By Lois Hewitt

Faith is a funny thing. It’s obviously something you cannot see, like the wind on your face. You can’t hear faith or touch it. It has no taste but it is sweet once you experience it. Sounds like one of the riddles you just cannot figure out.

In my case, faith wasn’t necessary until I had nothing left. I never needed my faith when I was hiding out from God, enjoying my sin.

Sure once in a while I prayed with faith to get me out of a jam I had gotten myself into. Or prayed with faith that the hangover wouldn’t last or that I hadn’t made someone too mad the night before because I blacked out. I played my faith like a Get Out of Jail Free card.

Many of us hit rock bottom or lower and you have the realization you just cannot do this thing called life alone. Then you slowly try to rebuild and heal. You learn to have faith in God, who only wants the best for you.

Over time, you learn more about God and His Son. You see changes take place that you could never have envisioned. Things happen and they are not luck or coincidence. Pieces of your life start to fall into place. Eventually you start to see God’s hand in Your life. It becomes as real as anything you have ever known.

The crazy story of a virgin birth and a man who heals becomes more than what some call a fairy tale…it becomes your life. It makes perfectly clear sense (as far as humans can understand). Jesus is with me always. I sometimes say “we” when I speak of something I’ve done alone.

So this, too, makes sense now. The people who rant and rave against God, who say it is just a fable and swear none of it is true, you just haven’t reached a place in your life where every turn looks like a dead end. You haven’t felt like the pit in your stomach will ever heal. You haven’t been to a place you can’t control but it controls you. It’s in your deepest sorrow, sorrow that words cannot express, that you see the invisible and you touch the spirit of God.

I am happy you have not sunk that low. But you have to realize that most of God’s believers came to Him from a dark place. Our faith in Him is real. So ridicule all you want. Laugh at our naive notions. I get it now. You think Christians are weak.

You couldn’t be more wrong. Every Christian I know has a testimony that would make you faint. We are not some poor saps looking for a way to cope, we are warriors who have walked through fire (albeit, some fires of our own making-but fires nonetheless). Branded with scars visible and not. Faced with a choice to either harden our hearts or release them to God for an overhaul and polishing.

I have seen God take the most beaten person and give that person victory. It may seem unreal to you but until you have experienced the power of God in your life, it just won’t be real.

Faith is a funny thing. You still cant see it but you sure can feel it. The impossible becomes real when God has His hand in it…He is real and that I will shout from the rooftops!

By Lois Hewitt

Thanksgiving is over and we are just a few (very) short weeks away from Christmas.  So I thought this would be a good time to go over my Christmas list. 

1.  No cards. I used to look forward to sending out Christmas cards but when I no longer could afford it, I stopped. They are expensive and stamps are expensive. A text message works fine for me.  I still love you all without Christmas cards.

2.  No gifts.  Again, this tradition died many years ago in our home.  Not only do we not spend money we don’t have, but there is no stress and no stores to visit. I still love you all without presents.

3.  Joy for the season. I have been called a grinch but I just love celebrating the birth of Jesus without all the man-made trappings. I’m not a grinch, I really love Christmas.  I still love you all this season and all year!

4.  I’m not a fan of Santa Claus.  I suppose if I had children or grandchildren I might but I don’t do anything Santa Claus. I still love you all without Santa.

I guess that about covers it. I know Christmas is different for us all. And every family has the right to celebrate their way. My way is minimalistic and it does not make me a hater of Christmas.

In reality, my true Christmas wish, as always, is for peace. World and personal.  I pray that all my friends and family experience God’s amazing peace in their lives. I pray for your safety in a crazy world. I pray for health and healing for you.  I pray for joy that overflows and is ever abundant.  I pray that you know Jesus deeply.

I have said this so many times, I am sure you are sick of it but these words are my life….things come and go (in my case, mostly go), value those around you instead. Tomorrow is never guaranteed. Enjoy your people today and every day you are together.

Traditions don’t have to be complex. I have many traditions that cost very little and they bring much comfort.  Don’t be afraid to try new traditions. It’s okay, just because it’s new doesn’t mean it’s bad and just because it’s old doesn’t mean it’s good. 

During this busy season, I pray that you can slow down enough to enjoy it. Too many times we rush to do this, rush to make that, and rush to clean that that we wish the holidays to be over.  My wish this year is for you to enjoy the season. If someone gets upset, they will get over it.  You deserve to enjoy it too!!  Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

The season is a double-edged sword. You have to have fun but that fun comes at a high cost.  Our daily lives are difficult enough without the added stress of making everything perfect. It doesn’t have to be perfect or even close. Embrace what you have, breathe and enjoy yourself.

