Good Morning Beautiful Survivors!!

There are many seasons that we will all have to go through as we journey through life. Some of them are good and some of them are bad. I am convinced that God is in the midst of all of them with us. Nothing that we will ever go through is wasted; He is weaving everything together into a beautiful tapestry of our life. When we first look at it, it seems to be just a jumbled mess of confusion, but when we stand back and look at all that we have come through, it starts to make sense.

Of course, when we are right in the heat of the battle, it’s not fun. In fact, we might wonder what was the purpose in the first place. It is at this time, where our faith comes in. As I look back through the bible, and as I study it, I realize that not much that God does makes any sense at all to the human mind. That’s because his ways are higher than our ways and he has a plan that one day when we get to heaven, might make sense. But, for now, I will walk by faith and trust him completely, knowing that he is a good, good God. All of his promises are Yes and Amen!!! He wants nothing but good for his children. Yes, we live in a fallen world, but he still has everything under control. Not one sparrow will fall to the ground without him knowing it. He knows how many hairs are on your head, and he knows if you have hair or not. He knows your silent heart cry and why your pillow is soaked with tears in the late watches of the night. He knows how you miss that loved one. He knows how you want that wayward child to come back home and turn his life around. He knows that there is more month left over than money, and not only does he know, but he cares so deeply for you. He loves you so very much!! Yes, you!!!! If you were the only one in the whole wide world, he would have died on the cross for you alone!!!!

I have always said that when I get to heaven, I am going to ask Jesus about many things, but in reality, I know that when I behold him in all of his glory, all that I will be able to do is to fall at his feet in tears and worship him for who he is and for all that he has done for me. At that moment, I really doubt that all of these other things that seem so important, now, will really matter then. Just one moment in his presence, everything will be alright. I will be free at last!!!!

Which season of life are you in right now? Is it a wonderful and fun season? Are you newly married and enjoying every day with the love of your life? Are you a new parent, thrilled with that precious baby? Are you a parent of a teenager, and you are wondering if your frazzled nerves can make it one more day? Are you a teenager and wonder how you can get your parents to understand? Are you a grandparent, enjoying those grandbabies and recalling the same fun times spent not so long ago with your own children? Or, are you in the late season of your life? The winds of change have blown in and everything is a reflection of all that you love and remember from a lifetime of memories?

No matter which season of life you are in, you are not alone. You never have been from day one, and you will never will be. God has been with you all along the way; through the wedding, the divorce court, the hospital, the nursing home, the chemo, and yes at the gravesite of your dearest loved one. He knows and he cares so deeply. All of these seasons are leading you home, and Oh, what a day of rejoicing that will be! There will be no more sadness, sickness, loss of loved ones, death or tears. You will be home at last!! You will walk those streets of gold with your loved ones and Jesus Himself. He will welcome you with open arms and hug you tightly to his chest. You will know that all is well at last. Just one glorious day in heaven will be worth a lifetime of suffering in this life.

Do you have broken dreams in this season of your life? Do you feel hopeless, like things can never be mended? Take all of those broken pieces and offer them back up to God. Give him all of the burnt ashes and give him a sacrifice of praise. He will give you a gladness in your heart that the world cannot give you, and surely, cannot ever take away. He will take those ashes and restore back to you, your joy. He will give back to you everything the locust has eaten. In your weakness, he is your strength. In your fear, he is your peace. In your sickness, he is your healing. In your loss and grief, he is your restorer. No matter what you have been through, he will take all of the leftover fragments and weave it into the most beautiful tapestry of your life that will shine forth as pure gold.

Never give up Beautiful friend!!! God loves you so very much. He made you, and yes, he will carry you through every season of your life until your hair is white with old age. He will never leave you! Yes, weeping may endure for a night, but, Oh yes, JOY TRULY WILL COME IN THE MORNING!! JUST YOU WAIT AND SEE!!!

I love you guys!
Brenda

Isaiah 43:2
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

Good Evening Beautiful Survivors!

