Good Afternoon Beautiful Survivors!

Sometimes, it’s all we can do to hold on for just one more day. If we look at the whole picture, the road in front of us seems too hard. If we just take one day at a time, God will give us the strength we need just for today. Tomorrow isn’t here yet, so fretting and worrying won’t help a thing. In fact, it will drain us of the energy that we have today. Just like God gave manna to the Israelite’s passing through the wilderness on the way to their promised land, one day at a time, He will give us a fresh supply of everything we need with each new day.

It’s in the small steps that we go the furthest. When looking forward, the road seems too long and difficult. In fact, it’s winding and there are so many curves that we really can’t be sure of what’s around the next bend, but they look pretty rough, almost impassable at times. God is our GPS. He may need to recalculate to get us to the desired destination, but it’s all good. He will do it, one day at a time, one step at a time. As we are winding around the most narrow curves, it may look like to some, a death trap, but if we hold tight to His hand, He will never let go of us and He will steady our feet. Don’t dare look back, but if you do, you will be surprised how far you have already come. You will gain a new strength you never knew existed. You will regain the stamina to finish the course and with joy yet!!!

Are you too tired to sit up today? Are you too tired to fling your feet to the side of the bed? God knows your weariness. He promises to never leave your side. He promises to comfort you and strengthen you until you can stand on your own; but for now, He is your strength. Lean hard on Him. He is a strong tower. He is giving you all the strength you need for today. Hold on! I can see a light in the distance. Keep climbing, Beautiful Survivors! You are much further than you think, and the view is beautiful from the top!

I love you guys!
Brenda

It seems like the more we cry for peace, the harder it is to attain. Yes, there is a counterfeit peace full of empty promises, but we know this kind of peace is only temporary. With all the talk of the upcoming election, it’s anything but peace. With the click of every dial on TV and radio alike, we just can’t get away from it. Channel surfing doesn’t help, because no matter where you go, it’s there. They aren’t just talking about the election. One thing I’ve noticed is there’s a lot of hate going on from all sides. I know it’s serious business; something we should be in deep prayer about, but all this hate and lashing out at everyone is not solving a thing in my opinion. Yes, we should be informed and vote. But there comes a time, for our own peace and sanity, we would be better to turn it off for a time with one click. Now, that’s gratification!

Noise, noise, noise; how can we get away from it? It’s an upside down world these days. Shootings, flooding, death tolls, disease running rampant, hate crimes, fighting over whose lives matter most. How did we come so far in all this? STOP THE NOISE!!! Yes, there are all the question marks. Lord, how do we do this? How do we do this when the mountain is so big in front of us? How do we tune out the noise and hear your voice? What do we do when so many unexpected things keep happening? How do we explain them away, especially, to our innocent children? How do we come through all this turmoil, this chaos. How do we make it through these hardships and trials? I scream it out loud! GOD, I AM AFRAID!!!! BUT WAIT; FEAR DOESN’T HAVE TO HAVE THE LAST WORD!!!

What do I hear? As I pray and cry out to the King of the whole wide world, He walks right into my world full of the power and authority He has had from the beginning of time. He made everything that exists out of nothing, and yet, he loves us and desires our company more than anything. He is the answer to all of this mess! He is the Prince of Peace. I can hear His voice above the noise. He says to me, “Child, I love you. I hear you before you cry. I answer before you even ask. I am the solution to all of this and I am collecting your tears in a bottle. I know about each and every tear. In fact, I know how many hairs you have on your head. I am the answer to every unanswered question. What do you need today? I am your sure supply. I am faithful and I will bring my word to pass. What do you need? Do you need hope? I am your hope. Do you need faith? I am your faith. Do you need joy? I am your joy. Do you need peace? I am your peace. Do you need love? I am love, and perfect love casts out all fear.”

Find your quiet place, even when the storm is raging all around you. He is able to grab that mountain and cast it into the depths of the sea.

There must be a place of rest. A trust when we can’t see even when the mountain is so big. Don’t be afraid. He is with you. You don’t have to do it alone. He is your strength. No matter how loud the noise is all around you, if you turn your ears just right, you will hear His voice speaking to you above the noise. Be still and know that He is God. The waves and the winds still know His voice and they hearken to His every command. He will hide you in His secret place of the Most High God and He will cover you with His mighty hands. In His presence is peace, rest, love, joy, hope and anything else you will ever need!

