2010: CHALLENGE 4: IF ONLY...

How many times have I caught myself saying, "If only..."? "If only life wasn't so tough, I would..." Really, Patti? I came across this powerful piece on a blog this week and knew that I needed to share it with you. A young mother who follows my "Transformed Moms" blog shared that she had received the following from her grandmother. It's great food for thought for those of us who desire to always believe that GIGATTAATTGIG.

GOD SAID...

• If you never felt pain, then how would you know I am the Healer?
• If you never went through difficulties, how would you know that I am the Deliverer?



• If you never had a trial, how could you call yourself an overcomer?
• If you never felt sadness, how would you know that I am the Comforter?



• If you never made a mistake, how would you know that I am the Forgiver?
• If you knew all, how would you know that I will answer your questions?



• If you were never in trouble, how would you know that I would come to your rescue?
• If you were never broken, then how would you know that I can make you whole?



• If you never had a problem, how would you know that I could solve them?
• If you never had suffering, how would you know what Jesus went through?



• If you never went through fire, how would you become pure?
• If I gave you all things, how would you appreciate them?



• If I never corrected you, how would you know that I love you?
• If you had all power, how would you learn to depend on Me?



• If your life were perfect, why would you need Me??

-Author Unknown

2010: CHALLENGE 3: When Your Children Are Sick...

Experts say that the worst emotional pain is the illness and death of a child.

• Yesterday, more children were found dead in the rubble of the horrific earthquake in Haiti. The pain is uncomprehendable!


• Yesterday my friend, Andrea's next door neighbors lost their 21 year old daughter to a five year battle with cancer.


• Yesterday, our daughter Jessica spent her over 5,000th day suffering from severe migraines


• Yesterday, my friend Lauren turned 4 years old!


• Yesterday, Lauren's daddy posted on Facebook, "Tim's world was changed forever four years ago today."



• Today, my friend Sonya posted on Facebook some food for thought, "God doesn't give you the people you want; He gives you the people you NEED... to help you, to hurt you, to leave you, to love you and to make you into the person you were meant to be."

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In 1985, I was part of the faith journey involved with a heart transplant. My brother-in-law, who had been strong and healthy, had a virus attack his heart. Transplantation was new. The choice was clear. Heart transplant or death. He prayed. We prayed. We all prayed for wisdom, asking God that His will be done!

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My Uncle John would hear the same words. Choices! Prayer! Both men went through much to receive their new hearts. Someone had to die so another could live! Now, 24 years later, my "brother-in-love" lives a transformed life. He thrives. My uncle has since passed on.

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In December of 2008, when Steve's niece Vanessa informed us that a family from their church in Virginia would be coming to CHOP (Children's Hospital Of Philadelphia) to wait for a heart for their almost 3 year old daughter... well... I knew God was calling me to be there for them. For me, it was a rich journey of faith to become friends with Tim and Cristi Schwamb and their children. After a very difficult 3 and 1/2 years of life, Lauren received her heart transplant in July!

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Yesterday, Lauren turned 4 years old at home! She is doing well. Her body is accepting it's new heart! Life... healing... transformation are apparent! Her energy levels and lifestyle have been transformed! We praise You God for Your grace and mercy in this life changing situation for Lauren! GIGATTAATTGIG!

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Transplant? v., -plant·ed, -plant·ing, -plants

• To uproot and replant a living thing. (A new heart was uprooted and replanted in Lauren).


• To transfer from one place or residence to another; resettle or relocate. (A living and active heart has relocated to a new residence inside Lauren).


• In Medicine: To transfer (tissue or an organ) from one body or body part to another. (A new organ, a living and active heart, has been given from one to another)

Transform? v., -formed, -form·ing, -forms

• To change markedly the appearance or form (Much of Lauren's old heart was not working; in my brother-in-law's case, they said his old heart literally fell apart when they took it out of his body).


• To change the nature, function, or condition of; convert. (The nature of a new heart leads to a huge improvement in the quality of life... As the body begins to accept the new heart, the person eventually feels that conversion from death to life).


• In Mathematics: To subject to a transformation.


• In Electricity: To subject to the action of a transformer.


• In Genetics. To subject (a cell) to transformation..

As Lauren's family learned more about what must be done to save Lauren, we can learn much from their diligence, steadfastness, perseverance, endurance, and trust over the last 4 years. They wanted their daughter to live a full life! They prayed for wisdom, decision making, the right doctors... They immersed themselves in understanding how to help their daughter to live. They did not spend time focusing on their difficult circumstances, but kept their eyes on Jesus.

