This morning I came into my office and began to read over the chapters of my book that Rah, (AKA Deborah) had sent me. Rah is typesetting my, Appointments with God book, and is doing an amazing job.
I don’t know what I would do without her, because it’s one thing to write my heart, and it’s another thing to know where to place it. Yesterday she sent me the first ten appointments and as I began to read over them I realized that my whole life has been based off of one verse.
It’s been the reason I write.
My life verse reads: “And the Lord answered me: ‘Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end — it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.” Habakkuk 2:2-3
For those who truly know me they know that I’ve had a million visions and I’ve written each one down. They also know that I’ve been waiting decades for them to come to pass and it wasn’t until a few moments ago where I realized that the Lord answers me like He answered, Habakkuk.
The Lord has always been my best friend. I talk to Him daily. I hear Him and the hardest thing in the world to do (at times) is to write in such a way that others can read my vision and run with it. Passing it on. Sharing it, understanding what it is that Lord has shared through me.
The whole purpose of my sharing my Appointments with God is I want others to know that God is still here. He’s still listening. Nothing has changed since Habakkuk heard from God and that the most challenging thing in the world to do is to write in such a way that others can read a vision and run with it.
Today I’d like to ask for prayer. I have more Appointments with God that I’m going to send to Rah, and my prayer is that as I write them, the Lord will bless them, and my appointments will encourage others to make their own Appointments with God, and see how ever present He is within all who call upon Him.
And, if you have a life verse I’d look at it carefully. Chances are there is a hidden gem in there that’s just for you, and that one verse may just open up the key to unlocking what’s been hidden in your heart. Let me know your verse and I’ll be praying for you.
There’s a parable written within the Bible which shares about a Lord who was getting ready to travel into a far country, who called His servants, and delivered to each of them His talents.
To one He gave five talents. To another He gave two. And to another He gave one.
He gave to each man according to His ability; and then He took His journey.
The man that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made his Lord another five talents.
The man who had received two talents did the same, gaining two more talents.
BUT, the man that had received one talent, he went and dug a hole and buried his talent below the earth.
After a long time passed the Lord returned from His travels and He called for His servants to return….
The man with five talents came and brought five more talents and the Lord was pleased, and said, “Well done, good and faithful servant: you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter unto the joy of your Lord.”
The man with two talents came and he too multiplied his talents and the Lord said, “Well done, good and faithful servant: you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter unto the joy of your Lord.”
Then the man that was given one talent showed up with nothing more than an excuse, and his Lord said, “You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not scattered seed: You should have put my money to the exchangers and then when I returned I would have received mine own with usury. Therefore give me my talent back, and give it to the man which has ten talents. For everyone that has shall be given, and shall be given in abundance: but from the one that has not shall be taken away even that which he has.
The reason I share this story is because there have been many a day where I have felt like the man who was given one talent.
I know that each person has been given a gift of something and for decades now I’ve been working faithfully on my gift and there are days when I’ve felt like I’m not one talent closer than when I began, and then today God reminded my heart of this one thing that many people don’t talk about when they talk about this parable.
The Lord went on a long journey. He didn’t go away for the weekend. He wasn’t gone for a month. He was gone for a long time and that time could have been a year, two years, or more than 40 years.
I don’t know how long the Lord in this parable was gone, but what God showed my heart today was that I shouldn’t give up on the talent that He gave me, and as long has I don’t bury it and keep using it, then when He returns I will be able to share with Him how I turned His one gift to me… into many for Him.
Hard to believe it’s been 2 years, 7 months, and 18 days since I last wrote an Appointment with God. I was excited to get back to writing, and then shortly thereafter God had many other appointments that took precedence over my plans.
Then about a week ago I was sitting in a small café (waiting for my husband to get out of surgery for his cancer) when the Lord shared with me that my life will never be what it once was, and I must change with this new season.
My list of things that transpired during this time are too many to list, but what I did realize was God is right, For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: Eccleslastes 3:1
And this is what I want to share.
This morning, I was doing what I do every morning, spending time with the Lord. As I was reading through His word, I arrived at Genesis 6, So the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you so angry?And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door and its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”
And that was me.
I have been angry.
I was angry because everything changed and there was nothing that I could do about it, and it wasn’t until this morning that I realized there IS something I CAN do about it…
I CAN rule over any: Anger, fear, anxiety, guilt, jealousy, loneliness, regret, resentment, etc. It doesn’t matter what emotion(s) comes my way, I need to put on my badge of courage and learn how to change with this new season that I am in because it’s not an easy one and one that I am unfamiliar with.
