In the Midst of Life

Good morning,

I was just out for an early morning walk with my dogs and stopped to chat with my neighbor. She is just finishing all the treatment and loss of hair, again, after a second recurrence of cancer that showed up just 9 months after she fought the first round. She was looking great, hair really short but growing back, big smile on her face and she told me about a group of veterans she is helping, who have lost brothers in the military and how they took her skydiving last week. She said the best thing: “I am not doing a bucket list. I am doing a living list!”

I love so many things about that 10-minute encounter!!

She is giving of herself! You would think she would be reeling from her own problems, but she had not one bit of time to talk about how she was. She just started talking about the present. She is helping others, doing exciting new things, and living happy!

Our pastor Joel at Westwood Community Church is doing the best series right now called “OVERWHELMED.” It has 4 themes; I FEEL SO AFRAID, I FEEL SO UNHAPPY, I FEEL SO ANXIOUS, I FEEL SO INADEQUATE. You can watch last week’s sermon, OVERWHELMED #2 “I feel so unhappy” at www.westwoodcc.org/live. All the other messages in the series will be there or as he gives them. Anyway, He just talked about what my neighbor is doing. She loves and trusts Christ, she is giving of herself, she is living in the present and she is stronger for her problems.

Jesus promises to be with us who know Him in every possible circumstance we could encounter. He says to keep our focus on the present. To be thankful and counting our blessings, He says: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus… And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7).

I hope that I can be mindful of all I have been given, all my talents, all my weaknesses, and just wake up and thank Jesus for a new day, ask Him to be all around me today and just let me ooze some of the love He lavishes on me to some people today–through ordinary conversation or work or just shopping for groceries or just like my neighbor telling me her good, amazing stuff in the midst of life!! Now that will be a happy, awesome day!!

Love you, Teri