Many of you have been following the courageous journey of Joey Feek. I have listened to many of their songs on YouTube, and I have been following Rory’s blog, This Life I Live, scenes from one man’s extraordinary, ordinary life. I would like to give you a link here, but still can’t seem to get that to work. But if you search the title in italics, it will be there to click on. Then you may read about Rory’s life yourself.

All of us have difficult roads to travel, whether it be health concerns, loss of loved ones, money issues. Each of us have been given a particular set of circumstances to deal with while here on this earth. I would just like to share the video below, as a tribute to the way this couple has dealt with the set of circumstances they have been given.

Keep this family in your prayers. Remember the testimony they have had while traveling the journey God gave them, as husband and wife, parents, and their ministry in music. We hurt for them, we don’t understand, but know that God has a purpose in this and I pray for peace in their souls.

Yes, I know I am about 57 days late…but did I wish you a ‘Happy New Year’? With the shootings in Hesston, Kansas yesterday…people and their actions have really been on my mind today. We have friends that have family in that area, and it’s pretty close to our little town…more close than is comfortable. People are frustrated, hurt and angry. They are living their lives without hope, and they are striking out. It is difficult to live in a world today that doesn’t seem fair…hard work is generally not rewarded, pay for a job well-done is not heard of anymore. You struggle and struggle and never seem to get ahead. The rich get richer and the poor become destitute. If you dwell on this, it is depressing…and seems as though there is never going to be a way out.

Then I heard this song today. It is not deep, but very simple. And just because we are 57 days into 2016, doesn’t mean I can’t wish you a ‘Happy New Year’…because we still have ten more months to focus on the light and the good. If you are a Believer, your hope is in heaven. If you are not, you can change that. It is all up to you.

Probably rush right out and spend it, just as the statistics say most people do. But isn’t it fun to dream just a bit? It is tax time again. For many years it was almost like Christmas for us. With five children and me not working during those years, every spring was a chance to get everything caught up. I remember many years ago, a friend had commented on that time of year not being so wonderful for them because they no longer had any children at home, and they usually had to pay every spring.  That reality has become more clear to us.

So, what would I do with a few million? As I get older, it isn’t as much about all the ‘things’ I would purchase as it is about being comfortable and helping others. I would certainly make sure we were debt free…no house payments, car payments or credit cards to worry about. We would have a house that was comfortable and met our needs without being over the top. A huge criteria would be land, for lots of room. A couple vehicles in good running order would be great. And then the rest would be to help others, our children first in line.

A view like this one would be great, add some water in the form of a river or lake and I would be all set!

As a parent, you hate to see your children struggle in life. You want to think that they will never have to experience all the rough times that you did. In reality, they probably will…and they will have a whole set of tests that you did not go through. So, what can we do as a parent, or grandparent? Just throw them a few thousand and say “Good Luck, life’s a bummer, but you’ll survive?” Because basically, that is true.

What we can do is, live by example. Teach them to survive difficult times by watching you and the way you handle your own trying tests. Stay patient and calm…and believe me, I’m preaching to myself here! Stay focused on God and His Word. The problems probably won’t go away, but you will get through them. The goal is to come out on the other side with more insight, to have learned a lesson, and become more mature and strong.

Am I there yet? Well, of course not! Any one of my family and friends would say I have a long way to go. But that is life…the journey God has set before us. He does not want us to take the easy way out…hand out the millions. He wants us to survive on the lesser and train our children to do the same. If you have abundance, be thankful for it and use it wisely. Be a testimony to your children and others around you. Nothing we have on this earth is really ‘ours’. We have it for a time…our lifetime, and then it is gone…and it really doesn’t matter anymore. It has been the same before us, and it will be after us. That is a 100% guarantee!  None of us will leave this earth driving our new Ferrari, or our U-Haul packed with our new 70 inch TV, leather couch and vacation home in the Hamptons. It will be just us…leaving the same as we arrived.

Last night I was watching a show on Netflix which I shall not name here. The scene that concerned me was this: there had been a man that thought he was God. He was hurt and taken to the hospital. Once he woke up, he was talking to the nurse and he told her that he had seen God, so now he knew he was not God. Her reply to him a few scenes later was that he could be someone just as important…like Jesus because Jesus was not God. He was God’s son, but not God.

I know there are religions that believe that and teach it to their congregations. The purpose of this post isn’t to get on a bandwagon. We all have an agenda, we all have a platform, we all have a certain belief system. God allows us this choice as individuals. So I do know that TV shows have an agenda and points that they want to push. I write Women’s Christian Fiction. Not to push my belief in God on other people, but to show that as Christians, Believers in Jesus Christ dying for our sins…we still mess up in this life. We are not perfect. God is gracious and merciful in our walk with Him…and I am so very thankful for that!

But what that nurse said, really bothered me! To deny the deity of Jesus Christ, is a very scary position to be in. So consider these words on your Tuesday morning.

