Story to Remind Us How Unique and Beautiful We Are...

This is a story written by a lady at my church...Michele LeDoux Abshire. She is a very encouraging woman with a heart of love. God Bless, Mrs. Michelle. Thanks for letting me use your story....

Recently at church my pastor pulled out a song from the archives. You know, one of those songs you haven’t sung in a very long time. The words go something like this: Glory, Glory, Glory, I’ve been touched and it must have been the hand of the Lord. My mind wandered from the song to an experience I had just the day before while shopping at Hancock Fabrics. It was a beautiful day after a long cold winter so the store was buzzing with activity. Not being familiar with the layout of the store I was wandering around looking for a particular item I needed. I strolled down an empty aisle where there were bolts upon bolts of different materials on a clearance table. I began to run my hand over each bolt and look at the beautiful fabrics; touching each one. They were all so beautiful, different and unique. There were many textures, ranging from coarse and heavy to soft and silky. Rainbow colors exploded through the bolts of fabrics. My eyes lifted and slowly slid over the entire store in amazement at the multitude of fabrics; each one with its own beauty and uniqueness gracing the bolts on which they were wrapped. At that moment I thought about how I loved so many of those fabrics and how I would love to make this or that from them. As these thoughts ran swiftly across my mind, alone in the aisle, tears sprang to my eyes as thoughts of how much God loves each of us in our uniqueness overwhelmed me. Alone in the aisle “I was touched and it must have been the hand of the Lord.”

Throughout that day and the next I thought about different aspects of what the Lord had shown me in the fabric store. The Lord lovingly comes into our lives and He touches us with His touch. Just like my hands lovingly passed over each fabric so His hand lovingly touches our lives. His is always a forgiving, merciful, loving, healing touch. A “so much more” touch. Just like my eyes were captured by the beauty of each fabric; in His eyes each of us is unique, beautiful and special. God has a purpose, calling and destiny for each of our lives. Just like I wanted to bring some of those fabrics home and make something unique and beautiful; His desire is to take each of us and make something unique and beautiful from our lives. His desire is to make us into the image of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ. “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son” Romans 8:29a

The fabric does not fulfill its purpose when it stays on the bolt. It must have a skilled seamstress to shape it into its final form. It must be taken from the bolt, cut, pinned and stitched before it becomes the unique and beautiful final product. A good seamstress sees a fabric and a particular use for that fabric comes to mind instantly. They envision the end result even before they take the first cut from the bolt. They pour every bit of their skill and love into making the end product. That is our God. He knows us inside and out. He sees us and what we can be long before we believe that we can be everything that God has said we could be. God begins to cut off the rough edges to make the pattern. He removes those things that don’t belong with the finished product. He then begins to ‘pin’ the pieces of our lives back together bringing about a pattern for a specific use. God then ‘stitches’ those pieces together to bring strength and stability to our lives so that whatever He desires for our future will be strong and sure. We will be a ‘garment’ unto praise and glory and fit for a king.

That day at the fabric store I was at the clearance aisle. I have thought about some parallels of this particular circumstance. The fabrics on the clearance aisle were no less beautiful than the other fabrics throughout the store. The fabrics were not inferior fabrics yet they were marked down for sale. Sometimes life has a way of making us feel as if we are of less value than those around us. We feel like we are one of those items on a clearance table. We hope and pray that someone will come into our life to make it better. We feel as if we are lost in the darkness of life and that no one sees us, no one cares and no one ever touches us. This is such a lie! Just as I was looking at that clearance table and noticing the beautiful fabrics, my hand lovingly running over and touching each one, so God is the same. He is “El Roi” the God who sees. He sees each of us. He sees where we are. He sees where life has brought us. God is constantly reaching out in His love toward us.

