A Season of Transition

I recently received an update letter from Orphan’s Tree, a charity that gives life skills and the love and hope of Jesus Christ to orphanage graduates in Russia and beyond. I know the president of the organization. His parents were beloved friends of mine. Anyway, he wrote a simple, personal note to me at the bottom of the letter. It touched me in a profound way.

What did he write that touched me so? Just six simple words, “Trust your transition is going well!!” I have been thinking a lot about this lately. Transition from living in a remote area of Ghana for eight years to life in rural Virginia seems like it has just been one transition after another. It definitely hasn’t been easy. 

When I returned to the US, I eventually ended up in Patrick County, VA. Since I had no place to live, no furniture, dishes, towels, etc., I rented a completely furnished cabin from friends of mine. They were the only ones I knew in this part of the world. Six months later, I changed my driver’s license from Pennsylvania to Virginia. Ten days later, I was told that the property was put up for sale. I didn’t have to move right away, I could stay until it sold, if I wanted. That ended up to be a blessing because I could take my time looking for an apartment. 

Three months later I moved. I love my apartment and plan on staying here as long as possible. I was just getting to know people when COVID hit. I was really grateful for my apartment then, I had lots of space and could be outside on the deck. But, one of ways the COVID lockdown affected me was that I really became a hermit. Sure, I would go grocery shopping and such, but it just increased my desire to be a “homebody.” Yes, I needed a break from being in the public eye 24/7 as I was in Ghana, with people looking in my windows and stopping by anytime of the day. 

Right now, I’m doing okay. I’ve had to deal with health issues, having had four sinus surgeries since I’ve been back. I’ve gained weight and haven’t lost it. I still sleep with a CPAP machine. I keep looking for a church similar to my home church in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. I haven’t found one yet. (Maybe because I’m in a very rural area with over 90 churches in the area. Almost all of them are small.) I am still a hermit, but now I’m a part-time hermit. I actually have a part time job which forces me to meet people and interact with them. I have met some amazing folks here. God has blessed me with a couple of good friends. I really do love where I live….

But, will it ever really and truly feel like “home?” Will I ever feel settled? I doubt it. I attribute that to my age. Little by little, I’m getting closer to my eternal home. Maybe that’s the reason for my feeling of unsettled-ness. Will my transition ever be complete? No, not here on Earth. Life is just one transition after another. I just have to trust God to get me through one to the next. That’s what I plan to do.

Praying for What I Want

So many times I am not happy with the person I am…on the outside. I weigh too much. I have CPAP mask lines on my face. I wear glasses. I definitely don’t like to wear shoes (and shoes make the outfit, right?) My hair didn’t turn out the way I wanted it to today.

Today when I read 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5, I could see that God isn’t concerned about any of that. Paul is thanking God for the Thessalonians, not because as a group they lost a ton of weight or because they are wearing the latest styles. He is thanking God because of their faith in Christ! (How many times have you or I done that?) He prays for them, that God would encourage their hearts and strengthen them, not to make them rich, powerful or beautiful. 

It’s my prayer for myself, too. “ God, encourage me when I get frustrated and lose the “umph” to go on. Strengthen me in mind, body and spirit to live the life that You intended for me, to do your good works. And, may You receive all the glory. Amen and amen.”
 

A Truthful Answer

Not too long ago, someone with whom I was talking, asked me, “Do you need to work or do you want to work?” The question caught me by surprise. I hesitated for a moment before I answered. “Both” was my answer. With the way prices and the cost of living have skyrocketed since COVID, to live the life in which I have gotten accustomed to (LOL!), I would really have to tighten up the purse strings if I didn’t work. The extra money does come in handy. 

But, it’s more than that. When I retired and returned from Ghana, I moved to a place where I knew one family. And they moved away six months later. So, there’s a real personal reason why I work, my “want to” reason. That reason is that it gets me out of the house. I meet new people. I’ve made friends. My eyes have been opened to a whole new world! Yes, moving to Patrick County was a bit of a culture shock after living in a remote part of Ghana for eight years, but it was a good one. Just as I was starting to get acclimated here, COVID hit. Then, it was back to square one, starting all over again.  

My job has given me a reason to get up on a bad day and a reason to share the love of Christ by being a service to others on a good day. I have met so many people and have had tons of opportunities to get out in the community. I still love being a part time hermit, but I’m my own worst enemy at times, especially if I spend too much time alone. My job gets me out and about. I feel as if I’m living my best life. I’m grateful for the fact that it’s part time because I still like that hermit part of me. 

