Holly Michael's Writing Straight

~ Connecting and Inspiring Along Life's Crooked Lines by Author Holly Michael

Holly Michael's Writing Straight

Tag Archives: Prayer

Trust

29 Thursday Aug 2013

Posted by Holly Michael in Christianity, Diabetes, Family, Football, Inspiration, Jake Byrne, Prayers Needed

≈ 16 Comments

Tags

#89, Betsy Byrne, big dreams, Bishop Leo Michael, diabetes, Dreams, Faith, football, God, Holly Michael, Holy Catholic Church Anglican Rite, Hope, Houston Texans, Isaiah 40:12, Isaiah 40:27, Jake Byrne, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Nick Byrne, Prayer, Proverbs 3:5-6, Rajun Cajuns, Saint James Anglican Church, St. James Anglican Church, T1, trust, trust God, type 1 diabetes, Type One Diabetes, www.writingstraight.com

Proverb1Big dreamers must be equipped with bucket loads of trust; trust they will see their dreams to fruition. They need to mix that trust with hard work, confidence, and a little brain power, too. BUT the most important ingredient needed to bind all of this together to really whip that big dream into a reality you can sink your teeth into: God!

We must trust in God. Have confidence in God. And use the brain power He gifted us with to know that ultimately, we can do nothing without Him.

I never understand how people disregard the power and strength of God while struggling to make their dreams become reality. Last night, during a Bible study at our church, St. James Anglican, our facilitator, Dan Hartshorn, drew our attention to Isaiah 40:12 which describes God: Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span.

Now, if you can measure the waters of the earth in the hollow of your hand and measure the heavens with the span of your hands, you have some really big hands! And these big hands are not only big, but loving hands. Why would we ever want to do anything without those big hands helping us? Seems pointless, really.

I’ve been working hard to finish a third novel and prepare for a very important writer’s conference. I’ve got really big dreams that I want to become reality.

My son Jake, a rookie in the NFL with the Houston Texans has big dreams too. He’s playing a very important pre-season game tonight (Texans vs. Dallas Cowboys) where he will be put in to play the entire game to really prove himself. Both of us realize that we need to rely on God’s power and strength so much now. Jake is a type one diabetic. He will surely need God’s strength tonight and always. Please pray for him. #89

BR-aibGCEAA-E60

Funny, but reading the above verse, verse 12 in Isaiah 40, I read a little lower to verse 27 and had to text it to Jake. It begins with God addressing Jacob, so appropriate for my Jacob, too: 27 Why do you say, O Jacob and speak, O Israel, ‘My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God’? 28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.29 He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless.30 Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted;31 but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Jake’s text response: “Love it! Thank you. I should be good to go for this one!!”

Yeah, I think we’ll all be good to go, trusting in our God.

Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will direct your path!

And thanking God for daughter Betsy getting an internship this week. (below, left of big brother Jake)

557949_10200217333786269_1176007128_n

…and getting ready for the next football game. younger son Nick (University of Louisiana-Lafayette-Ragin Cajuns), also a tight-end, will play against the Arkansas Razorbacks this Saturday! We’re pretty excited about that, too! Go Nick!!!

headshot_1_Bryne,%20Nick%202013

untitled (9)

God bless you all and I really appreciate your prayers and support!

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Unanswered wishes, Better gifts given

21 Thursday Feb 2013

Posted by Holly Michael in Christianity, Inspiration

≈ 17 Comments

Tags

bad weather, gifts, God, Mathew 7:9-11, Matthew 7:9-11, plans, plans thwarted, Prayer, snow, unanswered prayers, Which of you if his son asks for bread will give him a stone?

Unanswered prayers, life not going as expected, plans cancelled for a variety of reasons. Today plans to leave the house came to a halt because this is what it looks like outside my window:

winter

Wouldn’t it be nice if everything went as planned, if each day came together as we outlined, if all our wishes came true. Um…maybe not.

Many times when I really, really, really wanted something and didn’t get it, I felt unlucky, upset, cheated, ignored by God. Then, looking back, I thanked God it didn’t happen.

Sometimes weather thwarts our plans, sometimes other obstacles block our way. Maybe all for the good.

