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Letter to Readers

Posted on by lindajdudley


Dear Friends,

Well, hello there! Wanted to write a personal note to you, faithful readers and supporters, to thank you for sticking with me in the past and to apologize for the long silence.  I had no idea it’s been so long!  In recent months, the reason for the silence has more to do with my own brokenness, I think, than a list of excuses.

One issue is “Imposter Syndrome”.  Yes, it’s a real thing.  The less writing I did, the more I came to believe I’m not up to the task or that the words I might offer would be meaningful.  Doing workshops, listening to other writers and reading the works of others only solidified these impressions.  The disease of comparison brought doubt and insecurity to the fore. 

Today something changed.

Today, I had an experience of God’s healing.  It wasn’t a major turnaround, but it was a nudge pushing me off the spot where I was stuck and an encouragement to move forward. Where was I stuck?  Well, friends, it was self-acceptance. I’m not sure why it’s been hanging over me now, but that is the issue. In a video interview I heard a priest say, “have no self-loathing. We should love ourselves for Christ’s sake, ultimately”.  My tears confirmed my problem. 

This has been a theme and one of the main struggles in my life.  With all the spiritual direction I’ve had, learning through workshops, retreats and prayers, I am well aware of this issue stemming from early life experiences.  It’s often surprising to me that even when we know the issues, when we understand them, have awareness and even if we experience healing, we can still fall back into those old patterns and beliefs, sometimes without even noticing or knowing it.  Many people have lived this experience.

But God is a faithful and loving God and He brings us through these circumstances.  Sometimes it’s for us to learn something, sometimes to gain understanding and often it’s for our ultimate spiritual growth on the road to salvation.  It can be hard to keep trusting God when we’re struggling, uncertain, having health problems or relationship difficulties.  He asks us to persevere and to keep our eyes on Him through it all; not always easy to do but, if we can, we will experience a dawning, a rising to a new level, coming to a new plain of life where we use each new understanding for the benefit of the people in our lives.

Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy spirit that has been given to us.
Romans 5:3-5
Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged! The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; He will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, He will sing joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals.
Zephaniah 3:16-18
Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:1-4

So, here I am again, considering themes and projects to write about which illustrate how God is present in daily life, how He speaks to us through the relationships and people in our lives as well as the events, small and large, which take place every day. 

Where have you seen God’s actions in your life lately?

Please share it so we can  encourage one another.

God bless you and keep you safe.

Peace & blessings,


Linda

Convicted

Posted on by lindajdudley

Sometimes God speaks to us to get our attention and to give us insight into ourselves.  It happened to me last weekend.

I was driving to the Prayer Center where I volunteer for a workshop event.  We were expecting a large group of people and I was trying to get there early to prepare.

Traffic was heavy, not unusual for our area, but seemed especially congested; probably because it was Saturday morning; Now, I can drive fast sometimes , but only when there’s space on the roads.  While I was wondering how long it would take me to reach my destination, I heard the rumble of a large vehicle coming from behind.

A large white truck with oversized wheels and a muffler problem came barreling down the road, cut in front of me then switched back to the right lane breaking hard when he came upon the line of cars in front of him.  I shook my head as I watched him consider switching lanes again.  I thought,

“at least I don’t do that!”

Immediately, I recalled the scriptures I read that morning which made me laugh ironically. Here I am going to the Prayer Center to talk about God, the Holy Spirit and all things spiritual and God just snapped me back to reality.

Earlier, sitting down with my coffee, I opened up the scripture readings to look them over and read the reflections.  I’ve found it is the best way to start my day.  It helps keep me grounded, starts me off on an even keel and gives me something to think about.  It helps me with my day and often shows me a new perspective.  There are times, such as this, when God turns the light on me and reveals something I need to consider.

The scripture from Luke 18: 10-14 reads:  “Two people went up to the temple area to pray, one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.  The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, “O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity – greedy, dishonest, adulterous – or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week and I pay tithes on my whole income”. But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, “O God, be merciful to me a sinner”. I tell you the latter went home justified, not the former, for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and the one who humbles himself will be exalted”.

