Willie's Wisdom. . .

Jesus The Very Thought of Thee - arrangement by M. Hicks
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It never ceases to amaze me when watching our cat, Willie.  One moment our geriatric, furry, black and white butterball can be curled up sound asleep in his favourite comfy chair, while basking in the sunroom, then out of the blue, he can be seen running down the hallway as if he just saw a ghost, or being the great feline hunter as he pounces on his prey ~ his favourite toy!  Oh, the imagination of our pets. On another occasion, we will find him lying flat on his back with all four paws up in the air as he goes into his “aah,” meditation moment of being totally relaxed with not a care in the world! I have concluded, our feline pets have much more of an imagination than we may, perhaps, give them credit for and there are many lessons, I have concluded, we could learn from all our pets.  Embrace each day and just imagine the fun you can have!

Imagination is a wonderful gift we all possess from the day we were born.  It gives us dreams of aspirations, goals to strive for, and hopes of accomplishments and unknown possibilities. Unfortunately, however, as we become older and, supposedly, wiser from life’s years of experience, we can sometimes misplace the gift of our imagination like in the days of our youth when we thought we could be whatever we wanted to be or dream when nothing was impossible. I believe imagination is not only important for one’s overall well-being, but it is also a door of opportunity to Create, Hope, Rise, Inspire, Soar and Triumph (CHRIST).  

Looking always at a glass half-full rather than half-empty will ensure an attitude of gratitude that will only bring more fulfillment rather than depleting the blessings we already have in our lives. By knowing the presence, peace and power of CHRIST, we rise above and beyond our struggles; yes, even health challenges. It is by faith, hope and our acceptance of CHRIST in our lives that will inspire us to soar like an eagle and triumph over all trials and tribulations. When reading Philippians 4:13, it gives me encouragement, “I can do all things through CHRIST, who strengthens me.” 

Some may ask, “Do you expect your cancer to be cured?” Truthfully, “No; however, I do pray my cancer can be ‘controlled’ for as long as God has a plan and a purpose for my life!  We were never promised there would not be hardships and sufferings. Nevertheless, with God by my side, He continues to bless me with Gratitude, Resilience, Acceptance, Comfort and Endurance. In other words, CHRIST gives me GRACE each and every day that I could never have imagined without H.I.M. (Hope, Inspiration & Motivation)!  What do you imagine for your life?        

Just imagine if the birds never sung,

Just imagine if the fall never begun.

Just imagine if winter never turned blue,

Lord, just imagine if I never knew you!

God is FOR us ~ that is good;
God is WITH us ~ that is better;
God is IN us ~ that is best!
(Author Unknown)

My Fortress and My Rock. . .

Jesus Loves Me - arrangement by Greg Howlett
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A while ago, my aunt sent me a story about a 106-year-old mansion called the “Clingstone” situated in Rhode Island's Narragansett Bay. It has more or less been in the same family for all these years. It appears this majestic structure receives much tender loving care as many family members and friends all gather together annually around Memorial Day to clean it from top to bottom.  It obviously has much sentiment to everyone as there are 23 rooms on three stories radiating off a vast central hallway, as well as 65 windows and 10 bedrooms. I cannot begin to imagine how many bathrooms there must be! The view from any angle of this mansion, on the rock, however, must be absolutely breathtaking day or night and the sunsets would be spectacular!

When I read this story and looked at the pictures that complemented it, it reminded me of a song I used to sing as a child in Sunday School entitled, “The Wise Man Built His House Upon a Rock." It was one of my favourites, as our Sunday School teacher taught us to sing it with much animation and everyone would have so much fun building their houses and making the rain come down as we all sang along. It went something like this…

The wise man built his house upon the rock, 

The wise man built his house upon the rock, 

The wise man built his house upon the rock, 

And the rains came tumbling down! 

The rains came down and the floods came up, 

The rains came down and the floods came up, 

The rains came down and the floods came up, 

And the house on the rock stood firm. 

