Today is the first day of the rest of your life. I've heard that saying many times over the years, from many different people and many different religions. Today, it's stuck in my head and making me really think and I keep repeating it and just thinking, what does it really mean? Is today really the first day of the rest of my life? I love listening to Christian music, we have an awesome Christian radio station based in St. Paul and I have it going 24/7 (unless the power goes out from a storm) and I've heard a song on the radio many times that has this saying in it.
Many mornings, through out my life, I have awakened with a song going through my head. My inner alarm clock? Maybe. I have actually found myself waking up singing many mornings. Rarely is it the same song. Since my journey started 7 years ago, I find myself waking up singing more and many songs are songs of praise to our Lord. I am always amazed when I do this and it makes me smile and starts my day off on a great step.
This morning, I woke up singing 'This is the first day of the rest of your life'. Over and over again, it started quietly as I was waking up and just kept building stronger until I was awake. I knew that I had heard this in a song on the radio, I admit, I didn't know the name of the song or the artist, but I always like this song and sing along with it. I also know I didn't hear it last night or rather this morning driving home from work. I believe that it was God smiling at me and trying to teach me another lesson. I wasn't arguing this time. I was smiling and I've been pondering these words all morning. This is the first day of the rest of your life, what exactly does that mean? While pondering, God let me know it was a God Smile and started putting the words that He wanted me to type. God is so amazing because He knows exactly how to get your attention - with me this morning it was through this lovely verse from a great song. I wanted to hear the whole song, I mean really hear or rather read the lyrics to this song and yep, God wanted me to really listen and learn. As I listened to the song and read the lyrics, the words struck home and were an answer to my questions I recently asked Him in prayer. God is so good. The song is 'Hold Us Together' sung by Matt Maher and if you get a chance today, listen to it, really listen to it.
My journey these past years, have been tough, painful and many moments joyful. Lately it's been very painful, but I am leaning heavily on Jesus to get through this valley of darkness; to walk out of the desert. During tearful conversations with God, I've admitted I'm not strong - I need your strength to hold me up; I'm not brave - I need your calm to keep me from falling; I can't do this alone - I need you to hold my hand. He has provided me with the strength, the peace and calm to get through this, while always reaching his hand out for me to hold on to. Just as Jesus reached his hand out to Peter who panicked while walking on the water, so has Jesus done this for me and I am so greatful. While listening to the song, I knew what God was letting me know to hang on, that love will hold us together, give us a shelter from the storms, to be our brothers keeper (this made me think of the song 'he ain't heavy he's my brother'), we are not alone - that everything is going to be alright, hang on for just a bit longer. Praise God.
A lesson that I have learned over the years was strengthened today. That God's love is waiting for us - all we have to do is ask. He's right there waiting for you and that love, that strength, that peace and calm, that hand to grab onto is right there for each and everyone of us. Just take that step of faith and know, that yes, today IS the first day of the rest of your life. It all makes sense now.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
Gentle Reminders
Not a good way to start the day by trying to pay bills which made me quite cranky. I'm still playing catch up from when our state government shut down for 3 weeks. Which meant, many of us were off of work for 3 weeks with no pay. That was the beginning of July and just last week we all got our first 'full' paycheck since the shutdown. It made me cranky, to say the least, paying bills this morning. No, I'll be honest here, it made me mad. I was angry at my situation in life - so I was talking with God and no I was not arguing this time, but I was yelling and He was listening. He always listens and I am so greatful for that. And like the gentle Father that He is - I was given some smiles/lessons to remind me how blessed I am. God had 3 smiles for me to be exact.
First smile: I admit - I was driving a bit too fast, not over the speed limit by too much, but faster than I normally do. As I turned the corner and being in a hurry I was forced to suddenly slow down, there was a squirrel in the road - walking. I growled at the squirrel, he still walked, unphased by my now slowly moving car and my growling. This was odd to see, a walking squirrel, they don't walk they run, crazily. Everyone knows that, normally, squirrels run back and forth in the road. I imagine the dialect in squirrel language as they are darting back and forth across your path in the road is this: 'oh my gosh, I have to get across! I can do it! No I can't do it! Yes I can do it! Uncle Lou made it, oh no he didn't better go back! No I have to get that nut over there!" That's is normal squirrel behavior, right? They don't walk, this squirrel was walking - slowly. So I slowed down for the walking squirrel who was ever so slowly meandering across the street. After I growled and grumbled to no avail, I realized who made the squirrel walk in front of me and I smiled and grumpily and silently prayed, "Thank you God. I know I have to slow down." As I said the prayer, the little squirrel took off running. My smile got a smidge bigger. God has such a sense of humor. He knows I slow down for squirrels.
