What to Do When We Don’t Know What to Do

I know so many of us have been in a quandary during these many months of the pandemic. “What do I do next?” “How can we make it?” “What can I do to make ends meet?” “Who can I go to for help?” Those questions were even more emphasized when my niece’s daughter broke the news to us that her mom had several strokes last week, with an emergency brain surgery yesterday. Bless her young heart – she felt the weight of the world on her shoulders for her mom. She said: “Tbh, I am very scared. I am scared for my mom’s well-being. I am scared about finances. I am scared about her future. I just feel like I don’t know what to do. So please pray, light candles, send good vibes, or whatever you do to cultivate positive energy, because she needs it, my brother needs it, and I need it."

I reposted her words, contacted our closest family members and, oh my, my beautiful social media friends and family went into immediate prayer-mode for her. I was so blessed to see the way-over-one-hundred messages telling me that they were praying. What a comfort that brought us – to know when the battle is raging, there are troops of prayer warriors who pick up their swords and shields for us.

I loved Roxie’s honesty about her fears AND her resolve. She knew what to do – call in prayer partners and prayer warriors – anyone who would stand in the gap with her. My memory kicked in when a similar message came to my own family years ago. We received the call from my husband’s doctor with the diagnosis from the tests: “You have Stage 4 Renal Cell Carcinoma that has metastasized to a tumor that is impinging on your spinal cord. It’s a life or death matter. You must have immediate surgery or you could be paralyzed.” The doctor was insistent on aggressively moving forward. So what do you do when you don’t know what to do? The answer is: PRAY. We prayed for God’s wisdom, His strength, His guidance, and most of all, His peace.

At the same time, we were making faith declarations: "Our God, our Healer. You are our Prince of Peace. By Your stripes, we are healed. We trust in you, Father God. We will not be afraid.” Each of us expressed our confidence in God as the Great Physician. It was apparent that we should move forward as was instructed by the doctor. The surgery was a success.

Over the next 7 months, when the questions came again, “What do we do?” we repeated the same steps: Pray, speak God’s Word, seek Godly counsel, pray some more. We found that we were closer to God during this time of crisis because we were acutely aware of our desperate need for Him. And quite frankly, that’s a great place to be. In Him, we found the answers to our questions and peace in our hearts because we sensed His presence with us.

So back to the question: “What do we do when we don’t know what to do?" or “Where can I turn when there's no one else I can turn to?” or “Who can I lean on when there’s no one to lean on?” or “Where can I hide until the storms pass over?” The answer to all of these questions is clear. It is found in ONE simple truth. We go to Him who is our solid rock, our refuge, our shelter, our friend. That’s WHO, WHAT, WHEN and WHERE to ALL questions we have for our today and our tomorrows.

The prayer warriors and praisers showed up for our Ruth just like King Jehosophat’s praisers came through for him. May our battle cry be like those who find their voices in complete surrender to He Who knows what to do when we say with King Jehosophat: “We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on you, Lord!” (2 Chronicles 20:12)

Excuse Me! Could I Have Your Undivided Attention, Please?

This photo may look familiar. It should because I was in this very spot two years ago. I’m back in Tulsa for a few days that lead up to my mother-in-law’s 96th birthday on Wednesday. After my home sold two years ago, I stayed at a dear friend’s home for another six weeks because I had speaking engagements and other responsibilities here. I am back in this sweet spot and I get to enjoy this little piece of heaven again. This city holds so many precious memories, precious people, and so many favorite places to go. It’s not a vacay, but it sure is a favorite place to be.

I sat in this very spot each morning for my morning devotions when I was here before. I’d look out across this beautiful pond that my home backed up to. I received so much peace and comfort in this spot. I like to think that God also enjoyed my stay here because He got my undivided attention.

I wonder how God must feel about the lack of our attention because I get a little frustrated when I don’t receive full attention when I’m with someone. I can be having a nice conversation with someone, and then their phone rings or dings and, without even a second thought, they leave me hanging while they answer their phone or text message. Okay! I'll admit it. I've been on both sides....the one singing "All By Myself" while others were heads down in their phones and I've been the one with my head down in MY phone. What in the world? Where did our respect for others go? I'm ashamed of us!! It's time for putting those phones in another room or turning them off so we can get back to what's REALLY important -- being a sincere, caring, and respectful friend and family member.

