- I hear the Savior say,“Thy strength indeed is small;Child of weakness, watch and pray,Find in Me thine all in all.”
- Refrain:Jesus paid it all,All to Him I owe;Sin had left a crimson stain,He washed it white as snow.
- For nothing good have IWhereby Thy grace to claim;I’ll wash my garments whiteIn the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.
- And now complete in Him,My robe, His righteousness,Close sheltered ’neath His side,I am divinely blest.
- Lord, now indeed I findThy pow’r, and Thine alone,Can change the leper’s spotsAnd melt the heart of stone.
- When from my dying bedMy ransomed soul shall rise,“Jesus died my soul to save,”Shall rend the vaulted skies.
- And when before the throneI stand in Him complete,I’ll lay my trophies down,All down at Jesus’ feet.I could not find much information on Ms. Hall or John T. Grape. I'll share with you what I did find though. As I was doing my searching an interesting thought came to mind. I will share that with you in a minute. Elvina was sitting in her pew at Monument Street Methodist Church on, probably an average run-of-the-mill Sunday. She may have even been sitting in the pew in the choir loft she sat in every single Sunday. For our entire married life Dave and I have sat on the right side of the church. It could be any of the three churches we have attended together. It is always the right side! We used to sit towards the back, but now we are right up in the front few rows. The other Sunday we got crazy and sat on the left side of Journey. Lets just say the following Sunday we were back on the right side. It just felt too weird! I digress...As the story goes the pastor was being a bit lengthy in prayer and Elvina could not stay focused. She apparently is far more holy that I because when my mind wonders in church it is usually because I'm thinking about what is for dinner. We go on Saturday night so dinner is what's next! Anyway, she started to doodle down this poem on the flyleaf. As the pastor went on so did Elvina's poem. One story I read states that Elvina felt guilty about not paying attention she admitted her ways to the pastor and showed him her poem.At some point the choir director, John T. Grape, had composed some music. Mr. Grape was a successful coal merchant and also played the choir at the church. The Monument Street Methodist Church was being renovated so the church organ was being stored at Mr. Grape's house. Apparently that is where he composed this music. After reading the poem and I assume hearing the music the pastor had the idea to combine the two and a beautiful piece was created!Back to my thought I had while reading the above story...here it goes. Some may say that the fact that the church was being renovated, the organ had been moved to Mr. Grape's, and Elvina's mind wondered during church was mere coincidence. I beg to differ. There are so many things that happen to us that all fit together. I think of the people that have been brought into my life that only God could orchestrate. This hits me personally because of how often we move. God allowed some dear friends to enter my life in each move. It isn't a coincidence that these friends and I are kindred spirits. God put our hearts together. The fact is that God divinely orchestrated Elvina's thoughts and Mr. Grape's music to collide.When I think of life in this manner my heart cannot help but be thankful for Gods providence. It also builds trust in Him and encourages me to hand everything over to Him. It makes me feel important to Him. Proverbs 16:9 reads, "We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps." He is active in the lives of His children.I also think of the verse Romans 8:26 which says, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." There have been many, many times over the last six plus years when I have been out of words. I have felt like I couldn't pray over my mom's cancer anymore or my health condition anymore. Maybe that is where He has wanted me. Prayer is not our monologue. When my frustrations have dulled my prayers The Lord has drawn my heart to His. I picture myself kneeling before His thrown silently. During these times I cling to Romans 8:26. The Spirit is praying on my behalf because I don't even know what to pray for. When things unfold I tend to think coincidence. As I have matured in my relationship with the Lord I am quicker to think of of His divine providence and His sovereignty. I do not believe there are any coincidences in my life. To God be the glory for nothing in my life being an accident.Please meditate on the words of "Jesus Paid It All" and see what the Lord has for you. I hope I have encouraged you to also see your life as that of purpose and to look for God's hand in every detail. Also, go immediately to ITunes and download Kristian Stanfill's version of "Jesus Paid It All." You will not be sorry!
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
No Coincidence
"Jesus Paid It All" is really one of my top five favorite songs ever. I absolutely love each word. I'll copy the lyrics below so you can take in the power of the words. Elvina Hall wrote this poem in Baltimore, MD in 1865. The music was written by John T. Grape.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Streams of Mercy Never Ceasing...
I want to start out by saying I have completely failed on one of my New Year's goals. The goal was to complete a blog entry once a week. How embarrassing really. When I saw the date of my last entry I thought "this can't be!" I can't even blame the fact we got a new puppy two weeks ago because there were two weeks BEFORE she came that I could have done an entry. Okay, enough beating myself up over this! On a side note, I have found that I have to do things while the puppy naps!
Let's move along with my previous theme. So far I have blogged about hymns and how valuable they are. We have learned about Fanny Crosby and now we can add Robert Robinson to the list. "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing" is such a rich song. I just downloaded Chris Rice' hymns album on my IPhone. He sings a wonderful version of this song. It's absolutely beautiful and makes me feel peaceful.
Let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wondering heart to thee.
Prone to wonder, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.
I just think those words are absolutely beautiful. They ring so true. The verses of hymns paint such vivid word pictures in my brain. There is a depth hymns have that other music does not have. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC. I really do. I just really like hymns too...for different reasons. Let's look at the first line of the above verse. Essentially it is saying that God's goodness restrains my heart and binds it to Him. To fetter someone means to restrain them. Apart from God's goodness and His grace and mercy my heart wonders from Him naturally. This idea is confirmed in line two. Because I am made of flesh my natural desire is to wonder from God. Paul tells the Romans in chapter seven, verse fifteen that he does not understand what he does. For what he wants to do he doesn't. Instead he does what he hates to do. We have a bent to evil. In line three the author gives his heart to the Lord. He wants the Lord to take and seal it for heaven above. How can this happen? How can our hearts be sealed? Only with the Holy Spirit. This song is a prayer that the Holy Spirit will flood our hearts. After all, how else are we sealed for the courts above?