And God (with His humor) reminded me that the word marshal (translated) is to “rule over.” So, at that moment I pictured Marshal Dillon, wearing his badge of courage, and I’ve decided that instead of wearing a suit of armor, As read in Ephesians 6: 10-13, 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. I would simply wear my badge of courage, stand firm, and learn that while change is not easy… It is possible with God!
For those of us who need this reminder…
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus, Amen! Philippians 4: 6-7
L.B.To be successful, you have to be able to adapt and change with the times. -James Arness
My appointment with God, Sunday, January 22, 2023.
Last year I had a dream about prayer. There was someone I knew who had contracted covid and was hospitalized. For days I prayed, and when my days turned into weeks, I had a dream.
I dreamt that while I was praying for this person the Lord came to me and said, “Would you still pray for this person if you had to give up one hour of your life each time you said a prayer?”
I immediately woke up from the dream, but the dream never left me.
It seemed that each time someone would ask me for a prayer, or as I was scrolling through social media, where a prayer was requested, I would ask myself, “Would I give up one hour of my life to pray for this person? Because sometimes prayer is not a one-time ask. Sometimes a person asks for prayer for one thing and then the next day they show up for another, and if I have 100 friends that ask for prayer each day, that’s 100 hours, and…”
Then I stopped and googled… how many hours does the average person live? and Google (in her wisdom) told me 692,040 hours. I googled again, only this time I asked, how many hours in a year? and was reminded that each of us is only given 8,760 hours. Then I started thinking about all the prayers I’ve already prayed and the thousands of people I’ve prayed for and for a moment the question became a fundamental question that required my answer, because would I be willing to give up one hour of my life for one prayer?
In some ways, I believe it was God’s way of opening my eyes to the importance of praying for people and the value of each person and their ask.
I know this whole concept came from a dream, but the dream made me value the people that I pray for and the time that I spend praying for them.
I also realized that praying was more than just, “I’ll pray for you” or a quick emoji of praying hands on a social media post. It was a real thing where my time spent should be spent praying for the person that I said I would pray for.
I also realized that prayer isn’t a one-time thing, but a commitment and should be followed up with an answer because I realized that in nine out of ten prayers, I never knew the outcome. There was no, “Hey everyone… remember yesterday when I asked you to pray for the job that I needed or my sister…” When I’d go back to check if my prayer request was answered there would be a recipe posted or a new way to lose weight and with time… I stopped checking.
Then last week I realized that “yes” if I really thought my prayer would bring value to a person’s life if I prayed then I would gladly give up one hour of my life for their prayer.
And, because I was able to answer, “yes” I decided that I would create a prayer report.
What is a prayer report?
It’s a form, that much like a police report, I fill out. I put the person’s name who asked for the prayer, and the person (if any) they would like prayer for, and then I add the prayer request. I also give the prayer request a number by using the date, like today is January 22, so I would number it 1-22-A (meaning the A is the first prayer for today). The more prayers I receive than I go down the alphabet. This also helps me remember the order I received them in.
Then every few days I follow up with the person. I ask them where are we in this prayer? What actions has God taken to move this prayer request onward? Did He say yes or no? Because I need to know how well to pray for me to pray well.
And when I have God’s final answer to a specific prayer that is when I sit down and write out my summary report and praise God for the blessing that just unfolded before me.
Now, I’ve only been doing this a week, but I’ve experienced prayers on a whole different level than ever before and I wanted to take a moment to share with anyone who is wanting to take an hour of their life and truly pray for someone… this is a simple way to do it, because what I realized was God wasn’t asking me to give an hour of my life up for prayer, but to give an hour of my life to prayer.
And, if you’d like me to pray with you, please send me an instant message and I will file a prayer report for you, and I’ll pray with you as God answers your prayers.
This past weekend started out like every other weekend, with plans for things my husband and I would accomplish. But our plans immediately changed when I had to take him to the hospital.
He’s fine now, but the lesson I learned I want to remember…
The importance of a warning sign.
It turns out that my husband had a possible transient ischemic attack, which is a warning sign for the future of his health.
Meaning, he must make changes that will improve the outcome of his life by- changing his diet, doing more cardio, and he must let go of any wondering that could lead to worry.
They are simple changes, but there has to be change.
I’m blessed because my husband is the guy that when he makes up his mind to do something he quickly heads off in the right direction.