H.E. Manning said: Whatsoever we ask which is not for our good, He will keep it back from us. And surely in this there is no less of love than in the granting what we desire as we ought. Will not the same love which prompts you to give a good, prompt you to keep back an evil, thing? If, in our blindness, not knowing what to ask, we pray for things which would turn in our hands to sorrow and death, will not our Father, our of His very love, deny us? How awful would be our lot, if our wishes should straightaway pass into realities; of we were endowed with a power to bring about all that we desire; if the inclinations of our will were followed by fulfillment of our hasty wishes, and sudden longing were always granted. One day we shall bless Him, not more for what He has granted than for what He has denied.

I took the below photo in Glastonbury, England. A lovely psalm to read whenever the homeowner or guest walks into the house.

england

Ultimately, God causes the snowstorms (like today) that keep us inside, a block that stops us from continuing down a certain pathway. But He also gives all that we need.

And this poem/prayer says it all:

For His great love has compassed
Our nature, and our need
We know not; but He knoweth,
And He will bless indeed.
Therefore, O heavenly Father,
Give what is best to me;
And take the wants unanswered,
As offerings made to Thee. Anon.

It’s good to surrender our lives to God, allow Him to direct our paths, and stop us from seeking wrong things. He knows best what we need.

Matthew 7:9-11 Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

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Christmas Novena: Day 3

18 Tuesday Dec 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in Christianity

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Tags

1928 BCP, 1928 Book of Common Prayer, Anglican Chants, Anglicanism, Bishop Leo Michael, Blog, Book of Common Prayer, Christmas, Christmas Evensong, Christmas Novena, Evensong, Father Don Holley, HCCAR, Holly Michael, Holy Catholic Church Anglican Rite, introit, Novena, Prayer, prayers, Will Perry, www.writingstraight.com

Day 3 of Christmas Evensong Novena. Beautiful voices, chants, prayers. The Evensong is based on the 1928 Book of Common Prayer is being lead by Fr. Donald Holley of the Holy Catholic Church Anglican Rite, Introits sung by Will Perry

 

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Beautiful Christmas Novena

17 Monday Dec 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in Christianity

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Anglican Chants, Anglican Church, Anglo-Catholic, Anglo-Catholicism, Christmas, Christmas Novena, Evensong, Father Don Holley, God, HCCAR, Holy Catholic Church Anglican Rite, Jesus Christ, Novena, Prayer, Virgin Mary

Lovely Novena/evensong that the Holy Catholic Church, Anglican Rite has put together. A different Novena/Evensong youtube goes out each day. Even if you don’t have time to watch, it’s definitely worth playing on your background while on your computer. The singing is performed by a professional, Will Perry. The prayers and readings are also done by a professional, Father Don Holley, whose voice sounds like the voice of God speaking. Wonderful prayers, beautiful music, very uplifting.

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Christmas Challenge: Romans, Day 6 – Horrific Loss, Grief, and Comfort

14 Friday Dec 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in 16 Chapters to Christmas, Christianity, Inspiration, Prayers Needed

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

Alfred Sturges, Bible, Blog, Ch. 6, Children, Christianity, Christmas, comfort, commentary, Connecticut school shootings, Deacon Alfred Sturges, death, Death of a child, Faith, God, grace, Grief, Heaven, Hell, help, Holly Michael, Hope, horrific death, horrific loss, Jesus, Jesus and Children, Jesus Christ, Lord, Loss, Love, Peace, Prayer, Romans, Romans 6 Bible Commentary, Romans Chapter 6, school shooting, Sin, Suffering, www.writingstraight.com

Christmas Challenge: Romans, Chapter 6

Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

Thanks for joining me on Day 6 of Deacon Alfred’s Challenge to read Romans: A chapter a day, each day, to Christmas. I’ll post the Chapter, then a short reflection at the end. Whether you are following every chapter, stopping by occasionally, or just reading this one time, I pray that God will bless you through His Word. Today, while considering what Paul is saying in Chapter 6, I’m reflecting on the horrific school shootings. I pray for the families of the victims and hope that somehow God’s word can ease the pain we all feel in our hearts at this unthinkable crime.

Here’s Romans: Chapter 6

6 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

Slaves to Righteousness

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! 16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

19 I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My thoughts: It’s very difficult to offer encouraging words, given the news about the school shooting in Connecticut. But, perhaps sin, death, hell, and the gift of eternal life are helpful topics to consider today.

