Bold by Design

For the past week, the story of the woman with the issue of blood has been heavy on my mind. At midnight last night, I was still thinking about her. It wasn’t her faith that moved me, but her determination and perseverance to not give up. After bleeding for twelve years, she had to suffer from extreme fatigue. She had to be sick and tired of being sick and tired. She wasn’t allowed to be in public; she was considered unclean, but she went against all rules and did what was necessary - regardless of the consequences. She took a chance and went out in public. She wanted to get close enough to Jesus to touch only the hem of His garment. She was bold and Jesus acknowledged her, blessed her, and healed her.  I want to be like that woman – bold. Something within her wouldn’t let her stay home that day. She had to move. She had courage. She had tried everything, yet kept pressing forward. 

A struggling marriage, failing finances, difficult relationships, fluctuating weight, or even a challenging child are reasons to throw in the towel, but having a boldness to press on and persevere will bring about change! This woman followed her gut - her intuition - her spirit. What an example of a strong, bold woman! Sometimes, God will lead us to do things, which may make no sense to anyone else. Sometimes we may have to stand alone and go against the grain. Sometimes we need to forget about people and consider God’s plan and purpose for our life. Sometimes we just need to be BOLD in Jesus! I’m so happy this story is about a woman.  We have an extra ounce of grace and power within us to press forward – regardless of consequences and circumstances.  We may be pressed on all sides, but we press on! We are bold by design!

 Video is 6 minutes and well worth it!

Young and Creative Teenager

You can visit her blog at Dovetree.blogspot.com She's a young teenager and did this ALL. BY. HERSELF.

The Study Of...

I could hardly wait to finish my shower and plop onto my corner of the sofa tonight.  I enrolled in a course today and was excited about studying.  This is the first course I’ve ever experienced so much joy and satisfaction! I’m grateful for a dear friend who came by today to share the course with me. She obviously knows me quite well because this course is right up my alley. I can’t understand why it took me so long to enroll, but this particular course is not one I would have ever initiated on my own. My full attention has been captured. To tell you the truth, I’m completely absorbed and captivated by this course. Now, it’s time to share the course title with you. Please don’t judge me, but this is a subject I’ve secretly enjoyed for a while. The title is….Snuggiology. Yes, my dear friend brought me a beautiful Snuggie today with peace symbols all over it. Snuggiology is the study of the Snuggie with a course objective to teach one the various uses and benefits of the Snuggie.  Hubbby threatened to shoot my dear friend because he knows I’ll be spending quite a bit of time in the evenings studying.  This course isn’t any different from other courses…they all require dedicated time, energy, and a peaceful environment for learning.  Don't disturb!

What's That Smell?

If I had to do without any of my five senses, it would be the sense of smell. I’ve mastered living without it for almost two years and realized I can function quite well with only four working senses.  Recently, while in my parent’s kitchen, I got a whiff of something. What’s that smell? It was Clorox in the dish water. Wow! What a nice welcome back into the world of odorants. A few minutes later, while preparing my oatmeal, I smelled the brown sugar and cinnamon I sprinkled on top.  Mmm…what a delightful smell. Still in the kitchen, I smelled something very familiar. What’s that smell? Oh my goodness! Is that Mama’s homemade peach cobbler with the thick, buttery crust? Heavenly! Thank you, Lord; I can smell again! I enjoyed smelling several other scents and then something very unusual happened. My two sons walked through the door and brushed by me. What’s that smell? Sniff…sniff….I felt like a dog trying to sniff out the object arresting my attention, but I couldn’t place the scent.  OH! I know what that smell is! It was the smell that reminded me exactly why I didn’t miss my sense of smell for almost two years. The smell knocked every sleeping sensory cell of my nasal cavity right back into full function. It was that dense, warm, musty, boy smell. You know, the smell young boys get when they’ve played outside all day long, only these boys were no longer young toddlers, but full blown teenagers. Multiply that musty scent by ten or more! Hey, I’m not complaining…I gotta take the good with the bad…the sweet with the stinky…the pleasurable smells with the funky smells. 

It’s all good – I think.

I'm So Happy!

 Yesterday was my first day home since before Christmas. I was happy to get back on the road to my routine and recovery! I finally had my sinusitis surgery and although my surgeon mentioned I have a chronic disease, I was happy! My eyesight has improved, my sense of smell is returning, my energy level has sky rocketed, and I feel so good! I’m happy! For my religious friends not feeling comfortable with the word, happy, I do know the difference between circumstantial happiness, joy, and being blessed. Yes, the joy of the Lord is my strength! Yes, I’m beyond blessed! Yes, God is the source of my joy, and…. I’m happy! The Bible mentions the word, happy, in several scriptures in various versions of the Bible. It’s okay to be happy, and yesterday I was so happy while hubby drove home. The boys were in the back seat sleeping and snoring and I was having happy thoughts of my sisters and parents and the time we spent together. Although this isn’t the end of my health issue, I felt like I could have danced the entire trip home. I felt like Happy Feet, the movie! 

