Fingerprints Of The Creator

The rogue raccoon is driving me nuts. He continues his nightly visits to the barn and eats all the barn cats’ food. Currently the dogs have him cornered under our house deck. They can’t get to him right now, but they are trying….because that is what raccoons do, and that is also what dogs do.

I hear people say, “If only we (humans) were more like animals. They are loving and loyal.” Well, with some animals that may be true in certain circumstances, but for the most part animals act on instinct and live by the rule of survival of the fittest. My dogs love me, but they will kill that raccoon if they can ever reach it. My cats can be sweet and purring, but become furry assassins when there is a mouse, bug, or small snake involved. Chickens can be cruel. When one gets injured they peck at her when she is down. There is no loyalty or friendship amongst fowl. I could go on and on.

Even in situations such as what is going on at my house this morning, God reminds me that I am loved. I am different than all His other creations. I am created in His image, and so are you. The image of the Almighty. Just take that in for a moment…..

²⁶ Then God said, “Let us (speaking to Jesus) make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

²⁷ So God created mankind in his own image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.

²⁸ God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Genesis 1

Or the beloved verses of Psalm 139

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand—
    when I awake, I am still with you.

You, my friend, have the fingerprints of the Creator, on your soul.

 

 

Father, You Are Good

I found a little treasure when I was out shopping yesterday. A tiny book entitled “Pocket Prayers” by Max Lucado. I was drawn to this book because I don’t know about you, but often times I feel stymied by what I think prayer is supposed to be. How do I really talk with my Creator? The One who knows me better than I know myself? I’ve been praying to Him since I was a child, but here I am nearly five decades later still wondering if I am missing something?

On page seven, Mr. Lucado compiled all the prayers of the Bible into one “pocket size” prayer.

“Father, you are good. I need help. Heal me and forgive me. They need help. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

So simple, but oh, yes! I can relate to these words. They are few, and yet so full of meaning.

Father,

You are good.…..A good, good Father. You are always good. You don’t know how to be anything but good and holy, and loving, and just. You are the ultimate truth and life.

I need help. Oh, how I need you. Not only do I need you for the hard and difficult things in life, but even those things I consider involuntary, like breathing, are under your control. You know my name. You know every hair on my head. You have already marked all my days in your book. When I call to you for help, you are always there.

Heal me and forgive me. I live in a world that is broken. Those of us on this spinning orb know what it is to feel pain, discontent, and regret. These feelings can weigh heavy on a heart that longs for forgiveness. Freedom from sickness and freedom from baggage, I was never meant to carry.

They need help. I’ve cried, because people I love are hurting. I’ve mourned their losses, I’ve held hands, and heard hearts. Sick beds, and sick souls. People that need help. It can seem overwhelming. Help them to find their peace in You.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for your love. Thank you for your presence. Thank you for your wisdom. Thank you for your creations. Thank you for your death and resurrection. Thank you for your grace. Thank you for life.

In Jesus’ name, amen. The name above all names. The One who is fully God and was also fully man. He who died, so I could live. Savior. Lamb. The Son. The Prince of Peace. Lord of lords. The Good Shepherd. Emmanuel.

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. James 1:17 

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. Romans 8:26-27

“I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me.” John 10:14 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Autism Awareness-A Call To Action!

 

As some of you know, that have been reading my blog for awhile, I am a special education teacher. I am also a consultant and advocate. It has been both an interesting and rewarding choice for my life’s work. A choice that I have never regretted. At times, it has been fascinating and encouraging, and other times frustrating and overwhelming….much like life itself. There are good days and well, the not so good days.

April is autism awareness month. Those of us who are immersed in the world of autism understand that awareness is not just one month out of the year, but an every day call to action. As time goes on, more and more people are being made aware of autism because they are personally being touched by it. They have a loved one with an autism spectrum diagnosis, or a friend’s child, or a classmate or the family that sits behind you in the pew at church. Even though the CDC just announced that so far this year the numbers of autism diagnoses are stable, but up to this point, the number of autism diagnoses has accelerated over the the past 25-30 years. In the late 1980’s autism was known about, but considered fairly rare. My college professors said that I, as a special education teacher, would probably have more students with Down Syndrome or intellectual disabilities or learning disabilities than a child with autism. At that time autism was about 1 in every 10,000 births. By 2000 it was 1:150. Then it was 1:88. Now it is 1:68.

The people in this epic battle with autism, don’t always agree on what causes autism. They might not agree on what are the best therapies. Whether or not a strict diet will help ease the physical pain that often accompanies those with autism. Individuals with high functioning autism have their own issues with which to contend. “Oh, he doesn’t look autistic. I think he will outgrow it. Just give him time.” (As if, there is a specific autism “look” and “giving him time” only delays the intervention that is desperately needed.) Sometimes supports are overlooked because he seems “so normal” accept for his quirkiness. It is a struggle.

The journey with autism is real for a lot of parents. All these children that have been diagnosed over the past quarter century are growing up. What do families do when their child with autism grows up? The supports for adults with autism are sorely lacking. As these children grow up and age out of the school system, there will be a tsunami of autism in the adult world, like nothing we’ve ever seen before. We, as a society, cannot abandon these individuals or their families. Burying our heads in the sand, will do nothing to solve the problem.

This is a call to action. Not just to wear a special color on a special day, but to stand up and advocate every day. To make a difference in the lives of these individuals……

Autism Stats:

*Prevalence of ASD is estimated at 1:68 births (CDC,2014)

*It is five times more prevalent in boys than in girls.

*There is no known cause or cure.

*No two persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are alike.

*Early intervention (EI) is key! Outcomes improve when diagnosis and intervention occur early.

(stats from: OCALI- Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence)

A previous, older post of mine,on autism….notice the difference in the stats from the mid 2000’s to now.

https://gibsongirl247.wordpress.com/2013/04/02/autism-is-not-a-dirty-word-2/