And the God of all grace who called you to His eternal glory in Christ,

after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

To him be the power for ever and ever.

Amen.

1 Peter 5:10-11

After reading Come Be My Light, a collection of the private writings of Mother Teresa, some people have been devastated by the revelation of Mother Teresa's doubts that God even existed, while others are breathing a sigh of relief that someone like Mother Teresa struggled with faith as well. She was human after all, and if we are honest, haven't we all had doubts...especially when we are walking in the midst of pain?

Pain. It visits everyone. No respecter of persons. It comes to us when we weep over prodigal children, strained relationships, financial stress, serious illness, death.

Recently I spoke to a lady with a different kind of pain. She tearfully shared that she had been a Christian for years, but was having doubts, and even in 'a dry place.' She went on to say she felt unfulfilled, even though she was very involved and serving in her church. I know where she is. I have been there ... recently.

I believe people are beginning to look beyond religion to embrace the reality of life in Christ. Life in Christ is just that. In Christ and Christ in me. The emptiness that we feel as Christians at times comes from a mistaken identity. Our identity should be in Christ alone. Not in our prestige, power, position, prosperity, poverty, or pain. Our situations and our circumstances, good or bad are temporal.

Charles Stanley says, "Your identity is secure because of who lives inside you, not because of what you do."

Anyone God uses significantly is always deeply wounded...We are, each and every one of us, insignificant people who God has called and graced to use in a significant way...On the last day, Jesus will look us over not for medals,diplomas, or honors, but for scars. Brennan Manning in Ruthless Trust

With Joy and Gladness...

That I may go to that altar of God,
to the God of my joy and gladness,
and on the harp I will give thanks to you,
O God, my God.
Psalm 43:3-4

265. a blessing & prayer on my behalf by my husband
266. celebrating Griff's 19th birthday
267. spending a day with some bright 3rd graders
268. tuna and crackers for lunch
269. a diet coke on crushed ice

270. surviving Mary's Kick-Boxing class

Build Me a Son, O Lord...

Griff- 19 years old

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

GRIFF!

Build Me a Son Build me a son,

O Lord,

who will be strong enough

to know when he is weak,

and brave enough

to face himself when he is afraid;

One who will be proud

and unbending in honest defeat,

and humble and gentle in victory.

Build me a son whose wishbone

will not be where his backbone should be;

A son who will know Thee

and to know himself

is the foundation stone of knowledge.

Lead him, I pray, not in the path

of ease and comfort,

but under the stress and spur

of difficulties and challenge.

Here let him learn to stand up in the storm,

here let him learn compassion for those who fail.

Build me a son whose heart will be clear,

whose goal will be high ;

A son who will master himself before

he seeks to master other men;

one who will learn to laugh,

yet never forget to weep;

One who will reach into the future ,

yet never forget the past.

And after all these are his,

add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor

so that he may always be serious

yet never take himself too seriously.

Give him humility,

so that he may always remember

the simplicity of true greatness,

the open mind of true wisdom,

the meekness of true strength.

Then I, his father, will dare to whisper

"I have not lived in vain."

author unknown

A Miracle Baby!

No, this is not Malli dressed in blue, it's Griff at 4 months old!

Nineteen years ago today I gave birth to this cute little baby boy ---

William Griffis Morgan, our "Griff."

A premature birth due to a viral infection nearly cost him his life. His liver shut down, his bone marrow stopped producing platelets, and he had to undergo a blood transfusion. Hospitalized in NICU, doctors gave us little hope of taking home a healthy baby. It looked hopeless.

One night I fell to my knees and cried out to God,

He belongs to You. Do what You will with this child. I give him to You. I surrender. He doesn't belong to me. I am only his mother, You are His God.

The very next morning doctors and nurses were sure that the results from the 7 am blood work was a mistake when tests revealed Griff's platelet count had tripled overnight! They were so sure it was wrong that they re-tested him.

No mistake! God had healed him.

The doctors and nurses were speechless. Griff was released that afternoon from NICU and on his way home. Further tests showed a completely healthy liver and perfectly functioning bone marrow.

What a blessing Griff is to our family. Through him God has taught me much....and is still teaching me. I wish I could say that the prayer of surrender in 1989 was the one and only time I had to fall on my knees on behalf of Griff. However, I am thick-headed and very stubborn! So instead I often choose to fret and worry when all I need to do is release him to the One who loves Him more than I do. Sounds simple, but it is difficult this trusting...this walking by faith, not by sight...this surrender.

Surrender means to yield ownership, to relinquish control over what we consider ours: our property, our time, our rights, even a child. When we surrender to God, we are simply acknowledging that what we "own" actually belongs to Him. He is the giver of all good things. We are stewards of His property, but by surrendering to God, we admit that He is ultimately in control of everything, including our present circumstances.

Worthless

Everything else is worthless

when compared with . . .

knowing Christ Jesus my Lord...
Philippians 3:8

I am no different than most people. I am too busy and too stressed too often! When I consider how many things I have to do, I can get stressed even more. I really need to sit at the feet of Jesus and take the time to know Him. Compared to Him all else is truly worthless!

Thankful for a Day of Labor...

263. cleaning the boys' room like only a mom can

264. making a chocolate cake for Griff's birthday

Making Plans

You can make many plans,

but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.

Proverbs 19:21

Life is all about change and transition. Here's a few I have had to make in the past year...

Financial woes,

Serious accident of nephew,

Diminishing health of uncle who has cancer,

Daughter dates and drives now,

Becoming a grandmother,

Burying my sweet mother-in-law,

Helping my oldest move to Atlanta to attend college,

Just today, I cleaned up and put away things in the boys' room that they no longer need. Let’s face it; nothing remains the same. God is always changing us, transforming us, and molding us to be something different and better than we are. Although change is never comfortable for me ... it is the will of God. In the Word, we read that God is the potter and we are His clay. That is a perfectly clear image for me because I have been feeling a lot like wet dirt lately ... extremely lumpy!But you know what? I am realizing that in my lumpiness, I am being shaped into a vessel, refined in the fire until I am am worthy to be used for His glory!Times of transiton are inevitable and can be so difficult and trying! I actually uttered to my husband recently during a pitiful pity-party, "This is not how I planned my life to be!" We all make plans but almost certainly our plans will be divinely disrupted. That's a guarantee! In these times of change and transition I must cling even more to my Savior, humble myself and look at things through His eyes of love.

Philippians 2 says,

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose. Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don't think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing. Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had.