It is well with my soul

"When Peace like a river attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll, 

Whatever my lot, 

THOU has taught me
 to say, 

It is well, it is well with my soul."

The words of this old hymn floods my mind today.  We don't know what life will throw at us or if we are even promised tomorrow.  This NOVEL virus is spreading like wild fire across the nation and the world.  People are sick and dying, students are out of school, businesses are closing, people are unable to work, bills have to be paid, people need food and shelter, health care workers and emergency personnel are putting themselves on the front line every day to stop the spread of illness.

Just last night I was reminded how quickly life can change and how my job as an "essential health care" employee is so crucial in providing care for others whose families cannot care for them or even visit them when they are sick.  I am blessed to feel as if I am doing something for the benefit of others, without thought of the risk to myself and my family.  I know that I am making a difference in this world and for that I am grateful.

I have a husband who loves me, a house to provide shelter and safety, transportation, 6 wonderful children - 4 of whom are already making their own way in the world, 2 parents who are alive and well - and just a phone call away, 2 sisters who can be there for my parents when I can't due to the time and distance between us, wonderful in-laws who offer prayer support from 4 states away, a wonderful church family who has become our family - since we have no immediate family close by, a coast to coast extended Navy family who shares a bond like no other because of our children's commitment to serve and protect, and a Savior who loves me and will never leave nor forsake me. 

Yes the world is a dangerous place, and we are living in a time of great unrest and uncertainty, but we cannot live in fear and worry.  We must continue on, and we must put our trust in the one who can take away all our fear, doubt, worry, and unrest.  We must look to the ONE and ONLY ONE who can give us the PEACE that passes ALL understanding - Jesus Christ, the RISEN savior. 

He is the reason ALL is WELL with my soul.

"Therefore as the elect of God, HOLY and BELOVED, put on tender mercies, kindess, humility, meekness, longsuffering, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
But above ALL these things, put on LOVE which is the bond of perfection.
And let the PEACE of GOD rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body and
BE THANKFUL."
Colossians 3:12-15

Prayer changes things and LOVE conquers ALL things

I have been inspired by a friend and sister Navy Mom to sit down and write down some thoughts again to share - after several years.  Instead of starting with a new post, I found this old unfinished post - not even sure when I originally wrote it, but I couldn't have come up with better words to say than what I have already written and not yet published.  My life has changed so drastically since these words were first penned and our family has grown and experienced so much life and change that I wouldn't know where to begin to catch up.  BUT God and HIS word NEVER changes - He is the same today as He was when time began and He created the whole world, this beautiful GREAT BIG world that we get the privilege to call our temporary home, until God calls us to be with him in Heaven. 

These are scary and uncertain times, we may not know what tomorrow holds, BUT we know who holds tomorrow.  So as I once again sit here in the stillness of the early morning as my family continues to sleep and rest, I will rest in the fact of knowing that God is still on His throne, He is still in control, that NOTHING that is happening has taken Him by surprise and HE will give us the strength to endure.  This thing they call COVID-19 may have caused many places in the world to shut down and "close shop" for a while but God's door is ALWAYS open to anyone who enters into His presence.  He is still in the business of doing miracles, and He will have the glory and the final say in what happens next. 

So as I sit here in the darkest hour of the day, just before the dawn, I will sing praises to God in my heart and thank him for the many blessing He has bestowed upon me and my family: LIFE, a loving husband of 26+ years, 6 wonderful children - 4 of whom are making their own way in the world, a safe home and shelter, time with family, home cooked meals (which I haven't had the time to do lately with school and work), time around the kitchen table, being able to connect with friends and family through technology, fresh air, the Word of God, Jesus Christ the savior of the world - just to name a few.

Even in the midst of the storms of life, God continues to bless us and keep us safe.  I pray safety, health and happiness on all who read this today.  Please let me know how I can pray for you.

In the Love of Jesus,
Mother Hubbard


My original unpublished post from several years ago (not even sure how long it has been):

You know as I sit here in the stillness and quietness of the day, I am reminded of a couple of things. First of all PRAYER CHANGES THINGS and the power of LOVE - TRUE LOVE that only comes from the grace and forgiveness through Jesus Christ - conquers and overcomes  ALL things!!!  In the midst of what is happening in today's world and what society views as right/wrong, good/evil, normal/deviant, etc, I am reminded that if we as Christians would do as we are called to do and SERIOUSLY commit to praying and seeking GOD on ALL things, no matter how big or small, and commit to living OUR lives the way God has called us to live and to LIVE out our faith not just talk about it, that we would see the intervening hand of GOD empowering us to do the one thing that is most important and the MAIN thing we are called to do as CHRISTIANS - SHARE THE GOSPEL IN LOVE to the world around us living in darkness and dying in sin.

