What Doesn't Kill Us Makes Us Stronger

Yesterday, we had another wonderful sing-a-long at the front yard of Tim and LaDonna Gatlin Johnson. Still assembled in our 6-foot rule spacing, we clapped and sang together to some of the best old hymns. Tim, an incredible pianist, gave us a concert in "Liberace" style!

Most beautiful were the testimonies of God’s amazing grace. Tim touched us with his story of surviving cancer in all of his lymph nodes many years ago. Tim and LaDonna became stronger in their faith and trust in God’s faithfulness more than ever before. What didn’t kill Tim, made him stronger.

I can speak a similar story – through the illnesses of my children, myself, and my husband’s illnesses and passing – I became stronger than I ever thought possible.

Pictured again here is the after-shot of the tornado that my father and mother-in-law went through. What didn’t kill them made them stronger and even greater good did God do through them. That property was sold to a young couple. She saw my blog and commented: “Thanks for sharing the pictures. I especially recognized the after-tornado picture. Since then, that property has been home to over 100 foster children in DHS, home to 7 different family groupings needing a safe place for a season, home to International Bible University, Westport Gathering and our home where we have raised our family including two grandchildren now. So appreciate and love the history your family established here. Love all of you.”

The quote: "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" dates back over 100 years ago to Friedrich Nietzsche, a German philosopher. He believed that if one can persevere through the difficult times and trials of life, the end result can often be a strengthening of character and endurance.

But I think it goes back even further. The Apostle Paul explained it well after he and his friends had endured horrible events like being whipped 29 times, beaten with rods, and left for dead after being buried under a pile of rocks: "We have this treasure from God, but we are only like clay jars that hold the treasure. This is to show that the amazing power we have is from God, not from us. We have troubles all around us, but we are not defeated. We often don't know what to do, but we don't give up. We are persecuted, but God does not leave us. We are hurt sometimes, but we are not destroyed." 2 Corinthians 4:7-9

The people I respect most have not had easy lives. They are the people who faced adversity and didn't give up. They were transformed by grace. It's really not what doesn’t kill us that makes us stronger, but God’s grace in the face of our struggles that makes us stronger. And through that grace, in the most difficult of times, we find endurance. And in that endurance, we find character. And it is that character that gives us hope.

This unparalleled COVID-19 season has been a rough time for so many, but those of us who are resilient in these times will come out stronger than we’ve ever been before. I’m counting on hearing story after story of the determination of those who kept their faith intact and the grace of God that made them stronger, wiser and more grateful than ever before.

Just Push Back Those Curtains

You have met my dear 97-year-old mother-in-law via my blog before. She gave me a “lift” yesterday when I made my check-in call to her. If I don’t call her every couple of days, she calls me. She lives at my brother and sis-in-law’s home in Tulsa. They are among those I’m missing during this "at home" time, along with my Austin crew.

Mom amazes me. When I called, she had just returned to her bedroom, after cleaning up the kitchen from her breakfast and walking (using her walker) up and down the hall five times (her daily “staying-alive” routines). She added: “Now, I’m working on some purchase orders Karen gave me to check for her (for their business). Some of it was new for me, but I double-checked it and they are all right!” I said, “Mom, you are amazing. You don’t quit!” She retorted: “When the dark curtains start to close, I just push them back open. Too many people just sit and do nothing! We’ve got to be determined to keep moving forward! I put me behind me and try to help the guy in front of me!! Forward march! Onward Christian Soldiers (singing that line)!!”

She went on: “Maddie (her 18-year-old great-granddaughter) was here yesterday. She asked me about my family. I told her the name and placement of each one of the twelve: First there was Mary, then Molly, Ann, Dan, (me, Lydia), Penny, Dave, Alma, Amy, Richard, Hilda and Buddy.”

Typically, our calls are just a "check-in" call, but she was on a roll yesterday. Mom knows tough times. She finds great joy in talking about the past because she knows WHO brought them through those times. Floods of the 1950s in Winnipeg (Canada) filled their home. They had to move in with her parents when my husband was 4-years-old. It took a lot to get their home restored. Then there was the tornado in the late 80s (aftermath is pictured here with Dad, Mom and my husband). Mom and Dad were in a bathroom shower stall in the middle of the building, crying out to God for mercy. They came out unscathed and so did the big Family Bible you see here under Mom's arm.

