Bruise on My Banana

Recently during a family crisis uncertainty was in the air. Decisions were having to be made that were not easy to make. All of those who were involved tried their best to stay strong for each other. 
As difficult as it was to maintain my strength I managed to stay strong for a short while. Soon the weight of my emotions were starting to take their toll on me. The slightest thing would send me into tears.

For example, the day I found a bruise on my banana that started a flood of tears. As silly as it sounded that was where I was in fighting my emotions as was the case of other family members. Coming together one day we got to giggling about our emotional state. We all were at that delicate moment of crying at the littlest thing like a bruise on our banana.

What started out a critical moment soon turned into a time of laughter and comfort. Giggling about the emotion of crying over a simple bruise on our banana took our minds off the seriousness of the business at hand.

Too often we allow the little and big things in life to get to us and emotional havoc takes over. We lose site of the shore we should landing on and that's the one belonging to Jesus. We make the bruise on our banana to be something more than what it needs to be.

It's important we turn to God for our comfort and strength. Once found and properly applied its up to us to use that to help others. Help others to overcome and conquer their strongest emotional states when even a simple bruise on their banana can send them into tears.

There is no doubt about it, our feelings are fickle, and they can't be trusted or relied upon. We need to reach out and rely on what is reliable and that is God himself. Trusting in His strength, the promises of His word and the comfort in  His strength, power, and love. Standing by the truth that greater is He (God) that is in our hearts than any bruise on a banana.

It's time to giggle, its time to rely on God. Toss those bruised bananas and trust in God.


Copyright 2015 Karen J Gillett @ Pencil Marks and Recipes Publishing.

Sent from my iPhone

A Feathered Pillow for All

As I rose this evening from bed to wander in the nearby bathroom the mirror caught my attention. The two incisions made in my neck and shoulder reminded me of my situation. "You have cancer and your infusions you've been trying to avoid start Monday." "Yeah, yeah I know. I don't need to be reminded," I answered back. 

After going back to bed a piece of paper in my opened Bible caught my attention. It asked the question 'what does having God in your life do for you?' Being a much better thing to dwell on rather than my port catheter in my neck for my chemo treatment, I chose to fall back to sleep on the light feathered comfort of the second pillow. 

With a smile on my face and a song of praise in my heart I told my mind what direction to take and it took it. Like Psalms 103:2 and following, I listed all the benefits of having God in my life. 

1. Strength. If it wasn't for God's strength I would have no strength at all. 

2. Stability. I am anchored on the rock of Jesus that will never move. Therefore I am promised I wont be shaken. 

3. Security. I am not only safe but saved in the arms of Jesus. He is building me a home just for me. I expect lots of Holstein cows and country style decor awaiting me. 

4. Loved. I couldn't feel more loved than I do with God. That seems impossible because of the love I receive from my family and friends is overwhelming. Thanks everyone. 

5. Welcomed. I am welcomed into God's family with open arms. I fit in because of Jesus. 

6. Not lost. Wandering around aimlessly for so long lost in the muck and mire of life's circumstances God found me and found a spot for me in His herd of lost sheep. He never gave up on me. 

7. Belonged. It's a bad feeling, feeling as if you don't belong. No matter what the local church might make you feel, we belong. We belong to God if we so choose to accept His offer to come to Him. I love it. 

8. Cared for. I feel cared for by God in the way He watches over me, talks to me, gives me His spirit to sustain me. 

9. Happy. I couldn't be more happier than I am in Christ. Material possessions don't count because they are not needed to feel a sense of joy and happiness in God. 

10. Blessed. No matter what my situations say out loud, in my heart I know I am blessed because of God. He hasn't chosen me as His favorite and made me rich and famous but its the fact that He has chosen me. I have things like my good health outside of cancer, eyes that see, ears that still hear, a heart that functions well, and a brain that still operates. Somewhat! Ha ha. I have great family and friends. Just recently a friend from over 20 years contacted me on Facebook. Talk about a blessing, it was awesome. Another tool God is using to bless me. 

11. Helped. Cancer and other things can put us in a situation where we feel helpless and often even hopeless. With God I have felt and seen where He has helped me many times. He has never left me stranded along the side of the road of life. He leads me to clear calm water and to other places I need to be. He helps me to cross bridges that appear to be frightening. He holds on tight to my hand and encourages me. 

