"The Muslim and Me- Reunited"

While picking up dinner tonight, I couldn't stop thinking about the gas station that was only a few seconds away. For those of you that read my Facebook posts, you might remember my post about "Salma", my Muslim friend ( for those that don't, I will attach post). I was just there a few hours ago and was able to say hi to my friend. She was busy though, and the  line was long, so I said hello and left. The thought of visiting, wouldn't leave me alone, so after I picked up my food, I drove by Salma's store. The parking lot was empty, so I pulled in. I walked in and you could feel the excitement on her face for my visit. Tonight, I did not hold hands and pray for my Muslim friend. Tonight, I stood and talked with her as we shared our life. She told me about her God, and I told her about mine. We discussed the similarities in our culture/religion, and she shared things about her life. Tonight, she grabbed my hand. Not to pray, just to talk. AND to let me know she appreciated my company. She squeezed my hand tight, and after what took more than your average "girl time planning" ( our diets are different, she can not shop for the same clothes I would buy, she has to pray at specific times 5 times a day, etc, she invited me to her home to eat. I agreed. We exchanged phone numbers. As I was leaving she asked If I would help her with her English. What an honor. What a privilege. It's easy to be friends with someone that believes what you do, and has the same background. It just might be easier to have a friend with a language barrier and completely different beliefs! I am excited about my new friend, and even more excited to be given the opportunity to share my God with someone who has never known him.

https://www.facebook.com/april.dorminey/posts/10201843831039114

His plans

Jeremiah 29:11: The comfort I have found in what has become one of my favorite bible verses for years is Jeremiah 29:11. When I felt loss: Jeremiah 29:11. When I was scared: Jeremiah 29:11. When I was sad: Jeremiah 29:11. When I was confused: Jeremiah 29:11. When I needed comfort for fears, worry, and anxiety: Jeremiah 29:11. When I needed motivation: Jeremiah 29:11. When I went from married wife, nice salary, living in a beautiful home with a vehicle to drive, to all alone, jobless, car taken away, and moving into my parents' home: Jeremiah 29:11. Moving to a different state to start over. A diagnosis that would affect my fertility in the future. Moving home back to my parents' yet again, because starting over didn't work out like I had hoped, searching for a career, working two jobs, a back surgery, a third neice being born, brain surgery for my neice, contemplating a second back surgery, a job offer, loss of loved ones, prayers for friends.... The list goes on and on, but the "back bone" of my life has been Jeremiah 29:11 "The plans I have for you, declares The Lord..." I've lost count how many times have I comforted someone with the same verse that has encouraged and given me strength all these years. And yet, tonight, when that feeling "of being kicked right in the center of my "gut", I completely abandoned the promise of Jeremiah 29:11. I went straight from "His plan" to "That is not what I had in mind! No way God wants this"! My selfish heart said "He took away this (blank), but gave me this (blank)". "SO SURELY, HE WOULDN'T take away that too!!!" 

I wrote this a few nights ago. It took today, sitting in church being reminded of Job. The sermon was about John, but God knew that I needed to remember Job. It was less than a month ago that I was sharing Job's story with a friend. Her loss is huge, and one night my eyes found a devotional sharing Job's strength. I couldn't "not tell" her about what I had read. This morning when I heard the preacher mention Job in his sermon about John, that was God, very clearly speaking to "ME" his daughter. He took away (blank), and even if he takes away (blank), I will serve and I will praise. If God strips everything good from my life, I pray to be like Job and follow, love, and never doubt his plan!!

"The Calm Before The Storm"

Whew! What a week! I've spent the week doing my usual running back and forth between two jobs. It's Wednesday night. The night I realize that I'm passed the "halfway point" of another crazy week. A storm is coming. I'm getting ready for bed. I'm ready to listen to rain drops on my window as I drift off for the night. I've got a big stinky dog at my feet who will be guarding my bedroom door for the night. And tonight I'm excited about peaceful rest. Even after all the stress, worry, anxiety from the past 3 days of working 2 jobs, trying to please everyone but myself, bills, to do lists, things I've neglected, schedule change, schedule conflict, doctors appointment, trying to do too many things at once, with terrible organizational skills, tonight I am at peace. I am overwhelmed by the peace and relaxation I am feeling right now. What didn't get done today I will tackle tomorrow. Worries, unpaid bills, and a lengthy to do list will be waiting for me in the morning. Tonight, my heart was filled with thankfulness. And that led to and overwhelming sense of peace. A storm is coming. After a good night of rest, I will be ready for it! 

