tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41346918171713475442024-03-17T21:38:59.510-04:00AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSSGreat-Granny Grandmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00984367859984906071noreply@blogger.comBlogger158125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134691817171347544.post-66741917162047667652024-02-25T21:16:00.001-05:002024-02-25T21:16:16.705-05:00A TIMELY REMINDER<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"I will praise You, for I am fearfully and </span></i><div><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">wonderfully made... Your eyes saw my </span></i></div><div><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">substance, being yet unformed, And in </span></i></div><div><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">your book they all were written. The </span></i></div><div><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">days fashioned for me, When as yet </span></i></div><div><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">there were none of them." </span></i></div><div>(Psalm 139:14a, 16)</div><div><br /></div>Timely reminder from a post I wrote on my other blog many years ago <a href="https://greatgrannygrandma.blogspot.com/2011/02/reminder-to-me-and-to-you-too-if-you.html"><b>A Reminder To Me (And To You Too If You Need It)</b></a>.<div><br /></div><div>It's a great little story about contentment from my <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/desert/streams-in-the-desert-january-7th.html">Streams in The Desert</a></span></b> devotional that I had shared to Facebook and that came up in my FB memories today. </div><div><br /></div><div>A king goes into his garden one morning and finds everything withered and dying. He starts asking the plants what the problem is. The oak says it doesn't want to live any more because it's not tall and beautiful like the pine tree, the pine tree is upset because it can't bear grapes like the grapevine, the grapevine bemoans the fact that that it doesn't produce fruit as large as the peaches on the peach tree, the geranium is disheartened because it's not tall and fragrant like the lilac, and so on it goes throughout the garden until the king gets to the little violet and and comments on how happy he is to see at least one flower bright and perky. To which the violet responds, <i>"I know I'm small, yet I thought if you wanted an oak or a pine or a peach tree or even a lilac, you would have planted one. Since I knew you wanted a violet, I'm determined to be the best little violet I can be."</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>What a great reminder that God loves me just as I am, and that I'm a Divine original (which you are too) created for a special purpose that no one else can fulfill. Summed up so beautifully in the little poem at the end of the devotional:<div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Others may do a greater work,</i></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>But you have your part to do;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And no one in all God's family </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Can do it as well as you.</i></div></div>Great-Granny Grandmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00984367859984906071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134691817171347544.post-46377496573531751962024-01-15T00:44:00.002-05:002024-01-15T00:49:50.033-05:00WHEN I CAN'T, GOD CAN<div style="text-align: left;"><i>Now all glory to God, who is able,</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>through his mighty power at work</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>within us, to accomplish infinitely</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>more than we might ask or think.</i></div><div style="text-align: left;">(Ephesians 3:20, NLT)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Every year our church starts out the year with 21 days of prayer and fasting (not necessarily from food). This year we've been learning how to pray through the Psalms, and every morning at 7:00 AM, there's been an interactive devotional on Facebook led by one of the pastors. Although a replay is available for later, it is only actually interactive for those who watch live, so I've been getting up much earlier than normal.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">At first it was really hard because I'm not an early riser, and also because it doubles, and sometimes even triples my usual morning quiet time, getting the rest of my day off to a very late start. As a result, instead of trying to be in control of my day my way, I've had to trust the Lord to enable me to get everything done I need to do in much less time than I normally have to do it in and that never seems to be enough either.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Amazingly, as I relinquish my day to Him, trust Him to order my steps and orchestrate my time, and am obedient to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, I've been able to accomplish a lot more and with a lot less stress. I feel myself drawing closer to Him than I have in a long while and never realized how much I've missed it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Today was almost like a throwback to something that happened many years ago (<b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://atfootofcross.blogspot.com/2009/02/on-call-247.html">documented here</a></span></b>) when the Lord revealed to me that even though He is invisible, He could still teach me how to do anything I thought I needed a human person for, and do it even better.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">For weeks I've been struggling with a book cover template that I couldn't figure out how to get to do what I needed. My daughter tried to help me, but she couldn't figure it out either, and I had already exhausted all other sources I thought could show me how to get it to work. Finally, I decided to start over from scratch, but that didn't work either, despite all my prayers.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then, suddenly, when I was about to give up, ideas started to flow, and step by improvised step, the Holy Spirit led me through a complex way of getting around it that I most definitely could never have come up with on my own. </div>Great-Granny Grandmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00984367859984906071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134691817171347544.post-68813653087351648452024-01-02T23:24:00.001-05:002024-01-02T23:24:57.301-05:00RANDOM MUSINGS ABOUT TRUSTING GOD AND ABOUT THE PAST<div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">not depend on your own understanding.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Seek his will in all you do, and he will</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">show you which path to take.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>(</i>Proverbs 3:5-6, NLT)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The old year ended with some unexpected sad surprises that reminded me for the millionth time not to take things for granted.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Going into the new year my greatest desire is to be able to be totally yielded to the Lord and trust Him with the things that concern me the most, to be sensitive to the promptings of His Holy Spirit and to let Him guide me in the way I should go instead of relying on my own intellect or trying to be in control of my circumstances.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">With some doubts and mixed feelings, I decided to start the year by doing the <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Draw-Circle-Day-Prayer-Challenge/dp/0310327121">Draw the Circle prayer challenge</a></span></b> again even though I don't have anyone to do it with this time around and the instructions say it should not be done alone.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One good thing that has already come out of it are the reminders at the end of Day 1 of things not to do that I have done many times in the past, and that have led to disappointment, frustration, and in some cases pain and heartache. The two that were the most convicting were: "Don't try to manufacture your own miracles," and "Don't try to do God's job for Him." </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Trusting God means not making assumptions about how He will answer prayer, or having expectations as to how or where His help will come from. I've done that many times as well, especially when I've had a financial need, and then been frustrated and disappointed when it didn't happen the way I anticipated it would. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Finally, I'm getting it through my head that what I was doing was not really trust. I was putting God in a box and trusting in a source He may or may not have chosen to use instead of in Him alone. He has never failed me yet, and most times the source and timing were not at all what I expected it to be.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Another area I need to be open and yielded to the Lord in, is in how He chooses to use me--even at this late stage of my life--and not have expectations or make assumptions. That never worked out the way I thought it would either. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I remember how early in my walk I wanted to be involved in a music ministry and tried to make it happen, and then felt devastated when it didn't. My attempts at leading Bible studies or sharing my testimony did not work out the way I expected or wanted either, nor has my desire to make a difference in people's lives through my writing. But maybe, unbeknownst to me, someone has been touched, and that was part of God's purpose and plan, and all He expected of me, and if so, that's all that really matters.</span></div>Great-Granny Grandmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00984367859984906071noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134691817171347544.post-79293339070846592372023-12-27T23:14:00.001-05:002023-12-27T23:14:55.916-05:00EVEN IF<div><i>Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess,</i></div><div><i>for he who promised is faithful. -- </i>Hebrews 10:23</div><div><br /></div><div>Was feeling very heavy-hearted until I read this <a href="https://www.facebook.com/victoria.wilguess/posts/pfbid0Nc2ZxjiZJAGizJhmmTLkjyDwcD4cjbn6f6eSHdB6B5pVA9GkveMU7m83mC7B7xAAl"><b>post on Facebook written by Victoria Wilguess</b></a>, a young lady with an awesome testimony, who has been a great inspiration to me and many, many others. It made me want to make <i>EVEN IF</i> my theme for the coming year as well. </div><div><br /></div><div>In her words: <i>A new year is coming!! My theme for this coming year is "even if." While we all hope and pray for the best year (it might be the best year!!), there will likely be things that don't go our way and things happen that are very hard. . . . So for this next year, I'm surrendering to God and saying "even if." No matter what comes my way, I will praise You. ...if it is the best year, I will praise You! But even if it's a hard year, I will praise You too... God never changes. He is the same no matter what is going on in our lives. And He is so faithful. . . . I KNOW with all my heart that God will be with me this year, in the great times, and the really hard times too. Even in the hard times, things will get better because He who promises is faithful! God is with us every moment on earth and in Heaven, everything will be made right and there will be no more suffering, loss, tears, pain, or sickness! . . . This is why I've always claimed Psalm 73:26 as my verse. It says, "My heart and my flesh may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Even if life gets hard, God is the strength of my heart forever!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Inspired by her words, I too am making a commitment to praise God, EVEN IF.</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d59lYKaqXSU?si=ixhTvTK-5MgWQYJ4" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Great-Granny Grandmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00984367859984906071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134691817171347544.post-80597492803461515512023-12-23T17:08:00.000-05:002023-12-23T17:08:08.657-05:00DON'T LET THE DEVIL WIN!<div style="text-align: left;"><i>The thief comes only to steal and kill and</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>destroy; I have come that they may have</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>life, and have it to the full. </i></div><div style="text-align: left;">(John 10:10, NIV)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In the midst of feeling very battle weary and ready to throw in the towel came two words of encouragement. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The first one was a devotional written by my friend, Lara Love (<b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://goodnews.love/dont-let-the-devil-win/">click here to visit her website</a></span></b>). The title of it, DON'T LET THE DEVIL WIN! felt like a personal exhortation to keep on keeping on even, and especially, when I'm feeling battle weary.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EOvGmWyOIfXznjzE9973f9rwy1waLy4rVpKMO6ZFmtG_JE6o0KSG3prD2cXwVvsZnO3VhVi9l6aDjW0XyDnsccbS7kdU9nJcI4yPnfSob_Co871jALol8xsYt8fANFCxAMzTdXFZ9_SUyr1G1wB00fUDRYBVQzeh2pBMv5tZDKT6YFTnG2zzZhQTqgU/s526/267601605_4698819303516154_7821060472135781922_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="526" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EOvGmWyOIfXznjzE9973f9rwy1waLy4rVpKMO6ZFmtG_JE6o0KSG3prD2cXwVvsZnO3VhVi9l6aDjW0XyDnsccbS7kdU9nJcI4yPnfSob_Co871jALol8xsYt8fANFCxAMzTdXFZ9_SUyr1G1wB00fUDRYBVQzeh2pBMv5tZDKT6YFTnG2zzZhQTqgU/w200-h200/267601605_4698819303516154_7821060472135781922_n.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>The other was this great reminder that popped up in my Facebook memories. </span></div>Great-Granny Grandmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00984367859984906071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134691817171347544.post-8651406088046027512023-12-02T21:14:00.000-05:002023-12-02T21:14:26.114-05:00WHY DO I FEAR?<div style="text-align: left;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipeUHFK3vPx8WOlmFz_2-YWMvvnZqB9tirK8xGa90ZO5S4mwlygUjihIgrXmULrkJP0CxKRjiq4QoR60JDvnN7DHEprooyqMRnrqAgDioi_M8tSAAN280h6p-aCmcchMctgpXbP2NURAkwtEAJRIHzIVCI7hhvHBPXTw98DZgPTs0MeEr-kbRqDxaHbls/s575/thumb_IMG_0464_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="575" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipeUHFK3vPx8WOlmFz_2-YWMvvnZqB9tirK8xGa90ZO5S4mwlygUjihIgrXmULrkJP0CxKRjiq4QoR60JDvnN7DHEprooyqMRnrqAgDioi_M8tSAAN280h6p-aCmcchMctgpXbP2NURAkwtEAJRIHzIVCI7hhvHBPXTw98DZgPTs0MeEr-kbRqDxaHbls/w200-h155/thumb_IMG_0464_1024.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />Do not fear, for I am with you; </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>do </i><i>not be afraid, for I am your </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>God. </i><i>I will strengthen you; I </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>will surely </i><i>help you; I will </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>uphold you with </i><i>My right </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>hand of righteousness.</i></div><div style="text-align: left;">-- Isaiah 41:10, BSB</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I know that fear is not of the Lord, I know that He is in control, I know that He loves me and I can trust Him, and I know He is right here with me, so why do I so often feel afraid?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This morning I started my quiet time writing a letter to God about my woes--I have not been feeling too terrific lately, which has at times been scary, and I've also been feeling overwhelmed by the mess of my life and my inability to get my head above water, and I feel so trapped by the results of my poor choices.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My answers came through my Bible reading of the book of Habakkuk, and one of my daily devotionals.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In the commentary to Habakkuk was a reminder to live by faith rather than by feelings no matter how dark things may be looking in the natural. "No place is too dark and no wall too thick for God's grace to penetrate in a powerful and life-affirming way" (Charles Swindoll).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Standing-Promises-Daily-Assurances-Guidance/dp/1640701036">devotional reading</a></span></b> was about not relying on your feelings and instincts when flying into a storm and the importance of letting your instruments guide you even when it feels wrong. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In summary, when the storms of life threaten to confuse and disorient you, and you feel blinded by life's disappointments, DON'T trust your instincts or what your intellect or senses are telling you. Let God's Word be your guide. Trust Him to instruct you and lead you in the way you should go. -- <i>I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. -- </i>Psalm 32:8, NIV</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Later, I mustered up the strength to take some of my recyclables to the dumpster. I was going to drive, but felt prompted to walk over instead, and to take the more challenging way that is down the steps leading from the courtyard to the parking lot. As I did, I noticed some painted rocks on either side with colorful, encouraging slogans on them. The first one that caught my eye was the pink one at the top of this post that says "You are as strong as this rock." </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I know in my own strength I am not, but it reminds me that I can do all things through Christ who is my solid rock and who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13, 2 Samuel 22:2).</div>Great-Granny Grandmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00984367859984906071noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134691817171347544.post-14242920472004449922023-11-22T14:28:00.001-05:002023-11-22T14:28:53.433-05:0031 BLESSINGS (THANKFUL NOVEMBER)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlq7OrwIc4nSx4ULaVxPv89h6w2HcHLfGi3Hfe58qWzQoaqKzauTsgIhCvXjm8h-9LpYMpi42euUqZkQNQfUVGhCQYnGAb4YRxvmmMwmjCJmwPotgdshTEPpDcF2LOTrVo8zoFEm_pzFMeWNhVtQcRkgdBuFksUAQKbcBGIMpBGhMALOQgPh13UgZcpE/s439/devotional.