12. Satisfied. With God in my life He is all I need or really want. I am satisfied in my soul because of Him. I don't have to work my way up some imaginary scale to make myself feel satisfied. I don't need substances such as money, food, alcohol, or drugs to feel satisfied. I am satisfied completely in Christ. 

13. Forgiven. It's a good feeling to know you are forgiven. Too often I have messed up in life and I couldn't have made it without knowing God forgives when I am willing to repent and correct that which is wrong in my life. 

14. Comforted. God knows my circumstances and He comforts me. He gets me through them one at a time. He may not lead me around them but He sees me thru life's storms in a strong comforting way letting me know He is there, with me all the way. That is a big comfort. 

15.  

The list I am sure could go on and on but at last my weary eyes and heart are ready to surrender. Sleep is what my eyes seek while my heart and mind chase after God and that list of what He does for me. 

Snuggled within the reminder of what He does for me I can lay to rest my cancer, the physical pain it creates, the tears shed, the fear felt, the unknown ahead. Instead I lay upon the pillow feathered with God's love and comfort as He tucks His daughter into bed once more. 

Ever so softly and gently I can feel Him leaning down to kiss my forehead as He whispers once again, "I am with you my sweet one. I will never leave you nor forsake you. You can count on that for number 15 on your list. I am not through with you yet." 

The words from God were what I needed to hear. Truly a feathered pillow for all. A comfort list for many. 

Copyright 2015 Karen J Gillett @ Pencil Marks and Recipes Publishing 

Sent from my iPhone

Cuddle

What is it about a nice soft stuffed animal that feels so good to cuddle up to it when one is feeling uncertain or weary? Recently as I was having to make a decision about exploring new horizons with my cancer care I was feeling that uncertainity. Grabbing my "awareness bear" I gave him a good strong hug. It probably didn't do a thing for him except rearrange his stuffing perhaps but it did wonders for me.

After drenching his head with my tears I felt a little better. The move is still uncertain but the hug of strength from my furry friend helped my spirit that's for sure. That's the way it is with God. It feels so good to be able to hug something like a scripture such as Psalm 9:9,10 the Lord also will be a refuge to the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.
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The strength and warmth I get from cuddling up to His word and the promises He has for me is tremendous. Many tears have drenched the page in my Bible where I am promised I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Truly another warm and fuzzy for a weary soul. Give me more, give me more!

I love Jesus

The Bridge of Comfort

“Sufferers want to be ministered to by people who have suffered. They are suspicious of people who appear to live lives of ease. He (God) has given a role to messy, wimpy people like me. He has made us His ambassadors of reconciliation, and suffering gives us credibility with a hurting world and demonstrates God’s sufficiency to meet our needs.” by Stephen F. Saint in his essay, “Sovereignty, Suffering, and the Work of Missions”


Not long after my 2nd brain surgery that took care of the remaining 10% of my epileptic seizures I thought, “Wow what a wonderful thing it would be if what I went through cured all epileptics world wide.” It wasn’t a thought of heroism but one of pity, concern, and comfort contemplating only one person having to go through what I did in order for all epileptics to be suddenly cured.

Unfortunately it doesn’t work that way and to this day my niece still suffers herself from seizures. What I went through cured only me but there is something I can do. I can comfort others dealing with similar situations and minister to them. Since we learn and mature from our struggles perhaps that is a better way to go.

Those who have survived the storms in life whether it is marital problems, financial difficulties, prodigal children, health issues and such make good bridges for those coming along similar roads. It’s our job once we are through to turn around and lend a helping hand to those who have yet to cross. One of the biggest things it does for them is to let them know they are not alone.

As fellow sufferers it becomes our task or witness to show others they can make it across. The example we set before them in this Suffers Anonymous club are part of the planks laid down to help others across.

Years ago when man was heading West the best way to go was to find a scout who had been there and done that and knew what to expect. It had to be extremely comforting to know that the scout leading them knew what they were doing because they had been through it before. Having an experienced scout never stopped a lot of the tragedies and heartaches that would occur but it helped in difficult times.

Once we have gone through our suffering of whatever kind we don’t have to go out looking for a little old lady to help cross a street or anything, the opportunities will come. In the midst of my greatest marital struggles I was surprised to see and hear from people I never even knew traveled the road I found myself currently lost on. They took me by the hand and guided me through some pretty rough waters.

