God IS.

Last night our beloved 4 lb Chihuahua came up to us and within mere minutes she transformed from the bundle of love that we knew into an unresponsive and dying dog. She was only eight, but an exploding tumor or aneurysm took her from us suddenly. Having no children, it is a loss that I feel acutely, especially in this time of pandemic and isolation. Amid a torrent of support, love, and prayers from friends and family a particular conversation stood out to me.

A friend of mine has recently felt loss even more acutely, and on more than one level. This person is someone that since making a commitment to the Lord many years ago has lived and breathed in a state of worship. This person has been a stellar example and has challenged me to live consciously for the Lord more times than I can count. Seeing the level of suffering and pain that 2020 has brought into their life, I was particularly touched last evening when I received a message reaching out to encourage me. One part of the message stated, “Have to remind ourselves constantly that God is good!!” Sometimes, God doesn’t feel like he is good. Sometimes all circumstantial evidence seems to portray a very different verdict. I felt the mental dissonance of declaring God’s goodness in horrible circumstances sharply. 

In Exodus, God tells Moses, “I AM who I AM […] I AM has sent you.” (Holy Bible, Exodus 3:14.) This message was to be proclaimed to a race of slaves existing in bondage and being promised freedom. God didn’t promise them that there would be no hunger, he didn’t promise that Pharaoh wouldn’t pursue them, he didn’t promise there would be hardship or death. He simply said that I AM had sent someone to set them free.

When Job was suffering beyond belief and questioning God, God finally responded to him, “Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!”  God asks a series of rhetorical questions that span over the chapters of Job 38-40 including: Will you discredit my justice? Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn it’s place? Have the gates of death been shown to you? And where does darkness reside?

It is easy in the midst of pain to declare and question the Almighty. It is just as easy sometimes to proclaim and repeat over our lives that God is good in spite of the way we feel or the questions that we have in our circumstances. Over the years I’ve found a response that works for me. One that I believe is mindful, true to my heart, honest, and most reflective of the reality I see in that moment (being the finicky, narrow-sighted human that I am). That response is to tell myself to remember that God IS. He simply IS. 

No matter how I feel, the fact remains he is Almighty God and I am but a drop in the sea. No matter how unjustly I see things happening around me, that fact doesn’t change. If I should choose to throw a book off my roof, the law of gravity God established would cause that book to fall. God himself wouldn’t reach down from heaven and slap that book onto the ground. No, he established laws and free will on earth and he himself follows and respects his own rules. Does this mean that God is helpless to the chaos and events that take place on earth? Certainly  not, but it does mean he is a gentleman and might even await our invitation for involvement through prayer and petition. He promises to work all things together for the good of those that love him. He doesn’t promise to prevent all bad things from happening. 

Reminding myself in hard times that God IS, has been a simple way for me to turn my heart back to worship. Regardless of anything that happens to me, around me, or to those I love, God is still God and he is worthy of my worship. Even if I believe there is injustice and feel that God should have handled something differently, he is still God. Nothing can change that fact. It is a message that God has put before his people again and again through the bible’s old testament in all manner of circumstances and situations: Who will you worship? 

“As for me and my house, we will worship the Lord.” (Holy Bible, Joshua 24:15.)

Book Review: How the Penguins Saved Veronica by Hazel Prior

A heartwarming story about a woman nearing the end of her life, seeking purpose as well as legacy. Veronica finds herself in Antarctica with a friend, one of her first in fact, a grandson she only recently learned existed, and a penguin pet. From a prickly exterior that even readers feel adverse towards, Veronica transforms herself and those around her during her fabulous adventure of a lifetime. While not in the young adult genre, this fictional piece is appropriate for all ages and guaranteed to leave readers with a kind appreciation of life and delicate approach to aging.

Book Review: Hyper Focus by Chris Bailey

Bailey does a great job of sticking to the point. While the book’s title leads one to believe there is one topic to this book, there is actually two. Bailey discusses the tools to maintaining productivity and balance in life and introduces to us hyper-focus and scatter-focus. He provides a lot of scientific data to back up these theories while he explains the perpetual state of over-stimulation we live in today due to technology and distractions. Learn how your mind processes distractions, the ways in which letting your mind wander will benefit you creatively and productively. Don’t worry, he maintains focus and keeps it brief!

Book Review: Where the Lost Wander by Amy Harmon

Follow Naomi and her family on their journey west via covered wagon and the Oregon trail. A theme that maintains constant throughout this book is: Open your eyes. Naomi falls in love and finds herself a widow at only 20 years old. Will she find love again? Will she make it out west in spite of the perils and dangers of the trail? The prologue of this book will leave you thirsty for more and most readers either love or hate it. This historical fiction was gleaned from real journals and research by Harmon and is a heartwarming yet insightful read.

