Lord, how grateful I am that You think of me in such loving ways. That You whisper sweet words of tender care just when and where You know that I need them. And that even if I forget them as quickly as I heard them, that it did not take that moment away from me, that I did not disappoint You or anger You, and that You are faithful to continue whispering (shouting if You need to) the words, the sermons, the songs You know I need, because You know the battle is far from over. It will never be completely settled until we are settled in at home… with You.This night You had allowed me to make it to Breathers ladies bible study. It was night 2 of the 3 we will have this 2018 summer. In the Cool of the Evening was the title for this night. Many things tried to hinder my making it, but You were so protective to get me here. There would be the sadness of not having Sarah with us, which meant no Sarah hugs. But I know You were with her while You were with us, and were giving her all the hugs she needed from You.

You allowed me to make it in time enough to stop by the ladies room. As I looked to see if it was occupied, I noticed the door slightly open with the light off. Slowly opening the door, I heard a voice in the dark say, “Oh! Hello!” Immediately I went to close the door while apologizing, but again heard the voice in the dark say, “Oh no! I want you to come on in.” That was kind of creepy, but I knew I was in the ladies room at church, so I entered carefully. A lady was putting her lipstick back in her purse, as she insisted I take the room. As she left, I thought of how skilled she and her eyes must be to put lipstick on in the dark. She was facing the mirror to do it.

After that laugh, I got signed in, was given a pen from the church, got a Keitha hug 🙂 , and found a seat at the table. On the table, I found a little bag with a cute little message,
“There is always room for Smore love.” ❤How adorable! I will finally get to try one of those things I’ve heard so much about through the years! It takes a lot of discipline not to open it so I can get a picture of it first.

I also see a paper reminding us of a guest speaker,
and a place to take notes on later while she is speaking to us.

I look up and see a couple of ladies preparing music for us. **GASP** Tracey will be singing for us! ❤ What a delightful surprise! I watch as they prepare, but try not to interrupt. Instead, I pray for them. Later, Tracey would make my day by saying hey and sharing a Tracey hug! 🙂 After meeting a couple of new sisters in Christ, Keitha opens the night with prayer and instructions. We go get snacks. I ate a couple of sleeping bags. 😉 Yes, that’s right! 2 of the cutest little pigs in the blankets I have ever seen.

The message was so You meeting me where I needed it, even if I didn’t know what I needed, or where I was for You to find me with what I needed. That has been the theme from You lately. As this issue with falling asleep everywhere, and the brain fog, and memory struggles continue even while I am here and listening. I started to struggle with staying upright. I’m most worried about offending the guest speaker.

These are the notes and verses I managed to get while half awake:“And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee.  And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.” – Exodus 4:1-2 

What’s in your hand? God is a God who sees and hears. Even when you can’t voice your needs/cries to Him because you don’t even know what they are. God hears and is helping against whatever has been your taskmaster.

“And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows.” – Exodus 3:7

God has a divine strategy to alleviate the suffering of humanity and it involves you.
For the glory of His salvation!
What’s your stick? What are you holding on to?
Depression – just don’t enjoy anything anymore.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” – 2 Corinthians 4:7

Cracked pots. There is one word that we CAN do in trying to do something for Jesus:
YES. We can say yes.
What are you holding on to?
What’s in your hands?
You feed them.
Free them of their taskmasters.

Dear, Lord, how discouraged I am at this moment in wondering how you can involve me in helping alleviate others’ sufferings when I can’t even stay awake. How can I even know what is in my hand to let go of when I cannot even think straight from struggling to stay awake? Surely I will just keep messing things up.
And then You remind me with that little blue box on the paper. “If you think you’ve blown God’s plan for your life, rest in this:
You, my beautiful friend, are not that powerful.”
– Lisa Bevere

At the end of the night, I grabbed a banana pudding on the way out, and managed with Your help to wait til I got to the car and take pictures before I ate anything.
Worth the wait!! 🙂 Thank You, Lord!

The Smore was worth waiting to try, but was so messy trying to eat that I think,
“Nope. Not me. Especially not while camping and with no napkins.”I don’t really care for snacks or foods that are so messy that it’s a struggle not to get it all over the place between each bite, or just to hold it. Yes, I could taste why people like it, but unless I am in a setting with plenty of napkins, maybe even one or two wet ones, and a drink to wash it down, I will pass on it.

On the way out we grabbed a card for next month.
Gathering on the Back Porch

There’s so much I wanted to blog and share, to love on Keitha with, to share with Sarah, but my sleep, memory, and health issues just won’t accommodate. So I am doing what I can do… still praise You with what You will allow. I share the blessing You gave me with the very mind I am still working with. I may not be able to remember everything, and trusted Your whisper to leave my camera in the car to better focus on You while I was present there. But I KNOW I was blessed. I remember that with absolute! And I share as honestly as I can. I leave the blessings meant for others to You. You can do anything.

For Your word says:
“For with God nothing shall be impossible.” – Luke 1:37

And I believe!! ❤

Thank You, God! Thank You!

Please bless each lady!

If you would like to read the other nights, they are here below:

Breathers: 6.21.18, Night 1 of 3 Soaking Up the Summer, Son, and Shade

Breathers: 7.19.18, Night 2 of 3 Extra

Breathers: 8.16.18, Night 3 of 3 Gathering on the Back Porch