One Room at a Time (Sweet Jesus)

My plan was to start in January.

Well, January has come and will be gone in a couple of days.

Have I started yet?

That would be a big fat NO.

~

Every room in our house needs some attention in one way or another.

We replaced the floors less than a year ago and closets were cleaned out...

...and remember that bedroom redo from last spring?



But that is just a drop in the bucket, my friends.

And since we all are aware of how the months fly by,

the spring will be here before I blink twice.

There is so much to do before our home is market-ready.

~

I get overwhelmed thinking about all I have to do as a whole...

...sorting, purging and getting rid of the organized (organized?) clutter.

So I have decided I need to do this one room at a time.

And by that I mean not only the de-cluttering, etc., but repairing nail holes,

touching up walls and painting the new primed doors and woodwork, etc., etc.
One. Room. At. A. Time.
~

 So the other day I was when I was feeling particularly lazy and disinterested,

That still, small voice in my head reminded me, "Just do one room at a time, Debby."

And then that old gospel song from the 70's infiltrated my brain...

"One day at a time, sweet Jesus, that's all I'm asking from you,

Just give me the strength to do everyday what I have to do...."

You probably remember how the rest of the song goes.
~
Once the song started playing in my head, I couldn't make it stop
so I thought I'd take advantage of the opportunity and take it a step further.
I decided to take a few creative liberties with the song...no offense to anyone...
...and I'm not trying to make fun of this beautiful song or it's message.
So here it is...

One room at a time, dear Debby, that's all that you have to do,
You'll muster the strength to do everything that you need to do.
January's near gone, dear Debby and spring will be here real soon.
So get off your tail, let progress prevail,
One room at a time.

I really do need Jesus to help me with this.
I'm feeling a little emotional these days and unmotivated to get my act together...
...dragging my feet, I guess you could say.
I'm thinking that subconsciously I'm still in a bit of denial when it's all said and done.
Twenty-five plus years is a long time...lots of memories under this roof.


Remember how excited I was when I finally got my front porch?





Don't get me wrong...I am getting excited about our move to Tennessee.
But a part of me is also a little ambivalent...having a hard time letting go.
And a maybe just a tad apprehensive...
...but I've just got to suck it up and get motivated, y'all!
~

"Yesterday's gone, sweet Jesus and tomorrow may never be mine.
Lord help me today, show me the way,

one day (and one room) at a time."

 

Two Funerals

(Note: Please don't let the title discourage you.)
~
Two funerals in two days, two men generations apart in age...

 Michael had just turned 39 in June and Lonnie would have been 100 on December 31.

The way the two of them lived their lives couldn't have been more different.

I'll begin with Michael, who was good friend of our son.

He was two years ahead of Aaron in school but they had much in common,

including the love for anything with wheels, working on anything with wheels,

driving (fast) anything with wheels, and sadly, eventually falling into the clutches of alcoholism.

I met Michael for the first time when he came to our clinic for physical therapy.

His body had become ravaged from years of heavy drinking after the death of his father.

It was during that time that I also became acquainted with his mother,
a sweet sister-in-the-Lord who loved her son so very much.

Long story short, Michael's teenage son also became a patient over the last few years,

along with another family member so the therapist and I became quite close to the family.

(When you find a great physical therapist, word gets around :)
Michael reminded me of Aaron in so many ways.
His mother and I bonded right away over the similarities in our sons.

We prayed for each other...and for each others' boys.

Last Thursday, Aaron saw it on Facebook and called me.

After being in and out of hospitals the past few years, Michael had lost his battle.

I had just seen his mom several weeks earlier and she told me how much better he was doing,
both physically and spiritually and that he had been sober for a good while.

Now, on to Lonnie...

...a precious soul that my family had been blessed to know for nearly 24 years.

Just a few short weeks ago, Lonnie drove himself to church for the last time.
You heard me right...he drove himself to church...at 99 years young.
Scary, you might think but I'll tell you, he was probably a better driver than most younger folks.
As a widower, he lived alone and always looked like a million bucks...
regularly sporting a coat and tie, white hair perfectly combed, impeccable posture,
and walked with confidence in every step he took.
No one would ever guess the man's age if they didn't know him.
Lonnie had lived his life for the Lord and had been His faithful servant for over 70 years.

Many of you may have a "Lonnie" in your church, no doubt.

