The perfect Kleenex for our tears!

Good Morning Friends!   Saturday my husband and I went to Norman to get the car serviced….as long as we were there…..I figured just as well make a quick stop at Target, right??!!!  Kim opted to stay in the car while I headed in to check out Valentine shirts and bathroom rugs.  I was moseying through the bathroom things, when I heard a little boy crying desperately for his pacie.   I could hear his Mom tell him he couldn’t have it because it had fallen on the floor and was dirty…unfortunately the little boy found no comfort in his Mom’s logic…..he continued his desperate sobbing….I rounded the corner and found myself in the aisle where he was crying so sadly as Mom was busy looking at towels.  Poor little guy looked pathetic, his face was all red and wet with tears and his little nose was running terribly.  Breaks an old nana’s heart to see little ones so miserable…I continued to the next aisle but could still hear his cries, when he said, “get my boogies….mommy get my boogies.”  He was pleading…. Mom responded, “I can’t, I don’t have any Kleenex with me.”  Once again her logic did nothing to comfort the little guy….”gosh” I thought, “I have Kleenex”  so I headed my cart in their direction, said excuse me to Mom and handed her my Kleenex.  She was very grateful and in just a little bit, the desperate sobbing had ceased.  As I finished my shopping and headed to the car, I couldn’t stop thinking about that little guy’s desperate cries….Oh my goodness, how often do I think my situation is desperate….crying until my eyes are red and my boogies are running….sad, miserable, desperate, and pathetic…..Why do I so often suffer alone when our Heavenly Father is right there with HIS love…the perfect Kleenex to dry my tears….comfort me, guide me….HE sees my pain and suffering and hears my desperate cries…before I even come to HIM….The little boy was finally comforted when Mom wiped his tears and boogies…..thank goodness we do not have to cry as long as that little guy, if we  just stop and come to HIM, bringing HIM all our worries, sorrows, burdens….little ones, big ones….come to HIM and leave them with HIM.  He will dry your tears.  Father, forgive us when we don’t come to You first!  Thank you for taking our worries and drying our tears….

 

…..The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; He will remove the disgrace of His people from all the earth….Isaiah 25:8.  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….2 Corinthians 1: 3-4.  The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles.  The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed spirit.  A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.  Psalm 3417-19.  

Love you all!

He who searches our hearts...

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully HIS, Thursday!!!  A dear friend recently received some horrible news….life altering……the news comes after years of struggling with a certain issue, many worries, stress, feelings of hopelessness for several years, hoping and praying for a positive outcome.  My heart has ached for her, watching her struggle, always praying with and for her, that she be guided by and find her strength through the love of our Heavenly Father.  And now, the devastating news; when she told me, I had no words….no words of comfort, strength, encouragement, only tears…..My heart aching for her pain, I couldn’t imagine how she would go on…..Oh, I knew that she was not alone….Our Father never leaves us alone, but I had no words for HIM either….my heart aching my mind drowning in worry….no words, no thoughts to send to HIM….how will I help my friend?  She needs support…..I need to pray, but nothing comes…..I knew had to do something, so I opened my bible……BAM!!!  A knock to my head…….Romans 8:26-27, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.  And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.”  Oh Father, ahh…..it is YOU that searches our hearts….you know all about my dear friend’s problems….She is YOUR child…me too….YOU are our FATHER…..”And we know that in all things God (our FATHER) works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28.  Dear, sweet friend…not to worry, He’s got this……He’s working…..it’s gonna be GOOD…..”If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him graciously give s all things?”  Romans 8:31-32.  Thank you Father for searching our hearts…..for hearing our cries…..for working even though we don’t see You….for taking care of everything. 

 

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:38-39. 

Love you all!