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlq7OrwIc4nSx4ULaVxPv89h6w2HcHLfGi3Hfe58qWzQoaqKzauTsgIhCvXjm8h-9LpYMpi42euUqZkQNQfUVGhCQYnGAb4YRxvmmMwmjCJmwPotgdshTEPpDcF2LOTrVo8zoFEm_pzFMeWNhVtQcRkgdBuFksUAQKbcBGIMpBGhMALOQgPh13UgZcpE/w293-h640/devotional.png" width="293" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thinking about this devotional on a day that started out full of frustrations at not being able to format something the way I needed to, and wasting so much time in the trying that I didn't have to spare.</span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">That triggered a teary pity party fueled by thoughts of things I can no longer do that I would like to, and how this is not just a temporary phase.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">My party was interrupted by a couple of encouraging texts that were a good example of what the devotional meant when it said God's blessings often come in the middle of everyday life when we could most use a reminder of His love. And so they have. </span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><br />A comment from one of my blog friends saying she's thankful for my friendship, a text from my daughter inviting me to join them at the beach in July, an unexpected phone call from a long-time friend I miss and who lives in another state, a large car repair paid for by my church family, a gift membership to our senior center from a dear local friend. That's five huge blessings right there.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Another 13 are the 7 grandchildren and 6 great-grands in my life that I never expected to live long enough to see.</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Blessings 18 to 31 plus are blessings so easily taken for granted, that this very uplifting song lists and gives thanks for.</span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />If I hadn't already reached 31, I would add livestreams to my list. They have opened up so many doors, such as being able to attend the Brooklyn Tabernacle services on Sundays where I first heard this song.</span><p></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ON8x7tcU7Fo?si=_weDCmy2hxLyKIAu" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div></div>Great-Granny Grandmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00984367859984906071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134691817171347544.post-34393284496853297962023-10-31T21:20:00.000-04:002023-10-31T21:20:03.588-04:00HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN FAITHFUL TO ME<div style="text-align: left;">Heard this beautiful old song today, and it says it all. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qdO2cRXVHII?si=pTV8wG8WKcs4xCZN" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe> <div><br /></div><div>When things are looking scary or bleak, may I never forget that no matter how dark things may have looked in different seasons of my life, He has <i><b>always</b></i> been faithful to me.</div>Great-Granny Grandmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00984367859984906071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134691817171347544.post-74757528493753183912023-10-30T01:36:00.002-04:002023-10-30T01:36:41.905-04:00STRIVING FOR STABILITY<div style="text-align: justify;"><i>You will keep in perfect peace those</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>whose minds are steadfast because</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>they trust in you. </i><b>-- Isaiah 26:3, NIV</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A crazy day of ups and downs left me feeling drained and understanding the wisdom of keeping an even keel where my emotions are concerned rather than allowing myself to feel extreme highs or lows according to whether what I am experiencing seems good or bad. Right now it seems easier said than done though.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I know the key is to keep my eyes on the Lord and not get upset by frustrations or things that don't go the way I expect or want them to--or get carried away when they do. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Today I felt tossed between extreme highs and lows. Highs when I received a wonderful belated birthday present and later, an unexpected invitation out for lunch. Plummeting to lows when I missed a phone call from someone I would really have liked to talk to and they did not call back, and when Word quit on me when I was in the middle of a work assignment. Plummeting even lower as frustration arose when I tried to find something I needed but couldn't, and when my mind refused to cooperate as I searched for the right words to express something I was trying to say.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If life is a school, then today was a test day that I did not score very well on. It did however reinforce the importance of not letting my emotions control me or tell me what reality is.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This song reminded me to trust God and keep my focus on Him.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/m_Z9bLYOsko?si=o8tZJXG-aiGWooJq" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Great-Granny Grandmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00984367859984906071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134691817171347544.post-35425973343470854292023-10-25T00:37:00.000-04:002023-10-25T00:37:21.575-04:00IN SURRENDER THERE IS PEACE<div style="text-align: left;"><i>Why are you cast down, O my soul,</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>and why are you in turmoil within </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>me? Hope in God, for I shall again</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>praise him, my salvation and my </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>God. </i><b>-- Psalm 42:6, ESV</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's hard not to feel discouraged when it's one thing after another, and I feel useless, tired, and overwhelmed. Makes me feel like throwing up my hands in defeat and calling it quits. But then I think just maybe my breakthrough is about to appear and if I quit I'll miss something really awesome. So instead, I'm throwing up my hands in surrender.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In surrender there is peace. I can stop second-guessing about why things are the way they are and trust that God is in control and has a perfect plan that nothing or anyone can thwart. And His plan is always the best plan because He sees the whole picture, which I do not. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">What is going to be is going to be, and there's no point stressing over it. And why should I stress when I know He loves me, and despite how things have ever looked in the natural, true to His Word (Romans 8:28) He has always come through for me and worked things out for my good and His glory. As I look back in retrospect over the course of my life to the times when things were looking pretty grim and far from what I would have wanted or expected, I've seen this played out over and over again. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As I chose to leave all the things that are stressing me at the foot of the cross and surrender the outcomes to the Lord, I felt as though He was approving my decision through the voice of someone on the radio who was ending his message by saying, "If you really trust, there is no cause for concern."</div>Great-Granny Grandmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00984367859984906071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134691817171347544.post-38498803773217604002023-10-06T19:35:00.000-04:002023-10-06T19:35:43.482-04:00HOLD ON JUST A LITTLE BIT LONGER<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVHxODqqNbl-ZQFh5HcxL8uHvm2Li3gZiA8uDf-KHzhoqa2Ve0PjZEUZgugu1fXS0zfUa1cWPCCWCnmHcwfFwF8j1eLyC9JWz_o8W6_JnCHReVdZACOSyt3wIhvw2F6ayskBQSJeAdrjSOXu4-bjMAUigizSPnUr-OcBqYhkTOW5270-o3oQaoyfnMLDo/s243/images.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="207" data-original-width="243" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVHxODqqNbl-ZQFh5HcxL8uHvm2Li3gZiA8uDf-KHzhoqa2Ve0PjZEUZgugu1fXS0zfUa1cWPCCWCnmHcwfFwF8j1eLyC9JWz_o8W6_JnCHReVdZACOSyt3wIhvw2F6ayskBQSJeAdrjSOXu4-bjMAUigizSPnUr-OcBqYhkTOW5270-o3oQaoyfnMLDo/w200-h170/images.jpeg" width="200" /></a><i>So let's not get tired of doing</i><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">what is good. At just the right </span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">time we will reap a harvest of</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">blessing if we don't give up.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>-- Galatians 6:9, NLT</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I've been feeling pretty down lately. No matter what I do, and despite my best intentions, I keep falling short. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Every now and then there seems to be a faint glimmer at the end of the tunnel, like at PT, when my sessions with a new therapist had seemed so promising, but his schedule was so booked I spent what seemed like a lot of wasted time on the wait list waiting for a cancellation that never opened up. And now there are only two appointments left before he relocates and there's no way we can reach the goal he thought he could get me to before then. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Even though I know God is in control and that He could easily have opened up the door for more appointments, and even though I know that ultimately my healing comes from Him, it's hard not to feel discouraged and disappointed.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Today I was feeling pretty hopeless, not just about my PT experience, but also about the financial pit I've been trying so hard to climb out of, and wondering what's the use of trying. It's getting harder and harder to keep on keeping on.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And then, during my quiet time, this little picture about perseverance came to mind, as did Galatians 6:9, and when I turned on the radio, the song "Hold On Just A Little Bit Longer" was playing. A loving reminder to switch my focus from my circumstances to my God who is seated on the throne and in control, who is working all things together for my good and His glory, and to trust in His perfect timing.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">I am so grateful for His mercies that are new every morning, and that He never gives up on me.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4s3k8aUaFqk?si=ZOYoc7BR4YkAu0ED" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Great-Granny Grandmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00984367859984906071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134691817171347544.post-29721519991645503222023-09-12T00:06:00.000-04:002023-09-12T00:06:15.501-04:00HIS WAY IS BETTER THAN MY WAY<div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">The LORD says, I will guide you along the</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">best pathway for your life. I will advise you</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>and watch over you. </i><b><i>--</i> Psalm 32:8, NLT</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Slowly, slowly, God has been revealing idols in my life I didn't even realize were idols, and how I have been relying on them instead of on Him and trying to micromanage outcomes that only He has control over. One by one, He has been stripping them away and redirecting my focus to where it needs to be. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One major area has been work. Even though He has always provided for my needs and I've never been lacking, I exhaust myself working insane hours to try and get out of a financial pit He has allowed to get even deeper just to drive home the point that my efforts will never be enough. Yes, He expects me to do my best, but then leave the outcome to Him, knowing that He is the ultimate source of my supply. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have made idols of doctors and phlebotomists and now the new physical therapist who is doing wonders, but who is so booked up I spend a lot of time on his wait list waiting for cancellations. Again, instead of trusting the outcome to the Lord who is the ultimate healer, I've been stressing about not being able to get enough appointments and the gaps between them being too long, when the fact is that the Lord knows exactly how many appointments I need and when, and is quite capable of opening one up when He feels I need it, and without any help from me trying to manipulate things to fit what I think is best. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is so much more relaxing to relinquish control and rest in the knowledge that God's ways are better than my ways. I may not understand what He is doing at any given point or why, but I can trust that He is always in control and He sees the whole picture, the end from the beginning, whereas my view is limited to just one small piece of it. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Things may not work out the way I want them to or expect they should, but of one thing I am sure. His plan is always the better plan and I might miss out on it if I try to hold too tightly to what I think is best and get in His way. </span></div>Great-Granny Grandmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00984367859984906071noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134691817171347544.post-87592158265633175982023-09-05T23:54:00.012-04:002023-09-06T00:05:31.545-04:00IT'S ONLY A TEST<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XdYY7SzPR3ncEhBYoc976FcuVArO5s-zYJZwp4muMzvwLqrxQG6DPMVv9C_uWfnsu2BSRAU8NM75BedtU1LlPopKHn-Lqq9DWvXi-DHAbio4wy7MoYsKtnERX9H9ICuTLBpUVw4U1J2zVw1r_FYiUv0y9gKwvqbL2cbkGL6J7SWsI5ivLfiakA9248I/s427/front%20cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="324" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XdYY7SzPR3ncEhBYoc976FcuVArO5s-zYJZwp4muMzvwLqrxQG6DPMVv9C_uWfnsu2BSRAU8NM75BedtU1LlPopKHn-Lqq9DWvXi-DHAbio4wy7MoYsKtnERX9H9ICuTLBpUVw4U1J2zVw1r_FYiUv0y9gKwvqbL2cbkGL6J7SWsI5ivLfiakA9248I/w152-h200/front%20cover.jpg" width="152" /></a>Stay alert! Watch out for your great</i><div><i>enemy, the devil. He prowls around<br /></i></div><div><i>like a roaring lion, looking for</i></div><div><i>someone to devour. </i><b><i>-- </i>1 Peter 5:8, NLT</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>This earth is not our home. It is more like a classroom where those who are in Christ and have accepted His gift of salvation are being refined, perfected, and molded into His image. The trials God allows build endurance, develop character, strengthen our spiritual muscles, and serve as a measure of our progress as we journey through life. </div><div><br /></div><div>My dying friend and her husband are shining examples of what it means to trust in God without wavering. His love shines through them even in the midst of their affliction, and their testimony has ministered to and encouraged me as well as many others. </div><div><br /></div><div>My friend's husband just sent out an update to let us know that she had been moved to an inpatient hospice facility. It included a beautiful tribute to her, as well as an account of how he had been able to witness to several people at the facility she was being transferred from about the goodness of God in the midst of the unexplainable. </div><div><br /></div><div>He likened their cancer experience to part of a masterpiece tapestry God is creating in which all of the good and "bad" things that have happened are being woven into the finished product. The difficult experiences are just as important to its beauty as are the joyful ones, and even though we may not understand or be able to make sense of them now, when we get to heaven the glory and beauty of what God has done will be revealed and we will marvel at it. Wow! </div><div><br /></div><div>My issues are so different from the ones my friend and her family are facing, and not nearly as devastating, but equally difficult to understand. For sure they aren't what I was expecting when I entered <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://atfootofcross.blogspot.com/2023/06/i-feel-weary.html">this chapter of my life</a></span></b> with a blank notebook in which to record the things the Lord was about to do. </div><div><br /></div><div>He is doing many things, but not what I expected. I have had to give up my concept of what I think is best and acknowledge that not only are God's ways not my ways, but His way is the only way. He sees the whole picture, whereas my view is very limited. I need to trust that no matter what things may be looking like in the natural, He is in control and is working things out for my good and His glory (Romans 8:28).</div><div><br /></div><div>I also need to remember that trials test the genuineness of our faith when Satan pushes our buttons and tries to get us to doubt the goodness of God, but God has given us all the tools we need in order to ace the test. He has given us His armor, His Word with which to counter every lie of the enemy, and the assurance that if we keep our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus and resist the devil, He will flee (Ephesians 6:11, 13; James 4:7). </div>Great-Granny Grandmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00984367859984906071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134691817171347544.post-90973131626959835832023-09-03T23:48:00.000-04:002023-09-03T23:48:21.163-04:00LORD, HELP ME OVERCOME MY UNBELIEF<div style="text-align: left;"><i>Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>not depend on your own understanding.</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Seek his will in all you do, and he will</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>show you which path to take. </i><b>--</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Proverbs 3:5-6, NLT</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Today has been spent pondering many unsettling things I don't understand. Like why a friend who was making great progress in her cancer journey took a sudden turn for the worse and is now very close to the end. Or why every time I think I'm seeing a light at the end of the tunnel where my finances are concerned, it is soon followed by a major setback like my flipper breaking, or needing new glasses. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Life has been so unpredictable. One thing after another has failed to turn out the way I anticipated it would. The only thing I can be sure of is that God loves me, that He is in control, and that I need to trust Him no matter how things may be looking in the natural. Sometimes though, my faith wavers and I feel weary, and it's easier said than done. Like the father in Mark 9:24 I too want to cry out to Jesus, "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">One of my devotionals today had some timely words of encouragement. It reminded me that it was only when Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and fixed his gaze on the wind and the waves that his fear got the better of him and he started to drown. The reality was that Jesus had His eyes on Peter from the very beginning, and there was no reason for him to be afraid.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">God is with us every moment of every day, and if we keep our eyes on Jesus, the storms of life will not be able to engulf us and suck us down. </div>Great-Granny Grandmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00984367859984906071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134691817171347544.post-75458851279446127132023-08-27T19:23:00.000-04:002023-08-27T19:23:02.112-04:00SECOND CHANCES<div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLaxRKS_dW7SE3LhpDRt-i-eij6DciGnSWGPw5SxEVF7tICSapGs0I3il_n5CyAgbXy6jFQ8e9cFtwfKmrSpbDFdaQCQzCaeE9nGnen_c66ZUCuwInafT35BJa7xLF94qIZSeFv_zbL_VEWQP_KXQsnX9Pexaw_jamo0Cn2uX2GXvYpJvq3mrNpDEnbRs/s375/thumb_IMG_1451_1024%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="354" data-original-width="375" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLaxRKS_dW7SE3LhpDRt-i-eij6DciGnSWGPw5SxEVF7tICSapGs0I3il_n5CyAgbXy6jFQ8e9cFtwfKmrSpbDFdaQCQzCaeE9nGnen_c66ZUCuwInafT35BJa7xLF94qIZSeFv_zbL_VEWQP_KXQsnX9Pexaw_jamo0Cn2uX2GXvYpJvq3mrNpDEnbRs/w200-h189/thumb_IMG_1451_1024%202.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Trust in the LORD with all your </span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">heart </span></i><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">and lean </span></i><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">not on your own </span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">understanding; </span></i><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">in all your </span></i><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">ways </span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">submit to him, and he </span></i><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">will make </span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">your </span></i><i style="font-family: inherit;">paths straight. </i><b style="font-family: inherit;">-- </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">I really took the lesson in yesterday's post to heart. Praying this time it sticks.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Was going to go on an outing to the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley with Joanne after church today.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Even though my back felt sort of okay, I started having all kinds of doubts. Maybe I should suggest we stay local and just take a walk on the trail since it's a bit of a trip to Winchester, and what if we get there and I can't walk--even with the rollator. Maybe I should take Motrin before setting out, just in case.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But then I decided no, I'm going to trust God to make it happen, and He did.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It was a beautiful day, not too hot when we started out. I did not take any Motrin, and I did not suggest staying local. So off to Winchester we went, and had a wonderful day. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My rollator is awesome. With a couple of brief rests, I was able to walk around the gardens with Joanne, see all of the lego exhibit, and even the exhibits of miniatures in the gallery and in the Glen Burnie house. A total of approximately 3100 steps with no pain except for the occasional stiffness and ache that was quickly relieved by a few minutes of sitting on my rollator seat.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When we got home I even had enough energy left to make us some lunch,</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Had I trusted in the voices in my head instead of in the Lord, I would have missed out on a wonderful gift of a very special outing with a very special daughter.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>Great-Granny Grandmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00984367859984906071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134691817171347544.post-88095682483068353862023-08-27T00:46:00.000-04:002023-08-27T00:46:21.951-04:00FEELING SAD<div style="text-align: left;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcqCYS5jLRmHzlCQg8bD6Lvlm6CjNMlkpn4lsfBwO_DmLB59Of67jQZ1DuqpjpOOxvgtEOnjdiVKGfSuy_vs9UkzCFCx-7FYKagb9SOVjQ9r88_qUp7Y9LmVegVhZHuZ0UqRwrA1suMwyxhdYcL3SMsfKpt0FmvxRxasiJBdJBHt1FtLOf7u7iyApQpk/s640/SAD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcqCYS5jLRmHzlCQg8bD6Lvlm6CjNMlkpn4lsfBwO_DmLB59Of67jQZ1DuqpjpOOxvgtEOnjdiVKGfSuy_vs9UkzCFCx-7FYKagb9SOVjQ9r88_qUp7Y9LmVegVhZHuZ0UqRwrA1suMwyxhdYcL3SMsfKpt0FmvxRxasiJBdJBHt1FtLOf7u7iyApQpk/w150-h200/SAD.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>and courageous. Yes,</i> <i>wait patiently</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>for the LORD. </i><b>-- Psalm 27:14, NLT</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">For the last couple of days I'd been composing a post in my mind about finding hope in unexpected places. Ever since I saw a little bit of green in the midst of what I thought was a very dead lantana plant I had tried to propagate in a pot on my balcony.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I so wanted that to be a miracle in the making that the next time I went out to check on it and smelled the strong sweet aroma that attracts butterflies and bees, I was convinced this was a God wink. Maybe it would have been had I left good enough alone. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It was a really hot day, the soil was still moist, and there was rain in the forecast, but instead of trusting God to care for my lantana plant just as he cares for the thriving lantana jungle growing outside the front door to my building, I watered it anyway. Big mistake!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Two days later when I went to check on it again, there was no more aroma. This time the plant really was dead. The water that filled the dish under the pot gave evidence that I had drowned it. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I felt devastated, and as I pondered what to change the title of my post to--<i>Feeling Sad</i>, or <i>Slow Learner--</i>a memory came to mind of a long time ago when the Lord had wanted to bless me (I thought) in a way that would have been so amazing and unexpected I was already rehearsing the testimony in my mind. But things weren't moving along as fast or as smoothly as I had thought they would and so I tried to help God along (as though He needed my help) by manipulating circumstances to try and rush things along instead of waiting on His timing. As a result, it all fell through, my life was turned upside down, and I lost the blessing I thought was to be mine, plus a whole lot more.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In the end, it all worked out for good, and though I didn't get the testimony I wanted to have, maybe the Lord allowed things to happen the way they did because He had something quite different in mind than what I was expecting. Something that, in the long run, was a much better plan.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When will I ever learn to just trust Him and go with the flow instead of trying to second-guess what He is up to and force an outcome I don't even know for sure is actually part of His plan? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Great-Granny Grandmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00984367859984906071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134691817171347544.post-18220440253226827792023-08-23T02:17:00.001-04:002023-08-23T02:17:28.846-04:00HE IS STRONGER<div style="text-align: left;"><i>So let's not get tired of doing what is good.</i> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>At just the right time we will reap a harvest</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>of blessing if we don't give up. </i><b>-- Galatians</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>6:9, NLT</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Was feeling so weary and discouraged today. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">For a little while I had felt hope when I discovered I could walk with a walker without pain, and then again when I had an appointment with a new physical therapist who seemed to really help and felt strongly that I had not reached a plateau yet. But then the next couple of walks were painful, and the therapist's schedule is so booked up that the only appointments I was able to get were few and far between. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In the middle of my pity party, my thoughts of doom and gloom were interrupted by an urge to watch Sunday's Brooklyn Tabernacle livestream that I had not had a chance to watch on Sunday. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Usually by the next day the praise and worship segment is gone, and only the message is archived, but today (two days later), it was still there, and I felt as though the worship leader was speaking directly to me as she introduced the chorus, <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=lyrics+to+you+are+stronger&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS850US851&oq=lyrics+to+you+are+stronger&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i22i30j0i390i650.16130j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8">"Stronger."</a></span></b> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Her words: "Whatever you are facing today, Jesus is stronger. Rest in Him. Know that He is fighting on your behalf. He is with you. He will strengthen you and give you everything you need to walk in victory,"</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">That was a reminder and exhortation that I really needed to hear.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kEawOfG0jdQ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Great-Granny Grandmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00984367859984906071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134691817171347544.post-1664829808638171142023-08-18T16:02:00.008-04:002023-08-18T16:05:50.904-04:00SAVOR THE MOMENT<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #444444; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1IBMOBciDbHTZddz1JOtJgWtSL4hwEQt9L1gvCbq1n5VjHPjgIMlqVex-EjO4xJrGvC4wSXbeCVlg_5OxciY6wunJT1qiF5vcxRv6YehuENizQBtN7pVzQzFORcZOTcCfkNzGXZh77TTxafVsyfYEAeOpRfUu9gBkbFby2Fb_38CvcE3yKbqLjVBOLbvB/s640/thumb_IMG_1405_1024.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1IBMOBciDbHTZddz1JOtJgWtSL4hwEQt9L1gvCbq1n5VjHPjgIMlqVex-EjO4xJrGvC4wSXbeCVlg_5OxciY6wunJT1qiF5vcxRv6YehuENizQBtN7pVzQzFORcZOTcCfkNzGXZh77TTxafVsyfYEAeOpRfUu9gBkbFby2Fb_38CvcE3yKbqLjVBOLbvB/w150-h200/thumb_IMG_1405_1024.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="color: #444444; text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: inherit;">For I hold you by your right hand--</i></div><div style="color: #444444; text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: inherit;">I, </i><i style="font-family: inherit;">the LORD your God. And I say </i></div><div style="color: #444444; text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: inherit;">to you, </i><i style="font-family: inherit;">"Don't be afraid. I am here </i></div><div style="color: #444444; text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: inherit;">to help </i><i style="font-family: inherit;">you. </i><b style="font-family: inherit;">-- Isaiah 41:13, NLT</b></div><div style="color: #444444; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444;">This morning I was writing </span><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://greatgrannygrandma.blogspot.com/2023/08/moment.html">a post on my other blog</a></span></b><span style="color: #444444;"> for a weekly challenge I participate in. The prompt was the word MOMENT.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444;">As soon as I saw the prompt, the tune and first couple of lines of an old hymn started playing in my mind and I couldn't get them out of my head.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></span><i style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">Day by day, and with each passing moment,</i></div></span><div><span style="color: #444444;"><i> Strength I find to meet my trials here;</i></span></div><div><span style="color: #444444;"><i> Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,<br /></i></span></div><div><span style="color: #444444;"><i> I've no cause for worry or for fear.</i></span></div><div><span style="color: #444444;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="color: #444444;">When I looked up the rest of the lyrics on Google, they contained a very timely and encouraging message, as well as a reminder to stay in the present moment and savor the good ones rather than allow anxious thoughts about the future rob me of the blessings right in front of my nose.</span></div><div><span style="color: #444444;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="color: #444444;">Today has contained many moments to savor. Waking up to a brand new day with less pain than the day before; noticing that the constant grab and pull ache in my hip was almost gone; having my prayer partner stop by for a live visit instead of our weekly Zoom; finding a can of one of my favorite soups a neighbor left outside my door; the delightful surprise of stepping into a cool, breezy day instead of the oppressive heat of the past several days that I've been trying my best to avoid; being able to take a short walk wthout my walker; getting some really good shots of the bees in the lantana jungle growing in front of our building; and being able to turn off the A/C and open the door to the balcony when I came back upstairs.</span></div></span></div><div><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lNVCcph6cnI" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Great-Granny Grandmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00984367859984906071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134691817171347544.post-72003660096382860632023-08-17T20:05:00.000-04:002023-08-17T20:05:25.705-04:00FEELING HOPEFUL<div style="text-align: left;"> <i>Jesus looked at them and said, "With man</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>this is impossible, but with God all things</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>are possible," </i><b>-- Matthew 19:26, NIV</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Saw a new physical therapist this morning who was amazing. He seemed very knowledgeable and thorough, and did things none of the other therapists to date have done. By the end of the session I felt a huge difference, and he said he felt there was still quite a bit more that could be accomplished before reaching the plateau I thought I had already reached.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My plan had been to quit at the end of the month, but he convinced me to hang in a little bit longer.</div>Great-Granny Grandmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00984367859984906071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134691817171347544.post-48221019497535000652023-08-17T18:09:00.000-04:002023-08-17T18:09:28.293-04:00TIMELY MEMORIES THAT ENCOURAGED MY HEART<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0t-RyZjn26N7COtlWFxlx6_7WxLvj83FlcbgYuuWfxRm0qFLQMI9CAclnIMbbFu8Xn8KajgiQlgCfxX6PIk-ml6cXuRyRI-hLbLVvA-UHG6nViAUA21341bvJweALtPgtVkUZ8lRj-YjroxvmWWLMap3sz2nw7hY4r1518f5BX56MDah-W411KzYvKk/s640/Memories-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0t-RyZjn26N7COtlWFxlx6_7WxLvj83FlcbgYuuWfxRm0qFLQMI9CAclnIMbbFu8Xn8KajgiQlgCfxX6PIk-ml6cXuRyRI-hLbLVvA-UHG6nViAUA21341bvJweALtPgtVkUZ8lRj-YjroxvmWWLMap3sz2nw7hY4r1518f5BX56MDah-W411KzYvKk/w160-h200/Memories-2.jpeg" width="160" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>I was about to write a post about focusing on the things I can do instead of the things I can't, when this timely memory popped up on my Facebook wall that says it all.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuW4KsNvZ6ei_WH5LpMnY_3-CvcwDKl36avjXOW9ejpJbiNzb3vmob8CQoZtcpQNy1WUT1QwrGpdW0WF_s4VyGEkGuYre9ow5rzVtv7NYR-_fq2rO5OeqL9qkMQBmo6GBi3aZTytbhNUEsOcIMa1XKK_YE-buiFNJ_1kGQauyjB0WknrISc8Mj56HnUJ8/s483/Screen%20Shot%202023-08-17%20at%205.51.30%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="483" data-original-width="467" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuW4KsNvZ6ei_WH5LpMnY_3-CvcwDKl36avjXOW9ejpJbiNzb3vmob8CQoZtcpQNy1WUT1QwrGpdW0WF_s4VyGEkGuYre9ow5rzVtv7NYR-_fq2rO5OeqL9qkMQBmo6GBi3aZTytbhNUEsOcIMa1XKK_YE-buiFNJ_1kGQauyjB0WknrISc8Mj56HnUJ8/w193-h200/Screen%20Shot%202023-08-17%20at%205.51.30%20PM.png" width="193" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>It was followed by a second memory that provided just the encouraging reminder I needed at this moment in time. </p><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Great-Granny Grandmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00984367859984906071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134691817171347544.post-24421994508132328802023-08-14T03:03:00.005-04:002023-08-14T03:06:40.924-04:00FEELING SO DISAPPOINTED<div style="text-align: left;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfP_5cBmAyQo9Ev3HnjVyTwbgPAQhTLAjtcsJjUEUOpdod5m7QMAvPHuPvAbjRcPnmvwEyLXSfPtsXRgVJC7LwDJXE_z6w396TNv4QZcNlNxyhJZilLbv1tnrj8aiYVgXPwvNJ0E-BXWQ4wrX08KHneWDlQk36hcBH1eDdtGeGyTEntAghAdQ-DJgji4/s600/God%20writing%20the%20story.