Sunday, August 31, 2014

Molly's Eye View!

I am Molly and I am two years old. I know in dog years, I am a big girl, and not a baby. I just wanted to use Mom's Blog spot to talk to you humans about us doggies. Most of our friends have dogs, so I know you really love fur babies, but there might be a few things you don't know about us. When we come to you, we are so happy to be a part of your pack.   Once we leave our fur Moms, it is a little scary, so when you give is a home, for us it is forever!

We are very smart, and we want to learn so we make you happy. But please remember, we are still babies, and we sometimes make mistakes. If you hit us, or are mean to us, you scare us, and then we make more mistakes. We don't mean to make you mad, but we don't always understand. For we littler dogs, lots of things can be scary, so we need you to speak calmly and touch us, or even hold us, so we know it's O.K. 

Just like humans, we are all different, and we like different things. My brother Samson was never scared of thunder or fireworks. He liked to watch fireworks. Me....not so brave. This year Mom and Dad could tell I was worried, and scared, so they stayed home with me, and they gave me a pill to help me relax and sleep. They didn't expect me to be just like Samson. Samson liked doggy treats, but I don't. At first Mom kept buying what he liked for me, but then she knew I wasn't going to eat them. My Mom and Dad are good that way.

Another thing, you have to remember is, that new things, things we don't know can be very scary to us. Dad brought home a big round thing tonight. It bounced, but not like a ball, it sort of floated, and I didn't know what it was. I was afraid, and Mom said that was O.K. Dad said it was a balloon, and when they knew I was scared, they let it go outside. Yes, they are good that way.  I know that when they leave, they will be back, even if it sometimes feels like forever. I know that if I get sick, we go see Dr. Jodie , and when I am hungry, I eat all I want. I have toys, a soft blanket, and I sleep with Mom and Dad. I know they are my forever family, no matter what!

When my brother Samson was old, he knew they would take care of him and not dump him, or put him to sleep, just cause it was easy. Mom took care of him, when he got so old, he could hardly walk. She lifted him onto the bed and off when he couldn't do it any more. She held him up when he pottied. She picked him up when he fell, and never, ever left him alone for very long. He was not in pain, he ate well, he just was very old. At the very end, when Mom and Dad knew he could go no more, they held him in his blanket, while Dr. Jodie gave him a sleepy shot. He quietly went to the Rainbow Bridge from their arms. I know that they will do all of that for me too. They make sure I am not worried or scared, or hungry, or in danger. They are my forever, and ever, and ever family. Just wanted you all to know what every fur baby drams of, and when we find it, we will make you happy in every way we know how! Please, please remember, that if you take us home, take care of us, don't hurt us, or starve us, or abandon us. We love you unconditionally, and you are our family!

Friday, August 29, 2014

Carolyn McBreen Gibbs Blog: Call God.....He Always Answers!

Carolyn McBreen Gibbs Blog: Call God.....He Always Answers!: Do you get frustrated? Do you walk through a hard road, only to feel lost, alone, and isolated? Why do we so often feel like God is nowhere ...

Call God.....He Always Answers!

Do you get frustrated? Do you walk through a hard road, only to feel lost, alone, and isolated? Why do we so often feel like God is nowhere near when we desperately need Him? Most of the time, I am confident that when I pray, my prayers are answered, and I can relax and live in God's time frame. However, there have been times when circumstances, feelings, health issues, and life in general alienate us from that comfort zone close to God. When that has happened to me, all the reasoning, and knowledge I have makes no difference. It becomes a swift and vicious circle of doubt and despair.

You see, once we are down and discouraged, and maybe not feeling well, satan jumps in with both ugly feet, and convinces us, God is not listening, God is not near, and why would God help you, a sinner, a loser, a nobody. When my defenses are down, no matter how hard I try, I buy into these lies, at least for awhile. It's hard to explain, if you haven't been there. It is like you are so desperate for an answer, yet you know God is not a magic genie there to do your bidding, and so it is easy to believe you are not worth an answer to your prayer. I have been there, but mercifully, God brings me back to sanity, and back to where I can hear His voice again!

