Resting in God's Hands

I could not sleep the other night.

Have you ever had a night like that?

Yes, we had another night of storms. A loud bang! against the side of the house did not help my already established insomnia.

(I later discovered a piece of our vent frame to the attic in our bushes as a result of the storm.)

I tossed and turned all night.

In the darkness of the room lit with the occassional flash of lightning from outside, my thoughts turned as gloomy as the weather.

I began to worry.

I worried about finances, future, family.

I looked at the clock.

Each hour creeping by increased my anxiety.

Then I remembered.

God's Word gives rest and peace.

I forced my brain to begin recalling Scriptures and directions from the Bible. Within minutes I fell asleep.

Yet, within minutes the alarm startled me to go to work.

How foolish I felt! I had wasted hours during the night in worry. I could have had a great night's rest by just focusing on God's Word.

As my daughter's picture illustrates, true peace and rest in the middle of storms and life's stresses will come from resting in God's Hand. --in His Word.

How about you? Are you resting in Jesus tonight? I pray you do...

For His Glory,
Gretchen

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

What is with the weather?

I have not seen a spring like this in over ten years!

Those in St. Louis have witnessed strange and dangerous weather since New Year's Eve it seems.

A tornado hit our area New Year's Eve, as you know from my previous blogs. Another severe strike happened on Good Friday. During the month of April, it seems we have spent every weekend praying in our basement as sirens sound in the middle of the night and tornadoes continue to touch down around us.

The amount of rain now results in flooding for many neighboring towns as well.

I have wondered at the conversations I overhear everywhere I have gone this week. In the grocery store at the fresh fish counter, I listened to one woman talk about while praying for safety as the tornado bore down on her neighborhood, she saw in awe the giant mass rise and skip her block. She was puzzled as her neighbors' homes were stripped to the ground. How to react? Why their home and not hers?

At the car dealership, I noticed the mechanic had a scripture verse on his desk and a sticker for Y99.1 FM, a Christian station. I said I liked his verse, and he started sharing about surviving the storm. He commented on how God's grace on Good Friday was amazing because in spite of the devastation, no one was killed or seriously harmed.

When I tried to talk about seeing the red cell of tornadic weather part on the television screen as I prayed in my basement for safety, my friend was doubtful.

"I never pray about weather. Why would God spare my home only to take others? I find it silly to pray to God about such things."

I was flabergasted. It still bothers me as I write. Why wouldn't I pray about the weather, I asked. If God can calm the sea by simply saying, "Peace be still," if God can part the Red Sea for the Israelites to walk across to safety, if God created this universe in which we live, why wouldn't I pray during a severe storm for safety and help? I prayed not only for my own family, but that the storm would not hurt anyone in our area and that the storm would go away.

I thank God for parting the red cell on Good Friday. I thank God no one in St. Louis was killed by this F4 tornado.

On the other hand, I do not know why some homes were spared and others flattened. I have no answer for that.

I only know that God directed me to pray about whatever concerns me and to trust in His love and plan for my life.

I now pray for the many without homes.

I also pray for better weather for all of us as we anticipate summer.
Join me, won't you?

For His Glory,
Gretchen

Nothing as Common as Rare Book?

I love old books.

Because of this, I will probably be the last person on earth to buy a NOOK or e-book device.

Sad, isn't it?

I just like holding a book.

I even like smelling the pages.

For old books, I like it even better if someone has written a note or inscription to a loved one.

"For Will, have a happy birthday."
"From your loving parents..."

Knowing someone else has handled the worn pages and enjoyed the story or poem as much as I perhaps, just adds to my deep satisfaction in reading.

Today then was a surprising article you have read I am sure.

A man walks in to tell a book appraiser that he has a very old book.

Hearing this so many times, the man sighs as he watches the plastic unwrap around the worn-out paper.

To his surprise, a 500-year old rare book is resting before him. A rare book.

Yet, as I read the article, I was confused by his quote when discussing its value. The book, although 500-years old, and a wonderful piece of human history wasn't very valuable.

Its condition was not pristine. Unlike one that turned up in San Franscico in mint condition selling for a million dollars, this one had a few pages missing and a spine falling apart. Hence, it was only worth $50,000.