Let's move along with my previous theme. So far I have blogged about hymns and how valuable they are. We have learned about Fanny Crosby and now we can add Robert Robinson to the list. "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing" is such a rich song. I just downloaded Chris Rice' hymns album on my IPhone. He sings a wonderful version of this song. It's absolutely beautiful and makes me feel peaceful.
Let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wondering heart to thee.
Prone to wonder, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.
I just think those words are absolutely beautiful. They ring so true. The verses of hymns paint such vivid word pictures in my brain. There is a depth hymns have that other music does not have. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC. I really do. I just really like hymns too...for different reasons. Let's look at the first line of the above verse. Essentially it is saying that God's goodness restrains my heart and binds it to Him. To fetter someone means to restrain them. Apart from God's goodness and His grace and mercy my heart wonders from Him naturally. This idea is confirmed in line two. Because I am made of flesh my natural desire is to wonder from God. Paul tells the Romans in chapter seven, verse fifteen that he does not understand what he does. For what he wants to do he doesn't. Instead he does what he hates to do. We have a bent to evil. In line three the author gives his heart to the Lord. He wants the Lord to take and seal it for heaven above. How can this happen? How can our hearts be sealed? Only with the Holy Spirit. This song is a prayer that the Holy Spirit will flood our hearts. After all, how else are we sealed for the courts above?
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Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Just As I Am...
Just As I Am, written by Charlotte Elliott (1835)
Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Hath broken every barrier down;
Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, of that free love
The breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,
Here for a season, then above,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
Charlotte's story is quite inspiring. She was born in England in 1789. She had a wonderful life in childhood and young adulthood. She was a popular artist and writer who enjoyed popularity in her profession. Charlotte never married and never had any children. When Charlotte was about 30 she became very ill. I couldn't find information about what she specifically suffered from. It is rather sad to think of this poor women who was not elderly in age, but only 30 years old. She could not get out of bed, she was an invalid.
Charlotte was very bitter. How could she not be?! I found little information on her family life growing up, but did find that she was raised in a religious family. It's hard to tell if she was raised with religion or relationship which are two very different things. As you can imagine her severe physical disabilities undermined her faith in God. I would guess that she was very angry at God who plagued her, in her mind, with this misery. I think of all the "stuff" we have to keep us busy. We have T.V., Internet, radios, and 1,000 other things to keep our minds busy. In that day there were none of these things. I'm not saying that being an invalid now is easy because of all the stimulation we have by any stretch of the imagination. What I'm trying to imagine is a woman laying in bed in the silence hour after hour, day after day, week after week, and year after year. Because of her condition she rarely left the house. She lived in great isolation.
In 1822 Charlotte had an encounter that would change her life and the lives of millions of people. There are some conflicting stories to the exact location of the encounter she had with a pastor named Cesar Malan. Some sources say the meeting happened at her family home, a friend's home, and out in public. I tend to believe either of the first two because we know Charlotte was an invalid. Her family was known to have guests to their home often also. The group's discussion turned to things of God. Charlotte did not like this topic. This pastor, who was only two years older than Charlotte, asked if she was a Christian. Charlotte did not appreciate his question and was already irritable due to her pain. She, angrily, advised him to move his conversation in another direction. It is said that later in the evening Charlotte apologized to Pastor Malan and asked how she could be saved. She admitted she was miserable. He said the following words to her, "You must come just as you are, a sinner, to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world." Charlotte accepted the Lord that night and later celebrated that date as her spiritual birthday.
I do not know the details of Charlotte's life in between 1822 and 1835. In 1835 her brother, who was a pastor, was trying to raise funds to support the schooling of the daughters of poor clergymen. The pastor wanted to help provide an education for these children. Still bedridden Charlotte was very distraught that she could not provide her brother any help at his bazaar. The poor woman felt completely useless. She was extremely upset and spent a restless night falling into complete despair. In the early morning hours the words of Pastor Malan came streaming back to her. She penned the words to Just As I Am. Her sister-in-law came later that day to report how the bazaar was going and came across the poem. I don't know the exact details, but somehow the poem found its way to print. In 1836 the poem, along with other works, completed a hymn book titled, The Invalid's Hymn Book. The money that was earned was given to her brother's cause and became more lucrative than any other fundraising activity her brother took part in. One thing we know for certain. Charlotte never enjoyed good health, but the day she met Jesus was the day that her spirit became good as new!
Just As I Am has been an anthem for the weary and broken for over 150 years. The song was played during the altar calls at the famous Billy Graham crusades. The song written by the helpless invalid in her despair has drawn lost souls to the throne of God. Can you imagine?! The words that came out of a soul in the quiet of the night has roused the emotions of millions of people over the years. We don't have to clean ourselves up before we come to Christ. We can come in our mess, our despair, and our sin. He died for us not because we deserved it, but because He loved us...just as we are.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6CrXP7Znak
Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Hath broken every barrier down;
Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, of that free love
The breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,
Here for a season, then above,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
Charlotte's story is quite inspiring. She was born in England in 1789. She had a wonderful life in childhood and young adulthood. She was a popular artist and writer who enjoyed popularity in her profession. Charlotte never married and never had any children. When Charlotte was about 30 she became very ill. I couldn't find information about what she specifically suffered from. It is rather sad to think of this poor women who was not elderly in age, but only 30 years old. She could not get out of bed, she was an invalid.
Charlotte was very bitter. How could she not be?! I found little information on her family life growing up, but did find that she was raised in a religious family. It's hard to tell if she was raised with religion or relationship which are two very different things. As you can imagine her severe physical disabilities undermined her faith in God. I would guess that she was very angry at God who plagued her, in her mind, with this misery. I think of all the "stuff" we have to keep us busy. We have T.V., Internet, radios, and 1,000 other things to keep our minds busy. In that day there were none of these things. I'm not saying that being an invalid now is easy because of all the stimulation we have by any stretch of the imagination. What I'm trying to imagine is a woman laying in bed in the silence hour after hour, day after day, week after week, and year after year. Because of her condition she rarely left the house. She lived in great isolation.
