Today marks the 11th anniversary of my son meeting Jesus face to face.
God Really Does Know Your Name
A beautiful sunrise was filling the eastern sky so I decided to go out on the front porch to enjoy my coffee, my Bible, and my quiet time. I was listening to the birds and savoring each sip of my coffee when this thought came to mind. Somewhere I had read or heard in a sermon perhaps, that God enjoyed hearing his Holy Word read back to him.
So I opened up to Psalms and began with the 46th. I stood there reading to him and tears began to run down my cheeks. I went on with the 47th Psalm and the tears kept coming. There was something so special about reading to God. It just filled my soul in a way I’d not experienced before.
I stopped reading after that and continue offering Him my praise and thanksgiving for such an awesome time together. As I was looking up in the sky and relishing the moment, I saw something amazing. There at the bottom edge of the clouds, just where the sky comes up to the clouds, there it was, my name. Patti, clear as it could be and spelled the way I spell my name… Patti, with an i. There were no jets in the sky leaving a trail. There were very few clouds that day and they were huge. This was not a time of staring at a cloud long enough to imagine it looking like an elephant or something.
God had written my name in the sky, right there where I could see it.
Of course I didn’t have my phone to snap a picture and I knew if I left it would be gone by the time I returned. So, I just stared in wonder, in thanksgiving, in awe.
Since that time whenever I start to doubt Him or doubt that He knows that I exist, I remember. I remember that He indeed, knows where I am. Matthew 10:30 says that even the hairs on my head are numbered. He knows who I am. This is an awesome Scripture from Psalm 139 in the Message:
1-6 God, investigate my life;
get all the facts firsthand.
I’m an open book to you;
even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking.
You know when I leave and when I get back;
I’m never out of your sight.
You know everything I’m going to say
before I start the first sentence.
I look behind me and you’re there,
then up ahead and you’re there, too—
your reassuring presence, coming and going.
This is too much, too wonderful—
I can’t take it all in!
Such an amazing God that He would care enough about me, care about each one of us to know every detail of who we are. We never need to wonder if He knows us.
He even knows the way I spell my name. Patti, with an i
All Birdys Welcome
A friend of mine, who knows I love birds, gave this cute bird sign to me for my birthday this year. Of course, as an English teacher, the first thing I saw was the misspelled word. Continue reading “All Birdys Welcome”
My Choice
“I don’t want to go back to school! Please don’t make me go!” my cries fell on deaf ears. Continue reading “My Choice”
Not Today!
“Get away from me Satan!” That’s a phrase I find myself saying quite often these days. Somehow he knows exactly how to trip me up, he knows my weakest point and goes for it every chance he gets. Even when I’m reading Scripture he tries to grab my attention. Good grief! Well, not today, Satan, not today!
Sunday, my pastor reminded us that Satan only works on those who are making a difference for Christ. If we are not living for Christ, being the hands and feet for Christ than Satan doesn’t need to mess with us, he’s not threatened. But, if we are telling others about Christ, striving to live for Christ, seeking to do His will, then we might as well paint a target on our backs.
1Peter 5:8 says, “Be alert and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” So friends, watch out, be alert. If you notice you are having thoughts not consistent with your walk with Christ or if stumbling blocks keep getting in your way of doing what God has called you to do, make note, and send Satan packing.
Verse 9 continues to encourage us, “Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” Resist him, stand firm. In the power of Jesus name, you can make Satan flee. Somehow it is comforting to know that other believers are having to battle Satan’s sneaking plots as well, we are not alone in this.
The Lord loves doing battle for us, so run to Him, He is our shield and defender. Remember, Psalm 18:2, “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
So, when you find yourself under attack, be happy to know that you’re making Satan uncomfortable! Stand firm in your faith and be blessed.
In Due Time
‘In Due Time’ seems to be my summer-time theme. It started at the writer’s conference in June as a phrase repeated by several speakers and then picked up by the group of fellow writers I had the pleasure of hanging out with. All of us are praying that ‘in due time’ our work will be published.
While visiting my son in July, I was praying for my daughter-in-law’s salvation. I was asking God to send someone who she would listen to when His answer came quite clearly, “In due time.” I had to smile. His peace then came over me with such completeness, the worry and anxiety washed away.
