Archive for » May, 2010 «

31
May
A Priest’s Memories of Pearl Harbor

Flag above the USS Arizona Memorial by Thad Zajdowicz

In 1978 Father Eugene Morin wrote a letter to a nephew recalling his experience as a priest in Honolulu during the attack on Pearl Harbor. His assignment was to take care of the dying and wounded at a temporary hospital created at Sacred Hearts Convent School. There are not many of us who will hold such holy moments in our day as Father Morin did on December 7, 1941.

I share his story in honor of the men and women who have served our country—protecting and defending it from forces determined to end our role in history.

“Never in my life have I seen so much human blood flow so freely. A sight I hope and pray I shall never witness again. One thing I must say, and I say this with a great deal of admiration for our young servicemen—every one died a hero’s death. Strange as it may seem, when death approaches we always think of those we love most—those perhaps we may in our youth and forgetfulness have neglected.

The thoughts and memories of all the young men I prepared for death were, I am proud to say, about their dear parents. They wanted them to know how much they loved them and what they meant to them while they were growing up, but could not express in words due to shyness—the love, kindness, and understanding they had in their young hearts.

In all my priestly life, I have never heard such sincere, thoughtful, and prayerful confessions. All of those I attended during the thirty-four hours I worked at Sacred Hearts Convent School went to meet their heavenly Creator well prepared to merit an eternal reward. It is an act of heroic sacrifice to give one’s life for one’s country. During my stay at this temporary hospital, I took care of more than 500 young men. Many of them I gently closed their eyes in death, while some I had to leave, leaving this duty to others.”

You can read Father Morin’s full account of that day at marconews.com.

How have those who have served our country impacted your life?

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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Category: grief, Holidays, News  Tags: , , , , ,
28
May
God Sneaks In When Moms Aren’t Looking

Lynn Ayers and the 3 grandgirls we share with her and Ron

I thought when my first child was born that there wouldn’t be much “God time” in my life until I was quite old. However, God sneaks in when moms aren’t looking.

Our first son arrived when I was 25 years young and number six was born 16 years later. That youngest child graduates from high school in a few weeks. Children have been a part of my life for the last 34 years and daily devotions weren’t always possible during those years. However, the raising of the kids has been more of “the raising of Mom” than Mom ever realized it would be when she and Dad started this adventure.

Birthing babies taught me the awesomeness of Creator God and that I can endure extreme, physical pain.

Labor and birth educated me in the proper place to leave my fashion sense—outside the door. Few things are as beautiful in God’s eyes as a mother in labor.

New babies let me know I could live without a shower for many days and God didn’t care.

I soon realized that I could have my “quiet time” while nursing a baby at 2:00 in the morning.

Changing diapers required humility where little had been before.

Living with toddlers taught me that eating dirt provided needed minerals and that I needed to relax in the moment.

Homeschooling allowed my impatience to rise to the surface where God could deal with it.

My children taught me that a cluttered home is godly—God’s people live there and are enjoying life.

Cooking countless meals developed my culinary skills beyond cold cereal and, along with that, the realization that God enjoyed cooking with me.

Hospital trips developed my faith in the Great Physician.

Organizing a home, managing six kids, and homeschooling provided the confidence needed to tackle anything God asked me to do in the wider world.

Raising teenagers sent me to the prayer closet more often than I care to remember.

Watching my kids leave home has taught me that they are not mine to hold onto anymore—God is perfectly capable of taking care of them and I need to stay out of his way.

I never knew that laughter was the language of heaven until I had children.

God sneaks in when moms aren’t looking. How would you finish this statement? “Through raising kids, God is teaching me _________.”

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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26
May
Celtic Prayer For Unexpected Guests

I wish life was predictable, but it is not. Yet, blessings often sneak in unexpectedly if we have prepared our hearts to be interrupted.

I sometimes view unexpected phone calls as interruptions to my planned day, especially if the call is from someone needing something from me “right now.” Slow traffic, long lines at the grocery counter, work related demands, and the neighbor who drops in unexpectedly when I have been up all night with a sick kid and the house hasn’t seen “clean” in a month—these interruptions frustrate me.