So off in his direction he went, and I went to my Bible, and opened it to Ecclestiastes 12, and read…
13 This is the end of the matter; all hath been heard: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
As I read that I was reminded that, much like a doctor who shares what our warning signs are for our health, God also gives us warning signs for our spiritual health, and in Ecclestiastes we’re being warned that when we hear the word of God we must decide if we believe the word of God.
If we do believe in God we must obey Him and keep His commandments and live our life knowing that one day we will be held accountable for the choices we make.
What I love about this appointment is the simplicity of remembering that I can never say I didn’t know what God’s plans are for my life.
His word shares every aspect of how I should live each day, and much like the physcian who wanted to help my husband, Jesus wants to save all who come through Him…
25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. -Hebrews 7:25
Onward to remembering the importance of a warning sign.
Yesterday afternoon, I found myself in a place I didn’t want to be.
One moment, I was home, and the next I was somewhere else, dealing with the moments at hand.
Then, hours later, when I was at the place in time where I could return home, I grabbed my keys, walked out the door, and there is where I was face-to-face with a howling storm.
I literally had to push myself forward so I wouldn’t be thrown back to the door I just walked out of.
As I drove home through the darkness, I drove slowly and dodged many fallen branches.
Then, when I got home, it took me a moment to open my car door because the wind was pushing against it. It was almost as if the war of the wind didn’t want to release me.
But as all stories come to their climax, I was able to push the door open, walk through the storm, and enter my home, and once I did… there is where I found what I was seeking.
Peace.
My house was dark and quiet, and the weather continued to howl all night. My lights flickered, and a tree branch tried to break through my window, but as hard as the storm tried, it never entered into my house.
This morning, as I was having my appointment with God, He reminded me that the things that I am going through right now are not going to end today.
I have to deal with it today and not worry about my tomorrow.
He also reminded me through Ephesians 5:16 that these days are evil and to remember to redeem my time that He has given me.
I can either live my life like the storm that is beating outside my house or I can live my life with the calm faith that God provides to each of us.
In a few minutes, I have to open the door, walk outside through the storm, and enter into my today.
I’ve decided that when I make my exit of this morning I am going to do what Isaiah said…
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3
Yes, Father… I do. I trust in YOU!
Onward to a day filled with peace, and my prayer for you is never let the storms of your life take from you the gift of today.
Whatever today may bring, trust God, and He will bring you peace.
How do I fulfill my destiny that God has created me for?
So many questions???
A few moments ago I opened my Bible to the Book of Joshua.
It’s the place where I find my direction for the new year, and today God reminded me of a few things through His conversation with Joshua in 1:2-9.
2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.
7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
As I read through these passages my heart heard…
I must leave last year, last month, last week, and yesterday behind. It’s time to cross over into a new year, each day.
I’m reminded that in order to get to the promises that God has ordained for me… I need to walk onward and that everything I will need for my journey is within my reach.
I’m reminded in vs 6…
To be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them…
And the only land that God has promised me is heaven.
And, I when I read vs 8… Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
I’m reminded that God’s true defination of success is when God’s kingdom is expanded.
That’s what my number one goal is for 2023.
I want to be a Kingdom Expander and teach others how to cross over into the land that God has promised to each of us.
I’m not sure which roads I’ll take, but I’m excited to see where each road will take me, and whom I will meet along the way.
And, if you want to join me, please invite your friends to the land that God has promised each of us.
I’d hate for anyone not to cross over.
Onward to a year filled with roads, I will travel.
There are certain dates within my life that I choose to remember and one of them happens to be today.
Today would have been my grandfather’s 109th birthday, and for some reason, when his birthday rolls around, I don’t seem to miss him, but I remember him. He moved “onward” into heaven on December 17, 2000.
When I was a child I used to look across the room (while he was reading in his chair) and wonder if Jesus didn’t grow to be an old man if he wouldn’t have looked like my grandfather. I lived with my grandparents until my mother remarried, and during that time, my grandfather became the man who would forever mold my life. He was truly the greatest storyteller I’ve ever met. He only told a handful of stories, but he never became tired of sharing them, and within each story was a beautiful lesson of life.
In June of 1976, my grandfather took me fishing. It was a grand day. He gave me two things that day … one I’ve spent my lifetime trying to forget: an old hat made of yarn and Coors Beer cans … and the other, a coin. It wasn’t just any ol’ coin … it was a coin that would define my life.
“Gina, there’s something I want to give you, and when I do, I want you to understand the value of the gift.” I remember looking behind him, wondering where he was hiding that new fishing pole I had asked for. His right hand was clenched, and his voice got quiet. I SMiled and listened. “In this hand, I hold everything that I value.” He told me to open my hand, and when I did, he handed me a coin.
