One day at a time

It is interesting that a majority of people waste precious time on things that
cannot be changed or will never happen.  Why is it that people in general do
not appreciate each moment that we have been given?

Each day is a gift from our Heavenly Father.  It is another opportunity to be
a blessing to our family and friends.  We have a lifetime which can end at
any moment.  Only God knows the length of our life.  When He calls us home,
our time of sharing who He is and how He loves is over.  

We are here to shed His light not to have a happy life!!  Joy comes from doing
what He wants.  He will fill us and give us the words to say if we allow Him
to be in control.  God knows us and He has specific tasks for us to do.  I do 
not need to waste time trying to MAKE things happen.  His perfect timing
takes care of everything.

When God gives us a day  to rest, it should not be filled with things of our
choosing.  He knows when we need to just let our physical bodies rest and
recuperate.  There are other challenges ahead and we need to be prepared
to meet the challenge.  I know how weak I am but I trust Him to strengthen
me for what comes next.  It is wonderful to live for Him and be used by Him.

Each day is an incredible adventure.  He knows what a day holds but is
exciting for me to see what happens!  There are people waiting to be touched
by Him as we walk through our day.  Our eyes need to be open to see those
who need a word of kindness from Him, through us.  I love how God does
all the work and we are His tools to do the  work of ministry.

I do not want to miss one day of watching what God can do.  He does
the impossible in peoples' lives every day.  I want to be a part of that.
God cares for me and want others to know about my Father.  Each day
is a gift...use it wisely. 

TROUBLED TIMES IN LIFE

God continues to encourage His children in the midst of  life on this
 earth.  It is amazing to watch the care and concern that God has for
 each of us.  If we look for Him, He is always there.  There is nothing we
 endure without His constant companionship.

Because of the various ups and downs of the past nine months, God has
 been ministering to me concerning various and assorted trials in 
life.  A very kind missionary friend commented when I sent her a list of
 "what we were dealing with".  She wrote, "God must really trust you."  I stopped to think about this statement.  Wow!  Does that mean that the horrible circumstances of life that we pray about have to do with God
 trusting us to handle things?  That is a major thought in this world of 
self gratification and selfishness.

A month has passed and the same message in church today.   Can God 
trust you to be a faithful when trouble comes?  Yes, I was encouraged
 once again.  When life is normal,  it is easy to say God is so good.  It 
requires no sacrifice and worship to expound on the gifts of God in good
 times.  It is an honor to be trusted to deal with the hard stuff of life.  Our
 God is so individual in His dealings with us.  He knows what to do to encourage each of His children and He is there to minister to us.

We need to train ourselves to notice the droplets of encouragement that
 God gives.  Each day He showers us with the beauty of His creation, the
 smiles of our children and grandchildren, the love that is shown to us by others, the cards and gifts received from people who care about us.  God
 wants us to grow up and be able to endure hardship.  People are watching 
us during the troubled times in our life to see if our faith is real.

This brings me back to my sister, Bonnie.  She endured hardship and 
thanked God for each day.  God used her in many lives to demonstrate
 real Christianity.

I am thankful that God can trust some of us with troubled times...

Bonnie Jean Clapp (Frydenlund)

One week ago, my sister and best friend went to be with her

Heavenly Father in heaven.  She is rejoicing in a place we spent

major time talking about.  We smiled thinking about the place

that children of God spend eternity.  Her suffering in this life

is ended.

Bonnie invested herself in people.  I was one of the people that

she forever changed.  I don't think many women will ever have

a person in their life who was a constant cheerleader.  She was

always on my side.  She encouraged me and lifted me up through

many of life's hard knocks.  We often spoke about our relationship.

We were very different personalities and yet we loved our 

differences.  Though we were born sisters, we did the work of

becoming best friends.  We even look alike!!  Those who know

her will remember how sweetly she would say, " Oh honey, I am

sorry."  

Bonnie was real.  There was no pretense about who she was or

what her opinion was.  I love that.  In our world today there are

so many pretenders.  They play with words and don't tell you the

truth.  She made a difference in so many lives because she was

willing to listen and then help as much as she could through her

wisdom.  She was an amazing woman of God.

Bonnie struggled with health issues most of her life.  She did not

complain.  She would not give up making memories because she

was in pain.  She lived her days to the fullest.  She was an 

inspiration to me.  I was able to do many things in ministry which

she could not do.  I would tell her that she was part of everything

I did because she PRAYED.  

Bonnie left 4 children and 9 grandchildren with many examples

of how to live.  She was able to spend quality time with the

grandchildren very close to the time of her departure.  They know 

how much grandma loved them.  She left treasure boxes for the

little ones so they can have a connection to her.  She gave precious

gifts to her children while she was alive to see their joy.

Bonnie left a fragrance of Christ behind.  I will never have her

to talk to on the phone but she is with me in so many ways.  We

loved Starbucks and talking; we loved the same tv programs; we

loved harp music as a background; we loved our grandchildren;

we loved talking about how good God is all the time.  I will miss

her.  

