Why it Bugs the Devil When we Pray for Prodigals

I have been thinking about this for the last several weeks. We all know people who have walked or wandered from the God we love. As parents or siblings, we know the pain that it brings with it. Why does it bug the devil so much?

A few weeks ago the thought raced through my mind to gather people who are praying for their very own prodigal. I kept ignoring the nudge, but it persisted. So, I posted my idea not knowing what to think. Surprisingly, a group of people joined me. However, before the meeting, I was overwhelmed by doubt and I felt like my head was in a vice grip. I asked a friend to please pray for me and it lifted. I have had this happen before and it has always been when I was engaged in something the devil would rather I left alone. Honestly, for me, it serves as a confirmation that praying as a group for prodigals is a great idea.

One of the reasons I think that praying for prodigals is important is simply because it can take the wind out of the sails of those who love them. It can be discouraging and a real “faith drain” especially if you have prayed for a long time. When our faith runs out that is when the faith of others can make a big difference. Sometimes we have all the faith in the world for other people’s prayer requests but ours which is so precious to us, wanes.

It encourages me deeply today Isaiah 43:5-6 “ Do not be afraid, for I am with you, I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!” and to the south, ‘ Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth- everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

The beauty of praying for prodigals is that you can be confident that you are praying within the will of God

If you want to join me as we pray for prodigals, let me know. You can email me at donnaleadyck@gmail.com. We are meeting every second Tuesday night. 8:00 pm EST. You are welcome to join. It is all on Zoom.

Problems that I am Powerless to Solve

It seems that there are weeks that problems roll in like a train carrying cargo. One thing happens, then the next and you think you are done but no… here come another one. When I have the power to solve what is in front of me, then perfect. Get out the glue gun and do the needed repairs.

In my mind, I see a basket full of trouble, I pull each one out and see very clearly, there is nothing I can do no matter what angle I look from. I can dream up a lot of angles, let me tell you. Solving problem is my middle name!

Of course, at night these things haunt me. I have to work really hard to just not think. Very quickly I feel tormented and overwhelmed. Everything seems worse at night, doesn’t it?

I start to pray and giving these things all over to God. Like Psalm 121 1-2says “ I lift up my eyes to the mountains, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” I would like to tell you that the peace just came washing over me, but it did not.

I continued to pray and remembering verses that would bring comfort to my troubled heart. Then, after quite some time, I heard Him speak” Donna, in this world, you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) And that was it. Peace came and I went to sleep. Honestly, I think it was about 3:30 am by then!

God does bring peace to our troubled hearts, but He does not always bring the solutions as quickly as we like. He is full of surprises though. It has taken me a long time to learn to bring my fears to God, people that are difficult, situations and injustices that I cannot change, and simply leave them there and then give thanks. He is big enough to carry the load that I have dumped at His feet. I am powerless to change any of these things, but He is not.

What is in your basket full of trouble you cannot solve? Give it over to the One who is big enough.

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Finding Peace in the Storm of Attempted Suicide

Hearing that your very own young adult has tried to take their life yet again is enough to suck the breath out of anyone. I am not sure how many times we were called to the hospital to sit with our loved one who thought ending life would be easier than going on living it.

The cloak of shame and despair was evident as we sat next to that hospital bed. Needless to say, our prayer life was pretty intense during this season. We always pray- but let me tell you that when you are in this particular pit- the prayers are desperate.

Psalm 23 will forever be a comfort to me regardless of the season I find myself. God promises to us that He is the Good Shepherd- not absent or forgetful. He promises that He will restore our soul and that even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we shall fear no evil. Have you ever wondered “ why is it only a shadow?” I asked God this one day and He reminded me that Jesus who said” He is the Light of the World” is also the Good Shepherd. When you walk with One who is light, we only walk in a shadow because of His great light. I have never liked the dark- so walking through the shadow always gives me hope.

I remember sitting in the emergency area of the hospital during another attempt. I was struck by a security guard sitting just outside the hospital room to make sure our loved one did not leave. I could not believe we were in this same situation yet again and wondered Lord- how will this all end? It is hard to imagine as a parent, watching someone you love so intensely, be so consumed with such hopelessness.

