Doing All Things

Published on by marycatherinethomasLeave a comment

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)

This is my oldest daughter’s life verse. I don’t know when it became her verse or the circumstances surrounding it. I just know that we have reminded one another from time to time when this verse is applicable.

She once told me she wrote it on the palm of her hand before a difficult test in high school. She would glance at it and finally the teacher came to look and see if she was cheating. What she got was scripture.

When Dale and I were on our way to Japan we boarded a plane in our local regional airport. Both of our families were there to say good-bye as we knew it would be a long time before we saw one another or talked with one another. We went to Franklin to the airport, which is now referred to as Venango Regional Airport. It was a one room airport. No security, no frills. We walked in and the man behind the counter took our tickets. He then walked down behind the counter and checked our bags. After that, he loaded the airplane. At this point, my older sister grabbed my arm and said to me, “Cathi, if that man changes his hat and flies the plane you are NOT going.” I can still feel her grip on my arm and see the expression on her face.

Like a comic sketch, the man put on a pilot hat and lowered the stairway and welcomed us aboard. Since Dale, the pilot and I were the only ones on board, he had us sit where the plane would be balanced. I swear I could hear the Hail Mary’s from my sister.

This man could do all things. He proved it that evening on our 30 minute flight from Franklin, PA to Pittsburgh, PA.

We don’t have to be a jack of all trades to live that scripture. But we can realize that nothing is difficult with the Lord involved. He will give us the needed strength, wisdom, discernment and energy to follow through. Not everything will be easy, but we can have success.

God’s Sense of Humor

Published on by marycatherinethomas2 Comments

I have said that God has a sledge hammer sitting beside His throne which has my name on it. He picks it up on occasion to whop me across the head to get my attention. It usually works.

I have also said that I make God roll His eyes and groan a lot. He also laughs at my antics. I don’t do that on purpose, but I just know I am THAT child. The one you watch and chuckle and shake your head at. THAT one.

As I had mentioned earlier I had to have a procedure done this week. In the mid 90’s I was diagnosed with a tumor in my right breast. Before going to see a surgeon I had prayer from our pastor at a Friday night prayer meeting. It was a simple prayer, but an incredible healing. I could not move from my chair for about twenty minutes and I just kept giggling. A week later I went to the surgeon and told him that I had had prayer and that the Lord had healed me. The doctor did not believe me. He examined me to the point that I felt like he was counting my vertebrae from my front. He finally asked his nurse what she felt. She said scar tissue. At the time, I smiled at the doctor and said, I told you I was healed. Then I laughed all the way back to my office.

I have often been able to share this healing with others and each time I get excited. This week I had to have a biopsy on my right breast. A friend of mine reminded me that that one was healed miraculously and that God does not remove His healing. Throughout this whole situation, I have been very calm and peaceful. I didn’t even get nervous when I went in and had the biopsy. It was so cool, I watched it on the screen while it was happening.

So today I got the results. The first results came via My Chart. It was the reports from the radiologist and the doctor who read the results. I went to google to look up words. All was confusing. I handed my laptop over to my husband and he was equally confused. I decided to wait until I got a phone call before I said anything. I did not have to wait long as the phone rang within minutes of the email.

The result was benign with some scarring. Now, I know the scarring can mean many things, but to me, it was a reminder that God has healed me and He was recalling to mind that He lets us know when He has been in a situation. I like to think He is on His throne shaking His head at me and thinking, “I told you I would never leave you.”

How many instances in our lives do we fail to see God’s humor? I love that He made me smile today for several reasons.

Psalm 2:4a, “He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;” (NKJV) I know that is taken out of context, but I truly believe that God has joy in us and He does laugh and smile when He is working out His perfect plan for us.

Psalm 139

Published on by marycatherinethomasLeave a comment

I recently wrote about this psalm. It is a favorite of mine, although I truly didn’t understand it’s impact on me until a few years ago.

I have struggled most of my adult life with fear and insecurity. For people who know me, they do not believe I am an introvert. People can wear me out. After a few hours in a crowd I see faces and see mouths moving and it’s like I am in a tunnel where everything is echoing. Before retirement, Dale would have galas to attend and of course, I would be with him. I would usually spend the day preparing to go. Not fussing with makeup or hair, but talking to myself. I would give pep talks trying to boost my self-confidence. These were pointless, as I would have a melt down on the way to the event. My poor husband.

I would like to say that now, I can walk into a group of strangers and be perfectly fine. I can’t.

