A LICK AND A PROMISE

 John 15:4-5: ‘Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing’.

 

How does one tap into the power of God? To realize the full value of this union we have with our Creator, we must ‘abide’ in Him . . . meaning to dwell or remain; so that we are always in a conscious union with Jesus. He not only becomes a part of us, but when you abide in Him, you can feel his presence in your life. Personally, I talk to God like I talk to my husband. I ask Him for wisdom and guidance, and in all sorts of supernatural ways, he provides it. Then there are times of silence . . . there can be many things occur in your life that cause you to ask, "Where are you, Lord?" 

 

When my father died so tragically last October. I was on my way to visit him. After our 2,000 mile journey, we were only 20 miles from my parent's home when he died. Why couldn't I have gotten there sooner? I had an uneasy feeling but circumstances prevented me from getting there in time. Why? I have asked God this question 100 times! Yet in spite of the tragedy, our family has experienced the presence of God like never before during our time of grief. Through this I have understood the supernatural power of abiding in Him and Him in me, like never before. Knowing he was there . . . in every detail has brought us great peace. He has certainly been in the details of my mother's illness, from the diagnosis to getting her to the right doctors to her remission.

 

But lately I have been very, very busy . . . trying to wrap up my real estate business before I returned to Atlanta to take care of Mother. My niece and I have flexible schedules and have been taking turns. Hey, something's gotta give . . . it was my prayer life that was giving. But I knew that God understood.

 

Over the past few weeks I have hit some bumps in my life . . . just little things, but distressing things. Why? I realize now it was because I was not tapping into this holy union . . .  to his power. I have been so busy that I have felt overwhelmed. Oh, I didn't stop praying altogether, but I have been too busy to really concentrate on my prayers. They were became perfunctory, not earnest. In the last few weeks, I complained that God seemed far away . . . distant. But guess who moved? Not him!

 

And things happened when my intimate conversations with him were cut off. An example is my granddaughter's school tuition. Each year I pay for it because it is more important to me than it is to her parents that my granddaughter attend a Christian school. Since California real estate has slowed down this year, my available funds for her tuition were extremely low, so at the first of the year, I asked my nephew to suggest a stock that might provide the money by August.

 

Sure enough the stock he suggested soared, even in this dismal market. My $1,000 investment grew and by the first of August, I had enough money to pay the tuition. The very morning that I was taking the stock out to pay the tuition, I was stunned to discover that the stock had dropped drastically the last 24 hours, due to a loan not being funded for the company. By the next day 50% of the company's work force had been laid off. I couldn't believe it . . . . I just missed the money for the tuition by a day. Why Lord? Why couldn't have you prompted me to take it out earlier? Maybe I wasn't listening? 

 

Then the next few days brought disappointment in other little ways. Nothing as drastic as the tuition loss, but I lost little things, had a car problem, missed a deadline, things didn't work, a minor error on my taxes resulted in my paying a penalty . . . just little irritations that suddenly became insurmountable.

 

Yesterday was the worse! A friend of mine had lost some very expensive diamond earrings in her condo, her second home in California, that I was selling for her . . . we're talking $25,000 earrings, here. Anyway, I found them when the movers were there. She asked me to hang onto them until she completed another move on the East Coast, so I put them away in safe place, and I was still holding onto the earrings when I finally spoke to her a couple of weeks ago. She gave me her new address and asked me to mail them to her. 

Since I was leaving to care for Mother, I was trying to get everything done before I left, so I found a box for the jewelry and dropped it in my purse to take to FED-X. As I was going out the door, I realized that I forgotten the earrings. I ran back inside and grabbed them in my hand to take them to post office. I had planned to put them in the box when I got in the car, but outside my door my phone rang . . . always a major distraction for me, because for a real estate agent, the telephone is my lifeline. My conversation continued as I got inside the car. I put my call on the speaker in the car and drove away, still talking.

 

A few feet down the road, I suddenly remembered . . .  the earrings!!! Where were they? Not in my hand!  I slammed on the brakes and stopped the car. I looked everywhere inside the car. Still no earrings. I turned the car around and went back home, and checked all around the place where the car was parked in front of my house . . . the earrings were nowhere to be found. Although I was late for my appointment, I took the steps up to home, and there in the middle of one step was an earring . . . but only one! I looked everywhere for the other earring . . . all around the sidewalk, the steps, in the grass, and the ivy. The second earring simply wasn't there. I had to leave for my appointment with only one earring in the box. Keep in mind there was no way, I could afford to replace the earring that I had lost. I didn't even have enough money for the school tuition, which was due in a few days.