I believe that God is like those people that go straight to the clearance table, but not just because of the bargain but because He knows that there is true value in each and every bolt of fabric that sits on that clearance table. His heart is for those who are brokenhearted and sick and often it is those on the clearance table of life that are most open to Him. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalms 147:3 and “Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.’ >>> ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’” Matthew 9:12b-13b

I can picture it in my mind. I can see God as He lovingly runs His hand over each fabric. I see Him as He digs to the very bottom of the piled high fabrics to view and touch each one. I can see the deep intent of His eyes as He looks at each fabric envisioning each one in its final form. God takes His time as He searches. There is not one unnoticed bolt of fabric on that table. There is not one bolt left untouched by His hand. He is rich; so, of course, in the end He buys the whole store and everything in it. He does not choose one over the other. Everything in the store is usable, everything is worth something and has a purpose. God then brings it all home; the fabrics, zippers, buttons, thread, patterns, etc. and begins to lovingly make each one into what it ought to be.

The greatest thing is that God bought each one of us with the greatest price imaginable. He gave us His Son, Jesus Christ to die for us and to be a propitiation for our sin. “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God” Romans 3:25 and “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:2 Salvation through Jesus is a free gift that we must accept. Every single one of us has a choice to accept or reject this free gift. In trust we can submit our lives into God’s hands and let Him make us into what we ought to be. We can be beautiful for His kingdom whether we have it ‘all together’ or whether we feel we are on the ‘clearance table’ of life. He loves us just the same. Jesus died for us regardless of where we come from or where we are now. His hand is lovingly extended to each and every one of us. Will we let God take the fabric of our lives and change us into His ideal purpose for our lives? Will we take His hand and jump up into His embrace of love? There is hope and we can all begin to sing, Glory, Glory, Glory, I’ve been touched and it must have been the hand of the Lord.

Love in Christ, Michele
Copyright February 2011, Michele LeDoux Abshire

Overwhelming Despair and the Need to keep Going

The last few days I have felt a sense of overwhelming despair. A very deep sorrow. I can see so many people lost and hurting around me that, at times, I get overwhelmed. There is a vulnerability when we open ourselves up to others. There is a vulnerability that comes through loving others. But there is a great need.

I became a little frustrated today. I was pondering this great need. This need to reach out. This need to give. I was slipping into depression. I was eating lunch with someone and this person was buried in his/her cell phone. It was as if I were dining alone. It made me very sad because it seems that everywhere I go, I see the same thing.

People burying themselves in cell phones. Or lap tops. Seemingly unable to see the needs of others. But I know that I cannot and will not judge. I"ve been there.

My walk is just beginning. It is in its infancy. I have just begun to reach out to others. To peer into lives of hurting and already it is very daunting. To give, to serve....requires a very very very special person. One that is willing to share in someone elses suffering.

Who is willing to reach out in that great way? Not many. But I will tell you a story that I learned yesterday. About why reaching out is so important. I continually remind myself when I become sad, that this walk is NOT about me. It's about you. I keep going because He tells us to. He tells us that the reward will be great. He plants a love inside that is deep. That keeps people reaching out and extending themselves.

Here is the story:

I have begun to get involved in prison ministry. I can see this population of people that has been forgotten. I went to Open Door Ministries yesterday and I got to peer into the lives of different people. The women, volunteers, that keep the place going. They give thier time. Thier efforts. They work long, extended hours because they can see that lives are being changed. They gave me a window into what they do. I got to see faces. Faces of these women in prison. Women who have been raped. Molested. Women who have been abused. Who have gone through great hurts. Women who have acted on that hurt. Women who have landed in prison.

One the volunteers told me that she would often write letters to these women. She said that the women were so happy to recieve the letters. So excited to receive the hope of Jesus. So overjoyed to know that someone cared, that they would sleep with the letters under thier pillows. Those letters. That dedication gave them something to hold on to.

God Bless the people who give. Because you let yourselves be vulnerable. You let yourselves hurt along with someone else. You have the ablility to see beyond what someone has done. You see people as God would have you to see them. You have the spiritual eye.

