DREAMS OR GOALS?

Dreams or Goals?

Well, Christmas has come and gone, and the New Year is upon us.  With the New Year comes New Year’s Resolutions – most of which will never come to pass.  Too many sugar plums dancing in our heads, I guess!  The truth is, more resolutions are just dreams rather than goals.  I read once that a goal is a dream with a “deadline.”



Our grandson, Cinco, brought his mom and dad to our house for Christmas this year.  Cinco is four years old and kept asking his mom if he could open presents.  Shanda, our daughter, kept telling him, “not today–tomorrow.” On Christmas morning, the time finally arrived.  As we all gathered around the tree, with great anticipation and excitement, Cinco looked at his mom and said, “Mommy, is tomorrow, today?”  Unfortunately that is what seems to happen to our well-intended resolutions.  Tomorrow becomes today and today becomes yesterday and yesterday is too late.   I am going to put some deadlines on my dreams this year.  And then, like Cinco, I can get very excited when tomorrow is today!

May this coming year be a year of fulfilled dreams for you and your family!  And may your tomorrows be filled with the blessings of God!

Blessings, Gary

QUIET - The New Year

As the New Year approached I began to pray and ask God to give me a word for the coming year. To be honest, I anticipated more than just “ONE” word, but all I could hear Him say was, “Quiet.” As I thought about this “ONE” word, I went back to the Lord and said, “Can you give me more? I really thought I had enough ‘quiet’ time last year.” I sat in solitude for the better part of last year. But as I continued to pray and listen to the “quiet,” I realized the Lord wanted to continue to QUIET MY SPIRIT and have me sit in His presence. Over the course of this Trusting Journey, I was in a way forced to be “quiet.” I lost my strength, I lost my voice, and I lost time with my family and friends.   Now that I have begun the healing process, regaining strength, being able to eat, becoming more active and connected, I feel, at times, the overwhelming need to make up for lost time. My mind often runs at such a fast, breakneck speed; when I try to do everything my mind wants to do, it renders me exhausted physically. So, the Lord has once again reminded me to—be quiet—not to skimp on our time together, to resist the clamor of tasks waiting to be done.

The story of Mary and Martha found in Luke 10:38-42 gives us a glimpse of how important our time with Jesus is to Him.

38. As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home. 
39. She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said. 
40. But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. “Master, don’t you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand.” 
41. The Master said, “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. 
42. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it – it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her.”

Basically Jesus is saying, when you choose to spend quality time with Him, you have chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from you!

My prayer for you during these early days of the New Year is that you will experience some “quiet” time with the Lord—time during our 21-day fast to pray, reflect, sit at the feet of Jesus, and thank Him for His faithfulness.

Much of our stress comes from trying to make things happen before God’s timing. Instead of jumping to conclusions or jumping too far ahead of God before He says it is time, we should slow down, let Him set our pace, and enjoy this Journey through the year 2012!

Still TRUSTING,
Debbie

Trusting - I Won't Let You Go

Trusting

COLORADO - THE TRUSTING JOURNEY

The Trusting Journey has had many moments..................and.this one has been GREAT.  Gary and I have been spending the last few days relaxing in the Gracious Slopeside Retreat with European Charm, of Chamonix at Snowmass, Colorado.  We were here spending time with friends Ron and Christie in July of this year.  At that time it was difficult for me to walk short distances.  Eating was still VERY much a challenge, Gary spent the first day in Colorado in the Emergency Room at Aspen and then we received the heartbreaking news of JT Taylor's untimely death.

Coming back to Colorado this time has been like walking into a sanctuary of rest and restoration.  Our days have been spent with strolls among the Aspens shedding their golden leaves, golf, and reading.  Gary has also reclaimed his passion for painting.  While here, he has painted a beautiful skull that we will leave here in the Woodson's Condo.  

We have also taken lengthy challenging walks in the uneven terrain of Snowmass.  I feel better now as I write this blog than I have in months.  Each day we have walked at least 2.5 miles, however on Sunday, we got a little carried away and walked 3.5 miles.  It was so beautiful, we couldn't resist.  I have walked with an overwhelming sense of gratefulness.

Just before I left for vacation, Vickie Bryan knitted the beautiful purple and black Trusting Hat for me.  It has been perfect for my long walks!  Thank you Vickie and all of the women that knit for the Trusting Ministry.  They continue to provide the soft, warm hats for the women that we are ministering to through "TRUSTING".

Here I am at the top of the hill.  This is my Rocky stance!  Can you hear me humming the theme from the movie, "Rocky"?  Well I am!!!!  Look in the far distance above my right hand.  That's the Snowmass Golf Club.   We walked from there:)  AWESOME!   (yes, I was tired, but it was a good tired!)

