A good friend of mine, Cathy, had a near brush with death a few months ago. Here is her story.

On October 25, 2011 I had a heart attack.

The problem was, I didn’t know it was a heart attack.  Women, pay attention!  It’s true that our symptoms can be VERY different.  I woke up somewhere around 2:00 AM with ‘discomfort’ in the middle of my chest.  It was so minor that I told myself to go back to sleep.  I couldn’t.  So I got up and went to the living room wondering what it could be.  It was not pain, pressure, indigestion – just an uncomfortable ‘sensation’.

Here is the Angel part.  I decided to call a good friend who lives close to me.  I dialed her number and it rang twice and I got a fast busy signal.  Hmmm – I tried again, paying particular attention to the digits I was dialing.  I got a busy signal.  I thought about it a bit more and decided to dial 911.  I didn’t even know what I was going to say but when the dispatcher answered I told him I THOUGHT I MIGHT be having a heart attack.  Where did those words come from?  They were not in my consciousness before I said them.  When I got to the hospital I asked them to call my friend and they got right through.  She looked later and I didn’t even show up on her caller id!

IF I had gotten her on the phone, we would have talked about it some, then she would have gotten up, put on some clothes and came here.  By the time that would have taken, I was in the ambulance (they took 5 minutes to get here from the time I was talking to the dispatcher) and I already had an EKG, nitro, aspirin and an IV and we were flying, lights and sirens, to the hospital.  I was furious that I could not get her but later realized that it might have saved my life that I could NOT get her on the phone.  Thank you God!

Be encouraged; the heavenly Father and his angels are not only watching over Cathy, but you as well.

If you have a story of God’s care or a miracle, feel free to share it below or send it to diane at abundant-gifts.com.

I’ve been told that the proper translation for “cheerful” in this verse is “hilarious.”

I thought of that today as I was paying bills.

It was a task I’d been putting off a couple of days because right now, there seem to be a LOT of expenses. Seems like “education” even for public schools is a bigger and bigger piece of the budget. Not to mention, I now have a child in college (who thankfully did get a major scholarship–provision!).

When I finally knuckled down and wrote the checks, I also wrote one for our church and the ministries we support. I thought about “hilarious giving.”

It seemed to fit.

As in:

“Get ahold of this. I wrote a check for my church, which brought my bank account to zero. So I said,

‘Lord, I’m trusting you to provide for the rest of my bills, because you’re the one person I don’t want to short change.’

“I checked the mailbox, half hoping there would be a surprise check.

“Nope.

“Ah, but I’d forgotten about that other kind of mail we have nowadays. Within two hours, I got an email saying a payment (totally unexpected) was ready in my Paypal account. Isn’t that hilarious?”

Yes, God loves a “hilarious” giver. He likes to make us laugh with delight at how he provides.

Oh, and not too long ago, as I was shelling out money for school clothes, I tried to remember the last time I’d bought new clothes.

Shortly after, on my walk, I came across a garage sale in my neighborhood. I got a like-new winter jacket, dress, dress pants, and 5 pairs of jeans for, I think, $11.

(To get the full impact of the 5 pairs of jeans, click her to read an earlier post.)

God loves a hilarious giver because … that’s how he himself likes to give.

So lighten up! A joke is just around the corner (if you trigger it by “hilarious” giving).

P. S. In the  few hours since I posted this, I talked to someone who told me he owes me money (through some sales I didn’t know that I made).  Hilarious!

1. My daughter had a parotid gland tumor removed last week, a very tricky surgery because the main facial nerve is right there. The surgery was successful–no nerve damage–and the tumor benign.

Many spiritual gifts came from that, including the witness to my children that people literally from all over the world, people they didn’t know but who knew Jesus and because of that, cared about her and me, prayed for her.

2. My mom, who broke her arm recently, was brought to the hospital a few days ago because she was very weak. She’s since been stabilized and was moved today to a short-term rehab facility very near her home (and where my brothers and wonderful sister-in-law live). There she will be well taken care of, have physical therapy, and be able to be visited often by the family. It’s a bit different Christmas for her, but I think she’s very relieved to be able to receive good care in a nice place for a while. (My sister-in-law, who sort of holds down the fort in my mom’s house, is still battling pneumonia, so this move for my mom is also a blessing for her, allowing her to rest more.) Update (2/5/09): Mom is now home and all her blood levels, blood pressure is wonderful!