John 1:1-5 (NASB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2) He was in the beginning with God. 3) All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4) In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5) And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. ( The Word (from the Greek logos, meaning reason or word) is a designation for Christ Himself.)

For more statements from Jesus, stating that He is God, you may read John 5:17-29. Consider these words, know what you believe and why. Redeem the time…it is short!

You’re speeding along life’s road and ‘Bam’ another pothole! A big, wide, deep, and black pothole. It jars your whole being, puts the skids on whatever you were aiming for and sets you back. Again!!! Will it ever stop?

Unfortunately, no, not in this lifetime. So, you check your tires, see if you can steer, and cautiously head out again. We do this over and over for ______ amount of years. And for what?

If I wasn’t a Believer, someone that hasn’t accepted Christ as my Savior, that would be a very hopeless and  depressing question. It would make me angry during the worst of times and cause me to want to give up, or actually put it into action. Life really wouldn’t seem to be worth much.

But because I am saved, and looking toward eternity where I will be with God and all those that are saved and have gone on before me, I can hang in there. My Hope is in Heaven. Not in this world. No, it’s not fun at times. Yes, there are moments when I wonder if it is all worth it. Why do we work and work and never seem to get ahead, why does something always break when we have the least amount of money to fix it…and the list of complaints and whining can go on and on and on…

If life were perfect: nothing ever went wrong, we had plenty of money, nothing ever  broke, personal relationships always worked out, our spouse and children were always compassionate, helpful people…all would be terrific…right? No! At the very least, life would be extremely boring and we would always be looking for the next, ‘bigger and better’. Wait, we do that anyway! Because we are people.

Our ‘pothole’ this past weekend was an ice storm/freezing rain that lasted from Thanksgiving to pretty much today. Winter arrived and made itself known. While gorgeous and sparkly, covered in ice, trees can only take so much before they break. In a quick tour of our small town, I think we were one of the worst yards for tree damage. Watching the limbs sag lower and lower with the weight of the freezing rain and ice build-up was pretty scary. Having a limb the size of a tree fall on the roof over our bedroom, well, rather heart-stopping to say the least. We slept in the front part of the house that night!

Yes, life can be discouraging. But it is only for a time. There is always a positive side to everything, a silver-lining to be found. Sometimes we just have to look harder than others. This past Thanksgiving weekend, I am thankful that no one was hurt. We didn’t sustain too much damage to our roof at first examination. I am so very thankful for loving, helpful children and spouses! Two of our sons-in-law were able to climb on roofs, use chain saws and help with the major yard clean-up. Our oldest helped as well. My job…an extremely easy and enjoyable afternoon with my two youngest and my grandchildren. All I had to do was laundry and make dinner.

Life is hard, it hits you where it hurts, over and over again. But it is also full of blessings around each and every turn. I wouldn’t want to live mine any other way!

Last night my husband and I watched the movie about Glen Campbell and his diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. The movie follows him and his family on his Farewell Tour. Included is a couple of doctor visits and home movies of Glen Campbell when he was younger, with his family. Of course there is some great music and clips from concerts and shows that he has performed in over the years.

For me, the movie was very sad. I think it was filmed wonderfully. The disease of Alzheimer’s was handled gently and with respect to Mr. Campbell and his family. I so appreciate that they ‘let us in’ for the year of filming and were candid about what was taking place in their lives. It was very informative and I learned new information about the disease.

I’ve worked as a CNA and in rest homes over the years. I’ve seen what Alzheimer’s can do to the person with the disease and to the family. It is such a heartache to watch someone that has been a spouse, parent, grandparent and friend…change so drastically over a period of time.

Our memories of life can bring heartache, but so many are centered around joy and the person with this disease is slowly robbed of the ability to remember. Our families are usually our greatest happiness and to walk into a room and have that family member not recall who you are, or how you fit in to their life…well, is heartbreaking.

My own mother has not been diagnosed, but I am fairly certain she has the disease. This hit home just a couple of weeks ago. It will be a trial to even get her in to see a doctor to have the diagnosis…but the signs are pretty clear.

I often wonder why God would allow such a thing to happen to people. Our minds are such a beautiful, complicated jumble of thoughts, emotions and senses. How devastating to be here and have vacancy where so much has taken place for so many years! But God does know, He has a plan. I don’t understand all the intricacies of why my own brain works, but God designed it and I rely on it now. I use it every second to do something, whether it be typing, reading, smelling, eating, walking…and the list goes on. I have faith that I can perform those tasks, I don’t have to think about them or figure it out. I take my abilities for granted much of the time.

Just a reminder to myself and all of you reading this post. Life is short, but it is the time God has given us here on this earth. Redeem the time. Enjoy what God has given you…the family and friends you have, the seasons of the year. Visually take in each sight and vibrant color, smell the damp leaves and really taste each bite of food. Hug your children, no matter how old they are and hold the hand of your loved one…and remember. It is the gift you’ve been given.

