Linda Znachko

Are you to Young to Learn the ABC's?

 

While roaming around a bookstore looking for a book for my Bible Study group I picked up a book on prayer.  Every year I ask my gals what they want to study and prayer is a topic they always mention.   It never gets old.  It never seems exhausted in our discussion and it never is something we spend too much time doing.

 

I like to search for the unknown (in celebrity status) authors who explore the heart of God.  So, I hunted and hunted!  My hand suddenly picked up a book on prayer that referred to “Prayer as Praising God”, and I knew right away I had landed on a great option.   The second clue I had that the content was a goldmine was in the sub title of the book, “Live with Passion.”  Yes, I said to myself, that’s what I want, no that’s what I long for, passion.  I crave passion, I seek passion in others and I need passion in my prayer life!  Passion generates hope, and it creates a stirring in me to pass it along to others in my daily life.

 

So 7 years ago, I opened up the book by Debbie Williams, Pray with Purpose/Live with Passion, and I discovered a method of prayer that I have clung to daily.  It has been the most sustaining strategy for memorizing the attributes of God and for praying scripture back to God.  Praying has become more powerful every time I pray and God loves to reveal Himself through Himself!  I have experienced the Spirit hovering over me when I focus on Him rather than me.  When I stopped asking the “why” question and dwelled on the “Who,” my life was and continues to be transformed radically. 

 

My life circumstances have been dominated by turmoil and heartache for years.  I can say without reservation that my view of God has exploded since I have chosen to allow Him to grow out of the box I had stuffed Him into.  There is no containing Him and His magnificence.  He is now larger than the life that overwhelms me and that remedy has saved me from despair.   

 

This book, used as a tool to unlock my knowledge of God’s Names, has shown me that even though my circumstances haven’t changed, I have.  I have developed a prayer life that has grown well beyond the pages of this book and become apart of my DNA.  I have used this simple ABC method for memorizing and it has renewed my mind from dark to light, anxiety to peace, and fear to faith!

 

I have settled my minds focus on the truth of Jeremiah 32:27, “I am the Lord, the God of all, is there anything too hard for me?”  In that verse I can have hope, my heart can be at peace and I can live trusting His power to help me live above my circumstances. 

 

This Christmas season I want to be thinking of Jesus and not the stuff of this world.  I don’t know about you, but I need to have a tool to help me not get swallowed up by the retail flurry and the demands of obligatory holiday traditions.  I want to have Jesus fall afresh on me.  I want to gaze in wonder at Him in the manger.  I want to sing lullabies to Him as I worship His crown.  I want to know Him as a person and be amazed by the mystery that He traveled through the birth canal from Heaven so I could relate to Him in life.   He is my Savior.  He is my King.   He is my Everything.

 

Let’s journey together for 25 days and consider the many NAMES of Jesus.  Memorize them and pray through them as we approach Christmas.  Expand your understanding of what His NAME means so that when you think of His NAME, His attributes overflow in you and worship wells up in you in Praise.

100 Days as an Empty Nester…what I have learned

I have learned that the common empty nest statement, “You’re Done Now,” is a lie from the pit.  Moms are NEVER done, and I am purposefully using the word, NEVER.   There are too few books written on raising adult children and too many written about potty training, I mean really…at least that is something you are done with at some point.

 

When all of my children became school aged, and my daytime nest emptied, I was asked often, “What are you going to do with all of your free time?”  I still don’t have the answer to that question because when they went to school I was busier than when they were at home.  And I feel that same way now.  Now I am asked, if I am going back to work, “back,” did I ever not work?   Are you kidding me?    

 

I have learned that my nest isn’t actually empty at all.  My nest isn’t my house; it is my home.  And my home is my heart and it is full.  It doesn’t have walls, a floor, or a ceiling.  It cannot be contained and it knows no bounds.  My heart is ever growing and hurts frequently for my children, my family and my friends.   I have children that came from my inner sanctuary, I have birthed spiritual children and I have Safe Families children who grew out of my mother’s heart.  Their seeds have taken root in a deep place that is unique for them because each of them is a unique gift from God to me.  I have not shaped them as much as they have shaped me.   I have come face to face with my fears, judgments, and my pride because I have had the privilege of seeing the world through their pure eyes.  They have humbled me and made me a better person.  They have “trained me up in the way I should go,” with their unconditional love for me. I have received many more hugs that I have given and I have realized that I am sometimes not a very nice person.  They have taught me to laugh at myself and to not take myself so seriously.