In 1822 Charlotte had an encounter that would change her life and the lives of millions of people. There are some conflicting stories to the exact location of the encounter she had with a pastor named Cesar Malan. Some sources say the meeting happened at her family home, a friend's home, and out in public. I tend to believe either of the first two because we know Charlotte was an invalid. Her family was known to have guests to their home often also. The group's discussion turned to things of God. Charlotte did not like this topic. This pastor, who was only two years older than Charlotte, asked if she was a Christian. Charlotte did not appreciate his question and was already irritable due to her pain. She, angrily, advised him to move his conversation in another direction. It is said that later in the evening Charlotte apologized to Pastor Malan and asked how she could be saved. She admitted she was miserable. He said the following words to her, "You must come just as you are, a sinner, to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world." Charlotte accepted the Lord that night and later celebrated that date as her spiritual birthday.
I do not know the details of Charlotte's life in between 1822 and 1835. In 1835 her brother, who was a pastor, was trying to raise funds to support the schooling of the daughters of poor clergymen. The pastor wanted to help provide an education for these children. Still bedridden Charlotte was very distraught that she could not provide her brother any help at his bazaar. The poor woman felt completely useless. She was extremely upset and spent a restless night falling into complete despair. In the early morning hours the words of Pastor Malan came streaming back to her. She penned the words to Just As I Am. Her sister-in-law came later that day to report how the bazaar was going and came across the poem. I don't know the exact details, but somehow the poem found its way to print. In 1836 the poem, along with other works, completed a hymn book titled, The Invalid's Hymn Book. The money that was earned was given to her brother's cause and became more lucrative than any other fundraising activity her brother took part in. One thing we know for certain. Charlotte never enjoyed good health, but the day she met Jesus was the day that her spirit became good as new!
Just As I Am has been an anthem for the weary and broken for over 150 years. The song was played during the altar calls at the famous Billy Graham crusades. The song written by the helpless invalid in her despair has drawn lost souls to the throne of God. Can you imagine?! The words that came out of a soul in the quiet of the night has roused the emotions of millions of people over the years. We don't have to clean ourselves up before we come to Christ. We can come in our mess, our despair, and our sin. He died for us not because we deserved it, but because He loved us...just as we are.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6CrXP7Znak
Monday, January 7, 2013
Through Our Pain
I am reading a book right now titled, Then Sings My Soul. The book is authored by Robert Morgan. Here is the description of the book.
"Does your soul lift in song when you hear the first few bars of a favorite hymn? Robert Morgan's lifelong interest in hymns led him to discover the richness of the stories behind many of the best-loved hymns. Many of the stories also reflect the impact the hymns have had on ordinary people as they read, heard, and sang the great hymns of the faith."
I picked this book up at a cute gift shop as we traveled back from our vacation in the mountains this past fall. As soon as I saw the cover I knew I had to have it! I realize that not everyone is familiar with hymns. I am familiar with them to some degree because I grew up in a tiny Bible church in the country that still sang hymns. My husband is far more familiar with them for several reasons. The first reason is that he is much smarter than I and remembers basically everything from his childhood and the second reason is that he spent more time in a church that sang them. My parents switched churches when I was about 13-14. The new church we attended sang the contemporary Christian songs you hear more of in church now. I love contemporary Christian music. I mean LOVE IT. My Iphone is loaded with it. I am a huge Third Day, Chris Tomlin, MercyMe, Casting Crowns, etc. fan. Having said this I also love the great old hymns and would absolutely love it if they were still sang on occasion in contemporary non-denominational churches these days.
I remember growing up in church and dreading song time. Granted I was 10, but still. I have memories of ladies singing really loudly and really bad. You stood up, sang a few verses of about three songs out of a hymnal and sat down. The organist led the charge. I can still hear "Onward Christian Soldiers" which I loved. Despite the memories I have of singing hymns as a child I have always maintained a fondness for them. As an infant my mom would rock me to sleep singing "Amazing Grace." She knew the depths of His Amazing Grace and wanted to fill her newborns mind with those words. I don't remember it of course, but my guess is she sang to me in the quiet of the night in a small voice that lived each word she sang.
So back to this book. It has been so interesting to read. I am learning the background to the most famous hymns in history. I have gotten to know the famous hymn writers like Fanny Crosby, Isaac Watts, Charles Wesley, etc. I have also learned how some hymns have touched and changed peoples lives. The biggest lesson I have learned from this book is that each of the authors had a rich and colorful life. What they didn't have was an easy, comfortable life. If your anything like me you wish life was easy... you know, sunshine and lollipops. Sometimes I even think God owes me a comfortable life. Why I think this sometimes I have no idea. The Bible is pretty clear when it says, "in this world you will have trouble." These amazing hymn writers had really hard lives by our standards.
The Bible says what Satan means for harm God can turn it for good. Genesis 50:20 assures us that You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. When bad things happen in our lives we must be purposeful for turning them into good. When I am not purposeful with the pain and frustration of my trials I just wallow in self-pity and nothing of any substance gets done. Each one of the people I read about went through tremendous trials and persecutions. From reading about them I did not get the impression that they just sat back and tried to figure out how they could get out of their mess or how they could be happy. We are not called to be happy, but holy. I am 100% sure they all had times of despair and depression, after all, who doesn't when life gets extremely difficult. I don't believe Fanny Crosby skipped along smiling from ear to ear after her infant daughter died or at times she didn't long to see the sunrise. They all had purpose. They used their hardships for a purpose. They gave God glory DESPITE their feelings and circumstances. Their inspired words fill the souls of people from all generations.
Some of my favorite hymns are "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing," "Just As I Am," "Blessed Assurance," "Just As I Am," "Jesus Paid It All," "In The Garden," "Old Rugged Cross," and "It Is Well With My Soul." My favorite three hymns of all time are "Jesus Paid It All," "Amazing Grace" and "How Great Thou Art." My next blog entry will look at each author a little more in detail and will share some of the beautiful stanzas of the hymns. Please check back!