Yes, so many of us know those words, “You Have Cancer” all too well. It’s hard to believe that those three small words have such an impact on us that they will change the rest of our lives forever. Those words cut like a knife right through the very core of all that we believe about this beautiful life. It’s at this very moment that everything we have ever hoped for up until now seems to take a back seat to this terrible disease. Now, suddenly, all of the things that we thought were so important pale in comparison to the magnitude of the mountain in front of us. Cancer has a way of putting our priorities in their proper perspective. After all, in the whole scheme of things, was it really that important to run a little late in rush hour traffic? Or, did it matter that much, now, that I had to work a little late?

When my doctor sat down and looked me straight in the eye, and told me that I had cancer, I would have to say that it was one of my life’s defining moments that I will never forget. I was in total shock for quite some time. At first, I was just numb. I couldn’t believe that it was really happening. Life was going too good. I didn’t have time for this intrusion and to top it all off, I felt too good. How could I be sick? I knew it happened to other people, but I never thought it would happen to me.

The many thoughts that bombarded my mind at the very beginning were life draining. “How did I get this?” “What will happen to my family?” “How will I feel?” “What treatments do I have to go through?” “How will I cope?” “Has the cancer spread?” and the final question, “Will I die?” Those thoughts went on day and night for quite some time, until I realized that they were harder on me than the cancer itself.

It was hard to believe that the sun could keep coming up each day when my own world had become so dark. How could life keep on going all around me when my own world and everything that I had hoped for came crashing down? Yes, life did go on. There were still bills to pay, work to do, kids to raise and the lists went on and on.

It was then that I realized that as long as I was still alive and my heart was still beating, that God had a purpose for my life, pain and all. He could take the broken and make it beautiful again. No, it wasn’t easy and I had many hurdles to jump, especially in the beginning. I’m not going to lie. It wasn’t pretty at first. It was downright hard in every way; but I noticed that as I kept walking through this heartache, the steps that were at first so heavy, became lighter along the way. At first, it wasn’t so noticeable. It was just subtle small steps, but I suppose it was mostly because I quit carrying the burden on my own and handed it over to the one who carried me for awhile, until I found the strength to stand on my own once again. It was kind of like a loving parent when their child first learns to walk. They are lovingly cheering that child on with a smile as that baby crawls, and stands, and finally takes that first step. That parent is standing there with outstretched arms to embrace that child as they run to them. That is what God does for us. He is smiling at us and cheering us on because he knows when we decide to place it in his hands, he is able to bring us safely through. He promises us that when we come to him that his yoke is easy and his burden is light.

Isn’t it amazing that when life is about as hard as it can get, that God shows up right on time when we need him the most? Even after having cancer, life goes on. It has been ten years since my diagnosis, but I still have days that can be extremely challenging. I guess that’s just life. It’s during those crazy, hectic days when I get so tired and feel like I can’t go on, Jesus steps in and tells me not to worry. He tells me that the reason it seems so hard is that I’m trying to do it on my own and that has never been his plan from the very beginning. He tells me, ” Now, wait just a minute here, Daughter! I’ve got this! I’ve got you in the palm of my hands. I will never leave you. Don’t try to carry this on your own. Once you hand it over to me, you will find strength rising once again, because when you are weak, I am strong in you.”

So, Beautiful Survivors and Caregivers, this is a word for you tonight. God has you in the palm of his mighty hands. Nothing is too hard for him. He is able!! He will lift you up. Learn to sit at his feet and bask in his love. He will give you a fresh supply of strength with each sunrise. He will refresh and restore you one day at a time.

Enjoy the beauty of each new day with the dawning of every morning. Live your life to the fullest. Take it all in. Enjoy every moment and surround yourself with the love of family and friends. Look for signs of God’s beauty. It’s all around you. Never give up! Live with passion and enthusiasm. Put a spring in each step and be free with your hugs and your smiles. Lavish others with them and don’t die until you live!!!

YES, LIFE DOES GO ON!!!!

I love you guys!
Brenda

BIRTHDAY FUN AT THE MEXICAN RESTAURANT

Birthday celebrations are always so much fun and our family definitely knows how to celebrate! We recently celebrated my son, Travis’s birthday and my grandson, Jackson’s birthday in one evening. It had been a very busy day. It was the same day as Lobby Day when I went downtown to talk to lawmakers about some really important issues affecting those with cancer, and by that evening I was tired and needed some time to unwind. We decided to have a family dinner at our local Mexican Restaurant. It’s always a fun atmosphere and there is a lot of laughter going on. Besides that, it’s noisy and probably one of the only places that we can go and take so many loud kids without getting kicked out! When I got home that evening, being the writer that I am, I captured a few thoughts and decided to share them with you. I hope it brings a chuckle to your day, like it did mine!! I truly believe that laughter is one of the healthiest ways to enjoy life!