The appraiser said that there are several similar books like this one around the world, but it was unusual to see it turn up in Utah. He said, "There is nothing as common as a rare book."

Hmmmmm. Holding or touching one of the first printed books in human history, knowing its historical impact on civilization did not increase its value. Its value rested in its current condition.

I wonder what my current condition is for Jesus? What I may have done in the past for Him really is not what matters, is it? It is my current work, my current state that concerns Him.

Am I lukewarm? Hot? Cold? He says He would rather I be hot or cold than lukewarm. He can not use me as a lukewarm Christian. Do I spend more time watching television, reading the newspaper, old books rather than the Bible? Have I settled in my faith for being lukewarm?

I pray not. I know God seems me as a rare book whose story includes being rescued by a loving King, Jesus. I just hope my soul's current condition doesn't diminish my value in working for Him here on earth.

How about you? You are a rare book, too. No other story matches yours.

How's your rare book condition? Is it common? lukewarm? or in pristine condition as you tell the story of Jesus to all who will hear?

For His Glory,
Gretchen

He Is!

No doubt this week you have seen or will see many images of Easter. I could write so much about this amazing time of year for believers, couldn't you?

One person I know exclaimed, "What is it with you Christians and your eggs and chocolate and candy crosses? I don't get your commercialized holidays!"

At first I was embarrassed by her comment. I do succumb like many to filling my daughter's Easter basket as well as my relatives' baskets in the past.

At the same time, I also fondly remember sunrise services at the First United Methodist Church in my small, Illinois hometown. -Rising at 5:30 to sit in a not-so-crowded sanctuary, listening the the testimony of people as they stood before bleary-eyed children, praising God for the Resurrection of Jesus.

After testimonies and a short sermon, the congregation moved to the church basement where we ate scrambled eggs, bacon, and home-made biscuits. We rushed home for a quick Easter egg hunt, donned our finest Sunday clothes to journey back to the church for a more formal, yet still celebrational meeting. Unlike the 5:30 service, the traditional service found people crammed into pews, extra chairs lined the aisles, and the pastor preached to a sea of new faces.

As I look on past Easter traditions, I no longer am embarrassed by the chocolate, colored eggs, and new attire for Easter though. Consider most of our society's celebrations: birthdays, team championships, family reunions, engagements, and marriages. All these are celebrated in our culture with food and festivities.

Easter deserves to be celebrated even more than all of these events. It is the ONLY reason we can call ourselves CHRISTians.

He is Risen!

Therefore...

He IS!

He is Risen!

Therefore...

I am His forever and ever!

That is such good news!

What a celebration we need to have!

Why wait?

I say, "Let's go eat the ears off that chocolate rabbit NOW!"

Have a wonderful Easter celebrating Jesus!

For His Glory,
Gretchen

The Apology Note

Friday night I had an amazing experience!

It was my first time to receive a note of apology from my daughter.

For those of you who have ever received a note of apology when wronged you know it is such a relief, isn't it?

Even if you forgive the person without an apology, the note just released something inside of you, such love, such happiness!

No, not because I want to prove I am right, but because the note shows the person cares enough about my feelings and doing what is right...that I actually matter.

It matters that I was hurt.

So, Friday night, after scolding my daughter for something I was disappointed in her doing, or rather not doing (sin of omission is sometimes worse), I went to my room sad that the weekend had started on such a sour note. I doubted if she understood the expectations that we talked about in choosing to do the right thing even if no one tells you to do it.

Then she shyly came to me and said, "Mama, you need to go on a treasure hunt! Come on....hot...no cold....keep walking....hot...hot...you're burning up! Right under your pillow, see?"

Under my pillow on my bed was the sweetest letter with a picture of a big heart and me in the center of it saying she was sorry and would do better next time.

She got it! She understood! She felt regret! I floated around the house the rest of the night! She and I hugged and felt such lightness and happiness as our relationship deepened. We laughed and played games that night like never before.

Then it hit me. This is how God feels when I tell Him I am sorry for my own actions. He knows He matters to me. I want to please Him. He loves it when I get it!

How about you? Any notes of apology to God lately?

He will be so pleased.

For His Glory,
Gretchen

Suspicious Minds No More...

Today, something occurred to me for the first time about heaven.