If I am teaching or speaking, I can do that just fine. That’s how I know it’s the Lord. I love speaking to groups of women. I love ministering to them. I am strong and bold and confident. Again, that is the Lord working in spite of me.

A few years ago, during a sleepless night, the Lord had me get up and read Psalm 139. As I was in the process of starting to write a Bible study, I thought it might be a good place to start. It was my favorite study of all. This psalm talks about who we are and how we were created. Our God formed our inward parts when there was not one day yet. He spoke into us the best of our parents and grandparents. Look at old family photos. Look closely and you will see yourself in some ways in them. We may have an aunt’s nose, your mother’s eyes, your uncle’s height. Or like me, you may have your father’s uni-brow. We are a compilation of our family. The Lord knit within us our sense of humor, our intelligence, our way of being us.

Our God knows us intimately well. He sings over us daily, songs of love. He knows when we lay down and when we rise. Our thoughts are before Him. We cannot escape His presence.

If we are that important to our Creator, who are we to question how we look, what we weigh, how we talk? We are His masterpiece.

“You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” Psalm 139:16 (NLT)

Promises

Published on by marycatherinethomasLeave a comment

Tuesday morning I had a procedure done. I had asked for prayer beforehand. I woke early on Tuesday and checked my phone. There on my phone was a very sweet, encouraging message from a dear friend. As I read it, I thanked the Lord for that friend. Her encouragement was well timed.

Throughout the day I received several notes from friends. I was so very touched by their thoughtfulness, care, concern and encouragement. I hesitated asking anyone for prayer, as I didn’t want to bother people. Dale encouraged me and I knew that the effective prayer of a righteous person benefits much.

As I won’t have the results for the procedure for a few days, I have clung to the words my friends have given me. They have made me smile and comforted me.

I want to share a few of these words here as I know they will touch your heart also. Isaiah 54:17a “No weapon formed against you shall prosper,” (NKJV)

Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (NKJV)

Psalm 73:23, “Nevertheless I am continually with Thee…Thou has taken hold of my right hand,” (The Passion)

When you ask a friend to pray you know they will. They will storm the gates of Heaven in your behalf. I cherish these prayers from friends. They bolster my faith, they reinforce peace within. They remind me how truly blessed I am in having these gifts from God.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says,”Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.  If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.” (NLT) This week, I had so many come along side me, and hold me up. I am humbled by the gentle acts of love these prayers have been.

Masks

Published on by marycatherinethomasLeave a comment

Psalm 139:14, “I will praise You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and my soul knows very well.”

According to this scripture, we are God’s masterpiece. How many of us feel like we are full of awe, special? Unique? A masterpiece?

I can honestly say I don’t feel like a masterpiece often. I don’t feel like I am anything special or unique. I am just me. A long time work in progress.

In our daily life we don’t stop to think about being a creation of God. We were born, grew up, worked, retired (well, at least some of us). We live our lives. At work we put on our work face. We greet people, we go to meetings, we manage expectations, we have our work persona.

At home, we are more relaxed for the most part. Family sees you with your family face on. You can be angry, or frustrated. You can laugh freely. You can unwind.

At church we put on what we think to be our spiritual face. We say amen at the appropriate times, we sing, we greet one another with a sweet smile. We hide how we are truly feeling. A smile in a moment is wonderful, and then you are just looking at each other’s back. It can be safe.

Each of these are masks. We put them on. They become a part of us. We have control of each of these masks. But, when we are alone. In the car alone. Awake at night when everyone is sleeping. In your home by yourself, behind closed doors. This is when our masks come off. What do you see at these times? Do we see the workmanship of God reflected back at us? Do we even believe in those times that we are precious in the sight of God?

During these times, I believe, is when we are the closest to God. It is quiet, it is still, we are alone, with Him. Listen the next time, remove all the masks and hear what He may be saying to you.

Psalm 139

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

1 O Lord, you have examined my heart
    and know everything about me.
2 You know when I sit down or stand up.
    You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
3 You see me when I travel
    and when I rest at home.
    You know everything I do.
4 You know what I am going to say
    even before I say it, Lord.
5 You go before me and follow me.
    You place your hand of blessing on my head.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too great for me to understand!

7 I can never escape from your Spirit!
    I can never get away from your presence!
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;
    if I go down to the grave,[a] you are there.
9 If I ride the wings of the morning,
    if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
    and your strength will support me.
11 I could ask the darkness to hide me
    and the light around me to become night—
12     but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
    Darkness and light are the same to you.

13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
    and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
    Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
    as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
    Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
    before a single day had passed.