We had lots of fun celebrating Travis’s and Jackson’s birthdays tonight at the Mexican restaurant with our huge family! I’ve come to the conclusion that NO table would ever be big enough for our family! Jossy scared us all to death when she got her head stuck in the high chair. Don’t even ask!! It’s too hard to explain! Ha Ha! Kids; You’ve gotta love em! The craziest thing of all was that we were all so busy singing Happy Birthday that poor Josh was the only one that noticed. We were all in hysterics as the waiters and staff were so loud, with siren’s, rattles, tambourines and clapping and singing as they placed giant Sombreros on both Travis and Jackson. It’s been a long day! When I get home, I’m getting a Cat Scan! LOL!

One of these days I’m going to write a funny book, if I have enough brain cells left!!

I LOVE YOU GUYS!

BRENDA

Most of us are familiar with the story in the bible when God used Moses to lead the Israelite’s out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. It wasn’t an easy journey. In fact, it was difficult in many ways. It required much faith and many trials along their way before they ever got to their destination. It was a forty year journey, when it should have taken eleven days! Now, you think things are moving slow for you!! It could always be worse!

What do you think it was that prolonged their journey so long? The bible said it was because of their grumbling, murmuring and complaining. They fought with their relatives. They weren’t thankful no matter what God did to please them. They turned away from him and worshiped idols. Many of them died along the way. This was never God’s plan from the very beginning, but because of their rebellion and their poor choices, they couldn’t move forward.

In the fortieth year, (can you imagine that?!), Moses proclaimed to the Israelite’s all that the Lord had commanded him, concerning them. (Deuteronomy 1: 6-8) He told them, The Lord our God said to us at Horeb, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Break camp and advance into the hill country of the Amorites; go to all the neighboring peoples in the Arabah, in the mountains, in the western foothills, in the Negev and along the coast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the Euphrates. See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of the land that the Lord swore he would give to your fathers- to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and to their descendants after them.

As I think over this, it seems to be a recurring problem for many of us, still, even to this day. So many of us aren’t moving forward at all. We have been going around the same mountain year after year; sometimes, more than forty years! Some of the things we face today are fear, negativity, anger, stubbornness, pride, past mistakes, bad attitudes, and the list could go on and on………

The wilderness is not a fun place to be. It’s lonely and dry there. It’s a barren place. There is a weariness there. It’s a place of unrest and a thirst that cannot be quenched. It’s a place of feeling hopeless and bone weary tired.

Does this describe the place you are in today? Well, if it does, I want to urge you to exchange your wilderness journey for the mountaintop experience. Are you afraid to try again? Have you become comfortable in this stagnant place, or are you ready to soar high above all of the madness and take possession of your Promised Land? Are you tired of that pit of despair? Have you made some past mistakes? Learn from them, but now is not the time to remember them. Instead, wrap them all up and lay them down. You’ve stayed too long here. Let go of the ashes. Yes, it’s a long and arduous journey. Definitely not for the faint of heart, but, oh so worth it! I will warn you; You have to go through the wilderness and the valley before you will reach the top of the mountain. It’s steep and definitely an uphill climb. You will get tired. It’s okay to stop and rest awhile. Rest is necessary, but only to renew your strength to start again. Once you gain your footing, and you get your second wind, take a deep breath and start again. Climb a little higher one step at a time. It’s hard to believe when your feet get tired and you feel like you are losing your footing, but you are making progress!

Keep pressing on. Today, I just want to tell some of you that you have stayed too long at this mountain. It’s time to move on. Never be content with the crumbs again. You are moving into a new fullness of life; a new passion! A new joy! From now on, you will be always growing, and changing for the better. This is your destiny that God has prepared for you since the day you were born. You are going to shine forth as gold and your days will grow brighter and brighter. Learn to hope again, and to love again. You are blessed. Enter into the rest that God has prepared for you from the beginning of time. You have a new exciting future full of new possibilities that are larger than life. Let your faith rise up from deep down inside. God will be brave for you until bravery become a part of who you are. You will find a new hope. Turn your face towards the sunrise and to a God who is all you need for everything that concerns you. No matter what the problem, He, alone, is the answer. Never lose sight of Him. Let Him hold your hand and lead you higher and higher. If you are afraid of falling, He will catch you and you will learn to fly.

