Category: Faith

Faith, God's Faithfulness, Hope

His Eye Is on the Sparrow

Rev Kathy

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Sometimes I feel as if I am worth nothing. Fortunately, it is a brief feeling. Yet, it can be a strong, oppressive feeling. Most of us pass through difficult times. Most of us doubt our worth at times. Most of us feel insignificant at times.

I am reminded of these words from scripture:

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Matthew 10:29-31 (RSV)

Civilla Martin, who wrote the lyrics of the hymn “His Eye Is on the Sparrow,” said this about her inspiration to write the song.

Early in the spring of 1905, my husband and I were sojourning in Elmira, New York. We contracted a deep friendship for a couple by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle—true saints of God. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for nigh twenty years. Her husband was an incurably disabled and had to propel himself to and from his business in a wheel chair. Despite their afflictions, they lived happy Christian lives, bringing inspiration and comfort to all who knew them. One day while we were visiting with the Doolittles, my husband commented on their bright hopefulness and asked them for the secret of it. Mrs. Doolittle’s reply was simple: “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.” The beauty of this simple expression of boundless faith gripped the hearts and fired our imagination. The hymn “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” was the outcome of that experience.

In spite of times of discouragement, even when we feel disconsolate, there is a God who cares for us. There is a God who watches over us in sunshine and in shadow. There is a God who reminds us of our worth. I leave you with the message of the gospel song, “His Eye Is on the Sparrow.”

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.


I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Faith, God's Faithfulness

Sunlight and Shadow

Rev Kathy

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Like most people, I have experienced both sunlight and shadow in my life. I have learned some very important lessons on how to thrive in either. Sunlit days are not so hard. But days filled with shadows can be exhausting. Those shadowy days definitely test my resolve, my courage and my resilience.

Shadowy days are filled with questions, with sadness, with trials in many forms. I survived such days, sometimes barely. But I did survive, and from there I can offer a witness to the utter and graceful faithfulness of God.

Shadowy days call to mind one of my favorite passages in the Bible.

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed . . .

2 Corinthians 4:8-9

I have been cast down in my life, but never destroyed. Never in utter despair. Never forsaken by a loving God. I leave you today with the words of Bishop Steven Charleston.

I cannot take away what troubles you the most and I would not offer you easy answers to your hardest questions. Like you, I have been around long enough to know that sadness is a long distance runner and that healing is never a work of magic. All I can honestly offer is a witness, a shared moment of common sense experience, a reminder that life is far less fragile than we might imagine. We do survive. We heal. We reconcile. We do find an answer and we do change. Shadows cannot exist without sunlight, but sunlight can exist without shadows.

Faith, Transformation

We See God

Rev Kathy

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In the living of our days, at special times, we see God. Just when we least expect it! In the flutter of a hummingbird’s wings. In the whisper of the evening breeze. In the steady drop of gentle rain. In the sunset. In the moonlight. In the birdsong.

When we most need to, we see God. And every time, our hearts burn within us at the glory of God’s presence with us.

To be sure, it doesn’t happen often enough. We have dry days, days of feeling empty and uninspired, days when God does not seem near at all. We travel those days alone, it seems. And yet we remember the words Jesus spoke in his last days on earth.

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither does it know him him: but you know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you.I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

John 14:17-19

Yes, we do see God. We see God in so many ways, at so many times. And in those holy times, our hearts burn within us.

And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.

And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

And they said one to another, “Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?”

Luke 24:30-33 (KJV)

I see God just when I most need to. When I see God, the Holy Spirit stirs my heart and comforts my soul. No matter what difficulty I am facing, the Comforter dwells within me and holds me close until the trial passes. When I see God, I am transformed, even if just for a moment.

Faith, Grace, Hope, Inspiration

Holy Sunday Morning

Rev Kathy

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Sunday morning. A day of rest. “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” To do that today, I share with you the words of one of my favorite poems, “Desiderata.” It has wisdom for the living of these days.

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.

And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
Max Ehrmann, “Desiderata”

Faith, Fear, God's Faithfulness

Fear Not

Rev Kathy

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I have experienced real fear. I am experiencing it today, in fact, because I am not feeling well, and because of my kidney disease, the stakes are higher when I am not well.

