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Eyes wide open

January 18, 2023Leave a Comment

A couple of days ago I blogged on Something new. Today I would like to pick up on this topic but go in a different direction. When God is doing something new it can be unnerving. Some people don’t like change. In order to grow in life, we have to embrace Gods plan and be willing to follow Him.

This morning I had an extra long quiet time and it was so refreshing. A friend sent me some sermon notes on a sermon she heard this past Sunday. The sermon was about Jesus healing Bartimaeus the blind beggar. (Mark 10: 46-52) The pastor apparently used this story to teach on moving with God despite obstacles in life. The story of Bartimaeus always resonates with me because I am legally blind. If you throw hearing impairment in the picture,that’s me. I love how Bartimaeus did not listen to the crowds when they told him to hush but shouted even louder. He pushed past what the people thought. When Jesus stopped and called him, he threw off his cloak and went to Jesus. After Jesus healed him, he followed Jesus. The cloak that identified him as a blind beggar was left behind. He wasn’t afraid but moved forward into what Jesus had for him.

Often times people are afraid to move into the unknown. 2 Timothy 1‬:‭7‬ says, “For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline.” (ASV‬‬). If God is guiding you, walk by faith and move past any obstacles. God is able to move things out of your path so you can keep walking with Him. Nothing is impossible with God! Mark 10:27

As God opens new doors in your life, don’t be afraid! Move forward in faith. Don’t let others perceptions hinder you. Put your eyes on the prize, Jesus! “Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses.”
‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There is much more to say but I will save it for another time. If you liked this blog post please subscribe. You can find my autobiography Rooted by the Water on Amazon. I pray it gives you great hope and courage to surrender to Jesus. He is all you really need. Be blessed.

Something new

January 16, 20231 Comment

Over the last few days I have taken some notes of scripture I’ve read, sensing it was something to blog on. As I sat down a few minutes ago, I said, “Okay Lord what do you want me to say?” Seriously I did! I never want it to be about me, but rather what the Lord is doing around me. I delight in the things God opens my eyes, heart and understanding to receive.

I start each day in prayer and reading Gods Word. Well in all honesty, the first thing I do each morning is put my Advanced Bionics Marvel cochlear implant processor on, then feed our dog Joy. She would stare me down if I didn’t. Once she has had her breakfast, I get lost in prayer and Gods Word. Psalms‬ ‭143‬‬:‭8 says, “Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you”.‭‭(‬ ‭NLT‬‬). This routine sets the course for each day.

I am really enjoying the New Living Translation Bible. This week one of the passages I read was Isaiah 43‬‬:‭18‬-‭ 19, “But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. (‭‭‭‬ ‭‬NLT‬‬) The English Standard Version says it this way. ““Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭18-19‬ ‭(ESV‬‬). This is so encouraging! The Lord is telling us He is doing something new. He wants us to forget about the past. Behold, He is doing a new thing. Open your eyes to see what God is up to. He is at work all around us.

Life can seem like a “wasteland” or “ wilderness“. Those words depict a dry season in life where you just push through each day. Every day is just another cycle of the same old thing: Not growing or seeming to go nowhere in life. But in these verses in Isaiah, God is telling us He will make a way in the wilderness. He is bringing forth rivers in the wasteland. God is doing a new thing! Open you eyes!

Forget the past. Be willing to embrace what God is doing around you, in you and through your circumstances. When He said He is making a way through the wilderness, He is leading you. Will you follow Him? He says Hie will provide rivers in the wasteland, that’srefreshing in those hard times. Will you have to go through them? Yes but you won’t go through it alone. The Lord is guiding you and restoring you along the way.

He is always up to something. He is doing a new thing. I will pick up on this again in a few days. I want to meditate on this and ask the Lord to show me more. I’m excited to see what God has in store.

If you liked this blog post please subscribe. You can find my autobiography Rooted by the Water on Amazon. I pray it gives you great hope and courage to surrender to Jesus. He is all you really need. Be blessed.

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Keep on!

January 10, 2023Leave a Comment

This is day 10 of 2023 and I’m just now stopping to blog. I decided to read through the Bible again this year in the New Living Translation. As I’ve been reading I’ve made notes on a few possible blog topics. Today I will focus on “Keeping on”. I came across this verse as I was reading recently. It’s a perfect verse for this first blog of the year. “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Keep on asking! God wants us to bring our concerns to Him. He delights when we choose to pray and acknowledge His Lordship over our lives. I love how God has revealed aspects of my relationship with Him through being a Mom. It warms my heart when my grown son seeks me out just to talk and share his life with me. God is my Heavenly Father, and He delights in me praying and seeking Him out to share my heart.

Keep on seeking! I want to know God more and more. Through studying the Bible, learning in church, worship and fellowship, I desire to grow into all He desires for me. Never become satisfied with where you are in your relationship with Jesus. There is always room to grow closer in our walk with Him. Study Jesus character and how He handled situations. I want to be a reflection of who He is. As I seek you Lord, change me!

