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POSTPONED

I do not like that word anymore! The words meaning is to “hold back for another time.” That is what the lady said when I answered the phone at work. It was three p.m. the day before I was to have my knee surgery. I had taken a covid test just the day before. She started our conversation by saying she had some bad news for me. I thought “oh no, I have covid.” But thankfully, that was not the news. She said there were some changes made to the insurance, I have, that the hospital did not know about. I asked if there was something I could do to solve the problem. She said no, that she was the liaison between the insurance and the hospital. She said that I could fill out some paperwork saying that I would pay for the surgery if the insurance did not approve it. She said she would not recommend that because the surgery was around $40,000! Well, since I had not become a millionaire overnight, I had to make the decision to go ahead and postpone my surgery. There was so much preparation I had to do for that date for my surgery. Covid test day before-had to go to hospital for EKG, chest x-ray and bloodwork-got my hair done-got my house good and clean-paid bills that were due-posted my blog-stopped taking my arthritis medication a week before (ouch)-got medication that I had to take night before-even more important, I had got my mind ready to go under anesthesia and get it over with!

Me and my walker went to the back and I burst into tears. Have you ever gotten ready for some plans and then all of a sudden, someone bursts your bubble of positivity? I was not angry because what good would that do anyway, but just felt like my world was not what I had envisioned for the next month of recovery and rehab. My son and granddaughter, had made arrangements with their work to be off to help me. I had made arrangements with my work too. My plan all along has been to retire at the end of the year. After surgery, I had to be off for a month and then I was coming back to work for three weeks and then retire. Work had already hired two new receptionists. Everything was in place.

If you read my last blog, you saw that the original date to go into surgery, had been the twelfth anniversary of when my husband passed away when he went into heart surgery. No “voodoo” about it, but it was making my kids and me, a bit nervous. My sweet dad said ‘that meant my husband would be looking after me.’ The doctors nurse, who sets up the surgery appointments, called me back within fifteen minutes and set surgery up for November 16^th. A new goal! A new vision of my near future!

When I went to the back crying, the girls back there were trying to help me because I do not act like that at work normally. Did I need a drink, what was going on? One lady, pulled up a chair in front of me, and started reminding me of things. Things that I had told her through the sixteen years of me working there. Reminding me of my belief, that everything happens for a reason. God is still by my side. This too shall pass. Just take a deep breath and just breath.

 I believe that God did not think it was the right time for my surgery. Maybe, I would have passed away during surgery and my kids would always have the reality that both their parents had passed away on the same day. Maybe, I would have gotten an infection on that particular day. So many maybes. But you know what? I don’t have to know. I just have to keep my faith in God and the hope of an eternal home one day.

There are so many examples in the bible, that show us that God has control of the timing in peoples lives. I will list just a couple here.

The book of Ruth. We are studying this book in our Wednesday bible class. The story of Ruth and Naomi is priceless. Ruth had been married to one of Naomi’s sons, who ended up dying. Naomi’s husband died also. In those days, women did not go to a paying job like we do today or have life insurance from their husband. They depended on their husbands to provide for them. They were experiencing a famine, so they both went to the land of Judah. There was food there and that was where Naomi was from. Long story short, Ruth ‘happens’ to glean in a field of the man she was to end up marrying, Boaz. All of the things that happen before this led to a particular ending. In fact, at the very end of the book, it shows a genealogy. Ruth 4:21 reads “…Boaz begot Obed, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David.” Who was a descendant of David? Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Read the book of Esther. This book tells us of a young woman who had parents who were deceased and ended up in the care of her uncle. She “ends up” being chosen to become one of the wives of the king. She did not reveal that she was a Jew. King Ahasuerus had made a declaration that all of the Jews were to be annihilated-young and old-women and children. Esther’s uncle tells his niece of the plan of the king. She decides to go before the king, which at that time in history, could mean her being killed without a formal request from the king. In Esther 4:13-14 reads, “and Mordecai told them to answer Esther; ‘Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” 

Both of these women, were important in God’s plan. Read both of these books. All of the things that happened before in their lives, were not without pain, without heartache. Esther ended up saving the Jews at that time, because she ended up in the kings’ favor! Ruth ended up becoming one of the reasons that her lineage led to Jesus being born!