I hope that when I am gone I will have had an impact on this world

like my sister, Bonnie

TRUST IN THE LORD

It has been quite a while since I have posted.  Life has so many twists
and turns.  God certainly keeps life exciting.  I have learned so much 
and continue to hold on for the ride.

TRUST IN THE LORD...

This is a common term for Christians.  It is easier to tell people
to practice this discipline than it is to do it yourself.  I have
observed the rhetoric of trusting versus the reality.

In the real world, people suffer loss and pain.  We do not get a
pass because we know the Lord.  Everything we endure has a 
purpose for us or someone who is watching.  God has the
Master plan and we trust Him.

In the last 8 months, I have been through a trial, my store dying 
of cancer, my father's passing and caring for my mother who
has medical issues.  Friends have commented that it is a lot to
handle.  It has been.  God has shown me things I would have never
imagined with such clarity.

Experiences equal growth.  Being a follower of Christ is not a
stagnant position.  How can we know that we trust God if we
are not tested?

Oh Happy Day

Any day that we wake up is a good day!!  Let us get over the "whoa is
me" attitude.  Come on girls, we can do it.  Wherever we are, there is
Sonshine.  We bring with us the joy that God has gifted us with.  We
brighten the dreary days of those who are dealing with trauma we
cannot comprehend?

Is there someone you know who has suffered a loss of some kind?  Many
have lost their jobs and with it the plan for the future.  They need to
know that someone cares and is willing to be there for them.  Do you
know someone who has given a loved one to serve as a police officer
or military personnel?  They need to be encouraged that we appreciate
the sacrifice.

We all have so much to be thankful for.  The days of building our own
mansions on earth are gone.  We need to think about the blessings that
don't cost money...like family, friends, health, a place to live and food
on our table.  God is sooo good.  We need to thank Him constantly and
joyfully.

Oh Happy Day!!  Whatever happens today, He is in charge and so I am
fine with it.  He knows what is best for me all of the time.  He loves me
through all of the funky stuff that life is all about.  I will praise the
Lord and I hope that our chorus of praise is constant music to His
ears.

No Pain No Gain

NO PAIN NO GAIN IS TRUE IN A SPIRITUAL AS WELL AS PHYSICAL
SENSE.

Every woman has been through or will go through pain that she cannot
explain to anyone.  The situation is usually impossible.  Because God
made us helpers to everyone in our family and friends, we hurt for
many reasons. 

People who work out understand the balance of pain needed to see a
physical difference in the body.  Pushing beyond the pain is a part of
a regular work out.  Then there is the two days after a hard work out.
Places in the body are screaming for attention. 

When we are in emotional pain, it is a spiritual work out.  We need to
seek balance.  God is there and is ready to ease the pain.  He does not
expect us to do it on our own.  There is no way to get over pain unless
we give it away to Him.  He offers to carry the burdens but we have to
give them up.  

What can we do?  We cannot change people or most circumstances.
God can do the impossible and He does this all of the time.  We need
to notice all of the every day miracles that are happening around us.
Yes, we can ask Him to heal the pain someone is experiencing but the
timing of His answer is up to God.  We may never understand why
things happen in the lives of our loved ones.  God has a purpose and
we trust Him.

The community of women in this world experiences hardship every
day.  Age has nothing to do with it.  Young girls can already be caught
up in the hardships of life.  What can a woman of God offer?  
God is always with His children.  He never leaves us.  He loves us with
and everlasting love.  He meets the moment by moment needs.

If you are going "through" right now remember that He chooses the
strong to endure to the end.  Everyone cannot be trusted to continue
living their faith in really hard times.  People are watching and 
listening to find out if God is real in the hardships of life.  You are
making a difference in someone's life today.

Summer is over

Wow!  What a summer!  I don't know about you but mine was very
full.  Many experiences were uplifting, enjoyable, relaxing and
memory making for the family.  Some of life's moments draw us closer
to God and make us realize that He is our only Rock.  He is always
there and always good to His children.

I did lots of traveling which is a part of summer vacation.  Now that
I am retired, I don't need summer to take a vacation anymore.
Getting older is good in so many ways.  I visited family in the
muggy midwest.  I journeyed to the northwest at the most beautiful
time of their year.  We went to Victoria for the first time and
thoroughly enjoyed time with family there.  We spent quality time
in Arizona with family and friends.  I am writing from San Diego
where we have family.

No matter what happens, we are here to be with people.  Sometimes
people need us for encouragement, help, understanding or just back
up.  At other times we need people to remind us of why we are here.
God can do everything Himself but He chooses to allow us to do
His work while we are here.  How amazing is that!!  I cannot get
my mind around how low God has to go to help us to understand
anything about His greatness. 

Lately I am having more focused time with Him.  It is so wonderful
to be surrounded by Him through His word and prayer.  I hope this
was a good summer for all of you.  Now let's get back on schedule and
make some plans to be with people who need us and still want us.