He Fled Away Naked....

 Mark 14:51-52 is a verse I've been pondering for years. The Holy Spirit highlighted it to me as I was reading through the Bible, cover to cover, the first time around. I like to understand things, but I could never quite grasp "WHY" The Holy Spirit led me there, led me to research it numerous times in different ways, led me to examine my life, led me to discuss it with other believers. Yet...the ONLY thing that was clear is He wanted me aware of it. 

The verse reads: "A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving the garment behind." Mark 14:51-52 (NIV) 

Monday, I went for a walk on our place. My life finds me in an interesting place. A place, where I find myself yielding or trying to yield (both happen) to The Holy Spirit. Are there overwhelming things in my life? Yes. Has He blessed me with the MOST beautiful blessings to navigate challenges with, for and about? You bet! AND....some incredible gifts I am grateful to have. I realized SO MUCH on that walk. He has equipped me for ALL The Holy Spirit has shown me. Yes, thinking about it overwhelms me. There really isn't a logical timeline.....at all really, yet it is happening. There is no control I really have, if I'm to be obedient....even though it has taken me a while in some regards. I had so many moments of wrestling in this/these life transitions I am experiencing. Last week, I reflected on how I have reached a place that is familiar to me. I have thought, prayed, figured, researched, worked myself into states of frustration and agitation, until I am called to YIELD. Then, when I yield I look around. Almost always, when I get to the place where I yield, a blessing of knowledge, awareness, a piece of God's wisdom is revealed to me. 

I wish I could tell you how to get to that place. At times, I wish I could skip the wrestling part. If I understand, I'll move much quicker. But He's been developing a layer of my faith, which I want more than the satisfaction of knowing and acting without FULLY understanding. 

Well....on this walk, The Holy Spirit took me on a journey that was spurred with the Bible verse and quote in my planner for the day. Then it led me down other places, and before you know it I was having a conversation with Chat GPT about Biblical timelines, detailed information about John Mark (the author of The Book of Mark), his life, the life of other Biblical figures and SO much more. 

God blessed me with divine wisdom. I don't need anyone to agree with me, argue it with me, or anything of the sort. I've been carrying this Biblical fact with me long enough to know that it was written for a time such as this, in my life. I think this information I uncovered is important. It was important to me. 

Before sharing the revelation, I want to share the moment I "knew" it was divine wisdom. As I was reading the Chat GPT response regarding the age of John Mark (Mark) in comparison to Matthew; tears just rolled from my eyes. There is NOTHING sad or completely earth-shattering about that fact, but I believe without a shadow of a doubt, that I felt that truth in MY spirit, even if I didn't fully grasp it yet in my flesh. 

Now for all the lessons and bread crumbs that I experienced before getting to this moment....

Up until this moment...this day... I lacked so much knowledge about John Mark and lacked the desire to understand. I was looking at all the ways that verse tied back to me, not him. I looked for God's message to me...the significance of the words, of the book, of how it mattered in my life in all the moments it was brought to my attention. This time, I turned my focus to the author. It took a few breadcrumbs and experiences to get there, and honestly, I can't say that there is a way to convey or map these lessons to the ultimate outcome, but they led me there and they were lessons that I REALLY needed for a variety of things going on in life. 

I start out on my walk. I had realized, a few days earlier, that my medicine dosage had accidentally been off, and my emotions and anxiety were starting to level out again. I remember starting my conversation with God, and thinking about how we must be SO hard to work with, yet He still chooses to. I remember being upset in my flesh, with how it derailed me. I was feeling like I lost ground. Yet, somehow in that moment, I accepted that He decided to continue to encourage me - no matter the weakness of my flesh. I don't know how to explain this release...submission....acceptance of His grace, but it happened with a grateful heart. This is when the research began. 

At this point is was light, curious research. The Holy Spirit had brought Mark 14:51-52 back to the forefront of my mind. I have walked all of the easy paths on our property, so I've started exploring some of the cow trails that are a little less traveled. I had music playing...Lauren Daigle and as I left the more traveled path to the less traveled path, I had focused on dodging spider webs. I get to the other side, where there was a clearing and realized I lost my phone somewhere along the way. I remember thinking...."Man! my phone didn't record all of those steps." Then, I made my way back to my phone, but I hit SO many spider webs on the way back and I decided I didn't want to go back that way.....although I had a gentle tug, so I knew how many steps I had actually walked. I felt nudged to go another direction. 