I believe that it’s a God thing that I ended up working where I do. I wasn’t even looking for a job. It kinda fell into my lap. And, it’s the perfect job for me. God knew what I needed before I did! Thank You, Lord, you’re amazing!

Wait

 

I really dislike waiting. So much of life is filled with it, and from a very young age. You can’t wait until you can go to school. You can’t wait until you’re 16. You can’t wait until you have a driver’s license. You can't wait until you're 21, You can’t wait to graduate from college. You can’t wait until you move into your first apartment. And the list goes on and on.

Those are exciting waits. But, what about the wait to hear from the doctor? The wait to hear if your company is really downsizing? The wait for your child to come home at night? Some of those types of waits are stressful and not at all appealing.

Then, there’s the every day waits. You wait at the traffic signal. You wait at the grocery store. You wait for  Jeopardy! to come on. You wait for dinner to be done. You wait for the clothes to dry. You wait for your Amazon order to come. There are so many times we have "normal" waits everyday.

Waiting in and of itself isn't bad. It could be a good thing. I think that what is done during the wait is important. It seems as if I've been doing a lot of waiting the last few months. I've waited for sinus surgery. I've waited to look at apartments. I've waited for mail. I've waited for an interview. Sometimes I get frustrated with the wait. It's hard not knowing, it's hard not doing. I would rather know what is going to happen and when. That's not how life is, though.We aren't always privy to the when, where, and how. 

For me, the lesson is in the wait. Wait for the Lord; be strong, let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord. (Psalm 27:14) During times of waiting, when I get anxious or frustrated, I can put my trust in the Lord. I can take action. I can be patient. I can prepare myself for each scenario, knowing full well that God is in control and He has my future in His hands. With Him, it's always worth the wait.

I Believe

This morning I was listening to a song by Lauren Daigle entitled You Say. Today it really spoke to my spirit. Do you know the song? if not, here are the words:

I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I'm not enough

Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up

Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low
Remind me once again just who I am because I need to know
Ooh-oh

You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
And you say I am held when I am falling short
And when I don't belong, oh You say I am Yours
And I believe (I)
Oh, I believe (I)
What You say of me (I)
I believe

The only thing that matters now is everything You think of me
In You I find my worth, in You I find my identity
Ooh-oh

You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
And you say I am held when I am falling short
When I don't belong, oh You say I am Yours
And I believe (I)
Oh, I believe (I)
What You say of me (I)
Oh, I believe

Taking all I have, and now I'm laying it at Your feet
You have every failure, God, You have every victory
Ooh-oh

You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
You say I am held when I am falling short
When I don't belong, oh You say I am Yours
And I believe (I)
Oh, I believe (I)
What You say of me (I)
I believe

Oh, I believe (I)
Yes, I believe (I)
What You say of me (I)
I believe

One of the reasons this spoke to me so strongly was that I have applied for a part time job and I have an interview next week. It's been ages since I have gone through this. The job is one in which I'm quite familiar. I have been doing a lot of what the job requires for quite a while. It is through a different agency and my allotted time is coming to an end. I find myself questioning if I will be able to do the job proficiently. And then I remind myself to trust God. I seem to have to be reminded of that a lot. Trust. Believe. So, when I hear the voices in my mind that say I'm not enough or when I hear the lie that tells me I will never measure up, I remember, or try to rmember to trust God. I need to believe I am who He says I am. Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing else matters. 

I believe. I believe what He says of me. I believe.

 

Trust in the Lord

 

This morning I was reading in Isaiah12. Verse 2 says, “I will trust Him and not be afraid, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my song. He has become my salvation. 

In whatever situation I am in - the good, the bad, or the ugly - I need to trust in the Lord. Trust in the Lord. Worried about finances? Trust in the Lord.  Concerned about what the future may bring? Trust in the Lord. Bothered about health issues? Trust in the Lord. I need to trust Him (and do my part, too) when things are good and also when they go haywire. He IS my strength , my song, my salvation. 

