Who's in charge?

A few weeks ago I was on my way home and had just exited the freeway. I had gone less than a block when I saw a blind man walking towards the center-line of the street. The car in front of me stopped and waited until it was safe to continue around him. I pulled over to the shoulder instead, parked my car and got out feeling rising concern. I approached the man and touched him on the arm. "Sir, you're walking in the middle of the street, can I help you to the sidewalk?"

A little disoriented, he agreed, telling me where he was headed. The address was close, but in order for him to get there, he would have to walk along the freeway overpass. I quickly decided taking him myself would be safer, except I was alone. Having a strange man in the car with me, blind or not was probably not the smartest idea. I told him to wait for me while I went and picked up my teenage son, a few minutes away.

When we got back, we helped the man into the back seat and drove him to his destination, his place of employment. He had inadvertently left something there he needed to pick up. Afterwards he needed to catch the closest Trax Train to get home. I offered to drive him to the station, another five minutes away. He was extremely grateful. My son helped him out of the car, got him situated and we left.

As I pondered on the experience I realized it was a good reminder. In life we are like that man who was blind--when we forget to include God in all we do. If we let fear and doubt overcome us when we're struggling with hard things, then we're unnecessarily walking down the center-line towards unseen oncoming traffic. Our loving Heavenly Father won't ever leave us lost and alone if we pray to Him for help--then listen.

One of my favorite scripture comes to mind:

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all they ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct the paths.

 

My latest book arrives in stores tomorrow!

Here is a brief description of the book:

“Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let they heart be full of thanks unto God.” –Alma 37:37

 

Before we came to earth, we lived in heavenly realms. We knew our Heavenly Father. We walked and talked with Him. We heard His voice. We felt His love. In Heaven’s Just a Prayer Away, beloved author Diony George teaches us how to reestablish that relationship with Him here on earth. With the help of this book you will:

 

• Learn that nothing is too small or unimportant to discuss with Heavenly Father

• Find peace and contentment through daily communication with God

• Gain a better understanding of why some prayers seem to go unanswered

• Develop a greater knowledge of the power of prayer

The inspirational and enlightening experiences found within these pages will change your life forever by strengthening your relationship with God and filling your life with peace, teaching us that heaven really is just a prayer away.

 

Purchase on Amazon

I'm THANKFUL for my husband

             

Trade Your Anxieties for God's Peace

More than 24 years ago, Pam and her husband Bob were serving as missionaries to the Philippines, and praying for a fifth child.

Pam contracted amoebic dysentery, an infection of the intestine caused by a parasite found in contaminated food or drink. She went into a coma and was treated with strong antibiotics before they discovered she was pregnant.

Doctors urged her to abort the baby for her own safety, and told her the medicines had caused irreversible damage to the fetus.She refused the abortion, and cited her Christian faith as the reason for her hope that her baby would be born without the devastating disabilities physicians predicted. Pam said the doctors didn't think of it as a life, they thought of the child growing inside her as a mass of fetal tissue.

While pregnant, Pam nearly lost the baby four times, but refused to
consider abortion. She recalled making a pledge to God with her husband:
If you will give us a son, we'll name him Timothy, and we'll make him a
preacher of your word.

Pam ultimately spent the last two months of her pregnancy in bed, and
eventually gave birth to a healthy baby boy August 14, 1987. Pam's
youngest son is indeed a preacher. He preaches in prisons, makes hospital
visits, and serves with his father's ministry in the Philippines. He also
plays football......... Pam's son is Tim Tebow.

The University of Florida's star quarterback became the first sophomore history to win college football's highest award, the Heisman Trophy. His current role as quarterback of the Denver Broncos has provided an incredible platform for Christian witness.

Pam said,
“We taught our children from a young age that in everything, you give thanks to the Lord. There's something supernatural that takes place when you trade your anxieties for God's peace.”