3. Anothuer update (good news): A dear friend who has been battling many serious conditions got semi-miraculous good news as well.

As I think about all the people praying for Christine, my friend, and my mom, I marvel.  What a wonder, what a gift, this bond that Christians have with each other! I have met many new friends just recently, all because of the love and concern God gave them for people they don’t even know–my daughter and my mother. And what a gift and wonder it is that God answers prayer!

I’ve been meditating lately on the fact that Jesus was born into a smelly stable, into the rudest of circumstances. And that no one who saw Mary, so close to giving birth, was willing to give up their own accommodations.  Jesus was born into a dark, selfish, and suffering world. Yet his life-giving light shines is ALL our darkness, and brings healing … measured now, often, but eventually, complete healing and joy.

Let us celebrate that the light is shining, brighter and brighter until the full day!

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.

Aside from the food, I love the idea of counting blessings explicitly–with other
people, no less, over a feast! What could be better than that?

To celebrate and spread the blessing, I thought I’d record one of my favorite stories
from Abundant Gifts.

Click here to listen to the “Audio Note” I created for you.

I hope you enjoy it!

Oh, and if you want to make things easier for yourself on “black Friday,” why not order copies of Abundant Gifts? Just a few clicks and you’re done.

I will even personalize, sign it, and wrap it! AND you’ll get a free bonus book along with it.икони

I won’t go into details, but I’ll just give you a slice: At one point, I had a sobbing daughter on one line, my husband on the other, and then my cell phone rang–someone calling from the UK, a potential client. (I have no idea how he got my cell phone number!)

In the ensuing hours, there were tears, prayers for wisdom, an idea as a result, actions taken, my Bible study leader called to ask for more prayer for the family situation. (I still haven’t gotten back to the potential client. First things first.)

Then, I got on Twitter and read this from someone I was following (thank you Ray Edwards!): “If you knew the person whose love and respect you treasure most was watching every moment of your life today … would anything change?”

The first person I thought of was Jesus. And as I thought through the past few hours of tears and prayers and agonizing, I realized my answer was, “no.”

There was nothing I would change. Nothing I was ashamed of.

The difficulties of the day were unavoidable, and I could already glimpse possible good coming from heartache.

But the real gift was the question. God’s encouragement, totally unexpected. God saying, “Yes, it was difficult, but I helped you handle things well, didn’t I? You asked for wisdom, I gave it, didn’t I? And look at the supportive friends who prayed for you, encouraged you, gave you added perspective (though painful at times). Look at how your daughter is growing through this. Rest in me now. All will be well.”

Yes, all will be well. Because God’s life-giving light is shining in all our darkness, bringing healing and hope.

Then [Jesus] said to them, Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all–he is the greatest.–Luke 9:48, NIV

Ernest Boyer Jr., in Finding God at Home (Harper & Row, 1994), tells how as a young boy he would tug on his great-grandfathers jacket to get his attention when the man was talking to someone. His great-grandfather would finish his sentence, stoop down to Ernest’s level, look at him, and wait patiently. “As he waited, he looked at me with eyes that told me I need not hurry, that there was time, eyes that said that I need not fear what he would think of what I might say, anything would be fine, eyes that seemed to see the person I most truly was and accept that person. His was caring of the deepest sort.”

Such a simple thing–to listen to a child. Yet this deceptively simple act of a great-grandfather influenced Boyer deeply. The memory lingered of what it was like to have been in the full acceptance of those eyes. Years later, Boyer believes his view of God is connected to that experience of being so fully accepted and loved by his great-grandfather.

Memory holds clues to who we are, perhaps to who we will become. I remember playing with my mother when I was very young–maybe three. It was just the two of us on the floor having what I remember as a tea party. I do remember clearly that she seemed to relish being in my company. I ride those same emotional tracks whenever I sit down and play with my own daughter.

I remember walks outdoors with an aunt. She and I would listen to the birds and try to guess what kind of bird it was. When we’d spot it and find out we were right, we’d squeal with laughter. Today I feel the same thrill when I recognize a birdsong and spy the bird.

