This morning, I flipped to Jer 2:25. On the surface, a great reminder to be aware of the sins we carry around without acknowledging them. I saw my prayer to have any hidden sins revealed and the notes on partnerships pleasing to God. Then I noticed another note: I was here exactly one month ago. This was the scripture I was reading before I met with B&B.
Thank you, Lord, for reminding me through your Word exactly what you put on my heart. I am listening. I am waiting. Just as you tell us in Romans 12:12, “Be Joyful in Hope, Patient in affliction and faithful in prayer.” Thank you for Dwell Differently and the way it is already yielding fruit for YOUR KINGDOM.
Today, I need to include the list of the God Moments. As new posts are made, I need to link them back to this Master List.
Of the “Top 40” God moments, the first one I recall vividly is a nightmare maybe a month before I celebrated my seventh birthday. It was mere weeks before Christmas, December 1974. As I am typing this out, I am remembering my own children at six and seven years old. I know how deeply they both felt everything at that age, too. Thank you, Lord, for giving my children the gifts of intelligence, humor and empathy!
We were stationed at three different military bases during our seven years in Germany. In 1975-1976, we were in Hanau. I remember the “cantina” where the kids hung out, movie theatre (25 cents!) and getting a massive blood blister on the playground. I recall how teachers would give kids a workbook and textbook to work through at their own pace. I remember my favorite outfit was navy blue pants and a vest with leaves and such embroidered on the pant legs and vest face. Give me a job to do and I still tend to attack it. By the time we returned to the USA, I tested out several grades above others my age.
Going down memory lane reminds me of the best strawberries of my life, the schwimmbad (public swimming pool), Christmas markets and how similar I was (and remain) to my own daughter. Overall, the idyllic lifestyle puts the December 1974 nightmare in different perspective. It was the best part of my childhood, bar none. Yet, this nightmare creeped into my mind. This is a school photo from September 1975.
When I wrote SEEK SUNSHINE, I referenced telling my parents something they could understand instead of what I was really feeling. The very first memory of lying to my parents was lying to my mother when she came into my room in the middle of the night. I told her I was crying because I did not feel well. The truth was graphic, dark and not in my wheelhouse at that age to share.
In simplest terms, you learn overseas that generations often live in the same home on different floors. The nightmare I had was a powerful fire which engulfed a three-story home with my entire family in it. To think of it now, it still makes me gasp a pinch. I could feel the people I love struggle to breathe as they succumbed to the fire. It absolutely stayed with me.
Six months later, I completed the Catechism classes. My sister, Teresa and I experienced our First Communion on May 11,1975. Forty years later, I would experience full immersion baptism on May 3,2015.Thank you, Lord, for showing me the seasons you have designed in my life.
I realize now is that God used that nightmare for good, just like everything else. My entire life, I have always been hyper-aware of death. Love NOW. Give NOW. Do it NOW. That internal sense of urgency was placed there for a much a higher purpose than I can fathom. To me, it is beautiful.
It’s truly humbling how the Lord will put things into your hands. Seems this spiritual assignment to write out the Top 40 God moments has unlocked something in my brain that encourages me to search old email addresses for the word “BLOGS”. The “Always loved me some Floyd” memory is in the Top 40 list. Rather than rewrite, I am copying directly from the 2006 blog. It appears the beginning may be elsewhere, but for now:
….I did not feel defeated. I did have faith that I would find my happy place. It is what I do. And just after I put on my happy pants, that “fly by” action happened once more. Have Faith. Louder, stronger and with a direction. Then I heard that George Michael song in my head, which almost started to agitate me. Instead, the direction led me to Floyd.
I have always loved me some Floyd…..
Many of you have my phone number. It seems to be a running MySpace joke that I can only love you after 9 pm CST and on weekends. You know I can not afford it and you respect it. THANK YOU ALL!! Too bad collectors do not embrace my request to be tormented on the weekends. Regardless, I rarely allow myself to make phone calls during normal business hours. It is not a luxury I can afford.