I believe in miracles

I believe in miracles! When life is the darkest, the light is closer than we think.

When we are in the midst of a crisis and are praying hard for help, why are the Heavens sometimes silent? Where is God? Should we feel sorry for ourselves? Or get angry and think God has abandoned us?

What we do is critical.

God loves us and he's always listening. Sometimes he pulls back to test our faith. Will we believe in him and still stand strong no matter what? Will we continue to trust him?

When we don't give up, the miracles happen and the blessings start to come.

"O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?

How long shall they hand be stayed, and thine eye...behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people and of thy servants, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries?

My son, [daughter] peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high:" D&C 121

This is for you...

Last week I took my children to a restaurant. My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads he said, "God is good. God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and justice for all! Amen!"

Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby I heard a woman remark, "That's what's wrong with this country. Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice-cream! Why, I never!"

Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?"

As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table. He winked at my son and said,

"I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer."

"Really?" my son asked.

"Cross my heart," the man replied.Then in a theatrical whisper he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), "Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes."

Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his for a moment and then did something I will remember the rest of my life.

He picked up his sundae and without a word, walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, "Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes; and my soul is good already."

author unknown

The Big Night

My son Gilbert was eight years old and had been in Cub Scouts only a short time. During one of his meetings he was handed a sheet of paper, a block of wood and four tires and told to return home and give all to "dad."

That was not an easy task for Gilbert to do. Dad was not receptive to doing things with his son. But Gilbert tried.

Dad read the paper and scoffed at the idea of making a pine wood derby car with his young, eager son. The block of wood remained untouched as the weeks passed.

Finally, mom stepped in to see if I could figure this all out. The project began.

Having no carpentry skills, I decided it would be best if I simply read the directions and let Gilbert do the work. And he did. I read aloud the measurements, the rules of what we could do and what we couldn't do.

Within days his block of wood was turning into a pinewood derby car. A little lopsided, but looking great (at least through the eyes of mom).

Gilbert had not seen any of the other kids cars and was feeling pretty proud of his "Blue Lightning," the pride that comes with knowing you did something on your own.

Then the big night came. With his blue pinewood derby in his hand and pride in his heart we headed to the big race.

Once there my little one's pride turned to humility. Gilbert's car was obviously the only car made entirely on his own. All the other cars were a father-son partnership, with cool paint jobs and sleek body styles made for speed.

A few of the boys giggled as they looked at Gilbert's, lopsided, wobbly, unattractive vehicle. To add to the humility Gilbert was the only boy without a man at his side. A couple of the boys who were from single parent homes at least had an uncle or grandfather by their side, Gilbert had "mom."

As the race began it was done in elimination fashion. You kept racing as long as you were the winner. One by one the cars raced down the finely sanded ramp.

Finally it was between Gilbert and the sleekest, fastest looking car there. As the last race was about to begin, my wide eyed, shy eight year old ask if they could stop the race for a minute, because he wanted to pray. The race stopped.

Gilbert hit his knees clutching his funny looking block of wood between his hands. With a wrinkled brow he set to converse with his Father.

He prayed in earnest for a very long minute and a half. Then he stood, smile on his face and announced, "Okay, I am ready."

As the crowd cheered, a boy named Tommy stood with his father as their car sped down the ramp. Gilbert stood with his Father within his heart and watched his block of wood wobble down the ramp with surprisingly great speed and rushed over the finish line a fraction of a second before Tommy's car.

Gilbert leaped into the air with a loud "Thank you" as the crowd roared in approval.

The Scout Master came up to Gilbert with microphone in hand and asked the obvious question, "So you prayed to win, huh, Gilbert?"

To which my young son answered, "Oh, no sir. That wouldn't be fair to ask God to help you beat someone else. I just asked Him to make it so I don't cry when I lose."

Children seem to have a wisdom far beyond us. Gilbert didn't ask God to win the race, he didn't ask God to fix the outcome, Gilbert asked God to give him strength in the outcome.