Keep on knocking! As we ask, seek and knock He will reveal more to us. I want to walk in God’s will for my life. I desire to be the woman He created me to be. I desire to fulfill His call to shine for Him.

Keep on being You! I love when people are real and genuine. We are all human and make mistakes. We all need grace. As God freely gives us grace, be sure to give it to others.

Keep on finding joy in the little things in life. Last Sunday there was a young mom sitting behind me in church with her precious baby daughter. After the service I was marveling at the sweetness of this precious child and she let me hold her. Oh the simple joy and delight in holding a tiny baby.

Keep on finding fun in the ordinary things. My husband and I went to get our hair cut today. The same girl does both of our hair. I was showing her a picture of what I wanted and as I zoomed in ( I have low vision) we saw it was a wig. We all started laughing and I said to Ron, “A wig would solve your problem of having to bring me to get haircuts!” We were all laughing. I turned to our hairstylist and said “This is us!” Life is life, but you can find joy and laughter in the ordinary.

So whatever you do as you start off this year keep on keeping on. God has us. Keep looking to Him and He will direct you.

Gods got you!
“What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭29‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Sought & Found ~ Great Joy

December 24, 2022Leave a Comment

I can’t tell you how light my heart has been these last few weeks. As I sit in the early mornings with just the Christmas tree lights on, it is utterly peaceful. These early morning times are spent in prayer and reading the Bible. I do this everyday year round , minus the Christmas tree lights which are only on in December and part of January. These times with Jesus set the pace for my day.

As the Christmas Carol goes, Joy to the world the Lord is come. Let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare Him room…. I will stop right there. I personally opened my heart to Jesus years ago. He is the greatest gift from God. He fills my heart with great Joy. I have sought and found Him and my confidence is in Him for all my needs. He fills my life with great joy and helps me have perspective on the hard things in life.

You might scoff at my view and think I live under a rock. Yes I know all the troubles going on in the world. Yes I see the suffering. Life is tough. Being legally blind and deaf is a day to day challenge that few understand. BUT God gives me such great determination and strength to endure. It’s not about me and having it all easy. It’s about Jesus and bringing glory to His name.

Jesus is the best and most Undescribable gift! Like the shepherds and wise men who eagerly followed the star and found baby Jesus in a manager, in a stable. When they found Him they were filled with awe and joy. Have you sought Jesus? He is waiting for you to make room in your heart amd life for Him.

Christmas is a promise kept. (God keeps All His promises) The prophets foretold Jesus birth hundreds of years before it happened. Wow! What an awesome God we serve. As I typed that I actually started singing the worship chorus… My God is awesome, He can move a mountain, keep me in the valley. Hide me from the rain. My God is awesome, heals me when I’m broken, strength when I am weary, forever He will reign. I’m sitting here with tears streaming down my cheeks. I might not have the words exactly right but my heart is in tune with my Lord.

Do you know Jesus? He is the greatest gift you will ever get! When you accept Him as your Lord and Savior and confess and repent of your sins, He forgives you and fills you with such peace.

If you have wandered away from the faith, come home to Jesus! He is the only thing that will ever satisfy your soul. The world is filled with distractions and momentary pleasures but they won’t ever fill your heart. There is a place in our hearts that only Jesus can fill. Make room! Don’t turn Him away.

Dear Jesus I pray for all who read this, I pray you will open their eyes to your truth, your word, your love. As we prepare to celebrate your birth, I pray we each worship you with all our hearts and rejoice in the gift you give. It’s all about you Jesus! Show us the way! Shine brightly for the whole world to see! I love you Lord! Happy birthday Jesus? Amen!

Merry Christmas to you all! If you liked this blog post please subscribe. You can find my autobiography Rooted by the Water on Amazon. I pray it gives you great hope and courage to surrender to Jesus. He is all you really need. Be blessed.

About Mary~

December 9, 2022Leave a Comment

Gabriel and Mary ~ Found on Pinterest from Artpal

The older I get and more I grow in my relationship with Jesus, I find myself thinking deeply about what it would have been like to be an eyewitness of biblical events. I especially marvel at the events surrounding the birth of Jesus.

As a member of a book club, last December we read Two from Galilee by Majorie Holmes. This is such an incredible book about Mary and Joseph. The author incorporates traditions and customs of the times when writing this book and it really brings the events to life. I encourage you to check it out, especially at this time of year.

As I think on Mary, the mother of my Savior Jesus Christ, I marvel at her faith and obedience to God. God chose her, a young virgin engaged to be married. Mary’s response to the angels greeting is remarkable. “Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.” Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭38‬ ‭(NLT‬‬). Imagine all that she endured. A virgin, she had to tell her fiancé she was pregnant but by Gods doing not her own. Just think of the gossip mills and what she experienced. In my mind I see a young teenage virgin confused and yet in awe at the angels message to her. She responded with such great faith and obedience. This was a hard assignment and it was just the beginning.

