A friend looked at me with tired, sad eyes and asked, “How am I to continue living like this?” With all my heart, I hope the agony of despair never besets you. In sending these direct-from-the-heart thoughts to you, my hope and prayer is that you have eyes to see, and the will to serve. And when you need help, faith to open your hands and receive what God desperately wants to give. He has promised over and over and over that He will never abandon us.

As I looked around the Emergency Room, I saw, not the assembly, but individuals. Discretely, I studied each face and looked at their hands. Has anyone held them lately? Have those hands been joined in prayer? Do they really believe they are alone in a battle to survive?

I reminded myself – everyone in the crowd is a child God claims as His own. He knows too well their pain. He’s faced abandonment himself. He knows the unbelief that keeps them from opening the door to receive Mercy waiting on the other side. I imagine His frustration when the child He wants to help turns away.

God, what is the best way to help? I heard: Be attentive. See the wonder of Me in the midst of this despair. I realized the error of my attempt to ‘fix’ things myself. I have NOT searched His word, learned His lessons, made room for Him to work.  

I remember a Sunday afternoon drive down a country road. A decrepit home stood on the perimeter of a hay field. Shingles, once framing windows where the Son shone through, now hung askew, weary with age. Even the field had been neglected. I imagined there was singing in that home one day. Frilly curtains hung in the windows. A family, working on a jigsaw puzzle, looking for a piece under the table. Something was missing.

The pieces in place were illness, poverty, hunger, frustration, anger, weakness, fear, and receptivity. I suspect the missing piece was Hope. Perhaps no one opened the door for Help to come in. God knows what the puzzle looks like when all the pieces are in place. He painted the picture Himself. His children just need help putting the pieces together.

This is Physician’s Appreciation Week. I am so blessed to have a doctor who knows the Great Physician and His Power to Master the life God wants for us. One day several years ago, after he gave me a clean bill of health, we turned our thoughts to others—not healthy, inside, or out.

My wife and I were looking around the sanctuary last Sunday. We identified couples who are unable to take care of themselves and yet trying to care for a partner who needs more help than they do. But will they trust? Will they open the door? Will they get the message – they are not alone – before it’s too late?

Jesus never believed it was too late. On Maundy Thursday, he taught one more lesson. This one on serving, by washing his disciple’s feet. On Easter Sunday, He rose, and daily, shines rays of hope and love on us today, especially those who think they are alone. He is the Way of Life. This sunrise over my house early this morning, was His reminder for me today.

Dear Lord,
I know You stand at the door and knock. And stand at the door and knock. We pray today for those who see no reason to open the door. No reason to learn the depth of your love. Do they feel unlovable? Do they know they are never alone? We pray that the individuals and agencies who are able to help can be Your feet and voice, and let them know they are worthy to receive. Amen

Looking down from row 7 on my flight home, I was reminded of just how small we are in God’s big world. Our attention is small as well, focused only on what matters to us today. God thought that would be best; so we won’t worry about tomorrow.  

Trusting in the Master of Tomorrow, I will be patient in what happens today. I know who holds my hand.

For the past two weeks, I have served as a caregiver. Patience was our best medicine. Contentment was our source of peace. Now I was returning to a good life, but busy. I really wasn’t thinking about needing patience – as long as no one got in my way. 

At the check-in kiosk, my confirmation number was surprisingly INVALID! They were sorry, the screen said. I re-entered, and AGAIN, they were sorry. On the third try, entering the same number, they remembered who I was.

On to the departure gate. Many little ones are expected on any flight to all things Magical. They bounced, ran, shouted, and cried to show their excitement. I love kids, but when just released from the zoo, not so much. Dad, too, was sorry, he said. Patience. They are all God’s children. 

God answered my prayer, allowing my seatmate to be petite and sweet. She read, and I slept. We remained each other’s support system right through to baggage claim where that little belt that carries our choice of luggage to us stopped working! I really thought the workers had gone home or the cart tipped over. We aged at least a year waiting. But with patience, we found our bags, wished each other a good life and I hustled off to meet the shuttle ride home. 