Paul basically says that believers must die to sin and live to God. Because we are baptized in Christ, we have a union with Christ. We are alive to God and free from the dominion of sin. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Regarding the school shootings, my first thought is a visual image of that man who shot those kids being grabbed by demons and dragged into hell like how it was done in the scene from Patrick Swayze’s movie, Ghost. But God is that young man’s judge, not me. On the other hand, maybe it’s better that we replace that image, with an image of the children who were killed, all together in Heaven, celebrating this Christmas with Jesus. Like this:

Jesus and Childfen

Or this:

jm_600_GIA.pd-P9.tiff

Maybe they get a real life look at the stable scene…

vintage_religious_christmas_nativity_baby_jesus_placemat-rf42a23c68a89449686a5c3c3b89843a0_2cfku_8byvr_512

white-jesus-001

For sure, Jesus will love them. Jesus will care for them. So, in my heart, I have comfort that Our Lord, Jesus will take care of those babies. The pain and suffering remains here on earth, in the hearts of their loved ones.

When I was fifteen, I lost my beloved six-year-old sister to a horrible death. Knowing I was losing it, a friend took me to church to talk to the pastor. I asked him questions about death and where my sister was.

I’ll never forget his words, “She’s with God, our Loving Father, and He’s the best caretaker there is.” Those words really helped me at a time when I thought I couldn’t go on. I had been her caretaker. I found comfort knowing she was okay, more than okay. I needed to hear that. So, I determined that if she was okay, then I would be okay, too. God helped me through those days, continued to be with me, and has never left me. I look forward to the day I see our Lord and my sweet sister Amy again.

Bringing Romans 6 back into this topic. Paul says, “Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.”

We have been brought from death to life, everlasting life. Sin, whatever sin we struggle with, can not be our master. But it’s not a sin to grieve. Grieving is a God-given emotion. We should grieve and I pray that all those grieving the horrific loss of their child or loved one, will find comfort during their moments of grief. I pray God will soften the pain, give them strength to go on, and guide them closer to His heart.

Considering what Paul says to the Romans, even though we may struggle and suffer from the consequences of the horrible sins of others, we can’t let the sin of hate, guilt, anger, or whatever enter our hearts or turn us from God. These kinds of sins or any other sin, should not dominate our thoughts or lives. God didn’t make this happen. He gives humans free will. But God will deal with that shooter and all others who harm the innocent. The Bible assures us of that. As for us: We have been united with Christ in a death (He died for our sins) we shall be united with Him in resurrection (new life in Heaven).

On a final note: One day, while driving to the grocery store, my youngest son, Nick (four at the time), out of the blue asked me this question: “Mom, what happens when we die.” While I pondered, wondering about this profound question and how best to answer it to a preschooler, he said, “Never mind, Mom. I know. Jesus comes and takes our hand.” Bingo! That is an image I want to keep in my mind.

Jesus holds our hands now, during our difficult times and He will take all of our hands one day and lead us to verdant pastures. Let His Peace comfort us all now. Dear Father, in the Name of Jesus, please embrace the victims of this shooting into your loving arms. And, be with and bless each person who grieves the loss of a loved one during this Christmas season. Amen.

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Back on the Wagon and Learning to Lean

30 Thursday Aug 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in Books, Christianity, Family, Football, Inspiration, Jake Byrne, Travel

≈ 17 Comments

Tags

Betsy Byrne, Bible, Bishop Leo Michael, Blog, Catholicism, Contemplation, Doris Stutley, Holly Michael, Hope, Jake Byrne, Learning to Lean, Nick Byrne, Peace, Prayer, Rich Maffeo, Richard Maffeo, Scripture, Stutley Tales, why do bad things happen to good people, www.writingstraight.com

My days of wine whine are over. I am truly blessed and humbled by the many caring comments on my last post: Throwing Mountains into the Sea.

Back atcha dear friends with all that love, support, and prayers you showered me with. Now, prepare for a positive post after my previous pessimistic pondering. (I love alliteration).

My new attitude has nothing to do with any fantastic news. Still waiting for that call from my agent that my novel has been sold. Met with Jake. He returned home after being cut from the New Orleans Saints roster when the team acquired a veteran tight-end. We’re waiting to see what’s next for him. Nick is still wondering where he’s going to attend college in a few months. Betsy Boo left us to study in England for a semester. Here she is at 5:15 am at the Kansas City Airport. She Facebook messaged me today that she’s arrived and is enjoying lovely Bath, England.