We looked to the Good Shepherd to meet us and He did. We looked to Him to minister to our beloved and He did. I wish I could say and this must have been the last of the trips to the hospital- it was not, nor was it the end of the drinking which was the engine behind all of it. But that day would come. We had to wait and pray.

We celebrated 3 years of sobriety for our loved one this past Spring. We could not be prouder of our son. It is an amazing accomplishment to live sober for him and it is a battle fought every day. He looks to God to help him as do we. He values his life now as God slowly heals the wounds of the soul as only God can.

If you or a loved one has had to walk this path, I want you to know that there is One who is able to comfort you and can reach into the life of that loved one whose life is consumed with ending it. There is no magic formula but I can tell you that for us, our hope was and is in God. May He give you wisdom and strength. This is not a journey I would wish on anyone nor is it one I can imagine walking without the Good Shepherd at my side.

Five Solid Reasons Why Teaching Kids to "make do" Matters

Michael and the family flamingo!

It was two summers ago when my husband chose to purchase this ridiculous flamingo. Most people would use it to just float around on… but not my family. We have a small boat. When we go to the beach which is about a 15-minute boat ride across the lake, we take turns. We were a family of six now we are a family of 16!! When we get together for holidays at our trailer and the decision is made to go across the lake to the beach… that is a lot of trips for our little boat. So this particular summer, Michael who is blowing up the flamingo ( there was quite a bit of complaining as I recall), when it came time to go across the lake, Michael and his wife Jordan decided to paddle the flamingo across the two or so miles across the lake to the beach. It was really funny. The lake was filled with all these fast boats ( not ours but it works just fine) and then across the lake comes this flamingo. It was memorable.

Bill and I certainly bought our kids what was needed or had them pray for what we could not afford. We also taught them that sometimes we need to make do with what we have. Why does this matter?

1. We cannot always afford what is newest and best and often do not need to.

2. It helps kids become resourceful (flamingo across the lake- it would not cross most people’s minds)

3. It helps kids learn that sometimes we need to be content with what we have now. This is never a bad lesson. It helps fight against the consumer mentality that is so prevalent in our day.

4. It challenges kids to take care of what that bike or sweatshirt or whatever when they understand it will not be replaced so easily. Therefore, they need to take very good care of what they have now.

5. It is more environmentally friendly. We teach this to our kids already from all kinds of angles, this is another one!

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The Beauty of Time Out and Kids

I was thinking back to when my kids were small and the role “ Time out” played. I remember it was really a big deal and it helped them and it helped me.

I remember one day in particular, one of my boys were being really difficult and I felt like tearing my hair out. It was a rainy day and all four kids were pretty tired of being inside and behaviour was not exactly stellar in the Dyck household. I realized that there was one boy who was behind a lot of the grief.

Sometimes we don’t hear ourselves repeating ourselves over and over again. That was me on this day. Like I said last week…. parenting children who do not listen to you is exhausting. I do remember that day thinking '“ what this boy needs is a time out”. I know it is not rocket science but it is really easy to not catch on to what is really needed. It is good to ask questions which I see parents do and if that is enough to curb the behaviour which is not acceptable- then that is perfect. Parents do need another tool in the parenting tool box to reach for when just a conversation was not enough and for me, that was a time out.

I found that it would change the behaviour. I have heard the phrase “reset” and for many kids, it is highly effective. There was times where I gave a 5 or 10 minute time out and it was not long enough. Nothing had changed and I would send them back to their bed to take some more time. I remember several times that when I sent one of the kids, especially when they were very young, I would find them asleep when I would go to tell them that 5 or 10 minutes was up. Sometimes the kids are just plain tired.

I realize that” time outs” do not work for every kid. I was lucky I suppose because they did work for mine. Time-outs gave me the time to calm down if I was really upset about what I was seeing and time for the child to think about what they could do differently. I would always talk to the child about what happened and what they were going to do differently. The child always knew that I meant what I said. I would try to follow up accordingly if they did not change their behaviour.

I was by no means a perfect mom but I certainly tried my best. I had good days and bad days. Remembering that giving a kid “ time out” was often part of a good day as it made the day much more enjoyable for everyone.