There are days when I think that the things I am doing..the things I will do aren't making a difference. But I am called to plant the seed. And I am Trusting in my God to water it. To make it grow. So I will go. I will do. I need prayers. I am hurting for people that I do not know. It isn't easy but I am believing that lives will be changed. And one day the reward will be great.

I encourage anyone who has a heart for prison ministry to contact Open Door Ministries in Lake Charles. 337-436-6700. There aren't many people willing to help. Right now I work extremley long and crazy hours, but I'm making time to write letters and send birthday cards to these women. Soon I hope to tell one of thier stories.

Matthew 25: 34 – 40 “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me. Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You? And the King will answer and say to them, Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” (NKJV)

Today in the midst of this sadness, I was tempted to drown it out with noise. Turn on the radio and not think about it. It is easier not to. But I'm learning that, In silence, we truly learn to hear. We can listen to anything. Anytime. Anywhere. But the voice of God, comes into the quiet.

Turning off the Televison....

I occasionally watch televison. Sometimes I watch the news. Sometimes, I'll watch something that someone else in the house is watching. But lately, I have had no real desire to watch television. How many hours of our lives are robbed by staring at screen? Why do we look to these often "fictional" stories instead of making stories or memories of our own? Instead of finding out the story of someone else around us? Everyone has a story that we can learn from.

There are times when I think it would be fascinating to live in the old days. When people actually talked to one another. When people would walk miles to visit someone. When there wasn't the distraction of televison to give us a false sense of something. I'm in no means judging people that watch television. I used to sit for hours at a time watching episode after episode of "24." ( I actually do really like that show) But now that Jesus has planted true seeds of love in my heart, I feel a need to Do. To turn off the television and Do.

The time with my children has seemed more precious and valuable. The time with my grandparents. My neighbor. My parents. My siblings. Everything seems more precious when we let go of what cripples us. Our habits. Our addictions. There is a beauty that He will show you if you seek Him. He will give your life purpose and fulfillment that you won't have to fill with 2, 4, 6, 8...hours of t.v. time. It was when I first decided to change my habits and seek Him that I truly began to notice things that I hadn't noticed before. I began to appreciate even the simplest thing. The sound of the wind through the trees. Even the quality of my son's laughter. The days have become more meaningful since I have dedicated my days to seeking Him. Because I am finding. And the things I am finding are lovely.

Quite lovely, to be exact.

Hoarders

I was watching the television program "Hoarders" last night. (I hardly watch t.v, but sometimes something catches my eye. )I couldn't help but feel very sad for these people. They collect and collect "things" until there is barely any room in thier house to move. I think I can understand the mentality behind this behavior. There must be a sense of security that comes to some people through "possessions." But I look at the lives of the family members and I can see that there is no peace. The lives of these "hoarders" is in disarray. The house is a reflection of thier lives, it seems. Chaos.

I know personally that when I was walking in darkness, there would be times when I would notice that things around me would fall into chaos. There was a deep depression that kept me from noticing things that needed to be done. Even simple household chores would be a major task because my mind wasn't free. Depression is a prison of the mind, so to speak. Then one day it would dawn on me, the house is a mess. Clean it up. So I did.

But I know that depression can keep people living in what seems to be a fog. Every now and then there is a clearing, a spot where one can see through. It is during this "clarity" or "clearing" that we get a perspective. We often find that we have lost time. Where did the time go? The answer is simple, the time was lost in a fog of darkness and depression.

I often wonder if the "hoarders" are facing very extreme bouts of depression. Are they walking through a fog, failing to see the beauty of those around them? Failing to see the needs of others? I know that for years I walked in the midst of that fog. But it wasn't until I truly discovered Jesus that I began to reach that true clarity. Now, I no longer struggle with major depression. I know that there are forces out there that act in ways that we can't see and many often don't understand. There is a force of darkness that aims to destroy lives. The Bible talks about these forces. I have seen it in my own life and I can see it in the lives of others. But Jesus and His Word are our tools against it. They provide the Light to shine through, The Light of God's Word has the power to dispel the fog and help us to see more clearly. Now, this may seem strange but even the colors around me seem brighter than they did before. There is a Beauty in my life I have that was missing. There is an innocence.