When Gilbert first saw the other cars he didn't cry out to God, "No fair, they had a fathers help."

No, he went to his Father for strength.

Perhaps we spend too much of our prayer time asking God to rig the race, to make us number one, or too much time asking God to remove us from the struggle, when we should be seeking God's strength to get through the struggle.

Gilbert's simple prayer spoke volumes to those present that night. He never doubted that God would indeed answer his request. He didn't pray to win, thus hurt someone else, he prayed that God supply the grace to lose with dignity.

Gilbert, by his stopping the race to speak to his Father also showed the crowd that he wasn't there without a "dad," but his Father was most definitely there with him. Yes, Gilbert walked away a winner that night, with his Father at his side.

-- Author Unknown

"You'll be fine"

It was a scorching hot day in the middle of August when I pulled off the highway at the 7-Eleven gas station I regularly used. I was anxious to fill up the tank and return home to my air-conditioned house. I'd been running errands all morning and my energy was zapped from the heat.

At the first available pump I came to, I parked, and shut off the engine. I retrieved a credit card from inside my purse, taking the keys out of the ignition by habit, even though my nine-year-old son was in the car. He had come along to get a new pair of shoes for school.

While the gas was flowing smoothly into the tank I washed the light film of dust off the back window of my car. I walked to the front to clean that window as well.

"Mom, I'm sooooo hot!!" my son exclaimed, confirming his statement by wiping his damp brow with his hand then his hand on his gray plaid shorts.

"I know bud, me too. We're almost done." I could feel a new rivulet of perspiration begin to trickle down my back.

Two teenage boys came out of the mini-mart, each holding an extra large slurpee. One was colored blue, the other lime green. They laughed as they enjoyed a refreshing swallow of the frosty drinks on the way to their bicycles.

Click. The numbers on the gas pump stopped moving, announcing the total. I returned the pump handle to its proper place and took my receipt as soon as it popped out. When I got back in the car I knew my son had been watching the two boys. He loved slurpees. I put the keys in the ignition and started the car.

"Sam, would you like to get a slurpee before we head home?"

"Oh yeah!" he exclaimed. "Thanks, Mom."

I moved the car and re-parked in front of the store. I pulled out two dollars from my wallet and handed them to Sam. "I'll wait here. Go ahead and get one." I nodded to him.

His eyes widened. "Aren't you coming with me?" he asked, concerned.

"No, you can go by yourself, you’ll be fine. I can see you the whole time from here."

"But...I don't even know how the machine works, I can't do it myself. Can't you come?"
His request was a small thing, but for some reason I felt Sam had to do it alone.

He hesitated,"...I don't really need one...I guess."

"Sam...I promise you can do it.” The wariness in his face hadn’t left.
“I can't always be there,” I told him. “You need to learn to do more things on your own." I gave him an encouraging smile.

He didn’t return it with one of his own. Slowly he opened the door, got out and looked at me. I gave him a thumbs up. When he walked in the store I felt a guilty twinge, wondering if I had made too big of a deal about this. It would have been so easy to go inside with him, help him get the treat and pay for it at the register. It certainly would have been quicker. I reminded myself of the feeling I had—this was a teaching moment—Sam needed to gain confidence.

When he came out of the store about five minutes later he was grinning ear to ear, holding his slurpee up like a trophy."Hi mom," he said when he climbed in the car. He held out his hand. "Here's the change."

"Thanks. You did it, great job! See it wasn't too hard for you, right?"

He nodded sheepishly, "It was easy! Next time I won't be afraid at all to do it alone." He offered me a drink.

I took a small one feeling it slide down my throat like ice. "Brrr, that's cold." I shivered.

Sam laughed. "Do you want me to go get one for you?" he offered.

"No thanks, you just enjoy yours..."