Yesterday, the “fly by” action was a solo effort. It was a one time thing. Why it compelled me to look down at the letter from the State of Tennessee, I will never know for certain. The point is, I didn’t even see the phone number the night before. However, when I ever-so-briefly glanced down at it after hearing “have faith”, the phone number may as well have been in 10000 font. In bold with flashing lights. It glared. I called.
Understand my logic for a moment. Calling a state agency is the equivalent of saying, “I have nothing better to do than to be on hold for twenty minutes.” Seriously. Still, I dialed the number.
On the very first ring, a gentleman answered. I explained quickly that I had received a letter. I asked if anyone could possibly look up the property identification number in the letter and tell me how much was “over $100”. To my shock, he did not pass me off to another extension. He told me his name was Floyd and he would be all too happy to happy to help me.
First ring. Kindness. No pass off. Okay, I am sold.
Almost instantly, he is telling me the check is from Prudential. The noteworthy part is that I worked for Prudential from 1988-1993. The first year or so was on the insurance side. The last three years were at the brokerage firm formerly known as Prudential-Bache. I have not worked for them in over thirteen years.
Did you catch the THIRTEEN YEARS?
Back then, a paycheck was less than $400, after taxes. Once I got my broker’s license, I did earn commissions the last year. However, they minimized them to such a degree that after three years, I left to pursue my current field.
Floyd tells me the check is for $2023.75.
I fell into an uncontrollable fit of tears. Overwhelming and happy tears. With a few hundred out of the rest of my child support at the end of the month, I can make those two necessary mortgage payments to save our home from foreclosure. Maybe.
Floyd did not know why I was crying. I am sure any other person would have thought I belonged in a looney bin. He just says, and I am quoting him:
“God works in funny ways. Sometimes, you just have to have faith.”
No.He.Did.Not.
Yes, he did.And, those particular words threw me into another stronghold of emotional breakdown. Then I had to do the next right thing. Despite his wonderful help, I had to ask how long it would take to get the money.
“Usually five or six weeks.”
(Okay, still a huge blessing)
If you have done the math, that would be after our home was foreclosed upon. I cried again and told him I have concerns about my mortgage. I did not tell him I needed the money before November 2 or 3. I was so grateful for the quick information and kindness, that I did not wish to push it any further.
Floyd did something that will MAKE A DIFFERENCE to me and my children. He suggested that if I have real issues with my mortgage that the check would alleviate, I could come to his office and ask directly for him. He said he has seen checks cut in two weeks, give or take.
Do the math. Do it now.
November 1 or 2, I could have my check. It is possible to save our home.
I bawled like you would not believe. I had chills and the shakes. And, when I cry that hard, I can’t help but sniffle like crazy because my nose is draining like a broken faucet. Okay, it is NOT pretty. But, it takes extremes to bring on those extremes.
Floyd tells me after I have calmed down that it was not his experience for checks to come from employers that far back.He digs deeper and sees the check was deposited to the State of Tennessee Treasury Department 1999. Please understand, I was already in a state of shock and awe.
First, the money being owed to me by Prudential, of all employers. Then,the amount. Now, the timing of deposit and delivery.
It made no sense and will never be something that can be explained away. In my heart, it was ALL very much a “God thing”. Floyd then says one more thing to leave me overwhelmed.
“God knew exactly when you would need this check.”
I thanked him profusely. Through tears, an expanded heart and a few snot rags, I gave him my deepest gratitude. I can not wait to meet him tomorrow.
Sass Monkey and I are going downtown tomorrow morning to meet Floyd. We are baking cookies and brownies for his office. Maybe, just maybe, they will sweeten their day.
Maybe, just maybe, we can Make a Difference, too.
Speaking of which, that leads me to the second miracle of my day.After finally coming down from the clouds yesterday, I was sent right back up. I received a call from Terry Byrnes at USA WEEKEND. I will tell you all about it tomorrow.
The blessing of our business has been shared with countless customers and friends. So many Godversations! Recently, multiple Godversations about recovery and spiritual warfare. Mrs F.Tina , TC , Mrs Eva and “orange vape” David all shared extensively. So different and yet so similar. So much pain in this world from every direction. 💜✝️💜
No accident the sermon at Experience yesterday was focused on spiritual exhaustion. It fueled me thru a challenging conversation last night. No matter false words spoken by others, we must have confidence in His Word.
