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Stubborn Faith

5/18/2021

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During one of my quiet times recently, I came across a phrase that made me stop in my tracks. I kept repeating the phrase, as somehow it resonated that it was actually a description of me. What might that phrase be?  Stubborn Faith. (Ok, don’t seem so surprised for those who know me!)

I have just walked through another battle where I had to draw upon every bit of the stubborn faith Thomas Champness describes as the faith that will keep moving ahead and let God fulfill His promise when HE sees fit.  As I have shared many times before, with my medical challenges, I never know ‘who’ or ‘what’ I will awaken to each morning. This last time wasn’t just a morning – it was weeks.

I wasn’t aware how serious the battle I was fighting was at the time. I just knew it went day, after day, after day. I was only out of bed for fifteen minutes at a time, but that’s when I did my daily devotional reading and thinking.

I already knew that God sometimes allows us to be on our backs so we will be on our backs, looking upward to Him. Yet, it was during these times I saw that God provides resting p laces as well as “working” places, and this time was a time to REST and to be THANKFUL as He brought me, tired, weary and worn to streams along the way. (No more snow! We can see the river again!)

And just as was beginning to get a bit of ‘oomph’ back, I was told it will take months to recover, as I lost all the buffer I had been building the last 3 years. At first I was discouraged. Then I looked back to the gazillions of miracles and blessings that had been poured over me. And the pressure of difficult times (Care-difficult=lay low/do little!) have brought so much value into my life.
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So – how about it: want to join me in having some “stubborn faith?
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CAN IT BE ?!

4/16/2021

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As many Alaskans, the last few winters (by record keeping standards) have been pretty mild. For the most part, so was this winter. Oh, we got 100+mph winds - nearby they had gusts to 170+ mph with 150 gusts all night. EEK!  Sure, we got snow. Actually, we received a relatively decent amount of snow – a couple of big dumps of 6” or more, but hey – it’s Alaska, right?  It just hasn’t gone anywhere or melted since October.  It just kept adding up, and stayed cold until this week.
 
This year, we broke records for having 3 consecutive months below the freezing mark – with a couple nights of minus 20 or more. We were delighted when we finally hit single digits: t-shirt weather! At last! Even last week we awoke to minus 6 degrees F. 
 
Bill made a comment yesterday that while we didn’t get record ‘amounts’ of snow, our snow plow berms are the highest they’ve been in the nineteen years we’ve lived here.  Alas, all good things must come to an end. We will be in the mid-fifties, possibly sixties by next week – our ‘summer’ type weather. I usually get my best tan in April and May, so I was getting a worried we would have a never-ending winter!
 
At the height of my frustration, watching more snowflakes fall last week, I was reminded of several verses:
              Run as in the way that you are running for the prize. : 1Corinthians 9:24 (NIV)   and      We had hoped. Luke 24:21 (NIV)
Run – with a purpose and perseverance, never giving up or in.
Hope – Everlasting and in all things.
 
Two days ago , temps still in the 30’s, I took a nap.  When I woke up, Bill said –“look outside your  Refuge (my office).”  He had lovingly shoveled FEET of snow off the small deck directly outside my office. The snow had been to the door handle high.  AND he had set out my favorite lounger and lawn chair. Love doesn’t get more tangible than that!
 
As I type from the deck, you are enjoying a photo of the last of winter and and we HOPE, spring.  All is well. Tim was accepted into a Construction Union program that will last 3-4 years, Bill, with a little help from me, has been getting next year’s wood supply in – we’re about 2/3 done. I am on the 1-3 monthly “on hold”/wait medical roller coaster, still fighting the 4 active cancers – I get a lull in the scans, tests, etc. YAY!!

The book, which we pulled from traditional publishing, is now waiting for local printing bids to come in. It certainly isn’t how I thought it would go, but I’m in no hurry (read Habakkuk 2:1-3) it fits me to a “T.” God’s in no hurry!

We had a delightful time with Scott and Samantha their first sleep-over at our place. Soon we will start some garden seeds inside, but with so much snow, it depends on ‘when’ we can actually put things outside. Can’t wait to see what Bill new culinary delight he will come up with this year – Jeff and the kids got him an awesome Ninja that does everything, and it is being daily loved!
 
Blessings and s’mores! Let us know how you are!


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Where is Your Mindset?

