Unopened Gifts

Several nights ago I cooked steaks for dinner. All of my knives were so dull. A couple of them even came unattached to the handle. After I tossed them, I remembered my husband buying me some knives a few months prior. So, I went on a search. I found an unopened box of brand new knives in the cabinet. I just kept thinking of all the times I complained when peeling fruit for my grandbabies, or trying to slice up meat for dinner. All along, I had just what I needed less than a foot away.

About 5 months ago my husband and our oldest son got into a huge argument. My husband stormed out of our son’s apartment. I stayed and spoke calmly to our son to get him to see things from our perspective. Afterwards, I went outside and spoke with my husband. He asked me to pray with him. But honestly, I was so emotionally drained. But, with tears running down my face, all I could do was say the Lord’s Prayer. Two minutes later our son came outside, got in our truck and apologized. All I could do was say “Thank YOU Jesus!”

As I look back over my life and think about all the different storms I’ve encountered, not realizing, I was equipped with the tools I needed to weather those storms. Growing up in church I always knew about Jesus and how He died on the cross. I learned about His immaculate conception and how He healed the sick, raised the dead, made the lame walk, walked on water, and cleansed the lepers. I know how awesome He is! What I didn’t know was how powerful I am by being a true follower of Christ and baptized in the Holy Spirit. I didn’t know that I had power over the enemy. I didn’t know that I could speak the word over my family and have true victory. I didn’t know that I have gift of healing. The tools I needed were in me all along. The enemy knew that I didn’t know my own strength. That’s why it seemed his team was always winning. They new what strategies to use. I was unaware. I was trying to fight this battle on my own with no spiritual tools. Well, knowledge is powerful!

God gives us the spiritual gifts we need to conquer anything that is thrown at us. You have the power. You have the gift. He placed in you. Now all you have to do is believe.

Open your gift……….

Finding Life After Death (Pt.2)

A couple of months before our 2nd grandson was born, we received a frantic call from our son’s girlfriend. Someone called her and said our son was so high and out of it that he was standing on the balcony of the 3rd floor of a hotel in his underwear. They were able to get him down before he jumped. She and her friend picked him up and drove him to our house which was about an hour away. When he woke the next morning, he had no recollection of the previous night. He didn’t know he was home and was trying to figure out just how he had gotten there. This child has such a calling on his life that is so strong that God has delivered him from 3 near death experiences.

Someone may ask, well, why don’t you try rehab? We have. He walked away each time. But, I can tell you this, he is definitely covered in prayer. God keeps showing all of us, especially him, that He has him covered.

One evening, our middle child called. He was explaining to me that he had gotten pulled over by the police in a small town. The officer found some weed in his car, which he says was a friend’s whom he had let borrow his car the day before. While he was explaining the trouble he was in, another call was buzzing on my line. It was our youngest son. He and his girlfriend had gotten pulled over for a tail light. When they ran his license, he had a warrant for unpaid fines. The officer was arresting him. I hung up feeling so mentally exhausted. All I could do was ask God for help. You know what? He heard my cry. He delivered both boys from those situations.

My life has truly been a rollercoaster ride. Of course I hoped my life would be different at this stage. I thought I would be enjoying my husband more. I thought we would finally have a chance to travel, explore, be adventurous, and just enjoy being together.

I have been on the search for happiness and peace for a long time. The definition of happy is feeling or showing pleasure or contentment. By that definition, I can honestly say that I have been the complete opposite. Just going through the motions. Praying for peace and happiness to fall upon me.

My happiness has been interrupted for far too long. I have been allowing the devil to win while I sit along the sidelines and watch. I’m tired of my family being the underdogs. It’s time for a new play.

Put me in coach………..

Interruption of Happiness

January 12, 2014 changed my world. Prior to this day, I was feeling happy, free and excited about the future. Our oldest son was working, middle son finishing up his last few months of high school and making plans for graduation. Our youngest was going to be a senior the following year. We had just celebrated our grandson’s 1st Christmas. I completed an insurance class and was preparing for my exam.

Two days before I had taken my dad to the doctor and they immediately sent him to the hospital. They admitted him and began trying to drain the fluid that was built up around his heart. The first day, not much was drained and he was still having a hard time breathing. So, before going to the hospital the following day, I decided to go for a run. It was the hospital’s track so I figured once I was done I would just go up to his room.

Well, the prognosis wasn’t good. A lot of the fluid hadn’t drained during the night. They were putting him in an induced coma so they could drain more fluid. As they were rolling him down the hallway, my dad gave my boys a thumbs up to let them know he was okay. But, he wasn’t. We never got to speak to him again. Shortly after, he was gone. I will never forget the looks on everyone’s faces as they received the news.

On January 12, 2014, my dad took his last breath. Sometimes it feels like I did too…………….