When you lose a Great friend suddenly

This thing called life may have been a song some time ago, but today I am taking it more seriously.

I met Angela in Minneapolis many years ago and we had a good formal conversation about our new product we were displaying but Angela went further as she asked about my background in business and the organization industry.

Soon I was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Professional Organizers and at our first meeting I sat next to Angela and we became quick friends.   Later that first night Angela said she needed to go to the drug store.  Since I was the only one on the Board who got a rental car for the meeting, 30 miles from the airport, me and three other ladies headed off to find a drug store that is open after 10:00 p.m.   As soon as we got back in the car Angela said, "I want some ice cream."  So we traveled all over the place about 10:30 at night to find an ice cream place.
This became a ritual and for the next four years, every time we met, we made ice cream runs with all the laughter and fun that friends have.

We both respected our boundaries, knew that what we talked about stayed private, and some sensitive things we spoke of only briefly, but the friendship was so much more powerful because of it.  We talked about family often and oddly in our last conversation we talked for over an hour just to catch up.  We talked politics, family, NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers), other NAPO people who were on her mind, and my church activities.  Just before we hung up, I now recall her saying that she was looking forward to working with me again and to tell Lynnette she said, "Hi".  I never did tell Lynnette that as I figured it was a nice closing comment which I hear from many conversations with people.   I was wrong.

I say all that because part of our closing conversation was that she wanted me to be at the next national convention just so we could make some more ice cream runs.  We laughed!

I encourage every one who reads this to call someone who may be near or far away.  You never know when it could be the last conversation you'll ever have with them.  Cherish every relationship because when you lose a friend suddenly, you will have heavy sorrow but great memories and understand the plans they had which were cut short.  That is more important than the next deal you might make.  Call now!

I miss you Angela Wallace!

Miracles are NOT Always Instant

In today's American society we are a people of instant gratification. The same seems to apply to so many people who have a illness or in any life situation. We cry out to God to "fix it now!" We expect God to do a miracle immediately and I have seen that happen several times in my lifetime.

But what do you do when that miracle does not come, month after month and year after year? Often we get discouraged and ask ourselves, "Are we praying right? Do we not deserve the miracle? Is the lack of a miracle mean something is lacking in me? Why isn't God listening to my cries for a miracle?"

All these cries and many more, I have asked myself and it is during that weakness the Satan jumps in and places doubt in my mind that I don't deserve a miracle. It is those times that I just cry and ask for the Holy Spirit to come rescue me. You know what? He does.  No miracle but an inner peace.

In these times while I am waiting on a miracle I have learned that the miracle may require other people praying for the same miracle in order for God to be working in a miraculous way.

We came to the mountains 13 years ago and encountered so many people far from God that we felt that God was calling us here and began praying for a miracle of a church that wanted to be different. WE did find people of liked minds and so we just prayed. Soon a family moved here from NC with the same passion, the another family from WV and others from other locations with the same passion and heart for God to move.

The miracle is happening over time but there are some more pieces that the Lord must need to put together before this miracle becomes a reality.

A building was vacated in our community in 2006 and Lynnette and I began to pray that this would be a great location for a church. In 2012 a sermon series called "Ripple" talked more of our prayer for a miracle. Series - RIPPLE  Every week now for a year I have walked around this building and drew a circle in front of the front door where people would enter and I stand inside the circle and pray. 

The reason for this blog is for you to know that God IS in the miracle business but it has to be in His time and know that the miracle will be better than you could every pray.  It may not be instant but be patient and know that we will never be able to say we had anything to do with it when the miracle happens.

But that's what Miracles are all about anyway!