Breathe in His peace today. His word is true and will never let you down. He is faithful and He holds His word above His name. Be still and know that He is God. His promises are all yes and amen. He promises peace to His children with the promise of each sunrise.

I love you guys,
Brenda

Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.

Good Afternoon Beautiful Survivors!!

Yeah, I know, You feel so alone. No one else has to walk through this valley with you. Even if they wanted to, they just can’t. This is the one time that you have to go on by yourself, trudging along and dragging your feet all the way. Wow! So many things to process right now! There are just too many details that have no answer in the here and now. The one thing that lingers like a question without an answer; This ugly diagnosis! What now? So many questions that whirl around in your mind until you just can’t stand one more thought. What will happen to me? What will happen to my family? Can I survive this? How will I face the treatments? How will I pay the bills? On and on and on over and over again. There are so many details; the multitudes of doctors and the endless appointments, the treatment plan, the chemo, the hair loss, the nausea, the weight loss, the baggy clothes, the wig, the family, the meals, the kids, the marriage! OH GOD PLEASE HELP ME TO STOP THESE THOUGHTS FROM BOMBARDING MY MIND!!!

If this describes even a fraction of all that you are dealing with, if you never hear another word that I say to you, know that you are not alone in this!

Our God is a personal God. He is closer than your next breath. He cares so much about what you are going through. He cares about every detail of your life. He loves you so much and He is able to bring you through this! He cares about your marriage. He loves weddings and families. He cares about your kids. He loves kids. He cares about your bills. He is your provider. He is your source of everything that you will ever need. He cares about all the work you still need to do. He loves order. How else could He have held the stars in space? He cares about your body. He is your healer. He is a personal God. He is not a blob floating somewhere out there. He is right here in the here and now of everyday life; even in the not so pretty days. He knows how you are so sick you can’t hold on a day longer. He knows all about the hair loss. HE CARES!!! He sees you as you hug the toilet, too sick to crawl back to your bed. He is a God of detail and He cares about every detail of your life, right down to the ones you didn’t even have the strength to mutter in your most urgent cry.

Beautiful Survivor, You are not alone. You are going to make it. Give God all the details, one by one. Speak to these mountains. You have a God Who created you. Nothing is too hard for Him. Let Him speak life right back into you today. Lift a tired hand to heaven and as you do, you will relinquish back to Him all that concerns you. He is in the details of your everyday life. As each detail is surrendered, your burden will be lighter. You are going to soar high above the storm until you find rest.

I love you guys!
Brenda

Hey Beautiful Survivors!

Did you ever hear the saying, “Dream big?” Did you ever wonder what those words really mean, and how do they apply to your own life?

At some point, most of us have some dreams or goals that we would like to see happen, but somewhere, in the everyday struggles, it’s so easy to get sidetracked and get comfortable where we are in life. This is the time that many people put their dreams on hold and give up on them. But somewhere, buried under a mound of things labeled, “Everyday Life”, and “Things More Important”, there is a hint flicker of a flame, because that dream is still alive. How do you give birth to that dream? Am I talking to anyone today?

I’m not talking about just a passing thought to put on tomorrow’s to do list. I’m talking about that dream that God has placed deep in your heart.. You just know without a doubt, that you have to do it, if it takes the rest of your life. You will not rest until it is accomplished. It’s like a fire burning in you. It drives you day and night.

Your dream is yours alone. Each person’s dream is different, and every dream, given by God, is important, no matter what the size. Maybe you have a dream to start a business, become a nurse, write a book, get married, get healthy, or become the next President. When God planted that dream in your heart, He gave you everything you need to fulfill it. It may take some time, but never give up on your dreams! It’s usually during the long journey when we don’t see much happening that it’s easy to think that it will never happen and throw the towel in and quit. But Wait! I’m talking about that dream that you kept to yourself. You didn’t dare tell anyone else about it, for fear of being laughed at. That would diminish the hope that someday, just maybe, it would happen after all. When God speaks that dream into your heart in the middle of the night, you know, without a doubt, that He will help you see it through to completion.

I know when you are sick, or having problems of any kind, you are just trying to hold on to today. It’s during these times that it’s all the more important to keep hope alive. There will be a better day up ahead. It might not happen as fast as you would like, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. God has a bright future planned for you. If He didn’t, He wouldn’t have given you the dream in the first place. God always keeps His promises! You might think that your dreams are too big, but never forget, We have a BIG GOD!!! Take the limits off!! If He said it, it will come to pass! Keep dreaming. Keep believing and keep worshiping right on through to your victory!!