Here we are in almost unbelievable times of 2020. If we listen or read news reports and take them just as they are, it may seem as if the best escape is for God to open up a window above us in the sky and snatch us away to a better place beyond the clouds. But, maybe we should take on Mom’s way of thinking. She has a habit of saying "And that's the way it goes". That's kind of the way she looks at life. When she could be down because she’s a widow, her only son died, has physical issues, must live with her kids and has to use a walker or wheel chair -- she just patiently and calmly says, "And that's the way it goes."

Perhaps that’s the way we should view life – “and that’s the way it goes”. It has a care-less tone to it, doesn't it? Not that we don’t care – but that we “Cast our cares on He Who takes over and handles the cares for us.” (Psalm 55:22) All of this is not too much for God to handle. Whatever the circumstances of our lives – no matter who we are and what our responsibilities are – we will never stump God, or leave Him wondering what in the world to do next. I'm quite certain that none of the stuff is enough to make God throw his hands up in surrender.

Mom is a “Bible-thumper”. It’s her daily go-to for answers. "That's the way it goes" -- trusting, leaning on and depending on He Who has us all in His mighty hands. Let’s leave the figuring out to God. His way (and Mom's way) is to live a calm, peaceful, and assured life. I think Mom's 97-years prove it works!

Peace in the Storm

I was reviewing my daily FB “memories” yesterday and I ran across this post from eight years ago:
“Sitting in my hall bathroom -- no windows or outside walls, following the warnings of the newscasters -- surrounded by blankets and pillows -- waiting out the tornado warnings and thanking God that I'm sheltered in His arms and knowing Jesus is on board my ship! Peace.....be still!”

Yes, I’ve been there – right alongside those of you who are weathering the storms where you are today. After all – we lived in tornado alley for many years. We witnessed many tornadoes, as well as the aftermath. We watched our barn roof be taken off, trees being ripped apart, and damage to our home that backed up to Lake Keystone -- the path of the tornado. We took to our under-the-stairs closet and prayed for safety each time when the winds were at ferocious velocity. Yes, it was scary.

Also at Lake Keystone, a tornado brought devastation to our International Faith Bible College. Dad, the president of the college, and Mom heard the reports -- they were in the line of the monster twister. They made their way to the commercial shower stalls. The twister hit strong and almost leveled the entire building, save the area where Mom and Dad were standing and praying for God to be their refuge and strength. They came out without a scratch. They knew where to go in the time of trouble – to a central area in the building AND to God.

In reality, there seems to be no certainty in anything, anywhere, EXCEPT that our God is stable, secure, and is our ANCHOR that holds in spite of storms, conflicts and any other force that comes against us. We have the choice to cave and yield to the chaos and prevailing winds and storms of our life or we can take the storm by a conquering, overcoming spirit through Christ Jesus. "We are more than conquerors." (Romans 8:37). We've been notified that WE WIN and "Greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world," (1 John 4:4) We can take the offensive position against the enemy of our souls instead of cowering down to his tactics that try to paralyze us with fear of what the storms can do to us. We can find peace in the midst of the storm by trusting in God's faithfulness.

Sincerely, our thoughts and prayers go out to those in harm’s way today. Our awareness of hurting people gets stronger in times like this and we realize the need and urgency to pray for their peace, comfort, and resilience. We know that homes can be rebuilt. Healing will come and life will carry on once again as they place their trust in the Prince of Peace, Who brings peace and comfort and joy once again. We will all carry on -- and we'll even find the beauty that is found, even in tragedy.

Maybe life seems overwhelming to you today. I've been there. Each time I was there, I found my answers in the One Who is our Solid Rock. I came to realize that the overwhelming circumstances were ultimately for my good because they drew me to my Source of all answers and my Solid Rock. I urge you to go to Him today. In Jesus' words to the tremendous storm when the disciples were reeling in fear and despair, we pray He speaks to the storms in our lives today: "Peace, be still". In the meantime, let's praise Him in the storm!