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="517" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfP_5cBmAyQo9Ev3HnjVyTwbgPAQhTLAjtcsJjUEUOpdod5m7QMAvPHuPvAbjRcPnmvwEyLXSfPtsXRgVJC7LwDJXE_z6w396TNv4QZcNlNxyhJZilLbv1tnrj8aiYVgXPwvNJ0E-BXWQ4wrX08KHneWDlQk36hcBH1eDdtGeGyTEntAghAdQ-DJgji4/w173-h200/God%20writing%20the%20story.jpeg" width="173" /></a></div><i>Jesus looked at them intently </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>and </i><i>said, </i><i>"Humanly speaking, </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>it is </i><i>impossible. </i><i>But with God </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>every</i><i>thing is possible. </i></div><div style="text-align: left;">(Matthew 19:26)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After my encouraging experience the other day where I was able to <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://greatgrannygrandma.blogspot.com/2023/08/almost-like-old-times.html">go for a real walk</a></span></b> with a friend (and the help of my walker), I started looking into rollators with a seat so I could take a little rest when going on even longer walks, and downloaded a virtual <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://worldwalking.org/apps#:~:text=Join%20for%20free%20and%20download,Earth...%20and%20go!">WorldWalking app</a></span></b> to my phone to keep me motivated. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Today, when I set out for another walk I had high hopes of making it even farther, but that's not how it played out. I felt pain almost from the getgo, and was barely able to get three quarters of the way I had gone just a few days before. The way back was agonizing, and drenched in sweat, I practically collapsed when I finally got to my apartment.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I feel so, so disappointed. My first thought was to call it quits. Forget about the rollator. Forget about continuing with physical therapy. Just give up. That's what satan would love for me to do. But only God knows the end from the beginning, so I choose instead to keep on keeping on and put my trust in Him and believe that He is working all things out for my good and His glory.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Tomorrow is a brand new day.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Great-Granny Grandmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00984367859984906071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134691817171347544.post-61693731297947425102023-08-13T14:43:00.000-04:002023-08-13T14:43:05.047-04:00CONDEMNATION IS NOT OF THE LORD<div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">For God did not send his Son into the world</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">to condemn the world, but to save the world</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>through him.</i> <b><i>-- </i>John 3:17, NIV</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I've been feeling such a hodgepodge of contradictory emotions. Gratitude for my many blessings, but also pangs of remorse, and frustration, plus a good measure of guilt and condemnation for being such a wimp when it comes to pain, and for allowing myself to feel overwhelmed by my circumstances. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I do trust in the Lord, even though my thoughts sometimes belie it. More than anything, I would like to be a person who makes Him happy, and to emulate those people I know who manage to radiate joy despite how their body feels, or how things are looking for them in this physical realm. Instead, I fall so short.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Even though I know condemnation is not of the Lord, I keep feeling condemned about many things. The same old, same old, like not having measured up to what I could have been, having nothing of eternal consequence to show for my life, having squandered my time and talents, being a glutton and procrastinator, a wimp, and now a new one--turning into a money pit for my daughter instead of leaving her an inheritance. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Instead of getting exasperated with me or turning His back on me, the Lord, yet again, was merciful and kind, comforting me with timely reminders from within the pages of my devotionals. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">From <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://odb.org/2023/08/11/who-am-i-5">August 11th's reading in our Daily Bread</a></span></b> (which I had inadvertently skipped and that remained unnoticed until this more timely day), the reassurance that He loves me because of who I am--even at my worst! So great is His love for me (and the world) that while we were still sinners, He sent Jesus to die on the cross on our behalf (Romans 5:8).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And from a very old <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2014/07/09/convicted-but-not-condemned">devotional by Renee Swope</a></span></b>, came a reminder that God convicts us through His Holy Spirit. He does not condemn. Condemnation is of the devil--not God.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Bible tells us that Satan is an accuser and the father of all lies (John 8:44, Revelation 12:10). He uses generalized statements of condemnation that he causes to run through our thoughts to make us feel guilty and ashamed.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God, on the other hand, through His Holy Spirit, uses specific, solution-oriented convictions to reveal a sinful action or attitude, and always, along with the conviction, an action to take to change it and make it right.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I've said this so many times, but need to say it again. I am thankful beyond words that the Lord never gives up on me, and that He is so patient and longsuffering.</span></div>Great-Granny Grandmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00984367859984906071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134691817171347544.post-15079455401149424232023-08-03T23:12:00.000-04:002023-08-03T23:12:16.990-04:00FEELING GRATEFUL FOR THINGS I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD FEEL GRATEFUL FOR<div style="text-align: left;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCt6d6vDliOv-EcYKkFBHh1QTTVwqpPe91ajgYbHiPiTmz4gHAx-sEjXZYnTWCfirSpdd5a7L95GNhvAZALSS1UeOS240ydK2UQnGQsrgFdV8mo21ZPwQR7qGAZK1B80FMwqiwqn0KoYvmHOfRSI7srtU3997uEkw3EQHBaqZyES24viWdtdErnW0SMaU/s465/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="406" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCt6d6vDliOv-EcYKkFBHh1QTTVwqpPe91ajgYbHiPiTmz4gHAx-sEjXZYnTWCfirSpdd5a7L95GNhvAZALSS1UeOS240ydK2UQnGQsrgFdV8mo21ZPwQR7qGAZK1B80FMwqiwqn0KoYvmHOfRSI7srtU3997uEkw3EQHBaqZyES24viWdtdErnW0SMaU/w174-h200/15.jpg" width="174" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Be thankful in all circumstances;</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">for this is God's will for you who</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">belong to Christ Jesus.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">(1 Thessalonians 5:18, NLT)</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">Every morning when I wake up I thank God for the gift of a new day, and add some other things I am thankful for such as being able to see and hear and walk.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When my back issues started to get worse a little over a year ago it took me a while to be able to admit I needed a handicapped parking permit for my car. When I finally did, however, what a blessing it turned out to be. I am more than grateful to not have to worry about finding convenient parking spots anymore. and to be able to park right in front of wherever I need to go.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I've been going to physical therapy for quite some time now, and though at first I had high hopes, it's starting to look as though this is about as good as it's going to get. There has been some improvement but far from what I'd expected to see. Even so, when people ask how I am doing, my standard answer has always been "hey, I'm grateful I'm not in a wheelchair or on a walker." </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Though I'm still able to get around unassisted, I can't walk very far. Once or twice around my parking lot is pushing it. I miss going out for photo shoots, or on walks with my daughter, or being included in family outings. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I know all things are possible with God, but maybe being free of back pain is not part of His plan. Or maybe it is, but not yet. Either way, I'm sure it's not His will for me to give up the activities I used to enjoy, and so I swallowed my pride and dusted off the old walker I had from when I was in rehab years ago. To my amazement, I felt no pain when walking with it. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">How that could be, I do not know, but thanks to it and to the encouragement of a caring friend I was able to take <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://greatgrannygrandma.blogspot.com/2023/08/almost-like-old-times.html">a walk along the trail</a></span></b> for the first time in over a year. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Though I can no longer say I'm grateful not to be on a walker, I can say I am truly grateful for the surprising new door it has opened up for me.