God is Bigger Than the Boogie Man!

"Grandma, leave the light on, I’m scared!" It wasn’t the first time Gavin had asked me to leave the hall light on while he was staying at my house in what I refer to as the “grandkids room”. Full of cars, dolls, tea sets, and a trundle bed, I thought I had provided everything to make this 3 year old comfortable. I asked him if he would like me to read to him, I thought it might help soothe his little heart. I rummaged through the bookshelf and found “God is Bigger than the Boogey Man” a really cute Veggie Tales story. I read it through it and smiles replaced his tears. In the middle of the story, the book's character Junior remembers a song that helped him when he was afraid so he sings it::

“Cuz God is Bigger than the Boogie Man!

He’s Bigger than Godzilla,

Or the monsters on TV!

Oh, God is Bigger than the Boogie Man!

And He’s Watchin Out for You and Me!

After I sang the song in the book and finished reading the rest of the story, I left the light on and it wasn’t long before Gavin was fast asleep.

A couple of weeks ago, I found my heart filled with fear. Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Nuclear Meltdown, Radiation Threats…does it get any scarier than that? I was overwhelmed with the destruction and the pain of others. The news of the situation was constant and there didn’t seem to be any relief or solution. Threats of the huge nuclear reactor melting down grabbed the airwaves and spurting deadly radiation into the atmosphere and the situation remains serious to this day.

As my heart was stirring with fear, a tune came to my mind and I started singing it to myself, “God is Bigger than the Boggey Man...”. I then pictured in my mind the ominous nuclear reactor that I had seen on TV that no man couldn’t control, like a huge Boogie Man….but God was greater!

“Cuz God is Bigger than the Boogie Man!

He’s Bigger than Godzilla,

Or the monsters on TV!

Oh, God is Bigger than the Boogie Man!

And He’s Watchin Out for You and Me!

A smile came over me, peace in my heart replaced anxiety, and sweet sleep brought me to the next day. What Boogie Man is in your life right now?...sing along with me.

Shall We Dance?

To Tara and Bubba-

Some time ago, my husband and I suddenly lost an elderly friend who had been married for over 50 years. It started us thinking about what our life would be like without each other. We had some heartfelt discussions as we expressed how difficult our life would be without each other and what a lonely road we would have to travel.

I thought about all the many memories we have together that only he and I have experienced. And if I were alone, there would be no one to reminisce those unique memories.

It wasn't long after that heartfelt discussion that I saw a movie which contained a scene which exactly expressed my thoughts. The scene is from the movie “Shall We Dance” with Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon. The scene shows the character Beverly Clark, played by Susan Sarandon, is asked why she thinks people get married. Her answer brings a new awareness of the meaning it is to have a life partner.

"Why do people get married?

...because we need a witness to our lives. There’s a billion people on the planet you know. What does any one life really mean?

But in a marriage—you are promising to care about EVERYTHING-

The good things

The bad things

The terrible things

The mundane things

…All of it

All the time…everyday. You are saying, your life will not go un-noticed, because I will notice it.  Your life will not go unwitnessed—because I WILL BE YOUR WITNESS”.

Love is A Verb

February 27, 1965

It has been many years since I walked down the aisle with my husband, in fact, we just celebrated our 46 year anniversary! How do you assess all those years in a few words?...an impossible task!

We realize we are a rarity in this day and age and we often feel the pressure to be an example to younger couples. Last year we went to a Couples Retreat and spent the weekend with all younger couples. Even the Retreat's Speaker asked us "why are you here"? He assumed that we must hold the secret for an enduring marriage and that we didn't need any further instruction. A few couples at the Couple's Retreat approached us and asked us our "secret", I wish I had been more prepared with an answer.

But since last year, I've been doing some deeper thinking on how I would answer these young couples. God's Grace has been the cement that has held us together, many times when we wanted to pull apart. His Grace is expressed as we are learning to use Love as a Verb. Below is a wonderful portion of a devotional I read from Jill Savage's Online Devotional, "Love is a Verb". If I could share the secret of the endurance of  marriage, and for that matter, any relationship, I would share it with Jill's words below.

Immature love is a noun. A thing we long for. A feeling. An expectation of what someone will do for us.
Mature love is verb. An action we take. A decision. A choice to do something for someone else.

• Love as a noun feels despair when you no longer feel “in love” with the person you are married to. Love as a verb understands the ebb and flow of feelings. It focuses more on expressing love than feeling love.
• Love as a noun demands its own way. Love as a verb works to understand differences and is open to new ways of doing things.
• Love as a noun finds faults in others. Love as a verb gives grace and forgiveness.
• Love as a noun expects others to serve them. Love as a verb serves freely.
• Love as a noun expects to always feel warm and fuzzy and “in love.” Love as a verb realizes that often we have to choose to love even when we don’t feel like it.

http://jillsavage.com/

Avalon-Orphans of God

This amazing, powerful song was played before my Celebrate Recovery class last Monday...It spoke volumes to me....I felt the Lord's loving arms enfold me with such comfort. I hope and pray that this song will comfort anyone who is in need of being comforted...God is the Great Comforter!

Celebrate Recovery - 30 Days

Big Sis, last night I attended my 4th week of Celebrate Recovery and received my 30 day Recovery Chip for attendance. The weather out here in Texas had turned bitterly cold and I had almost talked myself out of going to the meeting like I always do every Monday night but 15 minutes before the class started, I was on my way there. My biggest struggle is with depression, anxiety and fear due to multiple losses so I really have to push myself and just go and do it afraid... As the meeting began with prayer, we were treated to live music this time. I could really sense the presence of God there as we all sang praise and surrender songs to the Lord to help us heal. If I had stayed home I would have greatly missed an opportunity to witness yet another moving, inspirational testimony of brokenness which led to victory by one of the leaders who gave her testimony back in 2008. She felt compelled to tell her story again which gave all the newcomers a real sense of hope. As she courageously and bravely bore her soul, there was not a dry eye in the audience. She ended her testimony by saying that she will always be a work in progress and expressed how truly blessed she is to be loved and accepted by her Celebrate Recovery family.

We were then dismissed and asked to attend our individual meetings. I am in a group called Hurts, Hang-ups and Habits. We are seated in a circular formation and we first begin with prayer. We introduce ourselves, express that we are Great Believers in Jesus Christ and then briefly state why we are there. We go around the room again, one by one to discuss what we are feeling. Some of the women had victories to share. Others discussed how there week had been going.