I also experienced fear more than a year ago during a hospitalization. When the emergency team rushed to my bedside, I was overcome with fear, not understanding exactly what was happening, not knowing the outcome of the emergency procedures.

Obviously I survived that day, and I emerged with a stronger faith in God. During those critical days, with fear and uncertainty as my close companions, so many comforting scriptures came to mind.

From Isaiah 41 . . . Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

From Isaiah 43 . . . Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

From Psalm 27 . . . The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?”

And from Deuteronomy 31 . . . And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.

What incredible comfort I found in those words! The time of crisis passed. But I took those words with me to call to mind on another day. Today is such a day.

Courage, Faith, Fear, God's Faithfulness, Hope

Courage

Rev Kathy

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I want to live life with courage, having the strength to greet the unexpected and the audacity to hope for better things. To be sure, courage is not always easy to come by. The assailants we face — change, aging, illness — are formidable foes. Fear is one of our life realities. But the words of Eleanor Roosevelt ring true.

Courage is more exhilarating than fear and in the long run it is easier. We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up, seeing it is not as dreadful as it appeared, discovering we have the strength to stare it down.

Eleanor Roosevelt
You Learn By Living (1960)

I have learned that I really do have the strength to stare down difficult times. I have found courage in myself when I least expected to find it. I have stood firm and steadfast before illness, betrayal and personal crisis, and I remain standing as a testimony to the power of courage and the faithfulness of God. I am grateful for the crucible that is my life, for it has been a welcome catalyst for growth, strength, courage, and even hope!

Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
all you who wait for the Lord.

Psalm 31:24 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God is the One who goes with you. God will not leave you nor forsake you.

Deuteronomy 31:6 New King James Version (NKJV)

Faith, Inspiration

Where the Spirit Lives

Rev Kathy

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Wonder of wonders, God’s Holy Spirit makes her home within us, in that messy place where we live. It might have been otherwise, of course. In God’s best wisdom, the Holy Spirit might have remained only near us or beside us. But God took a big risk with us, deciding that we should be filled with the Holy Spirit. It was the greatest gift we could have received, that indwelling of love and hope, light and peace.

No one describes this more eloquently than Bishop Steven Charleston.

Here the Spirit resides, here in this worn and weathered heart, living among the lesser virtues of being, the strong but ragged hope of many years. God does not dwell in distant mansions, far removed from the mud and grime of common life, but rather chooses to sleep beside us, on a bed of dreams in a lower realm, where sickness and struggle are noisy neighbors, and the new morning often brings both worry and wonder. Here is where the Spirit abides, here in this clay we call home.

“Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.” (2 Timothy 1:14)

A beautiful hymn text written by Thomas Troeger and published in 1994 speaks of the Holy Spirit within us.

Holy Spirit, Wind and Flame,
Move within our mortal frame.
Make our hearts an altar pyre.
Kindle them with your own fire.
Breathe and blow upon that blaze
till our lives, our deeds and ways
speak that tongue which every land
by your grace shall understand.

Spirit Wind has blown through my life and Spirit Fire has warmed my journey. Thanks be to God.

Dreams, Faith, Life pathways, Life storms, Loss, sadness

Cast Down but Not Destroyed

Rev Kathy

 

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It was several years ago, a sunny, balmy day on the beach. A beautiful vacation with friends. Until the ill-fated phone call.

“Your nonprofit organization will no longer receive state funding. Your grant ends immediately. You will receive no payments as of today.”

To say this was shocking is an understatement. Suddenly, ten years of building was over. Services for victims of violence would cease immediately because staff had to be laid off. I was in shock and inconsolable. I had lost all that I had worked so hard to accomplish. What would we say to our clients? Who would help them when we closed our doors?

The press was asking for comments, but I had no words. All I could muster was silence and a few tears. I was too shocked to really cry. I was too bereft to make any coherent statement to the press or anyone else. Richard Rohr had the spot-on words to describe such a blow.

