BRILEY, DID YOU KNOW?

Oh my precious Briley FAITH, my angel eyes, God's little missionary... did you know?

DID YOU KNOW that the night before you were born that me/Granna, along with your mommy, daddy and big brother, Jude, PawPaw, Boompa, Mimi, Pops, Idgie, Aunt Krissy,  Aunt Shanda and so many others were excitedly waiting for your arrival and praying for a safe delivery for you and mommy, that you would be healthy and all would be well?

DID YOU KNOW that after given the complications you had, that we were in the waiting room with others, in a circle holding hands in prayer knowing God would hear?  Did you hear your mommy’s and daddy’s cries for help to the One from which help comes from?  Did you hear not only their prayers but also see their steadfast faith?

DID YOU KNOW that I was awakened between 3am and 4am starting the night before you were born that lasted seven days?  The first day I prayed for a good delivery and all would be well.  The day after you were born, up to the seventh day I prayed for healing.  Did you know the seventh morning I was awakened I could not go back to sleep because God pressed upon me to not only pray for your healing but to really learn about His healing power?  DID YOU KNOW?  So, I did.  Day after day He was teaching and I was learning.

And DID YOU KNOW that me learning about God’s healing power would lead to me writing a blog called Briley’s Daily Dose?  It was mainly for my healing--- oh how I hurt so bad!  Each time I wrote I felt the pain, but at the same time there was a peaceful cleansing.

DID YOU KNOW as of today, the Briley’s Daily Dose blog has reached 100 COUNTRIES?  My sweet darlin’, the blog is now being read in country #100, The Islands of BERMUDA!  Who would have ever known?  DID YOU KNOW?  Only God, baby girl, only God.  But, DID YOU KNOW?

DID YOU KNOW that simple blog led to a book about God’s faithfulness and what He can do with our trials if we give them to Him?  I never would have imagined I would be an author of a book about the life and loss of my granddaughter.  It’s called God’s Got This.  You were our “this”.  But, even though our struggle initially was dealing with knowing your situation and that you would be leaving us soon, it also uncovered other things in our lives that would be a “this”.  Wow, God used you to show us all so much!

DID YOU KNOW each time a tear was cried?  Not because of sadness, but because God used you to also give them hope and a cleansing of the soul?  Or, those rejoicing because of your life, they found a new life in Jesus?  

What about each time mommy, daddy, brothers Jude and Reid, sister Abbott, relatives, friends and even strangers share your life story--- Do you know each time a heart stops hurting or a tear stops flowing because of learning of God’s grace you shared through your sacrifice, your faithfulness to your calling?

Oh God’s little missionary, my Briley FAITH, I long to be just like you.

I can’t help but think you did know.  We for sure know God knew He could count on you to fulfill His purpose for you.  Your purpose did not end when you went to your heavenly home on December 11, 2012; it continues today in 100 COUNTRIES ALL OVER THE WORLD!  I love and miss you real big my darlin' Briley FAITH and I'm still so inspired by your surrender to God and calling.

As your PawPaw shares…

Milestones are the “selah” of life; to pause and thank God for His goodness and to where He’s brought us.

Since that night before your birth on 10/10/2012 of waking up between 3am and 4am:

*BRILEY’S DAILY DOSE BLOG was created.

*6 years, 10 months, 8 days have passed.

*God’s Word has entered 100 countries through the blog; some of these were countries where no Christian literature is allowed.

*103,027 have been reading the blog while we are praying many souls are changed from hearing God’s word through Briley’s life.

*GOD’S GOT THIS! book released December 2018.

Milestones are not “things”.  Milestones are God taking those “things” and using them to help others find Jesus, the Cornerstone.

FROM A BLOG TO A BOOK; God's Got This!

When God led me to writing this blog, I never had a thought of a book coming out of it. GOD'S GOT THIS! is a book about the life and loss of my granddaughter, Briley FAITH.  There were many days I struggled with writing this book for several reasons; it took me back to that time of pain but I also struggled with confidence in my writing.  Then, I truly realized it's not about me and my inadequacies.  It's about who I am in Christ and what He can do through me if I just let go and let Him.  When that happened, the book flowed to completion.  GOD'S GOT THIS! is now available for purchase!

