Cathy's Heart

After The Dust Settles I haven't been here for a while. Not because I don't have anything to say. Believe me, I do.    I know this may sound strange, but I haven't felt like I had "permission" to write.     You see, for the last few months, I have been a bit lost. It's as if my life were on hold. Waiting. Watching. Listening. Wondering what the Lord would have me to do.    The best way I can describe this season is to tell you, the Lord is revamping me. I feel like He threw all the pieces of my life up in the air, and now I am watching them settle back into place. And, not necessarily in the places they were before.    During this upheaval, I have sensed three main messages from the Lord.    1) God is Up to Something New   For me, it all began last summer when  back pain  knocked me off my feet for several weeks. Since then, God has shaken up, challenged, and is transforming deep rooted routines and habits, attitudes and p...

The Power of Thank You. In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  I Thessalonians 5:18   This summer has been hard!    Trials and troubles have rolled in like waves in a stormy sea. Again and again, I have found myself overcome and overwhelmed.    But, then. Then, I would remember the power of two small words.  Thank You!   "Thank You, Lord, that this is happening!"   Thank You, Abba Father, that You are in control!"   "Thank you, Papa God, that you are not surprised or shaken by this."       "Thank You, dear Jesus that You are the King of kings and the Lord of lords."    True confessions. A tweak in perspective. Declarations to the enemy of my soul. Time and time again, my sincere "thank you" released God's power within me to transform this weak and wavering woman back to a peace-filled and trusting child of God. My fear turned to faith. Worry to hope. Trouble to trust....

Turning 55 - In These Troubled Times This week I turned 55! And my blog turns 5.    This is not my typical birthday post. Yet, I feel the need to write it's message.    My heart has been heavy. Not with the weight of my years, but with the ceaseless news of these troubled times. Wars and rumors of wars. Drought. Ebola. Airline mysteries and disasters. Riots and protests. Robin Williams' untimely death. Plus my own  pain and suffering .     Everywhere, I hear fearful, frustrated, and angry voices calling upon national leaders to act. Demanding military action. Blaming. Accusing. Condemning. And my heart cowers.   I am not an activist. I am not politically savvy or intellectually robust.    But I do have faith! Faith in One who created the heavens and the earth. Man and woman.  One who delivered  a whole people group by parting the Red Sea, destroying another when that same water flowed back. One who  changes times and seas...

Tips For Storing Up Hidden Treasure I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you...The law from your mouth is more precious to me  than thousands of pieces of silver and gold...Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.   Psalm 119:11, 72 , 97   I wish I could remember who first taught me to memorize God's Word.     Whoever it was, gave me a small packet of business size cards. Each one with a different Bible passage. I was nineteen. A college student at Arizona State University. That was over thirty-five years ago, yet I vividly recall walking through the tree-lined campus, between classes, rehearsing the lines on my cards.   One of the first passages I memorized was  John 10:27-29 ,  "My  sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater t...

Are You Listening I love my dad! He taught me the value of hard work. Plus, he passed on to me the essential life skills of golfing, rifle shooting, and catching fish.    It occurred to me, as I prepared to write this post, my dad also helped me learn another invaluable lesson. Possibly, one of the most important of all. He taught me to pay attention and listen to the voice of God!   I remember, I was just a girl. While I never caught many, I loved to fish. There was no greater feel than a pole in my hand, a sitting rock under my bottom, and a blue lake shimmering before my eyes.    One unforgettable fishing trip happened at a lake in Arizona. My dad had barely parked the car, when I jumped out, grabbed my pole, threw it over my shoulder, and hightailed-it to the lake's glistening shore.   "Cathy, stop." I heard his voice, but I couldn't stop. I would… Just as soon as I got to the lake.   "Caaattthhhyyyy, STOP!!!!" He yelled the words urgently!  ...

The Mallard and A Flight Change Recently, while catching up with a dear friend at Starbucks during a trip to Scottsdale, I shared about a divine appointment I had on my flight over.    "I believe each of us have divine appointments everyday," she responded.    I had to agree. The problem is, I don't always recognize these encounters. Or, when I do recognize one, it may be inconvenient or feel awkward. There are times, however, when there can be no doubt God has creatively redirected my steps to put me at  the exact right place, at the exact right time.   This happened a few weeks ago, on my walk along the San Diego Bay. That day, I took my usual route. I passed sailboats and yachts, vendors and artists displaying their wares, and quaint seaport shops and restaurants. Suddenly, I stopped. There beside me, in a picturesque setting, stood a bright, green-headed mallard.   The scene demanded a picture. I opened my photo app, and took the shot. As if o...

Accepting Your Life Story Recently, I have been very unhappy. Grouchy. Grumbly... Ever have one of those seasons?   I know, I am extravagantly blessed! I should be overjoyed with my life. I should count my blessings. Yet, I have been extraordinarily sad.   “Lord,” I’ve cried, “Why am I so miserable?”   One simple word came to mind.  Discontentment . Yes. That was the answer.   The truth jarred me. Amidst an abundance that is good in my life, I am not content!   This past weekend, the Lord provided my husband and I with an a unexpected getaway. We brought our books, our journals, our Bibles.   The first morning, I settled into a lounge chair, poolside. I opened a book, which I have been meaning to read for months. I enjoy the author’s  blog posts . So, I had no doubts her book would be wonderful too.   I was captured from page one.  Ann Voskamp’s  deliberate and poetic expression have always taken my mind beyond simple description to...