Uplifted in a Broken Down World

A week ago today, I paid the price for neglecting a common, carpal tunnel issue. By the time I arrived at the point of surgery, I was in need of “pronto do them both at once” and pray long-term damage is little. Thus, my big-time optimism has made me follow all post-op instructions and not use my hands for much of anything. However, this morning’s Thanksgiving walk and conversation with God needs to be shared!! So let me peck, one key at a time, and make this short but as God spoke to me.

Just finished walking, and my Thanksgiving thought from God is that while the world considers this a day to load up our plates with all the stuff maybe not so good for us, God’s message is that all the poison the devil puts on our plates during the year is not meant to feed us. We are to scrape it all into the garbage, and then with an empty clean plate (and slate) go to the Lord with grateful hearts and ask Him to nourish our souls!!! That’s why Christians start Thanksgiving with a clean, empty plate and pray with gratitude before they enjoy the gift of filling our beings with God’s bountiful blessings.

Enjoy your meal from God!!! Happy Thanksgiving!!!

If you know me, you understand that I see much uniquely different than others. I firmly believe God leaves a message in every, and all, that happens or exists. The challenge is not what happens but in discovering God message in all that occurs.

My latest discovery of interwoven wisdom from God rests in the pain of my bilateral carpal tunnel (condition where the median nerve is compressed as it passes through the wrist, causing pain, numbness, tingling and weakness in the hand and fingers). I’m not intending to analyze and teach all the particulars of a medical issue. My aim is to preach a God-centered carpal tunnel message.

Carpal tunnel affects the fingers on our hand. So, let’s discuss our fingers. We have five on each hand, a basic fact known to all. The four strong ones are labeled: thumb, pointer, middle and ring finger. These four are considered both useful and powerful. Our fifth finger is designated as little or pinky. It yields no real use, function, purpose or strength. Plain and simple, we boast four mighty digits and belittle one insignificant tag along.

The absolute, layman bewildering fact of carpal tunnel is that only the four strong fingers on a hand hurt, tingle, lose strength and become weak. The feeble pinky is not affected at all. While the significant four lose their value, the unvalued little finger steadfastly remains itself, unaffected by outside disease. Herein, I believe, God tucked His message. Those man hails as strong and powerful in purpose might be less perfect and powerful than man designates them as being; while those we dismiss as powerless and non-important, in reality, are above the fray and possess core value that evades many downfalls for which the powerful are prone to fall. Things (and people) are not always as they appear.

Whom do we automatically admire — those with titles and perceived strength or those who might wrongly be judged as having little value but in reality, humbly withstand the effects of worldly attack. Carpal tunnel has, hands down, brought home God’s message that “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 (NIV)

It’s hard, if not impossible, to recognize our current world in comparison to Fifty years ago, when I was a spring chicken. Everything, from conveniences to necessities to the family unit are totally different. Nothing is the same was my deduction, until I heard God’s firm “Um, I beg your pardon!”. Oops, I’d overlooked the most crucial fundamental of all — God as the indispensable, non-changing element of life. His Word, its message, meaning, commands, reprimands and rewards have, throughout the ages, never changed.

Undeniably, each generation, since Jesus walked the earth, lives differently EXCEPT for the SOUL aspect of Christianity. God is the only unifying strand whose recognition, presentation and value are one and the same from year to year and generation to generation. God is never labeled “outdated” nor “renovated”. God never expires and always inspires.

Modern day finds this old grammy sometimes bemoaning the pages of life. It’s as if the saga of society is a novel, the likes of which are completely foreign to my generation. However, there is one staple whose deeper message is proof God never changes, is eternal and defies the passing of time being able to make Him obsolete or alter His essence. Plain and simple, it’s the BIBLE. Whether the date was 100 BC or 2025 AD, families told, and still tell, the exact same Bible Stories. Be it Adam and Eve, Noah, Jonah, Moses, Joshua, David, Solomon, Peter, Paul, Christ, etc., etc., etc., all generations share a carbon copy script of all Bible written stories.

Herein, is rooted great testimony to our always present, eternal God. In our ever changing, flip-flop world, God is and remains one and the same no matter what generation is current. Over time generations weigh in differently on whether food and vitamins are healthy. However, the nourishment of the Body and Blood of Christ never has, not will, waiver from being the past’s, the present’s and the future’s food for life.

I smile cause as I’m closing this blog, my heart remembers a yesterday moment. My four-year-old granddaughter asked her mommy if they could play the Bible Story Game. How proud Rosemary was when she recited the same stories I long ago did with my Mother. Doesn’t matter your generation, God is the glue that cements us all together as family.

How often in our man-planned daily timelines do the days get closer to our scheduled endpoint, yet seem more and more behind from the desired goal? I’m pretty sure the chorus is a crescendo of “too many”!!! May I share this thought?

