hope – Page 2 – GREENLiGHT

God Understands Our Tears

God understands our tears

God understands our fears

God understands what’s unsaid

And Most importantly, he answers

So keep your eyes open so you don’t miss his next steps.

Blessings overflow.

Writers Musings Align With His Leading

It was a long drive. Seven hours round trip in a day. So I was hesitant. Wasn’t really up to it. Needed to check car though I had just changed tires. But…. still, peace of mind.

Reluctantly, I had prepared myself the night before. Half slept as I had to be out at daybreak. Got up wee hours of the morning. Very slowly got dressed. Makeup applied. Bags packed. Made quick breakfast. Step by step I did everything, robotically while slowly praying. I just wasn’t in the mood.

In the same way-methodically, I got in the car, text loved ones and I was off for my long drive.

Less than an hour in, my mood slowly changed. I Listened to the Bible App using the audio that read the scriptures aloud. 2 Chapters of Exodus (Bible in a year). Then a message… all as previously planned. Hours went by as in a flash as the early morning traffic whisked by.

I arrived at the event, quietly excited. I attended presentation sessions. Met new people. Interviewed some. Browsed around. Then surprisingly, mid-afternoon I felt accomplished and decided to jump in my car to take the long return trip home. Pleased. I had obeyed.

Prayers Work

Ever felt like that? Hesitant about doing something? Prayers work. Let no one tell you otherwise. Share your heart’s desires with the Lord most high. Then just follow his lead. He always come through. Sometimes he says yes, other times he says no, or wait.

Whatever your desire, talk with him. Devotionals like RedLight are great companions for your daily walk with the lord. So don’t hesitate.

Blessings overflow.

Strength To Bear The In-Between …

Mary awaited the healing of her brother. As her anxiety soared, she called on her friend Jesus and sought his intervention. Afterall, he had healed many. But he didn’t show. Eventually her brother passed away. Then days later, Jesus showed up, called Lazarus and he got up. Alive and well he joined his family and friends.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him and he will direct your path.
Proverbs 3:5-6

Maybe you are like Mary waiting on the Lord for answers to your needs. It might be for a job, children, relationships, finances or something else. Hold onto the Lord’s unchanging hand. Wait. His timing is always right.

Lord, please grant us the strength to bear the times in between our wait. While we are waiting, often we struggle with trying to find the answers for delays. Please grant us the courage to hold fast onto your all-knowing power. Grant us the patience to wait in quiet solace knowing that you remain in control.

Blessings overflow.

How Do We Hear From God?

It’s done. Happy danced. Wrote it. Declared it. Shared it. The GreenLight book series is complete. An intrigued believer countered with the question “how do we hear from God?”

God’s answers come in different ways. Here are a few.

1) Through quiet whispers when you least expect it. Listen keenly.

2) Specific asks that you can easily recognize when the answers come.

3) Through reading the Bible because that’s when God speaks but we must be listening or we will miss it.

4) God speaks through others directly or indirectly. It may just be something they say ‘coincidentally’.

5) Answers may come through opportunities often that we didn’t even know we wanted or needed.

6) God also speaks through sickness, Job loss, failure, disappointments, times of need because that’s when our deepest and most earnest prayers are prayed.

Are there other ways that you can share how God has answered prayers for you? Do share. We would love to hear.

A Dog And A Rug’s Peace …

Petting, scratching, and cuddling a dog could be as soothing to the mind and heart as deep meditation and almost as good for the soul as prayer.
Dean Koontz

Zeus the dog loves comfort. For years we bought the softest coziest floor rugs to enhance the living room while making it attractive. The problem was Zeus loved comfort. The more we bought, the more he rolled over in exhilarated joy. As time went on, the wear and tear (literally) were hard to bear. Whenever I visited my college student, I would see the empty floor because–oops he did it again!

I’d go out and replace it with another beautiful rug. Then one day I gave up. I decided to replace it with one that was not as comfortable to him but provided the room with an aesthetically pleasing sight that was a delight to see.

What can I say? He avoided it. All he wanted was soft cozy comfort.

How about our relationship with the Lord? Aren’t we like Zeus who wants comfort while neglecting his purpose?

Something to think about.

Trapped…

Trapped is how I feel

Trapped when the desires of my heart goes unfulfilled 

Trapped when I’m relying on what the Lord has blessed others with 

Trapped yet I’m grateful for his continued provisions 

Trapped financially 

Trapped by impatience 

Trapped as bills pile and late payments rise

Trapped by ideas waiting to be birthed

Trapped by age, status and racial discrimination 

Trapped by life’s restrictions

Trapped by my mind’s melancholy 

Trapped yet I know that I can do all things through Christ 

Trapped by God's love yet his swift rescue is my desire

Trapped but still surrounded by God’s grace and forgiveness

©Dr. Shelly Cameron

Journey Of Discovery…

When we step out in obedience, we can bask in the confidence that God’s got our back. He is in control. There are no surprises with Him. The surprises are for us.
-Dr Shelly Cameron, GreenLight

Journey of Discovery. Discovering the Lord’s will. Discovering new places – just wandering the unknown. Discovering his purpose for the rest of my life

For over two decades the Lord laid on my heart to visit Italy. Go figure. I have consistently misread thinking I’ll go at some point.