One last word; Don’t look back. The view is beautiful from the top!

I love you guys!

Brenda

Good Evening Beautiful Survivors!

Happy Spring to all of you!!! I absolutely love the Springtime! I always have! I have to say that Easter is my favorite time of the year. I love the newness of life that is everywhere around me; the chirping of birds, bunnies scurrying across my back yard with their little fluffy cotton ball like tails, the grass turning a beautiful shade of green, and the buds coming to life on my trees, while the daffodils peak their yellow heads through that cold, dark, and sometimes, still snowy, ground. They just seem to scream new life in the middle of the cold. It’s as if they are saying, “Move aside Winter! You’ve had your chance. Now it’s our time to come alive and bloom again!”

It’s usually right in the middle of winter, that the Springtime is the most inviting. It’s usually when we least expect it, that everything is transformed and brought to life even in the most turbulent of times.

It can be that way in our lives also. We can be going through the darkest time of our lives, with no clear picture of the sun ever shining again. It’s at that moment that God can do a mighty work, right smack in the middle of the darkest of days and turn everything around in a heartbeat!

Yes, life can get pretty bad sometimes. No matter who you are, there are just some seasons of our lives that we would rather not have to participate in, but life just doesn’t work that way. Everyone will have to endure some rocky waters once in a while. There’s no way around it.

What are you going through? Have you recently lost a loved one? Is your heart breaking tonight? You just can’t stand to see their empty chair one more time; Or have you recently been handed over those hurtful divorce papers? How could that one you loved and trusted so much do this to you? How can that unruly teen be so rebellious? You’ve loved them, spent years of your life praying for them, going to all of their ball games and you have such big dreams for their bright future, and they just want to throw it all away? Or how could you be losing your car or your home? You’ve worked too hard for all this to happen! Or is it you? Did you just receive that dreaded cancer diagnosis? Do you wonder what your future holds for you and your family?

I know these things can hurt so badly that they almost break you to the point that you don’t know how you will face one more day, but don’t lose heart. As hard as it seems, God is still in control and the sun will shine again. It’s times like this, in this winter season of your life, that you have to crawl across the dirt and reach for the hem of His garment. Let Him hold you close to His heart until He dispels all of the lingering shadows.

Sometimes, you feel like everything inside you has died, but it’s these times that you have to cheer yourself up and TELL YOUR HEART TO BEAT AGAIN!

I love the story in the bible how Jesus resurrected Lazarus from the grave. Do you know that Jesus really truly cares about everything that you are going through? You are not alone. Even though Jesus knew that he could resurrect Lazarus from the dead, He still wept. I’m sure you know the rest of the story. Jesus told Lazarus to come out of the grave. He came out with the grave clothes still on and Jesus told them to unbind the graves clothes and to let him go.

It’s time for you to take all of the old grave clothes off and come alive. Call out the dry bones to come alive! Rise up from the ashes and let Him give you new life and beauty for ashes. Sometimes, the scars we have are invisible, but the invisible ones can be the hardest to heal. Tell your heart to beat again. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Sometimes, what you think is dead, can come alive again and be resurrected. It’s time to get your hope back. Spring is here and there is newness of life all around you! Let God transform you into that beautiful butterfly that is just waiting to be set free!

Not too long ago, God gave me a beautiful vision of His glory. One day, I was driving my car and I was praying and I could picture Jesus smiling down on the earth. He had a beautiful crown on that sparkled with the most magnificent of colors and the rarest of jewels. He had a warm, inviting smile that just drew me in. It was enough to dispel every burden that I had ever known and heal every tear that I’ve ever shed. As He stood on heaven’s streets of purest gold, He had His nail-scarred hands pointing down as if to pour His richest blessings out on His children. So get ready! He is holding nothing back! It’s His perfect identity to lavish His children with the abundance of heaven’s richest glory! This is Who He is!!!!!

