It’s Time to change…

Another matching outfit you might say but notice the red beret upon my head.  My personality is starting to show through.  “You can make me where the same outfit but I’ll find a way to be different!”  I can even remember the mini-fit I had with my mom because I wanted to wear to the hat and she wanted us to be the same.  I believe there was a compromise – one with the hat and one without.  I looked so miserable in the one without the hat, this is the one shared.  My Gram said, “Let her be, it is just a hat.”  Go Gram! 

I have a grimace since my charming disposition and strong will had just been exhibited prior to the camera’s click yet that beautiful little sister is smiling ear to ear once again.  Go figure!  I believe this was the year our matching outfits started to fade.  I was thrilled yet as I’ve looked through the old photo albums – it makes me smile to see all our matching outfits.  Corny at the time but bring smiles and memories today.

If we listen…God is talking to us.

August 22, 2009

            “While sitting at the Dempster Grove Camp Ground for their final meeting this evening the The Master’s Touch Chorale was closing their performance with the songs the “Angels Looked Down” by J. Paul Williams and Craig Curry and the “Easter Song”  by Anne Hetting; att. Mark Hayes.  The “Angels Looked Down” gave me goose bumps when I read it in the program yet when they started to sing, I was silenced in my spirit.  I felt as if the Lord was singing directly to me through the group.   As I listened to the words being sung and the beautiful music I felt the Lord pressing me to both think and write.  The thought He placed on my heart and fingers is this – Heidi was kidnapped on the most precious and important days in church history.  Awestruck with the revelation!  Only God could do this!

            I have struggled for over fifteen years to understand why God allowed my sister to be kidnapped and on Easter of all days.   I didn’t have a relationship with Jesus the day my sister disappeared.  I didn’t have a relationship with Him for a good majority of the time following her disappearance.  Yet, the best thing that has happened through this experience is I was humbled at the feet of Jesus.  I took all my pain, anger and blame and gave it to God.  It was quite the temper tantrum and our amazing Father opened His arms and wrapped them around me.  I took to Him all my bitterness and He replaced it with hope and love, and His ever so rapid growing seed of Faith in Jesus.  Although life took a tragic detour on April 3, 1994 – God used this bump in my spiritual road to show me the Truth.  I’m not saying I wouldn’t love to have my sister here with me, because I miss her so much I find myself daydreaming of the day I see her again but the reality of my life is this – my sister WAS abducted and my life will be forever changed!...”

Take a moment and ponder these thoughts…the next couple paragraphs will be shared tomorrow.  Thanks for reading, praying and sharing!  Lisa