Even worse is how disrespectful we can be to God. We can be right in the middle of sweet fellowship with Him when our phone dings and we can’t resist checking to see what that text message is all about. After all, it could be the plumber, the friend that we’re meeting later or one of our children or grandchildren who might need us. Right? But, oh so WRONG! We can be fully engaged in conversation with our Heavenly Father and our Savior Who gave His life for us and we allow ourselves to be interrupted. Sound familiar? God must be tapping His fingers on the arm of His royal throne as He tenderly and lovingly says “Excuse Me....could I have your undivided attention, please? I have secrets to reveal and plans to give you for your good.”

Just look at the object in this photo that the enemy of our souls uses to steal our alone time with our Best Friend, our Father, and our CEO? There it is, smack dab in the middle, instead of away from being a distraction to my one-on-one time with my royal guest. Jesus sat the example for us in Mark 1:35-36 "And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a DESOLATE PLACE, and there He prayed."

In the Eye of the Storm

It has been said that music brings a soothing, healing effect to those in pain or in stress or crisis. Kari Jobe's song, "Healer" soothed my sweetheart's racked-with-pain-body as we played it over and over for him. That's why I chose "Amazing Grace" and "It is Well With My Soul" to post about over the last two days. I know God was giving me those songs to not only inspire me for the tough times, but also those of you that needed an encouraging word that could take you through to tomorrow.

I grew up in church singing hymns, of which many were written and composed during the most perilous and painful times. Indeed the sound of music has brought such healing and calm to me when I needed it most.

While watching the progression of Irma on the news yesterday, I kept hearing them talk about the "eye of the storm" -- that period of time during a storm when it becomes calm. And, whether things get better or worse after it, we know our anchor is God and His love and peace surrounds us....in the eye of the storm. It reminded me of this more recent recorded song that has blessed me so much.

May the words encourage those of you who are facing storms today -- literally AND figuratively -- with the calmness of knowing....God is in control. The YouTube link is at the end of my post.

In the eye of the storm, You remain in control.
And in the middle of the war, You guard my soul.
You alone are the anchor, when my sails are torn
Your love surrounds me, in the eye of the storm.

When the solid ground is falling out from underneath my feet.
Between the black skies, and my red eyes, I can barely see.
When I realize I've been sold out by my friends and my family,
I can feel the rain reminding me.....

In the eye of the storm, You remain in control
In the middle of the war, You guard my soul
You alone are the anchor, when my sails are torn
Your love surrounds me , in the eye of the storm.

When my hopes and dreams are far from me
And I'm runnin' out of faith.
I see the future I picture slowly fade away.
And when the tears of pain and heartache,
Are pouring down my face,
I find my peace in Jesus' name.

In the eye of the storm , You remain in control
In the middle of the war, You guard my soul.
You alone are the anchor, when my sails are torn.
Your love surrounds me, in the eye of the storm

When the test comes in and the doctor says
I've only got a few months left.
It's like a bitter pill I'm swallowing, I can barely take a breath.
And when addiction steals my baby girl,
And there's nothing I can do
My only hope is to trust You, I trust You, Lord

https://www.ccmmagazine.com/media/stream/video/music-video/ryan-stevenson-eye-of-the-storm/

I Am a Friend of God

As a young girl, I wasn’t in with the “in” crowd when I was in school. I was by no means one of those popular girls that hung out with those cool cheerleaders and the hunky football team. I wasn’t even in the “nerd” crowd because I sure wasn’t a really smart kid either. I was a shy, average grade student who went to school, did average work, came home and played with my friend next door.

That sounds pitiful, doesn't it? But don’t feel sorry for me because it was in those years that my friendship with God began and grew and that friendship sustained and carried me through some of the toughest times as a little girl AND as a big girl. You see, my Dad was very ill from a brain tumor and after the surgery to remove it, he lived, but became more like a sibling to me than my Daddy. I watched my Mom be so brave and undaunted in her care for him and me. Mom was the best friend I didn’t have in girl friends, because she modeled what it is to be strong, loving, supportive, AND model her friendship with God. She’d talk to Him all the time. She’d sing and praise Him in the midst of such troubling times with my Dad’s illness and having to financially provide for us all. I’m so grateful for what she taught me in what it is to trust God and for Him to be her dearest friend.