The pain of something old falling apart — chaos — invites the soul to listen at a deeper level. It invites and sometimes forces the soul to go to a new place because the old place is falling apart. Otherwise, most of us would never go to new places.

So true. I would never have gone to new places. As I look back on the day of my soul’s assault, I can honestly say that I was forced to listen to God at a deeper level. When that old life fell apart, there was something new in my future. Enmeshed in my work, I would never have seen it. I was drowning in my ministry and did not even notice that I was sinking. My health – physically, emotionally and spiritually – was at a low ebb. My friends saw it. I refused to.

In the end, the pain of that loss, the chaos, opened my eyes to a fresh new day. There was a new path ahead, bright and full of promise. As I allowed myself to be comforted, I called to mind one of my favorite scriptures, 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed . . .”

Faith, healing, Hope, Light

Life Goes On

Rev Kathy

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Life goes on. It is a common saying that holds so much truth. When circumstances tempt us to give up, we are always reminded that life goes on. I have learned so many times through disappointment, grief and fear, that life does go on. We live another day. We have another chance. We rest on the reality that dawn comes after every long night . . . every night, without fail.

How comforting it is for us to believe in another day and another chance! At the end of any grueling day, the night descends upon us with its healing. And then the brightness of a new dawn fills us with fresh hope and the will to greet another day. It is all a blessing from a faithful God who walks beside us through life, whatever comes, whatever hardship we face.

I love the words of Rachel Carson.

Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature — the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.

― Rachel Carson, “Silent Spring”

And so my friends, do not lose heart. Yes, life can be difficult. The world can seem to be a bitter place. But we were made for these times. There are many people these days who are deeply and properly bewildered. They are concerned about the state of affairs in our world. Ours is a time of almost daily righteous rage over the latest degradations of what matters most to civilized, visionary people. Yet, we move forward without giving up. We do not lose heart.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 New International Version)

Life goes on!

Courage, Faith, Risk

Delicate Wings

Rev Kathy

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I love watching the fluttering flight of a butterfly. I am mesmerized by their colorful, delicate wings, amazed that they are so resilient. Monarch butterflies, for instance, possess a mind-boggling skill. Without any guidance, they inherently know how, when and where to migrate across continents—and it takes four generations to make the yearlong trek.

The monarch butterfly’s migration begins in the spring, with the first generation making its debut into the world. Born in March and April, these tiny insects pick up where their predecessors left off, traveling farther north on a generational journey that totals 1,200 to 2,500 miles. That’s quite the feat for creatures with wing spans of only 3.5 to 4 inches.

We could learn a lesson from the butterfly. It emerges from a lifeless cocoon, develops beautiful wings, and embarks on amazing migrations. I like the migration story told by Annie Dillard in her book, “Pilgrim at Tinker Creek.” She writes that the monarch butterfly flies across Lake Superior and makes it all the way without a rest. That is a distance of about 500 miles! We don’t understand how those delicate butterflies do that. But thousands make their way across that mighty lake every single year during their migration.

None of them arrive without being wind-battered, snatched at from behind, hind legs torn off by the birds that pecked at them along the way. Our life journeys are just as challenging. Like the butterfly’s wings, we can be delicate. But even though we may be battered and broken along the way, we take risks, we keep flying, we persevere. We move forward. We survive!

Faith, God's Faithfulness, Life pathways

Pleasant Pathways

Rev Kathy

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I love it when life gives us pleasant pathways. Though some paths have been treacherous, for the most part, I have been blessed to walk pathways bathed in sunlight, surrounded with verdant greenery, marked by cooling breezes. Life has been my pleasure. I owe it all, I believe, to a loving, protecting God who walks beside me every moment.

There were times, of course, when life was difficult, times when I was very ill, in fact. But God’s presence was constant. God’s comfort was abundant, and I felt safe in loving arms. My family and friends surrounded me. The Holy Spirit filled my soul.

So many times, I have been comforted by the words of Isaiah 41:10.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

And so, with God ever near, and in spite of several roadblocks and obstacles here and there, I have been blessed to walk pleasant pathways.