He was the kind of man who seemed to have a direct line to God,

one who was so filled with the fruits of the spirit that when you were in his presence,

it seemed like the world was a brighter place.

The Lord must have given him the gift of knowing who needed special prayer.

 Lonnie always had a special place in his heart for our Aaron, knowing a bit about his struggles.

Several months ago, during the time Aaron was at the Potter's Wheel, 

Lonnie (who always sat behind us at church) was asking about him, like he had often done.

He had no knowledge of his current situation at that time but then again, somehow he knew.

Here's what he said:

"The Lord woke me up in the middle of the night with Aaron on my mind. Now I don't know why, but I knew I needed to pray for him so I did...the Lord knows why and that's all that matters."

 ~

Fast forward several months...

 ...that certain soul in need which Lonnie was awakened to pray for was sitting on the pew,

 right in front of him and has been now for several months...
...that is until a couple of weeks ago when Lonnie suffered a heart attack.
His 99 year old ticker was worn out and just couldn't handle any more.
Last Friday, Lonnie stepped over into Glory to meet his Jesus.
What an extraordinary life!

Two funerals home-going celebrations in two days.
At Michael's service, we were made aware in no uncertain terms that for the past several months,
he had been getting reacquainted with Jesus...
...regularly meeting with his pastor, attending Bible study and praying.
His pastor spoke highly of him and he was well loved by many,
and I am guessing here,  but it looked like about 400-450 in attendance at his service.
There was not a doubt in the minds of anyone that he was in the arms of Jesus, in perfect health.
As Aaron and I sat there, I know he must have been thinking what I was thinking...
...that this service could have just as easily been for him.

And as for Lonnie, his life spoke for itself...there was never even a question.
We will dearly miss the echoes of his bold "Amens" and "Praise the Lords" during our services.
~
After getting the news of these two men passing away just a day apart,
I couldn't help but think about their contrasting lives.
Nothing about the two of them was like the other, except for one thing...
...they both had a friend in Jesus.
One had known him most of his life and the other had just recently met him.

Two men, six decades apart in age, living their lives on opposite ends of the spectrum.
Both, rejoicing in heaven today.

Only by grace.

Sharing at 
Spiritual Sundays

Unmerited Favor

Unmerited favor.

They are two words that seem to cause some confusion.

Is it grace or is it mercy?

After doing some reading, I realized that these two little words could start a theological debate. Shows how much I know...and that's not what this post is about. 

But I will share these few sentences from the article because I think it explains my post perfectly.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Although they are similar expressions of his favor and love, they possess a clear distinction. 
When we experience God's grace, we receive favor that we do not deserve. 
When we experience God's mercy, we are spared punishment that we do deserve.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Our family was a witness to such "unmerited favor" just yesterday.

Anyone who follows my blog, no doubt has read about our son's struggle with alcohol.

You may have read about his brokenness, his road to recovery and his victories.

His life is being transformed, praise God, and I will not take one day of his sobriety for granted.

But as wonderful as all of this has been and still is,

we all knew the time would soon be coming to face the music.

The laws that were broken...that finally broke him...had to be dealt with in court.

So it has been a tense week in a couple of Ray households this week.

He was facing a minimum of 120 days in the county jail,
a place not fit for even the lowest of the low.
Prison would have been an improvement.

~

To say the least, the past nine months of Aaron's life have been quite different.

He has a daily walk with the Lord now and that has made all the difference in his life.

The time he spent at the Potter's Wheel has changed him into a new man,

 one I barely recognize at times...but I love it!

Yesterday, Aaron, accompanied by me and his dad, his fiance' Michelle, 

our pastor and five other friends (his and ours) met before court in the attorney's office.

Mr. Attorney took statements from each of us about our relationship with Aaron 

and told us that the judge (depending on who it was) may allow us to speak on his behalf. 

He also told us that never in his entire career, had he seen a client who had been so transformed

after going into a drug/alcohol treatment program.

He also cautioned us that the judge may not consider the time he spent there

towards any time served because it wasn't state funded.

He was preparing us for the worst case scenario.

Just sitting in the court room is enough to break your heart.

It's a revolving door, it seems...sad to see so many young people in trouble with the law.

They finally called out Aaron's name and it was time.

His line of supporters filled the first row of benches on both sides.

Mr. Attorney said what he said, Ms. Judge said what she said and then it was our turn.