</div>Great-Granny Grandmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00984367859984906071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134691817171347544.post-58553187893501548062023-07-26T16:42:00.000-04:002023-07-26T16:42:18.588-04:00WEATHERING THE STORM<div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqrTNSYBVfCJ9INvMX_XRLu2ARDCiJzpWflgcii4OPG9WVPAq_yPj4HwFne9cPOE6j6cZYR9yd3Col3JcWWtOR25rjgffcP91dU31XiTlqIr2tP8yCJFai71LTvR5_LuwdCsJSI4CHHPUMwSVuI14GNxFSSNbaeZvVdmXDupawtfyslxTmeo76Ju9kIG4/s640/IMG_1232.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqrTNSYBVfCJ9INvMX_XRLu2ARDCiJzpWflgcii4OPG9WVPAq_yPj4HwFne9cPOE6j6cZYR9yd3Col3JcWWtOR25rjgffcP91dU31XiTlqIr2tP8yCJFai71LTvR5_LuwdCsJSI4CHHPUMwSVuI14GNxFSSNbaeZvVdmXDupawtfyslxTmeo76Ju9kIG4/w150-h200/IMG_1232.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>Then they cried out to the LORD in</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">their trouble, and he brought them </span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">out of their distress. He stilled the</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">storm to a whisper; the waves of the</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">sea were hushed. They were glad</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">when it grew calm, and he guided</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>them to their desired haven. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(Psalm 107:28-30, NIV)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So far this chapter has been overwhelming and frustrating. Sometimes it's hard to keep my focus on the blessings and stand strong.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I have much to be thankful for, I know, and not all the frustrations are major. Some are just drops in the bucket, except that the bucket they keep drip, drip, dripping into is already full to the brim. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Last night we had a sudden rain, and the raindrops sounded like rocks being hurled against my window. I was sure that would be the end of my little sunflower and the few buds that had sprung up from my botched attempt to grow wildflowers in window boxes.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then I misplaced a little slip of paper with some important information on it that I had no way of replicating. I knew where I had put it on top of a pile of paperwork on my bedroom floor, but it wasn't there, and by the time I went through that pile over and over and exhaustion forced me to stop, it was almost 3:00 AM. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This morning, the first thing I did was check on the wildflowers on my balcony. They had managed to weather the storm just fine. The little sunflower was intact, and one of the buds had opened into a lovely blue flower. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcrtjqadL9t6Mys795VsSYbvNzaKG36msJDKDjBrktTCZU86dBMkqt5xUaTuGc9R7wB88mpDjnayAWA3Fvcsaod4KWwh5ooewWze5rx54KHBo058cMnAYM28JBo5KFzPLn_nWXUF7G-5Y2GhKiRIqA9m0pUuRVrior7oqMZ9Wh1GFYhRLhzbo4LxuscJw/s640/IMG_1228.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcrtjqadL9t6Mys795VsSYbvNzaKG36msJDKDjBrktTCZU86dBMkqt5xUaTuGc9R7wB88mpDjnayAWA3Fvcsaod4KWwh5ooewWze5rx54KHBo058cMnAYM28JBo5KFzPLn_nWXUF7G-5Y2GhKiRIqA9m0pUuRVrior7oqMZ9Wh1GFYhRLhzbo4LxuscJw/w150-h200/IMG_1228.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyloseF4X-3gMyebhrZDD1EZ3RfSlKo8EHbjUHUwxqs0KXrOcMF2T76PNT0l-u7T3HqrvsFBT3qFQPpjVm-iWdaFsm7rSmumNLHEfzrO44cCSgKpQdYQTOSQJBZX6wGVTg6hYVYIpVQnEZqgdsRg3ukzuq0Y3eXfuBQC_Di3cWKEMXYk-u-pPxyptzlg/s640/IMG_1229.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyloseF4X-3gMyebhrZDD1EZ3RfSlKo8EHbjUHUwxqs0KXrOcMF2T76PNT0l-u7T3HqrvsFBT3qFQPpjVm-iWdaFsm7rSmumNLHEfzrO44cCSgKpQdYQTOSQJBZX6wGVTg6hYVYIpVQnEZqgdsRg3ukzuq0Y3eXfuBQC_Di3cWKEMXYk-u-pPxyptzlg/w150-h200/IMG_1229.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Next, I decided to tackle the pile of paperwork once again and go through it piece by piece, but there was no need. As I reached down to pick it up, there, right in front of my eyes, was that little piece of paper, sitting exactly where it was supposed to be. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My heart was overflowing, but there was one more Godwink to come. When I turned on my radio, the first words I heard were Katy Nichole singing, "Hold on just a little bit longer."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My eyes teared up as I thought of how patient and longsuffering God is, and how instead of getting frustrated and giving up on me, He would send me these little personal signs of encouragement to remind me to trust Him and not give up.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4s3k8aUaFqk" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Great-Granny Grandmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00984367859984906071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4134691817171347544.post-25775047548405065192023-07-23T17:24:00.002-04:002023-07-23T17:25:30.397-04:00ANOTHER GODWINK<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXxqgk-VqoM5mFy_sLH7li8WOJVsc_KF1ubszhTbkyKqLRa5CtH1-kxpuvhw5RKyGonXoQU7VJnfc5ojB912zDhHGbdZCwCY2ih7k37qICoBswB2Ww_dC6u_Brr761nUwFfJrGuuq6JaFVu0IyFahaqdQyOK3rrobPq0S4mRhXOt0aV09oOCBAo3Qetbc/s640/8.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXxqgk-VqoM5mFy_sLH7li8WOJVsc_KF1ubszhTbkyKqLRa5CtH1-kxpuvhw5RKyGonXoQU7VJnfc5ojB912zDhHGbdZCwCY2ih7k37qICoBswB2Ww_dC6u_Brr761nUwFfJrGuuq6JaFVu0IyFahaqdQyOK3rrobPq0S4mRhXOt0aV09oOCBAo3Qetbc/w150-h200/8.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">A couple of weeks ago I posted about the miracle of two tiny flowers that bloomed in the middle of some very sorry-looking pots of wildflower seeds I had planted and pretty much given up on (<span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><a href=" https://atfootofcross.blogspot.com/2023/07/nothing-is-impossible-with-god-2.html">Nothing Is Impossible With God</a></b></span>).</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9aay02qI-SGUvnajf1FcEMZy98IeTn23ZtQzEtWMtS3biw-ydvjAeL6ydU18UolejuPNme-dMi4ebasbMdB3xzO29HNREXZM5dgaOpMFvO0cZ7BINVTJ9sS99Bm2z-t_QOkzAhjsX_xYJXUIyoqHqK5m4R2Q7NM0jp3f1pAnohK3wXp3Fj2K9_yNJ9U/s640/9.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9aay02qI-SGUvnajf1FcEMZy98IeTn23ZtQzEtWMtS3biw-ydvjAeL6ydU18UolejuPNme-dMi4ebasbMdB3xzO29HNREXZM5dgaOpMFvO0cZ7BINVTJ9sS99Bm2z-t_QOkzAhjsX_xYJXUIyoqHqK5m4R2Q7NM0jp3f1pAnohK3wXp3Fj2K9_yNJ9U/s640/9.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9aay02qI-SGUvnajf1FcEMZy98IeTn23ZtQzEtWMtS3biw-ydvjAeL6ydU18UolejuPNme-dMi4ebasbMdB3xzO29HNREXZM5dgaOpMFvO0cZ7BINVTJ9sS99Bm2z-t_QOkzAhjsX_xYJXUIyoqHqK5m4R2Q7NM0jp3f1pAnohK3wXp3Fj2K9_yNJ9U/w150-h200/9.jpg" width="150" /></a></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLWCr-ODVM4pchDfvZSbTukAZUsGGYPFR1j7vPmxe7P3rrmXHwTj7eDn7qTk9hKBft8dFoDRbTGjUQ6DS6qXBmfiN8rPlh3P8Ik6ckCMhgg_C5zQoYwvteCjFaD4aWEaRzBBxs8mqFKFIUHvbZBps1F4F9P26WxXTAAepu97aYvTPQGrvDyK7aEu28_A/s640/IMG_1200.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLWCr-ODVM4pchDfvZSbTukAZUsGGYPFR1j7vPmxe7P3rrmXHwTj7eDn7qTk9hKBft8dFoDRbTGjUQ6DS6qXBmfiN8rPlh3P8Ik6ckCMhgg_C5zQoYwvteCjFaD4aWEaRzBBxs8mqFKFIUHvbZBps1F4F9P26WxXTAAepu97aYvTPQGrvDyK7aEu28_A/w150-h200/IMG_1200.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br />That, however, wasn't the end of the surprises He had in store. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The wildflowers I planted were supposed to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, which I definitely had given up on since there had been no flowers until these two, and they hadn't lasted very long. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Nonetheless, I did see one small bird sitting on the rail that flew away before I had a chance to take its picture or identify it, as well as a small yellow butterfly that flitted all around the balcony.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">No hummingbirds yet, but with the appearance of what looks like a mini sunflower, and several new buds, who knows? Maybe more butterflies will come to visit, and perhaps a hummer or two after all.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPG6MSuoj9WUxlV12dWJnIjrkglTVoX8iFnEdwZIpqhJoD4MRD0pdwdu_vyeXSv-77r9zX0fTG65-TRUVu56mbK6LClklJYHkS49u2rD9KvHR6Wth6IRRqXYnpKSxsBx8CkLiKIT7jqP6fVfUU4VTF4g_yKDWvXPgQCoA1765_YXhKuFgf8xr6CbZTYhA/s640/IMG_1201.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPG6MSuoj9WUxlV12dWJnIjrkglTVoX8iFnEdwZIpqhJoD4MRD0pdwdu_vyeXSv-77r9zX0fTG65-TRUVu56mbK6LClklJYHkS49u2rD9KvHR6Wth6IRRqXYnpKSxsBx8CkLiKIT7jqP6fVfUU4VTF4g_yKDWvXPgQCoA1765_YXhKuFgf8xr6CbZTYhA/w150-h200/IMG_1201.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxPYI3Owey-7Em_bDb3ncB4n0YQOsiazLVJUmwLQK4LK-3VgVjFhGiQAvhiCfS5v06XMyhNjcmgaraztC-LcwcVJb2tZgma8iqSqHEbn0YRKgGQYJruMJnSxyrtR3W5bRYGKgtdWZVO1tMZ7TiwQ7falx_ivga9Gcobyqw6owRoN8wiNgydB1W1Y8ll4/s640/IMG_1202.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxPYI3Owey-7Em_bDb3ncB4n0YQOsiazLVJUmwLQK4LK-3VgVjFhGiQAvhiCfS5v06XMyhNjcmgaraztC-LcwcVJb2tZgma8iqSqHEbn0YRKgGQYJruMJnSxyrtR3W5bRYGKgtdWZVO1tMZ7TiwQ7falx_ivga9Gcobyqw6owRoN8wiNgydB1W1Y8ll4/w150-h200/IMG_1202.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Great-Granny Grandmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00984367859984906071noreply@blogger.com0