A24

It’s usually quiet. When the dialysis system is set up with care and precision, it is a few quiet hours. However, just recently, the A24 alarm blared every 15 minutes or so. I would stop what I was doing and go check what was happening. As per the manual, I would mute the alarm, identify the probable cause, check the arterial access flow to make sure there were no kinked lines. I would then reposition the access line, stop the cycler and then resume treatment. This process continued throughout the 3-hour treatment period.

Nothing had changed. I had been sure of each step along the way to prepare for this treatment. I did everything the same way I always did, so what was different and what was the cause of this A24 alarm?

Megan. My sweet housekeeper had been in to clean. In the process she moved Mason’s chair just enough to create a strain on the lines between the machine and Mason. Of course, as soon as he was finished, we moved the chair to the correct position, and we haven’t had an A24 alarm since.

How many times in my life has the A24 alarm sounded to get my attention. Plenty I’d say. The smallest misalignment from God’s plan or direction in my life has set off the warning alarm. Sometimes I’ve corrected it immediately. Other times I’ve been a little slower to redirect my steps.

And honestly, it all comes down to the heart. Why does my heart want more than what God has to offer? He is good. He is faithful. He always wants what is best for me. God reminds us in Proverbs 4:23 (NIV) “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” He knew our hearts would and could lead us astray.

In those moments when my heart is prone to wander, I must remember King David’s words in Psalm 119:10-11 (NIV). “I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” God’s Word is the only guide we need to keep us from wandering off the path. He has given us all that we need.

The one thing I know is that God is constant and doesn’t change. Malachi 3:6 and Hebrews 13:8 assure us of that. I may wander and move away from God, but He will always be there when I am ready to return.

Have you wandered? Take that first step. He is waiting for you.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna

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Grace

Oh my. It has been so long since I’ve been with you all. So much has happened and life has just been, well, life. I have missed two things through this past couple of years. First is writing. Sometimes my brain just doesn’t want to shut down. I have had the desire but not the time. Second is painting. I began watercolor painting several years ago. Each Saturday I would meet up with a couple of friends and we would paint, laugh, cry, discuss Scripture and pray. It has been two years now since I picked up a paint brush and palette.

You may be asking what I have been doing. My last post was June 8, 2020. Wow. Over 3 years! Well let me give you an overview today. As time allows, I will dig into each of these events and share more of the reasons behind the events and how God showed up while all of this was happening.

June 2020 – changed jobs.

April 2021 – visited Ohio family for the first time in 14 months.

April 2021 – we decided to move to Ohio.

June 2021 – home in Colorado was put on the market…sold in one day.

June 2021 – I moved to Ohio and Mason stayed in Colorado to finish packing.

June 2021 – started new job in Ohio…quit said job.

June 2021 – started looking for home in Ohio.

July 2021 – back to Colorado to finalize packing and move.

August 2021 – moved into home in Ohio.

August 2021 – started new (better) job in Ohio.

December 2021 – Mom passed away. 🙁

February 2022 – Mason in hospital with chronic congestive heart failure.

April 2022 – quit better job.

June 2022 – bought a business with my sister…Costume Castle!

July 2022 – remodeled Costume Castle.

August 2022-February 2023 – worked like crazy at the Castle…Mason continued to have health issues (hospital stays and diagnoses).

May 2023 – Mason began dialysis 4 days a week…I began training to do his dialysis at home.

June-July 2023 – home dialysis 5 days a week.

So, here’s the thing. I am at home 5 days a week while Mason is on dialysis. His treatments last between 3 to 3 1/2 hours. I need to be in the house to hear alarms, but now I have flexibility and time. As I thought of what I would want to do with these hours, I knew I wanted to get back to writing. You will be hearing from me more often. And I will be painting! I can’t wait to share some of my artwork with you.

As I look back at this timeline, I can only say “phew”. A lot has happened in 3 years. I have said it before and I will say it again, I have only been able to do what I’ve done with God’s help and provision. I have been weak. I have been weary. I have failed. I have struggled. But through it all, God’s grace has been sufficient. The Apostle Paul knew of God’s grace and said it so eloquently. “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 12:9b-10 – NIV)

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna PS – I forgot how much I loved my blog design! Thank you Maria Hauser

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A Challenge

Have you ever been discouraged? If you answered “no,” you’re not being honest with yourself. This world has a way of discouraging us. It squashes our dreams, hopes and desires. It has a way of making us feel inadequate, unloved and unworthy. We can choose to be discouraged by the world or to be encouraged by God.

