From Canada to the Ghetto....

     A few years back, my mom and dad came to visit me (in Metro Detroit). They left to get on the road and head back home for the 4-5 hour drive. My mom had my dad take the wheel, just until the turnpike. She fell asleep within about 10 minutes of the trip, waking up quite awhile later, AT THE CANADIAN BORDER! She called, frazzled at about 11 p.m. and I could not comprehend WHY it took so long to get to Canada seeing how it's only 15 minutes from our house (heading west). Then my husband pointed out she had headed the wrong way and went EAST and drove about 2 hrs (or more) to the border. So she and my dad turned around, and she took the wheel this time. You would have THOUGHT their luck had turned some, but it didn't, it only got worse!
     At about 2 a.m. we get a phone call, they are lost IN DETROIT driving CITY streets. If you are not from here, that may mean nothing, but living here, I don't even drive city streets of Detroit at night. And whats worse, they weren't just ANY city streets, they were so deep in the 'hood that it was an area even the police do not go in after dark! They found a gas station, pulled in, had some barefoot guy bumming off them. The place had big bars across the front and a thick bullet proof piece of glass over the window. They were attempting to get directions. It wasn't going so well.
     Finally they somehow managed to get back on the road (can't recall who gave them the directions, if it was the gas station or Stephen and I in a panic on the phone).... but they finally made it out of Detroit. Needless to say, the following Mother's Day my brother got my mom a GPS!
     I think I will never forget this story. I won't forget the fear I felt within me of how they were in eminent danger! Stephen and I began to pray for them that God would protect them. Detroit (at night) where they were was not a very 'friendly' area but rather driving a nice SUV they were prime target for a car jacking or even worse. They were lost. They didn't know which way to go. They needed help.
     Is that you today? Are you on a path and you really are not sure where to? I ask you today, do you know where YOU will be for all eternity? A thought to ponder. A thought to take a moment and chew on. It's not about how good you are. You can be the greatest thing around, but if you don't have Jesus, that doesn't mean anything. God sent his only Son Jesus to die for us, to save us. I could not comprehend the pain and the gravity of this until I became a mother. I cannot fathom giving up my child. The child that is part of me. My heart bleeds at that thought. The pain He must have felt. But he had to. The Bible says that "for ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Thats why He had to. We are a fallen people, we have sinned, we can only do whats right in this world, we will never be able to be perfect. It's not about how good you are. It's not about giving the church lots of money. It's not even about religion! *GASP* It's about having a RELATIONSHIP! That's all it hinges on!
     Where is your GPS leading you today? Where is your RELATIONSHIP leading you today? Are you on the path to be with Christ through all eternity? It's really simple, nothing great and extravagant has to be done on your part. God already took care of that. Just say a simple prayer such as "God, thank you for sending your son Jesus to die for me, I believe in Him. Please forgive me of my sins. I want a new life in you, a changed life. Thank you for hearing me and for saving me. In Jesus name I pray, Amen"
   

Giving with no strings attached...

Today after getting some girl time with my girls this morning (albeit at a doctors appointment) Austanne decided to be extra nice to her brothers and sister and leave little gifts around the house. She went into each room, found something she thought one of them would like and left a little note attached. She hid each individual gift and waited until just the right time to reveal it!

Upon finishing up our school lessons, she became very excited! The boys finished first! She asked politely, "Boys, are you done with your lessons?" to which they replied "yes!"..... excitedly she asked me "Mommy! Can I go give them their surprises?" Of course, I said yes.

Excitedly she told the boys to close their eyes and follow her. They listened. They tripped a little, almost fell at times, nearly running into the wall, she held their hand leading them along to their bedroom to the "great surprise!" Excitedly the boys opened their eyes when she gave the words to do so! They "opened" their surprise! James received a necklace with two pennies, and David a shirt and his little gold star that pins on it that states "Sheriff David". Excited, David stripped off his shirt and put on the "new" shirt (which he has owned for the last 6-8 months but seemingly has forgotten that) Proud as could be Austanne stood watch as her brothers basked in the glory of their gifts!

