SO, WHY IS IT SO HARD SOMETIMES?

"The Lord will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry!"

Isaiah 30: 19

Just when I was saying "Counseling is so hard today, maybe it is time to do something else, or nothing!"

The very next morning, here came the Daily Bread with this entire discussion.  Even when things change and THEY HAVE since 1982, it is still the very same issue no matter what you are doing in your life.

"Today people all around us are in need of someone to take action to help them.  It is a high privilege to become the hands of God, as we respond on His behalf to cries for help!"

You might notice that January and February get very grey, dry, and boring.  Some do and some don't.
I have to use a light-box every winter to be able to stay up and busy.  People make fun of me all the time about how I count the days of spring and when the time changes.  As of tomorrow 49 and 35.
So, for some of us things can get really funky and I was having one of those days.  For the next two days between devotions, and a sermon on restoring people and getting out there to help them, I have had to stop and breathe.  Breathing in the Lord, His Holy Spirit and grace brings on new feelings, and almost feels like you've had a vacation.  I love how God comes immediately to our aid, if we do cry out.  I don't mess around anymore with thinking about it, getting all down about things.  I have been know to say -"This sucks, do something"  "Jesus, help the girl!"  I swear by it, He comes, He shows up.

Read Isaiah 30 15: 22

Psalm 25: 4 and 5

Psalm 146: 1 and 2

Psalm 112: 7

GRAND SLAM!

It is especially "ah-Hah!" when you can hit it out of the park.  You see that ball going high and right down the center.  There are those times in life when pancakes with blueberries just so hit the spot you think Nervana has come.  Or Sandi Patti just sang Amazing Grace and you know that all is right with the world.  Some birthday parties go so well, you just know it was a perfect pitch.  A concert, a job you finished, a conversation with the IRS, and you just breathed.

Last night was one of those nights.  The minute I saw this poster, I knew!

How do you even marvel or capture the thoughts of being proud of someone and their complete dedication to a volunteerism. 

35 Years of giving his talent to the community - to the ACD Festival Group!  Their over the top, to the moon and back, appreciation!  Thank you ACD FEstival.

Thank you John for being such a giving person, God's gift to a community, to me. 

NEW THINGS ARE COMING!

Although I have been absent here for a week, it was for good reason.  The Souders household has had a 30 days stretch plus of:  No Electricity - New Water Faucets in Kitchen, Oral Surgery, The Flu, no water for 2 days, Septic issues for three days, a bacterial infection, and I could keep going.  However, since Tuesday we are all healthy here, all mechanical things are in place again, and 2015 officially begins tomorrow.    John presents the 2015 ACD Poster at the Dinner held at the ACD Museum for the Board Members and families.  So, then I will get back into gear here very soon.

HERE IS TO A NEW YEAR!

It is 2015 already!  John is down with the flu, its been raining all day, Jax has no energy and I just pray not to get this stuff from John.  He has had some sinus drainage, infections before, but this is the real stuff.  Flu.  Even the doctor said the flu shot doesn't work.  So he is on the program they have for him, Tamiflu, inhaler, z-pak, and lots of rest.  Every little twitch I get, I wonder.  And, so then I guess I will need to take my own advice.  God's Got it!  He knows our situation and it is what it is.

Another new year.  Where did this one go?  What are you thinking today?  What do wonder about for 2015?  What surprises will hit, what crisis will make you think you can't do this?  What losses will some of us incur?  What will happen as we try to make decisions about a new National leader over the next 18 months?

Psalm 40: (read it all, but in particular. . .)

1)  I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry.  2) He drew me up out of a horrible pit 9 a pit of tumult and destruction), out of the miry clay (froth and slime), and set my feet upon a rock, steadying my steps and establishing my goings.  3) And He has put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.  Many shall see and fear (revere and worship) and put their trust and confident reliance in the Lord.  4)  Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who makes the Lord his refuge and trust, and turns not to be proud or to followers of false gods.