After hearing that my husband's Uncle John died last night, I really was amazed at God's timing. You see two months earlier, God had put Uncle John on my heart and mind. I was supposed to send him a letter of testimony and a book about my own mother's faith in Jesus.

I admit I did not want to do so. John was a judge in California. His lifestyle and values were much different from mine. All our lives we enjoyed John's presence but never talked about God to him. I am ashamed to admit this.

Nevertheless, I did as I felt prompted in February. I sent the letter and the book after much prayer. Not much later, John called and told me an amazing thing, "Gretchen, if someone didn't believe in Jesus before, they certainly would now!"

He was not in the hospital at that time. At that time, I did not know why God had me send that message. Now, I do. This past month, John went into the hospital and declined rapidly.

God's timing is to be obeyed.

Sometimes, though, I am suspicious when receiving such direction, aren't you?

I mean, don't you sometimes worry that you are acting on your own will or prompting and going to seem foolish? I admit I do.

What an honor though to be God's messenger! His Holy Spirit did the work. God just tested me and asked me to send His Word for God's harvest.

What if I had been too suspicious, too doubtful, too analytical and not sent the letter? I am sure God would have found another servant to do so, but I would have missed God's blessing and message to me as a result.

Another view of suspicious minds also occurred to me today. I was driving, and someone would not take turns at the 4-way-stop. I am one of those creatures who assumes the worst very often. I am suspicious of motives and actions and, as my husband has warned me, too often think someone is being mean to me when it may be just an innocent act. I, of course, thought this person pulling out in front and honking was doing so as a mean act to me. How silly of me!

How often do I assume a phone call not returned is a deliberate act of someone ignoring me? or that someone butting in line at the store realizes I was there first? or....

Then it hit me....In heaven, we will be like Jesus. What will my life be like knowing there is no mean act in heaven? No person will do something to hurt another. Everyone will be working to the glory of God and helping each other.

Wow! I guess I need to start practicing what that feels like now and give up my suspicious mind.

Trust God's voice.
Lean not to thine own understanding.
Love one another.

For His Glory,
Gretchen

No Going Back...

This past week I have been on a slippery slope. Perhaps you understand. It is as though today I had a wake-up call and realized, "There is no going back!"

No, I am not in trouble.

Yes, my family is fine.

It is when life is good though that I get into the most trouble.

I forget God's blessings. I forget His answers to prayers.

It happens so quickly. So easily.

I am humbled today when reading His Word and reminded of His goodness.

Today, God started reminding me of all the wonderful answers to prayers He has given me. It overwhelmed me. -The beautiful spring weather, my daughter doing well in school after struggling with how to handle her auditory disorder, my husband's asthma doing so much better, my sister-in-law's healing, my freedom from addictive food dependency, my part-time job, my parents still living in heaven, and so much more....

Perhaps you don't understand it. How can someone forget all God's goodness and go back to taking Him for granted?

I am sorry to say, it happens. All too easily.

I can start complaining about the little things again. I can get discouraged and panic easily.

For example...
We backed into our own car the other day. I just repaired the car from backing into a Jaguar of all things! My insurance rates went up. Years of no accidents did not matter. Did I say it was a Jaguar out of my line of sight as I backed into it? Then my husband backed into MY car as we hurried to church.

How did I respond? Not well.

We are gutting our kitchen to replace peeling, worn-out cabinets. Taking out an appliance we find a damaged floor from a leaking dishwasher. The floor now needs replacing.

How did I respond? Not well.

We are painting the guest bathroom. In doing so, we find our toilet is cracked and needs replacing.

How did I respond? Not well.

You get it don't you? All of these seemingly unimportant things are part of life on this earth. You would think after all the blessings and miracles I have seen this past month, I would be able to handle at least these things, right?

God has convicted me today, "There is no going back! I have created in you a new creature!" The problem is that I have not renewed my mind as often with His Word. My Bible reading has fallen off. My quiet time is not so quiet lately. I haven't been listening as often to God.

"No going back!" My natural tendencies are to eat when tired, grumpy, upset. I can feel that trying to come back. My natural tendencies are to become depressed when a series of events go wrong. I can see that happening.