How long that time out was depended on how old they are but I confess I did start them pretty young, Willful defiance - when a child does not listen in my humble opinion needs to be addressed. The sooner the better. Kids need to know that listening to mom or dad when they say “ don’t jump into the deep end of the pool” needs to be obeyed. If they learn that listening is optional then that can become a big and even dangerous problem not only that, it can become habit forming and that can be a nightmare for the child and for the parent.

May God give to you wisdom as you parent. It is the hardest job to date that I have had the privilege of doing. I certainly needed all the help I could get and still do from a source that was beyond myself and for me that is always God.

The Most Exhausting Thing in Parenting

Parenting is likely the most rewarding thing a parent will do in their lifetime and also the hardest. I remember my best summer with my four kids in the parenting department. It was the summer I lost my voice. I could only whisper for two months.

When I spoke to the kids, they listened. I could not repeat myself over and over nor could I yell. The kids believed me when I spoke. I would get down to their level and say what I had to say and make sure they understood. They usually whispered back.

Children need to believe that you really are the one in charge. They can have their opinions and we can listen to them, but if your opinion never seems to trump theirs’ you are really in trouble. There are also times when listening to their opinion is not optional. I think when every moment of parenting is a debate, that is also exhausting.

It is utterly exhausting to repeat yourself 5 or 6 times and until they really believe you mean what you say. Until then, they are not going to listen. Listening is not something that is done on their timetable, but yours.

What happens if we raise kids that don’t listen? Will they listen when they get a job? Will they listen when a car is coming and they are going to run into the road? Will they listen when it is truly in their best interest? What about at school and their relationship with teachers?

Authority is given to us as parents and we need to use it wisely. We need children to grow up and be humble enough to listen and wise enough to believe that what those in authority are saying is important.

Listening is underrated in my humble opinion. I believe that part of raising children to be wise is to teach them to listen.

One Thing that Matters

I was thinking while I was out on my run today about life lessons and wondering where are people gaining their life lessons these days? I was concerned as I pondered this thought. There is so much ridiculous stuff on social media, T.V., or the various streaming services. I am by no means saying it is all bad or that we should not watch it. I question for myself sometimes, is it worth my time? Regardless, my point is that I dearly hope that our life lessons do not come from them.

Wisdom is priceless regardless of the season of life we find ourselves, and to have a storehouse full is amazing. I remember sitting with my mom or my mother-in-law and other people who had walked many roads for a long time. I loved just hearing their stories and what they had learned as they went along. I also learn a lot from the perspectives of people much younger than myself including children, they have some amazing insights that I would have totally missed.

I want to always be learning as I speak with people or as I read. I don’t want to be unteachable just because I have lived 6 decades now. There is so much more to learn.

I love reading the Bible and there I find so many important life lessons. To be honest with you, It really is my primary source. I love the book of Proverbs. It covers so many topics and there are 31 chapters, one for each day of the month. There is wisdom throughout the entire Bible. Some of it is mystifying I admit but that is why you have to study it and ask questions and understand the context. God has given us the Holy Spirit to teach us and He is the best teacher. There are all kinds of commentaries that help when I am really confused.

Proverbs 3:13-14 says this “ Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields more returns than gold’

Wisdom carries us a long way in this life. My prayer for you my dear reader is that you will be rich in it. We cannot buy it in any store but to possess it is to be rich indeed.

When Silence is Golden

The world is full of opinions and convictions, I have my own collection that I developed over the years. In the past few months with the challenges the world is facing, it takes one brief read of the world news to develop all kinds of opinions and convictions on health, behavior, and the wisest way forward. I think everyone has lots to say about all kinds of things these days.

As a parent though, especially as a grandparent, the wisdom to know when silence is best is invaluable. If you could buy that kind of thing in the store, the cost would be outrageous. Its value has no measure.

Proverbs 13:3 says “He who guards his lips, guards his life, but he who speaks rashly, comes to ruin.”

It is easy to jump to the conclusion “but if I don’t say something, nothing will ever change”. At times, that is true. The next question one needs to ask is this, who is it that should say anything? Sometimes it is our place to say something. Many times, especially as a grandparent, silence is wisest. Unless we are being asked point-blank, it is wise to say nothing. Sometimes silence is louder than words.