I love you guys!
Brenda

Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!
Luke 1:45

Hi Beautiful Survivors!

Do you ever feel like your best days are over? Do you ever wonder if your prayers are falling on deaf ears? I know. We’ve all felt like that sometimes, but I have some good news for you! Nothing is impossible with God. That means No thing! That means that every thing is possible with God. With men, I’m not so sure, but we’re not talking about just anyone. We’re talking about the God Who flung the stars into space. He is a BIG GOD! He’s all powerful! He has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand. He created the heavens and the earth out of nothing. He made the stars and calls them each by name. “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

So take heart, weary one. I know life can get hard sometimes, but no matter what you are going through, we have an all powerful God, Who not only made everything that exists, but He loves you so much! He is so concerned about every detail that concerns you. There is not one thing on your mind that He doesn’t already know about. There is no doctor report, no family problem, or even the world’s problems that He cannot solve. Nothing is impossible with our God! Every one of these problems has to bow at the the name of Jesus. Nothing can stand in His presence. But what really amazes me is how He did all of this and He still loves us! He stoops low to lift you up at your deepest needs. He says to you, ” I hear your cry and I will help you. Nothing is out of my reach. Nothing is impossible with Me. Do not be afraid.” He lifts you up, gathers you in His arms and holds you close to His heart. He is breathing hope back into your spirit, so rest well tonight, Beautiful Survivors, knowing that the King of the Universe is watching over you and He neither slumbers or sleeps. Nothing is impossible with our God!!

Luke 1:37
For nothing is impossible with God.

Good Afternoon Beautiful Survivors!

I have always said that God has a sense of humor and I truly believe that laughter is the best medicine. There is nothing quite as rejuvenating as a hearty laugh that makes you double over until your sides ache. It just seems to wash away all that ails us from the inside out.

I have three grown children and seven grandchildren with another one on the way. One child can keep you laughing, but multiply that times 8, and I have a feeling there’s going to be a lot of laughing going on at our house for many years to come! What a blessing!

Yes, we are a typical family. It can get crazy. We don’t always have it as together as I would like sometimes, but it’s all good. It makes for another book one of these days. We have taken all of our grandchildren with us on two vacations this summer. As crazy as it was, it was the best time of my life. I had to speak several times, and I did make some serious threats for all concerned if they were caught being loud during my speeches. We made it up with ice cream later. A year earlier I took them with me to speak at a Luminaria Ceremony. I had speakers with headphones on, so I wouldn’t have dared to say one word to them, if they were caught acting up, because if I did, it would have been amplified out into the parking lot across the entire football field. God really does have a sense of humor! He had me right where he wanted me. I couldn’t have felt more helpless if I had been gagged and handcuffed!

We just watched some of our grandchildren a month ago while their parents went away for a much needed vacation. We never stopped for a moment. We had water fights with squirt guns and the kids won. We baked silly cupcakes, wore super-sized neon sunglasses, went to the park, played with play doh, blew bubbles, had a cookout, celebrated National Ice Cream Day, visited with Great Grandma and sang songs and danced like crazy. We had a blast, and I’ll admit, when their parents came back, I was tired, but I missed it. Kids just bring out the good in us. It was so much fun getting down to their level and being a kid again, even if it was just for a few days.

One thing I found difficult was the many fights I had to solve during the course of a day. Jackson and Jossalyn fought over the Lucky Charms cereal. It seems as though they both wanted the marshmallows. I bet all kids would rather have the marshmallows; after all, that’s the best part, isn’t it. It seems to me, that General Mills should just put in all marshmallows in the first place. Who needs the lucky? Just put in the charms for goodness sake! It would solve a lot of fights in the first place and prolong a grandparent’s sanity just a bit longer! Yes, there have been many times, too numerous to tell, of other weekends with the grandkids. Savannah was always doing something to kill herself when she was little, not on purpose. I’ll never forget the Easter that she was playing around with her Easter basket and put it on like a hat. She got it stuck on her head, or the time she inched her way in between the refrigerator and the wall and almost got stuck; or the time I stepped on one of Landon’s Lego’s and slid clear across the floor and ended up doing the splits. Who wants to survive cancer and end up stepping on a grape and breaking their neck?! Not me, that’s for sure! I think they need to make a new movie. Instead of Mom’s Night Out, they should call it,
“Grandparent’s Day IN!”

