Yesterday I had to attend yet another training. Oh how I have come to loathe them. I invariably walk away far more discouraged than when I entered the room. As I was prepping to leave, I sent a text out telling my friend that I'd probably be in touch through out the day because I would be bored. Yeah, I was already planning to be disengaged and Facebook was going to be my entertainment!
As I was driving to the training, I got to thinking about that text and technology and how easy it has become to be anywhere else than where I am and in the moment. I really was mulling that over and talking to the Lord about how this has become a growing problem for me. I have always been bent to look past the here and now to the 'next fun thing' on my schedule. Sometimes I wonder if I don't enjoy the anticipation more than the event! Now with texting, twitter, facebook, etc. I am able to be with virtually anyone else other than those in the room. And as the Lord often does with this girl, He delivered a visual reminder of how offensive not being present can be as I was on the receiving end of feeling like I didn't matter because another person in the room was somewhere else via technology.
Ah....anywhere-elseitis. Yep, made that one up! The chronic problem of being anywhere else but present in the moment. I've done this to countless people, and to the Lord. Allowing distractions that ultimately make me miss the beauty of the moment...and yes, they are fleeting and only here NOW. Today, I am asking the Lord to remind me and cure me of my anywhere-elseitis. I don't want to miss this moment and the spectacular that may be found in it, whether it be a grand exciting event or the blessing of a simple smile.
Galatians 4:20a ~ I desire to be present with you now...
Friday, June 28, 2013
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
God Wink
My friend, LouAnn, is a great story teller and she often ends one that gives her a laugh by saying it was her 'God Wink' for the day. I know what she is meaning by that...the little something that the Lord gives or shows especially for her to cheer her, make her smile and just let her know that He is present. I had one this morning.
Now to some this may seem odd, but then again, you know me, so whatever. When I was working at the County Nursing Home, which was a very stress filled job, I would often find myself praying on my way to work in the morning about whatever was the crisis du jour. Taking care of 95 elderly with 95 different expectations as to what constituted high quality care is not for the faint of heart. As became my standard, I would often ask the Lord to give me a blessing in the morning...something that showed me that He was there. I would get pretty specific... I always wanted to see some type of bird. Stop the snickering... I can hear you from here! ;) Usually, I'd ask for a cardinal and sometimes it would be pheasants. Sometimes I would ask Him to pick it out. (Captivating women...remember this from our study??!!) Once there were some turkeys...not sure what that meant. Anyway, this was a 'thing' between my Abba Father and me. Sometimes He would deliver on the request, sometimes not. I never doubted He was there...because my faith isn't about what I can see, but rather what I know to be true. Still, sometimes the visual is just so.very.cool!
So fast forward to this morning. I was on my way to work, thinking about all of the things that have kind of turned my life upside down over the past several months...incredible ministry opportunities, my sister's cancer diagnosis, a new relationship in my life...when something in the field caught eye. There standing tall and regal was a full grown, absolutely incredible bald eagle!! This creature was statuesque!!! I have seen one up close and I do not believe there is a more beautiful bird on the planet, in my humble opinion. As I screeched, literally, to a halt and backed up on the highway to try to get a photo of it, it took off and it's wingspan was magnificent! I just sat there in the middle of the road and watched it fly so majestically upward and onward. And I was awed. Not so much by this beautiful being, but by my Creator. There isn't one ounce of doubt that Mr. Eagle was my God wink this morning.
I thought about the verse in Isaiah 40:31 that says, "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run, and not be weary. and they shall walk, and not faint." Often I have held onto that verse as a promise to be had...but today it is a promise that I am living out fully. I have waited upon the Lord for many things in this life, and I am seeing so much fruit from that wait...so much so that it renders me speechless and fills my heart with abundant joy! Yep, there are still struggles, things I wish were different, healing that hasn't come full circle. Yet, I know my strength shall continue to be renewed, I will continue to run this race and not be weary nor faint because I wait upon the Holy Magnificent Mighty God that calls me His. Wow.
Now to some this may seem odd, but then again, you know me, so whatever. When I was working at the County Nursing Home, which was a very stress filled job, I would often find myself praying on my way to work in the morning about whatever was the crisis du jour. Taking care of 95 elderly with 95 different expectations as to what constituted high quality care is not for the faint of heart. As became my standard, I would often ask the Lord to give me a blessing in the morning...something that showed me that He was there. I would get pretty specific... I always wanted to see some type of bird. Stop the snickering... I can hear you from here! ;) Usually, I'd ask for a cardinal and sometimes it would be pheasants. Sometimes I would ask Him to pick it out. (Captivating women...remember this from our study??!!) Once there were some turkeys...not sure what that meant. Anyway, this was a 'thing' between my Abba Father and me. Sometimes He would deliver on the request, sometimes not. I never doubted He was there...because my faith isn't about what I can see, but rather what I know to be true. Still, sometimes the visual is just so.very.cool!