What if all the people involved in these situations were viewed as unexpected guests into my life? Might a new perspective adjust my attitude and my interactions with them?

Brigid of Kildare was a woman who looked for the unexpected. She lived between 450 and 523 and was known for her generosity and hospitality to all, but especially to strangers, the poor, and the sick. She never saw people as interruptions to her life, but as guests to be welcomed. This is one of her house prayers still used by many as they prepare their hearts and lives to be interrupted by unexpected guests.

I would welcome the poor
and honour them.
I would welcome the sick
in the presence of angels
and ask God to bless and
embrace us all.
 
Seeing a stranger approach,
I would put food in the eating place.
drink in the drinking place,
music in the listening place,
and look with joy for the blessing of God,
who often comes to my home
in the blessing of a stranger.
 
We call upon the Sacred Three
to save, shield and surround
this house, this home,
this day, this night,
and every night.
 

You’ll find more of Brigid’s prayers in Celtic Daily Prayer—Prayers and Readings From the Northumbria Community. (See right sidebar for more details.) But for now, how do you prepare your heart and life to be interrupted by the unexpected guest?

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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Category: Celtic Christianity, Daily, My village  Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
24
May
Do You Suffer As a Mental Busybody?

Most of us avoid gossip and slander, yet I wonder how many of us mentally trespass in other people’s affairs without ever speaking a word. Living as a mental busybody happens when our inner monologue takes us into areas that are none of our business. Suffering is the result.

“But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters” (1 Peter 4:15 NKJ). Interesting—a busybody is grouped with murderers, thieves and evildoers. Yep, I can see how that might cause some suffering.

I am responsible for me, not you. So tension, stress, and suffering arrive when I am being a busybody with my thoughts—mentally living outside of what is my own responsibility and business. When I think, “You should go to church, he is not listening to me, she is being irresponsible,” I am out of my arena of responsibility and into someone else’s business. When my thought life is consumed with how wrong I am being treated or what someone else should or shouldn’t be doing, then I am being a mental busybody.

All of my thoughts concerning other people may be true; however I have no control over other people. I cannot change people. I have a hard enough time changing me. This doesn’t mean that I condone or approve of other people’s choices. What it means is that what they do, or don’t do, is only under their own control. So why am I wasting brain cells thinking about something that I have no control over?

Byron Katie makes an interesting statement in her book, Loving What Is, “If you are living your life and I am mentally living your life, who is here living mine? We’re both over there. Being mentally in your business keeps me from being present in my own.”

Tune into your self-talk and see what percentage of your day is wasted living someone else’s life instead of your own. Do you suffer as a mental busybody?

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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21
May
What Do People Do In Heaven?

Eternity future is a long time—really long. So what does someone do with all that time in heaven?

In his book, Things Unseen, Mark Buchanan makes the following comment concerning heaven, “It’s the one place where we’re constantly discovering—where everything is always fresh and the possessing of a thing is as good as the pursuing of it—and yet where we are fully at home—where everything is as it ought to be and where we find, undiminished, that mysterious something we never found down here.”

Here are 8 specific things we will be doing in heaven as gleaned from Randy Alcorn’s book, Heaven, and the Scriptures.

1. We will rest from our labors on earth (Rev. 14:13).

2. We will eat, drink and celebrate with Christ and those that know Him. We’ll fellowship, tell stories, laugh, talk, enjoy corporate worship, and interact with God and angels. (Isa. 25:6; Matt. 8:11; Luke 22:29-30; Rev. 19:9). Eating and drinking in heaven will be for pleasure as there will be no hunger or thirst in heaven (Rev. 7:16).

3. We will serve God—which is not a passive state, but indicates activity and creativity.

4. We will exercise authority and leadership (2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 3:21; 22:5; Luke 19:17–19; 1 Cor. 6:2-3).