Lord, may your will and your favoritism-free heart be evident in the days ahead.I ask this in the precious name of your son, Jesus. Amen.
In documenting 40 God Stories, I have not detailed yet how God gave us our business. in November, I posted this to Facebook:
My friends, JoJo and Casey, helped us open our first store over ten years ago. It’s always a good time to Praise God for Good Friends!
While the Facebook post is accurate, it is not complete. Granted, the post does include the fact we prayed about the business and thank God for all those blessed. Still, I neglected to include how God funded our business.
To fill in the gaps, I must return to September 2013. At the time, I was an unemployed mom of two. Interviews would go well and after second and occasional third rounds, I was still unemployed. Mark was on the road with DWP. He returned home from a gig and shared his dad was being lead to give us 15K to start a business. We discussed opening an electronic cigarette/vape shop and what it may entail.
Could we open a business with only 15K?
Mark has always possessed an entrepreneurial spirit. He had owned his own coffee shop in the past, as well. For me to get on board, I needed to KNOW we could stretch out 15K enough to prepare a space and obtain basic inventory for our business. We prayed about it and the following morning, it was crystal clear.
Not only could I see exactly how the space should be laid out, I saw the store in full color. A few quick keystrokes on the laptop and we were officially opening Community Vapor LLC. From initial filing to opening was 6-7 weeks!
Our first store
We found a space adjacent to Jersey Mikes on Old Fort Parkway. Mark and I agreed on the location and the rent amount. I was to work out a lease while he was away. Well, Mark went back on the road to get our bills paid. I was waiting for a call back from the Jersey Mike landlord.
While I waited, I had many tasks. A big one included finding two employees. Researching vape groups online, I found our first employee, Jenn, I loved how she shared her knowledge with people in the community. I reached out to her, shared we were considering opening a shop and would love to consider hiring her. God already knew Jenn was seeking her first job in several years! He knew we would be a great match.
Jenn and I met for lunch at the O’Charleys on Old Fort Parkway on October 10, 2013. As we left, I literally felt a pull to the shopping center located off the main road, behind O’Charleys. I drove over to the shopping center and called the number on the window.
I checked old messaging to get the date correct. Bonus…it reminded me how fun that first meeting was for both of us. It made me smile to read the history of Community Vapor and our friendship. It also reminds me that when “that kind of nudge” occurs, it is always from God. I was nudged so we would not proceed with the first place we agreed upon.
That nudge to call was the Holy Spirit protecting us and ensuring we would be employing Jenn more than a decade later! How? Oh, let me count a few ways.
The first way is the obvious financial benefit. Rent was more than one thousand per month LESS. That grand per month difference helped put us “in the black” within six months. It allowed us to acquire more inventory and hire more part time help as we grew.
The biggest personal blessing was establishing a relationship with our landlord, Michele. We love her! She met us to sign the contracts as she was preparing to attend the 2013 Dove Awards.
It’s fair to say our personal credit scores wouldn’t have encouraged most landlords to rent to us. Michele smiled when I passionately shared that the shop was an answered prayer. I told her she could talk to our pastor about our personal character. Jesus was present and involved over our lunch and contract signing. It’s good to remember all He has done for us!
In June 2023, a car ran through our Murfreesboro location. I remember telling her that “yes, it’s inconvenient, but there WILL BE a blessing buried in the broken pieces. Zach Williams and Dolly came on the radio the same day it happened. The song was several years old and yet it felt made exactly for that moment in time.
As God would have it, perhaps that buried blessing was growing so much closer to Michele! We had never shied away from “Jesus talk”. Still, the accident provided the perfect canvas to encourage her and be of service in the repair/insurance process.
For example, I learned her father is Philip Morris. Not the tobacco giant 🤣; a Christian Music manager. Mr. Morris managed Jason Crabb for roughly 20 years, before announcing retirement plans in November 2023.
God gave us a vision for the business. God moved Marks dad to want to invest in us and moved our landlord to rent to two Christian siblings. But wait, just like the old Ronco commercials, there is more! .