One by one we stood and gave testimony to the goodness of God, 

about prayers being answered and the changes that we had all witnessed in his life.

Emotions were running strong and tears filled the eyes of nearly all of us. 

When asked if he would like to address the court, Aaron said he would.

He then turned and spoke first to each of us, thanking us for supporting him, tears streaming.

He then directed his comments to the others left in the court room.
(this is where it really gets good)

"If any of y'all out there have addictions with drugs and alcohol, 

you need to get Jesus in your life and let Him help you take care of it!"

~

The sentence was then pronounced...no jail time, but extended probation and monitoring,

as Ms. Judge and Ms. Assistant D.A. wiped a tear or two as well.

We had church right there in the courthouse!

Did he deserve more punishment? Yes...

...that's why it's called unmerited favor.

Grace? Yes.

Mercy? Absolutely.

Wonderful? Without a doubt.

... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus...    Romans 3:23-24

~
I want to thank everyone who has been praying for my boy.

I appreciate your continued prayers for him as he meets each new day.
Much love to all of you!

Sharing at:
Spiritual Sundays

100 Days (and counting)

One. Hundred. Days.

When you compare it to a lifetime, it really isn't long at all.

Just a little over three months is a relatively short period of time for most of us, I'd say.
 

When you consider it is only 2400 hours, 144000 minutes and the seconds as they tick away...

...it's actually just a minute increment of time in the grand scheme of things.

However, when the 100 days (and counting) are relating to one's sobriety,
well...that's a different story entirely.

This past weekend we were reminded of that by our first born.
You should have heard how proud he was to be able to say those words!
One hundred days of sober living is quite an accomplishment,
especially when you can't remember how long it's been since you could make that statement.
~
He is at the half-way point in his program and learning so many good things.

He's learning how to love and forgive himself.

He's learning how to give and receive God's mercy and grace.

He's learning how to draw strength from Jesus to get him through...one day at a time.

He's learning how to do life a whole new way.

God is doing His thing and Aaron is doing his.
Thank you for your prayers, my friends.

Love,


Sharing at.
Roses of Inspiration

Broken

It isn't really worth much.

It's just a cheap ceramic mug purchased from Goodwill, made in China.
I look forward to getting it out and drinking from it every fall.
I think it's pretty and I really like the design.
And it holds a lot of of coffee! :)
~
One day a couple of weeks ago, I found it broken in my dishwasher.

I was going to throw it away...but then...



...super glue to the rescue!

It looks as good as new, right?
But if you look closely, you can see the cracks where it was mended.



Even after gluing it back together, I'm kind of afraid to use it now.
Funny thing is, it's probably stronger now than it was prior to the gluing.
 It actually does seem sturdy enough...
...but I have this image in my head of putting it to my lips...
...full of hot coffee...
...and the handle letting go.
~
I still consider it to be pretty fragile.
~
So what happens when people get broken?
Where is the super glue for them?
Sometimes they are broken beyond repair...or so it seems.
~
I am experiencing brokenness this week.
It's actually not me, quite so much...
...I know where to find the Super Glue that has put me back together more than once.
He goes by the name of Jesus.
~
Yesterday, Jim and I drove our oldest to a long-term Christ-based drug/alcohol treatment center.
He has been fighting his addiction to alcohol for half his life.
We pray that the next 8 months will help undo some of what the last 18 years have done...
to his mind...
to his spirit...
to his body...
to his very soul.

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
~Psalm 34:18

Right now, he seems broken beyond repair.
Oh...but I know better!
He has a long road ahead to becoming whole and he will always have some cracks...
...cracks that will allow the addiction to seep back in... if he doesn't apply the glue.
The Super Glue.
And on a regular basis.
~
As with the broken coffee mug, it will be hard to trust that he can hold together...
...and to be able to contain everything that his life hands him...
...when the stresses of the day-to-day press down on him...
...those days when when he faces disappointments.
And those days will come.
He will be fragile for a long time, possibly for the rest of his life.
~
I pondered deeply whether or not to share this on my blog.
I would never want to exploit him or his issue in any way, at any cost.
But I have found through this network of blogging sisters,
I feel comfortable enough, knowing that you who are believers, will pray for him.
 ~
Prayer is a powerful thing, my friends.
 Thank you in advance for your prayers for Aaron.