Yeah, this has been quite a busy summer. Amidst all of the traveling, speaking, and writing, Mark decided to have our giant tree cut down in front of our house. Our kids have grown up with this tree. The stump hasn’t been removed, so I have spent any extra time that I have trying to disguise the stump, which is really quite impossible. I’ve mulched it, and put flowers on it, so now, it looks like a grave. Oh well, you can’t win them all. I have to laugh at the differences between Mark and I. As for me, I could have used my money on much better things, but Mark said, “This tree has to come down.” So it did. And now we have a stump that looks worse than the tree. I’ll never forget the summer, many years ago when we were first married, he was busy planting everything he could get his hands on, until one of the things he planted was poison oak. All I can say is that the rest of that summer was pretty itchy. Not pretty at all!

Mark loves to read, so I solved that one. What do you do when you marry someone who likes to read? You write a book!

Oh well, keep your sense of humor. There is always something to laugh about every day! We can’t always choose the path that life takes us on, but we can change our attitudes and how we react to them. Make it a fun day. Find laughter. Some days, you may have to look a bit harder to find it, but it is out there.

I love you guys!

Brenda

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with joyful shouting.

Job 8:21

Good Morning Beautiful Survivors!!

It’s a brand new day! A fresh clean slate; another chance to get it right. We might refer to it as a do over! Yesterday might not have been so great, but I love how God wipes the slate clean and gives another chance with each new day! What a gift! There are just some days that we can’t seem to get it right, no matter how hard we try. We make mistakes. Angry words can be spoken. Feelings may get hurt. Yes, let’s just face it. There are some days that we just plain fail miserably, but yes, thank God, that there is His promise of this brand new day, so untouched. It’s like God just rains down manna from heaven. He blankets all that concerns us with a fresh supply of mercy and grace. He showers us with forgiveness, strength and the purest form of love coming from the very heart of God. He says, “It”s a brand new day. Another chance at life. I’m breathing restoration into this new day. Be refreshed My Child. With me, you can face this new day. I am breathing life back into everything that concerns you.”

May we never lose our wonder of the beauty that each new day brings.

There are so many scriptures in the bible that refer to new beginnings. After all, isn’t that the theme of our Christian life? Jesus is the author of new beginnings. He makes it clear in His word; He has great plans for us; far greater plans than we could ever comprehend. His plans are for us to have a bright future full of hope, to the full and running over. He says that if we are His child that we are a new creation. He is doing something new; A new thing, He calls it. He will make a way where there is no way. It’s a new way like never before. He tells us to forget the former things, and look to the new start that He wants to give us. His awesome love never ceases. He is all we need to start afresh. His mercies are new every morning. He is faithful and He will attend to His word without fail.

Yesterday may have been full of tears and sorrow, but today is a new day. Let Him take that brokenness away and replace it with a new fresh start. Come to the end of yourself and turn to the God of new beginnings. Leave behind your regrets and mistakes. Trade in your sorrows for joy! Let Him give you a new heart. He makes all things beautiful in its time.

Enjoy this beautiful new day and take it all in. Enjoy the sunrise. Watch it as it appears on the horizon. Listen to the voice of God as He speaks freedom, love and peace into this brand new day. He calls you Beautiful. He delights in you and He rejoices over you with singing!

I love you guys!
Brenda

Isaiah 43:19
Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

This is for that one who is still awake in the late watches of the night. No matter how hard you try, you can’t find sleep. You can’t turn all of the thoughts and worries off that keep bombarding your mind over and over again. You toss and turn to no avail. There seems to be no relief. Your heart is heavy. You have so many questions that don’t have answers. You have never felt so alone in your life. You clutch your pillow tight and the tears start to roll down your cheek. You call out to God in desperation. He whispers to you out of your desperation, “I am here. I will never leave you. I know all about the aching deep in your heart and I care. I know your every concern. I know the heaviness of your heart. It was I that formed your heart before you were ever born. I will comfort you. I love you. Come to me. Lay your cares at my feet. I will carry you when you don’t have the strength to stand on your own and I will give you the strength to stand again. I hold your life and those you love in the hollow of my hand.”