5. We will have our own places to live (John 14:2-3). This is part of a permanent inheritance–an imperishable estate specifically reserved for us (1 Pet. 1:3–4).

6. When we are in heaven, we will welcome others into our homes (Luke 16:9).

7. We will be given a new name that is known only to God and ourselves (Rev. 2:17).

8. We will receive the treasures that Christ commanded us to store up “for ourselves” in heaven (Matt. 6:20).

I hope this post gives you joy as you imagine those you love, who are already in heaven, enjoying their life there. I pray it gives you something to look forward to as you prepare for eternity future. What do you look forward to doing in heaven?

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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19
May
What Everybody Ought To Know About Heaven

Heaven doesn’t get much press these days. If I was planning to move, you can bet I would be researching my destination quite a bit. Heaven is the place where we will be spending eternity future. Shouldn’t we be checking it out?

Randy Alcorn has stated that, “Heaven is an actual place, in a real location, designed by God with people in mind.” Below are 7 facts gleaned from the Scriptures and Randy’s book, Heaven.

1. Our spirits are carried by angels to Heaven (Ec. 12:7; Luke 16:22; 23:43). These angels could include one or more who have served and protected us while we were on earth (Heb. 1:14).

Some angels are specifically assigned to children and likely accompany them to Heaven (Matt. 18:10). (No, we do not become angels! They are a separate type of being.)

2. We are carried to the “third Heaven” located in the angelic realm, which is separated from earth. This is a temporary Heaven, awaiting the New Heaven and New Earth, which will be created at some time in the future when we receive our future, resurrected bodies (1 Cor. 15:3–54). Beings have traveled to and from this third Heaven, including Christ (John 6:33; Acts 1), angels (Matt. 28:2; Rev. 10:1), and humans (2 Cor. 12:2–4).

3. When we die, we are given some type of temporary body to house our permanent spirit and soul. This body is recognizable. Both Moses and Elijah were in their temporary, heavenly bodies when they appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration with Christ and were recognized by Peter, James, and John.

4. To those left behind on earth it will appear as though our body were “sleeping.” However, we will be instantly present with the Lord when we die (2 Cor. 5:8).

5. We will meet our Lord face to face (Ps. 17:15; 1 John 3:2; Rev. 22:4).

6. We will be able to know what is happening on earth (Luke 9:30–36). Remember that “dead” Moses and Elijah were attentive to what was happening on earth. (Heb. 11–12:1). We will rejoice when someone we love comes into relationship with God (Luke 15:7).

7. We will recognize and know each other and will be able to express our love for one another (Matt. 17:1–4; 1 Cor. 13:13).

In Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis writes, “If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did the most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. The apostles themselves, who set on foot the conversion of the Roman Empire, the great men who built up the Middle Ages, the English evangelicals who abolished the slave trade, all left their mark on earth, precisely because their minds were occupied with heaven. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.”

How does your view of Heaven impact the way you live your life here and now? (Tune in on Friday for Part 2 of this short series on Heaven.)

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

I have often given Randy Alcorn’s book, Heaven, as a gift to those grieving the loss of a loved one. If you haven’t read it yet, pick it up for a good tour guide to your future home. (See the right side bar for details on the book.)

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Category: Eternity Future, grief, Personal growth  Tags: , , , , , , ,
17
May
6 Responses That Help Defuse a Tense Situation

How do you defuse a tense situation? I often find myself reacting instead of responding when someone is spitting fire in my direction–especially if that person is one of my kids or my spouse. I don’t remember where I heard this quote, but it is so true: “When you live in reaction, you give your power away. Then you get to experience what you gave your power to.”

I know I don’t have to defend or explain myself when I am under pressure, but usually my reactionary genes forget that logic. Here are 6 responses I’m practicing that provide space to compose myself in various situations. None of them commit me to taking on another’s problem or solving a conflict immediately. Each response needs to be spoken with a calm tone of voice.

