Carol
Between a Rock and a Far Place
4 Comments
Monthly Archives: June 2008
Long As I Live
Soft breeze of
Whispered words
“I do.”
“I do.”
Hand in hand
Shiny bands
and a wink
that says forever.
-Carol Hatcher
Eleven years ago today this was printed on the back of my wedding program. Eleven years ago today I was primping and preparing to marry my high school sweetheart. After dating six years, I was ready! It was a perfect day. The weather was just right. The wedding was set for 6:45 p.m. but didn’t start until almost 7 p.m. because there were guests on the sidewalk lined up still waiting to get in. Our small church was packed with about 400 of our closest friends and family.
Eleven years ago today my brother attended my wedding in a wheelchair, shoeless. He was hit in a head-on collision two weeks prior. He was in the wedding in a tux, white-faced, and in pain. I didn’t care that he didn’t wear shoes, and I certainly didn’t care that a wheelchair was in my wedding pictures. We were blessed to have him there.
Eleven years ago today my dreams came true. I married the man God chose for me. My best friend. One who loves me for who I am and makes me laugh ’till my sides hurt. One who is the calming factor to my wild. One who is the peanut butter to my jelly. I really am living the happily ever after.
One of the songs in our wedding was John Michael Montgomery’s Long As I Live. I love the lyrics, and I still mean them today, eleven years later. Happy anniversary, Alan. I love you!
LONG AS I LIVE
The world’s been spinning ’round since time began
An’ when it stops, it’s out of my hands
So I could swear forever for all it’s worth
Or give you every day I have on Earth
An’ when it stops, it’s out of my hands
So I could swear forever for all it’s worth
Or give you every day I have on Earth
Long as I live
Long as I breathe
With every heartbeat
I’ll need you near me
I won’t leave you behind
‘Til the Lord says it’s time to go with him
I’m yours long as I live
No matter if there’s mountains you can’t move
Or harder times then you thought you’d go through
And the weight of your world’s too much to bear
Just remember I’ll always be there
Long as I live
Long as I breathe
With every heartbeat
I’ll need you near me
I won’t leave you behind
‘Til the Lord says it’s time to go with him
I’m yours long as I live
The moon and stars aren’t mine to give
Neither is eternity
But I’ll give you a promise tonight
That I can keep
Long as I live
Long as I breathe
With every heartbeat
I’ll need you near me
I won’t leave you behind
‘Til the Lord says it’s time to go with him
I’m yours long as I live
I’m yours long as I live
Carol
Catch Me!
Though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. Psalm 37:24 NIV
“Spencer! Spencer!” Amy called around the house looking for her son. Hearing stumbling from above, she walked to the stairs. On the top stair was Spencer – seizing. In distress, he had been searching for his mother. He knew she would help him through this storm. Like a dance they rehearsed, each knew their parts – neither chose them. His head drawn, voice gone, and arm jerking; he tried to take a step. And fell. Into the arms of his mother. She guided him to a safe spot and sat beside him. Together they waited for it to be over.
Tuesday, I spent the day in the hospital emergency room with Spencer and Amy. As I listened to my friend recount the story, I was struck by the mental image of the falling and catching. I couldn’t help but think of how similar that is to our relationship with Christ. When we are in trouble and stumble, He hears us. Sometimes, like Spencer, our voice is gone; we haven’t the strength to call. But in our hearts we cry out, “Help me.” Hoping, wishing desperately that miraculously He will hear us, and He will come. And then He does.
So when you are falling helplessly back reaching anxiously for something, anything, He is there. He catches us and guides us to a safe spot. Christ lovingly sits beside us and waits for it to be over. He didn’t stop the storm, but like the devoted mother of a child with epilepsy, He sits and waits with us for it to pass.
Are you in distress? Do you have a fear of falling or maybe failing? God will catch you. Just lean into His arms and trust. He will bring you through.
Please pray for my friend Amy and her son Spencer as the doctors work to get his medications adjusted to prevent more seizures. You can read more of Amy’s story HERE and HERE.