In December 2013, I asked my husband if we could wait two weeks to tithe when he completed a big trip away. I figured we could pay our tithe on our next pay cycle. At the time, my heart was right about tithing, but still had more to learn. Mark taught me about tithing His Way and based on His Word. Essentially, the first bill paid on any income is always tithe. Of course we could not delay!
Two days later, Mark returned from getting our mail with a very interesting envelope addressed to me from Uncle Sam. Low and behold, for the second time in my life, there was an unexpected and large check from the IRS.
It made zero sense why the IRS couldn’t have sent it years ago. My taxes and contact information are always current. Still, it was divine timing. It caused me to remember Floyd telling me in 2006-2007, “God knew EXACTLY when you were going to need this money”. One check was over 6K and the other 13K. These were not small amounts for most people. For me and for us, they were substantial!
The reality is God has been present every single day at both of our shops. There is no denying the Holy Spirit at work in both shops.
This post has already gone a bit long. The truth is God has done so much through our business, I need to jot down some things now without properly incorporating them.
Kendra and Sheree. Kendra’s funeral
Special kids.
Artisan Roy
Anna , Frank, Allan, Evan, Billy, Tim, Wesley and Sarah.
Cv2- landlord situation appeared similar.
FDA mountain moved by God.
Speaking at DC Rally
Helping
Old photos help me remember how hard the physical tasks were on my body. Instead of replacing the floor, I scrubbed every square inch by hand. By the time I finished, it took a few days for my back to heal enough to clear coat the floor. We didn’t replace the floors for nearly two years.
We created Clouds of Goodness: Love, Bliss, Peace, Passion, Sweetness, Comfort and Joy! We had our hand crafted products in shops from California to Connecticut.
We helped a few shop owners open stores outside and within Middle TN. We shared knowledge and hard lessons we learned.
God used me to move a hurdle from the FDA and to speak in front of thousands in DC!
When we did replace the floors, we wrote scripture underneath the new floors in every main area. We did the same with our second shop.
For more than a decade, we have been blessed with all God has done. Only because of the business were we able to get our home. Another day, another God story to write.
May Asher be healed by the blood of Jesus today. Amen.
Two simple words changed my life. Truth can be extreme. Until I shared the story of a marriage ending, “SEEK SUNSHINE” was a simple life motto inspired by my children. In sharing the story behind the phrase, those words became an intrinsic part of something far greater. This was originally written in Fall 2003 and published for the first time on MySpace in 2004.
In the 20 years since I published it, the opening paragraphs have been lost to the internet. Until I can put my hands on a printed copy, I will share what has not been altered. The only part “lost” is the darkness which preceded this exchange with my son. At the time, he was just over 2 1/2 and my daughter had yet to celebrate her first birthday.
On this bleak August morning, my Little Man comes outside, looks at the dark sky above and practically cries, “Mama! Mama! NO SUN!!!!” My kids adore nature and everything about it. In any other situation, this could have been a toddler upset about the weather.
However, I recalled a time in my childhood when I felt confused or hurt by one thing and it was easier to tell my parents that something trivial or childlike was the issue. I saw my son basically doing the same thing. In my heart, all I could feel in that moment was his pain. Mine disappeared and his consumed me. I still get chills to remember just how much I felt his pain and how powerless I felt.
Literally, I could feel my son’s pain to my very core.
I honestly felt he was saying “look, I am really hurt and confused that the daddy I love so much will not be living here anymore. I love you both so much. I am confused. I am hurt and now the sun isn’t even shining”. Without even knowing it, I realized on some level that this moment was going to define the course of the rest of our lives.
All this in less than a minute or two. This is how I think and feel.
Feeling his pain, all I could do was kneel and look into those beautiful, cornflower blue eyes of his that always brought my Mamaw, Ruby Lee Cloer (mom’s mom) close to me.Ruby Lee Cloer died at 55, when I was only thirteen years of age.Her influence on my life is profound.I remember thinking of her love for me and mine for her …giving consideration to what she may have said to me in a similar moment.