Faith, God's Faithfulness

Change

Rev Kathy

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Living can be fragile, easily moved by winds of change. It is true that most humans resist change. We dread any assaults on our normalcy. We guard against changes in our routine, in our jobs, in our family. And when change comes upon us, we feel discomfort.

The problem is that life is all about change. We grow older. Our children grow up and move away. We downsize and miss our former home. Change is constant, blowing in life’s winds, challenging us and changing us.

How comforting that we worship a God who never changes. How comforting that even when change assails us, God is always the same, always near us, always gracing us with abiding presence.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”   (James 1:17)

Faith, Hope

Look for the Light

Rev Kathy

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I had a delightful afternoon on Monday with my seven year old granddaughter. We watched the film “The Land Before Time XIV: Journey of the Brave.” The film featured a great little song sung by Reba McEntire, “Look for the Light.”

It was a joyful song, childlike, but full of wisdom. We could learn a lot from these lyrics:

When you’re stuck in a hole and you don’t know where to go,
When it’s too dark for you to tell your tail from your toe,
You wonder which way is wrong and which road is right,
The best thing for you to do is just look for the light.

Look for the light, one little spark,
A little bit of hope to lead you out of the dark;
Somewhere deep inside of you, it’s shining so bright,
All you gotta do is look, you gotta look for the light.

Look for the light, open your eyes;
You never know when you’re going to find a surprise;
Some things may tickle you, others may bite;
Listen to my sister, mister, come on and look for the light.

If there’s a wall, sometimes you bump it;
A big ol’ rock, you have to jump it;
Maybe you’re tired, maybe you’re scared;
But the only thing you have to be
Is be prepared…

To look for the light and you’re gonna see
You will find your way eventually;
And you’re not alone, ’cause you’ve got me;
Don’t get lost inside your head;
Listen to your heart instead;
Open up and let yourself be led;
Come on and look for the light.
Oh, look for the light.

We would all do well, especially when we find ourselves in a dark place, to look for the light.

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'” (John 8:12)

Adventures, Africa, Faith, Freedom, God's Faithfulness, grief, healing

Remembering Uganda

Rev Kathy

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It was so many years ago, but I remember it as if it happened yesterday. The two of us, my husband Fred and I, stepped off of a plane in the Nairobi airport to begin a new life. As very young missionaries headed to Uganda, we had no idea what we would face in the days to come.

Getting to Uganda from Kenya was a long, dusty ride through the most beautiful places we had ever seen. Through bush country and savannah, through banana groves and rain forests, through tea plantations on mountainsides and the rushing waters of Bujigali Falls, we were getting acquainted with this continent. The terrain was ever-changing, and the way was marked by the majestic beauty of elephants, giraffe, cape buffalo, gazelles, flamingos and Ugandan crested cranes.

We were filled with awe and excitement. But the most moving sight of all was the people, barefoot and downtrodden, wearing rags and carrying heavy water containers. Their country had all but been destroyed by the evil dictator Idi Amin, who orchestrated the genocide of 100,000 to 500,00 Ugandans.

Churches were burned to the ground, schools pillaged and all but destroyed, roads were in shambles. Children were left orphaned in a country of widows. Their faces showed the wear of grief, their bodies the mask of mourning.

They are why we have come, sent by God to comfort a grieving people in small ways. The days ahead would find us digging water wells, distributing agricultural tools and vegetable seeds, giving out books, bibles and sewing supplies, bringing in simple medicines and vaccines.

I can never think of the Ugandan people without recalling Lamentations 5, a scripture passage that was read in a church service to describe the plight of the Ugandan people. As the reader read through her tears, the entire congregation wept, mourning so many losses. I offer the text here in its entirety:

Lamentations 5 New International Version (NIV)