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Do you feel like you are in the boxing ring with Satan; hits from all sides? A hit of loneliness, depression? A left hook of financial devastation? Or are you down for the count because of the loss of a loved one? Have you run out of tears? Have you run out of prayers? In God’s Got This, Kathy shares her own and her family’s personal experiences with fear, doubt, depression, bitterness and other “hits” during the life and loss of her granddaughter, Briley FAITH.With biblical truths, an open heart, and a walk through life known as our “home”, Kathy teaches you to knock down that wall of pride by following God’s perfect plan, to face the fear that binds you with God’s power that lives within you, and to replace doubt that delays God’s plan with confidence that brings Him glory; a lesson on faith no matter your trial, no matter what your “THIS” is.She invites you into the home faith built, to pull up a chair at the table, feast on God’s word and to get to know this trustworthy Master Builder while learning how to develop an unshakeable foundation of faith.Give Him your “THIS” and what the world sees as a tragedy, God will turn to triumph!

WATCHING FOR A BOOK IN 2018!!  God is good!  Happy New Year!!!

PLEASE READ!!!!! FAITH FOR A CURE

I want to thank you all who have followed and read this blog I started in 2012 about my granddaughter, Briley FAITH.  Her name was perfectly selected because it definitely has been a journey of FAITH!  We are now in 84 countries spreading hope to all!

This is a not the normal blog but a request from me to you.  The month of August is SMA Awareness Month.  SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy) is the disease that took the life of my granddaughter.  In memory of Briley Faith and others who have suffered with the terrible disease, will you please join us in a candle lighting ceremony around the world?  It will be tomorrow, Saturday, August 12, 2016 at 8pm CST.  If you are in another country and your days are different please feel free to have your candle lighting anytime this month.  PLEASE tag us on your picture at #FAITHforacure.

Thank you so much and may God keep you strong and may you feel the peace that only He can give.

Blessings,

Granna

SIXTY-ONE

If I did today what I did for those sixty-one days… does fear lead to faith, tragedy to trust, helplessness to hope?

My morning would be peaceful because of the assurance that God was in control.  Thoughts of you, my dear Briley FAITH would bring tears, of course, that’s just how it is; you are my granddaughter.  At that time you were in the hospital never to reside in your earthly home.  But, your own little room at home was so beautiful with details of love placed by mommy, daddy and big brother, Jude.  We accepted the fact the only earthly room you would have would be at Children’s Hospital.  So, the same was done there… every detail was with love through cards, prayers, encouraging words, visits.  Every person who entered your room entered with love and left with much more.  I know for me, I left not only with a greater love for you, but a greater love for Christ.  I miss it.  So, I say to myself, today “What do I need to do to return to that total surrendered, unhindered commitment and love for Christ?”  The answer, self-examination.  It never was Christ leaving me; He was always there, He IS here with me… I left.  Of course, you know all that.  I realize by allowing in self-doubt in what I can do, by allowing distractions and even pride cause gaps from glory; His glory.

My days then…

In my little red, two door Saturn I head to the hospital and some days it’s quiet communication WITH God.  Other days the music is cranked up and I’m singing praises TO God.  Then there are times I’m reflecting on the proven power OF God.  HE was a constant.  I lived in His presence, danced in His praises and counted on His promises.

Walking the halls of the hospital to your room, or in the waiting room, I saw many who also had a heavy heart.  While praying for them I hung on to “My yoke is easy and my burden’s light.”; a promise.  

Oh I could not wait to enter your room and see what God had to say to me through your precious eyes.  You were so attentive and I to you because it was God speaking.  In this self-examination I must realize He’s still speaking.  You see when you left, so did my realization of the power of God living within me.  I became self-reliant and therefore the gap began.  My doubt became Satan’s tool.  This doubt in my abilities shut down my capabilities in possibilities through God; His will, my calling.  I am now awake to that power within!  It’s not me, it never was me, it’s Him, His power and His glory.  Doubt erased!

Leaving you each day was hard yet not dark.  Even in my drive back home I recognized a keen awareness of God’s presence in my surroundings; not only while with you, but everywhere!  In His presence my heart cried for several reasons.  Tears of sadness, thankfulness, humbleness… all flowed to the hand of God catching them and making life beautiful.

