I don't remember where this quote came from, nor do I know the author, but it speaks to my heart.

In this world today, my faith in people has been so restored.  This past week, I've spoken to countless people who shared their faith with me, openly.  People who have always been more reserved.

As Christians, it isn't easy to navigate "life."  Just when we think it's safe to take a breath, another tsunami hits us.  We had a pastor one time who said, "if you're in the middle of a storm, hold on, it will pass. If you're not in a storm get on your knees and thank the Lord, but know, that one is coming."

I wish that wasn't true, but we all know that it is.

A few days ago, one of my puppies woke up with a swollen, red eye. It looked like he had cried all night long, with one eye.  Of course I called my daughter, and she knew exactly what to do.  One day later, his little eye is perfect.

I'm so thankful that he's ok. I'm blessed to have a daughter who doesn't mind being "on call", and always has the answers to my veterinary questions.  And I'm grateful to have two puppies I can love on.  My boys bring laughter and joy to my life.

During this past month, when we, as a nation have cried, worshiped, and prayed together, I feel thankful, blessed, and grateful.

My prayer is you are feeling those too.

Dr. Katt

GODS PERFECT SYSTEM

I remember when my baby first started crawling. I sat on the floor with her, coaxing her to crawl. One day, on her own she pulled herself up to the couch, and tried to walk over the few short steps to the coffee table. I clapped and shouted. I think I scared her. She fell on the floor and a few tears welled in her eyes. I rushed over to her, held her in my arms and encouraged her to try again. 
She was the happiest baby. I rarely remember her crying. 
She wasn't afraid of anything, including stairs.
As she grew, and learned a few of the dangers, some of them on her own, I think I grew too. 
One of the hardest lessons for parents to learn is we have to let them "fall" a few times. That's what makes each of us stronger.
When my son was born a few years later, I wasn't as cautious. I tried not to shelter him as I had my daughter.
I'm so glad my Father has been there to "catch" me.  And cheer me on.
As I've grown older, and I hope wiser, I've learned to be safe in His arms.
It's like making a wrong turn, and learning you're on the wrong road. How did I get here, and where do I go from here?
Now that I'm old, I know where my GPS is. Gods Perfect System...
He answers my prayers working them out in His perfect timing. It's not necessary for me to know where I'm going, I'm a follower. 
John 12:26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

DID I SAY NO?

One of the emails I get consistently is about being tired. My friends are tired. Over-worked, frustrated, too busy, always on the go, no time for her/himself. Wow, can I relate? I think so.
One of the things my husband says to me on a regular basis is, "you need to learn to say no."
I'd like to know how to do that. When an elderly friend calls and needs help with her computer, she has no money to hire someone, is she where I start saying no? Or what about the friend who calls when I'm working on another project and "just needs to talk a minute". She's lonely. Do I say no to her? Or what about the fellow writer friends who want to send me parts of their manuscript for my critic? Do I tell them no?
I know you understand where I'm going. How do you divide your time? How do you say no?
I developed a plan of my own a few years ago. It's called PRAYER. Yup, that's "all" I do.
When I am feeling weary and frustrated and overwhelmed, I realize it's because I haven't included God in my plans that day. I've tried to "fix" it all myself. I can't do it. In fact, I never could do it by myself.
The hard part is not letting myself feel guilty about re-arranging my priorities. The laundry can wait. Grocery shopping doesn't have to be done this minute. Several tasks I've got on my list can be put off until tomorrow.
That's one of the things my hubby tells me all the time. "Do you have to do it today?" He's right. It can wait.
I'm baking chocolate chip cookies for him, but I think I can do it tomorrow. 

I CAN'T

I sat at my desk, thumbing through my day planner. Another day, just like yesterday. There are only 24 hours in this day. Yesterday was so busy. The day after Camp Meeting, trying to recapture ten days worth of phone calls, email, writing assignments. My husband had a doctors appointment. Our new Church directory, pictures Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Committee members to call and assign duties. Blow the dust off writing assignments. Find the bottom of my desk.
I looked out the window at the bird feeders and leaned back in my chair. "Lord", my prayer began, "I can't do all that needs to be done today."
I heard HIS booming voice. "My child," HE began, "I noticed what a train wreck yesterday was, why did you try to do it by yourself?"
Guilty, as charged.
Not only did I rush through morning devotions, but the entire day was like that. I did "half the job", I should have done.
My husband was anxious to get back on the golf course. He also took ten days from his normal routine to go to Camp Meetings. However, I heard him tell someone, "I'm staying home today. It's Valentine's Day and I want to spend it with my wife."
Oh how sweet. But does he realize how much I have to do?
So I spent the morning at the doctors office with my husband. We stopped for lunch and I came home and tried to plow through my mess.
Not once in the afternoon did I take time to say, "Lord, I need you."
This morning, I'm sure HE is smacking himself on the head saying "Duh, you finally got it."
I can't, but HE can. 