As I was standing there, pondering the decision of what way to go; The Holy Spirit helped me to reflect that.....not everything gets recorded. That does not mean it didn't happen, because clearly....it just happened....even though I had no record of it. Okay.... :). Then I felt led to walk a little closer to the tank (pond) than I normally do. I had my glasses on my forehead, so my peripheral vision was blurry. As I was walking by....I saw something large and reddish-gray. At first, I thought it was a dead cow. I got a little closer and realized that it was a mound of dirt under a tree that was growing in the tank. We hadn't gotten rain in a while and the pond was low enough to expose dirt, that was typically under water. 

I pull out my phone and ask Chat GPT why some dirt would have a red ring around it.....explained all the conditions, etc. As I was reading the scientific reason some of the dirt on the same mound would appear red versus gray, understanding that the oxygen hitting the iron in the ground quicker than normal for that area produces that red ring......almost simultaneously I get "I'm always here. Not everything is going to be recorded and everything is not going to be visible to the human eye. That does not mean that I am not there. I will be seen when I need to be seen....when the environment is right." I smile as I type this. I needed this encouragement and reassurance that I can't mess up His timing. 

These are the gently moments where I am left in awe of God's gentleness and GREATNESS. After this moment, on the way back, is when the dominoes started falling. One question led to another question and it just kept going. I don't know how I got back to  "A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment...." again, but I did. In my research I was reminded of yet another verse that has always stuck out to me and how it is ONLY found in the Book of Mark: "As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed." Mark 16:5 This had COMPLETELY engaged my mind. 

I'm thinking: Both of these accounts are ONLY found in The Book of Mark. What if.........(insert mind blown emoji here). Then, I zoned in on who is Mark? He was NOT one of Jesus's 12 disciples ----- which was an assumption I think many of us make. His full name is John Mark. He was the apprentice to Peter, which is one of the original 12 disciples. The Book of Mark is thought to be the account of Peter, written by the hand of John Mark. John Mark was the son of Mary, and part of a well-off Jewish family in Jerusalem that hosted many church gatherings in the beginning of Jesus's ministry. Based on various timelines, at the time of Jesus's death, John Mark would have been in his late teens or early 20s. This fact, coupled with, him being part of a well-off family.....he could have very much been: "A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment"  AND "a young man dressed in a white robe." It would have ONLY been in The Book of Mark, because it was Mark's direct testimony - marked with humility (similar to how John is in his account - referring to himself as "the one Jesus loves" instead of mentioning himself directly.)

I go further.....asking for an account of the timelines in the order in which the books were written. (Insert another mind blown emoji here.) The Book of Mark is thought to have been written BEFORE any of the other accounts. Many scholars also think that both Matthew and Luke drew references FROM the Book of Mark. I would gather, that John also adopted a similar writing style. I even asked WHY Matthew was placed before Mark. When the Bible was being put together, scholars believed that The Book of Matthew, gave a more full and detailed account of the Gospel story, thus coming to an agreement that it would give readers a more FULL context. My tears started flowing around this time. I take that as a sign of divine wisdom. 

Then....I wanted a better understanding of why John Mark would find himself in this space. The space of being a YOUNG,  person OUTSIDE the inner circle, witness to Jesus Christ, who - ULTIMATELY, is the first author of the account of Jesus Christ.

Just as a young man having access to linen cloth was likely due to the family's wealth, so is his ability to scribe FOR Peter. Wealthy Jewish families would have made it a priority to educate the young men in their family in 2 to 3 languages. As a teenage/young man who had witnessed and experienced the activity of Jesus and being captured in the garden....you best believe that he likely wanted to WITNESS Jesus's words. Would He ACTUALLY rise from the dead, when He said he would? Why would the women NOT tell anyone? Well....envision that the son of Mary, the wealthy Jewish woman hosting many of the gatherings was the first person found and Jesus was no where to be found. That leads to a host of potential: "uh-ohs," "what do we dos," and "maybe silence is betters." Yet, The Holy Spirit leads me deeper. In my research, I was reminded of "THE REASON" Paul and Barnabas split from each other, when in ministry together. 