So fast forward to this morning. I was on my way to work, thinking about all of the things that have kind of turned my life upside down over the past several months...incredible ministry opportunities, my sister's cancer diagnosis, a new relationship in my life...when something in the field caught eye. There standing tall and regal was a full grown, absolutely incredible bald eagle!! This creature was statuesque!!! I have seen one up close and I do not believe there is a more beautiful bird on the planet, in my humble opinion. As I screeched, literally, to a halt and backed up on the highway to try to get a photo of it, it took off and it's wingspan was magnificent! I just sat there in the middle of the road and watched it fly so majestically upward and onward. And I was awed. Not so much by this beautiful being, but by my Creator. There isn't one ounce of doubt that Mr. Eagle was my God wink this morning.
I thought about the verse in Isaiah 40:31 that says, "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run, and not be weary. and they shall walk, and not faint." Often I have held onto that verse as a promise to be had...but today it is a promise that I am living out fully. I have waited upon the Lord for many things in this life, and I am seeing so much fruit from that wait...so much so that it renders me speechless and fills my heart with abundant joy! Yep, there are still struggles, things I wish were different, healing that hasn't come full circle. Yet, I know my strength shall continue to be renewed, I will continue to run this race and not be weary nor faint because I wait upon the Holy Magnificent Mighty God that calls me His. Wow.
Monday, June 10, 2013
Good
Romans 8:28 ~ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
I don't know how many times I have read, claimed, prayed, believed, and held onto this verse over the years. However, this past weekend I realized something that I hadn't really noticed before. The word 'good'. Oh, yeah, I mean I noticed it before and held onto it, but this was different. As one of the guys from my church was preaching it on Sunday, I was claiming it for some circumstances currently surrounding my life and that still, small voice whispered to my heart... "Carla, I define good, not you". Oh my Jesus knows his girl so.very.well. You see, I have over and over and over again claimed that verse with a predetermined mindset as to what good ought to be, how it should all work out...in other words, I was defining 'good' from my frail, finite abilities. That's not how He defines it. He looks over the continuum of time eternal and defines good from that vantage point. Sometimes it is how I envision it to be, many times it is not. Sometimes it is better, sometimes not from my human understanding. I have been blessed so many times by the Lord to have been shown in my lifetime some of the "good" reasons that bad, heart wrenching, profoundly disappointing moments occur on this Earth. I have also been left with many moments that I simply cannot attribute any good to the situation.
The cool thing about this time is that it comes right behind the lessons of turning over control to the One who truly is that He is leading through. As I claimed it this time, I added a prayer of understanding that He alone gets to define good and I offer up those areas for Him to bless or sacrifice as He sees fit. What an incredibly sweet spot to be in!
Happy Monday!
I don't know how many times I have read, claimed, prayed, believed, and held onto this verse over the years. However, this past weekend I realized something that I hadn't really noticed before. The word 'good'. Oh, yeah, I mean I noticed it before and held onto it, but this was different. As one of the guys from my church was preaching it on Sunday, I was claiming it for some circumstances currently surrounding my life and that still, small voice whispered to my heart... "Carla, I define good, not you". Oh my Jesus knows his girl so.very.well. You see, I have over and over and over again claimed that verse with a predetermined mindset as to what good ought to be, how it should all work out...in other words, I was defining 'good' from my frail, finite abilities. That's not how He defines it. He looks over the continuum of time eternal and defines good from that vantage point. Sometimes it is how I envision it to be, many times it is not. Sometimes it is better, sometimes not from my human understanding. I have been blessed so many times by the Lord to have been shown in my lifetime some of the "good" reasons that bad, heart wrenching, profoundly disappointing moments occur on this Earth. I have also been left with many moments that I simply cannot attribute any good to the situation.
The cool thing about this time is that it comes right behind the lessons of turning over control to the One who truly is that He is leading through. As I claimed it this time, I added a prayer of understanding that He alone gets to define good and I offer up those areas for Him to bless or sacrifice as He sees fit. What an incredibly sweet spot to be in!
Happy Monday!
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Remembering Dave
Today the world is a bit less happy because a good one left it. My friend, Dave Bruning, passed away after a short, but fierce, battle with cancer. I knew earlier in the week that his time left on earth was coming to a quick end and I know he's free of pain and rejoicing in Heaven as I type this. While I wouldn't wish his return from paradise to earth, I hurt for his family and those of us who were fortunate to know him.
I first met Dave several years back when he applied for the Maintenance Director at the nursing home where I was the administrator. We'd had many candidates apply and I interviewed several. While Dave didn't have the most experience of the lot, there was something about his easy going manner and genuineness that I liked. I remember praying about filling this position with someone that I knew I could depend upon to take care of all of the maintenance issues that come with a huge physical plant, plus I needed someone who could deal with the precious people placed in our trust. I had not a clue just how much I was going to be blessed with the answer to that prayer!