We all face things in our lives that can feel overwhelming and difficult, or even scary to handle on our own. Those are the times we need to remember-we aren’t alone. God is just a prayer away and he’s promised to never give us more than we can handle.

1 Corinthians 10:13

Endless blooms

The sky is blue and I can hear the birds singing in the trees. I grab my trimmers and head to my rose garden. Vibrant shades of red and coral, soft shades of pink and yellow greet my eyes. I breath in the heady fragrance.

My roses bloom the fairest in the spring. As the first explosion tempers with the heat of summer the petals wilt and then turn brown. If I want new blooms I need to cut into the crisp green stalks angled above a five leaf cluster. Dead heading the faded flowers is critical to new growth. If I prune new buds will grow and the roses can bloom till fall.

So it is with us.

If we ever want to reach our glorious potential we must cast aside past mistakes, old fears and self-imposed limitations. Let go of the anger that blinds us from truth in order to find the sweet peace only forgiveness can bring. Doing it once is not enough, it is a process we must repeat and refine. We all have endless possibilities within, just waiting to be freed. It only can be, if we rid ourselves of whatever is in the way.

“Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers, but to be fearless in facing them. Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain, but for the heart to conquer it.”—Tagore

Are you an answer to someone else's prayer?

This story was shared by a friend.

A woman with whom my family had been close for many years, lay dying in bed. She had been ill for a long time and had lost the ability to move. My husband and I were asked to come and visit and offer what comfort we could to the family.

Her husband and two sons were present when we arrived. After my husband offered a special prayer on her behalf I felt this feeling that I should hug the youngest son. I pulled him into a hug, and then eventually we left.

Three days later she died, and my husband and I returned to pay our final respects and again offer comfort to the family. The youngest son arrived shortly after we did. At that time, I took him to the side and I told him that I had felt the impression the last time we were there that his mother had wanted me to give him a hug.

He began crying and said that he had been praying that he would receive some sign that she loved him.

Who needs you to answer their prayer today?

Harder to see the Light

I spent some time this morning catching up on emails and some links that had been sent to me to review. Nothing like reading things that let in negative thoughts. It is so easy to let that happen with all going on in the world and when you dwell on those things it becomes harder to see the light. I'm grateful for prayer today, because "heaven is just a prayer away" and talking with God can bring back the light.


The Ten Commandments of Life

FIRST - Fully and unconditionally love yourself. Recognize your Divinity. Honor yourself.

SECOND - Unconditionally love and accept others. Recognize their Divinity and honor them.

THIRD - Take responsibility for your actions. You always have a choice; how you feel, act or what you say. Act, don't react.

FOURTH - Be a Master of Divine expression. Live the Universal Laws of Love, Peace, Truth.

FIFTH - You create your life (by your choices, feelings and actions). Live in joy.

SIXTH - Let go and allow (let God). Listen to and follow, unconditionally, your small quiet voice; your spirit (God).

SEVENTH - Be thankful and humble. Give thanks for what you have and receive. Be grateful.

EIGHT - Your sustenance comes from inside you (God). Trust. You will always be provided for.

NINTH - Your body is the temple of your soul. Nurture and care for yourself.

TENTH - Live in the present moment. Life can only be experienced now.

Never Alone

So many times when I was discouraged about my situation,
doubting my self-worth and wondering how the man I loved
and trusted could hurt me so deeply, my solace was
prayer. Some days I prayed over and over,
asking for help to make it through the next hour,
and the next and the next. Thinking about surviving a
whole day with my heart broken and bleeding was too much.

The Lord was there, every day, every hour, every minute,
when I couldn't walk alone. He gave me peace when I needed it
most and the patience to trust in him when I had no idea what
I was going to do.

One of my favorites-

Footprints in the Sand

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there was one only.
This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from anguish,
sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints,
so I said to the Lord,
“You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life
there has only been one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”
The Lord replied,
“The years when you have seen only one set of footprints,
my child, is when I carried you.”


Written by Mary Stevenson