 

My life is full of beautiful Image-Bearers that I “get” to spend time with only because of God’s grace.  Gracious, humble and broken people have trusted me to enter the sacred place of suffering with them and their courage has changed me.  I used to fear pain and brokenness, and when it licked me and I gave in I found I was known, and loved anyway.   My nest has many rooms, and many strangers have taken up residence in my heart of twigs.  My fragile nest has many complex dimensions and the shapes, colors and pieces form a puzzle of magnificent redemption.  I know God more deeply, intimately and powerfully because in my nest, full of radically fierce people, I have been loved well. 

 

My nest is under renovation on a regular basis and “The Architect” is gentle and free.  He is Trustworthy and is always on time.  His work is costly and the deconstruction painful, but oh, the result, is nothing I could have ever imagined.  I am still trying to learn to get out of His way  more everyday, so He can shine and use His finest skills without me dulling the finish of His reflection.  I have learned that there is no finer craftsman than He, and He is a power source in and of Himself, that needs no supply.   

 

I have learned that I am bound by time.  I need days and I need nights.  I love my full days and I am led by my calendar, but need not be in bondage to it.  My best days end when I have had a surprise turn that takes me out of my way, so that I could, “taste and see that He is good.”  I have learned that I love seasons and not just because I am a mid-western girl through and through.  I crave the beauty of seasonal change inside and out.  I have not dreaded this season of change in my nest.  I have welcomed this new opportunity to experience Jesus as I continue to worship Him in all missional life stages. 

 

I have learned that as a daughter of Eve, I am very good and very easily deceived.  I need to guard my heart from temptation and ingratitude.  This is a daily battle for me and my weapon against these threats are my Bible, my prayer guides, worship and lingering time spent with other daughters of Eve who are seeking His Presence for a sustainable LIFE of purpose.  Joy and rest are only found in my position as the daughter of The King.  I have learned that as royalty, I have free access to His heart at all times.  My Bible hero’s have taught me that when I lean into Jesus for strength, I will be brought to my knees for all the answers of LIFE.  I now see that when I open my hands to stop grasping and striving, I will have more to give because my hands will not be empty like my nest, but actually full of the reproductive heart of God for my LIFE. 

To: Brayden

 

 

 

By Ashley Brummett Reed

 

So how do you begin, when you can't even wrap your mind around the amount of time that's gone by? Today I celebrate the 13th year of my son's life. In short: pregnant at 18. Mom at 19. Married at 20. One month after, face losing my baby at 11 months old to bacterial meningitis. Never another pregnancy after 10yrs off and on of fertility. Grateful? That doesn't even begin to touch the amount of joy I feel for being chosen to be this boys mommy. He is kind, he is compassionate, he is caring, he is funny, he is wise and convicted, he is affectionate and chivalrous. I don't know what we did right, to be given the gift of this child. But I will never stop being grateful. I listen to stories and watch the news to hear stories of tragedy happening among this generation EVERYWHERE. I think about the place I was and the person I was at his age, and I only wish I could have had half the character he has at 13. Grateful? Yeah I'm grateful. But I'm also proud. And honored. And my heart could explode over the joy I feel to be the lucky one to be this boy's momma. And I will take credit for some things...cause I'm not easy on him at all and I expect a lot. But it's only because I know a kid that enters the world under his circumstances, almost loses his life before it's begun, is the the only "life-giving" opportunity I've been given as a mother...well I guess I just believe he's got a purpose. And a big one at that. I will take a small amount of credit...but he was raised by a family (a very blended and big one at that) that refuses anything but unconditional love. And I got to witness our big and weird family come around him this evening and love him well. No wonder he's the amazing kid that he is. He doesn't have a chance to be anything different. Here's my last 10 days of gratitude: my now 13 year old son, Brayden. The light in my life, the joy in my days, and the smile that bursts my heart to pieces. Don't get me wrong...I'm not totally delusional. He smarts off to me, he farts, he's a dirty and smelly teenage boy. But he's my only dirty and smelly teenage boy. And I couldn't love him any more. I am probably going to cry ten more times before I make it through this boys birthday. But it's all tears of joy and gratitude. Happy 13th birthday, Brayden Alexander Reed. My life changed forever when I knew you would be part of it. And I've never let a day go by that I haven't thanked God for that. You, my son, are my favorite blessing.