There are so many other examples. Read about Joseph, in Genesis. He had been thrown in a pit and sold by his brothers because they were jealous of him. He ended up a slave, in prison, forgotten and then became a successful man because of his values and willingness to be patient. He says “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God?” and “God meant it for good in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” Even though Joseph had gone through so many bad happenings,he realized that God had been with him the entire time to lead up to him fulfilling God’s will. What about Jesus? Jesus went through so much pain and humiliation. Everything that had happened to Him happened at the right timing. The right timing of who was in power at the time of Jesus crucifixion. In history, when He was going to be crucified, the way they did the punishment for crimes was to be hung on a cross. Ended up that hanging on a tree, had been prophesied years before. Have you ever read Ecclesiastes 3? “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven…”  

Do we have the power over our choices? Yes, absolutely! I am not saying that we do not. I am just saying that the events throughout history, have happened to lead up to God’s will for our good. Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

God has a purpose for you and for me. We can choose to obey God and live our lives in His service or choose to take the dark pathway instead of reaching for His light.

Things of previous history, may have been postponed for another time, but maybe God had a reason for that. Was my surgery postponed because of what may have happened? Or maybe because I was meant to touch someone’s life in these next few weeks. Or maybe I needed to learn to have more patience.  I have found out in my life when rough times come my way, I end of learning from it.

So, whatever the reason, even if there is a reason, why my surgery was postponed, I need to remember that God only wants the good for me and my life. He is on the throne. God is God. My plans may not have happened like I wanted, but I must trust in Him. He has given His only Son to die for you and me. He loves us and wants the best for us in His time.

When your plans are changed and not going the way you want them to go, we need to remember, maybe God has plans that we cannot see, for something in our future. Maybe we need to go through this trial and postponements, to help guide our future.

Wow, I never thought about the word postponed before. But I don’t think I like that word anymore!

Till next time!

                                                     Keela

(As of today, my surgery is a go, on November 16^th. On my way home the other day from work, I was thinking ‘Oh, no, what if my surgeon gets sick or the hospital burns down!’ Ha! Isn’t it funny the things we can get our minds thinking about and worried about? No matter what, I know God has me in the palm of His hand.)

SAVED “SHIPS”

If you have been reading my blogs for very long, you know I love lighthouses. They tower high above the ocean and sea to warn ships of the hidden dangers under the water and the rocky shores. They bring brilliant light searching to save a weary traveler.

I was watching a movie the other night, (yes, it was a Hallmark movie of course) and the main character made a statement that got me to thinking. He said he “wondered how many ships had been saved by the particular lighthouse that he was going to fix and bring back to life.” Little did he know that by fixing up that lighthouse, he was going to save his own daughter from the raging water because of the light which shone brightly, that he had just fixed, to help find her in the darkness.

Years ago, when my husband had to go to Mayo clinic in Florida, we went and saw several lighthouses. It thrills my heart to actually stand at the base of them and look up to it towering above me, standing so majestically. They are so much bigger in life, standing by them, than seeing them on the television.

In the movie, the main character also said “the lighthouse is a simple tower that exists putting a cross between disaster and salvation.” Wow! What a statement! I want to focus on that sentence. God is like that lighthouse. He gives everyone the same chance to not sink under the fury of life, by shining His light for all to see. The life happenings will still be there and we might get beaten up by the roaring “sea of life.” But God is ever sending His light out to us. We just have to reach out, look above and hold on.

I will give you a few verses to think about that I have been holding onto.

In Nehemiah 9:12, the writer is talking about when God parted the waters for the Israelites to pass through and which destroyed Pharoah’s army.  “…You led them by day with a cloudy pillar, and by night with a pillar of fire to give them light on the road which they should travel.” The Israelites were running for their lives! If I was one of them, I would be so scared. Wouldn’t you? They were still going through the trial but God protected them with His lights, one for day and one for night. Having a wall of fire and light, God protected His people.

Psalm 27:1 reads, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall, I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?”  Light is a deliverance from darkness. The word salvation combined with the word light means” saving light.” Our humanness gives us much to be afraid of on this earth. I am getting ready in a few days, to have a total knee replacement. Am I afraid? Absolutely!! Fear is gripping my heart. My head at 5 o’clock this morning was thinking all kinds of fearful things. What if I don’t wake up from the surgery? My daughter and family are coming for two weeks at Christmas time. I want to be with them so badly. If I don’t wake up, I won’t get to hold them close to my heart. But God said” Whom” or what, “shall, I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life.” God has reassured me that if I do not wake up, that I will go to live with Him eternally. Because God is our light, ever searching, ever trying to help us by leading us to Him through His marvelous light.

