“Whatever, Lord”

 

 

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A farmer named Muldoon lived alone in the Irish countryside except for a pet dog he had for a long time.

The dog finally died and Muldoon went to the parish priest, saying
“Father, the dog is dead. Could you possibly be saying a Mass for the poor creature?”

Father Patrick told the farmer “No, we can’t have services for an
animal in the church, but I’ll tell you what, there’s a new denomination down the road apiece, and no telling what they believe in, but maybe they’ll do something for the animal.”

Muldoon said “I’ll go right now. By the way, do you think $50,000 is enough to donate for the service?”

Father Patrick replied, “Why didn’t you tell me the dog was Catholic?”

 

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“When Barbara Johnson discovered that her son Larry was homosexual, angry words were exchanged and her son left home, eventually changing his name, disowning the family, and disappearing into a gay lifestyle. Six years would pass before he made his way back home. She had already lost one son in Vietnam, and another in Alaska-the victim of a drunk driver.

“It’s always darkest just before it goes totally black,” she told me, laughing. “I felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest. My teeth itched. I didn’t think there was any way I could possibly get through all the losses. It is a monstrous myth that faith in God is an insurance policy against the blows of life. Tragedies happen every day and Christians are not immune.”

Barbara climbed in the car one day with suicide on her mind. “I couldn’t believe I had reached that point. And suddenly I realized that I might not be successful in my suicide attempt and could end up making baskets in the home for the bewildered. `Lord,’ I said, `I can’t handle this anymore. If he never comes home again, whatever happens, I’m giving my son to You.’

“When I said, `Whatever, Lord,’ I felt a complete sense of relief.

“From then on the Lord gave me joy. When we relinquish our burdens to God, He offers us joy and growth as we travel over the bumps and washouts of life. Not always in a limo sometimes in a pickup truck, a bicycle, or even a wheelchair. No matter. The important thing is to become aware of God’s care for us in even the smallest ways so that we may have abundant joy.”

Callaway, Phil. Laughing Matters. Oregon: Multnomah Publishers, 2005, p. 203-204.

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Whatever You want, Lord…

W – Whoever You put in, or take out of my life

H – However You want things to end up…only You see the big picture

A – As much as I can take Lord…You know me best because

T – Time is nothing to You…help me to be patient

E – Everything is in Your Hands…help me to let go.

V – Victory comes with You as my guide

E – Eternity with You is worth it all!

R – Restoration is mine through You.

      –By Barbara Johnson

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My heart’s song to the Lord this morning:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du0il6d-DAk

 

Psalm 113:1-5

 ¹ Praise the Lord!

   Yes, give praise, O servants of the Lord.
      Praise the name of the Lord!
 ² Blessed be the name of the Lord
      now and forever.
 ³ Everywhere—from east to west—
      praise the name of the Lord.
 ⁴ For the Lord is high above the nations;
      his glory is higher than the heavens.

 ⁵ Who can be compared with the Lord our God,
      who is enthroned on high?

 

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Lord, every single good gift comes from You…

(From James 1:7)   One Thousand Gifts   http://www.aholyexperience.com/

 

355. Praise to God who continues to bring me, little by little,  to the genuinely  “Whatever, Lord” point.

356. Snuggly, soft socks

357. Cool, refreshing breezes off the lake

 358. Today would have been my appt for half doses of chemo treatment #6 had things worked out differently with side effects.  I am glad to be done and to be detoxing from the stuff instead.

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Rejoicing in His goodness and faithfulness,

 

Paula