Remember, Lord, what has happened to us;
look, and see our disgrace.
Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers,
our homes to foreigners.
We have become fatherless,
our mothers are widows.
We must buy the water we drink;
our wood can be had only at a price.
Those who pursue us are at our heels;
we are weary and find no rest.
We submitted to Egypt and Assyria
to get enough bread.
Our ancestors sinned and are no more,
and we bear their punishment.
Slaves rule over us,
and there is no one to free us from their hands.
We get our bread at the risk of our lives
because of the sword in the desert.
Our skin is hot as an oven,
feverish from hunger.
Women have been violated in Zion,
and virgins in the towns of Judah.
Princes have been hung up by their hands;
elders are shown no respect.
Young men toil at the millstones;
boys stagger under loads of wood.
The elders are gone from the city gate;
the young men have stopped their music.
Joy is gone from our hearts;
our dancing has turned to mourning.
The crown has fallen from our head.
Woe to us, for we have sinned!
Because of this our hearts are faint,
because of these things our eyes grow dim
for Mount Zion, which lies desolate,
with jackals prowling over it.
You, Lord, reign forever;
your throne endures from generation to generation.
Why do you always forget us?
Why do you forsake us so long?
Restore us to yourself, Lord, that we may return;
renew our days as of old
unless you have utterly rejected us
and are angry with us beyond measure.

Idi Amin was deposed. God did restore Uganda , and those who had lost so much found life again. Their mourning turned to dancing, dancing filled with joyful gratitude to a compassionate and faithful God. Amen.

Faith, God's Faithfulness, grief, Loss

Looking for God

Rev Kathy

 

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In the darkest times of life, I look for God. Unfortunately, on good days I mostly go about business as usual, thinking perhaps that I don’t need God that much. Yet, it is in normal days that I can spend time finding God in all things and truly enriching my life. The words of Steven Charleston offer a great deal of wisdom.

I have been out looking for God again. Out in the world around me, watching for signs and clues to the presence of something holy in life. I am glad to report the evidence is abundant. A young mother comforting her child who was crying. An older couple still walking hand in hand. A garden so peaceful you could hear the flowers grow. An unseen musician practicing piano through an open window. Beauty, love, kindness: all visible manifestations of what makes life sacred. There is more of hope than loss to see for those who take a second look at what surrounds them.

It is so true that I have had my share of loss. The most important part of dealing with loss was taking that second look, taking some time to redefine what the loss really meant for me, and steeling myself to move beyond the loss.

I plan to take second looks. I plan to look around for God in new ways, watching for signs of the presence of something holy. It truly does make life sacred.

Faith, peace

Flowing Peace

Rev Kathy

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“I’m not surprised you are a minister,” said a friend in my leadership class. “You have this peaceful aura about you.” I was surprised by her comment. But I knew immediately that what she saw as an “aura” around me was not really me at all. It was actually God’s peace flowing through me.

The world continues to cry peace when there is no peace. (Jeremiah 8:11) But those who trust God know that God is the source of the peace that transcends all understanding and flows within us—even though we may not even be aware of it. (Philippians 4:7)

After their last supper together, Jesus promised His followers this peace as He prepared them for His death and resurrection. He told them that although they would have trouble in the world, God would send them the Spirit of truth to live with them and be in them (John 14:16-17).

The Spirit would teach them; the Spirit would be with them; the Spirit would comfort them and give them peace for the days ahead. Yes, He told them they would face many trials. He also told them not to be afraid, because the Holy Spirit’s presence would never leave them.

I am in a constant quest to sense God’s peace, as elusive as it seems at times. Though God’s peace is within me always, there are times when chaos takes its toll. I allow life’s worries and challenges to fill my heart and soul, often losing the flow of peace in my life. I know better, of course, but I allow it to happen.

God’s desire for me is to open myself up to inner peace,to allow God’s peace to flow through me. What a blessing it is to know God’s flowing peace, always there, always available to strengthen my faith and refresh my life.

Courage, Faith, Life storms

Strong through Every Storm

Rev Kathy

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I am no stranger to the rain. I have seen my share of life’s storms, frightening and strong against me. But I have been stronger than every storm. I have stood firm against the gale force winds and the flashes of lightning. I have survived every time. Surviving was hard, but with a heart of hope, I moved forward with life. And I was made stronger by the struggle.

It had little to do with my own strength, everything to do with strength that comes from God. I love the scripture in the book of Mark that tells the story of the disciples weathering a storm on the sea.

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” – Mark 4:35-41 New International Version (NIV)

I have been strong through every storm. I have often sensed God speaking to me with the words: “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

I have learned that standing strong against a storm means calling on deeply hidden faith in God. It works every time.