The foolish man built his house upon the sand, 

The foolish man built his house upon the sand, 

The foolish man built his house upon the sand, 

And the rains came tumbling down! 

The rains came down and the floods came up, 

The rains came down and the floods came up, 

The rains came down and the floods came up, 

And the house on the sand went SPLAT!

So build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ, 

So build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ, 

Build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ 

and the Blessings will come down. 

The blessings will come down as your prayers go up, 

The blessings will come down as your prayers go up, 

The blessings will come down as your prayers go up, 

So, build your house on the Lord!

Little did I realize, so many years later, what tremendous impact those words, and other favourite simple childhood songs like "Jesus Loves Me," would mean in my life, while living with Stage IV breast cancer. I am so very grateful to have had the opportunity to go to Sunday School when I was a child, so I could learn the teachings of God that would become the precious basis of my foundation throughout my life!

By claiming Psalm 31:3, “For thou are my Rock and my Fortress,” God has brought me, and continues to bring me, through many gusty storms, while the black clouds of the unknown, the gales of uncertainty, and the waves of the doubt have come and gone throughout my life.  It is, however, simply by knowing Jesus truly does love me that I can withstand the turbulent times because I trust and believe that God, who is my Rock, will always take care of me as I put my trust in HIM, when I read Psalm 55:22, “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee.”

Dark clouds of sorrow will often bring
 showers of blessing when we cast
our cares onto HIM.  

  

Lessons from an Onion. . .

God Will Take Care of you - arrangement by James Koerts

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Not long ago, I was asked, “If you have such faith in God, why is He allowing this to happen to you? This is all so wrong. You deserve so much better!”

There is no doubt during these past few months, after receiving the news I am now living with Stage IV cancer, my life has most certainly felt like an onion. Layer by layer, my life, as I once knew it, has been slowly peeling away. The days of driving are over, working in a fulfilling, full-time position is behind me, the opportunity to take long walks with my dog, Jake, while visiting with our neighbours along the way, is gone, the enjoyment of working in the garden, while watching the flowers grow, is now a memory, and the freedom to be independent is history. There is no doubt, similar to peeling the layers from an onion, I have shed many tears; not out of self-pity but from the sadness and grief of losing layers of my life, which I will no longer be able to savour.  I must confess there are times when I ask myself, “What layer will be next, and what is the lesson I am to learn from seeing these layers gently peel away in my life?”  Have you ever felt like an onion?

If, however, I choose to look, positively, at my life as an onion, then I will immediately see there are many healthy and nutritional benefits coming into my life.  An onion is considered one of the best superfoods you could possibly eat because it: 

• provides anti-oxidants; therefore, it helps to Take care of the body from possible infection and/or other health-related chronic diseases; 
• increases one’s energy; subsequently, it can Re-energize the body; 
• has nutritional properties improving one’s spirits; as a result it is Uplifting; 
• contains many vitamins, such as vitamin C; consequently, it Supports the body overall to maintain be healthy; 
• has other medicinal effects, which Triggers immediate relief from pain. 

Thus, from a spiritual perspective, although there are many areas in my life that are slowly peeling away, I am enriched by the many spiritual health benefits God has provided me, while I put my TRUST in Him. Without a doubt, I know God’s plan and purpose for my life is opening doors of opportunity that I could never have imagined, if cancer had not come into my life. While sharing my journey with others, I have been blessed with the possibilities of being able to inspire, uplift, support, and comfort others as they see my faith grow deeper and stronger as the core of my life is revealed more and more each day. 

Therefore, I believe that is the answer to the "why".  How can I, possibly, ever "talk the walk," if I don’t "walk the talk?" It is by my trust in our Heavenly Father that my faith gives me strength and a passion to encourage others. 

Having cancer come into my life, does not: 

• make me bitter but better, it has brought flavour to my life;
• break me down but builds me up; it has enhanced my life;
• make me weaker, but stronger; it has enriched my life; 
• make my life a tragedy but a "triumph."  