1/29/2021

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​                            
Lately, with economic, medical, political and spiritual upheaval, in my set-aside nightly time of being silent and listening, a thought floated through. None of this is upheaval is new – it is just new in a different way than we have experienced.
 
Our parents, grandparents, even back to Biblical times there were wars waged. Food, jobs and even clothing was scarce. Locusts and dust storms destroyed crops. People got sick from a variety of plagues and medical challenges, even pandemics.  Do we read or did we hear them complain?
 
Well, as a matter of fact we did. Think of the biblical passages telling of the grumbling of lack of food/manna and the grit and grime of sand. Maybe you read about the outcomes of the Spanish Flu of 1918 where 1/3 of the world’s population was infected.  I’ve heard stories from elders in my family who shared stories of people with the “grumpies.” during the 1929 stock market crash and Great Depression  into the 1930’s.  Just this week I have heard more than my share of people sporting ‘badattitudes’ complaining about how the world stands today.
 
Laying quietly, still listening, even with everything swirling about, I had a peace that filled every crevice of my being. PEACE. A peace no mortal person could ever give me. Then I drifted off to sleep. (Hey – I can only be silent and listen for so long! Being a geezer is tiring at times!)
 
The next morning, getting comfy with my coffee and settled in my recliner for my “well-filling-time,” I read Psalm 46:5a: “God is in the midst of her – she will not be moved.” The verse was followed by words that Hannah Whithall Smith penned: “Is it possible for us who are so easily moved by earthly things to come to a point where nothing can upset or disturb our peace? The answer is yes.” (Streams in the Desert)  
 
 Was the peace that I was encountering a result of intentionally choosing to believe God and His Word (not just “in” Him) and am standing firm in Who and what I believe? The answer is YES!
 
What about you?
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what's your 'tude gonna be?

1/19/2021

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​Never Give Up
 
For those of you who know me, you know that I can be tenacious at times – or is that “stubborn”?
 
Whichever way you choose to look at how I’ve the walk I’ve walked, faced the challenges we’ve faced, I want you to know that the ONLY way I can make it is by remembering:
 
  1. Each new day is a gift. A present. In the present.
  2. Each and every day we will face situations that we may not feel prepared for, nor remembering to ask for the task at hand.
  3. Each new day, we have a choice on what kind of “tude” we will sport – a bad-attude, a glad-atiude, a sad-attude. Whatever ‘”tude” you choose, will be what you show the world around you – your family, friends, colleagues, employers, but most importantly, God himself.
We may try to rationalize that our prayers aren’t heard, that God isn’t listening. For if God did hear, He would have answered.  
 
What I have learned is, I may not have answers to the many prayers I’ve prayed, but God holds the “timer” and answer, and it isn’t the time for that prayer to be answered. But is does not give us an excuse not to pray.
 
2021 looks to be an interesting one. No one person’s difficulties or prayers are more urgent or important than another’s. As we heard so many times in 2020: “We’re all in this together.” So join me, will you, as we pray our way, praise our way, and worship our way through the year – no matter what daily life battle we find ourselves in. Let’s celebrate our differences, agree to disagree if need be, but don’t let it rob you of the blessing of friends and friendships.
 
Look at the palm of your hand. What and where will your influence take you. And if you aren’t sure? God’s communication line is open 24/7, and you will never get a busy signal, nor put on hold. 
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Yes or no?

1/6/2021

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                     After the final NO,  there comes a YES.  
                   It is on that YES the future of this world depends.
                                                      So:
  • When you hear the final “NO”, will you be open and STILL enough to hear the “YES”?
  • Will you believe in yourself enough to KNOW that YOU are part of what today’s world depends upon?
  • Are you willing to block out all the naysayers, and boldly step out and do your part, willing to put yourself out there, confidently KNOWING your ‘assignment’ even if others are NOT confident in your calling/assignment?
  •  KNOW your YES, and DO it...No matter what the cost. 
  •  Because you have already counted the cost,  KNOW that because your YES ­is THE "YES", it will be provided for  – pressed down, over-flowing, above and beyond what your wildest imaginations  could ever think was possible?
  •  I believe, because of the incredible person I KNOW you to be, that your answers will be your YES. Why? Because the direction and the future of where this world is going depends on your YES, even if others say the final is NO. Why?
  • Because YOU are UNSTOPPABLE.