“A COIN?” I said.
“With this silver coin, you will have everything you ever need. You are never poor … nor are you ever alone. Keep it in your pocket, and you will feel its weight. It will either weigh you down or make you smile. The choice is yours. Don’t ever sell the coin, nor give it away because it’s the best of what I’ll ever leave you.”
When he was done, he walked away humming the tune “America,” written by Samuel F. Smith…
…My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing; land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrims’ pride, from every mountainside let freedom ring!
I remember standing there holding the coin, thinking if that coin was the best of what he had to give, I knew there was no fishing pole in sight.
On the worst days of my life, I pulled out that coin. I carried it around with me to feel the weight in my pocket. I’ve honestly looked at it for hours… staring to see what he could see that I couldn’t.
When I had each of my children, he would send no flowers and sign no card, but he would simply hand me a coin. “Gina, when your children are grown … give them their coins.”
It’s interesting to learn that he did give me all he had to give.
The coin I carry is a 1923 Silver Dollar. On one side it says: United States of America and E. Pluribus Unum. Turn the coin over, LIBERTY and In God We Trust.
Defined:
I am “As one” (United)
I am “Politically organized under one government” (States)
I am “An American” (America)
I am “One of many” (E. Pluribus Unum)
I am “Free” (Liberty)
I am “Agreeing” (In God “We” Trust … my Grandfather and I)
Today, in celebration (of what would-have-been my grandfather’s 109th birthday) I would like to give you a gift. I would like you to put a coin in your pocket and keep it with you.
Remember: “With your coin you will have everything you ever need. You are never poor … nor are you ever alone. Keep it in your pocket, and you will feel its weight. It will either weigh you down or make you smile. The choice is yours. Don’t ever sell the coin, nor give it away because it’s the best of what I’ll ever leave you.”
What does your coin say?
The Parable of the Bags of Gold
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Matthew 25: 14-30
Abraham Lincoln was said to have walked several miles to a store when he noticed he had been given one penny too much in change. I don’t believe it was the penny he was delivering, but the message.
When I was 12 years old, I decided that I would start reading the Bible, and my fondest moment of that memory is when I grabbed my deerstalker and placed it on my head. I then went next door and borrowed my neighbors pipe, and as I was leaving his home, he made me promise to never return it. Then, as I was walking up the stairs to my bedroom, I found my grandfather’s magnifiying glass that he had left behind after one of his visits, and I was ready to begin my investigation.
The next day I showed up at church and my pastor SMiled, walked over to me and said, “Well, I see Miss Holmes has arrived. Who are we investigating today?”
I laughed and said, “Jesus. I want to know the truth.”
He SMiled and said, “Okay Miss Holmes, if you have no objection, I will be your Dr, Watson and help you with your investgation.”
I agreed and that is when he bent down closer to me and whispered, “The first person in the Bible I would investigate is Luke. He was a doctor, like me. He never met Jesus, but after his death he began his investigation, because like you, he was a friend of the truth.”
This morning I was looking through a drawer and I found my grandfather’s magnifying glass and I was reminded of that moment in time when I was so excited to seek the truth.
I remember after church I went home and I read about Luke and I liked him.
Then I read about Paul, the man Luke was investigating about the truth, and I liked the new-saved Paul, and not the old Saul.
It was from there that I realized that I loved learning about people and their passion for finding the truth, because truth be told… we are all looking for it.
This year I promised myself that I am going to teach my grandchildren the stories of the people from my past, and because my past (at times) was difficult, the people who changed my life the most were the people from the Bible.
Those who lived within this world, but were always looking onward to the one who created it.
The reason I’m sharing this is I am looking for more Dr. Watsons who can help me with fun ways to share the Bible with my grandchildren.
I want to create a fun way for them to go looking for the truth in a way that once they find it… they will never lose hold of it.
And, if you help me, you too will become part of the Dr. Watson Club, and you can share this investigation with the children you love.
I’m really excited about my appointment God made with me this morning, because it reminded me that Miss Holmes passion is still very much alive.
Let me know if you want to help and I will set up a FB group for us to share.
I definately need another hat and pipe.
Onward to remembering…
The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven
18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
Sometimes when I read the Bible I feel like a fly on the wall.
Hidden from the lives I am watching unfold, but still very present in their presence.
This morning I was reading a conversation between Abraham and three visitors…
Abraham happened to be sitting near the entrance of his tent during the heat of the day when he looked up and saw three men nearby.