Their suffering didn’t set up a cure for all married couples who followed them but what they got out of their own journey would help another along. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians told them, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Cor 1:3,4 (NKJV).

Believe it or not our idea of comfort in suffering is to not have to suffer. We figure if God really loves us and wants to comfort us then He should take our troubles away. People, people, people when will we ever learn.

Suffering needs to be used as a tool to teach us what we need to learn in order to pass on that knowledge to others traveling down similar roads. It’s not a time to kick those who are down and think of ourselves as a failure. A failure is someone who when they fall they stay down. Comfort sets us up on our feet again, it’s the pit stop needed to gain strength in order to finish the journey not quit it. It’s the mile-marker used to see where we are and how far we have yet to go. It’s a light in a dark tunnel that gives us hope.

Comfort can go a long ways, may we use it wisely but most importantly may we accept it just as well. Too often we want to wallow in our self-pity and refuse to be comforted. Boy, I’ve been there and done that and it didn’t work. No, the better thing to do is to accept it, use it, and make a bridge out of it to help others across life’s roughest waters.

The only toll on this bridge should be the price we had to pay to learn what we did in order to pass it along.


Our host this bright and sunny day is Kathryn on her blog, Expectant Hearts. Hop on over there and read and share with the gang on today’s fantastic quote.

Portions to Share

“To ease another’s heartache is to forget one’s own.” By Abraham Lincoln


If you take what Abraham Lincoln said and put it together with what Paul teaches us in 2 Corinthians 1:3,4 (NKJV) it tells us a lot. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

Indeed the best way to share comfort is to forget our own heartache. We need to do what our children like to do and have selective memory. Forgetting the heartaches and remembering the comfort we received from it. Comfort is not for us to keep but to share. It’s like a loaf of friendship bread or whatever they call it. You take the dough someone gives you and add to it and then divide it up giving your friends a portion of the dough while you cook your own loaf of bread. Soon in your circle of friends you run out of people to give it to because everyone has already had their portion.

That’s the way it should be with comfort. We receive it from God Himself and we are to take portions of it, add to it and give it out to those around us. Soon it grows to something that is very big that has touched many lives. Basically it’s a process of building bridges over the rough times and it’s our responsibility to go back over the bridge of comfort and help others across. Oddly enough when we do this we find our own healing as we set aside our pain to help others across.

Some of the best comfort received is that coming from someone who has “been there and done that.” They know the pain and they share the comfort that helped them through it. No one in life should be left on the side of the street without the comfort needed to go on. Several years ago in our area a young girl was killed in a single car accident, a hundred miles away another mom had just dealt with a similar situation when she lost her daughter the same way. In the middle was a mutual friend of the two that connected them together in order for the comfort to spread and the healing process to begin and end for them both and it did.

Another thing Abraham Lincoln’s advice does for us is it makes us stop and realize that our heartaches are not as bad as we often make them out to be. It gets our focus where it needs to be, on others rather than ourselves. It replaces pity parties with comfort in the form of a listening ear, a gentle hug, an encouraging word, a signed card, an available shoulder to cry on. It forces us to listen to our own advice as we let the comfort begin.
It starts with comfort from God Himself through His Word and His Spirit. Don’t keep the whole loaf to yourself, add to it and hand it out to those around you. Don’t leave home without it but don’t come home without it either.


Speaking of leaving, don’t leave without joining the circle of sharing in today’s quote. Our lovely host is Susan over at FOREVER HIS. We are forever His (God’s) and right there is a comfort in itself to hang on to and to share with others who don’t know that blessed truth.

Portions of comfort I have received over the years and want to portion out:

You’re not alone, God has not abandoned you
You CAN do all things through Christ who strengthens you
God loves you, He cares, don’t ever doubt that
You’re not exempt from God’s love and forgiveness.
Your situation is not unique; it’s nothing God can’t handle
This moment too shall pass, they all do
Quitting the race doesn’t end the race; you need to run to win
As long as God’s on the throne don’t count me out
The light at the end of the tunnel is not a train it’s the completion of a journey, the hope we strive for, the comfort we needed to endure
Satan may be able to trip us but he can’t make us fall when we are holding on to God
You’re not alone, you’re not alone


Oh dear, here I go a babbling again. I would like to list all the comforts I have received but there’s not enough paper or page to hold them all yet they fit in my heart thanks to Jesus. Thanks to Jesus.