Nothin' but a Pile of Rocks….look again

 

 While walking on the beach I come across a pile of rocks, and I wondered, did a child form them there like that, or did they tumble into that formation by the swaying of the tide?  I continued to walk, then turned to look back to capture another glance.  My mind had wandered while I walked, and I was farther away than I realized, so I moved along.   It wasn’t too long before I spotted another grouping of beautiful rocks.  I lingered there, starring down at them.  The salty water foamed around the collection like a halo and then seeped away gracefully.  Sometimes the tide would wash over them and other times it would just barely kiss them.  The tide had a gentle rhythm that morning as it massaged soothing refreshment over the brown sugar colored sand.  When the water pulled away from the rocks it left a smile in the sand where it had imprinted it with its pleasure.

 

As I walked away, I was reminded of the pile of rocks we have in our garden at home.  The rocks in our garden were formed by careful placement, one at a time, over time. They sit in dirt and look unintentional in their placement, but each one tells a story of God’s goodness.  We established this Ebenezer years ago to help us remember the miracles we have seen.  The rocks form a pile of gratitude for the sole purpose of helping us remember.

 

In the Old Testament altars were created to remember and dwell on God’s goodness.  Each rock had a name for the captured memory.  They became a tribute to God’s faithfulness, His rescues, His miracles, His redemption, His salvation, His promises kept, and His healings. The miracles were memorialized to keep sweet the taste of God’s goodness.  Much like the salty sea which preserves, protects and purifies, Matthew 5:13 says, “that salt brings out the God flavors of the earth.” (The Message) 

 

God is the fount of every blessing and there is no better way to recognize that than to remember Him in everything.   The sacred Hymn, “Come thou Fount,” mentions the Ebenezer in the second stanza, “Here I raise my Ebenezer.” Ebenezer means “stone of help.”   When I am in need of a rescue I sometimes forget where to look for help, so having a visible reminder in front of me brings me back to the arms of my Savior in dependent surrender. God is the fount of every blessing and He deserves my praise and worship daily.  Looking in the mirror of testimony makes me swell with an attitude of gratitude for all He has done for me.  

 

The prophet Samuel set up a stone and “named it Ebenezer,” after the Lord helped Israel win a victory.  Israel often repented and sought God’s help when they were going to battle.  They needed to put away their false gods and pray.  The stone, Ebenezer, was a mark for victory for, “the Lord has helped us.”  (1Samuel 7:12) Then, whenever the Israelites would pass by the stone altar they would remember what they were capable of in the Lord’s strength, and how the Lord acted on their behalf.

 

It has been years since our family has placed a rock on the Ebenezer in our garden.  It is not because God hasn’t shown up in that long, because He has.  He actually has been more powerful, protective and present than ever before.  So, why not memorialize with an altar?  Well, I asked myself that question and before I could sink into guilt, God quickly gave me a picture of my current day altar.  It sits in my office in the cabinet on a shelf.  It is a pile of journals that are full of testimony to God’s faithfulness, goodness, rescues, love, joy, hopes and comfort.  Every one wrapped in His Word of promises which are saturated with salt and light from above.  My heart is poured onto every page with tears, worship and grief.  There is not a single journal that doesn’t have Heaven sprinkled on it from God’s loving kindnesses to me.  My journals are a tribute to His character in full over my life, because He doesn’t disappoint.  He fulfills, completes, overcomes and delivers with mercy and grace.  I know Him.  I have tasted and seen that He is good.  I remember, remember, remember, because remembering is my lifeline to His heart of victory. I stand at His altar amazed, with fresh belief that He’ll infuse me with Himself when I lean into Him for help.  That’s the miracle of Hope!

DIAMONDS IN THE GRASS

 

 It was a beautiful day to be flying home to Indianapolis from Savannah.  My ministry trip was full of extraordinary moments, meeting people, taping a TV show and getting to know a city from the vantage point of women who are offering a drink of Living Water to the voiceless.

 

I met with women who lead ministries whose mission statements use words like, abandoned, exploited, homeless, trafficked, abused, alone, addicted, and afraid to describe the women they care for and deeply love.  I was humbled to listen to the stories of sacrifice, heartache, and brokenness.  Not all the stories have happy endings, as a matter of fact, many of them don’t.  But, that’s not the point.  What we share in common as life-givers, is our choice to surrender the results to God. 