The REASON for the split was JOHN MARK. This scripture never really sat well with me. It felt.....unfinished or incomplete. This is the scripture I am referencing: "And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, 'Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.' Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord." Acts 15:36-40   It leaves a picture of Paul being "right" and John Mark being someone that abandoned a ministry, which I do not believe is the full story. 

One of the wonderful things about scripture, is as you read, you get to know these Biblical characters and get a feel for their personalities and see factors that help them in their decision-making. I remember REALLY being drawn to Barnabas. I think this is why I didn't like the picture this scripture painted. It is Paul's truth, but not the full context (I believe). At the time, I did not know that Barnabas and John Mark were cousins. Barnabas would have been a better judge of John Mark's heart. Bigger than this though....and nothing that can be confirmed nor denied. I believe that John Mark, whether documented or not MAY have realized (or had a divine encounter) that his gifts would not be best used in ministry with Paul. Paul was educated. He had been a Pharisee. He was COMPLETELY entrenched in the other side of the coin and preaching from a place of experience to those that already believed, that John Mark would not be able to in the same way. Paul's message was reinforcing believers and churches and continuous encouragement. John Mark's gifts allowed him to reach people that were totally unfamiliar. Paul and John Mark's perspectives came from different directions. This is important because John Mark would have been able to write from a firm understanding of Jewish customs and had the education to translate this into a language that the Romans would understand. In regards to the spreading of information, Rome was THE hub of information. As The Holy Spirit moved all things together to create the best circumstances to spread the Gospel: Paul was able to encourage and share, while imprisoned in Rome, with information being sent out (and possibly penned by John Mark) from Rome to other parts of the ancient world. Him leaving Paul and Barnabas years prior, allowed us to see the documented reconciliation IN Rome AND allowed John Mark to pen the very first Gospel account to then be dispersed from Rome, in a way that anyone reading it could understand. 

What a blessing. What an understanding God has blessed me with. How great to have such a deeper understanding of Mark, his significance....his struggles....his character.....an understanding that has helped me to understand the other disciples differently. What a blessed reminder that He is always with us and while all the details may not be recorded, it does not negate His presence and His knowing. (This was reinforced to me by another God wink, the week before.) This experience was all these things, plus this gentle nudge to move forward. 

Buck Up Baby & Ride with Jesus! Yield, observe, be present. Rest in the humility like John Mark. Sit in His truth without having to be seen, known, and measured by anyone, but The Holy Trinity. He knows that we will come to the end of ourselves and our abilities.....flee away naked....yield to The Holy Spirit and NEED Him. Allow Him to do things only He can do. We have to LET HIM work in our lives. 

Moments of Obedience vs. Walking in Obedience

Me & the fam are spending a few days camping at our deer lease, mainly enjoying wide open spaces & each other’s company & I find myself pondering something I read in Isaiah yesterday.

“If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; but if you resist & rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of The Lord has spoken. Isaiah 1:19-20

The lessons I took away from this are:

1) If you resist, you are rebelling at the same time.

2) Doing something begrudgingly is NOT obedience.

3) Resisting and obedience are opposite of each other. They cannot simultaneously exist in you.

Learning to walk in obedience is much different than moments of obedience. The moments get us there. They strengthen our faith, as we learn to walk in obedience, but they are moments.

I do believe God rewards moments of obedience. He is helping us to understand the kind of blessings that can come, when we confirm our willingness to being obedient to His work and His plan.

Also, another thought I’ve had on the matter is: maybe what I consider blessings, are actually us living in union with God, how He has always intended. Then, when we revert back to our old ways, access to His peace leaves us and we are resting on what we know, and not God.

These thoughts have also had me pondering several people from testimonies in The Bible.

Paul walked in obedience after meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus.

Peter had moments of obedience when he was one of Jesus’s disciples, but his denial of Jesus shows, he was not walking in complete obedience to Jesus. Once Jesus was raised from the dead and visited His disciples is, likely, when Peter began walking in obedience for The Lord.