In Matthew 5:14-16, verse “…Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Jesus was telling the believers that they needed to not hide themselves from the world, but let their lights not be hidden-stand tall and let others see that you are a child of God. Even though the world tries to put out our lights, just like a lighthouse, we need to rise up above that trial and be a beacon of light for others to see. In turn, they will want to shine brightly because of our light.

John 8:12 reads “Then, Jesus spoke to them again, saying ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” As the sun is the physical light for our world, so Jesus is the spiritual light of the world. Jesus exposes sin and gives sight for all to see His brilliant light!

It seems that I am always asking God to help me out of the dark trials of this life. Instead, I should be inviting God into that darkness. To help me-pull me up to His light. I need to not let the swirling waters, the swirling darkness pull me into it, but rather let God’s light save me. Search for that peace that only God can give. Just like a boat on the scary, dark, stormy night, I need to hold onto that light, that is searching, waiting for me to cling to it. The lighthouse pulls sailors to it to help them, to save their ships and themselves. Sometimes I forget, that I cannot be saved by my own power, but rather from the power of God’s light. God’s light will shine and help me maneuver through and from this world’s darkness.

There have been many, many ships that have been saved by the magnificent lighthouses throughout the land. Those captains of those ships had to stop looking down, around himself at that dark, scary sea and look up and search out for those lighthouses. The light from those lighthouses, just like God’s light, are ever searching-ever seeking those who are lost in the darkness.

The beautiful lighthouses are not in use as much as they were before. Technology has taken over. Through the years, they have saved so many. Those saved ships will find peace once again. Our Lord and Savior, has saved many “ships.” I am so thankful for His light, because He has and will continue to reach out to us. We just have to look towards His saving light!

God is like that simple lighthouse which towers above us. He gave of His life on the cross, just two simple pieces of wood hammered together, to save us from disaster and give us salvation! I am so thankful for the beauty of the lighthouses. But even more important, I am so thankful for God’s light ever seeking-ever trying to save our “ships.” How about you?

Till next time!

                                         Keela

(Just a side note. Please lift me and the doctors up in prayer on October 26th. On October 26^th, 2009, my husband died during a surgery, on that exact day, twelve years ago. God is not miraculously going to fix my knee. But I am looking up to Him to keep me safe and whatever happens, I know He is my God and I am His child.)

AGE

What is age? Is it a number of years? Is it a trial that causes us to age because of stress or worrying? Is it a period in history? Is it something in the future or is it now? If a person is younger, aging seems a long way off. But if you are in your forty, fifty or sixties, you realize it is coming soon. What if you are over sixty, you realize that you are a part of the aged. I know there have many struggles I have gone through, that have caused me to feel old because of the stress and worry. When I start to look back in my life, by looking at pictures or just contemplating my past history, I realize that there are so many things and people who have influenced my life. At my age, sixtyish, I realize that those who have influenced my life are getting aged and passing away.

I remember when we were planning my grandmothers 100^th birthday party, that I was talking to her about it and thinking how exciting it will be to celebrate. I told her that we could invite all of her friends. I remember that she said, “they have all passed away.” I felt all of a sudden how sad that was, but true. Unfortunately, she passed away two months before her hundredth birthday.

My uncle passed away about a year ago. One of the last times, I was able to be with him, he was telling me how useless he felt at times. He had such an amazing knowledge of the bible and lived his life by God’s word. He had taught many bible classes-preached many a sermon-was an elder of the church, he attended, for many years-he was a mentor for so many who became Christians and turned their lives around to serve God. I asked him what he meant? He had stepped down from being an elder several years ago. He said the church, he was attending, did not use him to preach, lead singing anymore, or teach a bible class. He felt that need, that longing of the heart, to continue those activities. I remember when he told me that, I felt how sad. Here was a man who had been a Christian for many, many years, who the congregation there was not utilizing as a source of wisdom! Job 12:12-13 reads, “Wisdom is with aged men, and with length of days understanding. With Him are wisdom and strength. He has counsel and understanding.” Psalm 92:14-15 reads, “They shall still bear fruit in old age, they shall be fresh and flourishing to declare that the Lord is upright, He is my rock and there is no unrighteousness in Him.” The congregation certainly lost so much by not using him in their services.