I still face depression on occassion, but I find that if I rely on Him, He will walk me through it. He gives the life raft I need to find my way to dry land.

If you are strugging with depression and often look to things for happiness or security, know that there is hope. Feel free to Say this prayer with me. If you do not know Him, ask Him into your heart and for forgiveness.

Dear Lord, Please help me to see the beauty of things around me. Please help me to recognize that I am here to serve you and not to be served. Please allow me to see things as You would have me to see them. In innocence. Clarity. And in the Beauty of your Perfect plan. Help me to recognize the needs of others before the needs of my own. Help me to overcome this crippling sense of depression by looking to your word. By seeking You wholeheartedly. Dear Lord, Provide a clear path for me, free from the Enemy as I get to know you. I rebuke every Spirit of Darkness that would attempt to come against me and destroy my life. I choose to Trust in You, O' Lord. For you are the Light that makes all things possible. You are the Light that will dispel all of this darkness. Show me your love and allow me to show that love to others. Amen.

ho ho's for breakfast...dr. peppers for lunch...grease in between

I eat this combination of foods more often than I care to admit.
Countless mornings....I've expanded the HO HO empire.
Countless mornings...I've Doctored the Pepper...sprinkled it into my veins...my blood is probably a mixture of platelets and pure cane sugar...sucralose.

One day... I was fasting and I got the most intense migrane I have ever had. It was actually my very first migrane. It was horrendous. God Bless the people that get these beasts on a regular basis. My head pounded. I actually laid down on the floor for about 2 hours in a fetal postition because my stomach was too upset to move and my head was too hurting to care.

I thought I was going to have to call an ambulance.

That day I fasted from all beverages with the exception of water.
Firstly, I am a caffine fiend. I love my daily dose of java.
It is something I crave.

Well that day I could feel a slight caffine withdrawal headache beginning to form. It intensied.
Thus, the migraine.

As I was in the helpless state of migranediam ......I began to cry out, Jesus, please help me...

Jesus showed me something on that day. So often we put things in our bodies that harm us.
So often food companies...the large corporations...that package our foods, are run by people only in the business for the profit.

A lot of times..many companies don't care what we put in our bodies so long as they draw a paycheck. They don't care about what is good for us or healthy. They care about cost cutting.
It's all about the dollar.

So I was pondering all these things.....

Did it change my eating habits? Not really....maybe a little....it did get me to thinking...that God wants us to be healthy. He created fruits and vegetables...things that grow...so that we could be essentially healthy. Even science proves that God's fresh grown food is better.
Look at the "superfoods" with all of thier healing properties and antioxidants.
Those aren't there by chance. They are there because God put them there for us to be healthy.
How many cancers and sickness could be prevented if we could learn to trust God down to even the foods we eat. But I know that diseases, like cancer, could come from so many different factors.

but if we all relied on a diet consisting less of ho ho's....and more of pomegranites, blueberries, and spinach...I think disease rates would decrease at an alarming rate. I know they would. Science even proves this fact. This is one instance that science proves the things of God are better.

So I've made a slightly more conscious effort to eat a wee bit healthier.
I haven't made it to the level of eating completely like I should...

I know that Jesus will love me regardless of what I eat. But I also know that He wants me,,,and you....to be healthy.

Go get yourself a smoothie. Skip the Ho Hos today.