 

I completed my appointment and later met friends for dinner. The evening was not enjoyable for me because I was distracted and worried about the earring. Sarah, my dear friend offered to come home with me to search for it, but i knew she needed to get back home to her little daughter. When I arrived home, I searched for the earring until 2:00 a.m. with no success. 

Before I went to sleep, I begged to God to help me find the earring. I set the alarm for early the next morning. First, I looked around the house, retracing my steps, looking under the bed, furniture, and in the trash cans. Maybe, I had dropped them in the house? When I didn't find the earring, I went outside, begging God to guide me. And guess what! I found the earring! It was as though I had a radar in me . . . I went right to the earring. And believe me it was not easy to find, but it was for me. I found it at the bottom of the steps, at least two feet from the steps on a hillside, covered in ivy hidden in the dirt at least a foot down in the ivy. I literally found it in less than 20 seconds! Talk about praising God!

 

I came back in the house thanking him. And then I checked my stocks and guess what? No, not enough to pay the tuition, but it had recovered enough to pay for the first semester! And I am confident that God will provide the rest of the money by the time January arrives!

 

Without him, I realize I am truly nothing. Just like the branch when chopped off from vine, I cannot bear fruit if I'm not abiding in him. Just like the baby who cannot live outside her mother's womb. The message to me is . . . SLOW DOWN, SUSAN! 

I am convinced that the greatest detriment to our union with him is busyness! I had been really busy wrapping up my real estate business since I was leaving for the East Coast, so I hadn't taken the time to focus on my prayer life or really listen to him. I can remember as a small child washing my face, my mother would order me to give it more than a "lick and a promise." That pretty much sums up my prayer life of late . . . a lick and a promise. 

 

And to think that I asked "Why?" DUH! If we do not take the time to plug into the outlet if how can we expect to have the power? So my prayer is "help me slow down, Lord . . . help this hopeless queen of multi-tasking slow way down!"  The meaning of the Scripture, "Seek you first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added until you," resonates within my soul today. First things first! And the first thing in my life . . . God! Amen!

Remembering Michael Jackson

Recently, my cousin Jane Dickson from Alabama visited me, and we hit all the Hollywood hotspots, including the movie star homes. Our guide was brimming with the news that reporters had gathered in front of Michael Jackson's home in Holmby Hills. It was rumored that Michael was due to arrive at his home at any moment now! A large group of fans and reporters had clustered outside his home to get a tiny glimpse of the legendary and eccentric pop star as he emerged from his car to walk into his home.

But on the morning of his funeral, it is not the Michael Jackson sighting that I recall, but I think of my friend, Terri McFadden. God had blessed Terri with a talent for songwriting, but like any dream in the arts, earning money from your craft can be a challenge. But for Terri it didn't matter because she had a wealthy husband, who afforded her a great lifestyle. When her husband dropped dead unexpectedly, Terri found herself in a midst of a raging financial storm.  While the bills piled up in front of her home, Terri did what many women do . . . . besotted with grief and hopelessness, she "took to her bed," as we say in the South! Terri had recently become a Christian, so she kept calling out to God. Yet he seemed far, faraway. 

Finally a friend came to Terri's rescue. She filled a laundry basket with the mail, and brought it inside. One by one she opened the bills, as she sat with Terri and they devised a plan for grieving widow to dig out of the mess. What a great friend! May God bless us all with such a friend!

"But His plans are not our plans," the Scripture tells us.  Unbeknownst to Terri as she griefed in her bed for weeks, God had heard her cries, and He had answered her prayers. In the laundry basket was an envelope . . . . with a six figure check in it just waiting to be opened! Terri, an aspiring Motown songwriter, had sold the lyrics to a song for the Jackson 5! Terri has won two Grammy's, and when she co-wrote the theme song for the movie, Men In Black, she used the money to get her Masters in Theology at Fuller Seminary. Today, she is a renowned Bible teacher in the Los Angeles area, and speaks nationally, encouraging women everywhere.