Weathering the Storm

We’re stoked about the Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon being given by the downtown Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital which includes our North location volunteers. It’s going to be a great way to spend a Saturday with some other volunteers going with me. We are decked out in our 50s and 60s outfits because, after all, a prize is going to the best dressed.

First thing, I see an email from Sally: “It looks like the weather is going to be too bad for us to go to the luncheon.” My optimistic, no-worries, "What’s-a-little-storm-anyway?" reply was: “I don't mind taking my car and driving in the rain (I'm used to it. I'm often on the road to Austin or Tulsa in the rain). And when we get there, we'll be parking in the garage. I'll be happy to pick you girls up and we go for it! Let's be adventurous and live with no regrets!” So the girls were onboard for “dragging Main”, until heading out, opening my garage door and a gust of tornadic winds and rains blew back at me. My granddaughter texted me “Tornado!” I went back in and we canceled our outing.

I remembered this photo of a bird weathering the storm and the words: “Sometimes, you just have to bow your head. Say a prayer, weather the storm and trust that this too shall pass.” Many of us handle the challenges in our lives like that bird. We stand in the rain soaking wet with a smile on our faces in our cute pair of galoshes and say, “I’m dry, really, I’m dry.” I know what that’s like because I’m a “STORM-move-out-of-the-way" kind of girl. I can grin and bear it when the weather channel maps are covered with red and sending warnings to take shelter immediately. There were terrifying tornadoes that took the roof off our barn, our parents lost their home in a tornado, ice storms caused a loss of electricity for days, snow storms kept us homebound for days, hail storms devastated our home's roof, and, now, wind and rain storms kept us from a great luncheon. But, I could grin and bear it through most of them!

But, there were times when the storms of life prevailed in my life that brought hurt, disappointment, fear, concern, and pain, unlike those literal storms. Those storms were slow in passing. Those torrential storms upheaved my comfort and security. Those storms shook me physically, mentally and spiritually. I had to admit that my optimistic, no-worries, "What’s-a-little-storm-anyway?" reply didn't work those times.

But, in the midst of some of my darkest hours, LOVE showed up in the form of family and friends who encouraged me with comforting words, but most comforting that I heard within my heart was God's whisper, “I’m here with you.” I also realized I wasn’t the only one who was soaking wet from the storms. Others began to open up to me. It seemed I wasn’t the only one with a storm in her life. Many of us were drenched from the rain and I found out we all had some type of rain in our lives. We were great, big, beautiful soggy messes, and God loved us all.

Maybe you’re muttering under your breath, “I’m dry, really, I’m dry” but your soaking wet from the storms in your life. It's okay to admit it. When we open our eyes to the Peace-Maker and Storm-Chaser walking on the water to us, we’ll finally be free to discover that LOVE is waiting for us right in the center of our storms. Along with this brave little bird, we remind ourselves "to bow our heads, say a prayer, weather the storm and trust that this too shall pass.” I assure you, I’m proof positive that we can weather any storm when we know God is with us and we are safe, sheltered in His loving and sovereign arms. Forecast for tomorrow? Blue skies, sun shining, calm winds.

Treasuring the Treasures of Life and in the Light of Eternity

If you keep up with my posts, you’ll know that I’ve been going back and forth to Tulsa over the last few weeks to help with my 95-year old Mother-in-Law‘s move to Karen’s (my sis-in-law's) home. It was Mom’s admission of not wanting to live alone “in this big house” any longer, when she told Karen, that she was ready to move. How beautiful that Mom made that decision on her own. We all knew that was soon-at-hand because she hasn’t been feeling well for some time now. Though Mom's room at Karen's was beautifully prepared and ready for her weeks ago, Karen never pushed her to move as she wanted her to still fill in control on the timing. But a couple of days ago, she announced that she was ready and within a couple of hours, they had her at her new home with them.

It came after many sweet and precious moments of her letting go of so many treasures that she had accumulated over her 95 years, and 52 years of marriage. Treasures that were so important to her at one time, now are only important enough to pay-them-forward. The reality of heaven getting so close for her, motivated her to part with those things that, in the light of eternity – just won't matter any more.