A QUIET REMINDER FROM JESUS

On August 26, I went to Dallas to visit my girlfriends, Amanda and Diane.  Amanda is a hairdresser and has been doing my hair for about 20 years.  When I began to lose my hair, she came and gave me a "high and tight" haircut.  As my hair continued to fall out, it wasn't so dramatic for me.   My hair loss was very random.  It began to thin and fall out in patches.  However, from about the crown of my head in the back it all fell out.  I was totally bald in the back part of my head. So when my hair began to grow back, it was random.   My hair began to grow on top, but the back part of my head remained bald.   On one of my visits to the doctor, he told me that the back hair loss could very possibly be permanent damage from the radiation.    We continued to pray and trust for restoration!
By the time I went to visit Amanda, my hair had begun to grow and fill in.    She put highlights in it, shaped it up, and when she turned me around to look at it, she was crying and when I saw it, I started crying.   She was able to cut it and blend it into a VERY CUTE short  hairstyle.

  I WAS SO EXCITED!!  It was a day I will never forget...............................BUT DID I?

Yesterday, I had washed my hair and didn't fix it immediately, I just let it dry.  Then when I was ready to style it, I put the gel on it and started trying to get the back  to lay down, but all it would do was "flip".  (the back has more curl in it than the top does).  So I put more gel on it, put more water on it, blow dried it, but it still "flipped".  I was standing there looking at it and said, "oh my, I can't get it to stop "flipping" and that's when Jesus said, "it wasn't that long ago that you didn't have hair to flip."  I immediately said, "OH JESUS!!  I'm so sorry!   It's OK if it wants to "flip"!!   I just really DON'T GIVE A FLIP!

I AM GRATEFUL! 


Oh how quickly we can forget!  BUT I'M SO THANKFUL that Jesus loves me enough to remind me of His provision!

We were in Oklahoma City, when a young woman walked up to me and said "excuse me, I don't mean to offend you, but you are absolutely beautiful in your scarf.  Where did you get your scarf?"   It took me by surprise.  Then she said, "you have inspired me.  I am in my second week of treatment,and I am beginning to lose my hair.   I came today to shop for hats.  But seeing you today, I think I will shop for scarves instead."  I stood there visiting with this young woman, with tears in my eyes.  I thanked her for the compliment, showed her how to wrap a scarf, and she was on her way with her 7 year old daughter.

You see, at the time she gave me that compliment, I was very weak, I was very thin, and I did not feel very pretty.  I felt sick!  Certainly not beautiful.  But after this young woman left, I was gratfeul that my appearance had encouraged a young woman facing the loss of her beautiful hair.  

Today, I was in Dillards picking up a gift.  As I checked out, there were two young sales associates at the register.  One looked up and said "Your hair is so cute!  It's a pixie cut!"  I said "thank you, it's nice to have hair again" and she responded, in her innocence, "what do you mean?"  I told her that I had finished cancer treatment and this was my new haircut.  At that point she said "oh my gosh I am so sorry." (she thought she had offended me.)    I  laughed and told her that I really appreciated her compliment.  The other young woman standing there, said "wow, you aren't just beautiful, you are so fashionable."  At this point, I laughed out loud!  These two young women have no idea what their innocent and refreshing conversation did for me!     The memories of recent days are still so fresh,  it doesn't take much for me to be teary eyed.  As I walked away from that encounter with two young women I thanked God for His continued restoration of my body, my hair, and my strength.
Still TRUSTING!

The Morning of 9/11/11



Ten years ago today I sat in my living room with my son as we watched the events of 9/11 unfold.  In those brief moments I also witnessed the beginning of my son's destiny.  Although I did not know how profoundly affected our lives would be from the devestating attacks on our nation, I knew that something began to stir in his young heart.

Now 10 years later, on the morning of 9/11/11 I am awakened at pre-dawn by the very vivid sound of my son's voice saying, "Hey Mom"   It seemed so real!   I heard him and I saw him so clearly that I opened my eyes and I looked at the open door.    The enemy has tried to strike fear in the heart of our nation on this 10 year anniversary of 9/11, and now he tries to strike fear into the heart of this mother, whose son is deployed in Afghanastan, fighting this war on terrorism.  I have a choice, to embrace the fear or CHOOSE to believe the scripture that I pray over him daily,  Psalm 91......"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord He is my fortress and my refuge, my God in Him will I trust."

I DO TRUST!  I thank God for His faithfulness!! 

I will not fear the snare of the fowler or the deadly pestilence, for my God will cover him with His feathers and under His wing will he take refuge!

My God is faithful!!

Praying for all of the men and women who serve our nation.  For those who have lost their lives in this fight against terrorism, you will not be forgotten.  We lift your family and friends in prayer on this day of remembrance.

Still TRUSTING!!!