When he saw them, he hurried to meet them and bowed low, saying, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. Let me bring you water, wash your feet and you can rest under this tree. I’ll get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then you can go on your way.”
“Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.”
So Abraham hurried and told his wife, Sarah, “Quick, get out three seahs of the finest flour, knead it and bake some bread.”
Then he ran to his herd, selected a choice tender calf and gave it to his servant, who hurried to prepair it.
While the three visitors ate they asked him, “Where is your wife Sarah?”
“There in the tent,” he replied.
Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.”
Now, Sarah, Abraham’s wife, was listening. She was very old, past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed at herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?”
Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old? Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time and Sarah will have a son.”
Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.”
But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”
…
As a woman of faith, I read this story often. I have this dialog memorized and can watch this moment in time play out like a rerun of the Waltons.
A family who lives off the land, living by their faith, with problems that only God can solve.
In Sarah, I have found myself. A woman who loves the Lord, but (at times) has struggled with doubt and fear, and I too have needed God’s grace to move onward with the promises that God has made for my life.
So this year I am believing God for the promises that He has placed within my heart, and I know that the LORD will visit me about this time next year to see the work that He has completed through me.
And my prayer for you is that if God has put a good work in your heart… keep going, because a year from now you’ll wish you did.
I like to read from four devotionals before I open my Bible and they are:
My Utmost For His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Morning/Evening, by Charles Spurgeon
God Calling, by The Two Listeners
Strength For Today, by Dr. David Jeremiah
I like these books because each writer has their own personal love for God and their own unique way of sharing Him.
Then after I’m done reading I open my Bible and read one chapter, research that chapter further, and when I’m done I pray about all that I had read and then I make my Appointment with God.
I simply meditate on what I read, and then I ask Him how He would like me to apply what I learned from our time together, and how I can apply it to my today.
This morning I was reminded of the most important thing that I can do, and that is pray.
“Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” -Colossians 4:2
I was also reminded of the Cedars of Lebanon, which God had planted, and how they only live because each new day they are full of sap drawn from the earth.
In the same way, I need to feed on the Book of God, listen as His Spirit fills my soul, and then move in the direction in which He sends me.
In the simplicity of my appointed time with God this morning He reminded me to not waste anymore time in carrying out His directions for my day.
Today my direction is to pray more and listen by faith, because…
“It is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. . . ” Hebrews 11:6
My great reward is knowing that God exists.
Onward to a day filled with prayer, and if I can pray for you, please ask.
Last week a package arrived in the mail, and I immediately knew whom it was from. My father.
The reason I knew it was from him was that the return address read Christianbook.com.
Since I reunited with my father nearly a decade ago, we’ve only seen each other once. We do communicate by phone, but our true communication comes from books. It seems that books are what connect us and because we have spent decades apart, we seem to fill in those gaps of years talking about what we’ve learned from the thoughts of others. The most interesting thing is that it’s the writings of others where we seem to connect the most. Seems that without my being raised by him our hearts connect the same way.
Fascinating.
Anyway, then this morning arrived, and I realized that 47 years ago, (when my father and I were separated) is when I started writing what I call my Appointments with God. I wrote them because I believed that the only place I would ever see my father again was in heaven. And, because I wasn’t sure if heaven was a real place, I went looking for it, and each time I looked I found a glimpse and would record my findings.
What I love most about my Appointments with God is that they include the hard struggles of my life. And after reuniting with my father, it has been apparent that he seems to feel guilty that he wasn’t there to get me through those moments. BUT… what I am finding (as I go through the details of the moments that he missed) was that while he wasn’t there, God was.
And since my father and I seem to connect within books, of course, God would have me write one for my father to read.
The best part of my story is that while it starts out like many books… a young girl lost and alone, marries, has children, divorces, is left with nothing, lives with an illness, has to start over, time and time again… God sends her hope and people and as she reads through her story she sees how she was never alone and within her final Appointment with God she will write…
And they (she and God) lived happily ever after.
The reason I wanted to share what I learned from my Appointment with God today is that if there is just one parent who feels guilty about not having a relationship with your child, I want to tell you it’s not too late to find them.
Now, I’m not going to lie, that first conversation might be awkward. They may ask you, “Where have you been? Why didn’t you come to find me?” But be honest, and with time, you two will be able to re-right your story.
Oh, and if you need the courage to reach out, email me your child’s name and I will pray for both of you, and then you won’t be reaching out alone. I’ll be there praying beside you. Because where two or more are… Matthew 18:20
Appointments with God... 