDAY, COFFEE FOR YOUR HEART, COFFEE & CONVERSATION, WOMEN WITH INTENTION, WAITING ON WEDNESDAY, SITTING AMONG FRIENDS, WEDDED WEDNESDAY, WORD FILLED WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY FAVORITE THINGS, THOUGHT-PROVOKING THURSDAY, PARTY AT MY PLACE, GRACE AT HOME, SHINE BLOG HOP, THOUGHTFUL THURSDAYS, FROM HOUSE TO HOME, LITTLE THINGS THURSDAY, COZY READING SPOT, LIVE FREE THURSDAY, NO RULES WEEKEND PARTY, BLOGGER SPOTLIGHT, FRIENDSHIP FRIDAY, EVERYDAY TESTIMONY, FAITH FILLED FRIDAY, SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS, FAITH 'N FRIENDS, MAKE MY SATURDAY SWEET, GRACE & TRUTH, TGI SATURDAYS, DANCE WITH JESUS, FAMILY, FRIENDSHIP & FAITH, WEEKEND WHISPERS, WORD OF GOD SPEAK, WEEKEND WIND DOWN PARTY, SMALL VICTORIES SUNDAY, GIVE ME GRACE, SOCIAL BUTTERFLY SUNDAY



BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

MY WORD FOR 2016 - THE BIG REVEAL!

The time has come!

A new year, a new word…

Wordsmith that I am, I like the idea of having a *word* for the year.

I think it's a unique way for God to speak into your heart – a way to focus on what He wants to teach you in the coming year.

And so, I was on the alert the last two months of last year, listening and waiting for Him to reveal His thoughts on the matter.

Well, this year He did indeed speak.

And the word He gave me is…

GRATEFUL.

Hmmm.

I wasn't quite sure I wanted to hear this word.

And, if you think I was protesting, you should have heard the heckling from Nervous Nellie and Negative Nora!

Nellie: "Oh dear.  You know that God's going to teach you gratitude by giving you a bunch of stuff you're not thankful for, right?  What terrible things are you going to have to be grateful for that you don't want?  I'm scared to be grateful, it might jinx things."

Nora: "Oh no.  That's a terrible word.  I don't feel like being grateful.  I like complaining and grumbling and moaning.  Count your blessings, shmessings. Life is hard, and there are so many unhappy things in life.  Who could be grateful in a world like this?  Harumph."

Boy oh boy, do those girls like to yak!

They are insistent and persistent and shrill.

Unfortunately, I listen to them.

(Please tell me that you caught the irony of my immediate reaction to the idea of being grateful – fear and negativity...)


Hence, I began a rather lengthy inner dialogue with God over the next few weeks.  I suppose He listened, but He did NOT change His mind.  He confirmed this word over and over again.  

Including the time I showed up to church and the pastor announced a new sermon series on thankfulness…ahem.

But here's something interesting – at first I thought my word was going to be gratitude.

And yet, just a couple of weeks ago, it changed to grateful.

I pondered that…

Was it just a change of semantics?

What I began to understand was this – gratitude is a noun, a some thing.

I have gratitude.

Almost like a possession.

But grateful is an adjective, and it describes some one.

I am grateful.

A character trait instead.

Maybe it's a small difference, but it has begun to make a big difference in how I view this word.

I don't think God is going to be satisfied with me simply possessing gratitude - somehow that seems like it stops at an intellectual level.

I have gratitude for this and that...

No, I think God wants more – He wants to transform something fundamental about me.  He wants to move beyond my mind into my heart.

He wants to make me a grateful person.

This does not come naturally.

And this is why I begin this year with a struggle.


I know that many of you have read Ann Voskamp's book, "One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are."  

And I know that many of you would say that it's been life-changing.

But I have never been an innately optimistic person.

Sure, I express gratitude for things, I show appreciation for people, I can be thankful when it comes right down to it.

But an Ebenezer Scrooge lurks deep within my soul.

And when he heard my word, he muttered…

BAH.

(I think Ebenezer is the grandfather of Nellie and Nora…)


OK, so this is the word.

GRATEFUL.

Why is this word so important?

Because gratitude is a really big deal to God.

Part of the reason God judges the human race is because they do not give Him thanks – 

"For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened." (Romans 1:21, ESV)

And if gratefulness is important to God, you can be assured that the enemy will fight against it. 