Take a look at these words from Jude. “But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you eternal life.” (Jude 1:20-21 – NIV)

These are important words to keep in mind and things we are to do. Build ourselves (and others) up. Keep the faith. Pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep ourselves in God’s love. Wait for the mercy.

Yes, we may be discouraged today, but there is hope. Hope in Jesus Christ to provide all that we need for this season.

I would encourage you to put into practice the ideas Jude shared with the early Church. Today, maybe choose one of these areas to work on. Focus on Jesus and the love He has for you.

And here is the best of the best. When we keep ourselves in God’s love, the world’s discouragement isn’t nearly as painful. The hope of eternal life to come delivers encouragement to our aching souls. Knowing God’s mercy is new every morning is uplifting.

Are you up to the challenge?

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna

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Who is the King of Your Life?

Last week I had the opportunity to touch base with the Fresh Grounded Faith team, as well as other Local Conference Coordinators from around the country. For some of us, our events were rescheduled and we had unique information to bring to the table. Others were awaiting their conferences and they brought excitement to to our gathering.

Throughout the meeting, specific words began to emerge. Words like peace, trust and promise were just a few; but each word helped us to see that while we are in uncertain times, we have an Almighty God who is still in control.

Terrie, the National Conference Director for Fresh Grounded Faith, reminded us of Mordecai’s words to Queen Esther. “…for such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14) We were Women’s Ministry leaders who had come together to encourage one another and to prepare ourselves for such a time as this. In the midst of “this time” we know who we can look to for guidance. Jesus.

As we we prepared to close out our gathering, we had a surprise visit from Jennifer Rothschild herself! We suddenly perked up to hear what she had to say! Do you know she said? She told us that in the original Greek language, “corona” means crown.

We had been discussing Queen Esther and suddenly King Jesus took center stage. My dear sister, that’s exactly where He wants to be in your life. He wears the Crown. He rules the whole earth. He is provider of all we need. And He has all power over the cornavirus.

I was reminded of an old hymn. “I don’t know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day…But I know who holds tomorrow and I know He holds my hand.” Tomorrow is uncertain. And certainly we don’t know what August 14-15 may look like. But what we do know is we can trust that God has a plan and that He has gone before us to make our path straight. Our task is to trust, follow Him and acknowledge Him as King of our lives.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna

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BE: Word of the Year

Each year I choose a word that I concentrate on for the year. This word helps me to focus on spiritual development and deepens my relationship with Jesus.

This year I’ve chosen the word “be.” Originally I thought this would be a good word because I sometimes tend to get caught up in the prep, the details, the planning of an event or even my day. So this word would help me to take my focus off some of the minute details and focus on being. Right there. Right then. In the moment.

As my thoughts continued down this path, I wondered if I could add a word each week to focus on. After some deeper thinking, I knew this addition would be good for the year. So I set out to come up with 52 words or thoughts to add to the word “be.” Here are a few of them.

Be inspired

Be content

Be holy

Be alive

Be blessed

Be strengthened

Be hopeful

Be purposeful

Be teachable

Be prayerful

Be grateful

But then I took it one step further. For each of these I added a verse or passage of Scripture to help me through the week. I read my “be” word and then the Scripture each morning and throughout my day. For an entire week.

This has been such a blessing to me. I didn’t plan out the entire year, just around Christmas and Easter, but what I’ve loved is how God has placed these words exactly when I’ve needed them most.

The week a good friend passed away, my word for the week was “be strong.” The week I struggled with identity, my word for the week was “be enough.” The week I wanted more, my word for the week was “be content.” The week I was super busy, my word for the week was “be patient.”

Probably the hardest week to understand my word was when I was in isolation for 10 days. My word for the week was “be serving.” How could I possibly serve when I was in my bedroom completely isolated from everyone? How could God possibly use me under these circumstances?

That week I learned that there are many ways to serve. Phone calls, Zoom meetings, Facebook live, emails, text messages were all ways I could serve. So I took the verse for the week and did what I could. Ephesians 6:7 tells us to, “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.” I was able to do everything that week with a renewed attitude and understanding of serving.

Perhaps you are struggling today. Maybe you don’t feel useful. Maybe you are lonely. Maybe you feel hopeless. Maybe you aren’t motivated. Whatever is happening in your life, I pray that you will look to the Lord for comfort, peace and purpose. Only Jesus can provide all that you need. 2 Peter 1:3 tells us that, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

Lean into God’s Word to find encouragement today. You will find all you need. If you would like a list of my “be” words with Scripture, just let me know. I’d be happy to share it with you.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna

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