Saturday, May 30, 2015

Seeds of Hope

 

SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2015

Seeds of Hope


Those who read my blog know I talk a lot about having Hope in my life. When I have a  seed of Hope, I know it gives me good things to look forward to in my life. Hope always gives birth to the overwhelming trials of life. It always believe in the best, even in the face of my worst circumstances. For believers in Christ, Hope is much more than a wish, yearning for a positive outlook; it is based on the promises of God. I'm grateful for the Hope Doctor Lettieri has given me for a positive outlook on my nerve surgery.
I can have Hope in life no matter what surrounds me because I believe in a Heavenly Father who cares, knows me by name (Isaiah 45:3), understands the desires of my heart (1 Chronicles 28:9), and knew me before I was formed in my mother's womb (Jeremiah 1:5).
Recently, I watched an interview with the miracle Flight #1549 passengers. Instead of ending in a disastrous crash, it gracefully landed in the Hudson River in New York City. Knowing this was a US Airways flight, I had some exposure to the story and was very proud of the captain and how he landed. The outcome was nothing short of a miracle. In fact, it was being referred to as "the miracle on the Hudson" because all 152 passengers and all the crew survived.
I thought about the passengers and what must have been racing through their minds in those final minutes before the impact. During the cries and prayers, I'm confident in saying there was one thing they all desperately held on to ......Hope.
Some passengers hoped to kiss their spouse again, others to hug their son or daughter, and some to make things right with a friend or family member. As the plane was about to hit the water, they knew their lives were at stake. Many were praying, and all were hoping for a miracle. Then the impact came, and a fantastic scene unfolded with passengers streaming onto the aircraft's wings. Eric and I watched the news replaying the scene repeatedly and watched the fantastic rescue. 
While I watched this documentary, I couldn't help but think of the many people who feel their life is like that plane. Sometimes I feel like I'm going down, leaving me only to hope that things might be different someday. When I have those feelings, it's difficult to shake them off; sometimes, it takes days or weeks. Then I remember the promises, the covenants made, and I have Hope again.
I know people who are facing setbacks with their jobs or relationships. I know people struggling financially or who are feeling the pressures of life. It's sometimes overwhelming.   Knowing Heavenly Father is for me, not against me, gives Hope for a brighter future. His love has no boundaries. 
I must constantly ask myself: Am I solid like a rock, or am I allowing myself to sink in the sand?
I recently let the enemy, Satan, own my thoughts; I've even allowed others to dictate my divine destiny by getting my head. I need to always keep Hope alive and never ever give up. I know God always, no matter what, has a solution for me. I know this because he knows me; my destiny was chosen before I came to earth. He had rescued me when I was in depths of despair.
So far, He has not let me down; when I trust Him, I am never disappointed.

1 COMMENT:

Unknown said...

It has been a while since I logged on to your blog post, but you always know the right things to write about when I need them the most. Thank you

Friday, May 1, 2015

The Price of Beauty

FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015

The Price of Beauty

I was recently at a training in Canada, as I religiously took notes I suddenly was struck with shock when I heard Mark (the trainer) tell a story about how much women pay for their beauty products.  I heard laughing from the audience, but I was in another world.  I was having an outer body experience. What is the price we pay for beauty?  I'm not talking about a monetary price, as Mark was humorously entertaining us with.
I had an ah ha moment, I wrote: Mark said, "believe me guys, there is a price for beauty...."
I immediately wrote down "For me, what I have learned about beauty from Nerium this past year is Priceless" My face is disfigured, it will never be the same.  I want that so badly, I want to look at someone and smile, smile BIG.  I want to show my teeth.  I can't believe I took my smile for granted.  Just like I took my hair for granted, the feeling in breasts for granted, being able to run and train for granted, I could go on and on..... I simply took everything in life for granted.
I cannot honestly say any of this is understandable, nor has it been easy.  I may not always please people with my honesty and truthfulness, however I know the Lord has gotten me through these past few years.  I have been refined, not defined by Him who loves me just as I am.  In my quiet time, when I spend thinking and pondering over why so much in my life has been hard there have been times I've truly wanted to crawl in a hole and die--I've wondered if anyone would even miss me, lost sometimes in despair.
Then suddenly my heart is filled with more love and an overwhelming feeling of His arms around me, pulling me up through that dark and empty hole into the light again.
I lived for so long not caring about others, not caring even about where I was going or where I should be.  I now know my life was intentionally and most humbly prepared for me before I even came to earth.  His grace has gotten me through enormously unbelievable circumstances.  Because I know He has made promises to me if I am righteous and obedient I will continue trying to live as He wants me to.  I will share Hope and Faith with others, I know the Lord will use me, he will lead and guide me to people who are in need.  This life for me is no longer about beauty on the outside, I ask Him to help me not turn from pain and to give me strength and compassion to help others who are climbing an uphill battle.
We all want to feel beautiful, external beauty, I know this because I have been that person.  There are still glimpses I take in the mirror that horrify me.  When I am weak, I know I have to move forward, never go back, never give up.  I am putting all my faith in unseen strong hands that I have felt comfort me and pull me to a higher ground.  I love that feeling, knowing He is watching over me, He knows me, He feels my pain and He understands my journey on this earth is not quite over.
Physically I am tired, my body aches my heart is full and yet I want to fight because I know there are so many more miracles to come to others from Him through me.  I don't feel comfortable sharing those sacred moments the Lord has so gracefully revealed to me I have more work to do before it is my time to go live with Him again.  He has lifted my burdens on so many occasions when I have wanted to give up.  When Sheldon died, one of those special moments came.  I truly miss him, and visit his graveside often. I'm not sure why, I haven't visited anyone's grave as much as his but I feel a peace there. I will never forget him telling me I looked beautiful when I was bald.  Eric tells me I'm beautiful everyday, he is so kind in that way and I appreciate it so much, but the day Sheldon said those words to me, it meant something different.  He stood there pale faced and bald himself and yet for some reason those words penetrated my heart like no one else ever has. Maybe because I trusted he knew how I was feeling, not just using "words" to succor the needy.
Every bit of the worlds definition of physical beauty has been taken from me.  So yes, there is a price to pay for physical beauty, but for me what I have learned about pure unconditional love and beauty in His eyes is priceless.


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