Heart To Heart

I had what I call a 'stunning' experience this morning during our church service. I've been navigating life with a fractured elbow and some craziness in my wrist.  This morning I had difficulty with really yucky pain striking like lightening from my elbow through my fingers if I tried to hold almost anything.  It was a discouraging situation. As we began to sing together (in church) I reminded myself (and God) that I had promised to worship Him with whatever strength and ability I have.  I lifted one hand and sang as loud as I could because....that's who I want to be...a worshiper out of abundance or sacrifice. We have a special friend in our church family who has a kind of dementia that impacts children.  This friend is large and strong and losing most of what she has learned in her short (teenage) life. She came up and stood by me as we sang.  Then she came over and put her arm around me (gently) and asked what happened to me.  She said that she felt sad for m

The Biblical meaning of the word "restoration" is to receive back more than has been lost to the point where the final state is greater than the original condition.  The main point is that someone or something is improved beyond measure.* How I love that.  Really, really love that He restores . I've been praying for a boatload of  wonderful people with broken hearts, broken bodies, broken dreams and promises ... brokenness.  It is incredibly encouraging to me to remember that when the Master heals brokenness, that place of healing is stronger, STRONGER than it ever was before.  The place you and I let Him heal  - restore -   is STRONGER - not forever vulnerable like we tend to live. Yes, there is a process.  Dennis' mom recently had her knee replaced.  Her wholeness not only depended on the surgeon's precision but her cooperation.  She protected the incession for awhile, started exercising and stretching whether it felt good or not.  Sooner than one migh

In going through my parents belongings, I found this picture.  (My sister added color - that's what she does to everyone and everything - she makes it beautiful with color and creativity.) This is still me!  I am a 'jeans (that are generally too long - and cute, comfy sweaters - and fun shoes - and 'what is my hair doing? ' - and "look at those mountains... I want to run there" mindset. I know I have frustrated my more together friends with my love of comfy jeans, my love of lipgloss and too little makeup, my tattoo, and my love of cute shoes.  But this little girl is still me. I heard people tell my parents I had a belly laugh, and I still do.  I have embarrassed my friends in restaurants and stores and even once in a funeral when I tried to contain a belly laugh but it came out anyway - kind of through my nose.  Oops. This year (for my birthday) I had this deep urge to write notes to all those who have been such gifts in my life;  I started to writ

We have a dog.  Her name is Noel, and we've had her for about 5 years.  She's a great dog, honestly she is - but lately her level of anxiety (when left alone) has gone through the roof.  It appears she has doggie panic attacks that are very destructive.  It's only been happening during the last few months. We have a friend who is a professional animal trainer who came over to observe and offer suggestions.  She worked with Noel and gave me some instruction.  It seems that I need re-training more than Noel does.  Noel's thought processing needs to be changed, and Jena assures me it will change - if I'm consistent with our new strategy.  I wondered if Noel's age would hinder the process, but Jena insists it won't. Sound at all familiar?   Things you've gone through in the past seem to effect how you respond to the present.  You hear words that weren't actually said.  Or, you make words that were said have meaning that is a long way from the inten