How beautiful that many years ago, Mom started writing different ones’ names and the date under the bottom of some of those treasures. With the things not marked, she invited the children and grandchildren to come and select what they wanted. It has been a process, for sure, because Mom wanted to go through drawers, book shelves, cabinets and closets to be able to assign any particular item to one of five places: 1) take with her to Karen’s; 2) leave for children, grandchildren, close friends and relatives to select from; 3) to place in the estate sale that Karen and I will have in the Spring; 4) to give to charity and finally, 5) throw away.

You can just imagine that years of memories and collections of treasures presented many opportunities for story-telling times about “where, when, why and who I got that from”. How thankful we have been to be able to slow our own schedules down to patiently listen and savor the moments with her. And, even greater, that God gave us this time with her while she's still with us, instead of after she graduates to heaven.

One of the dearest treasures I found was a binder of poems that she wrote. She had so many talents – cooking, sewing, playing the organ, ceramics painting, making others laugh at her wit and humor, praying, giving, and now, we knew her brilliant ability to write poetry.  

On Saturday, I drove to Mom’s sister-in-law (Dad’s sister), Aunt Joyce Litke’s home in Waxahachie TX to deliver many of Mom’s clothes, as well as other items that Mom had designated just for her.

Among those things were ceramic reindeer that Grandma Lena Wuerch (Joyce’s Mom) painted and Mom wanted Joyce to have them. Aunt Joyce and I had such a special time together, recalling so many family times together, but the one I treasured most was when she teared up and said, “I miss Ron so much (that’s my husband). He cared for me and encouraged me so much during Adolf’s illness and passing.” I loved that she remembered and it made me remember how devoted he was to her with daily telephone calls and trips to see and encourage her. She gave me an intangible treasure to take home with me. It was worth the trip.

Mom and Dad met with many challenges over the years, but none were as devastating as the tornado that tore through their home and church at Lake Keystone, OK. So much was lost, but a few treasures remained for us to enjoy. Joyce has a ceramic rabbit that made it through the storm and it sits in a prominent spot in her home. After the tornado, Karen’s daughter found a hand painted picture in a frame that was torn and broken. Mom had it repaired and that is the treasure that Georgianne requested Brad, Karen’s son, selected a painting done by another aunt. My Staci chose one of her Bibles and a ceramic flower that she remembered from before the tornado. Ryan wanted anything to do with the “Wuerch” family legacy, so he wanted legacy photos.

Shawntel was given a beautiful Lenox-like teapot, sugar and cream holders that Dad bought Mom when they were ministering in Alberta, Canada and when she was pregnant with my husband, Ron. I received the mink stole that she let me wear to Ron’s Senior Prom. I was also overjoyed to be the recipient of Mom’s little Christmas Tree that sat prominently in her den year after year that Karen had decorated so beautifully (pictured here), as well as her hand-painted nativity set. We all took home many other treasures from our visits with Mom -- that we will all treasure, on earth, until we start to see "in the light of eternity" and pay them forward to our families.

I’m sharing with you this really “big moment” for our family of transition time from one earthly home that was dear to Mom and Dad, and all of us for many years, to her new home with Karen and George. It is a major transition time for them as well. We know that God is the conductor of this symphony of life. It may appear that Mom is getting closer to her transition to her heavenly home, and, indeed it is. One day soon, Jesus will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Come to your home sweet home."

Rick Warren, in his wonderful book “The Purpose Driven Life” said, "When you fully comprehend that there is more to life than just here and now, and you realize that life is just preparation for eternity, you will begin to live differently. You will start living in “light of eternity”, and that will color how you handle every relationship, task, and circumstance." St. Paul said “I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.” Philippians 3:7

I think that’s the way Mom is living these days. That’s why when she’s feeling pretty good, she calls people to encourage them and pray with them. She gets it. In the light of eternity. nothing else matters except for Jesus. We’ll treasure her treasures until “the light of eternity” draws us home, too.

God is Our Very Present Help in Trouble

I read that a tornado battered southern Mississippi last weekend and ripped apart homes, classrooms and buildings at William Carey University in Hattiesburg. Staff members from the university spoke with CNN and explained that while sifting through the damage, they discovered an open Bible on the pulpit of the otherwise-badly damaged campus church. An adjunct art instructor at the private Christian college said, “No building was left untouched, and many appear to be total losses. Tornadoes can be frightfully destructive events, yet the Bible lay perfectly untouched and opened to Psalm 46, which reads, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” The story has since gone viral, boosting campus morale and inspiring awe across the nation.

