I just got off the phone with an awesome young man with whom I had a wonderful conversation with. The topic, of course, was the Lord!!! What better topic is there? It came up in conversation about us running from the Lord and his will for our lives. Why do we do that? If we were blessed to grow up in church, we watched our parents, grandparents, friends, neighbors, pastors, teachers, and eventually even our children and their spiritual walk. They too struggled with doing what the Lord called them to do at times. But, when they stopped struggling with the Lord and surrendered to his will, there was peace, harmony, and relief.
I remember struggling with the Lord about ‘control’. I did not understand about being lead by a spirit, or listening to a ‘still, small voice within’ to give me direction. And I certainly did not understand about letting the Bible ‘speak to my heart’.
My head is where the central nervous system directs my thoughts to and that is what directs me. I can look back now and see that when my relationship with the Lord were not right, my relationship with others were not right as well. But in that moment when I came to the understanding that I didn’t have to understand what the Lord was asking of me, I just had to be willing to do what he asked.
Things outwardly did not change over night, but my heart was changed instantly. I no longer have to hold things together; I just had to give things to Christ to hold for me. I was no long responsible for having to keep up with how I left things because I left them in the hands of the Lord.
I still have to be reminded of that fact at times when the flesh kicks in and tries to take over, but for the most part I no longer worry about tomorrow. As the scripture says, what can I change with even one ounce of worrying. Tomorrow will care for itself, and I am set free from trying to ‘hold it all together’. Instead, I can concentrate on accomplishing one goal. The goal of doing God’s task for me today, whatever that may be.
We can be a blessing to someone through a card, letter, phone call, or maybe even giving up a moment of our time to listen. We should touch and impact their life in such a way that they see Jesus in us and not our self. It is our duty to use the tools and talents Christ has equipped us with to show others Jesus is the only true answer for whatever is wrong in our life. Just think, all this started with a phone call….
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Friday, September 26, 2008
AFTER THE STORM
We are blessed like many others that only sustained wind damage, with limbs and trees strewn across the property. The power being out was an inconvenience, but also an opportunity to reconnect with family, friends and neighbors that ventured outside their homes to survey the damage and lend a hand to others.
As we looked back on the events of the weekend, we were amazed to realize how God had protected us and our family. Even though the winds were strong, it seemed God had sent angels to guard our family, our homes and our church.
We heard the wind and what we thought were branches hit our metal roof, but we were all gathered in our living room, Mr. Don and Mrs. Joan Hetzel, our grand children, Darren and myself. We felt a calmness which was not to be explained other than God’s peace. The girls were asleep on the sofa not far from an opened window, and we were all sitting around the room, listening for whatever was to come. I expected to hear load pops, snaps and metal being torn from the roof or other structures around us, but God saw fit to allow us only few leaks and a window pane out in the bedroom upstairs. That’s God.
Our granddaughters, Hannah and KelliJo, were with us that evening because our son, Daniel, was arriving from Denver to pick them up and carry them back with him for a couple of months. He arrived at about the same time the storm became stronger, about 3am. He arrived safe and unharmed. That’s God! He was able to help Darren get the bus from the pasture and back it down the road to the house. Darren had parked all the vehicles there away from the trees for safety. The Lord in his gentle way urged Darren to bring the bus to the house while the ’eye’ of the storm was passing over early Saturday morning. So, while Daniel was here he was able to guide Darren, backing the bus from Jim’s house to ours because he could not make the sharp turn from their drive. Just after that, the road washed out in front of Jim’s driveway. Had Darren not listened to the Lord and moved the bus when he did, we could not have gotten the bus to the house and would have been without a generator. That’s God! Daniel loaded up his precious cargo and had to head back to Denver. He is in the National Guard and had to report for work on Monday. Even through the storm, the girls slept and felt safe and secure, both here at our home and in the car with their Dad on the road. They arrived Sunday, safe and sound in Denver at about 12:30pm. That’s God!
After the rain and winds had subsided, Darren went to check on the church. Our structure that we meet in is very primitive. Hurricane Rita caused damage to our already inadequate building and we have only had the funds to make small repairs. As it is, Darren or one of the other church members arrive early on Sunday mornings to sweep out the leaves and sometimes mop up the rain that blows in or leaks from our roof. So, Darren and I said goodbye to the church before the storm. There was no reason to believe that it would survive the winds.
