Tag: Christmas

Whatcha Got Cookin

Today, Cub Foods was so packed it was like Trump was making an appearance. I patiently waited, with my cart, to get through the baking aisle as Zevia was just around the corner ON SALE. It is several days before Christmas and half the store must be stalled right in front of me looking for sprinkles. I suddenly saw a man bend down and grab a container of No Salt off of a lower shelf.

I shouted “Oh that’s where it is! I have been looking for No Salt for years here. I didn’t notice it until you bent over”. The guy stood up and in a very thick Brooklyn accent said” Thanks! Its been awhile since anyone noticed me bend over”. I responded “You’re welcome!” And then we both started laughing.

These 2 older women turned to look at us and wrinkled up their faces like ewwwww… like we were hooking up in front of the Cake Flour. Apparently, today, the baking aisle was serious business and our banter was not acceptable midwest humor. My east coast girlfriends would think it was funny and know it was harmless. Good to laugh today. Good to laugh any day.

Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and all that jazz…..

God Helps Those….

Did you know there is no verse in the bible that says, “God only helps those who help themselves?” Don’t believe me? Go look. I’ll wait 🙂

We have gotten this so drilled into us that it is hard to give things to God and not get our fingers in the pot too. “I need to help, God! To move things along faster. Or make sure it gets done. Or the right people get involved. In the way, I need it to play out. I have to do SOMETHING! Even if it is just getting angry and worrying. At least when I am worrying, I feel involved. It’s hard to just give it to you, trust and be at peace! That feels lazy and childlike. Like I am not doing anything to help myself.”

Ever feel like that?

After a discussion at church yesterday about this very issue, I prayed last night, ” Lord, I just give everything to you. Regardless if I take authority on it, I’m just giving everything to you to sort out. My faith and trust are doing something. That is my part in it.”

I want to tell you that was hard. It’s scary thinking you have to trust someone with your stuff. Especially your junk. The junk you had a hand in.

Today, I went to my mailbox, and there was a package of books that I had ordered in early December that had gone missing. I was so angry at some porch pirates possibly taking my books! I called the post office 4 times only to find out they were delivered half a block from me. I also confronted the mailman! I had friends telling me they would give me $25 bucks to reorder so I would just stop talking about it!

“Wow. Did the ministry ship me a new set?”

I heard God laugh. “Look at the ship date! It’s 12/13/21.”

“Wow, how did that happen, God?”

” I told you they were coming back.”

“But…..” “

I told you not to reorder because they would show up.”

“Oh yeah, I forgot about that soon after as I had other things to help you with.”

God keeps His promises. Even if it is just books on sale.
Wanting to help Him may not go away quickly. Lord, help us to just give you stuff and let it go. Or help us speak to the mountain and then trust and get out of the way.

The Lord helps those….. whom He created and adores.

Special Love

2019: He walked into the room and I couldn’t keep my eyes off of him. An energy and light emitted from him like a beautiful sunrise and I could feel a Godly presence. It was one of those moments when you knew your senses were in both realms and I was in awe. For months, I had heard all about him but this was the first time we had met. Destin, an RN from Hospice, calmly attended to my father as he spoke to him like an old friend. “Can he hear you?” ” Sure can. He’s tough and isn’t ready to go yet. What a character. I bet he was a fun dad.” I broke down and Destin stopped what he was doing.

“We haven’t always gotten along and its nice to have this quiet time with him.” I filled Destin and his partner in on what we and the staff had observed. I also told him that I had asked the staff that if they were Christian, would they please pray over him when they were in the room. The staff was very happy that I had given them permission as they had grown very attached to my father. Destin seemed surprised by this as I am sure that prayer isn’t a common request.

That opened the door to a discussion on the spiritual realm and how we could make this an easier transition for my father to launch, as I call it. It was so comforting to talk in a perspective I believed in and Destin’s light only shined brighter. God whispered I have a word for Destin and before I could argue with myself if this was appropriate “Do you know what a word of knowledge or prophecy is?” He looked surprised. “Why, yes I do.”

” God is showing me that you already have this in you. That you will help others transition peacefully as they will see how much God loves them and is known by Him. You will help families heal and restore their relationships by the words God will give you to say.” I went on to tell him other things that God was showing me about him and his future and Destin teared up. Yes Destin, you are loved and known by God too.

God is speaking all the time. To you and to others through you. Not of His judgement and condemnation, but of His love and mercy for His children. All of His children. Regardless if they believe yet or not. I decided today that I never want to miss an opportunity to be used by God so that people know His heart for them.

My father’s pending demise has been really bittersweet. I will miss him terribly but know that this is also a very special time for God’s love to shine.

Merry and Blessed Christmas my beloved peeps. May you all know God’s special love for you this week.

How My Daddy Rolls

This morning, as I drove around doing errands, God flashed an image of a young man who works at a grocery store by my old place. God whispered “He is a nice young man. He has a genuinely good heart.” When I arrived home I realized I had forgotten to pick up some drain cleaner. I got back into my car to buy some from a local hardware store about a mile from my house. God said ” No. Go to the grocery store by your old place. Give that young man $10, tell him to buy lunch, and then tell him how I see him. How I see his heart.”

I wasn’t too thrilled, to tell you the truth. The store was 15 minutes away! My hair was dirty, no make-up on and I knew the store would be super busy right before Christmas. I drove to my old hood and when I walked in I didn’t see him cashiering. Oh well. I guess I missed it. Must have been my own head and that cash burning in my pocket talking to me! I turned down the aisle to get the cleaner and there he was. Standing right in front of the cleaner, unpacking stock with another employee. I don’t know why I was amazed that he was right where I needed to be and that the aisle was totally empty, even though the store was packed. God always knows how to set it up so you just walk right into it.

“I don’t want you to think I am weird, but God told me this morning to give you $10. Buy yourself lunch today.” His face lit up and he suddenly looked upward. I could tell a lightbulb went off. It was about noon and maybe it was time for his break. Or maybe he didn’t have any money. Didn’t matter, That was just an icebreaker because, of course, God didn’t stop there. God told him how He saw him. That he was a truly nice person with a big genuine heart for others. That when he had children he would be a good father. That he would be patient and encouraging and that his love for his children would help them become people effective in this world. He would be too and his children would pass this on. Whoa! Sometimes God is a chatty Daddy! His face was lit up the entire time God was speaking to him. His coworker stood silently nearby just taking it all it in. We were not interrupted by anyone and the aisle remained empty.

“Thank you so much! I really really appreciate it. This means a lot to me. God bless you.” “Yes, I know it does. God just wanted you to know that He loves you, sees you, and thinks you are amazing.”What a super blessing it is to be used by God. That encounter made my day! I am continually humbled by how much He loves people through us if we let him. I am sure this young man will have an interesting story to tell his family tonight about a God who paid for his lunch and saw the best in him. Without any strings! Without any come to Jesus meeting!I guess I need to stop being surprised by these encounters. That is just how my Daddy God rolls……Merry Christmas Beloveds!