An Italian Homecoming

I have never experienced anything like it, or even heard of such things in this day and age. Like the line in the movie,  "If you build it, they will come..." The call went out, and they came. 

Grandchildren flew in from Texas. Siblings flew in from Florida. Local family and friends who came to support us. Phone calls. Hugs. Texts. Cousins arrived at the hospital, bearing snacks, drinks, meals and more comfort food than you can imagine. It wasn't the polite 15 minute visit, saying goodbye and back out the door. It was an old time gathering, sitting in all day long with a family member in ICU. We had up to 12 in the room at one time, and I am surprised that they didn't throw us out. We spent our days sharing stories, laughing, singing, praying, eating, crying. Ministering to each other and to my Mom, who was slowly fading away. My mom, who never wanted anyone to fuss over her, but was such a giver. Who went out of her way to be a blessing, surprising you with Disney tickets, birthday cards or just a little extra to get you through a rough time without being asked. Who had adventures and made friends all over the country. In what would be her last few days, the troops gathered round. They rallied to show her love and help her transition to her heavenly home surrounded by family.  I can think of no finer gift that we could have given her.

Birth is a very profound experience, and the joy it brings is no surprise. But what has surprised me is what a privilege it has been to walk through this time with my mother. As much as I grieved to lose her, knowing that letting go was the hardest thing I have ever done, I have been so blessed to be able to share this time with her. It comforts my heart to know that I spent her last nights on earth by her side, taking care of her like she took care of me. I told her I loved her, and one of the last things she said was "I know."  I like to think that she heard every word that we spoke to her, and she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she was loved, and she was not alone.

Although it has been heart-wrenching, I am so thankful that I was able to be there every step of the way. Life has come full circle.  She was there as I took my first breath, in that same hospital, on the same floor. I was there alone with her, as she took her last breath on earth and transitioned into her new glorified body in heaven.  She finished the fight, she ran the race bravely, and is at peace. I am thankful that  I had the honor of being by her side to help escort her to the door to the great homecoming celebration that awaits her. It is a great comfort to know that we will be reunited again for the grandest family reunion of all time. I am sure she will have the ice cream ready.

Back in the saddle....

New blog post coming soon.

Camping

Have you ever been tent camping? Sometimes I wonder if camping is really a vacation. You pack up all your gear, sleeping bags, air mattresses, food, camping gear, tent, etc. You sleep on the hard ground. You hope it doesn't rain, because if it does, you'll be stuck inside the tent and you'd better not touch the sides or you'll get wet. If the tent leaks, you will be soggy and miserable. It's an effort to tend to life's basic necessities, like cooking or even slogging to the bathroom in the middle of the night. You make due, because at the end of the week, you know you'll be home again.

Do you remember how big your house feels after you get home from camping? All that space! Hot showers, a refrigerator, electricity, warm beds! Refuge from the storm. Even a little house feels like a palace after a week in an eight by ten tent. Remember that relieved, happy feeling of being home at last...

My reading this morning found me in 2 Corinthians.

5 For we know that if our earthly house, the tent we live in, is dismantled, we have a building from God, a house not built by human hands, that is eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this earthly house we groan, because we desire to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed, after we have put on our heavenly house, we will not be found naked. 4 For we groan while we are in this tent, since we are weighed down, because we do not want to be unclothed, but clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment. 

Think of our bodies as a tent in comparison to what our heavenly bodies will be. We're roughing it down here folks. We're in a lightweight tent, a body that sometimes get sick, feels inadequate, and is subject to the storms of life. But when we get home, we'll have a body made by God, eternal and perfect. Like comparing a tent to the Newport mansions kind of house, and probably far better. 

Camping can have some moments of awesomeness, just like our lives down here can feel pretty good sometimes. But it is a great encouragement to me to remember that down here we're just tent camping, and home is going to be SO AMAZING... 

How much more?

My reading this morning finds me in 2 Chronicles 32. The king of Assyria was getting ready to attack Judah. King Hezekiah encouraged the people with these words...

 7 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him.8 With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

The enemy was talking trash and trying to inspire fear in the people.

15 Now, therefore, do not let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you in this fashion, and do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you out of my hand!’”

Hezekiah and his people knew something here. They didn't serve a "How much less" God like the idols of the nations around them. They served a "How much more" God that saves and delivers.

Let's read on...

20 Then Hezekiah the king and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed because of this and cried to heaven. 21 And the Lord sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty warriors and commanders and officers in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he came into the house of his god, some of his own sons struck him down there with the sword.

God's people prayed and God sent the enemy packing.

When it seems like the enemy has you surrounded, remember you serve a "How much more" God, who will do exceedingly abundantly more than you can ask or think. Keep your eyes on Him today...

Fresh starts

There are certain times that we think of for fresh starts. January first. Monday mornings. The first of the month. The Bible says "His mercies are new every morning".

In my reading today, in 2 Chronicles, Israel had once again gone astray. Hezekiah begins to set things right, celebrating the Passover, organizing the priests, tearing down pagan altars, bringing in the tithe.

20 Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God.21 And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered.

Here we are at August first. Seven months of the year have gone by, but it is not too late to start fresh and get one of those good habits established. Celebrate you successes and continue to learn and grow forward!

When God fights for you

My reading today was in 2 Chronicles 20, God told Jehoshaphat this...

16 Tomorrow go down to them. Behold, they will come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the ravine before the Wilderness of Jeruel.

17 You shall not need to fight in this battle; take your positions, stand still, and see the deliverance of the Lord [Who is] with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Fear not nor be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.

18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping Him.

On the morning on the battle, Jehoshaphat reminded the people about God's promise, then sent out the singers to praise God. This is what they found...

24 And when Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked at the multitude, and behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none had escaped!

25 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take the spoil, they found among them much cattle, goods, garments, and precious things which they took for themselves, more than they could carry away, so much they were three days in gathering the spoil.

Without raising a sword in battle, the enemy was already defeated and the people collected the spoil. All because they believed God at His Word.

Sometimes you need to be strong and fight the battle.
Sometimes you need to praise God and let Him work.
The secret is to stay so tuned into Him you know which to do.

Keep your ears open to His voice :)

Peace

I love this picture! Quite frankly, it is very easy to be at peace when you are sitting in a spot as lovely as this. But what about everyday life? When the car is still in the shop or the hubby gets a layoff slip or some unexpected crisis pops up... 

Peace was mentioned over 397 times in the Bible, according to my Bible Gateway word search. Maybe because, as humans, we need and long for peace, and are not naturally equipped to have it!  

Jesus said 

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.John 14:27

Peace is a gift. It's ours. Jesus said so. Then, knowing human nature, He told us LET NOT your heart be troubled. We tend to allow worry, fear and anxiety creep in. We look at our circumstances and expect the worst case scenario! We keep our eyes on our problems instead of our God....

Maybe that ties in to this verse:

For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.Romans 8:6

Many times we go back to our default settings, the old man, the old way of thinking and reacting, instead of responding in our new nature, like children of God. You choose how you think, and what you think about. If a thought pops in that is contrary to your new nature, replace it with the truth. Life and peace. Life more abundantly! Like the Luminosity commercial says "Retrain your brain!"

Romans 15:13

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Peace out friends!