The bible has so many verses about the reality of being aged. Let’s look at a few and what I see in them.

Psalm 71:9 and 17-18 “Do not cast me off in the time of old age, do not forsake me when my strength fails.” and “O God, You have taught me from my youth and to this day I declare Your wondrous works. Now also when I am old and gray-headed, O God, do not forsake me. Until I declare Your strength to this generation. Your power to everyone who is to come.”

The Psalmist in these verses, is asking God to not forget him in his old age. Verse 9, makes me think of all the elderly who, because of the pandemic, have been confined to their home. I had an elderly friend who said she had not been to church for so long that she felt like the members had forgotten who she was. I thought about that from my perspective. That means some of the elderly, in my congregation, had not received a card, been taken meals, or called on the telephone or sent texts. We have several new families at church. Have I been talking about our elderly who cannot come to church or those who have been battling illness, so they can reach out to these members in love and learn so much from them?

Psalm 78:1-4 talking to the Israelites, “Give ear, o my people, to my law. Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable I will utter dark saying of old, which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, telling in the generation to come, the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.”

When I read these verses, I thought of my grandson, Austin. He seems to always listen to me about family members. I try to make my grandparents and those loved ones, who have gone before me, real in my grandchildren’s minds. There are so many stories that they need to know about. When a person does one of those ancestry searches, we reveal those of old, who helped carve us into who we are today. Am I sharing my faith? Am I teaching my grandkids the truly important things in life are not things, but living their lives for God?

Ecclesiastes 12:1-5 “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, I have no pleasure in them, While the sun and the light, the moon and the stars, are not darkened and the clouds do not return after the rain. In the day when the keepers in the house tremble, and the strong men bow down. When the grinders cease because they are few. And those that look through the windows grow dim. When the doors are shut in the streets, and the sound of grinding is low. When one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of music are brought low, also they are afraid of height, and of terrors in the way, when the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper is a burden, and desire fails, for man goes to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets.”

These verses I laugh at because I can identify with so many things listed. Think about your elderly family members. Vision has gotten worse-hearing is going and we have to talk loud for them to hear-teeth have to be replaced, with dentures-they get up early-cannot pick up and carry heavy items-they are lonely and sometimes depressed. This is a natural progression of aging. Even those who are young, and feel indispensable, will one day succumb to the aging process.

1 Timothy 5:8 “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

This verse helps me to remember that I have the God given, command to take care of my dad. (My mother passed away several years ago.) I have the command to take care of those of my family that are at the age when they cannot take care of themselves like they use to. It is hard for me, at times, to realize that my dad cannot do what he used to. Of course, I see the aging process in him, but he is my dad. He has always been my hero-the one I have reached out to for help. But I need to get past that thinking and realize that he needs me now. He will always be my hero, even though the aging process is grabbing hold of him. I believe my kids, will take care of me when that time comes.  (My kids are reading this and are saying, you are already there, mom!)

Let’s realize that now is the time that we need to reach out to and take care of, our family members and our church family members. At church, during the announcements, you hear the list of elderly or sick, and do not know who they are, now is the time to take care of that. Ask another member who can give you a good history about them. Call them. Take them a meal. You don’t have to go into their home, because of covid, to drop off a meal-flowers-activity books or puzzles. Ask someone to go with you.  Send them a card. Take that first step. Think about how you would feel if you were confined at home because of illness or age. Thinking about that will help your heart know what to do for them. Do something! Depression and loneliness fill the heart of those elderly and constantly sick. We say, ‘it seems like the day is too short. We have so much to take care of and do’. Take time out of your busy lives. You will be rewarded by using your time to help them. Give of your time!

If you are young reading this, remember to visit and call or text, and check on your grandparents or parents. It is hard having a mate or houseful of children, and then one day you are all alone because they have gone on with their lives and they seem to push you out. It seems that you have become so less important.

Do you have a parent, older friend or grandparent? Give them a call-email-text-send a card. Just do something! We are never assured of tomorrow. One night, many years ago, I realized I had not talked to my great aunt in a while. I started to call her and something got in the way that I forgot to call. By the time I remembered, it was too late to call her. She passed away the next day. That has hurt my heart for many years that I did not reach out to her that night. We all have regrets. The best way to not hold onto those regrets, is to learn from them and do better every day.

