Technical Challenges

Greetings dear readers!

I am doing something new. Probably some of you have received an email with my blog post and you opened it only to find a blank page.

I'm starting to use my website for my blog site and for a few weeks, I'll send you a reminder through this blogspot.

This is a little of my blog for today:

To view the rest of the blog, please go to: http://shirleymozena.com, click at the top of the page to "blog". You should be able to read the rest of it.

Thanks for stopping by!

I really enjoy looking back sometimes. Looking back usually shows you how you’ve moved forward. I write a blog, keep a journal and write down prayer requests. Then I can look back and see how God has worked in my life. It’s amazing, actually.

http://shirleymozena.com/blog

1946

I’m going to admit to you today—and most likely never again—the year I was born.

Today I celebrate a milestone birthday. Why? Because it has a “zero” in it! I call them milestone birthdays.

Last evening, as we were dropping off to sleep, Jim asked me, “Do you remember other milestone birthdays?” 

My first Milestone Birthday, age 10

Just liked this at age six

I thought about the various zero milestones in my life. I remembered each one of them. Some were more special than the other. Others were really difficult ones and with not much joy. I clearly remember the one ten years ago.

I was a teacher and I was brokenhearted. Why? My high school sweetheart, the father of my two children, the man I’d lived with for forty years, my husband, died only three months earlier. On my day, I was at a solo/ensemble contest with my elementary vocal ensemble. This would be the last contest our school would enter, for in another month, the school would close its doors permanently. On that day, after the contest concluded, my son, Todd, roared down from the sky in his airplane to pick me up and we flew home to Vancouver, where my daughter, Erika, had a special birthday celebration for me. It was a day as wonderful as it could be for someone who had a broken heart. There were many friends there, with words of encouragement and praise for me on that day. It was good. 

The years passed. My heart began to mend. I met another kind, loving man who brought love into my life once again. It was a story-book romance. All the sadness and brokenness of my past slipped away. Blair loved me and we were joined as husband and wife. Too soon, though, Blair was taken away from me. And I had another broken heart. By this time, though, I knew that though it was broken, God could heal it. And He did. Not with another man, but Himself. Jesus promised His followers:

The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,

Because He has anointed Me

To preach the gospel to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the

brokenhearted.

Luke 4:18

Whenever I read anything in the Bible that talks about a broken heart, I perk up, for I know what a broken heart is. Only one person can take care of that broken heart. It isn’t time. It isn’t another husband or boyfriend. It isn’t possessions or travel. No. It is Jesus Christ, the person speaking in the above verse who heals a broken heart. 

It took time for my heart to mend. I wrote a book about my losses and my heart began to repair. There was travel and I learned to do that on my own. I was in a relationship I thought was right when it wasn’t and in God’s sovereign way, it was ended. 

More than a year passed. I’d begun to resign myself to not ever having another man in my life. I was told I’d had my Cinderella type of experience once, that I’d had two men who loved me and why would I think I could have it again? So I let go of any expectation of a future with another man in my life. 

But God, in His miraculous way, had another idea. This person  popped into my life one September morning. We met face to face for coffee and soon realized we were right for each other. And miracle of miracles it happened! Jim and I have now been married two years and five months! 

We have a wonderful, loving relationship. It is better than I ever dreamed. And I believe  Jim would say so too. 

“Why don’t I meet someone like you did?” You might ask. “Why don’t I have a loving husband like you do?” Might be another question. I don’t have an answer for you, but I will tell you that your relationship with Jesus Christ is the most important relationship you can have with anyone. He promises to be that husband you don’t have—or the husband you wish he’d be and isn’t. He promises it. 

I’ll go back to “the day” I’m celebrating. Instead of being bummed that I’m turning another decade, I’m going to be joyful I’m still here on Earth, healthy, happy, adored by my husband, loved by my family. I know I”m loved intensely by the God of my childhood and through my adult decades as well. What more could I ask? Nothing. 