Kneeling to be eye to eye, I gazed into those angelic eyes with so much love that I knew he must have felt it. I pointed to the darkest, biggest cloud right above our heads. I asked him if he saw it. He responded with some fear and trepidation, “Uh huh…The Big One?”
As I looked at his sweet face, I could feel strength begin to course through my veins. I spoke with conviction well beyond belief.
“Yes, baby, the big one. Honey, the sun is right behind THAT cloud.”
I kid you not. Little Man’s expression immediately changed to joyous. God was in that moment. My Mamaw was in that moment. He put his little hands on my cheeks, smiled and said “Oh…SEEK SUNSHINE!” Like all the truths of the universe were revealed to him and it was really THAT simple. SEEK SUNSHINE. He was right, it is that simple.
To me, there was something poetic about everything I had ever read about “a little child will lead us” and how God sent his son to save us and my own child saving me.
We have said that phrase almost every day since their dad left. I painted the walls in my house yellow…to which my kids immediately proclaimed quite happily “Yeah…Sunshine!!!” It was my daughter’s fifth word. I have various sunshine symbols in our home. It is our life theme, if you will.
Now you know why I embrace my intuition and always seek the light in any darkness.
Roughly thirty thousand people loved this story in the first year it was posted. It would be fair to say it launched a substantial following for my writing MySpace. However, the blessings from that bastion of creativity are not kudos. Reading back through blog comments from twenty years ago is a huge reminder of the wonderful humans I was blessed to love along the way…and those who loved me in return. The rest of that story is for another day.
In December 2022, my husband and I visited the McCaysville/Blue Ridge area for a long weekend getaway. We had a lovely brunch with my Cousin Johnny and his wife, Brenda. I had not seen them since we buried his mom almost seven years ago.
By the time we were driving back to Tennessee, I knew I was to correct a ton of errors in our Ancestry and MyHeritage records. Johnny had shared some things on those sites which I knew were wrong. We also talked about writing his COVID Miracle story.
God kept reminding me why “begats matter”. The Boss T. Mull Family Book idea had percolated for years between cousin Vicky and myself. After praying a while, it was clear I was not to enter into the task haphazardly.
In simplest terms, there were TWELVE children born to my great grandparents. All were in the heavenly choir as of Feb 2017. My cousin Johnny’s mother, Aleen, was the Last Mull Standing.
Essentially, I was to research, verify, and compile the records in some sort of readable format. That in itself is no small task. However, I was to humble myself and seek APPROVAL of the content to ensure we didn’t leave “one for the 99”. To get approval meant asking the oldest living person from each “branch” to approve the record.
I started with Arlene. she was celebrating her 87th birthday at the end of January. I called her in early January 2023. She was excited to hear from me and schedule a visit. That call was a catalyst for much.
Arlene told me she could never forget me. I asked her why. Her response humbled me to the core. “Carol, when W.T. left me in 82-83, you sent me the most beautiful letter.” She told me how much it made her feel loved when her world was falling apart. I sent her a letter telling her that NO MATTER WHAT, I loved her and she would always be my Aunt Arlene. Simple, really.
Simple truth from a kid who lost her grandma Ruby at only 55 years old in May 1981. Arlene loved Ruby, too.
Quick note
Of the original twelve, my mamaw was the second to go to heaven. Uncle Dan was killed in the line of duty on 8/20/1975.
When my Mamaw went to heaven, I continued my habit of sending the other ten aunts and uncles notecards in summer and Christmas cards. It was something inspired by my mamaw when she was still on this earth. Laughings catching and love is, too.
The beautiful weekends I have spent in 2023 with Arlene aka Nanny B are priceless. The book proved to be a blessing for many who did not know they had such strong roots. it’s no accident that Arlene’s favorite song is “I don’t regret a mile”. 💜✝️💜
Yesterday, I watched a young lady, perhaps 9 years old, preaching on Facebook. Key words: Funnel, umbrella, RAIN, Abundance, Tongues, Prayer. It was powerful. In fact, so powerful, I asked my husband to watch it with me. The phone was maybe three feet from us on the bed as we listened. Well, it cut out “right before the powerful part” and went to a video of Nichol Burnett talking about Refinement. I had to sit with that for a while. It would be impossible to detail the number of times my phone or computer apparently “glitches”, only to lead to something I am meant to understand.
