The Tree

I have a stump in my yard that once was my most favorite tree.  God used this tree to encourage me ten years ago. 

My son, Jared, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in May 2001.  After rounds of chemo, radiation and other procedures the doctors decided that the next step should be a stem cell transplant.  In February 2002, we left for Birmingham not knowing when we would be coming back home.  After the transplant and complications, Jared died on April 10, 2002.  That was a tough day.  The doctors had told us they didn't think he would make it but we had still held on to hope knowing that with God anything was possible.

Jared died in the afternoon.  We left later for the long drive home.  We were all upset.  We cried.  We hugged. We just were.  It was late night early morning when we arrived home.  It had been six and a half weeks.  I left in winter and came back to spring.

We unloaded the car and came inside the house.  We all walked around in a daze.  We listened to music, prayed, and walked around.  I don't think any of us knew quite how to act.

I decided to go outside and walk around.  It was the middle of the night, quiet, dark except for a street light.  As I walked around, I noticed the signs of spring everywhere.  I continued to walk around and then I noticed it.  My favorite tree was blooming.  I've heard some call it a fringe tree.  When it blooms, it looks like soft white fringes hanging from the branches.  This time the tree was more beautiful than ever.  It was full and I couldn't help but admire the beauty.  As I looked at the tree God instilled hope in me.  Even though my son was no longer with me... life would go on.  There would still be beauty in the world.  New life. 

God can always be counted on to give us what we need when we need it. 

There were hard times in the days after Jared's death but God was and is an ever present help in times of trouble and He is the God of all comfort. 

May we always seek Him in our time of need.

Psalms 46:1  "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help  in trouble."

2 Corinthians 1:3-4  "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."

What If

The other day I had a thought... Funny. I had a thought.  I thought about what life would be like for others if I had not been or in other words if I did  not exist and never had.  Remember the movie "It's a Wonderful Life".  George Bailey, the main character, was able to see what the world would be like without him. After a while he wanted his life back even though he was in the middle of a bad situation. (And no... I'm not in a bad situation.  I just had a thought.)

What about you?  Do you ever have thoughts like that? Wonder what kind of impact your life makes on others. I can answer for you... YOU MAKE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON OTHERS.  We all in one way or another make an impact.  We can bring light or not.  We can uplift or not.  We can encourage or not. We can show mercy or not. We can forgive or not. The list goes on and on.

But one thing we must remember is that we are valuable, we are loved, we are special and we do make a difference.  God has placed talents and abilities in each of us that is in no other. 

In the movie, THE HELP, the maid (can't remember her name) told the little girl: "You is kind. You is smart. You is important."  Let me tell you the same... "YOU IS KIND. YOU IS SMART. YOU IS IMPORTANT."

Be the man or woman that God has called you to be.  No one else can fulfill the plan HE has for you.

Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Sermon Notes...

Yesterday I attended a local church where my friend was getting baptized.  It was great to witness what God is doing in her life. 

Thought I would share a few notes from the message given by Pastor Todd at Christian Life Church in Foley. His title was LIVE BIG.

Key Thought:  JESUS wants us to make a difference in our world!

We live big by being salt, being light and being available.

Our value is found in what JESUS says about us and not what others say.

SALT

Salt is valuable.

Salt preserves and makes us thirsty.

Salt melts things.  The love of God should melt cold hearts.

Salt heals. It speeds up the healing process.

LIGHT

Light provides life.

We don't run from the dark but to it bringing God's light with us.

We are to be change agents.

For a light to be effective there must be a light source.

If your life is not shining...
1)   You are hiding it
2)   Something is blowing it out... shame, pain, regret, etc.

AVAILABILITY

Rescued people rescue people.

EXTRA:

The church should be a catapult not a container; a battleship instead of a cruise ship.

God does the almighty thru the least likely.

We are not what people say we are.

We don't have to be embarrassed by the past.

We are not defined by a moment.

Satan has a way of making us think we are the only one.


"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be make salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your father in heaven." Matthew 5:13-16

Be encouraged knowing that YOU ARE LOVED!!!

Hello Again

WORDS to ENCOURAGE... will continue in the next few weeks.  I keep thinking about my blog but don't take the time to write.  I will try my best to be disciplined and to seek what God would have me share in the days ahead.

This will be short tonight but wanted to get started. 

First, remember... "we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)."

Second, "we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)."

Be encouraged.  Keep trusting.  God has your back. He will see you through.

He is always the brightest light in the darkest place.