Elijah walked in obedience, sacrificing his own well-being for God and His plan.

Esther was called to more and reached a place where she made the choice, to walk in obedience with God.

Judas Iscariot may have had moments of obedience, but, surely, did not walk in obedience with God.

John the Baptist understood his assignment and walked in complete obedience to God’s plan.

Noah walked in obedience.

I am certain my experiences, thus far, are the results of moments of obedience. In many cases some major event occurred to encourage these individuals to walk in obedience with Jesus, and transition past moments of obedience.

Buck Up Baby & Ride With Jesus! Ponder with Him & talk it out. He wants us too!

Pruning

 Life with God is SUCH an adventure. It is a roller-coaster of emotions. One of my greatest blessings are friends, that love Jesus as much as I do AND love to come together in fellowship over Him.

This week, I had several things happen where I felt: betrayed, blind-sided, and disrespected. All were swarming around the same group of influence, and well....I did not feel cared about, by those I care about. 

And it stung. 

The day before, I received a similar message, that was so much easier for me to release into the hands of Jesus. But the next one stung and I was having a much harder time letting it go. What I mean by "letting it go" is laying it at Jesus's feet and moving on with life....my to-do list.......my project at hand. It was like it kept tapping me on my forehead, and so finally.....I sent a message to two friends; both of which I count as SUCH blessings. When you find friends that you can talk Jesus with, pray for them, bless them, love them, be available to them and count your blessings. One of the coolest things that happens with friends like that, is: as you sit there working out your questions and concerns, discussing The Word and other life experiences, you recognize the movement of The Holy Spirit. Two of us were blessed to experience that together and Oh! How that changed the entire trajectory of the situation. 

I've talked and wrote before about how God blesses our obedience, but He surprises me with it EVERY time. We are just sitting there talking....and we had a lengthy discussion about the pruning process, what it looks like when you trim old growth back to create room for new growth, what God says about pruning in scripture, and so on. We near the end of the conversation, I recline back in my chair and have the SUDDEN REALIZATION that God gave me a DIRECT answer to my obedience. 

Image credit to: Wenke Greenhouses in Kalamazoo, Michigan - LINK HERE

My hang up was, that I would not have chose it for myself. However, I have been through this uncomfortable, and the most recent time, mournful experience before. I resisted and contemplated that first "pruning" hard....or at least the first one that I became aware of how God was working. I, myself didn't really want this person pruned out of my life, but every time I prayed into it I'd get a "whoa." That's what I call it. I'd get the "whoa" when I was about to send that text, or about to make that call. Now, I understand a little better. 

In my most recent situation, where I phoned a friend, I wasn't focusing on that type of pruning. I was looking at it as more of a  "type of work" pruning. It is definitely that, because that is what I layed out my own personal boundaries to, prayed to Him about, and put into motion. What He ALSO did, was bless me with the ability to see the hearts of others. See the hearts of others I have invested my time and energy into. He's teaching me how to prune also, so we can prune together...and maybe more than anything...help me to let it go sooner.

John 15:1-17

Yes, I am left in awe. It is still bittersweet, but I know it is for my good. How our God is so subtle and yet SO powerful. 

Seeing God work, yet physically seeing nothing.....that is the supernatural work of God. It truly is INCREDIBLE. Words don't even do it justice. I want to ENCOURAGE YOU to Buck Up Baby & Ride With Jesus! He sees things we do not and HE MAKES A WAY!

My Prayer for 2015

We had a GREAT New Year's Eve Party at our new place with LOTS of family and friends. It feels good to be in our space and have the ability to invite people into it. I had all the right intentions of sharing this prayer at the party, but there were people in so many different places, plus I'm still learning how to gather everyone together for prayer.