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Each of us has a time to die and a time to live. A young child died that night in July so that Lauren might live... and living she is!!! It's a spiritual concept we each need to wrap our arms around: Heart Transplant or Death! Which do you choose? I choose Heart Transplant with ongoing Transformation!!!

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Some of you have kept up with Lauren's story through my blogs. Those of you who are new can click Lauren's parents picture over on the right sidebar to access their blogs or you can click here and go to my post about the day of the heart transplant and the days that followed.

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It was during their time of "waiting on the Lord" for Lauren that Tim and Christi joined the Facebook group GIGATTAATTGIG. What a legacy of love and faith that they have given to so many of us. Thank you! And, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LAUREN! May God bless you with many more!

2010: CHALLENGE 2: Death!

I started the year out on this blog by proposing a format to follow for the year, "Let's look at different challenges that you and I might have that would lead us to believe that God is not all that good. Let's start today by talking about the people who we live and work with." Little did I know that morning when I wrote my New Year's post on this blog that a friend of mine, a follower of Jesus Christ, had gotten her prayer answered.

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Tanya prayed, "God let me live to see 2010!" She died a little over an hour into 2010. Yesterday, was Tanya McBride's funeral. An overcomer, Tanya was the wife of Tom for 38 years and the mother of six young adult children (the youngest being a senior in high school). It's amazing what we can learn about life through someone else's death. Yesterday, I did!

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Tanya planned her own funeral... the songs... scriptures... even the 5 people who would speak... I was one of the singers and her choice of songs were so encouraging... songs like the one that should be playing on the playlist as you read this right now,

• "Oh, Lord prepare me to be a Sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true. With thanksgiving, I'll be a living sanctuary for You..."

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That song alone speaks to who Tanya was. While on this earth, she was a sanctuary of the life and light of Jesus because she was plugged in to Him - THE ETERNAL TRANSFORMER!!! Jesus Christ is the reason that Tanya has overcome death with ETERNAL LIFE!
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Her life on this earth was certainly not an easy one. She waitressed for many years before deciding (with six kids) to go back to school to be an R.N. The 5 men who she chose to speak: Steve, Greg, Derrick, Dan, and Dwight used words to describe her:
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• ENCOURAGEMENT


• PERSEVERANCE


• WARRIOR


• UNCOMPROMISING FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST


• SANCTUARY
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• I chose my own words: OVERCOMER! TRANSFORMED!
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I think you will understand all of the above words even more as I share with you the following. Dan asked each of her children, "What is one thing that your mother taught you?" Here are their responses:

1. "We're all flawed!"


2. "We choose our friends, so choose carefully."


3. "God gave us family! So, take care of each other!"


4. "God gave me a strong work ethic because of my mother!"


5. "Nothing from my mom was about her... her needs were not important... the needs of others were!"


6. "I learned from my mom to fix my eyes on the unseen."
   

And, one of the children added one more thing:
7. "I've learned the importance of going to church."
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I could not write fast enough to record what happened next. Her youngest daughter, a senior in high school, got up and read a poem she had written to her mama. It was long. I captured words at the end as tears streamed down my face.
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• "Mama, I love you and I always will.... memories of you I'll keep near and pass them on to those who are dear.".

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Then, already deeply touched, the standing room only auditorium full of friends and family were not prepared for what happened next. One of her four sons stood and gave an inspiring tribute beginning with reading Proverbs 31. He started with verse 10:

• "A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm,all the days of her life..."
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Then, he continued with more than I can possibly remember or write here...

• "The English language has no one word that can capture my mom..." And, then he began to list, "Strong! Courageous! Caring! Faithful! Loyal!..."


• "She had the amazing ability to turn negatives into positives! She gave me a quote of Abraham Lincoln's when I was younger that she loved and now I do, 'Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.'"


• "Whether she waitressed or studied til 2 a.m., she still was up to make us breakfast and send us off to school."


• "It was amazing how she balanced the love she gave to all six children...including the different ways we liked our PBJ sandwiches: crust off, crust on, cut diagonally, in fours..."


• "She had the gift of gab..."


• "She was devoted..."


• "The most amazing thing about her was her consistency..."


• "She was the first person in NJ history to get a perfect score on the nursing critical thinking exam."