17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
    They cannot be numbered!
18 I can’t even count them;
    they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
    you are still with me!

19 O God, if only you would destroy the wicked!
    Get out of my life, you murderers!
20 They blaspheme you;
    your enemies misuse your name.
21 O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you?
    Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose you?
22 Yes, I hate them with total hatred,
    for your enemies are my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 Point out anything in me that offends you,
    and lead me along the path of everlasting life. (NLT)

In His Time

Published on by marycatherinethomasLeave a comment

In His Time
In His time, in His time,
He makes all things beautiful, in His time,
Lord, please show me everyday,
As You’re teaching me Your way,
That You do just what You say, in Your time.

In Your time, in Your time,
You make all things beautiful, in Your time.
Lord, my life to Your I bring,
May each song I have to sing,
Be to You a lovely thing, in Your time. Maranatha Music

We sang this song in church on Sunday. It has always been a favorite of mine. As I sang the words this past weekend, I began to remember the times when God’s timing wasn’t exactly mine.

Frequently we pray and ask for answers. Most of us expect the answers right away. The microwave generation, you put in something, and instantly we have hot food. God isn’t like that. I know. I still have prayers from years ago that I am waiting for answers. Do I hold that against my Creator? No. He is a loving Father.

As children, how often did we ask our Dad (or parents) for something and we would hear, ‘in a minute’ or ‘wait’ or ‘no’. We didn’t love them any less, although the disappointment or frustration was there for us. The same is true with God. His wait, or no does not mean He does not love us.

I often have to remind myself that God’s timing is not mine. I have three clocks very close to one another in my kitchen. There is the stove clock which is directly beneath the microwave clock and on the counter beside the two is my coffee maker clock. All three clocks have different times on them. I know, it drives my husband crazy. I try setting them together, but for some reason either the stove clock or the microwave get out of sync. The coffee maker is on it’s last legs, so sometimes it is an hour ahead or two hours behind (but it still makes great coffee). I look at the differences of the time and laugh that they are each in a different time zone. It’s been a standard phrase throughout the house. Each room is a time zone to itself.

Likewise, how God views time is not how we view time. His time is perfect, unlike my kitchen. His soon, or in a minute does not necessarily mean an actual minute. II Peter 3:8, “But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.” (NLT)

So, if a day is like a thousand years, we really have no concept of how God’s timing works. All we can do, as we did as children with our parents is Wait.

He makes all things beautiful, IN HIS TIME.

Where are you looking?

Published on by marycatherinethomasLeave a comment

The other day Dale and I went into town. On the way in, he looked out his window and said, “The sky is going gray again, the clouds are back.” Meanwhile, from the passenger side of the window I was looking at a pasture where cows were lazily munching on grass and enjoying the day under a bright blue sky dotted with wispy white clouds.

I looked out the other side of the car and commented that it truly does depend where you are looking. I further informed him that from my view it was a beautiful spring day. We laughed and agreed, that a day is defined depending on your view.

The same is true in life. Often I have viewed my life, my circumstances as gray, cloudy, lifeless and hopeless. In those times, taking a step forward was a chore. Breathing was a burden and seeing any light at the end of the tunnel was impossible. I lived like that for several years.

Finally one day, I opened up my drapes in my living room in San Diego and truly looked out at the world. Granted, it wasn’t a spectacular view, our yard in need of actually grass, instead of the few springs of grass between the rocks in the ground. The back yard view was much better. Looking past the freeway, in the distance was the Coronado Bay bridge. It’s blue paint shimmering in the sunlight. The water of the bay glistening in the sunlight. The sun and the beautiful fluffy clouds that dot the skyline. I breathed deeply and I felt relief after a long season of clouds.

Gray clouds are not always a meteorological condition. Clouds in our lives can come from nowhere. They are just there. It’s not always easy to open the curtains of our mind and see a new day full of hope. Not easy, but it can be possible. ” Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” Matthew 19:26 (NLT)

“The Word gave life to everything that was created,  and his life brought light to everyone.” John 1:4 (NLT) “Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us” Luke 1:78 (NLT)

Anchored in the Rock

Published on by marycatherinethomasLeave a comment

Last week we took a trip to Looking Glass Falls in North Carolina. It was a beautifully sunny day, although the wind at times was brisk.

I took many photos of the falls, and then my eye caught sight of this tree.

This tree was literally growing out of the rock. The roots appeared glued into the rocks around it. It was at the edge of the water and was majestic.