“Plan A” is always our (and the world’s) devised schedule and scheme. We consider “Plan A” the best. When even a thought of maybe needing a “Plan B” arises, we think fail and disaster. However, the true meaning and message of “Plan B” harbors in what definition we give the letter “B”.

For us Christians, “Plan B” should be “Plan ‘B’ELIEVE”. Going from “Plan A” to “Plan B” must be the transformation from the world as “Plan A’s” producer to God as “Plan B’s” Director. “Plan ‘B’ELIVE” proclaims we trust God and “B”elieve that whatever route HE charts for us to cross our finish line is, in HIS wisdom, how best to grant us our deepest blessings. Maybe it’s not “Plan A’s” smooth sailing that we initially calculated, but God’s greatest gift (the Crucifixion’s Redemption) came through enduring and defeating the storm — not circumventing it.

Thus, if and when, a “Plan B” must unfold, don’t overlook any sign God sends because our eyes remain glued to our missed, manmade schedule. When God has a greater “Plan ‘B’ELIEVE” gift for us, instead of sighing in defeat, we need to rely on HIS providence, calm our anxious hearts by trusting HIM and rev up our souls to see HIS will and way ultimately bless us far beyond our failed, worldly timeline.

To (and in) the world, these past few weeks I disappeared and would be labeled AWOL – “Away With Out Leave”. To me (and God) in recent time I appeared and truly have been AWOL – “Always With Our Lord”.

The question, whose answer needs sharing, remains why was I AWOL? Excuses would say I was knee deep in moving residence or heart deep in following a new venture. Reality proclaims I was soul deep, not budging an inch, in re-stabilizing my life journey of “Always With Our Lord”. My vanishing was not a disappearance but an exposure of WHO never loses sight of me and WHOM is revealed in all my eyes perceive and receive.

In my challenges, God is with me helping me keep focusing on HIS closeness and HIS illuminating victory, even when it seems lightyears away. In directional choices, God is the only roadmap capable of guidance through washed out roads, mountainous terrain, deep and dark valleys, bewildering forests, tides toppling castles on the sand and, also, serene, wide open spaces of peace.

This past month, I’ve travelled all of these paths, but God, not I, has piloted each mile. Every leg of the journey has revealed the destination is not somewhere out there that I need to reach, but rather, SOMEONE right here whose wisdom and love longs to teach. My being has not gone through the plight of being lost. It has been blessed with the delight of being re-founded. My pencil has been silent, so written on my life could be newfound understanding and appreciation for “Be Still and Know That I Am God”. Psalm 46:10 (NLT).

I have not been “Away With Out Leave”. I most definitely, and forever will be, “Always With Our Lord”. Amen and Halleluia!!!

The world might be falling apart, but Christ is not. Nor do we, His brothers and sisters, have to be coming apart at the seams. “Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7 (NLT)

“As you live in Christ Jesus”… The question is do we live in Christ Jesus, or do we live in our tumultuous world? In my younger years, pathetically, I would have answered this question not with a correct answer but with a wrong explanation. My simplification would have clarified that in trying to bring Christ to others, I am forced to wade in worldly chaos to get Christ to them. Today, I chuckle at this wrong, directional perception.

Bringing Christ to others plows through chaos and ends up amidst a destination saturated with worldly turmoil and confusion. However, if we bring others to Christ, we leave Satan’s pandemonium and carry ourselves and others to Christ’s throne — where Peace reigns. Man’s earth abounds in war. Christ’s neighborhood is sequestered in Peace. So I ask myself, and you, what direction am I, and you, going when we set out to share the Gospel with others???

My season is transition. By the clock, it seems like a long journey. By God’s watch, arrival is right on time. Never was I anxious. God was leading. I never strayed from completely following. The worldly course was bundled in pieces. The Divine Way was composed of one PEACE — God’s.

The final way for opening the door to new beginnings had become reality. The past was locked up and closed. The future was not yet under roof. The excursion to find the keyhole of new lodging was not to explore but to discover. The address was not mine to choose but God’s to reveal. Of this, I was without a single doubt. Not an unoccupied house was I headed off to find. My search was to accept from God the home He had specifically chosen as where He was calling me to be.

With a list of possibilities in hand, the hunt began. First stop brought treasured past memories back into focus — days of planting, watering and harvesting of earthly family and Heavenly Father. Could it be??? Once inside, the house appeared completely empty. That was until God revealed His choice furnishing. One tangible object personified God’s spiritually indelible sign. Hanging from a closet door was the sole, “soul”mark designating this home God’s choice for me. A white Crucifix swayed on the door handle, and, like a rock, solidified God had led me to “His Hand”picked shelter.

Not one to ever doubt God’s direction, I abandoned departing to continue pursuing the list of potentials. I needed no further confirmation of the arrival of my next, God chosen, home.