Second smile: The next smile started while I was at the local post office to mail a birthday card. I admit, I don't use 'snail mail' much anymore. I email, IM and FB chat with family and friends all over the country and across the pond. I even pay bills online. So here I am in my still rather grumpy mood trying to remember how much a dang stamp cost. I knew it was forty-something cents. The last time I bought stamps, I bought them by the book and I think it was 2 years ago, maybe longer. So I was sitting in my car in the parking lot at the post office, counting out 40 some odd cents so I would have the correct change - hopefully. Again, I was grumbling to myself and to God over little trivial things. All I wanted to do was mail a birthday card - wah, wah, wah. So my delay and grumbling counting out change while sitting in my car brought me my next smile. First hint of a grin, there was no line in the post office, so in and out. Next smile was when I walked out the door of the post office. There walking towards me from across the parking lot was a lady I know from my place of employment and who we all affectionately call 'The Candy Lady'. She is just the sweetest lady you will ever be blessed to know. 'Candy Lady' and her husband are retired and a couple days during the week come up and play cards at the card room. While her husband plays cards, she sits and reads or visits with the employees and always gives us little candy bars to 'sweeten' our day. She is who sweetens our day. She is our Candy Lady and we all love her dearly, not because of the candy she spoils us with, but because she is so dear to us all. Recently, Candy Lady and her husband went through the horrible tragedy of losing their son. He died suddenly. We all grieved with them. When they came back a few days after the funeral, still shaky and teary eyed from burying their son, we all gathered around them with hugs and condolences and most of all love. I never thought I would see that in a gambling establishment - God's love pouring down on grieving parents. But there it was. So seeing Candy Lady and talking to her this morning and seeing her gentle smile, made me smile and the awakening that God was trying to get through to me after my own grumbling started to stir. My grumpiness was going away quickly.
Third smile: This one occured just a few miles away from the post office. While driving home, a great song by the band MercyMe came on the radio called "Move". If you haven't heard it, go to YouTube right now and listen to it. It's awesome! This song always seems to come on when I need to hear these words in the song: "When life won't play along, and right keeps going wrong and I can't seem to find my way. I know when I am found. So I won't let it drag me down. Oh I'll keep dancing anyway. Gonna move, move. Gonna move, move...." Just a great uplifting song. As I was listening and singing this, I noticed up ahead someone walking down the side of the highway and this persons steps were right to the beat of the music. As I got closer, the smile from God got bigger and, yep, I got His message. There walking down the highway to a steady beat that just happened to match the beat of the song on the radio, was a soldier in full uniform. Looking straight ahead and moving, his steps never faltered, but stayed a steady pace. God bless that young man.
I got God's message loud and clear. My situation in life isn't so bad after all, even when it's heartbreaking, frustrating and it seems like I can't get a break - my life is so very blessed. So after slowing down for a walking squirrel, meeting up with a parent who's son recently went home to Jesus, and seeing a young soldier who made the decision to serve his country and put his life on the line everyday he served, God's lesson for me was learned and smile was smiled. Thank you God for my smiles today, I am truly greatful.
