Stranded in Vermillion, South Dakota

Due to my travel schedule for work I am often faced with the challenge of making tough decisions based on what the weather masters are presenting. Do I reschedule all of my customers in hopes that their schedules work with my next visit or do I roll the dice and take the risk of being stranded “again” because of inclimate weather? That continues to be one of the toughest questions I’m faced with on a consistent basis during the winter season here in the Midwest.

This trip I made the wrong choice, or so it seems. Flying out Wednesday morning with lunch, afternoon and dinner appts set, I truly believed I could get in and out of South Dakota before the HUGE storm hit. However, this trip was not the one I could beat. After learning my Thursday morning flight was cancelled I quickly ran back to Enterprise and asked for the SUV back and asked if I could drop it off in CR. Not a problem, so I was back on the road heading south on I 29 for Omaha then East to CR. Just about 20 miles north of Sioux City the conditions became utterly unbelievable. We were in complete white out conditions and I literally had to stop dead in the road because I could not see a thing in front, back or on the sides of the SUV. Suddenly the wind calmed and I spotted the Vermillion exit. After a quick call to our travel dept to make hotel arrangements I headed to the local grocery store with the Holiday Inn Express just around the corner. I arrived safely at the Vermillion Holiday Inn Express.

So far I have been able to accomplish several items for work, make future appts and eaten just about every Ho Ho from the vending machine in the hotel lobby. The weather has still caused the interstates to be closed and snow continues to fall. Last word was that I 29 and I 80 might open by Saturday afternoon. Storm Lake and Spencer Iowa received over 13 inches of snow. They haven’t closed I 29 for over 30 yrs and many are saying this is one of the worst blizzards in the past 50 years.

I have guests arriving at my home on Sunday to rehearse for an upcoming concert with the Cedar Rapids Symphony, however, I’m wondering if I will even be home by then. Safety first, that is something which is not negotiable.

To be continued….

Blessed by a friend from a land far away

My very special friend Adele has recently landed on American soil after flying from her home continent of Africa. She serves as one of our NCBC missionaries with Empowering Lives International in Eldoret, Kenya. She will be spending a few weeks in the states visiting supporters and speaking on behalf of ELI across the Midwest.

Our first introduction to each other began just about three years ago when she was visiting after completing her Masters Degree in Organizational Leadership from Azusa Pacific University. I was attending our membership weekend at church and she was also attending with a mutual friend of ours. Some first impressions of Adele were: highly intelligent, well read, solid command of the English language, good head on her shoulders, solid and faith based believer, smart, kind, eloquent, did I say smart? Anyway, I was blessed to have been introduced to her and have continued to receive blessing because of her.

This past weekend I was privileged to fly to LA to support her in a message she delivered to over 5500 students at APU. The students had been flooded with information over the past week about missions and were now at the critical junction of deciding weather or not they would “respond” to the calling of Jesus Christ and say “Yes God”. During Adele’s time of speaking one phrase continued to play over and over in my head, “will you say yes to God right where you are?”

I wonder if sometimes we think we need to travel across the waters to use the phrase Yes God. Many times I believe He is asking us that question everyday when we are getting ready to head to the office, factory, and hospital or where ever our work place might be. I know sometime I think saying Yes to God only counts when He is asking missionaries to give up their life of comfort and travel half way across the world to spend the rest of their life in a grass hut with no running water. Last time I checked He hadn’t asked me to do that, however, last time I checked He did say, “As you are going, teach all nations, baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and lo I am with you until the end of the world”. Matt 28:19-20 The Great Commission.

God didn’t say only teach and make disciples if I send you to Uganda Africa. He said, as you are going. I have the opportunity on a daily basis to teach people about Jesus. Today I was again blessed to share with someone that coincidence doesn’t exist and that Jesus makes all things happen. Now, she is not a believer today, however, she is getting a taste of what it means to be taught via the Word of God.

As for my friend Adele, she is an absolute joy to listen to, pray with and watch God use her to influence the lives of many people. It is a true blessing to have her in my world.

Travel time with my Sister

What a blessing to have been grafted into a family with so many girls. I am the youngest of six and truly came along much later in my parents lives than I believe they had anticipated. My oldest sister Debbie has 17 years on me. Denice has 16, Dawn 13, Dana 9 and Delene is 8 years older. I’m truly the baby of the family; however, tend to show characteristics of being the oldest child at times.

Due to my travel schedule for work it often affords me the pleasantries of visiting different land marks around the country. This particular trip was to Spear Fish, South Dakota. After attending a wound conference, my sister Denice and I decided to take a stroll to Wyoming. What an amazing adventure.

During our afternoon tour we stopped to see Devil’s Tower, the local Trader Joe, pick up Mike & Ike’s at the BP and finally stopped at the café for a cup of Java. As you can see from the photos my sister is one of the most animated women I’ve had the pleasure of living life with. She is constantly smiling, asking how your life is going and of course we wouldn’t want to forget the pack and a half of gum which accompanies her all of the time. I think you can spot a stick or two in her mouth.

One of the characteristics I appreciate most about Denice is her consistent spirit of encouragement. She is specific about her compliments and seems to offer those at the most important times of life. One of her favorite sayings is “you can make it happen”. After a day with her you are pretty much believing you are the only person on earth who even exists. There is something about how she brings you into a world where you are affirmed, complemented and loved with sincerity.

My sister Denice: Loves at all times, forgives quickly, cries easily, smiles brightly, speaks highly of her family, makes crazy faces to see you laugh and gives her time generously. How blessed I am to have her in my life.