• "She was voted by her nursing school graduating class in 2004 to speak at their graduation ceremony."


• "Then came breast cancer and she beat it!"


• "Then came lung cancer and she beat it!"
  
• "On the top of her very tall stack of medical files she had scrawled the words, "TRUST GOD! DON'T WALLOW IN THIS!"


• "She loved to sing!"


• "She tried to keep up with the newest slang... she overused 'The Bomb!'"


• "She'd fix us hot chocolate and grilled cheese!"


• "She loved her ice cream cones!"


• "Each one of her kids have at least five friends who call her 'mom'."


• "Everyone loved being with mom. I know God does..."


• "She prayed that she would see 2010! God listened to mom again and granted her prayer. She died a little over one hour into 2010."
  
• "We should use our ENERGY to not be sad, but to make mom proud!"
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And where does that kind of energy come from? Tanya knew! She stayed plugged in to it. She used it to overcome! She stayed plugged in to the Transformer of all transformers: Jesus Christ! I am so thankful she did! I am so thankful His love, life and light are so available!

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1 John 5:2-5
"For this is the love of God,
that we keep His commandments;
and His commandments are not burdensome.
For whatever is born of God
overcomes the world;
and this is the victory
that has overcome the world —
our faith.
And who is the one who overcomes the world,
but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? "

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If you have an extra 3 minutes, it would be well spent to learn about Tanya's attitude in her own words by clicking here and then scrolling down to her picture and the post surrounding that picture.

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2010: CHALLENGE 1: We're all so different!

Welcome to the New Year - 2010

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I am convinced that too many of us spent too many days in 2009 with the wrong view of God. It's so easy when things aren't going "right" to...

• blame God


• say I must have done something wrong and I'm being punished


• say that God's not listening


• say that God doesn't love me


• say there really isn't a God

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Job's friends bought into some of the above when they tried to determine what Job had done to deserve all his difficult circumstances. It's called a "transactional" view of God! I've noticed a lot of comments on FB recently where believers were really ticked about certain circumstances in their lives. Their status' seem to indicate a raised fist at God.
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Let's look at different challenges that you and I might have that would lead us to believe that God is not all that good. Let's start today by talking about the people that we live and work with.
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Why are we all so different? We have differences in interests, preferences, strengths, weaknesses, processing, expressing, and thinking. It gets frustrating when we can't get anyone to be similar to us in some of these areas.
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Wouldn't it be odd if all animals in the animal kingdom were mice? It would be kind of strange to go mouseback riding instead of horseback riding or go mouse hunting instead of deer hunting or pet the mouse instead of pet the dog. "The same" can be very boring! I like the popular phrase "Variety is the spice of life!" Differences do provide variety!
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The problem with differences is that they can be irritating if not understood or accepted. Couples are often attracted to someone who is opposite from them, but the saying goes like this, "Opposites attract and then attack!"
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Two days ago, Steve and I celebrated our 36th wedding anniversary. Each year is a milestone for people as different as we are. We had friends and family warn us that we were too different to marry. We even had a pre-marital counselor who had some concerns. The two of us were talking recently about our differences which have been accentuated the last several months. As you well know, differences often come to the forefront during times of stress. Throughout the years, we have had a whole lot of intense stress in our marriage, it's just that this time has been a little different. Three people in the house... two sick for an extended period of time... the one who is well (me) tries to spin too many plates... Maybe you get the picture....
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On the Smalley/Trent "animal personality" chart, I am a lion and Steve is a golden retriever. We have chosen some different animal names for ourselves. I am an elephant and he is a bear. In fact, when raising our four children, it was apparent to us that we had a zoo in our home. Differences abounded! It was easy to raise a fist to God and say, "How did you get me in this mess?"
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So, how can two such animals live together and still be a blessing to each other? How can a family live together and bless one another? I am here to say... only if God is in the mix!
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Below, just for fun, I have compiled animal descriptions of the elephant and the bear from some random internet research. While looking through the descriptions, it doesn't take long to wonder how an elephant and a bear could truly live together in love, peace, and harmony. The amazing thing is that below these descriptions you will find parts of a letter that the bear wrote to the elephant two days ago. This bear's letter modeled the goodness of God: love, peace, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, joy...
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For both of us, over the years, it's been about coming to an understanding that things are not always the way we think they should be: NOT RIGHT - NOT WRONG, JUST DIFFERENT. It's been about learning to HONOR THE DIFFERENCES!
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Patti is an elephant:

• HABITAT AND RANGE: can live on the plains and in the mountains up to 15, 000 feet... many live on parks and reserves
• DIET: eats lots of vegetables; drinks lots of water
• LIFE SPAN 65 to 70 years in the wild; 70 to 80 years when domesticated; their life span depends on their teeth - once their last set of teeth wear out, they can no longer eat and they die
• REPRODUCTION: most give birth during the rainy season
• COMMUNICATION: use several types of sounds to communicate: 1) rumbling - a deep growling sound, most of which is below the range of human hearing; 2) a variety of screams and trumpets used to frighten and intimidate predators as well as communicate alarm...also for greeting
• SENSES: keen senses of hearing and smell; weak eyesight
• SIZE: big and tall
• OTHER PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: use trunk to dig
• SOCIABILITY: families are made up of sisters and their offspring often living in groups of 9-11; a mature adult female dominates family groups; related family groups are part of larger herds that move and feed together
• THINKING: well developed brains and great memories
• ROLE: Often pave the way for others to follow; they can lead a procession of animals stomping down the brush with their feet or removing trees/branches that are in the way with their trunks

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Steve is a brown bear:

• HABITAT AND RANGE: prefer to live in cooler climates and will migrate away from the heat; can be found on the plains, in the forests, the tundra, and in sub-alpine mountain areas
• DIET: carnivores who eat berries and vegetation
• LIFE SPAN: 20-25 years
• REPRODUCTION: monogamous
• COMMUNICATION: is complicated, sometimes misunderstood, and primarily through body language: 1) sitting down indicates disinterest or lack of concern for onlookers; 2) standing on hind legs generally an indication of curiosity or interest in whatever it may have noticed, not an act of aggression; 3) when threatened or apprehensive, the typical response would be the popping its jaw, slapping the ground, or expelling air loudly; 4) when afraid, the bear chomps or clacks teeth which is often misunderstood by other animals as getting ready to be aggresive; 5) loud roars are usually a warning that they want to protect their territory, not that they want to be an aggressor; 6) bears often "purr" when comfortable or warm much like a cat
  SENSES: great eyesight and keen sense of smell; strong instinct for food -can be easily trapped when humans put out food; a common saying among forest rangers is, "a fed bear is a dead bear"
• SIZE: big and tall
• OTHER PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: long claws for great digging ability; strong teeth and jaws that are almost incapable of breaking large bones; long thick fur; although they usually move slow and leisurely, they are able to run fast and swim well
• SOCIABILITY: shy; mostly solitary; can be easily frightened; small families; may gather in large numbers at food sources; not a full hibernator, the brown bear likes to "den" in a protected spot such as a cave, crevice, or hollow log in the winter
• THINKING: curious and intelligent; "complex and fascinating animal deserving of great respect"
• ROLE: quiet protector; no other animal will be a predator on a brown bear other than a tiger or another bear.

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On December 30, 2009, our 36th wedding anniversary, the bear wrote a full page typewritten letter to me, the elephant. A few excerpts from that Holy Spirit led letter are as follows:

• Besides giving my life to Jesus, marrying you is the best thing I’ve ever done.
• You’ve made me a better person. You’ve opened my eyes to what it looks like to give of oneself for the betterment of others.
• You are the kinkeeper of our family. Our children and their spiritual health are at the forefront of your mind and top of your prayer list.
• We’ve faced some pretty tough times together over the last three and ½ decades, but what we have discovered again and again is the solid truth of 1 John 4:4 – “Greater is He in us than he that is in the world.” God created His children to be “overcomers,” and by His grace, we have been – together!
• Our marriage has not been perfect – NO SURPRISE – there are no perfect marriages. However, our marriage has tested and challenged our individual growth to the point that we are better individuals because we are married, first to Christ, then one another.
• You deserve the best husband I can be. Please forgive me when I’m not and praise God when I succeed.
• Next to Jesus, I love you more than anyone and anything!
• Happy 36th anniversary! God is good all the time and all the time God is good..
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Father God, thank you for my husband, the Spirit-led, steel and velvet, brown bear. Thank you for blessing me with this man who I so honor and respect. I praise you for Steve Sikes! I honor the differences! God, I have learned that when I do things in Your way and Your timing that I am convinced that GIGATTAATTGIG. Because of Jesus, we are still husband and wife! I choose to raise my hands in praise to You - not my fist!