I want to start with a prayer of THANKSGIVING. This year was filled with growth in my business, my marriage, my family, my relationship with The Holy Trinity, my friendships, my ideas...I've read The Bible more this year than I have my entire life. If there is one thing I can encourage everyone to do this year - read The Bible...however you can, in a way that works for you. When Satan tempted Jesus in the desert, Jesus quoted scripture ALL 3 times, which drove him away. Then God sent His angels to comfort and minister to Him. There is POWER in the Word of God. I'm the most thankful for finding the courage and the faith to quit my job in December 2013 and go to work for myself. When I followed thru with it...it was like doors opened that I didn't even know existed. I strengthened so many relationships and met so many amazing people that have helped me and my family develop as human beings. One of the biggest blessings of this year is learning that building your faith and working for God is WAY more important than working for money. It's taken a lot of self-work to own, believe, and have faith in that, but it's been shown to me over and over again and has, surely, given me more peace. I'm thankful for being blessed with our niece Ida. I'm thankful Uncle Fritzi's health was restored and for Grandma Pfeiffer's renewed strength and endurance. I'm thankful for having the opportunity to get to know Nila more. I'm thankful we've found Claire - who LOVES our children & we all LOVE her. I'm thankful for the health and growth of my precious family. I'm thankful for the newest journey I've embarked on - my real estate business. I'm thankful for ALL the lessons I've learned and my eagerness to learn more & I'm thankful for the DIVINE guidance - caring for us when we don't know how to care for ourselves -  The Holy Spirit,

More than anything else this year....I want to be a source of encouragement to everyone I come in contact with and urge others to do the same. I've been blessed with a handful of people that have encouraged me thru the criticism I've encountered this past year. Be careful with your words. They can breathe life or kill dreams. Be positive and seek joy.

To everyone that celebrated New Year's Eve with us and to ALL our friends and family...I ask that you continue to pray for us this year....to support us in growing in ALL the areas that are important to us & to serve as a source of encouragement & lift us up as we fall. We will be doing the same for all of you. I urge you to not only pray for us, but for everyone that was there & everyone important to you. We are all human & need others to lift us up where we fall short.

"Just as iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." - Proverbs 27:17

Here's to 2015, continued growth, and being a blessing and an encourager to other.

May God bless you ALL, in the name of Christ Jesus.

God, I ask that you cover these words with your everlasting LOVE, bless us, the people that read them & shine your light in all the areas of darkness we encounter in 2015.

Amen.

Day 5: "Seeing Life From God's View"

Welcome! Welcome!! For everyone that is a NEW reader...we are going through a book I recently finished reading. It is a chapter-a-day book: The Purpose Driven Life: What On Earth Am I Here For? by Pastor Rick Warren.

I am inviting others to join in on the discussion. You can comment here OR on my Facebook Page. I am going back through each chapter to discuss it & share how I've started applying it to my daily life, the struggles I have/had with the discussion, & so on.

Today is Day 5!

 Day 5: "Seeing Life From God's View."

"Point to Ponder: Life is a test & a trust."

Daily Bible Verse: "Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won't be faithful in large ones." Luke 16:10A (NLT)

Daily Question: "What has happened to me recently that I now realize was a test from God? What are the greatest matters God has entrusted to me?"

From My Journal the Day of Reading:

Recent Happenings That Were a Test: My past work experiences, situations & disagreements with certain family members, less than ideal business transactions

The Greatest Matters Entrusted to Me: Sharing my spiritual journey, human nature - learning & understanding it, the exchange of goods & services, using personal connections to shine light to each other.

I can say...when you START thinking like this (How God views our lives) ALL the B.S. starts fallin' by the way side. There is plenty of drama that you can get caught up in...other peoples' drama, your drama, the drama you crEatE with your mind, the drama others create with their mind.....that literally... DOES NOT MATTER.

When you realize & AFFIRM that our time on earth is limited; you start making your actions matter more & you start focusing  on yourself & your family versus everyone else's opinion. You focus on your mission (if you know what that is.) If you're not sure what that is take a look at your gifts. They are sure enough clues.

