Necessary interruptions

                                       

We all have them. Interruptions. Sometimes they come at the worst times. You know those. Like when your trying to get your work done, and a co-worker wants to talk and all your thinking about is wanting to get out on time. Or when you just close your eyes for a nap and your dog barks....at nothing, just the air. 

But some interruptions can be an invitation. An invite for you to give someone your time. To give someone attention that they are needing. You don't know what that person may need, until you listen. It could be nothing to you, just a simple conversation, but to them, it could mean much more. Like alleviating anxiety for some news they received, or loneliness from just needing someone to talk to about their day or an experience. Have you experienced anything like that? I have and I know that those people that took the time to give me just a few moments of time and not just brush me off, made the biggest difference in my day. 

I saved a quote from a devotional I had a while back and it still speaks truth now. It is from the Desiring God website. They say "When our life in him (God) is healthy and vibrant, we not only ache to keep sinking our roots down deep in him, but also to stretch our branches out and extend his goodness to others."

We all will have many interruptions in our life. They may be small, but some are big. Some are good, happy ones, and some can be devastating. Whatever the interruption, your life will be changed and how you respond will affect those around you. 

So welcome those interruptions. You may be a blessing to others but you will also be blessed in the process.

Mark 1:29-45: Jesus is constantly interrupted by people needing healing.

Matthew 14:13-14: Jesus interrupts his solitude to minister to a crowd.

Acts 16:6: The Holy Spirit interrupts Paul’s travel plans to direct him to a new assignment.

Love to all,

It happened again!

 

I can't believe it, but I experienced it again. Let me tell you this story......

This morning, I woke up thinking TGIF. So glad this week is over. One more shift before I got the weekend. And I got plans with a friend that I just can't wait to do on Saturday. So today, I started like any other week day before work. 

• Up at the crack of dawn
• get dressed
• fix my hair (you wouldn't think it fixed from my picture!!)
• make coffee (so important)
• pack lunch
• 10 minutes on the vibrating plate
• take out dog
• go to work

Every day, my routine.

When I got to work, I was feeling a little overwhelmed. We all had to pick up extra patients and I was running behind getting over to the hospital to round on them. I was already late to the units. As I was walking over, which is like a 7 minute walk from our office to the hospital which helps me to get my steps in everyday, I started to feel panicky, stressed. And this little trek didn't help to alleviate any of that stress. I was getting upset at little things. Like the dang door to the stairwell wouldn't open for me, so I yelled at it. Like that did any good. I got stuck behind some visitors that were walking way too slow for me. The elevator took way too long to come pick me up!  So what did I do???

I prayed. And then I prayed some more. Then I just started talking to Jesus. Asking him to take this stress from me.  Asking him to carry me. To take this bad attitude. To fill me and give me his smile, his love to bless others. Guess what, HE DID. 

You ask, "well Autumn, how do you know God helped you or heard you?" I didn't hear him talk to me, BUT I immediately felt this feeling come over me. Kinda like when you get a cold chill and shiver, but it was a tingling all over my body. In my legs, my arms, down my back and even my head! It was crazy but I felt that for a good 3 minutes at least. This is like the second time this has happened to me, ever. God knows when I really need those extra boosts! After that, I realized how calm I was. I wasn't anxious or feeling short tempered.  

I was calm. My mind, my spirit...just calm.

And the rest of my day went well. I was able to get my work done, manage and juggle all the phone calls, and requests from my patients/doctors/nurses. And I got out of work 10 minutes early!! (BONUS!)

So when you feel anxious, restless or just not yourself. Call on the name of Jesus and let him take over. He still can do miracles. You just have to be open to "see" them.

Ephesians 3:19; "and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

 Colossians 3:17; And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Love to all,

Home

We are home. Finally. And I don't just mean our house, but our church. Today, it felt like home. It seems like I have been missing this for a while.  

So along with a new house, new community, we have a new church home. And if feels like our circle is complete. It just seems that all I had to do is wait and Jesus would provide.  I don't like to wait, I like that immediate satisfaction of getting things done now or getting it in my hands now, but in His time, not mine. You never know what God is going to do in your life, until it happens. And when you look back,  you can see the steps, the building blocks he was doing in your life to get you to this point. All the struggles just made me stronger and ready for the next step. Now, I am like you, I don't like the struggles, but sometimes we have to go through the tunnels to get to the other side and see the light. 