Book Review: Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern

Minus the cursing and a few awkward sexual references, this was an outstanding and quick read that will have the most conservative of us struggling to keep our laughter inside. The ridiculous side of me wanted to remember and capture all of the hilarious responses of Halpern’s father, recognizing that the generation and their peculiar outlook is a fading gem in time. Comparable only to Hillbilly Elegy, this is a surefire way to lift your spirits and enjoy a quite Sunday afternoon.

Book Review: How Fires End by Marco Rafala

Thankful this book was a gift as it is not a book I would dream of choosing for myself. Taking place in Italy, this book is an illustrative example of how feuds can be passed down through generations, across continents, and almost always cause needless pain and suffering. This book also provided an objective look at the way religious beliefs, beliefs in a Saint specifically, can lead to extreme behavioral dissonance. I am thankful that I read this book because the characters stick with me still and the insightful revelation of social psychological patterns are exquisite in this book.

Book Review: Attachment Theory by Thais Gibson

In spite of all the focus on love languages, I highly recommend this book as a more relevant guide or at least dual companion in regards to relationships. Understanding the ways in which those around us attach, the pain that may linger from past pain in attachment, and the best way to accomodate in relationships is a critical component. Gibson does a wonderful job of explaining in a very straightforward way how different attachment styles act, react, and interact. Complete with a self-test and clues to understand a partner, friend or loved one’s style allows for a well-guided tool applicable to now. Beyond understanding the attachment styles of others, learning our own needs brings awareness and resolution to many of the conflicting scenarios we find ourselves in.

Book Review: Burnout to Breakthrough

This book seemed to come a bit too late for my own life, but one that is insightful and powerful. The self-reflection and encouragement in this book is empowering for even the most burnt out caretaker or career person. Laden with enjoyable and memorable quotes and jingles, McDargh allows us to slow down and appreciate that there is more to life than whatever it is keeping us busy. Taking action backed by science, McDargh recommends a clear redistribution of energy to the places we need it – steering clear of the term balance. Overall, I felt this book lacked a clear formula for breakthrough. It seemed to be without a clear strategy and focused each reader on reflection instead. Emphasizing coming up with a personal plan that works for each individual, this book is not a quick fix for those already in a hypervigilant state of crisis due to burnout.

It is finally here, Crutchprints in the Sand’s Chest of Timeless Treasures!

It is finally here, Crutchprints in the Sand’s Chest of Timeless Treasures! A wonderful paperback book with articles, full color photos, and more is available for purchase on Amazon. Click here to buy yours today!

This collection of timeless treasures encapsulates the love, laughter, faith, and hardships of life as a disabled woman. An amputee since the age of four, Ashly tells story after story of her adventures and adaptations to life through individual articles. Inspiring, hilarious, and stirring, this treasure chest will enrich the life of the reader in unexpected ways. Her gift for storytelling and relaying messages of hope and heart are reflected in each chapter.Ashly survived osteosarcoma cancer at the age of four and remains a high-level amputee of her right leg. Over the years, Ashly learned the way humor armed herself to accomplish the impossible tasks of life, while disarming those around her that are uncomfortable with a disability. Using that humor and faith as a bridge of connectivity, Ashly inspires everyone she meets with her positivism, humor, and kindness. This treasure chest is broken into four sections: Articles from Ashly’s unique journey, Humorous stories, Poetry, and Relational articles highlighting connectivity. Each section includes stories unique to the perspective of living with limitations. while managing to ‘dream despite disability’ as her website states. Ashly P. Ash lives in rural Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. A cancer survivor and an amputee, Ashly is the face behind Crutchprints in the Sand, a blog for humor and inspirational posts. Ashly works to bring awareness and advocacy to and for the differently abled through social platforms, speaking engagements, and writing.

*Due to the high cost of publishing, there is also a Kindle version available free to those that are a part of the Kindle Unlimited plan, and a lower cost e-book offered as well. Regardless of how you do it, take the time to enjoy this collection.

Book Review: The Herd by Andrea Bartz

When one of their best friends goes missing her friends are left picking up the pieces of her business and life, while trying to understand where their powerful and beautiful friend has gone. This mystery keeps the audience guessing the whole way through, and an ending that brings surprise if not complete shock. There is something in this for every woman: friendships, love, female leads, murder, and sisterhood. This was part of the April 2020 Once Upon a Book Club box containing corresponding gifts with the characters and theme in the book. Most ends were tied, readers are pleasantly satisfied, and this novel was a safe bet for the author. If you like chick flicks, mysteries, and girlfriends this is the book for you!