Month: January 2016
Trap Line Success!
I received an early morning call from my husband. I could hear the excitement in his voice. “Are you up? I need your help…” He had gotten up at 4:30 am to head out in the pitch dark to check his trap line which he had been attending to all week. Each morning upon his return I would ask, “How did you do today?” He would offer an answer of disappointment. But he had not given up nor lost hope! He continued his efforts.
This was only his second session this trapping season. The first ended with a broken down 4 wheeler which left him with no choice but to pull the entire line that he had invested that entire morning setting.
Sensing his disappointment and lack of success, as his wife I did what I often do on his behalf. I went to the Lord in prayer! Not only did the Lord answer my prayers, He exceeded them.
The exciting phone call was the report of a harvested bobcat! He has often communicated his desire of catching a bobcat and now his desire was complete. A disappointing beginning has turned out to be very exciting!
We can choose to be supporters of our loved ones interests, whether it is photography, outdoor exploration, hunting, sports, coaching, fishing, woodworking or any other hobby. I don’t participate in Steve’s trap line often but I do try to go out with him at least once a season. I’m a huge supporter of Steve and if it’s important to him it’s important to me.
I love that my God is able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine according to His power that is at work within me! When I went to Him in prayer I did not ask specifically for a bobcat but God knew that would fulfill Steve’s desire and He did immeasurably more than I asked! He’s such a grand God!
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)
Copyright©2016, Gloria Stucky
Image courtesy of Gloria Stucky
To Be So Celebrated!
How can one moment have such a powerful impact on life! Another trip to Nashville to visit family and I didn’t see it coming!
It’s a tough trip driving to Nashville on a Friday evening exhausted from the full week of work. When we normally arrive to our daughter’s home the grandkids are peeking out the fingerprinted windows anticipating our arrival and greet us at the door with great excitement. This time was different. We knocked to no answer. Where were they? Not even a bark from Viking their not so vicious Terri-poo. Since the door was unlocked we made our way inside yelling “hello.”
Naomi, our 3 year old granddaughter had been playing back in her room. When she heard our entrance she came joyfully running down the long hallway, jumping with excitement. She ran into my arms yelling “My G.G.! My G.G.!” Her excitement over our presence was a true celebration. There was no denying her love for us. In that moment the stress and hardships of the week instantly melted away. I seriously fought back the tears that welt up in my eyes as I found comfort in such an expression of adoration over my physical presence. It was a powerful moment!
Have you ever felt celebrated? If your first thought is “no,” let me tell you there is One who deeply desires to celebrate your presence. So deeply that He allowed His one and only Son to die on the cross for your sin that you could one day stand in the presence of God and celebrate!
Are you willing to open the unlocked door and walk through to the greeting of a lifetime? How ridiculous had I stood there and ignored the beautiful welcome of Naomi! How ridiculous of you to ignore the sacrifice that has been made on your behalf! Open the door and begin the celebration!
2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us,God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:1-9 (NIV)
Copyright©2016, Gloria Stucky
Image courtesy of Gloria Stucky