"Welcome Home"

Standing in line at the register of the famous Walmart. The line is long, but I am next. Time must have frozen while I was mentally going through my shopping list making sure I got everything I needed. Finally it hit me. "Good grief I've been standing here forever!!" I looked up and noticed the guy in front of me handing the employee something he intended on buying. I assumed the price was incorrect (this was the second register I was in because the first had some confusion on the cost of an item being purchased). Finally my thoughts cleared and I overheard "Welcome home. What are your plans now?" I remembered those same words spoken to me a few years ago. I always answered with a fake smile in my attempt to be positive and sugarcoat my circumstance. "Where ever God leads me", or "I'm praying and patiently waiting for God's plan and timing". For the most part, that was true, but on the inside my heart was broken and I cried out to God everyday. "Not again. Why God? This isn't how it was supposed to be. Will I ever get it right? How are you going to fix this? When is it going to get better?" I realized the guy in front of me was putting back items he couldn't afford. I saw through his smile as he tried to be excited about what's next. He starts a new job tomorrow. As he made excuses for why his card was being declined, I couldn't stop thinking about the people who stepped in during my struggles and loved, cared for and supported me. Before he was able to grab something else from his purchases that he couldn't pay for, I swiped my debit card and paid for what was left. I hope he sleeps peacefully tonight ready to succeed at his new job tomorrow. I pray when sadness sinks in, he will smile because of tonight. I pray when his life is back on track, he will remember tonight and share his light in someone else's darkness. Most importantly, tonight I am stuck with the employee's words as he left. "You've been blessed. Now go use your blessing to help someone else." She has said that before to other customers. She has perfected her "saying". Tonight was no surprise to her, because she obviously has seen it before. And more than once. We live a dark world. The news we hear on Tv and listen to on the radio can shake our world. But maybe, JUST MAYBE, this world is becoming a little better everyday from those who never make the news.

"I Will Catch You When You Fall" Faith, Fear And Gold Medals

Fear- It's real. Fear can cripple you, steal you of your joy, and can control you. Whether it is fear of a monster, fear of your future, or fear of the "high beam", Fear can stop you in your tracks, lead to bad decisions, and change your entire outlook on life. One of my gymnasts is terrified of the High Beam. On a beam lower to the ground, she is confident, graceful, and has the posture and poise of a champion. The minute she stands on a taller beam, she is shaky, scared, and her balance crumbles. To help her conquer her fear, I stand beside her and remind her that "I will catch her if she falls". While she practices her routine, I stand close, arms beside her, ready to catch her if she gets into trouble. Tonight, while wiping away tears of my terrified gymnast trying to overcome her fear, she looked at me said, "You will catch me if I fall". It wasn't a question. It wasn't doubt. It was the reminder that I have given her to help comfort her fear. It was a trust that has taken a little longer than most to be built up. But tonight, she was reminding herself, trying to let go of that fear. I stood beside her while she did her beam routine on the high beam. My arms  were lifted and close, but I never touched her. She performed with confidence, poise, and grace that even impressed the judge. What a perfect reminder of God "catching us when we fall". He doesn't promise that we won't fall, but that when we do, and put our trust in him, he will catch us and help our feet land safely on the ground. I need to have the faith and confidence that my gymnast had in me tonight. I won't ask God about falling. I will remind myself that when I do, he will catch me. And I will be safe!

I wrote this over 2 months ago (but like most of my blogs that I write, I never published it). We had a "practice meet" with a "real judge" to prepare for meet season. Yesterday we had our first "real competition" with several "real judges". I watched that sweet child who has overcome a HUGE fear, perform her beam routine like a true champion. She did fall, but not from fear, and she landed safely on her feet. She climbed right back on the beam and finished with confidence. Not only did she conquer her fear, she won the meet in her age division!!! 

And this is what I learned from my Gold Medalist... 

You might be afraid. Fearful of financial issues, future, failure, health, careers, etc, BUT when you "pray that fear away", you will be able to live like the Champion you are. After all, we all have our "Gold Medal" waiting for us!!

I am so thankful for the life lessons these children teach and remind me of daily!!!

The Four Letter Word: BLOG

I am constantly being asked when am I going to write a book. Those questions and comments always make me smile. Mostly, because I am laughing on the inside. Sure, it's sweet and even adorable when loved ones feel you have a special gift. But... A Book?? "Who in the world wants to read my thoughts?" "A book is like, really long." "Living with ADHD, I rarely finish the books I buy to read myself." "Only famous people write books." "That's a lot of paper." "My dog might eat it." "Wait, what are we talking about?" You get the picture. A few people mentioned I should do this thing called "blogging". BLAH-ggg??? The week I had more random people suggest I start a blog than the number of days of that week, I was convinced. "OK GOD!! I hear you!! It has taken more than two weeks to figure some of this "blog" stuff out. I STILL have no idea what I am doing. They say not to judge a book by it's cover. My hope is that you don't judge "this Blog by the page". I'm learning. This is my very own "work in progress". Several years ago a very wise woman told me that one day, I would be able to use my life struggles for God, and that my past will lead others to HIM. I am no saint. I'm a sinner saved by God's amazing grace. I've been held in the arms of my savior. I've ran and even hidden as far as I could from my savior. And like the Prodigal Son, I've always been welcomed home with the loving, forgiving, open arms of my savior. And every morning I pray to become more and more like my savior. My purpose for "blogging" is to encourage others, allow you to laugh at my expense (spend one day in my world, and you will be given the biggest belly laugh), and to put into words my thoughts at night when I am un-winding from a long stressful day. This is me: I'm a daughter. I'm a grand daughter, I'm a sister. I'm a friend. I'm an aunt to 3 precious miracles. I'm a coach. I've made mistakes. I've learned. A LOT. I've celebrated many victories. I've suffered and endured many struggles. Through it all, I've been loved. I will gladly use my victories, struggles, and mistakes to encourage, prevent, and relate to others. I AM BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN. "Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weakness, So that the power of Christ may work through me. Since I know it is all for Christ's good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For When I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:8-10