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 
~Colossians 1:17 

Sharing at:
Spiritual Sundays

Looking Back: Keeping it in Perspective

When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this:
 God has made the one as well as the other. 
Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.
Ecclesiastes 7:14

~

This was the view I saw in my rear-view mirror on the way home from church Wednesday evening.
I wouldn't have been able to enjoy it as much if I'd have been driving towards it...
...as it would have either been hidden behind the visor or it would have blinded me.

So I did what any good blogger would do.

I reached in my purse and quickly grabbed my trusty point-n-shoot.

"Have point-n-shoot, will travel"...

...that has been my motto for the past two years :)

So when I got home, I uploaded it to my facebook page with these words...

"We all need to let go of the past but sometimes the best view is behind us" smile emoticon

~
As what often happens, the photo got me to thinking about my life.

It seems the older I get, the more I miss the good ol' days and what life used to be like.

Or sometimes even about what it could have been like.

Now, just so you know, I don't dwell in the past as part of my normal routine...

...but I think if we are 100% honest with ourselves, we all do this to some degree.

What would my life be like if this (whatever) had or hadn't happened?...

...what would my marriage be like if I would have done (or not done) this or that?

...or maybe what could have I done to prevent such and such?

~
A while ago I wrote the post If only..., where we visited a place called The City of Regret.

Now, please don't get me wrong...I don't live there by any means,

but I still can stop by there for a visit every now and then...
...more often than I prefer, to be perfectly honest.

I do consider myself to be a positive, joyful person for the most part,

but this is how the enemy works in our lives my life at times...

...by bringing back memories of those things from my past that I'm not so proud of.

Or maybe bringing to mind a time of struggle...

...a time of darkness.

Maybe it's a memory from long ago about some wrong decisions that were made,

resulting in situations and circumstances that you I thought were long forgotten.

I think you know where I'm coming from.
~

But on the other hand, looking back also can be good thing.

I mean, that's what many of our memories consist of...the good times.

Most of us have been blessed to have had sweet memories of growing up in a loving home,

or maybe it's when we think back to when we were first married and the births of our children...
 ...or maybe that first moment when we became a grandparent.
Such sweet memories!
~
Our lives are made up of a broad spectrum of events,
and sometimes it can be hard to keep these events in the proper perspective.
As Christians, we serve a Lord who is abundant in grace and mercy.
And I so love it when the Holy Spirit brings this to mind when I get off on the wrong path!
Whether we have lived a life with many or few regrets,
whether we have gone through many trials or maybe not so many,
it is what He has in store for us that we are to look forward to with joy!
~
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. 
But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14

So as I think about looking back at this lovely reflection of the sunset in my mirror,
 it is a reminder to me of who I am and where I came from.
It is a reminder to me of those beautiful, happy memories from days gone by.
But more importantly, it reminds me of how God never leaves my side.
Even Especially when the enemy tries to torment by using little reminders of those times...
 ...times when things weren't so good.

And how silly would I be to think that those days are over?!

He was and always will be getting me through them, moment by moment...
...holding me, His amazing grace flowing down all the while...
...regardless if the glorious sunset is before me or in my rear-view mirror :)
~
And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
John 1:16


I'm sharing here:

Spiritual Sundays
Sunday Stillness
Roses of Inspiration
Grace at Home

Every hour I need You...

There's a song that is playing in my head.

It's been there since last Sunday morning when I first sang it with our worship team.

The message couldn't be simpler....or more powerful.

Click on the video below if you'd like to hear it...

...or maybe even sing along.

"Lord, I Need You"

~Chris Tomlin

Lord, I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You're the One that guides my heart

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

Where sin runs deep Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are, Lord, I am free
Holiness is Christ in me

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

Teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus, You're my hope and stay

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

You're my one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

**********

I can't think of a song I'd rather have stuck in my head.

I want this to be my theme song.

 Because I never want to stop needing my Jesus...

...every day, every hour, every minute, every second.

Blessings,

Sharing here:

Spiritual Sundays
How Sweet the Sound
Sharing His Beauty

If only...