"Does your soul lift in song when you hear the first few bars of a favorite hymn? Robert Morgan's lifelong interest in hymns led him to discover the richness of the stories behind many of the best-loved hymns. Many of the stories also reflect the impact the hymns have had on ordinary people as they read, heard, and sang the great hymns of the faith."
I picked this book up at a cute gift shop as we traveled back from our vacation in the mountains this past fall. As soon as I saw the cover I knew I had to have it! I realize that not everyone is familiar with hymns. I am familiar with them to some degree because I grew up in a tiny Bible church in the country that still sang hymns. My husband is far more familiar with them for several reasons. The first reason is that he is much smarter than I and remembers basically everything from his childhood and the second reason is that he spent more time in a church that sang them. My parents switched churches when I was about 13-14. The new church we attended sang the contemporary Christian songs you hear more of in church now. I love contemporary Christian music. I mean LOVE IT. My Iphone is loaded with it. I am a huge Third Day, Chris Tomlin, MercyMe, Casting Crowns, etc. fan. Having said this I also love the great old hymns and would absolutely love it if they were still sang on occasion in contemporary non-denominational churches these days.
I remember growing up in church and dreading song time. Granted I was 10, but still. I have memories of ladies singing really loudly and really bad. You stood up, sang a few verses of about three songs out of a hymnal and sat down. The organist led the charge. I can still hear "Onward Christian Soldiers" which I loved. Despite the memories I have of singing hymns as a child I have always maintained a fondness for them. As an infant my mom would rock me to sleep singing "Amazing Grace." She knew the depths of His Amazing Grace and wanted to fill her newborns mind with those words. I don't remember it of course, but my guess is she sang to me in the quiet of the night in a small voice that lived each word she sang.
So back to this book. It has been so interesting to read. I am learning the background to the most famous hymns in history. I have gotten to know the famous hymn writers like Fanny Crosby, Isaac Watts, Charles Wesley, etc. I have also learned how some hymns have touched and changed peoples lives. The biggest lesson I have learned from this book is that each of the authors had a rich and colorful life. What they didn't have was an easy, comfortable life. If your anything like me you wish life was easy... you know, sunshine and lollipops. Sometimes I even think God owes me a comfortable life. Why I think this sometimes I have no idea. The Bible is pretty clear when it says, "in this world you will have trouble." These amazing hymn writers had really hard lives by our standards.
The Bible says what Satan means for harm God can turn it for good. Genesis 50:20 assures us that You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. When bad things happen in our lives we must be purposeful for turning them into good. When I am not purposeful with the pain and frustration of my trials I just wallow in self-pity and nothing of any substance gets done. Each one of the people I read about went through tremendous trials and persecutions. From reading about them I did not get the impression that they just sat back and tried to figure out how they could get out of their mess or how they could be happy. We are not called to be happy, but holy. I am 100% sure they all had times of despair and depression, after all, who doesn't when life gets extremely difficult. I don't believe Fanny Crosby skipped along smiling from ear to ear after her infant daughter died or at times she didn't long to see the sunrise. They all had purpose. They used their hardships for a purpose. They gave God glory DESPITE their feelings and circumstances. Their inspired words fill the souls of people from all generations.
Some of my favorite hymns are "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing," "Just As I Am," "Blessed Assurance," "Just As I Am," "Jesus Paid It All," "In The Garden," "Old Rugged Cross," and "It Is Well With My Soul." My favorite three hymns of all time are "Jesus Paid It All," "Amazing Grace" and "How Great Thou Art." My next blog entry will look at each author a little more in detail and will share some of the beautiful stanzas of the hymns. Please check back!
Monday, December 31, 2012
For Dave...
Hey everyone! I hope you all had a peaceful Christmas. We missed our families in Ohio, but enjoyed our southern holiday also. It was been outstanding having Dave home for close to two weeks. Our vacation at home has been wonderful. The only downside has been the fact that poor, little Eli has had the flu. When I say the flu I mean THE FLU. He has been soooooo incredibly sick. Keeping a five year old on the couch for five days has not been easy! So on to the point of my blog entry.
Luke 8:39) Return home and tell how much God has done for you." So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.
So this is what I shall do now. Shall? For some reason Eli has been using this word. "Shall we play Wii?" "What shall we do now, mom?" Anywho. Like many of you I think if I declare something that has happened that is good out loud there is a chance I will like jinx it or something. There are also some people that constantly talk about all the good things that happen in their lives. Let's admit it...we often want to smack those people! :-) So there is something really good that I have experienced the last few months...I bet your really curious now. I don't mean good as in we had a good Christmas, I had a good run the other day, etc. I mean good as in good like you can't even believe it happened, someone pinch me, an utter miracle, I have been pleading to God for this for years and years and years.
S-L-E-E-P. For those of you who sleep well on a regular basis you don't get the magnitude of never sleeping well. I have been plagued with insomnia for longer than I can remember. I did everything the experts said to do. Our bedroom was cold, the bed was perfectly comfortable, I avoided ALL caffeine and had very limited amounts of sugar, I allowed myself to "unwind" before bed, I exercised, I prayed about it, I recited Bible verses, listened to quiet music, had white noise, had a fan on me, turned the ceiling fan on, bought black out blinds, talked to my doctor about it, and the list goes on. Oh and forget sleeping away from home. I didn't even have a racing mind. I just could NOT sleep. By the time this had gone on for like five years I was terrified and so stressed to go to bed. I would get in bed and one of two things would happen. One, I would fall asleep right away and wake up an hour later and be awake for three hours or two, I would lay there for hours on end. I would get up and do laundry or read, but nothing ever helped. When I would get utterly exhausted I would just bawl. Dave would wake up and sit with me for hours until I fell asleep. It was mind-numbing. Different treatments were given to me and nothing worked. If I would have known any national security secrets I would have sang like a bird!
I dreaded going to bed and dreaded how tired I would be the next day. I would drag myself up and workout every single day. I would power through the days so tired I wanted to just lay down wherever I was. I battled exhaustion anyway too due to my severe hormonal imbalances. I remember one time at Kroger's I was so tired that I literally wanted to lay down in the aisle. I called my friend whose daughter went to preschool with Eli and asked if she would pick up Eli too because I was too tired to get my groceries in the car and drive over to the school. She assured me it was not a problem. I just drove home in a tired daze.