When I arrived at the shop, I started feeling like I could not breathe fully. My temperature was rapidly increasing; the environment is only 68 degrees. Immediately, I called Pammie Sue in Texas and shared the gist. I could feel my heart rate return to normal and my lungs fully expand as we spoke. Within thirty minutes, the Good Lord had me grabbing my journal from Florence. Why? I was to open to a blank page and write down, to the best of my ability, FORTY GOD MOMENTS in my life, in chronological order.
In My God Room on Youtube, I posted a short clip of our dog appended to the entire 23 minutes of writing down the God Moments. Since I haven’t written about it here, I should clarify that it was put on me to share 40 God stories months ago. Maybe four days ago, it was a compulsion to share the plan to YouTube. Yesterday, “The Boss” wanted an outline, apparently! As is His way, not a soul entered the shop between 10:21 am, when I began the video, until 10:44. On the video, it is an audible deep sigh and the verbal recognition, “okay, these will be the 40 stories” (Or something close to those words) and BAM, the front door to the shop “dings” as a customer enters. I shared the gist of the “timeline exercise” with Mark, Joyce, Pam and Allan.
This morning, I flipped to Psalm 122:8 “For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, “Peace be with you.” Joyce always says “Peace” and I shared the flip with Pammie Sue, as well. Intercessory Prayer warriors, they are! Somehow, I ended up in ECC 5:4 “When you make a vow to God, do NOT delay in fulfilling it.“ No accident, I am certain! I was nudged to look at “memories” of January 30 on Facebook. I copied the various posts into one – a “snapshot” of where God had my heart this morning…with Him. Just in case the day got away from me, I knew my part of fulfilling my vow today was sharing the snapshot on Facebook.
Several things stood out to me. One, the many years I post scripture or praise on January 30. Two, the smirky childhood pic is the exact same one I shared with Joyce in November. Three, the notation from 13 years ago about deleting 40 blogs from “the other space”. I was tasked to list 40 God Memories yesterday and reminded of 40 MySpace blogs I deleted many moons ago. Again, NO ACCIDENT! Praise the Lord, I found several of them on an old laptop yesterday, as several are on my Top 40 God Moments list.
No shocker here. Just a love letter in my “One Minute with God” devotional at work.
I flipped again when I arrived at work. The Bible I have at the shop is a Spiritual Warfare Bible. I flipped to Psalm 131 and found I was truly contented with EXACTLY where God has me in this moment. What a beautiful reminder we are to be like “Little children.”
Father God, I am so grateful for all the ways you are showing up and showing off in our daily lives! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! Please keep sanctifying my soul and spirit and reveal to me anything of this world to which I ought to be weaned. Your will, not mine. I ask in the precious name of Jesus and every drop of blood He shed for humanity. Amen.
Did you attend Clarksville, TN Immaculate Conception back in the 80’s or 90’s? Even if you did not attend Mass there, it’s entirely possible many of you remember Father Robert J Roeser, aka “Father Bob. One of my fondest memories is a conversation we had at the Old Joe B’s, in downtown Clarksville in the very early 1990’s. Yes, it was a bar and restaurant. I would occasionally meet my parents there on a Friday night, as they winded down their week.
Context matters. I was not in church on a regular basis between 1987 and 1995. I was raped by three APSU Baseball players in March 1987. At the time, I was responsible for President Robert O. Riggs‘ children whenever he and his wife were away on weekends. Sadly, he voiced concern for “the young woman” and was relieved of his position shortly after serving as the 11th President of APSU for 11 years.
Some old memories began to percolate this morning and those memories clarify, somewhat, why my “season of separation” extended over seven years.
By August 1995, I was living on Blair Blvd in Nashville. I was still volunteering at RSAC in Nashville, the Rape and Sexual Abuse Center. For 24 consecutive hours every weekend, I would soberly take calls from all kinds of beautiful humans. Normally, I would get home from work around 6 on a Friday and continue until 6 on a Saturday Night. Most of the victims I spoke with had been sexually abused in egregious ways, many by their own families. It was a very dark season, with only pinches of light. The other 24 hours, I was most often not sober. In truth, I would drink so much alcohol that I would occasionally black out. It was not a good time. It was more than half my lifetime ago. I was only 27.