During those sixty-one days, once entering my home God’s presence never left because He lives IN me.  I, WE, would sit at the computer…He begins to write through me, His will, my calling.  Words flowed because there was no gap, no distractions, no doubt, “no self”.  Many times I walked away in tears praying for God to use me, use those words.  I had faith in Him and not myself.  The gap must be closed for His will to flow.

Briley FAITH, my precious granddaughter, I’m more thankful than thankful could ever be for you and those sixty-one days; your sacrifice, your willingness to let God work, your total surrender, even life.  Again, God used you for me.  I needed this dose; this face-off with “self”.

I need to live each day as if it were one of the sixty-one.

If there is anyone of you reading this that feel an emptiness or incapable of doing what you know you are to do that brings glory to God, through this self-examination I’ve learned the answer.  If you have said “no” many times and still feel that life is just “stuck”, no flow, I know what the road block is; SELF.  Once removed the flow begins!  He was there, He is there.  Let go and live a life of freedom and fullness because of His faithfulness!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”  Proverbs 3:5

“For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”  Jeremiah 29:11-13

PUT YOUR HAPPY ON; A DAILY ACCESSORY!

It’s a new day; another day of choices to make.

Although “happy” is my favorite word in the English dictionary there are still days when I am either so sad that that word doesn’t even exist or I wish it away on purpose while drowning in my self-pity.  Happy is just a word but how I use it becomes my world; my day.

During Briley Faith’s 61 days with us, pushing through the choice of darkness to light was a difficult journey.  Many times… oh so many times, I wanted to curl up and cry for my granddaughter, my angel eyes; for my children and grandson; for me.   By starting my day choosing to be clothed in “self” I learned is a risk that leads to unhappiness.  I have walked out my front door dressed “to the tee” of “self” thinking and ready to take on the day only to find that “self” came home weak, depressed and not loving life; happy-less. 

Here I am again… today.  Reflecting on the past isn’t bad when it is used for our good today.  My today is dimmed by circumstances.  So, sitting on the front porch step I know I have to push through my thinking and take every thought captive for Christ.  Do you hear God?  Push.  Do you see Him? Press on. Focus on Him and not me.  Be still, seek Him... listen... wait patiently and He will arrive in a breathtaking way. Push harder.  He is near.  Then suddenly, my focus on my circumstances becomes faith in His character and once again, my answer, my calm, MY MORNING WITNESS arrives; I’m surrounded by God’s light, God’s promises.  His winds partner with the leaves of the trees; a dance of grace.  All the birds of hope are as a bow to a violin; gentle notes created from the freedom of the flight.  My smile, not painted, but real--upon my heart is revealed outwardly.  Then, laughter expels as I'm now inside standing, looking out my door when one of God's beauties, a Hummingbird, suddenly approaches me as if fluttering a "Hello".  God is speaking, “DANCE, SING, LAUGH!  Put your HAPPY on!”  I’m so thankful for those reminders that GOD'S GOT THIS day, too!

Are you resting on the clouds of doubt and living in rain of self-pity?  Have you, like I have before, allowed the world or other people’s choices to affect your happiness?  The word is happy.  The “Happy-Maker” is Christ.  The choice is yours.

Put you happy on!

Proverbs 16:20 “He who heeds the word wisely will find good, and whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.”

WHAT IFs, WHYs and WHAT'S HIS

October 11, 2012; the day God gave us our granddaughter, Briley Faith.  The delivery waiting room was filled with excitement and anticipation!  There was no indication or any preparation for what the “room of waiting” would become; a place of daily wait for 61 days.   We now wait for the day to see her again when God calls us all to our heavenly home where we wait no more.

Briley Faith, this precious angel on earth was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy/Type 0, the most severe.  When we found out she would never come home, well home here, it was a devastating, heart hurting, hope grasping day.  Loud excitement turned to silence in prayer.  In that silence we gave it all to God; He heard us in that very dark hour.  In an instant our heads were lifted, hearts healed and hope restored.  Josh, my son and Briley’s daddy would remind us all, “God’s got this!”  Faith strengthened through the pain, the dark hospital room became a tabernacle of praise, Briley Faith didn’t need her muscles to send His message, and lives were changed!