Once as a teenager I was accused of taking pills from neighbors for whom I baby-sat. To do something like that never would have occurred to me. Yet the people were convinced I was a drug addict and spread rumors about me. My father asked me if the accusations were true. I said no. He believed me and defended me to my accusers. I sought never to betray that trust he had in me. I also try never to jump to conclusions about others before hearing their story.

Think back on the gifts from others that have made you who you are. If you can, thank the people. Then look ahead. What emotional and spiritual tracks are you laying for others? The words and actions of your everyday life carry weight, perhaps eternal weight. They are vehicles for gifts God wants to extend to others through you.

For more excerpts, and to find out about the Christmas Special, visit the Abundant Gifts book website.

Every year at Easter our church gives the opportunity to buy a lily plant in honor of someone who has “gone before” as witness to the resurrection. I bought mine in memory of my dad, who two years before he died “became one of those born-agains” he used to scorn (including, of course, me).

I had prayed for him for some 30 years before he came to the Lord.

So,  my Easter lily was special.  Once a year, that sweet aroma that spills out of the trumpet-shaped flower would remind me of  hope.  The hope of Easter–life triumphing over death, fully and finally.

The thing about these plants, though, is I never quite know what to do with it afterward.  This year,  I set the pot in my garden under the pine trees. I watered it occasionally, whenever I watered the other plants in that area.

The other day, I looked a bit more carefully at it when I watered.

The plant that, last time I noticed, was a sickly looking stick with no leaves, was now vibrant. Not only that–but two blooms were ready to burst open!

Three days ago, one did open.  Today the second one opened. The fragrance fills the house. For of course, I brought it inside.

There’s even another small plant started–a baby lily, ready for next year.

Easter in autumn. Fresh hope as we head into winter.

“Winter,” in the form of certain stresses, challenges, and even threats, looms. But …  here are my lilies, spilling their improbable fragrance boldly.

Whatever comes, God is reminding me to hold onto hope.  Easter is ever here … not just in spring.  Easter comes in autumn, too. Hope can bloom anytime, anywhere.

Let me tell you a little story, and you be the judge.

I went on my walk today, as usual. As usual, I prayed as I walked.

I was praying about a particular person who often irritates me. It’s because of a certain mental issue this person has (it’s diagnosed and everything, so it’s not just in my head).

This “condition” causes my friend–and me–a lot of problems. So, I was praying that God would fix this condition, or at least let it not be a hindrance today.

No sooner had I prayed, “God, fix this person,” than words formed clearly in my mind: “I do not fix people, I only love them.”

Stunned, I stopped praying for a moment. Then I asked, “But isn’t this a problem? Don’t people have real issues, things they need to be healed of?”

More words came: “Love heals.”

“What about sin?” I asked. “Surely sin breaks us, and we need fixing then.”

“Love cleanses as well.”

So I’m left to ponder these words. God doesn’t fix people, he loves them, and the love heals and cleanses.

Are these God’s words, do you think?

I do. I believe the Holy Spirit whispers into our soul at times.

One of the ways I recognized that Voice is I never would have thought the words on my own. Also, often, I’m not at all comfortable with them. That was certainly true in this case.

I like to fix things–and people. Another thing that happened when I prayed that God would “fix” my loved one, was a strong sense of how prideful that request was.

This other person needed “fixing,” but not me?

This is how God speaks, and works, at least in my life.

He answers me in prayer, through words that form in my mind that are consistent with Scripture. (Can you think of any verses that talk about God fixing people? Plenty about God loving, healing, and cleansing.)

He convicts me of my own sin, gently but clearly pointing out the real problems I need to focus on (i.e. issues in my own life, like my pride, rather than changing other people).

And as he shows me more of who he is, he also shows me how I am to be. He loves people, and so must I. If I love well, healing may well occur.

Other prayers were answered in this brief conversation. (Another thing I notice when God speaks: He’s never verbose.)

The more I pondered the words I’d been given, the more I saw they answered not only about my issue with my friend, but also a seemingly unrelated prayer, about how to simplify my life.

The answer is love. Love simplifies things. Loving others is the answer to many issues.

I welcome your comments on how God speaks to you.

So click on the little player button, and sit back to listen to “Sick to Death” from Abundant Gifts … it’s only 4 minutes, 5 seconds long.

(And I would love to hear your response, and any reflection you’d like to share about what God has been showing you … just click the Comment button to share your thoughts.)