Today, I am who I am because early on God was my “bestie”. Without a doubt, I know He’s with me and even when I don’t talk to Him, I know it’s okay, because friends don’t have to always be talking to each other. Sometimes, it’s just being in each other’s presence, so I practice His presence. You see, my FRIEND, is sitting right beside me as I type this post. I know it. I even sense Him smiling with His arm around me as I type “I am a friend of God.”

I’ve come to realize my peace, joy, courage and comfort come from the friendship I have with Him. Oh, I’m right in the thick of life just like others are, and it may look like I live unrealistically, but I assure you, this is the way to live above the fray that comes with “the thick of things". As important as it is to have close friendships, I assure you there is nothing to compare to having God as best friend.

Yesterday, I took a long walk and I started singing “I am a friend of God” (a great Israel Houghton song), and I started thinking about it’s one thing for God to be MY friend, but I want to be HIS friend. Unlike my childhood, I have lots of friends today, but really only a couple of “besties”, and I’m not sure what I would do without them. I know they are there for me any time.

And, as much as I love my girl friends, there is nothing to compare with God calling me His friend – and better yet, I like to think I’m one of His “besties”. After all, I’ve known Him most all my life – since I was 8 years old at a summer church camp, when I invited Him into my heart and asked Him to be my best friend. And, better than the girls in the “in” crowd, or my Mom, or even my “bestie” girl friends today, He’s perfect and I don’t have to look for Him. He’s always there when I need Him. He'll listen to anything I want to talk about, He holds my heart in his hand when life's too painful, and He whispers comfort to me when I'm afraid. James 4:8 says "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." The more I want to cozy up to Him, the more He cozies up to me! Thank you, Lord!

And I have to remember that my friends, even my besties, and I aren't God. We can only do our best to be like Him. He's my everything -- my Savior, my Helper, my Healer, my Shield, my Protector, my Father -- my Everything. And I like to think that I'm His best friend because, after all, He loved me so much that He gave His life for me. How's that for a "bestie"? He even encourages me to sit down and chat with Him, dump my worries and cares into His arms, to allow Him to carry my burdens and to remember all that He's done for me. Then, He gives me a little nudge and says, "Now, go love others, like you love Me!"

John 15:15 " I don’t call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. But I’ve called you friends because I’ve made known to you everything that I’ve heard from my Father."

It's All About Him......NOT ME!

It's All About Him......NOT ME!
In years past, my Christmas traditions started right after Thanksgiving. I loved this time of the year so much that I decorated every bedroom with its own fully decorated, lit tree. The inside and outside of the house looked like a Christmas Store. I had several nativity sets throughout my house. After all, I wanted Jesus to be prominent amidst all the Santa Clauses and snowmen. I had a huge village of little houses and ice skating pond, trees, churches (lots of churches). I made dozens of cookies and candies to share with family and friends. I handwrote and mailed a flood of Christmas cards with my family's picture on it. That was a "must do" every year -- getting the family Christmas picture at Thanksgiving. I purchased way too many gifts. I spent hours and hours shopping for just the right treasures to give. We squeezed in Christmas parties and programs into all the other "must do's". Despite my best intentions to make Christ the center of our Christmas, hyper mode was my mode of operation for years. Does that sound familiar to you?

I never felt guilty about the flood of activity and way-too-much-attention to so many details. I loved this time of year so much that I gave it ALL I had. The family traditions were so dear and precious to me. It was a work-out, but at the end -- we had made so many precious memories, and it was worth every effort. But, this year, my story takes a big turn.

Since I sold my home in Tulsa and, at my children's urging, making a temporary decision to live a "vagabond" lifestyle (going from my children's homes, mother-in-law's home and friends' home), until at least February of next year, my "normal" is no longer the same. My way-of-thinking is certainly having to make adjustments. My "way" isn't the way when I place myself at the mercy of the schedules, environments, cultures and lifestyles of friends and family. I never knew the "single" lifestyle until my sweetheart graduated to heaven. I guess I didn't realize how it had affected my outlook on responsibility to and for others again.

So, I'll admit, my faith journey that was somewhat ideal because it was MY faith journey now includes the faith journeys of others, which means my ideals and my desires must submit and become secondary to others. As I type this, once again, I've heard God's voice saying "Trust Me! I've got this. This is part of my plan!"