Of course, it’s not a new phrase. We usually call it God’s timing. God’s timing is just one of those things I don’t believe we will ever come to understand, not here on earth anyway. Ecclesiastes 8:6 tells us, “For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a man’s misery weighs heavily upon him.” The King knows the exact time and procedure needed for every situation. Even when we are in the middle of an unfortunate circumstance, we don’t have to know or understand what God is doing about it. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. (Isa. 55:8) We couldn’t understand if we tried and I’m beginning to think it’s a waste of our time and energy.
I believe our job in the situation is to trust Him and rest in Him. I like the way the Psalmist words his prayer in Psalm 131 (The Message).
God, I’m not trying to rule the roost,
I don’t want to be king of the mountain.
I haven’t meddled where I have no business
or fantasized grandiose plans.
2 I’ve kept my feet on the ground,
I’ve cultivated a quiet heart.
Like a baby content in its mother’s arms,
my soul is a baby content.
3 Wait, Israel, for God. Wait with hope.
Hope now; hope always!
Oh, that I could be this way and not meddle in God’s business and try to hurry things along or figure out a way to fix a problem I’m facing.
Learning to wait for His timing, His ‘in due time’ is not always easy. What a blessing He offers, that we can cuddle us in His arms and be content and wait. And look, we can wait with hope, hope now and hope always!
Anyone else waiting for His timing? What Scripture do you go to while you wait?
What a day!
“Mom. Mom. Guess what I got to see today?” The words came flying through the phone after barely saying hello. Continue reading “What a day!”
Thirsty?
It’s forecast to be another scorcher today but hopefully not like Monday’s temp of 108! Summer here in Texas can be brutal especially with no rain in sight. The plants are taking a beating and we’ve got to be careful to water our pets and livestock. We should be drinking even more water than usual. It’s a dry and thirsty land.
We don’t function well without many long cool drinks of water and our souls don’t either. Sometimes I think we forget to water our souls with living water. I know that I can be going along just fine with a little glass or a sip now and again but then dehydration sneaks up on me and I find myself confused, frustrated, and not doing well at all.
All it takes to get things running smoothly again is getting myself to the source, God’s Word. He wants us to come to Him, read His Word and be filled to the brim. He wants us to be like the deer in Psalms 42, panting for the water, the living water only He can provide. In verse 5, David reminds of what he would do, “Fix my eyes on God – soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God.”
Stay thirsty for the Lord, just don’t wait until you are feeling the effects of dehydration to know that you’d better get yourself to the source of living water. Fix your eyes on God, praise Him, and He’ll be putting a smile on your face again in no time. For, He is your God!
Have a blessed day and start it off with a l-o-n-g cool drink from your friend, the Lord.
Something New
Happy Monday Everyone. Vacay was great and now I’m back home with just a few weeks before heading back to school. Hope your summer has been going great too. Thank you for waiting on me!
Many new ideas and changes for the blog and the ministry have been underway since my last post and I want to share one big one with you today. After a whole lot of prayer about this, the name of the blog will change from Patti With an I to Gold Star Momma. We’re hoping the name change will enable the blog to reach more people and continue to make a difference.
Those of you who have subscribed to the blog need not do a thing, the post will continue to come through your e-mail like always, just with a new name. Those of you who haven’t click the ‘follow me’ button on the blog, please do! Starting very soon there will be additional info that will only go to subscribers, including cool giveaways! So pass the word and have your friends join us!
Thank you very much for following my blog. I so appreciate your wonderful comments and conversations, it’s been amazing to see God working through this. I can’t wait to see what He has in store for us in the coming days.
Continue to stand firm in the Lord.
Blessings!
Vacation
I’m grateful for my family and while on vacay in California visiting them, you probably won’t be reading much from me! 
I’m watching this kiddo building circuits! Have a blessed 4th of July! Hug your kids more than enough!
Let Them See Jesus
Have you ever been put off by a fellow Christian’s behavior? Maybe someone who teases past your comfort point or one who is just a bit too sarcastic that it makes you feel uneasy? When that happens, sometimes we might not stay around them long enough to see the heart of the person, to see Jesus in them.
