AWAKENED

Morning came early.  4 a.m.  I must pray for Briley Faith.  I will storm the gates of heaven and lay requests for her healing at the feet of Jesus.  Daily.

Two years ago today that was my daily.  I was awakened to the calling of prayer for my granddaughter every morning around the same time for 7 consecutive days.  My soul stirred until I could rest no more; until the words my Heavenly Father spoke rested on paper.  Awakened to instruction.

Some of you know about the 61-day journey Briley Faith tarried on this earth.  You know she never breathed on her own and never got to come home from the hospital.  But, today, as I have many times before, I reflect on her affect.  She never breathed on her own but God used her to give hope to others; a hope that helped them breathe once again and trust the hand of God!  The breath she never took was sacrificed for others.  What an effect!  God-breathed.  Awakened to hope.

The other night, I took my son out to eat for his birthday which he and Briley Faith share.   He says she is the best birthday present he has ever received!  Again, together reflecting on times prior to and after Briley’s birth, reminded us of the grandeur of God’s love!  You see, my husband and I lived in another state.  But, by God’s gentle orchestration He guided us to where we could be close to her and family before she was ever born; before any of us knew there would be complications.  What great love!  What great faithfulness!  I’m awakened once again.

I long to be awakened daily again.  But, I have realized it is by choice.  I must choose to follow instruction, I must choose to walk in hope, I must choose to lean into His love and I must choose faith over fear.

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Briley Faith!  Thank you again for continuing to give your Granna a daily dose; an awakening.  I love you so very much and miss you to extremes!  Thank you for the smiles you have given us all!  Before long we will see you again because I do believe the day of the GREAT AWAKENING is soon to come!

Don't be one of the many who are still asleep to God's grace, hope and love. Right now, this moment is not too late.  Confess your sins and receive His grace!  Contact me and I can help:  www.kfogarty02@gmail.com.  Just please remember there will be a day when ALL will be awakened; a day too late for some.

Romans 14:11-12   For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”   So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

KITCHEN TALK

There are so many “recipes” for a happy home out there.  But, a recipe is no good if it is never used or we leave out ingredients.  Besides that, having a happy home or happy heart is so much more than a recipe; it’s a choice.

Several years back, during a much needed quiet time, God spoke to my heart about a choice I was making.  Heartache and disappointment came my way and I had chosen to invite it in to stay.  A choice someone else made was heavy on my heart.  They say home is where the heart is and my heart was broken.

You know, for me, the kitchen, a reflection of the heart, always seems to be a place to go to find happy; food and smiles!  But, during this time it was different.  My life, my home, my “kitchen” became less on the happy daily.  Tears I cried weren’t from cutting onions, or laughing so hard I would cry; tears became more of like the steam from a stewing pot, never-ending.   Sleep became non-existent because I was always in that hot kitchen, by choice, hovering over that steam of debilitation; joy evaporating.

Exhausting all “recipes”, I finally realized there was not one self-ingredient, one perfect stir, or extra dash of advice I could add to that steaming pot that would become the tasteful, happy-making dish of choice I wanted it to be.  I needed the Head Chef; my Savior, my Redeemer, the One with the perfect recipe for me to have a happy home; happiness in my heart.  During my quiet time sitting at the kitchen table it was then I asked God, “How do I move from this place?  How can I be happy again?”  He spoke to my heart so loudly that I turned around to see if He was standing at the stove!  He said, “You can’t live in other people’s choices.  By doing so, you are taking away the joy I am trying to give you each day.”  Immediately, I had the key ingredient; choice!  The recipe was there all the time! Choose God’s word, His promises and words of life; the recipe for happy.

Since that awakening morning, I choose to live in joy daily.  Living happy is a choice in all situations.  It may be relational, financial, emotional, spiritual, or being thrown into an unknown valley that affects all those areas.  A very hard day of my life to choose to live in joy instead of sorrow was when Briley Faith was born, October 11, 2012; it was for all the family. So, you may ask, “How in the world did you awake in joy during a time of sadness with your granddaughter, Briley Faith?  Especially after she was diagnosed with SMA; you knew she would never get to leave the hospital.  You knew her life would be short.  How did you find happy at that extreme of hurt?”  We are not the “Super Hero” family on the block.  We all have heartaches and struggles; some have the key ingredient and some don’t.  Our happiness didn’t rely on Briley Faith being healed this side of heaven.  Our happiness was found in making a choice to receive God’s will.  His will is perfect; the perfect recipe for life.  Although we cried many tears, by accepting His will and then watching Him work throughout all of her 61 days here, the joys we shared far outweighed the sorrows.   Jesus Christ is the key ingredient for you to also have a happy heart.  Receive His gift of eternal life and then get out of the kitchen and let the Head Chef do His thing!  Talk to Him now. 