Is there an envelope in your life waiting to be opened? Sometimes to the answer to our prayer is right under our nose, yet we are too overwrought with worry to have the eyes to see it or take the action to open it. Look around! For one thing I am sure of is that we can trust our Heavenly Father to provide our needs in such miraculous ways!

THE GIFTS OF CANCER

THE GIFTS OF CANCER

Today is Monday, and I have finally let go of my worries. My mother and my granddaughter's worlds are still turning without me! Miracles never cease! It feels good to realize that I am indeed dispensable. I speak with Mother every day. She says is feeling so well and strong and that she's sailing through chemo this time, which she attributes to her new protein supplements, AS10 drink, and Kifer a liquid yogurt. Mother feels this round is much easier and the affects are lessened. It seems it would be the opposite, but I am eternally grateful for this, whatever the reason. Perhaps it is because her body so filled with fluids and the tumor that was so large has now disappeared. Or maybe it is because she's been there, done that and much of the fear and apprehension has vanished? As I was preparing to buy my airline ticket to return to Atlanta again to relieve my niece, who took over for me last week, I called my sister so she could suggest the best date for my arrival. She prefers to wait until until Mother sees the oncologist on July 8th, because she has an inkling he may stop the chemo at six treatments, which would change everything. Initially, the oncologist went back and forth on his decision on whether to order 6 or 9 rounds of chemo. We want to be safe and not sorry, but if it is his opinion to stop at six, we will celebrate! This means Mother can return home and begin her life again with a monthly trip to Atlanta for checkups.    With mother's return home, another concern has surfaced. Diagnosed only two months after losing tragically losing my father, mother's grief was interrupted by the cancer. She was suffering so much over his loss that the cancer in many ways was a blessing! It changed her focus on her grief to staying alive. Following my father's death, I stayed with Mother for a month, and then we met in Scottsdale at my daughter's home for the holidays. In January she moved to Atlanta and has lived there for the past six months, except for a few 2-3 day visits home and three weeks to recover from surgery. Mother has had tons of company during those visits, so she has not really had time to experience the reality of living at home without daddy. Honestly, the cancer was a great distraction for her grief, but now she must face that she is alone after being married for 63-1/2 years. This may be her greatest challenge. Yet she will be so happy to be at home, and as she has said many times, so grateful for the simple of things of life that she took for granted, which is another gift of cancer.  So this morning I am reflecting on the gifts that God has brought into our lives through the cancer. Yes, it is possible my friends!1) Distraction for Mother from her overwhelming grief over the loss of my father. No longer was she was able to dwell on his death, because she had to fight for her life. 2) Mother gained an a new appreciation for the simple things of life from driving her car, attending church to working in the yard. 3) Drew our family closer together as we rallied around our mother to provide support and assistance in her battle against cancer. Never before have I realized how important family is, especially in times of illness. When I poured my heart out to my family physician who is also my friend, she smiled, and said, "Susan, your mother is so blessed. Do you realize how many times I have to tell a patient they have cancer, and I ask if there is there is anyone I can call, and their family members are so self absorbed in their own lives, they do not even return my phone call?" This comment was chilling to me.I want to work harder to strengthen my relationships with my family members, even though we do not always agree on things, it is still important to work through the trivialities, because without family you are so alone!  4) Gained a new appreciation and a fresh perspective on our good health. We have never had cancer or any serious illnesses in our family, so we have take health for granted. All our relatives lived long lives and died in their 80's or 90's. We never really realized what others who had problems with illnesses went through. 5) 5) Growing up at last! Even in my 50's I have still played the role of the daughter. When I visited my parents they would insist of taking care of me in every way. I was still the little girl. Now the roles have reversed and I am taking care of my mother. This has been difficult for her to accept, and we have had a battle of the elbows in the kitchen and throughout the house. She never wanted us to help her, but now she has no choice. Although I must admit she still tries desperately!  6) United our church, our hometown and our friends in prayer. My father died so tragically that our entire town rallied around my mother, especially after she became ill. It sort of pulled them together as a community as they prayed for my mother and others. The church now has an email prayer list where you can send in your concerns. They are praying for everyone in the county! The prayers they have prayed for my mother and others is bringing about so many miracles! It is exciting.   7) The grace for dying. Through the cancer, not knowing how things would turn out, my mother has been blessed with an abundance of grace for dying. Our family has been able to discuss death as a normal part of life. Most people fear death but Mother accepts it stoically, and has passed this onto her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. When I took my granddaughter with me to care for her this past trip, Mother told my granddaughter "Please do not be be sad when Mimi dies." She explained to her that Mimi had lived a long and happy life and she was ready to go to heaven! Hailey looked at me and said, "You remember that Gaga, when Mimi dies and don't cry so much like you did when Papa (my father) died." So precious!  8) Experiencing the power of prayer. We have seen so many answers to prayer throughout my mother's cancer journey, and have seen God in all the details each step of the way. It has been exciting and has strengthened our faith. 9) New friends! How precious are Mother's fellow sufferers! We have been so blessed by the women in the chemo lab and in the different groups and organizations. They have lent such support as well as vital answer to questions that have given us peace and relief plus the much needed knowledge. This is a very special community that has truly touched our lives. 10) A better understanding of cancer.  Cancer was a thought or word I had taken great strides to avoid throughout my life. But now I know that it is not necessarily a death sentence. There are great things happening in cancer treatments and in the research.  11) Learning the importance of checkups and healthcare. Being face-to-face with cancer has motivated my family members and me to get check-ups, tests and other exams that I used to procrastinate setting up. Knowing the importance of finding the disease early has turned me into an advocate of  timely and thorough medical care. I have been poked, prodded, and stuck dozens of times in 2009! 12) The importance of nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. With such good genes and family history of excellent health, I was never attentive to my diet and exercise as I am now.  Now I am wisely choosing my foods, and making sure I get the proper exercise.  13) I am reevaluating my life. When you have a family who is facing a serious illness, you immediately considering how precious life is and you consider your own mortality. Suddenly, I am conscious that I am older, and I only have so many years left, so I want to make those years count. I want to get closer to meeting my goals. 14) Strengthened our faith in our God.  God has been in every detail of my mother's cancer. He has ordered our steps, and miraculously opened and shut doors to point us in the right direction for her treatment. But the greatest gift of God has been the peace . . .  the peace that passes all understanding that he given us, especially my mother. After a devastating few days and sleepless nights, we suddenly felt enfolded by his loving arms, and just rested in the peace that he had everything in his hands.  No one wants cancer to afflict there family, but when it does, look for the gifts of it, and unwrap the presents you are given throughout the journey. XOX 