I KNOW that I am supposed to BLESS people through auctions. I can't tell you EXACTLY how I'm supposed to do that...and I don't think there is an exact way... Since I have gone FULL-time at it I KNOW that I have created an atmosphere or setting to help estranged family members start mending their relationships. I've seen severed friendships MEND. I have created an environment where complete strangers are helping other complete strangers ALL because they have LOVE for one of the people involved OR they have gone through something similar. I have GENERATED IDEAS of how larger entities can help smaller entities & EXHIBITED how. I have SEEN a cancer patient become FILLED with SO MUCH LOVE for the people that came out to SUPPORT her...ENOUGH to take with her on the LONG journey ahead of her. I have witnessed people most would have forgotten about, find PURPOSE that they didn't KNOW they had. I have been a key player in generating LARGE sums of $$$ (a little from everyone with a little) - to really HELP someone in need. I have seen families of tragedies HELP other families of tragedies. I have seen causes with a small intent BALLOON out to WAY more than what they expected. I have seen families & communities RALLY around others that are down. I have made life-long friends out of COMPLETE strangers. I have been URGED forward by people of ALL kinds. I have made CONNECTIONS with other GIFTED & BLESSED people that I will be able to work with.

I also KNOW now that ALL the difficulties I have faced, have gotten me to where I am now. ALL the false perception, all the INTENSE feelings, the words from ALL the critics, all the disagreements.....EVERYTHING are tools to put in my tool bag for MY journey....BECAUSE there will be a time when it will REALLY matter & God is equipping me with the tools to OVERCOME it.

I second guess myself quite often, & in all different areas of my life. There is a sentence from this chapter that GROUNDS me, when my thoughts start whirlin' around: "Our time on earth and our energy, intelligence, opportunities, relationships, and resources are all gifts from God that he has entrusted to our care and management." -Rick Warren

So...when I start thinking about how I should maybe do something like this wife, or this mom, or this business owner, or this sister, or sister-in-law, or friend....I check myself. GOD TRUSTS ME with ALL the gifts, people, relationships, experiences, opportunities, THOUGHTS....EVERYTHING. He doesn't give the same ones to everyone. Everyone does not see what I see or understand what I understand. THEY ARE ENTRUSTED TO ME. On that note...once you wrap your head around this thought....you MOVE faster on the things you KNOW you have to move on.

I can tell you what I still struggle with is: OTHER people trying to get in OUR business. Say some prayers for me, because I don't KNOW the right or wrong way to handle that one. I've just been bringing it back to FOCUSING on MY actions & what I have to do to PROTECT my family & my mission & my blessings. We can't control others...it's not our gig.

Buck Up Baby & Ride With Jesus!! Join in on the discussion. God Bless!!

Friday Blessings

This passed Friday was FULL of SO MANY BLESSINGS for me. I started making a list about halfway thru the day because SO many things became APPARENT to me.

Friday was me & my husband's 5th wedding anniversary. We've been together a total of 11 years. We LOVE each other so much more than we did even a year ago. I posted a picture on Facebook of us on our wedding day & a picture from our last Christmas card. 5 years later we are more in love & have 2 beautiful little blessings that we LOVE SO MUCH! It made me realize how much my love has grown for my sweet daughter that just celebrated her 4th birthday & how blessed all 3 of us are for having Baby Heath join our family this year & sharing that LOVE with him. Then I realized how many of our family & friends "liked" my picture & share in our lives. Let's just say an OVERWHELMING feeling of LOVE & BLESSINGS came over me. My husband is a real GEM of a Fella & I KNOW that we are so much better together than we ever would have been on our own. So that was my first......awareness of MANY blessings of the day.

On to the next..... Like I've told all of you. I think A LOT.... sometimes too much. We have so many things we want and need & sometimes it just flat boggles my mind. You know? The feeling where you don't know what is right...or that feeling where you aren't sure you are doing what the GOOD LORD wants you to be doing right now, but you aren't really sure what to do OR when to do it OR how to do it. SIGH.... I'm at that place... In fact, I'm in that place in different avenues within my life & let me tell ya... Sometimes you have to just DO SOMETHING & ask the Good Lord to guide you steps, mind your mouth, & give you the energy you need to do his will. I try not to WORRY because we aren't supposed to, BUT it is ENGRAINED in me...somehow! So I go to worrying about my AUCTION CAREER. Am I doing what I'm supposed to be doing? Am I goin' about things the right way? Should I do more? So guess what happens.... I get a Facebook message from a fella that heard me call bids at one of the Volunteer Fire Department Fundraising Auctions I helped Uncle Melvin at & they needed someone in a pinch for an event benefiting the Ronald McDonald House. I made a little money, was able to help them out & raise money for an AWESOME charity, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, God answered my question. You are doing what you need to do & all I need to do is all I can. Blessings will come from it. He KNOWS our intentions better than we do & will open more doors than we even know exist.