Just like God chose this young teenage virgin to give birth to His son Jesus, He chooses each of us to spread the news about Him. Jesus birth is Gods gift to us.

I’m sure Mary wondered how God would use her to bring about this most wonderful event. She had to have seen the enormous task before her, yet she responded with great faith and obedience. I pray that we too will rise up with great faith and obedience to tell everyone of this greatest news of Jesus birth. This is the gift of Gods love for us. ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭(ESV‬‬)

We have a job to do! Let’s spread the news of Jesus birth. You may be intimidated by the task but God will use you if you are willing and obedient. “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger bringing good news, Breaking the news that all’s well, proclaiming good times, announcing salvation, telling Zion, “Your God reigns!” Voices! Listen! Your scouts are shouting, thunderclap shouts, shouting in joyful unison. They see with their own eyes God coming back to Zion. Break into song! Boom it out, ruins of Jerusalem: “God has comforted his people! He’s redeemed Jerusalem!” God has rolled up his sleeves. All the nations can see his holy, muscled arm. Everyone, from one end of the earth to the other, sees him at work, doing his salvation work.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭52‬:‭7‬-‭10‬ ‭(MSG‬‬)

Note: I am so thankful for You Version Bible app. It allows me to see many translations of the Bible. I can no longer see well enough to read the Bible in book form but this app allows me to zoom on on my iPad so I can see the powerful Word of God. Check out You Version Bible app. It is amazing.

SHAKE ME

October 25, 20221 Comment

If life was like an Etch A Scetch…..

Sometimes we need a good shaking from the Lord. A good shake will clear all the creative mess we make. If we’ve learned anything from previous explorations with the etch a sketch, after a shaking or clearing, if we leave the controls alone there is peace and stillness.

Wouldn’t it be awesome if life was that simple. Just think, when situations or circumstances become messy, just a good shake would clear it all away. That’s wishful thinking.

Life has been a bit stressful lately. What’s new? It seems like a curve ball is always coming up around the corner and catches us off guard . That’s pretty much the story of my life. This latest scenario has tested not only my patience but also my husbands.

My Optelec video magnifier that I’ve been using for 15 years stopped working. I use that machine to see recipes, directions on food packaging, paying the bills, balancing the checkbook and even simply writing. Bottom line, I need it to see for daily functional living and it’s been broke for weeks.

Ron is very mechanically inclined and usually can fix anything. He contacted the company who makes it and they sent instructions on how to disassemble it. He was excited and after talking to someone at the company, ordered the part they thought would fix it. The part was over $500 but that’s way less than a new machine. We waited a week for the part to come in and found out that was not the problem The next part to try is the camera feature to the tune of $2000. Lord give us wisdom to know how to fix this or to get a new one. We could use a good boost of endurance as Ron is doing some of the things I’ve always done.

Meanwhile life continues to happen. Ron took me to my appointment yesterday with my new primary doctor. I’ve seen the same doctor since I was in college but this new one is just two miles from us and was recommended by a friend. She was awesome. We were happy with the whole experience until checking out. Whoa what a sour grape we dealt with. Ron told me later the woman kept telling him to pull his mask up while I was telling him to pull it down. Lord only knows what she was saying to me, because she was all masked up and Ron was too, I could not follow. I told Ron he should have told me. The American Disabilities Act would have come in handy and I would have nicely given her a piece of my mind. She has to learn to be gracious to different types of patients. Communication barriers are no joke. Goodness gracious! She gave us a bunch of forms to fill out. (Remember my broken machine? ) I am in their system and have a patient portal with all my information available to her at the touch of a computer mouse.

This is life! This is us! It takes an abundance of patience. Lord help me be gracious! I spent time in prayer last night and went to bed early. This morning I spent time in prayer again. As I prayed I told the Lord there were so many things but He already knew of them all. He knows the frustrations of dealing with people. He knows the abundance of patience it takes and He knows my weaknesses. This morning I felt in my heart I was to “Be Still”. Just “be still” and worship all that He is. Just “Be Still” and know that He is God. Today is a new day with fresh mercies. It’s a clean slate. Tomorrow is gone with its troubles. There will always be people to deal with and situations to maneuver. Move on and let it go!

May God bless you today in whatever you face. May you see Him smiling and encouraging you as you look to Him. Whatever you do, keep moving forward. It is tempting to throw in the towel and say “I’m done”. Don’t do it! Our purpose is to bring glory to God. We can’t
bring Him glory when we quit but we can bring Him much glory when we surrender and push through by His Spirit. Let’s hit that next curve ball out of the park! Let’s go!

If you enjoyed this blog please subscribe. I share life lessons, struggles living with hearing and visual impairments. It’s my purpose to bring God glory in my daily struggles. My autobiography Rooted by the Water cam be found on Amazon.