Darren came back and with grateful amazement told me that the church was no different than if a rain storm had blown through. The roof, albeit what it is, was still in tact. Things were blown and scattered some within the building but everything was fine. We just had to mop up the rain, a little more than usual, but praise the Lord, he proved that he cares about our little congregation and a place for us to worship in. That’s God.
Bro. Don and Mrs. Joan Hetzel, as most of you know, are an older couple that came to live out here on our property to help us with the church and take care of things when we are gone singing. They both are a great asset to our ministry and our church. We love them dearly. They were initially living in their 5th wheel RV which was parked by the church. During the storm a very large pine tree decided to ‘rest’ upon their camper. The tree didn’t crush the camper, it just politely mashed it into the soft ground. Their camper virtually escaped harm. Bro. Clint Smith, Todd, our nephew, and Curtis Yeager, Jr. were kind enough to come over and cut the tree off the camper and pull it out. It is hard to tell that it had a tree on it. That, my friend, is God.
New Direction was scheduled to be in Colorado during this storm, but we felt that we would not be in God’s will by leaving. I was reminded of the scripture in
In Luke 11:5-7 the Lord shares an example to show that we are to help one another in their hour of need as well. Believe it or not folks, it's not always all about us!
Now more than ever we need to extend a hand to others and show them Jesus instead of preach Jesus to them. Times are coming soon where we will have to prove and show our faith rather than preach it. Live it. Because faith without works, isn't really faith at all, it's just a bunch of words that came out of our mouth...
I was glad that my mother, brother and nephew came and stayed with us for a few days after the storm. It helped me to know they were safe and being taken care of. My brother and I haven't had a very close relationship lately and this was a wonderful opportunity to show him I love him no matter what. He's still my favorite brother even if he is my only brother. Family matters, it is our way of being grounded and connected.
So IKE came, if for no other reason than to help us count our blessings. For the most part, he left a lot of folks in the dark. But for a lot of us, just as God intended, IKE cleared the clouds and junk out and brought light and enlightening to us. We are grateful to know that the Lord still hears our prayers, watches over us and cares enough to send a storm to make us reevaluate our relationship with him. Some people are dealing with much more than that. Their loss of loved ones and loss of everything they own, possibly even their livelyhood has devastated many.
People are to having to start completely over, with no pieces left to pick up. Pray with me that God will send someone to minister to them and help them realize that the Lord does care about them. He cares so much that He gave us what we needed even if it hurt; a storm to clear out the junk in our lives so that we could see what is really important. Being alive and having a chance to start fresh, with the Lord as our Savior, our refuge and our source of strength.
What will it take in your life to clear out the junk and the clouds?
Outta here for now, Donna - Love ya! NDM
As we looked back on the events of the weekend, we were amazed to realize how God had protected us and our family. Even though the winds were strong, it seemed God had sent angels to guard our family, our homes and our church.
We heard the wind and what we thought were branches hit our metal roof, but we were all gathered in our living room, Mr. Don and Mrs. Joan Hetzel, our grand children, Darren and myself. We felt a calmness which was not to be explained other than God’s peace. The girls were asleep on the sofa not far from an opened window, and we were all sitting around the room, listening for whatever was to come. I expected to hear load pops, snaps and metal being torn from the roof or other structures around us, but God saw fit to allow us only few leaks and a window pane out in the bedroom upstairs. That’s God.
Our granddaughters, Hannah and KelliJo, were with us that evening because our son, Daniel, was arriving from Denver to pick them up and carry them back with him for a couple of months. He arrived at about the same time the storm became stronger, about 3am. He arrived safe and unharmed. That’s God! He was able to help Darren get the bus from the pasture and back it down the road to the house. Darren had parked all the vehicles there away from the trees for safety. The Lord in his gentle way urged Darren to bring the bus to the house while the ’eye’ of the storm was passing over early Saturday morning. So, while Daniel was here he was able to guide Darren, backing the bus from Jim’s house to ours because he could not make the sharp turn from their drive. Just after that, the road washed out in front of Jim’s driveway. Had Darren not listened to the Lord and moved the bus when he did, we could not have gotten the bus to the house and would have been without a generator. That’s God! Daniel loaded up his precious cargo and had to head back to Denver. He is in the National Guard and had to report for work on Monday. Even through the storm, the girls slept and felt safe and secure, both here at our home and in the car with their Dad on the road. They arrived Sunday, safe and sound in Denver at about 12:30pm. That’s God!
