EXCLAMATION POINTS!

This week has been a bit modified from my 'usual routine and visiting schedule' for being with those the Lord is entrusting me with. (mainly 'senior' citizens living in different kinds of care facilities). This is due to the unexpected hospitalization of my 'nearest and dearest' lady who considers me as her 'daughter.' I have been delighted to spend time reading to,   and  just being with her as she and I await medical decisions.                                                                                                                                            The other evening, after a wonderfully fulfilling day of leading hymns one place, then hanging out with her for a couple of hours, I returned home to yet one more delight! But wait! I forgot to tell you about the first 'exclamation point' to that day! It came as I was ready to depart her room.. I asked if she had a special song she'd like me to sing for/to her. HOW GREAT THOU ART was her answer, so I began singing acapella with a full, but not too loud, voice since her door was open. Within 2-3 seconds, I noticed a staff member stopped by the door, smiling broadly, indicating that was her favorite song.. So, as I kept singing, I motioned her into the room to join with me.. She entered and DID join in! Talk about a very special way to end that visit with my dear Alma Mae...praising our Lord with a 'total stranger?'! Upon my arrival at home (9:15PMish), I was blessed to find another wonderful 'exclamation point' had come in the mail! It is truly special since it's a 'first of its kind,' coming from a very treasured person!

The very next day (yesterday), our LORD had one more reason for me to exclaim how wonderful it is to be his child... A long-term desire I've had, but have had to relinquish to his desires, seems about to be fulfilled. This possibility is coming as a result of my last 2 hospital visits.. More details to come as this unfolds in 'my' life lived because of his LIFE within!  (I say this humbly- fully aware of how often I can/do squelch the power of the HOLY SPIRIT through my own willfulness... Yet, HE still loves me! - never gives up as He pours out compassionate grace and mercy upon me...How can I NOT love HIM in return?)   PS- Sorry I can't figure out how to make this all appear the way I want it to on the 'page.' UGH! Gotta go for now! Blessings to all who read this!

TUGGING ON MY HEARTSTRINGS!

Many of you readers know about how I spend a significant amount of  time each week in nursing and/or assisted living facilities. I love this call to sing with, or to, the residents as well as to getting to lead them in growing knowledge of the Word of God at times.  Well... Recently, while walking down the hall at a nursing/rehabilitation center, I couldn't 'just walk on by' a lady with hopeful eyes who spotted me. I took time to meet her since another lady I'd intended to spend time with had been too asleep to awaken for a visit. This new lady to me was very grateful for the songs I sang to her and for the simple act of my turning off the over the headboard light which was exaserbating her bad headache. This light should have had a string attached to its short (3 inches?) chain so she could control it from her immobile state of lying in that bed. There were 2 other big 'factors' contributing to her discomfort, but for now, this lack of a string leads to my chosen title for today. For, you see, I know we all have needs for assistance in living a thriving life. It must tug on God's heartstrings when we are often unable or, unwilling, to ask for, and accept his help.  In her case,  only two of her three needs were meetable by me as I took time to stop, listen to, and realize them. Contrary to this, HE is able to meet all of our needs for a thriving life of abundance (John 10:10), as well as one of prosperity, hope, and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). So.....

This leads me to ask myself, and you, how often we don't call out to our Lord, to 'meet us where we're at?' Do we willingly acknowledge our Creator's desires to be  the sole source of our physical, mental, social, and SPIRITUAL well-being. (Afterall, HE is LIFE itself! Jesus is The WAY, The TRUTH, and The LIFE! -John 14:6) Since we humans are not truly 'mere mortals,' but are triune beings with bodies, souls, and spirits, it is imperative to realize we are either spiritually dead in sin and its consquence of alienation from our Creator/Father God, or, we are spiritually alive because we've accepted our need for spiritual new birth through the atoning blood of Jesus which made possible the reconciliation of us to our Heavenly Father. No other created beings had the breath of God (his spirit!) breathed into them, nor, are they meant to know God personally, as mankind is. Until we welcome Him as LORD and Savior (deliverer from sin's penalty of separation from God!), we individuals 'tug on his heartstrings,' since HE desires to be our sole sufficiency as He provides ALL we need while we are earthbound. Do you let HIM be? Which areas do you hold onto, thinking, "I can do this myself!?" We can ease the tug on his heartstrings if we want to!

HER ACHING HEART!