I was in a situation recently, with thoughts bursting in my head, somehow God in His quiet way reminded me that this issue that was gnawing at me, is His battle and not mine. I have been giving it over to God every single time it starts nagging me. It allows me to just be silent and trust that God hears my prayers which all me to thank Him that He because has it well in hand.

May God Himself give you the wisdom to know what battles are His to fight and which are your own. He is always willing to assist us no matter what!

Why Should I think about dying??

I know this sounds like a really morbid question, but truly it is not. It is a question we all need to consider and the sooner the better.

We hear a lot about people dying all over the world these days and it is indeed heartbreaking. Yet, I want to take a few moments to encourage you to think about the days you have before you which is a gift we call life? What do you want to leave behind you when you are finished all your days? No one knows how many days or years we have left.

Ask yourself what do you want to have left in the hearts and minds of people? What truths do you want to make sure the ones you love, fully understand are most dear to you? That you love them? Perhaps that sounds crazy, but many people struggle to say those words. I have not one memory of my father ever telling me he loves me. I know he did because my mom told me he did. He showed me he loved me in his own way, but words… no.

What is most dear to you? What are you doing to make sure the ones you want to know are actually hearing what is on your heart? You might think “but I am so young”. These questions are important because they inform us about how we should spend our time and how we speak.

For me, I like to keep things simple. I want my family to know that I love them with every fiber of my being and that Jesus really is exactly who He said He is. I want them to live their lives in such a way that they reflect His love and presence in their lives .

Psalm 90:12 says it perfectly “ Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Taking these moments to consider this one question is wise and is especially beneficial if we act on our response.

Dearest Martha

To all my fellow Martha’s out there,

Thank you for all the food you have prepared, all the tables you have set, and the gifts you have given. You have blessed many people. Sitting is hard for you, and Jesus sees that. If “keeping busy” could be a middle name, it would be yours.

The need or habit of being busy can make it challenging to hear His voice speak in the silence. I live with a man who if Mary could be a man’s name, it would be his with capital letters. He can sit silently for hours, writing in his journal and reading his Bible. Then there is me, I have spent years feeling like I will never be enough as I can’t read my Bible endlessly nor write in my journal for hours. What a freeing revelation to discover that I am still loved by God and He loves me just as I am.

What I will do, is walk and talk to God, sweep and talk to God, listen to the Bible while I work doing whatever I am doing. I will for sure sit and read my Bible, but not like Mary. My walk with God differently.

Jesus loves Martha and I think if there is one thing He would want us to know it is this: it is ok to be busy, but we need to also listen for His voice even when we are doing what we do. When I came home from my run today, I was sitting in silence waiting to hear what God would have for me to write, and I heard nothing. I said to God, “Well, I am going to sweep the yard “ (my yard is all cement). Then, that is when I felt him say, write a Dear Martha blog.

Isaiah 40:31 tells all of us Mary or Martha, they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up on wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary and walk and not faint”. For the Martha’s reading this, our waiting may just look a little different, but the truth of this passage does not change.

God meets us as we wait and renews us. The passage in Scripture that I was thinking about as I wrote today was Luke 10:38-42. We meet a flustered and busy Martha, making a special meal for Jesus and whoever else was there. Yet, where is Mary? Sitting at Jesus’s feet oblivious to Martha and all the action of the kitchen. Martha was mad. I can understand that also. I would have felt exactly the same way as Martha but that was years ago. I have learned to let things go over the years. Mary discovered what mattered and Martha should have just planned differently - a simple meal that can be prepared when Jesus is finished.

Jesus is always wanting us to sit and be with him. This is a hard thing for us to do some days. There are times when I am excellent at sitting but not always.

If the disciples walked and talked with Jesus, so can we. They did not always sit and listen, but they also walked with Christ along the road all while hearing him speak.

So, to you my fellow Martha’s reading this, it’s ok. We are loved and all is well. Deep breaths! Things will work out, maybe not as perfectly as you had so carefully planned, but that is ok too, right?

The One Question I Believe God Asked me Today

I love when God speaks to me clearly. I wish I could say it is every day, but I would be lying. I believe God is always speaking, however, in my life, I think I just get too distracted to hear His voice.