So I shout this morning, "No!" I read Isaiah 51, "Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn;...The Lord will make her deserts like Eden, her wasteland like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing...my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail."

Like taking my hand off the chess piece as I move forward to the KINGDOM, I will not go back. My God is with me and will not fail me.

Forgive me, Jesus, for trying to go back to the old ways of this life. Help me be your garden, your planting. Let your joy and gladness be found in me in storms, in sun, in lightning, and in blue sky, in night and day.

For Your glory,
Gretchen

No Longer Marketable...

I hit bottom last night. It was over a silly remark a friend made to me.

She made the remark without realizing to whom she was talking. It was innocently done. She was focusing on her own situation in life and just said it.

-But she said it several times.
-And it hurt.

"If I don't take this job offer now, I won't probably get the chance in the future because in a few years I'll be 50 and you know you are no longer marketable as a woman when you are over 50!"

Sigh.

Yes, I am over 50.

Driving home, I started thinking of all the dreams I had when I was like this woman. --All my goals.

Anything seemed possible. I could start a new career. Change direction in my life. Move.

In fact, every vacation we took became an "I-wonder-what-life-would-be-like-moving-here?" discussion.

Now I realized after those words were repeated to me "no longer marketable," how limited my choices are. I most likely won't get a chance to live in Colorado as I dreamed of doing since 15 years old. I most likely won't be a television, news producer behind the scenes writing and directing as I dreamed of doing in my 20's and 30's.

So, I got depressed. I let myself do that. I started whining about how life was passing me by or had passed me by and I had blown all my chances.

Isn't it ironic this happened just after I was going to fast from whining and complaining and focus on gratitude?

I think Satan knew this weak spot. This fear I have of aging, of feeling useless...he knows that.

That is why I came home from work to read the Scriptures, to once again remind myself of God's plan, love, and purpose for me. In heaven, I will have a job. I will not worry about being a "marketable age" any more! I will work for the best boss, Jesus!

OK. I'm better now. God's Word heals.

I hope God is speaking to you today through His Word. Just five minutes will help.
It helped me.

For His Glory,
Gretchen

We Need a Bigger Stage!

I have enjoyed Christian singer, Mandisa's music so much this past year. Last Sunday our pastor shared the "behind-the-scenes-story" of her rocky start on American Idol.

In season five, I remember the time Simon Cowell remarked behind her back after she left the stage, "We're gonna need a bigger stage!"

Any woman knows that remarks about our weight hurt. Hearing it later on national television had to be even more difficult for her.

Later though, Mandisa's response reflected God's grace and love. When on the final cut for American Idol, before receiving the news she was in the final twenty, she spoke directly to Simon.

Telling him how she was hurt and yes, he made her cry, she told him with that sweet genuine smile that she forgave him. She said he did not have to apologize to receive her forgiveness because if Jesus could forgive her of her sins, who was she not to forgive Simon for his hurtful remarks?

Simon, in a rare moment, was humbled. He said that he felt small and asked for a hug. She said what caused that humble response so unusual from him was that Simon did not expect to meet Jesus when he walked into the room that day. She reflected Jesus' love and forgiveness.

Like other contestants, she could have complained, whined, and even sought revenge on Simon via the media or her own remarks. Instead, she forgave.

More recently, last night, on Dancing with the Stars (yes, I watch some trash t.v. sometimes) Kirstie Allie and her partner fell on the dance floor on live television. Like Mandisa, Kirstie has talked about her weight struggles and I am sure felt the fall related to her weight. (I relate to that struggle so much). I will be interested in seeing the responses tonight and how that is handled via the media.

It will be played again, I am certain. -More than once. Why? Because each of us relates to a fall. Seeing it happen to famous people, on a nationwide broadcast pulls us even more into the drama.

How others handle a fall, whether real or metaphorically, speaks to us, to our children. More importantly, how we handle rude comments, angry responses, whining, complaining, or even falling, speaks to our children and to their children's children as our reactions are passed on from generation to generation.

One friend recently sent me a challenge to fast, but not from food (thank goodness:)). It is to fast from complaining, whining, spending, and many other more difficult yet God-focused methods to remember Jesus' sacrifice before Good Friday. I will try. May I remember Jesus' love and forgiveness like Mandisa and chose, no matter how hurt, to reflect His love, his mercy.