House of Hope blessing

Last week I had the honor of speaking at the House of Hope annual fall fundraising banquet, Harvest 06. www.houseofhopecr.org. House of Hope is a faith based organization which conduct classes and offer women the opportunity to learn how to be better equipped, more empowered and experience freedom in Christ. Our belief is that God desires to see His women set free from the past. We are here to support, encourage, challenge, inspire, and direct you on your journey through life. (House of Hope web page)

During my preparation I could see that the Lord was leading me to share some very personal thoughts and hurts. I knew God was calling me to talk about my sister Dana and how she would have benefited greatly from HOH. She faced many life challenges and wasn’t every really in a place physically where she could have been connected to the ministry. Her life ended abruptly on Valentine’s Day this year and it has been such a tremendous loss for our entire family. It was also a loss of future possibilities of her connecting with a ministry like HOH. When someone you love dearly dies so early in life you not only miss them, but you also miss what their future could have been.

God’s consistent faithfulness reminds me that He so wants each of us to fall into His arms and allow our burdens to be carried by Him. The light load I felt as I spoke to over 175 guests last week was not because I’m a seasoned guest speaker, but because He told me that He would speak through me. My responsibility for that evening was to simply show up. God does all of the heavy work if we allow Him. Not once has He asked me to carry a heavy load. It has been just the opposite, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest…” Matthew 11:28-30 I am the one He has to remind about His promises.

I believe we are stretched the most during traumatic and emotional events in our lives. It is God reaching into the depths of our hearts insisting we trust Him and not allowing any other options to exist. He transforms our worlds through painful events and brings to our lives new dimensions and reminds us of whom we are in Him. When you are His child there is no escaping the shaping of our lives. He is intentional in all ways. His Love, His forgiveness, His grace, His mercy, His Holiness and His shaping.

Moving on...

Carly Fiorina former CEO of HP, recently commented on her firing from HP. She commented, when the worst thing in life happens to you what do you do? You move on. How difficult it is to “move on” when the absolute worst thing in life has just happened to you. Whether that is being fired from your job, a break in a significant relationship, watching someone very special to you die, sitting with your Mother as they tell her she has cancer or standing before a congregation trying to maintain your composure as you attempt to articulate what your sisters life and death has meant to you.

Moving on takes time, several conversations with God and a lot of cry time. No one can do or say much that makes the painful process move any faster, however, God’s Word seems to bring comfort when no one else can.

· “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you” Heb 13:5

· “I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” Is 41:10

· “Cast your care on the LORD and He will sustain you” Ps 55:22

· “He gives strength to the weary” Is 40:29

· “Do not fear; I will help you” Is 41:13

Knowing God is true to His Word is one of the most comforting feelings, especially when the worst things in life happen to you.

Believe God is who He says He is

Believe God does what He says He will do

Believing God

Izaak & Gracie

My new additions as of ten days ago. They are Izaak and Gracie which were born early Aug in my friend Sarah's garage. During a casual conversation with the Ya Ya's, I mentioned wanting to add kitties to my home. They were both so excited about the statement that they could barely hold their composure. Ya Ya Sara said, "you know, Sarah N. has several new babies and is looking for new homes for them." Could it be that she would have two little gray babies just for me? It was so and we were off to take a look. I picked them out of the litter and said I would be back in late Sept to pick them up.

They arrived to their new castle which had been adorned with Ya Ya kitty gifts and this HUGE red dog. I thought it would be best if I not allow Ellie to have complete access to them just yet. For the kitties sake and for mine also. Today, they enjoyed tapping on Ellie's nose waiting for her to respond. She is such a good dog and is anxious to please. She still doesn't get that they aren't toys and they will "squeak" if she tries to play rough with them.

I'm looking forward to the day when the kitties don't need to be watched every minute of the day. They are busy and unpredictable. Pray for their MOM. ha ha

Do we allow God to bless?

I found myself in a challenging position yesterday as Emily arrived at the door asking if she could come in for a visit. Emily lives next door with her brother Mitchell and their grandparents. She is in the second grade and loves to stop by for unexpected visits. Emily’s unexpected visit’s last anywhere from 10 seconds to 1 hour and typically involve a request to play with Ellie (my golden retriever). I looked down to greet her and noticed her honey colored hair covered half of her face and desperately needed a barrette. As I opened the door to allow her skinny little frame access to my very un-kid friendly home the bubble above my head read, you have a huge presentation next week and have very little prepared for it. However, as she began respectfully removing her shoes the Holy Spirit said, “You asked to be blessed today and I’m responding to your request”. Emily ran to the Africa room and jumped behind the couch to find Bob the Builder toys and began talking to Ellie as if she were her playmate. “Ellie, do you like Bob the Builder?”

I finished a phone call and sat at the dinner table watching as she seemed to be in her own world. It didn’t take long for me to realize the opportunity I had just been given. I consistently pray for God to bless me and use me as His conduit for His kingdom. Emily was one of today’s blessings. I walked to the guest bedroom, grabbed the Rubbermaid box filled with crayons, markers, construction paper and finger paints and invited Emily to create something with me. As we sat down at my new dining table Emily said, “Danette, you are the nicest neighbor I’ve ever had. Have you always been this nice to everyone? Thank you for playing with me.”

Emily wasn’t seeing me, she was seeing Jesus. Jesus is never too busy for coloring, playing cut outs or simply listening to our child like conversations as we go through our day. Spending that one hour with Emily reminded me of Phil 1:10a “So that you may surely learn to sense what is vital, and approved and prize what is excellent and of real value” {amplified version}