Now, I was shaking my head at myself!  There I am considering myself “better than” and comparing myself to another when in God’s eyes, we all have things we need to work on. I may not deliberately weave in and out of traffic on the roads but I am certainly not perfect.

There’s another scripture in Matthew which says in regards to judgement,

“Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?”

Aren’t these statements about something we all prefer to forget? I know I don’t look at my faults too often but maybe I should. No matter how “good” I think I am, are there things I need to work on, things I need to improve?

It is good to be reminded to check our motivations and have a performance check like we do with our cars.  Check the oil and the battery, if they need to be filled up and charged up, it’s probably a sign that I haven’t given God enough attention or enough focus. Maybe some quiet time to pray and ponder what He is telling me is necessary or to just be present with Him to appreciate all I have and be reminded that it is all a gift from Him; to be mindful of others and not to compare or judge but stay in my lane focusing on my own family and where God has me.  Be present within my own circumstances and not to look around at others to compare or judge.

I shared this experience with the group at our workshop as an example of the Holy Spirit whispering to me that morning. I believe that God meant it to be used as an illustration during our workshop that day  It certainly gave me something to think about and to work on the places where I fall short.

Even when I do fall short, I know God loves me no matter what.

Remember that.

He loves you too, in every circumstance of your life.  Talk to Him and listen for His promptings. He wants to have a relationship with you. He is a Father who desires to teach and guide us for our eternal good.

Therefore, you are without excuse, every one of you who passes judgement. For by the standard by which you judge another you condemn yourself since you, the judge, do the very same things
Romans 2:1
Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you
Matthew 7:1

Can you think of a time when you felt God was instructing you or teaching you?

What was it like and what changes did you make?

Peace & Blessings,


Linda

Shorts Circuit

Posted on by lindajdudley

In an early blog post I mentioned God being in the smallest details of life.  I recently had one of those experiences and thought I would share it with you.  Once again it seems so ironic that in these days of uncertainty and strife, there are still those small moments in life when God whispers in our ears and tells us He is right beside us.  Even as a person of faith and belief, it seems outrageous that God would concern himself with something so very small and insignificant.

I hate clothes shopping.  There aren’t many things I “hate” in life, and I don’t like to use that word, but buying clothes for myself is one thing I can describe that way.  I don’t do it very often as a result but I did need summer clothes this year so in June I went out to replace what was worn out or didn’t fit.  As usual, it took lots of looking, a long time putting on and pulling off clothes I didn’t like at all, before I hit on the things that were passable.  One was a pair of shorts which fell into the category of what I now call “old lady clothes”, i.e. elastic, stretchy and not pinching anywhere.   Ladies, those of you in my age bracket, we’re all about comfort and ease and not so much about fashion statement, right?  Are you with me?! 

In the last couple of years, one of my friends and I have taken to gifting ourselves with a little time away for some R&R at some point in the summer.  We like to say this is our birthday gift to ourselves and each other and so it was that we had a short trip to a hotel close to the beach with a swimming pool and the simple amenities we needed.  We didn’t need to take much with us and casual was the way to go, especially in the scorching heat.  I donned my new, comfy shorts, packed my bathing suit and beach stuff, picked up a light dinner and set off for our mini-break.

The first order of the evening was getting into the pool so I changed right away.  When I set the shorts on the top of the dresser I remember thinking to myself, “don’t put them in the drawer because you’ll forget to pack them”.  Of course this went right out of my head immediately as I hit the pool to wait for the arrival of my friend.  We got in the pool again, took in some deep breaths and relaxed into our soothing surroundings.  The old adage, “a change is as good as a rest” did the trick and we both slipped into relaxation mode as we swam about.

We ended our break the next evening after a lovely afternoon at the beach with dinner at a tranquil restaurant which had a soothing atmosphere and good food – still talking and laughing as we ate.  After our bellies and hearts were satisfied, we headed to our cars for the journey to our respective homes.

Well, I’m sure you know what’s coming.  Unpacking my suitcase, emptying it, I discovered my shorts weren’t there.  What did I do with them?  I realized we pretty much stayed in our bathing suits the whole day until dinner. So what happened to them?  I searched the car, my beach bag and – even though I knew it was futile – my overnight bag once again.  Nope, no shorts.  I couldn’t believe I’d lost them.  I only wore them once!  I was also mad at myself because when I got them it was the last pair in my size so I figured I wouldn’t be able to replace them.  What should I do?