"Why are you so downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God" (Psalm 42 and 43).

Praise be to God,
For His Glory,
Gretchen

A Whale of an Interruption and for Sharon Joy!

Don't you just hate being interrupted? You are in the middle of a story or task or concentrating on completing an assignment, and you are interrupted. One Bible study mother shared how she realized every time she sat down to study the Bible one of her four boys would interrupt her. At first, she would sweetly say, "No now, Mommy's studying the Bible." By the umpteenth time, she found herself shouting, "NOT NOW! CAN'T YOU SEE I'M TRYING TO READ GOD'S WORD!" While we laughed as she worried about the impression her little ones would have about reading the Bible and what it does to a person, we truly understood the irritation of being interrupted.

This weekend, I attended the simulcast of Bible teacher, Priscilla Shirer, about life's interruptions and how we respond to them as Christians. It was convicting and insightful. Some of you have had major interruptions, painful ones: cancer, loss of a loved one, becoming a caregiver, loss of job, divorce, and more. Life's path today is not what you envisioned five months ago, five years ago. I am writing to tell you, no matter what the interruption, God is your Refuge, your Strength, and He loves you with a jealous love. He will see you through this and your interruption will turn into a divine intervention if you let it. One blog reader shared her faith and battle with cancer recently, Sharon Joy. God has put her on my heart. I ask she be on yours as well.

Sharon, today's blog is for you. Thank you for your post the other day. I am sharing this for you because of your reference to Hezekiah when you asked for 15 more years as you battle cancer and wait for your answer from God.

Ironically (or really Godronically)I heard part of a message while driving in the car about Hezekiah BEFORE I saw your post. It grabbed my interest so much that I started searching last night for the Biblical reference and story. This morning, when you talked about it, I felt I just needed to share this. Perhaps it will encourage you as you cling to God and use Him as your refuge.

Before I forget to tell you, I am praying for you and God's will be manifested in your journey and I am binding Satan from trying to interrupt or interfere with God's plans for you.

Here goes: The story in Isaiah 37:16; before the prayer to which you refer about extending his life, Hezekiah received bad, bad news, a letter from the king of Assyria telling Hezekiah how he was going to destroy Hezekiah and all his people. The king of Assyria, as you know, had a reputation (like cancer) of destroying countries completely.

What did Hezekiah do? Did he panic like I would have and often have done with bad news, with news of something far out of my control? No. I love what He did.

Read it with me Sharon Joy: "Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. And Hezekia prayed to the Lord: O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earthy. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; listen to all the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the Living God. It is true, O Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste all these peoples and their lands. They have thrown their gods in to the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. Now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O LOrd, are God."

Sharon, take your test results and just spread them out before God. Just kneel down in your kitchen, living room, bedroom and fan out the test results like Hezekiah did with that letter from the evil king. Give it to God, again. I know if you have done this already, God must be so very pleased. Pray God's Word over these results. Meditate on His Word daily as well.

What did God do? That is the best part of the picture isn't it, Sharon Joy? "This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Because you have prayed to me concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria, this is the word the Lord has spoken against him:..."But I know where you (the evil king) stay and when you come and go and how you rage against me. Because you rage against me and because your insolence has reached my ears, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth and I will make you return the way you came....I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David, my servant." (God knows the source of cancer. He can put His hook in it and bit in it and remove it from your body.)

Then what happened? While Hezakiah and his people stayed inside the walls, "Then the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning--there were all the dead bodies! So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there." Later this evil king's own sons cut him down as he worshiped his idols in his temple. (I find it so sad that this evil king and his people saw the living God and STILL turned back to their own idols of worship. What a different story for them if they had turned their interruption of conquering others into recognizing the Living God and worshiping Him instead! What arrogance he must have had!)

In the end, Hezakiah saw first hand the protection and refuge of God for His people. Your life has been interrupted, as Priscilla Shirer, calls it. Ironically, or again, Godronically, Ninevah, where the evil king returned, is where Jonah was called to witness, where Jonah's own life was interrupted and when Jonah had to face being swallowed by a whale before getting on the track God planned for him. Talk about major interruptions! Jonah tried running from God's call and interruption. Jonah didn't have a chance. God wanted Jonah's attention and wanted to intervene in not only his life, but in the life of the evil Ninevahns.