The times before, God has allowed me to cry, rant, yell, and be angry because I couldn't see Him working. Then He patiently led me through scripture,and prayers, until I could see His love, and feel His care pounce again. It was a hard walk. It was a painful walk. But I learned what God was teaching me like I never would in a happy, carefree situation. Now, knowing me, I do not always remember that teaching. Then I have to go through another valley, before reaching the mountain top.

Several months ago, I went down another valley road. It was steep, dark, and filled with pain. I had a major flair up of Rheumatoid Arthritis inflammation. I have had this over the years, and thought it would react the same way. After a week or two it would subside and go away. It did not! Again, I was in constant pain, could not sleep, and was accomplishing nothing, day after day after day! My husband kept telling me, "Go to the doctor." I knew better. What could he do? All the while, I am barely hanging on by my finger tips. I am praying, desperately, crying out, asking God, "Why are you not answering me?" I knew He loved me, I knew He felt my pain, so how could He not help me?  Day after day, nothing changed, and there were no answers. I finally figured out that maybe God was waiting for me to learn something.

I changed my prayers, asking Him to show me what I needed to learn, with the underlying plea again for God to make this better.....Answer My Prayer! After many friends answered on FaceBook that I needed to go to the doctor, I made an appointment. I did indeed have a major inflammation of RA. Within 10 minutes, my doctor have me a prescription for a steroid, narcotic pain medication, and the name of an RA specialist. By the next day I was almost back to normal. It was then that the irony of my silliness hit me...God had been answering me from the beginning, when John told me to call the doctor. In my stubbornness and thinking I know everything, I caused a lot of pain for myself. I had to almost laugh at myself, because God was so obvious, and had provided just what I needed, and answered me in all His Grace and Mercy, while I was too blind to see it. I will pray I don't look past His care or answers again.....but I can't promise!
 

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Carolyn McBreen Gibbs Blog: my Anchor In Any Storm!

Carolyn McBreen Gibbs Blog: my Anchor In Any Storm!: The Anchor Holds sung by Ray Boltz has always been a favorite. A former pastor at our church sang it too, and blessed many. The words have b...

my Anchor In Any Storm!

The Anchor Holds sung by Ray Boltz has always been a favorite. A former pastor at our church sang it too, and blessed many. The words have been brought home to me many times in the last few weeks, so that tells me maybe others need this reminder. It all started when we went to our Cross Roads Banquet for our Church. We are a group who care and minister to others through, Bible Study, counceling, encouragement and caring ministries. We each have our area, but we are a group that ministers together. At the Banquet, our leader emphasized Joshua 1. We were encouraged to be strong, be courageous. We were reminded that just as an anchor holds a ship steadfast, we too need to hold to God's word to keep from drifting. An anchor is heavy, attached to a chain or rope, and to lift or lower it, takes combined efforts of many. The anchor rests on the bed of the ocean or river to prevent the craft from drifting. An anchor can be permanent or temporary. A permanent anchor creates a mooring and is rarely moved. The anchor either hooks into the sea bed or rests on it by sheer mass.

An anchor has to hold in all weather including severe storms. As the song says, "The anchor holds, though the ship is battered. The anchor holds in spite of the storm."  What all this says to me is it is in those storms, God has proven His love for me. It is through those storms I find answers. God's appearance in our life should encourage us with faith and hope. If we are anchored by Him, we can learn to treasure the experiences of His faithful and tender care. I have recently had extreme physical pain to deal with. It seems that every day is as bad as the next, and where there are usually days of
reprieve, there is none. I cry out, I pray, and God is not taking it away just yet. Perhaps I need to learn something, or perhaps someone else needs to benefit from my trial. Whatever the reason, God is my anchor! He is all sufficient!

In Joshua 1:9, the people were instructed to build a monument at the site where God delivered them in crisis. I too will build a monument to God as a reminder of His healing touch and His faithfulness.i don't know what my monument will look like for sure, but His works are worthy of rememberance.Mine will be showing others the way through the storms by my actions. It will also be the picture in my mind, of my husband, holding my hand and praying for healing for me. I will raise up praises as a monument to God, my Anchor who brings me through dangers, sadness, and fear, pain, and illness! When waves of pain wash over me, when I am exhausted from fighting it, when I feel frustrated and alone, my Anchor holds!  And when I can't hang on another minute....my Anchor helps me and keeps me from drifting away! "The Anchor holds though the ship is battered!  My anchor never lets
go!