Next morning I called our hotel.  Voicemail.  I left a message asking if they had found my shorts.  As my brain began waking up, I thought about another friend who lives in a town not too far from where we stayed.  When I called her, she was on the road.  Guess where?  Not too far from our hotel, within about 20 minutes.  I relayed my dilemma and she immediately offered to swing by the place to pick them up.  Having not heard whether the shorts had been found I said I’d try the hotel again, let them know someone could pick them up and call her back.  I called the hotel a second time.  Voicemail.  I repeated myself this time saying that my friend could swing by to pick up the shorts rather than their having to send them to me.  I called my friend again to let her know I left another message.  While we’re talking, another call came in.  I checked the number.  It’s the hotel.  I put my friend on hold and talked to the lady who told me she had them (she asked me to describe them) and that it’s fine for my friend to stop by.  When I get back to my girlfriend and relate my conversation with the hotel keeper she says, “Oh, I wonder who made THAT happen?!! 

I laughed at her statement as well as her delivery.  God had indeed orchestrated that moment.  My friend was already on the road and what had seemed to be problematic was configured and timed exactly right.  No one else could have orchestrated things in such an exacting way.  Later, my friend texted me, “mission accomplished”.  I smiled again.

So, if you think God is not in the small details of life, remember this little story.

What about you?  When have you noticed things falling into place at just the right time?

There are many scriptures indicating that God cares for us.  I encourage you to look up the ones I mention below as well as seeking out some more which might be comforting to you and meditate on the entire passage taken in context.  See how God speaks to your heart in the quiet.  He always has a specific message for each of us within the words of scripture.

The Lord, the Lord, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity
Exodus 34:6
Cast all your worries upon Him because He cares for you
Peter 5:7
The Lord is on high but cares for the lowly
Psalm 138: 6
Like a shepherd He feeds His flock; in His arms He gathers the lambs, carrying them in His bosom and leading the ewes with care
Isaiah 40:11
Lord, you have probed me, you know me: you know when I sit and stand, you understand my thoughts from afar
Psalm 139:1-2
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want
Psalm 23:1

Peace & Blessings,


Linda

Why Worry?

Posted on by lindajdudley

“If you worry, you die, and you’re going to die anyway, so why worry”? my Uncle John used to say.  He wasn’t a religious man per se but isn’t this a religious principle?

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are not you more important than they?”
Matthew 6:12

 I come from a family of worriers. My Mum used to worry about everything and my Gran used to worry about
everyone she met.  When I lived with her and Papa while attending college in Glasgow, sometimes we would be sitting watching television at night and Gran would suddenly exclaim, “I wonder what happened to that woman?  I hope she’s OK”.  She would then explain that waiting at the bus stop in the morning she had got talking to a woman also waiting there.  The woman would have told my Gran about some issue – family problem, poor health, or concern for another family member – and Gran would have spent the whole day thinking about her and worrying about the outcome.

A few years ago, my friend’s family was going through a difficult period.  Her husband, in his mid-fifties, had lost his job and as hard as he tried, he could not find employment.  This went on for 2 years which, of course, caused mounting financial difficulties.  Instead of worrying about what would or would not happen, my friend approached the challenges she faced with an outlook I hadn’t experienced before.  She would get out of bed in the mornings thinking, “I wonder what God is going to do today?”  She did it cheerfully and with open expectation that something good would happen.

Many times, they weren’t sure how the bills would be paid or what sort of Christmas they would have with their 4 growing children.  What was marvelous was the stories she told of the little miracles that would occur just in the nick of time.  A check sent from someone in the exact amount of that month’s mortgage payment; winning a large Christmas hamper at the church fundraiser; finding the jacket her daughter wanted for Christmas at a
greatly reduced price.  Sometimes people would leave a bag of groceries at their door anonymously or occasionally an envelope of cash.  She was always grateful for each little miracle and would gather the family together to explain what had happened.  I think she was teaching her children valuable lessons during these times. She also taught me that having a little faith, depending on God in tough times, was better than worrying about everything.