"Great interruptions can become divine interventions if we submit," says Bible teacher Priscilla Shirer. I see that in hindsight. When caring for my parents and witnessing their struggles and pain, I did not see it as an intervention. I often saw it as an interruption. Why this struggle? Why this painful path? On the other side, I understand more about it than I did then, not all of it still, but definitely more. It is hard to see interruptions as interventions when in the middle of it, isn't it?

Anyway, Sharon Joy, this blog is to encourage you because of your reference to Hezekiah: spread your pain and bad news before the Lord,take this interruption in your life and let God's glory shine through it all...watch and see God's divine intervention and submit to His control and plan. I do not say this lightly. I do not have cancer. I can not even imagine your pain, your fear, your path. That is between you and the Living God who loves you.

...But for some reason, I must share this portion of Scripture with you. For some reason, I must obey and write about it. Perhaps it isn't for you, but rather for someone else reading this, or even for me for my own preparation for the future.

No matter the reason, I submit to God and give this to Him.... In the meantime, I call on all Sisters in Christ reading this to stop and lift Sharon Joy to God, asking for His healing and will to be accomplished in her life.

For His Glory,
Gretchen

Healed!

Today's blog is a celebration and a thanksgiving to God for good news! My sister-in-law, Tabby, received the wonderful news that the cancer in her abdomen is GONE! GONE GONE GONE GONE GONE! In October, Tabby had part of her colon removed only to discover numerous cancer tumors like granuals that could not be operated on remained as well as one larger one on her liver. After months of a difficult journey and radiation, she has received this amazing good news!

I share this not to brag or gloat about Tabby, although I must confess her reaction to this journey has been a witness to me. She has chosen to praise God throughout and lift Him up no matter what the outcome or impact on her life. Many have been touched by her act of faith and her focus on Scripture.

I share this for another reason. It is like the story of the elderly couple. They were sitting on their porch one day and the husband looked at his wife of forty-eight years, just beginning to realize what great partner and help she had been to him for so many years. He turned to her and said, "Wife, you've been such a wonderful woman that there are times I can hardly keep from telling you" (Moss, 97)!

I do not want to be like that man. I do not want to hold back on my thanks and praise to God for His miraculous healing of Tabby! I do not want to be like the lepers where ten were healed by Jesus in the Bible and only one returned to give thanks. I want to shout this good news to all!

Thank you, God! Thank you, God! Your mercy endureth forever!

Now, I will talk to those of you who have not received healing or those who know of someone who received a "No" or "Not now" from God. My mother was never healed from Parkinson's disease even though we prayed daily for this and did so for almost thirty years. She had amazing faith, like Tabby. She focused on the Scriptures, too. In addition, my daughter was diagnosed at 4-yrs old with auditory processing disorder which means she hears people as though they are under water. I have asked for God to heal her. So far, He has not. I have bad eyesight. I have asked God to heal me so I can read and see my daughter's face and not struggle to drive at night. God has not healed me.

Could God have healed my mother? YES! Could He heal my daughter? YES! Could He heal my eyes? YES!

Why God says, "Yes," to some and "No," to others, I do not understand. What I do know is that God has a plan and asks that we trust Him through the "Yes's" as well as the "No's" no matter how hard or confusing it is.

Give thanks in all things.... Not easy to do, Dear Reader. Yet, it is not a request from God. It is His expectation.

Today, though, it IS easy. Today, I give thanks and shout it to all who will hear. Thank you, God, for healing Tabby. The picture above is Tabby's reaction in the doctor's office when she heard the news. My brother said he felt like David in dancing before the Lord.

Join me in reading Psalm 145 even if you have not had your healing yet. Let your heart focus on God's mercy in providing salvation and eternal life even when we didn't deserve any of it. Join me in telling God how thankful we are for His love.

"Our generation shall commend your works to another and shall declare your mighty acts....They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness....your saints shall bless you!"

Do YOU have a blessing to share? Feel free to post it on this blog. Others, like I, will be encouraged and God will feel so pleased to have a thank-you-shout-out.

For His glory,
Gretchen