Today I was making supper and listening to a podcast. I was thinking about my blog and how I had not gotten to it today. In a simple prayer, I asked Him, what is on Your heart today?

Then, I heard His still quiet voice amidst much talk about COVID, “do you think I am big enough? Do you think I Am big enough to walk with you through this valley of the shadow of death? Am I big enough to calm your fears to care for you or your loved ones contract COVID 19?

“Do you think I am big enough to direct the scientists as they look for a vaccine? Am I big enough to walk through this valley? For you, it is the first time you have seen something like this. For Me, there have been others. “

This is the simple question for today, do you think that God is big enough? Psalm 46 says this “ God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the sea…”.

I have never lived through anything to this extent but I have walked through many valleys and I can tell you that I have found God nothing but faithful and more than big enough for the greatest challenges life has brought my way. If God is not big enough for this current crisis, then I think we are really in trouble! God who hung the stars and formed the earth and gives us breath to breathe moment by moment is indeed more than able to walk with us through this valley, wherever it may lead.

3 Things that Help Us in Troubled Times

The condition of one’s soul matters not just when a ship is sinking but every day. Each day we read the numbers of new COVID 19 cases and hear of the resulting deaths. Indeed, it is heartbreaking. Amidst the turmoil, this news must have some effect on our hearts. Here are 3 things that stir within me that I have found helpful.

1. Know the One who holds your life in His hands. Psalm 139:16 says, “your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days were ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” God has not gone to the calendar and switched anything since this virus began to creep across the planet. For sure wash your hands, etc., and be wise but know this too - God has marked all of our days long ago.

2. God, the author of peace in its truest form, offers it to all who seek it. Here is part of an old hymn that has been going through my mind this morning. It is called “When Peace Like a River”:

   “When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
   When sorrows like sea billows roll
   Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say
   It is well, it is well, with my soul.”

3. God holds us in His hand so we do not need to be afraid. Isaiah 41:10 says, “ Do not fear, do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God and I uphold you in my righteous right hand.” I find great comfort in knowing that I live every single day with His hand holding me steady.

   It is by these three things I find rest for my soul in the midst of turmoil and uncertainty. I hope that you will as well.

When Angels Step In

Living in Fort St. John while wonderful, was a long trip from Ontario. Every summer, we would pack up our car and make the long drive. One year, on our way back to B.C. when we decided to stop for lunch. We piled out of our brand new car. It was amazing to be driving such a wonderful reliable car. We ate our meal and piled back into the car. It was a beautiful sunny day. The car did NOT start! That was a real shock to all of us! The car was brand new! Bill looked under the hood, we had lots of gas. So, we prayed together as a family. About 5 minutes had passed when we tried and the car started. It was really weird.

We started down the highway and after driving 5-8 minutes, right before us was a semi truck in the ditch and cars smashed and people everywhere, some with serious injuries. It was with sobering realization that we would very likely have been in that same accident if our car had started as it should have. That car never failed to start again, only that one time.

If we could have seen with our spiritual eyes, I believe we would have seen an angel doing something to our engine. I have no idea. Whatever happened, we were spared untold harm to our family. I have never seen an angel, but I have been the recipient of their ministry.

Psalm 119: 11-12 “ For He will command His angels concerning you and guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone”.

In these days of a virus that is frightening to many and endless hand-washing, it is good to know that we not only have God watching over us, but some angels also are really busy. If only we could see them!!!

Stay safe my friends.

Happy Coincidences or Answers to Prayer

I have had many people ask me over the years “ Donna why do you believe in God?” The first reason is because of the resting peace He gives me regardless of what is going on and the wisdom He offers me. He also provides me with His love to share with others when mine has run dry. And then … there are all the cool things I have seen him do.

I want to take the next few weeks or months and simply tell you some of the great things He has done. Some might say that is just a happy coincidence, I call them all answers to prayer. I think that during uncertain times it is nice to know that prayer is still powerful and God is still in the business of answering prayers. He does not always answer the way I have been hoping, sometimes He says “No” sometimes it is “ not right now, you have to wait” and then there are times when it is amazing. I want to talk about the amazing today. Here is this week’s story.

