The power of God truly amazes me.

Mom had a stroke almost two weeks ago. Throughout the entire time she was in the hospital, God provided tremendous peace. However, after Mom had been there for about 4 days, I had my breakdown in private. I don't know why, but I was very much concerned about the future, even though her improvement was fantastic.

When we went to church that Sunday, the last song of the service was "Because He Lives," one of my old-time favs. As we sang the last verse, tears streamed and I could feel my face become flaming hot. I could NOT sing.  I could NOT look at Wayne, nor could I look at the kids. I could NOT breathe, actually...

God said, "Karen, it will be okay if your mom is with Me, and it will be okay if she's with you because Jesus lives and is your Savior."

That's it. God knew that right then I didn't need a lecture or a theological dissertation, but he SURE DID know that I needed a reminder--a loving one--that no matter what happens in my life, He is holding the future.

Christian bookstores are full of all types of Bibles. Actually, so are Wayne's bookshelves... :)

My favorite translation has always been the NIV, but I do enjoy cross-referencing other versions or paraphrases to compare/contrast word choice and syntax. Ah, the English teacher in me comes out. (Yes, I even compare comma placement--it does make a difference sometimes!) However, there's one type of Bible that I've never owned--one with the words of Christ in red letters.

My parents owned one with red letters. As a kid, I just thought the printers were trying to make the Bible "pretty," but one time Mom explained that they wanted to make the words of Christ stand out, to make the reader realize the words were important.

Last night Wayne was listening to some prrreeetttttyyyy old Christian music classics. We're talking 70s here. Although he introduced me to the group Petra, the first Christian group that I really liked was DC Talk.  I got on YouTube and looked for some of my favorites, and I remembered their song "Red Letters" from their album Supernatural. One click transported me back to the early 90s, and I remembered all the words without even having to look at the lyrics appearing on the screen.

What do you find in the words of Christ? Just some obscure religious instructions that are of no real consequence?  Some nice ideas but nothing you really want to live your life by?

The chorus of the song talks about the red letters providing hope for the hopeless, peace and forgiveness, love, truth...

Christ is not about giving us information. He is about transforming us. Let the red letters transform you and give you peace today.

As I reflected on my week, I realized that no fewer than seven friends are going through very overwhelming emotional/mental/or work-related situations. Not just, "Oh, I have all this paperwork to do" or "Gee, why doesn't my husband take out the garbage without being told" issues. The big issues.

You know when a person speaks and you hear that quiver in the voice,see the tear forming at the outside edge of the eye, and notice that the gaze is no longer on you but out the window? 


I saw that in 7 different friends this week. People talking about leaving teaching to find work elsewhere. People talking about pressure and stress that is unmanageable. People talking about needing medication to deal with blood pressure or anxiety. People having severe marital problems.  People in severe financial status.  People wondering if life is really worth living, or if this is all life has to offer.


After one text conversation last night, I asked God what I was supposed to do with this information. What's the appropriate response? How do you help people who are in such pain? Have so many questions?

I went to You Tube and watched Kari Jobe sing "Revelation Song." It never fails to usher me into God's presence (ha, whether I want to or not!). In listening to that song, I realized that worshiping God and allowing Him to BE GOD is the only response I have today.

Another song I watched on You Tube was "Blessed Be Your Name" by the David Crowder Band. The premise of the song is that no matter what--good, bad, and ugly--we'll trust God and praise Him.


It seems that in these middle aged days of mine,I'm realizing that this is all I can do.