When I went to Dr. Vliet in August insomnia was number one on my list of symptoms. She was so compassionate and said she can't believe I had lived this way this long. We talked about how God's power flowed through me because I would have given up years ago. He is the reason I have navigated through this journey that I call "hormonal hell." His grace has been sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9). Dr. Vliet had ordered blood work weeks before my appointment so when we got there she had all the results. She pointed to about four hormones that were significantly off all of which cause sleep issues. I wanted to cry just looking at that lab report. I am not casting stones at the other doctors that I have seen over the years. They just saw things differently and treated people differently than Dr. Vliet.
One hormone in general was basically non-existent so she gave me a sample of it that I could use immediately. I stuck that estrogen patch on my hip that night. Guess what? I slept that night...in a hotel room...not in my usual spot...with different sounds...in a different time zone...etc. That was the last day in August and now we are almost through December and I'm still sleeping well. Now I will still have nights that I wake up early or it takes me longer to fall asleep, but it's okay because everybody has those and now I know the next night will be better. The other night I slept eight hours straight. Crazy that is!
So forever I have wanted to share this story, but I didn't want to jinx it. I didn't want to declare what the Lord has done for me because what if the sleep went away. What if I put this blog entry out there for everyone to read and than I stopped sleeping well? Even with Dave, my best pal, or my dad or sister I am hesitant to tell them I slept awesome the night before. Why? Because of fear. I am afraid this gift from God will be ripped from me. I feel unworthy of a simple gift from God.
So right now I am doing what the man did in Luke 8:39. The background on Luke 8:39 is this. The man was demon-possessed. Jesus Christ freed this man from the torment that was his life. The man wanted to go with Jesus on his next mission. Jesus, instead, told him to go and tell everyone what God had done for him. So that's what I am doing by refusing to keep quiet out of fear. God has given me a gift, pure and simple. There are some symptoms from my imbalances that are still present, but sleep has come. I am declaring what God has done for me.
So there. My dear, sweet (and very patient) husband told me a few weeks ago that I needed to do an entry about my sleep. I admitted to him that the Lord had laid on my heart a few weeks before our conversation that He wanted me to do an entry on my sleeping. I put it off, avoided it. When Dave came to me and said this I knew it was what I was supposed to do. So I got right on it two weeks later! I decided today was the day. I hope this entry spoke to your heart in a personal way. Happy New Year!
Luke 8:39) Return home and tell how much God has done for you." So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.
So this is what I shall do now. Shall? For some reason Eli has been using this word. "Shall we play Wii?" "What shall we do now, mom?" Anywho. Like many of you I think if I declare something that has happened that is good out loud there is a chance I will like jinx it or something. There are also some people that constantly talk about all the good things that happen in their lives. Let's admit it...we often want to smack those people! :-) So there is something really good that I have experienced the last few months...I bet your really curious now. I don't mean good as in we had a good Christmas, I had a good run the other day, etc. I mean good as in good like you can't even believe it happened, someone pinch me, an utter miracle, I have been pleading to God for this for years and years and years.
S-L-E-E-P. For those of you who sleep well on a regular basis you don't get the magnitude of never sleeping well. I have been plagued with insomnia for longer than I can remember. I did everything the experts said to do. Our bedroom was cold, the bed was perfectly comfortable, I avoided ALL caffeine and had very limited amounts of sugar, I allowed myself to "unwind" before bed, I exercised, I prayed about it, I recited Bible verses, listened to quiet music, had white noise, had a fan on me, turned the ceiling fan on, bought black out blinds, talked to my doctor about it, and the list goes on. Oh and forget sleeping away from home. I didn't even have a racing mind. I just could NOT sleep. By the time this had gone on for like five years I was terrified and so stressed to go to bed. I would get in bed and one of two things would happen. One, I would fall asleep right away and wake up an hour later and be awake for three hours or two, I would lay there for hours on end. I would get up and do laundry or read, but nothing ever helped. When I would get utterly exhausted I would just bawl. Dave would wake up and sit with me for hours until I fell asleep. It was mind-numbing. Different treatments were given to me and nothing worked. If I would have known any national security secrets I would have sang like a bird!
I dreaded going to bed and dreaded how tired I would be the next day. I would drag myself up and workout every single day. I would power through the days so tired I wanted to just lay down wherever I was. I battled exhaustion anyway too due to my severe hormonal imbalances. I remember one time at Kroger's I was so tired that I literally wanted to lay down in the aisle. I called my friend whose daughter went to preschool with Eli and asked if she would pick up Eli too because I was too tired to get my groceries in the car and drive over to the school. She assured me it was not a problem. I just drove home in a tired daze.
When I went to Dr. Vliet in August insomnia was number one on my list of symptoms. She was so compassionate and said she can't believe I had lived this way this long. We talked about how God's power flowed through me because I would have given up years ago. He is the reason I have navigated through this journey that I call "hormonal hell." His grace has been sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9). Dr. Vliet had ordered blood work weeks before my appointment so when we got there she had all the results. She pointed to about four hormones that were significantly off all of which cause sleep issues. I wanted to cry just looking at that lab report. I am not casting stones at the other doctors that I have seen over the years. They just saw things differently and treated people differently than Dr. Vliet.
One hormone in general was basically non-existent so she gave me a sample of it that I could use immediately. I stuck that estrogen patch on my hip that night. Guess what? I slept that night...in a hotel room...not in my usual spot...with different sounds...in a different time zone...etc. That was the last day in August and now we are almost through December and I'm still sleeping well. Now I will still have nights that I wake up early or it takes me longer to fall asleep, but it's okay because everybody has those and now I know the next night will be better. The other night I slept eight hours straight. Crazy that is!