Have you ever been under a dump truck as it unloaded a ton of topsoil? All that rich, dark, moist, soil pounding your head? Probably not, or you wouldn’t be here reading this! I know a load was about a ton because that was what I had delivered to our yard a few years ago. I remember it being A LOT of dirt and it made for some sore arms the next day, after I had raked it all evenly over the area I wanted it for.

That was the image that came to mind as I thought of this post. I have been buried in a ton of dirt and I’m struggling to breathe right now, much less move. We’ve all had times in our lives when we’ve felt that way. I venture to say more than one time!

I often ask why God doesn’t spread the misery out , just giving out little bits here and there. Then I could manage it well, put a little effort into the situation, take a little breather, sip some tea. I could quote some scripture to all my friends on how well I’m doing with the ‘little’ crisis, thinking I’m a superior testimony. I could then glide along for a few days, weeks, or months before the next ‘bump’ in the road.

But, no, God often sends the deluge, the dump truck of topsoil. When it rains, it pours, the roof is leaking and you don’t have enough containers to hold the dripping water. THAT is the reality of life and our Christian walk with God.

Why is God so cruel, so merciless at times…we feel? After all, love is about giving us what we want and not being too hard on us. Life is about an easy stroll through a fragrant garden if you’re a Christian. Right?

So VERY wrong!!! Use the analogy of your children. As a parent, you love your children. You give them what they want, when they want it. You feed them candy all day, fix only what they decide to eat, let them watch TV, talk on the phone, text…anything they think is best for their life. Because of course they KNOW what is best for their lives. That is how you demonstrate your love for your children. I had five children, and there was NO WAY that above scenario would have EVER worked.

I loved my children…actually I still do today. Because I loved them, they rarely ate candy, I decided what was best for them to eat with an occasional ‘treat’ of a meal for a special occasion. We didn’t have TV to watch and only rarely watched movies. Talking on the phone didn’t happen very often and texting wasn’t really an option  when my oldest three were still at home. But I can guarantee you it wouldn’t have been allowed very much. No, this didn’t make my life easier. Many times it made it more difficult and I had to stay on top of the pile. I did it because I loved my children, and I wanted what was best for them. Eating well kept them from being sick and energized their mind and body. Rarely watching TV or movies kept them from becoming a couch potato. Talking a lot on the phone would have been another time waster as well as texting. I was very big on ‘face-to-face’ communication. I still am. I think it’s a lost art form. But that’s for another post!

I did all this because I LOVED my children and I wanted what was best for them. I wanted them to be happy, well-fed, intelligent and competent adults one day.

God loves us! He does what is best for us in the light of eternity. He wants us to be well-fed on His word…pray without ceasing so our minds aren’t filled with fluff. Why does he send the deluge…the ton of dirt? To stay focused on Him and what is REALLY important in this life. If we had an easy road and what we wanted, we wouldn’t turn to Him for guidance. We would ‘have it covered’.

Be thankful for the ‘occasional special meal’, for the times that you do have a breather. God is allowing rest for your body and mind so you are strong for the next round. With each ’round’, you progress toward the person He has designed you to be. He’ll be there to rescue you from the deluge…in His timing, when He knows it’s best. Just as you would for your own child.

So many changes over the past year! Some good, some bad, here an easy road, then a long hill to climb. Happy, joyous moments and mournful, weepy hours. I know it’s been the same for you. We call this ‘life’ and we all have one.

To Everything There Is a Season, is a song performed by the Byrds and others. You can follow the link here and have the song going through your head as you finish this post, just as it has gone through mine as I have written it.

https://youtu.be/pKP4cfU28vM

That link will also give you more information about the song. No copyright infringement intended.

The song was taken from the book of Ecclesiastes chapter three verses one through eight. (3:1-8) Chapter one says, ‘The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.’ (KJV) King Solomon was the son of David. Wise words to remember as we live this life.

So as I look back over the past year, the struggles I’ve had physically, our son’s surgeries, two new people of importance in our children’s lives and the passing of my husband’s mother…there have been a lot of changes. It has been a season of adjustments and challenges.

It has also been a season of great joy and abundant blessing and that is what I want to concentrate on and revel in. Our son has healed wonderfully after each surgery and he has a very special woman in his life to help bear that burden. My husband’s mother had a long life, filled with children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is now with the Lord. Our third daughter married and we now have another wonderful addition to our family and they are on the exciting road of building a life together. So many changes, but each had a purpose.

As I feel the cool change in the wind and see the colors changing in my garden, I know a new season is upon us. This month my husband and I will celebrate our 31st wedding anniversary…and then we begin another year. We don’t know now everything that will unfold, but we can be assured that change will happen…to everything there is a season. I am so happy that God planned it that way! It makes life so much more interesting! Enjoy and learn from the season you are in.