My wish is to thank you all for your love and support throughout the year.  I love you all and pray to our perfect Savior that He covers your life with His perfect love.

By Lois Hewitt

Today is Thanksgiving and I had a plan for the day. I had a schedule for the day. I had traditions I wanted to follow today.

As I write this, I am literally sitting in my car doing the exact opposite of what I had planned. Things came up and I have to change the plans I made.

If I’m completely honest, I feel anger and bitterness welling up inside me. Do you ever feel like you do not ask much and the little you do is always a struggle? That’s me right now.

But my mind turns to the popular saying of a few years ago…what would Jesus do? I know in my heart He would help the ones in need (even if the need doesn’t seem that urgent from my perspective). He would not feel anger and bitterness like I do. He would not care for such trival things like cooking a pie or doing a load of laundry.

He came as the Son of God to be of service to others. That is our call too. Yes, our plans are important. Yes, our time is limited. But life will always throw a curveball and how we deal with it is the test of our character.

I tend to have high expectations for holidays, vacations and other times away from the regular work schedules. I plan, albeit unrealistically, too much. I want to much productivity. I have a solid plan that has no wiggle room. Then I’m asked to wiggle. And I melt down.

Expectations are a cruel master, are they not? No matter, we hardly ever life up to them. And when we don’t, we experience a wide array of negative emotions. Emotions that are based in human ways not God’s ways.

As I sit here in the car, I realize my entire life has revolved around my man made expectations for life. It’s no wonder I have experienced depression and anger for years. I was trying to be in control. It was my show and my rules. It was my circus.

That’s not what we are called to do. Our dependence, our expectations should be based on what God thinks we should be doing. He wants us to have homemade pie for Thanksgiving but if another need arises, we should happily and peacefully meet that need. The pie can wait.

I started writing this post to help me come down from the edge. And it clarified one big problem in my life. I need to unclench my grip on my figurative and literal day planner with all it expectations for today and the future. Let the death grip of planning loose a bit and give myself permission to not be in control of every single thing. It’s just an illusion anyway.

The anger and bitterness have subsided. I feel less stressed. What a wonderful reminder for me to keep my eyes on Him and not on myself.

We serve an amazing God who is in control of all things. I just mess up what I try to control. So I’m going to let up on my grip of things and leave it to Him.

By Lois Hewitt

Dearest Lord, on this day before Thanksgiving I want to say a prayer for my family and friends. This year has been difficult for so many. Health issues, finances, loss, addiction and so many other heart breaks. Lord, please look over them all and cover them with Your loving arms. Please heal the wounds you can see as well as the ones hidden from the world.

Peace is a grand ideal but impossible to achieve in this realm. So I pray for those living in situations I cannot even imagine. Please provide strength and protection from the evils in the world.  Let us be reminded that one day we will live in perfect peace.

I practice gratitude Lord. For I know all things come through You. Today I pray for those suffering and not having the things they need…food, shelter, clean water, and the other things I take for granted. So many need Your help, please let Your blessings cover them.

Lord I pray for those who curse Your name. Please forgive them for the are living in their sin and Your name is bitter to them.  I pray that they see You for Who You are…let the excuses fall away, let the lies dissolve and let their hearts open to Your love. They are quick to blame You for the ills of the world, they don’t understand You are the only cure for those ills. Churches run by man hurt people, You do not. Open their eyes Lord.

The world is divided, it seems like it will never heal but my faith is in You and You have a plan that is in place. Let us hold on tight to You and the words You have given us.

Although the world is scary, we have so much to be thankful for. Please continue to bless us individually, as a family, as a part of a community, as a nation and as an inhabitant of this world. Thank You Lord for Your sacrifice on the cross that gave every person the opportunity for redemption. 

May the blessings rain down on Your children and on those who do not know You yet. 

Thank You for all You do and all You provide today and forever more.  Heaven is coming. In Jesus’ previous name we pray.  Amen

By Lois Hewitt

Out of the sleep I have come!  At 16 years old I asked Jesus into my life. But even at that young age I was steeped in sin.  I dabbled at being a Christian for decades. I am thankful I learned a lot along the way but I still hung tightly to my sins.  I lived in the dark with hope that Jesus could not see me.

I loved the world and had many idols. I drank and smoked and swore and indulged in an array of addictions. I was spiritually asleep.

Then not long ago a switch flipped inside of me. I could now see the world around me, not just the illusion I saw before and, more importantly, I saw myself.  Not in my usual light of justification and rationalization.  I saw my sin and had to change.