That story made me recall the tornado that brought devastation to our International Faith Bible College 26+ years ago at Lake Keystone, OK. They heard the reports that they were in the line of the monster twister, so Dad and Mom (Dad was the President of the Bible College and they had an apartment in the West wing of the complex), made their way to the commercial showers and stalls in the middle of the building. The twister hit strong and almost leveled the entire one-story building, save the area where Mom and Dad were standing in the commercial shower, praying for God to be their refuge and strength, knowing He is a very present help in trouble. It seemed the tornado skipped right over the area they were in. They came out without a scratch. I called Mom yesterday and we talked about that day. I asked her if there were any specific items that she remembered in the debris. She remembered a hymnal that was perfectly fine, except that it had been shot into a wall in the sanctuary. It was opened to the song, “It is Truly Wonderful What the Lord Has Done”. LOL! That 1897 song written by Barney Warren had words like these in it:
He keeps me every moment by trusting in His grace;
He brings me through affliction. He leaves me not alone;
He’s with me in temptation. He keeps me for His own.
He prospers and protects me. His love I do enjoy.

Mom and Dad knew where to go in the time of trouble – to a centered room in the building AND to their God who was their refuge and strength.

In reality, there seems to be no certainty in anything, anywhere, EXCEPT that our God is stable, secure, and is our ANCHOR that holds in spite of storms, conflicts and any other force that comes against us. Bottom line. We don't need to fear. God is our rock, our refuge, our shelter in the time of any kind of storm.

It's time to rise above the storms of life and come back to our CENTER and find our peace in Him. Our peace is an incredible testimony in hard times and will help those around us to find Him as their Prince of Peace. He wants to make Himself known in the middle of the present shaking.

Psalm 27:1 "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

Peace in the Midst of the Storm

Day 85 of Photo Inspirations -- Peace in the Midst of the Storm
Dark clouds looming.  Tornado warnings. Hail warnings. Heavy rains and flooding warnings. News reports kept urging those in the path of the storm, to take cover.  Family calls to check on  me.  I'm in the toy closet with pillows over and under me.  Granddaughter wants me to go to a storm shelter.  I'm quoting scripture..." I dwell in the secret place of the Most High. I abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord He is my refuge, my fortress, my God in Him I trust."  That's always my emergency 911 number. Psalm 91:1 that is.  I pray and speak safety and protection to all of us in the pathway of the storm.  I pray and speak to the storm and tell it to cease and desist. (God's Word says we can do that:  Mark 11:23 "Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.")   I quote my Prince of Peace's words as I speak to the storm -- "Peace -- be still."  And, personally, MY peace was still.   Just a short while later, I heard on the news station, "Cold front is pushing the tornado activity out of the area."  While there was calamity and devastation from yet another Oklahoma storm, it could have been so much worse.  I'm so grateful that it wasn't.

I'm well acquainted with living in "tornado alley".  Over the years, we witnessed many tornadoes, as well as the aftermath.  We watched our barn roof be taken off (yes, I said "watched").  The tornado worked its path down Keystone Lake and our home and acreage backed up to it.  We took to our under-the-stairs closet for safety when the winds grew to such ferocious velocity.  My husband's parents lost their home in a tornado, but they were safe in a bathroom shower stall. They came out with not a scratch on them.

And, with natural storms, as well as those we face in life's circumstances and adversity, we can still make it through by finding peace in the midst of the storm by trusting in God's faithfulness.  Wednesday night, I was singing an old song.... "So let the storms rage high, the dark clouds rise. They don't worry me, for I'm sheltered safe within the arms of God. He walks with me, and not of earth shall harm me, for I'm sheltered safe within the arms of God."

After being in the toy closet for just a few minutes, and hearing the "all clear" report, I got up and turned around and looked at that closet and realized it's still Spring cleaning time around here, and since I'm here, I might as well get this toy closet all organized and cleaned out.  "All things work together for good to those who love God and are the called according to His purpose."  Romans 8:28.  "Thanks, God, for the light-works, wind-works, and water-works Wednesday night.   You definitely got our attention."