After all, isn't that exactly what he did in the Garden of Eden?  He tried to convince Adam and Eve that God was withholding something from them, that He wasn't the Great Giver of Good Gifts.

(Commentary from Matthew Henry: "It is the craft of Satan to speak of the Divine law as uncertain or unreasonable, and so to draw people to sin…Satan teaches men first to doubt, and then to deny.  He promises advantage from their eating this fruit.  He aims to make them discontented with their present state, as if it were not so good as it might be, and should be.")

Yes, the enemy is the father of discontent.  

And when the seeds of discontent are allowed to germinate, they sprout into the weeds of grumbling, complaining, thoughtlessness, faultfinding, cynicism, anger, and bitterness.

Just exactly the opposite of being grateful.


Yes, Lord, You have made no mistake in choosing this word for me.

However, I'm not gonna lie, so far being grateful feels like wearing a coat that's too big, or too small – it just doesn't fit right.  

And the journey of making it fit is going to require me getting bigger – moving past my narrow, nervous, negative way of looking at life – and smaller – learning how to be humble enough to show gratitude for the many gifts I've been given, none of which I deserve.


GRATEFUL.

So how am I going to live it out?

At first, I'm going to start by thinking of one thing that I'm grateful for each day.

JUST. ONE. THING.

(C'mon, guys – I'm like a kid learning how to walk.  It's going to take some crawling at first, lots of tripping and falling and bumping my head...)

This process feels uncomfortable to me, rather arbitrary – kinda forced and stilted – perhaps even a bit insincere (especially on those horrible, no good, very bad days)?

But a journey begins with small steps, and this is the way I'm starting…


The Lord has been so clear that this is *THE WORD* for the coming year.

And though I am squirming a bit, I am excited to see what changes God is going to bring in me.

It feels a lot like a continuation of the last two years – the years of joy and healing.

For what can bring more joy than seeing God’s gracious providence and goodness in each day?!

And what can bring more healing than learning to be grateful every day?!

Lord, I thank You for this word, and for the journey it begins.

May it permeate my thoughts, capture my feelings, and transform my spirit.


G ratitude is
R emembering
A ll
T hings
E manate
F rom
U ndeserved
L ove


HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
you'll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun
come shining through
for you...

Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be
ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is
still worthwhile...

If you just smile.


(A Song by Charlie Chaplin)

You can find today's Scripture verses on my new page, 2016 VERSES ON BEING GRATEFUL.

Except for this (which I have personalized), from Psalm 145 (Amplified Bible):

"I will exalt You, my God, O King,
and [with gratitude and submissive wonder] 
I will bless Your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless You and lovingly praise You;
yes, [with awe-inspired reverence] 
I will praise Your name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised,
and His greatness is [so vast and profound as to be] 
unsearchable [incomprehensible to man]. 
One generation shall praise Your works to another,
and I shall declare Your mighty and remarkable acts.
On the glorious splendor of Your majesty
and on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.
I will speak of the power of Your awesome acts,
and [with gratitude and submissive wonder] 
I will tell of Your greatness.
I will overflow [like a fountain] 
when I speak of Your great and abundant goodness
and I will sing joyfully of Your righteousness.
The Lord is gracious and full of compassion,
slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. 
The Lord is good to me,
and His tender mercies are over all His works 
[the entirety of things created].
All Your works shall give thanks to You and praise You, O Lord,
and Your godly ones will bless You.
I shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom
and talk of Your power,
to make known...Your mighty acts
and the glorious majesty of Your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and Your dominion endures throughout all generations. 
The Lord upholds me when I fall
and raises me up when I am bowed down.
My eyes look to You [in hopeful expectation],
and You give me food in due time.
You open Your hand
and satisfy my desires.
The Lord is [unwaveringly] righteous in all His ways
and gracious and kind in all His works. 
The Lord is near to me when I call on Him,
when I call on Him in truth (without guile).
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear and worship Him 
[with awe-inspired reverence and obedience];
He also will hear my cry and will save me.
The Lord keeps all who love Him,
but all the wicked He will destroy.
My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
And my flesh will bless and gratefully praise 
His holy name forever and ever."