And my husband and I are still coming and going between Kansas City and Northern Colorado, taking care of churches in both places. So, instead of whining, waiting, and worrying as we watch our wayfaring Prius’ reflection from the back of this semi…somewhere in Kansas…

…I chose to open Rich Maffeo’s: Learning to Lean, Volume 1. Within the pages of this contemplative companion,  Maffeo beautifully and faithfully reflects on the storms of life, the travails of faith, and the relationship Jesus wants to have with each of us through it all.

What a book! I give Learning to Lean two full thumbs up.  (Thanks for letting me use your thumbs, Betsy)

The author of Learning to Lean, Richard Maffeo, says he was raised in a Jewish home and careened into a life of careless living. Then, he read the 53rd chapter of Isaiah. The ancient Jewish prophet spoke of Jesus’ sacrificial death which paid the penalty for our sins. “But He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (NASB).

Maffeo, after delving deep into Scripture, committed himself to the Lord and joined the Evangelical Protestant church before his journey into Catholicism.

Learning to Lean (short meditations mixed with beautiful prose poems) answers the most profound life questions. What might it be like to meet our God on that first day in Heaven? Does Jesus walk with me along my journey? What might the Centurion have felt as he hammered the placard above Jesus’ head? Why do people of faith suffer? What can wash away my sins? What if it had been me lashed to the whipping post, instead of Christ? What does obedience to Jesus look like?

Maffeo’s humbleness in sharing his faith journey, his reverence to God, his knowledge of Scripture, and his well-crafted contemplations will lead readers to the throne of the Almighty, to discover a God of relationships who offers salvation for all through our Lord Jesus’ death on the cross.

I also enjoyed Maffeo’s method for contemplative prayers at the end of the book. He admits it’s more of a relationship than a method, though, and he explains how his maturing in that relationship translates into his prayer process.

I’ve been filled with hope, peace, and joy after reading Richard Maffeo’s Learning to Lean. Also, on my last post, I received many words of wisdom, including these from Doris… “I challenge you to shift the focus of your prayer. Don’t spend a lot of time describing your mountain to the Lord. He knows what it is. Instead, focus your attention on the mountain-mover: his glory, power and faithfulness. Then start walking in faith, following his leading, and watch that mountain step aside.”

Gotta love this support and inspiration we get from one another and from wonderful books, such as Learning to Lean.

So, after all the great advice, and miles of hope and humbling from the pages of Learning to Lean, my husband and I made our way to Northern Colorado, where I decided to quit whining, and you guessed it, learn to lean.

I’m also learning to let go and to not look back. And if I do, the Creator of the Universe, our God, who knows how to create, as well as move mountains, has it all covered.

 

rmaffeo@comcast.net

www.richmaffeobooks.com

http://tinyurl.com/mmbtr3 (Rich’s blog)

http://tinyurl.com/6mp9pu9 (Rich Maffeo’s Bible Study in Acts)

http://prayerstrategies.blogspot.com

 

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Candy, Barbie Dolls & Football: Does God Care?

26 Thursday Jul 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in Christianity, Crooked Lines, Diabetes, Family, Football, Inspiration, Jake Byrne

≈ 41 Comments

Tags

#82, Barbie Dolls, Betsy Byrne, Blog, candy, diabetes, Faith, football, goals, God, Holly Michael, Jake Byrne, New Orleans Saints, NFL, Nick Byrne, Prayer, prayers, type 1 diabetes, Writingstraight.com

An interesting quote from my son Jake is: “Some days, it’d be nice to go back to the days when all I had to worry about was how much candy I was going to get that day. Meaningful words coming from a type 1 diabetic and a rookie with the New Orleans Saints. (Nick on left, Jake on right)

When my daughter Betsy (below) is overwhelmed, she whines, “I want to play Barbies with Jake and Nick.” (In defense of Nick and Jake, though Betsy calls them Barbies, the boys had G.I. Joe figures. Right guys?!)

I’m still keeping Nick’s toys in a tote container in the corner of a room in the basement, though the days are gone when he’d pull out the army dudes and Hotwheels and stretch out on the race car rug.

I miss the days when I was in charge of candy, and a trip to Wal-Mart always meant buying a Barbie outfit and two .77 cent cars. (If the kids were good, which they always were).

Now, Nick is preparing to make a college decision and maybe graduate early.

Betsy is making her final preparations to fly off to London to study for a semester.

And Jake…well…

An NFL player?

Still trying to wrap my mind around all of this. How can I let these babies go off and do big people stuff? I want to give them candy and set them on the race car rug where they belong. But no, they’re playing big people games (like professional football), taking off to new places, and avoiding sugar to stay fit and healthy.