Slot A45. It’s always waiting; that’s why I rushed. But not this time. I checked with the dispatcher. She assured me the van would arrive soon. An hour later, patience running on fumes, we pulled away from the airport, all ten seats occupied. The last person aboard was God’s lesson for me on what virtuous patience looks like. She thanked the driver, thanked us for making room for her, and didn’t mind at all when learning that she would be the last one off. Just happy to be crowded into a van and headed to a secure destination. 

She was a minority, both in her ethnicity and in her rare state of grace after a terrible day. On the international leg of her flight, her license, credit cards, and all her identity items were stolen. It took the god of the airport to finally validate her existence. But in that confusion, she missed her connecting flight. So, the shuttle waited.   

The van was cold; she didn’t complain. The stops were many, and yet she wished each passenger a lovely stay as they got off. I was stop #9. I assured her that being here with her father would be an excellent salve for her troubled journey. I thanked God for meeting her and learning about patience. God laughed. You have one more test to go to, my dear.  

I opened my front door and heard it. That annoying chirp of a smoke detector, gone bad. It was midnight. WHY do they always go bad in the middle of the night? I was exhausted from the four-hour shuttle experience, but somewhere in my diminished reserve of patience, I found trust. Trust that all would be fine in the morning; trust that the God who gave me a bit of restoration in the country and delivered me safely back to my home would provide me with rest tonight, albeit in short spurts. 

We are patient because God has kept us safe, and we trust that He will again. Have you seen enough of God in your life to be patient and trust Him, even amid trials?  

Some say that after years of marriage, a husband and wife begin to talk and act like each other. They reflect each other. Others, trying to please everyone, conform to the world’s perspective of what is good, setting goals that are not our own. We revise our resume to measure our strides. But in the aftermath of crisis, we look in the mirror and question:
Am I good enough?
I don’t want to be just good enough to make the cut. I want to be the best I can be, according to God. So, how do I get there from here?

The plane that was taking me north broke through the clouds. I could see clearly now. I felt the Son shining rays of hope onto me. He did not question my heart’s direction, for He created me to do good works in His name. But in my weakness, I knew there would be obstacles, like this doubt I was now feeling. Doubt is not good. It threatens growth and questions God’s plans. I supposed another obstacle – my age. Was there time left for me to reach His goals?

Karen Moore is an author and speaker who actively serves in God’s family of witnesses. Her blog arrived on my laptop as if she knew I was challenged by doubt about my worth and my age. I wondered: Can I also be a reflection of God to others? What is required to be a reflection of God?

Karen explained: “It means you meet the world each day with a very different point of view from those who brush God aside. You look out and see God’s handiwork in every landscape and butterfly. You see the good in the people around you because you look for the spirit of God within them. You open your hands and your heart to do all you can to help others shine.”

I was flying north to care for a post-surgery patient who lives alone, and feeling a bit inadequate. I’m not the nurse my sisters are. I had delegated some of my caregiving responsibilities back home to others before I left, believing they were a good relief.

2 Corinthians 1:4. God comforts and encourages us so that we will be able to comfort and encourage others with the comfort we have received from God. The hope in you shines for others.

I brought a new book with me. She Believed He Could, So She Did, by Becky Beresford. It was hopefully going to give me God-confidence in reaching my goals. In her introduction, Becky says that she had one goal: to point women to Jesus and help them walk closely with Him. That was also my goal: to lead others above the clouds of confusion and fear. But I had overcommitted in trying to reach that goal and was now miles away from my place of service.

On page 39, I underlined this sentence: We don’t do more to be like Christ. We seek Christ, and then He will show us what to do.
Then I heard from the Master: Lay your burdens down and rest. I’ll getcha where you’re going.

Meanwhile, look at those daffodils bursting through the snow. They will bring joy in their time, and so will you. Just keep your eyes on Me.

Prayer: Thank you, God, for always being close, where we can keep our eyes on You. Guide us in Your way, teach us how to lead others to You. You are where the Joy is. Amen

I’d like to sing the lyrics of this song to Jesus.

Readers, I write today with you in mind. I thank God for dropping you into my life, for whatever purpose, and for however long you are with me.

If you have been reading my blogs over time you may have justifiably labeled me scatterbrained. You never know where I will land the plane, do you? That’s because, in Ms. Daisy’s spirited mind, there is no end to the Good News I could share. I offer the choice to God. If I stubbornly try to steer the ship in another direction, He auto-corrects and reels me back on course – to tell His Story. 

The plane has now landed on friends and family. We may be on this island for weeks. I find the climate kind, forgiving, and nurturing. 

My sister (and best friend) is sorting through old stuff – an age-related task you may identify with. She mailed me a few souvenirs. Recipes and envelopes in our Mom’s handwriting, and some old pictures of us in younger bodies. 

Minutes later, I got a text from a cousin – one of M A N Y! And every one of them important to me. A paper list of my cousins takes the life of several trees. Loggers chip the trees into little bits, boil them into a soup-like state, flatten the bumps, and roll them out. Paper … on which I now print words about relationships.

The next day was Sunday, and friends of 67 years had just arrived in town. We sat together in church like we did in our college days. The radiance around us lit up the sanctuary, at least from our viewpoint. I counted my blessings. Then I realized God was telling me something. These are your disciples, and together, you illustrate the importance of relationships as I designed them to be. Love one another, as I have loved you. 

Relationships are the treasure of the mind, but are we sincere in our caring, honest in our conversations, and helpful in meeting the needs of others? In the book Same Kind of Different as Me, a homeless man questions the intentions of a wealthy man who came to the trenches to interact with the homeless and hopeless. After cutting through months of not-yet-trusting, there came an invite to go fishing and an invite to be a friend. 

“You want to be my friend? I heard that when white folks go fishin’, they do something called ‘catch and release. I just can’t figure it out ‘cause when colored folks go fishing, we’re really proud of what we catch, show it off to everyone, and use it to sustain us. So, Mr. Ron, if you is fishing for a friend you just goin’ to catch and release, then I ain’t got no interest in being your friend.”

His eyes gentled then, and he spoke more softly than before. “But if you are lookin’ for a real friend, I’ll be one forever.”

Here is a trailer from the movie of the same name. Mr. Ron had made himself a fortune at the expense of his marriage. God intervened through a friend; they talked, and his wife set out to respond to a dream: help the homeless. The choice to follow was his.  

Dear Lord, we have a forever Friend in you, and you in us. We thank you for your faithful nurturing of the many beautiful relationships in our lives. Guide us to be forever friends with the same kind of different people as us. We are all your children. Please lead us to be strong and bold in our faith as we fish. Amen.

It is early morning. It’s a cool start, but the sun is powerful, and we’ll see a change by noon. Maybe where you are, it is snowing. Maybe your day is so packed full of commitment that the forecast is the least of your concerns.

What should I do first? Who needs my time the most?

I save the needlework, the reading, the puzzles for last. And just before my tired eyes droop, I write a closing prayer in my journal. There may be things left undone, but Joy comes in knowing I have planted a few seeds in rocky ground that day. Yes, it may take rain and more pain before the seed sinks into a troubled heart, but I am the messenger He sent to be His hands, feet, and voice.

It seems to me that we ought to be about planting every day, especially rainy times when troubles seem to take root and grow into mountains. In the faintest call, there is hope that someone will hear and answer. In Ecclesiastes 11, we are warned that those who wait for perfect weather may never plant seeds.

By not planting, we will regret the missed opportunities. We will never know the joy we might have felt, the sweetness in the serve, or the smile of one with a changed heart. I painfully remember more than one opportunity that I stepped around, feeling I didn’t have the right tools to do the job He asked of me. Thank God for second chances.

Plant! The time is now.

“Our Cousin Prayer” was written for me by my cousin but meant for all of us:
“Our hearts are set on serving you, Lord. Times are tumultuous. We need to stay focused, sit at your feet, listen to you. Our remaining days here on earth are ticking fast.”
And she’s right. Our time here on earth is limited. What have we been putting off?

A friend reminds me, “Shine up your teapot…you never know when you’ll need to use it!” Does she know about the dream I have?

The tea, the china tea cups, and the pot are all set to begin service as Ms. Daisy’s Traveling Teacups. I’m only missing the time, and by golly, I aim to find it.

Who do we serve?
The widow, the poor, the sick, the resident in a prison of remorse.
One who doesn’t yet know God.
One who can’t see what God is doing in his or her life every single day?
The lonely, simply asking for my time and maybe a hug, which she hasn’t felt in a very long time.

What tools will we need?

A listening ear, and to hear once more the promise that He will never leave our side.

Do the footprints we leave behind tell a good planting story?
Have we done all we could in the time He gave us?

I have some planting to do, so I’ll be off, leaving time for you to do the same.

Prayer: Lord, we are thankful for every new day you give us. Be with us, and guide our steps as we search for fertile ground and thirsty hearts to serve. To know You is to love You. Amen.

Today we are at the pit stop to check on our integrity, our authenticity, and our leadership characteristics. My goodness, the dictionary list is long. Decency, goodness, honesty, morality? Very much like God’s list.

Good leadership will appear on a list of job qualifications – whether for government, as the head of a household, as the head of an organization and, I would think, as a coach. That person should have a reputation beyond reproach for making good decisions based on where they are and what limitations are at hand.

Martin Luther King wanted leaders who were NOT in love with title or money but rather in love with humanity; leaders who would confront all manner of obstacles and be an overcomer.

The dreams of many leaders with great ability might end with their death but then be carried out by a well-chosen successor who carried that dream to reality. Such as with Moses. God picked Moses to lead his people out of Egypt. Nearing death, Moses chose Joshua to succeed him, knowing Joshua was confident and knew the importance of good leadership. Joshua was committed to God and sought direction from God. It’s a good thing because Proverbs 11:14 teaches us that For the lack of guidance, a nation falls, [goes off course like a ship], but victory is won through many advisors, [chosen by good leaders].

Suppose you are about to take a position of leadership. Proverbs has a whole section on wisdom for leaders, beginning with chapter 25. By the way, this section also ends with a description of what makes a good wife, and we all know that a woman is behind every good leader. Really? And here I thought it was one who knew God and followed his lead.

I read that a good leader makes decisions in a timely manner and stays calm under pressure and opposition. And that coaches and military leaders must demonstrate courage. I would say that stepping into any leadership position takes courage and conviction. Much will be asked of you. And if you do a good job, EVEN MORE will be asked of you. Luke 16:10

Our amazing God is in the business of accomplishing the impossible through souls willing to step forward. Nehemiah was one of those great leaders. Under his leadership, the wall around Jerusalem was rebuilt in 52 days! There are many more in the bible who demonstrated good leadership characteristics, but let’s bring this home. What are our leadership qualities?

There are two ways we can make ourselves useful to God. First, talk to him. Consult with him. Share your concerns and your ideas, and listen to His. (Listening to God is what we do when we dive deep into The Word because He is talking, teaching, and encouraging us in these verses).

Second, walk with him. Put what you learn from The Word into action. In Matthew 7, verse 26, Jesus says (in red letters), but everyone who hears these words and does not put them into action is like one who builds his house on sand. Or … what is that verse that says… don’t be like a clanging bell? I don’t want to be a clanging bell. They don’t finish well.

Would you pray this prayer with me?

Dear God, help me shine in places where You need me, even if it means rowing away from the shore into troubled waters. When I am not listening or am working without knowledge, give me a God-sized challenge that calls me back to You. Teach me that I cannot lead without Your help. I work for You, Lord. You prepared good works in advance for me to do. Thank you for making me a multipotentialite and giving me the spirit to lead, accomplish, and finish the work you assign. Amen