So forever I have wanted to share this story, but I didn't want to jinx it. I didn't want to declare what the Lord has done for me because what if the sleep went away. What if I put this blog entry out there for everyone to read and than I stopped sleeping well? Even with Dave, my best pal, or my dad or sister I am hesitant to tell them I slept awesome the night before. Why? Because of fear. I am afraid this gift from God will be ripped from me. I feel unworthy of a simple gift from God.
So right now I am doing what the man did in Luke 8:39. The background on Luke 8:39 is this. The man was demon-possessed. Jesus Christ freed this man from the torment that was his life. The man wanted to go with Jesus on his next mission. Jesus, instead, told him to go and tell everyone what God had done for him. So that's what I am doing by refusing to keep quiet out of fear. God has given me a gift, pure and simple. There are some symptoms from my imbalances that are still present, but sleep has come. I am declaring what God has done for me.
So there. My dear, sweet (and very patient) husband told me a few weeks ago that I needed to do an entry about my sleep. I admitted to him that the Lord had laid on my heart a few weeks before our conversation that He wanted me to do an entry on my sleeping. I put it off, avoided it. When Dave came to me and said this I knew it was what I was supposed to do. So I got right on it two weeks later! I decided today was the day. I hope this entry spoke to your heart in a personal way. Happy New Year!
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Coziness!
Hey everyone! I'm so sorry for the length of time since my last entry. Time flies!
I want to introduce a word to you today...coziness. I do not think it is even a real word, but in my mind it is! Stick with me here. Dave, Eli, and myself traveled to Northwest Ohio for Thanksgiving. Actually we went well before Thanksgiving and were back in Georgia for the actual day. We left Evans, Georgia at about 7:00 p.m. Funny thing is we had to drop off a cupcake order on our way out of town! Eli was all comfy in the back seat. Dare I say cozy?! He had a blanket, his pillow, Floppy, Cheetos (if you give your kid Cheetos in the car please have wipes handy...I learned this the hard way), a water bottle, and his little DVD player with a VeggieTale movie. About 30 minutes into the trip he asks how much longer! We said, "well Eli, only 11 more hours!" He fell asleep about two hours later and slept most of the trip. We made it to Dave's parent's house the next morning. We were thankful to God that He allowed us to arrive safely.
Going back to Ohio is a tough thing for me. Don't get me wrong I LOVE seeing my family. I knew that I would get to see all my little nieces and nephews and that I would get to hang out with my awesome sister-in-laws, Amanda and Rachel. It is a rare thing that all the Limbirds get to be together. I also could not wait to see my dad! My sister and I had plans to enjoy each other's company one afternoon and they could all not wait to see Eli. I was hoping to get to see my Aunt MiChelle and her kids, Alyssa and Kaiden. My sister also has a wonderful boyfriend who has children and we all enjoy our time together. My point in telling you all of this is that there are many, many aspects of traveling to Ohio that are very good. I am not going to lie though. It's hard. It makes me miss my mom and I struggle with thoughts over the last few times I was in Ohio before she passed on to her heavenly reward. She also would cook up a storm for Thanksgiving making the best turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, corn casserole, and apple pie you have ever had. If you have ever been to my parent's house you know it's cozy and inviting. My mom had a God-given knack for decorating and art. She painted beautiful pictures and just put her fingerprint on any room she decorated. Even now when you enter that house you feel her presence in all the creativity around you. When I walk in and feel that presence it usually makes me sad because it makes me realize once again that she is no longer there.
So as we traveled from Dave's parent's house to my childhood home (only about a 15 minute drive) the first evening I felt that usual sickness in the pit of my stomach. I just knew that I would walk in and be smacked with the concept of her absence. Something different happened this time though...I walked in and I felt a tremendous coziness. My mom LOVED being cozy. She could make everything cozy. Every room in the house is cozy. Even her huge Fifth Wheel camper was cozy! I remember one March at a very cold horse show she and I camped on the show grounds. I had been riding my horse one cold evening and when I came back to the camper with freezing fingers and toes she had prepared hot chocolate and had the fireplace going (yes her camper had a fireplace).
Coziness is hard to explain. The dictionary says cozy means, "to be snugly warm and comfortable." Mom took her role as a homemaker very seriously. She painstakingly made that house a home. She had a gift of taking something mundane and turning it into something special. Even a trip to Wal-Mart with her would be all kinds of fun. When I was a kid I couldn't wait to get home after school because I knew she would be there and would have time for me...and a wonderful snack (often times fresh chocolate chip cookies). I firmly believe she had many gifts from God. One gift was to make small things special. She had the gift of creativity and God clearly gave her the ability to make a house a home.
As Dave, Eli, and I approached the door I could smell the wood burning fireplace burning. One chore I had as an adolescent was to take the cut wood from the barn and dump it through the open basement window for the furnace. I never understood how people changed the thermostat without first "firing up" the furnace! Anyway, my dad was sitting in a leather chair with his feet propped up in front of the fireplace. I looked around and felt a huge hug from my mom. I still missed her tremendously and cried a few times while I was there, but realized what a gift she had and how she passed it on to me.
Dave and I are cozy people. One of our favorite places to go every fall is the north Georgia mountains and stay in a wonderfully cozy cabin. We are a comfy pant, fireplace, and chill weather kind of family. When Eli gets home from school the first thing he wants to do is get cozy which means to put on his jammies. This occurs on the days he does not wear his dragon costume! He likes being "cozy to the coze!" In the summer when it's 8,000 degrees outside I want the air conditioning turned way down so I can still be cozy! I believe my mom taught me to put a priority on making our house a home, to make it inviting, and to make it feel safe.
Being at home I realized that she dedicated her life to her family and home. She was a big personality and left an incredible imprint on that house. Being home I became so thankful that I knew her and that she took the time to teach me such important lessons. I am so grateful that God put in me that same creative gene. While I was there I did a great deal of cooking and baking which is also a trait I got from my mom. I got out her big pot and made her chili recipe. As it simmered I sat at her kitchen table and missed her like crazy, but also felt grateful that she taught me to be a homemaker and mom. She taught me how fantastic it is to be COZY!