NOTE: In order to incorporate a grateful attitude into my daily life, and to keep at it, I'm adding some NEW FEATURES.

Accountability is a good thing!

First of all, you'll find a section called "Daily Grateful Word" on my sidebar – in which I list the one thing I chose to be thankful for each day of the past week.  Then, I'm adding a new page called "Daily Grateful Thoughts" – in which I expand on my feelings about my grateful word. 


I'm adding some other features, too.

Here's the new stuff!!

Sidebar Features:

My Word for 2016
My Verse for 2016
Daily Grateful Word
A Word from the Word – (weekly Bible verse)
A "Message" from God – (weekly Bible verse from The Message)
Food For Thought – (picking one of my grateful words, and a question to prompt your thoughts)

New pages:

Daily Grateful Thoughts 
2016 Verses on Being Grateful 
2016 Quotes on Being Grateful 
2016 Essays on Being Grateful 
2016 Grateful Songs 

What's your new word for 2016?



Linked with:

SHARING HIS BEAUTY, PLAYDATES WITH GOD, SMALL WONDER, MONDAY'S MUSINGS, MONDAYS AT SOUL SURVIVAL, GOOD MORNING MONDAYS, GRATEFUL HEART MONDAY, THE ART OF HOMEMAKING MONDAYS, TELL ME A TRUE STORY, UNITE LINKUP, TITUS 2 TUESDAY, LIFE GIVING LINKUP, TESTIMONY TUESDAY, TUESDAY TALK, TELL IT TO ME TUESDAYS, RA RA LINKUP, TEACHING WHAT IS GOOD, INTENTIONAL TUESDAY, THE (NOT JUST) HOMEMAKING PARTY, TELL HIS STORY, WISE WOMAN, WHOLEHEARTED WEDNESDAY, A LITTLE R & R WEDNESDAYS, WORD FILLED WEDNESDAY, THREE WORD WEDNESDAY, COFFEE FOR YOUR HEART, COFFEE & CONVERSATION, WOMEN WITH INTENTION, WAITING ON WEDNESDAY, SITTING AMONG FRIENDS, THURSDAY FAVORITE THINGS, LIVE FREE THURSDAY, THOUGHT-PROVOKING THURSDAY, GRACE AT HOME, SHINE BLOG HOP, THOUGHTFUL THURSDAYS, FROM HOUSE TO HOME, LITTLE THINGS THURSDAY, COZY READING SPOT, FRIENDSHIP FRIDAY, EVERYDAY TESTIMONY, FAITH FILLED FRIDAY, SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS, FAITH 'N FRIENDS, GRACE & TRUTH, ESSENTIAL FRIDAYS, NO RULES BLOG PARTY, COFFEE SHOP CONVERSATIONS, DANCE WITH JESUS, WEEKEND WHISPERS, TGI SATURDAYS, SUNDAY STILLNESS, SMALL VICTORIES SUNDAY, GIVE ME GRACE, SOCIAL BUTTERFLY SUNDAY




BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

WATCHING A MIRACLE UNFOLD

Yes.

This is what it feels like.

Wanna hear about it?!

As many of you know, a little over two years ago, life changed.  It was at that time that it became very apparent to my siblings and I that we needed to step into our parents' lives.

We began a sort of tag-team visitation schedule that continued until my dad fell and landed in the hospital.  Ten days later, he passed away.  This left my mom all alone, after nearly 62 years of marriage.  She was so very scared, so we spent the first six months or so after Dad's death shuttling her around.

This worked for a while, but then everyone became exhausted.  So, we went back to a visitation schedule, with days that Mom spent on her own.  A few months ago, as Mom became increasingly more fearful and confused, we knew we needed to do something more.

But…WHAT to do?

Mom wanted desperately to stay home, and yet, she didn't want to be alone. The dilemma arose when she also wasn't keen on having a *stranger* come in to help out.

Oh, the prayers that went up to heaven in the last several months.

Until…

Until God intervened, and we saw a miracle unfold.


Watch the dominoes fall...

A few months ago, I was down visiting my mom, and I got really sick (domino #1).  Too sick to drive home on the day I had planned to leave.  I stayed a few extra days (domino #2).

Because I was still in town, my brother opted not to come over to Mom's on his "regular" day (domino #3).  Instead, on the spur of the moment, he decided to head down the coast to an outlet store to buy some hiking boots (domino #4).

While there, he decided to try to have lunch with one of our cousins (domino #5).  (My sibs and I have only three first cousins – Dad being one of two sons, and my mom being an only child.  Therefore, we are more like siblings than cousins!)

She was having lunch with our other cousin, and my brother joined them (domino #6).

Of course, they asked all about how their special Auntie was doing.

My brother related some of the struggles we were facing (domino #7).

A bit later in the conversation, my brother asked one of my cousins how her job was going at a local surgical center (domino #8).  (She went back to school to become an R.N. after her boys were grown). 

She then informed him that she wasn't doing that anymore.  She was now working as the RN Case Manager for a company that does in-home caregiver placement for the elderly (domino #9).

I think time stopped at this point…

(I know if I'd been there I would have heard a choir break out into singing!!)

She offered to help us find a caregiver for Mom.  

Incidentally, she mentioned that if this lunch had happened a very few weeks later, she would not have been able to personally help us, as a new franchise was opening in Mom's county, precluding her ability to manage Mom's case (domino #10).


Fast forward to last week.

One thing after another fell rapidly into place, and my mother now has a wonderful Christian woman spending time with her.  

A woman who *just happens* to have lost her own mother.

A woman who *just happened* to hear about a job opportunity through someone she knew, who *just happened* to hear about it from our cousin.

A woman who *just happens* to have experience taking care of elderly people with cognitive challenges.

A woman who in her interview *just happened* to mention her father's passing, and how they played his favorite song at his funeral – "Great Is Thy Faithfulness."  A song taken from Lamentations 3:23.  A verse that *just happens* to be on my dad's headstone.

A woman who *just happens* to be supervised by our cousin, who will personally be managing my mom's case and visiting her on a regular basis.

A woman who *just happens* to be able to cover all the shifts with Mom.

A woman who has stepped into our lives like she's always been there.


My family is standing in awe.

Rarely have I seen such a direct answer to prayer.

I am humbled by it, so very grateful for it – still standing in disbelief at how this has all worked out so perfectly.

The other night, I was talking to another cousin (who has been part of our *care team* for Mom).  We were talking about the *miracle* of this whole situation.

And then she said something that has really stuck with me.

She said, "You know, Sharon, very few people get to see something this miraculous happen.  Few get to see an answer to prayer so directly linked to God's intervention.  I tell you what.  I told Him the other night that no matter what He asked me to do in my life going forward, I would do it.  I am His servant."

After I got off the phone, I couldn't stop thinking about what she said.

First of all, I am rather stunned at all the *just so happened* moments in this journey.  At each turn in the road, there was something that "just happened" right when it needed to happen.  

Like a wonder-full chess match, God was moving each piece into place.  

God works = CHECKMATE!!


I have seen His hand at work like that over and over again in His Word.  

The Bible is full of these moments:

"Now it happened at the end of two full years that Pharaoh had a dream…" (Genesis 41:1, NASB) – Joseph

"Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns…" 
(Genesis 22:13, NASB) – Abraham

"Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river…She saw the basket among the reeds…" 
(Exodus 2:5, ESV) – Moses

"Now the LORD had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah." 
(Jonah 1:17, NLT) – Jonah

"Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?" 
(Esther 4:14, NLT) – Esther


Even in the life of Jesus and His disciples, there were many, many *just so happened* moments.

Yes, at each twisty turn in His life, there was Someone at work.

The same Someone who is at work in our lives.

There are no coincidences in the believer's life – these moments are *God appointments* – divinely orchestrated by the wise Providence of our Lord.

Not serendipity – but sovereignty.


Now, the other thing that I've really been pondering is this:

When I hung up the phone I thought to myself, "Yes, you have seen a miracle.  Now what are you going to do about it?"

I've been pondering.

What did people do when they saw the miracles of Jesus?

Reactions were mixed.


Some were grateful, others were thankless.

(Remember the ten lepers who were healed?)  

"One of them, when he saw that he was healed…fell to the ground at Jesus' feet, thanking him for what he had done…Jesus asked, 'Didn't I heal ten men? Where are the other nine?'" (Luke 17:15-17, NLT)


Some were awed, others were skeptical.  