It is natural to have concerns and to worry in certain situations.  When our second son was born severely
jaundiced and we had 5 harrowing days in the hospital, it was a worrying time for sure.  I had not yet fully learned to focus on God and keep the faith.  One morning, when my husband brought his brother to visit, who was 5 years old, he walked up to the bassinette, looked at his newborn brother, turned to face his Dad 
and I squarely and pronounced, “you know he’s going to be all right, don’t you?”  At that moment, I felt a little kiss from God telling us to relax and to know that everything would turn out right.  A couple of days later, we took our newest baby boy home. 

The scripture at the top of my homepage is one I have tried to live by and is one of the better-known passages about anxiety:

“Have no anxiety at all, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus”
Philippians 4:6-7

This is an excellent scripture to meditate on.  There is so much in it.  Not only does it say not to have anxiety at all, it also says to be grateful and make our requests (or petitions) known to God.  It also promises peace; that peace which “surpasses all understanding”. Even in the midst of great difficulty we can experience peace if we place our faith and trust in God.  This kind of peace cannot be explained other than the fact that when we focus on God, we can have this peace in times of struggle. His graces come to us freely given.

There are many more scriptures about anxiety and worry in the bible.  I encourage you to look for them on your own.  Find the one that resonates with you and keep it within view so that you can hold on to it when worry or anxiety come to visit.

What is your favorite scripture and why?  I’d love to hear from you in the comments so that we can share these scriptures and experiences with one another. 

Peace & Blessings,


Linda

Surprise Party

Posted on by lindajdudley
"Thus says the Lord your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I, the Lord, your God, teach you what is for your good, and lead you on the way you should go"
Isaiah 48:17

Who goes big on a 65th birthday party?  This was the thought I had some weeks after celebrating my Mum’s 65th birthday with a surprise party which seemed a bit odd as the thought crossed my mind.  We even put together a book of memories which included stories and memories from all her family and friends.  It’s more usual to celebrate the decade markers – 50, 60, 70 – isn’t it?

Mum’s dear friend and neighbor,  Gail, offered to host a barbeque and did all the catering herself which helped with the surprise element.  The rationale for holding this party at this particular time made perfect sense to us.  As you may know by now, we live across the Atlantic Ocean from our family so when we did all gather together it was a big event.

After their grandchildren came along, my parents’ biggest delight was to have them all together at the same time so they could enjoy all 5 of them at once and have the two families joined together for a visit.  This was the case that summer of 2002.  My family travelled to Scotland for a visit with my parents and my brother and his family coordinated with us.  When we were making our travel plans we realized it would be my Mum’s birthday during our visit and so the party planning began.

We had fun organizing her celebration and even more fun at her barbeque.  Our two families were there, Gail’s family, her children and grandchildren and some of the neighbors as well.  Mum never liked being fussed over but I think she truly enjoyed her birthday celebration surrounded by many of the people she loved the most.  The weather cooperated and we spent the whole afternoon outside, chatting with one another and playing with the children.

Have you wondered at the timing of something in your life which maybe didn’t make sense at the time it took place?

Little did we know that Mum wouldn’t make it to her 70th birthday.  She died of lung cancer at age 68 just a few years later.  That’s when the timing of her 65th birthday party made perfect sense.

God knew when she would be called home so He put on our hearts to celebrate that summer while she was in good health and we were all together at Gran and Grandad’s house.

At this time in my life I am less likely to question when or how things happen.  I’ve seen during my lifetime that it is not me who is in control of events.  Paying attention to those voices and urges in your life is always a good policy, especially when none of us know what the future holds. 

"The Advocate, the holy spirit that the Father will send in my name - he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you."
John 14:26

God sent us an Advocate to be with us, the Holy Spirit, after Jesus ascended to heaven.  We all have access to the Holy Spirit; we just have to tune in and pay attention.  Have you ever found yourself doing something you didn’t intend to do, or mindlessly going somewhere you didn’t consciously decide to go, only to find a surprise or something unexpected happen?  These are the promptings and the guidance of the Holy Spirit which place us where God wants us at any given time.  If you pay attention, you will see that God is guiding you and your life in ways you don’t even realize. 