Faith, God's Faithfulness, healing, Life storms, Prayer

Glory

Rev Kathy

 

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The year was 2014, the year I survived, the year so full of hard times. It all began in February with a diagnosis of end stage kidney disease. Then I was in and out of the hospital all year with complications and deadly infections. When the occupational therapist came to my room, I could not name colored blocks. At times, I did not know my own husband. I was very weak and could not walk for a time. Fortunately, much of the time I slept, not knowing how dangerously ill I really was.

I prayed a lot that year. Vulnerability brought me closer to God, the best source of help and life I knew. My church family brought food for us. My friends literally fed me and rubbed lotion on my feet. I had the invaluable help of a home health nurse, a physical therapist, and a doctor that came to my home each month. I graduated quickly from a wheel chair to a walker, and then was able to walk unassisted. Friends and family all over the world prayed for me. I am fully confident that their prayers brought me through.

Today is a new day for me. I can barely remember the hardest days of 2014. Though I still have end stage kidney disease and am on a dialysis machine eight hours everyday, I feel healthy on most days. I can eat and sleep. I can walk, cook and bathe myself. I can enjoy visiting with people without tiring out. I can go on shopping trips and buy my own groceries. I can care for my flowers and plants.

I am grateful to be alive, in awe of the way God intervened in my life and brought me back to the world I so enjoy. That’s my story. God played the major role. My husband was a close second by doing all the cooking, cleaning, washing, and especially, all the nursing care for me. I was blessed with the kind of help and support that helped me turn the corner.

William Barclay penned these words:

“Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory.”

I did endure. I did see my difficult year turn into glory, the glory of friendships, the glory of family, the glory of love, hope and health.

So thank you, God. Thank you, Fred. Thank you, dear friends, family, and church family for keeping vigil with Fred and me during hard times. Thank you!

Courage, Faith, God's Faithfulness, Risk

“If footmen tire you, what will horses do?”

Rev Kathy

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Many, many years ago I heard a sermon entitled, “If footmen tire you, what will horses do?” I was intrigued by the question and headed straight to the Bible to see what it was all about. I found it in Jeremiah 12:5.

If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, wherein you trusted, they wearied you, then how will you do in the swelling of Jordan?

After all these years, I am still intrigued by these questions. I have asked myself similar questions many times. If I am tired out by this small task, how will I fare when the work is harder? If I complain when I have a simple illness, what will I do if a serious illness attacks me? If I am brought low by the harsh words others say about me, how will I endure a complete betrayal?

I have been through each of these life circumstances. I read and read for a word of relief. It took me all the way to Jeremiah’s 15th chapter where I found this consolation in verse 20:

Though they fight against you,
They will not prevail over you;
For I am with you to save you
And deliver you, declares the Lord.
So I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked,
And I will redeem you from the grasp of the violent.

Life has knocked me flat plenty of times. I have experienced grief, failure, betrayal, sadness. I have seen things I never wanted to see. But no matter how many times I’ve been knocked down, I always, always get up.

I learned two lessons along the way:

Don’t sweat the small stuff.
In the end, God will be with you through it all.

That’s Gospel Good News!

Faith, God's Faithfulness, Hope, Life storms

Through the Waters

Rev Kathy

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A few days ago, we were talking about the death of Muhammad Ali. Fred asked if I knew that he died of septic shock, and reminded me that I had septic shock at least three times in 2014, coming very close to death. That was a part of my journey that was filled with dangerous mile markers, some of which I was not even aware of at the time.

Fred lived it fully while I was out of it. He knows better than anyone what a danger-filled year it was. The reality is that such times are a part of live. Some of them, we survive. And that’s what happened to me in 2014. I survived the raging waters that took me near to the end of my life. I survived the fiery nights of difficulty when my temperature climbed to ominous levels.

I survived it all, and today, I feel healthy and strong on most days. For that, I am eternally grateful to God who brought me through and to Fred, who never tired on that journey. When I remember those days, this scripture always comes to mind:
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.   (Isaiah 43:2 NIV)