I remember sharing a moment in church with my mother many years ago. I can’t remember what holiday it was, but it was a small crowd sharing testimonies. One elderly woman stood up and began sharing her life. She suddenly raised her hands and began twirling around and around with her eyes shut, her slip showing, and her head in the air saying, “I’m so happy, I’m so happy, I’m so happy!” Mama and I still imitate this woman in our happy moments and today, I share with you…I’m so happy! It’s okay to be happy and express it!

After all, if you’ve got the nerve to wish someone a Happy New Year, you should first be happy yourself!

Meeting the Porcelain

 I thought I'd share one of the most humbling experiences I endured in 2011. It wasn't a difficult relationship, financial woes, or my health issues, but it was the call of the big porcelain container - a public toilet. 

I probably have some of the strongest thigh muscles among women. I NEVER sit on public toilets - NEVER! I stoop with complete control from many years of experience. If my call to the porcelain container calls for more serious relief, I'll wait until I get home.

Weeell, during a short stay in the hospital, I had to use the restroom. I was just rolled into my room straight out of surgery and I had to go - badly. I felt strong enough to hold onto my IV roller and meet the porcelain container on my own, but the nurse refused. She helped me in the bathroom and she told me to take it easy and sit slowly.

Me: "Oh, I'm not going to sit down, I'm going to stoop."

Nurse: "No, you need to sit down!"

Me: "No really, I'm okay."

Nurse: "You really need to sit down, and we need to catch and measure your urine."

Me:  Experiencing overwhelming anxiety - "Is it clean?"

Nurse: Shocked that I would ask - "YES!"

I hesitated and slowly allowed my bare behind to meet the porcelain. I can't remember the last time I did this, but I was humbled and quite concerned about the germs attaching themselves to me. GROSS! Oh my God, help me!  Auuuuugh!  GROSS!  Why must I endure this!  This isn't happening! Heeeeeelp!!!

I finished my business, washed my hands thoroughly, and came out of the bathroom - pissed, yet relieved.  I told my mother, my sister, my husband, and my two sons who later came into my room and I cried out...."She made me sit on the toilet!  I'll never forget her! She made me sit on the toilet!" Of course I had to use the bathroom every hour thereafter, so I had to meet the porcelain on a regular basis. Good grief!  It was a challenge, but I did it. I survived! I'm still here and if you're wondering if I'll start meeting the porcelain on a regular basis, I must be honest and tell the truth....ABSOLUTELY NOT! I WILL CONTINUE TO STOOP!

Not the actual toilet; this is a copyrighted Internet picture

2012?

Hubby and I were talking and he said, " I wonder what 2012 will bring." I didn't answer because I didn't want to disturb his train of thought. I really don't care what 2012 brings. I'm doing all I can to focus on living my life to the fullest today - tomorrow will take care of itself. If you don't believe this, look back over 2011 and all you've been through. Look back over your life. Hey, you're still standing! Whether you're standing on one leg and barely holding up or standing strong as a tree, you're standing!

It's natural to hope for better days. The economy remains rocky. Those difficult people in our life are still hanging around. The bills continue to come, and as parents, we want better for our children. In spite of all our circumstances, we have to live our life to the fullest day by day. My assurance of the future is sealed with God's promise to never leave me or forsake me. He promised! God said I was more than a conqueror; I can do this! God also said all things work together for my good, so it doesn't matter what the situation looks like, what matters are God's promises to me. 

Whenever I begin to wonder about the future, I change my mental channel to the One who is in charge of the future - Almighty God. It doesn't matter what 2012 holds, I know who holds my future. God has a strategic plan for my life. My job is to stay connected to Him, to abide with Him, to trust Him, and to believe in His promises. 

This may be the last meditation of 2011, but it sure isn't the last of God's promises and mercies to me. Morning by morning new mercies I see - today, tomorrow, and the next year too! What will be, will be! 2012? Bring it on!

My Christmas Yes

I attended a charity event last night and several poets were on the program. One poet in particular shared a Christmas poem. He mentioned the poem was about the one person He thinks about during this season – his mother. I wasn’t expecting the poet to say his mother, but there is one mother every mother should consider during the Christmas season. The mother of all mothers is Mary, the mother of the baby boy who changed the world. When Mary was visited by the angel, she questioned God’s will for her life. Mary didn’t understand God’s unusual plan, but eventually went with the flow in spite of her reputation with friends, family, and her relationship with Joseph. Mary is an awesome example of submitting to God’s will even when it makes absolutely no sense to us. Mary gave God her yes. 

During this season of giving, I’m reminded, by this special mother, to give God my yes. I’m giving my yes to God’s plan for my life. I’m giving my yes to God’s will for my marriage, my sons, my career, my temple, my health, my finances, and every other area of my life. I may not understand or agree with God, but Mary didn’t either. I may question God, but so did Mary. I may even entertain a little fear, and I’m sure Mary did also before she decided to trust God and let Him have His way with her. What an awesome gift Mary gave God – her yes. 

This Christmas is different for me because of my new perspective. This is a time to rededicate my commitment to God by following Mary’s example and giving God my yes. There is no gift we can give God that compares to the gift He gave us – the gift of life, so why not re-gift His gift by giving God what He wants more than anything – a yes to His will and His way in and through the life He gave us. 

Merry Christmas!