[More examples of this in upcoming posts… ]

May you know the presence of the Holy Spirit and feel those little “Godincidences” every day so that you understand that you are loved and cared for in every circumstance of your life.

Peace & blessings,

Linda

Turn off the Noise

Posted on by lindajdudley
After doing so, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone.
Matthew 14:23

Are you struggling to hear God’s voice?  Is it impossible to see where He is at work in your life?  One reason for this may be the level of noise all around you.  In the last 3 decades noise and noise pollution has increased to an all time high.  We have non-stop access to the sounds we seek due to a multitude of devices often small enough to carry around or even wear on our wrists.  We can listen to something or hear sounds at every moment.   Then there’s the daily barrage of traffic and machinery which surrounds us every day. 

How does this impact our daily life?  Mostly, it keeps us distracted from our personal and inner lives, drawing our attention outward and away from what is important to us; within our homes, our jobs and even in our cars.  It seems we cannot even put the phone down for 30 minutes while driving to the store, to work or the doctor’s office!

In an article in Medical News Today in December 2020 entitled “What are the health effects of noise pollution”, the physical effects of this problem are discussed including increased stress levels, sleep deprivation and disruption, sensitivity to noise as well as hearing loss especially in young children.  These effects lead to serious problems which in turn can affect our relationships too.

When we apply this issue of noise and distraction to our faith and prayer life, we know it is almost impossible to hear God’s voice or action in our lives when there is noise and distraction all around us.  In order to BE quiet we have to MAKE life quiet so that we can hear the still small voice of God [1 Kings 19:12] and see His action in our daily lives.

The first thing I did in my own life to start this practice was to turn off the radio in my car while driving short distances.  Next I began keeping my home quiet for parts of the day.  Now, I love to play music as much as the next person – it uplifts me and brings me joy, so it was a sacrifice – but I found that purposefully keeping silence as part of my daily life, I could hear God, feel His presence and gain more of the peace I’ve discussed here previously.

Rising very early before dawn, He left and went off to a deserted place, where He prayed.
Mark 1:35

Jesus Himself practiced this.  He often went off to pray and meditate by Himself in quiet solitude the result of which was gaining strength for what came next or the ability to perform miraculous healings and to teach God’s wisdom to His disciples.  Even Jesus needed quiet and silence to listen and hear God’s voice.  This was part of His humanity; despite being God, as a person in human form, He had to practice this human action to hear what His Father wanted to say to Him.  If we want that same guidance, affirmation and certainty of God’s love, we need to follow Jesus’ lead.

So, I challenge you to turn off the noise for a period of time during your day: TV, radio, phone, etc.  Try it for a week and see what you notice.  Try it for 21 days to make it a habit and, as you get used to the silence, start listening for that whisper from God.  Pray and ask Him to speak to you.  It may be quiet at first, but after a time you will know exactly when He is speaking.

Let me know the results – I’d love to hear how it turns out.  I encourage you to share this idea with the people in your life so that, they too, can benefit from turning off the noise.

“but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray”

 Luke 5:16

“Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray”

Matthew 26:36

In those days he departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God.

Luke 6:12

Peace & Blessings,


Linda

Peace

Posted on by lindajdudley
"For it isn't enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn't enough to believe in it, one must work at it."
Eleanor Roosevelt

Only 5 letters in the word “peace” yet it can be so elusive, can’t it?  How and where do we find peace especially in today’s climate?  For many this is extremely difficult.

And peace doesn’t mean your life is perfect without conflict or hardships; it means having peace DESPITE the presence of such difficulties.  Is there a way to live “in peace” even when life isn’t so rosy?

Faith is the answer.  Having faith in God, believing in the promises of Jesus and coming to know Him personally are the ways to find, have and hold on to peace, even when everything around you is falling apart.  To keep it, to strengthen it, to deepen it and gain greater understanding of it, we must be active in it – do the work, not just think about it.  We must exercise our spiritual muscles in order to have strong faith.  “Saying” we have it isn’t enough.