LOVE HEALS A MULTITUDE OF ILLS

Today I woke up in my bed in California with my husband for the first time in a month. For the past month I have been in Atlanta, caring for my 81-year-old mother, who is undergoing chemo for ovarian cancer. Although this was a devastating time in our lives, especially since we just lost my father tragically less than three months before, we found that love had an amazing healing effect for all of us. "All" included my mother, my sister, my nephew, and my niece and her two toddlers. Mother's care is truly a joint effort. Mother had to leave her home in Alabama and move in with my sister in Atlanta for the best treatment possible. 

My niece took the month of January and I arrived in Atlanta mid February. My duties included cooking three meals a day, shopped for groceries, ran errands, drove my mother to her chemo, her blood tests, her doctor appointments, and her visits to the hospital for her injections. My nephew pitched in whenever he could. Mother thrived! We were a family! Each night I prepared dinner for my mother, and my sister and nephew, when they arrived home from work. By the third chemo treatment, the physician assistant who examined mother, was surprised she could no longer find the grapefruit size tumor on her ovary! She warned us not to celebrate until the doctor examined Mother the following month. 

Last week they concurred that the tumor had shrunk . . . it was gone! What a miracle! As the wonderful Gaither hymn, Because He Lives, says, "I know who holds my future!" Mother's chemo was completed in half the time the doctor predicted prior to surgery. Another miracle! Thanks to a great God and prayers from friends, family, and loyal churches throughout the country, this cut her chemo in half. After surgery we are facing only six more chemo treatments, and then Mother will be cancer free to live out the days of her life at home with her friends and family. She is ready to go to heaven now, but how blessed her children and her grandchildren are to have her here upon this earth.

Now I am home for a month, and then I return for Mother's surgery in April. What a privilege to care for my mother, who has cared for me my entire life, with such love! Love does heal a multitude of ills. Jesus said, "Faith, hope, and love . . . .the greatest of these are love!"

Have a blessed day!

Susan Wales