After the rain and winds had subsided, Darren went to check on the church. Our structure that we meet in is very primitive. Hurricane Rita caused damage to our already inadequate building and we have only had the funds to make small repairs. As it is, Darren or one of the other church members arrive early on Sunday mornings to sweep out the leaves and sometimes mop up the rain that blows in or leaks from our roof. So, Darren and I said goodbye to the church before the storm. There was no reason to believe that it would survive the winds.
Darren came back and with grateful amazement told me that the church was no different than if a rain storm had blown through. The roof, albeit what it is, was still in tact. Things were blown and scattered some within the building but everything was fine. We just had to mop up the rain, a little more than usual, but praise the Lord, he proved that he cares about our little congregation and a place for us to worship in. That’s God.
Bro. Don and Mrs. Joan Hetzel, as most of you know, are an older couple that came to live out here on our property to help us with the church and take care of things when we are gone singing. They both are a great asset to our ministry and our church. We love them dearly. They were initially living in their 5th wheel RV which was parked by the church. During the storm a very large pine tree decided to ‘rest’ upon their camper. The tree didn’t crush the camper, it just politely mashed it into the soft ground. Their camper virtually escaped harm. Bro. Clint Smith, Todd, our nephew, and Curtis Yeager, Jr. were kind enough to come over and cut the tree off the camper and pull it out. It is hard to tell that it had a tree on it. That, my friend, is God.
New Direction was scheduled to be in Colorado during this storm, but we felt that we would not be in God’s will by leaving. I was reminded of the scripture in
James 2:15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and dailyHow can we go in the name of the Lord and leave family, friends and neighbors in a time of need. Yes, they probably could have managed without us, but it is during difficult situations that we tend to rethink our lives and the direction we are headed.
food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well
fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?"
NIV
In Luke 11:5-7 the Lord shares an example to show that we are to help one another in their hour of need as well. Believe it or not folks, it's not always all about us!
5Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes
to him at midnight and says, `Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.'
7"Then the one inside answers, `Don't bother me. The door is already
locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you
anything". NIV
Now more than ever we need to extend a hand to others and show them Jesus instead of preach Jesus to them. Times are coming soon where we will have to prove and show our faith rather than preach it. Live it. Because faith without works, isn't really faith at all, it's just a bunch of words that came out of our mouth...
I was glad that my mother, brother and nephew came and stayed with us for a few days after the storm. It helped me to know they were safe and being taken care of. My brother and I haven't had a very close relationship lately and this was a wonderful opportunity to show him I love him no matter what. He's still my favorite brother even if he is my only brother. Family matters, it is our way of being grounded and connected.
So IKE came, if for no other reason than to help us count our blessings. For the most part, he left a lot of folks in the dark. But for a lot of us, just as God intended, IKE cleared the clouds and junk out and brought light and enlightening to us. We are grateful to know that the Lord still hears our prayers, watches over us and cares enough to send a storm to make us reevaluate our relationship with him. Some people are dealing with much more than that. Their loss of loved ones and loss of everything they own, possibly even their livelyhood has devastated many.
People are to having to start completely over, with no pieces left to pick up. Pray with me that God will send someone to minister to them and help them realize that the Lord does care about them. He cares so much that He gave us what we needed even if it hurt; a storm to clear out the junk in our lives so that we could see what is really important. Being alive and having a chance to start fresh, with the Lord as our Savior, our refuge and our source of strength.
What will it take in your life to clear out the junk and the clouds?
Outta here for now, Donna - Love ya! NDM
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Do You, Like us, Have problems leaving Home?
Are you like us, New Direction, when it comes to just simply leaving the house? It seems it takes an act of congress just to get out the door. My husband is an avid 'be on timer', in fact he likes to arrive everywhere early. You know, so you can wait. Yeah, well, I'm not. I'm happy if I get where I'm suppose to be 5 to 10 minutes early and it doesn't bother me if I walk in a few minutes late. Now, it makes a difference where I am going. But no matter what, something will always happen to delay us, make us late or even cause us to not even leave the house.