Give him all of your cares tonight. Let Him hold you in His lap like a little child. He loves you so much!! He is able to make a way where there is no way. Let Him dry your tears, lift you up, and give you the strength to stand once again. He will never let you down!!

I love you guys!

Brenda

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

John 11: 43-44

There were just a few quick, angry words spoken before the door was slammed shut. All that remained after the heated argument was shattered glass. The angry teen was on the run again. Being kicked off of the school’s football team was the last straw. His prideful and strong image had been diminished by the school’s principal. He had been caught with drugs in his locker. Between bouts of uncontrolled anger and the deep depression that had set in, he just couldn’t take it anymore. With overwhelming hoplessness and despair, he stopped by his house to grab a few personal items. He quickly stuffed everything he could into the large tote that he flung over his shoulder. He told his dad he wanted to be treated like an adult and he didn’t want his parents in his business.

As his father knelt down to pick up the broken glass, his lips quivering, and fists clenched, he prayed half in anger and half in desperation, “Lord, help that boy!”

Jason, the tall thin lad was only seventeen years old. He had always been headstrong since he had been a young child. He wanted to see the world and to come and go as he pleased. He hitchhiked across the country. When he couldn’t find a ride, he walked from one town to the next. He landed jobs in different night clubs to earn a few bucks. Once he made enough money, he went on to another town. He picked up girls in every town. After awhile, he quit working altogether. He lived for the next party, night after night.

Meanwhile, before going to bed each night, his mom and dad touched the floor with their knees, and amidst salty tears, cried out to God, “Please keep Jason safe and bring him home!”

One morning Jason woke up, his clothes covered with the stench of stale cigarette smoke, and his gut empty. It had been almost a week without food. He had run out of money. He was too weak to hold down a job. He could almost smell his mom’s eggs frying and the trail of the bacon that used to wake him up most mornings. For the first time, he was sober enough to experience a homesickness that cut to the very depths of his soul. He began to experience the nagging thought that maybe he had made a terrible mistake. He began to yearn for the familiarities of home and family. He also missed his friends and his dog. Come to think of it, next week would be his eighteenth birthday. “Maybe, ” he thought to himself, and quickly dismissed the thought with “Yeah right, my parents would never even let me come back home, let alone throw me an Eighteen year birthday party!”

It was a quiet fall morning. The air had that certain chill in it when Jason’s dad stepped outside to get the morning paper. Maggie, the family dog, started to bark as Jason’s dad heard a strange but familiar sound of leaves rustling, and then he heard footsteps coming down the narrow lane. “Could it be? Could it really be Jason coming home at last? Had his patience and perseverance paid off and had God heard his desperate plea to bring his son home again?”

With a feeling of excitement that no mortal words could fathom, but that cut into the very core of his soul, he didn’t have to think twice. He ran as fast as his legs could take him, and with heart abandoned, he grabbed the boy, embraced him tightly and kissed both sides of his face with the love that only a father could comprehend! As he spun him around, with tears, mingled with shouts of joy, he shouted in his loudest voice for all the neighbors to hear, “We are throwing the biggest party this neighborhood has ever known! For my son was lost, but now he has come home!”

Jason looked at his dad, sheepishly, ashamed to admit the guilt that he was carrying and the shame he had brought home to his parents. “Dad, there’s something I have to tell you. I spent all of my money and I have done some horrible things that I’m not proud of.” Before Jason could even get the first word out, his dad said, “None of that matters anymore, my son, for once you were dead, but now you are alive!”

This is a modern day version of the Prodigal Son. Jason could be your child or the neighbor down the street, or perhaps, Jason is you. This is for all the Jasons out there. Jason’s dad depicts the love of our heavenly Father. There is nothing you could ever do to keep God from loving you. He is waiting for you with arms open wide to embrace you and accept you back into his loving graces where there is an abundance of hope, love, forgiveness, joy, peace, provision and protection.
Nothing could ever get in the way of God’s love for you. Not even your own stubborn willfullness and pride.

Are you homesick today? Home is a sense of belonging. It is family, where life begins and love never ends. Home is among the holiest of words. It is our own private sanctuary; a resting place from the cares of the world. It is a place to gather new strength and characters are molded. Home is peace. It Is where love wins out. There’s no place anywhere like home, where you can see the people you love that love you back. They are waiting for you.

TURN YOUR HEART TOWARDS HOME!