I am just amazed at all that God has provided for me throughout my life and I know, and have faith, he will continue to do more in my life. I have seen miracles and prayers answered. Too many to count. But they happen every day, may be small ones, but they are answered prayers from God. He just answered prayers that were lifted up yesterday for one of my mission team's mother and her health. We got good news today!! Take the small wins and answered prayers, God hears you. 

What is your story? Are you still living through struggles, feel God is not hearing you and waiting to see what God can do in your life? Just stop, breath and look around. Think of what Jesus is capable of doing in your life. You will see the work God is doing in you. As my minister said to us today......"What's not enough in your hands, is more than enough in the hands of Jesus."

2 Corinthians 12:9; "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."

Love to all,  

Oops, I forgot again

 

As I get older, I find that my memory gets the best of me. I am not good with remembering names. I have always had trouble with this. I recognize faces and think I know them but for the life of me, I can't remember names! Especially if it is out of where I know you from, like work or church. 

But this week, I had a memory scare. I'm laying in bed and my mind is wallowing around in all my thoughts. For some reason, and I think it is because I have 3 doctor appts this week, I start to think about how old I am and I forgot my age! So I start to question myself and I am thinking, "oh no, I am turning 60 this year!" Then I think, no way that is right. I start to panic, because I am in no way ready to be 60. I pull out my trusty calculator and had to figure it out! 

Whew! I am still 58.

Getting older is a hard. You just gotta laugh at yourself and move on. I am encouraged with God's word that helps me accept what is to come. 

“Wisdom belongs to the aged, and understanding to the old” (Job 12:12 NLT)

“Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever” (Deuteronomy 34:7 NLT)

That is why we are not discouraged. Though outwardly we are wearing out, inwardly we are renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16)

Love to all,

My story isn't finished

 

My story...it isn't finished. God is not done using me yet! I want to share with you my story, and I am sure I have done this before here, but in case you have not heard it.

Short version...I was saved at 8 but really didn't know what that meant. Then I got caught up in the world, frustrated with the whole church thing and decided it was not for me. I realized, life is miserable without Jesus, so I came back. But really didn't commit until I had to trust an lean on Jesus throughout the trials in my life. And boy, have I had some doozies, but we all have had some of those. Now I live for Jesus. I trust him to carry me, provide for me and help me when life is rough. And that is where my smile and happiness comes from, Jesus. Not things of the world.

Kinda long version....When I realized life is miserable without Jesus and came back, that was a struggle. I went to a large church and was able to get "lost" in the crowd so I wouldn't have to talk to anyone or "make friends". But what church is about is community and relationships. I went through infertility during this time, God carried me through. Blessed me and hubs with 2 amazing kids! Then about 15 years later, I went through cancer, God carried me through. Blessed me with healing and remission. I have gone through life changes of different jobs and different salaries, God has carried me through. Our needs are met and bills are being paid. Not only in my life but during this time, hubs went through back surgery, blessed with recovery. He still has trouble but God is working through him and he is still able to do all the things he needs to do. Going through our kids moving out and one of them across to the West coast! That is still a challenge but God blessed her with a great job, friends and support there. 

Now in our life, we have more life changes. You know as we age, things change. I always knew that one day we would have to care for our parents, but it has crept up so quickly. Not to say that our parents need us now to care for them, but we are in the process to prepare, in case that happens. So my hubs parents will be living with us in about 2 weeks. It is a change, not only for us, but for them as well. I know it will take some time to get accustomed to this living arrangement. 

It can be scary. 

Living with my parents again. 

And I am sure they are feeling it too. Just when you think you have us kids kicked out of the house, we are back! There is more to my life story, more to come, more experiences to be had. I am here for God to use me and work through me. 

So trust me when I say, God is with you through it all. Hard times and sorrow may come to us because we live in a sinful world. But we can pull through it. YOU can pull through it. And the other side? Full of grace, joy and happiness. 

Ephesians 1:7; "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace"

Ephesians 2:8-10; "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Love to all,