I am not sure if it was August 13 or August 20, 1995. All I know is for the first time in more than seven years, I woke up with the compulsion to get myself to church. The closest church to my old apartment was Christ the King Catholic Church at 3001 Belmont Blvd. I can still sense the cold of the marble entry. I remember how my heart was racing as I kneeled, “crossed myself” and took my seat 2/3 back on the right- hand side. This was over 28 years ago!
I opened the bulletin for the day and reacquainted myself with the order of Mass. On the right-hand side, there was notification that Father Bob had passed away on August 12, 1995. He had an aneurism on Saturday the 12th, as he prepared his sermon for Sunday at St. Catherines in Columbia, TN.
My heart tells me it was August 13. Otherwise, why would it have impacted me so clearly? Still, it COULD have been August 20, which happens to be the day my daddy passed away 14 years later. I called Christ the King and spoke to someone who is going to dig for old bulletins. Part of me recalls being shocked he had died within 24 hours of me getting back into church. Part of me wonders if my memory is playing a trick on me.
I also looked up Char Creson, who I remember working with at RSAC in 1995. As it turns out she still works for the same center, under a new name, Sexual Assault Center. I am not surprised the new logo is purple with a prominent “yellow sunshine” symbol. Oh, the sunshine symbolism which followed years to come!
By the summer of 1996, I was attending our Ten-Year High School Reunion for NEHS. It was at that reunion my relationship with the father of my children began. In 1997, we completed marriage counseling with Father James K Mallet. In April 1998, he married us at Christ the King Catholic Church. It is truly mind-numbing. In this moment, I realize I have my two amazing kiddos because HE brought me to church the day after Father Bob went to heaven.
Christ is King. In this moment, I am still feeling that worn cushion underneath my knees.
Thank you, Lord, for the answered prayers with Pammie Sue this week for her brother, Kevin, as well as our customers/friends Jose and Sam. I am beyond grateful for your hand on Baby Malachi’s heart surgery, too! THANK YOU! I love the way you show up and show off when we invite you into our daily lives. I know you know exactly what I need for your purposes…so I am asking for more of you and less of me in the process. In the name of your son, Jesus, and every drop of blood shed for us, I ask for your will to be clear. Amen.
David Leonard (2022) has a song called Good Lord. I was just sitting down to write down a fraction of all that has happened this past week and it floored me. This song was playing loud while I was preparing food at 10 pm a few nights ago. Mark had been on a much needed “Man Trip” and his luggage delay was extensive. I was anxious to rest and sleep and could not until I welcomed him home. While I fixed dinner and prepped breakfast burritos, the song came on. All I can write is that in that moment, the Holy Spirit was palpably present in our family room through the delay. I was NOT alone! It has been poured out to the last drop in countless Godversations since in our Smyrna shop. God is absolutely on the move.
It should be noted that it’s easy to overwhelm, for me. I overwhelmed those closest to me with all God is clearly doing. Pretty sure He is reminding me through this song of the POWER, as it is HIS.
In this moment, I am seeing several patterns in my relationship with Him. He draws powerfully close when I am isolated from everything and everyone. He draws me close and compels me to go love in different ways.
Just had 1.5 hours on the phone with Pammie Sue yesterday. I am anxious to write down the gist, but it’s just a marker here for now. We just spoke of how God was forcing our reliance on Him. He can have us on missions or tasks for His Glory. We can spend six months or a year in diligent work for Him. All is golden. When we quit talking with Him daily and Seeking His Will daily, He will burn it all down to make His point clear. Or, he will have a car drive through and shatter the physical representation of what you have invested in for ten years. There is blessing buried in all the broken pieces. The symbiotic relationship with Pam is one of my earthly treasures.
Read a wonderful study brief on Phil 4:8 this morning and was guided to this book. I shall be visiting our local library soon or buying it. So perfect after last nights dinner conversation with Blake.
My God Room 