An October Fun Day

This past week, I had a fun day with a friend. We went to the Doe Run Sunflower Maze in Arrarat, VA. I had been there a couple of times in years past, so I knew what to expect. That didn't matter. As soon as we drove onto the property and I saw the acres and acres of sunflowers, my eyes lit up. I got a big smile on my face and once we got out of the car, there was a spring in my step. There was a whole acre of "cut your own" sunflowers to take home and brighten up your living space. There were pumpkins and mums for purchase. But, my favorite two things to do were a bit in the distance.

I had never gone to the sunflower maze on a week day. I was wondering if the hay ride would be available. After all, it was late afternoon and the school field trip crowd had already left. Sure enough, the wagon came around to drop off a group of riders that had enjoyed their trip. So, we went on the hayride first. I didn't want to miss it. We rode along the boundries of the sunflower maze. Oh, to see all those faces of various shades of yellow turned toward the sun...it made me feel so warm and joyful inside. After all, how can anyone be sad or grumpy when among acres of sunflowers? 

Affter our hayride, we walked past the apple launching site towards the sunflower maze. We were given a clipboard with a list of 13 trivia questions all relating to the presidents and their faith. In the maze, the answers to those questions acted as a guide through the maze. We got 1 out of 13 correct on our own! And, we were grateful that we didn't get too lost in the maze. Yes, we had to backtrack a few times. But, it was a glorious day and the sun was shining. I love being out among all of those sunflowers!

There's so much to do at Doe Run Farm besides the sunflower maze and the hay ride. There's swings, a jump pad, pumpkin bowling, corn hole, barrel of laughs, double slides, and an apple launcher. You can buy snacks, hotdogs, homemade jelly, apple pies, apples and t-shirts. The hosts of the sunflower maze are so pleasant and helpful. We had such a good time, we hated to leave. We'll be back next year!

I am so grateful that our God made sunflowers. As their faces move and follow the sun each and every day, they remind me that I need to do that, too. I need to turn my face towards the Son, God's Son and follow Him throughout the day. When I do this, I have a smile on my face, a spring in my step and joy in my heart.

 

How Will You Be Remembered?

 

Last Monday was Memorial Day, a day to stop and remember those who gave their lives so I could enjoy the freedoms that I have just by being an American citizen and living in the United States. These brave men and women fought in the armed services of our country and they will be remembered as giving the Ultimate Sacrifice-their lives.

At the church I attended the day before, the sermon was titled, How Will You be Remembered? sed Hebrews 11 as his main text, which by the way, is an excellent portion of Scripture, citing so many people of Biblicl tmes being remembered for their great faith. Were they perfect people? No,t by any means, but that is a topic for another day.

As I sit here at my desk in Stuart, VA, I ask myself, "How will I be remembered?" Hmmm...Not an easy question to answer. I know how I will be remembered in Ghana because I was blessed to have had a Farewell Service during which all kinds of people said those things that you only hear people say at a funeral. Here, in Stuart, I'm "working on it."

But, seriously, I wonder how I will be remembered. What is my legacy? Before Ghana and after Ghana, what did people see in me that they would say, "I remember Sue, she...."? Not having children of my own and an extended family that gets smaller as the years go by, who is left to remember? I hope people will see Christ in me. I hope the will see the Fruit of the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) in me. You know, this is an every day hing. Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's a battle. With God by my side and at the center of my life, He will take care of my legacy. He will be the reason people will say, "I remember Sue, she...."

 

A Little Bit of “Home”

 

This morning, it was tough to get out of bed. I had my windows open and it was a bit chilly in my apartment. I had hoped to go to Dominion Valley Park for the church service. Since it was the Gospel Music Festival, I knew the music and the preaching would be great. But, with the cooler temperatures and rain in the forecast for the day, I decided not to go. Now, what do I do? I really wanted to stay home and listen to a service online. Then, I realized that it was Pentecost Sunday. I had to go to church. So, I hurried and got ready to go to worship with my brothers and sisters in Christ. 

I decided to worship at a church that I had visited a couple of times before. This small congregation was very welcoming. And, as I sat there, listening to announcements and all the stuff that seemed to go on before the “official” start of the service, I realized something. My organized self wanted things to get moving, start on time, end on time, everything during the service should be orchestrated perfectly. It wasn’t. What I realized was that this was a community of believers, invested and truly interested in each other’s lives. They shared news of what was happenening and praised God for working in their lives and in the lives of others. They were invested more in relationships than in following the clock to the minute. It was obvious that they loved the Lord and each other and they shared that love with whoever walked through the church doors. 