One of the greatest fears as a parent is when your child becomes lost. When we lived in Fort St. John my husband was the Youth Pastor. We were doing some kind of a youth event at this park. There was a large open field in the middle with a road on one side and a forest on the other. It was about 4 kilometers across ( I am just guessing) if you walked straight through you would hit another park road BUT if you turned and walked to the right- the forest does not end. If you have seen the virgin forests of Northern B.C. you know what I mean by a dense forest. That was where the problem began.

I was watching the teens as they were playing soccer. I was sitting at a picnic table rather than playing as I was keeping an eye on 3-year-old Martin. I noticed that my daughter Lisa was nowhere in sight. She was with her dad the last time I looked. She was about 4 or 5 at the time. I asked Bill” where is Lisa?”. He told me she was with some girls who were from about Grade 3 and they wanted to show her a hut they had built in the forest. It was just barely in the forest. I was alarmed, to say the least. I asked Bill how long ago was this? He said ‘maybe 20 minutes ago”. I told Bill you better start looking, He did. He went in the direction he had seen the girls go and there was no sign of them anywhere.

I was in my first trimester with our 3rd child and not feeling well. I panic I felt was great indeed and the prayers that followed were fervent, to say the least. Bill and the youth leaders all split off and were off running and calling for the girls. Bill ran around to the other side of the forest along the road, and prayed, “ Father my little girl is in there somewhere, please help me find her”.

In a moment, Bill said it was like someone shone a flashlight into the depths of the forest and he followed it. After about 15-20 minutes of walking, Bill could hear little girls singing a song they had learned in Sunday school. They stood in a circle holding hands and were singing and crying.

I know that it does not always work out this neat and tidy, but this time it did! I thank God for how He helped Bill to find our little girl and her friends.

Psalm 77: 2-4 “ I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, from of old, what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. We will not hide from our children; the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His powers and wonders He has done.”

Hope for Rainy Down Days

Years ago, I backpacked 22km. up a mountain on cross-country skis with a heavy backpack weighing me down. When I think of what it felt like after hours of skiing up that winding path, and then to see the mountain shelter finally come into view, relief flooded over me. That moment is as clear to me today as it was all those years ago.

God’s mercy is a bit like that. In this passage the psalmist talks about God’s mercy after acknowledging that God heard his cry. It might be a bit like the feeling one has when they keep finding people who do not understand what they are going through but then finally meet someone who totally gets it. There is a relief that comes, a sigh to the soul. This in my mind, is a similar to the mercy that is described in this passage.

 As we call out to God in the middle of our messy lives, He hears, and helps us. He gives strength for today. If you think about it, as we find ourselves on the receiving end of His help, we also discover that result is a joy that quietly slips into our hearts. All of this can help us as we seek to give thanks to God for a new day filled with new possibilities. I have found that as I give thanks for the smallest of things, it tends to usher me into a better attitude as I face the day.

 Dear Father,

Thank you for your mercy and that You hear me when I call to You. Thank you for a brand-new day to say thank you for small and great mercies. Give me eyes to see each one if mine are struggling. I need you Father to be my shield and my strength today. I do not have in myself all that is needed. Help me I pray.

This entry is based on Psalm 28:6-7 

The Upside of Disappointment

We have all had more than our share of disappointment. I sure have. I confess to you, I do get tired of them. I pray and I believe God but … it does not turn out at all the way I thought it was going to. Does this sound at all familiar to you?

What do we do with all the disappointments? Jobs pass us by, invitations pass us by, we fail at something we had hoped to do well at, we trusted God to lead a certain way… the list goes on. The more we live the more we have successes certainly, but my goodness, we also have to face the disappointments.

What could possibly be the upside of disappointments? Here is what I have discovered. It ushers you back to the forest where there is this path, and just off to the side a bench and when you look down you see carved into the stone bench is the words “ waiting place”. You notice it is well worn but very readable. The fact is - there is a lot of waiting in this life of ours. How we wait is the challenge we face.

We rant, we complain and maybe we are even bitter for awhile… but is this really how we want to live out this season of life? I wonder if there is not stages of disappointment like stages of that of grief. Some disappointments we can easily let go of- it is not a big deal anyway. Some though are big and they leave us feeling winded and bewildered while we sit on the waiting bench.