So, as I sit here eating my "Humble Pie", I've come back to what the PRINCIPLE THING is supposed to be. I've recalibrated my thinking to HIS thing. A widow friend of mine gave me wisdom a couple of nights ago. In her Widow's Group, she told me there were a couple of gals who had no intentions of decorating their homes this year. They weren't wanting to put forth the effort. She told me she scolded them. She said, "Is Christmas about YOU, or is it about the birthday of the ONE who gave His life for us, Who came here to earth so He would understand us and die for us so we could live forever with Him? Don't decorate for you.....decorate for Him!"

I loved that. My life, this season, my wants, my desires -- shouldn't be about ME. Everything should be about THE ONE whom we celebrate so I'm determining to keep my focus on Jesus' birthday. I even started my Christmas baking yesterday for me, us AND Him!

When I attend several more performances of the Christmas program at my daughter's church, it will be in honor of celebrating He Who this Christmas is about. I will lean in to the real sweetness and tenderness of this season, and turn my attention to the STAR of this story, Mary's baby boy that grew up to be my great I AM. "I AM" is my protector, my healer, my strength and my joy giver, my way-maker, truth-finder and my peace-provider

If you've been like me -- whether in an utter frenzy-mode to this point, or in a little whiny mode about the changes in your life and even disappointments about things being different than they once were, since it's His birthday.....we get to just show up and celebrate Him. No matter how we decorate the house for His party, it is still ALL ABOUT HIM, Who is ALWAYS the life of the party. And He has come to give life to all the people at the party. And, when we lean in even closer, we'll find that the LIFE of the party holds out Himself as the gift that keeps on giving. And the gift tag? It has our names on it. Oh, what a relief it is!

What Do You Do When You Don't Know What to Do?

Day 177 of Photo Inspirations -- What Do You Do When You Don't Know What to Do?
I take my daily FB postings very seriously. Throughout the day I pay attention to people, places and things that could potentially be the inspiration for me. It wasn’t that my day was boring or didn’t have some great times with friends, but I just didn’t FEEL IT like I typically do.

So, what do I do when I don’t know what to do?  The first thing is I pray. That’s what I did yesterday. I prayed and said, “What do I do when I don’t know what to do?”  And it hit me, that prayer is what my post is supposed to be for today – responding to that question.

I recall a very specific day when we asked that question.  We had just received the diagnosis from my husband’s doctor:  “You have Stage 4 Renal Cell Carcinoma that has metastasized to a tumor that is impinging on your spinal cord.  It’s a life or death matter.  You must have immediate surgery or you could be paralyzed.”  Ron, my husband, being an in-charge guy, and not moved by anxiety or concern, declined the offer for the surgery. He wanted to research what he’d been told, get a second opinion, seek counsel and take his time. But the doctor was insistent on aggressively moving forward.  So what do you do when you don’t know what to do?   PRAY.  We prayed for God’s wisdom, His strength, His guidance, and most of all, His peace.  We needed peace that day like we had never needed it before.

At the same time, we were speaking words from God's Word:  "Our God, our Healer.  He is our Prince of Peace.  By His stripes we are healed.  We trust in you, God. We will not be afraid.”

Then, we sought Godly counsel from our children, and had a family meeting via phone.  We prayed for discernment of God’s best wishes for the course of action we should take. After prayer, each of us expressed our confidence in God as our Great Physician.  After hearing that each of us had peace about the Tulsa medical team of physicians that we had been directed to so far, and that it was apparent that we should not wait as we had been instructed, Ron said, “Okay, let’s do it! Call the doctor!” We did and within the next 48 hours, he had the surgery and it was successful.

Over the next 7 months, when the questions came again, we repeated the same steps:  Pray, Speak the Word, Seek Godly counsel, pray some more.  We found that we were closer to God during this time of crisis because we were acutely aware of our desperate need for Him.  And quite frankly, that’s a great place to be. In Him, we found the answers to our questions.

The answer to this question and many more:  “Where can I turn when there's no one else I can turn to?  Who can I talk to when no one wants to listen?  Who can I lean on when there’s no one to lean on?  Where can I hide until the storms pass over?  The answer to all of these questions is found in ONE SIMPLE TRUTH.  We go to Him who is our solid rock, our refuge, our shelter, our friend.  That’s WHO, WHAT, WHEN and WHERE to ALL questions we have for our todays and our tomorrows.