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: 

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13-14

Sometimes I feel like it's the story of my life..."oh, if only I would have done this...or that...or maybe I shouldn't have done either one! Or maybe it was a missed opportunity to encourage someone...or take back an ill thought out sentence. We all have these moments in our lives when we miss the mark. Unfortunately, I have more than I would like to admit. I apologize up front for the length of this post...and the lack of pretty pictures. I understand if you decide not to stay with me :)

I admire Joyce Meyer and have watched her regularly since I discovered her in the early 90's. I don't mind telling you that I am quite skeptical of most TV preachers and with the exception of a few, I just don't watch them much. I do pray for discernment when I see someone I connect with because I do feel the Lord has put a choice few in place for His purpose. I happen to believe Joyce is one of them. Anyone who watches her knows her story...about how she was sexually abused by her alcoholic father for years and how she has used this experience to minister to others. Anyway, this post is not about putting a plug in for her show...just a long winded intro to something I wanted to share that I heard on her show this morning.

The message was about living our lives in regret and how damaging it can be to our spiritual growth and relationships with others. She re-told the terribly sad story about her brother who had been addicted to drugs and alcohol for years and how he temporarily...for about 4 years...turned his life around while she and her husband had helped him. After being in rehab, he had given his life to the Lord. They had taken him in, given him a job at the ministry and he was even traveling and giving his testimony about what God had done in his life. After those 4 years or so, it was decided that he would be on his own and that's when things turned around again. Long story short, he went back to his old ways, was out of touch for several years and then was discovered just over a year ago...dead...in an abandoned building. She made the point that after his 50-some years of life, all of his personal effects...what remained of his life...fit into an 8 1/2 x 11 manila envelope. What a waste. He lived his life in regret and always blamed others for his failures. She ended the program by reading this story, written by an unknown author. I found it online and am sharing it with you.

********************************************

A Trip to Regret City

I had not really planned on taking a trip this time of year, and yet I found myself packing rather hurriedly. This trip was going to be unpleasant and I knew in advance that no real good would come of it. I'm talking about my annual "Guilt Trip." 

I got tickets to fly there on Wish I Had airlines. It was an extremely short flight. I got my baggage, which I could not check. I chose to carry it myself all the way. It was weighted down with a thousand memories of what might have been. 

No one greeted me as I entered the terminal to the Regret City International Airport. I say international because people from all over the world come to this dismal town. 

As I checked into the Last Resort Hotel, I noticed that they would be hosting the year's most important event, the Annual Pity Party. I wasn't going to miss that great social occasion. Many of the towns leading citizens would be there. 

First, there would be the Done family, you know, Should Have, Would Have and Could Have. Then came the I Had family. You probably know ol' Wish and his clan. Of course, the Opportunities would be present, Missed and Lost. The biggest family would be the Yesterdays. There are far too many of them to count, but each one would have a very sad story to share. Then Shattered Dreams would surely make an appearance. And It's Their Fault would regale us with stories (excuses) about how things had failed in his life, and each story would be loudly applauded by Don't Blame Me and I Couldn't Help It. 

Well, to make a long story short, I went to this depressing party knowing that there would be no real benefit in doing so. And, as usual, I became very depressed. But as I thought about all of the stories of failures brought back from the past, it occurred to me that all of this trip and subsequent "pity party" could be cancelled by ME! 

I started to truly realize that I did not have to be there. I didn't have to be depressed. One thing kept going through my mind, I CAN'T CHANGE YESTERDAY, BUT I DO HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE TODAY A WONDERFUL DAY. I can be happy, joyous, fulfilled, encouraged, as well as encouraging. 

Knowing this, I left the City of Regret immediately and left no forwarding address. Am I sorry for mistakes I've made in the past? YES! But there is no physical way to undo them. So, if you're planning a trip back to the City of Regret, please cancel all your reservations now. 

Instead, take a trip to a place called Starting Again. I liked it so much that I have now taken up permanent residence there. My neighbors, the I Forgive Myselfs and the New Starts are so very helpful. 

By the way, you don't have to carry around heavy baggage, because the load is lifted from your shoulders upon arrival. God bless you in finding this great town. 

If you can find it -- it's in your own heart -- please look me up. I live on I Can Do It Street. 

~ Author Unknown ~ 

*********************************************************

I don't know if you visit here as often as I do but I will just tell you...
...I am tired of that place! 

With God's help, I'm going to take the author's advice and book my flight to Starting Again! 

Wanna join me?

Debby

sharing here:

http://jannolson.blogspot.com/2014/02/share-your-cup-thursday-90.html
http://www.impartinggrace.com/2014/02/grace-at-home-no-92.html