Now you realize that you are never alone. He has been there all the time. Lift your tired arm up to him in praise. When you take that first step and praise him, even when you don’t feel like it, all of heaven comes down. God inhabits the praises of his people. Praise and worship even in the trials, even in this! Praise and worship in every season of your life. It is your greatest weapon to defeat any problem that you have and to see the victory. There is just something extra special about that “Midnight Praise!” It ignites your faith and gets God’s attention. The harder your cry, the louder your praise! Get your shout back! The sun will shine again. Weeping may endure for a night, but you can be sure that joy comes in the morning!!!!

I love you guys!
Brenda

Psalm 119:62
At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws.

Do you know that there are so many miracles all around you every day? Some of them are big answers to many prayers said in the late watches of the night, but so many of them greet us with each new morning. Many of them may seem small, but in reality, they are a reason to celebrate every day. At first, they might seem trivial, but if they weren’t there, there would be a great void. I never want to get so busy that I don’t see the wonder in every day. God blesses us with so many miracles each day. Most of them are completely free. In fact, I’ve realized the things that I treasure the most, I already have and you could never put a price tag on.

There are so many beautiful moments in this life that make my heart sing every day! I love the smell of a fresh bouquet of flowers; The sweet voices of my grandchildren and their giggles that splash joy into the very core of my spirit! I love to pet my furry Maggie, my Old English Sheepdog, and laugh at the silly things she does; I love the wisdom of my sweet mama, and the love she has always shown me all the days of my life! I love the warm feel of family, the smell of coffee brewing in the mornings, and the sense of love and belonging as I worship with my wonderful church family, and the sound of God’s voice in the mighty echoes of thunder that lets us know that someone bigger than you and I is still in control! I am so thankful for all of these blessings and so much more! God knows our heart and He loves to lavish us with so much beauty. He really loves to bless us!!!! What a good God that he is!

Every day is a precious gift from God! I want to drink it all in to the full; every last drop! I never want to take a single day for granted, or any one that I meet along life’s journey. I want to see, hear, smell, taste and touch everything that I can in this beautiful life! I want to treasure all of these small miracles, because, to me, they are huge. I want to thank God from the very depths of my soul for all the beauty that He surrounds me with each and every day; And for the very gift of life, itself! His mercies are new every morning. Let us all learn to count no day as ordinary!!!

I love you guys!
Brenda

There are countless miracles all around us every day!

What do you need today? Are you afraid? Are you lonely? Are you sick? Do you need help in your marriage? How about with your children? Maybe it’s your aging parents. Maybe it’s more than one of these.

Do you know that there is hope for any of these problems? I know it may seem impossible, but with God, nothing is impossible! All it takes is just one touch from his nail-scarred hands to change everything.

It is impossible to come into his presence without it changing your life for the better. When he walks into the room, everything changes. Burdens are lifted, darkness flees and light appears. Healing is evident. Marriages are restored; broken hearts are mended, and joy is full! He is light, life and love. He is a drink to the thirsty, food for the hungry, strength to the weary, a friend to the lonely, and so much more!

What do you need today? He promises to meet you at the very point of your deepest need. He sees those silent tears that roll down your cheeks in the darkest hours of the night. He knows the cry of your heart. He loves you with the deepest love that can never be extinguished. He longs to lift you up and hold you close to his heart until you feel the chains fall off. He is beauty, peace, freedom and restoration. He is refreshment to your dry and weary soul. He wants to give you beauty for ashes. He wants to lead you beside still waters even though storms are approaching you from all sides. He is able to keep you safe.

Do you feel him tugging at your heart strings today? Lift your eyes towards heaven and know that God is closer than your next breath. Sit at his feet and gaze into his beautiful eyes. Every problem pales in comparison to his warm smile. Feel his love wrap around you. He is restoring joy and giving you beauty for ashes. He is bringing you streams in the desert. He is the one who can make roses bloom in the wilderness. Look to him today. He can make you bloom in your desert situation. Give him all your worries today. He cares for you with the deepest love. He promises to hold you close and never let you go. He is reaching out for you today. He is breathing life back into your spirit with just one touch!!! He says to you, today,” Come to me, Beautiful One. I am the glory and lifter of your head. I am lifting you out of the pit of despair that you have been in, and I am drawing you out of deep waters and breathing life back into you this very day.” Heed his voice today. He is waiting for you. Run to him with open arms and he can do it with just one touch!

I love you guys!
Brenda