 

We encouraged one another to press on by loving the least of these, no matter how hard, dirty and ugly it may be.  Our joy in serving is in our obedience, intimacy with Jesus and awareness that we need to be transformed as much as anyone.   When we choose to step in the ditch to rescue someone, we meet our own humanity face to face.

 

The Name of Jesus is the only hope we have to offer a women who are devalued, lost and scared.  I have found that no amount of money, food or shelter change someone’s perspective.  It may change their circumstances for a while, but it doesn’t change them.  Only Jesus can do that.  Hope is what picks them up.  Love is what builds trust.  Grace is what wipes away shame.  Mercy is what lifts a broken spirit.  Faith is the ONLY weapon against fear.

 

On the decent into the city of Indianapolis, the clear day afforded me the opportunity to clearly see the city from a pristine blue sky.  I saw all the familiar landmarks and enjoyed how they were illuminated by the bright sunshine.  The buildings were standing in radiance as light reflected off their faces.  Everything looked familiar to me since I have lived here 30 years and flown in and out many times over all the years.

 

Looking down I noticed a large area of green grass come into view.  It was a welcomed sight amongst all the cement and metal.  I realized it was Crown Hill Cemetery.  The headstones were placed with dignity in uniform order.  It wasn’t until the aircraft was directly above the cemetery that I saw the amazing treasure. The ground lit up and sparkled as if someone was throwing diamonds from the airplane.  The reflection danced from as far as I could see.  The granite headstones were calling up to me in all their natural beauty as if to say, "here I am."

 

 “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.”  Ps 116:15

 

I often say that perspective is everything and I recognize that my vantage point impacts how I perceive something.  The closer I am to something the more detail I see, and the further away I am, the more the big picture inspires me.  I have ordered many headstones for families who have tragically lost a loved one.  I choose to walk with them in the messy “day to day” experience as they grieve.  

 

That day flying over Crown Hill Cemetery I was given the gift of a view from Heaven's window.  I wondered how God must feel when He looks down and sees His beloved resting in peace and sparkling up at Him.  His children were reflecting His image back to Him, sending up a signal of beauty and eternal life.        

 

“ It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel.”  Rev. 21:11

Do you know a Grieving Child??

 

Children and adults grieve differently, but some adults are surprised to see just how different a child’s grief looks. While adults are somber and may need to cry or talk, children often need to release physical energy by running or screaming or punching a pillow. While adults may have difficulty stopping the intense feelings of grief, children may be just the opposite. Children mourn in what has been called “grief bursts,” where they express intense emotion - - sobbing, screaming or hitting - - and 10 minutes later they are laughing and playing with friends.

Adults often mistake children’s laughter and play after a loss for not caring or feeling, or worse, for not having loved the person who died. This simply isn’t true. Children “dose” their feelings of grief, letting in only what they can handle, a little at a time, until the complete reality seeps in. This process, in the best of circumstances, can take three or four years and persist through several developmental stages. Be patient and non-judgmental with one another after a loss.  There is no “right” way to express grief.  There are common emotions children and adults experience while grieving; the important thing to remember is that grief is personal, necessary and powerful.

Grief counseling may be appropriate for children and is often available through hospitals. Schools generally offer resources for families if they are seeking direction for healing.  Understanding a child's need to grieve is vital to their emotional development and will serve them well for the rest of their lives.  Help a child today!

Words that Heal by Trish Southard

http://trishsouthard.com/2013/08/21/words-that-heal-part-6/#comment-654

Grace given is Grace received!

Little did I know that a day trip to Racine, 10 hours round trip, would feel like I traveled to a distant far off land.  I struggled with the language and culture of a people I did not know.

ONLY by the grace of God, being carried by prayers, did I have peace and blessing upon blessing.  Cindy and I choose a headstone together and she shared openly with me about her child. How could a girl at 14 years old choose to keep her baby after being abused and raped by a 25 year old man?  She said, "I just loved my baby from the start."   Her simple answer was profound.   It later became the springboard for my telling her about how Jesus just loved her "from the start."  She has had so many broken relationships and a shattered childhood that would turned my stomach and yet under her tough exterior I saw a sweet girl.  She brought her friend Dustin with her because I think she was as afraid of me, she doesn't know how to trust anyone. 

Our lunch conversation was an open door to the gospel.  They were open and full of questions and they have people in their lives who have taken them to church at one time or another and talked about concepts that didn't make sense to them.  It is always interesting for me to observe people when laying the foundation for the gospel to see what it is that God is going to use  to"hook" them with from His truth.  Cindy could not contain herself when I shared that Jesus was not a religion, He wasn't a list of rules, He is a relationship.  She nearly jumped out of her chair and said, THAT"S what I want, a relationship!  