"But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him." (John 12:37, NLT)


Some wholeheartedly believed that He was who He said He was.  They instantly grasped onto His offer of salvation.

"And many who were there believed in Jesus." (John 10:42, NLT)


Others were threatened by Him, and began plotting to kill Him.

"Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus." (Mark 3:6, NIV)



So, what am I going to do?

Praise Him, thank Him – of course.

Tell others about it – yes indeed.

But I want to do more than that.

I want this Divine Intervention to infuse my faith with more faith.

I want it to make a difference in how I trust God.  

I want it to deepen my understanding of God's faithfulness.

I want it to bring me peace as I face other turmoil in my life.

I want to KNOW more than ever, that God is in control, that He still sits on His throne, that His ways are wise and good and timely.

I want to believe…

Oh Lord, please help my unbelief.


I cannot end this post without one last perfect moment.

My mom's new caregiver has a name very similar to a member of our family, sometimes confusing my mom.  My sister was joking with her about it the other day.  The caregiver suggested, a bit tongue-in-cheek, that we could always call her by her middle name.

"What is your middle name?" my sister asked.

Are you ready for it?

"Oh,” she answered, "It's Grace."

Well yes, of course it is!

God, You are amazing.

Sweetest Mommy.

Full of Joy.

Blessed by Love.

Watched over by Grace. 

"It is because of the Lord’s mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not.  They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness." 
(Lamentations 3:22-23, AMP)

"Blessed be the Lord, Who bears our burdens and carries us day by day, even the God Who is our salvation!" (Psalm 68:19, AMP)

"Commit everything you do to the LORD.  Trust him, and he will help you...Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act...Day by day the LORD takes care of the innocent...The LORD directs the steps of the godly.  He delights in every detail of their lives.  Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand...He will keep them safe forever...The LORD rescues the godly...He saves them, and they find shelter in him." (From Psalm 37, NLT)

"Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken." (Psalm 55:22, NASB)

"Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully." (1 Peter 5:7, AMP)

"Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.  In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, AMP)

"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)

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think...to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.  Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21, NASB)



Have you ever witnessed a miracle?  Please share your story!



Linked with:

PLAYDATES WITH GOD, SMALL WONDER, MONDAY'S MUSINGS, MONDAYS AT SOUL SURVIVAL, MAKE A DIFFERENCE MONDAYS, LIFE GIVING LINKUP, GOOD MORNING MONDAYS, MOTIVATE & REJUVENATE MONDAYS, GRATEFUL HEART MONDAY, REFLECT LINKUP, MOM 2 MOM MONDAY, THE ART OF HOMEMAKING MONDAYS, WORDS OF COMFORT MONDAY, SHARING HIS BEAUTY, SOLI DEO GLORIA, TELL ME A TRUE STORY, TITUS 2 TUESDAY, TESTIMONY TUESDAY, TELL IT TO ME TUESDAYS, WOMEN HELPING WOMEN, TUESDAY TALK, RA RA LINKUP, A LITTLE R & R WEDNESDAYS, WHOLEHEARTED WEDNESDAY, WORD FILLED WEDNESDAY, THREE WORD WEDNESDAY, WISE WOMAN, COFFEE & CONVERSATION, WOMEN WITH INTENTION, WAITING ON WEDNESDAY, JOYHOPELIVE LINKUP, COFFEE FOR YOUR HEART, LIVE FREE THURSDAY, BELOVED BREWS, THOUGHT-PROVOKING THURSDAY, EVERYDAY JESUS, GRACE AT HOME, TELL HIS STORY, SHINE, THOUGHTFUL THURSDAYS, FROM HOUSE TO HOME, LITTLE THINGS THURSDAY, HEARTS FOR HOME, LOOKING UP LINKUP, FRIENDSHIP FRIDAY, FAITH FILLED FRIDAY, FELLOWSHIP FRIDAY, LIGHT FRIDAY HIT LIST, SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS, COUNTING MY BLESSINGS, MAKE MY SATURDAY SWEET, FAITH & FELLOWSHIP, GRACE & TRUTH, DANCE WITH JESUS, SATURDAY SOIREE, STILL SATURDAY, WEEKEND BREW, LIVING PROVERBS, TGI SATURDAYS, SUNDAY STILLNESS, GIVE ME GRACE



BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"