Recently I met someone whose teasing sense of humor was relentless, and I noticed that I steered clear of him every time we were in the same room. Not until he spoke to the whole group and shared his love and compassion for people through Scripture did his true heart shine through. Then, no matter how much teasing followed, the truth in his heart could not be overshadowed. He didn’t change, but my attitude toward him certainly did.
It was like those hidden picture pages in the children’s magazines. You know, the ones that have you looking for hours for a silly toothbrush in a drawing of a library, and you cannot find it until you do. Then, you can’t not see it. Once I saw Jesus in this gentleman, I couldn’t not see it, no matter how silly his jokes or how endless his teasing, Jesus shined through.
I hope people can see Jesus in me. I wouldn’t want the way I act or the things I say to get in the way. I’m afraid there have been times that my sarcasm has come through much louder than my Jesus. Hopefully, as I’ve gotten older and maybe a bit wiser, that happens far less often. A quick review of James, Chapter 3 is always a good idea! That tongue can certainly get out of control sometimes.
What do you think? Do people see Jesus in you clearly or do they have to get passed your humor, sarcasm, or something else to see Him?
Fallin In-Love
I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. Ps 18:1-3.
I’ve loved the Lord for a very long time. He has been my rock, the one I turn to for help and guidance. He has been there every time I have ever called on Him for – anything. He has answered my prayers through Scripture, through my friends, and even through people I didn’t know. He was there when I hit rock bottom. He picked me up, dusted me off, and sent me back out restored and refreshed once again. I love the Lord. But, I never understood when people would say that they were ‘in love’ with the Lord. I just didn’t get it. I could tell there was a difference in the way I loved Him by the way they said it.
Then, my life changed. I got a knock on the door from two soldiers in full dress uniform. There is only one reason for a visit such as this when you have a child serving in the military.
“I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy. Because He turned His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live.” Ps. 116:1-2. My cries were loud, seemed endless, and He heard each one. He caught my tears and wiped them away with His hands of mercy. He saved me from my enemies, those who live in the slimy pit of mud and mire; bitterness, never-ending sorrow, and resentment. He waited for me to get a foothold onto my new “firm place to stand”. Ps 40:1-2.
God has never left my side through this season of intense grief, most of the time, I believe, He’s had carry me. I am now totally in-love with the Lord and forever will be. Perhaps before it was a puppy love of sorts, a young immature love. Now it is a stalwart love, one that my crushed heart offers willingly to the One who constantly mends and cares for it.
My prayer for you today is that you fall in-love with the Lord and experience the difference. Be sure to share your ‘new song’ so “Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord”. Ps 40:3
Wait, Please Wait
I’m not very good at waiting. Maybe you are, but I’m not. I know there are lessons to be learned, wisdom to be gained, good reasons why the Lord has me wait, I just don’t want to but, I’m going to wait. Experience tells me that waiting on Him is always worth it. I’m guessing that I’m not the only one that is not too keen on waiting.
Lately, I’ve been praying for His will in a certain situation in my life. It’s a very exciting possibility which makes me want to interfere all the more. My prayer these days is, “Lord please hold my hand and don’t let me run ahead of You and help me keep my mouth shut so I don’t mess things up.” Proverbs 18:13 even tell us what will happen, “He who answers before listening — that is his folly and his shame.” While I wait, I need to be listening for Him to speak. John 8:47a “He who belongs to God hears what God says.” I’m listening, Lord, and I know I’ll hear You.
Waiting for God to move and show me His way is what I want more than anything, and I know when I wait for Him to put things into place, it is always the best. So, while I wait I will continue working toward the goal.
Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” See, if the Word says you’ll need strength to wait on Him! Take heart and don’t give up. Psalm 130:5 encourages us to put our hope in Him while I wait. Oh and look how sweet God is in Isaiah 30:18, “Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!” He want to be gracious and compassionate to me and He’ll bless me for waiting! He is so good.
Maybe you are having to wait on the Lord for something big in your life too. While we wait on the Lord and try to stay out of His way, please share with me what you do to help you in the wait time. Thanks and may you be blessed in the waiting!
Gold Star Momma 