After Jake’s few weeks break between rookie camp and regular season camp, he had to pass a timed fitness test. Not passing meant being cut from the team. I’d really been praying for Jake and was delighted when his text came in that he’d passed.

Later, while at my small neighborhood market, a store employee asked, “How’s the fam?” I reported the good news from Jake. I explained how we’d been praying and how Jake said he felt God was running with him.

The man asked, “Do you think God really cares about this stuff? Like football?” It was not a challenge question, but an inquisitive thought.

My answer: “Sure He does.”

God is within us and beside us on our journey on this earth, and He does care about all that happens in our lives. He’s a loving Father who cares. He’s our Savior who shed blood and died for us. He’s the Holy Spirit that speaks and guides us. He is our Creator, who has a plan and purpose for each of us.

Specifically, does God care about football? Well, although I hope God is a Saints fan, for sure, he’s a Jake, Betsy, Nick and you and me fan. Perhaps He cares more about what Jake does with football. Through playing football, Jake hopes to inspire and encourage young people with diabetes. That’s a worthy cause. I think God cares about that. Type one diabetes is a challenging disease for kids as well as their parents.

God cares about all of us-our dreams and plans-and there’s Grace available to help achieve our God-ordained and God-blessed goals. Hard work and prayers help.

It’s going to be a tough road ahead for Jake as a rookie in the NFL, for Betsy flying off to a foreign country, and for Nick leaving high school and entering college. I’m sure they will each have moments of wishing all they had to worry about was candy and what Barbie (ahem…G.I. Joe) was going to wear. Being an adult is tough, It means heard work, pressing on no matter what. But don’t worry, God is with us, running beside us, through it all.

As a Mom, I just need to let go…and remember my kids are big enough and so is their God. More than candy and toys, now they mostly need their mom’s prayers.

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Happy Mother’s Day Prayer

13 Sunday May 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in Inspiration, Prayer Request

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Blessed Virgin Mary, Blog, Holly Michael, Mother's Day, mother's day prayer, Mothers, Prayer, www.writingstraight.com

A PRAYER FOR ALL MOTHERS

Most Gracious Heavenly Father, We thank You for our mothers to whom You have entrusted the care of every precious human life from its very beginning in the womb. Watch over every mother who is with child, strengthen her faith in Your fatherly care and love for her and for her unborn baby. Assist all “spiritual mothers”, those who, though they may have no children of their own, nevertheless selflessly care for the children of others — of every age and state in life. Grant that they may know the joy of fulfilling this motherly calling of women. We beseech You to send Your Holy Spirit, the Comforter, to all mothers who sorrow for children who have died, are ill or estranged from their families, or who are in trouble or danger of any kind. Help grieving mothers to rely on Your tender mercy and fatherly love for all your children. We ask your blessing on all those to whom You have entrusted motherhood. May Your Holy Spirit constantly inspire and strengthen them. May they ever follow the example of Mary, mother of Our Lord, and imitate her fidelity, her humility, and her self-giving love. May all mothers receive Your Grace abundantly in this earthly life, and may they look forward to eternal joy in Your presence in the life to come. We ask this through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. AMEN

**Thanks Fr. Julio for the lovely prayer!

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Y is for Yours

28 Saturday Apr 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in A to Z Challenge, Diabetes, Football, Inspiration, Jake Byrne

≈ 34 Comments

Tags

2012 NFL Draft, Blog, God, Holly Michael, Inspiration, Jake Byrne, juvenile diabetes, NFL Draft, Prayer, type 1 diabetes, www.writingstraight.com

In my A to Z blog challenge, I wanted to wait and blog a “Y is for Yahoo,” but thought of this Y post instead. My hope is to post a yahoo later. For now, I’m posting “Yours.” Here’s why:

Today, with anxiety and anticipation, I wait to hear if my son Jake will be drafted into the NFL. It takes me back 22 years when I was admitted in the hospital and with anxiety and anticipation, I listened to the doctor. He said, “You will most likely miscarry.”

It had been a rough morning. Crimson bed sheets. Cramps. Telltale clots. Didn’t look good four months into my pregnancy. The doctor offered zero hope.

Shortly after he left, a nurse entered the room, not checking me physically, but examining my emotional state. “Have hope,” she said, before she patted my hand and left.

Though I never saw that nurse again, her words sparked hope and ignited my first grown-up prayer. It was simple. “My baby is yours, God.”