“They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” Jeremiah 17:8 (NLT)

When I saw this tree, I thought of this verse. A tree planted by the water. It’s roots go down deep where we cannot see. It is fixed in it’s position. It withstands the wind and the rain and snow. It remains firm.

We need to remember where our roots are. Are they anchored in solid rock? Do we hold fast to the promises of God? Or, are our roots in shallow ground where they can be plucked away?

“On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.” This hymn is a declaration of how we should attempt to live. Anchored. Firmly Planted. Fixed. Healed.

The Zipper

Published on by marycatherinethomasLeave a comment

I was going into the fifth grade in the fall. I remember sitting at the kitchen table talking with my Dad. Our conversation was about an upcoming trip to Conneaut Lake Park. It was the first time I remember going to a park. We talked about the Blue Streak, a wooden roller coaster, and I decided I was going to love that ride. I did.

I love going to amusement parks, the higher and the faster the ride, the better. However, I dated a young man who wasn’t as keen on fast rides at the time. We went on a date to the Rocky Grove Fireman’s Fair, held in a neighboring city. We walked around and rode some tame rides, holding hands and being young and in love. Then, I saw a ride, The Zipper and suggested riding it. My life could have turned out entirely different, had my husband said no. He didn’t and it was one of his first wild ride. He hated it! He still talks about his dislike of that wonderful ride. (I guess I could say that ride is symbolic of our relationship, fun, wild and unexpected)

I thought of that ride last night. I knew I would write about it. I asked the Lord how that would relate to Him and this blog. Of course, I heard how it relates.

Our lives and this world are like that amusement park ride. We are rotating in a pattern and individually we are contained in our lives. Our lives continue like the earth, rotating yearly. But, during that year, we are spun around. Sometimes we feel like we are falling forward and we brace ourselves for what we see may happen. Other times we are twisted backward where the world seems topsy-turvy and we have no idea how to brace ourselves. We feel out of control. Unable to focus clearly, being held at bay and not able to escape. We may scream, we may laugh, but we know, like being in that ride, that it’s not over until it’s done.

Standing in a line at an amusement park you look at the ride you are waiting for. I confess that there have been a few that I look and question my sanity. There are some rides I look knowing how much fun it is going to be. That is how I often look at this life the Lord has given me. I can panic, I can scream for things to be over, and I can look at situations knowing the joy that will come from it.

Our God never leaves us. Isaiah 46:4 promises, “I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age.
I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.” (NLT)

Unopened Gifts

Published on by marycatherinethomasLeave a comment

A friend of mine gave me a book several years ago. It is called “God’s Guest List” by Debbie Macomber. In the first few pages the author tells a story of a person going to Heaven. She is met by St. Peter. He takes her on a tour of Heaven and she sees a door that is closed. She asks if she can see inside. He, at first declines, saying it is a storeroom. He reluctantly takes out a key and opens the door. Inside the room is a never ending view of beautifully wrapped gifts. She claps her hands in delight and asks if these were the gifts for those in Heaven. She sees her name on several gifts. She asks if she can open them. She is told no. St. Peter explains that these gifts were meant to be opened while she was alive. He further explains that all of the gifts in the room were returned to Heaven unopened. (The link to the book is above)

This image detailed in the book has made such an impact on me. I am a big kid inside. I love presents. I love to see them in bags with tissue paper peaking out of the top, I love presents wrapped with big bows on them. I am a child when I see them.

Years ago, when our dog was still with us, I had to come up with a solution at Christmas time. At that time we had real trees and our dog would get into the tree water and it would make him sick, each and every time. So, obviously our tree skirt would be filled with stinky stuff from both ends of the dog (if you know what I mean). In response to this, I started to wrap fake presents to put under the tree as we put up the tree. Then on Christmas Eve they would be replaced with the real presents. I still do this although the dog is no longer here with us and we have an artificial tree. I pick a theme each year and I love how put together it looks. My grandchildren volunteer to open them after Christmas. They say, even it they are empty, it’s still fun to unwrap them. I totally agree with this logic.

Seeing a present with your name on it brings joy and sometimes surprise. The story from the book hit me with a stark reality. Daily we receive gifts from our Heavenly Father. James 1:17 says, “ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” (NKJV)

Now, these gifts aren’t always noticeable to us. Some of the gifts we take for granted. A roof over our heads, transportation, heat, food, health, these seem like they are our right. They are gifts. How many other things do we take for granted? How many gifts do we each send back and are now stored?

I desire to look for these gifts and to be thankful for them, using them however I can.

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. I Peter 4:10 (NLT)