In the days to come, my physical stuff will move inside this sole house. However, already within this home, God has transplanted my heart and soul. “For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.” Hebrews 3:4 (NIV)

I’ve been so very blessed this weekend to share the back seat of a car with one of my grandbabies. Noah and his “GaGa” squealed in delight as his one-year-old antics wrapped his Grammy around his tiny fingers

Pointer finger was up and center this weekend. With newly acquired adeptness, my little blessing would, over and over, maneuver his baby pointer to show his GaGa what he wanted me to notice, see and focus on. As I enjoyed our sharing, with wisdom God whispered: “little ones point TO; old ‘uns point AT. TO, not AT, is why the pointer finger was created…” And so, my thoughts wandered deep.

Mankind, be it our finger or our entire being, was created to point TO God. Humanity, however, most often points AT, indicating one who is judged wrong, not worthy or against a held belief. In pointing AT, we fail to point TO the God whose image we are meant to mirror. Pointing AT wrong blurs the revelation of pointing TO the goodness of God.

These past couple of days, as I bounced around the back seat of the car, I, also, tossed around the question: shouldn’t my pointer become more like a child’s, so I can fulfill what God directly created my second finger (and all of me) TO, first and foremost, manifest? When the inhabitants of the world point AT, the picture of Satan’s evil wages the war of discord and destruction. When a child of God points TO, the image of God’s righteousness reflects the peace of His divine intervention and harmony.

Lord, we live in a world of fingers pointing AT. Change us into Your unifying children whose hands and hearts point TO — TO You, our Lord and Savior.

Our world is beyond frightening. Yet, it is so vital our young people possess the courage to live joy-filled, not fear-filled. The question is how do we teach courage? Maybe, courage is incapable of being taught. Possibly, it only grows as an offshoot — an outgrowth of faith, hope and love having been planted, watered and rooted.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 (ESV)

“For the Lord your God goes with you”… Is Scripture proclaiming courage not coming from ourselves but rather from God going with us? I, 100%, declare Amen, Halleluia and yes!!! I firmly believe man’s outer courage stems from God’s residing inside our being — our minds, our hearts and our souls. If you know God, love God and trust God, then God’s courage is seeded, grows and branches forth from your life.

Imaginary courage is of man — Superman, Batman, Spiderman, etc… True courage, plain and simple, is of God.

On Halloween, children by the hordes don the outer apparel of fictitious brave characters; but not an ounce of inner courage is transmitted through these costumes, for courage is not acquired. Courage is inspired — inspired by God and the Holy Spirit living within us. Costumes are man’s cut and sewn material coverings. Courage is God’s woven fibers of faith, hope and love having become the fabric of our hearts and souls.

The world never sells the symbol for courage as dressing up as Christ on Halloween — or any other day of the year. But every day we should display courage by wearing Christ both inside and outside our being. What’s more, next time a little one pretends he’s a worldly hero, may we all have the courage to share the story that replaces fantasy with truth. It’s past time that Spiderman’s fictitious courage is humbled and replaced by our God who created both spiders and man; and who, truly, is the source of all real courage.

As the 2025 Little League World Series became one for the books, I scrambled to find my scrapbooks from the “Good ‘ol Fun Days”, when my son enjoyed little league All Star play. Though it was serious ball, it was fun, and his future ability to play guided his physical push as a twelve-year-old. Oh, how times have changed. I remember back then my determination was to keep baseball fun, meaningful and healthy for my child; and so, more than two decades ago, my heart penned “From A Dugout View” for my sole (and soul) son.

From a dugout view, let’s gaze into some overlooked windows of BASEBALL.

BASEball – BASE is a solid foundation upon which to build. Could it be that the triumph in BASEball is not in swinging for the stars but in “BASE”ing your dreams on the power and strength held within your own hands???

PLAY ball – Every game begins with the dictate: PLAY ball!!! Aren’t we being told that dreams shouldn’t be a task labored with a mind set on “won” but rather a fun adventure of “one’s” heart???

SACRIFICE – Where else in life is it so natural, and so applauded, to sacrifice for another??? Much honor is gained when a person gives his all so not himself, but a fellow teammate, can fulfill a dream.

1 For 3 – The arrogant calculate that success equals batting a thousand. BASEBALL’s scorebook is humble and measures more than a number. BASEBALL statistics compute when you hold the average of hitting the sweet spot just one out of every three times at bat; then, truly, you possess the priceless wealth of the diamond.

HOME – In BASEBALL, victory comes not from reaching a far distant galaxy but from coming HOME. HOME is where one’s heart, soul, values and dreams are born. The greatest ALL STARS understand the path to every field of dreams begins, and ends, at HOME.

And finally, the SOUL of BASEBALL translates: Even with a full count and two out in the bottom of the ninth, step up to the plate, believe in yourself, and never ever let any pitch convince you that you can’t succeed.

So ends the first inning of dugout view BASEBALL. The rest of the game is up to YOU…