Romans 3:10  As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.

Romans 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. 

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 10:9-11 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 

Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved him shall not be ashamed.

Proverbs 16:20 He who heeds the word wisely will find good,

and whoever trusts in the Lord, HAPPY is he.

The “kitchen”, my heart, is happy because of my talks with Jesus and trusting in what He can do.  Can’t wait to see what He cooks up for tomorrow for I know it will have the sweetest aroma and the taste will be honey to my soul!

FAITH TO FLY

The majority of us are very familiar with this verse:  “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:31.   Like many of you, that verse has given me strength and comfort when I thought I would never fly again.  Broken.

Today I read the entire chapter leading up to that wonderful verse that caps off even more assurance prefaced!  He assures us His word will stand FOREVER!  Over anything and anyone, His word is final and above all!  He assures us He has endured and overcame anything we would ever go through!  He assures us He will lift us!  He tells us to lift up our voice with strength and to not be afraid; lift up our eyes on high and see Who has created all things; my favorite is He tells us He calls us by name and not one of us is missing!!

On October 11, 2012 when my granddaughter, Briley Faith was born, life as we knew it changed.  But, the entire 61 days of her life Jesus was there and still is.  He assured us time and time again!  We had faith and knew even with a broken wing, in His strength we could fly!

GO. DAILY.

dai*ly 

adjective

:occurring, made, or acted upon EVERY DAY; issued EVERY DAY or weekday <daily needs>;

 of or providing for  EVERY DAY <daily schedule>

How could I have been so wrong about what a daily dose is?  Simple logic caught up in fear of rejection, doubt of capability, and just plain busyness.  Recently, I had a dose of God’s word that was my epiphany to this simplicity going the wrong direction; stifled in the mire of “every now and then” exactly where my adversary, Satan loves for God’s children to be.  STUCK.

 In Matthew 28 God says to “Go”!  He didn’t say work your purpose into your schedule, take a break or that can wait. 

Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  

Go therefore  and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

God also tells us following Him is a daily; forgetting oneself, leaving the “to do” list blank; waking up every morning in full reservation to God; to His commands, to His list, to His “Go!”

Luke 9:23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

GO.  DAILY.

Here’s some great news!   Look at the end of Matthew 28:20!  He assures me, He assures you, “…I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  God is there, always, to the very end… helping fulfill purposes with daily doses for all.

There is a job to do with God’s perfect will that always includes a victory!   I have chosen to unstick myself; get out of the mire, the do nothing place!  Today I will heed to His command, put actions to the daily and share doses of God’s grace, faithfulness and love to souls within the path of my purpose.

Besides, that, God did not send my granddaughter, Briley Faith, here for the gospel to be shared only during her 61 days here; once truth introduces itself we must continue to introduce it to others; spread the good news throughout our neighborhood, people in our lives.  Though she is now in heaven, she is still in my heart; I see her eyes speaking God’s truth once again.  I must write because God said, “Go”; He said, “daily”.  So, I will seek God and find Him so He may guide me to the “where” and the “who” with the words to share with the lost.  There will be occasional new posts within this blog as I continue efforts in writing a book about the Briley Faith journey.

You might be like I had been and find yourself stuck in the yuck!  It’s your time to break loose!  Don’t fear it, face it; God is with you always!  Get out of that mire of “every now and then”.  Give daily doses of truth to the lost!  Tell somebody what His love is all about!  It’s your purpose!

Go.  Daily.

UNCOMMON MASTERPIECE

In Acts 10, God showed Peter in a vision, animals he was to kill and eat.  Peter said, “I can’t eat something that is unclean.”  Then an angel of the Lord said, “What God has cleansed, you must not call common.”  Wow!  Later Peter realized God was instructing him to preach the gospel to those he would normally not associate with.  Peter did what he was told, as we should.

But, this also got me to thinking, “We are God’s children cleansed by the blood of Jesus!  We are NOT common!”  Acts 10:15 “…What God has cleansed, you must not call common.”