It is amazing how different my life is now. Do I still sin? Yes and I always will while I walk this earth.  But one day when I meet Jesus all that will change.  Until then I am trying to be His disciple. 

I see the number of friends I have here decease almost daily. I understand. The message of Jesus is hard to hear because it calls for accountability and responsibility. It counters the “if it feels good, do it” mantra we have heard since the 1960s.  But the message is life changing and I cannot be silent.

If you unfriend or hide my posts, I understand. I want to encourage those who need it.  I want to show the fallen that they can still get back up.  I understand sin much more than I’m comfortable with. So if I’m “too much” now, I understand. I will still pray for you even if you do not want me to.

I have woken from my decades long slumber. I have such a small voice in this world and I have no platform except this, so I will keep shouting of the goodness of Jesus as long as I have one friend left.

Out of the sleep I have come and oh how joyous it is.

By Lois Hewitt

Happy Saturday! The weekends are my favorite time. I get to work at my own pace (which is pretty slow now lol). I get to choose what to do or not to do. I just breathe.

This morning I have a pot of pinto beans cooking on the stove. The sheets are in the wash. Butter is softening for a batch of chocolate chip cookies. I won’t change out of my sleep in pants until Monday. A cup of tea is steeping right now.

The younger me would have thought that to be torture. Shopping or day drinking or both would have been on the agenda. Stuffing my face with a whole box of Little Debbie’s also would have been fit into the day’s activities.

Back then I was searching for something that I just could not find. I was complicating the process with things and activities. The most awful thing would have been to think…about the pain, the uncertainty, or the things done and not done.

Today, I know the secret. Live a life pleasing to God. That looks different to each person. My path today as an older person is much different than when I was younger. I did not know myself then. I bounced around from ideal to ideal. Always trying to be someone else. It was exhausting.

Today I know mostly who I am and live that as authentically as I can. Life is no longer weeks locked in the house in fear nor is it looking for a party. It is quiet and intentional.

Why do I speak about this so much? We live in a world that is shouting at us all the time. You need to buy this! Your house needs to look like this! This booze makes the party! Eat this and feel good again! Live this lifestyle and you will finally be happy! Oh the messages! And they are everywhere.

I use my story of mistakes and missteps to prove you can heal. You can get better. You can figure out your path no matter your age. Nothing that happens is wasted. It’s all learning.

My mental health got so bad, I had no idea what I was doing anymore. I was just a very angry robot. Here’s the part some won’t like….I re-found Jesus and I started to really heal. I started to want to live like Him. I don’t follow religion. I follow Jesus.

So what’s the point? Today I sit with my seemingly mundane tasks to do with the realization that mundane is what the world sees, I see my day as fulfilling and nourishing.

Should we all not seek that? Fulfilling, nourishing and intentional. This again looks different for everyone. But once you start being honest with yourself and stop looking to the world for validation and look to Jesus, the way gets clearer. The healing starts. Gratitude takes over.

I want desperately to be a beacon of hope. There is hope, mercy and forgiveness in the world today. You don’t have to feel bad all the time. I thought that was just how it was supposed to be. It is not how life was intended. All chocolate bars and fuzzy slippers. No. This life will never be perfect. But the peace and joy you have inside can be perfect. You just have to know where to look for it. Hint: look outside yourself and look to Heaven.

By Lois Hewitt

Today my thoughts wondered, as they often do, to the past.  I thought about all my mistakes and the wrong turns I took.

I wished I could go back and do it all again.  Oh, the things I would stay clear of and the things I would embrace.

I thought about how I would act different and speak better and write more.  I would not care what the world thinks of me.

I would quit apologizing for absolutely everything. I would lose the guilt because I would do everything right.

I would stay in school and learn all I could. A real diploma would be in my hand.

I would work and save money. I would know the value of things and not just spend for the sake of spending.

Oh if only I could go back and do it again.  Then I thought…

Without all the missteps, what would I have learned?  They taught me more than any classroom. If I went back and lived an opposite live, would I be any better off than I am today?

I might have more money,  retirement plan, maybe a house, things probably.  But what kind of person would I be without the mistakes and the humility?

I kinda like the person in the mirror. She is quirky and scarred but not all that bad.  The experiences we live through, even if it’s just barely, mold us and shape who we are.

The person I was 10, 20 or 30 years ago, I am not today.  Much better I would say. Still not without flaws. So a different life then would mean a different life now and I’m not sure I would like that.

I certainly do not have all the trappings of a successful life (by the world’s terms) but I feel blessed beyond measure without those things.  Life is more than stuff. 