Then five years ago my eldest surprised me with a birthday trip to Paris. As I landed, I retorted … omgee it’s not Paris but Italy I am to go!

Last year, I decided to start a few things after I received news from the doctor that my cholesterol was a little high. Figured I had to do something to not be added to a growing list of medications Soooo … I started ballroom dancing. Yep. Loved it! But it didn’t let me lose too many pounds fast enough, so I ‘accepted’ a 6-week challenge from a gym I had ignored when I moved to the new area. The challenge was to lose 20lbs. At the end of the challenge, I had lost over 13lbs – a little shy of my goal but boy was I encouraged to continue.

Italian Itch

Afresh, there was a very strong urge again to go to Italy. I know the best time to go is April or October since it’s cold at year-end and not the best time. But the strongest urge was there to not let the new year go by without being obedient to his leading. So, I made plans to go end December which was pushed forward to January. I didn’t have a clue where I was going. But when he said go, I finally got moving.

I followed the lord’s leading. I was going alone. Yep, alone. Yikes! It was a solo retreat with me and him only. Asked the Lord to pave the way for flights, accommodation and everything else. Maybe I would finish up the book RedLight when God says No. Hmmm I really didn’t know.

I didn’t tell anyone except hinting to my girls who are strong supporters of their mom and understand her ‘madness’.

I began thinking deeply of the possibility in the fall. A few weeks later my hotel association colleague offered me to stay at her apartment in Milan. Only problem, its night life is ‘amazing’ so not much sleep or a place to write I was told.

Points Considered

It would be cold
Don’t know where I’m going
Need for adequate funds
Obedience to his leading

I shared with two prayer partners to keep me in prayers as I journeyed. Partial funds came through a project I had been working on which coincidentally ended immediately before I was scheduled to leave. Godwink? Like Mary Magdalene I kept all these things in my heart.

The solo retreat touched hearts with inspiration even before it began. Before it was even paid for or properly planned.

I was going on a one-way ticket initially without a rush while asking the lord to route my way. I was following his lead for flights, accommodation, location of where to stay, what food to eat (I’m not a foodie) and when to return. Crazy going so far without a plan. To a planner, it was a quiet nightmare. I said, “really Lord?” People will think I’m crazy.

Vatican Trek

Just As I Am…

Just as I am, without one plea
But that Thy blood was shed for me
And that Thou bid'st me come to Thee
Oh, Lamb of God, I come, I come


Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt
Fighting and fears within without
Oh, Lamb of God, I come, I come
Ooh, just as I am, ooh, I come
Ooh, just as I am, oh Lamb of God, I come

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve
Because Thy promise I believe
Oh, Lamb of God, I come, I come
Ooh, just as I am, ooh, I come
Ooh, just as I am, oh Lamb of God, I come
Oh lamb of God, I come

~Charlotte Elliott

Disabled Charlotte Elliot wrote the above hymn Just as I Am at her lowest. She wrote it at a time when she thought she was most unworthy. Sure glad she did. The hymn has comforted many for centuries.

The Lord God accepts us just as we are. So go to him today. He accepts returns. All you have to do is ask.

Blessings overflow

6 Tips For A Spiritual Solo Retreat…

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.
Psalm 23:2

Retreat means to withdraw. To take a step back. Jesus did this many times. He would disappear to spend time in the presence of his Father. He wanted to quiet his heart to gain the strength needed for the next steps on his earthly sojourn. If he needed strength, how much more we? Shouldn’t we follow the example that He set?

Larissa Marks, HuffPost contributor provided 6 practical steps to do a spiritual retreat. Here I share while giving a few of my own commentary.

Create the time and find a place. Any place quiet will do. It may be in your home. It may be away. It may be at a monastery or in nature. For me I skipped home to get away from the distractions. After two decades of receiving a prod to go, I finally gave in. Just me. Solo.
Set your intentions. What is the purpose? What is it you would like to achieve from this time with him? Is it a calling? Is it a life decision that you need to make? For me it was discernment and to follow his leading for the next phase of my life
Settle into God’s presence. Do something that quiets your heart and eases you into his presence. For me it’s walking in nature or sitting quietly breathing–welcoming and experiencing his presence. Ask him what he wants you to receive at this time. Listen and follow his lead.
Reflect. Do some quiet reflection. What have you experienced in the last few weeks, months or even years? What has been draining you? What has brought you satisfaction?
Connect with God. Read scripture. Notice any desire(s) that emerge. For me in his presence there’s always fullness of joy. Even in the midst of life’s storms I find that I can experience his quiet peace.
Receive and return. Think about what you received during this time away. What do you want to stop doing or start doing? Remember, it’s not about you, it’s about the Lord and accomplishing his will and purpose for your life.

Hope these tips will help provide guidance as you make important life decisions or seek discernment for the next phase of your life. If you have done solo retreats, what did you walk away with? What stood out most about this experience? Do share. We would love to hear.