I am not sure when I will post this article but I will begin now anyhow.. As I drive southward on our 'main drag,' I pass a readerboard at a Christian-owned business. My heart is aching each time I pass it currently for it now says, "Daughter (name withheld).. Please call Mom.. I Love You." This is either a desperate cry of a mom whose daughter has left home willingly or, of one whose daughter has met with something not nice! Either way it is.. it is heart-wrenching to think of the agony of the waiting and hoping mom!

This reminded me of our Lord's heart as He awaits our response to his availability to us. He desires our fellowship, allegiance, and knowledge of Him personally. Contrary to this aching mother's plight though, He chose to need to wait on our response. This mom did not... I do believe though, that the depth of ache which comes from separation from a loved one is much the same for both.

Because it is Easter season, we can remember that 'For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross with its pain and shame..' HE knew many of us would choose to be reconciled to HIM through accepting The LAST SACRIFICE acceptable to his Heavenly Father. I'll bet the aching mother of this missing girl is wishing she could 'do something' in order to offer her girl 'an acceptable/secure way back home.' Please join me in praying for that aching mom.. I will let you all know if I ever hear of the girl's reunion with her. Thanks.. and, may you bless the Lord as you respond to his supreme sacrifice.. He rejoices as you do!

DEEP BREATHING...

My sister calls them, 'GOD WINKS.' I call them displays of the grace of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. Just what am I speaking of? Well, they are those moments when any Christ-centered individual  becomes aware of how HE has allowed evidence of his personal attention to them to become noticed and appreciated. I believe there is a song entitled, COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS.. see what God HAS done.. Pause to remember just a few of those moments/events when you've been able to say a heartfelt, 'THANK YOU,' as you inhaled a deep breath of his 'fresh air.' Those moments are so varied in 'what' comprises them, that I'll make no attempt to even begin suggesting some.. The psalmist, DAVID, reminds us to 'remember,' and today, I will encourage us to live in the present by focusing on INHALING his grace as HE displays it in, or to you, currently. Anticipate many opportunities  to  delightedly say, 'Thank you!' as you look upward-breathing deeply of his grace! Of course, whenever we inhale, we must exhale.. Saying 'Thank You,' is part of this, but I also suggest PRAISING HIM with songs, hymns, or spiritual songs aloud, or within! The 'bottom line' of this message is to practice deep breathing by inhaling GRACE, and exhaling PRAISE!  There is a modern praise/worship song which conveys this truth, although the term, DEEP BREATHING, is not used. This is just my way to apply these thoughts.. Blessings to all.. Sheila    As I proofread this, I am thinking of I Timothy I:17 which says, "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible.. The only wise God,. Be honor and glory forever and ever-- Amen!" I am also focusing on how his grace is sufficient as He supplies all my needs according to his riches in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19 and II Corinthians 12:9) 

SHE NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME!

Hey- Wait a minute! Isn't this blog supposed to be about HIM!? Of course it is.. but, our LORD JESUS CHRIST is seen through us humans as we allow his work within us to make noticeable differences. This story is about a dear acquaintance of mine who is very physically limited, thus, she resides in a nursing home. Each time I visit with her, she manages to amaze me by offering me something. The presence of Jesus within her manifests itself by her determination to find a way to be able to offer to give me anything available.(half an orange, a couple of peanut-butter crackers, part of her 'dinner?', etc.) In her very limited state of resources, HIS presence within determines her desire to be able to give!! Afterall, we can recall how Jesus gave of himself 'for the joy set before HIM.'(Hebrews 12:2) It gives her joy to find 'a 'leetle' something' to offer to me.. I encourage her by saying how I see evidence of  his presence in her as she can't be content not to offer whatever she can! This is important for her especially, because her power-of-attorney is her brother  who happens to be a 'Satanist' by his account.. He threatens her welfare periodically...But, she and I, and our LORD, keep speaking HIS truths to her!  IT is so important that she be allowed the DIGNITY of being able to offer to give. Dear readers, look around each day for opportunities to grant dignity to individuals you cross paths with, no matter who, or where  they are! The LORD restored dignity to mankind by offering Himself on the cross so we can live in restored fellowship with HIM.. We now get to honor Him by being vessels of his grace as we dignify those around us!

I just remembered one other great way to do this is to let others be 'needed', even though we might be able to 'do it better' ourselves!..(or, we don't really NEED the help!) Recently, I let a wheelchair-bound lady 'help' me to my car with my bags of songbooks, guitar, and music stand.  She was SO ecstatic at being allowed to help because, as she put it, "I am always the one who needs to accept help."  Granting dignity is something I love to look for opportunities to do... HOW about you?  I am including a poem  which HE delivered to/through me 4 years ago. HE speaks directly where the quotation marks are. I did NOT try to write this.. He wants us to know how dignified we are!