If you are broken hearted while you sit there the good news is that God promises us that He is near to the broken hearted. So if we can think of nothing else to be thankful for while we sit there, we can start by thanking Him for His presence. I pray that He will reveal Himself to you while you wait. In Psalm 121 He promises to be a very present help in times of trouble. That is also comforting.

Disappointment ushers into that “what now God” conversation .The wonderful thing is that He invites us into honest conversation with Him. As you wait - I pray that He will give to you His peace. The funny and awesome thing about His kind of peace, is this; it can rest on you even when not one thing from what you can see - has changed. We just know that He sees us while we sit there, He hears us while we rant or whatever we are doing. He cares and loves us still. His promises are all intact and this season of the waiting bench is not forever though it might feel like it.

I pray dear reader that in some small way, you will find some comfort today. The upside is simply this, we are in the position to sit on this bench and ask “ what is next then God” and know that He hears us. You are not alone. Many of us find ourselves sitting on that same bench or perhaps, we were just there. God has many lessons to be learned at “the waiting bench”.

2 Choices around Fearful Times

None of us are strangers to fear. It is either nipping at our toes or has gripped our hearts. Sometimes we get so used to it, or we fail to recognize its presence.

I went to my son’s former addiction rehab last night and attended the parents’ group. I have been praying for a number of the boys there. One mom caught my eye. It is her son that has been heavy on my heart. He is somewhere lost in his addictions which he has been struggling with for years. I wanted to ask the mom how her son was doing, but I did not need to. Worry and fear were etched into her face. I know that look, I have worn it myself when my own boy was lost in addiction. The fear for their very lives is an everyday event.

In Mark 4:35-41 we see that the day has come to an end and Jesus and the disciples have jumped into a boat. It had been a long day for Jesus teaching, crowds of people full of need pressing on every side. The boat and the prospect of getting to the other side was a welcome thought. Jesus, exhausted from his day, lays on a cushion at the back of the boat and falls asleep. The disciples find in short order they are dealing with a vicious storm that is threatening to overturn the boat! They do everything to try to steady the boat but know that this storm is beyond what they can navigate without Jesus’ intervention.

How often we find ourselves in this same predicament. We see the storm that is swirling all around us, we know that it is too much for us. We make our plans, we do what seems reasonable and wise, just like the disciples were doing in this story. They were experienced boaters, they know this sea and how prone it is to fast-approaching storms. They have seen it before.

There are many trials that come to each of us that are beyond our control, we cannot make all sick people well, we cannot make people get jobs, we cannot control the addict we love, nor can we fix the problems of other people as much as we would like to.

You know what is the problem that is causing fear to grip your heart or nip at your toes.

We have two choices. We can hold onto our fear and work our plan or we can do what the disciples did and call out in the middle of their fear and ask for His intervention.

In this passage, Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the waves and everything stopped. He spoke to the disciples first though and called it as He saw it “ oh you of little faith, why did you doubt?’.

If we choose to call out to Jesus in this same way, He does intervene, except it is not always as fast as we see in this story. I have seen fast interventions by Jesus in my life and I am familiar with the slow kind as well. Regardless, He asks us to not fear but trust in Him. And that my friend is one of two choices, we will either trust Him to help in this storm or we do not. We are given that freedom.

What does trust look like though? It is like this. Picture yourself on a pile of rocks in the middle of a large body of water and the waves are crashing around you. You cannot see a way off these rocks try as you may. You call out to God “ help me God, there is no way out of here!” He throws you a lifeline and it lands at your feet, what will you do? Do you leave it there or do grab on and let Him pull you into a new place even when you cannot see where in the world He is taking you. That is what trust is. There are many people who believe in God and say they pray but they never grab onto the lifeline and hold on.

He is trustworthy and He sees what you cannot. Whatever you face today, know that He is big enough.

12 Things that made my "Good Stuff" List

Today is a sunny day in Toronto ( which is an event in itself these days) and I managed to go for a run. I was listening to a song and it is called “ The Good Stuff”. In the song, a guy had just had a fight with his wife and went to a bar and asked the bartender for a glass of the good stuff. The bartender said, “ we don’t serve that here”. He proceeded to pour him a glass of milk and told him what the “ good stuff” really is.