He knows what's best for his children: Psalm 55:22

Good Morning Friends!  Wonderfully wrapped in His loving arms Wednesday!!!!  I had not been home very long last night when I got a phone call.  Caller ID said Kathyrn, but it was actually Katy and I could tell by her voice she was very upset!  When I realized it was Katy and she was upset, I said in my most sympathetic Nana voice, “Hi Katy, what’s the matter?”  She immediately began telling me that mommy wouldn’t bring her over to my house, the more she talked the more she began to cry.  Soon, she was full- on sobbing!!!!  She wanted to come to my house and that’s all there was to it….My heart was broken, I just couldn’t stand to hear her so unhappy….I could hear Mommy in the background, so I asked her why she couldn’t come over.  Mommy said, “I told her we are not going over to Nana’s tonight.”  She went on to tell me that Katy doesn’t always have to get what she wants…..now of course I know that’s true, but it took every ounce of self-control that I could muster to not go over and get her!  My heart was broken listening to her deep, painful sobs…..I wanted her to get what she wanted, but I knew that is not always the best for her……as I said goodbye, told her I loved her, and would see her soon, a sweet, calming peace came over me.  Oh my….my oh my…..if my heart feels broken because Katy is sad and what she wants is not best for her…..can you even imagine how our Heavenly Father feels  when we call HIM sobbing…..we really think we know what’s best for us, but……God in His infinite wisdom….knows….and will provide….but more than that…..He longs to comfort us…..He feels our pain and yearns to dry our tears……His arms are open, His shoulders strong…..He will embrace and comfort us.  Thank you Father…..for hearing our sobs, drying our tears….loving us beyond all human understanding.

 

For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water.  And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.  Revelation 7:17.  Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me, I took courage.  Ezra 7:28. The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”  Deuteronomy 31:8.  Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.  He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.  Psalm 126:5-6.  The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.  Psalm 29:11. Pay attention to My wisdom, listen well to My words of insight, that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge.  Proverbs 5:1-2.  Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall. Psalm 55:22. I wait for you, O Lord; You will answer, O Lord my God.  Psalm 38:15.

Love you all!

April 17, 2013

Good Morning Friends!  Wonderfully wrapped in His loving arms, Wednesday!  Yesterday afternoon Kim and I took Hailey, Clark, and Tucker to the airport in Dallas…..from Dallas to Fairbanks, AK…..the first leg of a new adventure in their lives…..moving back to Fairbanks.  The last couple of months, knowing that they were leaving have been quite difficult for Papa and I.  Of course, we love them so very much, and always want what’s best for them, but I must admit my first reaction was more selfish than loving.  Yes, at first I even questioned our Heavenly Father…asking Him why He would bring them to Lula to live, bless us with Tucker and then BAM!  Take them away……Alaska is a long ways from Lula!  We listened to their reasons and their plans, teased them endlessly about staying and then helped them pack up, and finally yesterday took them to the airport with lots of great big bags!  It took all of us to get everything checked in, my job…..taking care of Tucker!  Finally the moment had come, we had to say goodbye.  I found someone to take our picture, lots of hugs and kisses…..tears…..and the final goodbye.  Kim and I walked silently to the car, tears streaming down our faces wondering how long it would be till we see our precious Hansen family again.  We got in the car and headed out of the airport towards home, silent at first and then Kim broke the silence….”Well, at least they got to have the country experience for a while.  They have really grown and matured.”  I agreed….and then….peace….do I feel peace?  I asked myself…..I think I do…..but I just put my first-born granddaughter, her sweet husband, our grandson, Clark and our first great-grandson on an airplane to Alaska…to live.  How can I feel peace?  I am devastated, broken hearted, sad…..peace…..there can’t be any room for peace in my heart…Oh wait….”OK Father…..I feel you…..I hear you…..Yes, forgive me….I know You supply peace beyond human understanding…yes that’s what I am feeling!  I just have to let You in don’t I?  But Father they will be so far away and I worry about them…..Oh Ok, OK…..yes…..I do know that You are with them…they love you and You will guide and protect them…..Thank you Father…..Thank you Father for the blessing of having Hailey, Clark, and Tucker in Lula with us for almost 3 years.  Gosh we are so blessed!  Father thank you for finding me and filling me with Your peace when I am wallowing in self-pity.  Forgive me.

The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:7.  The God of peace will be with you.  Philippians 4:9.  The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.  Psalm 29:11.  Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  John 14:27.  To everything there is a season, and a purpose to everything under heaven.  Ecclesiastes 3:1.

Love you all!