IT’S BEEN A LANDSLIDE AROUND HERE THIS YEAR!

IT’S BEEN A LANDSLIDE AROUND HERE THIS YEAR!

 

Recently I had about a two-month bout with sickness. I guess with not being able to do what I want lately, it makes me reflect on “changes” in life. One thing I see is life changes daily and if I can’t change with it, I’ll become inflexible. I may become something or a type of person I don’t want to become or someone that no one wants to be around.

I’ve had to change some things and some dreams and even give some up. What worked years ago, won’t work now. Even Christmas celebrations.

With my health and Bill’s chronic pain even getting the house decorated hasn’t happened yet. Bill works so hard and I keep thinking there is a better way for him, that something is going to change; he cannot continually do the physical work of his business. Something can change in a moment with Jesus. The Lord wants us to fulfill the destiny that Christ had in mind for for all of us before the foundation of the earth.  For this I pray.

Change comes. Change hurts, sometimes. Change must occur for help to come. A phrase I use a lot it seems is “Nothing changes if nothing changes.”  It’s recovery related and can mean, if you keep doing the same old things expecting different results, it’s not going to happen. Change is essential to life. And life as we know it, will never be the same, it seems. But it can be better in Jesus name.

Even old traditions like the Grandkid’s Gathering, or my pre-Christmas celebration with them is changing. Years ago, when they were little it consisted of a sleepover, and a few times, a Christmas Scavenger hunt where we collected food for the needy. I think those things were more for me, than them, but we can still look back and rekindle those good memories. When it’s all been said and done memories may be the only things that don’t change.

This year instead of a night gathering for the grandkids, we will do brunch, as Aubrey works at night. (Give her a holler at Olive Garden Daytona). I’m storming my brain for something fun and Christmas related to do besides eat. We can’t go look at Christmas lights, that’s for sure, unless they want to stay until the evening to do that and I’m cool with that.

Having been sick for about eight weeks now, I find I have to pace myself. Even a little outing may take the energy out of me for a day afterward. Right now, I’m breathing in scented Frankincense oil in a diffuser, (even anointed myself with it again as Shiloh did recently) running a Himalayan Salt lamp to clean the air and praying that the Lord will cleanse my system of any residual infection of  the pneumonia /bronchitis. And I’m listening to a song about changes.

 

Oh, mirror in the sky
What is love
Can the child within my heart rise above
Can I sail through the changing ocean tides
Can I handle the seasons of my life~~~

Well, I've been afraid of changing
'Cause I've built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Even children get older

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6IA4U09qQo

The title of the song is LANDSLIDE and maybe that’s another word for this year. I relate to the lyrics of building my life around my children but children do get older and so do old moms.  Lord, be my mirror in the sky and show me how to maneuver the seasons of my life. Give us a season of grace this year and although not picture perfect, a semblance of family. A family dreamed of with love and covered continually with prayer regardless.

A verse to pray and hold on to. I don't remember ever seeing this version of the verse: Matthew 19:26 MSG

 [26] Jesus looked hard at them and said, "No chance at all if you think you can pull it off yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it."

Matthew 19:26 Amplified Bible (AMP)

 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With people [as far as it depends on them] it is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Is Your House on Fire? My thoughts on Burning House by Cam

Is Your House on Fire?

"I've come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already ablaze!

Luke 12:49 International Standard Version

"Burning House" is a song with a haunting melody and poignant lyrics that has gotten stuck in my head. I researched it, played it a lot, and found how the lyrics came. It was through a dream, thoughts a woman was thinking before she went to sleep that night, about how to make a relationship right. The song became an apology Cam was making to her former boyfriend.

"I had a dream about a burning house

You were stuck inside

I couldn't get you out

I lay beside you and pulled you close

And the two of us went up in smoke"

I feel that many families can relate to some of the lyrics when they are in a family crisis and are trying to find their way out of it. We may feel like we are in a burning house, suffocating, trying to get out, trying to breathe, and trying to save our loved ones. Sometimes we lose ourselves in the battle to save someone else. Can I get a witness out there to that? Amy Tan once said, “I did not lose myself all at once. I rubbed out my face over the years washing away my pain, the same way carvings on stone are worn down by water.” Sounds like she knows what it means to be dreaming of a burning house.

Are you dealing with someone's mental illness, drug addiction, or chronic pain issues right now? If you're one of the few who isn't, thank the good Lord for His mercy. And if you are dealing with those issues, thank Him for His mercy also because we know that He is the one who can "take what's lost and broke, and make it right." Most mornings I cry out to Jesus and say, "Show me what mercy looks like for my family today."