DIGNIFIED

“by”

Sheila Dean

Within every soul, there’s a cry for dignity-

To be able to know that I’m valued just because

I am me!

Everywhere I look, it’s easy to notice

all those who are robbed of much of this.

My soul cries out to these,

as you desire for them to come to their knees.

You’ve taught me very well that I know the

Truth to tell!

 You do desire for them to hear You say,

“Dear ones, you are priceless today!-

You’re created in MY image-

body, soul, and spirit!

Listen, as I call you to Me, so you’ll soon

appreciate it.

My son, Jesus Christ, died

so that you’ll be dignified-

no longer listening to the one who lied!

Your fullness of life will begin

when you accept my desire to enter in.

When you do, your spirit will become alive-

no longer bound to the law of death and sin.

My Spirit’s presence will dignify

as He instills vitality within!

Then, you WILL stand tall, secure, and strong

since it doesn’t take long to realize

 you’ve joined the eternal throng!

Then, as you do, your dignity will swell,

  for your soul can now say, 'All is well!' "

May our Lord bless you all as HE leads you in opportunities to apply the message of this post...  Because He Loves Us! Sheila

HE'S GOTTA BE SMILIN'!!

As I begin today, I desire to convey  how 'The joy of the Lord is our strength!'(Nehemiah 8:10)  Knowing how He delights in us whenever we accept grace, mercy, strength, and, SO MUCH MORE from Him, can re-ignite my determination to honor Him more readily.    Case in point: Recently, I dared to step on a new, 'user-friendly' scale at our athletic club..(hearing 'Doo, doo , doo, doo', Batman-sort of music in my ears as I approached it!) Well, wouldn't  you know it? It registered a  pound less than 2 days before!!! I was so totally delighted I became quite uninhibited in that empty locker room! First, I threw up my hands in joyful praise! (relief!?).. then found myself speaking aloud, 'THANK YOU, THANK YOU', as I looked up! The emotions of the moment were so pure, I began saying to our Lord, "You gotta be smilin'!"  It was actually fun to bless HIM in such a manner! Why don't I do it more often?  (I am reminded of lyrics from I CAN ONLY IMAGINE  which cause us to think about how we might dance before HIM, or become speechless when we meet HIM face-to-face!) Why wait 'til then? 
Later the same morning, HE 'turned the tables on me,' by showing his sense of humor, causing ME to smile deeply and broadly.. In a Kindergarten music class I was in with one of my 'special' students, a song about 'Michael Finnegan who gained weight again, thus needing to begin again to become thin again' was played! Who says our Lord isn't intimately acquainted with all our ways!!!???  Don't you just love HIM as He is!? We can either welcome or fear this reality.. I'm learning to welcome it! Psalm 139:1-3 states, "O Lord, you have searched me and You know me . You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways."    May his joy in our relationship to HIM and, our joy in HIM as a result, be strengthening for all of  us, ALL of the time!

OK LORD, I GET IT!

As most of you readers of this blog know, I only write when "I just can't NOT write!" WELL, this morning, HE has a BIG message for any/all of us! You see, I listen to a morning devotion program of songs and features on KCIS (AM630in the greater Seattle area).. Today is Friday, so all songs played are hymns. IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL was on, then, when I switched to my media player list I play during commercials and other non-music moments over the air, the song I heard playing was a beautiful rendition of ...IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL! I DO believe my sweet, devoted, delightful, merciful, gracious Heavenly Father is intent upon reinforcing my trust in HIM alone! At this time, there are no 'big,' disturbances in my life as such, but HE does know that I've been somewhat agitated due to some deep concerns I have for others at this point. OUR LORD is simply reminding me how it CAN be WELL WITH MY SOUL..(mind, emotions, and will), if I T.R.Y. (Trust, Relinquish, and Yield). I am entitled to that PEACE that passes all understanding which comes from His guarding of my heart and mind in HIM. This message is for ALL of us, of course.. One final, neat thing to share is when I called my radio station to request THE LOVE OF GOD, by Damaris Carbaugh to be played, the host said it 'is coming right up!' The LORD knew what I would request and had already caused Mark Holland to include it in the line-up!  Talk about personal attention from the LORD!!! HOOOORAAAY!  May each and every one of you ENJOY our LORD this day and all others! As you do, ask HIM how you can best GLORIFY HIM also!