P.S. and in case you are wondering, a stamp costs .44 cents. :-)
First smile: I admit - I was driving a bit too fast, not over the speed limit by too much, but faster than I normally do. As I turned the corner and being in a hurry I was forced to suddenly slow down, there was a squirrel in the road - walking. I growled at the squirrel, he still walked, unphased by my now slowly moving car and my growling. This was odd to see, a walking squirrel, they don't walk they run, crazily. Everyone knows that, normally, squirrels run back and forth in the road. I imagine the dialect in squirrel language as they are darting back and forth across your path in the road is this: 'oh my gosh, I have to get across! I can do it! No I can't do it! Yes I can do it! Uncle Lou made it, oh no he didn't better go back! No I have to get that nut over there!" That's is normal squirrel behavior, right? They don't walk, this squirrel was walking - slowly. So I slowed down for the walking squirrel who was ever so slowly meandering across the street. After I growled and grumbled to no avail, I realized who made the squirrel walk in front of me and I smiled and grumpily and silently prayed, "Thank you God. I know I have to slow down." As I said the prayer, the little squirrel took off running. My smile got a smidge bigger. God has such a sense of humor. He knows I slow down for squirrels.
Second smile: The next smile started while I was at the local post office to mail a birthday card. I admit, I don't use 'snail mail' much anymore. I email, IM and FB chat with family and friends all over the country and across the pond. I even pay bills online. So here I am in my still rather grumpy mood trying to remember how much a dang stamp cost. I knew it was forty-something cents. The last time I bought stamps, I bought them by the book and I think it was 2 years ago, maybe longer. So I was sitting in my car in the parking lot at the post office, counting out 40 some odd cents so I would have the correct change - hopefully. Again, I was grumbling to myself and to God over little trivial things. All I wanted to do was mail a birthday card - wah, wah, wah. So my delay and grumbling counting out change while sitting in my car brought me my next smile. First hint of a grin, there was no line in the post office, so in and out. Next smile was when I walked out the door of the post office. There walking towards me from across the parking lot was a lady I know from my place of employment and who we all affectionately call 'The Candy Lady'. She is just the sweetest lady you will ever be blessed to know. 'Candy Lady' and her husband are retired and a couple days during the week come up and play cards at the card room. While her husband plays cards, she sits and reads or visits with the employees and always gives us little candy bars to 'sweeten' our day. She is who sweetens our day. She is our Candy Lady and we all love her dearly, not because of the candy she spoils us with, but because she is so dear to us all. Recently, Candy Lady and her husband went through the horrible tragedy of losing their son. He died suddenly. We all grieved with them. When they came back a few days after the funeral, still shaky and teary eyed from burying their son, we all gathered around them with hugs and condolences and most of all love. I never thought I would see that in a gambling establishment - God's love pouring down on grieving parents. But there it was. So seeing Candy Lady and talking to her this morning and seeing her gentle smile, made me smile and the awakening that God was trying to get through to me after my own grumbling started to stir. My grumpiness was going away quickly.
Third smile: This one occured just a few miles away from the post office. While driving home, a great song by the band MercyMe came on the radio called "Move". If you haven't heard it, go to YouTube right now and listen to it. It's awesome! This song always seems to come on when I need to hear these words in the song: "When life won't play along, and right keeps going wrong and I can't seem to find my way. I know when I am found. So I won't let it drag me down. Oh I'll keep dancing anyway. Gonna move, move. Gonna move, move...." Just a great uplifting song. As I was listening and singing this, I noticed up ahead someone walking down the side of the highway and this persons steps were right to the beat of the music. As I got closer, the smile from God got bigger and, yep, I got His message. There walking down the highway to a steady beat that just happened to match the beat of the song on the radio, was a soldier in full uniform. Looking straight ahead and moving, his steps never faltered, but stayed a steady pace. God bless that young man.
I got God's message loud and clear. My situation in life isn't so bad after all, even when it's heartbreaking, frustrating and it seems like I can't get a break - my life is so very blessed. So after slowing down for a walking squirrel, meeting up with a parent who's son recently went home to Jesus, and seeing a young soldier who made the decision to serve his country and put his life on the line everyday he served, God's lesson for me was learned and smile was smiled. Thank you God for my smiles today, I am truly greatful.
P.S. and in case you are wondering, a stamp costs .44 cents. :-)
Thursday, August 25, 2011
God's Smiles
The idea for writing about the silly things I have done on my journey to know God came about a year ago, when a friend from high school, Jeanine, and I re-connected on FaceBook of all places. We found so many things we have in common it was unbelievable. Including our faith in God. Many of the things we have in common are hilarious and we just laugh and laugh. One day while discussing our faith and one of the many goofy things we discussed, or have done, we both decided that God must be in Heaven just rolling His eyes and giggling at us. That's the precise moment when God put in my heart to write God's Giggles. But I wasn't so sure I should be doing this, I'm not a writer - am I? God are you sure? I argue with God on alot of things.