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Seven Letters

12/5/2020

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​For those who know me or have followed my blog, you may recall that for the last 50 years (yes, FIFTY!) that I have asked God, towards the end of the year, to give me a word/short phrase to focus on for the coming year.
 
Over the decades some words were clear. Other years the word seemed innocuous – only to discover by year’s end that God really WAS in control and the word(s) He had given me were the exact ones I needed to hang onto just to make it through.
 
Recent words have been were LEAN IN, Trust, Fear Not and Gratitude.  One year, God asked me to stay DAILY in Jeremiah 31 – boy was that an adventurous year! 2020’s year’s word was WARRIOR. If I know NOW what the word warrior would literally and figuratively come to mean I just may have (being honest here) I would have told the Lord: “No thanks!”  But I know that doesn’t work with God – it usually just gets me deeper in the muck when I say “no.” Just sayin’.
 
Recently, I had my morning mug of  VIA Italian Roast coffee with Vanilla Caramel and Peppermint Mocha creamer in one hand (lovingly made by my hubby who despises coffee – even the smell, ) my journal in my lap, and my Bible open on the recliner arm.  I was  snuggled in my blanket that has the pattern of shelves of books on it. A perfect calm had settled over me as I sat in my new “Refuge” – my remodeled office.  Only in the span of Eternity could the paint color I chose for the walls have the name “Refuge” – Godincidence right?
 
I continued to warm myself, basking in His Word. I occasionally looked outside at the snowy landscape. The sun was rising slowly. Remember it, is December in Alaska!)  The snow and ice encrusted tree branches shimmered like diamonds as the morning sunbeams ascended.
 
It was a fitting morning to “hear “what word(s) God had in store for me for 2021. But instead of words, he gave me seven letters.  I prayed and pondered what the seven letters meant throughout. It (finally) dawned on me the seven letters, rearranged, formed two different words…my words for 2021:  LISTEN and SILENT.   
 
So now you know how to be praying in 2021 for me! Silent is not typically a word that is used to describe me! Listen, I believe is a strong admonishment. So stay tuned. I will fill you in as the year progresses!  Blessings and s’mores!
 

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SERIOUSLY?!

8/9/2020

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 One of the joys of living where we do at the base of the Talkeetna Mountain range is the ability to live a "farm to table" lifestyle.  We never cease to be amazed at how quickly things grow with longer summer hours (quickly slipping by). And, dip-netting on the Kenai or Kasilof salmon (each household can dip for free, 25+ salmon, depending on size of family - we can get 37) plus moose and caribou, we feel blessed.

Each year, weather patterns dictate  which crops may do better than others. This year, we have a bumper crop of chickweed (grrr!), as convection thunderstorms have poured rain in the evenings - the upside is Bill has hardly had to water! Last summer with record heat, he spent HOURS watering! 

We have softball size kohlrabi, wonderful dicon radishes, zuchinni and cabbage. And RHUBARB...lots of thubarb - which means new culinary creations from Bill! He has designed rhubarb artichoke heart dressing, cinnamon rhubarb, and gallons of wonderful rhubarb juice that we can store for use all year round. 

The raspberries - both red and golden have done incredibly well. We are picking the reds, and the golden raspberry that had doubled were "almost" ready....until the "visitors" arrived.

SERIOUSLY? 

Yep - all's we could do was watch the Sand Hill Cranes as they shook each bush and ate every berry that was ready. We tried chasing, we tried yelling at them. we even tried covering - all to no avail, because as soon as you turned your back, they found a way into them.

Guess you can say we are doing our part to feed the local wildlife that makes Alaska so special.  Let's just hope the moose won't have an extra pea pod flavor to them this year!! 
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Forever . . .

6/27/2020

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​How can it be that eight years have passed by so quickly? It seems like yesterday that I was locking horns with Jamie about “Dad needs a dog.” After Kula’s passing away nine years ago, I was not eager to deal with “puppy stage.
 
As always, in matters with her dad, his little girl won. On Father’s Day eight years ago, Bubba Grump entered our lives. He was a Brindled Mastiff Ridgeback who, from the moment we laid eyes on him knew he would be Bill’s new sidekick. He went everywhere with Bill – even to work on many days.
 