Remember, just because someone becomes elderly, does not mean that he is not knowledgeable-that they can be pushed to the side like my uncle was. Make an effort today, after reading this blog, to step up and reach out to an elderly person. Become their friend! When you do that, your heart will be so much richer for doing so! 

Age! An important thing to start thinking about and to start giving of your time to reach out to the aged. You will become a part of that crowd one day too.

Till next time!

                                  Keela

THANK YOU LORD!

There is a new song out by Chris Tomlin called “THANK YOU LORD.” It is just all about giving God praise and thanksgiving. I was thinking about this song the other night, while watching the news. Sinful nations, fire, flooding, loss of life and property. How does a person find thanksgiving in the middle of all that? When a person loses everything, how can they be thankful? Jesus told us we would have trials here on this earth. We all go through problems every day. How can we be thankful on those bad, stressful, painful days?

In 1999, my aunt and uncle went through the Moore, Okla. tornado. Everything they had was destroyed. When my uncle came out of the cellar, their home was flattened, except for one wall that still had a dresser standing and a clock on the wall above it and the walls around the bathtub. They did not even have a toothbrush. My aunt took a long time to come out of the cellar. She was petrified!

A few months later, when I was able to talk to her, I asked her how she was doing. She said she never asked God why me, but rather thanked Him for keeping them safe. She said why not me? Just because she was a Christian did not mean that she would not have grief, fear and sorrow. She said when you lose everything, that is when you begin to realize what is truly important in this life. We have the promise, as followers of God, that we will have a home in heaven one day. That is our goal-our promise-our peace from this world when things don’t go the way we would like. All they lost that day was just stuff. Sure, there were some irreplaceable items. My uncle’s bible was one of those things. A farmer later on, found my uncles bible in his field with his cows.  I was so blessed to get to thumb through that bible before he passed away. At his funeral, my cousin had that bible displayed. It was duck taped together. When you looked into that bible, I don’t think there were any verses he had not highlighted. (It was multicolored, so I wonder if he had a system with those colors. I wish I would have thought to ask him.) I am sure that on the day he got that back, he thanked God.

Those of you who have been reading my blogs, or have read my books, realize that I have gone through some struggles. Struggles at times that I questioned why. Struggles that threatened to pull me into the darkness. Struggles that I never thought I would get through. Struggles that I did ask why me! But then I realized that instead of saying why me, I should try to find the things I was thankful for. I started journaling. Part of that journal was to thank God for something each and every day. One day, when life was especially hard, I had trouble finding one single thing that I had to be thankful for. I started pouring out my heart to God in prayer. I took a deep breath of peace that only God can give. All of a sudden, I was able to fill that page with thanksgiving. 

Philippians 4:6-7 reads “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Did you notice that word thanksgiving in the verse above? That word is used with the word anxious. The type of prayer that these verses are talking about are when we are stressed, worried, times when we ask God why me? This scripture is helping us to see that we still have things to be thankful for, even in the middle of the rough happenings of this world. When I have started remembering to be thankful in the middle of the storm and took it to God, I have felt that peace that only God can give. Who would have thought by being thankful in our pain, that God will give us peace, to help our hearts and minds to heal, breath and keep our hearts safe!

The book of the bible that I go to about praise and thankfulness, is Psalm. Most of these chapters were written by David. A lot of them were prayers during times of distress-times of fear-times he felt alone. But there are also so many chapters that he expresses his love and thankfulness for God in the middle of his pain. Some of those chapters are: Psalm 92, Psalm 100 & Psalm 107. Some of the verses are: “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High…”  “Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!”   “For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.”  “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness. And for His wonderful works to the children of men.”    “Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever.”  And the last words of Psalm, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!”

Pull the song up that I mentioned above. It is a happy song. It lists several things the writer is thankful for. Today if you are feeling down. If you are feeling that the world is against you. If you are feeling all alone. Remember to be thankful. Sit down and write down how many things you can list. Before you know it, you will be feeling better and you will remember that this, here and now, is not what is important. Yes, it is important while you are here to follow God and do his commandments. But the true thing for us to be thankful for, is that we are promised a home with Him one day when we leave this life here on earth. On the days that I get up and hurt all over, because of fibromyalgia, I try to remember that this is not my home. God is waiting for us, where we will have no pain, no sorrow, no stress, no loneliness, no fear!

