Rock Talk

I just want to say Thank You Lord! for the people you place in my life.  I don't want the rocks to sing out my praises for me. 

Luke 19:37-40
37 Jesus came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives. There the whole crowd of disciples began to praise God with joy. In loud voices they praised him for all the miracles they had seen. They shouted,


38 "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" —(Psalm 118:26)
"May there be peace and glory in the highest heaven!"

39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd spoke to Jesus. "Teacher," they said, "tell your disciples to stop!"

40 "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." (Italics mine)

I have been sharing with you my struggles within my household to you.  You are very aware of my emotional states and trials of faith.  However, I have had 4 wonderful people share with me some significant encouragement.  I know my Father God was working through them.  He has answers to my prayers and along the way He will supply me and refuel my hope.

I received a call yesterday from someone who I haven't had a chance to talk with for quites some time.  This person no longer attends my church, which is where we used to talk.  Recently, she sent me a card assuring me of her prayers to encourage me.  Yesterday, she picked up the phone and called me.  After the polite exhanges, she shared with me a part about her life within her family, and her life before her marriage the second time around.  What she shared astounded me.  She is a mature woman, retired, and older than me.  She spoke of things that I would of never guessed would of been part of her life experiences.  In her sharing, I had hope. Hope for my wayward child, and hope for my marriage which is very stressed with recent events.  Her stories didn't have all happy endings but they showed how God takes hold and sees us through with either comfort or convictions.  Her call was the beginning of some much needed healing.

Last night while attending a women's Bible study at church, our teacher shared scriptures regarding loving your husband.  It was clear, raw, words of God.  No disputes could be made...no tweaking...no special circumstances.  The ladies began to share about their experiences on handing loving your husband and accepting them and facing the challenges.  I was a sponge!  One woman shared something sweet.  She said her daughter asked her, "Why doesn't dad ever take the extra steps to throw the coffee grinds and filter into the trash?  He makes the coffee every morning and puts the filter and grinds into the sink."  This woman's response was "Well, he knows I will always throw them away.  I don't mind because I have fresh hot coffee every morning when I wake up." 

Wow!  It's all about perspective.  The teacher shared about her struggles early in her marriage with her "short tongue", etc.  I was astounded again because this woman and her husband have a loving relationship and they work well together.  I have been on mission with them before.  However, her marriage didn't start out that way.  I have a "sharp tongue" as my husband has said many times before.  I am changing but now I have more faith to believe that someday I will consistently "think before I speak."  This woman also said, "Even the most bitter, sharp, shrew can become a loving wife." (not verbatim).   Me a shrew??? Maybe.

This morning I called a dear friend who was expecting a house full of babies she sits.  I was reluctant to call but I needed some comfort.  It had been a rough morning with my son.  She reassured me of some things and asked me if she could pray with me on the phone.  She prayed the most descript and thoughtful prayer. She was talking to God not just for me to hear.  It was sincere.  I promise you, my friends, by the time the prayer ended, I no longer was crying.  It was as if I could breath and my tears dried up.  The conversation ended with both of sharing about a common struggle in our household.  I was able to pray for her.  I cannot praise God enough for this friend who made herself available to me.  I praise Him even more that He took my eyes off my situation so I could pray for someone else.  Woo Hoo!

My "heart" daughter came by this morning and had breakfast with me.  She and I talked about my crises this morning.  She is a single mom who has experienced more life than most girls her age.  God used her to speak about some of her experiences and her observations about our family.  She talked and I listened!  I didn't pose any judgements about her age or maturity.  I learned alot about her and even more about myself and our family.  I am blessed to have seen my life by her words...out of the mouth of "babes". 

It's a wonderful thing when you allow God to use people to open your eyes and fill you up with encouragement.  The encouragement that comes from women of God is pure and undefiled if they walk with Jesus.  A real Jesus girl is candid and open.  Their advice and encouragement comes out of love and no selfish motivations, no judgement and they don't take advantage of your vulnerability.  Go Jesus girls!!!

I am off to drop off some tests to a Gastro specialist.  They are still concerned and stuggling with a diagnosis that supports a reason for my anemia.  I know this is a good thing.  My regular med doctor thinks these tests are still necessary, but hey, what the "blank" are they looking for?  My ingrate son, probably has it right... the C word.  Pray for me and my son who stated recently, "I thought you had Cancer or something." At that time, I guess he wished me dead. 

Not this rock, not this stone, I will continue to sing praises to our Lord for everyday I have breath.

click on the title for a song with great words: "When God's People Pray"