Bubba went home to be with Jamie and Baby girl this last Monday. The vet had said he outlived his life expectancy, and we chose to do “comfort care” the last week he was with us. We took multiple trips to the river (the only water he would drink)—sure glad we had 20 hours of light, as he wanted to walk down almost hourly. He went for one last truck drive with Bill, head hanging out of the window, ears flapping away, his lonnng tongue hanging out, and of course, his slobber running down the truck doors. His last treat was on Monday morning when he and Bill made several loops around our 30 acres to Bubba’s favorite spots. When Bill helped him out of our Ranger, he stood and took his last breath. His way, His time. He was never in pain and was finally released to sweet Peace.
 
We were glad it wasn’t on Father’s Day or on the one year anniversary (Wednesday) of Jamie and Baby Girl going home. We are sure of one thing: ALL dogs go to Heaven.
 
How do I know that? Think about it: Jesus, the Good Shepherd, leads His flock (us.) In Psalm 23 it tells of Jesus leading the flock – which means from the front. Any good shepherd who leads from the front will make sure that he has two good sheep dogs who corral from the back of the flock, keeping the sheep safe, together and so not to lose any of the sheep. That means Jesus had two dogs – and we even know their names! One was Goodness and the other was Mercy – following us keeping us in the flock, all the day of our life.
 
So, as we walk to the river or take a walk around the back 30, we know Bubba’s looking down, making sure Goodness and Mercy are keeping us in the flock – safe and sound – just like he, Jamie and Baby Girl are in Heaven.

 
 

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Aloneness ?

4/13/2020

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Reprinted at request of several friends (original was an email) 

​As I was reflecting thinking how unusual it will be for so many to not celebrate and partake of the remembrance of the very core of our faiths - both for Passover and Easter,, I got thinking about the very first Easter...

The disciples were ‘social distancing’ themselves per se. They away from the crowds/their families, trying to take in The Last Supper, the foot- washing, wrapping their heads around one of their own falling from grace and betraying Jesus.

They were reeling from the horror of the walk to Golgotha, watching  the vile actions of those who literally knew Him not. The earth trembled. Then silence.

Up against all the unknowns,  trying to comprehend the repercussions, they stayed ‘home’...versus being out and about. Agonizing thoughts, ashamed of their inaction, they sat in what they thought was ‘aloneness.’

But how far from reality...God had His Master Plan already drawn up.

It would be up to each of us, consciously and individually - on how/when/what form  we would take to walk out HIS plan. He KNEW His faithful would choose correctly (even if we are FAR from perfect!)

And so, this Holy weekend and beyond, we answer His individual call on our personal life.

Far from perfect, yet NEVER alone the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are with and in us - and are an overwhelming majority.

What we do, what we say and who we are will touch others in ways we may never, ever know, this side of Heaven.

Our prayers are heard - for ourselves, our family and our friends. And, while others we so deeply care about may not “do” or “act” or “live out” in the way WE wish they would, God’s loving grace, mercy and peace are over them. Our prayers bring them to the Throne as we continue to stand in the gap for them, just as He has done with and for US, knowing their battle is not ours to fight for them, but it IS our call to cover them in prayer, to “BE” who He has asked each of us to be.

He asks us to take Him at His Word and BELIEVE GOD - not just to BELIEVE “IN” Him.

His plans never fail, His timing is ever perfect because God is in ALL the details, ALL the time.

Blessings and s’mores this Holy Week
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Forever Friends

2/4/2020

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 I paused for a moment in my quiet time this morning.  My eyes fell upon a sign that a dear friend gave to me. In my pause, I pondered about the saying that was on the plaque. I dad had one of those "I should of had a V-8" or as my kids would say a "DUH -mom"  moment."

The sign says:  "We'll always be best friends because you know too much."

My V-8/mom- moment? When it occurred to me that GOD knows me better that ANYONE, and that while He knows everything, I don't have to, for He will keep me in the "need to know" loop as needed,

I think that's a wise place to be - don't you? 

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    Care Tuk is a nationally known speaker, educator, and retreat/workshop leader. She has been a school, hospital, and home health occupational therapist for more than 30 years. She has been named as a Top Business Woman in America and recognized for her work with youth, disability outreach and awareness, and the American Cancer Society. 

    Care lives in Alaska with her husband Bill. 
    Their family live nearby.

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