Prayer Warriors

"Mr. Cartwright" is on his way home as I write this. (Internet went down, so I'm publishing this now.)


How do you put into words what it's like visiting your son, whom you love with all your heart who has gone down a road that seems like a dream for the rest of us?


How do you answer those who ask how the visit went? What do you say?


"This sucks!" That's what I'd like to say sometimes...(pardon my french)


On another note, I was so encouraged today as a senior saint at our little fellowship reminded me how she prays for "Hoss". How she has his prayer card on her prayer board and lifts him up each day.


This encouraged me.


It reminded me how narrow my thinking is sometimes. How I forget (too often) how many are praying for this boy-man of mine. These are the things that matter because God is the healer of hearts, not man.


I'm sure "Mr. Cartwright" is drained emotionally. He is already weepy. Seeing our boy was great; leaving is heart-wrenching.


Part of his heart has remained on a 200 acre boys' ranch nestled in southwest Missouri.


God is good through it all.

A Trip

"Mr. Cartwright" flies out tonight to see "Hoss". Please be in prayer for a purposeful visit. There needs to be answers to a few things and we are praying for their hearts to be knit together. 


I know there will be many tears as Sunday comes. Leaving is always the hardest part. Please specifically pray for David to have the right words to speak to "Hoss", as well as just enjoying each other's presence.

Redemption - Book Review

I saw the title of the latest book I have read and knew I needed to read it. Bad. I needed to read first hand a story of redemption.


Bryan Clay, the author of Redemption, presents his testimony in easy to read format, yet proclaims the amazing Redeemer that he encountered in a powerful way. Once a rebel, seeking only his own interests, Mr. Clay recounts this journey with candidness and truth. This is a story of how the gifts and talents that God gives a person joins with the Word of God to bring forth salvation. 


What is exciting for the reader as well, is the road he takes you on to learn about the Olympics, this being an Olympic year. Mr. Clay is a world-renown dicathlon athlete. God gave him an amazing gift, and it is awesome to see someone use it for the glory of God. 


As a child he went through all the turmoil that many children do who end up in this state: drugs, promiscuity, alcohol and partying, just to name a few. But in the end, as a result of God transforming his life, he becomes a Godly husband and Father.


Praise to our Creator who makes all things new!




As a part of Booksneeze blogging network, I received a free copy of this book.

The Little Lost Birdie

Yesterday we arrived home from church, and as soon as we opened the car doors, Mr. and Mrs. Clifford, (the affectionate names given to cardinals by "Inger") flew away from our front window. Normally they are not that close to the house. Soon after we discovered there was a baby cardinal "lost" outside our front door. The momma and dada kept flying down, seemingly trying to coax their baby to follow them. It was fruitless and the little one ended up in our garage, with his frantic parents flying veraciously in and out of this confined space.


"Mr. Cartwright" was able to get the baby on a twig and remove him from the garage. He placed him on the front lawn and we backed up hoping to see him cooperate. To no avail. 

He finally flew to our neighbor's tree across the street. Up and down. Up and down his loving parents flew beckoning him to follow. He was able to attach himself to the bottom of the tree, but could get no further. Pretty soon a bird of prey started circling up above. Like the great guy he is, "Mr. Cartwright" went over, picked up the bird and placed him in the lowest branch of the tree. We kept trying to reassure his parents we were not going to hurt him. Finally he followed them up higher and we went inside. 


But my mind kept thinking about how similar this little birdie is to me in regards to my heavenly Father. I want to trust Him. He beckons I follow and yet, so many times fear creeps in unaware and I think I know what is best. He lovingly swoons around me trying to coach me to trust. Without even knowing it, I face the enemy. When I don't trust, I allow Satan to have a foothold and he wants nothing more than to tear me away from my Heavenly Father. I open myself up to all sorts of trouble when I don't follow. Boy am I thankful for the gently prodding of the Lord.


Romans 2:4 "Or do you think lightly of the riches of his kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?"

Florida Beaches are Beautiful

Two Years

Today is the anniversary of Mom's home going. I think back to that time two years ago and, wow, have things changed. My heart is sad. I miss her just as much, yet, I have a hope today that I am so thankful for.


As I pulled out all my pictures and cards she wrote to me in the past years, by heart swells with gratefulness to the Lord for giving me the mom He did. My life would be so different.


