God Calling

During the Great Depression in 1932, there were two retired teachers who were courageously fighting against sickness and poverty. They were facing a hopeless future and wondered if God still speaks. They decided to find out and developed a plan. They would read the Bible daily, pray and add a period of ‘listening’ to their devotion time. If they heard anything from God they would write it down. They sat for 29 days and received nothing. Then on the 30th day, God spoke...to both of them. Sitting across the table from each other, they began to write. They wrote the very same words for 365 days. At their deaths, their Will directed that a package be delivered, unopened to the editor of a local newspaper. He was instructed to read their writings and do whatever he willed. The teacher’s only request was to remain anonymous and to be called “Two Listeners”. After reading it, he passed it to the most honorable theologians of that day. They could find nothing that offended the Bible, the Christian faith or the theology of the church. He then published “God Calling”.

Fifty years later, my mother was given a copy of “God Calling” from our dear neighbor, Ms. Chris. Ms. Chris was a strong Christian woman who radiated joy in her Lord and Savior. She was such an encourager as she shared her faith with others. She had unshakeable faith, but only because her faith had been shaken. She had lost her husband; the father of her two children. At the age of 14, her son died of brain cancer. During her son’s extended illness, her teenage daughter turned to drugs and alcohol, ended up pregnant and eventually ran away taking the baby with her. I remember my parents referring to Ms. Chris as a “modern day Job” as they marveled at her faith and strength. Even as a 12 year old child I thought she was amazing and loved to be in her presence.

”God Calling” was Ms. Chris’ favorite devotional that someone had shared with her during her son’s illness. She loved it so much that she would keep several copies on hand to give as gifts. After receiving our copy, my mother quickly followed suit and began ordering multiply copies of the book to share with all of our friends and family.

I have my own personal copy that stayed with me through high school, college and into my marriage. Many times, it would get pushed aside and begin to collect dust, but circumstances and trials would drive me back to pick it up once again. September 16, 2003, the greatest trial of my life began when my Jay was diagnosed with brain cancer. Jay was only 2 yrs old, Kaitlyn was 4 and I was 8 months pregnant with Tanner. Wondering how we would survive, God quickly reminded me of my childhood hero, Ms. Chris. The “modern day Job” that had endured a similar trial and survived. Those memories gave me a HOPE that defies description and a peace that transcends understanding (Phil 4:7). After much prayer and research, Jay, I and baby on the way, packed up to move to Memphis, TN for treatment. Only having God’s promises to cling to, I grabbed my Bible and dusted off my 20 year old “God Calling”. It was like taking a piece of Ms. Chris and her unshakeable faith with me.

I still stand in amazement at how even when I was 12 years old, God was placing people in my life to prepare me for my own personal trials and suffering. How awesome is that?!? What’s even more amazing is how Ms. Chris had no idea that God was using her to minister to a child who would one day battle brain cancer with her own child. Nor did she know how I would cling to her favorite devotional after all these years.

God, you are simply amazing.

To kick off the New Year, I want to share with you the “God Calling” devotion from January 1st, 1930-something. I also encourage you to get your own copy. You won’t be disappointment. You may even have a crazy desire to order multiple copies to share with all your family and friends:)

January 1 - Between the Years

Our Lord and our God. We joy in Thee. Without Thy Help we could not face unafraid the year before us.

I stand between the years. The Light of My Presence is flung across the year to come - the radiance of the Sun of Righteousness. Backward, over the past year, is My Shadow thrown, hiding trouble and sorry and disappointment.

Dwell not on the past - only on the present. Only use the past as the trees use My Sunlight to absorb it, to make from it in after days the warming fire-rays. So store only the blessings from Me, the Light of the World. Encourage yourselves by the thought of these.

Bury every fear of the future, of poverty for those dear to you, of suffering, of loss. Bury all thought of unkindness and bitterness, all your dislikes, your resentments, your sense of failure, your disappointment in others and in yourselves, your gloom, your despondency, and let us leave them all, buried, and go forward to a new and risen life.
Remember that you must not see as the world sees. I hold the year in My Hands - in trust for you. But I shall guide you one day at a time.
Leave the rest with Me. You must not anticipate the gift by fears or thoughts of the days ahead.

And for each day I shall supply the wisdom and the strength.
I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk
in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12

Chronicle of HOPE

Chronicle: A record or narrative description of the past.

Hope: A confident expectation of the future.

For a while now, I have been wrestling with the idea to begin writing again. During Jay's battle with cancer, blogging was a way to keep friends and family updated on Jay's progress. Eventually, God began using it to share love, joy, laughter and most of all HOPE to all who followed our story. After Jay's death, I attempted to continue to write, but really struggled with sharing our grief. The joy, laughter and hope that once filled our hearts, was now being overshadowed by a darkness that was just to painful to put into words.

This new year brings the 7 year anniversary of when childhood cancer entered our lives and the 4 year anniversary of Jay's untimely death. As I reflect back not only on the past 7 years, but on my entire 37 years on this earth, God is showing me how He brought(and continues to bring) people and experiences into my life to mold and shape me for His purpose. As part of this purpose, I believe God is giving me the desire to write again.

My plan is to use this blog to record the past, share the present and HOPE for the future. However, since my daily thoughts tend to be very random and unorganized, my writings will not be in a particular order. My apologies to my anal friends.

That's just how I roll.

Disclaimer: My plan and God's plan are usually not one in the same(it took me years to realize this and I am still trying to accept it) and I am really not sure what will evolve.

That's just how He rolls.