In today’s neighborhood a large percentage of homes are built the same; one right after another; “cookie cutter”.  Life can be that way; trying to be someone we’re not; wanting to fit in to the neighborhood.  You know, live someone else’s life story.  It seems easier to be common and live a “cookie cutter” life especially when times are hard.  We become recluse, withdrawn and just want to blend in with the “neighborhood”.  Go unnoticed.

On October 11, 2012 our circumstances, our life, our home was not “cookie cutter”.  In fact, we had never heard of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), the muscular disease Briley Faith was later diagnosed with having.  Not only that, she had the most severe; type 0; an “uncommon”, at least to us.

Peter received an assignment from God to embrace what was uncommon.  He trusted God and lived his purpose.  We too, knew we could trust Him from faithfulness past.  So, together we embraced this “uncommon”.  At that time many viewed our life as dark and dilapidating because for 61 days “home” was knowing Briley Faith was very ill; “home” was tears; “home” was visiting my granddaughter who I knew would never go beyond the hospital room door I just entered.  But, when one puts faith in the Master Builder blessings outweigh the brokenness and we do not crumble for our foundation is firm.  So, through God’s hands that same hospital room became a park; another day the hospital atrium was transformed into a sanctuary of praise!  As we watched God use Briley Faith, she never lost focus on His purpose speaking hope to the world in view of His masterpiece.  Her journey, the “home” she was given stood out and as many passed by, they slowed down gazing in wonder how the life given could look so uncommonly beautiful.  Therefore, wanting the same God in their life; a home built by the Master Builder.

Replace your fear with faith and you, too, will receive that peculiar peace, wake up with joy, walk in light and be able to live in His hope, not the circumstance.  Embrace your pain, shattered dreams, your “uncommon” so others may see God’s glory; another masterpiece built from broken pieces!

BOY, DID SHE SHINE!

Briley FAITH's light shined throughout the world reflecting grace, mercy, hope and love; the gospel story.  Though she is now in heavenly light, lives continue to be changed; it might be yours.  Continue that gospel story by shining your light, your story.

No matter how dark our days were, Briley Faith quickly reminded us the Light of the world is Jesus and to trust Him in our darkest hour.

AUGUST IS SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy) AWARENESS month.  On Saturday, Aug. 9 we will be honoring our angel, BRILEY FAITH.  Please join and share your pictures of a candle lit for Briley and where you are from on Facebook page, "Prayers For Briley Faith".

PawPaw and Granna love and miss you precious Briley FAITH, our "Angel Eyes".

"HONOR SMA ANGELS"
Join with families around the country by lighting a candle at sunset on the second Saturday in August to remember and honor those who have lost their battle with SMA.

Thank you!

A FIRM FOUNDATION

Hebrews 11:1-3

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.   By faith we understand that the worlds were FRAMED by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

This morning, since I'm recovering from surgery and unable to go to church, I'm having my own; just me and Jesus!  As I was talking to Him and thumbing through my Bible I came across a piece of paper with a few words I had jotted down which led to this post; now an excerpt in a book I am writing, a word from God; church.

A wise woman, years ago who God placed in my life for a short period of time shared some words of wisdom I had written down and placed between the pages of my Bible. Though read many times today was the day I read them the way they were to have been received; given by the wise to be read with wisdom.  "IF I HAVE MY MIND FOCUSED ON MY PROBLEM, I'M NOT SEEKING GOD".  I get it.  Once again, I learn through my grandaughter, Briley Faith.

During Briley Faith’s 61 days of her time here and today, many would view our life, this "house" we live in, as unstable from the sudden shifts and cracks in the foundation, holes in the walls of our heart, and the many tears that leaked within.  But, as a family we realized if we focused on those things our house would crumble; be of no use, no value, no purpose.  By seeking God, the Master Builder, we knew this was in His plan; His plan is perfect; and so we stand.

The reason for peace is because of the place; the place we, you and I, choose to rest our mind, the place we choose to live.  On October 11, 2012, we chose His plan, not the pain.  Don't get me wrong, it hurt and still does.  But by taking God's trusting hand, He got us through the journey and still does to this day.

Not only did our family gain victory, but Briley Faith won the ultimate race; purpose to glory.  Victory comes from seeking God and a home built on faith.

Build your hope, your home on Jesus Christ and His faithfulness.  His way is sure.  He is the certain in your uncertainty; Your firm foundation.
Click on link to THE SOLID ROCK/MY HOPE IS BUILT ON NOTHING LESS hymn

Briley Faith resting on Christ; teaching us to stand.