The following verse is one that reminds me of my mom. This blog entry isn't based on a Bible study this time, but just thoughts on our trip to Ohio. I hope you enjoyed it and the Lord spoke to you in a personal way.
Proverbs 31:10 An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.
I want to introduce a word to you today...coziness. I do not think it is even a real word, but in my mind it is! Stick with me here. Dave, Eli, and myself traveled to Northwest Ohio for Thanksgiving. Actually we went well before Thanksgiving and were back in Georgia for the actual day. We left Evans, Georgia at about 7:00 p.m. Funny thing is we had to drop off a cupcake order on our way out of town! Eli was all comfy in the back seat. Dare I say cozy?! He had a blanket, his pillow, Floppy, Cheetos (if you give your kid Cheetos in the car please have wipes handy...I learned this the hard way), a water bottle, and his little DVD player with a VeggieTale movie. About 30 minutes into the trip he asks how much longer! We said, "well Eli, only 11 more hours!" He fell asleep about two hours later and slept most of the trip. We made it to Dave's parent's house the next morning. We were thankful to God that He allowed us to arrive safely.
Going back to Ohio is a tough thing for me. Don't get me wrong I LOVE seeing my family. I knew that I would get to see all my little nieces and nephews and that I would get to hang out with my awesome sister-in-laws, Amanda and Rachel. It is a rare thing that all the Limbirds get to be together. I also could not wait to see my dad! My sister and I had plans to enjoy each other's company one afternoon and they could all not wait to see Eli. I was hoping to get to see my Aunt MiChelle and her kids, Alyssa and Kaiden. My sister also has a wonderful boyfriend who has children and we all enjoy our time together. My point in telling you all of this is that there are many, many aspects of traveling to Ohio that are very good. I am not going to lie though. It's hard. It makes me miss my mom and I struggle with thoughts over the last few times I was in Ohio before she passed on to her heavenly reward. She also would cook up a storm for Thanksgiving making the best turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, corn casserole, and apple pie you have ever had. If you have ever been to my parent's house you know it's cozy and inviting. My mom had a God-given knack for decorating and art. She painted beautiful pictures and just put her fingerprint on any room she decorated. Even now when you enter that house you feel her presence in all the creativity around you. When I walk in and feel that presence it usually makes me sad because it makes me realize once again that she is no longer there.
So as we traveled from Dave's parent's house to my childhood home (only about a 15 minute drive) the first evening I felt that usual sickness in the pit of my stomach. I just knew that I would walk in and be smacked with the concept of her absence. Something different happened this time though...I walked in and I felt a tremendous coziness. My mom LOVED being cozy. She could make everything cozy. Every room in the house is cozy. Even her huge Fifth Wheel camper was cozy! I remember one March at a very cold horse show she and I camped on the show grounds. I had been riding my horse one cold evening and when I came back to the camper with freezing fingers and toes she had prepared hot chocolate and had the fireplace going (yes her camper had a fireplace).
Coziness is hard to explain. The dictionary says cozy means, "to be snugly warm and comfortable." Mom took her role as a homemaker very seriously. She painstakingly made that house a home. She had a gift of taking something mundane and turning it into something special. Even a trip to Wal-Mart with her would be all kinds of fun. When I was a kid I couldn't wait to get home after school because I knew she would be there and would have time for me...and a wonderful snack (often times fresh chocolate chip cookies). I firmly believe she had many gifts from God. One gift was to make small things special. She had the gift of creativity and God clearly gave her the ability to make a house a home.
As Dave, Eli, and I approached the door I could smell the wood burning fireplace burning. One chore I had as an adolescent was to take the cut wood from the barn and dump it through the open basement window for the furnace. I never understood how people changed the thermostat without first "firing up" the furnace! Anyway, my dad was sitting in a leather chair with his feet propped up in front of the fireplace. I looked around and felt a huge hug from my mom. I still missed her tremendously and cried a few times while I was there, but realized what a gift she had and how she passed it on to me.
Dave and I are cozy people. One of our favorite places to go every fall is the north Georgia mountains and stay in a wonderfully cozy cabin. We are a comfy pant, fireplace, and chill weather kind of family. When Eli gets home from school the first thing he wants to do is get cozy which means to put on his jammies. This occurs on the days he does not wear his dragon costume! He likes being "cozy to the coze!" In the summer when it's 8,000 degrees outside I want the air conditioning turned way down so I can still be cozy! I believe my mom taught me to put a priority on making our house a home, to make it inviting, and to make it feel safe.
Being at home I realized that she dedicated her life to her family and home. She was a big personality and left an incredible imprint on that house. Being home I became so thankful that I knew her and that she took the time to teach me such important lessons. I am so grateful that God put in me that same creative gene. While I was there I did a great deal of cooking and baking which is also a trait I got from my mom. I got out her big pot and made her chili recipe. As it simmered I sat at her kitchen table and missed her like crazy, but also felt grateful that she taught me to be a homemaker and mom. She taught me how fantastic it is to be COZY!
The following verse is one that reminds me of my mom. This blog entry isn't based on a Bible study this time, but just thoughts on our trip to Ohio. I hope you enjoyed it and the Lord spoke to you in a personal way.
Proverbs 31:10 An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Here's to...Dinah and the U.S. of A.!
In my last entry I explained how encouragement is a gift from the Lord. My last entry explained how my dad and close friend have provided a crutch for me at needed times. I love them both so much!
The third person I want to touch on is my mom. I think of her fondly today because election day is tomorrow and she LOVED to vote. People are so comfortable here. They truly think America will also be the way it is where we have endless freedoms and the ability to be whoever we want. Mom saw the attacks against our freedoms and took them seriously. She did not take well to ignorance or the mass media's deception. She used to say, "I don't believe these polls. No one has ever asked me!" My mom was a firm believer in Conservatism and could talk politics with just about anyone. She was always informed about pretty much everything. I firmly believe I got my love of country and interest in politics from her. My dad was always very interested in politics too, but because I spent more time growing up with my mom I remember her interest in greater detail. She stressed the importance of being informed to my sister and I.