Of course she does.   

Dustin on the other hand didn't understand the value of the extravagant grace from Jesus.  How could he?  His aunt says she and her boyfriend like to have sex, so she just repents everyday because she knows it's wrong.  Dustin and I had an interesting conversation about cheap grace! 

I told Dustin and Cindy that God loved them so much that He asked me to drive all the way from Indy to tell them He loved them.  I also explained that after purchasing the headstone and taking them to lunch that for me to leave and not tell them about Jesus would be a crisis in my soul because He is what they need more than anything. He is who they need more than anything.  Two wandering teenagers left directionless and now pregnant again, yes, Cindy is 8 weeks along (she would not tell me who the father was in front of Dustin) no jobs, not GED's....nothing else I had could do anything for them.  How humbling!  Only Jesus can reside in them to heal them from the inside out.  

I experienced the JOY of my salvation afresh.  I realized how I have cheapened Grace by taking for granted my "relationship" with Jesus.  I say it all the time, but do I really thank Him for it?  I think because my life is rich with relationship I just kind of add Jesus to the pile of friends I have.  I am deeply grateful that I left with a huge gift yesterday too.  Grace given is grace received.  

I drove all the way to Racine yesterday, so I could have a deep healing too.  I am so grateful for each of you and your faithfulness to me.  And I am so grateful for the Holy Spirit's seed inside of me.  His presence in me has new meaning today.  He isn't like putting on an old shoe.  He is a radiant treasure and His mercies are new every morning.

So...sitting in my car in the parking lot of Olive Garden, Cindy and Dustin prayed a prayer of faith and asked the Holy Spirit to fill them with His presence. Dustin asked if he was "born again now" and I said, Oh yes, you are!

Baby Marianna is marked by GRACE and not shame

This story was brought to my attention last night after I had come home the cemetery.  I had just seen the newly laid headstone for Baby Moses  and dedicated it to the Lord.

This morning, I made a few calls to ensure this young mother would have her heart's desire granted for her daughter's NAME.  God opened doors for me to assist theRacine Sheriff's office in their mission to make sure this final burial element was accomolished.  How sweet it is that a government official had a tender heart for this young mom.  Amazing Grace for a violated teenager to be gifted mercy in her pain.  Healing can come when a life is honored and given dignity.  No matter how the child was conceieved, life was given by the Creator and I call this child worthy, both children.

It is my prayer that this precious child of God who became a mother at such a young age in such a violated way can feel loved, affirmed and  healed with the embrace of community around her.  God loves her and her daughter, He has wrapped them both in His identity of being daughter's of a KING.  May those 2 princesses be lifted up by those of us who extend the love of their Savior.

 

http://fox6now.com/2013/06/11/racine-co-sheriffs-office-seeks-donations-for-dead-babys-headstone/

RACINE (WITI) — The Racine County Sheriff’s Office is seeking donations on behalf of a baby named Marianna that was born prematurely and died shortly after birth. The child was buried but does not have a headstone — and there’s more to this story.

In 2011, Racine officials investigated the sexual assault of a 14-year-old female. The victim was violently beaten and raped by her then boyfriend. As a result of the sexual assault, the victim became pregnant; the child was born prematurely and consequently passed away shortly after birth.  The then boyfriend was charged, pleads guilty and was recently sentenced to prison.

The baby girl named Marianna was buried at Calvary Cemetery on Kinzie Ave. in Racine. At the time of Marianna’s death, the victim did not have the financial means to provide a headstone or proper burial marker for baby Marianna.

So now, the Racine County Sheriff’s Office is trying to raise money on behalf of baby Marianna and the victim. All donations and proceeds will go directly to the victim and in memory of baby Marianna.

Those interested in donating can make contributions through Educators Credit Union to the Racine County Sheriff — Baby Marianna Memorial Fund.

Day 2
Isaiah 12:2 "The Lord is my strength and my song"
Jesus Calling says, "Do not let fear dissipate your energy. Instead, invest your energy in trusting Me and singing My song."
Fear is a killer of HOPE. It zaps the life out of me as it creeps into my thoughts with its discouraging lies. I will sing a song of JOY because I have personal testimony to Power from being in my Savior's presence.
Ps 73:28 "But as for me it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds."