Category: Blog

We don’t know how our story will end, but nowhere will it say we gave up! Hold that thought! Some days are so hard, some seasons seem endless but we serve a God who will give us joy, peace and victory every day as we learn to lean on Him. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring but we sure know WHO holds it in His hand!

  It was the time of year to prepare for “Thanksgiving”; one of my favorite holidays. 2005 the 3 year anniversary after my stroke, anxiousness and weeping episodes crept in. Facing the fact that I cannot adequately keep up with the housework; hired a lady to clean twice per month. Facing the fact, unable to carry out the prep-work and partial cooking duties for family gatherings which I always loved to do for my family…to put the extra effort with little touches to make it festive. For the sake of my husband; succumbed to having my Thanksgiving meal put into very capable hands to prepare and cook! A “first” time for me! Menu ordered: turkey, dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes and fresh homemade cranberry salad. Family brought in dishes and desserts to help as always. Thinking I could manage a boxed hot roll mix (didn’t order them) to find out the only steps manageable (with one functional hand/arm) were mixing and kneading the dough; didn’t think about pinching the dough off! I tried…pinch…pulled…it stretched the length of my arm; (busted)…rather rescued by husband’s appearance. A mild reminder that he had instructed me to have them catered as well. More tears of…

Sitting in my office looking at the beautiful sunset this evening. The colors are amazing. When I see the sun rising and setting, the trees blowing in the wind, the rain falling and watering the earth or listen to the sound of the birds early in the morning or the rooster next door, I’m reminded that “all is well”. I pray that you take a minute and enjoy God’s beautiful world. He created it just for you! I’m thinking He deserves a big thank you and a high-five!

Oh how I wish I could explain God’s love for you, in the darkest, loneliest corner of your mind, He is there; waiting on you. You sit there with your head in your hands feeling alone, burdened, overwhelmed, messed up, ashamed, unworthy. You don’t know how God could possibly take care of you again…. still….. or forgive you.  You feel as though you have lost everything; maybe you have. You’ve tried it all and every time you end up right back where you are.  The enemy knows you so well, he knows your weakness and he grabs you on a bad day, when the door is barely left open, he invites himself in.  He comes to kill, steal, and destroy. (John 10:10) and he is. But you know where your peace comes from.  You know when you were washed in the water and came up a new man or woman in Christ….old things are supposed to be put away, a new life is supposed to begin….but its hard, really, really hard to follow Jesus. It wasn’t meant  to be easy… His death wasn’t easy…..but His blood washed us clean. Maybe you’re mad at God because you think He failed you. …

Listen more…learn more…laugh more…love more…lend a helping hand more…LIVE life more fully!!! YES you CAN!!! Gayle Harrell

  A time to look inwardly…reach outwardly…look forwardly…look upwardly to get strength…wisdom and courage!!! YES you CAN!!! Gayle Harrell