Author Archives: therealmimi

TGYWTT

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This morning I realized that I forgot Thankful Thursday again!  So instead of TGIF, today I say TGYWTT:  Thank God Yesterday Was Thankful Thursday.

This time I want to thank God for the things I usually think of as negative or unwanted in my life.  I know He uses everything to help us grow, to strengthen us, to keep us humble, to help us remain desperate for Him.  Thanking God even for the awful things you encounter is a way of saying “I trust You, God, and still believe that you’re good.  I believe what you said about causing all things to work together for good.” (Romans 8:28)  Like the Psalmist said in chapter 118, “Thank God because he’s good, because his love never quits.” (The Msg)  I thank God because He’s good and that never changes….so I can always be thankful.

As a follower of Jesus I say that I’m content whatever comes my way because my life belongs to Him and I trust Him.  Can I take it a step further and actually be thankful for the hard stuff that comes my way?  Sometimes I can.  I try to.  I guess that’s what the song means that says “we bring a sacrifice of praise.”  Being thankful can actually feel like sacrifice.   We may not feel thankful but we choose to be.  So here goes… Continue reading →

Touch

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Never underestimate the power of a touch, of holding a hand, of a really good hug.

We went to see my grandmother today.  She’s 96 1/2 and making the most of her days.  Today she advised us to try writing with our left hands so that if we ever lost the use of our right hands we’d be prepared.  (She has lost the use of her right hand due to a stroke)   She also told us her thinker wasn’t fast enough as she was having trouble getting the words she wanted to use to surface when she talked with us.  She grinned a lot as we sat on the front porch of her nursing home, enjoying the autumn sunshine and breeze.  She always asks us what we’ve been doing and didn’t disappoint today.  The girls shared about school, boyfriends, hobbies, etc.  Grandma always asks for them to bring her pictures they’ve taken or drawn, come play music for her, share and leave bits of themselves with her to enjoy when we’re not there.

You need to know something about my grandmother.  Continue reading →

Pencil marks on a wall

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For a long time there were gray lines on our brightly colored, floral kitchen wallpaper.  My brother, sister and I were always eager to compare the measurements dad had made the year before and see that we had grown. Sometimes we couldn’t wait a year and asked him to check us more often, hoping to see a change.  We’d check to make sure everyone had their heels on the floor and stretched our necks up as straight and high as we could.  Just having that little pencil-line proof gave us a little boost of confidence and made us smile proudly.  Of course, inside we hoped to end up taller than the other two siblings. Continue reading →

Really, I’m fine

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It was not how I had planned the day would turn out, not in my weirdest dreams.  The girls and I made a spontaneous decision to go to Six Flags because we had a family pass and we could.  It was still summer and since John was working we headed out the door, just the four of us.  Of course, every good amusement park aficionado knows you should visit the bathroom before starting your adventure around the park so that’s what we did.  First thing through the gate we visited the nearest ladies’ room.  We were pumped.  Roller coasters and log rides, here we come!   If I remember correctly, Kimmi was 10, Kaitlin 8 and Krissy 6.  As I walked into the bathroom stall I closed the door by holding onto the top of the door and pulling it closed without noticing that there was a bar across the top of the doorway.  I smashed one of my fingers.  It hurt!  Wow, did it hurt.  I sat down and thought to myself, “I’ll be fine.  The pain will pass.  This is no big deal.”  I shook my hands, rubbed the sore finger, and then started getting light-headed.  Continue reading →

Even more “beautiful”

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Can you stand it?  More beautiful??  (3rd post in a row with “beautiful” in the title for those who wonder what the heck I’m talking about)

I’m thinking of a song I love tonight as I’ve been listening to God tell me that there’s no need to panic when those I love make choices I wouldn’t want them to make or seem to be struggling a little to “find their feet” on this path.  He is able and He is watching.  He’s never distracted or bewildered as to how to help them or draw them near.  He loves them, so much more than I do, which is hard for me to grasp when I feel it so deeply from my insides out.  Right now, though my first impulse was to talk and try to control I feel God telling me to be quiet, to watch and see.  I’m praying and trying to stay so close to Him so that I can hear whenever He prompts me to speak and help, but in the meantime I can almost see him wave his arms out in a flourish with a big smile and say “Watch what I can do!  Out of the ashes, out of blunders, out of missteps, I will bring beauty, healing, and wholeness.”  I’m watching, Papa.  Please handle with care.  You know how much she means to me.