Tabitha finished her lessons, and Austanne took her to their bedroom, and she also provided Tabitha with a gift. Tabitha, excitedly opened up her present and thanked Austanne! Again, Austanne was so proud! Austanne then led me to my room, where she had a piece of material with 6 tacks in it and a necklace chain also for me. Excitedly I said "WOW! Thank you SO much! I LOVE it!" She was so sweet!

Then, as if it was not surprising enough that Austanne blessed US all with a gift, Tabitha walked into her room, excitedly and prepared a gift for Austanne last second! Austanne was shocked as she did all this without expecting anything in return. Of course, she loved Tabitha's gift for her!

How much is this like our Heavenly Father? He blesses us with so many gifts as His children! He leads us by the hand, and as we feel out way around, and feel like we may be in the "dark" aimlessly trying to get to that location, we know that our Father only means good for us and blesses us so richly! Whether He gives us something so simple like the clothes on our back, or money in the bank, He loves us! How much does it bless His heart to see His children give back to Him? How much can we bless His heart by showing Him a token of our appreciation by saying THANK YOU GOD for EVERYTHING You have blessed us with?

So simple.... yet will you take a moment today to say THANK YOU LORD?

Broken....

      This morning David and James decided to take apart one of their toy cars... well actually a Hummer. They were so excited to see the insides. I on the other hand was displeased but the vehicle was beyond repair at this point so there was no point in stepping in. They had the top torn off, the sides, and all the wires hanging out. This thing was in pieces. Simply put, it was broken.
      Broken. Wow. What a word. When I think of broken I think of something you either fix or discard. This toy was seriously broken. After awhile of them playing with it, and then when little pieces began to scatter all throughout the kitchen it was time to make a decision to either fix or discard it. I told the boys it was time to throw it away. Sad, they asked me to put it back together, but it was beyond repair. A little while later, it was thrown away.

     Broken. Today I had a time of brokenness. I had a time of realizing just how truly broken I am on the inside. I have been battling food allergies for months on end (which feels like an eternity). They keep getting worse but I have had no answers. With an appointment coming tomorrow I looked forward to getting answers and actually eating again. Then came word, that was not going to happen. BROKEN. Yes, it all came out. I cried, and cried and cried. I think my dogs thought I was dying or something as I buried my head  and wailed out tears of brokenness to my God. Asking God to please heal me! Asking God please take this away. Thanking God for what I KNEW He was going to do. Broken. Then God placed on my heart in my time of distress a song that reached within the pit of brokenness, and spoke life into me. The song is entitled "Hungry."

The song is simple, and yet the words are so profound. Take a moment and listen to them: 

Hungry, I come to You

For I know You satisfy

I am empty but I know

Your love does not run dry 

Chorus:

So I wait for You

So I wait for You

I'm falling on my knees

Offering all of me

Jesus, You're all this heart 

Is living for

Broken, I run to You 

For Your arms are open wide

I am weary but I know

Your touch restores my life

Chorus

I'm falling on my knees

Offering all of me

Jesus, You're all this heart 

Is living for

Hungry, I come to You

For I know You satisfy

I am empty but I know

Your love does not run dry 

     Today in my brokenness I ran to Christ. I asked friends to pray for me. I called my husband and said I needed his prayers in this situation. The ONLY one who could handle this was God. My husband knew how much this has been weighing on my heart and has been an issue, but I honestly do not believe he knew the depth to which it has broken me down inside. I did not realize it until today. 

     I am thankful though, that I serve a God who can heal the broken! I may look like that toy car. I may have that rough exterior like the Hummer toy. I may seem to "have it all together" at different times. But as this whole battle over the last 9 months or so has worn me down, I have become broken. My insides began to slowly come through, I became exposed. With every part of my mental and emotional being borne to my God, the wires of my nerves and fears and doubts hanging and pulled out.... all like that toy.... I was broken. But I have a God-confidence, that my God is my HEALER, my SUPPLIER, my FATHER! He is not going to leave me hanging. He is not going to pick me up, look at me and say, "She is beyond repair" and throw me away. No, my God has picked me up, and He will continue to pick me up, and hold me in His arms and comfort me, He will love me, and He will carry me through this. 

     I am so thankful for God to put this all in perspective today, that in my deepest point of need, at one of my lowest lows, He was there. Thank you Jesus.