I was young, scared, and needed someone way bigger than me to deal with something I couldn’t handle. I remember telling God that though I wanted this baby with all of my heart, whatever the outcome, I would trust Him. If the outcome was not what I wanted, I would be sad, but I would still trust that it was His will. It was a decision. A prayer.

After the prayer, a wave of peace washed over me. God gave me an immediate answer. When another nurse came into the room, I heard Jake’s heartbeat for the fist time.

A few months later, when Jake was born and I looked into his eyes for the first time, I was sure I glimpsed Heaven in those eyes. A look of wisdom of his knowledge of where he’d just been. He connected with me, peered deep into my eyes and cooed. The moment stunned me. I felt as if the coos were a thank you for the prayers I’d offered months earlier. Then, in an instant, the look in his eyes switched to that of an innocent newborn.

From that moment, I knew God had a purpose for Jake to be born. I also realized that my prayers would be an important part of his life. When he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in his teens, and my anxiety would get the best of me, I would again tell God, “He is yours.”

Today, as we wait to see if Jake is drafted in the NFL, I remind myself to let go of my anxiety and pray the same prayer I offered twenty-two years ago, and repeated many times: “Lord, He’s yours. Whatever the outcome, he belongs to you.”

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A to Z Challenge: R is for Rest in Peace Roxanne and Amber

20 Friday Apr 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in A to Z Challenge, Christianity, Inspiration

≈ 19 Comments

Tags

90 Minutes in Heaven, A to Z challenge, Amber Kirkland, Blog, cancer, Christianity, death, Don Piper, Eternal life, everlasting life, family, Heaven, Holly Michael, Leukemia, Love, Peace, Prayer, resurrection, Roxanne Clement, www.writngstraight.com

For the letter P, in the A to Z challenge, I posted a blog asking for prayers for my friend Roxanne Clemen, diagnosed with leukemia. Last night she entered into Heaven. Roxanne was a loving, kind, and faithful soul and will be greatly missed by many. Thank you for your prayers. She was and is in God’s loving hands. My condolences to her husband Roger and to her lovely children, Travis, Bobby, and Tiffany and all those she loved like her own.

The following is from her Facebook information page, and contains much wisdom: If only we could properly comprehend how precious life really is, we’d certainly treasure and enjoy every minute rather than being bitter or complaining about the silly little things that just don’t matter. Forgive love laugh & never hold a grudge!

I love God with all my heart. I am married to a wonderful man named Roger. When I married him I became an instant grandma! Between us we have 5 children and 7 beautiful grandchildren. I love being a grandma. My family is my life!

This is has been a sad week. We also lost our dear friend and church member Amber Kirkland to cancer.

Losing loved ones is never easy, but as Christians, we have peace, knowing that this is only a temporary separation. We will rejoice with them someday in Heaven.

It’s a comforting and interesting concept that all those whom we meet and love on Earth, we will also love and hang around with in Heaven. There are books written by people who die, go to Heaven, and meet loved ones, then miraculously return. 90 minutes in Heaven: A true story of life and death by Don Piper is an excellent book that tells the story of a man who did that.

Given the thought, I’d like to meet, befriend, and love as many people on earth as possible, like Roxanne and Amber did. That way, once in Heaven, I’ll have a large crowd to party with! Roxanne and Amber will have a magnificent gathering around them. They have both loved well on earth and are loved by many.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-17

The Hope of the Resurrection

13 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died[a] so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.

15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.[b]16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died[c]will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.

1 Corinthians 15:51ff What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever. 51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. 53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. 54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die,[c] this Scripture will be fulfilled:  “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory?  O death, where is your sting?[e]”

Eternal rest grant unto Roxanne and Amber, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

I will miss you both, but will see you again, dear friends, Roxanne and Amber.

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Done this: Regular freelance ghostwriter and online editor for Guideposts for Teens/Sweet 16 Magazine, creator/editor of a magazine for Wal-Mart Corp., journalist, newspaper features writer, published in a variety of national magazines and local newspapers, script writing/editing for corporations. Doing this now: author of fiction and nonfiction, blogger, and editor of Koinonia Magazine. I’m the wife of Rt. Rev. Leo Michael, an Anglican Bishop in the Holy Catholic Church-Anglican Rite. Mom to three great kids: Nick (#81 Rajin Cajuns), Betsy (Super cute professor) and Jake (T1D & NFL player) Also, enjoy my travels extensively across the United States and internationally.

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