The service reminded me of church in Kalsagri, one of the small village churches that I served in Ghana. Powerful prayers. Lively music. Instead of ushers taking the offering, people walked up and gave it ( In Ghana, they danced up to give the offering), walking around and praying when the Spirit moved people to do so. Powerful preaching with an altar call and a specific challenge to live the week ahead for Christ, leaving a legacy that reflects Christ and Christ alone. This church was a glimpse into the services at Kalsagri. Those services were longer, louder, livelier. I know that you may think I am out of place in a church like I was in today. I’m quieter. I kinda stay in my pew and don’t move around much. It took me a long time to loosen up when in Kalsagri. But, just because I’m “just sitting there” doesn’t mean the Spirit isn’t working in me. I appreciate the church where I worshipped today. It was like being home. And, if God can do that for me, imagine what He can do for you!

Be blessed today. 

A Cooking Adventure

I rarely cook “real food.” That’s the term I use when cooking something that has more ingredients than a grilled cheese sandwich or a meal that needs more than one piece of flatware to eat it. This week, I had a “hankering” for real food. I actually went grocery shopping and bought some things that I had never in my life bought….sesame seed oil and an avocado. No, they were not used in the same recipe. I can’t even imagine that! Sunday was my first meal I made using the sesame seed oil. I made chicken fried rice. I made fried rice all the time when I lived in Ghana, throwing whatever veggies I had into the pan. I never used a recipe. This time I used a recipe, thus, the sesame seed oil. I have to admit, it turned out pretty good. I will make it again, probably in the near future. 

 Today a friend was coming over to help me fix a wall and for lunch. I have been wanting to make a caprese salad for a couple of weeks now. So, this morning I got out my recipe and made the dressing first because I wanted to refrigerate it. I actually used fresh garlic and honey in it, along with other fresh ingredients. Then, it was time to chop up the lettuce, slice the tomatoes, cut fresh basil, and the avocado.  I used a recipe and I  went out of my comfort zone into my learning zone. Anyway, the last ingredient was the fresh mozzarella cheese. I put the dressing on it right before I served it. Oh, it was delicious. Tonight I will eat some leftovers with chicken in it. 

During my quiet time/coffee with God this morning, one of the things I thanked God for was the food choices that I have by living in the United States. In the area of Ghana where I lived, this salad would have been impossible to make because the ingredients were not available. I’m thinking that I might go out of my comfort zone and try a few more recipes sometime. Meanwhile, I’m going to enjoy my leftovers! 

Have a blessed day. 

Morning Routine

 

I have a morning routine that I like to follow. Or, at least I like to think I do. I prefer to wake up by 6:00 each morning. Lately, that hasn’t been the case. I put on the coffee and and make my bed. When the coffee is ready, I’ll grab a cup, sit in my chair ( if it’s nice outside I will sweep the deck and sit out there) and ideally I will open my Bible to start my morning time with God. In my mind, that should be the first part of my day. Unfortunately, I have been lax about that. Somehow I managed to get out of the habit and I have reached for my iPad instead. I will go to my coloring app to start the pictures that I want to color sometime during the day. Then, I will pick up my Bible. My priorities have gotten messed up. I’m thinking it happened when I had COVID. That was months ago. I should be back on track by now. So, I am going to intentionally change my routine and get back to the Bible first thing in the morning…tomorrow. That’s because I already messed up today. I want to read Scripture, study, and talk with God when I first get up. It sets the tone for the day. Then, I need to do some type of exercise. My life involves too much sitting. I need to move around more for both my physical and my mental well being. This ideal morning routine of mine really works, when I let it. Most days the timing is flexible…I can start whenever I wake up. But, if I sleep in on a I work, that messes things up. I don’t get done what I want to do before I leave the house. I do set an alarm but some days it’s so hard to get out of bed. So, with God’s help and my determination, my routine will improve in the weeks to come. Stay tuned. I’ll let you know how it’s going. 

A Mother’s Day Adventure

 Mother’s Day has been bittersweet for me for quite sometime. I’m grateful for my mother and the the time I had with her. There are many good memories. But, my mother died in ‘86 and I have never had children, although that was the desire of my heart for years and years. God had other plans for my life. So, I decided to go on a Mother’s Day Adventure.