2 Chronicles 7:14  Says "If MY people who are called by MY name will HUMBLE themselves and PRAY, and SEEK MY face and TURN from their wicked ways, THEN I WILL HEAR FROM HEAVEN AND FORGIVE THEIR SIN and HEAL THEIR LAND." 

We are also told in Philippians 4:6-7  "Be anxious for NOTHING, but in EVERYTHING with PRAYER and supplication, make your requests be KNOWN to God and the PEACE of God which SURPASSES ALL understanding will GUARD your Hearts  AND Minds through Christ Jesus."

You see without knowing Jesus in the first place and without praying to God to ask for  forgiveness for our own sin, we cannot even begin to help others know the power of love and forgiveness that only comes through a personal relationship with HIM.  Jesus is our PERFECT example of what it means to LOVE and FORGIVE, He even took the time to PRAY and show us how to pray so that we could change the world through HIM and the power of LOVE. 

Now don't get me wrong.  I am in no way saying that Christians are perfect and do not sin, because we are NOT perfect and SIN  EVERYDAY. The only PERFECT person to ever live was Jesus Christ and even He faced temptations, YET he NEVER sinned.  But the bible tells us we will not be tempted more that we can handle and when we are tempted there is ALWAYS a way out of sin.

1 Corinthians10:13 "No temptation has overcome you but is COMMON  to man, BUT GOD IS FAITHFUL, who will NOT allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, BUT with the temptation will ALSO make a way of ESCAPE, that you may be able to bear it." 

So instead of judging and condemning others for choices they make and sins they commit, we need to first take a look at our own lives and get our hearts right.  Then instead of judging others and our SOCIETY for the way we are living/not living and sinning/not sinning (by our own choosing of course) we should be down on our knees PRAYING and asking God how we can show the loving grace and mercy of JESUS and the power that only comes through his LOVE, GRACE, and FORGIVENESS.  We need to spend more time PRAYING than PREACHING and be a living, breathing example to others what it means to live a life FULL of grace and forgiveness, no matter what our own imperfections and sins may be.

You see we were CREATED in God's image and it is our goal to strive to be more like HIM every day, in our actions, speech, thoughts, etc.  The closer we are to God then then we are more able to exemplify HIS Love, grace and forgiveness.  We live in a lost and dying world who needs to hear the hope that they can have that only comes through life in Christ.  And life in Christ means LOVING others, no matter what their circumstances or life choices may be.  Does that mean we agree, condone or have to support/rally to their way of thinking? - NO.  Does that mean we do not associate with, ignore or cut ourselves off from the rest of the world because they are different than us?  - ABSOLUTELY NOT.  Who did Jesus reach out to, minister to, and spend most of HIS time with ? - the people who needed Him the most - outcasts, sinners, those who society had rejected.  AND He did it all out of LOVE to bring them closer to HIM so that they would know the POWER of Love and forgiveness and so they could share that love and forgiveness with others. 

Well how do we do that when we don't agree and know that someone is doing what we know is wrong?  You reach out to them, you get to know them, find out where they are coming from and where their heart is.  You meet them where they are in their situation and find out their needs and how you can help meet them. Basically you have to HUMBLE yourselves and get out of you own way, step out of your own comfort zone and meet them where they are.

1Peter 5:6-10  HUMBLE yourself under the mighty hand of God, that HE may exalt you in due time.  Casting ALL your cares upon HIM for HE CARES FOR YOU.  Be SOBER, Be VIGILANT, because your adversary -  the DEVIL - walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may DEVOUR.  RESIST HIM!!!! . . . But may the God of grace who called us to ETERNAL glory by Christ Jesus after you have suffered a while, PERFECT, ESTABLISH AND  SETTLE you."

The devil tries to get at us whatever way he can to turn us away from God. We are called to RESIST him and turn to Jesus as an example of how we are to live a life of GRACE and LOVE.

Titus 2:11-15 "For the GRACE of God that brings SALVATION has appeared to ALL men teaching us that, DENYING ungodliness, worldly lusts, we should live SOBERLY, RIGHTEOUSLY,  AND GODLY in the present age, looking for the BLESSED HOPE and GLORIOUS APPEARING of our great God and Savior JESUS CHRIST, who gave Himself for us, that HE might REDEEM us from EVERY lawless deed and PURIFY for HIMSELF His own special people, zealous for good works.  Speak these things, EXHORT and REBUKE with all authority."

People do not need to hear a message of hate, but of LOVE and HOPE.  Jesus LOVES them and there is HOPE in the salvation that only He can bring.