Check out this recipe for a peach smoothie.
http://www.squidoo.com/peach-smoothie-recipe#module61670672

An Inspiring and thought provoking funeral

Recently I attended a funeral. A dear friend of mine had a mother who recently passed away. Her name was Hollie Brumit. I've been to countless funerals. I have had many friends and loved ones pass away over the years. But this is the first funeral that I have ever been to that was set up to be a celebration. I was inspired. Mrs. Hollie Brumit was very confident in her faith. She knew that there would be no reason to mourn. I know her family is very grieved, and I send my thoughts and prayers with them. I know that there is a mother, a grandmother, a friend that will be deeply missed.

During the course of the funeral, the song, "When the Saints Go Marching In" was played. Mrs. Brumit knew there was a heaven. Her daugther ,my dear friend Diane, read a letter at the funeral and told of her mother's great faith. She spoke of her mother's knowing that there was a better and more beautiful place waiting for her beyond the realm of this life. Hollies granddaughter, Heather, also told a beautiful story that I would like to share in a separate blog. It deserves a space all on its own.

After the burial, we released these beautiful red balloons into the sky and sang, "I'll fly away."

I'll fly away, O' glory

I'll fly away

When I die, Hallelujah bye and bye

I'll fly away...

I didn't really know Mrs. Brumit well but I could see a very bright personality through her funeral wishes. She wanted things done in a certain way. She didn't want people to mourn for her because she knew of a place called Heaven. She knew a man named Jesus.

That is how I want to die. With confidence. When the time comes, I don't want anyone to mourn for me. Because I know there is a place called Heaven. And I know a man named Jesus.

I want laughter at my funeral. And joy. I don't want to be mourned. I want my life to be celebrated. I want to live my life in such a way that I have no regrets. To live it in such a way tha I know that purpose in Him is being fulfilled. To know that I have accomplished the work that He has set before me. The task of spreading His love.

A few months later, I attended another funeral. The boyfriend of one of my friends passed away. He was only 36 years old. His name was Roland Pellerin. I was very moved at this funeral, as well. My best friend, Jennifer is a true Christian. She is one of my Catholic friends and, to me, she embodies many of the qualities of Jesus. Patience. Purity. She has a kind heart of devotion. A heart of love. She and Roland had grown close in a short amount of time. They had a spiritual connection. I was moved so much at this funeral because Roland recently truly rededicated his life to Jesus. That is such a beautiful thing. How even through the chaos of death, as Christians, we can be assured that there is a life beyond what we can see. There is a promise. I am praying for you Jen. I love you. I am praying for you too Diane. I love you. I'm sorry for what you are going through. I know that things are difficult. That there are times when we don't understand the why's of things. But I do know that if we live with confidence, like your mom, Diane...and your boyfriend, Jen..then there is a beautiful place waiting for us. There is a man...and His name is Jesus.

"In my Father's house, there are many rooms. If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you." John 14: 2

"He will wipe every tear from thier eyes. There will be no more death, or mourning, or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away" Revelation 21:4

One more thing.....at Roland's funeral, someone spoke about a dash...Each of us has a dash..that space between our years. It looks like this 1970-2011. It is what we do with the time in between that dash that matters. What are you doing with your dash? I know what I am doing with mine. I am living a life in Jesus and it is turning into this beautiful thing. Much of my dash has been wasted in darkness. But all our dashes can come alive. Our lives, that space between our years, can grow into something beautiful. The thing about death is this: It makes us think about our lives. Do you know Jesus? Are you truly living? Is your destiny being fulfilled? Each of us has a destiny. If we seek Him, we will find it.

Seeds to Plant on the way to the Grand Canyon

Recently, I've had a desire to see the Grand Canyon. Not so much the Grand Canyon as Arizona. The seguaro cacti. The life of the desert. The sunset of Sedona. I'm considering taking a trip there in September with my boys if God wills it. I told him I would plant a seed of love for every mile I drive to get there. That would equate to over 1,100 acts of love and kindness. Hmmmm.....maybe I could leave some random notes for people on thier cars..or hand out free cds singles...of the one i will make here in the next few months...or maybe a kind word or encouragement. Maybe, however, I won't go. Maybe there will something else that I will be called to do at that time.