Lessons learned at the beach

This is my favorite time of the year.  I have always loved fall.  The colors of trees changing.  Crops in the fields are being harvested.   The smell in the air is so fresh.  We love going for rides in the evening, just to see the harvest of God's creation.

I love being able to sit on my deck and do my studying and writing.  Right now, I have my favortie cup of tea. I am listening to my favorite music on my phone.  Reminding me of how much God has done for me.  Hearing in the distance of people working in their yards. A breeze blowing just enough, I had to run in and get a sweater.

As then, I think of what a big wonderful friend I have,  Jesus Christ.  He is my healer, provider.  This summer, He has shown me in so many ways, how he cares for me. I was walking the beach, while visiting friends and family.  A mighty big wave grabbed my cane, I kept trying to reach it when the wave would bring it back in.  I would almost have it and a wave would grabbed it over and over.  Finally, God spoke to my heart in a very real way,  " Don't ya get it Paula? You don't need that."  I stopped short, looked up and said" Your right Lord, I don't need it."  since that day I walk without a cane up and down hills and never fall.

In this lesson, God showed me some real truths. In 1995, God came down and healed me in a very real way. I hardly used that cane expect if I walked without John. I didn't think anything about it.  It had been a part of my life.  Never needing the cane or scooter unless, it was long distance and very hot.   God had healed me in so many other ways, I just did what I always did.

I truly believe my heavenly father was telling me" You been taking baby steps.  Now let me  do what I want to do"  by grabbing the cane, I had to depend on God and the healing he had given me so very long ago.  I had to finish walking that beach, climb up the slippery sandy dunes.

I heard not too long ago this: " People want to let the Lord be the driver, but they want to hold on to the steering wheel."

Well I have let go of the steering wheel and I am still standing, walking and carrying something at the same time.

After the Lord showed me that lesson on the beach.  After I agreed I didn't need that old cane, It stood straight up and danced along the waves, like it was laughing at me.  My mother in law and I stood there and just hysterically laughed, holding our sides and the sight of that cane.

God is so good.

God is so special to me

Love sitting on my deck as the evening is starting to close down.  Been thinking of how special God has been to me.  Sitting here, savoring a warm cup of coffee and listening to a favorite song of mine.  " Amazing Grace, my chains are gone, I have been sit free."  He did that for me when I was 16 years old. I can live with no regrets because I have a Redeemer who guides my path every day.

As many of you  know I was diagnosed with MS over 20 years ago. Wow ,Where has time gone? There was a day, when God came down and healed me. I knew that my faithful God had given me a promise I could hang on to.  Since that day, every day has been a major blessing.  I went from a young women, confined to a wheelchair and many times bed fast. I walk all over, hold a job and do all the things at one time was too weak to do.

This last summer , the Lord had another lesson for me to learn.  My mother in law and I was walking the Oregon beach.  I was rejoicing because for so many years I had stopped walking the beach and would have never done it without John . But here we were, I had my cane just in case.  In case of what, I don't know.  Well, as I boldly walked through the water, a big wave came and grabbed my cane and took it.  I tried in vain to grab it as the water would bring it back toward me, Always just out of my reach as I tried to grab it. finally a voice spoke to my heart, as real as anything.  "Don't ya get it Paula? You don't need that." I stopped what I was doing and said" Your right God, I don't "

The funny part, that cane stood straight up and stayed like that.  It was so funny.  I thought as God lovingly reminded me, that he was all I needed. Later to further prove his love to me.  We went camping. It rained and rained.  Once again, as I walked alone, holding an umbrella and not loosing my balance. My heart was lifted up to my healer and God that loved me so much. That while I was yet sinner, He died for ME!

How close can I get?

Jas 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.

Recently, my husband and I had the opportunity to go camping just before Easter. Where we live now, Rain and snow can still be a part of the beauty.  Waking up to the birds ,greeting us for breakfast. The camp fire and a cup of hot coffee encourages me to get out of the sleeping bag. To some it is not the most ideal time for camping.  But we enjoy the challenge of winter camping.

 As I sat before the campfire, trying to get more heat. I realize  I had a problem.  Every time I thought I got a good spot, smoke would get in my eyes and cloud my vision.  This would cause me to back up from the warmth. The result? I was cold again. Something seriously needed to be done .  Backing away  was not the answer. Could I somehow get past the smoke, to enjoy the heat?

 I thought of the times Satan would try to come along and discourage   me.  He would throw things up before me, if I let him.  Things like discouragement, hurt feelings and trials.  Anything to cloud my vision of  my Lord. Any thing he could do,to cause me to take my eyes off Jesus. Its times like this,I realize something needs to be done. I cannot listen to the lies of Satan. God’s word reminds me in James 4:7 .....to resist the devil and he will flee from you.

As I would try to get closer to the fire ,the smoke would come and I would back up. Then I would  look again and find a smoke free spot.   I would move to that spot. I would throw another log on the fire and stir up the flames.  Once again, I enjoyed the heat and a clear vision. A simple solution to an aggravating problem. A  solution, but I had to do something.  I had to seek for that warm,smoke free spot . I needed to throw more wood on fire and stir up the fire. I could not just sit there and hope maybe sometime it would get better. That would just have kept me cold.

This caused me to think.  How close can we get to Jesus?  When discouragement comes and Satan throws lies in our face.  When he tells us, we   are no good. When he tries to   throw smoke in front of us.  And We think we cannot keep going. This is when we need to resist the devil.  We need to remember the promises of God.  If we resist the devil,he will flee from us.  One of many of God’s promises.

The beginning of  James 4:7, begins with a promise.  Draw nigh unto God and He will draw nigh unto you.. As we draw closer to God there is no room for Satan and his lies.  He has to flee.  Once again, the fire is stirred up.  God’s love will be reaching out and its too hot for the adversary to stick around.  We can find that spot on our knees, where Jesus is waiting for us . As we pray, we stir up those flames. Yielding to the will of God and his wisdom and direction. Submitting to God’s plan in our life will always bring the blessing.

The vision of Jesus grows brighter and Satan has to flee.  We are able to see more clearly. Three things happen. We draw nigh to God ; we resist Satan and submit to God. End result? God draws nigh to us.

How close do you want to get to Jesus?  How bright can your vision be of Jesus be? It will always be found at the feet of our Jesus.

Ok, so I don't blog much.  No time.  But truth be told, its been a very crazy time since my last post.  My father in law died unexpectedly last fall.  With that came travel back and forth,trying to help mom and sis.  But God is good. He was a wonderful father and he loved his Saviour.  He died doing just what he loved doing.  No struggle, it was  as if he just stood up and walked right into heaven. My husband is the man he is, because of the Father's life lived before him as a Godly man.

There is a song called " I can only imagine"  He no longer imagines, He is living it.  One more of my loved ones on the other side of Jordan.  I believe that they are standing right behind Jesus, waiting for me to join them. 

Today, as I sit here I can believe winter may just be over.  Yes, they still are predicting snow showers and rain.  But this one thing I know, last few days have been wonderful.

I have cleaned out my flower beds, found that my bulb plants will be springing to life. The mornings, I hear the birds greeting the day. I see the robins running around finding worms. I open all my shades,so I can see the sunrise before I go to work.

I love the evenings. Everyone, up and down the street,you hear lawn mowers,kids out playing and people out walking and greeting each other.

Have a happy day in the Lord.