  1. “I’m sorry you are upset.”
  2. “That’s interesting.”
  3. “I’ll be glad to talk with you when your voice is calmer.”
  4. “I need to think about this more. I’ll get back to you later.”
  5. “I’m not available to help you with that right now.”
  6. “Let’s talk when you are feeling less stressed.”
 

The trick is to use a one liner before your reactionary genes take over. If needed, repeat the one liner several times instead of getting drawn into the fighting arena.

Sometimes these one liners work well as text messages or email. They also come in handy written on a card and placed next to the phone for easy access during disturbing phone conversations.

Proverbs 15:1-2 states, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of fools gushes folly” (NIV). What have you been gushing lately—folly or a gentle answer? What one liners have you found helpful during difficult conversations?

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

For more tips on communication, check out Chapter 11, “Rules and Tools for Kingdom Communication,” in my book, Help, I’m Stuck With These People For the Rest of Eternity!

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14
May
Do You Worry About Your Kids? Grab Onto This Tip.

Sometimes I forget that God is closer to my kids than I am. Usually this lapse of memory occurs when a child, or grandchild, falls into some type of crisis—or my definition of a crisis. When my worry genes kick in, my mind switches gears into anxiety mode and my hand reaches for my Bible. The latter action adjusts the former two.

One tip for dissolving worry is to tweak your mind from thinking worry-talk to thinking promise-talk. Here are two Scripture promises I use for my personal self-talk during times of anxiety. Note how each Scripture ignites a spiritual pep talk in my brain. Just replace my name with yours.

“Who has done this and carried it through, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD—with the first of them and with the last—I am he” (Isaiah 41:4 NIV).

Susan, God has been calling your generations from the beginning of time. He has called each individual in your family into existence and he is with each one of your kids, just as he has been with you. He is also calling your kids—even those yet unborn—to come into his love and light. God is passionate about your generations and he is passionately in love with your kids. He will always be at their side drawing them close.

“But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations” (Psalm 33:11 NIV).

Susan, God’s plans and purposes for your kids will stand firm. These plans are not dependent on the opinion or actions of your kids, yourself, or others. God is more determined than you are to see your kids come into his kingdom and walk with him. His intimate thoughts are on each person in the generations that follow you—planning how He can influence each life to reflect His love and grace.

God’s promises hold steady when our lives don’t. Self-talking a few Scriptures transforms worry into faith. What Scripture promises do you grab onto when your children hit your worry button?  

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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12
May
Changing Your Perspective Can Change Your Approach to Life

Having a hard day? Life isn’t always fair or easy, but changing your perspective can change how you approach life. Grab the Kleenex and learn from someone who knows–Patrick Henry Hughes.

If you received this post via an RSS feeder or by email and cannot see the video, please stop by the Holy in the Daily blog to view it. It will make your day, I promise!

Patrick teaches me to be thankful for what I have and to use what God has given me for His glory! Focusing on the negative will not move me forward.

What are you doing with the gifts and talents given to you by God? What did the Spirit Holy drop into your spirit as you watched this short clip?

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

To learn more about Patrick Henry and his new book, I Am Potential, click here.

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10
May
Have You Heard the Latest God Gossip?

What’s the latest God gossip? That’s one question you never hear voiced around the water cooler at work! Yet, God keeps a journal of all the things we talk about concerning him.

One of the heavenly scribes jots our name and our God gossip down in God’s Book of Remembrance. “Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name” (Malachi 3:16 NIV).

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I wince when I think about that journal:

  • Is there much written next to my name?
  • What did I say?
  • Did it sound like I even knew what I was talking about?
  • Dang, if I knew he was taking notes, I would have said more!
 

Thankfully the bad gossip doesn’t end up in God’s journal. He only writes down the good stuff—the stuff of grace. Funny how much our mouth contributes to the Holy in our daily. “My mouth shall recount your mighty acts and saving deeds all day long; though I cannot know the number of them” (Psalm 71:15).

What’s your God gossip today? What has God been up to that you have heard about, and how much of that information have you passed on to others?

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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