More “beautiful”

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I’ve been a fan of a crazy band called “Five Iron Frenzy” since my early 30’s when we lived in New Mexico.  They’re a SKA band: kind of a punk, hyper sound with brass and lots of zip.  One reason I really like them is because the lead singer sings with such incredible passion – he really belts it out!  Some of their songs are nonsensical and funny but there are a few really poignant ones like the one entitled “It Was Beautiful.”  I think it was written 6 years ago when they were breaking up as a band.  It’s about wrapping up their career, thinking back to those moments when God was especially close while they sang, performed, and traveled together.  If you have a few minutes listen and follow along with the lyrics below.  When I hear it I feel happy and thankful and in awe of our God who truly is the One who makes things sweet, good, and beautiful.

Continue reading →

It’s beautiful

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As we walked into Crossroads for worship this morning a little late I saw a room practically full and once I sat down several more came in after me. I looked around and saw a lot of young faces belonging to high school and college students and young adults. I don’t know why but it made me smile to see the teen boys who shuffled in and sat down in front of us with their hoodies, shaggy hair and tennis shoes. All of us listening to God’s word, truth being spoken into all the listening ears and hearts. After the message we stood to sing and soon I was overcome. The voices behind and beside me were loud but off-key. I happened to be among some enthusiastic singers who can’t hold a tune but today it didn’t throw me off or bug me, it blessed me. They were singing their hearts out.

Several times our lead worshipper would step back from the mic and then we could hear the sound we were making together (I love it when he does that). I know, no matter who was on pitch or not, that it was a sweet sound in God’s ears.

As we kept singing and after worship while I looked around at all the college kids standing to visit and leave, my heart swelled. I wonder if God will give me a place to serve where I can love on and minister to college students because my heart is drawn to them. I don’t know most of the kids that were there today but I felt love for them.

Some of my happiest moments this past year have been when my college daughter and a whole slew of her friends came over to our house several times to eat and hang out. We make sure to take a moment to pray for them before they go back to school. I’m looking forward to meeting some more friends when my 2nd daughter, who’s in college this year, brings some of her peeps home soon.

God loves people at every stage of life but today I was bowled over by His love for young people. Give me moments when I can encourage them as they follow You, Jesus. Give me opportunities to love them. Thank you for the life and energy behind all those voices, God, and for allowing me to stand in the midst of it today.

‘Tis Thankful Thursday

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I forgot about thankful Thursday last week  ~gasp~ so I want to post before I forget again.

Thursday makes me think of being really close to the weekend

Which makes me think of free time and a lil’ bit of sleeping in

Which makes me think of pillows

Which makes me glad someone invented pillows

Which makes me impressed by people who invent things

Which makes me think of our brains

Which makes me ponder a moment in awe of God’s ingenuity

Which makes me want to try and think harder and use more of my brain’s potential

Which makes me laugh a little

Which makes me feel good, laughing that is

Which makes me glad God thought up laughing, what a great idea!

Which makes me want to show you this:

I lift up my hands

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I lift up my hands in prayer – presenting myself wide open and vulnerable before You, God.  I trust You.

I lift my hands in awe and amazement and then spread them far out in front of me as I kneel down with my head to the ground.  You are holy.  The palms of my hands press against the cool earth, a reminder of where I came from, that I’m really dust.  How is it that you care about me, God?   Continue reading →

Love is the Reversal

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Yeah, nothing here’s as good as it should be, ’cause this is the rehearsal.  In between the “was” and the “could be,” love is the reversal.  – Starfield, Beauty in the Broken ©2006

Sometimes I picture this path at twilight, with a chill in the air.  I’m walking with my hands in my pockets, the collar of my coat turned up around my neck, being drawn by the warmth I see way off in the distance:  tiny golden squares of light which are the windows of home.  The lights stay on no matter what time of day it is, I just see them more clearly when it’s dark out.  I don’t know exactly when I’ll get there but I keep walking.  There are lots of people walking the opposite direction.  They seem to be oblivious that home is far off in the other direction.  Or maybe they don’t realize this isn’t their real home, this dusty path on earth.   My Papa’s love compels me to reach out, grab their sleeve and try to convince them to turn around and come with me.  “This life is good in many ways, sure, but it’s nothing like it could be and will be if we follow Christ!  Come this way.” or “I know this life really sucks sometimes, hurts and leaves us broken.  Come this way with me and find healing, hope and love.”

Ever feel like an outsider in your own life?  Continue reading →