Carol
Keep On Movin’
She Speaks is still speaking in my head, so I thought I’d share some thoughts with you. Lysa spoke Friday night on “Developing the Character to Match My Calling.” It was incredible. Let me share with you one of the insights that really moved me.
In 1 Samuel, we find the story of David. God advises Samuel to find a new king. He tells Samuel to seek him among Jesse’s sons. Samuel goes to visit Jesse and asks to see all of his boys. One by one, each of them are turned down by God. ”Nope, not that one. Next!” When all of the sons have been turned down, Samuel asks if Jesse has another. ”Yeah, just the little one, David. I doubt he is the one. He’s in the fields with the sheep.” You can imagine Jesse must have said something similar. Think about it. If he really believed David had a chance, wouldn’t he have called him in to begin with? But Samuel insists on seeing him. As soon as David arrives, God informs Samuel to rise and anoint him as king.
So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power. 1 Samuel 16:13 NIV
After his anointing, do you think David slips into his new royal robes and dashes off to the palace? Nope, think again. Many years pass before David actually takes the throne. So what does he do after his anointment that day? He returned to the fields to tend his sheep.
When I knew the Lord had called me to write, I was almost positive I need to call Zondervan and Thomas Nelson Publishers and let them know I was ready. God called me and I was ready to publish those best-sellers they were waiting on. Did I? No. Instead, I called my husband to tell him I was ready to sell the children to a band of traveling gypsies.
Did my life change when God called me? Yes. But, I did the laundry anyway. David returned to his fields to his sheep, and I returned to mine.
I loved this statement Lysa made Friday. ”The tasks of everyday life are not keeping you from your ministry, they are preparing you for your ministry.” So if Thomas Nelson needs his pants laundered or his shirts taken to the cleaners. If he needs a book published on the “10 Ways to Get After Dinner Crumbs Off of the Floor,” then I’m his girl.
But seriously, if David can hang out in the fields for a while and then go on to be one of the greatest kings in history, then I can, too. Gotta go. I need to tend to my sheep!
My new motto is going to be “Keep on Movin.” Check out this inspiring video.
Carol
Keep On Movin’
She Speaks is still speaking in my head, so I thought I’d share some thoughts with you. Lysa spoke Friday night on “Developing the Character to Match My Calling.” It was incredible. Let me share with you one of the insights that really moved me.
In 1 Samuel, we find the story of David. God advises Samuel to find a new king. He tells Samuel to seek him among Jesse’s sons. Samuel goes to visit Jesse and asks to see all of his boys. One by one, each of them are turned down by God. ”Nope, not that one. Next!” When all of the sons have been turned down, Samuel asks if Jesse has another. ”Yeah, just the little one, David. I doubt he is the one. He’s in the fields with the sheep.” You can imagine Jesse must have said something similar. Think about it. If he really believed David had a chance, wouldn’t he have called him in to begin with? But Samuel insists on seeing him. As soon as David arrives, God informs Samuel to rise and anoint him as king.
So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power. 1 Samuel 16:13 NIV
After his anointing, do you think David slips into his new royal robes and dashes off to the palace? Nope, think again. Many years pass before David actually takes the throne. So what does he do after his anointment that day? He returned to the fields to tend his sheep.
When I knew the Lord had called me to write, I was almost positive I need to call Zondervan and Thomas Nelson Publishers and let them know I was ready. God called me and I was ready to publish those best-sellers they were waiting on. Did I? No. Instead, I called my husband to tell him I was ready to sell the children to a band of traveling gypsies.
Did my life change when God called me? Yes. But, I did the laundry anyway. David returned to his fields to his sheep, and I returned to mine.
I loved this statement Lysa made Friday. ”The tasks of everyday life are not keeping you from your ministry, they are preparing you for your ministry.” So if Thomas Nelson needs his pants laundered or his shirts taken to the cleaners. If he needs a book published on the “10 Ways to Get After Dinner Crumbs Off of the Floor,” then I’m his girl.
But seriously, if David can hang out in the fields for a while and then go on to be one of the greatest kings in history, then I can, too. Gotta go. I need to tend to my sheep!
My new motto is going to be “Keep on Movin.” Check out this inspiring video.
Carol