She also made me realize that it was wise to dig deeper into issues and not count on what was said on the nightly news. Growing up we didn't have cable so at 6:30 p.m. every night we ate dinner and watched Tom Brokaw. I hated it! My dad was always clear that we had to be informed than form our own ideas. Even at a young age I was taught critical thinking. She taught me that just because Tom Brokaw said it doesn't make it so. She taught me common sense when it came to political issues. My mom listened to conservative talk radio nearly every day. I remember being a kid (and teenager) having to listen to talk radio anytime we were in the car between noon and 3 p.m. Again, I HATED it! I was a shallow kid. I believe a foundation was set for me to know the importance of the principles of what has made America. Mom felt a passion for our great Constitution. She was still listening to her talk radio from noon to 3 p.m. as she lay in bed too sick with cancer to get up. Why? Why would she care? She was going to see Jesus face to face soon! Why? She simply loved her country and knew that her loved ones were going to be left here for awhile. She would be so excited to vote for love of country tomorrow.
I know that everyone reading this would not agree with my mom's political stance...or mine, but I want to give her the honor she deserves on this election-eve. So what does this have to do with encouragement? I'll tell you. She encouraged me to be the best I could be. She wanted me to be a critical-thinker over everything not just politics. She taught me how important common sense was. She knew that being wise and discerning was a Biblical trait and stressed to me and Christy how God desired us to ask Him for these traits.
2 Chronicles 1:11-12) God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.”
I would guess that Mom spent our lifetimes praying over Christy and myself. I don't believe she prayed for us to be happy or comfortable. I doubt she prayed that we would have a lot of money or popularity. She knew that the human nature is fickle and what would make us happy one day would change another. She knew money was worthless and popularity could be a curse. She knew that Jesus did not live a comfortable life on this earth. I believe she prayed for us to desire wisdom and to be knowledgeable in the things that matter. She encouraged us to seek His wisdom. America is something that matters and I believe that is why she wanted to be as knowledgeable about the workings of government as possible. I also know she thanked Him endlessly that her girls could grow up somewhere like America.
I feel like I'm rambling a bit and this entry is all connected in my head! I hope you can make some sense out of it in the end. Mom had grit. She helped me to see that there is a great big world out there that does not involve my creature comforts. She never took fondly to shallow or selfish people. She was real. She had a depth of character. She felt things deeply and encouraged me to be the type of person that seeks Godly wisdom and knowledge on the things that matter above all else.
So on this election-eve...think of my mom and think of what matters most in your heart as you go to cast your ballot tomorrow. She was a woman of principle. I encourage you to thank God for the ability we have to vote and seek Him for wisdom as you enter the poll. So here's to Dinah and to the Red, White, and Blue!
The third person I want to touch on is my mom. I think of her fondly today because election day is tomorrow and she LOVED to vote. People are so comfortable here. They truly think America will also be the way it is where we have endless freedoms and the ability to be whoever we want. Mom saw the attacks against our freedoms and took them seriously. She did not take well to ignorance or the mass media's deception. She used to say, "I don't believe these polls. No one has ever asked me!" My mom was a firm believer in Conservatism and could talk politics with just about anyone. She was always informed about pretty much everything. I firmly believe I got my love of country and interest in politics from her. My dad was always very interested in politics too, but because I spent more time growing up with my mom I remember her interest in greater detail. She stressed the importance of being informed to my sister and I.
She also made me realize that it was wise to dig deeper into issues and not count on what was said on the nightly news. Growing up we didn't have cable so at 6:30 p.m. every night we ate dinner and watched Tom Brokaw. I hated it! My dad was always clear that we had to be informed than form our own ideas. Even at a young age I was taught critical thinking. She taught me that just because Tom Brokaw said it doesn't make it so. She taught me common sense when it came to political issues. My mom listened to conservative talk radio nearly every day. I remember being a kid (and teenager) having to listen to talk radio anytime we were in the car between noon and 3 p.m. Again, I HATED it! I was a shallow kid. I believe a foundation was set for me to know the importance of the principles of what has made America. Mom felt a passion for our great Constitution. She was still listening to her talk radio from noon to 3 p.m. as she lay in bed too sick with cancer to get up. Why? Why would she care? She was going to see Jesus face to face soon! Why? She simply loved her country and knew that her loved ones were going to be left here for awhile. She would be so excited to vote for love of country tomorrow.
I know that everyone reading this would not agree with my mom's political stance...or mine, but I want to give her the honor she deserves on this election-eve. So what does this have to do with encouragement? I'll tell you. She encouraged me to be the best I could be. She wanted me to be a critical-thinker over everything not just politics. She taught me how important common sense was. She knew that being wise and discerning was a Biblical trait and stressed to me and Christy how God desired us to ask Him for these traits.
2 Chronicles 1:11-12) God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.”
I would guess that Mom spent our lifetimes praying over Christy and myself. I don't believe she prayed for us to be happy or comfortable. I doubt she prayed that we would have a lot of money or popularity. She knew that the human nature is fickle and what would make us happy one day would change another. She knew money was worthless and popularity could be a curse. She knew that Jesus did not live a comfortable life on this earth. I believe she prayed for us to desire wisdom and to be knowledgeable in the things that matter. She encouraged us to seek His wisdom. America is something that matters and I believe that is why she wanted to be as knowledgeable about the workings of government as possible. I also know she thanked Him endlessly that her girls could grow up somewhere like America.
I feel like I'm rambling a bit and this entry is all connected in my head! I hope you can make some sense out of it in the end. Mom had grit. She helped me to see that there is a great big world out there that does not involve my creature comforts. She never took fondly to shallow or selfish people. She was real. She had a depth of character. She felt things deeply and encouraged me to be the type of person that seeks Godly wisdom and knowledge on the things that matter above all else.
So on this election-eve...think of my mom and think of what matters most in your heart as you go to cast your ballot tomorrow. She was a woman of principle. I encourage you to thank God for the ability we have to vote and seek Him for wisdom as you enter the poll. So here's to Dinah and to the Red, White, and Blue!
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