There is always the phone call you can't ignore. A cousin calling about a sick family member and you hate to be rude because they never call otherwise.
Or once, just as we were trying to leave, the donkey in the pasture decided that the guide wiring for the electric pole was a wonderful thing to scratch his itch with. He would lean up against it and begin rubbing, causing the electrical lines to shake and vibrate all the way from the pasture to the house. This caused the electricity to fluctuate and surge so we had to go over to the pasture and lock the donkey in a different pasture before we could leave.
Then there is the neighbor who is a little off plum (OK, a lot off his plum line!) that thinks he needs you to take him to the doctor right then and there because he hasn't had cigarettes and coffee and he is sure his dead grandfather took the cigarettes and drank the coffee.
Then there is the Sears service repairman that knows someone you know and wants to tell you all about the mutual friend and what they are doing so that he can go back to them and tell them what you said.
How about in your haste to get away from the house you forget your paperwork that you need to accomplish the task that you are leaving the house for in the first place and you get halfway to the highway and have to go back. You pick up your papers run back out the door, get to the end of the road and discover you left your cell phone and you were expecting an important call, so you have to go back again.
Oh, I could go on and on and write a book on this subject alone. My husband gives me lots of material. However, I have adopted the attitude that if I'm late, then OK, I'm late. There is no sense in having a stroke over that fact that traffic was horrible, or someone had a wreck and made you late or you lingered over breakfast too long this morning. I made up my mind to take life as it comes. What exactly can you control anyway? Even if you did leave an hour early, something will inevitably happen. I am also of the opinion that if you allow things and circumstances to 'raise your dander' then it will. If we allow ourselves to get aggravated by Satan's attempts to steal our joy then he will have succeeded.
That doesn't mean that I don't get my 'dander' up once in a while or that I don't get aggravated, I do. But I try to let the Lord help me to be slow to anger and not use so many idle words. I don't want to have to stand in line giving an account for all those idle aggravations when I could be enjoying eternity!
Have a blessed day, and don't 'idle' too long...
Donna Smith, New Direction Ministries
i
There is always the phone call you can't ignore. A cousin calling about a sick family member and you hate to be rude because they never call otherwise.
Or once, just as we were trying to leave, the donkey in the pasture decided that the guide wiring for the electric pole was a wonderful thing to scratch his itch with. He would lean up against it and begin rubbing, causing the electrical lines to shake and vibrate all the way from the pasture to the house. This caused the electricity to fluctuate and surge so we had to go over to the pasture and lock the donkey in a different pasture before we could leave.
Then there is the neighbor who is a little off plum (OK, a lot off his plum line!) that thinks he needs you to take him to the doctor right then and there because he hasn't had cigarettes and coffee and he is sure his dead grandfather took the cigarettes and drank the coffee.
Then there is the Sears service repairman that knows someone you know and wants to tell you all about the mutual friend and what they are doing so that he can go back to them and tell them what you said.
How about in your haste to get away from the house you forget your paperwork that you need to accomplish the task that you are leaving the house for in the first place and you get halfway to the highway and have to go back. You pick up your papers run back out the door, get to the end of the road and discover you left your cell phone and you were expecting an important call, so you have to go back again.
Oh, I could go on and on and write a book on this subject alone. My husband gives me lots of material. However, I have adopted the attitude that if I'm late, then OK, I'm late. There is no sense in having a stroke over that fact that traffic was horrible, or someone had a wreck and made you late or you lingered over breakfast too long this morning. I made up my mind to take life as it comes. What exactly can you control anyway? Even if you did leave an hour early, something will inevitably happen. I am also of the opinion that if you allow things and circumstances to 'raise your dander' then it will. If we allow ourselves to get aggravated by Satan's attempts to steal our joy then he will have succeeded.
That doesn't mean that I don't get my 'dander' up once in a while or that I don't get aggravated, I do. But I try to let the Lord help me to be slow to anger and not use so many idle words. I don't want to have to stand in line giving an account for all those idle aggravations when I could be enjoying eternity!
Have a blessed day, and don't 'idle' too long...
Donna Smith, New Direction Ministries
i
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