Some days, mercy is that we make it through another day without someone dying or being arrested. Some days an arrest might be the mercy He sends to save a loved one from themselves. Some days that mercy is an opening for a bed in a rehab or hospital. Some days, mercy shows itself through a friend calling, coming by, or sharing a meal.

Some days the joy of just watching a little child whose world has fallen apart through no fault of her own, dance wildly, boldly and without care is enough mercy to get me through the day.

Many of you are in the battle of your lives trying to help someone who seems hell bent on destruction through their lifestyle or choices.

"I've been sleepwalking

Been wondering all night

Trying to take what's lost and broke

And make it right

I've been sleepwalking

Too close to the fire

But it's the only place that I can hold you tight

In this burning house."

I think the last part of the lyrics the part about "it's the only place that I can hold you tight, in this burning house" strikes the core of my heart because when you come right down to it, the thing we as mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and friends want to do is hold them tight from the pain of life and bad choices. Sometimes it's only in our dreams that we can do that, hold them tight, hold on to the memories, and hold on to new dreams for our loved ones. My house feels like it is on fire lately, does yours?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mNdRL3S9eo

Credit given to the songwriters:

SAMUEL TYLER JOHNSON, JEFFREY BHASKER, CAM OCHS

From The Dance to The Legacy, it doesn't get better than this!

 

I have always said that Dan Walsh really knows how to end a book and in this case a series of books. He and Gary Smalley still make me wish that they would continue this series as the characters are so compelling. I was gripped and became a fan from the very first book and actually feel that The Legacy is a book that I can give to the younger generation as a stand-alone book; a book most college age people can really relate to. Using examples of social media that is so popular among the young was something new for this series but it fit real well.

I really had no idea where they would go with a book whose main character was Doug as he seemed to be a minor character in the previous books.  I was very satisfied with exploring his journey and also Christina's. The side stories and the drama was all very emotional and kept me reading when I didn't even have time to read. But that is always the case with the books in this series.

From the back cover:
One young man is about to discover the true cost of independence!"For years, Doug Anderson has been drifting slowly but steadily away from both his family and his faith. His parents have been trying to reach him before he falls too far."

This scenario is happening to families every day and many parents are finding support groups and their small group studies at church as a way to cope.

I would've liked for Uncle Henry's character to be in the book more, as he reminds me of a wonderful dad, the kind I wish I had growing up. His advice to the family to basically "let go and let God," isn't always easy to do but wins in the end. Uncle Henry in my mind is Gary Smalley and as always Dan's interview at the end of the book with Gary gives a lot of wisdom. I've always bought some of Gary's nonfiction books as companions to this series and have really learned a lot.

I was given a copy of this novel by Dan Walsh and also a complimentary copy of the book through Revell as I am on their book review team. In return I was delighted to give an honest review of the book.

I give The Legacy five stars and hope that this isn't the end of a beautiful partnership between two gifted and compelling writers.

What Follows After by Dan Walsh, it just doesn't get any better than this

Dan Walsh is fast becoming my favorite author and has written a very poignant, challenging and intense book called "What Follows After." I find with Dan's books I usually just devour them the first time I read them. They draw me in so quickly that I make excuses to read at times that I normally would be doing something else. What Follows After made me want to read more and then as I neared the ending, I tried to slow down as suddenly I didn't want the book to end. I'll be going back to reread this book as I do with all of Dan's books to savor the story and take the lesson that he teaches well within my soul.

As a Floridian I love reading books that are based on cities that I either live in or have visited. Dan took us on a journey around the state in this book and it was more of a mystery than his other novels. I love the research and the history aspect that Dan is known for and also that it was story within a story.

What Follows After also made me think back to what I was doing in 1962; I was the older child, Colt's age back then. The suspense at times was nearly unbearable so it made me keep turning the pages and I added extra reading time at night to my schedule. What Follows After is a good history lesson for younger readers as it followed the timeline of the Cuban Missile Crisis and the reaction of people in our country.

Dan weaves as only he can a story of family dysfunction, total breakdown and then redemption in a beautiful way. It is hard to believe that the parents in the story would have their children live a lie, especially in the time frame of the story, but maybe it was because of the time frame... the "Camelot years," when families were supposed to be like the Cleavers or the Anderson's from "Father Knows Best" that they felt they had to pretend. Dan always puts an important life lesson in his books on how a strongly dysfunctional family can learn to be a healthy family.

One of my favorite chapters in the book was the church scene with Mamie Lee, who was a mother figure in the book. Reminiscent of "The Help" it was a pivotal chapter and was beautifully portrayed as the people prayed and took action to be on the alert.

I have to say that Dan's last sentence from the book summed it all up so well. What follows after just doesn't get any better than that.

Donna Collins Tinsley

Word Weavers Volusia County Group