The definition of work is “activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result”.  I have found that in order to have peace and hang on to it, requires daily practices of prayer, reading scripture and reflecting on it.  There are so many aids which can help you achieve this and I hope you will give it a try if you are struggling to find peace.

Don’t get me wrong; I don’t live in a permanent state of bliss by any means, nor do I live in a bubble!  But, if I stick to my daily practices, peace isn’t far away when hardships come knocking.

I begin my day with an application called “Laudete”.  It’s a free app with the readings for each day and 3 different reflections on the meaning of the scriptures as well as additional items like a video reflection and Saint of the Day.  By spending the first moments of the day with my coffee and the scriptures it puts me on the right path setting me up for the day.  There are other resources like this, websites, faith-based magazine’s, etc.

There are other ways we can work at finding peace including going for walks, especially at the beach or wherever your heart is at ease; listening to soothing music; talking to or confiding in a friend or prayer partner; attending church or being part of a supportive community.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
John 14:27

I didn’t arrive at this all at once.  It’s been a journey beginning with a Mother’s prayer group back in the early 90s.  It has grown through fellowship, community and church.  Prayer has been the central theme of it all.  At the very least, I would encourage you to pray, pray, pray!

When you are part of a community of prayerful people, they can pray for you when you find it difficult to pray.
None of us get through this life’s journey alone.  If you are not in a community, I encourage you to find one.  Presently, during these times of pandemic you can still be in a community via the wonders of modern
technology.  We can use it to our advantage to support and uphold one another so we can have some sense of peace during these times of crises.

I am so grateful for each person who shared their faith and themselves with me along this journey which enabled me to grow especially in the areas of faith and trust.  These days, I am less
likely to overreact when adversity comes knocking and can stop to pray and discern what the best course of action is or to try to remain peaceful.  If you don’t have one, I encourage you to find a spiritual director who can accompany you on your journey too and help you to find peace amongst the turmoil.

How do you stay peaceful when you are in troubled waters?

May God bless you, fill you with His peace and hold you in the palm of His hand.

Peace & blessings,

Linda

A Lesson in Trust

Posted on by lindajdudley

So, I had to facilitate a group on Zoom this week and was preparing and organizing things throughout last week.  I had a couple of big problems.  Firstly, me and technology aren’t friends.   When hosting a Zoom meeting I have problems EVERY time.  Sometimes I can’t get into the meeting and the attendees are waiting and wondering where I am.  Other times my video either doesn’t work at all or I show on an all green screen.  Lime green.  Yucka!  

Then, during the days after sending out the invitation, the group grew and grew to over 20 participants.  Part of this workshop is allowing attendees time to answer questions on the material.  I was anticipating difficulties: 

  • A very long meeting causing agitation for the attendees
  • Each member not having the chance to speak or respond
  • Losing members because of a long meeting and late night
  • Frustration with possible technology issues
  • Appearing disorganized and unprofessional

I had an idea!  What if I split the group into two and we had half the members in each making the time element a non-issue – everyone gets ample time to speak and share and we don’t go overly long?  

I asked 5 people.  They all said “no“

The evening before I asked the 5th person a thought crossed my mind as I pondered my dilemma.  Maybe the group is supposed to meet all together and not be split up?

While talking to the 5th person, included in our conversation (on a different topic) was a discussion about discerning the things that God wants, how He wishes us to be and to do.  I found myself saying, “maybe God is trying to teach me something”? 

And there it was.  The answer.

“Not MY will, but YOURS be done

As soon as this thought came to me, I knew what God was saying to me.  I needed to TRUST Him.  I am not in control.  He knows what is best.  I felt myself relaxing and the worry about the outcome of the meeting and workshop lifting.  It was gone.  By putting my trust in God I could let it go and not feel the pressure.

I had a structure for the workshop in mind (much of it laid out in the book we are using) so when the evening came I went with it.  Can you guess what happened?  Right!  No technological issues AT ALL, everyone had time to share and answer the questions posed and the meeting lasted under 70 minutes!  