It is for these reasons, why I claim Psalm 23:4 as my verse of comfort, peace, strength and trust. I will not fear what happens in my life, while walking through my valleys with their shadows, because I trust He is with me. It is only when I plant my faith in the soil of prayer will I receive His peace in my life. God's provision of peace and love is far greater than the greatest fears that can come into my life. I know this to be true because I live it every day. We may not understand all the "why's, when's or why not's," but God only asks that we trust in Him just like a child would do.

Be not afraid, but put your trust in Him,
for He promises to take care of you.  

The Little Tea Cup's Message. . .

Have Thine Own Way, Lord  ~ arrangement by Ashaun Cotton
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As I was, recently, sifting through some of my collection of stories and quotes, I came across this lovely story.  The moral of its story reminded me how much I need to surrender my all to my Master each and everyday, regardless of the circumstances I may find myself in. Hence, when I sit and mediate on God's word, as I sip my cuppa of tea, I listen carefully to what the message of this little tea cup's story means to me ~  

There was a couple who took a trip to England to shop in a beautiful antique store to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. They both liked antiques and pottery, and especially teacups. Spotting an exceptional cup, they asked "May we see that? We've never seen a cup quite so beautiful." As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the tea cup spoke, "You don't understand. I have not always been a teacup. There was a time when I was just a lump of red clay. My master took me and rolled me, pounded and patted me over and over and I yelled out, "Don't do that. I don't like it! Let me alone," but he only smiled, and gently said, "Not yet."

Then WHAM! I was placed on a spinning wheel and suddenly I was made to suit himself and then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I yelled and knocked and pounded at the door. "Help! Get me out of here!" I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips as he shook his head from side to side, "Not yet."

When I thought I couldn't bear it another minute, the door opened. He carefully took me out and put me on the shelf, and I began to cool. Oh, that felt so good! "Ah, this is much better," I thought. But, after I cooled he picked me up and he brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. "Oh, please, stop it, stop, I cried." He only shook his head and said, "Not yet."

Then suddenly he puts me back in to the oven. Only it was not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I just knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. I was convinced I would never make it. I was ready to give up. Just then the door opened and he took me out and again placed me on the shelf, where I cooled and waited and waited, wondering, "What's he going to do to me next?" An hour later he handed me a mirror and said, "Look at yourself." And I did. I said, "That's not me. That couldn't be me. It's beautiful. I'm beautiful!" 

Quietly he spoke: "I want you to remember. I know it hurt to be rolled and pounded and patted, but had I just left you alone, you'd have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled. I know it hurt and it was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn't put you there, you would have cracked. I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn't done that, you never would have hardened. You would not have had any color in your life. If I hadn't put you back in that second oven, you wouldn't have survived for long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. Now you are what I had in mind when I first began with you." (Author Unknown)

What lessons have I learned, living with Stage IV breast cancer, while feeling every emotion, frustration and fear like this little teacup, is this: 

• God knows what He's doing for each of us ~ we must TRUST HIM; 
• He is the Potter (He is My Master), and we are His clay ~ He has a Plan, and Purpose for my life ~ I am His;  
• Our Master will mould us, make us, and expose us to just enough pressures of just the right kinds, that we may be made into a beautiful, flawless piece of work to fulfill His plan, His plan purpose, and His perfect will in our lives;
• He is my Master and with Him I will fear not. I am in always His hands.

So, when life seems unbearable, while you are being pounded, patted and pushed almost beyond endurance; when your world seems to be crumbling around you; when you feel like you are in a fiery furnace of trials and tribulations; or when life seems "unfair", try this ~
Brew a cup of your favourite tea in your most beautiful teacup, sit down and meditate on this story and then, have a little chat with the Potter. Remember, "Have thine own way Lord, have thine own way.  You are the Potter and I am the clay.  Mould me and make me after that will, while I am waiting yielded and still." 
(Author of Hymn ~ Adelaide A. Pollard)

God's plans and my plans
How different they may be,
Yet, I trust in Him
As I walk with Him
For He'll never forsake me.

"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord.
Plans for good, and not for disaster,
to give you a future and a hope."
Jeremiah 29:11