I wondered what would be my list of “the good stuff” "? So, here is my list and it is not necessarily in any particular order.

1. Family and all the precious times I have with them.

2. Friendships that span the years.

3. The joy of being a grandparent and the sacred privilege to share my life and my faith with them.

4. Health and wellbeing. I am almost 60 and I have not been this fit in many years. I run a few times a week now and find it clears my brain and helps me with anxiety which can really trip me up.

5. A rainy day which gives me the freedom to enjoy a good book and a cup of tea.

6. The knowledge that I did my best, whatever that is.

7. The courage to just forgive someone who has hurt or wronged me.

8. The resting peace I find when I sit with God’s word, reading and listening for His voice.

9. The pleasure of completing a project and seeing it turn out the way it was supposed to.

10. Sitting by a campfire with people that I love.

11. Walking with my dog ( hoping to get one someday soon)

12. Feeling the sunshine on my face. I love the sunshine!

What does your list look like?

Rainy Day Motivation!

I don’t know what the weather is where you are, but it is pouring here in Toronto! I really struggle on rainy days to stay focused on what I need to be doing.

I have discovered a podcast that has been helpful to me called “ The Lazy Genius”. I wish she would do one on motivation for rainy days! I like the way she thinks. She thinks in smart systems and asks great questions. She really is suited for young moms, which I am not. I am, however, a young grandmother!

Trying to get to the gym or writing for my next book or even writing this blog, can be really difficult. I know that there are people who pretty much skip to the gym. I am not one of them, I am more likely to skip home from the gym! I always feel better once I have gone.

The same is true when I have written another entry for my book and I am always thankful when I can write this blog and feel confident that in some small way, someone is encouraged or helped. But getting there is really hard some days! Even though I am considered a “writer”, I don’t feel like a writer. I don’t get excited at the thought of it, but it does feel right when I finally sit and do it!

I thought I would take “The Simple Genius” method and ask myself this question- what is causing me to feel so indifferent- as that is what I honestly feel and believe it leads me directly to an unmotivated unproductive day. I think it may be the belief or fear in my heart that says, what I do makes no difference. I need to change the message in my head if I am going to change my behavior.

For me, I am able to change the voice in my head in one place and that is prayer. It is where my hope and my footing find peace and wisdom. Here is my prayer for an unmotivated day

Thank you, Father God, that I have you with me, thank you that I know that You hear me when I pray. You see me even now. You are familiar with all my weaknesses and struggles and You still promise me in Your Word- that I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. Thank you, Father, that You give me strength and renew hope, even on this very rainy day.

Amen

God's Latest Advice for me

I was doing my makeup (not an everyday event for me) and thinking. I could feel something was eating away at me quietly. For me, when things bother me, they just quietly bang around my head. It takes some time to really figure out what it is.

It is surprising what a bit of quiet can do for the soul, even while putting on makeup. I did figure it out, and the issue turns out to be the less than wise choices a loved one is making and frankly, there is not much I can do but pray.
I would like to just tell them point-blank about the decisions and choices they are making and what I think about them. There are times, when I am invited I can speak up, but generally, they do not ask. To say anything would only burn bridges in my relationship with them.

I confess I was feeling discouraged thinking about this one so very dear to me, then God, with that quiet calm voice, broke into my thoughts. He said” The battle is mine” and that is it. I would love to expound on all that He said, but that was it.

So, I take this loved one and lay them down at the feet of the One who is big enough to intervene and big enough to do in their heart what I have zero power to do.

I love the story of Gideon when God called him and his army into battle. I would love to have been there, at least I think I would have loved to have been there! Gideon was faced with a task that seems insane really. He had to attack the Midianites as God had asked him. He had a massive army which was great in Gideon’s eyes but not God’s. God cut the army down to only 300 men, the rest were all sent home. From our eyes, not the best battle plan! But God wanted Gideon and all of Israel to know that it was Him who won the battle. Gideon and his army just needed to show up. The victory was indeed given. The whole story is in Judges 6-7. if you would like to read it.

God is not resolving this deep concern I have for my loved one today, but He does give me peace knowing that the battle is not mine but His and He is asking me to trust Him in it. So, that is what I am going to do!