After you read this blog, stop, bow your head or raise it up, and pray a prayer of thanksgiving. Sit down and make a list of what you are thankful for in your life. Before you know it, you will have filled that notebook up!

Remember, to say several times a day, THANK YOU LORD!

Till next time!

                                  Keela

PITY PARTY

DATE:   TODAY

TIME:  NOW

ATTENDANCE:  ONE

Have you ever had a pity party? I just had one. Today when I woke up, I realized I was supposed to be on an airplane to go to Virginia to see my four little grandbabies, who are all under the age of twelve. Last time I saw them was last November. Before covid, I always flew out to see them twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. This last spring, I did not go because their dad came home from deployment after being gone for about six months. There are a lot of adjustments that a military family goes through and I just did not want to be a distraction from any of those precious reunions. So, needless to say, I was really looking forward to this trip, but then my knee had other ideas. I need to have surgery. I am using a walker. Cannot stand for longer than a couple of minutes. I cannot maneuver stairs, getting in and out of cars that are “high” off the ground or anything that puts pressure on that knee. In other words, I cannot travel, thus the reason I had the pity party!

I decided to turn on the Hallmark channel and get lost in one of my movies that I love to watch on that channel. What comes on instead, is the news of what is going on in Afghanistan and that reality hits me square between the eyes. Sure, not going to see my little ones has broken my heart, but they are safe. Part of that safety is because of their dad and other brave men and women who serve our country. Also, they are being raised in a Christian home so they can have the hope of eternity with the Lord one day. Another safety, for their eternal future.

I love the Psalms. David in Psalm 142, was hiding in a cave from Saul, who was searching for him. Saul wanted to kill him. I think that is a good reason to have a pity party, don’t you? David turned to God (who is, of course, the first place we should turn to, instead of the Hallmark channel for comfort). These are just a few of the verses from that chapter.

“I cry out to the Lord with my voice. With my voice to the Lord I make my supplication. I pour out my complaint before Him, I declare before Him my trouble. When my spirit is overwhelmed within me, Then You knew my path, …I cried out to you, O Lord, I said You are my refuge…Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low…”

Verses like that one, give me comfort to know that it is ok to feel low, to feel sad, to feel pity for yourself for something not going the way that you had planned and been looking forward to. Even, a mighty man of God, David, felt low and cried out to God.

But then God gives us verses that show us that we need to get out of those feelings and realize that God is by our side. I decided to find in Psalm a good verse to include in this blog that was to show how we needed to get out of that pity party. Well, there are too many to list here! The one I will show here is in Psalm 27:13-14.

“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord. Be of good courage. And He will strengthen your heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord.”

So, when I saw the news this morning about Afghanistan, I turned off the tv. Wiped away my tears. Got up off the couch. Pushed my walker. Dragged my foot. Opened my Bible. Turned on my computer and started this blog post.

Sometimes, (well really, truthfully, most times), God has to hit me square between the eyes, before I get the message, He is trying to give me. It is ok to have a pity party from time to time. It is not “fair” that I did not get to go see my grandbabies? Do my arms ache to get to hold them? Yes! Is my heart broken? Yes! But the reality is: they are safe, I am safe-if my knee would have given out while there it would have been so much worse, if all goes well, they are coming at Christmas time-that is only a few months away, God is still in control and I have to continue to trust in His goodness and His timing.

One thing I do want to point out here is that when we throw ourselves a pity party, there is a reason for it, just like when we throw a party of any other kind. A pity party is because WE ARE IN PAIN for some reason! We need to acknowledge that pain. We have to feel that pain and understand why we feel that pain. Unless we do that, we cannot begin to put that behind us. Let yourself realize it is ok to feel that way.

But next time, you throw yourself a pity party, remember it is ok to be in it for a bit, but then: dry your tears-take a deep breath-close your eyes-pray to your God and hand it over to Him-spend some time in His word “…and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and minds through Christ Jesus.”    (Watching a good movie on the Hallmark channel or reading a good bookwon’t hurt either!)

Pity Party’s! I would invite you next time I have one. But I don’t think you would want to come!

Till next time!

                            Keela