"Sarah-Jeannie", the name she called me so often still reverberates in my ears. I can feel her arms around me encouraging me to trust in the Lord.


Those last few weeks of caring for her were the hardest days of my life and yet, such a great gift. She praised God through every day and hour. The grace of God was truly on her life until the end. 


My mom finished well.


I pray I can follow in her footsteps. I want to hear those words which I know she heard, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."


Mom, I love you. You ARE beautiful. You inspire be every day to love God more. I miss you. And you know what I am going to ask you....Please pray for your grandson. He misses you too. And needs to surrender to our Lord. 

Named by God - Book Review

Refreshing.


This is a word I use to describe Kasey Van Norman's new book, Named by God. It is extremely difficult in this psychology-saturated culture to find a book with a Biblical Perspective to help the hurting. Mrs. Van Norman's book does this.


She is clear in her presentation of the problem to all hurts in life. Sin. 


She is clear in her presentation of the remedy of all hurts in life. Jesus.


Named by God reminds those who have been hurt, even deep, deep hurt, that Jesus is the Healer. The author journeys through her own hurt, which was mighty significant, to help the reader embrace the truth from God's Word. This is where true change comes. 


Kasey writes in a very gentle and compassionate way that will tell the reader she really understands, but then gives the reader the answer to freedom. As I read this, I saw the path from hurt to healing come alive; the problem to the cure; the pain to servant hood and bonding with the body of Christ.


Anyone, wherever you may be in these equations can use this as a great resource.


I received a free copy of this book as part of the Tyndale Blogging Network.

The Bottle's Full....Again.

Swollen Eyes. Red Face. Migraine. All these are signs of the deep valley in my life.
The tears have flowed freely today. I ask the many already asked questions to the Lord.

"Why can't things be normal...and "Hoss" be home and happy?"
"What happened and why, why, why?"
"Why?"
"What could I have done different?"

I come out of the cave...and the phone rings.

Agape is letting us know "Hoss" has hurt his eye. E.R. visit. No bleeding just an eyeball bruise and pain.
Pain that a mommy should be there to comfort. Pain that I know my Heavenly Father can use to attend "Hoss'" heart.

More tears. And prayers.

Don't worry, friends. I will come around. I trust the Almighty. I know He is working.

Time to self-talk.

My bottle's full again.

Psalm 56:8 "You have kept count of my tossings.; put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book?"

A Wonderful Story

I'm not an American Idol watcher, but most people who live in America know about the show. So, when I decided to read the book, By Faith, Not By Sight, by Scott MacIntyre, I had not heard of him prior to this. I picked up the book and couldn't put it back down.

Born blind, Scott embraced life from an early age with vigor and fervency. God graced him with amazing gifts, the most important being a new life in Christ. His faith is real. His life is a testimony to a life lived by faith. He started playing the piano before most children can even talk. The world calls people like Scott, a child prodigy. God placed in him a determination to overcome so many things that came his way. Graduating at fourteen from high school and eighteen from college seemed to put him on a road to stardom and fame. Sadly, there was a life threatening detour. Again, with God's help, he embraced this alongside his family with strength from the Lord. His family was a huge support system as well. Many prayers were prayed over him and God has seen him through.


I was so encouraged reading this book. My thankfulness and tenacity waver. I am striving for a better attitude as I go through the very trials in my own life.


Thank you, Scott ManIntyre, for your example and faith.


I received a free copy of this book as part of the Booksneeze Blog Team.

Quietly Resting

These two words are few and far between in my vocabulary and yet, much often needed. Especially when it comes to savoring time with my Savior.


Too many times I come to Him full of questions needing answers; a to-do list for Him; definitely thinking I know what my day holds and how I'll make it through.


Psalm 46:10a reminds me, "Be still and know that I am God."


Stillness is something I have to work hard at.


And then there are the distractions. Computer, Telephone, children, thoughts of my day, pondering memories. And the much dreaded Facebook. All these things are good and yet, can hold me captive from QUIETLY RESTING.


Choose.


This is the key. I must choose to make this a priority. I must not delay. I must discipline myself.
For I know when I am QUIETLY RESTING I have chosen the one good thing. I am missing out on the others. But they really don't matter or compare.


My Savior asks this of me. He desires nothing else but to see me on my knees trusting Him and being still.


For when I am quiet I can hear.


He has the words that are life.