I looked up other people born this year. There are lots of them. We’re the first of the baby boomers. You might recognize some of them. Here’s a short list: Bill Clinton, George W and Laura Bush, Donald Trump, Connie Chung, Hayley Mills, Sally Field, Patty Duke, Candace Bergman, John Piper, Ron and Rosaleen Stone…..and more. Happy birthday, Baby Boomers born this year! I hope you’re as happy as I am. You are loved—by the Maker of the Universe, Jesus Christ. 

The following photos are some random, but important events in my life:

With my parents

With my new in-laws

Giving my daughter a blessing before her marriage to Trent

Another special day with Blair Graybill

With my son at his graduation from OCS

Look what God brought together! December 7, 2013

On the Sea of Galilee, March, 2016

Face Your Fears

Daniel was a great man in the Bible who had powerful faith in God. By the time he reached old age, he had many experiences in trusting God. Yet when he was approached by “a man dressed in linen, with a belt of the finest gold around his waist. His face was like lightening, his eyes like flaming torches…..and his voice like the sound of a multitude,” he was terrified. But the man said:

Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.

Daniel 10:12

After talking with the man—probably an angel—Daniel was again overcome with anguish (this is a really good story—you might want to go to Daniel, chapter ten in the Old Testament and read it for yourself). And then the angel said:

Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength.’ Do not be afraid, O man highly esteemed,' he said.' Peace! Be strong now; be strong.’ 

Daniel 10:18b

Wow. Even Daniel was afraid. 

We’ve been camping at the beach these past couple of days. Nearly a year ago, we came to this very place for a writing retreat and to spend time with Jim’s sister and brother in law. The weekend was interrupted by a fairly simple fall that turned out to be very serious.

One year later, we’re back. We’ve enjoyed taking leisure strolls along the beach. We rode our bikes on meandering roads  throughout the park. Tomorrow, we plan to hike out to Cape Lookout where there are breathtaking views.

This evening, Ron and Rosaleen will join us for the weekend. I’m not superstitious, but I do have some flashes of fear when I take steps up into the RV where my fall took place. I don’t want to repeat that same accident, and most likely I won’t, but that doesn’t chase away the fear completely. Even Jim gives me cautionary comments such as, “Watch your step, honey. Don’t trip.”  We rode our bikes today and Jim followed behind, chiding me to “slow down, be careful.”

I remember reading about an Olympic athlete who was asked, “Aren’t you afraid when you step into that sled and go so fast down the track?” 

The athlete responded something like this, “You must face your fear and then do it.” I liked that statement and it means even more to me now that I was set aside for a time because of a major injury. That means I’ve got to face the fear and not be afraid every time I go up stairs, ride my bike, or go for a hike.

Just as Daniel was reminded in the Old Testament to “face his fears”. Jesus’ disciples needed a reminder when after observing many miracles and having personal teaching of Jesus, they saw him walking on water and were afraid.  He calmed their fears with these words:

Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.

Matthew 14:27

A boat on the Sea of Galilee

The disciples were afraid. I’m sometimes afraid. So was the prophet Daniel and the Olympic athlete.

Sea of Galilee, or Lake Galilee

In Capernaum, on rocks Jesus walked and worked as a carpenter/stone mason

What’s your fear? It doesn’t have to be big. Maybe it’s tripping while walking among rocks.

 Or getting back on a bicycle after a long period of time. Perhaps it is fear of growing old. Passing an exam in school. Losing a job. It could be talking to a doctor about some disturbing symptoms you might have. Perhaps your mate has a problem remembering things—you don’t want to face what that might mean in your future. Do you need to step out and face the fear? 

This weekend at our campground, there will be a competition between hang gliders. I’m pretty sure they have to face their fears as they jump off the cliff and float/glide to safety. Of course they need to check their harnesses, re-check all of the controls before they jump. But then they need to “face their fears” too. 

So for now, I’ll indulge my husband Jim’s fears I’ll fall. I’ll  take hold of the handrail as I step into our little motorhome. I’ll be extra cautious when I get on my bike. And watch my step among rocks and boulders on hikes in the mountains or on the beach. Yet I have to do it. Face my fear. And then move on with courage. Facing the fear is the most difficult.