MY AFTERNOON NAP

The last ten days I sat with my pew mate, Blanche every morning during a very intense Bible study. I listened to thirty sermons and loved on hundreds of friends.
I'm feeling a little depressed today. I suppose that's a pretty rigorous schedule to maintain, even for a young person. Now, it's back to "life as usual".
I don't think my life will ever be the same however. Even though my head is full, and I'm feeling a little weary, I'm rejoicing in all I heard.
One common message the Evangelists talked about was, "someone prayed for me." It was not always a family member, sometimes a friend from Church or a neighbor.
I wonder how many times the Lord has touched my heart about praying for someone and I haven't listened. Or maybe thought, "someone else is probably praying for them."
Several times, over the years I have read accounts of Mother's praying for their children only to learn some time later that child was in danger. Thanks to her prayers God was with that child.
People have said to me, "the only thing I can do is pray." Sometimes I think none of us realize the power we hold in prayer.
I'm thinking about taking a nap this afternoon, my head feels heavy from all the messages. I'm hoping at some point I will be able to pull some of those thoughts out and be able to use them. I'm praying they aren't just stuck inside my head for eternity.
I suppose that wouldn't be such a bad thing either. What beautiful messages I'm thinking about today.
Oh, yes, now for that nap.

CAMP MEETING

A time of revival, renewal and rejoicing is now. 
People are coming, actually they are already here, from all over the United States to celebrate one thing. Each of us has something in common; Our faith.
What joy I feel in my heart every morning when I walk in and find my "assigned" seat. At 9:15 we enjoy Bible study, 10:30 the first worship service. We all take a break for lunch, whether in the cafeteria or inside our own home. We gather again for the 2:30 Worship service and again at 7:30 for the final worship service of the day. 
Again and again I hear people proclaim, "I love Camp Meeting."
Several years ago, I had no idea what Camp Meeting was. A friend invited me to sing with the Ladies Chorus. I knew we were singing the first night of Camp Meeting. I still didn't know what they were saying to me.
Today, I block off the entire ten days.
It's a time of great fellowship and sharing. A time of loving and living. And a time of prayer and thanksgiving.
It is a grueling schedule, but I've come to love it. I also love the people who share the experience with me.
I can rest later.

DELIGHT IN ME

Psalms 147:11.. the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. The definition of "delight" in my dictionary is "great pleasure or joy". So according to scripture, when you delight in God, He delights in you. I can't think of many places I feel the power of the Lord more so than the ocean. Watching the calm waves rush to shore and back out again. Or the violent tide rushing in during a storm, including black clouds thrusting torrent sheets of rain and gusts of wind spewing sand like little cyclones along the shore. The mighty hand of God is evident. And even though the storm can be threatening, I take cover in the Lord. Knowing in just a little while there will be a beautiful rainbow where the storm clouds once gathered. How do you take cover? I'm praying for you today.

SACRIFICE OF PRAISE

Even though I spend most of my day praying, I am asking myself this morning, how much of that time is a sacrifice? Am I just "praying on the run", in between assignments? When I have time? Or do I actually sit down, shut the rest of the world out and Offer to God a sacrifice of praise-the fruit of lips that confess his name. Hebrews 13:15. I sit every morning, before the rest of my world is awake, watch the sun come up and read my Bible. I have a special time with the Lord. But, today I'm thinking that's not enough. When I think of the sacrifice God made for me, giving His son for my sins, just a few minutes a day in prayer hardly seems worthy. I am also learning the more time I spend in prayer, the easier it is to perform the tasks I had lost sleep over. There are days, I wake up, make the coffee, take the dogs out and look at my calendar before I sit to pray. I started a new routine a few weeks ago. When I look at my calendar, I give it to the Lord. I pray, "What are WE going to do today Lord? What is it You want me to do. Is it anything on that calendar?" Of course I'm not talking about doctor appointments, or anything of that nature, but writing assignments. I feel a peace come over me. I am able to sit and write, whether it is my latest wip, or a proposal for my new book. HE is ever present. There are days I imagine crawling into His lap, and just "resting" for a bit. HE always gives me the strength to carry on. No matter how crazy that calendar of mine looks.