After I pondered on what my life would look like had I done things differently, I concluded that it may not have worked out as well as I think.

So today I will embrace the past, one which showed me the True Path.  I will embrace the today me and look forward to more growth.  I will embrace all that I have and be content with all that I don’t have. 

I guess it’s a good thing we can’t go back.  How would today look if we did?  Embrace who you are today and love that person.  They walked through hot coals to get here and they deserve some respect.

Embrace the old you for the lessons they taught, embrace the current you for you are a warrior and embrace the you to come. 

By Lois Hewitt

Sunday thoughts.

Today I am thinking about all kinds of things, mind racing from one subject to another.  Anxiety building, but I need to stop and remember…

No matter the wants in my life, I have all my needs….God is good!

No matter if I am tired or run down, I have energy enough to keep going…God is good!

No matter the cares of the world that I cannot control, He is in control….God is good!

No matter that I miss loved ones, they are in His loving arms and there is no better place…God is good!

I’m so blessed every day.  I have learned the healing power of gratitude. Entitlement brings sorrow.  Gratitude brings true peace.

I have now been around long enough to have seen God’s goodness. Yes, pain still exists.  Trauma is commonplace.  That’s man, not God.  Things have happened to me and by my own hands…that’s man, not God.

God has intervened, set me on a right course even if I was kicking and screaming. My prayer today is for those who cannot, will not, absolutely refuse the presence of God to feel His peaceful presence. He can tame the storms in our lives. His blessings are worth more than gold and silver.

Life with Him is not an easy one, but it is so amazing.  His mercy, grace and peace know no bounds. Today I chose gratitude and that choice changes all things.

By Lois Hewitt

We are officially in my favorite season.  The Gratitude Season.  I’m thankful all year but even more so now…

Summer’s warmth brings an ease to life.  Colder weather means frozen pipes, frosted windshields, icy roads and snow. It is a time to pray for protection and to be thankful for it.

Summer brings fresh fruits and vegetables. Winter’s harvest is different. I’m thankful for the root vegetables and winter harvests. Thankful always for the abundant bounty we know in this country.

Summer’s days are long and warm. Winter days are shorter and colder.  I’m thankful for the early darkness for it is best suited for a cup of hot tea and a good book, and a Bible Study.

Summer’s clothing is loose and free. I am thankful for my warm leggings, sweater, scarf and coat.  I love dressing for the cold.

Summer is easier in so many ways and greatful I am for the light and warmth provided.  I tend to not need as much in summer.

Fall and winter remind me that my bounty and protection come from God above.  That my light in the darkness, literal and figurative, comes from God above.  That my comforts come from God above.

Grateful, I try to be always, the gifts so freely given.  But my needs grow greater as the ease of summer fades for the season.  More care I need as difficulties arise. 

A reminder that I depend 1000% on the Creator of all things. I see the bounty even in times of want.  I thank Him in times of fear.  I praise Him when my heart is breaking. 

Complaints were my mainstay for decades past. Misery my closest friend.  Those days, gratefully, gone and replaced with gratitude for all things here and now as well as things waiting.

Today I sit in wonder of the gifts.  The only real gift we are to be given is freedom from eternal death through the blood of Jesus.  No other gifts are required.

But in His goodness, He continues to care for us even through our sin and disobedience. I am thankful for all He gives and for all He holds back.  My need draws me closer to Him.  In His arms, I find all I need.

Praise God today. Sometimes all we see is what we don’t have.  When we need to focus on all we do have.  He is sufficient my friend. Hold strong to His truths. He will see us through!

By Lois Hewitt

I had to remember this today. Maybe you need it too..

A few years ago I left the only home I knew.  With only the possessions that fit in the car.  The only money in my pocket was from friends and family.

I (actually we) had no place to live, no jobs to go to and no plan other than to “drive to a new life”.  It’s not as romantic as it sounds.

We drove and drove still not sure what to do as we watched the money fade.  Fear really took over.

But guess what?  God had a plan. We didn’t, but He did.  We had no hint or preview of such things, but things did indeed happened. We started to see doors open.

I had all but given up. But God had a plan!! 

Now we live a life that never entered my imagination.  Because God had a plan.

Is every day full of cotton candy and unicorns?  No, but now I know God’s plan is good.  Not easy but good,  no great!

You can’t possibly know where the road you are on will take you.  There are twists and turns ahead that you cannot see.  Just remember… God has a plan.  It may not be the one you dreamed of…but He has a plan. 

Stay strong my friend!  God’s goodness is immeasurable.