I have a friend that is leaving the state in a matter of days now. We have been FRIENDS FOR YEARS, but we have really barely seen each other the last few years. I know.... HOW DARE US! BUT.....there are very few people that have friendships like we do.....very few. I guess with all that happened that day her message just sent me over the top & I felt that feeling....that BLESSED feeling & almost could not contain my tears. I know....nothing to cry about. She's only a phone call away. They were happy tears....VERY HAPPY tears. We have both come into our own on our own, but I think we are both well AWARE that we will ALWAYS have someone in our corner...no matter where we are. I wish my Rissa Roo all the best!

Facebook was workin' hard for me on Friday! A little while later I get a message from one of the first responders that took my Dad to the hospital the last time he went a few years ago. She saw the post about our anniversary on Facebook & wanted to check on Daddy. I told her he is doing good & gave her the latest update & she told me that "she will never forget him & that he was was one of the most entertaining people they have ever had to transport." You know....sometimes your family can drive you CraZy & my Daddy sure has at times, BUT... Me and my Pops have ALWAYS been close. Thru the years we've gotten even closer on a different level & I felt SO blessed that someone else APPRECIATED him like I do & that he was able to make a lasting impression on her. You know....when I was pregnant with my little girl, I was nervous as all get out about the whole birthing process & believe it or not...my Daddy is the one that calmed my nerves & helped me to REALLY give it ALL to God. He sure the heck isn't any kind of SAINT, but he is a BELIEVER & is filled with SO MUCH LOVE for his people it just oozes out of him.

With my new job.....Admissions Director at a skilled nursing facility (It's amazing where the GOOD LORD puts you...) I have seen A LOT of things I never thought I would, understand things I never thought I'd have to & deal with families on a MUCH more personal level than I ever have in the past. Last Friday we found out that the husband of one of our little residents was in the hospital. He had been there EVERY DAY without fail & we hadn't seen him in a few days, so my boss (who cares for all of our residents & families like they are her own) found out where he was & sent me to go visit him. Him and his wife have NO LIVING FAMILY. All they HAD was each other. When I went and visited with him he was SO APPRECIATIVE. All I could think about was how worried we were about him, how thankful we were that he was okay, and how else we could help this little man and his wife. That was ANOTHER JESUS MOMENT. It made me APPRECIATE my life & everyone in it. It made me APPRECIATE the LOVE that this little man & woman have for each other. It made me APPRECIATE my job & the people I work with. It just opened my eyes on so many levels.

On the way to my next patient assessment I gave a little homeless man money & told him I hoped it would help him turn things around. I noticed the car behind me gave him some money & I saw the little homeless man look my way & thought how we never know who we will touch and how it will help someone.

Then, on my way up to see my next patient - I ran into a lady that used to live in my hometown that worked at the hospital (I had no idea.) Her kids were around my age, but we weren't necessarily close. However, in a small town EVERYONE is linked somehow & honestly are closer to each other than some people are with their families. I'm not sure what exactly she was on her way to do, but I know it was something that was not necessarily going to be easy & we shared a talk about hardships, prayers, & God's unknown intentions for us.We have each other a hug & I got back on the same elevator we met in. Talk about knowin' the Good Lord is at work & puttin' his people in places they need to be...

THEN.... to top it ALL off. I got a phone call from someone that eased my worries about something that I have been worrying about since August or so.

Between ALL of these wonderful events, the GLORIOUS needed RAIN we received ALL DAY, & the COUNTRY MUSIC from the 1990s I listened to ALL DAY LONG...I'd say I had one of the most BLESSED days I have had.

AND....if anyone reading this thinks like my philosophy professor did once upon a time and thinks these are all "koinkidinks" you can just BUCK UP BABY & RIDE WITH JESUS!

Have a BLESSED day everyone. Each day is a gift.