A Memoir

A remarkable woman -- with a miraculous story. A day or two ago, I turned the last page of a book that has become a favorite of mine through the years. "The God I Love," by Joni Eareckson Tada. Her lifetime of walking with Jesus has ignited something special for me -- a true trust in God, regardless of what life dishes out. She is real woman with real problems, who writes about a real God.

From stories of childhood bliss, to the awkwardness of adolescence, this memoir paints a glorious picture of God's faithfulness through the ups and downs of an unexpected turn. While this diving accident leaves Joni paralyzed from the waist down, God's healing still manages to sneak up on her -- changing the course of history for those who are crippled in body and heart.

If you find yourself stuck in the "Whys?" of life, I encourage you to stake out that favorite spot on the couch and curl up with this masterpiece. Through this woman's amazing story . . . every "Why" that has ever stared you dead in the face will melt through the fingers of the One who holds it all.

There is something so amazing that happens when we share our stories. A kinship is woven together, tying hearts together at the Source. Jesus Christ has proven to be absolutely faithful to Joni, not in spite of a wheelchair, but because of one. Amazing.

This poetic rendition of walking with God has made me want to know Joni's God more. He is seen in the starry hosts, found crashing on the waves of the sea . . . reflected in the soul of a horse . . . and He even transforms something as cumbersome as a wheelchair into a joy ride.

Joni's honest (and at times raw) portrait has succeeded in drawing me closer to Him. I recommend this book to anybody who dares to believe that there is life, abundant life, after something as devastating as paralysis.

God never wastes a hurt.

Sweetly New

Taking a glance back can be very eye opening. Some months ago I dug into some of my old journals. I was amazed at what I found. At the time I was feeling a little bit lost - like I had somehow lost my faith footing. But after seeing that my God and I had spent the past decade walking hand and hand, through the thick and thin, somehow my faith in "faith" became new again.

Post surgery has provided me with a lot of time on my hands, and it's been nice. I could do without feeling like I've been hit by a truck . . . or maybe a boy on a bicycle . . . but the couch provides me with lots of time to think. I have a very introspective personality, and when I don't take time to simply think, I tend to run on empty. God has proven to be in the details, and without adequate think-time it is easy for me to miss little miracles.

"Finish what you've started." The phrase began to follow me around like fatigue - from room to room. Walking in integrity . . . yes, that is what it means to be Christ's ambassador. Integrity takes on many faces, but what it all boils down to is this. Walk the talk. Do what you said you were going to do. Finish what you've started. With this nudge, I see that it is time to tackle a stack of books half-read, and a writing project (that I won't make any mention of) . . . the list could go on.

What have you started that you've failed to finish? If you are anything like me, there is a long list of half-dones strangling the life out of you. Do you have a short attention span too, jumping from one project to another without finding completion in a single one? Through the years, God has taught me that it is in the effort, in the working when you don't "feel like it" that character is built.

Well, I'm off to finish a book I started just the other day. After that, I will tackle the rest of the stack, knowing that each one holds something God wants to teach me. Some of God's greatest lessons have to be learned over and over again. I am always so amazed at how sweetly NEW He manages to make each one.