Author: patricia grace

Musings and Amusing

#EthanStrong

patricia grace

My friend’s sister became a new mom just a few days after Christmas.  She delivered a baby boy four months premature, while visiting in-laws out of state. Her and her husband are still with the husband’s family as of today.

There has been an outpouring of support for them by friends and family. I’ve been reading updates from the father on a private Facebook page created to share info about the little guy. The local news where they live even caught on to the story. [Edit: First Coast News removed or edited the story link so I removed the broken link].

The parents have gotten a lot of bad news this week and are having to make some difficult decisions about wee Ethan. Please pray for a miracle. Please pray for strength and wisdom for the parents.

Their ordeal has caused me to think about the complexity of life, the preciousness of life. Their trial reminds me of a short video about supporting life–no matter how small–no matter the location–no matter the circumstances. Please watch 180movie.com and comment below after viewing it. ****WARNING: the subject matter of the film touches on disturbing events such as the holocaust and may not be suitable for the little ones***

#EthanStrong

Thank you,

patricia grace

Musings and Amusing

Asking, Seeking, Knocking

patricia grace

Technology can be wonderful. Besides daily use of internet connectivity, one of the specific services I use several times a day is Google search. Searching for a new recipe? A Google search will quickly return tons of useful recipe links. Can’t remember the definition of “facetious”? Or the spelling of it? A Google search not only returns a definition, but the algorithms involved will probably figure out what you want even if your spelling is off.

I am thankful to God for technology.

I use Google search for more philosophical questions, too. For instance, today, I’ve been feeling hesitant about asking for help. My mom has been a great help to me, but she doesn’t live nearby. I’ve come to look to my church family for some help and advice, but I am still a little reluctant to plainly and clearly ask for help. And, when I do ask, I don’t always come right out and say what it is that I’m needing. It’s embarrassing and I tend to assume that people are wondering if I really need the help. [Wow, two sins in one–both my pride and not believing the best about my Christian brothers and sisters!! Lord, please forgive me].

So, today, unsure of the next step to take, I performed a search using the words “asking for help christian”.  I entered the words exactly that way. I add the word “christian” because as one who confesses Christ,  I am not interested in worldly ideas any longer. I want specifically Biblical help. My search returned the following article which I found to be a blessing. Hope it blesses you too.

Helping Others By Asking for Help – Nehemiah Notes

After reading the article, I started to think about how I could help someone right now, even with all of my own needs piling up and threatening to bury me. I almost immediately thought of a couple I know at church that are going through hard times.

Someone gave me a restaurant gift card recently that this couple might like. This small gift isn’t going to solve their problems, but I can most certainly part with this gift card and pass it along to them, hoping it might bring a little encouragement their way. I almost sent them a message on Facebook to ask if they would like it, but thought better of that. I’m just going to put it in the mail to them, not giving them the chance to refuse it. They can use it, sell it, give it away, or do whatever they like with it.

My heart feels a little lighter already.

Thank You, Lord. Thank You for the blessing of being able to give. Thank You for the one who thought to give me that gift in the first place. Forgive my complaining and self-pity.

How can you be a help to someone today? Ask the Lord to show you if you’re not sure. And, if you KNOW someone needs help, just give them help if you’re able–don’t even ask–just do it!

Blessings to you,

patricia grace

Musings and Amusing

Beans and Beef

patricia grace

Sat down to a dinner of two hamburger patties (no bread or rolls in the house) and some beans from a can. My first thought was how meager the meal was and how I was “suffering”. My next thought was to laugh at myself, realizing that my meal is a veritable king’s feast to much of the world’s population.

I also had some chocolate pudding, from those inexpensive box mixes, that I had made up a few days ago. Not exactly starving here.

The can of beans came from the church pantry months ago, along with the pudding box. I am thankful for these gifts and thankful that I have an abundance, for all that I seem to lack compared to my American neighbors, including my fellow church members. The verse that comes to mind is the one about being content with food and clothing:

Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it.  So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.

 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:6-10 NLT (Bold print added)

I’m selling household items to prepare for putting my house on the market. Once the house sells, Lord willing, I don’t have any other permanent living arrangement lined up. My mom and step-dad have, once again, graciously opened their home to me. A friend from church offered for me to stay with her, but she really doesn’t have adequate space (her heart was in the right place, though, and I am so grateful for someone offering practical help and not just throwing out a “Prayin’ for ya!”).

On the one hand, I feel at peace, knowing that our Lord, while serving on Earth in the flesh said “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” Luke 9:58 NLT  I feel comfort knowing that the Lord can be glorified in me, with or without a house.

On the other hand, I don’t want to be a burden to anyone. I know that we are called to help our brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as all of our neighbors. It necessarily follows that if one is the helper then someone, at some point in time, has to be on the receiving end of that help; however, I dread being that person on the receiving end for an extended period of time. I don’t want to be someone else’s trial or “test of faith”.

I will, as God allows, graciously and gratefully accept help. But, I still cry to the Lord to strengthen me to once again be in a position where I may be the helper.

Recent job applications and interviews have come to a dead end so far. A client recently went back into hospice care and told me today that she no longer needs my services. She appeared sad and told me that she would write me a recommendation if I thought that would help me to find another position. I was really touched by that offer. She is weak and frail and yet she is thinking about my welfare.

I don’t know what the next few days, weeks, and months will bring. No one does. The Lord may return soon. He may call me home soon. Circumstances may improve. Circumstances may grow leaner. Whatever the case, I am thankful (though not as much as I should be) that God is teaching me to lean on Him, trust in Him, depend upon Him. All other supports have proved false. I will keep trusting in the One Who is able to do all things.

 

patricia grace