Almost immediately, he began dealing with a situation with a vendor who was not dealing squarely with me and he took them to task! That was Dave. He understood my expectations of quality and he delivered consistently.
Dave also had my back. In all the years that I'd managed nursing homes, never had I felt that I didn't have to worry about maintenance...until Dave. I have less than zero competency in matters of mechanics and Dave knew that...yet he never ever made me feel stupid. He'd explain to the level that he knew I needed to make a wise decision.
Dave was worker! I remember the severe storm of 07 that took out power in our entire town. The generator was acting crazy and Dave camped out several days at the nursing home making sure it got us through. At one point we thought it was going to let us down, but he and a couple of the great guys who helped during that storm managed to keep it going.
Dave was so much fun! He'd started calling me "Boss" early on and that just stuck. In fact, I had the chance to visit with him a few months back and he walked into my office with that big grin on his face, saying "Hey, Boss!" While I hadn't been his boss for 3 years at this time, he still treated me with respect. I can remember when we played softball against another facility and I was the "coach". I think Dave was a bit leery of my ability to do so until I started changing up players and batting orders and we won the game! I then became "Coach" for a short while...always appreciated his support.
All of this was special, but none meant as much to me as the man he was to the people we served. Dave was incredibly kind and respectful of our residents. Endless hours he spent taking care of everything from air conditioners, to wheel chair repairs, to serving as a waiter for our Putting on the Ritz night, to giving miles worth of rides around the home to the resident who was just too tired to make it back to their room. He'd help build floats, transport residents to special events outside of the home, and always dressed up for any special days we had. Now, you may not understand just how important all of this was, but let me tell you...the residents did. He was a part of their world and they mattered to him. He was their advocate in many ways. He was incredibly kind, listening to their stories, their hurts, or to sentences that just didn't quite make sense.
I remember the day I told him that I was leaving the nursing home for another position in the county. He was not happy with me and he let me know it in no uncertain terms...and I was touched to the bottom of my heart that I'd made that kind of impression on his life.
Dave Bruning was my co-worker, my protector, my friend and my brother in Christ. I will miss him.
Thank you Dave for being so good to me...and I know you will be one of the first to greet me when we meet again!
I first met Dave several years back when he applied for the Maintenance Director at the nursing home where I was the administrator. We'd had many candidates apply and I interviewed several. While Dave didn't have the most experience of the lot, there was something about his easy going manner and genuineness that I liked. I remember praying about filling this position with someone that I knew I could depend upon to take care of all of the maintenance issues that come with a huge physical plant, plus I needed someone who could deal with the precious people placed in our trust. I had not a clue just how much I was going to be blessed with the answer to that prayer!
Almost immediately, he began dealing with a situation with a vendor who was not dealing squarely with me and he took them to task! That was Dave. He understood my expectations of quality and he delivered consistently.
Dave also had my back. In all the years that I'd managed nursing homes, never had I felt that I didn't have to worry about maintenance...until Dave. I have less than zero competency in matters of mechanics and Dave knew that...yet he never ever made me feel stupid. He'd explain to the level that he knew I needed to make a wise decision.
Dave was worker! I remember the severe storm of 07 that took out power in our entire town. The generator was acting crazy and Dave camped out several days at the nursing home making sure it got us through. At one point we thought it was going to let us down, but he and a couple of the great guys who helped during that storm managed to keep it going.
Dave was so much fun! He'd started calling me "Boss" early on and that just stuck. In fact, I had the chance to visit with him a few months back and he walked into my office with that big grin on his face, saying "Hey, Boss!" While I hadn't been his boss for 3 years at this time, he still treated me with respect. I can remember when we played softball against another facility and I was the "coach". I think Dave was a bit leery of my ability to do so until I started changing up players and batting orders and we won the game! I then became "Coach" for a short while...always appreciated his support.
All of this was special, but none meant as much to me as the man he was to the people we served. Dave was incredibly kind and respectful of our residents. Endless hours he spent taking care of everything from air conditioners, to wheel chair repairs, to serving as a waiter for our Putting on the Ritz night, to giving miles worth of rides around the home to the resident who was just too tired to make it back to their room. He'd help build floats, transport residents to special events outside of the home, and always dressed up for any special days we had. Now, you may not understand just how important all of this was, but let me tell you...the residents did. He was a part of their world and they mattered to him. He was their advocate in many ways. He was incredibly kind, listening to their stories, their hurts, or to sentences that just didn't quite make sense.
I remember the day I told him that I was leaving the nursing home for another position in the county. He was not happy with me and he let me know it in no uncertain terms...and I was touched to the bottom of my heart that I'd made that kind of impression on his life.
Dave Bruning was my co-worker, my protector, my friend and my brother in Christ. I will miss him.
Thank you Dave for being so good to me...and I know you will be one of the first to greet me when we meet again!
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