But, there were times I had wondered what if I had known I was carrying that SMA gene I might had passed on to Josh.  What if I had been tested years ago, Josh tested… what if we had known.  Then through many tears I had for Briley Faith, her mommy, daddy and big brother, I realized “what if” wasn’t in God’s plan.

God continues to remind me of His power plan of greatness, as He did today, as He did while we walked the Briley Faith journey and five years ago during one of my darkest hours… 

Every now and then as part of my daily reading, along with God’s word, I have enjoyed reading the book, “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young.  A week ago today, a little note fell out from between the pages of this book I have read over the years and reminded me of God’s vast love for me… for you.

February 17, 2010.  I remember that day and never want to revisit where I was, where my mind was ever again.  I was not planning on going there, but I did.  Others I knew had been there.  But me?  How did I get to that place when I love to smile, make others smile and my favorite word is “happy”?

That day… 

Sitting in my car parked under some trees and away from the busyness of the building I worked in, like most days, I was having my lunch alone.  I really enjoyed my time in the quiet talking to Jesus, reading His word.  This particular day was a different “alone”.  Although I knew God was always with me, by choice I allowed my mind to shut His light out.  Life in my mind had become haunting and dark, a place of battle; I traveled it, my mind, alone on my own strengths, my way.  For a little while, I basked in self-pity.  To tell you the truth, it felt good to cry “Oh me.” Even though no one else heard, it didn’t matter. The self-pity was a temporary feel good.  No one knew where my mind lived for a while because I didn’t tell them.  My smile told a different story.  Some found out later; long after my despair, darkness, and a dead-end road of understanding why someone would contemplate death.  Yep, that was me.  Perky, positive, pleasant me turned negative; negative within my own self, negative meeting up with more negative and dark becoming darker.  Looking back, life really wasn’t that bad.  I had a good marriage, good church, good friends, good job.  But, I allowed life’s hurdles to take me to the edge.  This 3x5 card tucked away in this book fell out five years later as a reminder for me or for you today.

The writing on the card dated 2-17-10 reads, “What if I didn’t do anything for anyone.  I guess it would be as if I weren’t here to do anything for anyone.”

I remember my thoughts while writing those few words in that climatic moment, “If I stopped helping, encouraging and praying with and for others would I even be noticed?  I was hurting and why couldn’t they hear me?  I always heard them.  Why?”  Although I am geographically challenged, at that time in my state of self-mindedness I understood the way to loneliness, the way to emptiness, the way to darkness, the way to nothing.  Crippling thoughts; these thoughts became my illness; unable to breathe, out of tears, and out of words to pray.  My days consisted of a variety of “hits”; physical and financial blows, disappointment in others, loss of loved ones.  It was as if I was in the boxing ring with Satan.  Too tired to stand, down for the count… 

I camped out at the edge engulfed by “what ifs” for 30 days holding on to these words from that little devotional page dated February 17.  “Don’t try to force-fit today into yesterday’s mold.  Instead, ask Me to open your eyes, so you can find all I have prepared for you in this precious day of your life.”  For 30 days I held on to this verse…  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17; 30 days of hope.

Also written at the bottom right corner of this tattered and worn 3x5 card were the simple words, “But I’m gonna!” with the date 3-17-10.  My “what ifs” were in control until I finally let go and let God show me “what’s His”; as His child, that’s me!  Because I am His I could start new again! So, I changed my focus away from me and back to others as God intended.  I was standing again!  Standing on His promises and following His plan; a plan that does not include “what ifs” and healing began. 

Many of you reading this have been to that dark place like me and determined to never return by taking every thought captive for Christ; think His thoughts.  For some of you, part of your “what if” includes a “why”.  Your unanswered “why” has become a weight of despair.  Because you belong to God you can hang on to what you already know; His truth and faithfulness to His promises, your anchor of hope.  Choose Christ and allow His Way to take care of your “whys”.  Then, there are you who only know darkness because you have never experienced a relationship with Jesus Christ, The Light of the world; your only hope out of darkness.  Hell is full of “what ifs”.  Don’t be one who is saying, “What if I had said, “Yes, Jesus.  I know I’m a sinner and Your blood covers it all.  Please forgive me of all my sin and come into my heart.  I receive You as my personal Savior and become forever Yours.”  It’s time to let go and let God.

Let God have your “what ifs” and “whys”.  Choose today to live as what’s His!