Every where we turn in God's Word, we read about how He hears, He sees, He fights for us.  He answers our prayers.  He KNOWS!  So then, 2015 doesn't have to have "no never mind's"   Just live each day to His glory and the rest as they say, is History.

WHAT WAS MARY THINKING?

This picture was not on her mind.  She had no idea he would reach out to us all to save our lives.  Or if she did know, she didn't say.  Sitting there that Christmas night looking at her newborn son must have been not only a normal moment, but an overwhelming moment.  Naturally she would wonder how she was going to be as a mother to this young man names Jesus.  She would also wonder how she would do as a mother to the son of God.  Whoa! 

Was she thinking about God's Word that night?  Probably not, but here is a scripture that envelops the entire night for her.

Proverbs 16: 3

Roll your works upon the Lord (commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will and) so shall your plans be established and succeed.


So it goes for us today as well.  What do you do with this Son of God?  You just put it all in His hands, our Savior's hand and know He will do the rest. 

Merry Christmas everyone!  Remember why we celebrate this wonderful season.  God loved us so much He knew we needed a gracious Savior to come into our lives.  We needed forgiven and restored, redeemed and loved unconditionally.  Let's celebrate that through our love and get togethers this season.  We need to bring glory to God in all we do and say.

"JOSEPH. . .WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR YOU?"

Matthew 1: 18/25

19. . .Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.

"Have a seat Joseph, do you go by Joe or Joseph?" the reporter asked.

"I am always called Joseph!"

He was a very tall gentleman, with a very pleasant look about him.  I had been asked to interview him and I was intrigued, but not excited.  What would I want to know about him, I wanted to interview his son, but he was no where to be seen.

"Basically, Joseph, in trying to prepare for this interview I admit the only question I have for you is what was the first thing you thought when you heard your fiancee was pregnant?  And, most of all how did you take it that it wasn't your baby?  Must have been pretty daunting?"

"I was sleeping sir, I had a dream and this angel told me it was okay, God sent his Holy Spirit into Mary and she now carries His son.  I must admit it hit me pretty hard at first, I wanted to know how can this be.  .  ."

I interrupted. . ."It was just a dream how could you be sure?"

"Sure, I fought with my own thoughts and what everyone was saying around me, but I just knew, that I knew, that I knew!"

"So then what did you decide, how did you do that?" "I don't think I could have that much faith or trust?"

Joseph drew quiet for a moment - I was pretty sure I had got him at this point.

He raised his head from thought and said.  "I know my God, and if that was His plan for my life, all I had to do was be obedient.  You should see how Mary glows, I knew the minute I Looked into her face.  This was God ordained.  It was something I had no knowledge of how to work out.  So when I looked deeply into her eyes, I knew and it was time to live out God's plan.   We talked about what the pressures would be like.  No one would understand how I could not walk away.  God came in, He showed up and gave me the grace, strength, and wisdom to take Mary in and live out His plan for our lives even though we had the Savior of the world in our hands.   We had no idea just what all that meant.  How would it change our lives?  Were we to discipline him like a regular child, would he leave us and never come back?  We prayed together and then we knew, no matter what wild journey we would go on with this child, God would lead us.  And, isn't that what we all need to do.  Turn ourselves over to God for Him to lead us, to guide us, to be with us.  Jesus means Immanuel with us after all.  It was hard, don't get me wrong, but looking to her face during birth, looking into that Savior's face that night, I knew!  I felt a peace and quiet I would never know again.  And, then when the Kings, and Shepherds came and looked at this baby, I knew it was all going to be okay.  Jesus would make it okay.  We have but to look into His face.

Proverbs 3: 6

"In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight"

It all of a sudden became too clear.  Follow the star and you will go where ever He leads.  God's Got It!"

I put my pen down and closed the pad up.

Suddenly I wanted to know Joseph better.  What a woman God chose and what a man He chose to carry such a huge package for us to receive on Christmas Morning.  The most perfect package ever.  Bright, Colorful, Fulfilling, and perfect.

What is this reason for the season bringing you for Christmas and how will you share it in 2015?

Merry Christmas everyone!

A Reunion at WANE TV!

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