From Days Past

 

I came across a post I wrote several years ago, and it was clearly a good time for me to revisit it. I'd love to share it with you. So, here you go.

"I recently spoke at a women's retreat at the Oregon coast. It was a lovely place, a condo right on the beach. Fabulous! An aqua blue sky contrasted the deep blue of the ocean, and foaming waves crashed against rocks tossing their spray high into the air. When I stepped onto my deck I a sharp breeze and the smell of the sea greeted me. It was gorgeous and inspiring.

And yet, it wasn't enough.

I wanted more. I wanted to walk on the beach, to feel the frigid ocean water suck the sand from beneath my feet. I wished I could hunt for seashells and special rocks and sea creatures. Instead I remained in my room, resting, reading and praying. Occasionally I'd step onto my deck and soak in more of the beauty. I didn't mope, but I considered it.

Years ago there was a truck . . . on a corner . . . and it hit my van and changed my life. Now, instead of being the first one on the beach I have to be careful. Too much doing brings on too much pain. Sometimes I throw a pity party, but when I'm able to put aside self I am rewarded with a God view of my life and I can praise him for the new me. But on this weekend I wanted to be like everyone else.

I was speaking Saturday night and Sunday morning so I had to be careful not to overdo. If I hurt myself I might not be able to speak, and I couldn't let the ladies down. Giving a speech from a bed isn't very effective.

Interestingly enough the topic for the retreat just happened to be Embracing Life's Disappointments. And it was exactly what I needed to be focused on. In recent months life had thrown stones at me and my world seemed filled with disappointment. While preparing for the retreat I came to see that God had something to say to me.

He took me to stories of His people and revealed details of their lives that I'd never fully seen before. In the midst of their disappointments God was always there. And in these situations it was clear the difficulties were God orchestrated. When Joseph was sold into slavery God had a plan. Moses missed out on the Promised Land, but God gave him so much more--Moses got to see God face-to-face. Paul suffered devastating consequences for his faithful service, yet while in prison he sang praises to his Lord.

If I were in control of the world around me, I probably wouldn't have allowed that truck to hit me. But I'm sometimes short-sighted. I can't see the big picure - not the way God does. He sees it all. And His Word says that nothing touches me without His permission. So, I must trust Him. He knows what He's doing. When that truck hit my van, God knew that "life as usual" wasn't the way for me. He had something special for me.

It's because of Him I can say, "Thank you for adversity."

Only in weakness can we learn to rely more completely on God. Only in our trials do we exercise faith. When we need more than we possess, God gives the power and courage to overcome.

May you trust Him. He wants to bless your life."

It's now 2020. Many years have passed since I wrote this. I still live with disability and in some way I am worse off than before, but my next visit I make to the ocean will include a stroll along the beach. I will search for special shells and rocks and sea creatures and feel the sand beneath my feet. I've been working since March to get stronger and walking is now a daily delight. I can't wait for my next trip to the coast. It's going to be awesome!

Grace and peace to you from God,

Bonnie

Love One Another

 

For many months now, our lives have been thrown askew. We've tried to be responsible citizens, searching for truth in the elections and sadly, many of us drew a line between one another. Christian brothers and sisters took sides. We passionately shared our feelings, sometimes in a not so good way. 

So, how does that sit with our Heavenly Father?

In John 15 Jesus commands his followers to love one another as he has loved us. This incredible love will reveal to the world that we are His children and true followers. We are to love in such way that we would lay down our lives for one another, just as Christ did for us.

If what I am seeing is accurate, more than a few of us are far from loving as Christ did.  From the very beginning of my walk with the Lord, nearly a half century ago, I've understood this command and way of living. I embraced it. And most of the time I was able to love as Christ asked me to, though I will admit to a few stumbles along the way. Today, however, it's not easy for me to obey His command. Politics have become a stumbling block.

I am not saying that it is wrong to be righteously angry. That is not a sin. What is wrong is that anger can morph into hatred. It is not right to hate my brothers and sisters in the Lord. I know it. I am fighting against it. And I know that God will carry me through to the other side where I can love with ease once more. 

But it's a struggle. Why?

It feels (and we all know how much we can trust our feelings) as if my beloved country is balancing precariously on a precipice and that some of the people I know as family in Christ are helping to push it off the cliff to be lost forever. I cry out, "Please don't destroy the America I love, the America that has given its people so many gifts, the America that offers true freedom."

Though not blind to President Trumps weaknesses, I have loved and admired him. He has stood courageously in the gap for Americans, trying to hold back the wave of a "new" America, one I don't recognize and one I fear. I've heard from immigrants who escaped Marxist regimes who asked, if America is made "new" where can we now go to escape?

I can't answer that question and I don't believe it is even for me to know. I only share it here to help you see the desperation I feel in my own heart. Even as I write this God reminds me He hasn't forsaken His people. He knows the beginning and the end and His love never ceases.

He is not asking me to surrender. He wants His followers to fight for truth, but what good is that if we forget how to love. The Lord would not ask us to do something that is impossible. As I pray for the outcome of this election and the stability of our country I am also praying for God's will. I am first and foremost His child. He is before all things. 

I ask you to join me in prayer. And if you are struggling as I am, turn to the Lord for the strength to do what is right. He will give you what you ask for if you ask in His name, His will. May we keep our focus on eternity. We know that an eternity with The Father waits for us, but there are many who do not have that assurance. They are held captive by the enemy. So as we love one another may we reach out to those who have not yet become part of God's family, and may our love help show the way to an eternity where perfection waits. 

Grace and peace to you from God,

Bonnie

Shipwrecked

 

The past four years have been difficult for Trump supporters. We have been laughed at, maligned, verbally and physically attacked for supporting our president, a man who has fought harder for this country than any in my lifetime. We spoke up only to be knocked down. We spoke, in agreement with our president, for the innocent unborn, for the right of religious freedom, for the right of free speech and the right to bear arms -for our liberty. 

All the while the mainstream press lied to the American people, secreting the truth and creating fictional stories that fit their agenda. They were no longer the press, but rather an ideological powerhouse who walked in lockstep with the liberal progressive party. When a massive mail in vote was called for we, the practical minded, knew it was unwise, unwieldly, unworkable and unnecessary. Something like that cannot be thrown together willy-nilly. 

We were right. The results speak for themselves. Hundreds of counties in this country have more votes than they have registered voters. Voting places refuse reasonable oversight. Votes, thousands of them, are showing up at polling places after counting had been stopped. There was no clear explanation as to why. What were they waiting for? And now reports are coming in from people who voted and have discovered their votes were not counted. Clearly voter fraud is going on, but if we speak up we are slapped down for be hysterical or unreasonable or deceived. None of which is true.

I do not know what the results of this election will be, but I know enough to be alarmed at the turn our country has taken. This deceitful road has no good destination. I am embarrassed and ashamed and disappointed. The powers (which are many) have taken control. 

Still, we the people, cannot be complacent. Now more than ever we need to stand up and fight. Fight for what is right, for what is good and honorable. If we lay down our arms in fear or apathy America will cease to exist, at least the American that has been a strong and a powerful force for good in this world. We will go down as dramatically and disastrously as the Titanic did decades ago. As it was then it will be now, death and destruction will follow. America and its people will be dragged to the bottom of a dark sea and the world will never be the same.

I know I sound hopeless, but I'm not. We are only human beings, but there is a God who loves and who is wise. He will not abandon us. But we better be hanging onto His hand if we want to survive.

Praying that in the days to come you will know God's grace and peace.

Bonnie