Recently, another dear to my heart friend had started a blog on her own personal journey, oh what a God given talent Kim as with her words - such a blessing. (and yep, we re-connected on FB), Kim, brought up God's Giggles and said I really need to start a blog and write this. A few days, before Kim mentioned this, the idea had been tossing around in my head for awhile, during prayer and meditation - God has been nudging me to start writing and reminding me of things that have happened that are truly God's smiles and giggles. But I argued and kept pushing it to the back of my mind.
I argue with God alot, I know, I'm not supposed to do that, but I do. Another dear friend, Joe, told me one day: "God must just slap Himself in the forehead and roll His eyes everytime He asks you to do something, because He knows you will argue." Then we decided God must just laugh also, because He knows I'm going to argue. God knows I'm going to question it and remind God, I'm just me - are you sure you have the right person? I've even had our parish Priest laugh when I told him that God rolls his eyes and laughs everytime He asks me to do something, because He knows I'll argue. It's not really an arguement, I guess, but it does remind me of when Moses kind of argued with God when God asked Him to speak to His people, Moses wasn't sure he was qualified to do what God asked him to do, he had a stutter, he was insecure, he was nobody - who would listen to him? I'm not saying I'm up there with Moses - oh no! Far from it! No, no, no! But after I read that Moses argued a bit with God, I thought to myself, okay, maybe God doesn't mind a bit of an argument, I mean, He really must just laugh because He knows what is coming. I can just imagine the conversation in Heaven: God: "I have to ask Debbie to do something - again." Gabriel - "Lord, You know she's going to argue." God beautifully smiling and maybe chuckling a bit answering: "I know she will, but I also know she will do what I ask. I just have to nudge her a bit more."
So, I'm sure God had a good giggle when He put it in Kim's heart to help nudge (maybe nag a bit?) me to finally hear Him and start writing about God's Giggles or now God's smiles. The adventure begins.......
Recently, another dear to my heart friend had started a blog on her own personal journey, oh what a God given talent Kim as with her words - such a blessing. (and yep, we re-connected on FB), Kim, brought up God's Giggles and said I really need to start a blog and write this. A few days, before Kim mentioned this, the idea had been tossing around in my head for awhile, during prayer and meditation - God has been nudging me to start writing and reminding me of things that have happened that are truly God's smiles and giggles. But I argued and kept pushing it to the back of my mind.
I argue with God alot, I know, I'm not supposed to do that, but I do. Another dear friend, Joe, told me one day: "God must just slap Himself in the forehead and roll His eyes everytime He asks you to do something, because He knows you will argue." Then we decided God must just laugh also, because He knows I'm going to argue. God knows I'm going to question it and remind God, I'm just me - are you sure you have the right person? I've even had our parish Priest laugh when I told him that God rolls his eyes and laughs everytime He asks me to do something, because He knows I'll argue. It's not really an arguement, I guess, but it does remind me of when Moses kind of argued with God when God asked Him to speak to His people, Moses wasn't sure he was qualified to do what God asked him to do, he had a stutter, he was insecure, he was nobody - who would listen to him? I'm not saying I'm up there with Moses - oh no! Far from it! No, no, no! But after I read that Moses argued a bit with God, I thought to myself, okay, maybe God doesn't mind a bit of an argument, I mean, He really must just laugh because He knows what is coming. I can just imagine the conversation in Heaven: God: "I have to ask Debbie to do something - again." Gabriel - "Lord, You know she's going to argue." God beautifully smiling and maybe chuckling a bit answering: "I know she will, but I also know she will do what I ask. I just have to nudge her a bit more."
So, I'm sure God had a good giggle when He put it in Kim's heart to help nudge (maybe nag a bit?) me to finally hear Him and start writing about God's Giggles or now God's smiles. The adventure begins.......
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