I left my apartment before 9:00 this morning and headed west on Rt. 58. As I neared the top of the mountain, it got foggier and foggier. I wanted to stop at Lovers Leap. I began to question myself…did I already pass it? I couldn’t see a thing. Eventually, I found it and very cautiously, I pulled over. All I could see was the cloud that encompassed the area. It was kind of eerie. 

The next stop was to be Mabry Mill Restaurant for some of their famous pancakes. There was one small change of plans. Since I wouldn’t be seated for an hour, I walked over to Mabry Mill to take in the sights and listen to the babbling brook. Yes, several things there are in need of attention and fixing, but it was still beautiful. I did get seated not long after I returned to the restaurant and I was served two of the biggest, fluffiest pancakes that I have ever seen. When I was finished eating, my bill was presented with a flower and a Hershey kiss for Mother’s Day.

The adventure continued…next stop, The Mayberry Trading Post. This is a quaint little store just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. I had such a good time browsing and picking out some treasures. There is a good combination of old and new. And, a few items brought back memories from decades ago. I will definitely return to do some shopping here. 

Afterwords, I drove for a bit on the Blue Ridge Parkway and stopped once in awhile to take pictures. The clouds had lifted and the sights were gorgeous.

Hmmm…..what to do next? I drove over to Chateau Morrisette Winery. I found a place to sit in the courtyard, bringing with me my basket of books. I read, listened to the relaxing piano tunes that were being played and enjoyed a glass of wine. It was such a sweet time. I was wishing for a hammock and a nap. 

I wasn’t ready to go home yet, so I decided to go to Goose Point Park. There is no “quick” way to drive from Chateau Morrisette to Goose Point Park. I drove through a LOT of Patrick County, which was filled with some amazing scenery. I arrived at the park, claimed my spot and read for a couple more hours. A family at the nearby picnic table invited me to eat with them. It was sweet of them to include me at their table. 

I returned home, ten hours after I left. It was so unlike me. I’m usually such a homebody on Sundays. Today, I needed this and God knew. He’s the one that put me on this adventure to make sure my heart and mind were where they needed to be. I thank Him for that. 

Learning to Trust in You

 

Some life lessons seem to be just that…a life-long lesson. It’s something that you have to keep learning all of your life, always improving, but never “arriving.” In my life, one of those lessons is learning to trust God with my life. With ALL aspects of my life. Sometimes, more than I’d like to admit, I wonder about my place in this chapter of my life. What am I supposed to be doing? Am I making a difference in the lives of others? Why did God place me in a small town in SW Virginia? Why did I have to start all over again? And the questions continue on and on and on. There’s only one answer that comes to mind. I’m learning to trust in the Lord, even more than ten years ago, five years ago, a year ago, a month ago, a week ago, a day ago, and an hour ago.

I would much rather stay in my safe place, at home, with the ringer shut off. Living life doesn’t allow that. So, I’m learning to trust in the Lord. A song keeps running through my head. It’s Learning to Trust in You by David Meece. Read his words:

There's a father in your sweetest dreams
Who's always there to meet your needs
He never ever let you down

There's a mother in your heart of hearts
Who always plays the perfect part
She never lets you hit the ground

This is the need of children
These are their tender dreams
And oh, how it hurts when they don't come true

That's why I'm learning to trust in You
In everything I do
I'm learning to trust in You

'Cause I know in my heart that You're true
I'm learning to trust in You
But sometimes it's so hard to do

Father, little children must grow up
And to grow we've got to learn to trust
And to trust we've got to cling to You

And when You tell me You will hold me close
It's the very thing I need the most
But it's the very hardest thing to do

I've got this pain inside me
It speaks to me loud and clear
When there's so much to gain there's always so much to lose

That's why I'm learning to trust in You
In everything I do
I'm learning to trust in You

'Cause I know in my heart that You're true
I'm learning to trust in You
But sometimes it's so hard to do

Keep calling me, drawing me closer
Don't let me hold back
Whatever it takes I must break through

The heart of a child is broken
But his time has come
Whatever he lost, I'll find in You

That's why I'm learning to trust in you
In everything I do
I'm learning to trust in You

'Cause I know in my heart that You're true
I'm learning to trust in You
But sometimes it's so hard to do

I'm learning to trust in You
In everything I do
I'm learning to trust in You

'Cause I know in my heart that You're true
I'm learning to trust in You
But sometimes it's so hard to do

Hard to do, learning to trust in You
So hard to do, learning to trust, it's so hard to do