Prepare My Heart

A voice cries:“In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD;

make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Isaiah 40:3 ESV

Day one

It is fitting that we begin with looking at the word "prepare". In this instance the word could also be translated: to turn away, put out of the way, make clear, clear away. 

The verse could be read, "In the wilderness, make clear the way of the LORD"  When I think about clearing a spot I am reminded of vacuuming. Removing anything that would get in the way of the vacuum is critical to getting the job done.  Furniture, toys and shoes must be moved if the carpet is going to be cleaned. If I forget to move the shoes, inevitably the shoe strings get sucked up into the vacuum and then is must be pulled out. Oh what a horrible smell it has! 

As we prepare our hearts on this first day of 2015, we too must clear away anything that will hinder what God wants to do in us. Hebrews 12:1

Prayerfully ask the Lord to search your heart and reveal to you anything that needs to be cleaned out. 

Search me, God, and know my heart: test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me,and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23-24 

Prayer
Father, all knowing, all wise, gracious and merciful, search my heart. Please show me the things, attitudes, sins, relationships that are blocking the path that you want cleared out. Shine your light into my heart that it may be prepared for you.

An Unexpected Event

Beautiful summer night, warm, light breeze and the bike trail was calling us to ride. After trekking for 7 miles we passed a little girl on a bike that was too big for her and then her father who was pulling a sibling in a bike trailer. It was time for a break as witnessed by the drops of sweat that had begun to drip down my back so we decided to turn to the left of the trail. "Let's go over here so we aren't in the way of that family", suggested my friend Catherine.

Then it happened! I barely had time to take my foot out of the pedal and place it onto the ground. Bam! She ran her bike down a dirt path and right into my back wheel.  I tried to stay upright, by firmly planting my feet on the ground to not make matters worse. Then off she went, unaware of any injury to me or to the bike.  The bike had minor scrapes, the tire needed to be readjusted and my back hurt a little.  

Ever have something that just hit you out of the blue? These can be physical or emotional. Out of nowhere we can be hit with illness, or accidents. One day we can wake up and not want to get out of bed. The emotional ones can almost be worse. The ups and downs of the waves of feelings that follow can seem to tear us apart. 

These unexpected events will come at some time in our lives, the question is how will be get through it? 
How do we stay firmly planted?
How do we stay upright? 

Knowing the one who can set our feet on solid ground is the only way I know!

I cried out, "I am slipping!" but your unfailing love, O LORD, supported me Psalm 94:18
If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me.…Psalm 139-8-10

Questions and Answers

A huge weight has been on my heart. My mother has Alzheimer's and lately her short term memory has been spotty at best. Every time I am with her it is necessary to choose my words wisely, so not to upset her, did I mention she also can be grumpy? In the midst of this there have been many questions that have arisen for me. It's amazing how God has given me answers and blessings along the way

Questions

How do I care for her when she doesn't remember simple things or becomes agitated. On vacation I spent some time reading a book, Creating Moments of Joy. The author helped me see how to care for my mom in a kinder, more loving way! 

What can be done to keep her in her independent living situation for as long as possible? The organization, Elders helpers is able to send a nurse to her home to consult with my mom and set up all of her medications. The nurse is kind, gentle and knowledgeable. My mom loved her!

What medication for Alzheimer's should my mom be taking? After meeting with her doctor it was revealed that Aricept, the medication that she was supposed to be taking had been discontinued in her records! Well that answers many questions!

What I learned

The weight has been lifted. God has blessed me with answers and surprises! 

The Doctor's office called and changed the appointment. This meant that we would meet with the nurse first and the Doctor the next day. What a blessing because it gave me time to formulate important questions and time to mentally rest after a tough couple of hours with the nurse. God knew that I needed that extra time.  

The other blessing came in the discovery of the missing medication. Thank you Lord for prompting me to ask the question!

O Lord, You have looked through me and have known me. You know when I sit down and when I get up. You understand my thoughts from far away. You look over my path and my lying down. You know all my ways very well. Even before I speak a word, O Lord, You know it all. You have closed me in from behind and in front. And You have laid Your hand upon me. All You know is too great for me. It is too much for me to understand. Psalm 139:1-6

God knows what we need and blesses us abundantly! 

Look at all the Lovely people

Sunny, a slight breeze, amazing lake front view and miles of bike trails before us, what a perfect day for a bike ride!

The trail runs alongside of Lake Michigan in Chicago and is enjoyed by locals visitors alike! As we treked along the lake I was struck by the vast array of people we saw. 

Big ones little ones, out of shape ones, well endoed ones, pants sagging, bratops showing, shirtless, and so on!

People rode bikes, jogged, ran faster than we were going on our bikes, rollerbladed, strolled slowly, walked their dogs and one guy rode a skateboard with a long stick that he used to help propel him along! 

What I Learned

When I go on a long bike ride, my mind is free to think and process. On this day as all of the people paraded by us I began to think about how creative God is. Tall, short, blonde, brown, black,red, curly, straight, muscular, thin, round, square, men and women he made them all. Wow, look at all the lovely people! They all are lovely because He made them! Do they know that He numbered the hairs on their head, that He calls them by name?

Do you know that He calls you His beloved, that He made you with a purpose? 

This maybe difficult for you to believe, but it is so true! The creator of the universe put you together, piece by piece.

You is Beautiful, Smart and Important!

This was the #1 post of 2011


You Is Beautiful

You Is Smart

You Is Important

These words were shared with a young girl, Mae Mobley in the movie, The Help. Abileen, her nanny spends a lot of time encouraging this child to believe that these words are truth. Sometime we also need to be reminded that someone thinks of us this way!


God, through the Holy Spirit has spent a lot of time reminding us of similar truths. God tell us that;


You is beautiful!

For you created my inmost being;

   you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

   your works are wonderful,

   I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you

   when I was made in the secret place,

   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

Think about how adorable a baby is. Any new parent will tell you that their child is the most beautiful child that they have ever seen.From every crinkled brow to funny shaped ear, Parents adore their children.  This how God your father thinks about you!


The book of Song of Solomon is thought to be a picture of Christ and His relationship with us. Listen to what God says to you,“Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me (Song of Solomon 2:10). You are beautiful!


You is smart!


It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 

1 Corinthians 1:30

You are Important!


         You were created in His image
 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, All sheep and oxen; Even the beasts of the field, The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas. Psalms 8:4-8


         You were the reason that God sent his son to die for you.

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. I John 4:10

You have been Chosen!

For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. 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. Isaiah 43:3-7

To put it simply, He does not make Junk!

Receive His love and encouragement today. He created you, loves you and adores you. Live in that knowledge!

Father, I am humbled to think that you are looking in my eyes and telling me that I am beautiful, smart and important in your eyes! Help me to live in this knowledge and to accept how you view me as the truth! Your beautiful, smart and important daughter.