The old me would have been surprised but nowadays, when I remember or pay attention, I know better.  When I let go and trust in God, listen to what He’s trying to tell me and let Him take charge, life just works better, the way it’s supposed to and all is well.

HIS WILL BE DONE

The Lord's Prayer

What is Family?

Posted on by lindajdudley

“God gives you your family, thank God for your friends”

When this phrase was first spoken to a family member by her father-in-law many years ago, I think it was meant more tongue-in-cheek at that moment but this statement has become a great truth in my life and that of my immediate family.

Emigrating from Scotland to make a life in the United States meant leaving close family far behind.  When we moved here it was before cell phones, social media and all the technology available to us now.  The best we had then was good ole AT&T long distance calling.  It was our lifeline to our parents, siblings, aunts and uncles.

As we all know, life has a way of throwing things at us which can knock us down or unhinge us.  As the years went by and our circle of friends became family to us, it was all of those loving, accepting, kind, nurturing people who became our family.  As one friend remarked to another during a family celebration in which we were surrounded by all of these close friends, “Linda’s friends ARE her family”.

Like any family, we have our good times and bad, agreements and disagreements, joys and sorrows.  What I know for sure is that when I have a need, these friends jump right in, often without being asked, to encourage, support, advise, direct, admonish, sit with, cry with, cheer with and accompany through life’s journey.

At this point in life, they have seen us through everything from birth to death and everything in between.  Talk about feeling blessed!

We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers
1 Thessalonians 1:2

I thank God every day for these treasured Friends who are my family.  I pray for them, as I know they pray for me. Knowing I can turn to them for anything – to share a laugh or triumph, discuss a problem or sorrow, or reach out for help and encouragement – gives me a deep sense of affirmation.  Their love and support demonstrate God’s love alive and well in my daily life.

The Lord bless them and keep them! The Lord make His face shine upon them and be gracious unto them! The Lord look upon them kindly and give them peace!
Numbers 6:24-26

Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: What! You too? I thought I was the only one.

                            C S Lewis

Who are the people in your life who have become family and when did they show up to support or encourage you?

The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life

                    Richard Bach

Peace and blessings,

Linda

Home is Where the Heart Is

Posted on by lindajdudley

I left my home in Scotland 36 years ago and have to admit, part of my heart is still there.  You would think that making a new home and raising a family might change your perspective about home.

One aspect of this was always a desire to take my best friends to my old home and homeland to show them the places I love, meet the people I love and to experience the warmth of the Scottish people I was raised with not to mention show off some of its beauty.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a wish fulfilled is a tree of life
Proverbs 13:12

Happily, I have been able to do this a few times with close friends.  Each time brought great satisfaction as each of them fell in love with my homeland and became familiar with my family and friends.  I felt such joy and excitement when they each expressed their own love of the places we visited and pure delight in sharing their experiences. 

The last trip with a friend was in 2017 with Lisa, whom I’ve known for over 30 years.  At that time, Dad was fairly active so we did lots of sightseeing to visit and show off our favorite places – he enjoyed doing this equally as much as me, or, perhaps, even more.  Dad was always a gracious host and fun tour-guide and held some knowledge of the local history and folklore, regaling us with some fun and interesting tidbits.

That Christmas, Lisa presented me with a most thoughtful and touching gift.  A book of photos of our trip and travels with my Dad.  She had taken dozens of photos illustrating everything from our home and neighborhood to the town and each of the stops on our day trips.  There was even a page of what had become a fun theme of that trip, our “selfie of the day” (makes me giggle even to write that).  Of course, there were all the tearooms we stopped at to sample their home baking and warming pots of tea.

Although, at the time, I was deeply touched by Lisa’s thoughtfulness, I had no inkling then of how important that book would be for me just two-and-a-half years later when Dad’s house would belong to someone else with his death following soon after.  One of those “Wee Acts of Providence”.

Find your delight in the Lord who will give you your heart's desire
Psalm 37:4

Every now and then, I open that book and peruse the pages, hovering a bit longer over a different page each time remembering the moments captured in the photos on the page and often recalling the memories and thoughts of my life back home in Scotland tucked behind those photos. 

What item in your home is a special treasure for your heart and spirit?

Peace & Blessings,

Linda